Junior Uncle is too cunning.

Nothing to do is to commit crimes or to steal.

Hua Jian glanced at Li Shundao and asked, "What is your opinion on the Dao Alliance, fellow Daoist?"

“They’re here,” Li Shundao said with a glint in his eyes, “Of course it’s good. They have a huge influence and a high degree of freedom. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have chosen to join the Dao Alliance.”

Hua Jian nodded affirmatively, "Yes, but have you ever considered that the Dao Alliance is just a human alliance, actually a combination of the two races of demons and dragons?"

In fact, the internal structure is not as simple as you imagine. The early framework of the Dao Alliance was jointly built by disciples of the three religions and some human predecessors.

Just as the fellow Daoist said, with the passage of time, it has now become a behemoth, encompassing all the high-level combat forces of the Eastern Divine Continent and the Southern Zhanbu Continent, disciples of the three religions, major sects of the Heavenly Court, merchant guilds, and human rogue cultivators.

But if one day the dragon and demon races are no longer a threat, will the Dao Alliance still have a reason to exist?

"What do you mean?"

Li Shundao's heart leaped into his throat as he stared intently at Hua Jian. Was this an attempt to rebel? To sow discord among the humans? What was his true identity? ...

Hua Jian picked up a cup and drank it down, not minding Li Shundao's strong reaction, and slowly said, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to worry. This is actually an open secret among the upper echelons."

This time, the East Sea Dragon Clan was directly crippled by the human race, and it is estimated that they will not dare to cause trouble for the time being. Moreover, the East Sea is the most respected in the four seas of the prehistoric world. Since the East Sea Dragon King has retreated and acknowledged the status of the human race, the other three seas will definitely follow suit and cease hostilities. From now on, the borders of the four seas of the human race will be worry-free.

So, with only the demon race remaining as their external enemy, how long do you think the demon race can hold out, fellow Daoist?

Li Shundao's expression softened considerably. Hua Jian was right; the rise of the human race was a foregone conclusion long ago. Otherwise, with the second-generation disciples of the three religions all emerging, how many of the dragon and demon races could withstand them?

The fact that several sages left behind the dragon and demon races was actually a final test for humanity. If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. How can humanity be worthy of the position of overlord of heaven and earth without experiencing wars of fire and blood?

However, Li Shundao remained vigilant. He also noticed something amiss; Hua Jian was likely acting as a persuader.

Li Shundao glanced at Hua Jian with a hint of amusement, and sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected that just as the human race had subdued the dragon race, the Dao Alliance would already be forming factions and preparing for internal strife.

"Then what do you mean, fellow Daoist?"

"What do you think of the Heavenly Court?"

A single sentence from Hua Jian shattered the fog in Li Shundao's mind. From the struggle for official positions between the dragons and humans in the East Sea to the present, the constant mention of the Azure Emperor and the Heavenly Court was actually a display of the Heavenly Court's power.

Li Shundao finally lowered his guard, feeling somewhat surprised. He had been tense for most of the day, but he never expected that Huajian would be someone from the Heavenly Court.

If Huajian had been more direct and to the point earlier, the deal would probably have been settled by now.

Li Shundao had been thinking about how to get on the good side of the Heavenly Court, but he never expected that someone would actually deliver themselves to his doorstep today.

Now Li Shundao was no longer in a hurry. He poured Hua Jian a cup of wine, slowly savored it, glanced at Hua Jian, and said, "I didn't expect you to be from the Heavenly Court. I was disrespectful just now. I will punish myself with a cup of wine."

Hua Jian listened to Li Shundao's lukewarm reply. Although she was anxious inside, she kept a straight face and drank a cup of wine.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know much about my Heavenly Court. My Lord, the Jade Emperor, is the junior brother of several current sages, and holds a noble position."

Below the Jade Emperor are the Five Emperors and Five Elders, all powerful Great Luo Golden Immortals, along with 365 righteous gods from eight departments… and a million heavenly soldiers and generals.

Li Shundao quietly watched Hua Jian praising the Heavenly Court, occasionally taking a sip of wine. Although he had made up his mind to curry favor with the Heavenly Court, he still had to figure out how to do so.

After all, I'm currently in a seller's market, so there's no rush.

Hua Jian finally stopped and asked directly, "What do you think, fellow Daoist?"

