Chapter 405: Certain Divine Beast I Have Had Unilateral Divine Communication with the Water God for a Long Time

Meanwhile, let's leave aside Li Changshou's initial experiments with Wu Wei, his contemplation of the Eight-Nine Arcane Art and the transformation of human-witches in the mountains, and his wait for the demon race's response.

In the backyard of a spacious manor within an ordinary mortal city in the northwest of the Southern Jambudvipa Continent, two figures strolled by a lotus pond, each emanating an obscure Daoist aura. Daoist Lu Ya had reverted to his original appearance—that of a handsome, well-dressed young Daoist. The 'cook' beside him had changed into a long robe and was smiling as he introduced Lu Ya to the beautiful estate he had personally designed, pointing out its ingenious small features.

Lu Ya finally couldn't help but ask, "Senior, why were you working as a cook in that tavern? Instead of..."

The middle-aged Daoist retorted, "Why can't I be a cook?"

"This..."

"Is it because, when I served the former Emperor, I was known for my divination skills, and now that I live in seclusion here, I must necessarily become a diviner to match my reputation? Hahaha!" The middle-aged Daoist stroked his goatee and laughed, "This is merely a preconceived notion of Your Highness. In fact, my interests are quite broad, extending far beyond just divination, observation, and formations."

Lu Ya sighed, "I only knew that you, senior, were living in seclusion here, and when I saw that mortal diviner, I thought it was you in disguise. Since you've agreed to see me, are you willing to come out of seclusion again and help me?"

"That, I'm afraid, I cannot agree to." The middle-aged Daoist decisively shook his head, a hint of regret in his eyes. "I thought Your Highness came today to ask for a way to survive. I never expected Your Highness would still harbor such thoughts. If that's the case, Your Highness might as well turn back now. Anything more I say from this point will be useless to Your Highness."

Lu Ya frowned, "Senior, are you implying that my life is already in danger?"

The middle-aged Daoist looked at Lu Ya solemnly, his eyes suddenly turning pale yellow, with a flash of light in his pupils. "A great calamity is not far off."

Lu Ya's Daoist heart trembled slightly. In the middle-aged Daoist's eyes, he saw a fleeting image... In the vision, he lay covered in blood on a lake, his condition extremely tragic, his life uncertain.

If anyone else had told Lu Ya these things or shown him such a vision, Lu Ya might have immediately launched an attack with his treasure and cursed, "How dare you disturb my Daoist mind!" However, before him was the one and only middle-aged Daoist whom Lu Ya had to respect and dared not disrespect. When the Demon Court fell, Lu Ya survived thanks to this middle-aged Daoist's help. Moreover, among the Ten Great Demon Marshals of the ancient demon race, this middle-aged Daoist was the only one who managed to clear himself of karma, retreating from the Lich War completely unharmed.

He was Bai Ze, one of the Ten Great Demon Marshals of the ancient demon race.

Bai Ze, an innate spiritual beast, excelled in deduction and divination. He comprehended yin and yang, understood life and death, and was supremely skilled at pursuing fortune and avoiding misfortune. He understood the nature and appearance of all things. He was highly valued and trusted by the Demon Emperor of the Demon Court and was a crucial strategist the Emperor used to balance the authority of Kunpeng, the Demon Master. The "Baize's Illustrated Guide to Monsters and Spirits" written by Bai Ze became a vital foundation of the Demon Emperor's rule over the demon race in ancient times.

Cold sweat appeared on Lu Ya's forehead. He sighed softly and bowed to Bai Ze. "Please, senior, save me!"

"Alright," Bai Ze chuckled, shaking his head. "Although I see your persistence, I do owe the former Emperor a debt, which I must repay through Your Highness. Does Your Highness know who wants to kill you?"

"The Heavenly Courts' Sea God!" Lu Ya blurted this out, but after saying it, he vaguely felt something was amiss.

Bai Ze smiled, "Precisely, it is the Sea God. The Jade Emperor wants to kill you as the Demon Court's Crown Prince, but this Sea God wants to kill you as Daoist Lu Ya."

Lu Ya hastily asked, "Why is that? Do I have some deep-seated hatred with the Sea God?"

