A moment of silence.

South Peak Emperor glanced at Duge, then at Xu Jinghui kneeling on the ground, and after a while, he asked, "What kind of wealth and rank do you desire?"

"The Immortal Pills required for cultivation, and future support from the Emperor," Xu Jinghui prostrated on the ground and said, "Day after day I contemplate this Daoist Rhyme treasure, and it is only a matter of time before the Emperor becomes a Golden Immortal. When the day comes for the Emperor's glorious ascension, I wish to leave the Heavenly Master's residence and serve the Emperor."

"Do you know, if I accept this treasure, it will be the moment of my break with the Heavenly Master's residence," the South Peak Emperor said.

"Emperor, the Heavenly Master does not yet know of this matter," said Xu Jinghui.

"There are no walls in this world that can contain the wind," the South Peak Emperor said.

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Jinghui raised his head and said, "Emperor, to be honest, I wish to start my own sect."

"How so?" South Peak Emperor asked.

"Everyone on Dragon Tiger Mountain has experienced the Daoist Rhyme," Xu Jinghui's words were like a rehearsed script, initially not too polished, but as the conversation went on, he grew more confident, "The five brothers including the Heavenly Master who experienced the Daoist Rhyme, are called the golden generation of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

But this time, it's not just five people on Dragon Tiger Mountain who have realized the Daoist Rhyme.

If this generation ascends one day, lingering within the Heavenly Master's abode, what grows is merely the might of the Heavenly Master's residence.

By concealing this from Heavenly Master Xu, starting from this generation downwards, Dragon Tiger Mountain will see a great number of exceptional individuals, who will support each other and could split from the Heavenly Master's abode, forming their own sect, benefiting everyone involved."

"Your ambition is not small," said the South Peak Emperor in amazement.

"I do not wish to waste thousands of years in the Immortal Court with the status of a True Immortal," said Xu Jinghui.

"Aren't you afraid of being discovered by Heavenly Master Xu?" the South Peak Emperor asked.

"That's exactly why I have come to offer the treasure to the Emperor," Xu Jinghui said, "With the Emperor mediating, everyone on Dragon Tiger Mountain will definitely be grateful for the Emperor's kindness. In the future, they could also become a force supporting the Emperor in the Heavenly Court."

The South Peak Emperor looked at Xu Jinghui with a smile and said, "Quite the plot you have woven, making me into your stepping stone!"

"I wouldn't dare," said Xu Jinghui, sincerely fearful, "Any scheme is child's play in the face of absolute power. Once the Emperor becomes a Golden Immortal, even if I have the grandest of schemes, they can be crushed by the Emperor's hand. And once the Emperor is a Golden Immortal, even if Heavenly Master Xu holds a grudge, he would not dare to express it."

"..." South Peak Emperor looked at Xu Jinghui lying prostrate at his feet and fell into a long silence.

After a while, he opened his palm, and a porcelain bottle appeared in it, "I shall agree to this matter. This is a bottle of Nine Sun Pills. Take it to appease everyone on Dragon Tiger Mountain so that they do not divulge the matter of Daoist Rhyme. In the future, should Dragon Tiger Mountain lack anything, they just need to seek me."

"Thank you, Emperor," Xu Jinghui let out a sigh of relief, took the elixirs with both hands held high, receiving them with the utmost respect.

Duge had already transformed back from his water state, looking curiously at everything before him, frowning as if pondering something, very much like a child curious about the world.

"Emperor, if there is nothing else, we shall take our leave," Xu Jinghui, having secured the elixirs in his sleeve, respectfully requested permission to depart.

For Duge, the script had come to an end at this point, and fearing further questioning from the South Peak Emperor might expose him and ruin the grand plans of the ancestor, he worried about being able to respond properly.

"You may leave! Let Qing Luan send you out," the South Peak Emperor nodded, his attention turning to Duge, no longer paying any heed to them.

After Xu Jinghui had left.

Only then did South Peak Emperor ask Duge, "What are your thoughts about what those two said?"

"Human hearts are too complex," Duge shook his head, "The crown princes of the Mortal Realm, for their own selfish interests, refine Evil Devices with their own kin; the immortals of Dragon Tiger Mountain, betray their sect for their own prospects... I do not understand why you do this..."

He knew he couldn't keep his actions in the Mortal Realm from the South Peak Emperor, and it was better to confess some of it upfront, to dispel any suspicions the Emperor might hold.

"..." South Peak Emperor was taken aback and looked at Duge without speaking.

At that moment,

he began to understand why Duge had chosen to keep those children at Dragon Willow Villa, and why he dared to publicly assassinate Prince Duan.

Mountain spirits and monsters, when their Spirit Intelligence first awakened, often observed humans in secret to form an understanding of the world.

The complexity of human nature often misguides many spirits and monsters.

His reprimanding of Niu Sanbao and others, entering Dragon Willow Villa to kill and then to save, were clearly acts of his nature combined with an incomplete understanding of the world...

Perhaps that was for the best.

Raised from a young age, it would make him grow closer to the South Peak Emperor, and the relationship between master and disciple would, in some ways, mirror that of father and son.

"The Three Realms are far more complex than you can imagine," South Peak Emperor said with a smile, "A being like you, if unprotected, could cause a great disaster while naively roaming the world, eventually dying with no place for your burial."

"..." As if recalling something, Duge paused for a moment, his expression downcast, "I know, Xu Jinghui said the same. He said you would protect me, teach me, and that sending me here was for my own good. But I never expected that he, too, had his own selfish motives."

"Child, I indeed can protect and teach you. Once you have learned more and seen more, once you understand what this world is truly like, you won't be so perplexed," the South Peak Emperor said with a smile, extending his hand to stroke Duge's head, "Would you like to take me as your master?"

"You're after the Daoist Rhyme in me, aren't you?" Duge lifted his head and asked.