East King Duke's Scheme, The Mastermind Surfaces!

"Deal with them. Bring back the Enlightenment Tea Tree."

The calm voice rang through the nine heavens, shaking the cosmos. As Di Jun's words fell, the phantom images of the Nine Heavens above the void dissipated entirely.

"We obey Your Majesty's decree."

"We obey Your Majesty's decree."

"We obey Your Majesty's decree."

The assembled high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Court bowed deeply and spoke in unison.

The four Purple Mansion high-ranking officials' expressions shifted, and they immediately tried to flee. But the outcome was self-evident—if ten of them couldn't prevail, four stood no chance. In an instant, they were suppressed and slain, sending a chill through the onlookers' hearts.

"The Heavenly Court."

One by one, the Primordial Great Powers maintained calm expressions but sighed inwardly. Some took their leave after exchanging greetings with Nuwa and the others; others simply turned and departed. Soon, only Nuwa's group remained in the entire Land of Guixu.

"Let's make haste."

Taiyi said in a low voice.

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

The group nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Within the Purple Mansion, in Donghua Palace.

East King Duke sat upon the imperial throne, his eyes half-closed as if lost in thought, pondering something.

After a long moment, as if sensing something, East King Duke opened his eyes and looked toward the void. Ripples traced through the air, and Zhen Yuanzi's figure stepped out from the void.

"Lord Duke, what do you mean by this?"

Zhen Yuanzi asked, his expression somewhat grim.

"What does Fellow Daoist mean by that?"

East King Duke asked, confused.

"You never intended to compete for the Enlightenment Tea Tree on the Guixu expedition! Sending those few was just using them as cannon fodder. Is this how you waste the resources the great ones have given you?!"

Zhen Yuanzi shouted.

"What use are such meager resources? You've seen the Heavenly Court's foundation and Di Jun's situation. If They want This Seat to contend for supremacy in the Primordial Era, then give me substantial help. Otherwise, let's just drag this out."

"I am, after all, the Head of Male Immortals. Unless They truly want an irreconcilable war, I believe Di Jun would be more than happy to let me serve as a target."

"If you won't provide real support, I'm no different from a puppet. In that case, I'd rather be Di Jun's puppet—at least we're on the same side. What do you think?"

"As for using Quasi-Saints as cannon fodder, so what? It's not my resources anyway. Wasting them is wasting them. Got a problem with that?"

East King Duke's face was calm as he spoke with a sneer.

Face?

After losing that great battle, he had long since lost any face. So what did he care now? It was all a performance anyway—whoever acted better would win. Would he care about that?

"..."

Zhen Yuanzi was momentarily speechless, at a loss for words at East King Duke's utterly resigned attitude.

"What do you want?"

Taking a deep breath, Zhen Yuanzi asked in a low voice.

"If we're cooperating, then act like it. Don't be so petty. What do you think? Oh, I forgot—you can't make decisions. Ask the people behind you."

"This Seat can promise that if They truly place their bets, I will deliver satisfactory results. Going all out against the Heavenly Court—is that enough weight?"

East King Duke said calmly.

"Fine. I will communicate with the great ones. What do you need?"

Zhen Yuanzi nodded slightly.

"Resources. Enough resources. What use is mere early-stage Quasi-Saint in this era? At the very least, I need early-stage Quasi-Saint peak. Don't worry, I won't ask for much—just enough resources to cultivate ten early-stage Quasi-Saint peak experts."

A faint smile appeared on East King Duke's face.

"..."

Zhen Yuanzi's teeth ached.

"Also, I need a formation—one comparable to the Grand Formation of the Stars of the Heavens, or even surpassing it. Otherwise, how can we talk about opposing the Heavenly Court?"

"Beyond that, my cultivation speed is a bit slow. Give me the Dao insights I need as well."

East King Duke said unhurriedly.

"..."

Zhen Yuanzi sucked in a breath.

You really dare to say that. You really dare to ask for the moon.

"And if I did give it?"

Since it wasn't coming out of his pocket anyway, Zhen Yuanzi said bluntly.

"If you give it, This Venerable will exhaust everything, rally the full force of the entire Purple Mansion, and attack the Heavenly Court!"

East King Duke slowly rose, speaking each word deliberately.

"Good. I shall go report to the great ones at once."

Zhen Yuanzi wasted no words, turning to leave.

Just as Zhen Yuanzi was about to step into the void, a faint voice sounded from behind him.

"Zhen Yuanzi, This Venerable does not wish for you to question me in such a tone again. Remember, even if I am no match for Di Jun, even if I am but a puppet in the eyes of those great figures—"

"Still, I am the male immortal foremost of this Primordial Wilderness!"

"My title was not picked up by chance; I seized it myself!"

The voice was calm, yet it carried an extreme killing intent, the indifferent words as if conversing with an old friend. Even Zhen Yuanzi felt a wave of unease, his expression shifting slightly before he acted as if he hadn't heard and stepped into the void.

In the Heavenly Realm, within the Heavenly Emperor Palace.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Nuwa, Taiyi, Fuxi, Kunpeng, and Randeng bowed deeply to Di Jun with respect.

With all parties withdrawing from the contest, it went without saying that Nuwa and the others took no time at all to retrieve the Enlightenment Tea Tree, effortlessly—this was self-evident and needed no elaboration.

"No need for formalities."

On the high platform, Di Jun slowly opened his eyes and spoke.

"Your Majesty, we have fulfilled our mission and brought back the Enlightenment Tea Tree."

Taiyi flipped his palm, revealing a sphere. Within it, one could faintly see Chaos Qi swirling and a massive tree exuding an ancient, profound, majestic, and lofty pressure, as if stretching through the void, piercing endless cosmos.

"Good."

Di Jun smiled, waving his hand to store this Minor World away.

"Your Majesty, East King Duke seems somewhat off. This time, his anger appears more like a deliberate act—intentionally sending those ten to their deaths, with no real intent to fight for the Enlightenment Tea Tree. Otherwise, the Purple Mansion's elite wouldn't have been entirely absent."

"Since the Purple Mansion could dispatch ten Quasi-Saints, it likely has already recovered from the last war, perhaps even advanced further. There's no way they only have this many experts."

Taiyi spoke with confusion.

"Heh, he was indeed deliberate, that old fox."

Di Jun said with a light laugh.

Standing outside the chessboard, overlooking the game, how could he, with his wisdom, not see through it? After all, the various signs had already made the answer all but obvious. How could Di Jun still be unaware of the details? It was merely reverse deduction—nothing difficult.

"Deliberate?"

The group was taken aback, lost in thought.

"He's playing a clever game. If the forces behind him don't put in enough effort, he'll coast along, standing openly in the spotlight to draw the Heavenly Court's attention. That's why he's been recruiting strong cultivators across the Primordial Wilderness lately, and why he deliberately sent his subordinates to their deaths."

Di Jun explained slowly.

"Has Your Majesty reached an understanding with him?"

The group realized.

No wonder East King Duke left without a word when Your Majesty told him to scram.

"Rulers are indeed all scheming and calculating. Well, except for Your Majesty, who merely cooperated with East King Duke."

The group thought silently.

"Your Majesty, have you already guessed or discovered who stands behind him? No wonder the Purple Mansion's development has been so peculiar—repeatedly struck hard yet growing faster. Impressive methods. The one behind him must be unfathomable."

Randeng couldn't help but sigh.

"I've guessed it. It wasn't hard to begin with. The answer has been right before us all along."

Di Jun said slowly.

"May I ask Your Majesty who is behind East King Duke?"

Nuwa bowed, asking curiously.