Donghua rose from the Emperor's Seat and dismissed the dancing fairies and palace maids.
"Everyone, Taiyuan must be drunk. How else could he say that the Demon Race Heavenly Court and the Twelve Demon Gods are nothing to worry about?"
"Since I came into being, what have I done for the Primordial Wilderness? What merit have I earned with Heaven and Earth? What have I done to deserve the Heavenly Emperor Position?"
"Those unworthy of their station will surely meet disaster. The Primordial World does not lack a ruler; it lacks those who have rendered great service to the Primordial Wilderness, those who teach and enlighten living beings and spread the Saintly Path far and wide, and those who love all the beings of the Primordial World."
"Today, all the leaders of the Purple Mansion are gathered here. This is a good chance to discuss what lies ahead for the Purple Mansion."
Donghua no longer held back his opinion. If Grand Origin Immortal Lord hadn't spoken so bluntly, Donghua could still have gradually influenced everyone.
They could focus on cultivation and stay out of the struggle for supremacy.
But today, Grand Origin Immortal Lord's blunt words had moved nearly everyone present.
Donghua had no choice but to stand up. Before, he'd avoided being so explicit for the sake of appearances, but now he couldn't.
"Our Purple Mansion is located above the East Sea, where the Three Islands and Ten Continents lie. It is a paradise apart from the world, and our cultivators devote themselves to quiet cultivation. I think that's a good thing."
"But quiet cultivation alone won't lead to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm or the Quasi-Saint Realm. Those among us with ambition should venture out and temper themselves on the Primordial World Continent. Those who prefer quiet cultivation may continue practicing on the Three Islands and Ten Continents."
"When we cultivators reach the Golden Immortal Realm, we can share Eternal Life with Heaven and Earth. The Primordial World nourishes Immortals and Gods, yet they give nothing back to it."
"Cultivation is also the cultivation of the heart. We cannot remain confined to the Three Islands and Ten Continents; we must venture out. I ask for no great achievements from the Purple Mansion. I only hope every one of our cultivators will contribute to the Primordial Wilderness and its people."
"We must distinguish ourselves from other factions. We will not fight for supremacy over Heaven and Earth. We will simply strive to contribute, and to establish the heart of Heaven and Earth."
"Everyone, what do you think?"
Donghua finished speaking and looked across the assembly, his face stern.
These long-lived fellows needed a good dose of persuasion. Otherwise, if they truly set their hearts on fighting for supremacy, they'd drag him into the mire with them.
"Your Majesty's words rang like thunder in my ears. I'm deeply impressed, and I'm willing to contribute to the Primordial Wilderness."
The first to step forward was someone Donghua hadn't expected: the Barefoot Immortal.
The Barefoot Immortal had come into being on Mount Fangzhang Island. When Donghua established the Purple Mansion to resist the Devil Dao cultivators, he had been the first to join him.
He could be called a true founding member of the Purple Mansion.
And yet Donghua couldn't quite read him.
According to Donghua's memories of his Previous Life, the Barefoot Immortal was still alive during Journey to the West, a frequent guest at the Heavenly Court and a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
But Donghua hadn't heard of any of the others in this hall still being around in later times.
That suggested the Barefoot Immortal had survived the Purple Mansion's eventual downfall.
But he was already a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Had he really failed to break through to the Quasi-Saint Realm after all this time?
Donghua put the thought aside. Whatever the Barefoot Immortal's motives, Donghua was confident he could keep him in check.
"Your Majesty, I agree as well."
"I agree..."
The hall filled with voices of agreement.
Donghua was pleased. He turned to Grand Origin Immortal Lord, his expression seeming to say, Brother, you're the only one left. Hurry up and make your position clear.
Grand Origin Immortal Lord stood and declared, "Your Majesty's words are truly wise. I agree, and I'm willing to be the first to leave the Purple Mansion."
Huh? What's going on, little brother? You're giving in already? Donghua could hardly believe it. He'd thought he'd have to keep persuading him, but he'd surrendered just like that.
"Good, good, good! Everyone, let's keep drinking."
"Come, let the music play, and let the dancing continue."
With everyone in agreement, Donghua was overjoyed.
Donghua roamed the River of Destiny, seeking out Desire and Obsession. He gathered them, experienced them, then slowly refined them, beginning his Slaying the Corpse cultivation.
Meanwhile, at Grand Origin Immortal Lord's palace,
several people sat together, seemingly discussing something.
"Immortal Lord, are we really giving up on persuading His Majesty to compete for the Heavenly Emperor Position?"
