This time, the one seeking me out is the East King, which took me by surprise.

"The East King is the first of the male immortals supported by the Great Heavenly Venerate, meant to rival the Three Pure Ones Realm. If he’s come for the matter of the Primordial Talisman, then it means the Great Heavenly Venerate sent him to inquire," thought Emperor Houtu.

The East King, far away in his own East Heavenly Palace in the Heavenly Court, offered incense and sought an audience with Emperor Houtu. Seeing the incense smoke wafting, the form of Emperor Houtu appeared within, and he hastily said, "Your servant greets the Earth Mother. Disturbing Your Ladyship, I am quite uneasy."

Emperor Houtu raised a hand and said, "Prince, as the leader of the male immortals, you need not bow to me. Why have you come to see me?"

The East King smiled and said, "Your servant has heard that Daoist Ancestor Chen went to the Thick Virtue and Bright Heaven Palace and has been there for over a year without yet leaving. It’s said he came to seek Lady’s Daoist Skill, presumably to cultivate the Divine Dao. I wonder if Daoist Ancestor Chen has made any progress on the Primordial Talisman, to modify it for Your Ladyship?"

Emperor Houtu’s heart was as clear as a bright mirror, smiling, "Daoist Ancestor Chen did indeed come seeking a Divine Dao Technique, which I have passed to him. As for modifying the Primordial Talisman, he has not. This Primordial Talisman is already perfect in every way, why would it need change?"

The East King lowered his gaze and smiled, "I also think it’s nearly perfect, but I heard that when Daoist Ancestor Chen was preaching, he concealed flaws within it to plot against others. It’s just a rumor; I do not know its truth."

"So that’s how it is."

The Lady was surprised, "My foster son taught the Primordial Talisman to the disciples of Golden Turtle Island. How did you come by the Primordial Talisman? If he plots against others, it would be against his disciples. If you find a flaw, just don’t cultivate it."

The East King gave a little laugh and said, "What the Lady said is very true. Your servant takes his leave."

The Lady retracted her Divine Sense, sneering, "It really was the Great Heavenly Venerate who sent him to gather intelligence."

The East King didn’t get a single truthful answer, feeling somewhat uneasy, so he contacted Doumu Primordial Monarch, exchanged pleasantries, and asked, "I heard that Daoist Ancestor Chen came to see Primordial Monarch, seeking to cultivate the Divine Dao Technique. Is this true?"

Doumu Primordial Monarch was cautious and said, "This is true, but I handled it impartially. He is a Daoist Ancestor, meant to enlighten me, and I passed my Divine Dao Technique to him, not out of favoritism! Prince must put in a good word for me before the Great Heavenly Venerate."

The East King said, "Primordial Monarch, rest assured. Primordial Monarch, did Daoist Ancestor Chen pass you any other Primordial Talisman?"

Doumu Primordial Monarch was even more cautious, "Primordial Talisman? What Primordial Talisman? I have never studied the Primordial Talisman of Golden Turtle Island. East King, do not smear me unjustly!"

The East King, helpless, had to extinguish the incense fire.

"Doumu is like an old fox; not a single truth could be gleaned. Better to contact others."

He then contacted numerous divinities from the Dou Department, Thunder Department, and Wen Department, among whom were some unswervingly loyal to the Great Heavenly Venerate, revealing everything they knew.

The East King made his way to Taiwei Palace at a quick pace.

"Your Majesty, Daoist Ancestor Chen sought only the cultivation technique and did not pass any new Primordial Talismans to the Thunder Department or Dou Department."

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerate, gazed at the newly organized various Primordial Talismans on his desk, frowning slightly. He had gathered the smartest batch of immortals from the Heavenly Court to decipher the Primordial Talismans, yet had gained little over this period.

The Primordial Talismans were too intricate, beyond the scope of these immortals’ knowledge. The Immortal Dao knowledge contained within them was derived from seventeen supreme wisdom figures of the Immortal Court, including the Hidden Dragon Ancestor, while the Outer Dao origin was from the Underground Green Palace in Penglai West.

Any single Outer Dao would be enough for them to study for a thousand years, even then they might not be able to decipher it, so how could they decode Primordial Talismans born from it?

"To refine the Primordial Talisman is to advance further; to not refine it is to risk being overtaken by further advancing enemies."

The Great Heavenly Venerate looked at these Primordial Talismans, his brow furrowing more deeply.

There were not many in the world who could rival him, even the three Sect Hierarchs of the Three Pure Ones Realm, and the three Buddhas of Western Heaven, were not his match.

But if they were to adopt the Primordial Talisman, they could indeed contend with him.

And if they were to adopt the Primordial Talisman and achieve an even greater breakthrough, reaching the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm, their strength would surpass his!

His position would be precarious!

But...

"Would the three Sect Hierarchs and three Buddhas truly cultivate it? Would they dare to cultivate it?" he murmured.