Martial Cultivator

The court session did not actually last very long. The demon race’s court sessions were always like this; just a few words could make matters clear. The more important the matter, the more so.

However, regarding this matter of the entire demon race marching south, if it were truly discussed, it certainly would not be something that could be resolved in such a brief meeting. For now, it was merely to have each clan voice their position, establish a general tone, and make the plan feasible. There was still much work to be done afterward, but that was all the High Priest’s responsibility.

Coordinating all sides, especially those clans and races with actual demon lords stationed, required careful negotiation to produce a solution that all parties could reluctantly accept. The energy and effort needed for this could not be explained in a sentence or two.

The great demons in the hall all left, their steps hurried. Many could make decisions on their own, but many nodded reluctantly, because those who truly held decision-making power were not them, they still had to return and consult their family’s ancestors.

But what was done was done; it could no longer be changed. Returning now was merely to consult their elders on how to act.

A figure in a white robe stood outside the hall, watching the great demons depart.

The High Priest approached, smiling. “White Jing, let’s have a talk at the residence.”

White Jing turned to look at his old friend, nodding, and said calmly, “I heard you have the best tea in the demon realm, but I wonder if you have the best wine.”

The High Priest was the one in the entire demon realm who understood humans best. His understanding was not just intellectual; for many human things, the High Priest had always tried them out.

“You’ll find out when we’re there.”

The High Priest did not say more. He walked toward the outside of the capital city, White Jing at his side, steps measured.

This old friend, from far in the northern demon sea, had not moved about for years. The High Priest had resided here in the capital city the whole time, so it had indeed been many years since they last met.

Compared with ordinary human civilians and even human cultivators, demon cultivators lived much longer.

Yet even with their much longer lifespans, in a sense, it was almost the same.

A longer life did not mean more time to observe the world. With decades of seclusion for cultivation, it roughly equated to not much more than ordinary humans.

The two left the conduct and soon arrived outside the High Priest’s residence. From a distance, White Jing in his white robe saw that many were waiting outside and could not help but smile. “No wonder your cultivation hasn’t advanced much. Facing these people every day, handling all these matters, it really is not easy.”

The High Priest smiled. “Even if I didn’t face these people, I still wouldn’t catch up to you in this lifetime. Why bother saying this? Must I be the one to praise you?”

White Jing smiled faintly. In terms of talent, he was indeed first-rate in this demon realm. Although the current Demon Emperor had a higher cultivation realm, he was also older. The only one White Jing could honestly admit he was inferior to was the demon princess, Autumn.

The two entered the residence through a side gate, walked along a long corridor, and arrived at the courtyard. In the courtyard, the High Priest had built a rockery, and in the pond swam fish of various colors. When White Jing reached the pond, the fish scattered and hid beneath the rocks.

White Jing narrowed his eyes.

The true dragon race of the world had long since become extinct, and the Flood Dragon clan had always been considered the closest to the true dragon race. The ancestors of the Flood Dragon clan possessed the bloodline of the true dragon race, though not purely, but there was still a chance for atavism. Currently, in the demon realm, the Flood Dragon clan was divided by color into four races: White Flood Dragon, Black Flood Dragon, Azure Flood Dragon, and Gold Flood Dragon.

However, after so many years in the demon realm, none of these four Flood Dragon races had produced any newborns showing signs of atavism.

But for a demon lord like White Jing, whether atavism occurred or not was actually irrelevant. Even if there truly existed a demon lord of the true dragon race in the world, he did not believe he would be inferior to them.

Bloodline was secondary. If it existed, fine; if not, it was of no consequence.

Although he was not truly of the true dragon race, at this level, White Jing also exerted tremendous suppression over the aquatic lineage of the world.

Like the fish swimming in the pond, upon seeing White Jing, they acted as if they were beholding a deity.

So their hiding was unsurprising.

White Jing walked back from the pond and, after taking a seat, finally looked at the table. One table, one pot of tea, one pot of wine, clearly divided.

He looked at the High Priest in front of him and smiled, “You truly have no intention of drinking with me?”

The High Priest shook his head. “Not used to it. But this wine is good; you’ll like it.”

White Jing nodded, not forcing the matter, and spoke to himself, “You’re the same as before, never forcing others, and never being forced yourself.”

“No, it’s not the same anymore. Today’s court session, isn’t it forcing those bunch of people?”

The High Priest sipped his tea and said calmly, “We say a few casual words here, and countless people go to their deaths. Sometimes, thinking about it, it’s rather cruel.”

