Facing Eastern King Duke's questioning, Wu Ming's expression remained unchanged: "Fellow Daoist misunderstands."
Eastern King Duke snorted, his anger unabated: "Oh, a misunderstanding?"
"If Fellow Daoist isn't here to make my Immortal Court surrender, then what are you here for? It can't be that you're truly here to save me. I don't believe Fellow Daoist is that kind-hearted!" The mockery in his tone was undisguised.
Wu Ming nodded slightly: "To say I'm saving Fellow Daoist is indeed a bit exaggerated, but I truly came here to help Fellow Daoist."
Eastern King Duke looked at Wu Ming suspiciously: "Oh, really?"
"How does Fellow Daoist plan to help me? I am all ears."
He wanted to see what trick Wu Ming was really up to.
Wu Ming didn't care about his attitude and continued: "I came here, firstly, to inform Fellow Daoist about the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation, so that Fellow Daoist can prepare early and not be caught off guard."
"Secondly, to tell Fellow Daoist how to enhance the Immortal Court's strength."
"Enhance the Immortal Court's strength?" Eastern King Duke found this even more absurd. The Wu Race helping the Immortal Court? This sounded like a fantasy.
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, you're not joking with me, are you? Your Wu Race probably wishes for my Immortal Court to be weak so you can manipulate us. How could you help me enhance my strength?"
Wu Ming shook his head and said: "Fellow Daoist worries too much. My Wu Race has no ambition to dominate the Primordial Land, so Fellow Daoist doesn't need to worry that my Wu Race will attack the Immortal Court."
"The Wu Race has no ambition to dominate the Primordial Land?" Eastern King Duke laughed heartily as if he had heard something new, his laughter echoing in the hall with a hint of sarcasm.
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, who are you saying this to? On the Primordial Land, which force doesn't want to advance further? Which one doesn't want to control heaven and earth? Your Wu Race, as a descendant of Pangu, is immensely powerful. Would you be content to stay in a corner?"
Not dominate the Primordial Land? What a lie!
Wu Ming remained unmoved, letting Eastern King Duke finish laughing.
Wu Ming's voice was not loud, but every word was clear: "Fellow Daoist should be worried about the Yao Race."
"After my Wu Race suffered setbacks, and knowing that my Wu Race has no ambition to dominate the Primordial Land, do you think the Yao Race will fight my Wu Race to the death?"
Eastern King Duke's smile faded, and he pondered for a moment, having to admit that Wu Ming made sense. Although the Yao Race was arrogant, they weren't fools. The Wu Race was a tough nut to crack, which was publicly acknowledged in the Primordial Land.
Eastern King Duke pondered, having to admit: "Naturally not."
Fighting the Wu Race to the death would bring no benefit to the Yao Race; it would only result in mutual destruction, allowing others to profit.
Wu Ming continued: "Since the Yao Race wants to dominate the Primordial Land but doesn't dare to fight my Wu Race to the death, what do you think they will do next?"
Eastern King Duke's eyes narrowed, and he blurted out: "Bypass the Wu Race and deal with other forces instead!"
Wu Ming nodded: "Correct. Then, Fellow Daoist, who do you think the Yao Race will deal with first?"
Eastern King Duke's face instantly turned grim: "No need to think, it must be my Immortal Court!"
"After all, the largest forces in the Primordial Land are the Yao Race, Fellow Daoist's Wu Race, and my Immortal Court."
The more Eastern King Duke spoke, the uglier his face became, and his tone grew hurried.
"Once the Yao Race destroys my Immortal Court, they will then use their great victory to conquer other forces in the Primordial Land. Once the Yao Race integrates other forces in the Primordial Land, Fellow Daoist's Wu Race will ultimately be unable to contend with the Yao Race, right?"
"Ultimately, it's either surrender or destruction!"
He suddenly looked up, staring at Wu Ming, his eyes sharp: "Fellow Daoist! You're not actually here to save me, you're here to save your Wu Race, aren't you!"
"You're worried that after the Yao Race annexes my Immortal Court, their strength will greatly increase, ultimately threatening your Wu Race!"
"You want my Immortal Court to take the fall for your Wu Race!"
Eastern King Duke felt he had seen through Wu Ming's true intentions.
This Wu Ming, what deep calculations!
Eastern King Duke's tone shifted, with strong skepticism: "But I don't understand, since Fellow Daoist has the strength to defeat the Yao Race, why not destroy the Yao Race now and eliminate future troubles? Instead, you let the Yao Race develop unchecked and deduce that Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation?"
"Isn't this raising a tiger to cause trouble?"
Wu Ming sighed inwardly: Destroy the Yao Race? Easier said than done.
If I could truly destroy the Yao Race right now, would I be wasting words with you here?
Does the Dao Ancestor allow it?
Does the Heavenly Dao allow it?
If the Yao Race were destroyed, how could my Wu Race bear that monstrous Karma?
Wouldn't the Wu Race then actively step into the calamity vortex? He didn't want the Wu Race to repeat the same mistakes.
These words, of course, could not be said to Eastern King Duke.
So Wu Ming spoke: "My Wu Race is a peace-loving race, born from the essence blood of Father Pangu. We only wish to protect the Primordial Land, and hope that the Primordial Land can develop better. We will not call for war and slaughter based on personal preferences, causing boundless bloodshed."
"Although the Yao Race is ambitious, they are also a part of the living beings of the Primordial Land. As long as they don't do anything too outrageous, my Wu Race will not easily strike a fatal blow."
"Therefore, I came to remind Fellow Daoist, so that Fellow Daoist can be prepared."
"Fellow Daoist had best find a way to counter the Yao Race's Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation."
Eastern King Duke listened to Wu Ming's high-sounding words, sneering inwardly.
