Chapter 488

Just an Imperial Prince—what's that!

Even if the true heir were here, you couldn't mess around… disrupting the schemes of too many Golden Immortal demon gods, the Crown Prince would have you abolished!

"The demon hearts are in chaos, the troops are hard to lead!"

The Golden Crow princes all sigh, sighing that worldly affairs are difficult, not giving the birds a moment's peace.

The Wu Clan army coordinates all fronts, pulling the Heavenly Court's main force, shifting from previous strategic defense to an offensive posture, to restrain the Heavenly River navy.

Massive chaotic slaughter—that's out of the question.

Afterwards, glances were exchanged inside and out; although their positions were opposed, when the Wu Clan's Ancestral Witch said, "We'll split the profits half with you," some demon gods began to waver, turning a blind eye.

The overt enemies are strong, the hidden background complex, making the ten Imperial Princes struggle to move forward, unable to control the situation, watching helplessly as all sorts of bizarre events unfold among the demon race, powerless.

Chaotic marital relations, reckless extravagant consumption mindset, gradually distorted worldview… If it were only one place, the ten Imperial Princes could still sort it out, living up to the education countless resources have poured into them.

But when the situation fully erupts, despite their efforts, it's like a drop in the bucket—of no avail.

Even, it almost backfired, being used as a knife by others, adding fuel to the fire!

After all, they are Imperial Princes… what else, besides the Imperial Princes' food, clothing, usage, and daily life, could be more curious to the lesser demons below?

—Nowadays Imperial Prince, are you holding a golden hoe to till the land?

—Oh! Not like that? Or is it still like this?

They appeared for no more than an hour, and already the cameras flooded in… after just a moment, imitating the brand of Imperial Prince attire, they already mounted the stage of the times!

In a daze, the princes were infringed upon, being used as endorsements for ads… and no one has paid the ad fees yet!

It must be stated, princes are ultimately princes.

Throughout the Heavenly Court, the treatment of the Golden Crow princes has never been poor.

All provisions are chosen to be the best.

This also causes those ads to be very persuasive.

Thus soon, various odd items bearing the so-called 'imperial household-exclusive', 'palace imperial physician', 'palace chef' etc. labels began to sell well.

Of course, in a sense, this cannot be called a lie—because those behind-the-scenes manipulators' products indeed have many ties to the Heavenly Court.

Over the years.

The Heavenly Court's supply of fine wine is taken from the Jade Pool.

And the Heavenly Court's culinary arts, those chefs are basically disciples and grand-disciples of Lady Nüwa—Nüwa is the primordial chef of Honghuang, leaving a lineage in this regard, revered and studied by countless later generations.

The dragon-chariot emperor drives, the Heavenly Emperor patrols the heavens… this is a long-standing allusion.

…

Food, clothing, housing, and transportation—damn, they're actually related to those few Ancestral Witches of the Wu Clan!

Ads, not random.

But when the spotlight shines only on the princes, it lets the ten Golden Crows feel the most malicious intent.

—This is putting them over a fire to roast!

By then, because of excessive luxury consumption, the entire demon race's economy will have vanished for two hundred million years, making the populace reflect… will their 'prince faction' not become the scapegoat pushed out to be stabbed?

Angry demon folk, who would care that they're also quite wronged, being maliciously framed?

Anyway, this matter needs a weighty demon to take responsibility!

"Malicious."

"Too malicious."

The Golden Crow princes exchanged glances, feeling myriad emotions.

"Those enemies' intentions are malicious, their motive obvious."

"When the situation finally develops to a climax, the accusations against us are countless… we couldn't possibly die, but in the future wanting to sit on the heir's position would be impossible."

One bird, one sentence, calm analysis.

"The lesser demons below look at the heir for virtue, hoping it's not too outrageous, too brutal and violent."

"The higher demon gods look at the heir for ability… they don't care whether he enjoys slaughter and cruelty, how he torments the lesser demons below; they only care about ability."

"What we want is a hegemon who can subdue them and bring them to eat meat!"

"Looking at things now, it's essentially a test… but it's too outrageous!"

"Our abilities, for now, can't yet support such a big situation, yet we're forced onto the exam field!"

"Once the situation ferments to a certain extent, our heir position will be considered gone… and on top of that, it will heavily damage our father's prestige, after all the emperor insisted we become the host of this profit distribution, a symbol of prolific reproduction."

"The Wu Clan very much hopes to see this scene."

"Within the Heavenly Court, there are also demon gods who hope to see such a scene."

"After all… there's still an Ancestor behind the scenes."

"Our opponents are too many, too complex, also too terrifying… this is fundamentally not a situation we should enter now; it needs a Golden Immortal to resolve—or rather, the highest kind of Golden Immortal!"

