Dong Wanggong laughed and smiled as he cupped his fist and greeted the newcomer. "Shangxia Ancestor, welcome to my Penglai Immortal Island. It's an honor to entertain you."
"No, it's my honor to attend the conference held by the head of the male immortals," Shangxia Ancestor said. Dong Wanggong's smile widened ever so slightly. He had one of the servants, an earth immortal transformed from one of the animals that originally inhabited Penglai Immortal Island, lead Shangxia Ancestor to his seat.
Most of the guests that had arrived were those unlucky few gods that could not make it to Hongjun's sermons, or those that refused to. Over a hundred Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament had arrived, hidden experts whom Dong Wanggong didn't know the existence of.
As Dong Wanggong received more and more guests,his confidence also rose. Surely, the high-end combat power of the Violet Manor would exceed the Demon Clan soon. Before his fantasies could get the better of him, Dong Wanggong brought himself back to reality.
The next guest surprised him. Compared to immortals, the label of demon would have fitted him more. "Follow Daoist Kong Xuan, I didn't expect you to attend my Immortal Conference."
Kong Xuan plastered a polite smile on his face. "Daoist Dong Wanggong, I've always considered myself an immortal, so of course, I would come. Or, are you saying you don't welcome me?"
"Haha, how can that be?" Dong Wanggong said. "Please enter and take a seat."
Dong Wanggong seated Kong Xuan near himself, right next to him in fact. Although Kong Xuan was weaker than him, Dong Wanggong felt a peculiar aura emanating from him. His instincts told him that Kong Xuan wasn't far from the Quasi-Saint Realm.
He resolved to recruit Kong Xuan to Violet Manor, no matter the cost.
Not long after, the time came for the Immortal Conference to commence. Dong Wanggong sat on the right with Kong Xuan right next to him, along with all the male immortals. On the left sat Xi Wangmu and the female immortals.
Xi Wangmu's grip on her wine glass tightened as she glanced toward the lunar star. She had invited the two lunar goddesses, Xihe and Changxi, to the Immortal Conference, but neither showed up.
Each guest was seated in front of a table with plates of spiritual fruits and immortal wine placed in front of them. Dong Wanggong raised his cup and made a toast. "I thank all of you for giving me face today and attending my Immortal Conference. However, this is a conference and not a banquet, after all. So, I will hold a sermon, explaining my understanding of cultivation and the method to enter the Quasi-Saint Realm."
At this, silence descended. The majority of the guests not part of Violet Manor had come just for a chance to hear Hongjun's Way of Three Corpses.
Reading the atmosphere, Dong Wanggong didn't delay, preaching his understanding of cultivation starting from Earth Immortal like Hongjun did during the first sermon in Violet Heaven Palace. Xi Wangmu would interject and take the leading position from time to time, giving another viewpoint on cultivation unique to her and supplementing Dong Wanggong's insights, amplifying the effects.
Kong Xuan, who had heard Hongjun's first sermon, felt that although Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu couldn't replicate the charm of Hongjun's sermon, they managed to convey around seventy percent of it.
After finishing speaking about the Great Firmament Realm, then came the most crucial aspect. Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu started explaining their experiences in discovering their good and evil thoughts. They spoke about the process of severing it and turning it into a Corpse, but infuriatingly, Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu perfectly dodged mentioning the exact method.
When Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu ended their sermon, most of the guests felt as if something was scratching their hearts. They wanted to stop the itch, but they couldn't reach it.
Because of this, many of the factionless immortals decided to stay, such as Shangxia Ancestor. Dong Wanggong accepted them all, but his true goal was Kong Xuan.
After dealing with them, Dong Wanggong walked towards Kong Xuan, who was staring at the top connate spiritual root, the Five Element Tree, with yearning. "Daoist Kong Xuang, does my Five Element Tree interest you?"
Kong Xuan turned towards Dong Wanggong. "I won't hide from fellow Daoist, the Five Element Tree does hold great appeal for me. I was wondering if Daoist Dong Wanggong could allow me to comprehend under the tree for a few thousand years."
