Chapter 1260 — The Peerless Emperor

Heavenly Venerable Xu was clad all in black, her long robe like a black waterfall, cinched at the waist and then spreading wide like a skirt to sweep the ground. Atop her head two horns rose high, like rivers of magma, twisting through nine bends and eighteen turns, striking to the eye. Her eyes shifted, her gaze settling on Meng Yungui, and she said softly, "What makes you say that?

" Meng Yungui reached out and gave a light wipe through the air; one after another, portraits of Shen Mu flew up and floated before Heavenly Venerable Xu.

"Please look, Heavenly Venerable. " He displayed the portraits one by one, analyzing Shen Mu's character.

"In this painting, I had told him I went to see the Yin Son of Heaven, and that the Yin Son of Heaven could not praise him enough.

He humbly said it was a trifling matter — and yet in the painting the corner of his mouth lifts slightly, and his pupils are a little dilated. That is the outward sign of secret smugness. " He took up another painting and went on. "This is from when he heard me ask what countermeasures we should take. His gaze flickered, and he steered the conversation elsewhere.

" Painting after painting, he analyzed on, every point neatly reasoned. Heavenly Venerable Xu listened in silence.

Then, all at once, Meng Yungui swept his palm; every portrait burst into flame and swiftly crumbled to ash.

Heavenly Venerable Xu was taken aback. "And yet all of it is false!

" Meng Yungui said coldly.

Heavenly Venerable Xu tilted her head and looked at him.

"What makes you say that?

" "Every subtle expression in these paintings, every flicker of inner feeling — all of it is false! Even when I exposed his aim and named his design — to steal the Primeval Wood and carry off the divine artifact, Heavenly Venerable Yu — and he laughed loudly to cover it, that too was false! " Meng Yungui said in a low voice, "He only said such things on purpose to blind me, to manufacture an illusion for me, to make me think his depths are not unfathomable. Not one expression on his face can be trusted!

In my presence he has never once let slip what he truly thinks! To bring that off, he must have been trained from childhood, raised from childhood to make a habit of disguise! " Heavenly Venerable Xu asked, "Then why do you say Heavenly Venerable Mu must die? " Meng Yungui's eyes flashed with keen light. "Heavenly Venerable Mu is by no means a man who can be changed; more than that, he is changing the situation in the Heavenly Court. After the divine artifact, Heavenly Venerable Yu, was forged, did you not think then that the world was about to know peace?

" Heavenly Venerable Xu nodded slightly.

"And yet? " Meng Yungui continued, "It is precisely because Heavenly Venerable Mu came up to the Heavenly Court that the Ten Heavenly Venerables fell out among themselves. On the surface there is no split, but I can see that a great rift has opened between the Ten Heavenly Venerables. And beyond that, there is the return of Heavenly Venerable Shen.

Had there been no Heavenly Venerable Mu, Heavenly Venerable Shen would not have returned!

And had Heavenly Venerable Shen not appeared, Taixu would not be in its present state, the Heavenly Court would not have been split open by a single sword stroke from Heavenly Venerable Shen!

The Ancestral Court would never have come into being! " "More frightening still: the Dao-hearts of every god under heaven have been left flawed by the Heavenly Court's division! It is this man, Heavenly Venerable Mu, who stirred up the present situation! " Meng Yungui said loudly, "Without him, the Lord of Heaven and the Earth Lord would never have joined hands, and the Great Emperor would never have returned to life! Heavenly Venerable Yue would only have gone on sinking, and would never have stirred with the wish to walk abroad again! Therefore Heavenly Venerable Mu must die! Give the word, Heavenly Venerable, and your subordinate can see to it — it will be done beautifully, without leaving the slightest trace!

" Heavenly Venerable Xu frowned slightly. "Set this matter aside for now.

As for Heavenly Venerable Shen, the Lord of Heaven, and the Earth Lord, the Heavenly Court has its plans. Celestial Master Meng, let me ask you: if I mean to survive in the days to come, should I agree to a marriage alliance with Heavenly Venerable Huo? " Meng Yungui's body gave a slight shudder, and he bowed his head. "This subject does not understand. " Heavenly Venerable Xu said mildly, "You do not understand?

You understand very well. Your greed for wealth is only to give others a handle on you; with a handle on you, the Heavenly Venerables will not move against you. Meng Yungui, you are my man. There is no need for such caution.

Speak plainly.

" Meng Yungui bent even lower and lowered his voice. "In a marriage alliance with Heavenly Venerable Huo, what you have your eye on must be Heavenly Venerable Hao's power, is that not so? " Heavenly Venerable Xu nodded slightly. Meng Yungui quietly turned his head and lifted his eyelids, studying her every movement; only when he saw her nod did he go on.

"Then may I ask, Heavenly Venerable — if you enter a marriage alliance with Heavenly Venerable Huo, will Heavenly Venerable Hao value you the more, or value Heavenly Venerable Huo the more? " Heavenly Venerable Xu smiled.

"Go on.

" Meng Yungui took his courage in hand. "He will of course value Heavenly Venerable Huo the more. But Heavenly Venerable Huo is of the human race — how could Heavenly Venerable Hao ever trust him without reserve? In time, if Heavenly Venerable Hao truly unifies the world, he will surely move against Heavenly Venerable Huo; and if you marry Heavenly Venerable Huo, you will suffer the same fate.

" "When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked.

I understand the principle," Heavenly Venerable Xu said with a nod. "Since it is Heavenly Venerable Hao's power you have your eye on, why sew a wedding dress for Heavenly Venerable Huo? Bow your head directly and acknowledge Heavenly Venerable Hao's leadership; then, when Heavenly Venerable Hao carries out his purge, you will not be dragged down along with Heavenly Venerable Huo. " Meng Yungui said in a low voice, "Heavenly Venerable Hao cannot tolerate a human Heavenly Venerable Huo, but he can tolerate a demigod Heavenly Venerable Xu. This is the way for you to preserve your life in the days to come.

" Heavenly Venerable Xu looked at him.

Meng Yungui bent lower still, almost prostrate on the ground. Suddenly Heavenly Venerable Xu burst out laughing. "And what if the one who wins in the end is Heavenly Venerable Mu? " Meng Yungui's bowed body could no longer hold itself up; with a thud he dropped to his knees, prostrate on the ground, not daring to speak.

"Get up. " Heavenly Venerable Xu said, neither warm nor cold, "There is no need for such caution before me.

For all your calculating, you did not reckon what changes the Great Emperor's return to life would bring.

The Great Emperor is the true threat to our heart and vitals.

Now that he has returned to life, he will certainly not settle down quietly.

" Her figure gradually faded, and her voice came through: "Whether to kill Heavenly Venerable Mu or not, set that aside for now.

The Great Emperor is the chief concern at present. He still has not left Taixu; he is lurking here still. " Meng Yungui cautiously climbed to his feet and murmured, "Heavenly Venerable Mu came to see what I am capable of. I wonder what he saw.

. . " "This man, Celestial Master Meng, is quite remarkable.

" Shen Mu had come to the divine city of the First Celestial Master, Shang Pingyin, and walked through the Heavenly Court's great camp, where Heavenly Court officers and soldiers came and went, their troops magnificent. "In the courtyard behind him there are many Heavenly Court painters.

These painters have not yet even entered the gate of the Dao of painting.