Zhou Yi summoned the Turtle Chancellor to make ticulous preparations for the Demon King Feast.
Clouds ford beneath his feet, and he flew towards Greenwave Pond, standing on the clouds, he looked down at the myriad mountains and ravines.
"After condensing the Golden Core, in the Cultivation World, one could be considered a fad and nad expert; otherwise, given my original temperant, I would probably be using Earth Escape to hasten my journey!"
It was nearly midday.
He could see in the distance where three rivers converged, sparkling with thousands of hectares of rippling waves.
Zhou Yi had just entered within ten miles of the periter when a beam of spiritual light flew up from the lake, transforming into a general wearing a helt and beat-up armor.
A single horn grew from his forehead, his face was pitch black like ink, three-foot-long fish whiskers fluttering in the wind; when he spoke, he opened a blood basin-sized mouth, which was quite frightening.
"Is the visitor perhaps Golden Daoist Friend?"
"It is I, poor Daoist. I pay my respects to General Wu."
Zhou Yi had heard from the old yellow bull that in Greenwave Pond, among the esteed generals, the one in front of him, General Wu, was originally a half-dragon catfish spirit.
"The Dragon Lord has already prepared the wine feast and has been waiting for a while, please!"
General Wu perford a spell, and Green Wave Lake parted in the middle, revealing a jade stone path leading to the bottom of the water. At the end was a flowing water curtain that looked like an upside-down giant bowl, hazy and indistinct, making it hard to see the details inside.
Zhou Yi followed behind General Wu, passing through the water curtain barrier to suddenly find himself in an expansive clearing.
A continuous array of palace pavilions, majestic and magnificent, glittering in gold and jade, casually looked to be at least a few hundred miles in circumference, clearly enhanced with formations and prohibitions that capture the vast wilderness in a grain of dust.
General Wu said proudly, "This is the Bibo Pool Dragon Palace, which has been here for more than thirty thousand years since the ti of the first Dragon Lord."
Zhou Yi nodded slightly, not surprised by this.
Firstly, monster races had long lifespans, and among them, the dragon lineage was even more distinguished. Thirty thousand years was not even comparable to the ten thousand years of dynastic changes of the human race. Secondly, in monster races, bloodline is held in high esteem; the Dragon Palace seed not to impose constraints on the monsters under its rule, but in reality, the class structure was even more solid.
He continued flying towards the center of the Dragon Palace.
He saw squadrons of shrimp soldiers and crab generals patrolling, with all the leaders being big monsters, their scales and horns indicating a lineage of dragon blood.
General Wu had quite a reputation within the Dragon Palace; the water demons they encountered bowed and paid respects to him as "River-Patrolling Great General."
After a mont.
Zhou Yi's cloud landed in front of a palace, where the plaque read 'Bibo Palace.'
He ascended the steps.
The palace doors opened automatically, and following General Wu, he entered the main hall, where two rows of jade pillars on the left and right entwined with striding flood dragons, looking lively and ferocious.
Looking up towards the front, there sat Ao Cang in gold and purple court attire, with the head of a dragon and the body of a human, looking dignified.
"I pay my respect to the Dragon Lord."
General Wu reported, "This is the newly risen Demon King, Jin Yi."
Zhou Yi followed with a bow and said, "I pay my respects to the Dragon Lord."
"No need for such formalities, I am rely carrying on the inheritance from my ancestors, taking the title of Dragon Lord."
Ao Cang's expression was gentle, he chuckled and said, "Since it is a banquet, let us address each other as fellow Daoists."
"Thank you, Dragon Lord."
Zhou Yi swept his gaze across the two sides, seeing four jade stone tables and chairs on each side, with only the seat of honor empty.
General Wu took a seat at the head on the left, and seeing Ao Cang signaling, Zhou Yi took his place at the head on the right.
A turtle demon in service in the hall shouted out loud.
"Comnce the feast!"
The sound of strings and woodwind rose, and the charming and alluring Clam Ladies and rfolk, wearing but a few shells, carried Spiritual Wine and fine dishes to serve the Demon Kings.
Ao Cang introduced Zhou Yi to the group of demons in the hall, the three on the right side were from the Dragon Palace. It had to be said that the Dragon Clan's bloodline was formidable, as they had already transcended tribulation and transford.
Zhou Yi dared not neglect them and gave a respectful bow to each in turn.
After Ao Cang abdicated, it was highly likely that one of the three Highnesses would beco the next Dragon Lord. Due to the Dragon Clan's lengthy lifespan, many a Dragon Child had spent centuries as Crown Prince, only to die without ever ascending the throne.
Yet helplessly unable to rebel, the frustration and resignation they felt were far beyond what any royal prince could understand.
The four major demons on the right, including General Wu, were descendants of the Dragon Clan. Closely related by blood, they chose to stay and serve in the Dragon Palace after transcending tribulation.
