Alliance

The two left the pocket dimension. Outside, the place was already packed with members of the Dragon Clan.

When the dragons saw Candle Dragon being supported by Donghua, they hurried forward.

"Ancestor, how are you?"

"Ancestor, are you all right?"

"Ancestor..."

Candle Dragon pushed Donghua away and said impatiently, "What are you all making a fuss about? I'm not dead yet, so what are you wailing for?!"

"Although the Taotie calamity has been resolved, that thing is immortal and will return sooner or later. The seal here needs to be set up again."

Donghua nodded in agreement.

The Four Fierce Beasts and the Four Divine Beasts were born with the fortune of the Primordial Wilderness, and their cultivation had reached the Quasi-Saint realm. They truly were immortal and undying.

In fact, all Innate Deities were born with fortune and the attribute of immortality.

Take East King Gong, for instance. Even after he was destroyed, he returned through reincarnation as Emperor Lord Donghua of the Heavenly Court, then reincarnated once more as Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals.

Although his achievements grew lesser with each life and he was no longer the East King Gong of old, that sliver of Innate True Spirit was indeed East King Gong.

In other words, your mark would never vanish from the Primordial Wilderness, but the one who returned would ultimately no longer be you. Only upon reaching Grand Unity could you retain all the memories, Dao principles, and cultivation of your Previous Life.

But even then, it still wouldn't be you.

Donghua was in the same situation now, except that he had inherited all of his original self's cultivation, making him a special case.

It was much like how Fuxi had died in the Primordial Wilderness and reincarnated among humanity as Heavenly Sovereign Fuxi. He was no longer the Fuxi of old, though he had retained his memories.

Donghua said, "The sealing formation here is profound. It only needs to be set up again."

"Enough. There's no need to rush. Taotie may be immortal, but the Primordial World is no longer in its earliest days. Even if Taotie returns, its cultivation will surely have fallen."

"Don't force yourself to stay here. Go back and treat your injuries. Once you've recovered, you can take your time resetting the seal."

After saying this, Donghua prepared to leave.

"Emperor Lord, please wait. You've done our Dragon Clan—and me, Candle Dragon—a great favor. Please stay as our guest for a few days, so I can show you proper hospitality once I've finished healing."

Candle Dragon forced himself to stand and bowed. Donghua considered it, then accepted. He had helped the Dragon Clan greatly this time. He hadn't expected any reward at first; he had simply wanted to test his skills. After all, he had never actually fought since acquiring this power.

"Very well. I'd like to see the Dragon Clan's prosperity for myself."

They left the pocket dimension and returned to the Dragon Clan's Crystal Palace.

Candle Dragon went straight into seclusion to heal. Donghua also went into seclusion for a few days to recover. He hadn't been seriously injured; he was simply reviewing the lessons and shortcomings of the battle. It was a habit he had picked up in his Previous Life as a civil servant: he was good at reflecting on things.

After coming out of seclusion, Donghua began touring the Dragon Clan's waters, discovering the wonders of the Primordial Wilderness's vast seas.

He visited the East Sea Dragon Clan's training grounds, where Ancestor Dragon had once trained his soldiers. It was a separate dimension.

Back then, True Immortals had served as soldiers, Golden Immortals and Grand Unity Immortals as generals, Grand Unity cultivators as commanders, and Quasi-Saints as marshals. The East Sea had been filled with the energy of war, its forces sweeping across thousands of miles like tigers. Now, none of its former glory remained.

These past few days touring the East Sea Dragon Clan had only strengthened Donghua's resolve not to seek supremacy. In the Primordial Wilderness, striving for dominance meant certain death.

First, the Three Clans had tried to unify the Primordial Wilderness. Then Luohu had sought to sweep across it and establish the Devil Dao. Now the Demon Race Heavenly Court and the Witch Clan sought dominion over the world. Later, Haotian would likely grow dissatisfied with being a puppet of the Six Saints.

"Just look at how things ended for them. The Three Clans were reduced to a shadow of their former selves, Luohu became the Dao, and the Witch Clan withdrew from the Primordial Wilderness entirely. The Demon Race is still active because of its vast numbers, but it's no longer at the height of its glory."

"Even with such powerful backing, Haotian was still tricked into reincarnating. When he returned, he was no longer the Heavenly Emperor Haotian, but merely the Jade Emperor."

"So there's only one end to fighting for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness: death. Isn't it better to quietly pursue the Dao?"

