Chapter 347 — Ferocity Beyond Compare

" The Old Dao Lord laughed. "It seems he cannot strike back — he lost the initiative and is being suppressed by the Human Emperor's dharma power.

" On that immortal isle, range upon range of mountains stretched on.

The two of them, one old and one young, fought from the foot of the mountain to its peak. Shen Mu's dharma power ran wild, transforming into a great hand seal that pressed down from above; Qingyou dodged by tumbling and rolling, and countless verdant trees were flattened by Shen Mu's palm, falling prostrate to the ground.

At once a great handprint some mu in breadth appeared on the earth!

Shen Mu fought with sweeping, wide-open moves, driving Qingyou from the bottom all the way up to the summit. At the summit stood a great hall of gray brick and red tile, its bronze pillars as thick as water vats.

Qingyou was blasted into the hall. Shen Mu's steps were immeasurably heavy; he swept one leg against a bronze pillar.

The Village Head shook his head and called out, "Shen, my boy, this is the Jade Capital of the old Kaihuang era, a palace forged by gods and spirits — how could you possibly tear it down? " Before his words had faded, that bronze pillar was snapped in two by Shen Mu's leg. The Village Head was stunned. A youth beside him explained in a small voice, "Senior, this hall was forged later by Uncle-Master Qingyou. It isn't as sturdy as the original hall.

. .

" Over there, Shen Mu thrust both hands into the bronze pillar, lifted the great column as thick as a water vat, and used it as a spear, stabbing into the hall. Boom after boom came from within the hall. Though the bronze pillar was enormous, Shen Mu wielded it as nimbly as a spear; the pillar tore through the air with a hissing whistle.

But it was, after all, too large — after a few moves the hall was pierced full of holes, bricks and tiles flying everywhere.

Qingyou, in utter disarray, finally caught the bronze pillar with both hands — only to see it suddenly grow unbearably hot, melted by Shen Mu's dharma power, molten bronze flowing everywhere. The molten bronze ran down the pillar like water, then in midair transformed into bronze sword after bronze sword.

Ten thousand swords flew at once, piercing Qingyou's body. Qingyou was sent flying backward, crashing into the immortal mountain of another immortal isle.

Shen Mu's arms surged with power; with a furious roar he thrust out the melting bronze pillar and chased close behind it, slamming it into Qingyou's chest and driving him into the immortal mountain. At the same moment, Shen Mu's figure flew over like a streak of flowing light, raised his knee, and struck the bronze pillar. The immortal mountain shuddered, and all the trees upon it rustled with a clatter. The Village Head and the three Little Jade Capital disciples hurried over.

They had just reached that immortal isle when they saw Shen Mu pull the bronze pillar from the cliff, then grab Qingyou by the collar and drag him out of the cave. He swung his arm and hurled the old man savagely to the ground; the earth gave a great boom and a huge pit was smashed into it.

"I've long been sick of your endless nagging — never a clean fight! And you even made my Grandpa Village Head cry!

I'll beat you to death!

" Shen Mu turned his head to look at the four flying over, and grinned at the three Little Jade Capital disciples. "Don't be afraid.

I haven't had a fight in days — I was only loosening up my muscles and bones, not seeking revenge or killing anyone.

Now that I've loosened up, my body and mind are both at ease!

" The three were shocked and frightened. Looking down, they saw Qingyou sprawled spread-eagle at the bottom of the pit. "Uncle-Master. . .

" one of the girls said timidly. "I'm fine!

" Qingyou lay there without moving, yet his voice was still full of vigor. "Don't mind me. Let me lie here a while.

" The three were relieved.

The somewhat older of the men said, "Uncle-Master Qingyou is fine.

" Shen Mu looked at the three.

One of them was an old acquaintance, Wang Muran, whom he had met once before. Wang Muran was a disciple of Zhen the Unfettered, one of Little Jade Capital's immortals.

Zhen had been invited down from the mountain by the Eighth Imperial Uncle Ling Yinfeng to intercept the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping, and had been slain by him.

In those days Wang Muran had been a mischievous boy. When Shen Mu first met him, Zhen the Unfettered was fishing by the pool beneath the waterfall at the foot of the mountain, while the boy threw stones nearby; Yue Qinghong had even said that the child must be his own flesh and blood, or he would have been beaten to death long ago.

Wang Muran had been mischievous then, but after two years apart he had grown far more steady. Zhen the Unfettered's death had struck him hard and forced him to mature.

The boy's former innocence and mischief had vanished without a trace, replaced by steadiness and restraint. His clothes had changed to black, his gaze had grown deep, and now and then a flash of spirit would pass through his eyes. No doubt the drive to avenge his master had made him train bitterly these two years, and that same drive had stripped him of Little Jade Capital's ethereal immortal bearing. His aura was savage and violent — his arts and divine abilities must be exceedingly domineering!

Shen Mu had grown, and so had he.