26: Celestial Envoy

The morning light spilled through the carved window lattices into the bedchamber. The Heavenly Emperor slowly opened his eyes, looking at Shangguan Ya sleeping in his arms.

Her face was serene, her picturesque features still carrying a hint of laziness. Her slender arms tightly encircled his waist as if she were afraid he would leave.

The Heavenly Emperor's lips curled slightly, his eyes filled with indulgence. He gently grasped her wrist, attempting to move her hand away.

"Mmm... don't go..." Shangguan Ya murmured dizzily, instead hugging him tighter and burrowing into his chest like a spoiled kitten.

The Heavenly Emperor chuckled, his voice deep and gentle: "Ya, it's getting late."

"Let them wait..." Shangguan Ya mumbled vaguely, still trying to act spoiled in her half-asleep state.

The Heavenly Emperor helplessly pinched the tip of her nose: "Not today, there are important matters at the court session."

Only then did Shangguan Ya slightly open her eyes, pouting sleepily: "What matters? Are they more important than accompanying me?"

The Heavenly Emperor's gaze deepened, yet his tone remained indulgent: "I am sending an Immortal Envoy to the Demon Realm."

"What for?" She blinked, asking curiously.

The Heavenly Emperor sighed softly, his fingertips stroking her hair: "I won't tell you."

"Your Majesty." Shangguan Ya refused to let it go, making a move to protest, but the Heavenly Emperor leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep well. When you wake up, you'll naturally know." After saying this, he slowly rose. His dragon-embroidered robes moved slightly. As he turned, his imperial majesty was fully displayed, yet the look he gave her when he turned back was as gentle as ever.

Shangguan Ya watched his departing back, a sweet smile blooming on her lips, before lazily curling back into the silk quilt.

The Heavenly Emperor's favoritism had always been unparalleled... The Nine Dragon Emperor Platform stood tall and majestic, with nine Black Gold Divine Dragons coiled upon it, their eyes like torches, possessing an inviolable dignity.

The Heavenly Emperor sat upon the dragon throne, surrounded by Chaos divine light. Every flow of brilliance seemed to contain the birth and death of a world.

Inside the Lingxiao Palace, Immortal Qi swirled, and Immortal Officials stood in lines. Whether sitting or standing, all held their breath, not daring to be even slightly negligent.

Chu Tianxiong stood before the hall, his voice like a great bell, resonating in all directions: "If there are matters, present them; if not, the court is dismissed."

Just as he finished speaking, an extremely overbearing voice came from within the hall, like a clap of thunder that made the entire Lingxiao Palace tremble slightly: "A few days ago, the Devouring Demon Emperor of the Demon Realm acted with audacity, invading the Heavenly Cloud Realm, a subsidiary power of our Immortal Realm, and wantonly slaughtered billions of living beings. How can such a blood feud be easily overlooked? If the Demon Realm does not provide compensation, I am willing to personally lead a million Heavenly Soldiers to flatten the Demon Realm."

The eyes of all the immortals gathered on the speaker. They saw the Tyrant Immortal Emperor standing in the center of the hall, his figure as tall as a mountain, surrounded by endless overbearing aura. With every step he took, the Void Realm faintly distorted.

His eyes were like stars, and his brow was full of arrogance, as if all the rules of heaven and earth had to submit to his will.

The Heavenly Emperor slightly raised his eyes, his gaze deep as an abyss, and asked calmly: "Tyrant Beloved Minister, what is your brilliant opinion?"

The Tyrant Immortal Emperor snorted coldly, his gaze disdainful, and said: "Your Majesty, I have prepared a compensation list." Before his voice could fade, he waved his hand, and a brilliant golden scroll appeared out of thin air, covered in dense immortal script, each word containing overwhelming pressure.

The Heavenly Emperor reached out and pulled the golden scroll into his hand. He scanned it, and a trace of an inscrutable smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Then, with a flick of his finger, the golden scroll floated and slowly unfurled above the Heavenly Court. Each word was like heavenly might, intimidating the immortals: "One million Myriad Age Immortal Medicines."

"Ten thousand Immortal Emperor Emperor Weapons."

"One quadrillion top-grade demon spirit stones."

"Ten trillion High Grade demon spirit stones."

