Three Pure Ones: Who Do You Think You Are, East Prince Gong? Giving You Face?

East Prince Gong glanced in the direction the Three Pure Ones had departed, a thick resentment festering in his heart.

But no matter how furious he was, he dared not show it on his face.

Though arrogant and conceited, he was no fool—in the Dao Ancestor's eyes, he was at best a useful tool.

The Three Pure Ones, however, were the Dao Ancestor's Personal Disciples, future ordained saints.

Even if he had grievances, he had to swallow them.

Now his gaze shifted to Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun; these two were also key targets for his recruitment, for they were well-known as the Primordial Wilderness's most agreeable old souls, easy to talk to.

If they joined, it would set an example for others.

Moreover, they were both top-tier Quasi-Saint Great Experts.

But just as his eyes turned toward them—

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun rose simultaneously, exchanging a glance that conveyed their mutual understanding. After the Three Pure Ones left, they had already made up their minds.

Hong Yun chuckled and cupped his hands: "Daoist Brother East Prince Gong, we have matters to attend to—farewell!"

"Farewell!" Zhen Yuanzi also smiled and returned the gesture with a cupped fist.

Then, without giving East Prince Gong a chance to speak, they tore through the void and vanished in an instant.

Everyone present wore strange expressions.

The Three Pure Ones had shown no respect; Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun, though polite in manner, made their meaning equally clear.

East Prince Gong nearly crushed the wine cup in his hand.

His composure shattered. The two old good-natured souls he had been most confident of recruiting into his Immortal Court had pulled this stunt on him, filling him with both resentment and rage.

A mad thought even rose in his heart—if he could seize the Primordial Violet Qi that Hong Yun had obtained, wouldn't he too have a foundation for sainthood?

Then who would dare look down on him?

Once the Demon Heavenly Court was destroyed, he would make Hong Yun pay the price.

Ancestor Minghe was born from the endless Blood Sea, seeking to emulate Demon Ancestor Rahu's path of slaughter to attain the Dao, and he certainly wouldn't give East Prince Gong any face.

He snorted coldly, and the Abyss Sword tore open space; he stepped into the rift, and the void sealed shut again.

Though he said nothing, it was as if all his thoughts were written plainly on his face.

The contempt and mockery in his eyes deeply stung East Prince Gong's heart.

East Prince Gong could no longer bear it; his stiff expression darkened into a stormy scowl. To him, this was an utter humiliation.

The wine cup in his hand, filled with Immortal Jade Brew, shattered outright.

The other Quasi-Saints cast him pitying glances, then each used their own means to leave the Myriad Immortals Assembly, not even bothering to bid farewell.

Since they knew East Prince Gong's true nature, there was no need for words.

After all, whether they greeted him or not, they would incur his resentment anyway—and they had never taken East Prince Gong seriously to begin with.

When the Dao Ancestor had appointed East Prince Gong as Head of Male Immortals, many of them had been deeply dissatisfied.

Among the three thousand guests at Purple Firmament Palace, East Prince Gong ranked nowhere near the top thirty in cultivation, Origin Foundation, or moral character—yet the Dao Ancestor had made him the Head of Male Immortals.

All the Quasi-Saints who could enter the Immortal Court's main hall were renowned Great Experts.

Now everyone had left, leaving only two people behind.

They were none other than Zhunti and Jieyin of the West.

East Prince Gong secretly looked down on these two as well, but regardless, they were future saints. If he could recruit them into his camp, they would provide powerful support.

He forcibly suppressed his displeasure and forced a smile onto his face.

"Two Daoist friends, if you are willing to join my Purple Mansion Immortal Court, your status shall be second only to mine. All affairs of the Immortal Court shall be yours to command, and its members may be deployed at your will."

East Prince Gong believed the terms he offered were already extremely tempting.

Though he said their status would be second only to his, the authority he granted was effectively equal to his own—after all, the two possessed two strands of Primordial Qi, a foundation for sainthood.

If they joined, perhaps their Immortal Court would one day produce two saints.

Keeping them was like anchoring the court with two Dinghai Divine Needles, so he spared no generosity.

Zhunti's face bore a sorrowful expression as he looked at Jieyin: "Big Brother, what do you think..."

The conditions East Prince Gong offered were indeed alluring.

Their Western lands had been ravaged since the ancient Dao-Demon Conflict, when Demon Ancestor Rahu detonated the Western spiritual veins, leaving the region barren and destitute—occasionally a few stray cultivators appeared, but compared to Eastern Cultivators, they had no match in talent or Origin/Foundation.

Moreover, they knew well that the path they cultivated was not that of the Xuan Sect.

But those who are not of our Clansmen are bound to have different hearts.

They had already realized their own Dao, yet dared not reveal it.

The Xuan Sect could also be called the Dao Sect; once they showed the path in their hearts, the two of them would likely be attacked by all.

And they were truly poor.

Jieyin's countenance was solemn and majestic, yet when approached, he gave an impression of kindness and easy approachability.

He gave a slight nod and uttered a single word.

"Granted."

The joy in East Prince Gong's eyes was impossible to hide, even before he had spoken.

Jieyin continued, "The two of us can join the Purple Mansion Immortal Court. In addition to the conditions Fellow Daoist East Prince Gong has agreed to, we also require one-third of your Immortal Court's fortune."

"Furthermore, add two Innate Spiritual Treasures and cede three prefectures of land for the two of us to govern."

Though East Prince Gong had promised them free access to the Immortal Court's Treasure Vault, true treasures would never be stored there.

His words were nothing short of a lion's mouth wide open.

The others could no longer bear to listen.

And all of these people were Quasi-Saints from the Immortal Court, especially the envoy who had invited the Three Pure Ones.

He stepped forward.

"Unacceptable!"

At that, he clasped his hands in a bow, his voice trembling slightly. "Immortal Emperor, you are the Head of Male Immortals, enjoying the sole fortune of the Purple Mansion Immortal Court. If you give away a third, how can you command respect?"

His meaning was clear to East Prince Gong.

Agreeing to the Two Westerners' terms would be equivalent to dividing the Immortal Court's power.

Those who had originally agreed to join the Immortal Court had done so for the fortune.

If the Two Westerners took a third, it would be a move against their interests.

The others chimed in one after another.

"Immortal Emperor, absolutely not! These Two Westerners harbor treacherous intentions!"

Everyone could see it, but East Prince Gong did not think that far.

He was arrogant by nature, and now even more eager for quick gains, unwilling to heed anyone's advice.

After only a moment's deliberation, he waved his sleeve grandly, disregarding all dissuasion, and said directly, "I accept the conditions of the Two Westerners."

His thought was that one must risk loss to gain.

The Demon Heavenly Court was eyeing them covetously, and he knew he was no match for them, relying only on his righteous standing and identity as Head of Male Immortals.

If Emperor Taiyi and Di Jun made a forceful move, who could stop them?

He could not defeat those two Mottled Birds, especially Emperor Taiyi, who was born with the Innate Supreme Treasure Chaos Bell, uniting offense and defense.

The Two Westerners joining would inject powerful strength into their side.

Even the Demon Heavenly Court would have to consider the consequences.

After all, the Two Westerners possessed the Primordial Violet Qi, the foundation for attaining sainthood.

And the mad idea in his heart, like a sprouting seed, now took root—with the Two Westerners present, he might even seize Hong Yun's Primordial Violet Qi.