East King Duke's Great Fury, Battle Against Zhunti

The Good Old Man Hong Yun comforted him: "The Western lands are barren and poor, with no Spiritual Fruits on ordinary days. What harm is there in letting him steal a few? After all, something that grows back in three months' time isn't worth rushing to Mount Sumeru to start a great battle with two quasi-sages..." Let me explain here—back then, before the sky was mended and the path to heaven was severed, time flowed the same everywhere. The Ginseng Fruit's ten-thousand-year ripening cycle only came later, when one day in heaven equaled one year on earth.

Great Immortal Zhen Yuan nodded and said: "Those two shameless immortals are utterly despicable. Hong Yun, you should never have given up your seat to them back then. They don't deserve it."

Hong Yun nodded and replied: "I never imagined they could sink to such depths of shamelessness."

While Great Immortal Zhen Yuan didn't come to blows with Mount Sumeru, over on Penglai Island, East King Duke couldn't hold back any longer. The moment he returned and saw the Immortal Court burned down, he flew into a rage and cursed: "What the hell have you all been doing? You let someone strip Penglai Island even poorer than Mount Sumeru..."

Xing Luo, the strongest among the Immortal Court's Primordial Unity Golden Immortals, stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, this isn't because we're incompetent, but because the enemy was too formidable. Despite being at the same Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, that man was wreathed in golden light. With a wave of his hand, he swept out a seven-colored precious radiance that could brush away anything—truly, we were no match for him..."

East King Duke muttered upon hearing this: "A wave of the hand brings seven-colored precious light, a body wrapped in golden radiance for protection, and incredible speed... Did any of you manage to capture a trace of his aura?"

Xing Luo raised his hand and handed over a clump of magical power: "Your Majesty, this is a strand of his magical energy that I strained every effort to intercept."

"Bodhi Sarira Light? Aaahhh..." East King Duke sensed it briefly, recognized the magical fluctuation, and instantly concluded that Zhunti was responsible. He roared in fury. Hearing the shout, Ao Guang appeared directly and said: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty, the East King Duke, Head of Male Immortals. Some time ago, Penglai Island was attacked by a villain. Fearing misunderstandings, I secretly recorded it." With that, he handed over a Shadow Recording Stone.

East King Duke saw that the figure in the Shadow Recording Stone was indeed Zhunti, chuckled coldly, and said: "You little dragon have done well..." He then took out a jujube and said: "This is a Fire Jujube from Penglai Island, rich in spiritual energy. Eating it can offset a thousand years of bitter cultivation. Take it as your reward."

Ao Guang accepted the Fire Jujube, cursing inwardly: "Damn it, you call yourself the Head of Male Immortals? No wonder your Immortal Court can't attract any top-tier powerhouses. I recorded evidence of Zhunti burning your island for you, and all you give me is a lousy jujube? Tight-fisted bastard."

And so, after delivering the Shadow Recording Stone, Ao Guang returned to the East Sea Dragon Palace and sent a voice transmission to Yun Ting: "Boss, it's done. East King Duke now knows that Zhunti burned his Penglai Island. But Boss, the reason Zhunti burned Penglai Island... won't East King Duke start to suspect?"

Yun Ting was just about to find an excuse to help Di Jun and the others establish the Demon Heavenly Court when he received Ao Guang's transmission. He thought to himself: "Indeed, if I let East King Duke have time to ponder, wouldn't that... Hmm, I need to go add fuel to the fire."

With that thought, Yun Ting transformed into a streak of light. In no time, above Penglai Island, Yun Ting laughed heartily and said: "East King Duke, you fool, your Dao field's been burned and you're still here barking? I heard the news and came straight over to watch the show. Hah, your Dao field gets torched and you don't even dare to seek revenge—some 'outstanding figure' you are. And you call yourself the Head of Male Immortals... Spare the male immortals of the Primordial Wilderness the embarrassment."

At these words, East King Duke couldn't hold back any longer and roared: "You bastard Yun Ting! Last time your father came to save you, but this time, there's no peaceful resolution. Don't you run, you brat..."

Yun Ting chuckled, took out the Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, and held it over his head: "Last time I went out without bringing my magic treasure, and you old bastard bullied me. This time, I came with my pagoda, and I'm here to piss you off. If you've got the guts, come hit me... nyah nyah nyah..."

This infuriated East King Duke so much that he couldn't think about anything else. He had been considering why Zhunti would burn his Dao field, but now he cast that aside and bellowed: "All Immortal Court Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals, assemble! We march on Mount Sumeru to teach Jieyin and Zhunti a lesson!"

And so, the Immortal Court's forces surged toward Mount Sumeru in full force. Great Immortal Zhen Yuan watched East King Duke launch an attack on Mount Sumeru and said cheerfully: "Hong Yun, it seems that scoundrel Zhunti didn't just steal from my Wuzhuang Temple alone..."

Hong Yun nodded: "Indeed. This East King Duke was personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor as the Head of Male Immortals—his might is truly not to be underestimated..."

In the Blood Sea, Ancestor Minghe laughed heartily and muttered: "Ah, the Blood Sea is still the best. No one bothers to come here and steal anything. Hmm, I keep all my treasures on me. There's nothing here but blood water and mosquitoes. If Zhunti really came to steal, I'd accept it even if he took some random thing... Best if those mosquitoes follow him away—can't kill 'em, can't drive 'em off, and they leech off the Blood Sea's fortune. Damn near drives this humble Taoist mad."