Di Jun followed Bai Ze and the demon scouts up Buzhou Mountain. He had already traveled up the mountain after discovering the pressure could aid his cultivation, but aside from that time, he had never ascended again. He hadn’t found anything at the peak and didn't expect anyone to discover anything new either.
Now, it seemed that the time just hadn’t been right.
When Di Jun arrived at the peak of Buzhou Mountain, he saw a portal. After entering it with Bai Ze and the other demons, he saw a colossal gate named South Heaven Gate in Dao Script.
The essence here was denser and richer than even that of Buzhou Mountain!
"Your Majesty, the scouts reported it immediately after discovering it," Bai Ze reported. "This realm doesn't seem to have any life despite the favorable environment. It's almost like the heavens prepared it for Your Majesty."
Di Jun smiled at Bai Ze's flattery. Yes, wasn't this specially prepared for him? He was going to be the sole ruler of the Great Desolation, what greater place to rule than from atop Buzhou Mountain?
He entered through South Heaven Gate to discover grand yet solemn structures, radiant palaces, supreme halls, a jade throne, and much much more. He discovered thirty-three levels in total, and at the very highest level was a magnificent palace.
Eminence Heaven Palace was written in Dao Script above the entrance.
Walking inside, Di Jun saw a grand throne that shone with a splendid golden luster. Nine golden dragons, each with nine claws, coiled around the throne and emitted heavy pressure. He walked up and sat down on it with a smile.
The wise Bai Ze kneeled silently, and so did the demons behind him. Upon seeing this, Di Jun chuckled. That chuckle transformed into deep laughter.
Di Jun didn't spend long on the Heavenly Throne and departed. He and the other demons returned to the Demon Clan's current headquarters. Under Di Jun's full support, the Demon Clan began to pack up and relocate.
Due to the immense size of the Demon Clan, this relocation process took hundreds of years. During this time, the Titan Tribe and Violet Manor caught news of the Demon Clan's movement. Still, none of the two forces took action, prolonging this strange period of peace.
Once the Demon Clan finished relocating, they sent out invitations for the establishment of Heavenly Court a thousand years later to all major parties, even the Titan Tribe and Violet Manor.
For the Three Purities, he dispatched Bai Zei as a show of respect, who traveled to Kunlun Mountain and Fangzhang Immortal Island. For the others, such as those who broke through to the Quasi-Saint Realm, such as Jieyin, he also dispatched the other demon sages.
As the thousand-year mark neared, Di Jun received news of the Violet Manor hosting an Immortal Conference on the exact same date, and sending invitations to all immortals.
On the Heavenly Throne, Di Jun's eyes flashed with a sinister light. "Dong Wanggong, Xi Wangmu. Since you don't know what's good for you, then don't blame me for being ruthless."
Thanks to the emergence of the Thirty-Three Heavens, the Demon Clan's actions of gathering star essence were successfully hidden from prying eyes. It would not be long until they refined all the star flags and formed the Starry Sky War Formation.
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Inside Violet Manor's central hall, Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu were sitting in front of each other. Dong Wanggong emitted golden energy that reached out and entwined with the blue energy of Xi Wangmu.
"Dong Wanggong, are you sure this is wise?" Xi Wangmu asked with her eyes closed.
"What is wise?"
"Holding the Immortal Conference at the same time as the Establishment of Heavenly Court," Xi Wangmu said.
"There is nothing wrong. The Dao Ancestor has already spoken. Di Jun will rule the Great Desolation, while we rule the male and female immortals. There is no conflict," Dong Wanggong said.
Xi Wangmu stayed silent for a moment. "Between you two, who rules the other?"
"Naturally, it is me," Dong Wanggong said for a moment. "Di Jun may rule the Great Desolation and is a congenital god like us, but he is also an immortal. Therefore, he falls under my jurisdiction."
"But are immortals not also part of the Great Desolation? Doesn't this give Di Jun the right to rule over us? Will he submit?" Xi Wangmu asked.
Dong Wanggong snorted. "Does he dare to disobey the Dao Ancestor's decree? Speaking of which, have the Three Purities responded?"
