Tai Yi was startled by the slap, and the rising Solar True Fire around him seemed to be soothed by an invisible hand, instantly calming down.
Facing his friend, the unfathomable Qing Huan, the overwhelming killing intent in his chest strangely subsided somewhat, and a rare hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and qi, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Qing Huan, and restored his tone to the proper respect, even with a hint of urgency:
"You flatter me Heavenly Venerate Qing Huan. It's not that I'm impatient, but that the Witch Clan has gone too far!"
The clan provoked first, then developed a habit of eating demons; the blood feud is etched into their bones!
My heart aches for the children of the demon race, and I worry that their Luck by the Witch Clan. If this continues, their foundations will be shaken, and their power will crumble!
Now that the Celestial Venerable has graced us with his presence, he must possess profound wisdom! I wonder... what ingenious plan does the Celestial Venerable have to resolve our clan's urgent crisis?
"Can we kill this scoundrel and avenge this blood feud?"
His bright, piercing eyes were fixed on Qing Huan, filled with anticipation.
If the person before him were Qing Huan, any other being who dared to utter the word "no" at this moment and so casually pat his shoulder would have been made by Eastern Emperor Taiyi to personally experience the power of the Chaos Bell!
Di Jun's gaze was also firmly fixed on Qing Huan. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a faint light slowly ignited in the depths of his deep eyes.
It was as if, amidst endless fog, a lighthouse had finally appeared to guide us forward.
The entire Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and the will of billions of demons, were focused on that figure in green robes, holding their breath and waiting for the earth-shattering strategy that would inevitably influence the future of the Primordial Wilderness world.
Qing Huan met the expectant gazes of Di Jun, Tai Yi, and everyone else in the hall, his expression remaining calm and composed.
The Lingxiao Treasure Hall stands at the highest point in the heavens.
Under the flowing light of the primordial starlight, Di Jun's golden crow imperial robes shimmered with a scorching and noble crimson-gold luster. However, his brows were furrowed, and his profound majesty could not suppress the shadow of anxiety in his eyes.
The words of the Demon Gods Bai Ze had just spoken were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head. At this moment, Qing Huan's clear voice rang out again in the empty hall, like a great bell, each word striking the hearts of every demon giant present.
Qing Huan's gaze swept over Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, and even the high-ranking officials such as Fuxi and Nuwa standing solemnly in the hall, before he finally bowed respectfully:
"I am deeply grateful for the kindness shown to me by all my fellow Daoists. My sentiments are no different from Bai Ze's."
After a slight pause, the voice became even more deep and powerful:
"Di Jun, you now bear a double burden, being both the lord of the demon race and the lord of the Heavenly Court that governs the entire universe."
Now that the demon race has taken over the Heavenly Court and seized power, they should inherit the Mandate of Heavenly Mandate, gather the Luck Heaven and Earth, and seek the path to lasting prosperity for the Primordial Wilderness. This is the glorious and righteous path!
The Power of the Stars within the hall seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, with light dust rising and falling silently.
Qing Huan's voice clearly pierced the silence:
"If we persist in our desperate struggle with the Witch Clan for the so-called position of Protagonist of Heaven and Earth, and recklessly start a war because of the blood feud between us and the Witch Clan who have treated our race as food..."
His gaze suddenly sharpened like lightning, piercing straight into the depths of Di Jun's eyes.
"Fellow Daoists, have you all forgotten the Tribulation of the Ferocious Beasts that ravaged the land and brought devastation to all living beings, or the Dragon-Han Calamity that saw the Three Clans vying for supremacy, the ancestral veins collapsing, and the vengeful spirits rising to the heavens?"
The two characters "Tribulation" are heavier than Buzhou Divine Mountain!
A deathly silence fell over the hall.
A cold glint flashed beneath the lowered eyelids of the crowd; the veins on the back of the Demon Gods Ji Meng's clenched fist bulged; the feather fan of the Shang Yang Demon Saint froze in mid-air... All these subtle reactions confirmed the fear that these words struck straight to the depths of their souls.
On the throne, Di Jun's body trembled almost imperceptibly.
