Because the artist passed away ☹️💔

The Demon Lord and Nanke? I mean common, Demon Lord is obviously still alive, he must be. Such a major character won't be killed off, of script.

You tell them boi!! Show those ignorant pieces of shiiiets not to mess with CC

I think the Empress is thinking of a coexistence between Demons and humans, and the Demon Lord probably thinks the same, thus proving his inaction the long recent years, well until CC showed up. Him getting hurt lead to his commanders growing uneasy and their hatred is starting to take root. So if Empress and demon Lord dies then the world will be plunged into chaos once again. Daoist Ji and the Pope goal is humanity conquering, while Empress and Demon Lord is coexistence between all races, which everyone is against. Well that's my theory at least.

So they plan to Sacrifice CC to the Divine Empress, and use that reason to overthrow her and place CC senior brother on the throne.

Seems like CC is a living fruit/pil which heals any injury or increases the cultivation level of divine beings, and when the Demon Lords says he's not ripe yet probably mean that when his blood becomes ripe (when he turns 20) is the day he's ultimately fated to die. Due to all divine beings wants to consume him. This is just my guess 😁