"That's right, Immortal Lord. Those of us gathered here have ordinary origins. We don't expect to Attain Hunyuan Dao, but we still want to become Great Powers and test the might of the Quasi-Saint Realm. That means we can only rely on the fortune of Heaven and Earth. Only with its blessing will we have a chance to advance further."
"Fellow Daoist Taiyuan, His Majesty made it clear at the banquet that he won't fight for supremacy over the Primordial Wilderness. What can we do about that?"
They chattered on and on.
Taiyuan didn't seem to mind. His face was wreathed in smiles as he pinched his beard between his thumb and fingers and stroked it.
"You're all shallow thinkers. You can't even grasp His Majesty's deeper meaning, yet you're so impatient. How will you ever achieve anything?"
After hearing Taiyuan's words, the others seemed even more confused. They exchanged glances and realized they were all just as bewildered.
"Please explain it to us, Immortal Lord."
"You haven't figured out what His Majesty really meant."
"Back then, we all thought little of the Demon Race and the Demon God Race, which is why we came to the Purple Mansion to follow His Majesty King Dong. But we have to admit that both factions are powerful now, especially in terms of their strongest fighters."
"After hearing His Majesty's words today, I immediately understood. He's already decided to replace the Demon Race Heavenly Court."
"But the time isn't right yet. We need to grow in strength slowly and avoid clashing with those two factions."
"His Majesty is truly a great talent. I'm in awe."
The others understood even less after hearing this. If anything, they looked more confused.
Their expressions seemed to ask, Did we even hear the same speech?
Taiyuan, always eager to teach, explained, "After returning from listening to the Dao, His Majesty preached the Dao to all the beings of the Purple Mansion. This sermon will surely bring explosive growth to our faction."
"Afterward, His Majesty made it quite clear that he preached the Dao with selfish motives, for his own sake. If he truly didn't want to be Heavenly Emperor, why would he preach the Dao? And how could he have done it for his own sake? He must have seen how weak the Purple Mansion's cultivators were and realized that only by preaching the Dao could he quickly strengthen them to contend with those two factions."
The others nodded in agreement. After all, preaching the Dao was no small thing. If His Majesty didn't want to become Heavenly Emperor, why would he do it so readily?
"What's more, His Majesty said at the banquet that those unworthy of their station would surely meet disaster. Isn't that a perfect description of Di Jun? If he isn't worthy, what right does Di Jun have to rule Heaven and Earth?"
"That's why His Majesty proposed contributing to the Primordial Wilderness and establishing the heart of Heaven and Earth."
"Truly a great talent! I was still wondering how we could overcome those two factions' power. His Majesty has already figured it all out and given us the answer."
"The answer is to venture out. He says we should go out to temper ourselves, but tempering requires conflict. And what's the biggest conflict in the Primordial Wilderness right now? The two factions are attacking the Myriad Races of the Primordial World, fighting for territory and resources."
"We should go out and help them, under the guise of tempering ourselves and serving the Primordial Wilderness. Then we can win their support, and when the time is right, we can compete with the Demon Race Heavenly Court."
"What could be better?"
After hearing this, the others were so excited their faces flushed.
One of them slapped his thigh. "Good, good, good! His Majesty truly is a great talent."
"Fellow Daoist, you understand His Majesty's intentions best. We're impressed."
"His Majesty is a great talent. We haven't misplaced our trust in him."
They hurried to heap on the praise, as if they could already see victory within reach.
"I never thought you, Taiyuan, would understand His Majesty's deeper purpose too. If I'd known, I wouldn't have come all this way."
As he spoke, someone walked in from outside, bare-chested and barefoot. It was the Barefoot Immortal.
"What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist? What brings you here today?"
Taiyuan rose to greet him—or rather, to be on guard. Their conversation was confidential, and the two factions absolutely mustn't learn of it. He didn't trust the Barefoot Immortal.
"I thought you, Taiyuan, only cared about fighting for supremacy over the Primordial Wilderness and didn't understand the dangers. You kept trying to persuade His Majesty, but fortunately, he saw reason and wasn't swayed." The Barefoot Immortal waved the Palm-leaf Fan in his hand.
The fan might look unremarkable, but it was the High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Wusheng Mie.
"From what you're saying, do you also support the Purple Mansion venturing out?" Taiyuan asked quickly.
"Whether the Purple Mansion ventures out isn't for us to decide. Ever since His Majesty was appointed Head of Male Immortals, we were destined to venture out. The question is how."
"What you suggested earlier wasn't venturing out; it was going to our deaths."
"Hahahaha! I was shallow before. Since you think so too, Immortal, why don't we sit down and discuss it?"
They sat on their meditation cushions and began discussing the Dao.
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