The princes' analysis is thorough.

But the more thorough the analysis, the colder their hearts become.

Alas!

They're just a bunch of babies, yet they're to be besieged by a big gang of old fried dough sticks… kicking a kindergarten, how interesting is that?!

Regarding this.

If the Twelve Ancestral Witches knew, they'd likely reply in unison—interesting!

"I don't know, how will Father handle this matter?"

A prince raised a question: "When he originally decided to let us sit in this position, he couldn't have not considered this possibility."

"Our level of ability, how our opponents are… he surely knows this very well in his heart."

"Why, at the first moment, was there no move to suppress?"

On the contrary, it even lets the opponent develop so smoothly, with an attitude of not interfering at all, letting us do as we please?

This kind of father trusting his children moves us deeply… but it really isn't what a wise ruler would do!

That imperial prince let out a worried sigh.

"Child, it pleases me that you understand the responsibilities of a ruler."

Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice sounded, echoing in the time and space beneath this fusang tree.

Immediately, the ten Golden Crow Princes rose, their expressions solemn, bowing toward the majestic figure that had appeared at some unknown time, as if it had existed eternally here since the moment heaven and earth were split.

"Father Emperor!"

They said in unison.

"No need for formalities." the Heavenly Emperor said indifferently, "Please be seated."

"Yes!"

The princes sat down respectfully.

"I understand your worries," Di Jun's gaze softened for a moment, then quickly returned to calm, "but everything is under my control."

"I didn't tell you earlier because I wanted to test your abilities, to see if anyone could break through themselves under pressure and give me a surprise… but looking at it now, your talents fall just short of the human race's former crown prince, Xi."

"Father Emperor, we have disappointed you." the ten princes bowed their heads, speaking ashamedly.

"It's fine." Di Jun said calmly, "I never had high hopes to begin with, so there's no talk of disappointment… as for your expectations, you just need to do your best; there's no need to compare yourselves to others."

"Besides, I've always felt that person has some issues." the Heavenly Emperor's eyes flashed, "It's not just as simple as having Yan Emperor's background."

"Back then I went to test him, made a little calculation, nearly pissed him off half to death, but when success was near, I was blocked by people from the Daoist sect."

"Daoist sect… the Three Pure Ones… Pangu… this water is a bit deep."

Di Jun briefly said that, then stopped discussing it, changed the topic: "This situation is a stage for you to practice."

"Whether you succeed or fail, I don't care at all."

The Heavenly Emperor's words carried a grand, imposing aura.

The entire demon race, the entire Heavenly Court, are being harmed by the Wu Clan's ancestral witches coming over; if things go badly, the fruits of reform could be lost in an instant, the economy could vanish for tens of millions to hundreds of millions of years, yet he doesn't care at all, even treating it as a trial for his offspring!

What gall!

"But Father Emperor, if this situation is too messed up…" the Third Prince said hesitantly, wanting to speak but stopping.

"It's fine." the Heavenly Emperor's eyes shifted, one hand lifted and sank into the void.

When he pulled it out again, there was now an extra sword.

"This situation isn't bad; this sword of mine isn't ready to be forged yet."

The long sword, like a mirror, reflects the myriad worlds, yet it gives the ten princes an ominous feeling.

They gazed at that long sword and, inexplicably, came to understand its true name.

——Slay Witch!

This sword was forged from the blood of countless demon gods, inscribed with the Dao from ancient times to the present, consuming immeasurable divine materials, only then completed; it is the demon race's supreme strategic weapon, and also a condensation of a plan.

Slay Witch Sword Plan!

"Those ancestral witches of the Wu Clan, causing trouble now, even surprise me a little." Di Jun's other hand brushed over the long sword, smiling, "but… the worse, the better."

"Clang!"

The Heavenly Emperor flicked his finger, the long sword hummed, and instantly an awe‑inspiring sword intent surrounded it, capable of cutting through all mental defenses in the world and destroying every ideal!

Depravity

Destruction

Greed

Decay

……

Too many, too many.

"Those ancestral witches don't know… what exactly they did wrong!"

Di Jun said leisurely, "The turmoil of human hearts influences each other."

"Stirring up trouble in the demon realm, spreading all kinds of heretical ideas… this freedom, that openness, consumed like this…"

"Yet they don't know…"

"Retribution will come!"

"One day, all of this will be fed back unchanged onto humanity itself."

"If you mess around, you have to pay it back!"

Di Jun said with deep meaning.

"There's no such thing as watching the fire from across the river…"

The Heavenly Emperor was instructing, prompting the ten princes to reflect deeply.

The meaning between the lines seemed to be saying——

Giving someone roses leaves fragrance on your hand.

