Nine Venoms Sect Founder

Following the establishment of the pack hierarchy, Mukri and Gulseni returned to the banquet, occupying two seats several meters from Jiyan—who filled Harun's three-legged jade cup with gentle care. Faced with the complicity between Harun and Jiyan, Mukri and Gulseni both had the same reaction, "The die is cast. Our great elder will one day become the great mistress."

Oblivious to the two's thoughts, Jiyan used the excuse of his small frame to personally feed Harun several dishes.

"You're still growing and need your fill of fruit and vegetables. Eat this."

"They added Flame Spirit Grass to this wine, which makes it useful to your cultivation, have a sip."

"I've just tasted this Five-Divine-Fruits Pie, and it's out of this world. Have a bite."

"Mhm, this drink is softer but suits the mood. Just drink from my cup."

"A pity that you can't eat meat in the open. Don't worry though, I predicted that you'd throw a feast upon return, and have roasted a few pigs for you in the Inner World's kitchen."

Unlike Harun, Jiyan couldn't teleport from a room to another. However, the doors remained, enabling her to move freely within the System World. Again, Harun had to admit that Jiyan knew and cared for him the most. If the others were only half as sensible, the world would be his oyster.

"As expected of my Jiyan. You alone outdo 100 subordinates and make me feel like I can just relax and let the world take its course. You've already turned into an irreplaceable pillar of the sect, and it hasn't been founded yet," Harun gave Jiyan some outrageous praise. But used to his unrivaled shamelessness, she arched one eyebrow, ignoring the unnecessary to target the main point.

"Your...Jiyan?" Jiyan stressed the words and leaned forward—pressing her face closer to Harun's. Unbothered, he leaned in, nearly brushing his lips against hers. Tipsy from all the liquor, she didn't care. But as sober as a flying hawk, Harun merely took advantage of the situation.

"I have already seen all you have to hide. If not my Jiyan, who else's can you be? It's too late to have second thoughts, and I'm never letting you go," Harun whispered in Jiyan's ear, who closed her eyes and hummed as if to enjoy the melody of the words.

Mukri and Gulseni observed it all from a distance and, despite her drunkenness, Gulseni felt that enjoying the comfort of reciprocal affections, did hold much appeal. A pity that, for one reason or another, most disciples of the Saint-Empress Court didn't believe in such fantasies. Dilnaz's figure flashed in Gulseni's mind. The name, "Jiyan" followed, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Oh, it's the divine princess?" Gulseni muttered, then passed out drunk. With Devil Essence supporting him, Mukri endured a few more drinks and leaped on the dancefloor to shake his rump alongside the spinning Birusk clansmen.

"I will become a hegemon, a Devil Monarch, and dominate the world!" Mukri pledged, then passed out. The songs and dances of the Birusk clansmen grew quieter, as one after the other, they collapsed from drunkenness. Although Harun aside—all got beverages matched to their cultivation bases—they still had limits and, half an hour afterward, only Harun remained sober. Jiyan passed out in his arms, and Harun held onto her like a priceless treasure.

...

Meanwhile, within the Myriad Devil Palace, the Devil Ancestor lounged on a couch-shaped throne, with his eyes closed, and his right cheek resting on his fist. A succession of voices echoed in his mind.

"Your Majesty, following a minor disagreement, the fourth prince destroyed the Sentient Wood Land, and was subsequently imprisoned by the second prince. His Second Highness humbly requests that you restore that Land-Verse and its people."

"I will make an exception and let him do it himself. As for the fourth prince, seal that unruly psychopath's cultivation and throw him into the Ghost Vessel World. I may free him one of these days...or not. Next..."

"Your Majesty, the Slaughter Ancestor is concerned by the Truth Scrying Grotto's recent activities in the Heavenly Dream Land, and wonders if he should exterminate them."

"No. Next…"

"Ancestral One, the God-Emperor of the Evanescent Flame Land broke through to the Primeval Exalt Realm. Knowing that he reached his limits, he wishes to offer you his empress, hoping for a few boons."

"Unnecessary. She's blowing his brothers already."

"Huh...should I tell him that?"

