Chapter 1624 — No Gods in the World

The You Heavenly Venerable shook his head: "My perception is not wrong. You are using a wondrous Great Dao to mask your killing intent toward the Earth Lord. This Great Dao is most peculiar—but it originates from the Youdu Great Dao, a new Great Dao developed from the Youdu Great Dao. Therefore it cannot deceive me."

Shen Mu continued to activate the Samsara Great Dao, striving to shield his perception, and tested: "And now?"

"I can still sense it, but it is much fainter," said the You Heavenly Venerable.

Shen Mu concentrated his mind and spirit, activating the divine ability of the thirty-first heaven of the Dao Realm—Samsara in Silence, Formless and Nameless.

Behind his head, samsara revolved, dazzling light flashing past.

Shen Mu asked again: "And now?"

Behind the You Heavenly Venerable, his primordial spirit's robes billowed in the light of samsara, flapping loudly. Yet after the Samsara in Silence great divine ability passed through, he still sensed Shen Mu's killing intent toward the Earth Lord, not controlled by that one move, and said: "Fainter still, but already very light. The Earth Lord may not be able to sense your killing intent toward him."

Shen Mu let out a breath of relief. Samsara revolved as he cast the divine ability upon the Ling Heavenly Venerable.

A divine light flashed in the You Heavenly Venerable's eyes. After a moment, he said: "The killing intent on Ling has also diminished greatly. If you approach the Earth Lord now, he will not attack you of his own accord. You may go kill the Earth Lord."

From Shen Mu's actions he had already guessed their purpose—his mind was transparent, and it inspired admiration.

"You know we intend to kill the Earth Lord?" Shen Mu tested.

The You Heavenly Venerable shook his head: "The Hao Heavenly Venerable laid his scheme, using the Earth Lord's life to check you, to make you fall into the trap he prepared. To leap out of the trap and prevent the loss of Shen, Yue, Ling, and the others, you must strike first and kill the Earth Lord. Once the Earth Lord dies, the hostage is gone, and the Hao Heavenly Venerable's trap ceases to exist. I am not a fool. When I sensed the killing intent from you, I knew your purpose."

The Ling Heavenly Venerable looked at him, a trace of appreciation in his eyes.

Shen Mu asked: "You, will you not stop us?"

"The Earth Lord wishes to become the true A'Chou. I will only help him fulfill that. I will not stop you."

The You Heavenly Venerable said: "But you must make thorough preparations. After the Earth Lord dies, what of Youdu?"

The divine light in his eyes gradually dimmed: "The Earth Lord's mortal flesh must not fall into the Heavenly Court's hands. Youdu must not fall into the Heavenly Court's hands. The Youdu Great Dao must not fall under the Heavenly Court's control. These are matters you must attend to after the Earth Lord's death. And these you cannot control."

Shen Mu nodded.

He indeed could not control them.

He needed to prepare for the worst.

He had come to kill the Earth Lord to guard against falling into the trap of the Hao Heavenly Venerable and Taichu, to prevent grievous losses among his own. Yet while the trap could be escaped, the battle of Youdu afterward was unavoidable.

He could slay the Earth Lord and seize the initiative—but the battle of Youdu was also of utmost importance!

The Earth Lord was Youdu. The Earth Lord's mortal flesh bore all of Youdu, including the Youdu Great Dao. The Earth Lord's mortal flesh must not be lost under any circumstances.

His contingency for the worst case was the Earth Lord's Book of Life and Death!

Therefore he must come and steal the Book of Life and Death.

"The Book of Life and Death—you have already stolen it, haven't you?"

The You Heavenly Venerable said suddenly: "When you embraced me as we walked into the estate, you slipped the Book of Life and Death away, didn't you?"

Shen Mu sighed, took out the Book of Life and Death, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward him, saying: "Since you have seen through me, then it is better that the Book of Life and Death remain in your keeping. You are the You Heavenly Venerable, the opener of the Life-Death Divine Treasury. It is fitting that you use the Book of Life and Death to wield divine abilities, to shelter the human race, to strike the human race from the Book of Life and Death."

The You Heavenly Venerable shook his head: "I cannot do it."

Shen Mu was slightly startled.

The You Heavenly Venerable said: "To use the Book of Life and Death to strike all people from its pages—not to mention me, even the Earth Lord could not do it. This Book of Life and Death is a book of impartiality, transformed from the Youdu Great Dao. The Youdu Great Dao cannot go against itself. The Book of Life and Death cannot free the human race from Youdu's control."

Shen Mu frowned deeply.

If the Earth Lord's Book of Life and Death could not guarantee the human race's safety, then when Youdu truly fell into the Heavenly Court's hands, the human race's doomsday would have arrived!

"There is only one thing I can do with the Book of Life and Death."

The You Heavenly Venerable did not push the book back. Instead he placed his palm upon it, his expression calm: "That is—erase everyone's Life-Death Divine Treasury."

Shen Mu's eye twitched. His voice was somewhat hoarse: "After erasing everyone's Life-Death Divine Treasury, what will happen?"

The You Heavenly Venerable said: "All gods will have an end to their lifespans. Only certain powerful beings—such as those proficient in the Dao of Creation—might possibly transcend it."

Shen Mu's heart pounded violently. His throat grew drier and drier. Hoarsely he said: "And the consequence?"

"No gods in the world."

The You Heavenly Venerable looked him straight in the eye and said, word by word: "Do you need me to do this?"