Chapter 338: Chapter 283 United Front Value

The Wolf Demon’s eyes flickered, uncertain of his thoughts.

Master Hong Yun’s brows and eyes were filled with compassion, and his prayer beads spun faster.

The Tiger Demon, known for being explosive in nature, could not wait to ask, “In such a grand struggle for power, how can we meddle? Does the Dragon King have a way to avoid this calamity?”

“Of course, there is.”

Ao Xuan paused on Zhou Yi, realizing that this newly appointed Mountain God’s mana and divine skills were too pure and orthodox to discern his true strength.

The Xuanmen Orthodoxy is far too scarce among the Wild Gods!

“How vast is the Dongsheng Divine Continent, even returning void immortals can’t be considered invincible. My ancestors from the Shangshui True Dragon lineage, or Master Hong Yun’s patriarch, the Heitian Arhat, were not afraid of the Great Eternal Ancestor!”

“This is only within the territory of Qingyun Prefecture. How many Mountain Gods and River Lords are in the sixteen prefectures of Daheng, each with intricate ties to the old returning void ancestors?”

“It’s impossible to count. No matter how strong Daheng is, they would not dare to sever ties with the Dong Sheng Divine Continent!”

“Then do we still need to fear the Imperial Court?”

Gulping down wine, the Tiger Demon said, “Why not invite the True Dragon and the Arhat to Daheng and march together to the capital to seize that throne? Ao, my friend, you can become the Emperor, and the Master will be the imperial advisor!”

“Amitabha!”

Master Hong Yun was unsure whether the Tiger Demon was genuinely foolish or feigning ignorance, so he proclaimed the Buddha’s name and said, “We, the younger generation, must not recklessly discuss the old returning void ancestor, as such beings are only a step away from becoming immortals and may possess responsive divine skills.”

The Tiger Demon cursed under his breath, appearing to genuinely consider rebelling against the Imperial Court.

Zhou Yi found this amusing, he surmised that today’s banquet was likely initiated by Ao Xuan and Hong Yun together, for a reason not yet clear. The Tiger and Wolf Demons seemed supportive but probably harbored thoughts of fleeing.

The so-called backing of the True Dragon and the Arhat is nothing more than hearsay.

Ao Xuan’s lineage was distant from the True Dragon Blood; tracing back even a dozen generations may not even come close.

It was the same with Master Hong Yun. It was unclear how he managed to learn some skills from the Heitian Arhat and then claimed to be his disciple.

By such logic, Zhou Yi could declare himself a disciple of the Dao Ancestor.

Clinging to connections and seeking support was even more prevalent in the Cultivation World than in the mundane society!

Ao Xuan stated, “Although I cannot invite the True Dragon ancestor, the Great Eternal Ancestor still has to give some face. In the future, when the Imperial Court clears out the Wild Gods, they will surely pardon and officially enshrine some as proper gods.”

“Pardon?”

A sense of relief washed over Zhou Yi; he likely would not have to flee. The conflict had yet to commence and already the Wild Gods were contemplating surrender.

This is the norm in the Cultivation World; without great opportunities at hand, few are willing to confront death head-on.

Toiling through Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, everyone seeks freedom and longevity–not to cultivate for the sake of fighting and killing.

As for the cultivators under the sects and the Imperial Court, that’s another story; they enjoy the benefits but must also pay the price. Which Loose Cultivator doesn’t change their abode every few days?

“Yes, a pardon!”

Ao Xuan said, “The Imperial Court will eradicate those Wild Gods without background or support to avoid conflicts with major Immortal Sects. They will issue the Yellow Register for proper gods who still get to reign over their territories.”

The Wolf Demon asked, “Does the pardon come with conditions?”

Ao Xuan nodded, “Naturally, you either need an ancestor who has reached the returning void state to be residing in the world, or you need to advance to Nascent Soul.”

Zhou Yi suddenly understood; to transition from a Wild God to a proper one, one must live with strategic value.

If you’re like Ao Xuan, descended from a True Dragon, Daheng would have to give face unless it chose isolation; so long as it exists on Dongsheng Divine Continent, it’s expected to show respect.

Or you rise to Nascent Soul, attaining the strength that meets strategic standards, which means you’re no longer a Wild God!

“Even a returning void immortal would compromise, that life must be suffocating!”

The Cultivation World of Dongsheng Divine Continent is at its peak, with spirit veins in every mountain and river, countless exotic flowers and herbs in blessed lands of Immortal Mountains. It’s a time where Foundation Establishment is common as dogs, Golden Cores wander everywhere.

Even in such a golden age of cultivation, returning void immortals are paramount, with ascension to immortality close at hand.

After some thought, Zhou Yi asked in a low voice, “Since the founding of Daheng, the Great Eternal Ancestor ascended to Divinity Transformation nearly two thousand six hundred years ago, there has never been any rumor of him reaching returning void. Has he found a shortcut to this breakthrough?”

“Eh? The Mount Wu Deity has extraordinary insight!”

Ao Xuan expressed his surprise and said, “He indeed took a shortcut, far from matching the True Dragon and Arhat; otherwise, why would he go through the trouble of pardoning, rather than simply exterminating all the Mountain Gods and Wild Gods.”

Zhou Yi asked, “Can this kind of secret be shared so casually?”

“In Linyang County, this might be a secret, but in the capital or outside Daheng, it’s hardly worth mentioning,” Ao Xuan answered. “I won’t hide it from you all, relying on my ancestral prestige, I’ll still be the Lord of Yuntong River after this. You either leave Daheng or be targeted for elimination by the Imperial Court; there are no other choices!”

Zhou Yi said, “I haven’t occupied the Mountain God position long, and have never violated the law. Will I also be cleared out?”

“Hahaha…”

Ao Xuan, as if hearing a joke, laughed out loud, “Being cleared out has nothing to do with the law. If you really delve into right and wrong, the laws of Daheng prohibit cultivators from privately collecting incense offerings!”

The Tiger Demon asked, “Could the Dragon King show us the way?”

“As an Eighth Grade River Lord, by the rules, you can recruit four Ninth Grade attendant gods to oversee duties such as patrolling the river and controlling rain.”

Ao Xuan explained, “My invitation to you all is to collectively oversee both banks of the Yuntong River, where incense power and wishes will certainly not be scarce!”

Before the Tiger and Wolf Demons could speak, Master Hong Yun took the lead in expressing his stance.

“I am willing to dissolve Jiyun Temple and join the Yuntong Dragon Palace!”

The Tiger Demon, puzzled, said, “The Master is a descendant of the Arhat; are you also afraid of the Imperial Court?”

With a sense of resignation, Hong Yun replied, “The techniques I practice lean towards unique paths, unacceptable to the Imperial Court.”

After a brief discussion, the Tiger and Wolf Demons also nodded in agreement.

They would wait until the Imperial Court began clearing out the Wild Gods, then they would abandon their current territories and seek refuge in the Dragon Palace.

Ao Xuan inquired, “What are the Mountain God’s plans?”

“I’ll wait and see.”

Zhou Yi did not commit, and even if he were to consider a pardon, he would not choose this place filled with demons and ghosts.

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