Chapter 1646 — A Loyal Dog

"That old dog Huo's rebellious bone is about to pierce through the heavens!

" After the celebration, Emperor Hao saw the others off, keeping back only the Son of Heaven Yin, the Void Heavenly Master, and the Patriarch God King. Then his rage erupted in full, and he said fiercely, "He is not holding out for a price — he knows We cannot pay him a good one, and so he sold himself to Taichu long ago!

" The Son of Heaven Yin dared not speak. The Void Heavenly Master and the Patriarch God King exchanged a glance, and the Patriarch God King said, "Your Majesty, the Fire Heavenly Master is of another race after all — not of our kind. " Emperor Hao expelled a breath of foul air and paced quickly to and fro. He sneered, "He still thinks this is the old days, thinks We cannot do without him. He is too insolent!

He dared to keep Langxuan alive, and We already could not tolerate him — and then he went and sold Langxuan to Taichu! What audacity! " The Void Heavenly Master said, "He joins hands with Taichu, and the Taiji Ancient Gods lend their strength.

In a few more years, when Langxuan recovers to his peak, he will likely be able to stand against Your Majesty as an equal. " Emperor Hao gave an angry snort, then his face broke into a smile. "A good dog of Ours has turned and bitten Us.

Good. Very good.

But We have long been prepared.

Empress Mother! " Lady Yuanmu answered lazily from behind the screen and said with a smile, "Hao'er, Taichu is not worth worrying about. Set your mind at ease. " The Void Heavenly Master and the Patriarch God King were startled; they exchanged another glance and said nothing.

Emperor Hao smiled. "Our beloved minister Huo, you have a rebellious bone — very good. We were worried you would not dare rebel.

You are, after all, Our greatest minister of merit; We had no reason to kill you, lest the hearts of Our ministers turn cold. But now you have forced Our hand. " Taichu returned to Da'an Palace, the residence of the Retired Emperor after his abdication — for the name meant Great Peace: once one had stepped down, one no longer entangled oneself in the struggles for power, and so had great peace.

There in Da'an Palace, Taichu, Taiji, and the Fire Heavenly Master each took a seat. Taichu smiled.

"The Heavenly Master spoke out for justice. I admire it. " The Fire Heavenly Master shook his head.

"It is simply that the Heavenly Emperor can no longer offer me any benefit, and so I have thrown in my lot with the Retired Emperor. " Taichu laughed heartily. "Hao'er's becoming Emperor means not only that he will give you no benefits — he will even take back the benefits he gave you before! How will that command the allegiance of the masses? It will only chill the hearts of those who served with merit. " The Fire Heavenly Master sneered, "He cannot give me benefits, and what he gave before he wants to take back. Where in the world is there such a bargain?

The Patriarch God King holds Xuandu, the Void Heavenly Master holds Youdu; even the Son of Heaven Yin, a dog that does nothing but kneel and lick, could scrape out a seat as a Heavenly Master and half of Youdu! I toiled and sweated to win him the world, and in the end he wants to take back even the Southern Heaven from me! If I do not rebel against him, Heaven itself would not permit it! " Taichu nodded.

"Work with me, and you may keep the Southern Heaven, and share in the wealth of Jingping. Jingping must not fall into anyone's hands — least of all Emperor Hao's. If it falls to him, we shall never rise again!

" The Fire Heavenly Master nodded, then his gaze fell upon the two Taiji Ancient Gods.

"He has the support of the Third Young Master and the Fourth Young Master. I fear our chances of victory are slim. " "The Third Young Master supports him only as a temporary measure.

" Taichu smiled.

"His calculations are shrewd. By not letting the Third Young Master and the Fourth Young Master descend, he has surely bred their discontent.

And their discontent is our opportunity. " The Fire Heavenly Master let out a breath of relief. The two Taiji Ancient Gods exchanged a glance and said, "The Heavenly Emperor Hao will surely make his move against our dao friend Huo. He will find it hard to tolerate you.

You must be careful. " The Fire Heavenly Master said lightly, "We are all of the Seven Heavenly Masters of Longhan, beings of the Creation realm.

He is indeed more formidable than I — but killing me will not be easy. The Divine Emperor Langxuan is in your two hands now.

How long until he is restored to his peak? " The Solar Ancient God smiled.

"Ten years at most.

The Divine Emperor Langxuan will surely surpass his former self!

" The Fire Heavenly Master laughed heartily, bowed, and said, "I have yet to congratulate you two dao brothers on becoming Heavenly Masters! " The two Ancient Gods exchanged the customary courtesies, and the Fire Heavenly Master rose to take his leave. Taichu personally escorted him out of Da'an Palace. "Does Your Majesty trust the Fire Heavenly Master? " Lady Taiyin asked suddenly. "I do not. " Taichu shook his head.

"The Fire Heavenly Master has betrayed too many. In the year the Heavenly Master Yu died, he feared the strong, and the first one he betrayed was himself — he betrayed his own heart and went over to Hao'er.

Afterward he betrayed his closest friend, the Heavenly Master Yun; when the Heavenly Master Yun died, he betrayed his own race.

Now he betrays Hao'er and comes to me.

How am I to know he will not betray me in the future? " The Solar Ancient God said, "With a man like the Fire Heavenly Master, use him while he can be used; when he cannot, kill him.

" Taichu smiled. "That is my thought as well.

" Jingping, Wendao Academy.

Yu Chenzi returned from the Heaven Court and reported to Shen Mu, recounting his experiences there in full, omitting nothing, down to the smallest detail. Shen Mu listened quietly, now and again asking about particulars, and Yu Chenzi told him all, one by one, not daring to leave out the slightest thing. After a long while, Shen Mu smiled. "The Fire Heavenly Master is going to die. " Yu Chenzi said, "When I left the Heaven Court I picked up word that Emperor Hao intends to confer rewards upon the ministers of merit, and that the Fire Heavenly Master's merit is the greatest of all.

Emperor Hao will make him Supreme of Equal Heaven, Holy Exalted of Virtuous Heaven. The Fire Heavenly Master was once only a Holy Exalted, peerless among heaven and man; this time he is to be a Supreme Equal of Heaven, equal with the Heavenly Emperor himself!

" Shen Mu smiled. "Emperor Hao can grant him no benefit but a title.

And when titles are conferred, death is near. " Yu Chenzi smiled.

"That too is thanks to the Imperial Teacher of Jingping for sending the Divine Emperor Langxuan over — sent at precisely the right moment. " Shen Mu laughed heartily and rose to his feet. "The Fire Heavenly Master's death is something I must see with my own eyes — to see off this old friend of mine!

" He smiled slightly.

"I am still a little worried that Emperor Hao will not do the job thoroughly enough.

The Fire Heavenly Master was, after all, one of the Nine Heavenly Masters of Longhan in those years, and there are talents he keeps at the bottom of the chest that he has never once revealed. " A murderous light showed in his eyes, then was hidden away.

Yu Chenzi smiled, bowed, and said, "I await good news from the Imperial Teacher of Jingping! " Shen Mu fetched a piece of mortal wood and carved it into a scabbard, sheathed the Tribulation Sword within it, and walked out of Wendao Academy. On the Golden Ship of Salvation, the round, rolling Taishi and Shen Fengqing, now a youth in form, were sneaking about the ship, scouting the way. Seeing him come aboard, Taishi said in a fluster, "Heavenly Master Mu, your ship is haunted! "