The Demon Master Enters the Heavenly Court

Three days later, the atmosphere at court was somewhat different.

Taiyi sat upon the Eastern Emperor's Throne, his eyes half-lidded as he watched the Demon Race officials below. Ji Meng's face was taut, his dragon whiskers twitching; the tiger markings on Ying Zhao's back flickered in and out, as if he might bristle at any moment; Fei Lian seemed calm enough, but his wings were folded tighter than usual. Even Bai Ze stood there holding a jade slip, his brows faintly furrowed.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for Kunpeng.

The light outside the hall doors was dazzling, and the appointed hour had nearly arrived. Taiyi glanced at Di Jun on the raised platform beside him. His elder brother sat upright, expressionless, but his fingers lightly tapped the armrest—tap, tap, tap. Not quickly, yet every beat seemed to strike the heart.

At last, footsteps sounded beyond the doors.

They were unhurried, accompanied by the knock of a deadwood staff against the floor—tok, tok, tok. Then a figure appeared at the entrance: a dark green Daoist robe, a stooped frame, a withered hand gripping a staff. Kunpeng slowly entered, walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and bowed.

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

His voice was hoarse, carrying a trace of Northern Darkness chill.

The hall was so quiet that breathing could be heard. Everyone watched this old fellow who had crawled out of the Northern Darkness Icefield, this allegedly devious Quasi-Saint who had lived through an unknown number of epochs.

Di Jun spoke, his voice steady. "Demon Master, you have come from afar. You have worked hard."

"I would not dare." Kunpeng lowered his head. "Since Your Majesty has not cast me aside, this old man will naturally do his utmost."

Anyone could exchange pleasantries. Yet the officials below looked even worse. Ji Meng's dragon whiskers shook more violently, while the tiger markings on Ying Zhao's back flashed bright for an instant—a sign that his mana was stirring restlessly.

Taiyi sneered inwardly. These military commanders had only one thought in their heads: those not of our kind must harbor different intentions. But had they considered the times? The Witch Race was eyeing them like a tiger from the sidelines. If the Heavenly Court still obsessed over bloodline purity and exclusion, that would be courting death.

"Now that you have entered the Heavenly Court, you must obey its laws," Di Jun continued. "As Demon Master, you will oversee three departments—the Military Strategy Department, the Inspection Department, and the Foreign Affairs Department. Bai Ze will hand over the affairs of those departments to you later."

"This old man accepts the command."

Kunpeng bowed again. Yet Taiyi could hear something hidden within that voice—not gratitude, but calculation. The old fellow was calculating how much real authority the three departments could grant him, and how many secrets they would allow him to access.

Sure enough, after straightening, Kunpeng added, "Your Majesty, this old man has only just arrived and is still unfamiliar with the Heavenly Court's affairs. Might I... first acquaint myself with the Great Zhou Heavenly Stars Formation? That way, when I advise on military matters in the future, I will have greater confidence."

There it was.

Taiyi saw through him clearly. This old fox was eager to collect on the condition 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 looked at Taiyi.

Taiyi gave a faint nod.

"Granted," Di Jun said. "In three days, Bai Ze will take you to familiarize yourself with the outer perimeter of the formation."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Kunpeng withdrew to one side and took his place among the civil officials. Yet his position was subtle—not too far forward, not too far back, perfectly centered. Not forward because he did not wish to stand out too much; not back because he did not wish to be marginalized. The old thing had measured the boundaries perfectly.

Court continued.

Yet the matters that followed became dull and flavorless. Reports from the various Demon Race divisions, resource allocation, border defenses... these issues could usually be argued over for half a day, but today they passed with unusual smoothness. It was not that there were no problems. Everyone's minds were simply elsewhere.

They were all pondering Kunpeng.

Taiyi watched coldly, understanding perfectly. From this day onward, the Heavenly Court's structure would change. Before, military commanders handled external matters and civil officials handled internal ones, their responsibilities clearly divided. Now there was Kunpeng. The old fellow was neither civil nor military, yet he held the three departments in his hand—military strategy, inspection, foreign affairs. He could meddle in every one of them.

The waters were about to turn muddy.

Good. Only in muddy waters could one fish.

As court was about to adjourn, Bai Ze stepped forward. He held a new jade slip, his expression even graver than before.

"Your Majesty, this minister has an urgent matter to report."

"Speak."

"Scouts in the north have sent back news." Bai Ze unfolded the jade slip. "Over the past month, the Witch Race has been moving troops frequently. Thirty thousand soldiers from the Houtu Tribe have been stationed at the western foothills of Buzhou Mountain. Twenty thousand elite warriors from the Gonggong Tribe have appeared along the Eastern Sea coast. And three days ago... an envoy from the Gou Mang Tribe entered Kunlun Mountain."

