The Heavenly Court, the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
The Demon Emperor Di Jun sat high on his throne, his face ashen.
Below, Demon Master Kunpeng bowed and reported, his jade slip recording the increasingly serious situation of the Demon Clan tribes in the southern part of the prehistoric Primordial World.
"... Your Majesty, the cannibalism has not only failed to be eradicated, but has instead spread and intensified despite the ban! The lesser demons in the border regions, fearing the might of Heaven, dare not openly slaughter villages, but the private trapping and cannibalization of lone Human Clan continues unabated."
Even more shockingly, it has recently been discovered that many tribes have begun to keep Human Clan children in captivity, regarding them as 'resources for longevity'!
This incident not only provoked a desperate resistance from the Human Clan settlements, but also stirred up the Witch Clan, who used it as a pretext to repeatedly harass our border outposts!
"If this continues, it could lead to a great disaster!" Kunpeng's voice carried a hint of solemnity.
The Demon Marshal and Demon God standing on both sides of the main hall, such as Ji Meng, Ying Zhao, Jiu Ying, all had gloomy faces and were discussing among themselves.
The benefits of cannibalism for increasing cultivation and Artifact Refining from human souls were no secret to these high-ranking individuals.
The ban was merely a compromise with the will of the Saint; now, with internal dissent and increased external pressure, the situation is indeed thorny.
Di Jun's slender fingers tapped the Armrest of the throne, producing a soft, resonant sound that echoed in the silent hall.
He glanced at the assembled officials. "Send orders to the leaders of the southern tribes to restrain their people."
If any further instances of keeping Human Clan in captivity or carrying out large-scale massacres occur, those responsible will be severely punished!
However... if small-scale disturbances do not escalate into a major incident, we will not pursue them further for now.
This order, while seemingly a reiteration of the ban, subtly left a loophole for minor actions, as long as no large-scale violence occurred that would attract the attention of the Saint.
"Your Majesty, this alone may not be enough to cure the root cause," Bai Ze, the Demon Saint, frowned. "The root lies in the Human Clan's greed for flesh, blood, and soul. Without a substitute, their greed will be uncontrollable. Moreover, regarding the Empress Nuwa..."
"I will go to Empress Nuwa's place myself!" Di Jun suddenly stood up, interrupting Bai Ze, "You all temporarily take charge of the Heavenly Court's affairs and stabilize the morale of the army. Kunpeng, come with me!"
A flash of Golden Light, Di Jun's figure vanished from the throne, leaving only the lingering echo of his majesty.
Kunpeng bowed in agreement and followed closely behind.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens Wa Huang Heaven.
A tranquil and peaceful Dao Field, shrouded in auspicious clouds.
The Empress Nuwa sat on a cloud bed, her figure hazy and her aura ethereal, as if she were one with the world, yet also as if she were independent of all strife.
When Di Jun and Kunpeng bowed, she did not open her eyes, but simply said, "What brings the Demon Emperor here?"
Di Jun respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, please allow me to speak."
In the Primordial World recently, the practice of cannibalism and soul refining has become increasingly prevalent among the Demon Clan.
Although I have repeatedly issued prohibitions, they have had little effect.
This move has deepened the blood feud between the human and demon races, and has also prompted the Witch Clan to seize the opportunity to try to use the Human Clan's strength to attack our race from both sides!
The Demon Clan race is in a truly difficult situation.
We humbly beg Your Majesty for mercy and guidance on how the Demon Clan should conduct itself.
Human Clan were created by the Goddess, Demon Clan devour humans. Goddess... do you have any instructions?
His last question was cautious yet direct, attempting to probe the Saint's true bottom line.
Nuwa slowly opened her eyes, her eyes, which could see through the ages, calmly and without wavering, fell on Di Jun, showing neither anger nor pity.
"Demon Emperor," her voice was ethereal and high-pitched.
The workings of Heavenly Dao are all governed by predetermined laws.
When Human Clan was born, it was destined to receive education and carry on the Dao Lineage, and thus had its own destiny.
The existence of the Demon Clan is said to have originated from the hair of Pangu, and is also a part of the Heavenly Dao.
