Chapter 1759 — Showdown at the Peak

With Junior Brother Jiang presiding over the battle of Xuandu in person, this war can no longer be lost. " He tried to rise, but could not move. In a low voice he said, "The key to this battle lies in the fact that the enemy has three who have attained the Dao: Taichu, the Empress, and Heavenly Venerable Hao. That is their greatest trump card.

And once Junior Brother Jiang reaches Xuandu, Heavenly Venerable Yue and Langwan will return. On our side, the Heavenly Venerable-level fighters are Yue, Lang, You, Qing, Xuan, Wu, Bai, Xu, Yu, Yan, and Taishi.

Tiangong is at Xuandu, so he is not counted.

" The Woodcutter Wen Tiange said, "The enemy's Heavenly Venerable-level fighters are the Ancient God Taiji, the Right Shence, the Left Longwu, the Right Longwu, the Left Shenwei, the Right Shenwei, the Left Yulin, and the Right Yulin. At the Heavenly Venerable level we hold the advantage, but someone must deal with those who have attained the Dao, and that is perilous in the extreme. " Shen Mu said, "The Left and Right Yulin armies were to escort my coffin to the Ancestral Court, but Xu Shenghua intercepted them.

The Left and Right Yulin cannot return. That removes two Heavenly Venerable-level forces. Taishi! " Taishi stepped forward. Shen Mu's face darkened slightly, and he spoke with weight: "Daoist brother, the Ancient God Taiji can never become your comrade in the Dao now. " Taishi fell silent.

Shen Mu said, "They have become Ten Heavenly Venerables. Once one becomes a Ten Heavenly Venerable, there is no turning back. You cannot save them, and they cannot awaken. " Taishi said hoarsely, "I understand.

" Shen Mu stared at him and said gravely, "You must strike to kill. Show no mercy! If you hold back, more will die!

These people around you may all die because of you!

" Taishi looked at the faces around him, clenched his fists, and said hoarsely, "Rest assured, I will not hold back! " Shen Mu closed his eyes and slowly lay himself down.

"My friends, you may go and make ready.

Close the coffin lid for me, but do not nail it shut. I need time to prepare for this great war.

" The Woodcutter Wen Tiange frowned and asked, "You have spoken of the Heavenly Venerables, but what of those who have not attained the Dao?

" Shen Mu's voice came from within the coffin: "Lord Shang will deal with Taichu; Xu Shenghua and Lan Yutian will meet the Empress in battle. As for Heavenly Venerable Hao, I will crawl out of this coffin and deal with him myself. Do not disturb me now; I must rest and recover.

" The crowd lifted the coffin lid and closed the Dao-Burying Divine Coffin. Within the coffin all was still; not a sound.

Shen Mu closed his eyes and gradually sank into dreams. Layer upon layer of dreamscapes spread out within the Dao-Burying Divine Coffin, each becoming a heaven; countless tiny Shen Mus walked out of his dreams and busied themselves about his wounds, talking among themselves. The Woodcutter Wen Tiange led the others away, then suddenly asked, "Daoist friend Xu, how bad are Shen'er's injuries, truly?

" Xu Shenghua said, "Very grave, but his primordial spirit is unharmed. His body, however, is too badly wounded for him to walk.

The slightest movement will bring the Dao wound back, and it may endanger his primordial spirit. " The Woodcutter was startled. "Just now he said he could be healed in as little as five years.

.

.

" Xu Shenghua knew Shen Mu best of all. "What he means is that he will spend five years in dreams, exhausting every scrap of wisdom and every means at his disposal, and only then might he heal the Dao wound. But if he contends with Emperor Haotian. .

. " He frowned slightly.

"The wound may recur and spread to his primordial spirit. Then healing would be difficult indeed. " The Woodcutter frowned too and looked at the Alchemist, who shook his head.

"Shen'er's skill in medicine is no less than mine.

His injuries are beyond my reading now. " "Shen'er is risking his life," Granny Zhu said softly. "In this age, who is not risking their life?

" Ling Yuxiu stepped toward Lanfeng Valley. "My friends, let us make haste with our preparations.

Those who must inform Emperor Yanfeng, inform him; those who must go to the White Tiger, Western Emperor, go at once. When the armies are all assembled, it will be time to set out for the decisive battle!

" She had, after all, been an empress for many years, and among them all she was the most capable at command.

She issued her orders: "Grandpa Alchemist, summon the finest alchemists of Jingping to heal the wounded!

Grandpa Blind, lead the formation masters of every army to repair the damaged formation diagrams! Grandpa Tu, Granny Zhu, fit out every officer and soldier with the newest divine weapons and divine armor, and send the worn weapons and armor back to the Jingping workshops, and have every workshop repair them with all its strength! " One order after another she passed down: "Have the gods of every holy land and academy come to join the army as quickly as possible, and familiarize themselves with the battle preparations and formations!

The Dao Ancestor of the Daoist Sect, Dao Master Lin Xuan, Immortal Wang of Lesser Jade Capital, and the Heavenly Kings and Dharma Protectors of the Heavenly Sage Cult, summon them all! " "First Ancestor, send someone to invite Grandpa Silent Artisan, and transfer a hundred thousand Jingping heavenly craftsmen here, to build ten workshops in Lanfeng Valley with all speed, to repair divine weapons at any time! And within one month, all the heavy divine artifacts here must be repaired! " "Grandpa Deaf, summon all the painters of the Hall of the Painting Sage to assist Grandpa Blind in drawing new formation diagrams! Also, draw more diagrams and send them to Youdu, to Heavenly Venerable You! Ask Heavenly Venerable You's incarnation to come and see me!

" "Senior Brother Wei, have men mobilize the divine-power wielders of Jingping to ensure that every teleportation gate and every spirit-energy translocation bridge in the rear keeps running. Not one gate, not one bridge, may fail! Then send envoys to the various heavens, to have them ship more supplies, and more gods and devils, here to join the battle! " By the time she reached Lanfeng Valley, all her orders had been given.

Lanfeng Valley at once fell into a bustle, and every officer and soldier carried out her commands in perfect order. Before long, the incarnation of Heavenly Venerable You arrived. Ling Yuxiu asked, "Can you reach Xie Wuqi and Crown Prince Mingya? " Heavenly Venerable You understood, turned, and left.

Ling Yuxiu looked back at the Dao-Burying Divine Coffin lying between Lanfeng Valley and the Heavenly Court's camp, her gaze complex, and murmured, "Everyone is risking their lives. Everyone. .

. "