Dong Wanggong made a troubled face upon hearing Kong Xuan's requests. "It's not that I don't want to allow fellow Daoist to cultivate under there, but the Five Element Tree is part of the Violet Manor, and I can't just let outsiders use it."
Kong Xuan's eyes seemed to bore a hole in the Five Element Tree, but he gave a long sigh and turned away. "If that's the case, I'm sorry for troubling fellow Daoist."
Seeing Kong Xuan turn to leave, Dong Wanggong gritted his teeth and reached out. "Please wait, fellow Daoist. If you join my Violet Manor, I can allow you to cultivate under it."
Kong Xuan's eyes lit up, but he immediately closed them and shook his head. He cupped his fist and said, "I'm sorry for failing Daoist Dong Wanggong's expectation, but I must decline."
"What about if I give you one of the five branches of the Five Element Tree?"
The Five Element Tree only had five branches, and each branch represented one of the five elements. Taking away a single branch of the Five Element Tree would drop it from a top-grade connate spiritual root to a high-grade connate spiritual root. It would take many years to regrow it and even more for it to restore it to its former grade.
Kong Xuan froze and looked at Dong Wanggong as if to confirm the veracity of his offer. After a moment of deliberation, Kong Xuan nodded.
Dong Wanggong’s heart split as he thought about cutting off a branch, but thinking that Violet Manor would gain another Quasi-Saint, his mood lifted. Before he could be happy for too long, Dong Wanggong's expression hardened as he stared in the direction of Buzhou Mountain. Not just him, but Kong Xuan, Xi Wangmu, and all the others closed or at the Quasi-Saint Realm turned their heads.
Golden clouds of merits gathered above Buzhou Mountain, or more specifically, above the Thirty-Three Heavens. Next, Di Jun's voice echoed throughout the Great Desolation, aided by the Way of Heaven.
"Redcloud Ancestor, Zheng Yuanzi, welcome, welcome," Di Jun said as he personally stepped forward to greet Redcloud Ancestor and Zhen Yuanzi.
Redcloud Ancestor didn't consider himself a demon and would have rather attended Violet Manor's Immortal Conference. But he remembered that it was because of Di Jun that he got the red gourd from the Immortal Gourd Vine and not the half-matured gourd Di Jun had taken.
"I came by to witness the establishment of Heavenly Court. Surely it would be a grand spectacle," Redcloud Ancestor said with a laugh.
Di Jun's smile deepened as he led the two deeper into the Thirty-Three Heavens. He placed the two of them near the front, where he would perform the ceremony of worshiping the Way of Heaven.
"Fellow Daoist, I've been meaning to ask, but are you willing to join my Demon Clan?" Di Jun asked. Seeing Redcloud Ancestor's hesitant expression, he added. "Of course, you'll be given the honored position of a demon emperor."
Redcloud Ancestor sighed. "I thank fellow Daoist Di Jun for your thoughts, but I prefer to roam free and unfettered. Joining a faction doesn't really suit me."
"I see, that's a shame," Di Jun said without showing any displeasure. After saying a few more pleasantries, he left.
"You shouldn't have rejected him so directly, at least say that you'll consider it," Zheng Yuanzi said.
"What's the point of prolonging it? It will only delay Daoist Di Jun," Redcloud Ancestor said without a care.
Zhen Yuanzi sighed.
Back with Di Jun, he was pleased to hear from a messenger that the Three Purities had arrived. Although he invited them, he never expected them to show up with their arrogance. He rushed to South Heaven Gate to greet the three.
"Haha, welcome, fellow Daoists," Di Jun greeted with a smile, the displeasure from Redcloud Ancestor's rejection fading.
Laozi didn't reply, Yuanshi made a noncommittal grunt, and Tongtian nodded in greeting. Di Jun's brows twitched, but he quickly relaxed them—at least they didn't attend Violet Manor's Immortal Conference.
