Primordial Wilderness: Mythical Grand Unity, Saints Beg Me Not to Show Off

Then he patted Ao Chen on the shoulder, his tone carrying a condescending praise, as if an elder commending a junior:

"Not bad, you're much more sensible than your old man here! You know how to read the room!"

"Since that's the case, make it quick! We don't have time to wait around here! The Immortal Court Establishment Ceremony is imminent—if you delay the hour, your Dragon Clan won't be able to bear the consequences! When the Sovereign Lord lays down his punishment, hmph..."

Ao Chen sneered coldly in his heart, but his face remained impassive as he shot a glance at Ao Guang.

Though Ao Guang didn't understand, trusting in Ao Chen's strength, he quickly caught on and forced a smile at Star Lord Chang Geng.

"Rest assured, Celestial Envoy, I'll prepare it at once! I certainly won't delay the Immortal Court Establishment Ceremony!"

With that, he hurried away, actually heading to the treasury to pick out some flashy spiritual items of modest value to fill the quota.

He now saw clearly—Ao Chen wasn't here to send gifts; he was going to deliver a 'grand gift' to the Immortal Court!

Still, he couldn't figure out why Ao Chen would willingly head to the Immortal Court when he could strike back anytime. Wasn't that walking into a trap? The Immortal Court's grand gathering was when it was at its strongest.

Before long, Ao Guang returned to the hall, his face bearing just the right amount of deference and a hint of pain, holding several jade boxes shimmering with light.

"Celestial Envoy Chang Geng, sorry to keep you waiting."

Ao Guang presented the jade boxes one by one, first handing a smaller one to Star Lord Chang Geng.

"This is a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the 'Condensing Sea Pearl.' It contains a trace of the Water Origin, a small token of My Dragon Clan's regard for the Celestial Envoy. I hope you won't disdain it."

Star Lord Chang Geng took the jade box, swept it with his divine sense, confirmed it was indeed a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, and a satisfied smile crept onto his face, though inwardly he grew even more contemptuous.

"Hmph, a fallen Dragon Clan indeed—offering a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure as a bribe. Better than nothing, I suppose."

He casually tucked the Condensing Sea Pearl into his sleeve without another word.

Next, Ao Guang produced several fist-sized, strange immortal fruits radiating dense Innate Spiritual Qi, handing them to the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal attendants behind Star Lord Chang Geng.

"These are the 'Ten Thousand Year Coral Fruits' from our Dragon Palace's collection. Though not born from a spiritual root, they've absorbed the essence of the East Sea's ten-thousand-year water veins. They may slightly aid fellow Primordial Unity cultivators in stabilizing their realms. A humble offering."

Those Primordial Unity Golden Immortals, initially haughty, now saw the extraordinary immortal fruits and a flicker of greed flashed in their eyes. They took them without ceremony, though their faces toward Ao Guang remained sour.

After all this, Ao Guang seemed to steel himself with great resolve, took a deep breath, and presented the last two largest jade boxes before Star Lord Chang Geng, his expression solemn.

"Celestial Envoy, these two items are the East Sea Dragon Palace's gifts for the Immortal Court Establishment Ceremony, presented to Sovereign Lord East King Duke and West Queen Mother!"

He carefully opened the first jade box, revealing a blue fan glowing with treasure light, rippling with water, and radiating powerful innate water-attribute law fluctuations! Its prohibitions swirled—clearly a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

"This is the 'Sea Covering Fan,' a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, a heirloom of our Dragon Palace. With a wave, it can summon the power of the Four Seas, its might boundless!"

Ao Guang introduced it, his face showing a timely hint of pain and reluctance.

Star Lord Chang Geng's eyes lit up at the sight of this high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

A high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure was a significant treasure even in his Immortal Court. The Dragon Clan truly was a dying camel bigger than a horse—they still had reserves!

Before Star Lord Chang Geng could examine it closely, Ao Guang opened the second jade box.

Inside was not a treasure, but a sapling about three feet tall, entirely emerald green, its leaves like carved jade, exuding dense vitality and innate Wood Dao resonance. Its roots were wrapped in a clump of strange soil glowing with five-colored light.

