A Letter of Appointment to Sweep Toilets? East King Duke Was Enraged, and the Three Immortal Islands Emerged!

Above Purple Mansion Continent, the sky was clear for thousands of miles, and auspicious clouds filled the heavens. It was a peaceful scene, with immortals gathering from every direction.

As the newly appointed Head of Male Immortals' place of cultivation, it had drawn rogue cultivators from every corner of the Primordial World, all coming to pledge themselves to him.

Though many had come for that so-called claim to legitimacy, or to seek a little protection amid the "economic sanctions," the outward prosperity had still helped East King Duke regain some confidence.

Today, he had deliberately donned an even more resplendent Nine Yang Emperor Robe and the Innate Purple Gold Crown. Seated atop the White Jade Platform before Purple Mansion's main hall, he was preparing to deliver a speech on "standing united to resist Western hegemony" and shore up morale.

Just then,

a clear, brazen crane's cry rang out from the horizon.

A Spirit Crane, white as snow but with a faint reddish glow flowing between its wings (a mutation from eating too much hot-pot base), swaggered through Purple Mansion Continent's supposedly impregnable Mountain Protection Array.

It carried a glittering red invitation in its beak, one that radiated a rich aura of merit. Ignoring the countless startled gazes around it—including those of people trying to intercept it—it flew straight over East King Duke's head.

"Th-this messenger belongs to whom?"

"How dare it circle above the Head of Male Immortals? Why hasn't the Mountain Protection Array reacted?"

While the rogue cultivators below murmured among themselves, the Spirit Crane rolled its eyes with startlingly humanlike disdain. It whipped its neck around, sending the invitation tumbling like a golden brick from the heavens. With a whistle through the air, it struck straight for East King Duke's forehead.

East King Duke reacted quickly, sweeping out his sleeve. A stream of Pure Yang Magical Power surged forth and caught the invitation securely.

The instant it touched his hand, a dense wave of Primordial Unity Golden Essence Qi washed over him, making his somewhat gloomy expression relax despite himself.

Even the envelope had been made from Top-grade Spiritual Material.

"Hmph. So Taiyuan has finally gotten scared."

East King Duke sneered inwardly. He assumed it had to be a peace offering from the Western Lands, or perhaps some sort of apology and compensation. After all, he had mobilized the entire Primordial World with his blockade order.

To display his authority, he tore open the envelope before the assembled immortals, brimming with confidence and arrogance. "Everyone, take a look. Though that Taiyuan of the Western Lands has some clever tricks, even he has no choice but to bow beneath the overwhelming might of the Head of Male Immortals—"

He broke off midsentence, his voice abruptly stopping as if someone had grabbed him by the throat.

He had caught sight of two lines of large, flamboyantly written characters on the paper, dripping with mockery.

[Employment Letter]

[We hereby appoint His Excellency East King Duke, Head of Male Immortals, as Chief Steward of the "Purification Department" at Mount Sumeru, Western Sect (commonly known as Latrine Manager).]

[In view of Your Excellency's extensive management experience at Purple Mansion Continent, and your particular skill at issuing orders and producing hot air, you are hereby authorized to oversee the cleaning of the Western Sect's latrines and the elimination of foul odors.]

[Excellent benefits: room and board included; one daily serving of Grand Unity Golden Immortal-grade hot-pot base residue; plus one bottle of "Low-grade Eight Treasures Merit Pool Water" to purify Your Excellency's heart, so full of schemes and filth.]

[Also: should Your Excellency accept, please be sure to bring your Dragon Head Cane along. It will make an excellent dung stirrer—a fitting use for a spiritual treasure.]

Silence.

A dead silence.

As East King Duke's hand trembled violently, the words on the letter seemed to spring to life. Each one became a huge golden apparition, appearing in midair and clearly visible to every cultivator present.

Everyone stared in shock.

So this was the so-called peace offering?

It was an outright letter of humiliation! It might as well have been a declaration of war!

They wanted the dignified Head of Male Immortals to clean toilets in the Western Lands? And they were calling the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure bestowed by the Dao Ancestor a Dung Stirrer?

