Chapter 291 — The Heavens Above

" The two suanni hastily drew the carriage down in slow descent, and when it sank beneath the cloud layer, they saw that the landscape above the clouds sank as well - however far the carriage descended, the landscape descended too, forever barring their way ahead. At last the carriage touched ground, and the landscape in the sky grew smaller and smaller, drawing in and in; when it had gathered and vanished, a small mountain village by the river appeared before them.

Star Lord Qiao looked through the beaded curtain. At the mouth of this desolate village stood a reclining chair, and in the chair lay an old man without limbs. The chair rocked back and forth, creaking and groaning, and the wretched old man, hands and feet all gone, basked in the spring sun, wholly at ease.

"You're crippled. " Star Lord Qiao did not step down from the carriage, but spoke through the beaded curtain.

"You have no hands, no legs, and still you mean to block my way? You overrate yourself beyond measure.

" The village headman squinted; the chair rocked of itself, and lying in it he seemed quite comfortable.

Leisurely he said, "If that is so, why not try?

I have no hands or feet, and only a few years of life left to me. Surely you are certain you can beat me to death? " Star Lord Qiao gave a cold snort.

"You have not many years left to live; you cannot protect the new Human Emperor.

But I will not spend my own life in a hard struggle against your maimed remnant of one.

" "Since you dare not stake your life against mine, then you may go back.

" Suddenly the village headman's primal qi became a pair of legs and a pair of arms; he rose from the chair and walked toward the carriage.

The two suanni were instantly overcome with dread, and the four girls on the carriage showed looks of utter horror - in their eyes, as this gaunt, withered old man walked over, his body grew larger and larger, more and more towering, and that little frame seemed, in the space of a few steps, to fill heaven and earth, blotting out their whole field of vision. "You cannot protect the new Human Emperor!

" Star Lord Qiao rose to his feet; the carriage's canopy suddenly whirled with a whistling roar, and the pillars beneath it grew larger and thicker and taller, the canopy swelling with the wind, every jewel and pearl of its hanging strings growing until they seemed like so many stars encircling this Star Lord. The four girls in the carriage seemed immeasurably small before him, and the two pure-blooded suanni, once so huge of body, now looked pitifully tiny.

Zheng - The sword left the sheath in the yellow-robed girl's hand and fell into Star Lord Qiao's grasp. Star Lord Qiao swung the sword; the old man opposite swung a sword as well. The two sword lights met in an instant; the Yong River broke off abruptly, its waters ceasing to flow; the sword radiance blazed bright, then flashed and was gone.

Where the sword light vanished, the village headman still sat in his reclining chair, which rocked with its creak and groan, and Star Lord Qiao had likewise seated himself once more, the carriage returned to its former size, and the giant and the sky full of stars of a moment before seemed only an illusion.

"I will not go to kill the Human Emperor, but there will be others who go. " Through the beaded curtain Star Lord Qiao looked at the old man in the chair and said mildly, "Among Heaven Above there are some young ones who will go looking for him.

" The village headman said lazily, "So long as it is not you old undying ones, let them come. " Star Lord Qiao looked deep into him, then said suddenly, "Back to Heaven Above. " The two suanni hastily turned the carriage about, soared into the air, and headed west.

Within the carriage, the girl in green said, "Star Lord, why do we return just like this. .

.

" Star Lord Qiao gave no answer. Suddenly he let out a muffled groan, and blood spilled drop by drop from the carriage, falling into the woods and hills of the ruins below; where the fresh blood landed, flowers burst suddenly into bloom across the whole mountainside, grass and trees grew wild one after another, and green and blossom came surging over hill and field. Hu - The canopy was suddenly caught by the wind and toppled backward, falling into the Desolate Ruins, and jewel and jade bead scattered one by one across the hills and wilds. "No need to gather them.

Back to Heaven Above with all speed!

" Star Lord Qiao's face was somewhat pale as he said this in a low, heavy voice. The four girls were badly startled, and the two suanni hastily quickened their pace and raced westward. At the gate of Yincan Village, the reclining chair rocked to and fro, then suddenly split into four pieces, and the village headman tumbled to the ground, crying hoarsely, "Alchemist, Alchemist!

" The Alchemist came running out in a flurry and grumbled, "No hands, no feet, and still you show off.

Serves you right.

.

. Don't move.

Let me check your wounds first! "