In Wa Huang Palace, as the beings retreated, Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi, brothers, remained, exchanging glances with the siblings Fu Xi and Nü Wa.
Nü Wa sat upon the throne, silent, appearing unwilling to converse with the pair.
Seeing his sister reluctant to speak, Fu Xi stepped forward and addressed Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi.
"Di Jun, Tai Yi, why do you linger? Is there something else?"
Upon hearing this, Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi exchanged a look, then took a step forward, bowing respectfully. Di Jun spoke first.
"Congratulations, Empress Nü Wa, on becoming the sect leader of the Demon Cult. This is a great fortune for our demon race!"
Dong Huang Tai Yi followed suit, adding.
"Thank you, Empress Nü Wa, for considering the larger picture and preventing the disintegration of our demon race. We admire your magnanimity!"
Nü Wa, by not directly declaring leadership of the demon race under her title as sect leader, had saved the brothers considerable trouble. Furthermore, by virtue of her position, she had delegated the management of demon race affairs to them.
This was not a command, but an acknowledgment of their de facto leadership, a favor they would remember.
Nü Wa heard them and raised her eyebrows, glancing at the clearly pleased Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi, finally speaking.
"Do not overthink things. I merely followed the will of heaven and considered the greater good. As for you brothers, speak your minds openly."
Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi, unbothered by Nü Wa's cool demeanor, exchanged another glance. Since Nü Wa had spoken thus, they decided to be direct.
"Empress Nü Wa, the Wu and Demon races are locked in perpetual conflict across the Primordial Era, neither able to gain the upper hand. This situation is detrimental to our demon race!"
Di Jun spoke, and Dong Huang Tai Yi quickly chimed in.
"Indeed. Now that Empress Nü Wa has attained sainthood and her position as sect leader is solidified, the Dao Ancestor Hong Jun once said that all beneath a Saint are mere ants. Why does Empress Nü Wa not act to help the demon race subdue the Wu tribe and dominate the Primordial Era?"
This was the true purpose of Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi's stay. They had harbored this thought since Nü Wa achieved sainthood.
However, past discord between them and the siblings regarding Xu Fang had made the matter seem unlikely, leading them to abandon the idea after initial excitement.
Now that Nü Wa had acknowledged their leadership without claiming direct command, they were overjoyed and believed it was feasible.
Having spoken, they both looked at Nü Wa with anticipation.
With the intervention of this Saint and sect leader, the mere Wu tribe would be easily vanquished, and the demon race's dominance of the Primordial Era would no longer be a dream!
Fu Xi, upon hearing this, was also moved. Regardless of the past grievances between Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi and his sister, as fellow members of the demon race, he naturally wished for its prosperity.
Seeing Nü Wa in thought, Fu Xi quickly spoke.
"Sister, what do you think..."
Fu Xi wished to persuade Nü Wa to accept Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi's request, to become the demon race's greatest asset, helping them defeat the Wu tribe and unify the Primordial Era.
However, as he began to speak, Nü Wa waved him to silence. She looked at the Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi brothers and said.
"I am perfectly aware of your intentions."
"However, I have achieved sainthood through the Heavenly Dao and am tasked with stabilizing heaven and earth. Every word and action must align with the will of heaven."
"To act against the Wu tribe does not align with the manifestations of heaven's will. You need not speak further."
Nü Wa spoke, sighing. Since achieving sainthood, alongside immense power, she had also felt the constraints of the Heavenly Dao.
Nü Wa knew that if she acted against the Heavenly Dao, even as a Saint, she could not escape its retribution.
Otherwise, why would she not have directly taken command of the demon race after becoming the sect leader, and then dominated the Primordial Era? Why involve Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi?
Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi clearly had not anticipated such a response from Nü Wa. After a moment of surprise, they were unwilling to give up and continued their persuasion.
"Empress Nü Wa, we know we have had many conflicts in the past, but this is a grand plan for the demon race. You cannot refuse so outright!"
"Yes, even if not for our sakes, you must consider the demon race!"
Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi disregarded Nü Wa's explanation of the Heavenly Dao, believing she was still holding a grudge over past events. They continued to speak, appealing to their emotions and reason.
Seeing their persistent entanglement, Nü Wa frowned. Finally, unwilling to deal with the brothers any longer, she waved her hand.
An irresistible force surged forth, instantly sweeping the voluble Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi out of Wa Huang Palace and into oblivion.
"This!"
Fu Xi stared, dumbfounded, at the scene. Recalling himself, he quickly said.
"Sister, even if you do not agree with Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi, there was no need for such heartlessness. After all, they are now the demon emperors of our demon race."
"Moreover, the past is the past. Now that you have achieved sainthood, it is the best opportunity to help the demon race surpass the Wu tribe!"
Fu Xi continued to persuade Nü Wa, hoping she would act as Di Jun and Dong Huang Tai Yi requested, to assist the demon race against the Wu tribe.
Nü Wa heard him, and a trace of a bitter smile appeared on her exquisite face.
"Brother, like them, you do not understand my plight. Look at my current state!"
As Nü Wa spoke, light emanated from her body, revealing shackles crisscrossing her form. These were suffused with astonishing Heavenly Dao power, interwoven and horrifying to behold.
"When did this happen?"
Fu Xi was shocked. When had his sister become like this?
He had been by her side, yet he had not noticed such an anomaly.
Fu Xi was enraged and immediately moved to help Nü Wa break free, but Nü Wa waved him to stop.
"It is useless. This is the power of the Heavenly Dao. I can only obey the will of heaven and remain within Wa Huang Palace."
Nü Wa said this with a wry smile.
"Brother, let alone going to help the demon race, I can't even go to the East Sea to see the human race anymore!"
Nü Wa's eyes dimmed, filled with sorrow.
Originally, upon achieving sainthood, it was her time to shine and forge her own legend in the Primordial Era.
However, unknowingly, the shackles of the Heavenly Dao had firmly bound her. This so-called Saint was merely a pitiful creature confined within Wa Huang Palace, in Wa Huang Heaven.
Fu Xi looked at her in this state, his heart aching.
He had poured all his effort to help his sister achieve sainthood.
Now, looking at this outcome, was all the desperate striving at the time worth it?