Chapter 69 — The Land of Numinous Beauty
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
Why should I follow? "
"So petty!
"
Ling Yuxiu beckoned with a grin.
"I have a way into the City Lord's manor.
Right now it is all abustle in there. Let us go and have some fun! Would you not like to see what the great figures of the Desolate Ruins are doing, and what they are saying? "
Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly.
He jumped down from the eaves and quickly followed her. Curious, he asked, "How will you get into the City Lord's manor?
"
"Why, by walking in through the front gate, openly and honestly!
"
Ling Yuxiu led the way and went straight to the gate of the City Lord's manor. Four divine-power practitioners stood guard there; seeing the two of them, they asked not a single question and let them walk right in. Astonished, Shen Mu said in a low voice, "Little sister, are you the Lord of Crimson Dragon City's daughter?
"
"In his dreams!
"
Ling Yuxiu spat in contempt.
"My father is far greater in standing than he! This Crimson Dragon City manor, I come and go as I please. Ahead is Zhenjiang Tower; that is where Fu Yundi is feasting his guests.
"
Shen Mu looked ahead. The first thing to meet his eyes was a great lake, its waters clear and green. Pearls the size of baskets had been set in the lake waters, shedding a soft radiance that mirrored on the surface. Along the shore many maidservants stood motionless holding lanterns, lighting the manor's lake until it glowed bright and clear. Zhenjiang Tower stood on the half-slope by the lake, shaped like a soaring swan.
Seen from afar, the tower blazed with gold and jade; everywhere it betrayed the air of one newly rich overnight. The Lord of Crimson Dragon City would gladly have paved the whole of Zhenjiang Tower with gold leaf, truly extravagance beyond measure! In the tower, several dancing girls whirled and swayed at the center, sleeves curling, fragrant skirts swirling, accompanied by strings and pipes and the beat of drums, a most lovely sight. In the middle of the lake there was also a platform, square and true, a hundred zhang wide, supported beneath by a single enormous pillar.
A dozen or more death-qi lanterns drifted in the sky above, lighting the platform as bright as day. From the platform in the lake came burst after burst of explosive sound; two youths were dueling there.
Shen Mu halted to watch, surprise on his face. Both youths were exceedingly powerful, their skills extraordinary. One of them was the very youth who, earlier in the street, had been led into the manor by the middle-aged man from the City Lord's house with a hundred dragon coins to fight on the arena. He was probably a White Tiger spirit body; his White Tiger primal essence had actually taken on a state of gold and bronze.
Two colors surfaced on his body, glittering gold and dark brown bronze. When his opponent struck his body, the sound that burst forth was like the ringing clang of a bronze Buddha in motion; sparks of fire even flew from the impact! To have tempered the body with White Tiger primal essence to such a degree was already remarkably accomplished.
No wonder he dared enter the City Lord's manor to take up the challenge. His opponent was not much older, fourteen or fifteen, about the same as Shen Mu, yet his strikes were exceedingly vicious. He used eight swords, each of his 'hands' wielding one. These were not true hands but his primal essence. He controlled the swords with his essence, wielding eight blades at once.
"The Eight Aspects Heavenly God Art? " Shen Mu said in a low voice.
The Eight Aspects Heavenly God Art this youth displayed differed from that of Fu Yundi. Fu Yundi had already cultivated the manifestation, eight heavenly deities standing behind him.
This youth's art was far from that level, yet the path by which he wielded his essence came down from the same lineage as Fu Yundi. Ling Yuxiu said, "He is Fu Yundi's son, called Tingyue. Come to think of it, he is a pitiable sort, motherless since childhood, raised single-handedly by Fu Yundi.
. .
"
Pff—