Chapter 1050 — The West Emperor's Perilous Predicament
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 5
" Dragon Qilin and Yan'er hurried out of the carriage. Dragon Qilin brought out a banner and shook it in the wind, and Yan'er's mighty vital essence flew out and poured into the cloth.
With a swish the great flag streamed wide, and upon its face was embroidered the character Mu. The divine general guarding the Heavenly Rampart City in the Western Pole Heaven saw it and the skin of his face twitched.
He bowed and said: "So it is Heavenly Worthy Mu.
This humble god greets Heavenly Worthy Mu!
Heavenly Worthy, I am a disciple of Heavenly Worthy Hong, stationed here in the Western Pole at his command. Now the West Emperor White Tiger has risen in rebellion; a Heavenly Worthy's body is worth ten thousand gold and must not enter a place of danger.
I beg the Heavenly Worthy to halt.
" Shen Mu reached out and drew the beaded curtain apart to either side, his gaze falling upon the general's face; looking down from on high, he said indifferently: "Do I need you to tell me what to do? Withdraw! " Sweat sprang out on the god's forehead, yet he did not budge.
"Forgive me, Heavenly Worthy. This disciple has heard that the Heavenly Worthy is but a Venerable God — lofty in station, yet not mighty in strength.
The gods and demons of the Western Pole Heaven are savage beyond measure, and this disciple fears they may do the Heavenly Worthy harm. " He did not yield an inch: "This disciple speaks only out of concern for the Heavenly Worthy's safety. " Shen Mu said calmly: "Whether the West Emperor has rebelled is still a matter of debate — and you presume to tell me?
Step aside, and I grant Heavenly Worthy Hong this much face.
Do not, and I shall execute you here and now, and Heavenly Worthy Hong will have nothing to say. " The god's eyes darted this way and that; he could not make up his mind whether to bar Shen Mu's way.
Shen Mu saw the army of the Western Pole Heaven's gods and demons drawing nearer and nearer, and his heart grew more anxious by the moment.
He said furiously: "To block a Heavenly Worthy's road — what monstrous effrontery! Yan'er, seize him!
" Yan'er leapt up, her body shifting into the Dragon Sparrow, and pounced upon the god.
The god did not dare lay a hand on Shen Mu, but toward her he had no such scruples. He bellowed, transformed into a lion-headed god-demon, and shook his head, and lion heads sprouted one after another. He shouted: "This disciple acts out of concern for the Heavenly Worthy's safety, and must needs detain the Heavenly Worthy, lest the Heavenly Worthy be wounded by the rebels! So forgive me, Heavenly Worthy — this disciple has no choice but to be rough!
" His strength was exceedingly overbearing; heavenly palace after heavenly palace flew out behind him, and his cultivation was even more powerful than Yan'er's.
This nine-headed lion had in fact forged nine great heavenly palaces, and his might was matchless. He was just about to overpower Yan'er when suddenly the vertical eye at Shen Mu's brow blazed with light; the god's mind went blank in an instant, and before he could react he was gravely wounded by Yan'er, and fell from the sky with blood spilling from his nine heads. "To dare block a Heavenly Worthy's carriage — a crime deserving ten thousand deaths!
" Long Qilin stood upon the head of one of the Heavenly Dragons, his voice like thunder, carrying through the whole of the Heavenly Rampart City.
He shouted: "But in consideration of your being a disciple of Heavenly Worthy Hong, your life is spared! Whoever dares block Heavenly Worthy Mu again will be cut down without mercy! " Yan'er spread her wings, flames reaching to the heavens, the Vermilion Bird's holy fire blazing until the sky itself ran molten; a long dragon tail trailed behind her, and her gaze was sharp as she swept the tower ships and great vessels rising one after another below.