Time flowed like a river, and tens of thousands of years passed in the blink of an eye.
The Demon Court's Demon Realm.
This realm was a Great Thousand World that Tai Yi had opened using his Quasi-Saint divine abilities, gathering the myriad races of the Prehistoric World.
Ever since East Prince Gong established the Immortal Court and Tai Yi established the Demon Court, every race in the Prehistoric World aside from the Witch Clan had been forced to pick a side.
Only those top Great Powers with profound cultivation had the strength to refuse to join either faction.
Tai Yi sat on the Heavenly Emperor's throne, pondering how he could kill East Prince Gong and the Ancestral Witches.
His original reason for establishing the Demon Clan had been to use his status as Heavenly Emperor to flirt with women.
But the Witch Clan was wreaking havoc across the Prehistoric World. Every day, he heard Bai Ze report that some tribe or other had been wiped out by the Witch Clan.
Not long ago, an unaffiliated Great Luo cultivator who was close to Bai Ze had been eaten alive by an Ancestral Witch.
When Bai Ze heard the news, he had "almost" gone to challenge the Thirteen Ancestral Witches alone. Fortunately, Qin Yuan had stopped him.
But the incident had also left many people dissatisfied with Tai Yi.
They had followed Tai Yi because they wanted to stand against the Ancestral Witches. Meanwhile, he spent every day chasing after Female Immortals, leaving everyone utterly disheartened.
Tai Yi knew that if he didn't move against the Witch Clan soon, everyone would end up defecting to East Prince Gong.
Being Heavenly Emperor was no easy task...
"Bai Ze, has there been any word from Shi Huang?" Tai Yi looked down at Bai Ze below the steps.
As the Demon Clan's advisor, Bai Ze had been responsible for much of the work since the Demon Court's establishment.
Tai Yi trusted Bai Ze greatly.
In the novels about the Prehistoric World that he had read, Bai Ze had always been loyal to the Demon Clan.
Whether helping the Demon Clan prosper or teaching Lu Ya after the Witch-Demon War, Bai Ze had always been diligent.
Bai Ze hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, Shi Huang has sent word. Kunpeng will soon come to our Demon Court and take up the position of 'Demon Master.'"
Tai Yi nodded at that.
He had even taken out a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure that the system had rewarded him with.
There was no way that penniless Kunpeng would turn down a chance to join his side.
"Once the Demon Master joins our Demon Court, we'll march against the Witch Clan," Tai Yi said thoughtfully.
The Demon Saints and Demon Gods he had appointed all brightened at his words.
They were finally going to strike back against the Witch Clan?
Ever since the Ancestral Witches had emerged, they had used the name of Father God Pangu as an excuse to plunder and slaughter across the Prehistoric World.
Countless small tribes had been wiped out by Great Witches.
And countless Great Powers had been eaten alive by the Ancestral Witches.
Almost everyone who had joined the Demon Court hated the Ancestral Witches to the bone.
After tens of thousands of years of growth, the Demon Court had already helped many of its members break through to higher realms by means of its fortune.
Aside from Tai Yi, who had broken through to the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm, Bai Ze and Qin Yuan had also reached the early-stage Quasi-Saint realm.
Once Kunpeng joined them, the Demon Clan would have four Quasi-Saints.
When they marched on Buzhou Mountain, even if they couldn't wipe out the Ancestral Witches, they could at least make them pay.
"Report—"
"Your Majesty, a Daoist in blue robes seeks an audience. He says he's an old friend of yours."
A Demon General at the Taiyi Realm came running over in a hurry.
Tai Yi furrowed his brow.
A Daoist in blue? He couldn't remember having a friend like that. If the visitor had said he was there to flirt with... Ahem.
"Let him in."
As soon as Tai Yi finished speaking, a streak of azure light tore through this Great Thousand World. Immediately afterward, Xuan Qing appeared in the great hall.
Xuan Qing still wore a lotus leaf, and a faint sorrow showed on his face.
"Daoist Xuan Qing?!"
Quite a few people present recognized Xuan Qing.
If the Witch Clan was the race that had done the most harm to the Prehistoric World, then Xuan Qing was the individual who had caused the most devastation.
Any Great Power he killed was devoured by some strange method of his.
He had also taken the spiritual roots and Lingbao of many Great Powers.
"So it's you."
Tai Yi had no dealings with Xuan Qing, so he was quite curious about why the man had come to his Demon Court.
Xuan Qing had also broken through to the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm.
He swept his gaze disdainfully across the Demon Clan's Great Powers, then fixed it on Tai Yi.
"Tai Yi, I wish to join the Demon Court." Xuan Qing's tone left no room for refusal.
Seated high on the Heavenly Emperor's throne, Tai Yi gazed down at the solitary, proud figure in blue with a grave expression.
Xuan Qing's aura was even more unfathomable than when they had met at Zixiao Palace.
Though the Green Lotus Sword remained sheathed, wisps of Creation power already emanated from it, causing many of the great demons in the hall to tense up instinctively.
"Daoist Xuan Qing," Tai Yi began slowly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his throne. "You wish to join my Demon Court?"
His voice echoed through the vast, imposing hall, revealing nothing of his emotions.
"That's right."
Xuan Qing answered crisply. He held the lush green lotus leaf in his arms, but his gaze was as sharp as a sword, piercing straight toward Tai Yi on the throne.
"I have a grudge against the Ancestral Witches. Our goals are the same."
Bai Ze furrowed his brow and secretly sent a voice transmission to Tai Yi. "Your Majesty, this man is extreme in temperament, ruthless and reckless in his actions, and exceptionally powerful. He may not be easy to control."
Tai Yi gave a slight nod to show that he understood.
He looked at Xuan Qing, then suddenly smiled in a way that was hard to read. "Daoist, your strength is extraordinary. It would naturally be a great honor for our Demon Court if you were willing to join us. However..."
He changed course. "Though our Demon Court is newly established, it still has rules and regulations. What position do you wish to hold? And what price must our Demon Court pay?"
The corner of Xuan Qing's mouth curled into a cold smile. He surveyed the faces around him—some wary, some curious, some hostile—before fixing his gaze on Tai Yi again.
"A position? Just an empty title. Give me some idle post." His tone was indifferent. "As for the price..."
He raised a hand and pointed toward Buzhou Mountain, speaking each word with absolute resolve. "I want those three things—the Coiling Dragon Crutch, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, and the Qingping Sword."
"After the Witch-Demon War, they must belong to me."
A subdued gasp rippled through the hall.
Those three Lingbao had been transformed from the Twenty-Four-Grade Creation Green Lotus. All were Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, and each was deeply entangled with the Three Pure Ones and the Ancestral Witches, burdened with grave karmic ties.
Xuan Qing had demanded them outright. His appetite was extraordinary.
Tai Yi narrowed his eyes and stopped tapping his fingers.
He leaned forward slightly. The imperial pressure of a mid-stage Quasi-Saint, mixed with the scorching aura of Solar True Fire, slowly spread like an invisible tide, meeting Xuan Qing's aloof, chilling sword intent in a silent standoff.
"Those three Lingbao are now in the hands of Chen Tian of the Thirteen Ancestral Witches," Tai Yi said slowly.
Xuan Qing's gaze suddenly turned icy. The lotus leaf in his arms stirred without any wind, and a wisp of sharp sword energy split the air. "That has nothing to do with you. Just answer me: yes or no."