Volume One: The Calamity of the Liches and Demons 189. The Golden Crows Are Born; Emperor Jun Descends Upon the Starry Sky

The Dragon Mother stepped forward and asked the Heavenly Dao, the Grand Master of Heaven, “May I ask whether our dragon race’s release from its seal will affect the Four Seas?”

The Heavenly Dao, the Grand Master of Heaven, replied, “Those who leave the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas shall bear their own karmic consequences. Yet where there is karma, there is also great fortune. That is all I shall say.”

“Thank you, Grand Master, for clearing my doubts.”

The Dragon Mother inclined her head to the Heavenly Dao, the Grand Master of Heaven, and then withdrew.

She naturally understood his meaning, though she also knew not all dragons could remain unchanged forever.

Still, she knew some things could not be bound indefinitely.

They had to try for themselves before they could understand many truths.

Likewise, what seemed like punishment for the demon race was, unbeknownst to them, also to their advantage.

The Heavenly Dao, the Grand Master of Heaven, was indeed a master of balance.

Yet the demon race understood none of this. Even now, many dragons, upon hearing the news, could not hide their secret delight.

Watching all this, the Dragon Mother could only hope that very few dragons held such thoughts.

And after delivering his instructions, the Heavenly Dao, the Grand Master of Heaven, vanished from everyone’s sight.

“Hmph. Let us go.” Taiyi cast a fierce glance at Ao Qing, then led the demon race back to the Heavenly Court.

Many of the demon race felt deeply wronged by the outcome.

But seeing that even Taiyi could do nothing, they could only bury those feelings in their hearts.

“So the demon race has stumbled again this time.”

“Who says otherwise? Yet the dragon race has not only been spared further turmoil, but also freed itself from the chains that bound it to the Four Seas!”

To those who understood the deeper currents, however, it seemed neither side had truly gained.

After the demon race fully withdrew, Ao Qing took his leave of the Dragon Mother.

“Your Grace, I must return and report to my lord. I shall take my leave here.”

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Mother said, “Please convey my greetings to the Venerable One. The dragon race will never forget his kindness.”

Ao Qing nodded.

“Your Grace need not trouble herself over this. For the dragon race, if one has not the right destiny, then even remaining in the Dragon Palace means nothing.”

The Dragon Mother could only sigh and nod in response.

Thus the matter of the Eastern Sea dragons came to a hasty end.

After returning to the Heavenly Court, Taiyi recounted his ordeal in the Eastern Sea to Di Jun.

Upon hearing it, Di Jun flew into another furious rage.

Not long after, a seductive and enchanting woman came directly before Di Jun.

“You have come at the right moment. Have all the foxes I brought been properly arranged?”

Di Jun turned toward the voice and spoke.

At this moment, his gaze toward her was filled with unmistakable tenderness.

“Rest assured, my lord. When have I ever mishandled anything?”

Her voice was so alluring it seemed to sear the soul as it drifted into Di Jun’s ears.

Hearing this, Di Jun felt a shiver run through his very bones and swiftly drew her into his arms.

“Good, good. My beloved consort is the one most to my taste. Do not worry. So long as you complete your task, I will certainly keep my promise to you.”

The one speaking to Di Jun at this moment was Bai Qian, who had come from the fox race to the Heavenly Court.

The two were each scheming in their own way, each taking what they needed.

What Di Jun desired was the strength of the fox race, for the bloodline of the true fox clan possessed power that even in the Primordial Realm was not easily matched.

As for Bai Qian, she merely wished to gain from Di Jun what she sought for herself: power, favor, and glory.

After the two remained together for some time, Di Jun finally let Bai Qian go to carry out the tasks he had assigned.

“Your Majesty, could it be that you have truly been taken with her beauty and fallen completely under her spell?”

Not long after Bai Qian left, Xi He entered Di Jun’s chamber.

“What are you saying, Empress? To me, she is nothing more than a useful tool. How could she ever compare with you?”

As he spoke, he stepped forward and drew Xi He into his arms from behind.

“How hateful. How am I to know whether Your Majesty feels the same way about me?”

Where Di Jun could not see, Xi He spoke softly, yet there was a strange emotion lingering in her eyes.

“You should know very well how I treat you.”

With that, Di Jun tightened his embrace around Xi He.

Soon after,欢愉 rose in Di Jun’s chambers.

Only after a long while did the storm finally subside.

Over the next nearly one million years, as Di Jun toiled upon Xi He and Bai Qian, results at last began to appear.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Empress! This is indeed a great blessing!”

On this day, Di Jun noticed that Xi He seemed unwell, so he ordered a deer-clan celestial physician to examine her.

That was how this matter came to pass.

Di Jun hurriedly sent his divine sense through Xi He’s body.

Only then did he discover that a spiritual embryo had formed within her.

Elated beyond measure, Di Jun immediately ordered rewards for the deer-clan physician.

At the same time, word of Xi He’s spiritual pregnancy spread to many powerful figures in the Heavenly Court, and they all came forward to offer congratulations to Di Jun and Xi He.

Yet while some rejoiced, others were troubled.

“Damn it. Now that that wretch has conceived a spiritual embryo, His Majesty hardly ever comes to me anymore!”

“No. I must think of a way. I refuse to believe that with my abilities, I cannot make His Majesty truly disregard me.”

Upon hearing the news, Bai Qian realized that Di Jun had indeed not come to seek her out for a very long time.

First she grew furious, then her eyes turned cold and fierce as she muttered to herself.

As it turned out, no one knew what means Bai Qian used, but afterward Di Jun indeed spent more nights in her chambers.

In the end, through the labor of both women, their efforts were not in vain, and good news finally arrived.

“What? You mean Bai Qian also...?”

Di Jun did not notice the smug glint in Bai Qian’s eyes when she learned this news.

Several million years passed again, and friction between the demon race and the witch race continued without cease, while even the Purple Mansion Isle was caught in constant conflict.

Whether by fate or design, the Heavenly Court, the demon race, the immortal court of Purple Mansion Isle, and the witch race atop Mount Buzhou all seemed unable to escape this inescapable destiny.

Fortunately, although clashes among the three powers never stopped, they seemed to possess an unspoken understanding.

Or perhaps Di Jun and the Eastern Prince both sought to build their strength first. Countless small battles erupted, yet not a single true war ever broke out.

Then one day, a great blaze of golden light suddenly erupted across the Heavenly Court.

Miraculously, even the Sun Star descended ten streams of its primal essence in response.

Then endless violet clouds rolled in from the east, enveloping the Heavenly Court entirely.

“What a blessing! Heaven protects our demon race! It seems even fate desires that our Heavenly Court rule the ancient starry sky!”

With that, Di Jun made his decision at once.

“Send the order. The armies march. Our target is the ancient starry sky. I shall give my children a grand gift as a celebration of their birth.”

By then, Di Jun had already sensed the arrival of ten new lives, and so he spoke with great joy.

Soon after, the entire demon army set out for the ancient starry sky.