One day, while Donghua was cultivating, Ao Ming, the East Sea Dragon King, came in.

"May I ask what brings you here, Dragon King?"

Ao Ming said, "Reporting to Emperor Lord: Ancestor Candle Dragon has emerged from seclusion. He is holding a banquet at the Dragon Palace today and asked me to extend an invitation."

Ao Ming had been very courteous these past few days, keeping his manner deferential.

The two arrived at the Dragon Palace's banquet hall. Candle Dragon and the other members of the Dragon Clan were waiting outside to welcome them.

Donghua said, "Fellow Daoist, you look full of vigor today. It seems your injuries have healed."

Candle Dragon replied, "Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist. These minor injuries are nothing."

"We pay our respects to East King." The other dragons bowed as well.

Inside the hall, two seats of equal rank stood at the head. Candle Dragon led Donghua to them.

Below them were four seats for the Dragon Kings of the East, South, West, and North Seas.

Once everyone was seated, the banquet began.

For a time, cups clinked, music rang out, and dragon maidens danced.

When the banquet ended, only a dozen or so people remained in the palace hall.

Candle Dragon said, "East King, you've done our Dragon Clan a great favor, and saved my life as well. We have no way to repay you."

As soon as he finished speaking, each of the Four Seas Dragon Kings brought out a spiritual treasure.

"East King, this is a suit of top-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasure armor called the Profound Heaven Battle Armor. Ancestor Dragon forged it long ago, but by the time it was completed, he had already transformed into the Dao to suppress the Four Seas."

Candle Dragon ran a hand over the armor. "As the saying goes, a treasured sword belongs with a hero. Our Dragon Clan wishes to present this armor to you, in the hope that it may repay you, at least in part, for your kindness."

Candle Dragon made it clear that a single suit of armor could not repay all the karmic debt Donghua had incurred by helping them.

Donghua considered it. "Since Fellow Daoist Candle Dragon is so sincere, I'll accept it."

With a sweep of his hand, Donghua took the armor.

Candle Dragon and the other dragons exchanged glances. Then he said, "East King, I have a request to make today."

Candle Dragon began, then continued, "The Demon Race Heavenly Court is now fully established, and Di Jun is ambitious. It's only a matter of time before he sends his troops against the East Sea."

"Our Dragon Clan wishes to form an alliance between our forces and your Purple Mansion, to stand together through whatever comes. What do you think, East King?"

Donghua considered Candle Dragon's proposal, then shook his head. "Fellow Daoist Candle Dragon, I'm devoted to pursuing the Dao and have no interest in fighting for supremacy. I'm afraid I must decline."

The Demon Race's attack on the Dragon Clan was all but certain. Why should Donghua rush to get involved when there was nothing in it for him?

Candle Dragon shook his head. "I understand, East King. Our Dragon Clan no longer wishes to fight for supremacy, either. We only want to focus on cultivating and remain in the Four Seas."

"But the Heavenly Court won't leave us alone. If it conquers the Four Seas, how could your Purple Mansion possibly remain safe? If we form an alliance now, the Heavenly Court will have to think twice."

Candle Dragon's words moved Donghua. Although he had no desire to fight for supremacy, the Heavenly Court was watching them closely. He couldn't be absolutely certain it wouldn't attack the Purple Mansion, or that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past.

After meeting the Dao Ancestor, Donghua had realized that Hongjun's day of merging with the Dao was near.

Once Hongjun merged with the Dao, the glory of his title as Head of Male Immortals would fade, and the Heavenly Court would have far less reason to fear him.

But an alliance with the Dragon Clan had both benefits and drawbacks.

On the one hand, an alliance between two great powers would surely make the Heavenly Court wary and greatly improve his own safety.

On the other hand, what would the Heavenly Court think once they allied? Would it assume East King Gong wanted to fight for supremacy, and see him as its second rival after the Demon God Race?

Besides, although the Dragon Clan still existed in later generations, it was undeniably a troublemaker and a source of conflict.

Now that he was stuck at the Quasi-Saint realm and struggling with Slaying the Corpse, he had no way to improve his cultivation or strength in the short term.

The thought gave Donghua a headache. He had never been one to enjoy overthinking things, and the situation was truly complicated.

All he wanted was to take it easy.

Seeing Donghua deep in thought, Candle Dragon gave Ao Ming a look.

"East King, I hope you'll give the matter of an alliance some serious thought."

Donghua nodded.