Chapter 1759 — Showdown at the Peak

Shen Mu sat within the coffin and slowly turned his head again. Those fifty Dao-Slaying Divine Nails truly hurt; every movement sent a piercing pain through his heart.

Yet it was thanks to those nails that the Dao wound the Third Young Master had inflicted on him was held in check, leaving him vigor enough to study the Daoist arts and divine powers hidden within that wound. Seizing the chance to reopen his divine treasury and remake his primordial spirit, he had wiped away the injuries to treasury and spirit alike, leaving only the wounds of the flesh.

Once that last matter was settled, his cultivation would be fully restored, and greater than before. "The Third Young Master's art was one the master of Miluo Palace devised to counter the Lord of Tiandu. Against me it was more than sufficient; only, my path of cultivation differs from the Lord of Tiandu's, and so it did not take my life at a single stroke.

" He studied the Dao wound in his injuries closely, then suddenly laughed aloud inside the coffin: "The Third Young Master was unwise. I obtained but a single Miluo Palace dao pattern, yet he has gifted me so many, and our teacher's great divine art besides! " In Lanfeng Valley, many old acquaintances were walking over, meaning to check on him; hearing laughter from the coffin, they could not help exchanging glances. "I knew he would not die," said the Village Head, and he remarked to the Steward with much regret, "Good men do not live long; calamity endures a thousand years.

How could Shen'er possibly die? " The Steward nodded again and again. Ling Yuxiu hurried to the coffin and saw Shen Mu sitting inside, his face sallow as wax; her heart ached beyond measure.

Shen Mu laughed. "My lady, my wounds are not grave.

At most ten years, at least five, and I shall be healed.

" Seeing the coffin nails driven all over his body, five of them through the crown of his head, Ling Yuxiu could not hold back her tears. Choking, she said, "These coffin nails are Xing Han's work.

So cruel, and I treated him so kindly.

. .

" "So it was Xing Han's doing. " Shen Mu was astonished.

"I wondered who had deliberately left me such a gaping flaw. Xing Han is a warm heart beneath a cold face; I misjudged him before. " For all his fathomless cunning, he did not know that Xing Han had in truth left him only a one-percent flaw; it was Taichu who mistook Xing Han's intent and left a flaw of one hundred percent.

"My lady, lift your head and look.

When the war at Xuandu ends, that will be the hour for Jingping's counterattack. " Shen Mu smiled.

"And then, we can have our child. " Ling Yuxiu's face flushed; she spat lightly and murmured, "The elders are all here. " Coughs came from beyond the coffin, one after another.

Shen Mu could not turn his head and could not see around him, but from those coughs he knew the space outside must be crowded with people.

"Prime timber of the finest grade.

" Old Huo measured the coffin with a grave face, pretending he had heard nothing, and praised it: "I have built many coffins in my day, but never one of such material.

This artifact-forging skill is likely no whit inferior to the Silent Artisan's. " The Blind Elder had come too.

Studying the runes and marks upon the coffin, he praised it: "A truly fine coffin!

A pity Shen'er lies in it; otherwise I would certainly climb in and enjoy the comfort myself! " "Shen'er is a fortunate one," the Deaf Elder exclaimed loudly. "Alchemist, would you not agree?

" The Alchemist's voice came, and he must have been standing behind Shen Mu's head, examining the wounds and the coffin nails one by one, for he answered carelessly, "Indeed, indeed. The coffin nails in Shen'er's body are no common things either. Such nails can suppress corpse and spirit alike; nail one into an Imperial Throne and even he could not turn into a corpse-fiend.

" Granny Zhu glared at them ferociously.

The Village Head had meant to make a few jokes, but at that look he hastily shut his mouth.

The Woodcutter, Wen Tiange, walked over and said, "Shen'er speaks sense. The tide of this war lies at Xuandu. Once Xuandu falls into Jingping's grasp, you two may indeed set your minds at ease and have your child. " Ling Yuxiu's face burned red. "The battle of Xuandu is of the utmost importance, but the Heavenly Court is still mighty.

" The Woodcutter's eyes flickered as he went on: "My third disciple, Jiang Baigui, is even shrewder than I; his sense of timing has always been keener than mine. That he has not yet come to Lanfeng Valley after so long means he must have gone to Xuandu.

The Heavenly Court's soldiers are strong and its horses fat, its gods and devils numerous, still far beyond Jingping, and now it holds the advantage in realms as well. At Emperor Haotian's side stand three Heavenly Kings, ready at any moment to reinforce Xuandu. Therefore we cannot remain in Lanfeng Valley.

" The First Ancestor frowned.

"What does Teacher mean?

" "Strike first, and take some of the pressure off Jiang Baigui! " At these words from the Woodcutter Wen Tiange, everyone present fell silent. The battle at Lanfeng Valley had already cost Jingping grievous losses. To strike out now would be to hurl eggs against stone. They all understood the Woodcutter's aim: to pin down the Heavenly Court's main force with the troops of Lanfeng Valley, so that the Heavenly Court could not send aid to Xuandu, and Jiang Baigui would have his chance to take the city. But Jingping's forces were far too few. To hold the Heavenly Court's main force would mean filling the gap with lives; no one knew how many would die in such a battle.

For a long while, no one spoke.

The Woodcutter looked over the crowd.

"In any case, we cannot let the Heavenly Court sit idle.

The army of my Carefree Township can take the vanguard. " The corners of many eyes twitched.

If Carefree Township took the vanguard, they might well not return. Suddenly Shen Mu spoke: "The Heavenly Court must be fought. But do not bear too heavy a burden.

This battle must be fought with the strength of the whole nation, with every power Jingping has, to hold the Heavenly Court back and let Jiang Baigui win at Xuandu! " Wei Suifeng asked, "Junior Brother, what do you mean?

" "Abandon all defense.

Attack with everything! " Shen Mu said decisively: "The White Tiger, Western Emperor, and the Dragon Qilin attack from the west; the Black Tortoise, Northern Emperor, and my eldest senior brother attack from the north.

Give up the defense of the Jingping capital.

Ask my father-in-law, Emperor Yanfeng, to lead troops and come with all speed to our aid together with Earth-Virtue Primordial Lady Gongsun Yan; the teleportation gates will be faster! The Earth-Virtue Primordial Lady must come in her true body! The Daoist Sect, Lesser Jade Capital, Wendao Academy, the Grand Academy, the Heavenly Sage Academy, the Lanjiang Academy, every academy and school, every god among them must join the army!

" Once again silence fell.

The Jingping capital did indeed still hold an army, led by Emperor Yanfeng.

But to send even the gods of the academies and schools into battle, if this war were lost, the very inheritance of Jingping might come to an end. "Youdu must move as well," Shen Mu said in a low voice. "Heavenly Venerable You, King Yama, Shen Fengqing, attack the Heavenly Court's host from Youdu. Tubo, the Book of Life and Death, and the Six Paths Heavenly Wheel may all be used. Teacher, carry my coffin and send me to the front! The pressure of this battle is great, but the tide favors us.

" The crowd was silent a moment, then Emperor Xuan's voice came, unhurried: "Is Heavenly Venerable Mu gambling with the fate of Jingping? " "It is no gamble! " Shen Mu steadied his heart, his eyes bright as snow.

"It is that we already have the strength to contend with the Heavenly Court.