Dongwang Gong Establishes the Immortal Court

"Forty-two innate restrictions, a top-grade innate spirit treasure—the Source-Yang Cauldron! This cauldron is actually a top-grade innate spirit treasure!"

Innate spirit treasures were divided into five grades: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, top-grade, and supreme treasures.

The grade of a spirit treasure was determined by the number of restrictions it possessed. Low-grade innate spirit treasures had 1 to 12 innate restrictions; mid-grade innate spirit treasures had 13 to 24; high-grade innate spirit treasures had 25 to 36; top-grade innate spirit treasures had 37 to 48; innate supreme treasures possessed 49 innate restrictions.

Acquired spirit treasures followed the same principle. However, acquired restrictions were not as profound as innate restrictions, which meant that acquired spirit treasures were far less powerful than innate spirit treasures.

But nothing in the world was absolute. Bai Jing's Primordial Measure of Heaven Ruler and Laozi's Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda each possessed a layer of heaven-opening merit, and their power was no weaker than that of innate supreme treasures.

This Source-Yang Cauldron had been formed from the essence of innate Wu Earth, while Zhenyuanzi's Ginseng Fruit Tree had been formed from the essence of innate Xu Earth. Though they came from different roots, they shared the same origin; both were products of the Great Dao of Earth.

Wu meant "flourishing," like the lush growth of grass and trees across the land and flowers vying in splendor. It was Yang Earth: all things were born from it and emerged forth, and all things were felled and returned into it.

The Source-Yang Cauldron possessed the might of Wu Earth. Within it, all things could be nourished; outside it, it could cut off attacks, impervious to all arts.

Bai Jing had never expected that his Journey Through Buzhou Mountain would bring him such a harvest. Overjoyed, he immediately sat cross-legged and began refining the restrictions of the Source-Yang Cauldron.

The Primordial Measure of Heaven Ruler was practically the companion spirit treasure Pangu had bestowed upon Bai Jing. Back then, Bai Jing had needed only a single breath to refine its twenty-four restrictions.

The Source-Yang Cauldron, however, had previously had nothing to do with Bai Jing. He spent a full five thousand years refining twenty-four of its restrictions before gaining an initial grasp of the cauldron.

With a thought from Bai Jing, the Three Lights Divine Water and white lotus he had stored away earlier, along with those fifteen innate spirit roots, appeared inside the cauldron.

The Source-Yang Cauldron could nourish all things. Placing the white lotus and spirit roots within it might bring some unexpected surprise.

Bai Jing contentedly put away the Source-Yang Cauldron, then continued his journey through Mount Buzhou.

Perhaps because he had obtained the Source-Yang Cauldron, Bai Jing found nothing afterward. He did not even encounter any spirit herbs of considerable age.

So Bai Jing simply returned to the grand formation where he had found the Source-Yang Cauldron, took out the Creation Jade Disc Fragment, and began comprehending the Great Dao of Devouring.

No one knew how much time passed before Bai Jing, immersed in quiet cultivation, was suddenly startled awake.

"Heavenly Dao above, I, Dongwang Gong, have been charged by the Saint with maintaining order in the Primordial World. Thus, I establish the Immortal Court, using the top-grade innate spirit treasure, the Dragon-Headed Staff, to suppress its destiny. Henceforth, I shall be the Lord of the Immortal Court. May the Heavenly Dao bear witness."

Boom.

A deafening roar resounded throughout the Primordial World, and countless great powers turned their gazes toward the East Sea as one.

In West Kunlun, Xi Wangmu, seated cross-legged upon a meditation cushion, let out a long sigh upon hearing that Dongwang Gong had established the Immortal Court.

Among all the female immortals of the Primordial World, Xi Wangmu could rank among the top ten. Her foundations were also extraordinarily exceptional, making her unquestionably one of the foremost great cultivators in the Primordial World. With the top-grade innate spirit treasure Hongjun had bestowed upon her, she truly had a chance to contend for the position of leader of the female immortals.

But Xi Wangmu was unlike Dongwang Gong. She had keenly sensed that after Hongjun declared her the leader of the female immortals and bestowed a treasure upon her, who knew how many flashes of killing intent had passed through the assembly.