"This is the 'Green Wave Blue Wood,' a high-grade Innate Spiritual Root! It's planted in Five-Colored Breathing Soil, bearing three 'Green Wood Dao Fruits' every ten thousand years. Eating them enhances comprehension of the Water and Wood law systems!"

A high-grade Innate Spiritual Root, complete with Five-Colored Breathing Soil!

Star Lord Chang Geng was thoroughly moved. Such treasures were rare even among the top powers who attended lectures at the Purple Cloud Palace!

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!" Star Lord Chang Geng nodded repeatedly, his haughty demeanor nearly entirely replaced by delight.

"Dragon King Ao Guang truly understands the greater good! With such generous gifts, the Sovereign Lord and the Queen Mother will surely be overjoyed!"

But inwardly, he sneered: "Hmph, giving away such treasures so easily—the Dragon Clan must be scared out of their wits, all bark and no bite!"

"So wealthy yet so cowardly—no wonder my Immortal Court is replacing them! Once we fully control the Four Seas, we'll strip the Dragon Palace treasury bare!"

As if not yet satisfied, Ao Guang produced a jade slip and handed it to Star Lord Chang Geng.

"Celestial Envoy, this is a map of a newly discovered Geng Metal Ore Vein beneath the East Sea. Though not vast, the Geng Metal essence within is extremely pure. I offer it to the Immortal Court as well, to aid the Sovereign Lord in forging immortal weapons!"

A Geng Metal Ore Vein—though just a map—was still of immeasurable value!

Star Lord Chang Geng took the jade slip, swept it with his divine sense, confirmed it was genuine, and his smile bloomed like a chrysanthemum in full flower.

He looked at Ao Guang with satisfaction, and even deeper contempt.

In his eyes, the Dragon Clan was emptying its coffers to grovel before the Immortal Court, begging for a reprieve—utterly foolish and pathetic.

"Dragon King Ao Guang, rest assured!" Star Lord Chang Geng carefully stowed all the gifts, patting his chest in assurance.

"Your Dragon Clan's sincerity, I will faithfully report to the Sovereign Lord! As for the earlier disappearance of the Celestial Envoy, it must have been a misunderstanding—I'll put in a good word for the Dragon Clan!"

"Thank you, Celestial Envoy! Thank you!" Ao Guang bowed hastily, tears of gratitude streaming.

Standing to the side, Ao Chen had not spoken a word throughout, merely watching it all with a faint, barely perceptible sneer on his lips.

"Alright, time's short—we should set off." Star Lord Chang Geng, in high spirits after receiving the gifts, beckoned to Ao Chen.

"You, young one, since you're delivering the gifts, come with us to Yingzhou Immortal Island!"

"Yes, Celestial Envoy." Ao Chen replied respectfully, as if he were merely a Dragon Clan junior sent to present gifts.

Ao Guang watched Ao Chen's retreating figure, his heart a tangle of emotions—both worry and a faint, inexplicable anticipation.

Above the East Sea, immortal mists drifted, a thousand auspicious rays shimmering.

The once barren Yingzhou Immortal Island had now been utterly transformed.

Under the relentless reconstruction efforts of East King Duke, a Quasi-Sage of immense power, the entire island was shrouded in dense Innate Spiritual Qi. Upon it rose jade towers and jeweled pavilions, a rolling range of immortal palaces and halls, golden light streaming in ten thousand beams amidst crimson clouds, auspicious vapors surging in a thousand strands of purple mist.

Countless exotic flowers and rare herbs vied for splendor; precious birds and strange beasts could be seen everywhere. Immortal cranes soared through the sky, spirit deer raced across the ground—a grand and glorious scene of celestial majesty, rivaling even the former Heavenly Court of the Demon Race.

Today was precisely the day of the Immortal Court Establishment Ceremony!

The entire Yingzhou Immortal Island was decked with lanterns and bunting, immortal music swirling in the air. Countless immortals and gods converged from every corner of the Primordial Wilderness.

