Failure to Win Over

Nüwa was just about to rise when a figure rushed hurriedly into the hall from outside—it was her highest-cultivation maidservant, who had already reached the Great Yi Mysterious Immortal realm.

"Empress! Something terrible has happened!"

The maidservant's face was etched with anxiety, clearly indicating that a major incident had occurred.

Nüwa paused mid-motion, looking at the maidservant as she asked in a calm voice, "What has you so flustered?"

She held great regard for the land under her protection; though the creatures here were weak, in her eyes, they were lives that needed nurturing.

The maidservant quickly replied, "Reporting to the Empress, just now in the valley at the foot of the mountain, Witch Clan warriors suddenly appeared and attacked our people!"

Nüwa's brow immediately furrowed.

"Any casualties?"

"A few were injured, but thankfully, no deaths occurred." The maidservant breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "At the most critical moment, a passing senior intervened and dealt with all three Witch Clan warriors."

"Oh?" A hint of curiosity appeared in Nüwa's eyes. "Who was this person who acted? What was their cultivation level?"

The maidservant's face showed an expression of reverence: "That senior looked very young, like a wandering demon immortal. As for cultivation... unfathomable! He used only two or three sword strikes to easily slay three Mystic Immortal realm Witch Clan warriors. I'm afraid... at the very least, he's a Golden Immortal great power!"

Golden Immortal?

Nüwa felt a flicker of surprise.

In the Honghuang, nine out of ten Golden Immortal great powers among the Demon Race had been recruited by Dijun and Taiyi into the Heavenly Court. How could one be idly wandering around her territory?

And from the maidservant's description, this person acted cleanly and decisively, showing no fear of the Witch Clan.

Now that was an interesting character.

But for now, the pressing matter was to deal with those two outside.

"I am aware of this. You may withdraw first," Nüwa instructed.

"As you command, Empress."

Once the maidservant had left, Nüwa tidied her palace robes, moved with lotus-like steps, and walked toward the hall outside.

Outside Phoenix Mountain, the sea of clouds churned.

Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi stood shoulder to shoulder, their imperial aura restrained, waiting silently.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi was naturally impatient, and after waiting a while, irritation crept onto his face.

"Elder Brother, this Nüwa has quite the airs, making us wait this long!"

"Patience." Dijun's expression remained calm. "Junior Sister Nüwa is a personal disciple of the Dao Ancestor, bearing the opportunity to become a Sage. She is the key to whether our Demon Race can suppress the Witch Clan in the future. Waiting a little longer is nothing."

Eastern Emperor Taiyi snorted but said no more.

Just then, the clouds ahead parted to both sides, and a path paved with immortal light extended outward.

Nüwa's figure appeared at the end of the path.

Her face was cool, her gaze calm as she looked at the two.

"Greetings, Junior Sister Nüwa." Dijun immediately put on a warm smile, stepped forward, and performed a Daoist salute.

"Greetings, Daoist Nüwa." Eastern Emperor Taiyi also restrained his violent aura and gave a slight nod.

They kept their posture low.

After all, the woman before them was not only a great sage of the Demon Race but also a disciple of Hongjun Dao Ancestor and a future Heavenly Dao Sage.

Once Nüwa became a Sage, her status would far surpass theirs as the two emperors of the Demon Race. Building a good relationship now would bring nothing but benefits.

Nüwa merely gave a slight nod in response.

She had no fondness for Dijun's hypocritical pleasantries, but since she had yet to find a clue to becoming a Sage, she didn't want to completely offend this Demon Emperor either.

"I wonder how long the two Daoists have been waiting outside the palace?" Nüwa asked indifferently.

Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi both paused, not expecting her to ask that.

Dijun replied with a smile, "Not long. My Second Brother and I just arrived, about half an hour."

"Half an hour?" Nüwa's gaze turned somewhat meaningful.

She asked again, "Three hours ago, Witch Clan members intruded into my territory at Mount Buzhou and clashed with the local Demon Race. The two Daoists traveled a long way—did you notice anything unusual along the road?"

Eastern Emperor Taiyi raised an eyebrow, about to say something.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Dijun spoke first, his face displaying just the right amount of surprise before he shook his head.

