Chapter 753 — Expanding the Celestial Palace
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
His face wore a delighted smile, seemingly stirred beyond measure, and he thought to himself: "You are dead—your soul scattered, your spirit gone. You cannot possibly have come back to life. So who is this person impersonating you? This art of remodeling the body's structure, changing one's face and temperament, is indeed exquisite. I cannot expose you, for to expose you would expose myself; others would learn that you died at my hands. But you are perfectly capable of exposing yourself."
The altar stood very high, so that everyone below could see what transpired upon it.
Shen Mu stepped onto the dais, and the Heavenly Venerable Hao spread his arms and embraced him tightly, so overcome with emotion that he sobbed and wept. In his heart, however, he thought: "The true Heavenly Venerable Yu taught me the art of becoming a god, but taught it to no one else. You do not understand that art, so I need only wait for you to expose yourself. When that happens, you will be branded the butcher who killed the Heavenly Venerable Yu, and every man will cry for your death!"
He released Shen Mu and wiped the tears from his eyes.
Shen Mu laughed heartily. "Heavenly Venerable Hao, I have returned from the dead—why all this play-acting? Please, be seated."
Hao Tianzun sat down, his eyes red. "Father-Brother is still alive. I thought you had perished; I kept vigil over your spirit for ten days and buried you with my own hands. Yet you pull this trick, and it truly shocks and delights this younger brother. Who was it that plotted against you?"
"Two people who were close to me."
Shen Mu smiled. "One struck down my physical body, and the other destroyed my soul."
The Underworld Lord's hands trembled. Hao Tianzun's pupils contracted.
Shen Mu's body moved abruptly, and before the eyes of tens of thousands, he drove his fist into the center of Hao Tianzun's back.
"This is the very move he used to shatter my heart!"
The Underworld Lord started in fright, but Hao Tianzun stood as immovable as a mountain, because Shen Mu's punch had carried no force whatsoever!
Shen Mu's body darted, swift as lightning, his attacks fierce and overbearing. Every fist and kick was clearly shown for all to see!
"He used this move to smash my ribs!"
"He used this move to break my finger bones!"
"He snapped my arm like this!"
...
Shen Mu moved like a gale and lightning, and in the span of a few brief moments reenacted the scene of the Heavenly Venerable Yu's assassination. Cold sweat dripped down Hao Tianzun's forehead, and he laughed. "Father-Brother gave me quite a scare. And how, then, did the other one destroy your soul?"
Shen Mu's primal energy erupted—gusts of yin wind rose, sorrowful clouds hung drear—he was about to unleash his divine art.
Seeing this, the Underworld Lord crashed to the floor with a thud and fainted dead away.
Shen Mu pointed at the center of Hao Tianzun's brow, saying, "In the instant my physical body died, the other person used this very move to destroy my soul."
Hao Tianzun revealed a sincere smile and said with utmost earnestness, "But thankfully, Father-Brother did not die. Heaven favors the good—your safe return is the greatest of blessings! See, Chaojin has fainted from agitation. Since Father-Brother has come, I shall not overstep my role. I humbly ask Father-Brother to personally expound the art that can make all beings gods! This younger brother will take his leave first..."
Shen Mu seized his wrist, laughing heartily. "Since I have already passed the art of becoming a god to you, then this time, you and I shall expound it together. I will speak a section, and you will speak a section."
Hao Tianzun said joyfully, "Father-Brother honors me—how could I refuse? Then let Father-Brother open with the discourse, and I shall speak the second section!"
Shen Mu, his wide robe and ample sleeves flowing, sat down and gestured for Hao Tianzun to take his seat.
Hao Tianzun sat, smiling. "After you, Father-Brother."