Qing Ling summoned the four Guardian Emissaries, and streams of profound energy descended from all directions.
"Greetings, Dao Lord!"
Bai Fu, Bei Xu, You, and Hei Bao bowed deeply.
"I am about to venture beyond the heavens to cultivate the Great Dao. You must diligently protect Jian Mu. I will channel the power of Jian Mu, which supports the heavens, down to Du Guang. All within will have their strength suppressed, and even supreme beings will be able to contend with them here."
The four Guardian Emissaries were filled with solemnity and bowed in agreement.
Qing Ling nodded and said, "You may practice the Dao Ancestor's path of 'severing three corpses'."
The four rejoiced. They were all at the late stage of Da Luo cultivation. If they could follow the path of severing three corpses, they would only need to cultivate diligently for a few Yuanhui before attempting it.
Qing Ling then transmitted a message to Xi Shan Ke: "I will be going beyond the heavens. From now on, the four great tribes of the Eastern Wilderness must exercise caution. Each tribe may only travel between Sen Luo City and the Primordial World. At the next Dao Ancestor's sermon, you may bring Yuan Kui to the Purple霄 Palace to listen to the Dao and impart the Dao Ancestor's teachings to the tribe."
After making arrangements, Qing Ling raised his hand, and the supreme treasure that controlled the four seasons from the peak of Jian Mu descended from the clouds into his grasp.
Seeing this, Bai Fu's heart clenched. He asked, "Dao Lord, how many Yuanhui will your journey take?"
Qing Ling smiled and said, "At least ten to twenty Yuanhui. I hope that by the time I return, you will have all stepped into the Quasi-Saint realm!"
The four Guardian Emissaries all pledged their commitment.
Qing Ling flicked his sleeve, and the dense heavenly clouds surrounding Jian Mu suddenly dispersed. The great powers from all directions observed Jian Mu. The grand cosmic momentum shifted like wind and clouds, and no one dared to disregard his every move.
Qing Ling took a step, descending from the clouds. His hair flowed behind him as he walked into the Demon Court with a diagram in one hand.
Di Jun hurried with the demon saints to the South Heaven Gate to welcome the Demon Ancestor. Many of the newly appointed demon saints were unaware of whom the Demon Emperor was personally welcoming.
As the demon saints waited, a gust of wind surged for ten thousand li, and a spring tide surged through the mountains and rivers. Amidst the pervasive spring breeze, a handsome Daoist appeared, carrying a diagram. Behind him were spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Di Jun immediately bowed deeply, "Greetings, Demon Ancestor!"
The demon saints were shocked. So this was the Demon Ancestor among the Four Emperors and One Ancestor of the demon race! They all respectfully bowed and paid homage: "Greetings, Demon Ancestor!"
Qing Ling smiled faintly and nodded, "You have all worked hard. The future of the demon race depends on you to overcome all obstacles and sail through storms. I have come here today to establish the Heavenly Court!"
As his words fell, the Diagram of the Four Seasons in his hand soared into the sky and descended into the Heavenly Court. The divine patterns merged, integrating completely with the Demon Court, and the four seasons returned to heaven!
"Heaven and Earth are now divided, and all gods must return to the Dao. From this day forward, there shall be no more gods of the Four Seasons between heaven and earth! Gods shall retreat, and the Heavenly Court shall rise!"
Upon hearing this, great powers throughout heaven and earth were all astounded. Ancient gods, in particular, cursed Qing Ling in their hearts countless times. This was forcing them to relinquish their authority over heaven and earth!
The Heavenly Dao governed the Primordial World, and all other Daos followed. Therefore, the operation of the laws of all things in heaven and earth needed to be managed by the Heavenly Dao. The authority over heaven and earth would no longer be held by individual gods from ancient times but would gradually return to the hands of the Heavenly Dao. This was the cosmic trend of the Heavenly Dao, unstoppable.
However, which god was willing to easily surrender their authority over heaven and earth? Even with the cosmic trend, they could delay it for a while. But Qing Ling today had forcibly accelerated this process. It was like a company changing its CEO to the Heavenly Dao. The original gods were like the old management team, whose powers would be reclaimed by the new CEO, and they would be dismissed. Qing Ling seized this opportunity and was the first to voluntarily surrender his power, showing great respect to the CEO. The CEO was pleased, feeling that Qing Ling had worked hard to manage a portion of the power previously and rewarded him with some severance pay.
