Upon hearing the words of the East Prince, Dakang was secretly delighted, but his face showed an even greater sorrow.
He lifted his face, streaked with tears, sobbing, his voice broken and intermittent with emotion:
"Your Immortal Lord... I, your subordinate, respectfully went to Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain to deliver the invitation to the grand ceremony of the Immortal Court's establishment... But... but unexpectedly..."
Dakang took a deep breath, as if he were enduring a great humiliation.
"Unexpectedly, that old man Zhenyuanzi not only kept the Sect Gate tightly shut, refusing to see anyone, but also sent out harsh words through the protective array! He... he said...' The Immortal Court? The East Prince? Hmph! Just a fame-seeking scoundrel, what is he anyway?'"
Do you think you're worthy of my personal attention?
"Let him come to Wuzhuang Temple and knock on the door himself!" His words were utterly contemptuous and disrespectful towards the Immortal Court, towards you, Immortal Lord, and towards your supreme position!
Dakang beat his chest and stamped his feet, his words filled with "loyalty and indignation": "I was so angry that the Immortal Court and the Immortal Lord had suffered such a great humiliation, so I suppressed my anger and went forward to argue with him. I explained that the Immortal Lord was personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor Head of Male Immortals, and that the Immortal Court... But that Zhenyuanzi... actually... actually launched a sudden attack!"
A beam of divine Wutu Divine Light burst forth from the formation, carrying a killing intent capable of shattering the earth and mountains, aiming directly for the lives of its subordinates!
If it weren't for my quick reaction and desperate escape, burning my life essence... I would already be... I would already be gone, my soul scattered, my body nowhere to be found outside Wuzhuang Temple!
Immortal Lord!
Immortal Lord to see the truth and seek justice for your subordinates and for the Immortal Court!
After speaking, she burst into tears again, sobbing uncontrollably, truly showing signs of having countless grievances that could not be resolved.
"Is what Zhenyuanzi said true?!"
The cold words, like sharp blades formed from the icy cold of the netherworld, were spat out from between the teeth of the East Prince.
The air in the entire Myriad Immortals Hall seemed to freeze instantly, and a chilling pressure spread out, causing even the flames of the immortal candles in the hall to flicker.
Dakang's heart skipped a beat, knowing the time was right. He abruptly looked up, his eyes filled with grief and indignation yet "resolute," and with a gesture of swearing an oath to the heavens, he loudly proclaimed:
"Your Immortal Lord! Everything I have said is true, and every word is written in blood!"
If even a single word is false or fabricated, may I willingly suffer the wrath of Heavenly Dao, die and be annihilated, never to be reborn!
I have personally heard and witnessed Zhenyuanzi's contempt for the Immortal Court and his humiliation of the Immortal Lord! This hatred and disgrace are so great that even if all the waters of the Three Rivers and Five Lakes were poured out, they could not wash away even a fraction of it!
He sneered inwardly. Zhenyuanzi did indeed despise the Immortal Court, a fact acknowledged by Heavenly Dao itself. As for other details, he certainly wouldn't make any oaths...
"Excellent! Excellent! Well done, Zhenyuanzi!"
The East Prince, enraged, laughed and abruptly rose from his jade throne!
His wide sleeves moved without wind, fluttering and rustling, and his surging immortal power shook the spiritual mist inside the hall, causing it to churn endlessly!
His eyes burned with a furious fire, and deep within that fire, a cold-blooded murderous intent leaped, a desire to vent and establish authority after his authority had been challenged.
"Do you really think that by wielding the Earth Book you can disregard the Dao Ancestor's decrees and show no respect for the Immortal Court?"
Do you really think that just because he's one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches and Qing Huan, I can't do anything to him? Wishful thinking!
"The Immortal Court will repay today's humiliation a hundredfold!"
The voice of the East Prince was like thunder from the heavens, echoing throughout the vast Myriad Immortals Hall, proclaiming his cold and ruthless determination to kill.
"The day our Immortal Court is established and its grand ceremony is successfully completed will be the day when Wuzhuang Temple is reduced to dust and Zhenyuanzi perishes and his Dao is extinguished!"