The feast was fully underway as cups were pushed and changed.
Demon Kings had lived for at least a few hundred years, and their spiritual intelligence was no weaker than that of humans. Perhaps they had reservations about Zhou Yi taking the seat of honor, but they could all see Dragon Lord's intention to curry favor, and would not choose this mont to make a scene.
After a few cups of Spiritual Wine, the conversation flowed, and the atmosphere gradually ward.
The topic couldn't avoid touching upon Zhen Yang Demon Venerate, the current hot subject of the Cultivation World; it was impossible not to discuss at any gathering or banquet.
Nascent Soul elders, even if Dragon Lord Ao Cang t them, would have to bow, regardless of whether they were righteous or evil.
The third Highness sighed, "I once traveled through Li Ji Continent, where the Demon Lord's na struck fear in those who heard it and trembling in those who spoke it. It is said that many cultivators have been frightened out of their wits at the very sight of the Demon Lord's descent."
"How many demonic cultivators have died a natural death?"
The voice of the third Highness was cold, "The Zhen Yang Demon Venerate has slain enough to fill fields; his enemies number more than ten thousand. eting a violent death was inevitable."
Zhou Yi glanced at the third Highness with surprise, sensing a grudge in his voice towards the demonic path. He was curious, "Why did the recently advanced Xuan Xiao Daojun take such a risk to assassinate the Demon Lord?"
The demons in the hall looked towards Ao Cang, such secrets were known to few, and not even the slightest rumors were in the air.
Those who dared spread rumors about a Nascent Soul elder needed no capture; listeners would contemplate reporting them on their own.
"This is a long story. Xuan Xiao Daojun and Zhen Yang Demon Venerate have held a grudge for centuries..."
Ao Cang spoke slowly, "Back then, for a Sky Star Stone, the Demon Lord destroyed Spirit Veins in Little Dan Mountain, annihilating thousands of Loose Cultivators in the process, among whom was Xuan Xiao's benefactor. Xuan Xiao avenged his benefactor by killing the Demon Lord's only blood relative and closed-door disciple."
"That was also the cause of the Heavenly Demon Palace's southward invasion, and later, when Zhen Yang Demon Venerate repeatedly failed to find Xuan Xiao, he laid a trap to kill the Sect Leader of the Dan Ding Sect."
"The Azure Dragon Real Man was Xuan Xiao's junior brother, rumored to have taken a disciple on his behalf and instructed him with great care, extrely close. The hatred between the two parties started from Little Dan Mountain, escalating until it was a fight to the death!"
General Wu exclaid with surprise, "Did all this really start with a Qi Refinent Realm Loose Cultivator? The entanglent of karma is truly terrifying!"
The Crab General next to him said with fear, "Humans are this vengeful? We must restrain ourselves in the future to avoid being sought out for inexplicable revenge!"
Ao Cang actually nodded slightly and turned to Zhou Yi, saying, "The way you have built Moyun City is comndable; treating humans and demons equally has led to its prosperity and flourishing."
"Dragon Lord flatters , I was once nurtured by humans, and thoughts of repaying that kindness compelled ," Zhou Yi responded.
Zhou Yi positioned himself as one indebted to kindness, and none of the demon kings could voice objection, especially since Xuan Xiao Daojun's act of repaying a favor was known to all. The subject changed.
"I heard that the human race has not seen a Nascent Soul for five hundred years?"
"Not just five hundred years; it has been six hundred and fifty years since anyone from the Nine Continents and the Four Seas has risen to Nascent Soul or beco a Demon Emperor. In recent centuries, the number of demons who have transcended tribulation and transford has greatly diminished compared to before."
Ao Cang sighed, "The reason for this has not been made clear by the elders; perhaps it is related to changes between heaven and earth."
The ancestor of Greenwave Pond is the only remaining Dragon Emperor; indeed, it is because there is a Nascent Soul Demon Emperor presiding that they can stand on equal footing with the other three great Imperial Clans.
Without Zhou Yi asking further, the Highness said, "How did Xuan Xiao Daojun break through the boundary?"
Ao Cang said, "The Elder Xuan Xiao is blessed with great fortune. It is said that he stumbled upon the ruins of a sect devoted to patching the sky and acquired an Ancient Divine Pill. With that single stroke of luck, he shattered his Golden Core and ford a Nascent Soul. Such fate is beyond the reach of ordinary people, isn't it?"
"With this in mind, it seems the old ancestors of the various sects certainly won't outlive Xuan Xiao. Once their lifespans end, there will be only one Daojun left in the world..."
Zhou Yi's voice took on a solemn tone, and his expression bore a hint of sorrow.
"If the human race can unite the righteous and the demonic, will there still be a place for the demon race to survive in this world?"
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