Feigning Madness and Pity, East King Duke Snatching Food from a Tiger's Mouth!

Within Zixiao Palace, just as East King Duke was frantic and at a complete loss, a cold mechanical voice suddenly rang in his ear.

[In the 38,000th year of the Primordial World, you transmigrated into the Primordial World!]

[After listening to the Dao Ancestor expound the Dao, your comprehension greatly increased, and you grasped the embryonic form of the Great Dao of Faith.]

[Di Jun and the others are eyeing you like tigers eyeing prey, wishing to eliminate you without delay. Based on the gap between both sides, you are not far from death!]

[You now face an immense calamity, yet you have keenly discovered that if this crisis is properly exploited, it may become a fortuitous opportunity for you!]

East King Duke was instantly thrilled upon hearing this.

There was hope!

The thought flashed through his mind, but he swiftly calmed down again. The system had not provided a direct solution, only a hint.

So this wasn't an invincible protagonist story, but... a fortuitous opportunity?

What did that mean?

His mind churned without pause. His newly enhanced comprehension left his brain cool and clear, its thoughts moving even faster.

By the time everyone had begun to grow impatient, not a trace of panic remained on East King Duke's face. He rose unhurriedly and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your favor, Dao Ancestor!"

At those words, a faint smile appeared on the anciently still face of Hongjun Dao Ancestor.

But East King Duke's next words left everyone utterly astonished.

"Reporting to Dao Ancestor, though I wish to share your burdens, I know my cultivation is shallow, and I possess no Magic Treasure to protect myself. I fear the immortals will be difficult to guide and enlighten. I beg Dao Ancestor to instruct me!"

This was the solution he had worked out.

Since you pushed me into danger, then I'll lay it out plainly and hand this problem right back to you.

Upon hearing East King Duke's words, everyone looked over in disbelief.

What was he doing? Was he openly extorting the Dao Ancestor?!

Di Jun and the others temporarily forgot their anger as well, staring at East King Duke in shock and suspicion.

"Ha ha ha, Brother, this East King Duke truly is arrogant beyond measure. We need not waste another thought on him."

Taiyi's tone brimmed with disdain and pity.

In his view, East King Duke had lost himself in the authority of being the Head of Male Immortals. He actually dared to use this to bargain with the Dao Ancestor.

He simply did not know his own limits.

Nothing more than a reckless brute.

Jieyin and Zhunti of the west felt their scalps go numb at those words, cold sweat streaming down their backs.

To this day, the western lands of the Primordial World remained a wasteland stretching ten thousand miles, their immortal veins severed, with less than one part in ten of their Spiritual Energy remaining.

Back when Hongjun had yet to become a Saint, he had dared to cripple a quarter of the Primordial World for the sake of contending over the Great Dao. They certainly did not believe that, after becoming a Saint, he would suddenly have any reservations.

Within Zixiao Palace, the Three Thousand Zixiao Guests stirred restlessly. Even Taishang, who had always been tranquil and detached, could not help but turn his head to look.

East King Duke showed not the slightest concern or fear in the face of their gazes. His robes fluttered as he stood calmly in the great hall.

Of course, he knew that Hongjun Dao Ancestor was no Saint without desire or pursuit.

But this Heavenly Emperor Position of his had been ordained by the Heavenly Dao. It could not be like later generations, where Hongjun could casually appoint some attendant boy to become the Heavenly Emperor.

Minor currents of the Heavenly Dao could be altered, but its great course could not be defied.

If Hongjun were merely a Saint, that would be one thing. But if he wished to merge with the Dao, he could not act against Heaven.

Inside Zixiao Hall, the atmosphere became somewhat strange.

The immortals lowered their heads in alarm, not daring to utter a single word.

After a long silence, ripples finally appeared in Hongjun's indifferent gaze.

"Good!"

After speaking, he lightly swept the whisk in his hand before him.

Everyone's vision blurred, and several clusters of objects radiating spiritual light silently emerged from nothingness.

Then countless phenomena churned through the heavens, while even the Chaos Qi outside Zixiao Palace was ceaselessly suppressed into submission.

"East King Duke shall govern the male immortals of the Primordial World and regulate the balance of yin and yang throughout Heaven and Earth. I bestow upon him the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Sky Measuring Ruler, to protect his person; and the Houtian Merit Spiritual Treasure, the Universe Mirror, to survey Heaven and Earth. He shall bear the duty of guidance and enlightenment!"

