Chapter 1259 — Meeting Another Celestial Master

The Heavenly Court's Four Celestial Masters and Four Heavenly Kings had by now all led their armies into the lands of Taixu, each with a station of their own, each commanding a force of their own. Beyond them were the Four-Colored Great Emperors, who likewise each had an army.

Among the Four Celestial Masters, the First Celestial Master was the Northern Celestial Master, Shang Pingyin; the Second was the Eastern Celestial Master, Meng Yungui; the Third was the Western Celestial Master, Bai Yuqiong; and the Fourth was the Southern Celestial Master, Zhu Shaoping.

Of the Four Heavenly Kings, Shang Pingyin, Bai Yuqiong, and Shen Mu had all met; and as for this Second Celestial Master, Meng Yungui, Shen Mu had never once laid eyes on him, yet had long known his name. Meng Yungui hailed from Yuhuatian, and loved above all else to plunder treasures and wealth, so his reputation was none too good.

The Lame Elder had put Lan Yutian through a rigorous training, and one of its most important trials was to steal from Meng Yungui's treasure vault in Yuhuatian. Old Master Huo, that former Divine Constable and former Tathagata, followed along as well, keeping watch for them, testing for divine-ability traps, and erasing their traces lest any clue be left behind.

Of course, Old Master Huo was not greedy for wealth; he only meant to guide and keep watch over Lan Yutian, this "junior" of his, so that Lan Yutian would not go astray — though the Lame Elder and Lan Yutian did give him a share of the "spoils.

" Shen Mu arrived at the divine city where Meng Yungui's Dongluo Sect was garrisoned, and saw that Meng Yungui governed his troops with strict discipline; his reputation might be poor, but he was truly a master at leading men into battle. "The Heavenly Court's Four Celestial Masters are all men of war, whereas Kaihuang's Four Celestial Masters are not warriors but capable ministers who govern the world.

" Shen Mu murmured, sinking into thought. The Woodcutter, the Scholar, the Old Farmer, the Fisherman: the Woodcutter, Wen Tiange, oversaw the whole course of Kaihuang's reforms and held the main direction; the Scholar, Yan Yunxi, was in charge of military and political reform; the Old Farmer was in charge of reform in the livelihood of the common folk; and the Fisherman was in charge of reform in divine abilities and arts.

The Heavenly Court's Four Celestial Masters, by contrast, set their minds on fighting strength and had no need of reform at all. "The Heavenly Court's Four Celestial Masters are simply four men skilled at drilling troops and waging war, bearing the name of Celestial Master in vain. In grand strategy and the affairs of the heavens, they have accomplished little.

" Shen Mu had just reached this point in his thoughts when a great laugh rang out: "The Celestial Master Mu has come from afar, and Yungui has failed to welcome him. I beg your forgiveness!

" Shen Mu looked toward the sound and saw a middle-aged man striding quickly toward him, his face wreathed in smiles. His upper-lip mustache was very long, hanging down from either side of his mouth, and together with the beard on his lower lip it formed the shape of a fork.

This man was none other than the Eastern Celestial Master, Meng Yungui.

Meng Yungui stepped quickly forward and bowed in salute, smiling: "The Celestial Master Mu has come inspecting along the way, and I, Meng, am quite overwhelmed with awe. I have just returned from the Nether Emperor, Yin Tianzi, who could not praise the Celestial Master enough. He said the Celestial Master's righteousness toward his own reaches the clouds, sending coal in the snow; toward his enemies he is a raging wind and fire, a thunderbolt in method — truly a model for our kind.

" Shen Mu smiled mildly: "What else did Yin Tianzi say?

" Meng Yungui said, "Yin Tianzi also said that when he heard the Celestial Master had suffered an ambush, his heart was filled with dread, and he wished he could gallop over at once to beg the Celestial Master's pardon with brambles on his back; yet with a heavy burden on his shoulders, he dared not leave his post without leave, and he begs the Celestial Master not to take offense. " Shen Mu waved a hand.

"These are trifles. Tell Yin Tianzi that I do not blame him; the enemies who came against me have all been killed, so let him not trouble his heart over it.

" Meng Yungui said with feeling, "The Celestial Master is magnanimous beyond measure. If Yin Tianzi heard this, he would surely weep tears of gratitude and be too choked to speak. " Shen Mu laughed heartily.

Meng Yungui laughed along with him, then changed tack and said gravely, "Celestial Master, I hear the enemy has received reinforcements — the direct old retainers of the traitor Shen Ye, the armies of Fengdu, with several bandit chiefs hidden among them.

These past days two Celestial Masters have inquired of us, saying that with the Fengdu traitors come, I fear Yin Tianzi will find it hard to take Taixu Youdu any time soon. Does the Celestial Master Mu have a plan to deal with this? " Shen Mu pondered a moment, then said, "I too have received word: the Great Emperor has been reborn and has escaped from the Realm of Supreme Consciousness. Compared with the rebel faction of Shen Ye, the Great Emperor is the true threat at our heart.

" Meng Yungui's brows rose, and he said thoughtfully, "The Celestial Master speaks truly; the Great Emperor is indeed the threat at our heart!

But then, how should Fengdu and Taixu Youdu be dealt with? I beg the Celestial Master Mu to instruct me. " "This is simple.

" Shen Mu said with a genial countenance, "My niece, the Celestial Master Xu, is the daughter of Tubo. If she takes a hand, to say nothing of paltry Fengdu, breaking Taixu Youdu will be easy as lifting a finger.

" Meng Yungui laughed softly. "If the Celestial Master Xu goes to attack Taixu Youdu, then Kaihuang and the Creator's God-King will have their chance to join hands and attack the Celestial Master Huo.

The Celestial Master Huo cannot hold up a roof alone.

" "Then transfer another Celestial Master here from the Heavenly Court. " Shen Mu mused for a moment, then said, "Three Celestial Masters will be enough to handle the present situation. " Meng Yungui clapped his hands and laughed. "A fine idea indeed! Might I ask which Celestial Master the Celestial Master Mu thinks should be summoned?

" Shen Mu said in a deep voice, "I believe it must be the Celestial Master Xiao. The Celestial Master Xiao and the Celestial Master Huo are both of the human race and the closest of friends.

If he goes forth, the traitor Shen can be crushed. " Meng Yungui said thoughtfully, "The Celestial Master speaks most truly, most truly.

.

. Does the Celestial Master think that after the Celestial Master Xiao departs, Yuanmu, and the Celestial Master Xiao's divine artifact, the Yutianzun, might be snatched away by bandits who suddenly appear?

" Shen Mu clapped his hands and roared with laughter. Meng Yungui laughed heartily along with him.

Shen Mu praised him: "The Celestial Master Meng is a clever fellow.

Then which Celestial Master do you think should be transferred?

" Meng Yungui smiled.

"How would your servant dare to transfer a Celestial Master? Still, if the Celestial Master Hao could come to Taixu, it would be excellent indeed.

The Celestial Master Hao was not allotted any territory, so he need not worry that after he leaves, bandits will take advantage of the void and seize the divine artifact Yutianzun. Moreover, the Celestial Master Hao's martial power is great; with him here, the chaos in Taixu can be put down. " Shen Mu sighed.

"You rank second among the Four Celestial Masters?

" "Yes.

" Meng Yungui bowed.

Shen Mu looked at him with a dark, deep gaze. "You are very greedy for wealth? " Meng Yungui laughed softly. "A man cannot be without a weakness.

Greed for wealth can spare one from death.