"I don't know either." Bai Ze stopped, stood by the lotus pond with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the expansive lotus leaves on the water, his eyes growing more distant... "This Sea God, I have pondered him for a long time, but ultimately, I cannot fathom him. As Your Highness knows, though I possess minor divine abilities and can perceive the appearance of all things, I cannot truly deduce every single being and spirit, or my Daoist heart would be overwhelmed instantly. Now, I live as a carefree wanderer, in seclusion in the mortal world, observing only those beings that pique my interest. When I first noticed this Sea God, he only had five or six Sea God temples. Yet even then, I couldn't discern his true appearance or origins. He already had precautions in place, and those precautions have not slackened for a single day. I have secretly observed the Sea God until today, and still, I cannot see through him..."

Bai Ze paused, then sighed, "This Sea God is extremely patient, meticulously thorough to an appalling degree, and he is vindictive. Does Your Highness know about the breaching of the Dragon Race's sea eye back then?"

"Of course," Daoist Lu Ya replied. "The Heavenly Courts and the Western Church conspired against the Dragon Race. In the end, the Dragon Race chose to submit to the Heavenly Courts, and the Western Church used the Dragon Race to establish their authority, destroying the East Sea's sea eye and seizing its treasury."

"At that time, the one in charge of the matter from the West was Ksitigarbha, a disciple of the Great Saint of the West." Bai Ze chuckled, "But Ksitigarbha and his little Di Ting were not triumphant for long before the immortals of the Three Religions collectively ascended Mount Ling. The immortals of the Three Religions forced Mount Ling to bow its head and admit fault. They even killed Mount Ling's disciples in front of them. Master Xuandu, moreover, with the innate supreme treasure Taiji Diagram, directly clashed with the two Saints of the West. That spectacle was truly something to behold... Ahem, does Your Highness know the cause of that incident?"

Daoist Lu Ya frowned, "Please enlighten me, senior."

"Ksitigarbha used a small trick, leveraging Di Ting's ability to spread rumors about Holy Mother Huling of Jie Teaching and Zhao Gongming, and he even disseminated this under the name of True Man Huanglong of Chan Teaching." Bai Ze smiled, "In just half a day, the Heavenly Courts' Sea God devised a countermeasure and connected with the grand disciples of the Three Religions. Because of this small matter, the prestige Mount Ling gained from the Dragon Race incident was entirely lost, the relations between the Three Religions were eased, and incidentally, the Western Saints were disgraced. Furthermore, Ksitigarbha and Di Ting were severely reprimanded by the Saints and lost their trust. Such scheming... In short, I would never make an enemy of the Sea God."

Lu Ya was slightly displeased and said, "Wasn't it also the grand disciples of the Three Religions who intentionally facilitated this matter?"

Bai Ze smiled without speaking, leading the conversation back to Lu Ya's affairs. "Your Highness, besides the West Sea incident and the battle of Mount Sheng Yao, have you ever provoked the Sea God?"

"No, I haven't," Lu Ya stated candidly. "During the Mount Sheng Yao incident, I rushed there from Wa Huang Palace, arriving a half-step too late, otherwise, the Sea God wouldn't have succeeded so easily."

Bai Ze frowned, "Your Highness, the Holy Mother's residence is called the Holy Mother's Palace. 'Wa Huang Palace' is a name the demon race themselves invented. Don't assume that just because the Saint doesn't pursue it, the Holy Mother truly acknowledges the random title the demon race has given her. In ancient times, before the Holy Mother became a Saint, the former Emperor, fearing that Fuxi and the Holy Mother would seize power, forced the siblings away. The Holy Mother previously protected you only because of her deep friendship with the former Emperor. Now, the Sea God has visited the Holy Mother's Palace twice, so whether the Holy Mother will still protect you is an unknown."

"The Sea God visited the Holy Mother's Palace?" Lu Ya was startled and quickly asked, "When was this?"

"The first time was after the battle of Mount Sheng Yao. The most recent time was not long ago, due to the calamity suffered by the Great Virtue Houtu." Bai Ze stroked his goatee and calmly said, "It seems Your Highness has also been flattered into confusion by those so-called 'old retainers'. The Holy Mother is the Human Race's Holy Mother. When the human race was massacred by the demon race back then, the Holy Mother did not appear because Demon Master Kunpeng used a scheme against her. Although I don't know why, the Holy Mother bestowed countless treasures upon the Sea God. This is no secret in the Holy Mother's Palace. Your Highness, the demon race ceased to exist when the Demon Court fell. Why cling to past events?"

Daoist Lu Ya remained silent, his expression quite somber.

