Soul Land 5: The Rebirth of Tang San

Chapter 656: Returning to the Ancestral Court

"To the Ancestral Court? What for?"

Tang San explained, "To make preparations for your upcoming report. To succeed in the evaluation, you'll need the approval of at least half of the Demon Emperors. There are nine Demon Emperors in the Ancestral Court. Leaving aside those who are undecided, we need at least three Demon Emperors to firmly support you for a chance at success. This isn't even about your abilities, more like... their attitude toward you and the benefits you can bring them."

"Which Demon Emperors are you planning to win over? The Sword Saint Demon Emperor? The White Tiger Demon Emperor?"

Tang San nodded. "Yes, we definitely need their support, and we'll visit them first. I'm still thinking about the others."

"What about the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor?"

Tang San shook his head immediately. "The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is not an option."

Mei Gongzi was taken aback. "The Celestial Fox clan and the Peacock Demon clan have had a decent relationship. They've even been somewhat supportive of us before, and there’s that old saying about the Celestial Fox controlling destiny and the Peacock peering into the secrets of heaven. We should collaborate, no?"

Tang San glanced at her, hesitated, then said, "Honestly, I don't want you to be exposed to too much of the darker side of this world, but now that you're the leader of your clan and the lord of a main city, there are things you need to understand. Do you think the Tenebrous Demon Emperor hunted us down after we left the Ancestral Court just because of what happened to Meng Dede?"

Mei Gongzi's eyes narrowed. "That’s not the reason? Then... Wait, you don’t mean..."

Tang San nodded slightly. "Without the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's orders, the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, being one of the top Demon Emperors, wouldn't have hunted us down even if we crippled ten Meng Dedes. After all, it's not like he is the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, unable to produce viable successors."

Mei Gongzi exclaimed in shock, "Why would the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor do that?"

"Because he controls destiny, and he likely sensed the threat we pose to the demons and nymphs. When he presented us with our award, he made it clear that if I survived this calamity, my destiny might become uncontrollable even for someone like him. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor must have sensed something special about my fate, which makes sense considering I don’t entirely belong to this plane. So he had already decided to kill me then. He didn’t need to order anyone explicitly; just a subtle hint of the Ancestral Court's stance to the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, combined with the fact that we ruined Meng Dede’s future, was enough to make him come after us.

"And besides, you said it yourself just now: the Celestial Fox controls destiny, while the Peacock peers into the secrets of heaven. Let me ask you, which one would you rather have?"

"The secrets of heaven should be more important. Controlling destiny means controlling the trend, while seeing the secrets of heaven means seeing the future outright."

"Exactly. Although I don't want you to casually peer into the heavenly secrets, the fact that you wield the Celestial Plume and have gained its recognition means you have the ability to do so. Now think of it: for centuries, since the last Peacock Demon Emperor died, it is the Celestial Fox clan that has truly held power in the Ancestral Court. If you grow stronger and become capable of revealing the future for the demon and nymph races, wouldn't your importance surpass that of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor? And then, who would control the Ancestral Court?

"Although your human bloodline makes it unlikely that you'd ever get to that point, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor, as the Master of Destiny, would still feel threatened by the Asura Sword within you. And the simplest way to deal with someone you're afraid of is to eliminate them before they grow too powerful. The most logical course of action for the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor is to ensure we're eradicated now.

"Your father understood this as well. Even though he never truly mastered the heavenly secrets, he was still a Great Demon King of the Peacock Demon clan, and he was most certainly no fool. He realized during our escape from the Ancestral Court that the one who truly wouldn't allow us to rise is the very Celestial Fox Demon Emperor who appeared to support us in public. So you should forget about him supporting us."

Mei Gongzi pressed her lips together and took a deep breath. "I understand now."

"First and foremost, we need to meet with two Demon Emperors: your grandfather and the Sword Saint Demon Emperor who helped us last time."

"Alright." Mei Gongzi nodded slightly. "I'll follow your lead."

Tang San took her hand, causing Mei Gongzi's cheeks to flush. "What are you doing?"

Tang San said gently, "Don't worry. Besides researching the teleportation array, I've been running through all possible scenarios. I've mostly got things figured out now. While there are still uncertainties, I believe we're well-prepared overall. No matter what, I'll keep you safe. I won't let you take any unnecessary risks."

His confidence came from his strength, but when he first arrived in this plane, what strength did he have? Back then, he was nothing but a fragile newborn, so weak that even the pig demon who took care of him could have easily killed him. He also worried about whether he would find his reincarnated wife in this world and whether she would grow up healthy and safe.

Later, when he finally saw Mei Gongzi, half of his worries were eased. As long as he had found her, the rest was just a matter of effort. With his growing strength, the feeling of control gradually returned. In his previous life, he was a control-type battle spirit master, and he strived to control not only the battlefield but everything he could.

On their way back from the Ancestral Court, even when faced with the pursuit of the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, everything was under Tang San's control. He had prepared thoroughly; while there were some risks, the probability of facing mortal danger was low. Mei Gongzi's tribulation was the same—though it was harrowing, it passed without serious incident. Now, the most challenging task for Tang San would be his own tribulation. If he could successfully overcome it, he would truly have the ability to compete with the top-tier powerhouses of the demon and nymph races.

Completely changing the structure of this world would not be an easy task, as this plane was far too powerful. Even if he regained his God King status in the future, he couldn't alter a plane at will without risking its destruction. However, once he grew strong enough, there would no longer be anything in this plane that could threaten him. At that point, it would be his time to truly shine, and everything would naturally align with his will.

Mei Gongzi's inheritance of the position as city lord of Kali City was just the beginning; her foundation was still unstable. Tang San's next step was to help her solidify that foundation, ensuring they had enough time and space to grow stronger.

Listening to his gentle words, the blush on Mei Gongzi's delicate face faded slightly. She lowered her head a little, resting it against his chest, and whispered, "Thank you. With you by my side, I'm not afraid of anything."

Tang San pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her hair. "I should be the one saying that. As long as you're by my side, nothing is a problem. We will overcome every obstacle."

With the Aetherhorn Merchant Association as their backing, acquiring the necessary materials was no trouble at all. Mei Gongzi quickly delivered everything Tang San needed to build the teleportation array, and Tang San began constructing this unprecedented array, the likes of which the Daemon Continent had never seen.

The base for the teleportation array wasn't near the Golden Tree. Although the Golden Tree continuously emitted a rich life aura, its fluctuations were not constant, and they could potentially impact the teleportation array's stability.

Thus, Tang San chose to establish the array inside a cave.