He led the Three Purities through the layers of Thirty-Three Heavens. He sat them close to the front, which they deserved based on their strength alone. In the current Great Desolation, they were the only intermediate Quasi-Saints.
Halfway through, Di Jun met Taiyi.
"Brother, Jieyin and Zhunti have arrived. I'll take fellow Daoist Three Purities to their positions," Taiyi said.
Di Jun sent a look that screamed, "Are you sure you can do it?"
Taiyi frowned and ignored him. "Fellow Daoists, follow me."
Seeing Taiyi's firmness, Di Jun could only relent and return to South Heaven Gate to receive Jieyin and Zhunti personally.
Taiyi turned his back and gestured for the Three Purities to follow him. Tongtian stepped forward, but Yuanshi mysteriously positioned her behind him while allowing Laozi to take the lead. Tongtian wanted to question Yuanshi's abrupt actions but decided not to.
Yuanshi looked up to see Taiyi's displeased gaze. He smiled back. It was a soft smile that Yuanshi only showed his siblings, but it contained infinite provocation.
Taiyi took a deep breath and forced a smile. Once they were at the highest level, he led them inside Eminence Heaven Palace. He led them past Redcloud Ancestor and near the very front, a level higher than Bai Ze and the rest of the demon sages and on the same level as Nuwa and Fuxi.
Nuwa and Fuxi stood one level below the Heavenly Throne on its right, and Taiyi positioned them to the left. On the fourth position from the Heavenly Throne, he said, "Fellow Daoist Laozi, please stand here."
Without waiting, he motioned towards the third position from the throne. "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, please stand here."
Yuanshi didn't move. He stared at the first and second positions from the Heavenly Throne. Then, taking Tongtian by her shoulders, he moved her into the third position while he stood between them without waiting for Taiyi, still wearing that same smile.
Taiyi paused, but remained silent in the end. He stepped next to the left side of the throne and turned toward Yuanshi with a gentle smile.
Tongtian frowned, but not because of the strangeness of Yuanshi’s actions. No, she was concerned with how hot it suddenly became. Despite being an immortal and congenital god, she could not help but pull at her collars.
When Di Jun greeted Jieyin and Zhunti, he sensed that Jieyin had entered the Intermediate Quasi-Saint Realm. In addition, Zhunti had also become a Quasi-Saint. Due to the distance to the West, none of the eastern major powers had discovered their breakthroughs. Although both of them were inferior to the Three Purities, they shouldn't be underestimated.
He put on a smile and led the two western guests up the levels of Thirty-Three Heavens. That smile almost fell off when he entered Eminence Heaven Palace and he saw the Three Purities standing one level lower than the Heavenly Throne.
Di Jun sent a questioning glance to Taiyi, but his brother was too busy having a stare-off with Yuanshi. Di Jun forced his smile back on as he placed Jieyin and Zhunti in front of Redcloud Ancestor and Zheng Yuanzi.
Zhunit frowned when he saw they were placed far below the Three Purities, but he said nothing after seeing his senior brother's calm expression.
After them, there was no one else Di Jun needed to greet personally, and the time of establishment neared.
Finally, when the pre-established time arrived, Di Jun walked in front of the Heavenly Throne and raised his arm. His eyes looked up and pierced the ceiling and into the very heavens.
"The Way of Heaven above, I, Di Jun, the ruler of the Demon Clan, see that the Great Desolation is disorderly and full of hardship. I will bear the burden of the Mandate of Heaven and unite them under one rule, bringing order and prosperity!"
Di Jun's voice echoed throughout the Great Desolation. The Way of Heaven had recognized his vow.
Thousands of golden clouds of merits gathered above the Thirty Three Heavens, their dazzling radiance almost blinding all the people present.
Di Jun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with unwavering determination. "From now on, I am the Heavenly Emperor Di Jun! We announce the establishment of the Heavenly Court!"
