The East Sea Shore, the smoke of battle had cleared.
Nuwa and her elder brother Fuxi left the area with the newly born Human Race, heading somewhere safer where they could thrive.
Before leaving, Nuwa thanked Taiyuan once more. Her deep, beautiful eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
Taiyuan waved a hand, looking entirely unruffled as he watched that holy light disappear over the horizon.
"Elder Brother, what should we do with that old geezer?"
Zhunti came over carrying the Sky-Turning Shovel, dragging a charred figure behind him.
It was East King Duke.
The once-arrogant Head of Male Immortals now looked like a stray dog.
His entire body had been burned raw by Pure Yang Heavenly Fire. The Nine Yang Emperor Robe had long since turned to ash, leaving him with only a pair of underpants to cover himself. Even the Dragon Head Cane that symbolized his authority had been taken by Taiyuan.
Worse still, Taiyuan had sealed his cultivation with Glazed Pure Fire. At the moment, he couldn't even beat an ordinary mortal.
"Take him back."
Taiyuan glanced at the unconscious figure, the corner of his mouth curling into an amused smile.
"Lock him up and treat him well."
Zhunti's eyes lit up. He immediately understood what his elder brother meant.
"Got it. Leave it to me."
He cheerfully agreed, grabbed East King Duke by the ankle, and dragged him along the ground like a dead dog, flying toward Mount Sumeru.
The sight was as humiliating as it could get.
Jieyin watched from the side, shaking his head, but didn't stop him.
East King Duke had repeatedly caused trouble for the Western Sect. His fate now was only what he deserved.
Three streaks of light tore through the sky, speeding toward the west.
Mount Sumeru, rear mountain.
A shabby woodshed stood alone beside Mount Sumeru's latrine.
This wasn't an ordinary latrine. It was a place Taiyuan had specially set aside for dealing with spirit-beast droppings. The stench inside was so overpowering that even a Golden Immortal would wrinkle his nose.
East King Duke had been locked inside the woodshed.
When he slowly woke, the first thing he smelled was that nauseating stench. He nearly threw up on the spot.
"What is this place?"
He struggled to stand, only to find that he didn't have an ounce of strength left. His cultivation had been sealed tight.
"You're awake?"
A lazy voice came from the doorway.
East King Duke jerked his head up and saw the face he'd dreamed of tearing to pieces.
Taiyuan stood with his hands behind his back, his Moon-White Dao Robe fluttering lightly in the breeze. That infuriating smile was on his face.
"You... Taiyuan..."
East King Duke gritted his teeth, his eyes full of venom.
"Release me! I am the Head of Male Immortals, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor..."
"Personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor?"
Taiyuan interrupted him, his smile growing wider.
"So what? The Dao Ancestor never said you couldn't be captured."
He crouched down to meet East King Duke's gaze. His warm, gentle eyes were full of mockery.
"East King Duke, remember my Employment Letter?"
East King Duke's whole body jolted, and his face turned deathly pale.
That Employment Letter.
The letter that had made him spit blood in public and shattered his Dao Heart.
"I've saved the Latrine Manager position for you."
Taiyuan stood and dusted off his hands, though there wasn't a speck of dirt on them.
"Starting today, you're the chief cleaner of Mount Sumeru. You'll be responsible for cleaning this latrine."
"Three times a day: morning, noon, and night. No meals if you don't clean it properly."
"How's that? Not bad, right?"
East King Duke trembled with rage, his once-imposing face twisted into a knot.
"Taiyuan, you won't die well..."
"Now, now. There's no need to curse."
Taiyuan shook his head and pulled a glittering golden broom from his robe, tossing it in front of East King Duke.
"This is your tool. Get to work."
"Oh, and I've assigned you a supervisor. You should know him."
As he spoke, a figure walked in from outside.
Gray robes, a lean frame, a sinister face.
Daoist Liuguang.
When East King Duke saw him, his pupils contracted sharply.
