The Demon Race is Established

A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, the newly established Heavenly Court flung its gates wide open. Amid swirling clouds and mist, countless palaces stretched in an unbroken chain, resplendent with gold and jade, dense with immortal aura—far surpassing any cave heaven or blessed land in the Primordial Wilderness. Di Jun and Taiyi intended to proclaim the founding of the Demon Race here, inviting all the great powers of the Primordial Wilderness to witness the ceremony.

Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, radiant light streamed in every color as one formidable aura after another descended. The Three Pure Ones from Kunlun Mountain arrived together. From the direction of Wuzhuang Temple, Zhen Yuanzi came with Daoist Hongyun. Hongyun gazed at the vast Heavenly Court and couldn't help clicking his tongue in wonder: "Damn! Those two fellows Di Jun and Taiyi actually pulled off such a grand spectacle! This place is way more lavish than my Huoyun Cave!" Zhen Yuanzi watched calmly, his horsetail whisk swaying gently.

From the Sea of Blood, Ancestor Minghe arrived silently, standing in an inconspicuous corner, his blood-fiend aura restrained, his gaze deep and dark. Then Jieyin and Zhunti from Mount Sumeru in The West arrived—Jieyin wore a bitter expression, while Zhunti's eyes flickered with sharp light, clearly scheming about something.

Just as the various great powers were lost in their own thoughts, a savage, domineering Sha Qi erupted from the direction of Buzhou Mountain, shooting straight toward the Heavenly Court! "The Witch Clan is here!" a great power murmured. Twelve towering figures descended outside the Southern Heavenly Gate. It was the Twelve Ancestor Witches! Their auras were overwhelming, laws swirling around them, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly. And before the Twelve Ancestor Witches, Wu Ming's figure appeared much calmer, yet no one dared underestimate him.

Atop the Heavenly Court, the Demon God Bai Ze, in charge of reception, hurried forward with a practiced smile on his face: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, fellow daoists of the Twelve Ancestor Witches, please come in." Zhurong glanced boorishly at the resplendent Southern Heavenly Gate and snorted: "All flashy and fancy! Isn't this just copying our Establishing the Clan?" Gonggong rumbled in a low voice: "Quite the show, but I wonder if it's sturdy." Dijiang shot them a glare, signaling them to calm down. Wu Ming gave Bai Ze a slight nod, said nothing more, and led the Twelve Ancestor Witches into the Heavenly Court.

Inside the Heavenly Court, guests had already gathered in droves. The arrival of the Witch Clan undoubtedly drew everyone's attention. "Fellow daoists of the Witch Clan have also come," Yuanshi said flatly, a perfunctory greeting. Laozi nodded slightly. Tongtian let out a hearty chuckle: "Friends of the Witch Clan, perfect timing. Let's see together what tricks the Demon Race can pull off." Zhen Yuanzi and Daoist Hongyun came forward to greet them. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming." "Greetings to the Twelve Ancestor Witches." Wu Ming nodded in return: "Both fellow daoists have come as well." Hongyun leaned in and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Di Jun and Taiyi really put on quite a show. Look at this Heavenly Court—tsk tsk, what a place!" Zhen Yuanzi coughed lightly: "Hongyun." Hongyun gave an awkward smile.

Just then, the sound of a bell rang out, vast and melodious. Dong— Di Jun, clad in an Imperial Robe and crowned with an Imperial Crown, appeared inside the Southern Heavenly Gate alongside Taiyi, who held the Chaos Bell in his hand. Nuwa and Fuxi stood slightly behind them. The Ten Great Demon Sages and billions of demon subjects lined up behind them, demonic aura soaring to the heavens. "Welcome, fellow daoists, to our Heavenly Court, to witness the grand ceremony of the Demon Race's founding!" Di Jun's voice spread in all directions.

After a round of formalities, the founding ceremony officially began. Di Jun's voice was resonant, ringing throughout the Primordial Wilderness. "Great Dao above!" "Great God Pangu above!" "Heavenly Dao above!" These three shouts were exactly the same as when the Witch Clan had established their clan. Di Jun continued his proclamation: "Now, I, Di Jun of the Demon Race, and Taiyi, together with the Demon Race's Empress Nuwa, Emperor Xi Fuxi, and billions of demon subjects, swear this oath here in the Heavenly Court!" "When the Primordial Wilderness first opened, all spirits were ignorant, the strong preyed on the weak, and order did not exist—this goes against the virtue of Heaven and Earth in nurturing life!" "Our Demon Race is willing to follow Heaven's will, establish order, govern all spirits, enlighten the ignorant, regulate the stars of the heavens, and stabilize the operation of Heaven and Earth!"

"All beings with scales, feathers, fur, or born from grass and trees that attain sentience—these are the Demon Race!"

"Our Demon Race shall establish the Heavenly Court above the Nine Heavens, wielding the authority of the heavens!"

"This oath, let the Great Dao bear witness, let the Great God Pangu bear witness, let the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"

"The Demon Race—Establish!"

"Boom!!!"

As the oath fell, the Nine Heavens above churned with wind and clouds once more!

Merit Qi, vaster and purer than when the Witch Clan established their clan, transformed into a golden pillar nearly solid, crashing down with a roar!

Most of the merit surged into Di Jun, Taiyi, Nuwa, and Fuxi, their auras swelling, their pressure intensifying!

The remaining merit scattered as golden rain, falling upon the Demon Race army within and beyond the Heavenly Court, and onto the many Demon Kings who had come to observe.

