Chapter 554 — Human Speech, Ghost Words, and Demon Tongue

Is this not the best of both worlds? " His eyes were bright and piercing as they rested on Shen Mu, awaiting his answer. Shen Mu pondered for a moment, then probed, "The Honored King said just now that of every ten sentences a demon speaks, half are true and half are false. So I would like to ask: of all the words the Honored King has spoken today, which were the false ones?

" The Sun-Binder twisted his neck and changed to another face. This face was gloomy, and it said mildly, "What do you think? " Shen Mu smiled. "The Honored King's proposal is excellent.

Let us do as the Honored King proposes. " That face of the Sun-Binder's was briefly startled, and Shen Mu went on: "We split Taihuang Heaven in two — I rule the humans, you rule the demons, and all live in peace. Honored King, you may now hand over to me all the humans within the demons' territory. " That gloomy face of the Sun-Binder's stared at him fixedly, and suddenly there came two cracks, and his neck turned full circle, and a third face appeared — blue of visage, with tusks bared, hideous and terrifying.

Shen Mu let out a long breath and smiled.

"Now I know how much of what the Honored King says is true and how much is false. Honored King, your aim is not Taihuang Heaven; your aim is still the Wasteland. Taihuang Heaven is merely your stepping-stone.

If I help you swallow Taihuang Heaven, then you will offer Taihuang Heaven in blood sacrifice, and so enter the Wasteland!

" The Sun-Binder gave a cold snort and led him onward, coming to a stretch of broken cliff, and said with a hideous face, "My disciple Yuxiao died at your hands, did he not?

I can set that grudge aside and grant you glory and wealth, yet you take me for a fool! Do you think the Celestial Master can stop me? Do you think those few deities of your human race can stop me?

" Shen Mu stepped forward and looked down, and his expression changed drastically. Before him lay a vast abyss, a chasm dividing heaven; there, countless demons and humans bustled to and fro, carving and shaping great and magnificent sacrificial altars.

There were several hundred altars there! The Woodcutter Sage had called his friends, and twenty-four stone statues had descended from the Wasteland; those statues revived and became deities, and the twenty-four great golden altars stood in a row, a magnificent sight. And now the spectacle in this abyss was more magnificent by far than those twenty-four great altars! Several hundred altars — they meant to summon several hundred gods and demons to descend!

Shen Mu's eye twitched, and his voice was hoarse. "You cannot possibly summon so many gods and demons! Even if the true Heavenly Court aided you, it could not give you so much power! Nor would you dare accept such a titanic army of gods and demons! " The Sun-Binder shook his head.

"I could indeed invite gods and demons of the Heavenly Court to descend, but I truly do not dare to invite them.

" Cold sweat sprang out on Shen Mu's forehead; then he shook his head and said, "Your world is joined to Taihuang Heaven, so those you would summon are not gods and demons of your own world either — they can simply walk in. The war between the two realms has lasted twenty thousand years; countless gods and demons of your world must have fallen in battle as well, and those who remain are few.

There is no need for so many altars.

. .

" The Sun-Binder looked at him coldly.

"Keep guessing.

If you guess right, I will grant you a way to live. " Shen Mu's heart convulsed violently; he clenched his fists, and suddenly understood just what the Sun-Binder meant to summon. "The ancestors of the demon race — those demon gods bred from the resentment and evil thoughts of Youdu!

You mean to summon them!

" The Sun-Binder laughed heartily, greatly pleased with himself. "What do you think of the idea? " Shen Mu steadied himself and shook his head. "The Honored King has been driven to the end of his road, to summon them. If you call them here, given the nature of these demon gods bred of demonic essence, I fear it will be more than the simple destruction of the human race — it will be the destruction of all Taihuang Heaven!

" "That is why Taihuang Heaven must be offered in blood sacrifice.

" The Sun-Binder smiled faintly, and all three faces spoke in unison: "To make Taihuang Heaven a stepping-stone into the Wasteland!

But I have an even better idea.

I hear you built a spirit-energy translocation bridge; if you build several such bridges for my demon race as well, I can spare your life.

" Shen Mu probed, "Does the Honored King truly dare let me build bridges for the demon race? Are you not afraid I will tamper with them? " The Sun-Binder's expression shifted slightly, and he said coldly, "Is your heart set on refusing me?

" Shen Mu said hastily, "Senior.

. . " The Sun-Binder flicked his sleeve and sneered, "Don't try your tricks! Calling me Senior is useless too!

I have dealt with you in all sincerity, thinking you a talent such as heaven rarely grants.

Even the Celestial Master could not conceive of a spirit-energy translocation bridge, yet you conceived of it — so out of fondness for your talent I have let you live until now!

Do you think I truly will not kill you?

When has my demon race ever kept faith? " His murderous might surged forth. Shen Mu's expression changed drastically, and the demonic pressure crushed the breath from his lungs; he hastily fell back several steps, and with the last breath in his chest he cried aloud, "In truth, I come from the Land of No Sorrow! " The Sun-Binder had been about to strike the killing blow, but hearing this he stopped at once and sneered, "You come from the Land of No Sorrow?

What proof have you? " Shen Mu's face flushed crimson; he could not breathe. The Sun-Binder withdrew his demonic might, and Shen Mu gulped air in great gasps, then took a jade pendant from his breast and said, "I have the token of the Land of No Sorrow as proof!

Honored King, you should recognize the token of the Land of No Sorrow, should you not? " The Sun-Binder reached out a hand, and the jade pendant came loose of itself and flew into his palm.

Shen Mu's heart pounded wildly; he hastily suppressed its beating and made it steady again: "Lord Yama said the pendant must not leave my body, or something bad would happen.

Now I can only rely on this to get myself out of this predicament. I hope it works.

.

. Hmm, why has nothing bad happened yet? Could it be that I am still too close to the pendant? "