Mysterious and profound energy descended from the heavens, enveloping Qing Ling. The divine radiance of the gods flew from his brow: the imprint of the Spring God, the Summer God, the Autumn God, and the Winter God, all dispersed from him. Qing Ling felt his primordial spirit was freed from many restraints, unburdened by an attachment, making his primordial spirit closer to the Dao. Although the positions of the Four Seasons gods seemed prestigious and offered immense benefits, for Qing Ling now, they were merely a constraint.
However, it was different for the Demon Court. The Demon Court would gradually become the Heavenly Court, acting on behalf of heaven. Qing Ling beckoned, and immense waves rose from the East Sea. Four divine dragons ascended into the Demon Court.
"You four shall henceforth be the Four Gods of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning in the Heavenly Court!"
The four dragons transformed, all possessing Taiyi cultivation. Overjoyed, they bowed, "Many thanks, Dao Lord!" They were of the Dragon race, thus they did not address him as Demon Ancestor. Although there were still gods, the gods of the Heavenly Court relied on the authority of the Heavenly Court, not their inherent authority over heaven and earth. The Heavenly Court acknowledged their divine positions and granted them authority, thereby making them gods. If the Heavenly Court stripped them of their divine positions, they would lose their divine authority.
The demon saints might not have seen the significance, but Di Jun understood clearly. He was overjoyed, "Many thanks, Demon Ancestor!" The Dao Ancestor's decree that the Witches govern earth and the Demons govern heaven acknowledged the legitimate status of both races in heaven and earth. However, although the demon race had legitimacy and could be called the Heavenly Court, they could not reclaim the authority of the gods, thus lacking the reality of a Heavenly Court. Qing Ling's actions were to initiate the transition of the Demon Court into the Heavenly Court!
Qing Ling pointed his finger, and the Red Phoenix Star stirred. Rosy clouds swept across the sky, and a red embroidered ball descended into Qian Yan Demon Saint's hands. "You shall be the Matchmaker of the Heavenly Court, in charge of all marriages!"
The other demon saints looked on with envy, while Qing Xuan could only smile wryly. What was the difference between this and his own position in charge of marriages? He also knew that the transition of the Four Seasons was the change of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, and the movement of the sun and moon. The four gods of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning came from the Dragon race, with the Dragon Ancestor Huang Long overseeing them. His true self had not lost much. However, it had a profound impact on the Heavenly Court and the cosmic situation, even advancing the progress of the demon race! He understood these things but could not say them, so he feigned delight and accepted the conferral of his divine position.
Qing Ling then said to Di Jun, "After me, a great being will appear, whose true form is the divine beast Bai Ze. His intellect and wisdom are unmatched by anyone below the Quasi-Saint realm. He can bear great responsibility!"
Di Jun was delighted upon hearing this, "Demon Ancestor's arduous efforts are for my demon race. Di Jun expresses his gratitude!"
Qing Ling shook his head. "All that I can do for the demon race is this. I will go to the outer heavens for arduous cultivation. The future of the demon race lies in your hands." Since he held the esteemed position of Demon Ancestor, he naturally had to fulfill his duties. However, more than being the Demon Ancestor, he was also a seeker of the Great Dao.
As his voice faded, Qing Ling turned and walked directly into the Chaos.
Di Jun led the demon saints in bidding farewell to the Demon Ancestor. Tai Yi was still in seclusion on the Sun Star healing his injuries, and Nu Wa and Fu Xi were still in the process of migrating the Dongtian of Fengqi Mountain into the Heavenly Court. Therefore, Di Jun was the only one presiding over the grand affairs in the Heavenly Court.
Di Jun watched the receding figure entering the Chaos and said, "Our demon race governing the heavens is still a long and arduous journey!"
Di Jun led the demon saints back to the Heavenly Court. In the main hall of the Heavenly Court, the highest position had four main seats, representing the positions of the Four Emperors. As for the Demon Ancestor, he was enshrined and worshipped as an ancestor in the Myriad Demon Soul Hall.
Di Jun took his seat as the foremost of the Four Emperors of the Demon Race and smiled at the demon saints standing below him. "Qian Yan Demon Saint, it is I, Di Jun, who has failed you. Henceforth, you shall be the head of all demon saints, second only to the Four Emperors."
Qing Xuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty's kindness is something Qing Xuan will always remember. As I have not yet reached the Quasi-Saint realm, I dare not presume to sit on the same level as the esteemed Demon Emperors!"
Di Jun waved his hand. "My friend, do not decline. Henceforth, the foremost demon saint of the Heavenly Court shall be you alone!"