Long ago, the Ancient God—the mastermind behind the Villain System—once invaded Shenzhou.
Although he ultimately withdrew in failure, he left behind many painful memories for Shenzhou.
At the same time, he also left behind forces like Klaus and the Xu God.
For all these years, Klaus had been awaiting the day her master would return, hoping they could stage a comeback and reclaim their glory.
Then her master returned.
And promptly gave her a harsh wake-up call.
“You’re doing it wrong,” Klaus said, sitting on the floor with her legs spread, pouting as she looked up, her tears streaming down like rain.
“What’s wrong? I’m doing my utmost to carry out our will to conquer!”
“…But you’re conquering in the wrong direction!”
“No, you’re still on the first level…”
“That line again!” Klaus pounded the ground in frustration.
“Be good, go make some tea.”
“Oh.”
[Received 3000 Villain Points from the Sea Monster Klaus.]
The master’s orders could not be disobeyed, and Jiang Ke’er was now the master of all Heavenly Demons and the master of the Ancient God.
So no matter how strange the orders, they would obediently carry them out.
“Klaus,” Jiang Ke’er said as she took the teacup from the little red-haired demon girl and patted her head, letting out a soft sigh. “The power on this continent isn’t strong. The Heavenly Demons could wipe out everything here at any time.”
“Then why don’t you do it?”
“And after wiping them out?” Jiang Ke’er asked.
“Go destroy the next place!” Klaus said matter-of-factly.
“And if there’s nothing left to destroy?”
Klaus froze.
“Then it would be far too boring,” Jiang Ke’er shook her head.
“There are many things in this world just as interesting as annihilating it. If you destroy them all, you won’t get to see them.”
“No! Annihilating the world is the only meaning of my existence!” Klaus declared firmly.
“Then you’ve never tasted my cooking.”
“?”
“Come, come, try this honey cake I made myself…”
“The only meaning of my existence is my lord’s cooking.”
—Thus Spake Klaus·Tura
Watching his mother’s condition improve day by day, Pei Min happily wiped the corners of his eyes.
Although his mother’s illness was terminal and could only be prolonged, not cured… after this treatment, she could at least accompany him for another year.
“I never thought I’d receive a favor from a Heavenly Demon…” Pei’s mother sighed with mixed feelings.
It was actually a Heavenly Demon who had saved him and his mother. Pei Min still found it hard to believe.
It seemed that Heavenly Demons weren’t as detestable as he had imagined.
The lingering resentment in his heart toward Jiang Ke’er’s identity as a Heavenly Demon vanished completely, and he once again felt anticipation for that figure.
But…
Lowering his head so his mother couldn’t see his expression, Pei Min sat gently on the edge of the bed.
“When your mother’s illness is better, let’s continue our journey,” Pei’s mother said softly.
But Pei Min unexpectedly shook his head. “No need, Mother.”
“Why?”
“Min doesn’t want to waste time anymore. Min wants to stay with you.”
Pei’s mother showed a pained expression. “Silly child, I’m fine.”
“Min has changed his mind,” Pei Min said firmly.
“The world has changed. Many human sword sects are now open to demon disciples. I plan to find a sword sect and give it a try first.”
“… “
“Although I started late and have a weak foundation, I’ve never given up studying over the years. I have my own insights into the theory and basics of Sword Dao. All I lack is a master,” Pei Min smiled reassuringly.
“I think passing the exam for an Outer Sect Disciple shouldn’t be too hard.”
“You’re not looking for her?”
“I am, but not now.”
Two years had passed, and Pei Min was no longer that naive, impulsive child who took everything for granted.
Over these two years, Pei’s mother had done everything possible to let him make his own decisions, bear the consequences, and cultivate his ability to handle things independently.
Now his mental maturity far exceeded that of his peers, and he handled matters in a more organized and rational way.
“I want to first find a way to become a strong person—strong enough to catch her attention. Then one day, I’ll be able to see her,” Pei Min said.
Recently, the biggest news in the village was the enrollment announcement from the Donglai Sword Sect.
