Chapter 678 — The Wounded Divine General

In Taihuang Heaven, within the territory of the demon race, Lu Li took his leave of Furiluo. "Honored King," she said, "I have been away from Youdu too long and must return.

Today I shall lead my army and depart.

" Furiluo frowned slightly. "My senior sister has not yet captured the Divine Son of Youdu—why the haste to leave? " "The visitors from Mingdu will never give me the chance to capture the Divine Son of Youdu.

Though I foolishly covet his power, I know my own limits—my strength is no match for Mingdu.

So I choose to withdraw.

" Lu Li hesitated, then said, "Honored King, you and I are both of the demon race. Before I go, I have three pieces of advice for you. " Furiluo asked curiously, "Pray speak, senior sister.

" "The first is patience—endure all things, no matter what. The second is retreat—the turtle lives long because it is skilled at pulling in its head.

The third is loyalty—loyalty knows no fault.

Farewell! " Lu Li let out a shrill cry. Countless Youdu monsters suddenly dissolved one by one into black smoke, and Lu Li's form spun and slowly sank into the earth until she was seen no more.

The Spirit-Energy Transfer Bridge. Shen Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The First Ancestor Human Emperor had gone to the alien star and instructed the gods and demons of the Suspended Void Realm there to slow their entry into Jingping; only then did the Spirit-Energy Transfer Bridge stabilize, no longer in danger of collapsing under the force of an over-strong energy transfer. Only then did he feel the sharp pain in his chest.

Lou Qianchong had inflicted two wounds upon him, piercing through his chest.

He had destroyed the central prong of the steel fork—the central prong being the one aimed at his heart; the other two prongs, though they had run him through, had missed his vital points. This had been the chief purpose of his third sword-light: to destroy the lethal threat and preserve his own life. Lou Qianchong was, after all, exceedingly formidable.

Though Shen Mu had avoided his vital points, the damage inflicted was still considerable; dragon saliva alone could not heal it. Lou Qianchong's divine ability still lingered in his wounds and had to be expelled.

Shen Mu tended his wounds, refining away the residue of Lou Qianchong's divine ability, activating the Flawless Creation Mystic Scripture, and supplementing it with dragon saliva—working both at once—before he felt somewhat better. There was a clamor beside the Transfer Bridge.

Shen Mu went over and found that the ability users guarding the bridge had blocked Qi Jiuyi and Zhe Huali. Seeing Shen Mu approach, the guards said hurriedly, "Cult Master, these two are from the demon race.

They are making a fuss, demanding to cross the Spirit-Energy Transfer Bridge into Jingping. " Shen Mu smiled.

"Senior brothers, you have come running into human territory and now wish to go to Jingping—are you not afraid I will kill you? " Zhe Huali shook his head. "Brother Shen, you are not that sort of man.

By the rules of the jianghu, one against one, apart from you I fear no one of the human race.

And wounded as you are from your battle with Lou Qianchong, you may not be my match. " "Who said anything about the rules of the jianghu?

" Shen Mu said doubtfully. "What I wear is the official robe of the kingdom of Jingping, so naturally I go by the rules of the court. And the rule of the Jingping court is that when it comes to a fight, there are no rules at all.

" Qi Jiuyi grew anxious, now scanning his surroundings, now lifting his head to look about.

Shen Mu could not help but grow suspicious. Qi Jiuyi's glances around were to see whether he would truly give the order for them all to rush forward and beat the two of them to death; but what was he watching for when he raised his head? He looked up at the sky but saw nothing unusual.

"Why must you two senior brothers enter Jingping?

Right now the alien star is entering Jingping, and the energy of the transfer is immense.

If you cross the Transfer Bridge into Jingping, the energy of the transfer will be even greater. " Shen Mu said with the utmost sincerity, "Give me a reason, and perhaps I will agree. " Zhe Huali did not know either why Qi Jiuyi insisted on going to Jingping, and at these words he looked toward him. Qi Jiuyi's expression shifted uncertainly; suddenly he gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Cult Master Shen, though I studied under the Black Emperor of Mingdu, I have always disapproved of Mingdu's conduct and methods. I, at least, have things I will and will not do; they will do anything at all! Their deeds are too ruthless, too vicious.

Since we are borrowing a road to save our lives, I have no choice but to lay out plainly what they intend to do. " Shen Mu listened patiently. The others were busy continuing to reinforce the Spirit-Energy Transfer Bridge, with True God Pang Yu at their head, leading them to use their magic power to control the frequency of the bridge's tremors. In recent years True God Pang Yu had also learned many arts of calculation and technique, but his attainment was not high; he could only rely on his incomparably deep magic power to steady the Transfer Bridge. As for repairing the runes and the like, he was powerless.

Qi Jiuyi continued, "Though you too possess a volume of the Book of Life and Death, you have no idea of its power. The Book of Life and Death of Mingdu can command life and death and awaken the dead. This treasure was refined by the Black Emperor of Mingdu himself; whether a dead soul is hidden in Mingdu or in Youdu, the Book will summon it by force. " Shen Mu's heart skipped.

"The Book of Life and Death has such power? Does that not mean Lou Yunqu and the others can call upon all the dead of Taihuang Heaven to fight for them? The three of them would then be equal to an endless army of gods and demons?

" "More than that!

" Qi Jiuyi said.

"Their target is not Taihuang Heaven, but Luofu Heaven!

" Shen Mu cried out involuntarily, "Teacher Woodcutter is in grave danger! " Qi Jiuyi shook the few phoenix feathers at the back of his head uneasily and shook his head. "Brother Shen, your understanding of ruthlessness and viciousness is far too kind. Mingdu stops at nothing.

Not only will they dissolve the pact with Tuba and tear apart the peace between the demon race and the human race—they mean to destroy Taihuang Heaven and wipe you all out at once! " Shen Mu's mind reeled. "You mean.

. .

Lou Yunqu and the others will sacrifice Luofu Heaven in blood, and make it collide with Taihuang Heaven!

Impossible—would that not offend the demon race as well? Countless demons would die too! Furiluo, he.

. .

" His voice carried all around.

Those reinforcing the altar stopped their work one after another and turned to look at them. "That is why I say you are too kind.

" Qi Jiuyi looked up at the sky again and said rapidly, "Does the Heavenly Court care whether the demon race lives or dies, or what Furiluo thinks?

The Heavenly Court does not care, and Mingdu cares even less. I have said all I can—can this news buy Zhe Huali and me a chance at life?

" Shen Mu's mind was in chaos. He waved a hand and said hoarsely, "Let them through. Let them go.

. .

" "Many thanks! " Qi Jiuyi bowed, then pulled the dazed Zhe Huali along; together they flew swiftly to the top of the altar and stepped into the Spirit-Energy Transfer Bridge, and the two vanished.

Shen Mu's heart was tangled in knots.

Suddenly he called out loudly, "True God Pang Yu! True God Pang Yu! " True God Pang Yu was right beside him, long since stunned by what he had heard.

At the call he said hurriedly, "Cult Master Shen, is what Qi Jiuyi said true?

" Shen Mu said gravely, "True or not, there is no longer any point in defending Taihuang Heaven! Go at once and mobilize the garrisons of Li City, Mingyi, and the other cities. Have them come here immediately and migrate into Jingping!

" True God Pang Yu hesitated.