Eastern Lands to the east of Aolai Country lies the Great Qin Dynasty, ruled by the First Emperor!

"Cough, cough... I... No! I'll send you back right away!"

Sun Wukong stood with his hands behind his back. Now that he wanted to establish a demon kingdom and lay the foundations of an empire that would last for generations, challenging the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist sect for supremacy over the Primordial Wilderness, he needed to set rules!

And the first rule had to be changing how he addressed himself.

Now that he was king, he had to call himself "this king"!

Once he ascended the throne and became emperor, he would call himself "I, the Emperor"!

The girl was none other than Princess Aozi, the seventh princess of Aolai Country.

Ever since she had been captured, she had spent her days in tears, growing more haggard by the day. Now, hearing the Monkey King say he would take her home, a flicker of delight immediately crossed her eyes.

"Really? You won't eat me?"

Before she could finish speaking, the world blurred before her eyes. Clouds rose beneath her feet, and in an instant they had soared over countless mountains and rivers. When she opened her eyes again, she had landed safely in the familiar corridors of the palace.

The palace was in turmoil. Ever since the little princess had been abducted, the old king had fallen ill with grief and was now on the verge of death. The court was in chaos, the princes were locked in open and covert struggles, and the kingdom was tottering on the brink of collapse.

Seeing her father lying on the bed, his breath faint, Princess Aozi's heart felt as if it had been cut by a knife. She turned and fell to her knees before Sun Wukong, weeping as she pleaded:

"Great King, please save my father... If you're willing to help, Ao Zi will serve you from this day forward, as your slave or maid. I'll do whatever you command!"

Princess Aozi's gaze was resolute, her face full of hope.

After spending these past few days with him, she had seen that although Sun Wukong was the king of all demons, he had a chivalrous heart and was generous and forthright. He was no bloodthirsty monster.

Sun Wukong lifted his eyes and gently blew a breath. An invisible spiritual breeze brushed over the old king's body, and in an instant his ailing form was renewed, like a withered tree in spring.

In the blink of an eye, his spirits lifted, his white hair darkened somewhat, and his complexion became as rosy as a young man's.

That breath of Great Luo immortal qi from Sun Wukong was enough to extend a mortal's life by a hundred years!

The old king opened his eyes and saw that his beloved daughter had returned safely. Once he learned what had happened, gratitude and joy flooded his heart. He bowed down before Sun Wukong.

"Divine Monkey, please accept this humble king's bow. Without your help, I would surely have died today, and I might never have seen my beloved daughter again..."

Sun Wukong laughed heartily, his voice calm as a gentle breeze.

"It was a small matter, nothing worth mentioning. But I... this king has something he'd like to discuss with the ruler."

"Please, Divine Monkey, tell me what you wish. I'll obey without hesitation," the old king hurriedly replied, bowing.

Aolai Country had a sizeable territory and a population of more than ten million. It was considered a middle-ranking power in the Eastern Continent of Divine Sands.

Sun Wukong stood with his hands behind his back, his expression solemn.

"I have several million demons under my command. I intend to make Flower-Fruit Mountain my center and establish a demon kingdom!"

"Your Aolai Country borders my Flower-Fruit Mountain. I'd like us to become brother kingdoms, with this king as the elder brother and you as the younger. From now on, Aolai Country will be under Flower-Fruit Mountain's protection. What do you think?"

Hearing him casually mention that he had "several million demons," the old king broke out in a cold sweat. He silently marveled that this Divine Monkey was no ordinary figure and must never be offended!

"From this day on, Aolai Country and Flower-Fruit Mountain will be brother kingdoms. Flower-Fruit Mountain will be the elder brother, and Aolai Country the younger. For generations to come, we'll support each other. Whatever Flower-Fruit Mountain needs, Aolai Country will do its utmost to provide. We won't dare disobey."

"Brother Monkey, does that sound acceptable to you?"

The old king's voice trembled with awe as he nodded again and again.

Sun Wukong raised his eyebrows in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Princess Aozi. There was a touch of approval and affection in his eyes as he spoke gently:

"Your sons are all spoiled and unfit for great responsibility. Only your youngest daughter has a kind heart and a good nature. She could inherit the throne one day and protect the people."

The old king's heart jolted. He was secretly relieved that the little princess was the child he loved most. He had already intended to let her succeed him, but had worried that his ministers would resist. Now that the Divine Monkey had spoken, which of them would dare object?

"Brother Monkey's word is law. Your younger brother will obey, and I won't let you down!"

