The heavenly prodigies who were exceptionally allowed to enter Lingxiao Hall for deliberation, apart from Li Che, included the ten sons of the Demon Emperor Jun, namely the Ten Golden Crow Princes.
Also present were renowned figures from the younger generation of the Demon Clan, such as the Primordial Fierce Beast Great Strength Divine Ox and Si Xiang.
Li Che looked strangely at the surrounding demon prodigies, inwardly grumbling. He had never even heard of anomalous demons like the Great Strength Divine Ox and the Sky-Piercing Beast, but he was extremely familiar with the Ten Golden Crow Princes and Si Xiang.
The Ten Golden Crow Princes were all casualties of the arrows of the primordial archery god Da Yi, with only one surviving in the end.
Si Xiang, if nothing unexpected happened, would become the mount of his nominal martial uncle, the Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
From majestic demon prodigies to those who died, were annihilated, or lived lives without much freedom, the futures of the Ten Golden Crow Princes and Si Xiang were truly tragic.
However, the future tragedies of the Ten Golden Crow Princes and Si Xiang had nothing to do with Li Che, who didn't possess a single Spiritual Treasure. He couldn't manage it, nor did he want to. He merely felt a slight melancholy upon seeing figures from legend.
His gaze swept across the entire Lingxiao Hall, and a sigh escaped his lips.
The Demon Clan was too powerful now; it was no wonder the Sages didn't dare to lightly provoke them.
Demon Emperor Jun, Donghuang Taiyi, Empress Xihe, Demon Master Kunpeng, Xi Huang Fuxi, the Ten Great Demon Sages, the 365 Demon Gods, and the many Demon Kings guarding the four directions...
Every one of them was a Da Luo or higher existence. Demon Emperor Jun and Donghuang Taiyi were infinitely close to the Sage realm.
Objectively speaking, if Sages could not wield the power of the Heavenly Dao, they might not have been the opponents of the demon emperors.
With the Twin Demon Emperors, Jun and Taiyi, at their core and numerous other demon experts as their wings, the Demon Clan's strength could only be described by one word: "powerful," to an extreme degree.
In the vast Great Desolation World, only the Wu Clan could contend with the Demon Clan, and in some aspects, the Wu Clan was even inferior to the Demon Clan.
The Wu Clan's population base was far smaller than the Demon Clan's. Although their individual strength was peerless, their reproductive capabilities were lamentable.
In contrast, the Demon Clan had a massive population base and comparable hard power to the Wu Clan, with considerable soft power as well.
Through eons of evolution, the Demon Clan had developed an extremely advanced civilization. For instance, they had already achieved mass production of Postnatal Spiritual Treasures.
If Li Che hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he could never have imagined the astonishing scene.
Throwing materials into the artifact forging furnace, the furnace would refine Postnatal Spiritual Treasures on its own, with a speed comparable to assembly-line production.
Armors and weapons mass-produced by the artifact forging furnaces were then equipped to the demon elites, continuously enhancing their combat power.
Fortunately, resources were limited. The Demon Clan could not equip every demon soldier with Postnatal Spiritual Treasure-level equipment. Otherwise, no clan in the Great Desolation would have the power to resist the Demon Clan's supremacy.
After countless years, the Wu Clan disappeared, yet the Demon Clan still had the strength to contend with the Human Clan. This was not without reason.
Li Che glanced unobtrusively at Demon Master Kunpeng, who stood at the forefront, feeling a sense of admiration.
The artifact forging furnace capable of mass-producing Postnatal Spiritual Treasures was designed and built by Demon Master Kunpeng. Regardless of his personal character, this profound wisdom alone was beyond ordinary people.
Demon Master, the teacher of all demons, indeed. There are no wrongly named nicknames, only wrongly chosen names.
Li Che felt that if he and Demon Master Kunpeng could form a connection, they would likely have many common topics.
He was inclined to befriend Kunpeng, but not now. He was still too weak, lacking the qualification for equal conversation.
Dragons do not associate with snakes, and Great Divine Ability Users disdain to associate with those of low cultivation.
As Li Che was lost in thought, Demon Emperor Jun, seated on the Heavenly Emperor's throne, majestic and imposing, his might swallowing the sun and moon and rivers, as if all things in heaven and earth were beneath His feet, spoke.
