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Donghua was quite tempted by the Dragon Clan's proposal. After all, an alliance would increase his strength.

Though he had come to understand that as long as he didn't contend for supremacy, the Heavenly Court wouldn't target him—the benefits simply weren't worth it.

But what if it did? The title of Head of Male Immortals drew far too much attention. He couldn't put his hopes in his enemies' mercy.

Once the Purple Mansion allied with the Dragon Clan, its strength would surely grow. Even if it faced the Demon Race Heavenly Court, it wouldn't be as powerless as before.

Thinking this over, Donghua said, "An alliance between our two sides would certainly be beneficial. But it would also draw the attention of both the Heavenly Court and the gods and demons. We'd inevitably become thorns in their sides."

"Besides, an alliance wouldn't offer much of an advantage to my Purple Mansion."

Donghua paused and glanced at Candle Dragon. Seeing no expression on his face, he sighed inwardly. What an old fox.

Then he continued, "So it's not impossible for us to form an alliance, but I have two conditions."

"First, we can form an alliance, but we won't announce it publicly. We'll keep it secret. If either side faces a crisis, the other must provide its full support."

Candle Dragon opened his cloudy eyes and answered without hesitation, "The Dragon Clan agrees to this condition. There's no problem at all."

After hearing Candle Dragon agree, Donghua continued, "My second condition is this: a dragon needs a head. The Purple Mansion must lead the alliance, and in wartime, everything must follow my orders."

With that, Donghua fixed his gaze on Candle Dragon.

Candle Dragon stared back at Donghua, his thoughts unreadable.

After a moment, he said, "Fine. The Dragon Clan agrees to this condition as well."

As soon as Candle Dragon finished speaking, Ao Ming hurriedly tried to say something, but Candle Dragon stopped him.

Candle Dragon said, "East King, the Dragon Clan agrees to all your conditions. But I have one request of my own, and I need you to accept it."

Donghua replied, "Go ahead, my friend."

Candle Dragon said, "Come in."

After Candle Dragon spoke, four young members of the Dragon Clan entered the hall. They were all at the True Immortal Realm.

"These are four juniors of our clan. My request is that they enter the Purple Mansion to cultivate, and that you teach them the Purple Mansion Immortal Path."

Donghua didn't think this was a big deal. He wasn't taking them as disciples; they would only be cultivating the Purple Mansion Immortal Path.

He then asked the four, "What are your names?"

"Ao Guang."

"Ao Qin."

"Ao Run."

"Ao Shun."

"Greetings, East King."

When he heard their names, Donghua's eyes flickered. These four are the Four Seas Dragon Kings of later generations. The Dragon Clan is willing to pay quite a price.

Don't assume the Four Seas Dragon Kings were useless just because they seemed so pathetic in later generations. The Dragon Clan's overall strength was weak, and it still held the Four Seas, so its members had no choice but to be meek and accommodating.

Donghua didn't know how strong they were, but there was no doubt they were capable.

In later generations, the Dragon Clan allied with humanity and became humanity's totem. Its influence reached beyond the Four Seas, extending to the great rivers and streams of the Primordial World. There was even a Dragon King in every well.

That showed these four were certainly capable. And with Candle Dragon still alive and the Dragon Clan allied with the Purple Mansion, they could surely achieve something different.

Donghua said, "Fine, no problem. They may enter my Purple Mansion to cultivate. Though they won't be my disciples, I'll still guide them in their cultivation."

Hearing this, Candle Dragon burst into laughter. "You're a man of your word, my friend. I've known you for so long, Donghua, yet lately I feel as if I'm getting to know you all over again."

Donghua replied, "In the past, we stood on opposing sides. Naturally, we didn't know much about each other."

Candle Dragon said, "Since you've been so generous, the Dragon Clan won't be stingy either."

"Seeing that you came here without a mount, I'd like to give you a treasure of our clan: the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage."

Candle Dragon swept his hand, and a ceremonial carriage appeared in the hall. It was pure gold, gleaming brilliantly. Clouds of spiritual energy drifted around the Cloud Bed.

Beneath the carriage, nine golden-bronze dragons crouched. Donghua sensed that although they weren't real dragons, dragon souls had been sealed inside them. They were imposing and sacred.

Donghua looked it over and thought, Isn't this Primordial Heavenly Venerate's mount in later generations?

Candle Dragon asked, "I wonder if you like this gift?"

Donghua replied, "I like this gift very much, my friend."

Donghua looked at the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage. The more he looked, the more he liked it. Is this the Primordial Wilderness version of a Lamborghini?

Seeing Donghua accept the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage, Candle Dragon continued, "My friend, our clan has the Heavenly Dragon Clan, a brave and skilled force. I'd like to gift you eight hundred Heavenly Dragons. They'll leave the Dragon Clan and help you train your soldiers."

Donghua couldn't help but marvel. The Dragon Clan really was willing to pay a steep price this time.

In later generations, Buddhism had coaxed and tricked many Heavenly Dragons away from the Dragon Clan. That was how the Eight Divisions of Heavenly Dragons came to be.

Donghua said, "I accept your kind offer."

The Dragon Clan's visit had concluded. Great Commander of Fate and Taiyuan would handle all further dealings with the Dragon Clan.

Donghua resumed his travels through the Primordial Wilderness.

Though it wasn't exactly just Donghua traveling alone. Shao Siming was with him too.

While Donghua had been discussing the finer details with the Dragon Clan, Shao Siming had joined him. Then she insisted on accompanying him as he traveled through the Primordial Wilderness.

They left the East Sea and entered the Primordial World Continent.

The Primordial Eastern Continent was the main battleground in the struggle for supremacy between the Demon Race and the Demon God Race.

The Demon Race's leaders were Xi Emperor Fuxi and the three great Demon Gods: Gui Che, Bi Fang, and Ci Tie.

The Demon God Race was led by Ju Mang, the Eastern Wood Demon God, and Qiang Liang, the Lightning Demon God.

The two sides had fought countless battles across this land, and now they were locked in a stalemate.

Overall, however, the Demon Race had the advantage.

Ever since Nuwa had presided over the Heavenly Marriage, marriage had become popular across the Primordial World Continent.

As a result, the Demon Race's population had grown enormous. Its numbers seemed impossible to wipe out or drive away.

The number of demons killed in a day's battle might not even equal the number born in a single day.

In a struggle for supremacy, powerful fighters were certainly the most important, but mid- and low-level fighters mattered just as much.

They couldn't take territory today and then leave it undefended and unmanaged.

Nor could they send the Twelve Demon Gods into every battle, no matter the enemy's strength.

The Demon God Race, in particular, had a low birth rate.

At this time, the Demon God Race wasn't yet the Witch Clan of later generations. Its members still relied on blood essence to produce offspring.

The Demon God Race born from blood essence was powerful to a one, but its numbers were its fatal weakness.

The Twelve Demon Gods considered themselves descendants of Pangu and were incredibly arrogant. They had always looked down on the other beings of the Primordial Wilderness, even dismissing ordinary Innate Deities.

So although the clans under the Demon God Race fought alongside it against the Demon Race, they put in little effort.

This only made the Demon God Race look down on the other clans of the Primordial Wilderness even more.

Still, none of this changed the Demon God Race's dominance.

There was no helping it. The Twelve Demon Gods were simply too powerful: all twelve were Quasi-Saints, and every one of them was a battle maniac.

The Demon Race had the numbers, but it still couldn't do anything about the Demon God Race. That was how the current stalemate came about.