133: Dongwanggong seeks Penglai

With the head of male immortals decided, Hongjun once again turned his gaze toward the West Queen Mother.

“West Queen Mother, you are the incarnation of the Great Desolation's first wisp of Ultimate Yin Qi; you shall be the head of female immortals.”

“I bestow upon you the Top Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Pure Water Alms Bowl, and the Jade Registry of the Immortal Mansion.”

“From this day forward, all female Immortals of the Great Desolation must be recorded in the Jade Registry and pay their respects to you.”

As Hongjun's voice fell, the West Queen Mother, who had not appeared particularly high-profile among the group of Innate Sacred Beings, stood up and bowed in thanks: “I thank the Dao Ancestor for his trust.”

Unlike the East Duke's previous duplicitous demeanor, the West Queen Mother never considered being the head of female immortals to be some extraordinary honor from start to finish.

On the contrary, she felt it might attract unnecessary Karma in the future.

For instance, right now, the East Duke, who had just become the head of male immortals, was staring at her with a burning gaze, clearly plotting something.

After that, Hongjun said no more. “This sermon is now over. You may all depart. After three kalpas, Zixiao Palace will open again.”

Having finished speaking, Hongjun vanished directly from where he stood.

“We respectfully see off the Dao Ancestor!” everyone said as they rose.

Once Hongjun left, the many Innate Sacred Beings also began to leave their seats one after another.

Outside Zixiao Palace, it became quite lively.

Having been personally appointed by the Saint as the head of male immortals of the Great Desolation, the East Duke was currently in high spirits, and many Innate Sacred Beings began to gather around him.

The East Duke greeted everyone with a smile.

Surrounded by the crowd, there was a sense that he was being treated as their superior.

Inadvertently, his gaze passed through the crowd and met Dijun's eyes; it seemed like boasting, yet it also carried a hint of provocation.

He knew that over these years, Dijun had been constantly trying to win over the Innate Sacred Beings and had already gathered a significant force.

But now that he had become the head of male immortals, he could easily achieve what Dijun had previously worked so hard for.

At the thought of this, the East Duke laughed loudly and departed.

Watching the East Duke's retreating back, Dijun only frowned slightly, seemingly not taking the matter to heart.

However, Taiyi couldn't help but feel indignant on Dijun's behalf.

In his view, how could this East Duke even compare to a single hair of his elder brother?

“Big Brother, why would the Saint let such a person be the head of male immortals?”

“The Saint has his own plans. Since things have come to this, we can only accept it.”

Despite saying this, the determination in Dijun's eyes did not fade.

“Let's go. This time we will head to Mount Buzhou again to visit Fellow Daoist Fuxi.”

“And see if we can win over Fellow Daoist Nuwa as well.”

Hearing this, Taiyi couldn't help but shake his head. This was already the third time; his elder brother truly was persistent.

But since it was his elder brother's word, he could only accompany him.

The Ancestral Witch Houtu was actually the last to leave. Originally, she had wanted to find an Opportunity to ask the Saint about the future path of her Witch Tribe.

But in just a momentary lapse, the Saint had already left, giving her no chance at all.

Shaking her head, she could only come back next time... Purple Mansion Island, this place was the location of the East Duke's Dao arena.

Having become the head of male immortals, he immediately attracted the following of dozens or even a hundred Daluo Sacred Beings.

Furthermore, there was a steady stream of people coming to join him due to his reputation.

At this moment, the East Duke was hosting a banquet here, drinking with his guests.

Although those present were mostly obscure Innate Sacred Beings, it was enough to make him feel proud and gratified.

It had to be said that the title personally bestowed by the Saint was indeed useful; its power of appeal was extraordinary.

This was only the beginning; in the future, more and more Innate Sacred Beings would join him voluntarily.

“Dijun, Taiyi, the Three Clears, Nuwa—all those who looked down on me will be paid back twofold...”

The East Duke held his head high, fully displaying his elation.

