Chapter 273: with translation of chapter title

273. Chapter 273: The assembly convenes, Yinglong arrives!

The Immortal Court's assembly proceeds normally; the loss of two Great Luo Golden Immortals attracts no notice.

The entire Penglai Immortal Island, together with its eighty-one auxiliary islands, is extremely lively; the rare Great Luo lectures that were once uncommon now abound, with each auxiliary island hosting one.

Moreover, on the main Penglai Island, the newly promoted Quasi-Sages, including Eastern King Duke, give lectures and discuss the Dao among themselves.

For a time, the trend initiated by the Immortal Court spreads, filling the Primordial Wasteland with the scene of a flourishing Immortal Path.

Such a grand gathering naturally draws the attention of the myriad gods, who do not believe the Heavenly Court would truly stand idle and let the Immortal Court grow unchecked.

Yet so far they have seen no move from the Heavenly Court, leaving them wondering: could the Heavenly Court really be so magnanimous?

On Penglai Immortal Island, the true lectures have not yet begun, but at the banquet, out of respect for Hongyun, many innate deities have indeed come.

However, faced with Eastern King Duke's enthusiasm, their attitude is extremely vague: they neither openly refuse nor have any intention of participating in Immortal Court affairs.

Since Hongyun can set aside the grudge that arose in the Zixiao Palace, they naturally feel inclined to reciprocate.

But to let them join the Immortal Court merely for that would be too slighting of the Heavenly Court.

Not to mention agreeing; many have already made up their minds to go to the Heavenly Court after the assembly ends.

Or they wait for an opportunity, and when the Heavenly Court holds another assembly, they will prepare gifts, seek out a divine general, and submit a visitation card to express their stance.

It is not that they are unwilling to pay respects to the Heavenly Emperor and Bai Ze Kunpeng, but the gap in status between the two sides is large, and they fear the Heavenly Court might take advantage and issue an invitation.

They do not wish to join the Immortal Court, but that does not mean they want to enter the Heavenly Court and be bound.

Eastern King Duke naturally understands their thoughts and does not rashly invite them; for now his focus can still be on Hongyun.

As for those Great Luo Golden Immortals and Luo Tianzun deities, they are no longer within his consideration; they are not worth his lowering himself to associate with.

Since attaining Quasi-Sagehood, Eastern King Duke has finally realized how vast the gap between them is, like heaven and earth, and thus he naturally regards those Great Luo Golden Immortals as much lighter.

Moreover, the Immortal Court has only just begun; although Penglai Immortal Island is a rare cave heaven and blessed land, it cannot support too many Great Luo immortals.

He established the Immortal Court to gather fortune, with the intention of grasping the position of world hegemon, and secondly to rely on a power base to prepare resources for his cultivation.

Ultimately, it is still for cultivation, to progress more swiftly.

Rather than seeking power to engage in foolish deeds that drag him down and harm his own interests; in this trade‑off, he is most clear.

Eastern King Duke moves among the banquet, his long sleeves dancing skillfully, striving to meet guests' needs, his speech revealing no flaw and showing no authority.

All who come and go feel a slight fondness for him because of his thorough performance, except for the innate deities and Zhenyuanzi.

Qi and Di Jun, among others, also watch the assembly from the Hall of Lingxiao; they made a move in the West, causing Jieyin to be chased by the Wu Clan, fleeing with head in hands.

They stirred the situation in the Eastern Sea, giving Yinglong a reason to act, all for today, to intimidate the ambitious factions in the Primordial Wasteland.

Now that the show has begun, how could they not pay attention? 'This Hongyun truly does not know the numbers; as an innate deity, he neither turns to the Immortal Path nor joins the Immortal Court, yet he devotes himself wholeheartedly to the Immortal Court assembly.'

'I do not know what he is thinking; he is indeed quite unlike ordinary people.'

Di Jun does not understand Hongyun; he only knows that Hongyun has wide friendships spread across the Primordial Wasteland, and with his mindset he cannot comprehend why Hongyun would act thus.

Qi laughed: 'Most likely it is someone scheming; it is heard that Hongyun is extremely sincere and righteous, while the Immortal Court is in a predicament, most innate deities are wary of the Heavenly Court's attitude and dare not participate.'

'To break the deadlock, it is essential that those with great influence take the lead; in the Primordial Wasteland, there are few who possess such ability yet do not fear the Heavenly Court.'

'Ambitious individuals would never be mediocre, nor would they let slip someone like Hongyun who does not grasp the situation.'

Fuxi merely shook his head; long before the Calamity of Ferocious Beasts, he and Nüwa had met Hongyun on Mount Buzhou and exchanged discourses.

At that time they both felt some fondness for Hongyun, considering him a rare sincere person with whom one could associate.

But later they were separated for too long, then came to know Taiyi and Qi, and after dwelling long in the Yunmze Marsh, their memory of Hongyun gradually faded.

Nowadays, to them Hongyun is merely a passerby in the Zixiao Palace; Fuxi sighs: 'This person is overly sincere, yet also somewhat lacking in understanding, not a wise person; he may be a friend, but not a deep companion, otherwise he will eventually drag one down.'

'Although we once had a brief encounter, now seeing him step into the abyss, it is inevitably a pity; what can be done?'

Nüwa says nothing on this, merely awaiting Yinglong's appearance; the Heavenly Court has laid out its grand plan and will not abandon it because of a single Hongyun.

