At East King Duke's thunderous shout, purple qi suddenly surged across the sky above Purple Mansion. A mighty torrent of purple qi seemed to transform into a streak of light and shoot toward the Chaos Bell.
Gold and purple clashed in an instant!
The impact sent the Chaos Bell flying. Eastern Emperor Taiyi caught it and immediately tossed it back into the sky.
His hands swiftly formed hand seals, while Great Dao Laws surged wildly across the Chaos Bell. Chains of law wound around it, adding to its imposing presence.
East King Duke watched this unfold and groaned inwardly. What in the world was happening?!
Though he was groaning inside, his hands never stopped moving. Purple light shimmered on the Dragon Head Staff. With a shout, East King Duke hurled it into the torrent of purple qi.
The purple torrent, carrying the Dragon Head Staff, transformed into a giant purple dragon and charged at the Chaos Bell.
The purple dragon opened its enormous jaws and swallowed the Chaos Bell whole. At last, a smile appeared on East King Duke's face.
The corner of Eastern Emperor Taiyi's mouth lifted in a cold smirk. Did East King Duke really think the Chaos Bell was so easy to absorb?
What an overestimation of his own abilities!
Eastern Emperor Taiyi beckoned with one hand. The Chaos Bell suddenly burst through the purple dragon's belly and transformed back into a streak of light, flying into his hand.
The smile on East King Duke's face had not even fully faded before it froze.
"Give up struggling, East King Duke!" Di Jun roared.
Then two balls of light gradually came into focus above Di Jun's head: the River Diagram and Luo Book!
East King Duke swung the Dragon Head Staff in his hand, purple qi stretching thirty thousand miles around him!
Under ordinary circumstances, this move alone would have been more than enough. But Eastern Emperor Taiyi and Di Jun had come with the firm resolve to kill him.
They showed no intention of holding back!
The River Diagram and Luo Book manifested all things in the primordial world. The two spiritual treasures sent streaks of light into the Nine Heavens Star River. In moments, mountains and rivers appeared all around East King Duke.
The Nine Heavens Star River swept along with them as they surged toward East King Duke!
East King Duke's heart shuddered. Those two really meant to kill him!
He couldn't fight them head-on!
At once, East King Duke transformed into a streak of light and fled into the distance.
The area below Purple Mansion had been completely enveloped by demonic qi. The demon army had stormed through Purple Mansion's gates. East King Duke had indeed spent the past several thousand years building up Purple Mansion, but the demon army was simply too numerous. One man couldn't fight off so many!
"Where is the Mansion Lord?"
"Mansion Lord, save us!"
Cries for help came intermittently from Purple Mansion, unaware that their Mansion Lord, East King Duke, had already run for his life.
As for Purple Mansion, East King Duke firmly believed one thing: as long as the green hills remained, there would be no shortage of firewood.
"Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, I'll remember this. Once I go to Zixiao Palace and pay my respects to my Master, I'll make you pay!" East King Duke muttered to himself.
He didn't slow down for a moment!
"Demon clan disciples, heed my command! Kill every last member of Purple Mansion!" Eastern Emperor Taiyi barked, then immediately chased after East King Duke.
Di Jun followed close behind. They had more than enough experience with leaving no survivors.
They were practically old hands at it.
Before long, word that Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi had personally led an army to Purple Mansion had spread throughout the primordial world.
That day, Taotie had just accompanied Ye Jun to ransack another cave dwelling. They had made quite a haul.
"Master, we're heading in the direction of Zixiao Palace," Taotie rumbled.
Having been with Ye Jun for so long, Taotie knew his master seemed to have a bit of a grudge against the only Sage in this primordial world.
That was why he asked.
"It's fine. That's exactly where I'm going," Ye Jun replied calmly.
"Master, is there someone you're waiting for?" Taotie asked.
Ye Jun nodded lightly but said nothing more. It didn't take much thought to guess who would be heading to Zixiao Palace at a time like this.
Ye Jun had only just arrived when he heard shouting and cursing from not far away.
"East King Duke, you're supposedly the Head of Male Immortals appointed by a Sage. Have the guts to stop running and face me!"
The moment Taotie heard that familiar voice, he knew who it was. Wasn't that Eastern Emperor Taiyi?
It sounded as if Eastern Emperor Taiyi was chasing someone!
Ye Jun raised an eyebrow. Hadn't he arrived at just the right time?
Once Eastern Emperor Taiyi drew closer, Ye Jun and Taotie could see what was happening clearly. Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were pursuing East King Duke together.
East King Duke, who had originally worn a splendid yellow robe, was now dressed in rags, his face filled with worry.
Anyone who saw him like this would never believe he was the former lord of Purple Mansion and Head of Male Immortals.
He couldn't even spare a retort to Eastern Emperor Taiyi's taunts. At a time like this, fleeing was what mattered.
"Master, could that fellow be East King Duke, the Head of Male Immortals?" Taotie rumbled.
Ye Jun smiled. "Why don't we stop him and ask?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi transformed into Three-legged Golden Crows and caught up with East King Duke. A single palm strike sent him spitting blood.
Ye Jun had spotted the three of them, and Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi had spotted Ye Jun as well.
"Fellow Daoist Ye Jun, save me!" East King Duke suddenly felt he had a chance to survive after all.
He had completely forgotten how often he had caused trouble for Ye Jun in the past.
Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi shifted their attention to Ye Jun, and couldn't help feeling a headache coming on.
How could they keep running into this fellow? The problem was that he was shameless and unreasonable.
If he really set his mind on protecting East King Duke, should they fight or let him go?
Could they even win if they fought?
Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi had already imagined all sorts of possible outcomes.
Ye Jun smiled and spoke slowly. "Well, if it isn't our esteemed Head of Male Immortals, Lord East King Duke! How did you end up in such a sorry state?"
East King Duke looked embarrassed, but had no time to react to the sarcasm in Ye Jun's words.
"Fellow Daoist Ye Jun, I know you're incredibly powerful. If you're willing to help me, I'll repay you handsomely!" East King Duke said urgently.
"Get lost!" Ye Jun barked.
Ye Jun then turned to Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi with a mocking smile. "Fellow Daoists, I'll stay out of this. Do as you please!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, the Dragon Head Staff flew out of East King Duke's hand and landed neatly in Ye Jun's.
"This man is as good as dead. It would be a waste to leave the Dragon Head Staff with him, so I'll hold on to it for you. You two don't mind, do you?" Ye Jun said calmly.
Before you continue