Xi Wangmu shook her head. "I already sent a messenger to Fangzhang Immortal Island and Kunlun Mountain, but I've received no words or reply."
Dong Wanggong's face darkened. "Hmpf, Laozi, and Yuanshi are male immortals and should fall under my jurisdiction. Tongtian is female and should be under your control. Do they think that just because they are a bit luckier that no one will catch up?"
Xi Wangmu stayed silent.
"I want to see how long they can maintain their arrogance. Soon, more and more Quasi-Saints will appear, and the three of them won't amount to much. As the head of male and female immortals, both of us will become Saints of Heaven. I want to see how those three will fare afterward," Dong Wanggong said. His eyes exuded pride and supreme confidence.
Xi Wangmu sighed. She wasn't as optimistic as Dong Wanggong.
"Right, have you discovered Yinzhou Island yet? I heard the Three Purities were also searching for it. It should belong to you. As for Fangzhang Immortal Island, it will eventually become Violet Manor's." Dong Wanggong said.
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"There's still no news of Yinzhou Immortal Island. I'm more worried about the future. There are not enough spiritual artifacts to go around, and the Demon Clan already has three Quasi-Saints. We have to admit, they are much richer than us," Xi Wangmu said.
Dong Wanggong also sighed. "You and I are quite lucky. I severed my Corpse with the Fusang Tree, while you had an innate spiritual artifact related to Yin Qi. We have plenty of innate spiritual artifacts, but they are all low grades. None of them are willing to use subpar artifacts to sever their Corpses."
"There are two methods." He turned his gaze outside. "We can only wait until the Immortal Conference to invite loose immortals to join Violet Manor. We will teach them the Three Corpses method, but not the details pertaining to the grade of innate artifacts. Even if their Corpses aren't Quasi-Saints, their main body will be."
"And the second method?"
"Force a member of the Hundred Clans to join us. As survivors of the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, they should have amassed a large amount of treasures," Dong Wanggong said.
Xi Wangmu furrowed her eyebrows. "But the Hundred Clans are all demons. Won't this step on Di Jun's bottom line?"
Dong Wanggong said nothing.
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"Those bastards. The Demon Clan actually invited us, but the Violet Manor ignored us!" Zhurong bellowed.
"You can't say that. We are titans, not immortals, so it's only natural for them to skip over us," Houtu reasoned.
Zhurong snorted.
The Titan Tribe had been under immense pressure in the last ten thousand years. After the Three Purities who entered the Intermediate Quasi-Saint Realm, there are now over ten Quasi-Saints! And yet, the Titan Tribe still hasn't discovered a method to break their body's limit and enter the Quasi-Saint Realm.
At this rate, they would only lose the advantage they once possessed and be abandoned by the times.
"We can't let this happen," Rushou, the Titan of Metal, said. "Even if we can't discover a method to enter the Quasi-Saint Realm, we have to weaken the Demon Clan so that their strength doesn't rise and leave us behind, no matter the cost."
"I agree," Jumang, the Titan of Wood, said. "Does Di Jun think he has already won? Inviting us to the establishment of Heavenly Court, wouldn't we implicitly agree to his rule? We titans bow to no one, only Pangu!"
"Di Jiang, let's use the Pangu Genesis Formation to attack them and show everyone the power of the Titan Tribe," Jizi, the Titan of Lightning, said.
"Jizi is right. We can't let the situation continue," Shebisi, the Titan of Storm, said.
Di Jiang said nothing and glanced at Tianwu, Xuanmnig, Gonggong, Qiangliang, and Houtu before finally landing on Jiuyin. "What do you think?"
Jiuyin, the Titan of Time, paused for a moment, but he also nodded. "I think there is merit in Rushou's proposal."
Di Jiang closed his eyes for a moment, but when he opened them again, there was an unwavering light. "Alright, let's show the world that we titans are the true rulers of the Great Desolation!"
All the titans cheered, a belligerent light shone in their eyes.
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"Brother, why haven't you severed your Corpse and broken into the Quasi-Saint Realm? I don't believe with Big Brother's talent, you are inferior to any of the six people at the front," Jinchi, the Golden-Winged Great Roc, said.
