The Demon Clan Occupied the Nine Heavens, Now Standing Equal to the Immortal Court and Witch Clan, Even Faintly Surpassing the Immortal Court

Zhu Yin strode up to Bodhi Hall, dressed in green robes, his aura steady and brimming with life force.

Zhu Yin pushed open the doors and saw Zhunti seated within the hall, surrounded by a faint radiance of wisdom.

"Your disciple, Zhu Yin, pays respects to Master."

With a sweep of his sleeve, Zhunti raised him to his feet, smiling broadly.

"You have been in the sect for barely five thousand years, yet you have broken through two major realms in succession and reached the Late Golden Immortal stage. As expected, I had a keen eye in choosing my disciple."

"Your method of traveling through mountains and rivers, treading the earth to comprehend the Dao, carries the bearing of the ancients. I hope you preserve your original intentions, strengthen your Dao Heart, and continue forward steadily upon the path of the Great Dao."

Zhu Yin nodded solemnly.

"This disciple will remember your teachings and will not disappoint your expectations."

Zhunti then answered some of his cultivation questions before his expression turned serious.

"Three hundred years ago, the Demon Clan sent an envoy with invitations, inviting your Martial Uncle Jieyin and me to the Nine Heavens to witness a ceremony... Dijun and Taiyi intend to establish the Heavenly Court."

"Do not enter seclusion again. In twenty years, you will accompany me."

"The Demon Clan's foundation runs deep, far beyond anything our Western Lands can compare to. This journey will greatly benefit you."

"This disciple obeys."

After leaving Bodhi Hall, Zhu Yin returned to Immaculate Hall. As he rested, he began considering the situation ahead.

From the Golden-Clothed Boy, he had learned quite a bit. Combining that information with the timing of the Demon Clan's establishment of the Heavenly Court, he roughly determined where they stood in the timeline.

This should have been the early stage of the Witch-Demon Calamity.

His masters had already gone to Purple Cloud Palace twice to hear the Dao. Each sermon had lasted ten thousand years, with thirty thousand years between them. Now that the Heavenly Court was being established, it meant the great tide of the Primordial Wilderness was about to shift.

Though he had two Saints protecting him, Zhu Yin understood that the Primordial World was a place where the strong preyed on the weak. No one could truly be relied upon for a lifetime.

If he wanted to freely grow flowers and grass, savor tea, and enjoy the scenery, he would ultimately have to become strong enough himself.

Whether it was the future struggle among the four teachings of the Daoist Sect or the conflict between Buddhism and the Mystic Dao, as the Chief Disciple of the Western Lands, he could not remain uninvolved.

The Eastern Lands were rich in treasures. Though he had been born from a vegetation spirit root and preferred peace over contention, he should take this opportunity to "alleviate poverty" for himself—nourishing himself while also aiding the Western Lands.

Still, there was no need to rush such plans. For now, the most important thing was to continue increasing his strength.

Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, besides cultivating divine abilities and tempering his body, Zhu Yin opened up a spirit field before Immaculate Hall. He dug up spirit herbs and medicinal plants from across Mount Sumeru that Spirit Platform Mountain lacked, intending to bring them back to his Dao Field for planting.

At times, he even revealed his true form, transforming into Netherworld Bamboo and taking root in the spirit field. Together with the immortal herbs, he swayed in the wind, sensing the tranquility and harmony of nature.

Of course, he knew his limits well. Without permission, he had never touched even a leaf or blade of the precious spirit roots and immortal medicinal herbs.

When the twenty years were up, Zhu Yin arrived at Bodhi Hall as promised.

Before long, Zhunti appeared.

Master and disciple joined Jieyin. The three ascended into the clouds, departed Mount Sumeru, and set off for the Nine Heavens...

They were about to witness the moment the Heavenly Court was first established.

Above the Nine Heavens, the skies were vast and magnificent.

Each heaven was comparable to a complete world. Nine worlds were layered atop one another, like a Heavenly Ladder leading straight into the firmament—majestic, magnificent, and imposing in all directions.

At this moment, countless streaks of light tore through the void above the skies as innumerable powerful beings gathered in the Nine Heavens.

Among them were famed great powers of the present Primordial Wilderness, the three thousand Dao disciples who had emerged from Purple Cloud Palace, and ancient old monsters who had hidden themselves away since bygone eras.

All had come at the invitation to witness the establishment of the Heavenly Court.

Vast stretches of rosy clouds filled the sky, golden light blanketed the heavens, auspicious clouds spread like an ocean, and spiritual energy fell like rain. Countless immortal palaces stood among towering mountains...

The ground was paved with azure jade, the roofs tiled with glazed crystal, and the walls built from white jade. Magnificent pavilions and jade towers stood in elegant arrangement, while terraces and immortal halls rose layer upon layer amid drifting clouds and mist. The sight was extraordinary.

In particular, every heavenly realm was boundless and vast, with beautiful mountains and rivers, dense spiritual energy, gushing spirit springs, scattered spirit lakes, cascading waterfalls, galloping spirit beasts, and countless medicinal herbs and immortal flowers. It resembled nine layers of an immortal realm.