Li Shundao knew he couldn't be coy anymore. After all, Hua Jian was a Golden Immortal True Lord, and his status in the Heavenly Court must be quite high. Now that he had joined, he was considered a colleague, so he couldn't suppress him too much.

"So the Heavenly Court is this powerful! I'm truly ignorant. But there's something I'm not sure if I should say?"

Hua Jian was delighted to see that Li Shundao's attitude had changed. Ever since Li Shundao's tribulation, Hua Jian had been paying close attention to him.

Even in the Heavenly Court, a Golden Immortal is considered a high-ranking immortal. Despite his boasting earlier, as a seasoned member of the Heavenly Court, he is quite aware of the situation.

It seems that the Heavenly Court is indeed full of talented people, but most of them are the type to obey orders but not proclamations.

In particular, most of the 365 righteous gods of the eight departments of Heaven are immortals left over from the Heavenly Court of the demon race. Like the dragon race, they do not recognize the current Heavenly Court at all.

Furthermore, some official positions were occupied by disciples of the three religions, so apart from the sages, the Jade Emperor's decrees had no power to command anything.

The people who attended the competition for official positions between the Heavenly Court and the Dragon Clan were basically a large part of the current Heavenly Court's power. This doesn't even include the fact that the Azure Emperor only went because of the Jade Emperor's influence.

Therefore, the Heavenly Court as a whole is extremely powerful, but the Jade Emperor's direct descendants are few and far between.

He happened to run into Li Shundao, a rogue cultivator who was all alone but managed to break through to the Golden Immortal realm on his own. His luck, strength, and methods were all excellent.

Hua Jian was immediately tempted and reported it to the Jade Emperor. If the Jade Emperor hadn't been so concerned about his status, he probably would have personally come down to invite him.

Finally, he repeatedly urged him to capture Li Shundao, as a Golden Immortal was like sweet rain for the Jade Emperor, who was in the early stages of his career.

“You say,” Hua Jian said, straightening up.

"Then I'll be frank. Fellow Daoist, you say you're from the Heavenly Court. Forgive my poor eyesight, but I can't see clearly."

Since the Heavenly Court is full of talented people, it seems that I wouldn't even be able to rank up there. Therefore, I might as well stay in the Dao Alliance.

I'm naturally a bit lazy, and I imagine the Heavenly Court must have very strict rules. If I mess up my job, then…”

Hua Jian frowned after hearing the three questions, feeling somewhat troubled. The first question was relatively easy to solve; he only needed to prove his identity.

The second one? Hua Jian smiled wryly, feeling a bit lost. It seemed he had exaggerated a bit earlier, making Li Shundao want to back down.

This is actually only natural. After all, in the primordial world, immortals love to live a carefree and unrestrained life. Once they reach the Golden Immortal level, their lifespan is limitless. As long as they don't provoke powerful enemies, they can live an even more carefree and unrestrained life.

Besides, it doesn't matter which one we go to. Although the Dao Alliance may disband in the future, as long as the demon race continues to fight against the human race, it will still be the most powerful force in the short term.

Li Shundao never expected that Hua Jian would think so much. Asking him to prove his identity was just a habitual precaution, and also a way of probing to see if he was really from the Heavenly Court.

As for the next two points, they are purely bargaining, giving advance notice to lay the groundwork for having a reason to refuse things you don't want to do in the future.

As for all the hype surrounding the Flower Pavilion, Li Shundao didn't believe it much. Others might not know the situation in the Heavenly Court, but he certainly did.

If the Heavenly Court were really as good as Hua Jian described, would there have been the subsequent Investiture of the Gods?

Hua Jian thought for a moment and decided to answer Li Shundao's first question first, taking it one step at a time.

"It's understandable that you have concerns, fellow Daoist. Please look, this is my official seal. Isn't that enough to prove my identity?"

As Hua Jian spoke, he summoned a silver official seal from his body, which was engraved with starlight and the sun and moon, like a star.

As a high-ranking deity of the third rank, Li Shundao recognized at a glance that this was indeed a Heavenly Court official seal, and not just any ordinary seal. Judging from the aura emanating from it, it belonged to at least a Heavenly Official of the third rank.

Li Shundao was completely stunned when he saw the three characters "Li Changgeng" engraved at the bottom of the official seal.