The residents of this small fishing village had never imagined that one day they could come into contact with those lofty immortals who soared through the skies.
This was thanks to the imperial examination policy that the Great Tang Empire had recently been vigorously promoting.
“Great Tang Empire? Imperial examinations?” Upon hearing the news, Jiang Ke’er, who was rebuilding the courtyard wall, widened her eyes as if she had just landed from Mars.
She quickly jumped down from the wall and flipped through the old newspapers she had collected everywhere.
Last time, she had only read up to the part about the two races signing a peace agreement—news from three months ago.
These newspapers had been stacked in chronological order, so Jiang Ke’er started flipping from the “Peace Agreement” article onward.
She flipped rapidly, only skimming the front-page headlines.
But after flipping to the next day’s newspaper, she saw—
[Epidemic Poison Returns! Lingyin Valley Has Fully Commenced Antidote Research!]
Day three: [Epidemic Poison Spreading Rapidly. Yu Wenhua Ji Rejects Proposal to Quarantine Towns. Dasi Kingdom’s High-End Combat Forces Suffer Heavy Losses!]
Day four: [Medicine King Sun Shizhang Announces Joining Lingyin Valley, Working with Yiqin on Efficient Antidote Development.]
Day five: [Antidote Development Successful! Large Quantities of Antidote Have Been Released to Market! But This Time the Antidote Is Not Free!]
Day six: [Dasi Kingdom’s Economy in Severe Depression! Yu Wenhua Ji Unable to Afford Antidote for Military, Morale Collapses!]
Day seven: [Mutiny Erupts in Various Military Camps Across Dasi Kingdom! To Deflect Blame, Yu Wenhua Ji Claims Epidemic Poison Was a Weapon Maliciously Deployed by Jiang Ke’er! Demands the Demon Race Bear All Costs of the Antidote!]
Day eight: [Yu Wenhua Ji Tears Up the Peace Agreement! Launches an All-Out War Against the Demon Race in a Desperate Gamble!]
Day nine: [Demon Race Captures Imperial Capital Daxing City Without Any Effort!]
Day ten: [Demon Race Fully Occupies the Entire Territory of Dasi Kingdom!]
Day eleven: [Demon Race Renames Daxing City to Chang’an City.]
Day twelve: [Dasi Kingdom’s National Title Changed to Tang.]
Day thirteen: [All Epidemic Poison Patients Have Fully Recovered with the Help of the Antidote “Banlangen Concentrated Pill.”]
Day fourteen: [His Majesty Li Yuan Has Decided to Vigorously Promote the Development of the Education Industry, Commanding All Sects Under Heaven to Abolish Racial Discrimination and Status Discrimination, and Give Poor Students a Chance to Take Exams. At the Same Time, the Imperial Court Will Change the Original “Recommendation System” Where Officials Were Recommended Locally. A New “Imperial Examination System” Will Be Established, Allowing Candidates to “Self-Register with Their Documents,” Meaning They Can Sign Up and Take the Exam Themselves. The Imperial Examination Will Be Held in Chang’an City Every Spring, Providing an Opportunity for Ambitious Individuals Across the Land to Serve the Country and Realize Their Ambitions.]
After reading this far, Jiang Ke’er had a rough idea of what had happened.
Only three months had passed, and she had thought the outside world was more or less the same, at most that Yu Wenhua Ji had pulled some new stunt.
But it turned out she had even missed Li Yuan’s enthronement ceremony.
What a shame. A missed opportunity to witness history.
Still, being able to witness the first imperial examination in Shenzhou’s history was also excellent.
“Every major sect is expanding their enrollment, and they’re reaching into local villages,” Qiao Xiaoxian said with a worried frown. “It looks like the martial arts school won’t be easy to run either. With these big sects to choose from, who would pick a small place like a martial arts school…”
“Not necessarily,” Jiang Ke’er sneered.
Li the Boss had just ascended the throne, so naturally he wanted to command the world smoothly.
But these sects and local powers wouldn’t simply follow his orders.
They had long been accustomed to lording it over others and defying the court’s control. They were just thinking about giving the new emperor a slap in the face.