In the sky, streaks of escaping light in every color streaked past like meteor showers. Clusters of auspicious clouds drifted, radiant treasures flashing.

There were ethereal wandering immortals riding cranes, mighty cultivators seated in jeweled palanquins, groups of disciples from various caves and estates, and solitary recluses of profound cultivation...

Some were drawn by East King Duke's reputation as "Head of Male Immortals," others cowed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun's imperial decree, some simply curious to witness the momentum of this rising power, and still others hoping to seek opportunities at this grand gathering...

In short, at this moment, Yingzhou Immortal Island truly lived up to the name "Ten Thousand Immortals Paying Court"—a spectacle unprecedented in scale!

Those wandering immortals who had already joined the Immortal Court now held their heads high, basking in reflected glory.

Stationed across the island, guiding guests or maintaining order, their faces beamed with pride and excitement.

Not long ago, they had been rootless cultivators with no backing or background, struggling step by step through the Primordial Wilderness, constantly marginalized.

Now, with the Immortal Court as their "organization" and East King Duke, a Quasi-Sage, as their pillar, they finally felt they were no longer drifting duckweed. They had found belonging, glimpsed a bright future!

"Hahaha, fellow Daoists have traveled from afar—please, come in!"

"The Immortal Court has just been established; if our hospitality falls short, we beg your indulgence!"

Some immortal officials entrusted with important duties by East King Duke greeted the arriving guests with spring-like smiles at the island's entrance.

As guest after guest arrived, the herald's piercing voice rang out across the clouds:

"True Person Du E, wandering cultivator from West Kunlun, presents a pair of 'Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade' as a congratulatory gift—arrived!"

"Daoist Chang Sheng from East Pole Green Wood Cliff, presents a bottle of 'Innate Yi Wood Essence' as a congratulatory gift—arrived!"

"Venerable Guan Chao from South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove, presents three slices of 'Thousand Year Black Tortoise Shell' as a congratulatory gift—arrived!"

Though many immortals and gods came to observe, most offered only ordinary spiritual items. After all, the Immortal Court had just been established, its foundations unsteady—no one was willing to part with true treasures.

Just then, the herald's voice shot up a full octave, trembling with disbelief:

"Ao Guang, Dragon King of the East Sea Dragon Palace, sends emissary Ao Chen bearing gifts: one top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the 'Sea Covering Fan'! One top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, the 'Green Wave Blue Wood'! One top-grade Geng Metal Ore Vein! Arrived!"

Whoosh—!!!

At these words, the entire Yingzhou Immortal Island erupted in uproar. Every immortal and god turned their gaze as one toward Ao Chen and his party, who had just arrived!

A top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure! A top-grade Innate Spiritual Root! A Geng Metal Ore Vein!

This... this was far too extravagant, wasn't it?

Had the Dragon Race gone mad? Or had they truly been frightened out of their wits by the Immortal Court, willing to bankrupt themselves to curry favor?

Countless complex gazes fell upon Ao Chen—shock, greed, confusion, and even schadenfreude.

Even East King Duke, seated high in the main hall of the Immortal Court receiving the worship of the assembled immortals, could not suppress the wild joy spreading across his face upon hearing this gift!

"Excellent! Excellent, East Sea Dragon Palace! Excellent, Ao Guang!" East King Duke clapped and laughed, his voice carrying across the entire island.

"The Dragon Race understands righteousness, conforms to the times, and presents such heavy gifts—this shows their sincere submission to the Immortal Court!"

"Let this Sovereign Lord's decree be known: after the ceremony, the Dragon Race shall be richly rewarded, to manifest the grace and might of Our Immortal Court!"

In his heart, he was even more smug. It seemed his earlier pressure had worked! The Dragon Race was indeed sensible, yielding such treasures so easily. In the future, he would bring them completely under his control, making them vassals of the Immortal Court!

He did not even deign to glance at Ao Chen, the gift-bearer. In his eyes, a mere Heavenly Immortal emissary was not worth the attention of the Immortal Court's master.

Yet, just as the immortals of the court buzzed with discussion over the Dragon Race's "generous gift," and East King Duke basked in his triumph...

Boom—!!!