In this period, he had come to understand Heavenly Court more deeply, but the more he understood, the more he realized what a colossal entity it was.

Being able to join such a powerful force also thrilled Liu Ming immensely.

"Liu Ming, have you finished your work? Let’s grab a drink!" Lu Shu called out with a smile on his face.

After all, the two of them had entered Heavenly Court at the same time and both were craftsmen in the Heavenly Forge Bureau, so they naturally had a closer relationship and often went drinking together.

Given the stringent rules in Heavenly Court, these craftsmen were not usually allowed to go out at will, and their living area was confined within the boundaries of the Heavenly Forge Bureau.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Forge Bureau was vast, and these craftsmen, who were passionately devoted to their research, seldom wished to venture out.

Hearing this, Liu Ming put down the material in his hands and said with a smile, "I won’t go today. There are still a few key points I haven’t figured out. Definitely next time."

Upon hearing this, Lu Shu said with a laugh, "Among us, you go the least. Forget it, we’ll go. I heard that today there is Jade Liquor flowing from His Majesty’s palace, the taste..."

However, Liu Ming still smiled and shook his head, as he was not that obsessed with fine liquor.

For him, nothing was more captivating than acquiring knowledge. During this period, he would take time every day to enter the mysterious Book Pavilion, browse through its books, and immerse himself in the ocean of knowledge.

He did not know how much time had passed when Liu Ming slowly put down the book in his hands and rubbed his swollen forehead, aware that his time here had come.

"Are these Peaches really as magical as written in this book? It’s a pity that small figures like us have no right to attend the Peach Banquet. Otherwise, I’d really like to taste the flavor of this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root."

Muttering to himself, Liu Ming slowly opened his eyes, sitting cross-legged in his room. The bed opposite him was empty; it seemed Lu Shu hadn’t returned yet.

Just then, Lu Shu’s voice came from outside the door: "Liu Ming, you really missed out on something great today by not going. That Jade Liquor truly deserves to be enjoyed only by His Majesty and the Various Star Lords, the taste was absolutely incredible."

He seemed to still be savoring the aftertaste.

Seeing this, Liu Ming smiled and shook his head. Lu Shu, perhaps because of his prominent background, was incredibly passionate about fine liquors and never hesitated to indulge in a drinking invitation.

As for himself, he did not care for drinking at all. He was someone determined to become a supreme craftsman; drinking could cause his hands to be less steady.

"Did you know, something big happened in the West," Lu Shu suddenly said in a mysterious tone, sitting on his own bed.

Liu Ming knew his good friend was quite the gossip, and the places he often went to drink tended to be well-informed; they could quickly learn of significant events occurring in the Three Realms.

"Oh, what’s the big news? Doesn’t the West have the Buddhist Sect?" Liu Ming was also intrigued.

After all, in the strictly governed Heavenly Court, this counted as a rare form of entertainment. Moreover, from the books in the Book Pavilion, he knew of the strength of the Buddhist Sect, an entity that could indeed stand toe-to-toe with Heavenly Court.

Such a place could give rise to major events that might affect the overall situation in the Three Realms.

Thus, he pricked up his ears and listened carefully to Lu Shu’s explanation.

Seeing Liu Ming’s behavior, Lu Shu felt a great sense of satisfaction, which allowed him to gossip even more freely. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"You wouldn’t believe it, but Demon King Mara has escaped!" Lu Shu said in a deliberately lowered voice.

"Demon King Mara!" Liu Ming asked in shock.

He knew of this entity’s reputation. That was the mighty being entangled in karma with the Buddha of the West, said to be a collective of negative thoughts in Heaven and Earth, immensely powerful, yet he had vanished after being defeated by the Buddha, leaving behind only harsh words. He had not expected to hear news of him now.

"You actually know of him!" Lu Shu was also somewhat shocked.

He had only just heard the name Mara, after all. The tyrant had been suppressed for so long that many in the Three Realms had forgotten him.

However, Liu Ming had heard of him, and knowing this about his old friend was truly astonishing.

"I once read about him in an ancient book. It said he had tried to obstruct the path when the Tathagata Buddha was attaining enlightenment and, after failing, he left with harsh words."

"Yes, but what no one knew was that he had been suppressed by the Buddha beneath Mount Ling. Even more shocking is that he managed to escape from Mount Ling this time."

"This is indeed a serious matter. I have heard that what this Demon King is best at is beguiling people’s hearts. If human desires do not cease, they will be tainted by demonic qi and transform into demon heads who only know slaughter. His escape may not be a blessing for the Three Realms," Liu Ming said, somewhat worried.

Those who could be called Demon Kings were hardly the merciful type. It might be that the Three Realms were about to witness a surge of gore and bloodshed.

"This is the strangest part. After the Demon King broke free, he caused a great uproar in Mount Ling and took the lives of many monks. Despite the Various Buddhas and the Four Great Bodhisattvas arriving together from Mount Ling, he still managed to escape, remaining beyond the reach of the law. Yet, strangely enough, this unparalleled demon head has never stepped half a foot into the East," Lu Shu said with a smile.

"It shows that he is wary of the strength of the Heavenly Court. If he were to oppose both the Buddhist Sect and the Heavenly Court at the same time, it would be difficult for him to preserve himself," Liu Ming said, his eyes lighting up.

"Exactly, and this time, with Demon King Mara’s emergence, the Buddhist Sect has been greatly weakened and no longer possesses the strength to contend with our Heavenly Court. From now on, the Heavenly Court will be the strongest force in the Three Realms," Lu Shu said proudly.

Liu Ming also showed a face full of joy. As craftsmen of the Heavenly Forge Bureau, they naturally shared in the Heavenly Court’s identity; the glory of the Heavenly Court was their glory, and the strength of the Heavenly Court was their strength.

"I feel terrible for the people of the Xiniu Continent, though. I’ve heard that this Demon King has wreaked havoc there, turning many into demon heads. Now the Buddhist Sect is constantly embroiled with him and has no energy left to spread their teachings in the east. Many monks have begun packing their bags to return to Mount Ling," Lu Shu said with a sigh.

While drinking, he had heard from several colleagues about the terrible plight of the people in Xiniu Continent, which also saddened him. Facing such a situation, one as weak as him had no chance to resist.

Liu Ming heard this and remained silent. They both came from the Mortal World and naturally understood the sufferings of mortals. They could empathize with the plight of the people in Xiniu Continent, but being of low power themselves, they could do nothing but sigh in helplessness.

Meanwhile, Lin Fang, concealed within Liu Ming’s ring, also heard the news. Unlike Liu Ming and Lu Shu, Lin Fang knew far more secrets of the Three Realms and was more familiar with these powers. So, he quickly realized that behind the chaos at Mount Ling, hidden forces were orchestrating everything.