"My Second Brother and I were focused on the journey, eager to see Junior Sister, and did not notice the situation below. I imagine those Witch Clan scoundrels acted covertly and failed to alert us."

He spoke flawlessly, as if he truly knew nothing.

Nüwa looked at him silently, saying nothing, but those clear eyes made Dijun's heart skip a beat for no reason.

She knows?

Impossible. Why would she care so much about the life and death of a few little demons?

Nüwa's face visibly cooled by several degrees.

She didn't dwell on the topic and cut straight to the point: "The two Daoists came today—is it still about inviting me to join the Heavenly Court?"

Seeing Nüwa bring it up herself, Dijun's spirits lifted, and he quickly said, "Exactly! Junior Sister, now that the Dao Ancestor has Merged with Dao, the Witch Clan grows bolder by the day, constantly encroaching on our Demon Race's territory. If our Demon Race is to fully command Heaven and Earth and become true rulers, we must unite all our strength!"

"Junior Sister is a Great Sage of our Demon Race. If you would enter the Heavenly Court and hold a seat, it would surely boost our race's fortune! Then, wiping out the Witch Clan and unifying the Honghuang would be within reach!"

Dijun spoke with fervor, trying to sway Nüwa with the cause of their race.

Yet Nüwa's expression never shifted from start to finish.

She waited until Dijun finished before speaking slowly.

"I appreciate the Daoist brother's good intentions."

"But I have yet to crack the Sage-making method passed down by the Dao Ancestor. I'm currently in a critical period of seclusion for enlightenment, and I simply can't spare attention for other matters. As for the Heavenly Court, I'm afraid I can't participate."

Pursuing Sagehood was the top priority.

Though Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were disappointed, they found no grounds to argue.

After all, the benefits a Demon Race Sage could bring far outweighed those of a Great Sage.

"Since Junior Sister must focus on enlightenment, we naturally won't disturb you." Dijun forced a smile onto his face, but gloom weighed heavy in his heart.

He knew this was likely just Nüwa's excuse.

"Then my Second Brother and I will take our leave. On the day Junior Sister attains the Hunyuan Dao, the Demon Race's Heavenly Court will surely prepare a generous gift!"

"No need to see me off." Nüwa's reply was simple and curt.

Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, having hit a soft wall, could only turn and leave in frustration.

Two streaks of golden light shot into the sky and soon vanished beyond the horizon.

Watching the direction they left, Nüwa's gaze turned icy cold.

To win her over, they could ignore the life and death of the little demons right under their noses.

Such a Demon Emperor, such a Heavenly Court—she wanted no part in it.

On the other side, Xuanqing was leading the Rabbit-eared Girl and her group toward Phoenix Mountain.

"Senior, you're incredible!"

The Rabbit-eared Girl followed beside Xuanqing, her big eyes full of admiration.

Her name was Tutu Yun, a little demon born and raised in this area.

"Those were Witch Clan members just now—their bodies are incredibly tough—and you took them out in a few moves!"

"Yeah, yeah! Senior, you're the most powerful demon immortal we've ever seen!"

The other little demons chimed in one after another, their gazes at Xuanqing filled with awe.

Xuanqing's head ached from their chatter, so he just waved a hand.

"Alright, enough flattery. It was nothing."

On his shoulder, Xiao Hei had already shifted back into its Qilin form.

These little demons didn't recognize a Qilin and just took it for a newborn beast. Seeing how close Xiao Hei was to Xuanqing, a few of them couldn't help but feel envious.

Xuanqing cast a small spell to make its size look like an ordinary black beast, so it wouldn't draw attention.

Xiao Hei was curiously looking around, occasionally sniffing the flowers and grass by the roadside.

"Senior, we're here. That's Phoenix Mountain ahead." Tutu Yun pointed at a misty immortal mountain in the distance, speaking excitedly.

Xuanqing nodded.

He could sense that the spiritual energy ahead was several times denser than the surroundings, carrying a peaceful and serene aura that soothed the mind.

No wonder this was the future Sage's Dao field.

Just as they were about to ascend the mountain, two blinding golden lights streaked across the sky, carrying a suffocating pressure as they sped away from Phoenix Mountain's direction.

The little demons like Tutu were shaken by that aura and trembled in fear.

Xuanqing looked up, a grin spreading across his face.

It seemed Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi's recruitment had failed.