This day, Flower-Fruit Mountain was shrouded in auspicious clouds, resplendent and magnificent, with myriad demons gathered.
Sun Wukong hosted a grand banquet for the demons, holding a dragon-slaying feast that shook the four seas and eight wildernesses!
On the vast summit of Flower-Fruit Mountain, over a hundred bronze cauldrons were neatly arranged, with fierce flames churning within. The aroma of dragon meat wafted straight to the heavens!
Sun Wukong used no less than a hundred true Dragon Corpses. The scent, carried by the mountain wind, spread throughout the land.
This feast brought together the most elite kings of the demon race from across the world.
The six Great Demon Kings of the demon race: Bull Demon King, Flood Dragon Demon King, Great Roc Demon King, Lion Camel King, Macaca Monkey King, Yurong King...
In addition, there were leaders from various tribes: Cat Demon Chief Rainbow Cat, Rabbit Demon Leader Blue Rabbit, Panda Valley Master Gungun, Tiger Tribe Leader Black Heart Tiger...
Of course, Sun Wukong's trusted four generals also stood at attention on either side—Marshals Ma and Liu, Generals Beng and Ba.
These four were two Red-tailed Macaque Monkeys and two Long-armed Ape Monkeys. They had followed Sun Wukong since he became the Handsome Monkey King, and could be considered his most trusted confidants!
At this moment, the aroma of dragon meat permeated the air. The assembled demons, whether lying down or sitting, had eyes glowing green and saliva dripping.
Sun Wukong raised a jar of Dragon Blood Wine and stood atop the high platform, his gaze like blazing flames:
"Old Sun has now conquered the Four Dragon Kings. The dragon race submits and pays tribute. Such Dragon Corpses will be available every year from now on!"
As his voice fell, the demons erupted in cheers, their roars shaking the surrounding trees until they rustled!
"Handsome Monkey King is mighty!"
"Great King is mighty! Under the Great King's leadership, our demon race will surely grow stronger, achieve greater things, and create more glory!"
"The Great King defeated a Bodhisattva of Spirit Mountain with two punches and intimidated the Four Dragon Kings. He is the pride of all our demons!"
"Long live the Great King, long live the Handsome Monkey King!"
Roars echoed, shattering the clouds!
At this moment, Bull Demon King, seated in the first position on the right, abruptly put down the dragon bone he was gnawing on and stood up, his eyes blazing:
"Great King, Old Bull has something to say. May I speak freely?"
Sun Wukong's gaze shifted, a hint of a smile beneath its sternness:
"Bull Demon King, speak your mind!"
Bull Demon King strode to the center of the gathering, knelt on one knee, and declared in a voice like a thunderous bell:
"Great King, Flower-Fruit Mountain now shakes the four seas, and all demons are loyal. Why don't our demon race seize this opportunity, establish our capital on Flower-Fruit Mountain, found a Demon Country, build a Demon Court, and stand equal to human emperors and the gods and Buddhas in the heavens?!"
"Great King is the King of Myriad Demons, and even more so, the king among demon kings. 'Handsome Monkey King' is no longer fitting for the Great King's status!"
"Great King should ascend the throne and become the Demon Emperor!"
As soon as this was said, the demons were stunned for a moment, then erupted in a frenzy!
"Bull Demon King speaks sense!"
"Indeed! If the demon race wants to avoid being driven out by the human race and bullied by immortals and Buddhas, we must unite and establish a new Demon Country!"
"Flower-Fruit Mountain as the Demon Capital, Handsome Monkey King as the Demon Emperor, establishing a new Demon Country and standing equal to the gods and immortals!"
On the high platform, Sun Wukong stood with his hands behind his back, his flame-like pupils sweeping over the assembled demons.
After a moment, Sun Wukong suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter echoing through the mountains:
"Establish a Demon Country, ascend the throne and become Emperor!"
"Old Sun has this very intention!"
"I will surely lead the demon race to glory once more!"
"If any gods or Buddhas in the heavens object, I will fight them until they submit!"
As Sun Wukong spoke, the myriad demons boiled with excitement.
"Long live! Long live!"
"Long live the Demon Country, long live the Great Emperor!"
