The Orthodox Controversy

Central Region, Daozang Academy.

Xing Tian'ao cast his deep, abyss-like gaze toward the distant south—to the Southern Domain Great Wilderness, a land that had lain silent since time immemorial.

Just moments ago, a wave of will—ancient, vast, and originating from the very source of heaven and earth—had rippled outward like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, causing the mind of this supreme expert, who stood at the pinnacle of the human path, to tense abruptly.

“A presence dormant for endless ages has awakened at this moment?”

After a long while, he withdrew his gaze, yet his brow furrowed even more deeply. A sense of unease, far beyond anything an ordinary incident could inspire, silently crept into his heart.

“Troubled times...”

He murmured softly, rare gravity coloring his voice. “The heavens of Xuanhuang are likely to change first in the south.”

Almost at the very instant his words fell—

Southern Domain Great Wilderness, former site of the Ancestral Court of Myriad Demons.

A bronze ancient city hung high in the sky, its pressure bearing down upon the entire world.

Just as countless beings stood aghast and the eyes of the realm converged upon it, that majestic Dao voice rang out once more from the heart of the ancient city.

Cold and imperious, stripped of all emotion, it resounded clearly across every inch of the Southern Domain.

“By decree of the Demon Court: Our Demon Court returns to the world, to rule over the myriad races and set heaven and earth in order once more.”

“All those who bear demon bloodline must, within three days, come before the Demon Court and swear allegiance. They shall receive the protection of the orthodox lineage and share in the Mandate of Heaven.”

“Those who fail to appear by the deadline shall be deemed traitorous spawn, stripped of their demon status, and annihilated in body and soul!”

The decree descended like a ladle of icy water poured into a seething cauldron of oil. The entire Southern Domain first fell silent—then erupted completely.

“The Ancient Demon Court? It is actually the Ancient Demon Court!”

Across the Southern Domain, certain ancient demon elders—living fossils of immense knowledge and inheritance—awoke from their slumber one after another, crying out in disbelief.

At once, they became the source of information, explaining to their clansmen and the outside world what those four earth-shattering words truly meant.

In the primordial age, it was not humanity that reigned supreme. Rather, the myriad races ruled Xuanhuang!

Only later did humanity gradually rise, contend against the myriad races, and produce several Great Emperors in succession, becoming the protagonists of Xuanhuang.

The myriad races were forced to retreat to the Southern Domain, where they established the Demon Court to oppose humanity!

Later, heaven and earth in Xuanhuang underwent a great upheaval. The path to Emperorhood was severed, and the Demon Court withdrew from the world and sealed itself away. Yet after endless ages, it had unexpectedly returned at this very moment!

The demon races now living and multiplying across the lands of the Southern Domain were precisely the descendants of those myriad races from ancient times—those whose bloodlines were impure, who had remained behind to guard their homeland, or who, for one reason or another, had been unable or unwilling to depart with the Demon Court into seclusion.

They had struggled to survive and evolved with great difficulty through the endless passage of time.

Upon this land, they had forged an age of their own, establishing new orders and new dynasties.

“No wonder it possesses such overwhelming might. The orthodox lineage has returned—to reclaim its authority!”

This was the supreme orthodoxy, long believed extinguished in demon legends!

And this decree proclaiming dominion over the myriad races was like a boulder crashing into still waters. In an instant, it swept across the entire great world of Xuanhuang, stirring monstrous waves in the hearts of every faction.

This was no mere internal conflict among demonkind. A forgotten chapter of humanity’s dark history seemed to be attempting a return!

Alarm bells rang throughout humanity’s great sacred lands, ancient sects, and divine dynasties!

“To rule over the myriad races? What arrogance!”

The headmaster of one sacred land slammed his hand upon the table and rose to his feet. His beard and hair bristled as icy light filled his eyes.

“Ancient matters have long since settled into dust!

They were driven by us humans into the Southern Region long ago, left to eke out an existence in one corner.

And now, it is even more the age of humankind. How can we allow these decayed remnants to revive and sow chaos?!”