The hall fell silent again.

This time, it was truly silent—the dead kind of silence. Even breathing could no longer be heard. The Witch Race's twelve tribes had always guarded separate regions. Unless something major happened, they would not mobilize so readily. Yet now three tribes had moved, all toward crucial locations—Buzhou Mountain was the Heavenly Court's gateway, the Eastern Sea was the Demon Race's granary, and Kunlun Mountain... was Queen Mother of the West's territory.

"What are they trying to do?" Di Jun's voice sank.

"It is still unclear." Bai Ze shook his head. "But the scouts report that every Witch Race tribe is intensifying drills and stockpiling supplies. It appears... they are preparing for war."

Preparing for war.

Those words were like a stone cast into still water, stirring a thousand waves. The expressions of the officials below all changed. Their earlier dissatisfaction with Kunpeng was instantly crushed beneath a greater fear.

The Witch and Demon Races had faced off for years, with minor clashes never ceasing. But large-scale war preparations had not appeared in a very long time. The last time... had been before the previous great calamity.

"Your Majesty," Ji Meng could no longer hold back. He stepped out from the ranks. "This minister requests permission to lead reinforcements to the northern border! Buzhou Mountain must not be lost!"

"This minister requests permission to reinforce the Eastern Sea!" Ying Zhao stepped forward as well.

"This minister..."

One military commander after another requested battle, their voices rising higher and higher. The hall immediately erupted like a boiling pot. The civil officials went pale, wanting to dissuade them but not daring to speak.

Taiyi watched the scene, and a wave of irritation suddenly surged within him.

Argue. All they knew was how to argue. Could a war be argued into existence? The Witch Race had not even attacked yet, and they were already throwing themselves into disorder.

He abruptly rose to his feet.

The movement was slight, but the phantom of the Chaos Bell flashed behind him. With a clear chime, it suppressed every voice. Everyone turned to look at him.

"Reinforce what?" Taiyi spoke, his voice cold as ice. "The Witch Race moves troops, and you want reinforcements? If they take a stroll around the Great Wilderness, are you going to empty the Heavenly Court and chase after them?"

Ji Meng opened his mouth but could not speak.

"Buzhou Mountain is guarded by the Star Dipper Grand Formation. The Eastern Sea is watched by the Dragon Race. As for Kunlun Mountain... Queen Mother of the West is not dead yet. It is not our turn to worry about it." Taiyi walked to the center of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the officials. "What are you panicking for?"

No one dared respond.

Taiyi turned toward Di Jun. "Brother, I will make a trip to Buzhou Mountain."

Di Jun frowned. "You are going personally?"

"Yes." Taiyi nodded. "I will see what the Witch Race is really up to. And while I am there... I will familiarize myself with the battlefield."

He said the last part lightly. Yet everyone in the hall understood—the Eastern Emperor was personally heading to the front lines. This was not reinforcement. It was deterrence.

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

"Three thousand," Taiyi said. "Fei Lian coming with me will be enough."

"That is too few." Di Jun disagreed. "Take at least ten thousand."

"Too many people will only get in the way." Taiyi shook his head. "Three thousand elites are enough. If a real fight breaks out, more men will not help."

The words were arrogant, but no one dared refute him. Because the one saying them was Eastern Emperor Taiyi, bearer of the Chaos Bell, the Eastern Emperor who had once fought three Ancestral Witches alone.

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

"I know."

Court adjourned.

The officials filed out one after another, their expressions grave. Kunpeng walked at the very end, leaning on his staff and moving slowly. As he passed Taiyi, he paused, turned his head, and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Your Majesty is going to Buzhou Mountain?"

"Yes."

"Then the matter of Pangu Hall..."

"Wait until I return." Taiyi cut him off. "Familiarize yourself with the Heavenly Court first. When it is time for you to investigate, I will naturally tell you."

Kunpeng smiled, the meaning in it unfathomable. "This old man understands."

He left.

Only the two brothers remained in the hall. Di Jun descended from the platform, walked before Taiyi, and stared at him. "You have been... in a hurry lately."

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

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

Taiyi fell silent.

He could not explain. Was he supposed to say that he knew the great calamity was coming, that he knew there was little time left, that if they did not prepare now it would be too late?

He could not say it.

"The Witch Race is acting strangely," he found an excuse. "There must be a reason for their sudden troop movements. I need to see for myself."

"Would it not do to send Bai Ze? Or Ji Meng?"

"They will not see the problem." Taiyi shook his head. "There are some things only I can see."

That was half true and half false. The truth was that he could indeed see things others could not—such as baleful aura, such as the Chaos Bell's reactions. The lie was that this was not the entire reason.

