No Profit, No Early Rising; Leveraging Power for Gain, Scheming?

Demon Race Heavenly Court, Lingxiao Hall.

News arrived that Jieyin and Zhunti of the Western Realm had joined the Immortal Court.

"How infuriating!"

"Jieyin and Zhunti have openly joined the Immortal Court?"

"Do they mean to make enemies of our Demon Race?"

Donghuang Taiyi ground his teeth in anger.

He never expected that Jieyin and Zhunti would make such a choice, siding with East King Duke's Immortal Court.

"Elder Brother."

"What benefits do you suppose East King Duke gave Jieyin and Zhunti to sway them into joining the Immortal Court camp?"

Hearing Donghuang Taiyi's question, Dijun narrowed his eyes slightly, wearing a thoughtful expression.

After pondering for a moment, he shook his head and said:

"I do not know!"

"There seems to have been no connection between the Western Realm and the Immortal Court."

"But now, those two from the West have chosen to join the Immortal Court—truly unexpected!"

As he spoke, Dijun's expression grew heavy with concern.

After all, his Demon Race Heavenly Court had only managed to invite Nuwa and Fuxi to join.

And Nuwa was also a future Saint.

Earlier, Dijun had received word that East King Duke sent envoys to Kunlun Mountain to invite the Three Pure Ones.

But unfortunately, the Three Pure Ones showed East King Duke no face at all, even slapping the Immortal Court's envoy out of Kunlun Mountain.

Dijun had thoroughly mocked East King Duke for that.

After all, when Hongjun finished his third sermon, Dijun had invited the Three Pure Ones to the Heavenly Court as guests.

During that time, he naturally brought up the matter of inviting them to join the Demon Race camp.

But the Three Pure Ones gave them no face and refused on the spot.

Though Dijun and Taiyi were furious and resentful, they dared not voice their anger.

They couldn't defeat the Three Pure Ones.

Moreover, the Three Pure Ones held the supreme treasures bestowed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Fortunately, they later succeeded in inviting Nuwa, which at least gave the Demon Race a Saint to rely on in the future.

What Dijun hadn't expected was that East King Duke would come up with such an idea—sending men all the way to Mount Sumeru in the Western Realm.

And the key was that he actually succeeded in inviting Jieyin and Zhunti, two Quasi-Saints.

Just as Dijun was lost in thought, Fuxi slowly stepped forward and said:

"Yao Emperor!"

"Jieyin and Zhunti of the Western Realm have always been ones who never lift a finger without profit."

"Their joining the Immortal Court must harbor some scheme."

"For the Immortal Court, this may not be a good thing at all."

Hearing Fuxi's words, Dijun and Taiyi's expressions eased slightly.

Taiyi nodded and said:

"Xi Huang speaks truly."

"Jieyin and Zhunti are deeply calculating."

"As I see it, those two are by no means sincerely submitting to the Immortal Court. They may simply be borrowing its momentum for their own gain!"

Dijun listened and nodded slightly.

Though he felt that what Fuxi and Taiyi said made sense, deep in his heart, he was still uneasy.

After all, the two from the West joining the Immortal Court would inevitably boost its fortune greatly.

That was ultimately unfavorable for the Demon Race.

After a moment's thought, a glint of resolve flashed in Dijun's eyes.

He mused that he himself might have to make a trip down to the mortal world.

Kunlun Mountain.

On a cloud platform shrouded in immortal mist, the Three Pure Ones had also received the news.

"Oh?"

"Jieyin and Zhunti actually joined the Immortal Court?"

Tongtian was somewhat surprised.

In his view, Jieyin and Zhunti were like them—future candidates for Sainthood.

How could beings like that submit to another's rule?

Yet Jieyin and Zhunti had chosen to join the Immortal Court at this very moment.

Yuanshi frowned slightly, unable to hold back a sharp rebuke:

"These two are truly shameless!"

"For a bit of gain, they willingly become the Immortal Court's lackeys?"

"I am ashamed to be associated with them!"

Hearing their words, Taishang narrowed his eyes and said with a smile:

"The Western Realm has always been barren, difficult to prosper."

"If those two chose to join the Immortal Court, they likely have other schemes."

At Taishang's remark, Yuanshi and Tongtian nodded, finding his reasoning sound.

They understood in their hearts.

The Western duo's entry into the Immortal Court was no willing submission; behind it, there was bound to be their own machinations.

Wuzhuang Temple.

Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun sat across from each other beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, sipping tea in leisurely contentment.

"Elder Brother, the Western Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti have actually joined the Immortal Court."

"Now that's something new!"

Hongyun said with a smile, looking at Zhenyuanzi.

Zhenyuanzi paid it no mind, saying calmly:

"Worthy Brother, the conflict between the Heavenly Court and the Immortal Court will likely only intensify from here."

"But let them make their noise."

"You and I are free and at ease—what could be better?"

Hearing this, Hongyun stroked his beard and chuckled, saying:

"Elder Brother speaks truly."

"Let them fight over the disputes of the Primordial Land."

Before this, both the Heavenly Court and the Immortal Court had come to them.

Naturally, they wanted to recruit them into their respective camps.

But both Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun had refused.

Nether Blood Sea.

The entire Blood Sea stretched tens of thousands of miles, its waves churning with blood, where no fish or shrimp thrived, no birds or insects came.

All the world's baleful qi gathered here.

This place was formed from the navel of Great God Pangu.

Within the Blood Sea, a placenta was naturally conceived, later transforming into Ancestor Minghe.

At this moment, amid the surging Blood Sea, Ancestor Minghe sat cross-legged atop the Twelve-Pin Karmic Fire Red Lotus, bloodlight flickering in his eyes.

"Jieyin and Zhunti actually joined the Immortal Court?"

"Those two never lift a finger without profit."

"And the Immortal Court is proclaiming this news far and wide across the Primordial World."

"How ridiculous!"

With that, Ancestor Minghe gave a cold laugh, then closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.

As the Immortal Court announced to the Primordial World that Jieyin and Zhunti had joined, a massive upheaval swept across the entire Primordial Land.

Just as East King Duke had anticipated.

After the news spread, many Free Cultivators chose to pledge themselves to the Immortal Court.

Beyond that, various races and living beings also opted to join the Immortal Court Camp.

In their view, the Immortal Court would soon have two Saints in its ranks, destined to rule the Primordial World.

And East King Duke would become the sovereign of the Primordial Land.

The Immortal Court's prestige was unmatched at the time, and its fortune was growing wildly.

Seeing this, East King Duke was naturally overjoyed, and he became even more unscrupulous in recruiting forces from all sides to expand his power.

Meanwhile, at the location of Qin Mu and Duobao.

Earlier, after the two had refined and absorbed the Yellow Central Plums, each had greatly improved their strength.

After leaving, they continued their treasure-hunting journey.

With Duobao's Treasure Hunting Talent, the two had gathered no small amount of heavenly materials and earthly treasures along the way.

"Duobao, this haul isn't small!"

Qin Mu glanced at Duobao and grinned.

The two had just ransacked the treasury of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, obtaining many treasures from it.

Hearing what Qin Mu said, Duobao smiled smugly, puffed out his chest, and said:

"Of course!"

"With my Treasure Hunting Talent, all the treasures of the Primordial Wilderness fall into our hands!"

Qin Mu smiled faintly, then shifted his gaze, and in the distance, a towering mountain peak could be seen piercing into the clouds.

That place was Buzhou Mountain!

As he observed, Qin Mu silently sighed: "Soon, we're almost there!"