White Jing looked at him but did not speak. He poured himself some wine from the pot. The aroma of osmanthus wafted up. Even he had to admit, the human race’s brewing skills were better, every tavern had its own flavor, all different.

As for the demons, they had considered learning the art of brewing, and indeed there were taverns selling wine in the demon realm, but in both scale and taste, they fell far behind the humans.

“If you keep talking about this, I’ll go back immediately.”

White Jing smiled, raised the cup, and drank. Sometimes, matters that some people treat as important, others completely disregard.

The High Priest asked with a smile, “What is your current cultivation level?”

White Jing said, “Just one step away. I should be able to break through, but there are some things I haven’t grasped.”

The High Priest understood and said, “So the reason you personally came to the capital city this time is actually to ask His Majesty...”

“Not at all.”

White Jing looked at the High Priest calmly. “Do you not know what the demon realm values most? Once His Majesty broke through that realm, he will naturally worry if a second person does the same. Otherwise, how can the throne be secure?”

The High Priest frowned. “On this point, you’ve misjudged His Majesty.”

“His Majesty’s heart is not so small. In other words, if His Majesty were as you think, he would not have reached his current level. If you truly wish to seek His Majesty’s guidance, you should be able to gain something from it.”

The High Priest looked at his close friend, a faint smile on his face.

White Jing also smiled. “Then you, Jing Zhu, have misjudged me. Others who reach this stage may receive instruction from His Majesty without hesitation, but for me, White Jing, that is simply impossible.”

The High Priest asked with curiosity, “Why?”

White Jing replied calmly, “Because I am White Jing.”

The High Priest could only laugh in disbelief. “You remain as confident as ever.”

White Jing merely smiled without speaking. On this matter, he was unwilling to elaborate; his own belief was enough.

The High Priest thought for a moment and said, “At your current level, the one you’ll have to watch out for over in the human realm is probably that Sword Sect’s Sect Master.”

The High Priest was well-informed and already knew about the Sword Sect’s Sect Master’s breakthrough.

As for that master, who after the breakthrough disappeared for a while and then reappeared only to be defeated by Chen Chao and his companions without harm, he did not wish to mention it.

A person above Nepenthe actually died so easily, it was truly a disgrace.

“But that Sword Sect’s Sect Master is far too attached to obsession. There’s actually little to worry about.”

The High Priest looked at White Jing and smiled. “The one truly worth paying attention to is that young martial artist. He’s advancing extremely fast; perhaps very soon he will take another step forward.”

White Jing was unconcerned and merely smiled. “A pity I never got to spar with that human emperor.”

......

......

Autumn stood before Parasol Palace, seeing someone off.

The person looked at Autumn and said calmly, “Lil’ Au, perhaps this will be the last time we meet as siblings. But if I truly die, it will just prove my words were not false.”

Autumn looked at her royal brother, thinking of many things. The sons of the Demon Emperor are not numerous, but certainly not few. This one before her was the lowest in status and least favored by the Demon Emperor. He shared something with Autumn: both of their mothers came from ordinary backgrounds, not nobility.

Perhaps because of this, in their youth, there had been a bond between them, neither too deep nor too light. But as Autumn displayed her unparalleled cultivation talent and rose ever higher, their encounters became increasingly rare, and naturally, their bond weakened.

Autumn pondered for a moment and softly said, “Royal Brother?”

That person smiled. “My life or death is of no importance. After all, I’m merely an insignificant pawn. But this truth, I must tell you. Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant, for I know you’ll have the means to verify it.”

Autumn said, “Then what is the reason you are telling me this?”

He said, “Lil’ Au, do you remember the time I got into trouble, and it was your consort mother who let me stay in Parasol Palace overnight and then resolved the issue for me? The price your consort mother paid was considerable. That little she had became even less. Yet she bore me no resentment. Even afterward, every time she saw me, she would smile at me. Even my own consort mother never did that.”

Within this royal palace, there are many things one desires but cannot have. A mother’s affection may seem easily obtained elsewhere, but here, it is not so.

That is why he so deeply longed for a semblance of familial love.

Autumn looked at him. “You may treat it as if you never came here today, and I won’t tell anyone either.”

He said, “Lil’ Au, the moment you begin to investigate, people will know. And you certainly won’t refrain from investigating, will you?”

Autumn nodded, saying nothing.

He smiled. “In that case, us siblings will have to bid farewell here.”