"East King Duke of Penglai Island in the East Sea, failing to understand the Heavenly Dao and repeatedly offending the might of my Demon Clan, what does everyone think should be done?"
Demon Emperor Jun spoke, his imposing presence radiating an arrogance that looked down on heaven and earth, the sole supreme being.
He was like the Heavenly Father who created all things, his every word and action, his every smile and anger, possessed immense power, and all beings in the world trembled because of him.
As the second Heavenly Emperor of the Great Desolation, the Demon Emperor who ruled the Demon Clan, Jun's might had already reached the level of deterring gods and demons. The moment his voice fell, the hearts of the many demon experts in the hall tensed simultaneously.
"This ruffian, East King Duke, is arrogant and presumptuous. Although he holds the title of Head of the Male Immortals, he lacks the virtues befitting such a position. Our Demon Clan rules the Nine Heavens and oversees the order of the Great Desolation. How can we allow this scoundrel to continue rampaging?"
Donghuang Taiyi roared, "I believe our Demon Clan should immediately dispatch troops to conquer Penglai, slay this ruffian, East King Duke, to appease the hopes of all beings!"
As Demon Emperor Jun's brother, Donghuang Taiyi was the most supportive of Jun. What of the title Head of the Male Immortals? In his eyes, it was merely a lapdog, not difficult to kill.
Donghuang Taiyi was very much like Demon Emperor Jun, both possessing immense authority and an air of invincibility, yet they were also greatly different.
Jun's dominance was born from ruling the Nine Heavens and commanding all demons, an unresistible supremacy.
Donghuang Taiyi's dominance was pure, incomparably arrogant, looking down on all directions. Anyone who dared to oppose him would simply be beaten to death.
Demon Emperor Jun and Donghuang Taiyi!
One had a broad mind, ruling all demons, possessing both the means to suppress the universe and the magnanimity to tolerate others; the other was domineering and powerful, looking down on the cosmos, conquering enemies, and sweeping them away.
It was their united efforts that created the glory of the Demon Clan.
Now, Demon Emperor Jun intended to act against East King Duke, and Donghuang Taiyi was the first to express his support. Other demon experts fell into contemplation.
Was it worth acting against East King Duke?
This was a question all demon experts had to consider. After all, East King Duke was not a threat, but the title of Head of the Male Immortals was an unavoidable hurdle.
The title Head of the Male Immortals was personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. If they killed East King Duke, what would they do if the Dao Ancestor was enraged?
While the Demon Clan feared no threat from Sages, with the Great Star Array of the Heavens deployed, even Sages would have to retreat. But if they angered the Dao Ancestor, could the Great Star Array of the Heavens withstand the Dao Ancestor's wrath?
Including the absolute higher-ups of the Demon Clan like Demon Master Kunpeng and Xi Huang Fuxi, who were counted among the Great Divine Ability Users, none in Lingxiao Hall were certain.
Ever since the Dao Ancestor attained the Dao and preached to three thousand divine beings in Zixiao Palace, the first impression of Dao Ancestor Hongjun was unfathomable and unshakeable.
Not only the demon experts but all beings in the Great Desolation held a subconscious belief of "Dao Ancestor is invincible."
Under the influence of this belief, anything related to the Dao Ancestor required careful consideration of pros and cons before acting.
Killing someone related to the Dao Ancestor was not the terrifying part; the terrifying part was whether it would incur the Dao Ancestor's wrath. It would be terrible if they gained no benefits but suffered heavy losses.
"Demon Emperor, why the sudden thought to act against East King Duke?"
Bai Ze Demon Sage, the head of the Ten Great Demon Sages and the Demon Clan's chief strategist after Demon Master Kunpeng, asked.
Even though Bai Ze was said to know everything from the heavens and earth to trivial matters, he was somewhat perplexed by Demon Emperor Jun's actions at this moment.
Killing East King Duke dwelling on Penglai Island in the East Sea seemed to bring no benefit to the Demon Clan.
Was it simply because East King Duke was arrogant and did not know his limits despite holding the esteemed position of Head of the Male Immortals?
Bai Ze did not believe things were as simple as Donghuang Taiyi suggested. He knew Demon Emperor Jun well, and knew that Jun would not act without seeking profit.
Today's update is a bit late, I apologize!
Starting tomorrow, there will be four updates a day, no breaking promises!