The cheers shook the heavens, and the myriad demons roared in unison, causing the entire Flower-Fruit Mountain to tremble.
Just then, a tiger demon clad in black-spotted tiger skin, with a ferocious face, dragged a young girl before Sun Wukong and threw her to the ground.
The girl's beauty was like a painting, her brows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water. Her ink-black hair flowed smoothly behind her like a cascading night sky.
She wore a brocade dress with gold thread trim, clearly not the daughter of an ordinary family.
This tiger demon was none other than the Tiger Tribe Leader, Black Heart Tiger. He knelt on one knee, bowing his head to offer his congratulations:
"Congratulations to the Great Emperor on establishing the Demon Country!"
" this girl is the Ninth Princess of Aolai Country. She was raised in pampered luxury and has tender skin."
Having said that, he pushed the girl forward as if presenting a treasure:
"I captured this girl yesterday and have brought her to present to the Great Emperor as a congratulatory gift. I hope the Great Emperor will like her."
The young girl looked around, seeing all sorts of demons and monsters surrounding her. Terrified, tears streamed down her face as she cried out, "Wuwuwu... Don't eat me! My father is the ruler of Aolai Country, the wealthiest man in the land. If you let me go, you can have anything you desire..."
Her sorrowful cries only made the surrounding demons more excited. They licked their lips, their eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty light.
At this moment, Sun Wukong, who had always been gentle and never angered, had a face as cold as abyssal iron.
It was common for demons to eat humans!
When Sun Wukong was the Handsome Monkey King, he had eaten humans too. But after achieving enlightenment and becoming an immortal, he had never eaten human flesh again!
He had even strictly forbidden the demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain from eating human flesh!
This was because his Master, Daoist Lingxuan, was the first humanoid spiritual entity born from Chaos!
And humans were created by Nuwa in Chaos, when she encountered Zhou Xuan's spiritual body. Using the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and Three Lights Divine Water, she molded them in Zhou Xuan's likeness!
Therefore, out of respect for his Master, Sun Wukong would never eat humans again!
Moreover, Sun Wukong harbored great ambitions!
He did not want to establish a cruel, bloodthirsty demon country that slaughtered living beings!
He wanted to lead millions of demons, establish a demon country, usher in eternal peace, and build an immortal foundation!
He, Sun Wukong, would be the peerless Demon King of the world, and he would create a golden age for the demon race!
"From this day forward, no demon in my Flower-Fruit Mountain shall eat humans again! Those who disobey shall be killed without mercy!"
His voice was not loud, but it sounded like thunderclap, startling the demons present. They looked at each other, instantly falling silent as if struck by fear.
"Not only that, but from now on, no sentient being with awakened intelligence shall be slaughtered and devoured!"
"This order shall be spread throughout Flower-Fruit Mountain immediately. If anyone is unwilling to comply, they may leave within three days. If any demon who remains dares to transgress again, do not blame Old Sun for showing no mercy!"
Sun Wukong's voice was as cold as a frost blade. After his declaration, he picked up the Ninth Princess, who was trembling with fear, and turned to leave with large strides. The wind howled, and the demons remained silent, watching Sun Wukong depart with complex expressions.
Three days later, only a handful of stubborn demons chose to leave Flower-Fruit Mountain. Most of them remained.
Flower-Fruit Mountain was strategically located, rich in spiritual energy, and guarded by Sun Wukong. With the protection of a powerful being and no worries about food or drink, who would be willing to leave?
Besides, if they really thought about it, human flesh was nothing special. Giving it up was not a great loss.
However, Sun Wukong knew in his heart that changing the old habit of demons eating humans would not be accomplished overnight.
These demons were naturally free-spirited and undisciplined. Now, they obeyed because he was there to deter them, but given time, chaos would inevitably arise.
But a family has family rules, and a country has national laws!
If he wanted to establish a demon country, there must be corresponding systems and constraints!
Otherwise, the so-called country would just be a pile of loose sand!
But he was not in a hurry. Demons had long lifespans. As long as he had enough time, he believed he would establish his ideal golden age demon country!
Thinking this, he looked down at the tear-streaked little princess before him and said calmly, "Young lady, I... cough cough, I shall send you back to Aolai Country now."
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