Although they had formed an alliance, the old king still felt both reverence and fear toward Sun Wukong. As he looked at the demon king before him, clad in a brocade robe and crowned with gold, tiny beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Since ancient times, humans and demons had followed different paths and slaughtered one another. Demons had eaten countless humans, while human cultivators had slain countless demons!

Though Aolai Country and Flower-Fruit Mountain had become allies that day, the old king still felt afraid.

Sun Wukong saw his unease and grinned, baring his gleaming white fangs. He tried to make himself look as gentle as possible.

"Don't be afraid, my lord. Though a million demons have gathered at Flower-Fruit Mountain, we're different from demons elsewhere. I've given a strict order: none who serve under me may eat humans or bully the weak. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

The old king was overjoyed. His complexion brightened, and he clasped his hands in salute, his voice trembling.

"If that's truly the case, Brother Monkey, you'll be bringing blessings to all living beings and earning boundless merit!"

Sun Wukong threw back his head and laughed, his laughter brimming with heroic spirit.

"This king will establish a demon kingdom to bring peace for generations and build an everlasting legacy!"

His eyes shone brightly, and his voice rang like a great bell.

"From now on, the several million demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain will need your Aolai Country to supply them regularly with grain, meat, clothing, cloth, salt, iron, and other goods!"

"Of course, Flower-Fruit Mountain will pay market prices!"

"Also, this king has another request. Flower-Fruit Mountain will build a school, and I'd like your Aolai Country to send learned and talented people to teach the demons in my mountains. Let them learn to read and write, study the customs and virtues of humankind, understand benevolence and justice, and learn all sorts of crafts, production, and farming skills!"

"If we can educate these millions of demons, then from now on, demon kingdoms and human kingdoms can coexist as one harmonious family!"

At these words, everyone around them exchanged glances but dared not speak.

The old king was dumbfounded. Only after a long moment did he force a smile and nod.

"Brother Monkey, your vision is truly unprecedented. Though I'm unworthy, I'll do everything in my power to help!"

Sun Wukong nodded. His cloak stirred slightly as he gazed ahead, deep in thought.

For days, he had been wondering: among all the races of the world, why was humanity alone able to develop the human way?

Why had humanity been able to establish itself and thrive amid the encircling demon beasts?

Why had weak humans been able to build dynasties that lasted for centuries and pass down legacies for generations?

Why had humanity grown ever more prosperous, gradually becoming the master of the Primordial Wilderness?

It was because humanity had culture, education, writing, and laws. These gave them the power to unite.

Only by sharing one purpose and supporting one another from within and without could they build an overwhelming force!

What about the demons? With their fangs, claws, and bloodshed, they lived by the law of the jungle, each ruling over themselves, never able to unite.

Only unity!

Only solidarity!

Only laws!

Only education!

Only then could the demons unite once more and challenge the Heavenly Court, contend with the Buddhist sect, and endure for generations without decline!

"Flower-Fruit Mountain will build the first school for demons!"

Sun Wukong stood tall, his voice low and firm.

"I hope that one day, every demon will be able to read, understand reason, know propriety and justice, help the weak and suppress the strong, and look out for one another instead of slaughtering their own kind!"

"I hope Flower-Fruit Mountain will become a place where all demons can make a home and a living, a place where all beings are equal!"

His voice rang through the hall like a great bell. The candle flames trembled, illuminating the stunned faces of everyone present.

As the old king looked at the defiant monkey demon, an absurd thought suddenly rose in his heart:

The world said demons were cruel, but who could have guessed that this Demon King held ambitions more lofty than those of humans?

"Good! I'll do everything in my power to help Brother Monkey fulfill his ambitions!"

"May you hold fast to this aspiration, so that future generations may enjoy peace for a thousand autumns."

The old king finally drew a deep breath and bowed. Then he continued:

"But Aolai Country is small, and its people are weak. Even if I mobilize the entire kingdom, I'm afraid we won't be able to supply and educate several million demons!"

At this, Sun Wukong furrowed his brow and thought for a moment. He knew the ruler of Aolai Country wasn't making excuses. The country had a population of only a little over ten million and wasn't wealthy to begin with; its productive capacity really was limited.

"If that's the case, my lord, do you know of any stronger kingdoms nearby?"

The old king answered without hesitation:

"The strongest kingdom in the Eastern Continent of Divine Sands is the Great Qin Dynasty in the Eastern Lands!"

"Travel east from here and you'll find Xianyang City. The First Emperor rules there. He destroyed the Six Kingdoms, united the Eastern Lands, built the Great Wall and imperial roads, and standardized writing and weights and measures!"

"If Brother Monkey can form an alliance with Great Qin, the wealth of the Great Qin Dynasty will surely help Flower-Fruit Mountain educate its myriad demons!"