Is it you, kid, who's called Dong Wanggong?

Taiyuan's voice wasn't loud, carrying a hint of post-sleep laziness, yet it pierced through the void clearly. "Oh, I heard you're specifically in charge of unorganized male Immortals. But, Fellow Daoist, aren't you overstepping your bounds a bit?"

"We three brothers are scholars under the Lord of Western Enlightenment, masters of our own domain."

"Since we are neither disciples of your Purple Mansion Continent nor subjects of the Heavenly Court, we are merely passing through."

"Besides," Taiyuan paused his actions, leaning his upper body forward slightly, a smile of extreme modern sarcasm appearing on his face, "you claim to be the chief of male Immortals. Then show me the official letter of appointment signed by the Dao Ancestor? Or perhaps your work permit? Do you have a contract outlining your specific enforcement scope?"

"With nothing but an empty mouth and a walking stick, you expect to collect tolls? If one didn't know better, they'd think the entrance to Purple Heaven Palace had somehow become a begging spot?"

This barrage of questions, like a string of firecrackers, completely stunned East King Duke.

Work permit? Contract? Letter of appointment?

What are those things?

Although East King Duke didn't quite understand the strange terms, he understood the last sentence, "begging spot."

This was clearly calling him a beggar!

"You... Insolent!"

East King Duke's face instantly turned a deep purple, a mixture of shame and anger. It was the humiliation of his authority being trampled in public.

"Sharp tongue! If I don't teach you a lesson today, how can I rule over the Immortals!"

BOOM!

East King Duke was furious; he genuinely harbored murderous intent.

This dragon-headed staff was not only a symbol of power but also a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Now, fueled by his Magical Power, it instantly transformed into a colossal golden dragon phantom, carrying world-destroying might as it smashed fiercely towards Taiyuan's carriage.

His strike wasn't aimed at killing, but solely at smashing this coveted luxury carriage and humiliating Taiyuan.

Zhunti's eyes flashed with ferocity, and he was about to counterattack.

"Clang—"

A clear, resonant sword cry exploded in the void without warning.

A chilling sword energy, emanating a faint green glow, as if slashed from ancient times, struck from behind and forcefully intercepted the golden dragon phantom.

The terrifying residual energy surged, directly severing the Chaos Airflow for a hundred miles around.

East King Duke felt a shock run up his wrist, his hand going numb, and the staff in his hand nearly flew out. He looked up in horror and saw a young Daoist with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, carrying a long sword, leisurely stepping out of the void.

Sovereign of Heaven.

His left hand still held an unfinished Star Spirit Fruit, while his right hand rested casually on the hilt of the sword behind his back, his gaze playful yet sharp.

"Yo, isn't this the newly appointed Official East?"

Sovereign of Heaven spat out a piece of fruit peel and looked at East King Duke with a half-smile. "What, you think you're the boss just because you're holding a walking stick? This is outside Purple Heaven Palace, not your Purple Mansion Continent. How about you try reasoning with my Qingping Sword first?"

"Sovereign of Heaven?!"

East King Duke's face changed drastically.

This was one of Pangu's Three Pure Ones, notoriously difficult to deal with.

"This matter concerns my task of organizing male Immortals, what has it to do with you?" East King Duke roared, his bluster betraying his fear.

"How is it none of my business?"

Sovereign of Heaven pointed at the still-steaming empty pot inside Taiyuan's carriage, his expression righteous. "I was just enjoying a delicious meal and a refreshing drink there. You, the new official, instead of treating everyone to a meal, come looking for trouble with my friend who was sharing food and wine. Isn't that slapping me in the face?"

Before he finished speaking.

Another gentle yet undeniable voice rang out.

"Fellow Daoist Taiyuan has shown me kindness. East King Duke, be respectful."

Nuwa's stunning figure slowly appeared, surrounded by a cluster of colorful auspicious clouds. Although her expression was cool, her stance beside Taiyuan's carriage spoke volumes.

A Nuwa destined to become a Saint in the future carried even more weight than Sovereign of Heaven.

Before East King Duke could digest this astonishing fact.

Two more streams of light descended.

