The Immortal Court's Grand Gathering Draws Myriad Immortals; Dongwang Gong's Moment of Glory; Is Someone Causing Trouble? (Continued)

Then he patted Ao Chen on the shoulder, his tone carrying the condescending praise of someone bestowing a favor, as if an elder were complimenting a junior:

"Not bad. You're much more sensible than your old man! You know how to read the situation!"

"Since that's settled, let's get moving! We don't have time to wait around here! The Immortal Court Grand Ceremony is about to begin. If we're late, your Dragon Race won't be able to bear the consequences! If the Sovereign Lord blames you, well, well..."

Ao Chen sneered inwardly, but kept his face impassive. He merely shot Ao Guang a meaningful glance.

Ao Guang didn't understand what he meant, but trusted Ao Chen's strength, so he immediately caught on. He forced a smile at Star Lord Chang Geng.

"Rest assured, Immortal Envoy. I'll go make the preparations now! I certainly won't delay the Immortal Court Grand Ceremony!"

With that, he hurried off, ostensibly to prepare, but in truth to pick out some flashy-looking treasures from the treasury that weren't worth too much, just to make up the numbers.

He understood it now. The Ao Chen brothers weren't going to give a gift at all. They were going to deliver a "grand gift" to the Immortal Court!

Still, he couldn't figure out why Ao Chen had to go to the Immortal Court in person. They could strike back at any time. Wasn't this practically walking into a trap? The Immortal Court's grand gathering was when it was at its strongest.

Before long, Ao Guang returned to the main hall, wearing just the right amount of respect and a hint of reluctance. He held several jade boxes that shimmered with flowing light.

"Immortal Envoy Chang Geng, sorry for the wait."

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

"This is the lower-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the 'Condensing Sea Pearl.' It contains a trace of the origin of water and is a small token of my Dragon Race's regard for the Immortal Envoy. I hope you won't find it lacking."

Star Lord Chang Geng took the box and swept it with his divine sense. After confirming that it was indeed a lower-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, though he felt even more disdainful inside.

"Hmph, the Dragon Race really has fallen. They think a lower-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure is a grand gift to bribe me with. Still, it's better than nothing."

He casually slipped the Condensing Sea Pearl into his sleeve without saying more.

Next, Ao Guang took out several fist-sized, unusual immortal fruits radiating rich Innate Spiritual Qi and handed them to the several Taiyi Golden Immortal attendants behind Star Lord Chang Geng.

"These are the 'Ten Thousand Year Coral Fruits,' treasures kept in my Dragon Palace. They weren't borne by a Spiritual Root, but they did absorb the essence of the East Sea's water veins over ten thousand years. They should help our Taiyi friends stabilize their cultivation. They're nothing much, just a token of our regard."

The Taiyi Golden Immortals had looked arrogant at first, but when they saw these fine-looking Innate Spirit Fruits, a hint of greed flashed in their eyes. They accepted them without hesitation, though they still showed Ao Guang little respect.

Only after all this was done did Ao Guang seem to steel himself. He took a deep breath and presented the last two, largest jade boxes to Star Lord Chang Geng, speaking with utmost solemnity:

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

He carefully opened the first jade box. Inside lay a blue treasure fan, its radiance flowing and its surface rippling like water. Powerful fluctuations of Innate Water laws emanated from it. Restrictions swirled across its surface—it was unmistakably a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

"This is the 'Sea Covering Fan,' a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and a legacy treasure of my Dragon Palace. A single wave can summon the power of the Four Seas, and its might is boundless!"

Ao Guang explained, showing just the right hint of reluctance and heartache.

Star Lord Chang Geng's eyes lit up the moment he saw the high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

Even within his Immortal Court, a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure counted as a great treasure. The Dragon Race really was like a lean camel being bigger than a horse—they still had some wealth!

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

Inside was no magical treasure, but a small tree about three feet tall, its entire form emerald green and its leaves like carved jade. It radiated abundant vitality and the Dao-rhythm of Innate Yi Wood. A clump of unusual soil glowing with five-colored light surrounded its roots.

"This is the 'Green Wave Blue Wood,' a high-grade Innate Spiritual Root! It's rooted in Five-Colored Breathing Soil, and every ten thousand years it bears three 'Green Wood Dao Fruits.' Eating one can deepen one's understanding of the laws of water and wood!"

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

Star Lord Chang Geng was thoroughly astonished. Even among the top great powers who had listened to the Dao at Zixiao Palace, treasures of this caliber were rare!

"Good, good, good!" Star Lord Chang Geng nodded repeatedly, his arrogance almost entirely replaced by delight.

"King Ao Guang truly understands the greater good! With such a generous gift, the Sovereign Lord and West Queen Mother will certainly be overjoyed!"

But inwardly, he sneered. "Hmph, to hand over treasures like these so easily, the Dragon Race must be scared out of their wits. They're all show and no substance!"

"So wealthy, yet so cowardly. They deserve to be supplanted by my Immortal Court! Once the Immortal Court has taken full control of the Four Seas, I'll empty the Dragon Palace Treasury completely!"

As if the gifts still weren't enough to show his sincerity, Ao Guang took out a jade slip and handed it to Star Lord Chang Geng.

"Immortal Envoy, this is a map of a newly discovered Geng Metal Ore Vein beneath the waters of my East Sea. The vein isn't very large, but the Geng Metal within is exceptionally pure. I offer it to the Immortal Court as well, to help the Sovereign Lord forge immortal weapons!"

A Geng Metal Ore Vein—though it was only a map, its value was still beyond measure!

Star Lord Chang Geng took the jade slip and swept it with his divine sense. After confirming it was accurate, his smile grew as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum.

