"Take them out and bring back the Enlightenment Tea Tree."
His calm voice resounded through the nine heavens, shaking the universe. As soon as Di Jun finished speaking, the phantom of the Nine Heavens above them vanished completely.
"We obey Your Majesty's decree."
"We obey Your Majesty's decree."
"We obey Your Majesty's decree."
The Heavenly Court's high-ranking officials bowed deeply and spoke in unison.
The four Purple Mansion High-Ranks' expressions changed, and they immediately tried to flee. But the outcome was obvious: if ten of them had been no match, four stood even less chance. They were killed almost instantly, making the onlookers nearby shudder.
"The Heavenly Court..."
The Primordial Great Powers kept their expressions neutral, though they sighed inwardly. Some exchanged greetings with Nuwa and the others before leaving; the rest simply turned and departed. Soon, only Nuwa and the others remained in the area around the Land of Guixu.
"Let's make the most of our time."
Taiyi said gravely.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
Everyone nodded.
In the Purple Mansion, inside Donghua Palace.
East Wang Duke sat on the imperial throne, eyes half-closed as he seemed to ponder something.
After a long while, he appeared to sense something and opened his eyes, looking toward the void. Ripples passed through it, and Zhen Yuanzi stepped out.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"
Zhen Yuanzi asked, his expression somewhat grim.
"What do you mean, fellow Daoist?"
East Wang Duke asked, puzzled.
"You never intended to compete for the Enlightenment Tea Tree during the expedition to the Land of Guixu. You sent those men only to serve as cannon fodder. Is this how you waste the resources the great figures gave you?"
Zhen Yuanzi shouted.
"What use are such meager resources? You've seen the Heavenly Court's foundations and Di Jun's situation. If you want this honored one to vie for supremacy in the Primordial Wilderness, then provide tangible support. Otherwise, we can just keep dragging this out."
"After all, I am the Head of Male Immortals. Unless I truly mean to fight to the death, I believe Di Jun would be more than happy to let me serve as a target."
"Without tangible support from you, I'm no different from a puppet. If that's the case, I might as well be Di Jun's puppet. At least we're on the same side. Don't you agree?"
"And as for using Quasi-Saints as cannon fodder, so what? They weren't my resources to begin with. If they're wasted, they're wasted. What, do you have a problem with that?"
East Wang Duke's expression remained calm as he spoke with a sneer.
Dignity?
After losing the last battle, he had already lost all face. So why should he care now? This was all an act to begin with. It was a matter of who could play their part better. Did he care?
"..."
Seeing East Wang Duke's resigned attitude, Zhen Yuanzi was momentarily at a loss for words.
"What do you want?"
After taking a deep breath, Zhen Yuanzi asked gravely.
"If this is a partnership, then act like it. Don't be so stingy. Don't you agree? Oh, I forgot—you're not the one in charge. Go ask the people behind you."
"I can promise you this: if they truly commit, I'll give them a satisfactory answer. Is putting everything on the line against the Heavenly Court enough to prove my sincerity?"
East Wang Duke said indifferently.
"Very well. I'll discuss it with the great figures. What do you need?"
Zhen Yuanzi nodded slightly.
"Resources. Plenty of resources. What use is the early Quasi-Saint stage in this era? I need to reach at least the peak of the early Quasi-Saint stage. Don't worry, I'm not asking for much. Just give me enough resources to raise ten people to the peak of the early Quasi-Saint stage."
A faint smile appeared on East Wang Duke's face.
"..."
Zhen Yuanzi felt a headache coming on.
"Also, I need a formation powerful enough to rival the Grand Formation of the Stars of the Heavens, or even surpass it. Otherwise, how could I possibly oppose the Heavenly Court?"
"On top of that, my cultivation is progressing too slowly. Give me the Dao insights I need as well."
East Wang Duke spoke unhurriedly.
"..."
Zhen Yuanzi drew a breath.
You really had the nerve to say that. You really knew how to ask for the moon.
"What if we give it to you?"
