Emperor Jun and Taiyi returned from Zixiao Palace with a deeper understanding of the Great Dao and considerable gains in their cultivation. They also obtained two innate gourds from Buzhou Mountain, putting them in high spirits.
Upon returning to the Demon Court, Emperor Jun immediately met with Bai Ze to inquire about its recent development.
Seeing Emperor Jun in good spirits and knowing that the Demon Court had been developing smoothly, Bai Ze happily reported:
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, the development of the Demon Court has been very smooth during this period!"
Emperor Jun was pleased to hear this and said:
"You have worked hard during this time!"
Bai Ze shook his head and replied:
"It is all due to Your Majesty's wise leadership that the Demon Court prospers."
Emperor Jun was even happier with Bai Ze's flattery.
Seeing Emperor Jun's improved mood, Bai Ze's brow furrowed. Emperor Jun noticed Bai Ze's troubled expression and asked:
"What is it?"
Bai Ze saw that Emperor Jun had noticed his change in expression and said slowly:
"Your Majesty, recently we have had some conflicts with the Wu clan?"
Emperor Jun was curious:
"We have no dealings with the Wu clan. How could there be a conflict?"
As soon as Emperor Jun finished speaking, Bai Ze said:
"Your Majesty, the Wu clan has gone too far. They actually regard our demon race as food and are capturing our demon clan members everywhere."
Emperor Jun frowned and looked at Bai Ze, asking:
"You have been managing the Demon Court recently. How did you handle this?"
Hearing this, Bai Ze lowered his head and immediately knelt on the ground, guiltily saying:
"Please punish me, Your Majesty! Bai Ze has disgraced the prestige of the Demon Court!"
Emperor Jun's frown deepened. Looking at Bai Ze kneeling on the ground, he asked:
"What happened?"
Just then, Taiyi also entered the great hall. Seeing Bai Ze kneeling and Emperor Jun frowning, he asked:
"Big Brother, what's wrong?"
Emperor Jun did not reply. Seeing this, Taiyi turned to Bai Ze and inquired:
"Bai Ze, what happened?"
Bai Ze repeated what he had just told Emperor Jun.
Emperor Jun looked at Bai Ze kneeling on the ground and said:
"You haven't answered my question yet?"
Bai Ze trembled and replied:
"I instructed the demon clan members to stay indoors and avoid the Wu clan as much as possible!"
Emperor Jun looked at Bai Ze and asked:
"The reason?"
Bai Ze continued:
"Both Your Majesties went to Zixiao Palace, and all but Houtu of the Twelve Ancestral Wu are still in Pangu Hall. I was worried that if the Twelve Demon Generals made a move, the Ancestral Wu might also intervene, so..."
Emperor Jun looked at Bai Ze, sighed, and said:
"Get up! You did the right thing! You may go!"
Bai Ze felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. He got up from the ground, bowed to Emperor Jun and Taiyi, and then withdrew from the hall.
After Bai Ze left, only Taiyi and Emperor Jun remained in the hall. Neither of them spoke, and for a moment, the great hall of the Demon Court was silent enough to hear a needle drop.
Neither brother spoke, and finally, Taiyi broke the silence:
"Big Brother, our Demon Court still lacks high-end combat power!"
Emperor Jun sighed and said:
"Yes, it's indeed too few. Apart from you and me, there is no one in the Demon Court who can fight the Twelve Ancestral Wu! Perhaps Xihe and Changxi can, but how could we bear to put them in danger?"
Taiyi remained silent. Emperor Jun looked at Taiyi and suddenly thought of Nuwa and Fuxi:
"Taiyi, why don't we go to Ziyang Mountain together?"
Taiyi asked:
"Big Brother means Nuwa and Fuxi?"
Emperor Jun nodded and said:
"Precisely. Nuwa and Fuxi are both part of the demon race. Moreover, we helped Fuxi in Zixiao Palace. They should not refuse this time!"
Taiyi thought Emperor Jun's words were reasonable, so as soon as the two returned to the Demon Court, they set off for Ziyang Mountain.
Meanwhile, under Bai Ze's management, the demon race had been avoiding the Wu clan. This had caused dissatisfaction among many. They couldn't understand why the Demon Court, currently in charge of all races, should fear the Wu clan, especially when the Demon Court was now the most powerful force in the Primordial World.
Bai Ze's efforts were perhaps understood only by the eleven demon generals, Emperor Jun, and Taiyi.
The Demon Court currently lacked high-end combat power. While they might have had an advantage in terms of influence, if the Twelve Ancestral Wu were to make a move, the Demon Court would be at an absolute disadvantage.
Upon learning of Emperor Jun and Taiyi's return, the demons stopped obeying Bai Ze's orders and brazenly appeared before the Wu clan. Some even formed groups to cause trouble for Wu clan tribes.
After leaving the great hall of the Demon Court, Bai Ze felt a sense of relief. With the Demon Emperor back, he could finally relax for a while.
Managing the Demon Court during this period had been extremely exhausting for him, especially since the demons did not understand his good intentions, leading to instances of feigned compliance.
Bai Ze walked towards his residence contentedly. He had just returned home and hadn't had time to sit down when Shang Yang rushed in!
Upon seeing Bai Ze, Shang Yang asked:
"Bai Ze, where is His Majesty the Demon Emperor?"
Bai Ze, looking bewildered, replied:
"Isn't His Majesty with His Majesty Donghuang in the great hall? Why are you looking for His Majesty?"
Shang Yang's face was anxious:
"Oh no! If His Majesty were in the great hall, why would I come to find you! I just came from the great hall!"
Seeing Shang Yang's anxious expression, Bai Ze quickly asked:
"What happened? What's wrong?"
Shang Yang immediately said:
"The demons, seeing that His Majesty the Demon Emperor and His Majesty Donghuang have returned, have gained confidence and are going to cause trouble for the Wu clan. Someone has organized a group to go towards the Zhurong tribe!"
Bai Ze's heart sank. The Zhurong tribe? This was terrible! This tribe had the hottest temper among the twelve Wu clan tribes. He immediately said:
"Why didn't anyone stop them? Let's go! Let's go!"
Bai Ze realized the seriousness of the situation. If this matter was not handled properly, it could lead to war between the two clans.
In the Zhurong tribe of the Wu clan, a burly man said to those around him:
"I don't know what's wrong with the demon race. We haven't seen them for some time."
Another person chimed in:
"That's right! For a while now, food has had no taste. We can't even find a demon to satisfy our cravings!"
"Who's saying it isn't! My mouth is so bland it's gone numb!"
"Heaven above! Earth below! I'm willing to trade my brother's ten thousand years of singlehood for a large area of demons to appear before me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Wu clansmen next to him quickly distanced themselves from him, indicating that they had nothing to do with him and that he should use his own guarantee.