“Prepare for war! Effective immediately, the sect shall enter its highest state of readiness!

Monitor all movements in the Southern Region day and night. All disciples currently away from the sect must return within the allotted time!”

One order after another, brimming with killing intent, was swiftly issued from the command centers of the great powers.

Fear and tension inevitably began to spread among the lower ranks.

Yet the true giants standing at the pinnacle of power, after their initial shock, felt more than anything a cold fury at having their fundamental interests threatened—as well as a measured, forceful confidence born from their present strength.

“Hmph. If they are content to fight one another to the death in that tiny corner known as the Southern Region, then so be it.”

The patriarch of an ancient clan sneered, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his jade throne, his gaze sharp as a blade.

“But if they dare take even a single step beyond the Southern Region, dreaming of reenacting the old ambitions of antiquity, then we shall make them understand once and for all who rules this land in the present age!”

“Precisely. Times have changed. Humankind has flourished to this day and endured countless calamities. How could our foundations possibly be fathomed by the remnants of ancient times?

If they know what is good for them, then all will be well. But if they do not, this Xuanhuang land will not mind burying a few more withered bones from the ancient era!”

An atmosphere of tense war preparations instantly enveloped every corner of Xuanhuang.

Powerful divine senses crisscrossed and probed along the borders of the Southern Region. The entire great world of Xuanhuang had quietly drawn taut, its nerves stretched tight by the emergence of the ancient Demon Court.

At Daozang Academy, atop the branch of an ancient tree in a secluded courtyard—

Little Black’s eyelids twitched faintly as it lazily opened its eyes.

“Tsk...”

A nearly inaudible scoff, yet one that seemed capable of piercing the soul, rang out within its mind.

“Ruling over all races? The true orthodoxy of demonkind?”

“A pack of old relics too afraid to see the light of day, crawling out of their graves to strut their stuff...”

After muttering one final remark, it shut out all the noise of the outside world and resumed its nap.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Region, a cruel moment of choice lay before every demon faction.

There were many who chose submission.

Numerous demon tribes of ancient bloodlines that had failed to prosper under the current order, along with demons whose bones had long been steeped in the law of the strong devouring the weak and who worshipped absolute power—

After a brief period of shock and hesitation, they were conquered by the name of legitimacy and the supreme might of the Demon Court. More than that, they feared the fate of having both body and soul utterly destroyed.

“The Demon Court is the ancestral court of all demons. What is wrong with submitting to the rightful orthodoxy? We are willing to go!”

An aged White Ape Demon King led his entire clan in being the first to prostrate themselves toward the bronze ancient city, tears of excitement streaming down his face.

“Might makes right! The Demon Court possesses unfathomable strength and the mantle of righteousness besides. Following the strong is the only way to survive!”

A hawk-nosed Demon King’s eyes flickered. His heart had already been swayed.

However, the ruling powers centered around the current Demon Emperor were caught in immense fury and turmoil.

Inside the demon clan’s great hall, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it resembled the eve of a raging storm.

“This is going too far!”

Demon Emperor Yuan Tiangang, whose true form was a Heaven-Splitting Demon Ape, smashed the black-jade table beside him to pieces with a single palm strike. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fury nearly burst forth like flame.

“What kind of bullshit ‘legitimate authority’ is that?! Our clan has toiled in this realm for tens of thousands of years to build the power we possess today!

And now, with a single decree, they expect us to hand over our foundation and bow our heads in submission? On what grounds?!”

The demon kings and elders among his closest followers were equally incensed.

“Our Lord speaks the truth! That so-called ancient Demon Court is nothing more than a band of cowards who fled to escape disaster!

Now that the Xuanhuang world is reviving, they want to return and reap the rewards? How could there be such a thing in this world!”

“We would rather shatter like jade than remain whole like tile!”

Yet a small number of more clear-headed elders wore deeply worried expressions.

“My Lord, please calm your anger! The Demon Court is overwhelmingly powerful. Perhaps we should feign compliance for now and make our plans at a later time?”