"Zhen Yuanzi."
Di Jun uttered the three words, then slowly said, "Don't you think he and Hong Yun are far too close? He's always by his side, always traveling with him."
"If they were blood brothers, I could understand. But they aren't. Even Junti and Jieyin allied for the sake of mutual benefit, so what about Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi? What's their reason? Zhen Yuanzi isn't even tempted by the Primordial Violet Qi. Something's fishy."
Perhaps someone would say, can't two people who aren't brothers still be closer than brothers?
Di Jun neither agreed nor disagreed. Such a thing was possible, but it certainly didn't apply to the Primordial Wilderness. After all, at its very core, this ancient mythological world was one where the strong preyed on the weak, and it was also full of schemes and machinations.
Especially since Di Jun had read novels about the Primordial Wilderness. He understood Zhen Yuanzi all the better because of it.
"That does seem to be the case. If Your Majesty hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have thought of it. It's almost as if the matter had been deliberately erased from my memory. Something's wrong. Has Zhen Yuanzi been laying some grand scheme? What exactly does he intend to do to Hong Yun?"
Taiyi mused.
It wasn't just Taiyi. After thinking it over, the others also looked shocked, and all fell into thought, pondering the matter.
"Who's behind the Three Immortal Islands? What is Zhen Yuanzi plotting? Is it the Primordial Violet Qi Hong Yun carries? It does seem that later accounts never said where Hong Yun's Primordial Violet Qi went. Heh, now that's intriguing."
"According to the original trajectory, Taiyi, Minghe, Kunpeng, and I, among others, schemed against Hong Yun and surrounded him, hoping to seize the Primordial Violet Qi he carried. Although Hong Yun eventually perished, no one obtained the Primordial Violet Qi."
"Now it seems the waters of the Primordial Wilderness really are deep!"
"If Zhen Yuanzi had kept protecting Hong Yun and warning him, how would Hong Yun have 'accidentally' left Wuzhuang Temple and been caught by the Primordial Great Powers?"
"And how did Zhen Yuanzi know that Hong Yun would surely obtain the Primordial Violet Qi? Why spend countless ages earning Hong Yun's trust and laying out this scheme?"
"Interesting. Very interesting. This is the kind of Primordial Wilderness that's truly fun. If the Primordial Great Powers were all fools, as so many novels about the Primordial Wilderness in my past life depicted them, it wouldn't feel real. Every one of them has lived through countless kalpas, after all. How could any of them really be fools?"
As countless thoughts raced through his mind, Di Jun smiled, his grin growing brighter and brighter.
Wasn't this more exciting? Otherwise, growing stronger and even bringing the Primordial Wilderness to heel would be far too dull.
"Enough. There's no need to dwell on it. We'll learn the truth in time. For now, let's settle the matter of the Innate Gourd Vine. That's what matters most."
Setting aside his thoughts, Di Jun let out a breath and looked toward the Innate Gourd Vine, shrouded by the Innate Grand Formation.
As time passed, the Innate Grand Formation had now completely dissipated!
Purple Mansion.
"Heavenly Court... Di Jun. Heh, what a show of power. Just wait. Just wait. It won't be long now. Once I finish what I'm doing, Di Jun, your death will be at hand!!!"
Dong King Duke withdrew his gaze from Mount Buzhou. A cold smile curled his lips, and burning ambition shone in his eyes.
Treasures?
Fortuitous opportunities?
So what!
Even if he obtained them, in the end he'd merely be keeping them safe for someone else, only to hand them over as a gift.
He was Dong King Duke—East Hua Imperial Sovereign, Dong King Duke, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor as the Head of Male Immortals. The male immortals of the entire Primordial World ought to be under his rule. He, and he alone, was the Primordial Wilderness' one true ruler!!!
"Dao Ancestor... Them. Heh, you treat me as a pawn, but haven't I been scheming against you as well? As long as I can attain the Dao, I'll be able to escape this cage and become a player myself!"