Dong Wanggong laughed and smiled as he cupped his fist and greeted the newcomer. "Shangxia Ancestor, welcome to my Penglai Immortal Island. It's an honor to entertain you."
"No, it's my honor to attend the conference held by the head of the male immortals," Shangxia Ancestor said. Dong Wanggong's smile widened ever so slightly. He had one of the servants, an earth immortal transformed from one of the animals that originally inhabited Penglai Immortal Island, lead Shangxia Ancestor to his seat.
Most of the guests that had arrived were those unlucky few gods that could not make it to Hongjun's sermons, or those that refused to. Over a hundred Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament had arrived, hidden experts whom Dong Wanggong didn't know the existence of.
As Dong Wanggong received more and more guests,his confidence also rose. Surely, the high-end combat power of the Violet Manor would exceed the Demon Clan soon. Before his fantasies could get the better of him, Dong Wanggong brought himself back to reality.
The next guest surprised him. Compared to immortals, the label of demon would have fitted him more. "Follow Daoist Kong Xuan, I didn't expect you to attend my Immortal Conference."
Kong Xuan plastered a polite smile on his face. "Daoist Dong Wanggong, I've always considered myself an immortal, so of course, I would come. Or, are you saying you don't welcome me?"
"Haha, how can that be?" Dong Wanggong said. "Please enter and take a seat."
Dong Wanggong seated Kong Xuan near himself, right next to him in fact. Although Kong Xuan was weaker than him, Dong Wanggong felt a peculiar aura emanating from him. His instincts told him that Kong Xuan wasn't far from the Quasi-Saint Realm.
He resolved to recruit Kong Xuan to Violet Manor, no matter the cost.
Not long after, the time came for the Immortal Conference to commence. Dong Wanggong sat on the right with Kong Xuan right next to him, along with all the male immortals. On the left sat Xi Wangmu and the female immortals.
Xi Wangmu's grip on her wine glass tightened as she glanced toward the lunar star. She had invited the two lunar goddesses, Xihe and Changxi, to the Immortal Conference, but neither showed up.
Each guest was seated in front of a table with plates of spiritual fruits and immortal wine placed in front of them. Dong Wanggong raised his cup and made a toast. "I thank all of you for giving me face today and attending my Immortal Conference. However, this is a conference and not a banquet, after all. So, I will hold a sermon, explaining my understanding of cultivation and the method to enter the Quasi-Saint Realm."
At this, silence descended. The majority of the guests not part of Violet Manor had come just for a chance to hear Hongjun's Way of Three Corpses.
Reading the atmosphere, Dong Wanggong didn't delay, preaching his understanding of cultivation starting from Earth Immortal like Hongjun did during the first sermon in Violet Heaven Palace. Xi Wangmu would interject and take the leading position from time to time, giving another viewpoint on cultivation unique to her and supplementing Dong Wanggong's insights, amplifying the effects.
Kong Xuan, who had heard Hongjun's first sermon, felt that although Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu couldn't replicate the charm of Hongjun's sermon, they managed to convey around seventy percent of it.
After finishing speaking about the Great Firmament Realm, then came the most crucial aspect. Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu started explaining their experiences in discovering their good and evil thoughts. They spoke about the process of severing it and turning it into a Corpse, but infuriatingly, Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu perfectly dodged mentioning the exact method.
When Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu ended their sermon, most of the guests felt as if something was scratching their hearts. They wanted to stop the itch, but they couldn't reach it.
Because of this, many of the factionless immortals decided to stay, such as Shangxia Ancestor. Dong Wanggong accepted them all, but his true goal was Kong Xuan.
After dealing with them, Dong Wanggong walked towards Kong Xuan, who was staring at the top connate spiritual root, the Five Element Tree, with yearning. "Daoist Kong Xuang, does my Five Element Tree interest you?"
Kong Xuan turned towards Dong Wanggong. "I won't hide from fellow Daoist, the Five Element Tree does hold great appeal for me. I was wondering if Daoist Dong Wanggong could allow me to comprehend under the tree for a few thousand years."
