Male Immortal Leader? Female Immortal Leader?
The faces of Di Jun and Taiyi, the two future Heavenly Emperors, were black as pot bottoms—worse than when the gourd had flown away. Their Demon Race was about to rule heaven and earth and establish a supreme Demon Court, so what was this sudden "Male Immortal Leader" supposed to mean? Dividing power? Keeping them in check? What was the Heavenly Dao trying to do?
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances as well, their eyes flickering as they pondered something unknown. In any case, the West was barren, with hardly any immortals for someone to "lead," so it did not concern them for the moment.
The Three Pure Ones remained calm. They were Pangu's True Lineage and future Saints; the position of "Immortal Leader" was not enough to catch their attention. Still, they felt that the Heavenly Dao's move must carry some deeper meaning.
Nuwa frowned slightly. She was a future Saint and also a powerful female cultivator, so she found the appointment of a "Female Immortal Leader" somewhat subtle, but she said nothing.
The Witch Race had the strongest reaction!
"What the hell? Male Immortal Leader? Female Immortal Leader?" Gonggong dug at his ear, looking as though he could not believe what he had heard. "They wanna govern heaven and earth, and now they wanna govern our Witch Race too? We cultivate our bloodlines and bodies, not that damn primordial-spirit immortal path! What the hell does it have to do with us?"
Zhurong sneered and jerked his chin toward Di Jun and Taiyi. "Heh heh, somebody's gonna have trouble sleeping! That title sounds pretty damn impressive! Mangy Birds, when you see East King Duke in the future, do you have to salute and call him 'Chief'?"
Di Jun and Taiyi were so enraged by the Witch Race's mockery that they nearly coughed up three pints of blood! Today had truly been cursed—they had failed to claim the gourd, and now a nominal "superior" had appeared out of nowhere. Though it was only an empty title for now, it still grated on them! Especially when their mortal enemies, the Witch Race, were laughing at them like this!
Taiyi's knuckles turned white around the Chaos Bell. He wanted nothing more than to crush that East King Duke to death, then sew shut the mouths of the barbarians below!
Watching the scene become lively once more because of the Heavenly Dao's sudden personnel appointment, Chen Song was delighted.
"Nice, nice, so that's how we're playing it? The gourds get handed out, and then leadership gets parachuted in to mess with the future Demon Race Heavenly Court. Chairman Hongjun really knows how to keep things balanced! Looks like the waters of the prehistoric world are only getting murkier. This is getting more and more entertaining!"
The Heavenly Dao's decree was like a massive stone cast into a tranquil lake, sending ripples through the hearts of the great powers gathered at Buzhou Mountain's foot. Everyone wore different expressions and harbored different thoughts. Most did not immediately state their positions, merely committing this sudden "personnel appointment" to memory as they made their own calculations.
The fastest to react was unexpectedly the one who had just been personally appointed "Male Immortal Leader"—East King Duke!
A handsome Daoist in a luxurious purple robe emerged from nearby, visibly excited. An air of innate pure-yang nobility rested between his brows. First, he respectfully bowed toward the void and proclaimed, "Dong Hua accepts the Dao Ancestor's decree! I shall faithfully fulfill my duties, organize the order of the prehistoric world's male immortals, and not fail Heaven's grace!"
Then, his eyes blazing, he immediately searched the crowd for the "colleague" appointed alongside him—West Queen Mother.
Before long, his gaze settled on a female immortal with a cool, elegant bearing, faint Taiyin Immortal Qi curling around her. West Queen Mother seemed somewhat stunned by this sudden "appointment" as well. Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, and she showed none of East King Duke's excitement.
East King Duke paid that no mind. He believed himself burdened with the great responsibility of being the "Male Immortal Leader of the prehistoric world," and his ambitions burned bright. This was precisely the time to make his mark. He straightened his robes, wore what he considered a genial smile, and strode quickly over to West Queen Mother before cupping his hands.
"Fellow Daoist West Queen Mother, you and I have now received the Dao Ancestor's favor and been entrusted with managing the immortal path of the prehistoric world. This is supreme glory, but also a heavy responsibility! In my view, we should work together, establish the framework of an Immortal Court as soon as possible, recruit wandering immortals from every direction, formulate immortal regulations, and put the duty of these 'Immortal Leaders' into practice! Why don't we join hands at once, discuss the grand plan, and choose a site for our court?" The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as though he could already see ten thousand immortals paying court and the Immortal Court shaking the prehistoric world with its might.
However, West Queen Mother merely gave him an indifferent glance. Her cool voice was like snow atop Kunlun Mountain. "I appreciate your goodwill, Fellow Daoist. However, I am naturally fond of peace and quiet and am not skilled in worldly affairs. Though the Dao Ancestor has appointed me, I fear I am unequal to the task. As for establishing an Immortal Court and recruiting immortals, Fellow Daoist may decide such matters himself. I have no intention of participating."
