Zoran did not interfere with Shendu's actions.
The Fire Demon had been dormant for too long; he deserved to blow off some steam. However, Zoran was slightly surprised that Shendu had opted for a change in tactics. Just as he had said, only an "old fossil" would insist on perching an ancient palace atop the world's head. Times had changed, and there were far more ways to rule a world than through stone and mortar.
Sitting in a dragon palanquin or sitting in a high-end armored limousine… with the passage of time, there seemed to be little difference between the two. Servants didn't necessarily have to wear dark blue livery and kowtow on the floor; they could just as easily wear suits and frequent skyscrapers. The world changed, yet certain things remained consistent.
Having reclaimed his true self, Shendu seemed to have grasped this truth. He had regained his wisdom, and it led him to make different choices. Zoran was content to let him be. Nothing in this world could stop Shendu now, not even Jackie Chan or Uncle.
Meanwhile, the eldest of the eight demons was contemplating matters much more distant and significant.
Though he currently lacked the means to directly pluck his siblings from the Netherworld, the ability to leap into other worlds meant that options had undoubtedly multiplied. Drawing from his own experience being sealed and watching Shendu seal Lü Dongbin, Zoran's eyes as a Demon Sorcerer saw through to the very essence of the Netherworld's sealing spells.
The curse did not merely act upon the soul or the physical body. It sealed the very "essence" that a Demon or an Immortal represented. In terms of the Trigrams, it was their elemental nature—Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and so on. The Netherworld curse locked away these eight distinct powers at their source. And because the Demon Sorcerers were the personifications of these powers, they were pinned within the Netherworld, unable to return.
Having identified the essence, Zoran had a general plan. He closed his eyes and bowed his head, sinking into deep thought. Standing in the vacuum, invisible cosmic winds brushed past his form. In his mind, spells ranging from the ancient era to the modern age manifested, thousands appearing every second.
Soon, three ancient spells forgotten in the dust of history surfaced clearly in his mind:
The Source Spell, the Siphon Spell, and the Transposition Spell.
His physical body remained still upon the moon, his ancient domain. These three spells originated from himself, Shendu, and Hsi Wu, respectively. Zoran himself had created the Siphon Spell; during his first arrival on the moon when his magic was depleted, he had used it to help himself absorb the moon's gravitational pull, or rather, to reclaim the authority that already belonged to him. It was a spell that reached directly for the source.
The Source Spell was Shendu's domain, while the Transposition Spell was Hsi Wu's creation. In the ancient times, the three demon wizard brothers shared their glory and knowledge, and all three had mastered these spells. Though Hsi Wu had likely forgotten them by now, Zoran remembered.
He opened his eyes. He understood.
…
Meanwhile, on Earth.
An endless stream of wealth and power was converging in Valmont's hands. He had become the world's new underground emperor, the spokesman for a terrifying entity. Dressed in a dark green, expensive suit and exuding the aura of a high-ranking official, his four henchmen were equally well-groomed.
In the blink of an eye, the Dark Hand had infiltrated everything, transforming into the true ruling class. Valmont's conviction was correct: money truly could drive anything. Combined with his natural leadership and talent, he had become the Godfather of the new world.
He reached out to Chow, handing him a gift box.
"Boss?" Chow was stunned. He opened the box to find a bank card and a plane ticket for the following day.
Valmont patted his shoulder and said calmly, "I'm putting you in charge of our operations in Asia."
"And the ticket?" Chow looked at it; it was a direct flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong.
"There's an old saying in your country: 'To achieve wealth and not return home is like wearing silk in the night.' You've suffered a lot following me all these years. It's time to go back and see your family." Valmont spoke casually, but his words struck Chow right in the heart.
Many years ago, Chow had come from Hong Kong to America, vowing to make it big. Life at the bottom in the U.S. was hard; he had washed dishes and worked as a driver. Only today had he truly made it, and he hadn't expected Valmont to remember. Valmont remembered what was important to everyone, yet he never used it as leverage.
Chow turned away, removing his sunglasses to rub his eyes.
…
Elsewhere, in a custom-built, palatial estate designed specifically for Shendu, the demon lay lazily in his true form within an outdoor hot spring. He was taking a bath.
Nearby, Jackie Chan, dressed in a perfectly fitted waiter's uniform, was busy trimming the demon's claws.
"Jackie, my servant... over here, and here..." Shendu narrowed his eyes in comfort.
Just as Uncle had said, the demons' thinking was simple. To them, humans had only ever had one meaning. Even though Jackie had destroyed his hopes several times, Shendu did not kill him. The rule of the demons was straightforward: the world had simply changed masters from humans to demons, nothing more.
It seemed as though nothing had changed at all. As the saying goes, if there must be a ruler, why couldn't it be a demon? At least they didn't kill indiscriminately. In fact, if they were kept comfortable, their tempers weren't even that bad. History was full of human monarchs who were far more bloodthirsty.
During the reign of the Eight Demon Sorcerers, from ancient times through antiquity, up until they were sealed by the Eight Immortals, they never fought among themselves. Not a single war was waged between them. Compared to the horrors of human warfare, the demons could almost be considered models of excellent kingship. If Shendu had truly wanted to, the world would look very different.
As Shendu enjoyed the attentive service of Jackie and the other "servants," a familiar whisper echoed in his mind.
"My brother, I am going on a long journey. But I shall return soon."
Shendu opened his eyes. He knew Tso Lan was working toward freeing the rest of the siblings.
"Brother, if you have need of anything, Shendu is always here," he promised.
Though he didn't believe any obstacle could stand in his brother's way, Shendu still voiced his support. If possible, he hoped Zoran would take a break. Time was the cheapest commodity for a demon.
"Perhaps you should grant yourself a short rest as well."
He believed that if the other siblings knew what their eldest brother was doing, they would think the same.
"I will," Zoran's whisper faded.
In the vacuum of the lunar surface, Zoran stood silently as a golden portal roared open. He drifted slowly into it, ready to fulfill his resolution. He was looking forward to it, for it wouldn't take long.
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