PS: Many thanks to fellow Daoist Xue Luo Qian Ren for the generous support! Dragon Soul bows in gratitude.
Seeing that Hong Jun had already left, everyone knew there was no hope. With regret on their faces, they headed out of Zixiao Palace.
Just then, East Prince spoke up. "Fellow Daoists, since I have been entrusted by the Dao Ancestor with managing the Primordial Male Immortals, I must make something of the appointment."
"After leaving Zixiao Palace, I will establish the Immortal Court at Fang Zhu Mountain in the East Sea. Those who wish to join may come find me there."
East Prince spoke with great confidence. But when he finished, he realized that hardly anyone was left in Zixiao Palace.
His brow furrowed at once. This was a blatant slap in the face, a sign that not one of the Three Thousand Purple Cloud Palace Guests took his words seriously.
"You will regret disobeying the Dao Ancestor sooner or later," East Prince muttered under his breath. He also turned his gaze toward Queen Mother of the West, who was about to leave.
"Fellow Daoist Queen Mother of the West, since you and I have been appointed leaders of the Primordial Male and Female Immortals, shouldn't we establish the Immortal Court together and manage the Primordial Wilderness cultivators on the Dao Ancestor's behalf?"
A look of impatience was plain on Queen Mother of the West's face. She had no interest in the struggles of the Primordial Wilderness, and East Prince's arrogance only irritated her further.
She replied, "I prefer peace and quiet, and I have no great ambitions. I only wish to stay in West Kunlun and devote myself to cultivation."
"Any Primordial Female Immortals who wish to join me are welcome to cultivate in West Kunlun. If they don't wish to come, I won't force them."
With that, she turned and left Zixiao Palace without giving East Prince another chance to persuade her.
East Prince gritted his teeth in hatred. After all, he hadn't merely planned to establish the Immortal Court alongside Queen Mother of the West.
He had also hoped to form a Dao companion with her. He was Innate Pure Yang Qi, and she was Innate Pure Yin Qi—they were a match made in heaven.
Unfortunately, judging by Queen Mother of the West's expression, she had no such intentions. She even seemed somewhat annoyed with him.
But East Prince didn't realize this. Instead, he thought she didn't know what was good for her. Once he established the Immortal Court, he would make her come begging to him.
He gave his robe a flourish, then strode out of Zixiao Palace to return to the Primordial Wilderness and establish the Immortal Court.
Qing Xuan and the others had witnessed the whole scene. Nuwa turned to Qing Xuan and asked,
"Little Gourd Vine, do you think East Prince can establish the Immortal Court? And if he does, will Queen Mother of the West rule it alongside him?"
Qing Xuan replied with a smile, "Since it's the Dao Ancestor's appointment, East Prince is practically acting under Heaven's mandate. How could he possibly fail?"
From Qing Xuan's playful expression, Nuwa immediately understood that he was speaking ironically. She gave him a sharp glare.
Then Qing Xuan, Nuwa, Fu Xi, and Houtu left Zixiao Palace together. They entered Chaos and returned to the Primordial Wilderness.
They planned, as before, to return to Fangzhang Island and consolidate their cultivation before waiting for Hong Jun's Third Lecture. They hadn't even set off for the East Sea when three people appeared in their path.
Seeing them, Qing Xuan gave a helpless smile. "Looks like they saw that our cultivation is weaker than theirs and came to settle the score."
Sure enough, the three were none other than Sanqing. Laozi wore an impassive expression, but a trace of killing intent lurked in his eyes.
Yuanshi Tianzun was more direct. Seeing Qing Xuan return from Chaos, he immediately said, "Qing Xuan, did you ever imagine this day would come?"
Qing Xuan smiled and nodded. "I did, but I didn't think it would happen so soon. I thought you'd at least wait until you'd Proved Dao and Become a Saint before coming to settle the score."
"But since you've come now, you must think you can take me on. In that case, let's skip the talk. All three of you, come at me together."
Yuanshi Tianzun believed that, having already severed his benevolent corpse, he was a mighty Quasi-Saint at the early stage. Qing Xuan ought to be terrified to see them.
After all, all three brothers were Quasi-Saints, while the four on Qing Xuan's side were only Great Luo Golden Immortals. The difference between them was immense.
Yet Qing Xuan acted as if he didn't care at all, as though he didn't take them seriously—just as he had when he taught the three brothers a lesson before.
Yuanshi Tianzun flew into a rage. He swung the Three Treasures Ruyi straight at Qing Xuan's head.
Qing Xuan reached into the air, and the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler appeared in his hand. He immediately raised it to meet the Three Treasures Ruyi.
At the same time, a Folding Fan appeared in Qing Xuan's other hand. He slowly opened it, keeping the side painted with images turned toward himself.
The side he showed Sanqing bore only the words "Great Dao," written in Innate Dao Patterns. Though boundless Dao aura flowed through the characters, the image was nothing extraordinary.
But the side facing Qing Xuan bore images of Hong Jun giving his lectures at Zixiao Palace—twice. That was truly a sight to behold.
As Qing Xuan opened the fan, the Seven Gourds chimed crisply, making him look impossibly carefree and dashing.
The Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler met the Three Treasures Ruyi. With a single blow, it knocked the ruyi straight out of the air.
The ruler's momentum didn't falter. It flew straight toward Yuanshi Tianzun, aiming right for his backside.
As the scene from last time looked set to repeat itself, Laozi hurriedly sent out the Coiling Dragon Flat Crutch. It transformed into a Flood Dragon and charged at the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler.
Given Yuanshi Tianzun's current cultivation, he should have been able to dodge Lu Xuan's attack with ease. But the Pangu Imprint on the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler held him in place.
The instant Yuanshi Tianzun saw the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler coming for him, the thought that he deserved to be punished rose in his mind. He didn't even think of dodging.
The Coiled Dragon Carrying Pole failed to stop the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler. As if passing through empty air, the ruler swept past the Coiling Dragon Flat Crutch and slammed into Yuanshi Tianzun's backside.
At once, Laozi understood what was happening. He immediately called to Tongtian, "Third Brother, hold off the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler and protect Second Brother. I'll capture Qing Xuan."
Laozi now understood that the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler naturally countered the three brothers. Once it reached them, they couldn't even bring themselves to dodge.
In that case, they only needed to deal with the one wielding the ruler. The Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler could counter them, but Qing Xuan couldn't.
If they killed Qing Xuan and seized the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler, who would dare swagger in front of Sanqing again?
Tongtian nodded woodenly and stepped behind Yuanshi Tianzun, standing back-to-back with him.
He had already gripped the Qingping Sword and fixed his gaze on the Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler, which was about to strike again from midair.
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