Eastern King Duke, Queen Mother of the West, Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner

Xiao Teng looked up and saw all the living beings clasping their hands in neat, uniform salute.

So he followed suit and returned the salute.

It was only a gesture of respect. There was no need to kneel, and it would not cost him a piece of flesh.

Besides, he had gained many precious insights from Hongjun. On that account alone, offering a salute was only proper.

Hongjun was revered as the Dao Ancestor, and he truly deserved the title.

Hongjun gave a slight nod and calmly accepted everyone's salute.

Xiao Teng's gaze immediately shifted to Wood Duke. He knew Wood Duke would never flatter someone for no reason; he must have had his own purpose.

Sure enough, Wood Duke promptly said in a clear voice, "Reporting to Dao Ancestor, the era of the three clans has ended. Now the order of the Primordial World is in utter chaos, and all living beings have lost their direction. I beg Dao Ancestor to show us the way."

None of those present were fools. Their hearts were as clear as mirrors, and they all understood Wood Duke's intentions behind those words.

Everyone looked expectantly at Hongjun. Deep down, each of them harbored a trace of desire for the authority to govern the Primordial World.

More or less, everyone held onto a little hope, thinking that perhaps the position of ruler of the Primordial World might fall upon them.

After hearing Wood Duke's words, Hongjun's unfathomable face remained without a ripple, tranquil as still water.

When the anticipation in everyone's hearts reached its peak, Hongjun slowly said, "There are now countless living beings in the Primordial World, and order is in disarray. There is indeed an urgent need for someone to lead everyone in establishing a new order."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone's hearts ignited. Their excitement overflowed from their faces as they eagerly awaited Hongjun to call their names next.

Xiao Teng, however, looked utterly indifferent. He had no interest whatsoever in the power to command the Primordial World.

He knew that true authority was built upon the foundation of great strength. If one could ascend to the realm of a Sage, then even without carrying any authority, other living beings would still revere and fear them.

Conversely, even if one luckily obtained the authority to rule, if one lacked sufficient strength, no one would obey their commands. They might even bring a fatal disaster upon themselves.

Under the focus of everyone's expectant gazes, Hongjun finally revealed his choice.

"Wood Duke, Yang Hui, step forward."

The instant Wood Duke heard Hongjun call his name, joy burst across his face. Overwhelmed with excitement, he hurried forward in quick strides.

Seeing that Hongjun had chosen Wood Duke, everyone had expected it somewhat, yet they still found it difficult to suppress their dissatisfaction.

Many secretly speculated that Wood Duke had been chosen solely because of his earlier stream of fawning flattery.

Yet Hongjun's selection of Wood Duke had in fact come after careful consideration.

And Yang Hui—what qualifications did she have...

Only then did everyone realize that Hongjun had called two names.

Just who was this Yang Hui?

Everyone searched the surroundings with their eyes, yet no one stepped forward.

Moreover, the name Yang Hui was far too unfamiliar to them. The overwhelming majority had never even heard it before.

Hongjun's gaze fell upon a female immortal.

Sensing Hongjun's gaze upon her, Yang Hui moved forward with lotus steps and slowly emerged.

Yang Hui had never been particularly keen on becoming someone who led the living beings of the Primordial World. Her heart was wholly devoted to advancing her cultivation, and she rarely left home.

Thus, although her strength had already reached the realm of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, few people still knew her name.

"Dao Ancestor." Yang Hui walked before Hongjun.

Hongjun nodded and said, "You two were respectively transformed from the first strand of innate Yang energy and the first strand of innate Yin energy. Yin and Yang complement one another, making you the finest candidates to lead the immortals."

"Wood Duke, today I appoint you Eastern King Duke, leader of the male immortals. Yang Hui, I appoint you Queen Mother of the West, leader of the female immortals. You two must support one another and together maintain order in the Primordial World."

Hongjun's voice was solemn and majestic as it echoed through Purple Cloud Palace.

"We shall obey Dao Ancestor's decree," Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West answered in unison.

After obtaining the positions of leader of the male immortals and leader of the female immortals, Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West displayed entirely different reactions.

Eastern King Duke was so excited he could barely contain himself. His mind had already begun running wild, imagining what earth-shaking feats he would accomplish in the future while leading the living beings of the Primordial World, as though that glorious future were already within reach.

Queen Mother of the West, meanwhile, remained calm as still water, even showing a hint of helplessness.

At this moment, her sole thought was to return to Western Kunlun as quickly as possible, find a secluded place, and enter seclusion for cultivation.

Whatever thoughts the two might harbor, the positions of leader of the male immortals and leader of the female immortals had already been settled beyond dispute. Hongjun had personally decreed it, so neither of them could change it.

Hongjun bestowed a treasure upon each of Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West.

Xiao Teng looked closely and discovered that both treasures were Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures. Moreover, the treasure granted to Queen Mother of the West was precisely the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner they had long dreamed of obtaining.

Among the five directional banners, only the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner was still missing.

Xiao Teng had originally been racking his brains over how to obtain it from Hongjun's hands. Never had he expected that the treasure would now fall into Queen Mother of the West's hands.

With the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner in Queen Mother of the West's possession, there was instead more room to maneuver. Perhaps things would become much easier.

Then Hongjun spoke again. "This sermon has officially concluded. After three assembly periods, return to Purple Cloud Palace. At that time, there will be a third sermon, and it will also be the last."

"You may leave!"

With that, Hongjun's figure vanished in an instant like wisps of smoke.

The living beings within Purple Cloud Palace filed out one after another.

The moment they stepped out of Purple Cloud Palace, countless living beings surged like a tide toward Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West.

Eastern King Duke wore a broad smile and spoke cordially with everyone, looking as though he had truly become the leader of all immortals.

Queen Mother of the West merely gave everyone a few perfunctory replies before hastily seeking an opportunity to leave.

Di Jun and Taiyi, watching this scene from the side, felt the rage in their hearts rise like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

There had originally been many living beings following them, enough to stand in equal opposition to Eastern King Duke.

But now that Eastern King Duke had become the nominal leader of the male immortals, many living beings who had originally remained neutral turned toward him like grass on a wall swaying with the wind.

Di Jun dearly wished to kill Eastern King Duke, but before Purple Cloud Palace, he knew he could not act rashly.

He had just been appointed leader of the male immortals—if he died before Hongjun's own palace, would that not be a public slap across Hongjun's face?

Di Jun stared fixedly at Eastern King Duke's retreating back and muttered through gritted teeth, "Whether you can become the leader of the male immortals still depends on whether I, Di Jun, agree. We shall see."

Afterward, Di Jun left in anger with his subordinates.

"Father, did you see that just now? The thing that female immortal was holding seemed to be the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner," Er Wa hurriedly said.

"The Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner? Isn't that the final banner we need? Father, let's hurry and snatch it!" Si Wa said without a second thought.