Throwing dung at someone leaves you stinking as well.

How happy the Wu Clan is today reveling, the future will taste how bitter the fruits they sowed!

"Father, I don't quite understand." the Sixth Prince frowned, asking for instruction.

"The other side gave us a preventive shot." Di Jun said lightly, "The Slay Witch sword harms others as well as oneself."

"But having gone through this, our Heavenly Court can establish a complete system on the ideological level, to include dealing with this aspect's worldview issues."

"You understand?"

"Whether you are human or demon,"

If you want to achieve great success, perseverance is key.

Either be thoroughly good as a person and demon, or thoroughly bad as a person and demon.

Only these two kinds of people or demons can rise above.

Those in the middle... who have good intentions but submit to reality, feeling wronged; who have ill intent but fear the law, not daring to cross the line. These two kinds end up mediocre, neither high nor low, a lifetime of mediocrity.

Why?

Because it causes internal drain.

When intention and action aren't unified, when thought guides and action policies conflict, all energy is wasted in hesitation—how can one succeed?

So, Father Emperor, you now... want to stimulate the Demon Race, to produce a theoretical system that aligns with the Wu Clan's malicious notions, transforming from inside out, a thorough overhaul of their worldviews?

The Seventh Imperial Prince suddenly trembled a bit.

"That's right." Di Jun raised his eyebrows slightly, speaking with interest, "Who said that one must be proper, every pure-hearted and few-desires living being, knowing white and guarding black, for such a force to succeed?"

Of course it's undeniable; this already has a winning template.

But I have seen the Myriad Heavens.

Most of the time, it's still better to be a bad person... there's some prospect.

A thousand years of cultivation is not worth becoming a demon overnight.

As for this demon, I think we can innovate, innovate...

Then, we should return it as is, enhancing the lethal effect of the Slaughter-Witch Sword.

At that time, forced by circumstances... the human race had no chance to self-adjust or adapt.

Nowadays... I don't know if over at the Wu Clan, the ancestor witches are happily counting money?

……

Ah!

Xuanming Ancestor Witch cheered loudly, throwing handfuls of condensed merit coins, the golden light illuminating the entire Pangu Divine Palace, shining brilliantly.

Likewise, the other ancestor witches were much the same... Hmm, aside from Houtu who remained calm, Emperor Jiang and Lei Ze's eyes shifted, unknown what they were thinking; even Gonggong Ancestor Witch, who once commanded the heavenly armies and now is a powerful regional lord, had a hint of joy on his brow.

The business had just opened for a short while, very very successful... even though the time was too short, the total profit earned, compared to the money they had handled, was not a large amount.

But...

Easy!

Too easy!

Just a bit of talk to promote, and there are stupid demons with plenty of money eagerly jumping into the pit; even 'tenfold profit' doesn't begin to describe it!

How unlike before!

"There's an August Emperor watching from above; whoever dares to step out of line, I silently note it in a little book... when the anger meter fills, I close the doors and unleash the hounds, carrying out a great slaughter!"

Put the offending Great Luo into a read-only state, then conveniently confiscate their property—hateful how the yearly bail line makes us make wedding dresses for others.

The gains from the confiscation were eventually funneled into the human realm, implementing profit distribution to stimulate production.

Three thousand Great Luo, three thousand divinities... back then, under that terrifying majesty they trembled, being demanded to honestly engage in industry, driving the Honghuang cultivation civilization's continual scientific innovation, then feeding back to every commoner.

And as everyone knows.

Making money through this industry... nothing compares to the speed of earning money by deceit!

Before, it was not possible.

Now it is possible!

With a trivial investment, package a luxury brand, create an upper-class concept... then one can happily wait for the stupid demons to rush to pay a tuition called 'Demon Life Thrashing'.

Even as they pay this tuition, they are still enthusiastic and consciously supportive!

Like the Jade Pond Immortal Brew sold by Xuanming Ancestor Witch... sometimes it's clearly fake liquor, yet buyers, after experts point out it's a bottle of fake liquor, pretend to be sophisticated and end up looking foolish.

That buyer is still enthusiastic, striving to prove they didn't buy wrong, with high vision, insisting they must be an upper-class demon!

The intelligence tax—paying it is delightful!

But... perhaps this shouldn't be called an intelligence tax, but rather a pleasure fee?

After all, customers satisfy their vanity and gain emotional pleasure... how does that saying go?

A thousand gold cannot buy my willingness!

Just being happy is enough!

As for whether happiness is the inner joy from wisdom and enlightenment, or a fleeting impulsive happiness constructed by hypnotic brainwashing... to each their own, the benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom.

"These days are still good..." several ancestor witches secretly praised in their hearts.

(End of chapter)