Chapter 466 — Sword Arts and Sword Scars

"How could a man surnamed Yu who came from the Heavens Above make every clan of the Western Lands so cautious, as though facing a great enemy?"

Doubt rose in his heart. The Western Lands had fewer sects than the nation of Jingping; it was chiefly ruled by great clans. Each of the ten great clans possessed formidable strength, and each had its own specialty, its own extraordinary arts. Never mind a visitor from the Heavens Above—even a god of the Heavens Above descending to the mortal world might not make them this cautious.

This Bago was surely not merely a visitor from the Heavens Above.

Yet when that figure came before them, he discovered that this Bago was not the ferocious, malevolent figure he had imagined, but rather a man of uncommon bearing—tall of stature, powerfully built, and quite handsome.

The clothing he wore was woven of some unknown stuff; the fabric draped with a fine fall, and every thread seemed to be woven of runes, from which a faint, barely perceptible light would now and then rise.

The garment fit him well, making him appear to carry not an ounce of excess flesh.

His attire, too, was that of a Western Lands man—white cloth wound about his head, crossed with golden chains—but unlike other men, he wore very few ornaments.

His nose bridge was high, his gaze warm and gentle; at first glance, one could not help but feel favorably disposed toward him.

At first sight, Shen Mu thought his features bore some resemblance to the Jade Lord of the Heavens Above. Shen Mu had once gazed upon the Jade Lord's corpse; the Jade Lord could be called a perfect man—even though he had been blasted to death by a single shot from Emperor Yanfeng, his countenance in death remained distinguished.

"There is something in his bearing akin to Xu Shenghua's."

Shen Mu studied the newcomer, surprise showing on his face—he even felt that this Bago's manner bore some resemblance to the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping!

Xu Shenghua's bearing was one of having nothing to do with the affairs of the world—I come from beyond the heavens into the mortal dust, and the rolling red dust of the world does not cling to me. This was bound up with the cultivation method he practiced. Though Shen Mu had drawn Xu Shenghua down into the mortal world, the rolling red dust could hardly change this outstanding youth; he still seemed as though he might at any moment abandon the red dust and depart.

And though the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping appeared cold and sparing of smiles, that was the invincible spirit of one who has reached the utmost summit and looks down upon all lesser peaks.

He was a grand master of extraordinary accomplishments; in his heart there was only reform, only change of law. All worldly considerations he cast aside, and any existence that blocked his reform and change of law was a stumbling block to him—he would employ thunderous means to remove it.

This Bago who had come from the Heavens Above actually possessed at once the bearing and temperament of both Xu Shenghua and the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping.

"Clan Chief He."

The turbaned man flew to the front of the formation and saluted He Yiyi and the others one by one: "Clan Chief Mu, Clan Chief Liu, Clan Chief Fang..."

Though they were enemies, the crowd returned his salute one after another, saying: "Bago."

The turbaned man smiled faintly, looked toward Shen Mu, and smiled so widely that two rows of eight white teeth showed. He saluted again and said: "Human Emperor Shen."

Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he returned the salute: "Bago. Might I ask how Bago came to know of so insignificant an existence as myself?"

"Human Emperor Shen need not belittle himself."

The turbaned man said: "I have paid close attention to every generation of Human Emperor. As for the previous Human Emperor, I once descended to the mortal world myself. You have already seen his limbs, have you not?"

He reached out and seized—a Mu family woman was drawn through the air against her will, halting two zhang before him, unable to struggle though she wished to.

The turbaned man drew his sword and swept it; a severed arm fell.

He waved his hand lightly, and the severed arm flew toward Shen Mu. Smiling, he said: "Pray look, Human Emperor Shen."

Shen Mu's eye twitched. Vital essence surged forth as he carefully scrutinized the wound on the severed arm; his eye twitched violently once more, and his voice came out hoarse: "The same sword wound."

"It was I."

The turbaned man revealed a genial smile: "It seems he did not conceal the sword wounds on his body from you."

Behind the great clans' killing formations, the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and Xiong Xiyu watched from afar, not drawing near. Suddenly, the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping saw the sword light that burst forth from the turbaned man, and his expression changed drastically, his composure lost: "This is bad! I know the origin of this Bago! Quickly, call the great clans of the Western Lands back!"

Xiong Xiyu shook her head: "The arrow is on the string and must be loosed; now there is no retreating even if we wished to. Why has the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping suddenly fallen into such turmoil?"

The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping drew a long breath, his eyes shooting forth keen light: "I recognize this sword art, this way of the sword! This is the sword art that severed the old Human Emperor's limbs. The one who comes is no member of the Yu family of the Heavens Above, but a true god descended from the Upper Realm!"

Before the formation, Shen Mu suddenly relaxed, a smile appearing on his face, wholly without any trace of alarm. He said leisurely: "You cannot have descended to the mortal world in your true body. Had you come in your true body, could you still be scheming and skulking about in these Western Lands? Since you have not come in your true body..."

He stretched his frame, revealing the bearing of a tiger or wolf, his gaze sharp: "Then beating you to death will not take much effort at all!"