Although Nuwa and Houtu, the two strongest female immortals in Zixiao Palace, had shown no reaction, who could remain calm before hostility from nearly half the Primordial World?

Especially from where the Demon Race was seated, several strands of bone-piercing killing intent had hardly faded from beginning to end, lasting until she left Zixiao Palace.

The Demon Race had already established the Heavenly Court, clearly intending to rule the Primordial World. Yet Hongjun had chosen Dongwang Gong and her as the leaders of the male and female immortals at such a time. How could the Demon Race possibly endure that?

Xi Wangmu would not naively believe that no one would dare touch them merely because a Saint had spoken, much less believe that a Saint would watch over them at every moment. That was why, as soon as the sermon ended, she had hurriedly left Zixiao Palace and returned to West Kunlun to enter secluded cultivation.

"Since Dongwang Gong wishes to stick his neck out, let him do so. I need only ignore him. From now on, I will not leave my doors except for the Saint's third sermon.

"If Dongwang Gong truly grows too arrogant and gets himself killed, then I should be safe. After all, once both immortal leaders personally appointed by the Saint have been killed, no one should have the nerve to do so again.

"If he receives some good fortune and the Immortal Court he established truly surpasses the Demon Race's Heavenly Court, it will not be too late for me to emerge then," Xi Wangmu murmured to herself.

The view shifted to the other side of Kunlun Mountain, the Daoist grounds of the Three Pure Ones.

Dongwang Gong's establishment of the Immortal Court also alerted the Three Pure Ones, who were cultivating.

Yuanshi Tianzun snorted coldly. "The Demon Race has now established the Heavenly Court, while the Witch Clan is using Mount Buzhou as its base to expand recklessly. Both clans wield immense power, and neither is something Dongwang Gong can contend with. Yet at a time like this, Dongwang Gong dares establish the Immortal Court and openly recruit loose cultivators right under Dijun's nose. He is truly seeking his own death."

Hearing this, Laozi did not even open his eyes. In an even tone, he said, "This matter has nothing to do with us. Could Dongwang Gong possibly recruit the Three Pure Ones?"

"Eldest Brother is right. Second Brother, why should we concern ourselves with him?" Tongtian echoed.

Seeing both of his brothers say so, Yuanshi Tianzun spoke no further. He slowly closed his eyes and continued comprehending the Great Dao, seeking to sever his corpse as soon as possible.

Elsewhere, in the Palace of Soaring Heaven of the Demon Race's Heavenly Court.

Dijun and Taiyi sat at the head, while numerous demon sages stood below. For a time, no one spoke.

After a moment, Taiyi could no longer hold it in. He looked at Dijun and said angrily, "Big Brother, it would have been one thing for the Saint to appoint Dongwang Gong as the leader of the male immortals, but Dongwang Gong has actually started taking himself seriously. Whether in cultivation or foundations, what does he have that can compare to us?

"Today, he even dared establish some Immortal Court and recruit other loose-cultivator great powers before our very eyes. He has absolutely no regard for us. I will go kill him right now!"

Having said that, Taiyi rose, intending to head for the Purple Manor in the East Sea.

Upon hearing that Dongwang Gong had established the Immortal Court, Dijun too had been filled with fury. Yet he was far calmer than Taiyi. He could restrain the anger in his heart and would not act as impulsively as Taiyi.

Dijun reached out to stop Taiyi. Sweeping his gaze over the members of the Demon Race, he said indifferently, "Second Brother, it is absolutely unacceptable for you to kill Dongwang Gong now. Setting everything else aside, we cannot disregard the Saint's dignity. No one knows what the Saint is thinking at present. We cannot gamble."

"Your Majesty speaks wisely," Bai Ze said from below, following Dijun's words. "Dongwang Gong's cultivation is mediocre. Whether he is truly foolish or merely pretending, he cannot become a major threat. Even if he gathers a group of loose cultivators, they will be nothing more than a rabble, not worth worrying about.

"If it truly becomes unbearable, we can kill him with a wave of the hand. The one we must face is not Dongwang Gong, but the Saint of this age."

Taiyi held his elder brother in great respect. With Bai Ze, the Demon Race's strategist, also speaking, Taiyi could only snort coldly and sit back down in resentment.