Peace-loving? Go fool a ghost!
Although Eastern King Duke didn't believe Wu Ming's claims of "the Wu Race not contending for supremacy in the Primordial Land" and the "peace-loving" rhetoric, he understood that the immediate priority was indeed to enhance the Immortal Court's strength and find a way to counter the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation.
Otherwise, the Immortal Court would be in danger!
Looking at Eastern King Duke, who was deep in thought, Wu Ming spoke again: "The Immortal Court now needs to absorb more personnel to enhance its strength."
Eastern King Duke frowned upon hearing this, a difficult expression on his face: "Fellow Daoist speaks lightly!"
"Now the forces in the Primordial Land are basically set. If my Immortal Court wants to recruit more people, what other way is there besides starting a war and forcibly annexing them?"
His tone carried dissatisfaction: "If my Immortal Court takes the lead in starting a war and making enemies everywhere, when the Yao Race attacks, won't my Immortal Court be attacked from both sides?"
"Fellow Daoist! What are your intentions?!"
Eastern King Duke once again suspected Wu Ming's motives; this was clearly trying to push the Immortal Court into a pit of fire!
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist, don't be angry."
"Since I brought it up, I have a solution."
"This is the second reason I came here this time."
A hint of suspicion flashed in Eastern King Duke's eyes, but he still restrained himself: "I'd like to hear the details."
He wanted to hear what Wu Ming could say.
Wu Ming said unhurriedly: "Does Fellow Daoist know about the Dragon Clan?"
"The Dragon Clan?" Eastern King Duke was startled.
"Of course I know."
"The Dragon Clan was affected by the Dragon Han Calamity, entangled with Karma, and is now holed up at the bottom of the Four Seas, barely surviving."
At this point, he suddenly reacted, his face changing drastically, pointing at Wu Ming: "Fellow Daoist! You... you're not thinking of having me absorb the Dragon Clan, are you?!"
His voice changed pitch, filled with horror and anger.
"What kind of joke is Fellow Daoist playing?"
"How profound is the Dragon Clan's Karma! It's incredibly difficult for them to improve their strength!"
"You actually want me to take them into the Immortal Court? Are you trying to make my Immortal Court also entangled with Karma, never to recover?"
"Fellow Daoist! What are your intentions?"
Eastern King Duke trembled with anger; he felt that Wu Ming was not here to help, but to trick him.
Wu Ming still maintained his calm demeanor: "Fellow Daoist Eastern King Duke, please calm down and let me finish."
Eastern King Duke suppressed his anger, gritting his teeth: "Hmph! I'd like to see what else you have to say!"
"If you can't explain yourself, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Wu Ming said unhurriedly: "Since I'm suggesting Fellow Daoist absorb the Dragon Clan, it's naturally impossible for the Dragon Clan's Karma to affect Fellow Daoist."
"If Karma were to affect Fellow Daoist, wouldn't my trip be in vain?"
Eastern King Duke's eyes flickered: "Oh? What method does Fellow Daoist have to prevent my Immortal Court from being affected by the Dragon Clan's Karma?"
This sounded like a fantasy. How could Karma be so easily avoided?
Wu Ming said confidently: "Fellow Daoist can absorb some elite Dragon Clan members to serve as Protector Divine Beasts for the Immortal Court, enjoying the Immortal Court's Luck, rather than subjugating the entire Dragon Clan."
"In this way, the overall Karma of the Dragon Clan will not cause any substantial impact on the Immortal Court."
"Moreover, because the Dragon Clan elites are in the Immortal Court, the Dragon Clan will certainly provide some assistance to Fellow Daoist's Immortal Court for the sake of their elites."
"For example, some resources within the Four Seas, or providing some help at certain times."
Wu Ming's words were not a wild fantasy.
This was inferred from the situation in later generations where the Dragon Clan served as a totem for the Human Race, protected by the Human Race's Luck, yet without the Human Race's overall Luck being dragged down by the Dragon Clan's massive Karma. Eastern King Duke's Immortal Court should theoretically also be feasible.
As for what if he guessed wrong?
Easy to handle.
Anyway, it wouldn't affect the Luck of his Wu Race. The path Eastern King Duke chose, the consequences would naturally be borne by him. What did it have to do with Wu Ming?
I'm just providing a "possibility"; better a dead Fellow Daoist than a dead poor Daoist.
Of course, these words absolutely could not be spoken aloud.
Eastern King Duke listened to Wu Ming's explanation, his brows furrowed. Absorbing some elites to serve as Protector Divine Beasts, enjoying the Immortal Court's Luck—this sounded... somewhat reasonable.
He asked in a deep voice: "Fellow Daoist's method... can it work?"
"Moreover, the Dragon Clan is proud, and they were once one of the overlords of heaven and earth. Would they agree to send their elites to my Immortal Court to be a Protector Divine Beast?"
This condition didn't sound very friendly to the Dragon Clan.
Wu Ming smiled slightly: "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, it will definitely work."
"If it truly affects the Immortal Court's Luck, Fellow Daoist can simply expel them. The initiative is in Fellow Daoist's hands."
"As for whether the Dragon Clan will agree..."
Wu Ming paused, his tone certain: "They will definitely agree."
"After all, the Dragon Clan is entangled with Karma, making it very difficult to improve their cultivation."
"If they have the protection of Fellow Daoist's Immortal Court's Luck, allowing some of their elite Dragon Clan members to break through their shackles and improve their cultivation, how could the Dragon Clan not be willing?"
"For the declining Dragon Clan, this is nothing short of a timely help!"
"They have no reason to refuse."
Eastern King Duke fell into a long silence. Wu Ming's proposal, for him, was a mix of risk and opportunity.