Those who eat people gain profit and inherit their profession; those who are eaten by others suffer misfortune and also enjoy the fruits of their labor.
This is all ordained by Heavenly Mandate; whether it is a calamity or not, it is all within the realm of destiny.
Her words were like the divine pronouncements of Heavenly Dao, utterly devoid of any worldly concerns:
I created man with the Authority of Creation, in order to complete heaven and earth and to Respond to the Heavenly Dao.
Once creation has taken place, its rise and fall, its glory and disgrace, its Karma Reincarnation, are beyond my control, nor can I forcibly reverse them.
I am Saint, in charge of the laws of creation, not to protect the private interests of a single clan.
Whether it's the Demon Clan or the Human Clan, their survival and development depend on struggling for survival on their own paths.
Under the Heavenly Mandate, the strong prey on the weak, Karma cycle—this is the norm in the Primordial World.
Di Jun, you are the Demon Emperor. You should understand the general trend and do what you should do. You need not ask my opinion anymore.
Nuwa's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on Di Jun. To Saint, the Human Clan was merely a tool, to be used and discarded. Then what was the Demon Clan race to Saint?
Saint does not interfere!
Her attitude was exceptionally clear: it's true that I created the Human Clan, but how you fight after you've created them, whether you live or die, whether you eat or are eaten, is all part of the cycle of Heavenly Dao. She won't interfere or take sides.
Di Jun's heart sank, but this indifference also gave him a strange... sense of security.
At least, as long as it doesn't involve the large-scale extinction of Dao of Humanity traditions, Nuwa won't interfere!
He bowed deeply to Nuwa: "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I take my leave now."
As Di Jun left Empress Nuwa's Palace, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
Non-interference... Let's see what the bottom line is for other Saint.
"Demon Master," Di Jun said to Kunpeng, "Come with me to Kunlun Mountain again!" He needed to confirm the other Saint' attitudes on this matter!
Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace, is shrouded in thousands of auspicious clouds and countless Immortal Light.
However, Di Jun and Kunpeng were stopped at the palace gate by Xuan Du Shi, a disciple of Taishang Laojun.
Xuan Du Shi bowed calmly and said, "Your Di Jun, Your Majesty wait."
The teacher and his two senior uncles are currently in Heavenly Dao, meditating and cultivating in seclusion, and do not receive any visitors.
The teacher once said, "The Human Race's fortune has not yet ended; we must not perish."
That concludes my words, Your Majesty. Please return.
"Cannot perish?" Di Jun pondered these three words.
The Human Clan's Dao Lineage is the Golden Core Method passed down by Taiqing Laozi!
The weight of these three words is crystal clear: Human Clan may weaken, suffer, and sacrifice, but its Dao Lineage must not be severed!
This is the bottom line drawn by the Three Pure Ones!
Similar to Nuwa's "non-intervention," but more explicitly pointing to the continuation of the Dao Lineage.
"On behalf of this Emperor, I thank the Three Pure Ones for their guidance." Di Jun's voice was unreadable; he exchanged a glance with Kunpeng, everything understood without a word.
With the endorsement of these two Saints, Di Jun's last trace of concern completely disappeared.
On the cloud path back to Heavenly Court, Di Jun gave the order to Kunpeng:
The Emperor hereby issues his final decree: All departments must strictly abide by previous laws and regulations, and are strictly prohibited from carrying out large-scale massacres of the Human Clan settlements or from keeping Human Clan as captives!
Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!
However... for those stubborn individuals who have made cannibalism a habit, small-scale, clandestine predation, and the use of human souls' resentment to forge weapons to fight against the Witch Clan... as long as it doesn't cause Great Wind and attract the attention of the Saint, then... depending on the specific circumstances, they may be dealt with leniently or temporarily ignored!
At the same time, we should intensify our research on the power of refining Human Soul Weapon against the divine and evil spirits of the Witch Clan!
He ultimately chose to acquiesce to the undercurrents and channel them into the tools of war against the Witch Clan.
Kunpeng gave Di Jun a deep look and respectfully replied, "Your subject obeys the decree!"
He also understood that, given the Saint's silence and bottom line, the Demon Emperor had chosen the path of maximizing the interests of the Demon Clan.