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

In his view, the Dragon Race was giving everything it had to curry favor with the Immortal Court, hoping to eke out a pitiful existence. They were truly foolish and spineless.

"Rest assured, King Ao Guang!" Star Lord Chang Geng carefully put away all the gifts and thumped his chest as he promised.

"I'll report your Dragon Race's goodwill to the Sovereign Lord exactly as it is! As for the Immortal Envoy who went missing earlier, there must have been some misunderstanding. I'll put in a good word for your Dragon Race, too!"

"Thank you, Immortal Envoy! Thank you, Immortal Envoy!" Ao Guang bowed repeatedly, overcome with gratitude.

Ao Chen stood to one side and hadn't said a word from beginning to end. He simply watched everything, the faintest trace of a cold smile on his lips.

"All right, it's getting late. We should set off." Star Lord Chang Geng put away the gifts, then waved at Ao Chen in high spirits.

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

"Yes, Immortal Envoy," Ao Chen replied respectfully, as if he really were just a Dragon Race junior going to deliver gifts to the Immortal Court.

Ao Guang watched Ao Chen's retreating figure, his heart a tangle of worry and a strange anticipation.

Above the East Sea, immortal energy drifted and auspicious clouds stretched across the sky.

Yingzhou Immortal Island, once desolate, had now been transformed beyond recognition.

Under the lavish renovations of East King Duke, a Quasi-Sage Great Power, the entire island was cloaked in dense Innate Spiritual Qi. Palaces and pavilions stretched across it, golden light blazed in countless rays, and auspicious purple mists billowed everywhere.

Exotic flowers and herbs competed in splendor, while rare birds and beasts could be found everywhere. Immortal cranes soared through the sky and spirit deer bounded across the island. The whole place exuded the grandeur of an immortal realm, no less impressive than the former Heavenly Court of the Demon Race.

Today was the Immortal Court Establishment Ceremony!

The entire Yingzhou Immortal Island was decked out in festive colors, immortal music filled the air, and countless immortals and gods converged from every corner of the Primordial Wilderness.

Across the sky, streaks of light in every color flashed like a meteor shower. Clouds gathered in clusters, and treasures shimmered with radiance.

There were carefree immortals riding cranes, great cultivators traveling in jeweled carriages, groups of disciples from secluded abodes, and reclusive masters who came alone...

Some had been drawn by East King Duke's title as "Head of Male Immortals," others by Dao Ancestor Hongjun's decree. Some simply wanted to witness the splendor of this rising power, while others hoped to find an opportunity at the grand gathering...

In short, Yingzhou Immortal Island was truly hosting ten thousand immortals, in a spectacle without precedent!

The carefree immortals who had joined the Immortal Court long ago were especially proud, basking in the honor of the occasion.

They stood at various spots around the island, guiding guests or maintaining order, their faces bright with pride and excitement.

Once, these wandering cultivators without connections or backing had struggled at every turn in the Primordial Wilderness, facing rejection everywhere.

Now, with the Immortal Court as their "organization" and East King Duke, a Quasi-Sage Great Power, as their patron, they finally no longer felt like rootless duckweed. It was as if they'd found a place to belong and glimpsed a bright future!

"Hahaha! Fellow Daoists, you've come a long way. Please, come in!"

"The Immortal Court has only just been established. If anything about our hospitality falls short, please forgive us!"

Immortal officials entrusted with important duties by East King Duke were greeting guests from every direction at the island's entrance, all smiles.

As one guest after another arrived, the herald's ringing voice echoed through the sky:

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

"Daoist Chang Sheng, from East Pole Blue Wood Cliff, arrives with a bottle of 'Innate Yi Wood Essence' as a congratulatory gift!"

"Venerable Guan Chao, from the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove, arrives with three 'Thousand Year Black Tortoise Shells' as a congratulatory gift!"

Although many immortals and gods had come to witness the ceremony, most presented only ordinary treasures. The Immortal Court had only just been established, and its foundations were still unstable; no one wanted to bring out their truly precious treasures.

Just then, the herald's voice suddenly rose by eight octaves, quivering with incredulous excitement:

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

Whoa!

At those words, the entire Yingzhou Immortal Island erupted in an uproar. Every immortal and god turned to look at Ao Chen and his party, who had just arrived!

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

W-what a lavish gift!

Had the Dragon Race gone mad? Or had the Immortal Court truly frightened them so badly that they were willing to give up everything just to curry favor?

Countless complicated gazes fell on Ao Chen—astonishment, greed, confusion, and schadenfreude.

Even East King Duke, seated in the Immortal Court's main hall and receiving the immortals' worship, couldn't hide his joy when he heard about the gifts!

"Good! Very good, East Sea Dragon Palace! Very good, Ao Guang!" East King Duke laughed heartily, clapping his hands. His voice carried across the entire island. ...

"The Dragon Race understands the greater good and follows the will of Heaven. These generous gifts prove how sincerely they wish to submit to the Immortal Court!"

"Pass down my decree: once the ceremony is over, we must reward the Dragon Race handsomely, to demonstrate both the benevolence and the authority of my Immortal Court!"

He was even more pleased with himself inwardly. It seemed his earlier show of force had worked! The Dragon Race really knew how to behave. They had handed over precious treasures with such ease. He would have to bring them fully under his control and make them a vassal of the Immortal Court!

He hadn't even looked properly at Ao Chen, the one who'd brought the gifts. In his eyes, an insignificant Heavenly Immortal envoy wasn't worth the attention of the Immortal Court's ruler.

However, just as the immortals of the Immortal Court were discussing the Dragon Race's "generous gifts" and East King Duke was basking in his triumph—

RUMBLE—!!!