Chapter 647 — Utterly Convinced

"You want the gods and devils of my Chiming Era to fall under Jingping's control.

Jingping is nothing but a tiny little state — any single god or devil of the Chiming Era could snuff out its nation! Submit to Jingping?

How could my heart be won over? And if I surrendered, how would I ever go back and answer to the Son of God?

" The First Ancestor Human Emperor's expression turned grave. "You misunderstand.

My intent is to join hands; I have no thought of making the Chiming Era submit. The strong of the Chiming Era went through hundreds of thousands of years without ever bowing to the Heavenly Court — how would they ever bow to Jingping?

I admire the moral fiber of the Chiming Era's elders beyond measure, and I would never dream of humiliating you. I ask only that Brother Daoist Chi Xi give it some thought.

" Chi Xi sat up, staunched the blood at his wounds, and sneered, "Why did you not say so sooner?

" The First Ancestor Human Emperor shook his head.

"I did say so.

You were the one bent on beating me to death and tearing out my soul.

" Chi Xi rose unsteadily to his feet and at last yielded, offering his apology: "The fault was mine.

I beg your pardon and make amends. " The First Ancestor hurried to steady him. "And I struck somewhat too hard. " Chi Xi rested a while to mend, then limped down the stairs.

"My Chiming Divine Dynasty may join hands with you, but we will not submit to any of you. And besides, the decision is not mine to make; I must contact the Son of God before it can be settled. " The First Ancestor frowned slightly.

"Am I to fight this Chiming Son of God as well? Is the whole Chiming Era full of stubborn mules? They are rather too hard to deal with, are they not? " For these twenty thousand years he had lain submerged in guilt and self-reproach over the fall of the Kaihuang Era and his own failure to take the field and fight, keeping aloof from worldly affairs; now all he wanted was to toss the Chiming Era's mess away.

"A vexing business like this," he thought, "is best left to Human Emperor Shen.

" He did not know that Shen Mu had always been a hands-off master, one who supplied the ideas and then tossed the matter of how exactly to carry them out to the Heavenly Saint Cult, or to the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping, Emperor Yanfeng, and the rest of them.

The First Ancestor Human Emperor and Chi Xi walked down the Chiming Heaven-Suppressing Tower and came to the Creation God Wheel, where Shen Mu was still driving the wheel on and on, wholly absorbed in studying the changes of the runes upon it.

The First Ancestor Human Emperor smiled faintly.

"A youth after all," he thought, "still too reserved to bring himself to ask and learn my seal arts. In a moment I will give him a slope to descend, and he will take up my seal arts. " "You're finished fighting?

" Shen Mu turned back in surprise. "So soon?

I have not even managed to copy down these runes yet. " "Acting. Keep on acting.

" Cold laughter filled the First Ancestor Human Emperor's heart, but his face was all warmth and good humor as he said, "Brother Daoist Chi Xi and I have come to terms; in the end no harm was done to the harmony between our two houses. " Shen Mu looked toward the Chiming Heaven-Suppressing Tower: the treasure tower that mere moments ago had sent its radiance of pearls and jewels streaming up to pierce the sky now stood stark and bare, its light grown dim.

Then he looked at the god Chi Xi and saw that the execution overseer had had who knew how many bones broken, his flesh and blood a blurred ruin, one head hanging limp as though his neck were snapped. "Truly, no harm done to the harmony," he muttered inwardly.

The god Chi Xi's face was none too pleasant either. "Young Friend Shen, you have gained my Mystic God-Slaying Blade; I must ask you to return it.

" Shen Mu shook his head.

"That little box was given to me by the Sacred Teacher; I cannot return it.

By the rules of our Desolate Ruins, what is won by one's own skill, what is picked up, and what others steal and give as gifts — such things are never given back.

" And he said, in perfect earnest: "Why, I myself was picked up by Granny, and Granny said whoever comes asking gets nothing back!

My lame old grandpa steals things all over the place to give away, and he never gives them back either. " Chi Xi choked with fury, trembling from head to foot, and the First Ancestor Human Emperor said hurriedly, "Brother Daoist, he is only a child. " Chi Xi could not well explode, so he said coldly, "Every time the Mystic God-Slaying Blade's case is opened, it must drink blood — blood to moisten the edge — or else it will turn on its master.

You have already used it once, have you not?

I see the glow of blood clinging to you.

The next time that case opens, the Mystic God-Slaying Blade will kill you and drink its fill! " Shen Mu started, and an uneasy dread settled in his heart.

"What blade? " said the First Ancestor Human Emperor.

"Bring it here and let me see.

" Shen Mu took out the little box. The First Ancestor Human Emperor examined it closely, studied it a while, found he could not open it, and his expression shifted slightly. "A God-Slaying Blade of the Chiming Era — a thing of direst omen.

The grudge-aura of a Throne god is sealed within; it is dreadful beyond words!

" He thought to hand it back to Chi Xi, but Shen Mu cried out in alarm, "Careful — he'll take that blade and kill you with it!

" The First Ancestor Human Emperor went cold, and returned the little box to Shen Mu. "If it can go unused, then on no account use it. I can feel the grudge and killing intent of a Throne-level mighty one emanating from within the box.

You have used it once already, have you not?

Last time it drank no blood, and its grudge has already wound itself about you. Best to let it drink, and so lay that grudge against you to rest. " Shen Mu nodded, pressed a hand upon the box, and said to the god Chi Xi, "Senior, could you call out that scrapped disciple of yours — the fellow with the two deer legs? " Ban Gongcuo, hidden in the dark, heard this and was on the point of stepping out when it dawned on him all at once, and fury blazed up in him: "That villain means to sacrifice me to his blade!

"