"One quadrillion Medium Grade demon spirit stones."

"One hundred quadrillion Low Grade demon spirit stones."

...The immortals in the hall gasped. Was this compensation? It was clearly intended to bankrupt the Demon Realm.

An Immortal Lord stepped forward with trepidation, cupping his hands: "Your Majesty, the Devouring Demon Emperor has been executed. The Demon Realm is not a small realm; they will never agree to such harsh conditions. Perhaps we should let it go..."

"Shut up." The Tyrant Immortal Emperor glared, and overwhelming pressure swept out like a tsunami, forcing the Immortal Lord back several steps. The Tyrant Immortal Emperor said coldly, "A mere ant dares to speak recklessly before me?"

At that moment, a cold voice rang out: "Tyrant, this is the Lingxiao Palace, not your Tyrant Immortal Manor."

Everyone looked over to see the Vast Moon Immortal Emperor walking out slowly. Moonlight flowed around him, and silver radiance fell. He was completely different from the Tyrant Immortal Emperor's overbearing nature, yet he possessed an inviolable dignity of his own.

A cold light flashed in the Tyrant Immortal Emperor's eyes as he sneered: "Vast Moon, do you also want to stop me?"

The Vast Moon Immortal Emperor said calmly: "It's not about stopping you, but the Demon Realm will certainly not accept such conditions."

The Heavenly Emperor turned his gaze toward the Vast Moon Immortal Emperor and said with a half-smile: "Oh? Then what do you think should be done, Beloved Minister?"

The Vast Moon Immortal Emperor's heart skipped a beat, sensing the testing tone in the Heavenly Emperor's voice. But things had come to this, so he could only steel himself and say: "I believe... the conditions could be reduced to one percent of the original..."

"One percent?" The Heavenly Emperor suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter was like roaring thunder, making the entire Lingxiao Palace tremble.

The laughter stopped abruptly, and a cold light appeared in the Heavenly Emperor's eyes. He said word by word: "Vast Moon, do you think I... am afraid of the Demon Realm?"

The Vast Moon Immortal Emperor's heart shook violently. He finally understood that today, the Heavenly Emperor had no intention of letting the matter end peacefully.

The Tyrant Immortal Emperor gave a sinister laugh, knelt on one knee, and cupped his fists: "Your Majesty, I request to immediately send an Immortal Envoy to the Demon Realm. If the Demon Realm dares not to compensate—I am willing to personally lead the Heavenly Soldiers to wash the Demon Domain in blood."

The Heavenly Emperor slowly rose, and the Nine Dragon Emperor Platform trembled with him. The nine divine dragons roared into the sky, their vast dragon might sweeping through the heavens.

The Heavenly Emperor's gaze was like a blade, looking down at the immortals, and he said coldly: "Granted."

With that one word, killing intent surged... The Heavenly Emperor sat upon the Nine Dragon Golden Throne, surrounded by the imperial might that suppressed the heavens.

The Heavenly Emperor's gaze was like lightning as he scanned the trembling Immortal Officials in the hall. His voice resonated like thunder: "Beloved Ministers, who is willing to go as an envoy to the Demon Realm?"

The hall fell into a dead silence, and even the immortal mist seemed to solidify. Suddenly, the Tyrant Immortal Emperor, clad in scarlet armor, stepped forward, his war boots striking the jade tiles with clanging sparks: "I am willing to go."

A cold light flashed in the Heavenly Emperor's eyes. As his sleeves fluttered, the entire imperial hall trembled: "You reckless man. An envoy of the Immortal Realm needs to be eloquent, not go there to hack and kill."

"Boom—" The Heavenly Emperor slammed his palm down, shattering the dragon desk. His face under the purple-gold crown was filled with towering rage: "Usually, you're all talkative when discussing politics, but today you've all become mute immortals? Could it be that the nectar and wine from the immortal banquets have all been poured into your Niwan Palaces?"

The imperial might was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea, causing the Immortal Officials' bodies to tremble violently. A few with weaker cultivation were already bleeding from the corners of their mouths.

At that moment, a brilliant green light erupted from the ranks of the civil officials. Zhang Sheng stepped out from the crowd holding a jade tablet, his plain white immortal robes fluttering without wind: "I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens. I will surely let the Demon Realm know that the heavenly might is not to be trifled with."