'Do not speak; look here, the waves surge, the waters roar tumultuously—Yinglong has arrived.'

Nüwa interrupted the conversation among several people, her gaze falling on a rather strange stretch of water; she lightly flicked her robe, and the scene before them shifted.

Qi stared intently, then turned to Taiyi and said: 'The one who will vent your anger has come.'

Taiyi offered no comment, merely pondering that the dragon clan's battle formation might also have merit, compared to the Heavenly Court's formation, it seems somewhat different.

After careful observation, Taiyi praised: 'No wonder he was the strongest among the three clans of old; his foundation is ample, and he can actually condense the vital essences of those in the formation into a unified battle array.'

'Compared to the Heavenly Court's formation, it is more suited for battlefield use.' Although Taiyi is not skilled in formations, he excels in combat, and from the finest details he can also see that this dragon clan formation is extraordinary.

Hearing this, Qi and Fuxi also grew somewhat interested; back during the war of the three clans, they had avoided it and were not up to the task, so they had no chance to study it closely.

Both being skilled in formations, seeing something promising they could not attend to anything else; they immediately began to imitate and deduce it in the Hall of Lingxiao.

Seeing this, Nüwa said somewhat helplessly: 'If one wishes to understand, later one can simply exchange with the dragon clan; there is no need for this.'

Di Jun, on the contrary, wore a full‑face smile and, from the side, spoke to excuse Qi and Fuxi:

'Qi and Fuxi are both fond of this way; having now encountered a formation never seen before, becoming a little absorbed in it is no problem.'

Nüwa gave Di Jun a white‑eye glance, then suddenly changed her tone and asked with a mischievous face:

'Let us not speak of Qi and your elder brother for now; since you left seclusion, our five have gathered less often, yet we see you running to the Division of Stars and Constellations quite frequently.'

'Qi and your elder brother are obsessed with formations, and we do not know where our Heavenly Emperor's obsession lies; surely it cannot be a fondness for arranging the stars?'

When Nüwa said this, Qi and Fuxi were no longer absorbed in formations; their eyes lit up as they fixed their gaze on Di Jun.

Taiyi also returned his thoughts from the battle formation, his focus settling on Di Jun; the four of them now shared the same expression, excitement mixed with a hint of inquisitiveness.

In contrast, Di Jun's cheeks gradually flushed and twisted under everyone's gaze, not knowing how to respond.

The atmosphere grew increasingly strange and rosy; in this mood Di Jun felt each day drag like a year, truly unbearable, and he blurted out: 'Why do you all stare at me like this? As the lord of the Heavenly Court, the multitudes of stars and constellations are under my control; they are the very foundation of the Heavenly Court's standing—my paying extra attention to them is hardly abnormal!'

'I am not like you, whose thoughts are not on the Heavenly Court; I am merely being conscientious and responsible!'

'Oh~'

Qi and the others chorused in unison, merely drawing out the tone, making Di Jun unable to bear it.

'What I say is all true; why must you put on this strange act!'

Di Jun's emotions were stirred, and the smiles on Qi and the others' faces grew increasingly obvious, without the slightest concealment.

Di Jun himself didn't know why; clearly there was nothing shameful, yet when faced with Qi and the others' probing teasing, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

It seemed as if his trip to the Constellations Department was truly for some shameful deed.

"Open and aboveboard~"

Qi's tone was strange.

"Serious and responsible~"

Nüwa's tone was weird.

"Quite normal~"

Taiyi's expression was solemn; Fuxi also wanted to say something, but felt it didn't match his image, so he ultimately just smiled without speaking.

Di Jun's face flushed red; fortunately, the appearance of Yinglong above the East Sea relieved him.

Facing the crowd's teasing, Di Jun, somewhat flustered, said: "Don't engage in mockery and mischief; look, Yinglong has already appeared on Penglai Island."

"This is a major matter; we cannot fail to pay attention to it!"

Everyone looked over, and Yinglong had indeed appeared; they could not spare Di Jun, and turned their attention back to the East Sea.

Seeing everyone shift their gaze, Di Jun finally relaxed, while he fixed a fierce stare on Taiyi, silently cursing:

"Qi and Nüwa mocking me as a brother is forgivable; these two have always been spiteful and tasteless. As a brother, you could at least not help when I was besieged, but you actually joined in—truly disgraceful!"

Of course, Di Jun only dared think this in his heart; saying it aloud was impossible, for Taiyi would surely bring the topic back.

By then, the one who would suffer would be Di Jun himself.

Meanwhile, in the East Sea, someone in the Immortal Court noticed the change on the sea surface, shook the signal bell, and its sound rang throughout the Penglai Immortal Realm.

The originally lively banquet fell silent at once; Dong Wanggong and the Immortal Court's immortals wore grim faces, while the coming and going guests showed various expressions.

Unaware of the Primordial situation, those mundane beings who had merely come to listen to the Dao and freeload at the banquet were bewildered, not knowing what was happening.

The Innate Divine Beings who had come because of Hongyun adopted a spectator's air, as if anticipating the forthcoming changes in the situation.

The three Great Luo Golden Immortals who had participated in the siege of Ao Yuan wore solemn faces, their hearts filled with unease.

Those mundane beings who did not know what had happened were not confused for long, for a twin-winged divine dragon appeared in the sky and angrily shouted: "Dong Wanggong, get out here!"

PS: There's still one more chapter; I'll go get something to eat, then come back to continue writing! (End of chapter)