The Realm of the Immortals—utterly opposite to the darkness and confinement of the Demons' Domain—was radiant and magnificent. Towering marble halls, wide meadows and sky-piercing trees, and blossoms still kissed by morning dew formed a scene capable of enchanting any onlooker. Birds sang from the corners of the gardens, and days and nights passed in peace and justice; war and slaughter were little more than nightmares—or legends.
Yet since the dawn of creation, their only true enemy had been the Demons' Domain. For hundreds of thousands of years, the two realms had battled along a fixed border; neither had ever conquered the other—until today. A new master now sat upon the demons' throne. After a century of rule, he had decided to personally launch an assault on the Realm of the Immortals and seize it for himself.
The Immortals had prepared for war more rigorously than ever before; they had woven schemes and laid traps to lure the Demon Lord into ambush. Shen Yu, Lord of the Immortals, bearing a tired and humble expression—the mark of thousands of years of rule—sat upon the golden throne. Before him stood a neat row of high officials, commanders, and gifted disciples; all were quietly formulating plans.
The silence of the hall was suddenly broken by hurried footsteps. A young man dressed in plain white, one of the Eastern Gate's guards, approached with tense strides and trembling hands. He knelt, holding a gray letter, and with a voice that shook from fear said, "Yu Qing, guard of the Eastern Gate, at your service—this is a letter from the Demon Lord."
The moment Luo Wang's name was spoken, a wave of astonishment and resentment rippled through the hall. Guan Zhou, commander of the army, a middle-aged man whose heart overflowed with hatred, stepped forward and asked sharply, "Luo Wang? He sent a letter?"
With calm composure, Shen Yu gestured for the guard to hand it over. The demon seal pressed into the envelope made its importance clear. Shen Yu opened it and began to read; with each line, his eyes widened further. He had thousands of years of experience, yet nothing in all his memory resembled what he was reading.
Li Sui, the Grand Advisor, stepped forward and quietly asked, "My Lord, what does the letter say? What has surprised you so deeply?"
Shen Yu lifted his gaze from the letter and looked at the assembly; after a short pause he said, "Luo Wang requests a ceasefire and a long-term peace."
A heavier silence fell over the hall; disbelief was etched onto every face. Relations between the two realms had never been normal—let alone friendly. Few letters had ever been exchanged without hidden motives—and now, a sudden, unexpected opportunity had appeared.
Guan Zhou let out a bitter smirk and said with biting sarcasm, "Either Luo Wang is mocking us, or this is a cunning trap. Our enemy knows nothing but slaughter and conquest; peace has no meaning to him."
Several others murmured their agreement: "He killed thousands of our brothers—how could he suddenly abandon his ambitions?"
Some suspected the letter might be forged, or a trick engineered by a third realm. But Shen Yu, after carefully examining the seal and the spell upon the letter, said, "The enchantment is genuine. It belongs to the Demons' Domain. This is no forgery."
Feng Yu, head of Immortal youth training, asked, "Then why has Luo Wang suddenly made such a proposal?"
A voice from the crowd offered, "I've heard Luo Wang was wounded in a battle with one of the Demon Kings—perhaps his strength has waned and he fears his armies will fall without him."
Others countered, "If that's true, then this is our chance; if not, then it may be another trap."
Li Sui addressed the assembly: "Let's not decide recklessly. First, we do not know his condition for certain. Second, if he truly is vulnerable, would he take the risk of proposing peace? Luo Wang is far too cunning to surrender so easily."
Shen Yu fell into deep thought. He listened to the distant rush of waterfalls, drew a slow breath, and said, "The choice is difficult. But we must take the path that is both safer and brings us closer to our goals."
Someone asked hesitantly, "Then… should we attack?"
Shen Yu closed his eyes and replied calmly, "If the demons seek peace, then we will form a pact with them."
The crowd shouted as one: "What?!"
Guan Zhou stepped forward. "Please reconsider. Immortals and demons have never been allies; a peace treaty may well be a trap."
Li Sui, however, replied coolly, "On the other hand, a ceasefire could give us time to recover—and an open door to slip into the heart of darkness."
A faint smile appeared on Shen Yu's lips, as though he had waited centuries for such an opportunity.
Li Sui said to him, "My Lord, if we are to form a pact, we must set conditions. Since the offer comes from them, we are entitled to impose our demands."
Guan Zhou, begrudging but respectful of his lord, added, "We should propose terms that guarantee our realm's safety—and allow us to use this opportunity to infiltrate theirs."
Shen Yu rose slowly to his feet. The assembly knelt in respect. With a voice soft yet firm, he said, "Announce my decree. Prepare a messenger and send our reply to the Demons' Domain."
Everyone bowed deeply and answered as one: "As you command, My Lord."
The hall fell once again into a heavy silence; a silence carrying the weight of a monumental decision.