The Great Yu Dynasty, at its founding, received significant aid from the demon race, enabling the Tianwu Emperor to conquer nearly half the territory of Shuiyun Continent.
Among them were nine great demons who had slain divine beings. They were enfeoffed as Demon Kings by Emperor Tianwu, with nine distinct regions carved out of the dynasty's domain as their fiefs.
These places were collectively known as the Demon Realms, gathering nearly seventy percent of the demon race and a vast number of demonic beasts within the Great Yu Dynasty.
Currently, within Guanxia City, descendants of two Demon Kings have appeared. In their respective demon realms, they hold positions of high status, equivalent to the direct descendants of princes in the human realm.
"One is named Feng Mian, from the Lie Feng Demon Realm, and the other is Wan Hu, from the Chi Yan Demon Realm," Xu Lin stated with a grim expression.
Though these two demons were merely descendants many generations removed from the Demon Kings, their status remained exceptionally noble. Their actions were arrogant and overbearing, showing no regard for the dynasty's laws.
In their wake, they had killed many human cultivators and had even, on multiple occasions, caused the deaths of innocent civilians, resulting in over a hundred lives lost.
"I thought for such beasts, the Mingjian Division's blades would be sharper," Ji Yuan remarked calmly. However, the calmer his demeanor, the more troubled the other's expression became.
After a long silence, Xu Lin sighed, "If this were during the founding… no, even a hundred years ago, let alone descendants many generations removed, we in the Mingjian Division haven't shied away from killing the direct children of Demon Kings."
"As long as they dare to violate the court's laws and harm innocent civilians, the Mingjian Division's blades never hesitate."
"However, things began to change several decades ago."
The Great Yu Dynasty had been founded over seven hundred years ago. Adding the preceding years, Emperor Tianwu was already over eight hundred years old.
By conventional logic, this emperor could live to be a thousand years old, and with the entire nation's effort in seeking longevity elixirs, he could potentially extend his lifespan by another two to three centuries.
Alas, decades of warfare had severely damaged Emperor Tianwu's physique, and even his foundational cultivation had nearly collapsed multiple times, leading to a significant drain on his lifespan.
Even with countless longevity elixirs, this emperor would not live past nine hundred years. If he could not break through to the final step and achieve immortal ascension, his vitality would wane, and his spirit would dissipate into the heavens and earth.
Seventy to eighty years ago was Emperor Tianwu's last opportunity. Yet, despite the entire nation's efforts, he could not take that final step, and his hopes for further breakthroughs were now extinguished for this life.
Now, several decades have passed in a flash. No one knows precisely how much lifespan Emperor Tianwu has left, or when he will suddenly depart this world.
It is precisely because of this that the Great Yu Dynasty, while outwardly appearing unchanged, is internally in turmoil. Various factions are stirring, each eager to support their favored prince and ascend the Dragon Throne, symbolizing imperial authority.
"Now that Emperor Tianwu's lifespan is nearing its end, and he has not yet established a Crown Prince to inherit the throne, no one knows what the future will hold. However, a period of unrest, affecting the nine prefectures and thirty-six counties, is unavoidable," Xu Lin sighed. If not for this, how would mere descendants of a Demon King, many generations removed, dare to act so arrogantly within human territory?
It was only due to concerns about igniting war between humans and demons at such a critical juncture that the Mingjian Division had not already beheaded them and displayed their heads on the city gates.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's expression shifted. He suddenly recalled a passage spoken by Yuan Yongcheng, the county magistrate who had fallen into demonic possession in Qianyu City.
At that time, the official had said that the Great Yu Dynasty was on the verge of turmoil, making it difficult even to protect oneself. It was an opportune moment to raise a rebellion and carve out one's own territory.
Initially, he had dismissed the man's words as ravings, either due to the demonic energy corrupting his mind or as a ploy to mislead them. He had never expected such a thing to be true.
According to Xu Lin's current account, regardless of whether Emperor Tianwu eventually designates an heir, once his lifespan is exhausted, a period of unrest will inevitably erupt within the dynasty.
For royal families or sects, while traditions exist, inheritance is not like a secular family matter, decided by the eldest son, grandson, or elders.
In this world where demons and monsters roam, besides legitimate lineage, the most crucial factor for an heir is the ability to stand on their own.
Otherwise, how could they secure that supreme position if internal strife and external threats cannot be suppressed?
If one's own strength is insufficient and they lack the backing of a powerful faction, even if they ascend the throne, a single imperial decree might not even leave the vast imperial palace.
And even if it were successfully delivered, no one would truly take it seriously.
"Surely among Emperor Tianwu's many sons, there isn't a single one capable of standing on their own?" Ji Yuan mused, then asked with a frown.
Hearing this, Xu Lin could only offer a helpless smile. Among the current princes, it was not that there were no capable individuals; quite the opposite, there were simply too many who were exceptionally gifted.
This had led to a situation where none of the princes were willing to yield to another. Regardless of who Emperor Tianwu designates to inherit the throne, the other princes would eventually make their move and would never accept it passively.
