Demon Master Enters Heaven

The court session three days later had a different atmosphere.

Taiyi sat on the Eastern Emperor's throne, eyes half-closed, observing the Demon Race officials below. Ji Meng's face was stiff, his dragon whiskers twitching; the tiger stripes on Ying Zhao's back flickered, as if he were about to explode; Fei Lian, however, was calm, but his wings were tucked in tighter than usual. Even Bai Ze stood there holding a jade slip, his brow furrowed slightly.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for Kunpeng.

The light outside the palace doors was dazzling, and the time was almost up. Taiyi glanced at Di Jun on the high platform beside him. His elder brother sat upright, his expression unreadable, but his fingers tapped lightly on the armrest—tap, tap, tap. Not fast, but each beat seemed to strike a chord in their hearts.

Finally, footsteps could be heard from outside the palace doors.

Slow and steady, the sound of a dried wood staff hitting the ground mixed with the footsteps, tok, tok, tok. Then a figure appeared at the entrance—a dark green daoist robe, a hunched posture, a withered hand gripping a staff. Kunpeng walked in slowly, stopped in the center of the great hall, and bowed.

"This old man, Kunpeng, pays his respects to the Heavenly Emperor and the Eastern Emperor."

His voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of the chill from the Northern Darkness.

The hall was so quiet you could hear breathing. Everyone watched, watching this old fellow who had crawled out of the frozen plains of the Northern Darkness, this Quasi-Saint who was said to be cunning and treacherous, having lived for who knows how many eons.

Di Jun spoke, his voice steady, "Demon Master, you have traveled far. You must be tired."

"I dare not," Kunpeng said, lowering his head. "I am indebted to Your Majesty's kindness and will do my best."

Empty words, anyone could say them. But the expressions of the officials below grew even worse. Ji Meng's dragon whiskers twitched more violently, and the tiger stripes on Ying Zhao's back flashed—a sign of magical power surging.

Taiyi sneered inwardly. These generals, they were all single-minded. Those not of our kind are bound to have different intentions. But they didn't consider the current situation. The Witch Race was watching from the sidelines, and if the Heavenly Court itself engaged in internal exclusion based on bloodline, it would be suicidal.

"Since you have joined the Heavenly Court, you must abide by its rules," Di Jun continued. "The position of Demon Master will oversee the three departments—the Military Strategy Department, the Inspection Department, and the Foreign Affairs Department. The heads of these three departments will hand over their duties to you later, with Bai Ze's assistance."

"This old man obeys."

Kunpeng bowed again. But Taiyi could hear something hidden in his voice—not gratitude, but calculation. The old fellow was calculating how much real power these three departments would give him, how much classified information he could access.

Indeed, after standing up, Kunpeng added, "Your Majesty, I am new here and still unfamiliar with the affairs of the Heavenly Court. I wonder if I could... first familiarize myself with the Great Zhou Heavenly Stars Formation? This way, I will be more confident in assisting with military affairs in the future."

Here it comes.

Taiyi knew it clearly. This old fox was eager to cash in on the conditions they had discussed that day. The Great Zhou Heavenly Stars Formation was the foundation of the Heavenly Court; understanding it meant understanding half of the Heavenly Court's secrets.

Di Jun did not answer immediately. He glanced at Taiyi.

Taiyi nodded slightly.

"Granted," Di Jun said. "In three days, Bai Ze will guide you in familiarizing yourself with the outer perimeter of the formation."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Kunpeng retreated to the side, joining the ranks of the civil officials. But his position was subtle—neither too far forward nor too far back, right in the middle. Not forward, so as not to attract too much attention; not back, so as not to be marginalized. The old man had a perfect grasp of the situation.

The court session continued.

But the subsequent topics all became dull and uninteresting. Reports from various departments of the Demon Race, resource allocation, border defense... Normally, these matters could cause arguments for half a day, but today they proceeded unusually smoothly. It wasn't that there were no problems, but everyone's minds were elsewhere.

They were all pondering Kunpeng.

Taiyi watched coldly, understanding perfectly. From this day forward, the structure of the Heavenly Court would change. Before, the generals were in charge of external affairs, and the civil officials of internal affairs, with clear distinctions. Now, with the addition of Kunpeng, this old fellow was neither purely civil nor purely military, yet he held control over three departments—Military Strategy, Inspection, and Foreign Affairs. Any of these could be involved in anything.

The waters were about to get murky.

It was good that the waters were murky. It was easier to fish in troubled waters.

As the court session was about to conclude, Bai Ze stepped forward. He held a new jade slip, his expression more solemn than before.

"Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report."

"Speak."

"Scouts from the northern border have sent back intelligence," Bai Ze unfolded the jade slip. "The Witch Race has been frequently mobilizing in recent months. Thirty thousand troops from the Houtu Tribe have relocated to the western foothills of Buzhou Mountain, twenty thousand elites from the Gonggong Tribe have appeared on the shores of the East Sea, and an envoy from the Gou Mang Tribe entered Kunlun Mountain three days ago..."

