Above the highest peaks, where the first rays of dawn shone, there was a floating island called Heaven.
Seven Heavenly Kings resided on this island and spent their days there. This island was filled with spiritual energy and held many treasures within. Although it appeared to be a medium-sized island from afar, it was actually as large as a province.
This island was protected by extremely powerful techniques and contained millions of structures.
Each of the Heavenly Kings had a mansion as large as a city, adorned with towers, gardens, animals, and spiritual materials.
Tall waterfalls cascaded down from these mansions into pools as large as lakes. Many spiritual plants and trees grew around these pools, adding beauty and vitality to the mansions.
Each of the Heavenly Kings specialized in a particular field.
They had forgotten their names and families. Each of them could live up to two thousand years.
Water, wind, earth, fire, shadow, light, and wood were the symbols of each of these kings, and they had decorated most of their mansions with their favorite element.
The Wood Mansion was actually a single tree, with each branch housing a grove. Majestic and grand, it pierced the sky, and its long shadow engulfed the ground.
The Water Mansion was filled with pools, waterfalls, and marine creatures.
In this way, each mansion had a unique feature.
Although the Heavenly Kings came from the immortals, they were always neutral.
Several thousand years ago, during the time of the world's rampant darkness, a council was formed by the command of His Excellency Zhuo Fan, which later became known as the Heavenly Assembly.
This assembly was held on an island created by His Excellency Zhuo Fan to prevent chaos in the world.
But after the disappearance of His Excellency Zhuo Fan, the Heavenly Kings separated themselves from the world and came to this island.
A few generations later, a thousand years ago, new kings ascended and became the leaders of world peace. However, their seclusion caused most people to forget the greatness of this council.
Somewhere in the pristine and green lands, the Water King was sitting in a small pavilion on a hill when he saw the Light King.
He smiled and beckoned him over.
"Brother, you're here too?"
The Light King sat on the other side of the table and picked up an empty cup.
"Please, the weather is delightful, isn't it?"
The Water King picked up a porcelain teapot and poured some tea for the Light King.
The Light King accepted the Water King's hospitality with a smile. He tasted the tea, and his eyes sparkled.
"Excellent! Nothing less expected from the Water King!!!"
With some humility, he accepted the Light King's praise and placed the teapot on the table.
They spent some time savoring the exquisite tea, while the cool breeze played with their long beards and caught their wide silk sleeves in the air.
The Light King broke the silence and said, "How long must we remain like this? Isn't it time for the Heavenly Assembly to make its decree?"
The Water King replied, "We cannot take sides with any faction. Remember, our greatest duty is to destroy the demon and guard the gates of hell."
The Light King paused. If the hidden demons exploited the Heavenly Kings' neutrality and incited the opposing side against humanity, the situation would become very complicated.
However, until that moment, no one had sought out the true demons.
The Light King nodded, "That's right. By keeping that will alive, we've added a new variable to this game. Now everything depends on whether it takes our side or theirs…"
The Water King refilled his and the Light King's cups.
"The others agree with me. We shouldn't blow this out of proportion. Humans are slaves to power, and power has blinded them."
The Light King raised his cup and thanked him.
"But that will has been dormant for the past few years and has done nothing during this time. I'm afraid that gamble might end up against us."
The Water King said, "To bear the fruit of a tree, you must pour your life into it. That will has become a zombie but has managed to keep its mind intact until now. I think it's worth the investment."
The Light King agreed and raised his cup with satisfaction, "Yes, that's right! But…"
His face grew somber.
"Who is that will?"
The Water King remained silent for a moment. This was a question that had also occupied his mind.
[That's right, that will was a gamble. If it were one of the ancient demons, I would have immediately sensed its demonic energy, but it didn't have such an aura. On the contrary, it even freed a hostage in the city. This means it was one of the righteous ones.]
[I think the reason for the heavenly calamity was that it no longer had the right to live after its death. The heavens are very sensitive about life and death.]
"Brother, there's no need to worry too much. Over the years, humans have become very skilled at hunting zombies. If that person is truly a great cultivator, they will probably manage to survive." The Water King said.
"But the thought still worries me." The Light King replied.
"We are not allowed to directly interfere in the affairs of the immortals of the lower world. Even if they call themselves immortals, until they ascend to heaven, they are still mortals."
[The Water King is right. Maybe I'm worrying too much.]
The Water King laughed and pointed to the view before them.
"The mortal world is nothing more than a passing scene from here, brother. No matter how hard you try, the day will eventually end, and the night will come. Our duty is to ensure that after the night passes, a new day begins again, not to forcibly keep the sun in the sky. When the sun always stays in the sky, everything may become beautiful and bright, but without the night, it all becomes meaningless."
The Water King took a deep breath and continued, "Do you know why immortality is valuable, brother?"
The Light King paused. Now he fully understood the Water King's meaning.
"Of course, brother, because mortals exist."
Then they fell silent and enjoyed the sea of clouds flowing like an ocean beneath their feet.