Taishang's heart trembled at the thought.
If that were truly the case, even he would be tempted to join the promising Immortal Court, let alone the other Great Powers.
And if it wasn't a deliberate scheme, then East King Duke was just as unfathomable. He could seize every opportunity and turn crises into opportunities. He was not to be underestimated.
Whatever the truth, Taishang had made up his mind not to incur any karma with East King Duke. Otherwise, whoever got involved would surely be the one to suffer.
Zhunti, Jieyin, Nuwa, Zhenyuanzi, and the others were likewise deeply shaken.
Many Great Powers were tempted by the Immortal Court's terms, just as Taishang had guessed. For a time, countless streaks of rainbow light flashed across the skies of the Primordial World, heading toward the Immortal Court.
Of course, happiness was always relative.
As everyone made their way toward the Immortal Court, a sky full of killing intent descended upon it first.
"East King Duke!"
"How dare you!"
Outside the Heavenly Court, an overwhelmingly powerful aura continued to rise.
Fierce and violent, it radiated like a supreme sun, unleashing holy light. Two figures in imperial robes emerged from within its sacred radiance.
Di Jun and Taiyi.
They arrived in the world bearing boundless heat and light. Their terrifying heat warped the void, as if two suns had appeared. All living things wailed, and the ground cracked from the scorching heat.
But Di Jun and Taiyi paid no attention. Their cold eyes fixed on East King Duke.
"Hand over the opportunity, and I'll spare your life!"
Taiyi stepped forward, and the Eastern Emperor Bell appeared in his hand. The boundless principles of the Great Dao intertwined around it, but an invisible force bound them, turning them into tangible runes and symbols. With a slight tremor, the void crumbled, endlessly alternating between destruction and rebirth.
The River Diagram and Luo Book appeared above Di Jun. Profound energies unfolded across them. A single glance was enough to plunge one into endless illusion, obscuring one's true spirit and turning one into a mortal who lived through countless cycles of reincarnation. In an instant, hundreds of millions of years could pass.
The two released their auras together, making All Things in Heaven and Earth tremble.
They were even more furious inside. First, East King Duke had snatched the Heavenly Emperor Position from them. Then he had killed two of their Demon Gods. Now he had even taken their great opportunity.
Looking at the Heavenly Court, they felt all the more strongly that if they possessed it, they would surely rule the Primordial World and become sovereign over all.
At that moment, countless Great Powers instinctively slowed their approach.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and the others all looked grave.
Di Jun and Taiyi fighting together represented nearly the greatest power in the world. Only a handful could stand against them.
The two looked so imposing that a battle seemed imminent.
"How absurd! Opportunities in this world belong to the worthy. Never mind that I was the first to find this opportunity. Even if I hadn't been, I am the Heavenly Emperor, in charge of all order in the world. This opportunity rightfully belongs to me!"
East King Duke's aura spread out. The starry sky swayed, and Weak Water surged, as if ready to engulf the mortal world.
Though the three faced off, he was not at a disadvantage in the slightest.
"Blasphemy! The Heavenly Court is an opportunity bestowed by the Heavenly Dao, and it bears great karma with our Heavenly Court. How can you simply take it because you say so?!"
The River Diagram and Luo Book hovered over Di Jun's head. The pages turned continuously, making a faint rustling sound.
The threads of karma linked to the Heavenly Dao appeared before them. A seven-colored, illusory thread stretched through the Heavenly Court and the bodies of Di Jun and the others.
This was karma. All living beings in the world accumulated karma, and the River Diagram and Luo Book could make that karma tangible.
"East King Duke, the karma is right here. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Taiyi demanded angrily.
"What karma could there be before me?"
East King Duke joined his fingers like a sword. The laws of the Great Dao swirled around his fingertips, radiating a profound aura.
Then he casually slashed through the air in front of the Heavenly Court. A muffled sound rang out, and the seven-colored thread of karma snapped in two.
It was true that Di Jun and the others should have been the first to discover the Heavenly Court, earning the Heavenly Dao's recognition and bringing heavenly fortune to the Demon Court.
But things were different now. I'm here, so it's mine.
Even if there was karma, he could simply cut it off. There was nothing more to say.
This was no longer the time when he had just arrived in this world. He had been wanting to test the strength of Di Jun and Taiyi, and a fight would make a fine celebration for the founding of the Immortal Court.
"Looking for death!"
Di Jun had wanted to settle things peacefully. After all, besides East King Duke, they also had enemies such as the Twelve Ancestral Witches, and even Kunpeng coveted their position.
But East King Duke had shown them such blatant disrespect. Naturally, Di Jun would not hesitate any longer.
"Ha ha ha! Eldest Brother, that's just how it should be."
The Eastern Emperor Bell rang through the heavens, and Taiyi burst into laughter.
East King Duke held the Exalted Position of Heavenly Emperor. They could normally teach him a lesson and leave him gravely wounded, but if they killed him outright, they might suffer a backlash from the Heavenly Dao's fortune.
But things were different now. They were fighting over an opportunity, and East King Duke had even severed his karma with the Heavenly Dao. Having defied the Heavenly Dao so brazenly, they could kill him here today without anyone objecting!
"Clang!"
A distant bell rang, unleashing power enough to destroy the universe. An ordinary Great Luo Golden Immortal would die on contact.
Di Jun did not hold back either. The River Diagram and Luo Book shone with dazzling light, containing the supreme principles of the Great Dao.
The starry river swayed, and the world trembled.
Boundless light and heat erupted from the two, leaving countless living beings burning up and fleeing in a panic.
"They really mean to kill him!"
"Di Jun and Taiyi are so powerful. They're like the Sun Star itself, appearing in the world. A mere trace of their aura can suppress all the heavens. Is this the might of Quasi-Saints?"
"East King Duke is only at the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, yet he's provoked two Quasi-Saints at once. He really doesn't know what he's doing."
"What a pity. Once the Immortal Court was established, with countless powerful experts backing him, even Di Jun and Taiyi wouldn't dare attack so easily. They're trying to take the chance to eliminate East King Duke now!"
"East King Duke miscalculated!"
Countless living beings looked up in terror, while the Great Powers discussed the battle among themselves.
In the west, Zhunti sat beneath a bodhi tree, smiling with delight.
No matter which side won, the east would suffer. Weakening the east's strength could only benefit the west.
Of course, he too believed East King Duke was bound to lose.
How could two against one go wrong?
"Donghua..."
West Queen Mother's dignified, elegant face was filled with worry. She murmured softly, afraid that she might distract him and cause him to lose.
All she could do was wait anxiously for the two sides to clash. But she secretly resolved that if East King Duke lost, she would save him from beneath the Eastern Emperor Bell, even if she had to sacrifice her Kunlun Mirror.
"Kill!"
Taiyi swept across the sky with the Eastern Emperor Bell. Boundless Order Divine Chains pierced the void, and even time and space seemed to wither beneath the bell's toll.
Di Jun summoned all his Dao and techniques, and in an instant, the starry sky above changed completely.
The Sun, Moon, and Stars formed an unparalleled killing formation, enveloping East King Duke. Heavenly fire erupted, as if it would refine him and the surrounding world to nothing.
"Hmph!"
East King Duke stood atop the Heavenly Court, the Heavenly Emperor Seal above his head, the Creation White Lotus beneath his feet, and the Sky Measuring Ruler in his hand.
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