As Hongjun's voice fell, the two items flew before East King Duke. Their mysterious light gradually faded, revealing a ruler and a bronze mirror.

"A Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!"

"A Merit Spiritual Treasure!"

Cries of alarm rang out continuously within Zixiao Palace. Everyone stared over with burning eyes, their gazes filled with envy, greed, jealousy, and more.

These were Innate Spiritual Treasures!

Though the Primordial World had not long been opened and opportunities abounded everywhere, Innate Spiritual Treasures remained things they could only encounter by chance and never seek at will.

Aside from those Great Powers who had been born with Spiritual Treasures as their companions, the rest—though they were all foremost Great Powers of the Primordial World—were still, for the most part, using Houtian Spiritual Treasures.

Innate Spiritual Treasures were things they had only heard of in legends.

What they had not expected was for Hongjun Dao Ancestor to produce a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure the moment he made a move.

Their jaws nearly dropped on the spot.

So long as no Innate Supreme Treasure emerged, a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure was the most heaven-defying Magic Treasure in the Primordial World, unmatched by any.

Besides that, East King Duke also received a Merit Spiritual Treasure.

Though it was a Houtian Spiritual Treasure, nothing bearing the word "merit" could be weak.

In the Primordial World, merit was a universal panacea. Killing without accruing karma was mere child's play; if one had enough merit, even saints would not dare lay a hand on them.

The future Nuwa would become a saint through merit.

Though everyone's eyes burned with envy, they knew these were gifts from the Dao Ancestor and did not dare entertain the slightest thought of taking them. They could only secretly look on with envy.

All of them sighed over East King Duke's incredible luck.

But for East King Duke, this was far from over...

"Many thanks to the Dao Ancestor for bestowing these treasures, but this disciple is in dire straits!"

Ignoring the two Spiritual Treasures, East King Duke wore a bitter expression, one nearly identical to Jieyin's expression from the west.

Then he went even further, his voice taking on a sobbing tone that made the corners of everyone's mouths twitch nonstop.

"This disciple now has a treasure for offense, but none for protection!

"Dao Ancestor, there are bad people in the Primordial World!"

"If someone wishes to harm me in the future, my own safety would be a minor matter—but I fear it would delay the task entrusted to me by the Dao Ancestor!"

East King Duke continued bowing low, weeping miserably as he cautiously glanced toward Di Jun and the others.

Though the gesture was subtle, everyone present was a Great Power of the Primordial World. How could they fail to notice it?

"East King Duke!"

Taiyi angrily rose to his feet, glaring over with fire blazing in his eyes.

Though he had indeed harbored such thoughts just now, East King Duke could not say it aloud in front of the Dao Ancestor!

Yet East King Duke merely covered his face with his sleeve, showing no intention of responding.

Unlike the others, he was not afraid of angering Hongjun, Taiyi, and the rest.

Hongjun was about to merge with the Heavenly Dao. Once he succeeded, Spiritual Treasures would be of no use to him whatsoever.

Otherwise, there would not have been the event of distributing treasures at Treasure Distribution Cliff after the third sermon ended.

Moreover, just like that unlucky bastard Hongyun, he was merely a chess piece in Hongjun's eyes.

There was no need to mention Hongyun. Though he had obtained Primordial Violet Qi, he had still been beaten until his soul scattered and his spirit dispersed.

As for the original owner of this body, he had diligently managed the male immortals and sorted out the order of heaven and earth. But once the Primordial World stabilized, he became unimportant, ultimately meeting an end where his body perished and his Dao vanished.

At the time, Hongjun had not held the slightest intention of protecting him.

And the ones who killed him were Taiyi and the others. Since they were destined to be enemies, he naturally had no fear of offending them.

As the saying went, the bolder a man was, the greater the harvest the land would yield.

If he did not take this chance to grab more, he could only walk the original owner's old road.

Having finally been granted a second life, he naturally had no desire to live it that way.

When everyone heard East King Duke's audacious words, Zixiao Palace erupted into commotion once more.

"A Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure still isn't enough for him? Is he not afraid of being stuffed to death?!"

"He's courting death. Does he really think he's irreplaceable?"

"Heh, once he angers the Dao Ancestor, there will come a day when he regrets it!"