"Hmpf, you should have persevered and not given up your seat no matter what the other gods said," Kong Xuan said, glaring at his young brother.
After the second sermon at Violet Heaven Palace, the two brothers returned to their territory near the Undying Volcano in the South. Due to the Phoenix Ancestor's sacrifice, most of the Phoenix Clan had migrated there.
Despite the two being born from the Phoenix Ancestor's two eggs, they weren't born phoenixes, even if they inherited her bloodline. As such, the Phoenix Clan refused to acknowledge them.
Not that Kong Xuan thought that the Phoenix Clan had anything worth their attention. Jinchi was furious at the blatant disregard by the Phoenix Clan for what he perceived as their birthright, so he hated the Phoenix Clan.
Jinchi pouted. "It's not a good idea to make enemies of everyone."
Kong Xuan snorted. "In the future, you will know what great chance slipped through your wings. How is your progress in severing your first Corpse?"
"I'm still trying to discover my good or evil thoughts," Jinchi said, then he stopped and glared at Kong Xuan. "Brother, aren’t we talking about you? You should have sensed your good and evil thoughts, right? Why haven't you severed them?"
"Short-sighted," Kong Xuan said. "Hongjun said that if you entered through the Quasi-Saint Realm by tempering your qi with the law, the foundation would be firmer than if you directly severed a Corpse."
"Then are you trying to comprehend the law? Do you think I can enter the Quasi-Saint Realm through the power of the law?" Jinchi excited voice halted when he saw Kong Xuan's expression. "Don't look down on me so much! Haven't you been stuck at this step too? Hmpf."
"I'm stuck here by choice. I've already comprehended enough laws to enter the Quasi-Saint Realm. There's a difference, do you understand?" Kong Xuan asked.
"Yes, yes, Big Brother is the most amazing. Then why haven't you entered?" Jinchi asked.
"I comprehended the Law of Fire, Law of Water, Law of Earth, Law of Wood, and Law of Metal. But I want to merge them and comprehend the Law of Five Elements because that is the path most suited for me," Kong Xuan said. "Unfortunately, I'm stuck at the last step."
"Don't worry, I believe Brother will be able to merge the five laws,' Jinchi said.
"I naturally know that. I don't need you to spout useless words." Jinchi pouted, but Kong Xuan ignored him. "What I'm worried about is others. While I stagnate, everyone else is progressing. What is the difference between stagnation and regression?"
"Then what do you want to do?"
"I heard that Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu are hosting an Immortal Conference, I may need to visit and join them."
"Those two?" Jinchi said with obvious disdain. "Just two lucky gods graced by the Dao Ancestor. They're even worse than Di Jun. At least he had the guts to conquer the Great Desolation without the Dao Ancestor's aid. They're still two stinky crows, though."
"Yes, but right now, we aren't their opponents," Kong Xuan said as a decisive light entered his eyes. "But right now, I need the help of the Five Element Tree they possess. You stay here and continue to try to sever your first Corpse. I'll be back before the Dao Ancestor's last sermon."
"But," Jinchi protested, seeing his brother leave.
"Listen to me," Kong Xuan said. Jinchi nodded, however unwilling.
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"Are you really going to go?" Yuanshi asked with displeasure while he and Tongtian flew towards Kunlun Mountain.
"Why not?"
"We are the Three Purities. How can we attend the establishment of Heavenly Court? Wouldn't it be acknowledging that they are the rulers of the Great Desolation?" Yuanshi asked.
Tongtian smiled. "In the Great Desolation, it's always been strength that speaks the loudest. So what if we go? Are our strengths theirs? Besides, I think there is someone who doesn't wish to see the establishment of the Heavenly Court more than us."
Yuanshi's mind spun. "You are talking about the Titan Tribe. Did they discover a method to break through into the Quasi-Saint Realm? But that's not right, we would have sensed something."
"Who knows, but I'm curious about the trump card that they say can slay us easily," Tongtian said with anticipation in her eyes. "If we go to Thirty-Three Heavens, we might get a chance to witness it."