AN: Sorry for the long wait! the next three chapters are complete and I hope to keep a weekly posting schedule until this 'book' in the series is finished! As always thanks to my wonderful beta readers Mia and Hazel!

Dong Hua Dijun had once reigned over the universe, of course he more than deserved to have clans' rulers subject themselves to him as their liege. - Pillowbook 1

She had never once thought about the time when he (Dong Hua Dijun) was the Master of the Universe and his majestic presence when the six realms worshipped and consecrated him. - Pillowbook 2, 5

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Heavenly Realm, Territory held by invading demons, Yellow Demon Clan - Late Morning
Day 3 since Fengjius death
Yu Shi —-------------------------------

The death of the lord's wife having not yet been made public. Xiang Xu's immortal soldiers were hidden along the entirety of the ghost realm border not stopping anyone from leaving, only blocking the ghosts from returning. These two facts meant that neither the ghosts nor the demons within the realm had any reason to suspect anything was out of the ordinary.

Lord Shaoyang had ordered that the three demon clans currently in the ghost realm be warned to withdraw, or be destroyed. Elder Liu Cai had warned the white demon clan, while Elder Xiang Xu had warned the blue, which left him to warn the yellow.

Normally such a task would be given to an Elder, but Da Kai had spent the last few days hunting down and killing the Great Wyrm, so was busy making sure his soldiers were organised and prepared. With Ru Zhong being in the shadows and Tu Jian currently collating all the reports before the council this evening, that had left him to fulfil this task.

Yu Shi had a thoughtful look on his face as he contemplated many things. He'd just left the ghost realm border having informed the leader of the yellow demon clan to withdraw or be destroyed, and was now teleporting to Tu Jian's karst mountain manor to report that as expected, they would not withdraw.

His official warning on behalf of Lord Shaoyang, who was known better in this era as Dijun, had been completely disbelieved. The leader and his subordinates had suggested everything from his warning being: a trick by the Heavenly Tribes Tianjun; a scheme from the demon lords of the green and red clans that were friendly toward the Heavenly Tribe; and a scheme from the two more neutral demon clans.

He'd studied hard the past few days to learn the changes in language that had occurred since he'd last walked the world, he was certain he hadn't made any errors when delivering the speech. He'd practised it many times, so was feeling quite dejected at the fact his warning had been ignored so soundly.

"Elders Liu Cai and Xiang Xu have already reported, what took you so long?"

"The yellow demon clan will not withdraw."

"A moment." Tu Jian asked, as they reached into their sleeves and removed a black scroll with a token attached. Yu Shi watched as she detached half the token, then poured energy into the remaining half, "Sun's mercy." Tu Jian spoke, and the scroll teleported to wherever it was designated to go.

Yu Shi wisely didn't ask questions, if Tu Jian was happy playing messenger to Ru Zhong, then whatever information, report or orders the scroll contained, it was important.

"Thank you, you were saying?"

"Demon Lord Huang was quite belligerent in their refusal to leave. They have until dawn tomorrow, perhaps they will be swayed by the white clans retreat and do the same?"

"From the reports Ru Ru's people have sent, that Demon Lord rules by brawn alone, not brains. You warning them was just a formality, they were never going to leave."

"At least mine and Ru Zhongs efforts, and the efforts of our subordinates these past few days won't be wasted." Tu Jian was unconcerned, their tone was very satisfied and there was a slightly vindictive look on her face, such things were rare to witness with Tu Jian.

The warning he'd delivered had given the clan until dawn tomorrow to repent their foolishness and leave, or else he'd been ordered to ensure not a single living demon from the yellow clan was in the ghost realm by sunrise. He'd originally planned on using the third of Elder Xiang Xu's forces he'd been given command of to do so, but Tu Jian and Ru Zhong had suggested a collaborative effort between the three of them.

"Thou art-" Yu Shi began to say, but was interrupted.

"You are."

"You are still quite wroth-"

"Angry," Tu Jian once again kindly corrected his archaic wording, "Yes, I am."

"Our companions-in-arms lived and died in uncounted billions so the world would be dragged out of the horrors of the prehistoric era, tis meet-," He stopped speaking as Tu Jian looked up from the report, bemused.

"'Tis meet' are both obsolete in this age, ''it is proper' or 'it is just' would be used now." Tu Jian corrected his speech once more.
"My thanks," Yu Shi said, "It is just and proper that you are incensed that these children disregard such sacrifices and play at war."

