The palace was opulent. Cut granite tiles shone under multiple chandeliers filled with expensive beeswax candles. Pillars of deep mahogany etched with gold symbols held up the lofty ceiling, which seemed to reach the clouds. Tables of inlaid mahogany and ebony lined the central aisle, only one of which was currently occupied today. Large windows looked out on mountain views reminiscent of paintings created by ancient masters. It was a glorious hall.

It was hard to believe this was a demonic sect.

The Shenshanjiao* Leader sat on an elegant throne carved from the same granite as the tiles. Its stark white brilliance appeared to emerge from the floor and was inlaid with exquisite gems that twinkled beneath the lights. In contrast, the leader wore dark blue robes of the finest silk. Majestic mountains were embroidered on the edges and even adorned his bilious sleeves. His dark hair was pulled into a tight topknot held with a sapphire crown and matching pin, drawing attention to his long face. Deep set, calculating brown eyes rested curiously on his guest, and his thin lips curved in a slight smile. One might imagine he was a doting uncle, but imagination is far from the truth.

Guangzhi swirled his wine glass of cut emerald, various rings sparkling on his fingers, and addressed his surprise guest. 'It has been a long time since you've graced us with your presence, Chu Haoyu.'

Chu Haoyu sat politely at the nearest table just to the left of the leader. He was impeccably dressed in a rich robe of white over a daring red underrobe. Its fine tailoring drew attention to his broad shoulders and muscular chest, a subtle reminder of his status as an expert martial artist. His hair rested softly on his shoulders in a half topknot held by his favorite red ribbon. He could be the young master of any number of noble houses, rather than the rogue cultivator that he was.

He smiled an acknowledgment to the sect leader, 'This is true Sect Leader.'

The sect leader looked down his long nose at Chu Haoyu. 'I believe the last anyone heard of you was at the Battle of Serpents, where you managed to disappear into the aether. Many thought you dead.'

Chu Haoyu picked up his own emerald glass and chuckled as he took a sip. Lowering the glass, he grinned at the sect leader and gave a nonchalant shrug, 'We had already lost. There was no point in staying around just to be annihilated by the righteous sects and clans.'

'Yes,' Guangzhi leaned forward, his eyes glittering. 'Especially when you had gotten such a fine war prize, hmm?'

Chu Haoyu's face darkened, and he carefully set the glass on the table before him. 'What I do in my own time is my business.' His voice was low, but he made it clear that this was not a subject open for discussion.

The sect leader laughed at the obviously displeased look on Chu Haoyu's face. It was rare to get such a reaction from the powerful cultivator. 'You are right. It is your business.' He set his own glass down and steepled his fingers together, his eyes still smiling, 'Speaking of business, why have you come to my sect?'

'I have recently come upon some information that might be of interest to all of the Immortal Sects.' He lifted his glass to his lips once more and noted the attention he now had from the sect leader. Good. He needed to get as many sects as possible for what he had in mind, and the Spirit Mountain leader was easiest to persuade.

He set down the glass once again and sat back with his arms across his chest. 'Tell me sect leader, how long has it been since your sect was able to gather new disciples from the mortal realm?'

Startled by this unexpected question, the sect leader considered the question honestly. He ran through what he knew of the latest disciples in his mind and frowned when his calculations gave him the number. Truth be told, the last time they took in a new disciple was over 50 years ago. He was surprised and a little curious as to what that could mean.

'It has been a while,' he hedged, 'although I'm not quite sure what you mean by this.'

'What I mean is mortals aren't lining up to enter Immortal Sects like they used to anymore. Not just your sect, but any of the sects.' Chu Haoyu leaned forward and set his hands on the warm mahogany table in front of him. 'How long can the sects hold on when they no longer have anyone to pass on their secrets or use as convenient fodder in battles?'

Guangzhi had to admit that Chu Haoyu had a point. Without new disciples, how would the sects survive? He didn't see why it would require a meeting in person, however. 'Something like this can easily be solved with an expansion of recruitment parameters. I don't see this as a threat, just lazy disciples and elders.'

