"By the mandate of Heaven, we hereby establish the Demon Race Heavenly Court to Rule the Heavens! Nuwa the Saint is honored as the 'Empress Wa,' and the great deity Fuxi as the 'Emperor Xi.' They shall share the Heavenly Emperor's exalted status and enjoy boundless destiny!"
The moment this news emerged, the primordial world was shaken!
Empress Wa! Emperor Xi! These were future Saints! The Demon Race Heavenly Court had actually won over even future Saints, and its momentum instantly eclipsed East King Duke's Immortal Court, which was still making empty promises in the Eastern Sea. Countless factions and great powers that had been watching from the sidelines began reassessing the Demon Race Heavenly Court's weight.
Kunlun Mountain, Three Pure Ones Dojo.
Before the Thatched Hut, Laozi still sat with his eyes closed, his spirit roaming the void as though the turmoil outside had nothing to do with him. Lord of the Beginning held the Jade Ruyi Scepter, his brows carrying a trace of barely concealed reserve and... disdain. Sect Master Tongtian was the most impatient of them all. He brandished the Qingping Sword as he shouted:
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother! Have you heard? Those two Mangy Birds set up some Demon Race Heavenly Court. The spectacle is quite something! They even pulled in Junior Sister Nuwa and Fellow Daoist Fuxi, naming them 'Empress Wa' and 'Emperor Xi'! Tsk, tsk, those titles sure sound intimidating!"
At this, Yuanshi gave a cold snort, his tone carrying its usual arrogance. "Hmph. They are merely fur-covered, horned creatures, born wet or from eggs. Gathering together to invent such grandiose titles is nothing more than empty posturing. Junior Sister Nuwa is destined to become a Saint; associating with them only lowers her standing for nothing. And Fellow Daoist Fuxi as well—how could he be so unwise?"
Tongtian saw things differently. Sheathing the Qingping Sword, he leaned toward his two brothers. "Hey, Second Brother, you can't put it that way. Di Jun and Taiyi may be annoying, but they do have some ability. Look at this Heavenly Court they've built: the Ten Great Demon Sages, three hundred and sixty-five divisions of demon gods—strong troops and mighty horses. It looks far more convincing than East King Duke's slapdash operation. Maybe they really can make something of it?"
As he spoke, his eyes shifted, and he spotted Chen Song nearby. Chen Song was reclining in a rocking chair, cracking freshly roasted Five Elements melon seeds while teasing Big White with pine nuts.
"Senior Disciple Nephew!" Tongtian grabbed Chen Song and hauled him up. "Quit playing with the dog! Come on, your mind works fast. Tell us, what do you think of this Demon Race Heavenly Court, and of Junior Sister Nuwa and the others joining it?"
Chen Song staggered from being yanked up, spilling half the melon seeds in his hand. He rolled his eyes irritably, dusted off his Daoist robe, then slowly slumped back into the rocking chair. He even adjusted himself into a more comfortable position before drawling:
"Third Martial Uncle, aren't you making things difficult for me? What else could I think? I'll watch sitting down. If Master doesn't mind, I'd even like to watch lying down."
He grabbed a handful of melon seeds, cracked one open with a crunch, spat out the shell, and continued:
"If you ask me, this Demon Race Heavenly Court sounds impressive, but in plain terms, it's just a massive interest-bound conglomerate. Di Jun and Taiyi are in charge of dividing the pie. Martial Uncle Nuwa and Martial Uncle Fuxi are figureheads—they don't do any work, just take dividends. A guaranteed profit. The Ten Great Demon Sages are upper management, the three hundred and sixty-five divisions of demon gods are middle management, and the billions of little demons below are the ones doing all the work."
"As for whether they can truly become something?" Chen Song chuckled.
"That depends on whether they can beat the witch race, and whether they can withstand the workings of the Heavenly Dao. Anyway, we Three Pure Ones have proper roots and a noble lineage. The harder they fight, the more relaxed we'll be, right? When watching a show, you need the proper mindset. Just have your melon seeds and stools ready."
Tongtian was left utterly stunned by this. Thinking it over carefully, it actually seemed to make sense. He rubbed his chin. "Seems... that's about right?"
Although Lord of the Beginning felt Chen Song's words were somewhat improper, the phrase "we Three Pure Ones have proper roots and a noble lineage" deeply pleased him. He gave a slight nod, silently acknowledging it.
At some point, Laozi had opened his eyes. He glanced coolly at Chen Song and uttered two words: "Mischievous." Then he closed his eyes again, as though everything had been understood without needing to be said.
Watching the Demon Race Heavenly Court flourish, Di Jun and Taiyi thought of another powerful great being who had heard Dao lectures at the Purple Cloud Palace—Kunpeng.