That Taiyuan...

His tongue was vicious! This was the very definition of killing someone by destroying their spirit!

"Pfft—!!!"

East King Duke stared fixedly at the letter. His eyes immediately filled with blood vessels, and his once-imposing face shifted from green to red, then purple, and finally turned black as ink.

A surge of blood rushed uncontrollably toward his crown.

He could no longer suppress the fury and humiliation in his heart. He opened his mouth and spat out a jet of blood, splashing it across the glittering "Employment Letter" before him and even staining his Nine Yang Emperor Robe.

"Taiyuan! Taiyuan of the Western Lands!!"

"I will never rest until you're dead! If I don't avenge this, I, East King Duke, swear I'm no immortal!"

East King Duke roared at the heavens, his voice shaking the skies. He smashed his Dragon Head Cane into the ground, breaking a bottomless pit in the unyielding White Jade Platform. Cracks spread across the entire plaza.

His prestige had been utterly destroyed in that moment.

The rogue cultivators below looked at the Head of Male Immortals, wild-eyed and blood at the corner of his mouth, with none of his former dignity. The reverence in their eyes vanished, replaced by doubt, contempt, and even gleeful mockery.

He couldn't even handle someone from the Western Lands sending him a letter—he'd been angered into coughing up blood. And he wanted to command the gathered immortals?

In his dreams!

Just as East King Duke was so enraged that his Dao Heart was on the verge of collapsing and sending him into cultivation deviation,

three thunderous booms suddenly erupted at the edge of the Eastern Sea, in a forbidden region shrouded in primordial chaos year-round—one that even Grand Luo Golden Immortals dared not enter lightly.

Boom—boom—boom—

Immediately afterward, the phantoms of three enormous islands, wreathed in immortal energy, slowly emerged where sea and sky met.

Penglai, Fangzhang, Yingzhou!

The Three Immortal Islands Overseas!

With the emergence of the three immortal islands, three obscure yet equally boundless and unfathomable rays of immortal light seemed to cross over from the ancient past, instantly dispelling the gloom above Purple Mansion Continent.

The immortal light descended and transformed into three old men dressed in simple Daoist robes, their features unusual and ancient.

The man at the front wore a Qingyun Dao Robe and held a Jade Ruyi radiating abundant vitality. He was Daoist Qingyun, master of Penglai Island, a Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal whose aura was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea.

The man on his left wore a Crimson Cloud Robe, with a Purple Gold Gourd hanging at his waist. His face was sullen, and strange Red Mist curled around him. He was Ancestor Chi Xia, master of Fangzhang Island.

The man on his right leaned on an Immortal Peach Wood Staff. He had kind features, but cloudy eyes. Known as Elder Changchun, master of Yingzhou Island, he seemed affable, yet gave off the chilling impression of a venomous snake watching its prey.

The moment these three appeared, the pressure of ancient, reclusive experts made everyone present struggle to breathe, their souls trembling.

"Th-this is?"

East King Duke forced down the blood roiling inside him and stared at the uninvited guests, his eyes full of suspicion.

"I am Daoist Qingyun, and these are Ancestor Chi Xia and Elder Changchun. We are the masters of the Three Immortal Islands Overseas."

Daoist Qingyun smiled faintly. His voice was old, yet carried unquestionable authority. "We have long lived in seclusion, but these past few days, we sensed violent fluctuations in the fortune of the 'Head of Male Immortals.' A great upheaval may be at hand. Fellow Daoist East King Duke was appointed by the Dao Ancestor, and we are cultivators of the Eastern Lands. We have come to offer our assistance and stand with you against our common foe."

"Three Immortals of the Sea? Peak Grand Luo Golden Immortals?!"

East King Duke seemed to have seized the last lifeline within reach, hope rekindling in his eyes.

So my fortune still remained! There were still reclusive experts who recognized my position!

These three were so powerful that even against one of the Three Pure Ones, they could put up a fight!

"Your Highnesses are truly righteous!"

