Chapter 1182: Chapter 737: The Grand Epoch Birthday

Cloud Light Mountain Range, Wandai Peak, Qianqiu Palace.

Although called a palace, Qianqiu Palace is actually a city built along the mountains.

This city is entirely transformed by Shi Wanqiu’s mana, with all buildings constructed from gray-white stone, giving them a simple and grand style with orderly planning.

Many demons and various creatures that rely on the Demon Emperor live permanently in Qianqiu Palace.

Although creatures of various races lack education, within Qianqiu Palace, all beings must follow the rules set by the Demon Emperor.

The most important rule in Qianqiu Palace is not to engage in private battles. If discovered, both parties are immediately executed.

Therefore, Qianqiu Palace is extremely orderly. It is also the trading center for creatures of various races.

Over time, this place naturally became the center between the Cloud Forest Sea and the Cloud Light Mountain Range.

Golden Ape King leaped out from the void, arriving above Qianqiu Palace. He’s been here dozens of times, so he knows the way well.

He naturally possesses the power to leap through the void, covering hundreds of thousands of miles in a single leap. From the Cloud Forest Sea to Qianqiu Palace, it’s just a matter of half a day.

Golden Ape King knows Shi Wanqiu despises rude and impolite individuals. Though he is anxious, he can only land outside of Qianqiu Palace.

The Qianqiu Palace where the Demon Emperor Shi Wanqiu resides is situated at the mountain peak, constructed from gray-white stone with grandeur and impressive significance.

A path with three thousand six hundred steps leads from the foot to the Qianqiu Palace at the mountaintop. Any being wishing to enter must walk up step by step.

Beings below the rank of Demon King must prostrate at each step.

Golden Ape King is disdainful of these rules, feeling impatient, but can only walk step by step along the stairs.

Arriving outside the main gate of Qianqiu Palace, he saw a team of armored samurais.

These samurais are all imposing in appearance and stature. Although their actual forms are from the Demon Race, it’s hard to discern their demonic characteristics outwardly.

Golden Ape King stepped forward and clasped his fists courteously: "Please inform His Majesty that the Golden Ape seeks an audience."

The leading samurai sized up Golden Ape King, recognizing him as a Demon King, and didn’t dare neglect.

"Wait a moment, we will inform His Majesty immediately."

Golden Ape King suppressed his impatience and stood at the gate. After a while, a beautiful palace maid emerged from the main gate.

The maid respectfully saluted Golden Ape King: "King Golden Ape, His Majesty summons you, please follow me."

The maid walked gracefully, her figure enchanting. But Golden Ape King was in no mood to appreciate, feeling this woman’s steps were so exceedingly slow.

If this were the Cloud Forest Sea, such a woman would be torn and eaten directly, never tolerating this grievance.

After passing through several halls, they finally reached the main hall of Qianqiu Palace.

The main hall gate is a hundred feet high; its magnificent grandeur exudes more power than a towering peak.

This place is filled with powerful space restrictions, compelling any demon entering to be forcibly compressed into a tiny form.

Golden Ape King was crushed by the enormous spatial mana, unable to straighten his waist, his inner agitation long gone.

He cautiously crossed the high threshold of the side gate of the main hall, kneeling a hundred feet away, paying homage to the Demon Emperor Shi Wanqiu seated on the throne.

"Golden Ape, arise. What brings you here..."

Upon the throne, Shi Wanqiu sported long golden curls, with high cheekbones, triangular eyes, and prominently large nose and mouth. He sat there, imposing and mighty.

Shi Wanqiu wore a splendid golden robe, his smile gentle, yet unable to conceal his lofty imperial demeanor.

On both sides of Shi Wanqiu stood two rows of palace maids, each holding precious fans, gourds, longswords, and other artifacts. Further away was a lineup of elite guards.

These attendants numbered in the hundreds, but thankfully, the grandeur of the main hall could accommodate them.

Golden Ape King dared not glance too much, inwardly not respectful to Shi Wanqiu, yet he was honest in front of him, clenching his thighs tightly, fearing he might embarrassingly soil his pants.

Shi Wanqiu noticed the golden cuff on Golden Ape King’s head and amusingly commented, "This golden cuff is quite unique."

"Your Majesty, save me."

Golden Ape King gathered his emotions, his eyes reddening, tears nearly welling up.

He was truly sorrowful, reflecting on the torment from the ripples, feeling more aggrieved and upset.

A dignified Demon King, dominating the Cloud Forest Sea, never suffered such humiliation.

Even the Demon Emperor Shi Wanqiu has always been gentle, never uttering excessive words or insulting him.

Golden Ape King narrated the ordeal with Gao Xuan, almost crying as he recounted the painful experience.

He was embroiled in such trouble due to acting on Shi Wanqiu’s behalf.

Golden Ape King lamented in the end: "Your Majesty, you must aid my revenge and redress."

Shi Wanqiu instead laughed: "You’re a dignified Demon King, behaving this way, aren’t you inviting ridicule from others?"

He beckoned with a hand: "Come forward, let me examine this golden cuff."

Golden Ape King ascended the steps to the high platform, kneeling hastily before Shi Wanqiu, slightly extending his head.

Shi Wanqiu reached out and touched the Golden Cuff on the Golden Ape King’s head. The material wasn’t anything special, and although the runes engraved on it were complex, it wasn’t particularly strong.

Strictly speaking, the Golden Cuff isn’t a powerful Magical Artifact. The true power lies in the restriction within the Golden Ape King’s Divine Soul. The Golden Cuff is merely an appearance.

