Duke of the East watched Dijiang's retreating back, relief showing on his face.
"Finally, he's gone."
He let out a long breath and leaned back on his throne.
Not long after Dijiang left, several streaks of light flew over. They were powerful beings from around Purple Mansion Island, who had dealings with Duke of the East from time to time.
"Fellow Daoist Duke of the East, what happened? Why did Ancestral Witch Dijiang come knocking?"
A man dressed in a water-blue Daoist robe asked.
His name was Xuanshui. He was a rare divine water that had taken human form, and one of the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace.
Lined up beside him was a man in a yellow robe named Jinshi, who had been formed from a stone touched by the light of the world's creation.
The others included Kongming, Yuanmu, and several other powerful beings, all of them among the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace.
Duke of the East straightened up, a trace of authority appearing on his face. He was just about to explain.
Jinshi spoke first. "Fellow Daoist Duke of the East is the Head of Male Immortals. Could Ancestral Witch Dijiang have come to discuss some matter?"
He looked unconvinced, and had simply tossed out a wild guess.
But when those words reached Duke of the East's ears, they took on a different meaning.
Duke of the East glanced discreetly at the powerful beings, then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's nothing major. I was planning to establish the Immortal Court, and somehow Daoist Dijiang heard the news and came to offer his congratulations."
"As you know, the Ancestral Witches are all so clumsy and heavy-handed. They even damaged my cave abode."
He spoke lightly, his expression casual, but his words carried