Chapter 1549 — Utterly Shameless

And then you will make your move against me.

" Shen Mu sneered in return: "Don't make yourself out to be so noble!

You and I are in the same boat — are you not waiting for my lifespan to burn away and my looks to fail? My cultivation is weaker than yours, so you assumed I would age faster than you. Now that you see I have not aged, you have turned murderous.

" Qiang Tianfei stepped forward, her two God-Slaying Mystic Sabers dancing, churning the chaos qi all around, and said coldly: "Hand over the treasure that lets you evade the assault of the kalpa of destruction, and let me stay as young as you, and I will not make things hard for you; we shall go on sharing this boat. Otherwise, this little boat will be your grave.

" "I cannot hand it over. " Shen Mu laughed heartily, gripping the Kalpa Sword tighter: "Tai Di, you are afraid that once you are old you will no longer be my match, aren't you? " Qiang Tianfei could endure no more, and struck with all her fury.

Far away, on a Dao Tree, Hao Tianzun and the others followed the little boat at an unhurried pace. By now Hao Tianzun had become a middle-aged man, had grown a beard, and stroking it he laughed: "The little boat of Mu Tianzun and Tai Di — indeed, it capsizes at the drop of a hat. " Huo Tianzun's voice was deep and resonant, clearly much aged as well, but he wore a mask, so it was impossible to tell how far the years had taken him.

He said: "Brother Hao's dharma-eye is without peer; you knew that the friendship of such petty folk could never last. " Zu Shenwang's eyes flickered: "This is our opportunity. " Elsewhere, Xiao Tianzun and the others were also watching the battle between Shen Mu and Qiang Tianfei on that little boat, their eyes flickering. Beside him, Yan Tianfei had aged too; Shi Qiluo and Langxuan Shenhuang had each entered middle age, and like Qiang Tianfei they could feel the erosion of the years upon their bodies at every moment.

"Why has Mu Tianzun not aged?

" Xiao Tianzun's gaze was strange.

The two Taiji Ancient Gods had aged somewhat as well, and each of them frowned.

This aging could not be halted by any mystic art of creation; this was the aging of the great Dao, and even ancient gods such as they could not avoid it. On the little boat, Shen Mu and Qiang Tianfei were truly foes meeting on a narrow path; the instant they struck, both unleashed killing moves. Shen Mu directly deployed his Primal Embryo Divine Treasury domain and stabbed out with the thirtieth heaven of his sword dao, the Kalpa-Breaking Sword.

At the same time, Qiang Tianfei closed in and cut her way into his domain, her two blood-fiend god sabers transforming into two raging dragons that swept away everything before them. In that narrow space, in the single instant of collision, each took a hit. Shen Mu was struck by the God-Slaying Mystic Sabers, and his qi and blood poured madly into the blades.

Shen Mu's sword pierced Qiang Tianfei between the brows, its sword light sweeping away all resistance and shattering every last one of her great Daos.

Suddenly their eyes met, and both stopped at once.

Shen Mu sheathed his sword, Qiang Tianfei withdrew her sabers, and each took a step back. "How did it come to this?

" Qiang Tianfei sighed: "Younger brother, after all we are true brothers born of different fathers and different mothers.

How did it come to this? " Shen Mu's eyes reddened, and he choked out: "Elder brother speaks truly. It was this little brother who was rash.

I did not hurt you just now, did I, elder brother?

" "Fine, fine.

Thankfully you withdrew your sword in time.

" Qiang Tianfei wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said with weighty earnestness: "Brothers fight at home and march to war as father and son.

We are true brothers born of different fathers and different mothers; for outsiders to see us butchering each other would make us the laughingstock of the world.

This matter is my fault too — your elder brother was wrong, and your elder brother apologizes to you.

" "It was this little brother's fault!

" Shen Mu said, wiping away his tears.

Qiang Tianfei sighed: "We cannot let outsiders laugh at us again.

Younger brother, calm your anger; let us both cool our heads. " Shen Mu agreed, and the two sat down, one at the bow and one at the stern as before.

Qiang Tianfei's eye twitched: "This boat is too small to fight properly.

. . " "The boat is too small.

" At the bow, Shen Mu's eye twitched as well: "If I kill her, I will be killed by her at the same time.

It seems I must wait — wait until she grows older. And as my cultivation grows ever stronger and hers ever weaker, my chances will only multiply.

" Qiang Tianfei's eyes flashed.

Recalling how Shen Mu had struck earlier, she thought: "The reason he can evade the assault of the kalpa of destruction must be that tree in his domain.

Now that I know the cause, I need only find an opportunity, kill him, and take that tree for myself.

" "These two are shameless beyond words. " On the Dao Tree, Hao Tianzun said to the four Tianzuns traveling with him: "The reason Mu Tianzun does not age is that strange tree in his domain. What say you all?

"