Dong Wanggong made a troubled face upon hearing Kong Xuan's requests. "It's not that I don't want to allow fellow Daoist to cultivate under there, but the Five Element Tree is part of the Violet Manor, and I can't just let outsiders use it."
Kong Xuan's eyes seemed to bore a hole in the Five Element Tree, but he gave a long sigh and turned away. "If that's the case, I'm sorry for troubling fellow Daoist."
Seeing Kong Xuan turn to leave, Dong Wanggong gritted his teeth and reached out. "Please wait, fellow Daoist. If you join my Violet Manor, I can allow you to cultivate under it."
Kong Xuan's eyes lit up, but he immediately closed them and shook his head. He cupped his fist and said, "I'm sorry for failing Daoist Dong Wanggong's expectation, but I must decline."
"What about if I give you one of the five branches of the Five Element Tree?"
The Five Element Tree only had five branches, and each branch represented one of the five elements. Taking away a single branch of the Five Element Tree would drop it from a top-grade connate spiritual root to a high-grade connate spiritual root. It would take many years to regrow it and even more for it to restore it to its former grade.
Kong Xuan froze and looked at Dong Wanggong as if to confirm the veracity of his offer. After a moment of deliberation, Kong Xuan nodded.
Dong Wanggong’s heart split as he thought about cutting off a branch, but thinking that Violet Manor would gain another Quasi-Saint, his mood lifted. Before he could be happy for too long, Dong Wanggong's expression hardened as he stared in the direction of Buzhou Mountain. Not just him, but Kong Xuan, Xi Wangmu, and all the others closed or at the Quasi-Saint Realm turned their heads.
Golden clouds of merits gathered above Buzhou Mountain, or more specifically, above the Thirty-Three Heavens. Next, Di Jun's voice echoed throughout the Great Desolation, aided by the Way of Heaven.
"Redcloud Ancestor, Zheng Yuanzi, welcome, welcome," Di Jun said as he personally stepped forward to greet Redcloud Ancestor and Zhen Yuanzi.
Redcloud Ancestor didn't consider himself a demon and would have rather attended Violet Manor's Immortal Conference. But he remembered that it was because of Di Jun that he got the red gourd from the Immortal Gourd Vine and not the half-matured gourd Di Jun had taken.
"I came by to witness the establishment of Heavenly Court. Surely it would be a grand spectacle," Redcloud Ancestor said with a laugh.
Di Jun's smile deepened as he led the two deeper into the Thirty-Three Heavens. He placed the two of them near the front, where he would perform the ceremony of worshiping the Way of Heaven.
"Fellow Daoist, I've been meaning to ask, but are you willing to join my Demon Clan?" Di Jun asked. Seeing Redcloud Ancestor's hesitant expression, he added. "Of course, you'll be given the honored position of a demon emperor."
Redcloud Ancestor sighed. "I thank fellow Daoist Di Jun for your thoughts, but I prefer to roam free and unfettered. Joining a faction doesn't really suit me."
"I see, that's a shame," Di Jun said without showing any displeasure. After saying a few more pleasantries, he left.
"You shouldn't have rejected him so directly, at least say that you'll consider it," Zheng Yuanzi said.
"What's the point of prolonging it? It will only delay Daoist Di Jun," Redcloud Ancestor said without a care.
Zhen Yuanzi sighed.
Back with Di Jun, he was pleased to hear from a messenger that the Three Purities had arrived. Although he invited them, he never expected them to show up with their arrogance. He rushed to South Heaven Gate to greet the three.
"Haha, welcome, fellow Daoists," Di Jun greeted with a smile, the displeasure from Redcloud Ancestor's rejection fading.
Laozi didn't reply, Yuanshi made a noncommittal grunt, and Tongtian nodded in greeting. Di Jun's brows twitched, but he quickly relaxed them—at least they didn't attend Violet Manor's Immortal Conference.