Whether or not the Golden Cuff is present doesn’t affect controlling the Golden Ape King’s Divine Soul.

This restriction is extremely formidable, deeply embedded in the Golden Ape King’s Divine Soul. To break this restriction, one must first destroy the Golden Ape King’s Divine Soul.

Of course, if there’s enough time, slowly grinding and consuming can eventually dissolve the restriction on the Golden Ape King’s Divine Soul.

However, such methods are too inferior.

Living for millions of years, Shi Wanqiu wouldn’t care about a monkey’s life or death. But being unable to undo the restriction means the opponent’s methods are profound and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Shi Wanqiu asked, "What is the background of this Gao Xuan? Has he ever mentioned it?"

The Golden Ape King thought carefully and shook his head. Gao Xuan only mentioned his name and never spoke of his origins.

"This restriction is somewhat troublesome. Forcibly breaking it would damage your Divine Soul’s foundation."

Shi Wanqiu said to the Golden Ape King, "Go back and tell Gao Xuan that in a few months, I’m hosting a grand birthday celebration for my thirty eras. Invite him to come as a guest."

The Golden Ape King suddenly slapped his forehead, "His Majesty’s era birthday is approaching, and I actually forgot."

One era is 129,600 years.

At the level of a Demon Emperor like Shi Wanqiu, they naturally don’t celebrate birthdays like mortals every year.

Shi Wanqiu holds a small birthday banquet every ten thousand years and a grand one every era.

The thirty-era birthday of Demon Emperor Shi Wanqiu is extremely important. In fact, several thousand years ago, various Great Demon Kings already started preparing for Shi Wanqiu’s birthday celebration.

Because the preparation time was so lengthy, the Golden Ape King became less concerned. Recently, being tormented by Gao Xuan, caught between life and death, the Golden Ape King had long forgotten about Shi Wanqiu’s thirty-era birthday.

Shi Wanqiu wasn’t angry, he gently said to the Golden Ape King, "You should go back. Don’t worry too much about the birthday celebration."

The Golden Ape King was somewhat surprised, "Your Majesty, do I still have to go back?"

He was genuinely frightened. Arriving at Qianqiu Palace, he definitely didn’t want to go back to face torment.

Shi Wanqiu lightly sighed, "I can’t undo your Divine Soul Restriction. Keeping you here, that Daoist could take your life with a single thought. It’s safer for you to go back."

He then said, "Once you bring him to the birthday celebration, I will speak on your behalf. The Daoist needs to show me some respect."

The Golden Ape King wore an anguished expression, but he didn’t dare defy Shi Wanqiu and could only nod in agreement.

After the Golden Ape King left the main hall, a female Daoist in star-crowned feather robes emerged from behind the throne screen. Her face was like a lotus, her eyes like autumn water, standing there gracefully like a Qinglian on water, pure and beautiful, untouched by dust.

Shi Wanqiu smiled warmly at the female Daoist, "Jade Lotus, what do you think?"

"This restriction technique is very unfamiliar, not knowing which sect it belongs to."

Jade Lotus slightly frowned and said, "This Daoist’s magic is so skillful, manipulating the Golden Ape King like a puppet. Normally, such a powerful individual wouldn’t intrude into another Earth Immortal’s territory."

Shi Wanqiu asked, "Could it be that the Cyan Lotus Sect is aware of your presence here and sent someone to probe?"

Jade Lotus shook her head, "My master’s temper is straightforward; if he wanted to find me, he’d come with a sword. He wouldn’t make it so complicated."

"So, this Daoist must be coming for me."

Shi Wanqiu thought for a moment. He’s lived for millions of years, not knowing how many enemies he’s slain.

Various Daoist sects, Buddhist sects, Celestial Courts, Celestial Beings of different races and factions, he’s fought against almost all. Speaking of it, he indeed has many enemies.

However, since achieving Earth Immortal, he’s stayed within the Cloud Light Mountain Range and Cloud Forest Sea, no longer venturing out. Enemies who knew his power wouldn’t bother seeking death.

In this last million years, aside from dealing with Celestial Tribulations, his life has been extremely peaceful.

Such a long time has passed, most of his enemies have died off. Those who haven’t probably lack interest in troubling him.

Shi Wanqiu pondered it over and couldn’t discern Gao Xuan’s background.

Jade Lotus comforted, "Your Majesty needn’t worry. Inside Qianqiu Palace, even if a Celestial Immortal arrives, what of it!"

Earth Immortal is called Earth Immortal because they occupy a piece of heaven and earth, becoming its master.

Earth Immortal Law aligns with heaven and earth, enough to increase an Earth Immortal’s power tenfold. An outsider’s power is reduced tenfold.

In this heaven and earth, even against Celestial Immortals, they can fight. As for same-level Earth Immortals, they won’t risk fighting in another Earth Immortal’s territory.

Jade Lotus believed there wasn’t much to consider, as long as Shi Wanqiu remained orderly, there was nothing to fear from anyone.

Shi Wanqiu nodded, though he felt a vague unease, he didn’t need to share it with Jade Lotus.

If he can’t handle it, then Jade Lotus would be useless.

Jade Lotus added, "On the day of your thirty-era birthday, friends from all factions gathered. Even if Gao Xuan has heaven-penetrating abilities, dealing with him wouldn’t be too difficult..."

Shi Wanqiu agreed, "No matter who he is, once he arrives, he won’t leave."

He calmly said, "If Gao Xuan has sense, he’d flee as far as possible, and I’d spare him a way out..."

(First update~)