Countless bottlenecks among the Demon Race loosened, their Destiny surging!

Within Zixiao Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun nodded slightly. Under the Heavenly Dao's operation, supporting the Demon Race to counterbalance the Witch Clan was only fitting.

The assembled great powers watched the merit that dyed half the sky gold, their hearts shaken beyond words.

"This... this merit is even greater than when the Witch Clan established theirs!" Hongyun couldn't help but exclaim softly.

Zhen Yuanzi's face was grave: "The Demon Race swears to govern all beings and establish order. This act... is it more aligned with the Heavenly Dao's intent?"

The Three Pure Ones frowned. Laozi's eyes flickered with a strange light, Yuanshi showed displeasure, and Tongtian simply curled his lip.

Minghe's greed deepened, almost uncontrollable.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, their bitterness thickening, yet tinged with something odd.

On the Witch Clan's side, Zhurong couldn't help grumbling: "Damn it, why do they get more merit than us? Clearing Sha Qi and sorting out the earth veins—isn't that great merit too?"

Gonggong rumbled: "Exactly! This Heavenly Dao is too biased!"

Houtu furrowed her delicate brows, looking at Wu Ming.

Qiangliang, Shebishi, and the other Ancestral Witches wore indignant expressions.

Dijiang and Zhujiuyin exchanged a look, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

Only Wu Ming remained calm.

He had foreseen this long ago.

The Heavenly Dao needed the Witch-Demon conflict to drive the Tribulation.

When the Witch Clan established themselves, swearing to guard the Primordial Wilderness and clear Sha Qi, that was great merit—the Heavenly Dao couldn't withhold it.

But the Demon Race's establishment, proclaiming order and dominion over all beings, better suited the Heavenly Dao's next move: pushing the Tribulation and pitting the two clans against each other.

Thus, the Heavenly Dao would grant the Demon Race more merit, bolstering them so they had strength to rival—even overshadow—the Witch Clan.

This was the Heavenly Dao's grand scheme, an open scheme!

Wu Ming sneered inwardly: "Supporting the Demon Race to fight my Witch Clan? Too bad—I won't let you have your way."

The ceremony ended, and the feast began.

Di Jun, Taiyi, Nuwa, and Fuxi came to offer toasts.

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, twelve Ancestral Witch Fellow Daoists, thank you for attending," Di Jun raised his cup, his posture humble.

Wu Ming nodded slightly: "Fellow Daoist Di Jun, Fellow Daoist Taiyi, Fellow Daoist Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi, the Demon Race's establishment and the heavenly merit descending—truly cause for celebration."

Di Jun wore a victor's smile: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming is too kind. Our Demon Race follows heaven and suits the people, establishing order—naturally we have heaven's favor."

Taiyi's face bore pride as he looked at Wu Ming: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, now that our Demon Race is established and governs the Heavenly Court, from now on, the Primordial Wilderness will be jointly ruled by our Demon Race and your Witch Clan."

His words seemed equal but carried a provocation.

Zhurong couldn't hold back, grumbling: "Hmph! Joint rule? Since when does the Primordial Wilderness belong to the two of us?"

Gonggong chimed in: "Exactly! Our Witch Clan clears Sha Qi and sorts earth veins—that's real work! Your Demon Race talks about governing all beings; I think you just want to be the boss and bully the weak!"

At this, the atmosphere stiffened.

"What did you say?!" Taiyi erupted in fury, the Chaos Bell humming, Solar True Fire nearly bursting forth.

"I said you want to be the boss and bully the weak—are you deaf?" Zhurong shot back without flinching, flames rising around him.

"Looking for death!" Taiyi moved to strike.

"Taiyi!" Di Jun stopped him, but his face darkened.

"Zhurong!" Wu Ming also spoke, his voice soft, yet it instantly quenched Zhurong's flames.

Wu Ming looked at Taiyi: "Fellow Daoist Taiyi, calm your anger. Zhurong speaks bluntly. Today is the Demon Race's joyous day—no need for conflict."

"However, what he said isn't entirely without reason."

"The lands of the Primordial Wilderness are formed from Father God Pangu's body. My Witch Clan thrives here by natural right."

"Your Demon Race establishes the Heavenly Court, governs the Zhou Tian Xing Dou, and orders heaven and earth—my Witch Clan has no objection."

"As for 'jointly ruling the Primordial Wilderness'... heh, my Witch Clan has no such ambition. We only wish to fulfill our oath to Father God and heaven and earth."

Wu Ming's words were neither servile nor overbearing.

He made clear that the Witch Clan had no desire to contend for supremacy over the Primordial Wilderness, acknowledged the Demon Race's rule over the heavens, and deftly sidestepped the sensitive topic of "co-governing the Primordial Wilderness."

Nuwa's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She looked at Wu Ming, then at Di Jun, but said nothing.

Fuxi, meanwhile, moved his fingers faintly, as if calculating something, his expression grave.

Hongyun watched from the side, his heart pounding. He quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Ah, everyone just wants what's best for the Primordial Wilderness! Harmony brings wealth, harmony brings wealth! From now on, we're all neighbors—we should help each other!"

Zhen Yuanzi added, "Indeed, indeed. Today is the Demon Race's great day of celebration. Let us not let words harm our goodwill."

Di Jun cast a deep look at Wu Ming and drained his cup in one gulp. "Excellent. Fellow Daoist Wu Ming truly understands the greater good!"