The Great Banner Advances! Press Forward!

Venus Star Lord, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them and stretched out an arm to stop Su Yuan.

He rose to his feet at an unhurried pace and adjusted his robes. The old Star Official, who had always presented a gentle and kindly face, now radiated an unprecedented sharpness.

He strode toward the command tower atop the ship's deck. Everyone's hearts tightened, and they hurried after him.

Venus Star Lord stood at the prow, gazing at the mass of Heavenly soldiers blocking the way in the distance. His calm, clear voice carried across the entire fleet:

"I have heard about the previous two incidents. Wood Virtue Star Official and Su Yuan, you both handled them very well. Neither servile nor overbearing, you acted in accordance with law and principle. You upheld the dignity of the Heavenly Court and protected the honor of the pacification mission."

His voice paused, then his tone abruptly turned stern:

"However, some things may happen once or twice, but never a third time!"

"Martial Star Lord has been secretly obstructing us, the Thunder Bureau has been making trouble under orders, and now even crude soldiers dare openly block our path! This is clearly the stubborn resistance of the pro-war faction, a blatant trampling of His Majesty the Jade Emperor's pacification policy! It is the resurgence of the warlord habits of certain military brutes!"

"If they dare disregard the laws of the Heavenly Court and intercept an imperial mission today, then tomorrow they will dare use their troops to defy authority and plunge the heavenly order into chaos!"

"Guards!"

Venus Star Lord's voice boomed like a great bell, churning the sea of clouds. "Plant the great banners of 'Heavenly Emperor Gouchen of the Upper Palace' and 'Supreme Commissioner for Imperial Heavenly Pacification' at the prow of the flagship! All heavenly vessels, activate your defensive formations! Run the spirit furnaces at full power!"

The old Star Lord abruptly swung his arm forward. His words were decisive, shaking the nine heavens:

"Full speed ahead! The great banner advances!"

"Press forward!"

Giant Spirit God watched as the enormous fleet showed no intention of slowing down. Instead, its spiritual radiance intensified and its speed rose again, charging at him and his formation like twelve howling mountain ranges. Terrified out of his wits, he desperately shouted his orders:

"Scatter! Scatter now! Get the hell out of the way!"

His enormous body was in even worse shape. He scrambled and rolled toward a cloudbank to the side, barely avoiding the sharp prow of the ships.

He had only been ordered to block the way and disgust the Pacification Recruitment Team, yet he had nearly lost his life. Still shaken, he sprawled atop a cloud, staring at the fleet vanishing into the distance. His face flushed red with fury as he jumped and cursed.

"Old Taibai! You dare ram people with your ships! I'll impeach you!"

Su Yuan stood at the prow of the flying vessel as he swept past Giant Spirit God.

Idiot. By offending Venus Star Lord, Giant Spirit God has already earned his death.

For an old civil official like him to play a little military general to death would be absurdly easy.

Besides, with your string of defeats, you could not beat any demon king worth naming. Even if Heavenly King Li wanted to protect you, he would at least have to strip away a layer of your hide.

The twelve heavenly vessels stretched across the lower realm in a single line, like a procession of immortal mountains, imposing and overwhelming.

Countless formation runes glittered around the hulls. The spirit furnaces ran at full power, leaving long-lasting spiritual clouds behind the fleet. Countless independent cultivators followed in its wake just to breathe in a mouthful of Heavenly Court spiritual energy.

At the very front of the fleet stood two enormous banners:

The left bore the words "Heavenly Emperor Gouchen of the Upper Palace," representing the martial might of the Heavenly Court;

The right bore the words "Supreme Commissioner for Imperial Heavenly Pacification," displaying the honor of an imperial envoy.

Behind them stood rows of ceremonial banners bearing the stars of the heavens, mountains, rivers, and streams. Gorgeous and intricate, they glowed with immortal light and displayed the utmost majesty and splendor.

Having just suffered a military defeat, the Heavenly Court was eager to seize this opportunity to once again proclaim its heavenly might.

Thus, the fleet traveled wantonly eastward through Southern Jambu Continent for an entire month before finally reaching the Aolai Kingdom of Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

During that month, no one remained idle.

Venus Star Lord personally oversaw the central command. At this moment, he had gathered the core personnel in the main vessel's council hall to discuss the arrangements for the meeting.