The hall fell silent again.

This time it was truly silent, a deathly stillness. Even the sound of breathing could not be heard. The twelve tribes of the Witch Race had always guarded their own territories; unless there was a major event, they would not mobilize lightly. Now, three tribes were moving simultaneously, all towards crucial locations—Buzhou Mountain was the gateway to the Heavenly Court, the East Sea was the granary of the Demon Race, and Kunlun Mountain... that was Queen Mother of the West's territory.

"What do they intend to do?" Di Jun's voice deepened.

"It is not yet clear," Bai Ze shook his head. "However, the scouts report that the various tribes of the Witch Race are intensifying their training and stockpiling supplies. It looks like... they are preparing for war."

Preparing for war.

These two words were like stones, dropped into still water, stirring up a thousand waves. The expressions of the officials below changed instantly, the dissatisfaction they had felt towards Kunpeng just moments ago was now completely overshadowed by a greater fear.

The Demon Race and the Witch Race had been in a standoff for many years, with constant minor skirmishes, but large-scale preparation for war had not occurred for a long time. The last time... was before the last Calamity.

"Your Majesty," Ji Meng could not hold back, stepping out of the ranks. "I request permission to lead my troops to reinforce the northern border! Buzhou Mountain must not be lost!"

"I request permission to reinforce the East Sea!" Ying Zhao also stepped forward.

"I..."

The generals, one by one, requested to fight, their voices growing louder. The hall instantly descended into chaos, like a pot boiling over. The civil officials' faces turned pale; they wanted to advise, but dared not speak.

Taiyi looked at the scene, a surge of irritation suddenly rising within him.

Arguing, all they knew was arguing. Could war be achieved through arguments? The Witch Race hadn't even attacked yet, and they were already losing their composure.

He stood up abruptly.

With little movement, the phantom of the Chaos Bell flashed behind him. With a soft clang, it suppressed all other sounds. Everyone turned their heads to look at him.

"Reinforce? Why?" Taiyi spoke, his voice as cold as ice. "The Witch Race is mobilizing, and you want to reinforce? If they were to circle the Great Wilderness, would you empty the Heavenly Court and chase after them?"

Ji Meng opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

"Buzhou Mountain is guarded by the Great Zhou Heavenly Stars Formation, the East Sea is watched by the Dragon Race, and Kunlun Mountain... the Queen Mother of the West is still alive, it's not our concern." Taiyi walked to the center of the great hall, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. "What are you panicking about?"

No one dared to answer.

Taiyi turned and looked at Di Jun. "Brother, I'm going to Buzhou Mountain."

Di Jun frowned. "You're going personally?"

"Mm." Taiyi nodded. "To see what the Witch Race is up to. And... to get familiar with the battlefield."

He said the last half-sentence casually. But everyone in the hall understood—the Eastern Emperor was going to the front lines himself. This wasn't reinforcement; it was a deterrent.

Di Jun was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "How many people will you take?"

"Three thousand," Taiyi said. "Fei Lian will come with me."

"That's too few," Di Jun disagreed. "Take at least ten thousand."

"More people will just get in the way," Taiyi shook his head. "Three thousand elites are enough. If a real fight breaks out, more people won't help."

His words were arrogant, but no one dared to refute them. Because the one speaking was the Eastern Emperor Taiyi, the Eastern Emperor Taiyi who had the Chaos Bell above his head and had once fought three Ancestral Witches alone.

Di Jun looked at him for a long time, then sighed. "Be careful."

"I know."

The morning court dispersed.

The officials filed out one by one, their faces grave. Kunpeng walked at the end, leaning on his staff, moving slowly. As he passed Taiyi, he paused, tilted his head, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Your Majesty is going to Buzhou Mountain?"

"Mm."

"Then what about the Pangu Hall matter..."

"We'll talk about it when I get back," Taiyi interrupted him. "You familiarize yourself with the Heavenly Court first. When it's time for you to investigate, I'll tell you."

Kunpeng smiled, a smile full of hidden meaning. "This old man understands."

He left.

Only the two brothers remained in the hall. Di Jun descended from the high platform and walked in front of Taiyi, staring at him. "You've been... very rushed lately."

Taiyi's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. "Have I?"

"Yes," Di Jun said. "Rushed to bring Kunpeng into the Heavenly Court, rushed to go to Buzhou Mountain, rushed... to do many things. As if someone is urging you from behind."

Taiyi fell silent.

He couldn't explain. Should he say that he knew a Calamity was coming, that time was running out, that if they didn't prepare, it would be too late?

He couldn't.

"The Witch Race is acting strangely," he found an excuse. "Their sudden mobilization must have a reason. I need to go and see."

"Can't Bai Ze go? Can't Ji Meng go?"

"They won't be able to see the problem," Taiyi shook his head. "Some things, only I can see."