This is the first battle in which the Immortal Court establishes its Primordial Wilderness! If we do not slay this scoundrel and raze the Wuzhuang Temple, how can our East Prince and our Immortal Court have the face to rule Primordial Wilderness primordial world and govern all the Gathering of Immortals on behalf of the Dao Ancestor?
Under the Myriad Immortals Formation, even Sage would be troubled for a while. A Zhenyuanzi is just right to be used as a sacrifice for the flag!
"Your subordinate kowtows in gratitude to the Immortal Lord grace! Your Immortal Lord might is unparalleled, and your discerning eyes are all-seeing; you are truly a model for us all!"
The ruthlessness and ecstasy deep in Dakang's eyes were almost impossible to conceal.
He immediately stopped crying, nimbly got up, his face full of a grateful and fawning smile, like the most docile raccoon, and trotted over to the throne of the East Prince.
With utmost naturalness, he picked up a cup of Nectar and Ambrosia, rich in spiritual energy, from the jade Jade Plate beside him, bowed deeply, and presented it to the East Prince with utmost respect:
"Immortal Lord, please calm your anger. It's not worth ruining your immortal body for such an ignorant fool. Please, Immortal Lord, have some tea to soothe your throat."
The East Prince glanced at the respectful Dakang, and the chilling killing intent that had filled the hall seemed to subside slightly.
As he accepted the jade cup, the warm, spiritual energy emanating from his fingertips calmed the anger in his heart somewhat.
Dakang's cultivation level may not be top-notch, but his ability to read people and flatter them is indeed very useful to him, especially at this crucial moment when he is about to reach the top.
"Um."
The East Prince took a sip of the spiritual tea, his expression softening slightly, and he stroked his long beard with satisfaction.
"Dakang, you are excellent. You are a pillar of our Immortal Court and one of the core array eyes of the Myriad Immortals Great Formation, indispensable to us."
"I have always been fair in my actions, rewarding and punishing without discrimination, and I would never let my loyal followers feel disheartened."
His tone was clearly reassuring and showed him great respect.
Dakang lowered his head even further, his posture so humble it was almost insignificant.
"Yes, yes, yes! To be so valued and trusted by the Immortal Lord is a blessing and an unparalleled honor for your subordinates and all your Immortal Court!"
Without your foresight and guidance, Immortal Lord, we would still be those wandering, aimless cultivators on the shores of the Eastern Sea, struggling to make ends meet! Your Immortal Lord is like giving us a second life!
Dakang, with his silver tongue, flattered the East Prince to the point of utter delight.
"Hehe..." East Prince stroked his beard and chuckled, his face showing even more pride, as if he could already foresee the magnificent scene of the Immortal Court's power Primordial Wilderness.
Unseen by anyone, a venomous, ruthless glint flashed suddenly in the depths of Dakang's seemingly humble and docile eyes, so fast it was almost an illusion:
' Zhenyuanzi... you old scoundrel... this time we'll see how you die! The power of the Myriad Immortals Great Formation is far beyond what those brute-force-only Ancestral Witch of the Witch Clan can match! Using someone else to do your dirty work...!'
A surge of vengeful pleasure and a sly grin of triumph welled up within him, like a venomous snake silently flicking its tongue in the shadows.
Just then--
"Reporting to the Immortal Lord!" A guard in silver armor strode into the hall, breaking the delicate atmosphere, and announced in a loud voice:
"The Dragon King of the East Sea requests an audience outside the palace, bringing gifts!"
"Um?"
The East Prince paused in his jade cup, his brows furrowed slightly, and his majestic gaze turned toward the palace gate.
"The East Sea Dragon Clan? What brings you to my Penglai Immortal Island at this time?"
He quickly calculated in his mind: although the Dragon Clan had lost its ancient glory and now lived in seclusion across the Four Seas, its foundations were deep and its whereabouts were mysterious. Was its sudden visit with gifts simply to offer congratulations?
Or was there another motive? For a moment, even he, with his deepest thoughts, was somewhat puzzled.
A glint flashed in Dakang's eyes, but he immediately concealed all his unusual expression and reverted to his loyal servant demeanor, wholeheartedly devoted to the Immortal Lord.
He turned slightly to the side, leaning closer to East Prince, his voice low yet carrying just the right amount of reminder and temptation.