The Heavenly Emperor's rage softened slightly, and the pressure in the hall instantly decreased. The Heavenly Emperor condensed a golden light at his fingertip that illuminated the Thirty-Three Heavens: "Good. I appoint you as the Immortal Envoy of the Immortal Realm, bestow upon you the heavenly staff, and provide you with a million top-grade Immortal Spirit Stones."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was in an uproar. Even more shocking was the decree that pierced through heaven and earth: "One person from the Zhang Bloodline may directly enter the Myriad Dao Immortal Sect every hundred years; this promise shall last for ten thousand years."

The Immortal Officials' Sea of Consciousness was shaken—the gates of the Myriad Dao Immortal Sect were something even many descendants of Immortal Emperors could not knock open.

"Zhang Sheng." The Heavenly Emperor's voice was like a great bell, echoing in the hall, "Today I bestow upon you the heavenly staff. I hope you do not fail my expectations."

As the Heavenly Emperor waved his hand, a brilliant golden light descended from the ceiling.

A crystal-clear staff slowly emerged, its body flowing with seven-colored dawn light, and at its tip was a fist-sized Heavenly Crystal Stone, in which a galaxy seemed to surge.

The moment the staff appeared, the entire hall trembled, and the immortals all held their breath.

"This is the heavenly staff, forged from Nine Heavens Profound Iron over a thousand years." The Heavenly Emperor slowly rose, appearing solemn and majestic, "Law runes are inscribed on the staff's body, and the Heavenly Crystal Stone at the head condenses the Origin power of the Immortal Realm. It is not only a supreme Magical Artifact but also the symbol of our Immortal Realm."

Zhang Sheng looked up and saw the heavenly staff hovering three feet in front of him. He could feel the vast pressure emanating from the staff, as if the weight of the entire Immortal Realm were condensed within it.

His fingers trembled slightly, both from the excitement of receiving such a treasure and from the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

"He who receives this heavenly staff must uphold the righteous Qi of heaven and earth." The Heavenly Emperor's gaze was like a torch, "When this staff appears, it represents the dignity and face of the entire Immortal Realm. If you encounter demonic obstacles, use the heavenly staff to warn them; if you encounter injustice, use the heavenly staff to enforce the Law."

Zhang Sheng took a deep breath and solemnly reached out both hands. The moment his fingertips touched the staff, a dazzling golden light soared into the sky, illuminating the entire Heavenly Palace like broad daylight.

He felt the surging power coming from the heavenly staff, as if it were merging with his own immortal meridians.

"Thank you for the gift, Your Majesty." Zhang Sheng knelt on one knee, his voice firm and powerful, "I will surely remember your teachings and defend the dignity of the Immortal Realm with the heavenly staff."

The Heavenly Emperor nodded with satisfaction.

"Your Majesty." The Purple Thunder Immortal Emperor suddenly shouted: "Zhang Sheng is only an Immortal Lord..."

Before he could finish, two golden beams shot from the Heavenly Emperor's eyes, piercing through the Void Realm: "Then should you go, Beloved Minister?" Just one look forced the Purple Thunder Immortal Emperor to stumble back, his immortal robes instantly soaked in cold sweat.

"What kind of place is the Demon Realm?" As the Heavenly Emperor rose, nine Luck golden Dragons manifested behind him, "Even if I were to visit in person, I would have to be cautious when facing the Demon Ancestor and billions of Ancient Demons. Pass my decree—" As the Heavenly Emperor waved his sleeve, three hundred and sixty-five immortal bells tolled simultaneously: "Announce the matter of the compensation to all the heavens. Let the Demon Realm know that for every blade of grass or tree of my immortal race harmed, it must be repaid a millionfold with demon blood."

The Tianxuan Immortal Emperor, who was in charge of intelligence, immediately activated the All-Encompassing Star Plate, and countless starlights turned into messages shooting toward thousands of planes.

When Zhang Sheng bowed, the new Emperor Seal at his waist emitted an aura that suppressed the eight directions: "I will set out tomorrow."

The Heavenly Emperor looked meaningfully toward the Demon Realm: "Zhang Sheng, return to your manor and rest for today."