One day, he, the East Duke, would surely use this as a stepping stone to reach an even higher level and ascend to that position.

After a brief moment of satisfaction, he felt as if there was something in his heart he had forgotten.

And his subconscious was telling him that this was a very important matter.

So he settled his mind to think, temporarily putting aside the matters before him.

Suddenly, he was startled; the source was that feeling back in Zixiao Palace of an Opportunity being taken.

“Quickly, everyone put down your wine cups for now and follow me to a certain place!”

The East Duke's sudden urgency left everyone present confused.

Just moments ago, he had the appearance of a superior who remained unruffled by anything; how could his face change so quickly?

But the East Duke didn't have time to explain the situation as he led the group away from Purple Mansion Island, rushing toward the direction he sensed.

Along the way, the East Duke sped ahead in a streak of light, with dozens of Immortal lights following closely behind.

Everyone looked at each other but didn't dare to ask too much.

They saw the East Duke occasionally pinching his fingers to calculate and occasionally closing his eyes to sense, his expression becoming increasingly grim.

His hands were constantly fumbling with that guiding spiritual light, wanting to find the location of that Opportunity as quickly as possible.

If it was truly as he sensed and someone had already beaten him to it, then his loss would be immense.

Finally, at a newly opened area in the East Sea, an Immortal island shrouded in mist gradually appeared.

Rosy light pierced through the clouds, reflecting off the island and making it as dazzling as colored glaze.

The East Duke's eyes lit up. “Penglai! It really is Penglai Immortal Island!”

He impatiently descended from the clouds and laughed toward the sky, “Heaven helps me! With this Immortal island as a foundation, why should I worry about my grand cause failing!”

The others also chimed in, “Congratulations, Immortal Head, on finding such an Opportunity.”

The East Duke immediately became even more arrogant and ordered people to begin exploring.

Every time a Spiritual Vein node was discovered, it was marked. Upon seeing rare Spiritual Roots or herbs, he immediately ordered them to be cordoned off. When encountering rare birds or exotic beasts, he at once gave orders for them to be tamed.

Before long, the outskirts of Penglai had been mapped out by him into the prototypes of Thirty-six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-two Blessed Lands.

“Build the Donghua Hall here, and set up the Ascension Platform there...”

The East Duke pointed at the landscape as if he could already see the grand scene of ten thousand Immortals coming to pay homage.

The accompanying Immortals were also infected by his passion and began offering suggestions one after another.

However, when the group reached the core area of Penglai, they were suddenly dumbfounded.

An invisible barrier blocked their path, and no matter how the East Duke and his group activated their treasures to attack, it remained completely unmoved.

Two figures could be vaguely seen inside the barrier, showing that someone had already beaten them to it.

“This... how is this possible!” The East Duke's face instantly turned ashen.

This place was where his Opportunity lay. Under his title personally bestowed by the Saint, who could steal it, and who would dare to steal it!

Some of the accompanying Immortals tried to break the formation again, only to be thrown back by the counter-shock, vomiting blood.

Someone suggested a combined full-force attack, but the East Duke suddenly calmed down; he recognized that the dao rhyme contained in this barrier was actually at the Primordial level.

With their strength, forcing their way in was definitely not an option.

But if he were to give up on the core area of Penglai Immortal Island just like this, he wouldn't be able to reconcile himself to it.

So, with a change of heart, he stepped forward and said respectfully: “I wonder which Fellow Daoist is here? Might you reveal yourself for a meeting?”

Soon, a response came from within, and a small opening appeared in the barrier.

“Fellow Daoist, please come in alone.”

The East Duke, who was about to step in, hurriedly shrank back.

This was asking him to attend a meeting alone.

Then there would be no point in him bringing all these people.

Furthermore, it was unknown whether there was any danger inside. If he were to rush in like this, wouldn't he be walking right into a trap?

The East Duke found it difficult to decide for a moment...