The intelligence team leader, Hong Jin, the former commander of Three Mountains Pass under the Shang Dynasty during the War of the Gods, had long since investigated the details of Heavenly King Li's defeat.

Standing in the hall, he activated a recording treasure. Light and shadow shifted across the wall, revealing seven different battle scenes at once.

"Gentlemen, please look."

"First from the left: with horns like planks and tusks like blades, his bearing grand and majestic, he is Great Sage Pacifying Heaven, Bull Demon King.

"Beside him is one of dragon blood, churning the waves; a flood dragon descendant, spitting the tide. He overturns rivers and stirs seas, rolls rocks and pierces mountains. He is Great Sage Covering Sea, Flood Demon King.

"The third has golden wings and the head of a kun, starry eyes and leopard-like pupils. He soars north and south, his wings spread wide. He calls himself Great Sage Confounding Heaven, Roc Demon King.

"First on the right, with crimson brows wreathed in flame and a roar like thunder, his might shakes the eight directions. He is Great Sage Moving Mountains, Lion-Camel King.

"One has golden light in his eyes and ears that hear in all directions. Keen-witted and agile, endlessly changing, he is known as Great Sage Ventilating Heaven, Macaque King.

"The last has crimson eyes and golden pupils, with faint ghostly light lurking within. Speak his name and he can startle the Three Realms; cast his arts and he can command the Nine Heavens. This is Great Sage Driving Away Gods, Rong Monkey King.

"And the one in the middle, clad in Linked Gold Armor, wearing a Phoenix-Wing Purple-Gold Crown, and stepping in Lotus-Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes, his savage might soaring to the heavens as he battles the Third Prince—he is Horse Groomer Sun Wukong."

Though it was merely a recording, the overwhelming demon aura rushing toward them still made many civil officials in the council hall turn pale, feeling as if they could barely breathe.

"My heavens... no wonder even Heavenly King Li's hundred thousand Heavenly soldiers were defeated..."

"Each of these six Great Sages has an aura no weaker than that demon monkey!"

"Those are demon kings of the lower realm? They look like they can fight better than even Marshal Tianpeng!"

"We're finished, we're finished! My father thought this was some cushy position to gild my resume, so he spent hundreds of thousands of spirit stones to stuff me in here. This isn't pacification—it's a death mission! If the negotiations break down, will we even make it back alive? No, I have to apply for a transfer..."

"Is it still too late to get off the ship?"

Everyone spoke at once, and morale completely collapsed.

Venus Star Lord shot Hong Jin a fierce glare, then hurriedly spoke to reassure them:

"Colleagues, remain calm. I have some acquaintance with Erlang Shen, who guards Irrigation River Mouth. Before setting out, I sent him a message by spirit crane and earnestly requested that he come to support us. With him here, our safety can be assured."

As soon as he said this, the tense atmosphere in the hall eased considerably.

"Erlang is coming? My daughter especially likes Erlang. Had I known, I would have brought her down to the lower realm."

"Wonderful! With him here, what demons do we have to fear?"

"Venus Star Lord truly has extensive connections. When the time comes, help me get a picture with Erlang!"

After soothing everyone's emotions, the civil officials began debating how to carry out the pacification effort. Quoting classics and trading verbal blows, they drafted no fewer than thirteen exceedingly detailed plans.

For the opening remarks alone, they designed more than twenty different versions.

Venus Star Lord demanded that every word be carefully weighed and repeatedly considered.

"How about changing the words 'pacification recruitment' to 'friendly consultation'? It would make us seem more sincere."

"Absurd! 'Friendly consultation' would diminish the prestige of our Heavenly Court! It must be 'Proclaim heavenly grace, summon surrender, and accept submission'!"

"Save talk like 'proclaim heavenly grace' for the Seven Great Sages. See whether they mince you into meat paste."

"There wouldn't be enough of you left!"

"Is 'Heavenly Court High Envoy' a little too forceful? What if the monkey turns hostile?"

"Yes, yes, change it quickly! How about 'Heavenly Court Special Envoy' or 'Pacification Envoy'?"

"Would 'Special Envoy' seem insufficiently dignified?"

"Then let us use 'Pacification Envoy.' It conveys the intent to soothe and reconcile without losing propriety."

"Excellent!"