Wang Jiu’s judgment, although carrying various subjective factors, was undeniably a truth for Zhao Chenlu.

Regarding the Demon Race issue, if the judgment by the Celestial Divine Sword is not the truth, then what else could be the truth, the Demon Emperor’s golden words?

So when Zhao Chenlu heard Wang Jiu’s conclusion, a great relief... and loss surged in her heart.

The long-awaited second war between Immortals and Demons seemed unlikely to happen.

Even if it did occur, it would certainly be many, many years in the future, at least beyond her lifetime. So that day had nothing to do with her.

Zhao Chenlu was just such a realistic yet optimistic nature.

If not, it would have been impossible for her to persistently pursue a Divine Sword that cannot reciprocate human emotions.

"Since the Demon Race is extinct, can we celebrate?"

Wang Jiu asked, "Celebrate?"

"Yes, celebrate the victory of the Immortal Demon War. Back in the day, we fought so hard to win that desperate battle, no matter what, we should have a celebration, right?"

Zhao Chenlu said, looking at Wang Jiu with a hint of anticipation, waiting for his affirmative response.

In such trivial matters, Wang Jiu usually would not refuse the suggestions of those around him because, according to Wang Jiu’s theory, he was responsible only for things he was good at, like annihilating the Demon Race. Beyond that, everything else was left to the experts.

Including any social behavior within human society.

Therefore, during the Immortal Demon War, the Celestial Divine Sword and the Jiu Immortal Venerables jointly led the Myriad Immortals Alliance to turn the tide, with the Celestial Divine Sword focused solely on combat, leaving the rest, such as uniting various sects and families, coaxing some reckless troublemakers to serve as cannon fodder... all handled by the Jiu Immortal Venerables.

Of course, victory celebrations were included.

Before the Immortal Demon War ended, although humanity always faced heavy survival pressure, victory banquets were never lacking.

Zhao Chenlu explained then that these were necessary aspects of human social interaction. Humans are fragile beings and cannot always remain calm and rational like the Celestial Divine Sword when facing changing war scenarios. They become pessimistic during disadvantage and optimistic during advantage, and these emotions need to be vented.

Thus, humans have funerals, weddings, victory banquets, and other ritual behaviors to help vent their emotions and return to a rational combat state.

In Wang Jiu’s understanding, this is like the shell ejected from an Elemental Magnetic Cannon when fired, a necessary waste. Although waste, it is necessary.

And Zhao Chenlu was intending to use this aspect to promote her own beliefs; as long as she could persuade Wang Jiu to hold a victory banquet, she would have the opportunity to advance the subsequent rituals.

According to some areas during the Jiuzhou Era—such as in Qing Province—after a grand feast, it would inevitably be accompanied by the most intimate behavior between men and women. This not only aligns with humans’ pursuit of pleasure but is also a decision based on future uncertainty and satisfaction with the present.

As long as Wang Jiu accepts this explanation—which is truthful and reasonable—Zhao Chenlu can further elaborate that hosting such a ritual must involve personal participation because sexual reproduction, for humans, is a very private activity. Even during the most avant-garde times in Qing Province, such behavior wasn’t deemed suitable for public spaces.

So, even if there’s revelry and promiscuity, it’s bound to be confined to a private area, cutting off outside connections, requiring utmost security. How can participants be assured of this security? Naturally, the convenor or host must participate as well.

Then, as the proposer of the victory banquet, Zhao Chenlu inevitably must partake.

But sexual reproduction obviously cannot be done alone, as that would appear lacking in the host’s sincerity to participate, so Zhao Chenlu naturally needed to find a partner.

And this partner can’t be just anyone. To high-level cultivators, those mortals with low cultivation are no different from inanimate objects, and mingling with them, in a sense, is still a form of self-entertainment and wouldn’t be widely recognized by participants, thereby severely affecting the quality of the victory banquet.

Moving forward, the only one qualified to match Zhao Chenlu, throughout the entire Xiangzhou Continent, is no other than Wang Jiu. As the leader and a core figure in the Immortal Demon War, Wang Jiu naturally should bear the host’s responsibility.

The logic above was rigorous and flawless, leaving Zhao Chenlu to ponder over them, failing to find any loophole or reason for Wang Jiu to refuse. In fact, during the Jiuzhou Era, she had nearly succeeded once but failed because Shang Lanfei intervened—though in retaliation, she also thwarted some of Shang Lanfei’s plans.

But now Shang Lanfei was no longer around, leading to the most exhilarating moment yet.

"There’s no need for a victory banquet."

"...Huh?"

Wang Jiu said, "I remember you mentioning that the purpose of a victory banquet is to inspire participants and observers, but as the only remaining participants, we don’t need such ceremonies for motivation, and observers no longer exist. For the people of Xiangzhou today, the Immortal Demon War is just unverified mythical stories from the Primordial Era. Given human endurance, not letting them know the truth is actually more beneficial for their development, so the victory banquet is unnecessary."