Chapter 521 — Blinded by Greed

" Shen Mu glanced at Xing'an. Xing'an had been calm as ever, but now his expression changed drastically — clearly he was recalling his humiliating past in Fengdu. Shen Mu smiled faintly. "The business I have in mind is doing business with the world of the living. In Fengdu there are many primal spirits of gods and demons. Though they are dead, in Fengdu they live quite well. Some gods and demons left wishes unfulfilled in life, and, unable to leave Fengdu, they are willing to pay a great price to have the living act on their behalf. I have many affairs and little time, so I wish to use this treasure to open a road, letting Jingping's divine-power users take up tasks from them — a trial, a cultivation, and a fine fortune besides. " He smiled slightly and went on at leisure: "The gods and demons of Fengdu may even teach those who fulfill their wishes the arts and divine powers they possessed in life; one may also earn Fengdu gold coins and enter Fengdu.

And as for me, I intend to collect a toll from those who pass into Between Life and Death, to help with household expenses. " "The arts and divine powers of gods and demons? " Everyone by the bonfire changed countenance, deeply tempted. What Fengdu gold coins might be, they did not know — but the arts and divine powers of gods and demons were treasures to stir any heart.

After all, the Great Yuyou Demon Scripture was hailed as an art by which one might become a god or a demon, and that art was the treasured canon of the Youmo Cult.

The Dao Sword of the Daoist sect, the Tingming Mahayana Sutra of the Great Tingming Temple — both were arts by which one might become a god or a Buddha, and it was for this that they held the rank of great holy lands.

Even if the arts of Fengdu's gods and demons could not match the Three Great Holy Lands, they were still no small matter. "Ever since Cult Leader Shen established the mathematical model of the Divine Bridge space and passed on the three formulas — the Queqiao, the Xuanyin and the Shendu — the Divine Bridge is no longer the greatest obstacle to becoming a god.

" Long Yu said, "It is the lack of arts at the god-demon level. To speak frankly, these days not a few old seniors have come to Little Yujing seeking arts.

But the highest arts in Little Yujing reach only to the Divine Bridge realm.

Beyond that, there is nothing. " Daoist Master Lin Xuan nodded.

"Nor does our Daoist sect possess any god-level art beyond the Innate Taixuan Art. Cult Leader Shen's words have stirred even me. " The greatest problem now facing the strong of Jingping in cultivation was this: the road ahead had once been severed; now the road was open, and yet there were no arts left to cultivate, and none knew how to walk the road beyond.

If Shen Mu truly could use Between Life and Death to join the two worlds and obtain arts of the higher realms, that would be merit beyond measure — worth any price. Even Xing'an was somewhat tempted in that moment, though at the thought of how Fengdu suppressed him, he could only abandon the notion.

"These youngsters — if they truly obtain arts beyond the Divine Realm, then when the time comes, will it be I who takes their limbs, or they who scatter my soul to the winds? That is hard to say.

" His gaze flickered; in that instant he truly felt the desire to kill, but he was, after all, a Grand Master, and he pressed the killing intent down. Si Yunxiang and Xue Hu'er both began to breathe heavily, eyes shining, the same thought rising in both their hearts: "We're going to be rich!

Rich enough to rival a kingdom!

" "Once Between Life and Death is set up, I fear even the emperor will not be able to resist a trip to Fengdu! " Xue Hu'er pricked up two furry ears, flipping them this way and that, and said excitedly, "Young Master, how much should we charge the emperor?

" Si Yunxiang said eagerly, "The old immortals of Little Yujing, the monks of the Great Tingming Temple, the old Daoists of the Daoist sect — all fat sheep waiting to be fleeced!

" Monk Chenghuai, Daoist Master Lin Xuan, Wang Muran, Ling Yuxiu and the others all went somewhat pale; before they could speak, Si Yunxiang and Xue Hu'er exchanged a glance and in the same instant recalled one thing, saying in unison, "Young Master (Cult Leader), we take money in the world of the living — what about the underworld? The underworld can be charged too!

" "Money has addled your wits, both of you!

Neither of you is fair-minded — leave some broth for others, at least. " Shen Mu shook his head.

"I have handed the matter of collecting money in the underworld to the successive Human Emperors of the Hall of Human Emperors. The broth is theirs; don't even think about it.

" Si Yunxiang and Xue Hu'er were both disappointed; Xue Hu'er's tail, just raised, drooped — but then, thinking of the fortune soon to come, she could not help raising every tail stiff and straight again. The sky paled; the banquet dispersed. Only after everyone on the mountain had gone to rest did Shen Mu tug Xue Hu'er away at a run, far away from that wine jar, and then flick a finger, sending a small pebble into the jar. The pebble fell into the jar.

Nothing stirred.

Xue Hu'er was dubious too. "Young Master, did you see wrong?

" Shen Mu shook his head, turned, and looked at Xing'an, who had followed at his side. "Senior Brother Xing'an, this jar.

.

. " "I have suppressed it.

" Xing'an said calmly, "If you wish to release the might within the jar, I can do as you wish.

How many jade mountains like this does your Grand Academy have?

" "Don't release it yet!

" Scarcely had Shen Mu spoken when Xing'an had already released his power, showing him a strange smile.

"Great Divine Physician, I too hold grudges. " Shen Mu's blood ran cold; dragging Xue Hu'er with him, he fled: "The capital is no place to stay — the emperor will surely have my head.

Run!

"