Di Jun watched him for a while. Then he suddenly reached out and patted his shoulder. "Taiyi, I am your brother. There are some things... if you do not say them, I will not ask. But do not carry everything alone."

Taiyi's throat tightened.

He nodded without speaking.

After returning to the Sun Palace, Taiyi began selecting troops.

Fei Lian arrived quickly with the roster of the Wind Division. The two of them selected men from the list in the study for an entire afternoon. They needed elites, men who were sharp, understood formations, and could keep their mouths shut—this journey was not for war, but investigation. The fewer the men, the better. The more elite they were, the better.

In the end, they settled on three thousand. Fei Lian recorded the names and went out to make arrangements.

Taiyi sat alone in the study, watching the sky outside the window gradually darken. The sea of clouds had been dyed gold and crimson by the sunset, as though it were on fire. In the distance, Buzhou Mountain's outline was blurry, hidden within the twilight.

Buzhou Mountain.

It was the pillar of heaven, formed from Pangu's spine, holding up the heavens and earth of the Great Wilderness. At its foot lay the Witch Race's territory, the lair of the twelve Ancestral Witches. Going there was like wandering around a tiger's jaws.

But he had to go.

The system's designated sign-in location was outside Pangu Hall. To complete the sign-in, he first had to understand the situation at Buzhou Mountain. Besides, the baleful aura the Chaos Bell needed was most likely connected to that place as well.

Just as he was thinking, footsteps sounded outside again.

This time, it was Bai Ze.

He entered empty-handed, without a jade slip. He walked to the desk and bowed. "Your Majesty."

"Sit." Taiyi pointed to the chair opposite him.

Bai Ze sat down, yet did not speak for a long while. Taiyi did not urge him and simply waited. Outside, the light grew dimmer and dimmer. Lamps were lit in the study, and candlelight cast wavering shadows across the walls.

"Your Majesty," Bai Ze finally said softly, "you have... changed greatly lately."

Here it came again.

Taiyi sighed inwardly. Di Jun had said it. Kunpeng had said it. Now Bai Ze was saying it too. Was he not acting well enough? Or did these people know the former Eastern Emperor Taiyi too well?

"People always change," he brushed it aside with the same excuse.

"Yes." Bai Ze nodded. "But when someone changes too quickly, it is easy to make others... worry."

He paused, then raised his head to look at Taiyi. "This minister knows there are things I should not say. But I have served Your Majesty for many years. Some things... I have seen with my eyes and remembered in my heart."

Taiyi did not respond, waiting for him to continue.

"The former Your Majesty was proud, domineering, and could not tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes." Bai Ze spoke slowly, each word deliberate. "The current Your Majesty is still proud, still domineering, but beneath that pride... there is something more."

"What?"

"Calculation." Bai Ze looked straight at him. "Like a chess player who sees ten moves ahead after taking one step. That is not a bad thing, but... it is unlike the Your Majesty of before."

The candle flame crackled.

Taiyi looked at Bai Ze, at this Demon Race sage renowned for his wisdom. Bai Ze's eyes were bright, so bright they seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts. In those eyes, he saw concern, confusion, and a trace of... probing.

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

Bai Ze was taken aback.

"I am Eastern Emperor Taiyi," Taiyi continued. "The Eastern Emperor of the Heavenly Court, the Eastern Emperor of the Demon Race. I was before, I am now, and I will be in the future. As for whether I have changed... the times are changing, so naturally I must change as well. If I do not change, should I wait to die?"

The words were heavy enough to make Bai Ze's expression shift.

He rose and bowed deeply. "This minister has misspoken."

"You have not." Taiyi waved a hand. "You are merely worried. I know."

Bai Ze straightened, looking at him with complicated eyes. After a long while, he finally said in a low voice, "Your Majesty must be careful on this journey to Buzhou Mountain. The Witch Race's sudden movements are likely... more than simple drills."

"I know." Taiyi nodded. "That is why I must go and see."

"This minister will keep watch over the Heavenly Court here," Bai Ze said. "As for Kunpeng... this minister will keep an eye on him."

"Mm." Taiyi answered, then paused. "Bai Ze, you are a loyal official. What a loyal official should do and should not do, you understand better than I do."

There was meaning behind those words.

Bai Ze understood. He bowed. "This minister understands. This minister will only do what should be done and see what should be seen."

"Go."

Bai Ze withdrew.

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

Tired.

So tired.

Acting was tiring. Calculating was tiring. Dealing with these people was even more tiring. But he had no choice. Stopping now would mean all his previous efforts had been wasted. He could only keep acting, keep calculating, keep moving forward.

The sky outside had completely darkened, and stars lit up one by one. In the distance, the Heavenly Court's lights stretched endlessly, like a river of stars upon the earth.

Tomorrow, he would set out.