He led the Three Purities through the layers of Thirty-Three Heavens. He sat them close to the front, which they deserved based on their strength alone. In the current Great Desolation, they were the only intermediate Quasi-Saints.
Halfway through, Di Jun met Taiyi.
"Brother, Jieyin and Zhunti have arrived. I'll take fellow Daoist Three Purities to their positions," Taiyi said.
Di Jun sent a look that screamed, "Are you sure you can do it?"
Taiyi frowned and ignored him. "Fellow Daoists, follow me."
Seeing Taiyi's firmness, Di Jun could only relent and return to South Heaven Gate to receive Jieyin and Zhunti personally.
Taiyi turned his back and gestured for the Three Purities to follow him. Tongtian stepped forward, but Yuanshi mysteriously positioned her behind him while allowing Laozi to take the lead. Tongtian wanted to question Yuanshi's abrupt actions but decided not to.
Yuanshi looked up to see Taiyi's displeased gaze. He smiled back. It was a soft smile that Yuanshi only showed his siblings, but it contained infinite provocation.
Taiyi took a deep breath and forced a smile. Once they were at the highest level, he led them inside Eminence Heaven Palace. He led them past Redcloud Ancestor and near the very front, a level higher than Bai Ze and the rest of the demon sages and on the same level as Nuwa and Fuxi.
Nuwa and Fuxi stood one level below the Heavenly Throne on its right, and Taiyi positioned them to the left. On the fourth position from the Heavenly Throne, he said, "Fellow Daoist Laozi, please stand here."
Without waiting, he motioned towards the third position from the throne. "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, please stand here."
Yuanshi didn't move. He stared at the first and second positions from the Heavenly Throne. Then, taking Tongtian by her shoulders, he moved her into the third position while he stood between them without waiting for Taiyi, still wearing that same smile.
Taiyi paused, but remained silent in the end. He stepped next to the left side of the throne and turned toward Yuanshi with a gentle smile.
Tongtian frowned, but not because of the strangeness of Yuanshi’s actions. No, she was concerned with how hot it suddenly became. Despite being an immortal and congenital god, she could not help but pull at her collars.
When Di Jun greeted Jieyin and Zhunti, he sensed that Jieyin had entered the Intermediate Quasi-Saint Realm. In addition, Zhunti had also become a Quasi-Saint. Due to the distance to the West, none of the eastern major powers had discovered their breakthroughs. Although both of them were inferior to the Three Purities, they shouldn't be underestimated.
He put on a smile and led the two western guests up the levels of Thirty-Three Heavens. That smile almost fell off when he entered Eminence Heaven Palace and he saw the Three Purities standing one level lower than the Heavenly Throne.
Di Jun sent a questioning glance to Taiyi, but his brother was too busy having a stare-off with Yuanshi. Di Jun forced his smile back on as he placed Jieyin and Zhunti in front of Redcloud Ancestor and Zheng Yuanzi.
Zhunit frowned when he saw they were placed far below the Three Purities, but he said nothing after seeing his senior brother's calm expression.
After them, there was no one else Di Jun needed to greet personally, and the time of establishment neared.
Finally, when the pre-established time arrived, Di Jun walked in front of the Heavenly Throne and raised his arm. His eyes looked up and pierced the ceiling and into the very heavens.
"The Way of Heaven above, I, Di Jun, the ruler of the Demon Clan, see that the Great Desolation is disorderly and full of hardship. I will bear the burden of the Mandate of Heaven and unite them under one rule, bringing order and prosperity!"
Di Jun's voice echoed throughout the Great Desolation. The Way of Heaven had recognized his vow.
Thousands of golden clouds of merits gathered above the Thirty Three Heavens, their dazzling radiance almost blinding all the people present.
Di Jun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with unwavering determination. "From now on, I am the Heavenly Emperor Di Jun! We announce the establishment of the Heavenly Court!"