Bai Ze continued to persuade him: "When I followed the two former Emperors, I witnessed with my own eyes how the myriad races, unwilling to be preyed upon by the Witch race, gathered atop Mount Buzhou, established the ancient Heavenly Courts, received the great luck of the Heavenly Dao, and contended with the Witch race for supremacy in the world. At that time, the Heavenly Courts were the Heavenly Courts, and the Holy Race was the Holy Race. Later, I also witnessed with my own eyes how, when the Holy Race dominated the skies and surpassed the Witch race, this Holy Race gradually became corrupt, with endless conquests, battles, great clans annexing smaller ones, and the strong enslaving the weak. At that time, though the Heavenly Courts were still the Heavenly Courts, the Holy Race had become the Demon Race. Alas..." Bai Ze's sigh conveyed endless desolation.

"The fall of the Demon Court was the general trend, something no one could reverse. Yet, it was not a tragedy; it was a deserved karma. Your Highness, can those who still shout about the Demon Court's supremacy truly be considered demons? They are merely decaying elements who forcibly categorize the myriad races that took human form after ancient times into the demon race, using the name of the demon race to enslave and oppress. Tell me, if it wasn't Your Highness who survived back then, but your older or younger brothers, how would these so-called demon kings treat them?"

"They would..."

"They would treat them no differently from Your Highness, wouldn't they?"

Daoist Lu Ya frowned in contemplation, then sighed sadly, "It is true. I am merely a banner they raise."

Bai Ze smiled, "It's good that Your Highness can realize this in time."

"Senior!" Daoist Lu Ya turned around and bowed again. "I wish to survive. Please, senior, teach me!"

"Actually, you are now cornered by the Sea God," Bai Ze said gravely. "To break free, there is only one path."

"Please enlighten me, senior."

Bai Ze said, "Rally the demon kings to rebel against the Heavenly Courts. Only then will you have a thirty percent chance of survival."

Lu Ya looked puzzled, clearly struggling to process this. Bai Ze slowly explained, "The current Jade Emperor fears you as the Demon Race Crown Prince. If the demon race's supposed revival collapses, and those old demon kings are sacrificed to Heaven, the demon race will no longer pose a threat to the Heavenly Courts, and the Jade Emperor's apprehension will naturally fade. You simply need to, when the time is right, express your compassionate heart by stating your 'unwillingness for the demon race to perish from the Primordial World,' and surrender to the Heavenly Courts. The Jade Emperor will then use you to demonstrate the Heavenly Courts' benevolence, not only sparing your life but also acknowledging your origins. At that time, you can freely wander the world. However..."

Lu Ya quickly asked, "However, what?"

"I fear that when you surrender to the Heavenly Courts, this Sea God might directly throw a blade in front of you, completing your reputation for compassion. He would definitely do that."

Lu Ya felt a lump in his throat. "Why is this Sea God targeting me so much?"

"I don't know either," Bai Ze sighed softly, his eyes holding a glimmer that Lu Ya could not decipher. "The Sea God's schemes are incredibly profound, beyond my grasp, and he often takes unexpected actions. Reputation means nothing to him, and treasures are like fleeting smoke. What I admire most about him is his ability to pursue gain without forgetting righteousness. Although I have never met this Sea God in person, I feel as if I have known him intimately for a long time through spiritual connection..."

"Senior," Daoist Lu Ya asked in a low voice, "Is there no way to eliminate this Sea God?"

"Harm him?" Bai Ze chuckled. "What would fall upon your head first would likely not be the Taiji Diagram, nor the Four Immortal Slaying Swords, but rather..."

"What?"

"The Purple霄 Divine Thunder." Bai Ze patted Lu Ya's shoulder. "Don't think too much about it. The Sea God is riding the tide of destiny now. Behind him stands the Heavenly Dao, the Dao Ancestor, beings who can annihilate us with a snap of their fingers. Instead of dwelling on that, you should consider how to show favor to the Sea God by rallying the demon kings to rebel against Heaven."

Daoist Lu Ya's eyes held a hint of helplessness as he fell into deep thought. After a moment, Lu Ya asked again, "Senior, could you perhaps go and greet the Sea God on my behalf?"

"Impossible. Cannot be done. Don't even think about it."

"Uh, senior, why are you refusing so decisively..."