East King Duke hurriedly straightened his robes. Though blood still stained the corner of his mouth, he paid it no mind, stepping forward to bow deeply with an exceedingly humble manner. "I am in dire need of capable allies. With your help, what great undertaking could fail? What need have we to fear those Western ruffians?"

The three overseas immortals exchanged glances, and each saw the greed and scheming in the others' eyes.

They hadn't come out of any sense of righteousness.

They had simply realized that though East King Duke's fortune had fallen to rock bottom, his title of Head of Male Immortals remained. He was a piece of fat meat left unattended.

They wanted to use East King Duke's name to enter the world and claim a share of the spoils—or even take the place of their host and seize control of the entire East Sea!

"Of course, of course."

Ancestor Chi Xia patted the gourd at his waist and chuckled darkly. "Since Fellow Daoist East King Duke is so gracious, we shall not stand on ceremony. If that Taiyuan of the Western Lands dares to humiliate you, he insults all the male immortals of the Eastern Lands. If we fail to avenge this, how could we show our faces in the Primordial World?"

East King Duke was overjoyed. He immediately held a banquet in their honor, treating the three men as distinguished guests and even promising them positions as deputy leaders, second only to himself.

At the banquet, cups were raised and exchanged.

East King Duke had yet to recover from his joy at gaining powerful allies when a shadow appeared in the corner of the hall like a ghost.

It was none other than the double agent, Daoist Liuguang.

He knelt on the ground, wearing an expression of "unswerving loyalty, risking my life to infiltrate enemy territory," and raised a Jade Slip in both hands.

"My lord, your subordinate risked his life to obtain the latest intelligence!"

"I hear that Empress Nuwa and Taiyuan of the Western Lands are closely connected. Taiyuan has even given Empress Nuwa many precious treasures.

"Empress Nuwa has recently been meditating in seclusion on an island off the East Sea Shore. It seems she is comprehending the Dao of Creation, and Immeasurable Merit is about to descend!"

"Taiyuan has even declared that half of this merit belongs to him. Anyone who dares interfere will make an enemy of the Western Sect!"

This was false intelligence Taiyuan had specifically ordered Daoist Liuguang to send back.

The truth was that Nuwa was creating humanity. The lie was that Taiyuan had never publicly claimed a share of the merit—and Taiyuan's power had been made to sound as if it came entirely from his treasures.

"Merit?!"

At the word, East King Duke and the three overseas immortals' eyes lit up at once, like hungry wolves spotting fresh meat.

The three old monsters who had remained in seclusion for so long were especially eager. They had been stuck at the Peak Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm for countless years, unable to sever a corpse. What they lacked most was the heavenly merit that could help them break through their bottleneck—or even become saints!

"Nuwa?"

A ruthless glint flashed through East King Duke's eyes. He remembered how Nuwa had helped Taiyuan make him lose face outside Zixiao Palace.

"Good! Heaven itself is helping me!"

East King Duke slapped the table, crushing the Jade Slip. His savage grin made him look like a demon crawling out of hell.

"Since Taiyuan has a share in that merit, then I'll take it for myself!"

"What does Nuwa matter? She's merely a woman, and she hasn't become a saint. How could she stand against four of us, all Peak Grand Luo Golden Immortals?"

Daoist Qingyun stroked his beard and smiled, no longer bothering to hide the greed in his eyes. "Fellow Daoist East King Duke is quite right. Since this is great merit concerning the fortune of the Primordial World, and it lies in the East Sea, it is practically on our own doorstep. How could we let an outsider claim it all? We are the rightful lineage of the Eastern Lands. Going to 'assist' her is only right and proper."

"Assist? Hahaha!"

East King Duke laughed out loud, the pent-up resentment in his heart swept away. "Well said! We'll assist her! If she knows what's good for her, she'll share the merit with us. If she doesn't..."

He glanced at the three terrifyingly powerful men beside him, his confidence surging.

"Then we'll show her what happens when she offends the Head of Male Immortals!"

"And we'll let Taiyuan know that in the Eastern Lands, he can't protect anyone! Not even Nuwa!"