He ruled over the Northern Underworld Sea and was himself a Quasi-Saint great power. If they could win him over, the Heavenly Court's strength would surely rise another level.
Thus, Di Jun personally set out once more and headed for the Northern Underworld Sea.
Northern Underworld Sea. Chilling winds howled while murky waves surged into the sky. Kunpeng's dojo stood deep within this land of utter cold.
Kunpeng sat high in the seat of honor, his figure shrouded in shadow. Only a pair of sharp, icy eyes gleamed with a ghostly light. He did not even call for an attendant to serve tea, and the atmosphere was tense from the very beginning.
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, the Northern Underworld is bitterly cold. Have you been well?" Di Jun spoke first, his voice calm and carrying the bearing of an emperor.
Kunpeng's voice was hoarse, like ice grinding together. "Fellow Daoist Di Jun, why aren't you enjoying yourself on the Sun Star? What brings you to this desolate place? Don't tell me you're here to recruit me, like East King Duke?"
Taiyi frowned slightly, displeased by Kunpeng's attitude, but Di Jun stopped him with a look.
Di Jun smiled faintly, wholly unoffended. "You jest, Fellow Daoist. How could the likes of East King Duke be mentioned in the same breath as you? My brother and I have come this time with sincere hearts, hoping to invite you to join us in a grand endeavor."
He paused, then continued, "The order of heaven and earth is now in chaos. The witch race is overbearing, while East King Duke has nothing but an empty reputation. Our demon race bears Heaven's mandate and has established the Heavenly Court to set Qiankun right, Rule the Heavens' stars, and organize the primordial world's earth veins. This is a magnificent Great Dao, one that none but those of great wisdom and great divine abilities can undertake."
"You have cultivated in seclusion in the Northern Underworld, Fellow Daoist, and your divine abilities are vast. You were also a guest of the Purple Cloud Palace and have a deep understanding of the Great Dao. If you are willing to join our Heavenly Court, my brother and I are prepared to honor you as the 'Demon Master.' Your status will be exalted, equal to mine, Taiyi's, Empress Wa's, and Emperor Xi's. Together, we shall wield the Heavenly Court's authority and enjoy endless destiny!"
The position of Demon Master was unquestionably lofty, nearly placing him on equal footing with Di Jun and Taiyi. Di Jun's sincerity could not have been clearer.
Yet after hearing this, Kunpeng's face seemed to shift within the shadows. He let out an inscrutable sneer. "Demon Master? Heh heh... what an impressive title. Unfortunately, I have grown used to freedom and cannot bear the Heavenly Court's rules and restrictions. The Northern Underworld Sea may be cold, but it is free. I won't be going to the Heavenly Court."
Taiyi finally could not hold back any longer. He said in a deep voice, "Kunpeng! My brother has invited you with kind words. Don't mistake kindness for weakness! The great trend of the primordial world has already emerged. How long can you possibly remain alone and untouched? Or are you still counting on that Hong Yun..."
"Taiyi!" Di Jun snapped, stopping him, but the name "Hong Yun" had already left his lips.
Sure enough, the instant Hong Yun was mentioned, Kunpeng's aura turned dangerous. The temperature within the Demon Master Palace plummeted, and even the void seemed about to freeze. His ghostly cold eyes locked onto Taiyi as his voice swept out like a frigid wind from the Nine Netherworlds:
"Hong Yun? Hmph! A hypocrite who seeks fame, relying on a little luck—how is he worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as me?"
Seeing that the atmosphere had turned sour, Di Jun immediately softened his tone. "Please calm your anger, Fellow Daoist. Taiyi speaks too bluntly and meant no offense. It is only that... Hong Yun possesses two strands of Primordial Violet Qi. His fortune is indeed so great that it draws attention. We have also heard something of what happened to you at the Purple Cloud Palace back then. It truly pains us to think of it."
His words sounded comforting, yet they precisely struck the most painful thorn in Kunpeng's heart!
Kunpeng fell silent. From the shadows came only his heavy breathing, showing just how turbulent his heart was. The humiliation of giving up his seat at the Purple Cloud Palace and the hatred of losing the Saint Position gnawed at his heart day and night like poisonous insects. Hong Yun was his greatest obsession and inner demon!
Di Jun observed Kunpeng's reaction and knew the moment was right. He said no more, merely rising to his feet. "Fellow Daoist, consider it further. The Heavenly Court's gates will always remain open for you. As for Hong Yun... heh heh, the Heavenly Dao is unpredictable, and opportunities are ever-changing. Who can say for certain what will happen?"
Having said that, Di Jun gave Taiyi a look. The two turned into golden light and departed from the cold Northern Underworld Sea.
Only Kunpeng remained in the palace, hidden in darkness. After a long while, he let out a low roar like that of a wounded beast, followed by the piercing sound of ice cracking...
Before you continue