With that, she gave a slight nod, then transformed into a cool beam of Taiyin immortal light and flew directly toward West Kunlun. East King Duke was left standing there alone, his outstretched hand frozen in midair and the smile on his face completely stiffened. The scene became exceedingly awkward.
Seeing this, Di Jun and Taiyi curled their lips into undisguised sneers. The Witch Race erupted into merciless laughter.
"Hahaha! A hot face slapped against a cold ass!"
"A bare commander wants to recruit people? She doesn't give a damn!"
"Hey, hey, hey! You two Mangy Birds, aren't you going to answer your chief's summons? Hahaha!"
Di Jun and Taiyi's faces turned livid. Why were these damned Witch Race barbarians so foul-mouthed? Sooner or later, they would smash all their mouths to pieces!
With a cold snort, Di Jun and Taiyi turned into streaks of golden light and fled.
East King Duke's face alternated between green and white. He felt even more embarrassed than Di Jun and Taiyi had when they were mocked earlier. Suppressing his shame and anger, he snorted heavily. "Hmph! The narrow-minded views of a woman who knows nothing of the bigger picture! Even without you, West Queen Mother, I, Dong Hua, can still establish the Immortal Court and make my name resound throughout the prehistoric world!"
Having said that, he too felt too humiliated to remain. Turning into a streak of pure-yang light, he hurried away in a rather sorry state.
The Three Pure Ones took Chen Song, who had thoroughly enjoyed the show, and rode clouds back to Kunlun.
On the way, Tongtian was still clicking his tongue in amazement. "Senior Disciple Nephew, did you understand? When fighting over treasures, it isn't always just about strength. You also need luck, timing, and sometimes... whoever can disgust the other side more! Look at those Witch Race fellows, hahaha!"
Chen Song nodded deeply in agreement. "Third Martial Uncle is right! This disciple has learned! In the future, when I fight over... ah, no, when I form karmic bonds with spiritual treasures, I must bring along a few people with foul mouths!"
At the same time, he wondered whether he should train that stupid dog Big White after returning.
Laozi and Yuanshi: "..."
East King Duke, who had been utterly insignificant at the Buzhou Mountain gourd-distribution gathering and had finally been appointed Male Immortal Leader only for no one to pay him any attention, did not return to Penglai in the East Sea.
Instead, he truly began traveling everywhere, using the title of "Dao Ancestor-appointed Male Immortal Leader" to recruit followers.
And sure enough, there were always those in the prehistoric world who came because of his reputation or hoped to profit from the situation. Combined with his own genuine foundation and strength, after much effort, he really did establish the beginnings of an "Immortal Court" on Penglai Immortal Island in the East Sea. For a time, it drew the attention of many wandering immortals, and his momentum seemed unmatched.
Meanwhile, after West Queen Mother returned to the Jade Pool Immortal Realm in West Kunlun, she did not make a grand spectacle of things like East King Duke. After considering the matter again and again, she felt that although she did not wish to involve herself in worldly affairs, the Dao Ancestor's appointment was no trivial matter, and ignoring it entirely would be inappropriate. Several days later, she prepared gifts and personally visited the Three Pure Ones at Kunlun Mountain, both as a neighborly visit and to seek their guidance.
Three Pure Ones Dojo, before the Thatched Hut.
West Queen Mother exchanged formal greetings with the Three Pure Ones and sincerely expressed that she disliked turmoil, wished only to cultivate in peace, and was deeply troubled by the empty title of "Female Immortal Leader."
Laozi remained silent and composed. Yuanshi nodded slightly in understanding, while Tongtian found this "neighbor" rather interesting—not as ostentatious as East King Duke.
As the Three Pure Ones' only disciple at present, Chen Song naturally served tea and poured water at the side, acting as little more than background decoration.
Listening to West Queen Mother's troubles and observing her cool, unworldly temperament, then thinking of East King Duke frantically running around to build his "Immortal Court," Chen Song could only shake his head inwardly. East King Duke is such a clueless workplace rookie. The boss gives him a title, and he treats it like an imperial sword of authority without even noticing how many old schemers are around him...
West Queen Mother is the one who truly understands. She knows that the bird that sticks its head out gets shot first.
Just as West Queen Mother was preparing to leave, Chen Song seemed to casually tidy up the tea set and muttered in a low voice. It was not loud, yet it happened to be audible to West Queen Mother.
"Sigh, titles can sometimes be like a hot potato. It burns when you hold it, but if you throw it away, you worry that the boss will be unhappy..."
"Better to learn from certain seniors—find some beautiful, secluded place, shut the door, and cultivate on your own. As long as you don't take the initiative to shoulder responsibilities, no matter how grand the title is, it's only a title... No one said that having your name on the roster means you have to work 996, right, Big White?"
Big White, who had been dozing nearby, groggily raised his head. "Woof? What's 996? A new flavor of pine nut?"
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