Chu Haoyu smiled. 'Really? So, you don't think there might be a reason that the mortal clans aren't encouraging their clan members to join sects anymore. Perhaps you haven't noticed that the natural opportunities that have been found recently weren't exploited by sects like yours but by mortal clans like the Lu clan.' He shook his head and made a 'tch' sound. 'In fact, in the last 100 years, none of the best opportunities was captured by a single sect. The clans have been dominating that particular field without your help.'

He leaned forward and whispered with a sly grin to the sect leader, 'They aren't impressed by you guys anymore, and they don't feel they need your guidance to ascend.' He winked and took a sip of his wine, watching as the color rose on the cheeks of the arrogant sect leader above him.

'The fact is that the mortals don't fear you immortals like they used to. They have their own family techniques, they have their own cultivation resources that they willingly supply, their cultivation levels are reaching higher and higher with every new generation, and they are rapidly gaining in strength. It won't be long before all that will be left of the sects is a few elders only capable of sweeping the halls.' Chu Haoyu sat back and let his words settle into the mind of the sect leader. Power was important to sects, but it was practically a contact sport amongst demon sects.

Guangzhi was indignant and, truth be told, alarmed. How did these things sneak up on him? Once Chu Haoyu had pointed it out, it seemed glaringly obvious. He hated to agree with him, but he was absolutely right. Something would have to be done to stop the dwindling of his sect's power and halt the forward momentum of the mortal clans.

He kept his features stony, not wanting Chu Haoyu to see that he was starting to feel a little nervous. 'So, what are you proposing?'

Chu Haoyu allowed himself a slow grin. Guangzhi was so predictable, but he needed him to help convince the other sects that this was now a matter of survival. Without that unifying motivation, the whole plan would fall apart.

'I think it's time for the sects to remind these upstarts that you are very much still alive and wield ultimate power. What are clan techniques against Immortal techniques? What are old heirlooms compared to the weapons and devices used by experts of your level?' Chu Haoyu's eyes glittered with malice at the thought of millions of mortals kneeling in his presence.

And he knew exactly which mortal would be waiting for him in his bed when he finally accepted his right as ruler.

'So, you want a war?' Guangzhi tapped the fist-sized ruby on his chair and sat back, looking at Chu Haoyu with fresh eyes. He really shouldn't be surprised. Not for the first time, he wondered why the man had never joined a demonic sect or even started his own for that matter. He rarely saw disciples or elders more attracted to mayhem and disorder than Chu Haoyu.

'It's the only way to cull the herd.' he answered coldly.

Guangzhi shook his head. 'You have always been good at persuasion, Chu Haoyu, but something tells me you aren't doing this just to help sects regain their power. So, what's in it for you? What is it you're really after.'

A flash of dark fox eyes appeared in his mind for a moment, and he swallowed reflexively. Now was not the time to let his imagination run wild. 'I want to be the emperor of the mortals when it is over. I want the leaders of all the sects to appoint me before the world officially. I will ensure that sects get the best the mortal world has to offer for disciples, and all you'll have to do is worry about your own business. I'll handle mortal affairs.'

The sect leader frowned at the blatant reach for power, but in truth, he respected him for it as well. He saw no real reason to refuse his request. In the end, they would all get what they wanted. That was really the best outcome anyone could hope for under the circumstances.

'I have no problem with this plan,' he smiled as he picked up his wine glass once again. 'But I am curious as to how you are going to convince the righteous sects to turn on mortals and work with the demon sects.'

Chu Haoyu picked his own glass up, his head slightly tilted. 'Didn't you know, sect leader?' An evil grin slowly spread across his face, 'The righteous sects are more corrupt and power hungry than any demon sect.'

Both men laughed as they raised their glasses in a toast to their new partnership, and the sky darkened around the picturesque mountains outside the fancy windows.

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*Shenshanjiao - Spirit Mountain Sect