This statement was half true, half false. The truth was, he could indeed see things others couldn't—like the malevolent energy, like the Chaos Bell's sensing. The falsehood was that this wasn't the whole reason.

Di Jun looked at him for a moment, then suddenly reached out and patted his shoulder. "Taiyi, I'm your brother. Some things... you don't say, I don't ask. But don't carry it all alone."

Taiyi's throat felt a little tight.

He nodded, but said nothing.

Returning to the Sun Palace, Taiyi began to select his troops.

Fei Lian arrived quickly, bringing the roster of the Wind Department. The two of them went through the roster in the study, selecting soldiers for the entire afternoon. They needed elites, quick-witted individuals, those who understood formations, and those who could keep their mouths shut—this trip wasn't for war, it was for reconnaissance. The fewer people, the better; the more elite, the better.

By the end, they had chosen three thousand men. Fei Lian recorded their names and went out to make arrangements.

Taiyi sat alone in the study, watching the sky outside gradually darken. The sea of clouds was dyed a golden red by the setting sun, as if on fire. The silhouette of Buzhou Mountain in the distance was indistinct, hidden in the twilight.

Buzhou Mountain.

It was the Heavenly Pillar, formed from Pangu's spine, propping up the Great Wilderness. At its foot was the territory of the Witch Race, the lair of the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Going there was like venturing into a tiger's mouth.

But he had to go.

The sign-in location given by the System was the outer perimeter of Pangu Hall. To complete the sign-in, he first had to scout the situation at Buzhou Mountain. Moreover, the malevolent energy the Chaos Bell desired was likely related to that place.

As he was thinking, footsteps could be heard outside the door again.

This time, it was Bai Ze.

He entered without holding any jade slips, his hands empty. He walked to the desk and bowed. "Your Majesty."

"Sit," Taiyi gestured to the chair opposite him.

Bai Ze sat down, but didn't speak for a long time. Taiyi didn't rush him, just waited. The light outside the window grew dimmer, and lamps were lit in the study, the candlelight casting flickering shadows on the wall.

"Your Majesty," Bai Ze finally spoke, his voice very soft, "You've... changed a lot recently."

Here we go again.

Taiyi sighed inwardly. Di Jun said it, Kunpeng said it, and now Bai Ze was saying it too. Was his act not good enough? Or were these people too familiar with the former Eastern Emperor Taiyi?

"People always change," he used the same excuse to brush them off.

"Yes," Bai Ze nodded, "but changing too quickly can make people... worry."

He paused, then looked up at Taiyi. "I know some things shouldn't be said. But I've served Your Majesty for many years, and I've seen some things... with my own eyes, and kept them in my heart."

Taiyi didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

"The former Your Majesty was arrogant, domineering, and couldn't tolerate any impurities," Bai Ze said slowly, word by word. "The current Your Majesty is still arrogant and still domineering, but beneath that arrogance... there's something more."

"What is it?"

"Scheming," Bai Ze looked straight at him. "Like a chess player, taking one step and looking ten steps ahead. It's not a bad thing, but... it's not like the you from before."

The candlelight crackled.

Taiyi looked at Bai Ze, at this wise sage of the Demon Race known for his intelligence. Bai Ze's eyes were bright, so bright they seemed to see through people's hearts. In those eyes, he saw worry, confusion, and a hint of... testing.

"Bai Ze," Taiyi said slowly, "Who do you think I am?"

Bai Ze was taken aback.

"I am the Eastern Emperor Taiyi," Taiyi continued. "The Eastern Emperor of the Heavenly Court, the Eastern Emperor of the Demon Race. I was, I am, and I will always be. As for changing or not... the times are changing, so of course I have to change too. If I don't change, am I just waiting to die?"

These words were heavy, so heavy that Bai Ze's expression changed.

He stood up and bowed deeply. "I misspoke, Your Majesty."

"You didn't," Taiyi waved his hand. "You're just worried. I know."

Bai Ze straightened up, looking at him with complex eyes. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, when you go to Buzhou Mountain, please be careful. The sudden movements of the Witch Race... I'm afraid it's not just for training."

"I know," Taiyi nodded. "That's why I have to go and see."

"I will keep a close eye on the Heavenly Court," Bai Ze said. "As for Kunpeng... I will pay attention."

"Mm," Taiyi responded, then paused. "Bai Ze, you are a loyal minister. You know better than I do what a loyal minister should and should not do."

There was meaning behind his words.

Bai Ze understood. He bowed. "I understand. I will only do what I should do, and only see what I should see."

"You may go."

Bai Ze withdrew.

After the door closed, the study fell silent again. Taiyi leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath.

Tired.

So tired.

Acting was tiring, scheming was tiring, and dealing with these people was even more tiring. But he had no choice. Stopping now would mean all his efforts were in vain. He could only continue to act, to scheme, and to move forward.

The sky outside the window had completely darkened, and stars began to light up one by one. In the distance, the lights of the Heavenly Court stretched out in continuous rows, like a river of stars on the ground.

Tomorrow, he would depart.