The next day, Jiang Yuan went to the Criminal Investigation Department as usual to clock in, planning to do his daily golden core tasks after work. But he had barely sat down when the Jade Spirit Officer came looking for him, urging him to follow immediately to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
"Lord Jade Spirit Officer, is it still about that foot?"
On the way to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Jiang Yuan stood shoulder to shoulder with the Jade Spirit Officer on a auspicious cloud, turning his head to ask.
"Exactly! Recently, a massive demon army has been discovered at the border, showing clear intent to invade. The Jade Emperor has summoned all civil and military officials today for discussion."
The Jade Spirit Officer explained to Jiang Yuan as they traveled.
When they arrived at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Jiang Yuan noticed many armored generals he had never seen before filling the hall.
"Even Erlang Shen Yang Jian is here?"
Jiang Yuan's gaze swept around and suddenly spotted the Jade Emperor's nephew, the Illustrious True Lord Erlang, clad in silver armor, holding a three-pointed double-edged blade, with the Hound of Heaven crouching at his feet. He muttered in surprise.
"Damn! That couldn't be Guan Yu, could it?"
Soon, Jiang Yuan spotted another general in the crowd. His face was like a red date, with phoenix eyes and silkworm eyebrows, a three-foot black beard dancing in the wind, and a Green Dragon Crescent Blade gleaming coldly in his hand—exactly like the legendary "Lord Guan."
"Lord Jade Spirit Officer, is that Guan Yu?"
To confirm the man's identity, Jiang Yuan quickly tugged at the Jade Spirit Officer's sleeve and asked.
"Chief Jiang, you know Marshal Guan?"
"Oh? He really is Guan Yu?"
"Of course. Among the Four Great Marshals of the Immortal Realm—Zhao, Ma, Wen, and Guan—Guan Yu is the last. Like the other three marshals, General Guan has long guarded the border. He's here today to report demon realm intelligence from the frontier."
After his conversation with the Jade Spirit Officer, Jiang Yuan's eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Guan Yu, itching to go up and ask for an autograph!
Lord Guan was too cool! Even more formidable after becoming an immortal!
"Ahem, silence!"
Soon, seeing that almost everyone had arrived, the Jade Emperor coughed, and the hall immediately fell quiet.
"Ministers, ever since the Star Lord of Fate brought back the foot of the Demon Ancestor Rahu from the mortal realm, the border between our Immortal Realm and the Demon Realm has grown restless. The demons have amassed a great army, showing signs of invasion."
After speaking, the Jade Emperor's gaze fell on the Four Great Marshals. "Marshals, tell me about your situations."
"Your Majesty, I have discovered 100,000 demon troops outside the city of Guishui I guard, led by the Western Demon Lord."
Marshal Zhao, the first among the Four Great Marshals, immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and reported to the Jade Emperor.
"Your Majesty, I have discovered 150,000 demon troops outside the city of Gengjin I guard, led by the Southern Demon Lord."
"Your Majesty, I have discovered 100,000 demon troops outside the city of Yimu I guard, led by the Eastern Demon Lord."
"Your Majesty, I have discovered 50,000 demon troops outside the city of Lihuo I guard, led by the Northern Demon Lord."
After Marshal Zhao finished, Marshals Ma, Wen, and Guan each knelt beside him, reporting the numbers of demon forces facing their respective sectors.
"Is the Demon Realm declaring war on our Immortal Realm? Deploying 500,000 troops?"
The Jade Emperor stood up abruptly after hearing the marshals' reports, fuming.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to fight to the death against the demons!"
As soon as the Jade Emperor finished, the four marshals—Zhao, Ma, Wen, and Guan—bowed in unison.
"Generals, do not act rashly. I order you to return and close the city gates. No matter how the demons provoke you, do not engage. Violators will be executed! Understood?"
The Jade Emperor looked down at the Four Great Marshals, his tone brooking no dissent.
"We obey!"
"Good! Go now!"
The Four Great Marshals bowed, accepted the order, and left the Lingxiao Treasure Hall together, returning to their respective sectors.
"Your Majesty, the Demon Realm's massive mobilization has a clear goal: to reclaim the foot of the Demon Ancestor Rahu. We must not give it to them!"
At this, the Star Lord of Literature, one of the civil officials, stepped forward and addressed the Jade Emperor.
"Nonsense! Of course I know that. What I'm thinking now is how to get rid of this hot potato!"
The Jade Emperor reclined sideways on the dragon throne in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, frowning as he pondered a solution.
"Ministers, do any of you have a way to stop the Demon Realm's attack on our Immortal Realm?"
After thinking for a long time without finding a good plan, the Jade Emperor could only place his hopes on the civil and military officials below, asking with a furrowed brow.
"Well..."
The officials below exchanged glances, but no one could offer a solution, which made the Jade Emperor's expression darken.
"Your Majesty, I have a plan to use a tiger to devour a wolf, buying the Immortal Realm a brief period of peace."
Seeing no one daring to speak at this critical moment, Jiang Yuan couldn't hold back and stepped forward to address the Jade Emperor.
"Speak quickly, Minister Jiang!"
The Jade Emperor's face lit up, and he looked at Jiang Yuan anxiously. Ever since the Star Lord of Fate brought back the foot of the Demon Ancestor Rahu, the Jade Emperor had been unable to sleep, fearing the Demon Realm would one day come with a massive army to demand it.
"Your Majesty, send an envoy to tell the four Demon Lords that the Tathagata Buddha found the foot too full of malevolent energy. For the sake of the six realms of sentient beings, the Tathagata took it back to the Buddhist Realm to suppress it with supreme Buddhist teachings."
After hearing Jiang Yuan's suggestion, the Jade Emperor shook his head. "This will only delay things temporarily. The four Demon Lords aren't fools. Once they figure it out, we'll still face a fierce battle with the Demon Realm. This plan won't work."
Rejecting Jiang Yuan's proposal, the Jade Emperor rubbed his brow, his face full of worry.
"Li Jing, go to the Buddhist Realm and report to the Tathagata Buddha that the Demon Realm is invading. Ask them to send reinforcements."
The Jade Emperor ordered the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, then waved his hand. Li Jing accepted the order and left.
About an hour later, Li Jing returned to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall with a furious expression.
"Your Majesty, the Tathagata Buddha asked me to tell you that the Immortal Realm has many troops and generals and can surely repel the petty demons. If the Immortal Realm truly cannot hold out and the demons reach the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, he will come to help then."
After Li Jing finished, the Jade Emperor was so angry he nearly cursed!
"What a Tathagata! He wants to stand by and watch us die!"
The Jade Emperor smashed the table in front of him to pieces. From Li Jing's report, he immediately guessed that the Tathagata Buddha intended to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, using the opportunity to weaken both the Immortal and Demon Realms, giving the Buddhist Realm a chance to rise above the Three Realms!
If the four Demon Lords really made it to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, where would the Jade Emperor, who had ruled the Heavenly Court for countless millennia, put his face?
"Erlang Shen, Nezha, hear my command!"
The Jade Emperor shouted loudly.
"We are here!"
The two named stepped out from the crowd and came before the Jade Emperor.
"You two will lead 100,000 Imperial Guards and 500,000 Heavenly Soldiers to guard Mount Tianzhu, always on alert for a demon attack!"
With the Tathagata Buddha refusing to help, the Jade Emperor had to deploy his own forces, preparing for a new war between the Immortal and Demon Realms that had not erupted in tens of thousands of years!