Chapter 153 — My Body Is a Hegemon Body

When they reached the summit, they saw a luxury beyond compare: towers and palaces all ablaze with golden light, the pillars beneath the great hall alone so thick that two men could not span them with their arms, and golden statues even more numerous, with many grassland barbarians standing beneath the golden figures. Suddenly one of the golden statues moved. Shen Mu's heart lurched, and only then did he realize these were no golden statues but great shamans, one and all!

The great shamans of Loulan's Golden Palace had refined their bodies until they seemed cast of pure gold, radiating golden light! Before the Golden Palace, beneath a towering gate, great shamans stood like radiant deities, majestic and solemn.

At their head was an elder with golden hair and a golden body, tall and powerfully built, robed all in gold, a staff in hand, a feather crown on his head, his voice like a great bell: "Martial Khagan, you have roamed free for so many years.

Why deliver yourself to our door today? " "'Deliver yourself to our door' — well said. Qingniu, set down the mountain gate! " With a thunderous crash Qingniu set down the mountain gate.

Libationer Bashan laughed heartily: "Shaman Venerable, I have brought you your mountain gate.

These golden senior brothers here — it seems most of them have had a beating from me. In those days I blocked your gate for a hundred days and wounded or killed no small number. The strong I could not spare, so I had no choice but to kill them; the weak all survived my hands. And these weak ones are precisely the honored company seated here today.

" At these words an uproar swept the mountain. The elder generation of Loulan's Golden Palace were furious beyond restraint, and a killing chill filled the air.

Libationer Bashan's tongue was too venomous by half; in one breath he had offended every expert of Loulan's Golden Palace and roused the anger of the crowd. Add to that carrying their mountain gate up the mountain, and this matter could hardly end peacefully.

One of the great shamans, his features stern, his voice like the clashing of metal and stone, said coldly: "Our wounds healed long ago. These years the Golden Palace has husbanded its strength, and we have long wished to cross hands with the Martial Khagan once more and wash away our former shame. " Libationer Bashan smiled: "There will be a chance.

But this visit, I have come to block your gate, not to beat you to death. " He led Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu forward to the golden mountain gate, looked up and studied it, recalling the past, and said with feeling: "In those years I stood beneath this very gate with my honored master and beat many men to death.

. .

" The great shamans, golden and godlike, glared at him with eyes that seemed to spit fire. Libationer Bashan turned back, winked at Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu, and said with a smile: "And now, this mountain gate is yours to handle. " Ling Yuxiu was somewhat uneasy and said in a low voice: "Teacher, the rules here seem different from those in Jingping.

" Libationer Bashan kept his smile, his voice like a mosquito's whine: "When the Daoist sects and the Great Thunderclap Temple came to block the Grand Academy's gate, it was only a contest of victory and defeat, not of life and death; after the fighting all was amiable.

But here, every blow is struck to kill. If you wish to spare your opponent's life, you may — but when you meet an expert who is your equal, and a kill is required, it becomes very hard to hold back. In those years I met many experts here who were my equals, and so no small number died. " Ling Yuxiu's scalp went numb. Shen Mu steadied himself too, drew a long breath.

At last, the rules of the Wilderness Ruins.

The rules of the Wilderness Ruins were the same!

The Shaman Venerable walked over to the golden mountain gate, his gaze falling on Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu, and said unhurriedly: "The gate-blocking shall follow the old rules — life and death not reckoned.

But beyond that, the title of Martial Khagan is one I must reclaim as well — life and death not reckoned! " Libationer Bashan's expression did not change. He said in a clear voice: "Gentlemen, both of them are of the Five Luminaries realm.

" "We understand the rules of gate-blocking.

" The Shaman Venerable's face was as still as an ancient well.

He tapped his staff and said calmly: "Disciples of the Golden Palace, hear my command: contend with them at the Five Luminaries realm, and if they are beaten to death, let it not be questioned. Whoever dares exceed the Five Luminaries realm, I will have his life!

" His voice was not loud, yet it carried over the whole mountain.

No sooner had the Shaman Venerable spoken than he turned to Libationer Bashan and showed a faint smile: "Martial Khagan, in those years the Heavenly Khagan brought you to block our Golden Palace's gate. The Heavenly Khagan's divine powers were boundless, and of course he was worthy of admiration. But you are not the Heavenly Khagan.

" Libationer Bashan's face turned grave. He stepped through the mountain gate, his voice threading into Shen Mu's and Ling Yuxiu's minds: "Junior brother, Princess, rest easy. So long as they have not killed me, they will still challenge you according to the rules.

If they do kill me, then you are in peril as well.

" Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu felt a chill in their hearts. Their safety hung upon Libationer Bashan's life. If Libationer Bashan were stripped of the name of Martial Khagan and done away with, then killing Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu afterward would leak no word to anyone; the reputation of Loulan's Golden Palace would suffer no harm, and the outside world would never know of this challenge.

And the experts who had come from the grasslands to watch the battle all submitted to the rule of Loulan's Golden Palace; at a single command from the Golden Palace, they would say nothing. But if Libationer Bashan walked out of Loulan's Golden Palace alive, then this matter would be blabbed abroad by that great loudmouth Bashan; not only would the whole grassland know, but likely all under heaven would know.

Libationer Bashan was absolutely capable of it. By then, the face of Loulan's Golden Palace would be utterly swept away.

Therefore, before Libationer Bashan died, Loulan's Golden Palace would absolutely not gang up on Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu; they would only act according to the rules.

"Master, don't get beaten to death," Qingniu called out loudly.

Libationer Bashan's step faltered; he turned and glared: "When we get back, it's beef for you! " Qingniu hastily ducked his head.

"Two young things, reckless and bold.

Do you know you are blocking the gate of a holy land?

" Suddenly a voice came from behind Shen Mu.

Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu rose and looked down the mountain, and saw many shamans of strange appearance walking up, blocking the way they had come.

One of the shamans stepped forward, a faint golden light shimmering about him, horns on his head, wings on his back, a bird's beak — this manner of cultivation that transformed one toward the inhuman was truly rarely seen. "Senior brother," Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu saluted.

But the Golden Palace shaman did not return the salute. His voice rang out, forceful and clear: "Courtesy is a thing of your Jingping.

My Loulan Golden Palace has no such abundance of rules.

After I kill you, I will absorb your souls to cultivate my divine powers. People like you are far stronger than those slaves, and your souls are incomparably tough — there is nothing better for refining divine powers! " Shen Mu's eyes flickered. He said: "Little sister, I'll go first this time, and sound out their arts and divine powers.

" Ling Yuxiu nodded.