"Sure, and don't forget to record his reaction. Next…"

"Your Majesty, the Night Ancestor emerged from his million-year seclusion cycle, and requests an audience." For the first time since the session's start, the Devil Ancestor's eyelids twitched, and he rose from his couch-throne.

"From now on, unless it's about Pure Wives Donations, do not disturb me. Let the Second Prince and Empyrean Ancestor handle all administrative matters for the next ten cosmic cycles. I will meet the Night Ancestor at the Boundless Sea's shores," The Devil Ancestor ordered and vanished from the imperial jade palace.

"They do already…" the subordinate wanted to say, but knowing that a grim fate would follow, kept his mouth shut.

The Devil Ancestor reappeared before a translucent sea that seemingly stretched to the world's end. Arms crossed behind his back, he watched the rising waves with mild interest.

A veil of darkness dropped from the sky, stopping at the Devil Ancestor's right in the form of a pitch-black cloud.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," the Night Ancestor's emotionless voice echoed.

"Long time no see. But as an Ancestral One, you know better than anyone that you've reached the end of your path. What are you still spending trillions of years of cultivation on? Want to change the Ancestor rankings?" Without shifting his eyes from the Boundless Sea, the Devil Ancestor asked in a half-joking tone.

"Your Majesty jests. All Ancestors that reached the end through the traditional path are at the same level. Cultivation for us is just a routine. Even the Empyrean and Slaughter Ancestors are not any stronger than us. Golden Cicada and Your Majesty are the only exceptions. Some even believe that if not for that event, Golden Cicada would now be Your Majesty's equal. A pity..." the Night Ancestor replied.

"Then I should thank them, shouldn't I? If not for those Ancestors' foolishness and petty schemes, Golden Cicada would still be alive. A pity that they couldn't wait until he reached his peak. But tell me, if you had to choose between him and I, who would you give this world to?"

"Utopias breed boredom. There is no flawless order. But from a cultivator and non-Devil's standpoint, I'd prefer Golden Cicada's reign. Your Majesty has no interest in cultivation. You do not block progress, but don't invest in it, either. In contrast, Golden Cicada revolutionized the cultivation world and was a much more reasonable man."

"Are you sure it's wise to speak so candidly beside an unreasonable tyrant?"

"Hiding one's thoughts before Your Majesty is pointless. On the contrary, I might anger you and suffer a fate worse than the Void Ancestor's. I'd like to avoid choking on a pike for the rest of eternity."

"A sensible man. Strange that some grow infinitely wiser after becoming Ancestors, while others still cling on desperate hopes. If all of them were like you, that event wouldn't have happened, and they would still be here." Here, the Devil Ancestor paused, closing his eyes as his mind drifted to distant memories.

"But Your Majesty let it happen. Even at the critical point, you only had one thing to say to dispel the misunderstanding. Why didn't y--"

"Why should I?" Pitch-black essence poured out of the Devil Ancestor, suppressing all words in the Night Ancestor's throat.

"I do not care for his circumstances. By challenging my authority, he offended my bottom line. How dare he slaughter his way into my palace and bark questions at my face? Who does he think he is? Who does he think I am? Complete Annihilation is the least he deserved." Bending his head to the right, the Devil Ancestor cast the black cloud a sidelong glance, then carried on.

"Unlike what you all seem to think, I somewhat enjoy ignorance and dislike using my omniscience on close kin. I have conquered the world and mastered destiny. All follow my whims and none can challenge me. With a finger-snap, I can alter reality. Ancestors grovel and call me Eternal Sovereign. But who could think that when I tried to do things the normal way, the result would be...such an epic failure? As expected, sovereign power suits me best." Before those words, the Night Ancestor had nothing else to say.

Their exchange went on for half an hour, after which the Night Ancestor vanished from the Boundless Sea's shores. Alone, the Devil Ancestor waved his right hand, and a screen of Harun tearing through pork chops appeared before him.

"Child, if you didn't want to suffer Karmic Bonds, why did you still cultivate the Six Incarnation Bridge and follow the Unyielding Path? Only one Bridge enables cultivators to break free of all karma. But despite treading it, you refused to give your bonds up. It's not that I don't want to let you go. You just keep coming back."