From the first moment of his existence, Yu Huang, the Jade Emperor, has sought only to enlighten and uplift both man and god. Kind, intelligent and wise, he devoted himself to helping the needy and showed respect to all living things. This was more difficult than one might imagine, for at this time the world was more dangerous.
Monsters and demons prowled the lands of men, and defied the will of the gods. The Heavenly Court was in disarray, and the gods had no leader to unite them. The Jade Emperor had not become emperor yet.
In this time, Yu Huang roamed the world as a demigod, helping those mortals that he could. But even his great powers could not contend with the sheer number of fell beings who haunted the earth. Heartsick and weary, he retreated to a mountain cave, where he spent the next several millennia cultivating his Dao.
But during this period there arose a great king among the demons who tormented the world. This demon king wished to rule the heavens and the earth, and made war upon the gods. The gods resisted and the demon king went into seclusion to expand its power through dark sorceries and twisted rites. After several millennia it returned at the head of an army of all the foulest things in creation, and resumed its conquest of existence, leading its army into the heavens to do battle with the gods themselves. But it did not do so unopposed – for the Jade Emperor had returned as well.
Even as the gods fell to the might of the demon king, Yu Huang ascended to the heavens and challenged the creature. Their duel shook the very pillars of heaven and the world itself nearly perished in the ensuing conflagration. In the end, the demon king was defeated – not by the might of Yu Huang, but rather by his benevolence and wisdom. The creature fell from the heavens, and only the gods know where it now rests.
In the aftermath, mortal and god alike acclaimed their savior the sovereign of sovereigns, and ruler of all creation. The Jade Emperor had ascended to his throne.
