Ch. 722Dijun Focused on Building His Empire
Key plot points and events
- Hong Yun and Zhenyuanzi remain inside Wuzhuang Temple while more than a thousand Daluo Golden Immortals watch Longevity Mountain. Hong Yun enters seclusion to contemplate the Primordial Violet Qi; Zhenyuanzi agrees that leaving would be suicidal.
- Cundi and Receiver arrive but, seeing the hostile forces and recognizing the danger to themselves, leave to return to Mount Sumeru and study the Primordial Violet Qi they already possess.
- Dijun and Taiyi also withdraw to focus on building their faction and acquiring Fortune. They leave a small force behind to monitor Longevity Mountain and report any changes.
- Over ten thousand years, the watchers dwindle to a few dozen, but the threat remains. Zhenyuanzi keeps the Earth Book’s protective formation active, despite its slow drain on Longevity Mountain’s Fortune, and enters seclusion to strengthen his understanding of the Source Great Dao.
- Across the Primordial World, growing populations and rival factions fuel wars over territory and Fortune. The Dragon Clan retains prestige but has lost much of its control over the Four Seas.
- Dijun and Taiyi’s expanding power and Fortune boost their cultivation, but barely improve their understanding of the Source Great Dao. They delegate routine affairs so they can devote more time to study.
Character developments and interactions
- Hong Yun remains cautious and accepts Zhenyuanzi’s protection rather than risking an escape.
- Zhenyuanzi shows deep loyalty to his friend, sacrificing Longevity Mountain’s Fortune and accepting the long-term danger of keeping the formation active.
- Cundi and Receiver judge the siege too dangerous and prioritize developing what they already have over chasing more Primordial Violet Qi.
- Dijun and Taiyi are pragmatic empire-builders: they pursue Fortune and power, maintain surveillance through subordinates, and recognize that strength without comprehension is unstable.
- Zhenyuanzi and Hong Yun’s friendship is defined by mutual reliance, while Dijun’s relationship with his followers is more strategic, relying on delegation and reports.
Significant themes
- Power versus understanding: Fortune can rapidly increase strength, but genuine insight into the Source Great Dao requires time and effort.
- Fortune as the engine of conflict: Individuals, factions, and races compete for it, driving widespread warfare.
- Loyalty and sacrifice: Zhenyuanzi’s protection of Hong Yun comes at a real cost.
- Patience and strategic retreat: Cundi and Receiver withdraw rather than gamble on a dangerous opportunity; Dijun and Taiyi shift from pursuit to empire-building when immediate gains prove impossible.