The filthy, malevolent Tribulation that obscured the Primordial Wilderness during the Great Calamity of the Ferocious Beasts, and the scene of Qilin Cliff collapsing and blood raining down at the end of the Dragon-Han Calamity, flashed through my mind in an instant—if a new Tribulation were to arise, even if the demon race were to emerge victorious, the Primordial Earth would likely be reduced to scorched earth, and even if the Heavenly Court were to exist forever, what foundation would it have?
This glorious imperial empire, isn't it built upon mountains of corpses and Blood Sea, on a precarious sandy foundation, and perhaps it also bears the burden of boundless karma...?
Beneath Di Jun's majestic face, the lingering fear concealed by his immense power was ultimately ruthlessly exposed by Qing Huan's words, revealing the emperor's deepest anxieties.
Qing Huan, sensing Di Jun's wavering, seized the opportunity to unveil his plan:
"The Witch Clan feeds on the Demon Clan, which is a major threat and a deep-seated problem. However, starting a war rashly is definitely not the best course of action."
Meeting Eastern Emperor Taiyi's scrutinizing gaze, his tone was resolute:
"Please grant me permission, fellow Daoist, to go ahead and enter the Pangu Hall of the Witch Clan, to confront the Twelve Ancestral Witches, and seek a way to resolve this!"
His gaze swept over the group of demons, his meaning clear:
"If we can find a way to resolve this calamity without resorting to violence, it would be a blessing for Primordial Wilderness primordial world and a boon for our demon race!"
The tone shifted abruptly, becoming as chilling as ice drawn from its sheath:
"If those Twelve Ancestral Witches remain stubborn and incorrigible, regarding our race as mere livestock to be taken at will... then the entire demon race should abandon any illusions and prepare for war with all their might!"
Qing Huan slightly raised his head, his eyes shining brightly, reflecting the billions of stars in the sky.
"At that time, we shall use thunderous force to accomplish our goal in one fell swoop, slaying their Ancestral Witch and severing their foundation! The position of the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth has never been able to be occupied by two masters!"
The actions of the Witch Clan are further eroding the very foundation of our Demon Race Fortune! Their procrastination and avoidance of war will bring endless calamities!
This plan was Qing Huan's worst-case scenario, yet it also contained Thread of Life.
"Good!"
Di Jun's voice finally broke the heavy silence, resolute and without any hesitation.
His deep gaze fell upon Qing Huan, carrying a resolute judgment after careful consideration.
"Qing Huan is insightful and far-sighted, keenly aware of the dangers of the Tribulation. Every word you speak hits the nail on the head!"
Turning to Eastern Emperor Taiyi: "Tai Yi, what do you think?"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi held the Chaos Bell in his arms, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the profound chaotic inscriptions on the bell's surface. After a moment, he said in a deep voice:
"Qing Huan Daoist Qinghuan's strategy is mature and prudent, and it is safe and feasible."
The Witch Clan is indeed not an easy opponent; we must not hastily provoke them."
Di Jun's gaze, sharp as torches, swept over the assembled figures in the hall Ji Meng, Shang Yang, Ying Zhao... each renowned Demon Gods and great sage, all bowing their heads solemnly and responding in unison:
"Your Majesty and the Heavenly Venerable command us!"
"For now, let's agree on this. Everyone, please step down, return to your posts, organize your subordinates, and await further orders."
Di Jun waved his sleeve, his majestic voice echoing through the palace. The demons bowed respectfully like a tide, and countless streams of light withdrew from the towering palace gates, disappearing beyond the clouds and Sea of Stars.
The once imposing and oppressive Lingxiao Treasure Hall was now reduced to only five people: Di Jun, Tai Yi, Qing Huan, Fuxi, and Nuwa.
An invisible barrier quietly rose, isolating the inner and outer worlds.
Di Jun, who had been sitting upright on the Emperor's Seat, finally relaxed slightly, let out a long sigh, and the heavy imperial majesty between his brows temporarily faded, revealing his frankness in discussing important matters:
"Qing Huan, there are no outsiders here, so we can speak freely."
His brows furrowed slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on the vast, ever-changing star map atop the palace ceiling.
"I have ascended to this throne and ruled over all the heavens, yet there has always been an unspeakable sense of unease in my heart."
The operation of this Heavenly Court seems to be... lacking a crucial link, like the Zhou Tian Star Dou lacking a core array eye, possessing great power but operating sluggishly.