"Heh heh, East King Duke, one should behave reasonably." Old Ancestor Hongyun's chubby face wore his signature smile, and he also stood before the carriage. Beside him, Zhen Yuanzi held the Earth Book. Though he remained silent, his aura of the Great Desolation, emanating from his late Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal cultivation, renowned for its invincible defense, locked onto East King Duke.

At this point, the entrance to the Purple Firmament Palace was in an uproar.

The scattered cultivators who hadn't left yet were all dumbfounded.

Look at this lineup!

Sovereign of Heaven, one of the Three Pure Ones; Nuwa, a future Saint; Zhen Yuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals; and the ever-good-natured Old Ancestor Hongyun.

The cream of the crop in the Great Desolation, at this very moment, are all standing together for a Daoist from the West, to confront the newly appointed chief of male Immortals?

Is this the camaraderie forged over a hot pot?

East King Duke no longer possessed the arrogant demeanor he had moments ago.

The dragon-headed staff in his hand trembled slightly.

Cold sweat cascaded down his forehead. The terrifying pressure of being simultaneously locked onto by several peers, or even more powerful beings, made him want to turn and flee.

He'd kicked a steel plate.

This wasn't just any steel plate; it was a mountain made of primordial chaos iron!

Taiyuan watched as the pale-faced, cornered East King Duke struggled, and he didn't offer any further mockery.

Saying more at a time like this would only diminish his own standing.

Ignoring him was the greatest contempt.

"Let's go, second and third brothers. We mustn't keep the flowers and plants waiting at home."

Taiyuan didn't even glance at East King Duke again. He rolled up the car window, as if the person who had blocked their path was merely an insignificant stumbling block.

"As you command!"

Zhunti roared with laughter, his mood exceptionally pleasant.

Roar--!!

The Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage let out another earth-shattering dragon's roar.

The nine golden dragons, which had long been restless, deliberately swished their massive tails, stirring up countless dust and exhaust fumes accumulated in the chaos. They transformed into a murky gray storm.

Pfft--!

This large mass of "exhaust" was precisely controlled and sprayed directly onto East King Duke.

East King Duke's originally golden imperial robe instantly became dirty and disheveled. The staff symbolizing his authority was also covered in a layer of grime.

Rumble rumble.

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, the carriage crushed through the void and sped away, leaving behind only a supremely elegant golden silhouette.

East King Duke stood in place, covered in dirt. The mocking gazes of Tongtian and the others around him made him feel as if thorns were pricking his back.

He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails piercing his palms, and blood dripped down. The venom in his eyes almost solidified.

"Taiyuan... the Western Teachings..."

"I will remember this humiliation today! Once I unite the immortals of the Great Desolation, I will flatten your Mount Sumeru!"

The Nine Dragon Carriage sped away, quickly leaving the troublesome area far behind.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was relaxed and joyful.

"Eldest Brother, that scene just now was so satisfying!" Zhunti said excitedly, wiping the dust off his Magic Treasure. "East King Duke's face turned green. I never expected that just by having a meal, we'd get so many people to back us up."

Jieyin also said with emotion, "Is this what Eldest Brother calls 'connections'? Without fighting, it's better than a thousand soldiers. This hot pot... it was worth cooking."

Taiyuan leaned back on the soft cushion, enjoying the pleasant reward sounds from the System's notifications.

[Ding! Detected that the host successfully resolved East King Duke's initial obstruction using 'favors'.]
[Reward: Special Building Blueprint: Innate Chaos Spirit Spring Pool - Advanced Version (comes with Great Dao Spirit Gathering Array).]

"Connections are indeed useful, but one must also be strong themselves,"

A clear light flashed in Taiyuan's eyes. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Someone like East King Duke, with great ambition but little talent, will die sooner or later. There's no need to dwell on him. But his greedy gaze just now reminded me."

"Although our West has some foundation now, it's not deep enough, not safe enough."

"When we get back, it's time to thoroughly renovate our meager 'fields' at home."

As he spoke, Taiyuan flipped his palm.

The [Chaos Green Lotus Seed], obtained from signing in at the Purple Firmament Palace and radiating restrictive light, lay quietly in his palm, emitting a life force that made the surrounding space tremble slightly.

This was their true trump card for survival, and even for challenging the Heavenly Dao in the future.

"Hold on tight."

"We're going back to Mount Sumeru to start a major construction project!"