"Don't joke like that," Bai Ze's mouth twitched, his goatee even showing a touch of disdain. "To use Ksitigarbha and little Di Ting as an example, the Sea God fears little Di Ting, not Ksitigarbha. If given the chance, the Sea God would surely eliminate little beasts like Di Ting, who can hear the voices of all spirits, without hesitation. Let alone me, an ancient demon race member whose abilities are just a little bit higher than little Di Ting's. If I were to meet the Sea God, there would only be two outcomes."

Lu Ya's Daoist heart was somewhat numb by now. He asked in a low voice, "What outcomes?"

"Either he kills me, or I swear an oath of tens of thousands of characters to the Grand Dao and become his mount." Bai Ze looked up and sighed deeply, his eyes filled with gloom. He lamented, "He hasn't touched me yet, mainly because his cultivation time is short and his accumulation is insufficient. Once his body of golden merit forms, I fear he will come for me."

Lu Ya hastily asked, "Then, senior, aren't you... not escaping?"

"Where could I escape to?" Bai Ze gave a wry smile. "Now, I can only try feigning death. Whether I can escape then... probably not."

"Why not?"

"The Sea God is extremely skilled at finishing blows. He leaves not a single trace of soul behind for any spirit he eliminates."

Lu Ya's brows furrowed into a frown. "Senior, aren't you exaggerating a bit? If this Sea God is truly so formidable, why hasn't he suppressed Mount Ling? Why hasn't he annihilated my demon race?"

"You must give him some time." Bai Ze slowly said, "What I can tell you about the Sea God right now is that from the beginning of his cultivation until the battle of Mount Sheng Yao, where he heavily wounded you, no more than five hundred years have passed. Don't ask too many other questions. I dare not get involved in any karma with him."

Lu Ya hesitated, about to speak again, but Bai Ze, seeing this, smiled and shook his head, saying no more on the matter. "Your Highness, remember one piece of advice from me."

"Please speak, senior. I will engrave it in my heart."

"Fight gods, but not the general trend; fight immortals, but not Saints," Bai Ze whispered. "What the Heavenly Courts truly fear is the extraordinary strength the demon race still retains. Your Highness, you must absolutely not ally with Mount Ling in the West."

Lu Ya bowed again, "Senior's teachings, Lu Ya will bear them in mind!"

Bai Ze's figure suddenly became somewhat translucent. Lu Ya looked up to see Bai Ze dissipating with the wind, and the entire manor instantly fell silent. "I shall depart first. Your Highness, please take care. The favor has been repaid. From now on, let us not meet often."

Lu Ya closed his eyes, let out a bitter laugh, then bowed three times in quick succession before turning and leaving the place.

Months later, Lu Ya, the last Crown Prince of the ancient Demon Court, appeared at the southern border of the Northern Continent. With a rallying cry, he issued a proclamation denouncing the Heavenly Courts. Within a day, three hundred twenty-five demon kings responded, gathering millions of demon soldiers and thousands of demon experts. They declared that the Heavenly Courts were persecuting the demon race and unjustly suppressing the myriad spirit races, openly defying the Heavenly Courts' decree. The Five Great Continents of the Primordial World instantly erupted. The Heavenly Courts prepared for war, demon races from various regions rushed to the Northern Continent's border to bolster the demon race's prestige, and human Qi Refiners also sharpened their blades, looking towards the North Continent. One demon king loudly called for the re-establishment of the Demon Court, but this demon king soon fell silent.

On the day Lu Ya issued the proclamation denouncing Heaven, in the quiet bamboo forest of Little Qiong Peak at Immortal Du Sect...

Li Changshou put down his scroll, gazed toward the northwest, and pondered for a moment. "Lu Ya received help from an expert? To even come up with such an aggressive defense strategy. I need to play it safe. The Jade Emperor and Empress Dowager are not in the Heavenly Courts right now. The demon race is merely defying orders; they haven't officially launched an uprising yet. First, let the proclamation circulate for a while and see if the demon race gets so overconfident that they proactively attack the Heavenly Courts. As long as there's even one trace of demon soldiers... No, one wisp of demon qi! As long as even a single wisp of demon qi reaches the Heavenly Gate, Li Changshou can seize the opportunity to make a fuss, sending Duke Dongmu to Yuxu Palace, Biyou Palace, and Doushuai Palace to weep for three days and three nights, proclaiming that the demon race is bullying the Heavenly Courts while the Jade Emperor undergoes his tribulation."