His gaze was deep and his heart ablaze. Dong King Duke took a long breath and slowly closed his eyes.
Soon. Soon, it would be finished!!!
Wuzhuang Temple.
Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi returned and took their seats beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree.
The changes in Di Jun and the Heavenly Court, and their terrifying power, surfaced in Zhen Yuanzi's mind. A faint unease rose in his heart, and his brows furrowed. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Then he took a deep breath and suppressed them.
"Daoist Brother Hong Yun, the atmosphere in the Primordial Wilderness has grown increasingly strange and tense, and you carry the Heavenly Dao's foundation, the Primordial Violet Qi. For now, don't leave Wuzhuang Temple. We must stay together at all times to guard against anything unexpected."
Looking at Hong Yun, Zhen Yuanzi urged him earnestly.
"Don't worry, Daoist Brother. I may love doing good deeds and helping others, but I'm no fool. When my life is at stake, I know what to do."
Hong Yun laughed and patted his chest.
"Good."
At that, Zhen Yuanzi's expression eased somewhat.
The winds were rising, the clouds were gathering!
Under the surface, the currents were churning!
After the Heavenly Court's two moves, and the Purple Mansion's silence, the entire Primordial Wilderness seemed to sense an approaching storm. In the unseen depths, it was as if a great upheaval was about to erupt.
Powerful figures, countless great powers, and all living beings—the atmosphere across the Primordial Wilderness had grown increasingly strange. Unease stirred in everyone's hearts, as though they could feel the calm before the storm. When the storm arrived, it would shake the heavens!
For a time, the entire Primordial Continent was in an eerie state, as if maintaining a delicate balance that could give way to unimaginable change at any moment. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the Heavenly Court and the Purple Mansion.
Everyone knew that two tigers could never share one mountain. Now that the Heavenly Court's power was growing by the day, how could Dong King Duke sit still? So the true battle... was about to begin!
Mount Buzhou.
"So this is the Innate Gourd Vine? Tsk... Each of its seven gourds is a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!? How is that possible! This is a Chaos Spiritual Root! A Chaos Spiritual Root whose grade fell after it was caught in the Great Tribulation of Creation!"
Hearing Di Jun's words, everyone looked toward the area where the Innate Grand Formation had dissipated. Once they saw what lay within, Taiyi drew in a sharp breath, shock plain on his face.
Taiyi wasn't the only one. Everyone who saw it was moved, their eyes full of astonishment. They all understood why Di Jun had placed such importance on the Innate Gourd Vine.
A Chaos Spiritual Root!
It was a shattered Chaos Spiritual Root!!!
Looking out, they saw a vine stretching for countless trillions of kilometers, suspended in midair. Chaos Qi covered its surface, billowing and swirling. Golden rays shimmered brilliantly across it, as flowers seemed to rain down from the heavens and Golden Lotuses Springing from the Earth seemed to bloom.
The imprints of the Three Thousand Great Daos and the projections of countless minor paths filled it. With every breath of energy, it seemed to open an independent space, containing unimaginable power and boundless mysteries.
The seven gourds hanging from the vine—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—were even more extraordinary. Each surface bore twenty-nine restrictions, giving rise to twenty-nine strands of Dao essence. Looking closely, one could faintly see countless more illusory restrictions flickering in and out of sight beyond those twenty-nine Divine Restrictions.
Every one of them was a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!
And every one of them had limitless potential!!!
"Just as I thought. It's exactly as I imagined!"
"Then the foundation of the Mythological Imperial Dynasty is secured!"
"With this, I—Your Majesty—will usher in the true Great Era!"
Di Jun swept his gaze over the Innate Gourd Vine. As if something had been confirmed, his eyes shone brightly. Even with his present state of mind, he couldn't help feeling his blood surge.
The Great Era was about to begin!
And he, Di Jun, would be the one to lead it!!!
Before you continue