The Utmost Shamelessness! My Fist is the Rule!

At the East Sea shore, the Merit Golden Cloud churned and surged.

The dark yellow clouds blotted out the sky and covered the sun, their aura causing the entire sea to tremble, countless sea creatures cowering in the deep waters, not daring to raise their heads.

East King Duke hovered in midair, his Nine Yang Emperor Robe flapping loudly in the sea breeze, the Dragon Head Cane in his hand radiating a blinding treasure light.

He looked at the group of mud figures shivering at his feet, then up at the Merit Golden Cloud about to take shape overhead, greed nearly spilling from his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, this is not greed on This Seat's part, but a matter of duty."

East King Duke cleared his throat, putting on a righteous expression, his voice booming as if reading an imperial decree.

"A race this weak, utterly incapable of self-defense, would only become prey in the Primordial World. It would be better for This Seat to unify and educate them—that too counts as a merit."

"As the Head of Male Immortals, maintaining order in the Primordial World is This Seat's proper duty. Fellow Daoist, please do not misunderstand."

His words were grand and high-sounding, as if he were no robber come to seize merits, but a living bodhisattva saving the suffering.

The three Immortals of the Sea behind him exchanged glances, seeing the mockery in each other's eyes.

This East King Duke's skin was thick enough to leave one speechless.

Still, they were happy to play along.

"East King Duke speaks truly."

Daoist Qingyun stroked his beard with a smile, his murky old eyes roving over Nuwa, finally settling on the vine whip in her hand that pulsed with the Dao of Creation.

"Empress Nuwa is but a woman—why resort to violence? Why not hand these little mud figures over to us? We will surely treat them well."

"That vine in your hand is quite intriguing. Would you lend it to this old man for a look?"

Ancestor Chi Xia also stepped forward, grinning sinisterly, the Purple Gold Gourd at his waist faintly emitting an eerie red light.

"I hear the Empress has a deep friendship with that Taiyuan of the Western Lands. I wonder if he has a share in this merit? If so, it should be kept safe by us instead."

"After all, that Taiyuan is a thorn in the East's side. Why should he get anything of his?"

Elder Changchun leaned on his Immortal Peach Wood Staff, a kindly smile on his benevolent face, but his words were chilling to the bone.

"If the Empress knows what's good for her, she'll hand over the merit and this newborn race. We might, for the sake of being fellow cultivators of the Primordial World, spare your life."

"If not..."

He didn't finish, but the threat in his words was plain as day.

Nuwa trembled with rage.

In all her long life, she had never seen such shameless scoundrels.

Robbers who came to steal, yet insisted on cloaking themselves in a mantle of righteousness.

"Shameless beyond compare!"

Nuwa roared, shielding the terrified humans behind her. She offered up the Red Embroidered Ball, which transformed into a sky full of red silk, enveloping the entire island.

"This is my Dao of Creation, a merit bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. What business is it of yours?"

"East King Duke, you call yourself the Head of Male Immortals—what a grand show! Bullying the weak, stealing merits—is this what you call maintaining order?"

"And you three old bastards, skulking beyond the seas for all these years, now jumping out to play thugs—truly, you have no sense of shame!"

Her tirade was thoroughly satisfying, tearing away the veil of hypocrisy.

East King Duke's face instantly darkened.

He hated nothing more than having his faults exposed.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

East King Duke dropped all pretense. The Dragon Head Cane slammed down, and terrifying Pure Yang Magical Power surged forth like a tide, evaporating the surrounding seawater into white mist.

"Since that's the case, don't blame This Seat for disregarding our bond as fellow disciples of the Purple Firmament Palace!"

"Attack! Take her down!"

The moment the words fell, the Three Immortals of the Sea struck simultaneously.

Daoist Qingyun's Jade Ruyi transformed into a cyan dragon, carrying world-destroying might as it hurtled toward Nuwa.

Ancestor Chi Xia pulled the stopper from his gourd, and a strange red mist erupted, turning into countless ferocious ghost faces that let out piercing shrieks.

Elder Changchun swung his Immortal Peach Wood Staff, and countless vines burst forth from the void, coiling toward Nuwa like venomous snakes.

The combined pressure of three Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals was enough to suffocate an ordinary Golden Immortal.

Nuwa's expression grew grim. The red silk from the Red Embroidered Ball could hold them off for a moment, but not for long.

She had not yet attained sainthood, and facing four opponents of the same level alone was too much to bear.

The newly born humans trembled in terror, some already crying out.

"Mother..."

The childish voice was full of fear and helplessness.

Nuwa's heart ached. She gritted her teeth, ready to fight to the death.

Just then, at this critical moment...

A sudden roar exploded from the western horizon, like a thunderclap that shook the entire sea region.

"Which blind dog dares to lay a hand on someone my Elder Brother values!"

The voice was rough and bold, carrying a reckless, no-holds-barred ferocity.

Immediately after, two streaks of golden light tore through the void, charging from the sky's edge with an utterly unreasonable speed.

The one in front had a gleaming bald head, wore a resplendent Daoist robe, and carried a large, golden shovel in his hand—it was Zhunti.

Behind him, Jieyin sat cross-legged on the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, his face bearing a look of suffering, his Prayer Beads spinning rapidly, yet murderous intent blazing in his eyes.

"Zhunti? Jieyin?"

East King Duke's pupils sharply contracted, but instead of alarm, joy surged within him, a ferocious grin spreading across his face.

"Perfect timing! I'll take care of your Western Sect too!"

"Time to settle old and new scores together!"

He had long sought trouble with the Western Sect but lacked a proper excuse.

Now these two fools were delivering themselves to his doorstep—wasn't this a gift from heaven?

Four against three, a sure win!

Zhunti couldn't be bothered to waste words.

His eyes bulged, and he raised high the Sky-Turning Shovel, a weapon capable of smashing mountains. The mana of a Perfected Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal surged wildly within him as he swung it directly at the face of Ancestor Chi Xia, who was closest.

"Take my Physical Salvation!"

The shovel carried the force of ten thousand jun, its air-splitting roar deafening, even tearing a visible rift through the void.

Ancestor Chi Xia's expression shifted drastically as he hastily withdrew his Red Mist to defend.

Jieyin was not idle either. The Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit blazed with brilliant light, cascading strands of golden merit radiance that firmly shielded Nuwa, dissolving all incoming attacks.

"Daoist Nuwa, do not panic."

Jieyin's voice was low, and his bitter face rarely showed a hint of resolve.

"Elder Brother said you are one of us. Whoever dares to touch you, the Western Sect will not stand idly by."

Nuwa looked at these two reinforcements who had descended from the sky, a warm current surging in her heart, and her taut nerves finally relaxed a little.

Taiyuan...

She had not misjudged him.

Seeing this, East King Duke, instead of retreating, grew even more excited.

"Hahaha! Mere two Perfected Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals dare to show off before This Seat?"

"Today, This Seat will teach you what it means to throw an egg against a rock!"

He raised his Dragon Head Cane high, and a terrifying pressure swept across the entire scene.

The Three Immortals of the Sea also readjusted their formation, encircling Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti.

Four Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals against three Perfected Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals.

The gap was clear at a glance.

The great battle was about to erupt.