Chapter 1614 — Upheaval in the Netherworld: The Yin Sovereign's Life Is at Risk

Jingping was no longer what it had once been. It commanded tremendous power, with gods countless times more numerous than before, and had produced supreme experts at the Heavenly Venerable level such as Shen Mu.

Jingping also had old-generation masters like Lan Yutian, Xu Shenghua, and Lin Xuan; its myriad overseer foundries could forge the mightiest divine artifacts in the world; and the wealth of its people was breathtaking.

It had quietly become the most powerful terrestrial divine kingdom among all the great heavens. Moreover, Shen Mu's connections were vast, and he could help Jingping join hands with the Land of No Sorrow and the Crimson-Bright Sky-Hanging Realm.

Add to that Kaihuang, the You Heavenly Venerable, the Ling Heavenly Venerable, the Yue Heavenly Venerable, and Langwo, along with the Yun Heavenly Venerable high in the ultimate void, and their side was not much weaker than the Heavenly Court. But if the Nether Capital fell under the Heavenly Court's control and fighting truly broke out, the Heavenly Court could level the Primal World in a few years, or even a few months.

For the Heavenly Court's core strength was too abundant and too mighty. It ruled the heavens and all worlds, sweeping every person of outstanding talent among them into its ranks.

There were more than a hundred Emperor-Throne powerhouses alone, and even if one of the Four Emperors of the Four Directions was slain in battle, new Four Emperors could be appointed at any time. Once war truly erupted, if only Shen Mu, Kaihuang, and the others could be held back, the Heavenly Court's core strength could wipe out the Land of No Sorrow, Jingping, and the Sky-Hanging Realm all at once. "The Earl of Earth may free himself, but the people of the world cannot be freed.

" Shen Mu settled his mind and said, "Dao Brother, once Hao Heavenly Venerable has attained the Dao, no one can oppose him.

Add to that the Heavenly Court's towering resources, holding both the Mystic Capital and the Nether Capital, and the Heavenly Court remains unbeatable. If the Nether Capital falls into the Heavenly Court's hands, then what is there left to fight for?

I might as well strip off my clothes, tie myself up, go to the Heavenly Court, kneel before Hao Heavenly Venerable, and declare myself his subject! " There was no hiding the resentment in his words.

The Duke of Heaven hesitated, then said, "Actually, the reason the Heavenly Court decided to move against the Nether Capital this time is that the Earl of Earth, while using the Great Dao of the Nether Capital to seize you, also killed all the Heavenly Court soldiers at Jade Lock Pass in one stroke, giving the Heavenly Court the pretext it needed.

These days the Heavenly Court has been notifying all the great heavens, denouncing the Earl of Earth's crimes and raising the banner of a punitive campaign. The Earl of Earth is seeking his own death. His Achou-self, the Earl of Earth, is there in the Forest of Karma-Fire Steles.

Perhaps you should go ask him. .

.

" Shen Mu bowed and took his leave, then went to find Achou, Earl of Earth. Achou, Earl of Earth, was bound in chains, suffering the karmic fire that came from every living being across the heavens and myriad worlds. He knelt with his head bowed, as if bearing the endless suffering of the world. Shen Mu watched him for a while, then said, "Earl of Earth, when you die, into whose hands will the Nether Capital fall?

Who will succeed you as Earl of Earth?

" The chains clanked loudly as Achou, Earl of Earth, slowly raised his head. "Heavenly Venerable Mu, after I die, the Nether Capital will fall into the hands of the You Heavenly Venerable and Shen Fengqing, and Shen Fengqing will succeed me as Earl of Earth. For a million years, the You Heavenly Venerable, as the Benevolent Sage King Equal to Heaven, has handled all matters of the Nether Capital and knows it thoroughly. Shen Fengqing is the divine son of the Nether Capital and holds its power, though ambition is hard to find in him. But with the You Heavenly Venerable assisting him, he can make a good Earl of Earth.

" Shen Mu said coldly, "And the Xu Heavenly Venerable?

And the Son of Heaven of Yin? The Heavenly Court is making war on the Nether Capital for the sake of the whole Netherworld!

To hold the Netherworld is to hold the lives of everyone!

With the present strength we have, the Heavenly Court need only move the stars of the heavens from the Mystic Capital, and we will not be able to spare a single soldier to protect the Nether Capital! " He expelled a turbid breath and said patiently, "If the Heavenly Court takes the Nether Capital, it takes every life in existence. Earl of Earth, you also hold the Nether Capital, and every life in the world is now in your hands. If you are willing, you can slaughter all the gods of the Heavenly Court in one stroke and sweep away the Heavenly Court's advantage entirely. You take charge of killing off the gods, and I will take charge of eliminating the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Venerables!

That way, the entire situation can be settled. " "The Way of the Nether Capital does not allow me to lay hands on the living, unless they are those who have violated the Way of the Nether Capital. " Karmic fire blazed in Achou, Earl of Earth's, three eyes as he said, "Heavenly Venerable Mu, rest assured. I will not let the Nether Capital fall into the hands of the Heavenly Court.

I will take the Xu Heavenly Venerable into seclusion and live as ordinary mortals. As for the Son of Heaven of Yin, he is no match for the young Earl of Earth, let alone capable of mastering the Nether Capital. " Shen Mu burst into laughter. "Will the Xu Heavenly Venerable be willing to go into seclusion with you? Earl of Earth, the Xu Heavenly Venerable may be your daughter, but she has no familial love for you!

She is one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables!

She is a weapon cultivated by the Heavenly Emperor Taichu to use against you! " Achou, Earl of Earth, said calmly, "She is still my daughter. " Shen Mu flicked his sleeve, passed through layer upon layer of karmic fire, and came before Achou, Earl of Earth.

The Dao of Reincarnation kept him untouched by any karmic fire, and however violent the flames there were, they could not harm him in the least. The vertical eye in Shen Mu's forehead opened, and he stood face to face with Achou, Earl of Earth; six eyes met, and each saw the fixation in the other's gaze. "She is one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables," Shen Mu said.

Achou, Earl of Earth, looked straight at him.

"She is my daughter. I am Achou.

" Shen Mu clenched his fists.

With a rattle, Achou, Earl of Earth, pulled the chains taut and leaned forward until the two of them were nearly nose to nose, still staring fixedly into each other's eyes.

"Heavenly Venerable Mu, you are asking me to violate the Great Dao of the Nether Capital, to slaughter the innocent, and to send hundreds of millions of the Heavenly Court's gods and demons to their doom.

If I did that, how would I be any different from the Ten Heavenly Venerables? " Demonic fire shot from his nostrils, scorching Shen Mu's face.

Shen Mu said coldly, "And when you sit idle in the future while hundreds of millions of gods and demons from the Heavenly Court slaughter hundreds of millions of living beings in Jingping, how will you be any different from the Ten Heavenly Venerables? " "Stop arguing!

" the Duke of Heaven, his whole body ablaze, came hobbling over to mediate.