Chapter 1712 — The Empress and the Demon Sovereign
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
Achou shook his head. "It was Heavenly Emperor Hao who harmed your son. When Taichu cast him into the Jade Lock Pass of the Ghost Capital and suppressed him in the Forest of Karma-Fire Steles, it was Heavenly Emperor Hao who feared he might be set free, and so time and again brought Yin Tianzi down into the Ghost Capital, and had Yin Tianzi burn his soul with karma fire, and scorch him into this."
The Empress gave an angry snort.
Achou Tubo said, "My lady, Yin Tianzi is dead. You have only two foes left: Heavenly Emperor Hao and Taichu."
The Empress turned and looked at Xie Wuqi. "I mean to take him away. This Palace possesses the Dao of Reincarnation; I can send him through rebirth, and make whole his broken soul and shattered spirit."
Achou Tubo could not help saying, "My lady must know that even reborn, he will no longer be the same man. The Xie Wuqi who is reborn will no longer be your son."
The Empress said mockingly, "Was the Lord Xu raised by Taichu, then, your daughter? Tubo, you are far too wishful!"
She swept her hand, and the chains rang and snapped apart. Xie Wuqi showed alarm, and hastily groped for the chains to wrap them about himself again; for nearly a million years the chains had bound him, and suddenly without them he was as one without support.
The Empress's face showed tenderness. Her gaze fell upon Crown Prince Mingya again, and she said, "Crown Prince Mingya, I will take you away as well."
Achou Tubo hesitated.
The Empress sneered. "Achou Tubo, the reason you have come to such a pass is that your divinity is too weak and your humanity too much!"
Achou Tubo said no more.
The Empress flicked her sleeve, and Crown Prince Mingya found himself beside her against his will. The Empress led Crown Prince Mingya and Xie Wuqi out of that red waste of karma fire.
Achou Tubo did not stop them, but let them go.
The Empress passed by Taihuang Heaven and was about to cross beyond those heavens when she slowly halted her steps. Ahead, a tall figure stood with his back to her, as though he had waited for her a long while.
The figure still looked like a youth, yet his temples were grizzled — plainly he had passed through many trials and much tempering.
The Empress bade Xie Wuqi and Crown Prince Mingya halt, and went forward herself.
"Lord Mu, have you come to stop this Palace?"
The figure turned. It was Shen Mu. He smiled and said, "The Empress helped me break Heavenly Emperor Hao and break the Heavenly Court. Why would I stop you?"
The Empress said coolly, "Once one is of the Ten Lords, one is of the Ten Lords for life. This Palace will not ruin the Heavenly Court's greater scheme for the sake of family matters. This Palace's interests all lie within the Heavenly Court. That Heavenly Emperor Hao destroys Carefree Village and destroys Jingping is both his will and the will of the Ten Lords. If you mean to urge me to defect, you may spare your words."