Agreement

For the Dragon Clan's proposal, Donghua was quite tempted—after all, an alliance would bolster his own strength.

Though he had already come to terms with things, believing that as long as he didn't vie for supremacy, the Heavenly Court wouldn't bother him—since the gains wouldn't be worth it.

But what if? After all, the title of Head of Male Immortals drew too much attention. He couldn't pin his hopes on an enemy's mercy.

Once allied with the Dragon Clan, the Purple Mansion's strength would surely grow. Even facing the Demon Race Heavenly Court, he wouldn't be as powerless as before.

With that in mind, Donghua said, "An alliance between our two factions is certainly good, but it will inevitably expose us to the eyes of the Heavenly Court and the Gods and Devils. We'll become a thorn in their side, a nail in their flesh."

"Moreover, the alliance doesn't offer much advantage to my Purple Mansion."

At this, Donghua paused and glanced at Candle Dragon, whose face betrayed no expression. He sighed inwardly, Truly a wily old fox.

Then he continued, "So, an alliance isn't impossible, but I have two conditions."

"First, we ally in secret, not announcing it to the outside. If either side faces a crisis, the other must fully support."

Candle Dragon opened his murky eyes and replied without hesitation, "This condition, my Dragon Clan accepts. No problem."

Hearing Candle Dragon's agreement, Donghua went on, "Second, as the saying goes, a dragon cannot move without a head. The alliance must take my Purple Mansion as the lead. In times of war, all must follow the Purple Mansion's commands."

Finished, Donghua fixed his gaze on Candle Dragon.

Candle Dragon stared back, lost in thought for a moment.

After a while, he said, "Fine. This condition, my Dragon Clan also accepts."

No sooner had Candle Dragon spoken than Ao Ming eagerly tried to say something, but Candle Dragon stopped him.

Candle Dragon: "Daoist East King, my Dragon Clan agrees to all your conditions. But I also have a request that requires your consent."

Donghua replied, "Speak freely, Daoist."

Candle Dragon: "Enter."

At his words, four young dragons of the True Immortal Realm entered the hall.

"These are four juniors of my Dragon Clan. My request is that they cultivate within the Purple Mansion, and you must teach them the Purple Mansion Immortal Path."

Donghua thought it over. It wasn't a big deal—he wasn't taking them as disciples, just teaching them the path.

So he asked the four, "What are your names?"

"Ao Guang."

"Ao Qin."

"Ao Run."

"Ao Shun."

"We pay respects to the East King."

Hearing their names, Donghua's eyes flickered. He thought, These four are the Four Seas Dragon Kings of later ages. The Dragon Clan is really bleeding for this.

Don't mistake the later Four Seas Dragon Kings for being weak—that was only because the Dragon Clan's overall strength had declined and they occupied the Four Seas, forcing them to appear amiable and pitiful.

He didn't know their strength, but their ability was certainly solid.

In later ages, the Dragon Clan allied with the Human Clan, becoming their totem. Their influence spread beyond the Four Seas, claiming the great rivers and lakes of the Primordial Wilderness, even wells having their own Well Dragon Kings.

Clearly, these four had no lack of ability. With Candle Dragon still alive and the alliance with the Purple Mansion, they might achieve something far greater.

Donghua: "Good, no problem. They may enter the Purple Mansion to cultivate. Though they won't be my disciples, I will guide their training."

Hearing this, Candle Dragon laughed heartily. "Daoist, you're refreshing. I've known you, Donghua, for so long, but lately, I feel I've come to know you anew."

Donghua: "In the past, our camps differed, so naturally, we knew little of each other."

Candle Dragon: "Since you're so straightforward, my Dragon Clan won't be stingy either."

"Seeing you come today without a mount, my Dragon Clan has a treasure called the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage."

Candle Dragon waved his hand, and a palanquin appeared in the Great Hall. It was pure gold, gleaming brightly. On the Cloud Bed, mist formed by spiritual energy swirled.

Beneath the carriage, nine gold-copper dragons crouched. Donghua sensed they weren't real dragons, but dragon souls were sealed within—domineering and sacred.

He looked it over and thought, Isn't this the Primordial Heavenly Venerate's ride in later ages?

Candle Dragon: "This gift—does it please you, Daoist?"

Donghua replied, "Daoist, this gift pleases me greatly."

He examined the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage, liking it more and more. Is this the Primordial Wilderness version of a Lamborghini?

Seeing Donghua accept it, Candle Dragon added, "Daoist, my clan has the Heavenly Dragon Clan, fierce and skilled in battle. I wish to gift you eight hundred Heavenly Dragons. They will leave the Dragon Clan afterward to help train your soldiers."

Donghua couldn't help but marvel. The Dragon Clan was truly going all out this time.

In later ages, Buddhism coaxed and tricked the Dragon Clan into giving up many Heavenly Dragons, forming the Eight Divisions of Heavenly Dragons.

Donghua: "Daoist, your kindness is gratefully received."

The Dragon Clan visit concluded. Matters of negotiation were left to the Great Commander of Fate and Taiyuan.

Donghua resumed his journey through the Primordial Wilderness.

It couldn't be said to be Donghua alone—there was also Shao Siming.

When the details of the Dragon Clan negotiations were being discussed, Shao Siming had tagged along, and then clamored to follow Donghua on a journey across the Primordial World.

Leaving the East Sea, they entered the Primordial World Continent.

The Primordial Eastern Continent was also the main battleground between the Demon Race and the Demon God Race.

The Demon Race was led by Xi Emperor Fuxi, along with the three great Demon Gods: Gui Che, Bi Fang, and Ci Tie.

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

The two sides had fought countless battles on this land, and now a stalemate had formed.

But overall, the Demon Race held the advantage.

After Nuwa presided over the Heavenly Marriage, the customs of marriage and betrothal became widespread across the Primordial World Continent.

As a result, the Demon Race's population swelled to an enormous size—truly endless to kill and impossible to drive away.

The number of Demon Race members dying in a single day's battle might not even match the number born in a single day.

In the struggle for power, high-end combat strength was certainly the most important, but mid-tier and low-tier combat strength also mattered greatly.

After all, you couldn't have territory captured today with no one to guard and manage it.

And you couldn't have the Twelve Demon Gods deployed for every battle, regardless of the opponent's strength.

The Demon God Race's reproduction, however, was weak.

At this time, the Demon God Race was not yet the later Witch Clan; they relied on essence blood to produce offspring.

The Demon God Race formed from essence blood were undoubtedly powerful individually, but their numbers were the fatal flaw.

The Twelve Demon Gods considered themselves descendants of Pangu, arrogant beyond measure, and had always looked down on other Primordial World beings, even some ordinary Innate Deities.

Thus, the Primordial World races under the Demon God Race's rule fought alongside them against the Demon Race.

But they were the kind who put in effort without actually contributing, and this attitude made the Demon God Race look down on other Primordial World races even more.

Still, this didn't change the Demon God Race's dominance.

There was no helping it—the Twelve Demon Gods were too powerful. Twelve Quasi-Saints, each one a battle maniac.

The Demon Race, though mighty, still couldn't do anything about the Demon God Race, which was how the current stalemate had formed.

Writing this far, I'm actually quite lost. Over thirty thousand words in, but the prospect of a contract feels bleak. Ah, it's disheartening.