Even Emperor Tianwu's brothers, whether they were princes of the blood or kings of different surnames, and even the empress's maternal relatives, might harbor their own ambitions.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan couldn't help but twitch his lips. Based on this, it seemed that once Emperor Tianwu's lifespan expired, the world would likely be plunged into widespread war and chaos.
"Fortunately, our Lingyang Prefecture is located on the border of the dynasty's territory. I imagine these matters should not affect us here," Xu Lin shook his head, then fell silent, drinking his wine dejectedly.
He had already spoken too much today, and some of the things he had said were not within his current status to discuss freely with outsiders.
It was no exaggeration to say that if the conversation in the wine shop today were to spread, and if someone with ill intentions were to learn of it, it could attract the attention of a certain supervisory agency within the court.
Even with the protection of his department head, he would at least lose a layer of skin.
Half an hour later, the three left the wine shop. Under the watchful eyes of Ji Yuan and Xia Dong, the inebriated Xu Lin staggered towards the Mingjian Division.
After his figure disappeared through the gates of the Mingjian Division, the pair then departed in their carriage.
"Young Master, where shall we go next?" Xia Dong asked softly within the carriage. She could tell that the person before her was in a somewhat somber mood.
Ji Yuan thought for a moment and then replied, "Let's go to the marketplace district of the Vast Hall."
His original intention was to avoid crowded places as much as possible, fearing entanglement with karma. Now, after hearing about the Great Yu Dynasty's current situation from Xu Lin, his thoughts had shifted somewhat.
No one knew when the unrest would erupt. Before that, it was best to improve one's cultivation as much as possible to have a greater chance of transcending the chaos in the future.
Otherwise, once caught in the turmoil, even cultivators in the Third Realm might not be able to guarantee their safety, let alone that of their loved ones.
"I hope our Emperor lives for another several decades or even a century," he murmured to himself, gazing at the rapidly passing scenery outside the window.
This was the first time he had ever hoped for someone outside his own master to live longer and more peacefully.
Xia Dong, by his side, also fell into silence. How could she not wish for the Emperor, a legendary figure throughout his life, to create another miracle?
Otherwise, once chaos erupted, even if Lingyang Prefecture was situated on the dynasty's border, it would still be swept into the tide of disorder.
From the royal nobles to commoners, and even cultivators detached from the mundane world, unless they left this dynasty, no one could escape its impact.
With their minds full of thoughts, the two arrived at the marketplace district of the Vast Hall in their carriage.
For ordinary chambers of commerce or factions, possessing a marketplace in a prefectural city was already considered quite good.
However, the Vast Hall spared no expense, investing heavily to acquire the entire district for their business operations. They attracted countless large and small shops, and even Mingxin Xuan opened a branch here.
Upon reaching this place, there were no longer exclusive lanes for carriages, so the two had no choice but to dismount and walk.
"Steamed buns for sale! Buns with thin skin and abundant filling! Buns made from the beef of spirit oxen!"
"Candied hawthorn, ten taels of silver per skewer, each one a spirit fruit!"
"Step right up, don't miss out! Treasures freshly dug from immortal ruins, starting at just thirty taels of silver!"
However, as soon as they entered the marketplace district, Ji Yuan froze in place, his eyes twitching as he gazed at the scene before him.
If not for the faint fluctuations of vital energy from the passersby and the fact that the goods sold by the vendors on either side contained a hint of spiritual energy, he might have thought he had stumbled into a bustling mortal marketplace.
In his original imagination, this place should have been ethereal and transcendent, with cultivators who seemed aloof from worldly affairs, and occasional sightings of people flying on their artifacts.
He had never expected the renowned marketplace district of the Vast Hall to resemble a bustling mortal city.
The cultivators, in particular, were engaged in peddler's work, setting up stalls by the roadside to sell snacks, shouting their wares loudly without any regard for their image.
"Young Master, not all cultivators live a life superior to others," Xia Dong said softly beside him. "For rogue cultivators without any backing or specialized skills, even their daily cultivation expenses are difficult to meet. They have to work tirelessly for a living, and aside from having cultivation, they are no different from ordinary mortals."
Or rather, this was the true reality for most cultivators.
Aside from having cultivation and being able to fight better than ordinary martial artists, there was no other difference.
In such circumstances, if they lacked any specialized skills, they would either become enforcers for a certain faction or have to find ways to earn a living.
Let alone setting up stalls and hawking goods; when driven by necessity, they would have to grit their teeth and do even the dirtiest and most arduous jobs.
This was also why, among the commonly spoken "wealth, companions, dharma, and place," wealth was placed first.
After walking through several streets, Ji Yuan remained in a daze, finally coming to terms with what he had seen and heard.
In his original impression, even someone at the initial stage of the Enlightenment Realm, the very beginning of cultivation, if they joined a gang or worked as a guard, they would receive a considerable monthly stipend. They would not have to hawk goods on the street.
Only now did he realize that not all cultivators were skilled in combat. In fact, many had embarked on the path of cultivation through unforeseen circumstances.
Furthermore, even if they wanted to join a gang, if they had no particular skill, the gang would not accept them. Even if they were taken on as mere decorative members, their monthly allowance would be meager, and they would be bossed around without any dignity.