"I never liked half of the other generals anyway." Tu Jian dismissed absentmindedly as they read yet another scroll, "I'm mostly offended that the culmination of my greatest work is being disregarded and trampled on by these ill-born and ill-taught afterborn."

After the world had been pacified and the prehistoric era of bloodshed and slaughter was declared to be over; Yu Shi and most of his fellow generals had contentedly secluded themselves away within the mountain ranges of the lower realm. Their greatest achievements having been won on the battlefields and their skills no longer needed in the upcoming era of peace. Liu Cai was one of the few who's greatest merit had been earned after the prehistoric era, the current map of the immortal realm was primarily her doing.

Liu Cai had partitioned the realms, territories, races and peoples that would live within them in a way that minimised large scale wars from breaking out as fiercely or as frequently. The lord had made only a few corrections to their partitioned map, and Tu Jian had been rightfully proud of their achievement. They'd even changed their personal banner to one that had the four seas, eight wildernesses and nine levels of heaven upon it.

"If these upstart demon brats desire the ghost realm lands so mightily, then they shall have it; let it be theirs for eternity." Tu Jian promised darkly.

Da Kai's successful hunt of the last Great Wyrm had provided Tu Jian and Ru Zhong with a detailed map of a labyrinthine mass of tunnels the beast left under the entirety of the ghost realm. It was these tunnels deep beneath the earth that those two and their peoples had set magical techniques, sealing barriers and other traps ready to spring upon the yellow demon clan. Preparation was often a key part of any battle, and Tu Jian and Ru Zhong's people had finished laying down the trap before the yellow demon clan had been warned to leave. Yu Shi did not prescribe to the current eras ideals of honour or fairness, but he felt it was a pity the yellow demon clan wouldn't have a chance to fight back.

"What news of the other two clans?" He asked.

"Elder Liu Cai confirmed that the white demon clan has already begun the process of a full withdrawal from the Ghost Realm; Demon Lord Po is the most cautious of all the demon rulers, opportunistic, but not stupid."

That was a relief, if they were to wipe out all three of the invading demon clans, then others might think Lord Shaoyang had not given them any chance to repent their sins and withdraw. With at least one of the clans withdrawing, the destruction of the remaining clans would be placed on the heads of the demon clan leaders that did not withdraw, rather than Lord Shaoyang being utterly merciless and unforgiving.

"That is a relief, what of the one Elder Xiang Xu was to warn?"

"Refused; they will die at dawn."

"At least their end will be swift, this poetic justice plan of us younger generals won't grant the yellow demon clan the same mercy."

"You were single handedly responsible for the annihilation of millions of worlds worth of mortal lives back in the day, and you've only grown more powerful since then, I'm sure you can provide them a swift enough ending."

"I'm grateful for your praise, I do not wish to cause unnecessary suffering."

"You'll be fine, I'd bet you'd even be able to defeat me and dearest Ru Ru in a fair duel now." Tu Jian reassured him, but then remarked, "Though you still have no hope of defeating the senior, or the elders."

'The senior' was, of course, Mo Yuan, the oldest of the 'younger' generals, and the most widely accomplished of them. The elders were the still living elders, Xiang Xu, Liu Cai, Bai Zhi, Zhe Yan, Ning Shang and Da Kai.

"I've held no delusions that I could ever reach such lofty heights." Yu Shi said

"Was it worth it? You were one of the youngest and weakest of us juniors, now you are the second strongest, but for what purpose?" Ru Zhong queried.
"Thou-," he paused and corrected his wording, "You have your hobbies and goals, I hat-, had mine."

With how long they'd all lived, it was inevitable to have goals, or at least hobbies if you didn't want to literally waste away and die of boredom.

"Had? You're not planning to become a hermit for another three ages of the world until you die then?" Tu Jian remarked, an amused lilt in their voice.

"If the revered sovereign summoned me, I wished not to disappoint their grace."

"That's still very vague." Tu Jian noted. "But not uncommon, most of the others did the same too."

They'd been born into an era of bloodshed, grown up on the battlefields of prehistory and they'd found purpose in using their skills and strength toward the eventual goal of having the six realms be at peace. Though peace had come, many had struggled to adapt to the new era, himself included.

Lord Shaoyang was their sovereign and ruler since the beginning of time and his generals had taken solace in that certainty. Eventually, even that certainty was gone, after a hundred thousand years of peaceful rule, the supreme sovereign appointed rulers for each of the realms he ruled, and abdicated his throne.