Since the resources wouldn't come out of his own pocket, Zhen Yuanzi answered bluntly.
"If you give them to me, I'll commit everything I have and lead the entire Purple Mansion in an assault on the Heavenly Court!"
East Wang Duke slowly rose to his feet, speaking each word deliberately.
"Good! I'll go report this to the great figures at once."
Zhen Yuanzi didn't waste any time. He turned to leave.
Just as Zhen Yuanzi was about to step into the void, a low voice came from behind him.
"Zhen Yuanzi, I don't want you questioning me in that tone again. Remember, even if I'm no match for Di Jun, even if those great figures see me as nothing but a puppet..."
"Still, I am the Head of Male Immortals of the Primordial Wilderness!"
"I didn't get my title by picking it up off the ground. I won it myself!"
His voice was calm, yet filled with a murderous intent. His casual words sounded almost like he was chatting with an old friend. Even Zhen Yuanzi felt wave after wave of dread and couldn't help changing expression. Then, as if he hadn't heard a thing, he stepped into the layers of the void.
In the Heavenly Realm, inside the Heavenly Emperor Palace.
"We pay our respects to Your Majesty."
"We pay our respects to Your Majesty."
"We pay our respects to Your Majesty."
Nuwa, Taiyi, Fuxi, Kunpeng, and Randeng bowed deeply to Di Jun and spoke respectfully.
With the various factions having withdrawn from the contest, Nuwa and the others had needed very little time to retrieve the Enlightenment Tea Tree. They had done so effortlessly; there was no need to explain further.
"No need for formalities."
Di Jun slowly opened his eyes on the raised platform.
"Your Majesty, we have successfully brought back the Enlightenment Tea Tree."
Taiyi turned his palm over and produced a sphere. Within it, one could faintly see the billowing Chaos Qi and an enormous tree imbued with an ancient, profound, vast, and exalted aura. It seemed to stretch through the void, as if piercing the boundless universe.
"Good."
Di Jun smiled and waved the Minor World away into his possession.
"Your Majesty, something seems strange about East Wang Duke. He appeared furious this time, but it seemed more like an act. He deliberately sent those ten men to their deaths and never intended to compete for the Enlightenment Tea Tree. Otherwise, the Purple Mansion couldn't possibly have sent none of its elite forces."
"The Purple Mansion was able to send ten Quasi-Saints. It must have recovered from the last war, perhaps even grown stronger. It surely can't have only a handful of powerful fighters."
Taiyi spoke up, puzzled.
"Heh, he was doing it on purpose. That old fox."
Di Jun said with a quiet laugh.
He stood outside the game and looked down upon the board. With his intelligence, how could he fail to see it? The clues had practically put the answer right in front of him. How could Di Jun still not know the truth? He only had to work backward from the evidence. It wasn't difficult.
"He did it on purpose?"
Everyone was taken aback, and they too began to understand.
"He's got quite the plan. If the people behind him don't contribute enough, he'll just slack off and remain in the open, drawing attention for our Heavenly Court. That's why he's been recruiting powerful figures all over the Primordial Wilderness lately, and why he deliberately sent his subordinates to their deaths."
Di Jun explained slowly.
"Your Majesty, you and he reached an understanding?"
Everyone suddenly understood.
No wonder East Wang Duke had left when His Majesty told him to get lost. He hadn't said a word in protest.
"Those in power really are all devious schemers. Well, except His Majesty. He was merely playing along with East Wang Duke."
Everyone thought to themselves.
"Your Majesty, have you already guessed—or discovered—who's behind him? No wonder the Purple Mansion's growth has been so strange. It suffered heavy blows several times, yet somehow continued to grow even faster. What a masterful hand. Whoever is behind it must be unfathomably powerful."
Randeng couldn't help exclaiming.
"I've guessed who it is. It wasn't difficult. The answer has been right in front of us all along."
Di Jun said slowly.
"May I ask who is behind East Wang Duke, Your Majesty?"
Nuwa bowed and asked curiously.
Before you continue