Combined, these Nine Heavens possessed resources, spiritual opportunities, and fortune not inferior in the slightest to the entire Primordial Wilderness.

The Demon Clan now occupied the Nine Heavens and possessed the confidence to stand on equal footing with the Immortal Court and Witch Clan, even faintly surpassing the Immortal Court.

Though Zhunti and Jieyin resided in the Western Lands, they were Quasi-Sage experts after all. They brought Zhu Yin to the Heavenly Court in merely ten years.

The moment they arrived beyond the outer heavens, Bai Ze, an important Demon Clan minister, personally welcomed them. Great God Fuxi even accompanied them himself, guiding the two Saints into the Heavenly Palace.

Zhu Yin followed closely behind, his eyes unable to take everything in.

This was his first time truly setting foot in the Heavenly Court. The immortal palaces before him were as beautiful as a painting. Though he marveled inwardly, he kept himself in check, merely appreciating the sights in silence without committing any breach of etiquette.

His restraint once again earned Zhunti's secret approval.

Within Lingxiao Hall, guests had gathered in great numbers, and the atmosphere was lively.

Countless Great Principle Golden Immortals and Quasi-Sage great powers gathered together. At this moment, nearly all the foremost figures of the Primordial Wilderness had arrived.

Not long after Zhunti and Jieyin took their seats, the Three Pure Ones appeared in succession as well.

Then, the Demon Clan's two central figures—Dijun and Taiyi—ascended the main platform alongside Fuxi, Nuwa, and other high-ranking members.

Before everyone's eyes, they began offering sacrifices to Heaven and proclaimed the establishment of the Heavenly Court.

Dijun declared solemnly:

"Heaven and earth are in chaos, and all living beings have no one to rely on. Today, I, Dijun, follow the will of Heaven to establish the Heavenly Court above the Nine Heavens, formulate the Heavenly Regulations, harmonize Yin-Yang, govern the stars, and protect all living beings."

"Taiyi shall be the Eastern Emperor, Nuwa the Wa Emperor, Fuxi the Xi Emperor, and Bai Ze along with the other ten Monster Gods shall command the ten directions. From this day onward, the Heavenly Court shall rule over the heavens of the Primordial Wilderness. May the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"

Rumble!

As soon as Dijun's words fell, the Heavenly Dao shook. Thunder roared through the clouds as vast Merit descended from the heavens like an ocean tide. Golden light cascaded like waterfalls, illuminating the entire Heavenly Palace.

Part of the Merit formed an enormous phantom of a Three-Legged Golden Crow that blotted out the sky. Though it could not be touched, every great power present was startled by its appearance.

This was the fortune of Heaven's mandate descending upon them, an awe-inspiring phenomenon!

The remaining Merit flowed into the bodies of the Demon Clan's upper ranks. Their cultivation surged in an instant, and their auras soared like rainbows.

Dijun spoke again. "From this day onward, I am the Heavenly Emperor. I shall rule the heavens and eternally guard the Primordial Wilderness!"

His aura surged skyward, his voice shaking the Nine Firmaments.

All the demons bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Heavenly Emperor! May the Heavenly Court endure forever! May the Heavenly Emperor endure forever!"

Their voices echoed like mountains roaring and seas crashing, shaking heaven and earth. The entire Primordial Wilderness trembled.

The establishment of the Heavenly Court this time was not merely the formation of an organization in name. It was truly one favored by Heaven's mandate, possessing both the foundation and fortune to suppress the firmament.

Neither the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans of old nor the later Immortal Court had ever possessed authority and scale like the Heavenly Court did now.

Some great powers secretly pondered whether they should join the Heavenly Court.

Others wore grave expressions as they began guarding against the Demon Clan's rise.

Still others remained indifferent, standing by with folded arms.

Zhu Yin simply watched in silence.

He did not pay much attention to the rise of the Heavenly Court.

After all, who Heaven's mandate favored had little to do with him.

As long as this new force did not disturb his peaceful life, he was more than happy to cultivate quietly.

However, because of Zhunti, his seat had been elevated as well. He was arranged among the Taiyi Golden Immortals, with spirit fruits treasured by the Heavenly Court, divine wine, and immortal delicacies spread before him.

These were all excellent things for cultivation. To Zhu Yin, they were far more tangible than any Heaven's mandate or authority.

His movements were elegant, but his hands were swift. He did not let a single edible spiritual item escape him, converting all that fortune into vast energy and temporarily storing it within his body to refine slowly after returning.

He had transformed from a spirit root and cultivated the Vitality Great Dao, so he naturally understood the importance of cherishing every spiritual item that could nourish him.

He even collected every fruit pit, intending to bring them back to Spirit Platform Mountain for planting. Perhaps they could nurture some new Innate Spirit Roots and strengthen his Dao Field's foundation.

Seeing this, Zhunti generously collected the fruit pits from his own table as well, making no attempt to hide it.