After all, he thought, I took this throne through bloodshed. I killed their forr emperor, a tyrant, but even so, loyalty isn't sothing that cos easily after a coup. Yet here they were, celebrating. Maybe… maybe things have changed more than I realized.
Arriving at the palace gates, Shen Bao was imdiately struck by how different the palace appeared. What had once been a cold, austere structure was now vibrant, adorned with banners and decorations that shimred in the sunlight. Even the guards stationed at the entrance seed more relaxed, their postures less rigid than usual.
Shen Bao entered the grand hall, expecting a familiar scene of stoic councilors and quiet discussions. Instead, he was greeted by a flurry of activity. The palace staff rushed about, arranging flowers, hanging silken banners, and ensuring that every corner of the hall was perfect. At the center of it all stood the palace councilor, his normally composed deanor replaced with a flustered expression.
His robes were far more elaborate than usual, featuring intricate embroidery and patterns that spoke of celebration.
"What is the aning of this?" Shen Bao asked, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
The councilor spun around, nearly dropping the stack of papers in his hands. "Oh! Lord Shen Bao! I wasn't expecting your return so soon!" His voice was shaky as he hastily bowed.
Shen Bao crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the extravagant decorations. "What is all this?" he asked, his tone sharp. "This palace looks more like a festival ground than a seat of governance."
The councilor straightened, wringing his hands nervously. "It's the Victory Festival, my lord. We're celebrating the defeat of the Rakshasa, and your pivotal role in securing peace for the Sea of Demons."
Shen Bao sighed, rubbing his temples. "And whose idea was it to turn this into a week-long celebration?"
The councilor hesitated, his eyes darting toward the staircase. "Your esteed wives, my lord. They organized the entire event, and the people have embraced it wholeheartedly. They're calling it the Victory Festival in your honor."
Shen Bao groaned softly. "I should have known. Those two..." He shook his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "How long is this supposed to last?"
"A full week, my lord," the councilor replied, his voice tinged with pride. "The people are overjoyed, and they want to celebrate your victory for as long as possible."
Shen Bao sighed again, this ti more deeply. "We don't have ti for that. Shorten the festivities to three days. There are more important matters that require our attention."
The councilor blinked in surprise, his expression faltering. "Three days, my lord? The people—"
"I don't care," Shen Bao interrupted, his voice firm. "We leave in three days. Have everything ready by then."
The councilor swallowed nervously but nodded. "As you command, my lord. Shall I summon Lady YuYu and Lady Liang Yu?"
"No need," Shen Bao said, waving his hand dismissively. "They're busy managing the logistics, aren't they?"
The councilor nodded again. "Yes, my lord. They've been overseeing the finances and ensuring that everything runs smoothly."
"Good. Let them continue. But make sure they know we're departing soon. I've discussed it with Tao Yang—we'll be heading beyond the realm of the Beyond, to the world of Solarous."
The councilor's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded once more. "Understood, my lord. I'll relay the ssage at once."
Shen Bao dismissed the councilor with a curt nod, already feeling the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him again. There was so much more to be done. The Rakshasa had been defeated, yes, but the threats beyond the Sea of Demons were far from vanquished.
He summoned his Golden Scripture Clone, watching as the ethereal duplicate of himself materialized before him. The clone was a perfect replica, down to the last detail, and Shen Bao trusted it implicitly.
"Take my place at the festivities," Shen Bao instructed the clone. "I need to focus on more urgent matters."
The clone nodded silently before turning and heading toward the grand hall, where the councilor and palace staff were preparing for the next round of celebrations. Shen Bao watched it go for a mont before turning his attention to more pressing concerns.
"Gate, please," he commanded, his voice echoing in the now-empty hall.
A shimring portal opened before him, revealing the familiar pathway to the Lord of Lords Pagoda. Stepping through, Shen Bao found himself once again in the heart of his domain. The creation room humd with arcane energy, the reactors pulsing in rhythm with the heartbeat of the ship.
Shen Bao's fingers traced the outline of the ship's schematics, his mind already racing with plans. The ship needed upgrades—more powerful reactors, enhanced shields, and weaponry capable of facing the unknown dangers beyond the Sea of Demons.
The victory over the Rakshasa had been hard-won, but there were still greater battles to co especially with having to go sowhere new, sowhere unknown, and sowhere where the Rakshasa had thrived untroubled for a long period of ti.
As Shen Bao set to work, the thought of the festival lingered in his mind. The people were rejoicing, and for now, they were safe. But peace was a fragile thing, and victory could be fleeting. He knew better than anyone that the greatest threats often lay just beyond the horizon, waiting for the right mont to strike.
But for now, at least, the Sea of Demons thrived. And that was sothing worth celebrating.
For now, he had to crank up the ti difference to the max, and work his way around the upgrades, his goal was to have a finalized reactor designed solely for his ship, and wait for the rest of the people he called to arrive.
Once Zhang Tian and Dao Shen arrive, he'll have all the needed mbers to move to the unknown. With all of them together he thought, it will be like the good old days, although this ti the Fire King will be on their side. Which also brought another unpleasant mory of Shen Bao.
after all, he'll have to deal with those two, the Fire King and ng Hao's hot tempers and manage them so no issues arise during the venture.
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