When this had happened Yu Shi and the rest of the generals that were not appointed a rulership felt lost in the new era, they'd each retired to mountains in the lower realm and secluded themselves until death came for them. Only those with truly long lifespans had survived the four hundred thousand years that had passed since then, of the original seventy two generals, there were only ten of them left.

Originally he'd been prepared to tread the same path that the other generals had taken once they retired and entered seclusion. That was to live out the rest of his days and await death, content that the peace their sovereign had carved from the bloodstained era had lasted the rest of his long lifespan. Yu Shi hadn't wanted to wither away and die of boredom, so he'd set himself the goal of cultivating and training endlessly, just in case Lord Shaoyang, now called Dijun, might call upon him.

The first three hundred thousand years were fruitful and he made great strides with his power and martial skill, the recent hundred thousand years had brought very little progress, it was likely his current strength was the greatest he was capable of. He'd achieved his goal of becoming as strong as it was fated for him to be, it was both humbling and freeing. Without a goal or purpose he'd felt himself withering away without any reason to live, simply repeating the same actions he'd done for the past four hundred thousand years, purely from habit.

But he'd been summoned by the lord! They all had! His joy was boundless!

Now he'd been summoned out from his closed cultivation within his solitary mountain cave, he found that his lie to himself that he was content was shattered. The world he'd emerged into was new and strange, wondrous and exciting and for the first time since the elder days, he found wanting to experience it.

Yu Shi explained his newfound interest in the world and his wish, "I hold hope that I might find a position or role that would permit me to be of service to the lord."

"Did you forget the master does not allow us to serve him directly?"

Many of the generals that had now passed on had requested and pleaded to continue to serve the Lord Shaoyang, but had been kindly, but firmly rejected. The lord valued each of his generals highly, and had no desire to be surrounded by fawning sycophants.

"The master does not," Yu Shi admitted, "But the young master may."

"You wish to serve the lord's son?"

"After this errand of ours is over, the lord has granted me permission to ask the young master directly."

"That was very bold of you."
"It was," Yu Shi agreed, "If the lord decided to smite me for my hubris, then I would have been content with that outcome too."

"Well, I wish you good fortune in the young master allowing it."

"I am nervous, but hopeful. I have no subordinates that need minding, no lands beyond my mountain cave, nothing to distract me from serving the lord, even if indirectly through that revered deities scion. I search for purpose, what greater honour is there than this?"

"Scion is outdated, it is offspring or descendants now," Tu Jian corrected his vernacular, "It would be a great honour if the revered sovereigns descendant accepts you into his service." She noted as she placed the scroll she'd been reading on the table and signed it, then she looked back up at him, "But you do realise that Ru Ru is going to be furious and bitter that she didn't have the gall to ask such a thing first?"

Yu Shi hadn't thought of Ru Zhongs reaction, "Ah." was all he managed to say.

"Dijun has blessed the world with a second descendant now, a daughter, I'll suggest that Ru Ru ask if she can serve the second born? The idea will placate her for now, once you have entered the firstborn's service, you'll be safe."

It went without saying that if the lord's firstborn son rejected him, then Ru Zhong wouldn't have any qualms about making his life miserable for not letting her, the self-professed most devoted of the lord's subjects, ask about such a role first.

"Speaking of the lord's firstborn, an hour from now Elder Liu Cai and I have been summoned to bear witness to their ascension, are you not to join us?"

Yu Shi was a High Deity now, but his ascension to High Immortal had been standard, he'd undergone it once he'd reached full maturity, the same as everyone else. Only the senior Mo Yuan had done so earlier, but now the current crown prince had also ascended early, now the sovereign's scion was to be the third in history to do so, and he was to bear witness to it? He was beyond honoured.

"I cannot, i'm to move to Bihai Cangling shortly to prepare this for the council," He spoke regretfully, and as if to underscore their statement another scroll materialised next to the pile. "But do make sure Ru Ru doesnt murder anyone while I'm not there, will you?"

"I was not aware Ru Zhong was to witness it also?"

"If you think Ru Ru dearest would dare to miss such a thing, then your hermitage has truly rotted your brain."

"Well, I shall leave forthwith and endeavour to ensure bloodshed does not occur."

"Appreciated." Tu Jian inclined her head and bowed from her seated position, a thank you and farewell.

Yu Shi bowed politely then journeyed to the revered sovereigns Taichen Palace.