"Liuguang? You traitor..."
"Well, look who it is. Long time no see, old boss."
Daoist Liuguang gave a snicker. His usually sinister face was now filled with satisfaction.
He walked up to East King Duke and looked down at the man who had once ordered him around. His eyes brimmed with the pleasure of revenge.
"Bet you didn't see this coming. The wheel of fortune turns, and now I'm the one supervising you."
"From today on, I'm your supervisor."
"Try slacking off, and, heh..."
Daoist Liuguang brandished the whip in his hand. Taiyuan had prepared it especially for him, to "motivate" East King Duke to work.
Watching this, East King Duke felt the world spinning around him.
He was the mighty Head of Male Immortals, the Primordial World's first man, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor—and now he'd fallen so far that one of his former subordinates was supervising him as he cleaned a toilet?
It was worse than death.
"Taiyuan, you'll regret this..."
East King Duke's voice was hoarse, his eyes full of venom.
"Regret it?"
Taiyuan had already reached the door. Hearing this, he glanced back at him, a cold smile curling his lips.
"I've never done anything I'd regret."
"Get to work, East King Duke."
"The latrine may stink, but it beats being dead."
With that, he left without looking back.
East King Duke was left slumped alone in the woodshed, staring at the glittering golden broom in his hand, his eyes filled with humiliation and despair.
The news spread throughout the Primordial World in no time.
East King Duke, the Head of Male Immortals, had been dragged off by the Western Sect to clean toilets.
Everyone was stunned.
It was the biggest joke under the heavens.
On Mount Kunlun, Primordial Heavenly Lord nearly dropped the Jade Ruyi in his hand when he heard the news.
"Clean toilets?"
He repeated the words in disbelief, his expression impossible to describe.
That was the Head of Male Immortals, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor. Though he had always looked down on East King Duke, the man had at least been somebody.
And now he'd fallen so low that he was cleaning toilets?
This Taiyuan of the West was far too ruthless!
On the Sun Star, Di Jun and Tai Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing deep apprehension in the other's eyes.
"This Taiyuan is ruthless."
Di Jun spoke gravely, his fingers tapping the armrest unconsciously.
"East King Duke may be a scoundrel, but the Dao Ancestor personally appointed him. Isn't Taiyuan afraid of being punished by the Dao Ancestor for treating him like this?"
"He's probably not afraid."
Tai Yi sneered. "Haven't you noticed? The Dao Ancestor still hasn't reacted at all."
"What does that tell us? It means the Dao Ancestor tacitly approved of what Taiyuan did."
"Or maybe even the Dao Ancestor can't do anything about him."
Di Jun's expression grew even more serious at this.
Just how terrifying was someone even the Dao Ancestor couldn't handle?
Purple Mansion Continent was in even greater turmoil.
When the news of East King Duke's capture arrived, the loose cultivators who had once relied on him scattered like birds and beasts.
The once-prosperous, bustling sanctuary had gone silent. There wasn't even anyone left to guard the gates.
Those who had once fawned over East King Duke now avoided him at all costs, afraid of being implicated.
When a wall falls, everyone rushes to tear it down. It was exactly like that.
Atop Mount Sumeru.
Taiyuan stood there, looking down at the flourishing immortal paradise below him, a deep sense of accomplishment filling his heart.
The thorn in his side, East King Duke, had finally been pulled out.
From now on, no one would dare use the title of Head of Male Immortals as an excuse to cause trouble for the Western Sect.
"Elder Brother, that old geezer's already started working."
Zhunti came running over cheerfully, his face full of glee.
"That kid Liuguang's really laying into him. The old geezer's howling like crazy."
Taiyuan nodded without saying much.
He turned to look into the distance, a glint passing through his eyes.
The matter with East King Duke was settled. Next, it was time to properly develop the West's enterprises.
After all, he was now a mid-stage Quasi-Saint.
He had to live up to a Quasi-Saint's stature.
Before you continue