Don't let Yu Ding take on any more disciples.

Chapter 504 Shen Gongbao's Decision
Inside the Jade Void Palace.

"Investiture of the Gods?!"

Even Jiang Ziya was startled by these words, but he composed himself and said, "Disciple obeys the decree!"

When his master first sent him down the mountain, he said that he would find it difficult to achieve immortality and could only enjoy worldly wealth and honor. He then sent him down the mountain to assist a wise ruler.

His first stop was naturally the Shang Dynasty, but he was framed by the evil concubine Su Daji. He then used the Feng Hou Qi Men method to predict that the wise ruler should be in Xiqi, and he successfully joined Xiqi.

Before coming to Kunlun Mountain, he had already used the "Feng Hou Qi Men" method to calculate that the trip would go smoothly, but he never expected that his master would entrust him with such a great task.

He joined the sect relatively late, but he had heard about the three religions discussing the Investiture of the Gods.

Yuanshi said, "You will assist me in the conferment of the gods, descend the mountain to assist the wise ruler, and become a general or minister. Your forty years of cultivation on the mountain will not have been in vain."

Jiang Ziya hurriedly said, "Now, Zhang Guifang, the general of Yin Shang, is leading troops to conquer Xiqi. He possesses strange and unorthodox skills, which I, with my meager abilities, cannot subdue. I humbly beg you, sir, to have mercy and teach me a good strategy to defeat the enemy."

Yuanshi said, “You are the prime minister of the mortal world, enjoying the national salary and being called the Prime Minister. How can I possibly manage all the affairs of the mortal world? Xiqi is governed by virtuous people, so what are we afraid of from unorthodox methods? You don’t need to ask me about this matter. Just remember that when things get dangerous, there will be a wise person to help you.”

Jiang Ziya's lips twitched slightly: "A master?"

No, he came to ask for a strategy to defeat the enemy, but instead of getting a solution, he was given the important task of being conferred the title of god.
Yuanshi then said, “On your journey, if anyone calls out to you from behind, do not respond. If you do, thirty-six armies will be waiting for you. In addition, there is someone waiting for you in the East Sea. Be careful. Now go.”

After saying this, Yuanshi on the altar closed his eyes and ascended into the air.

Jiang Ziya was about to say something when suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw Kongxu standing behind him.

At that moment, Kongxu shook his head at him, signaling him to stop talking.

The one who was supposed to be behind him and could not be answered was Shen Gongbao, according to the original novel. The two brothers became enemies because of this.

He knew that Jiang Ziya would definitely agree, but... he felt that no matter whether he agreed or not, he couldn't escape the thirty-six-way campaign, right?
After all, that was the main event of the Investiture of the Gods.

Jiang Ziya pondered for a moment, then bowed to Yuanshi and Kongxu before leaving Yuxu Palace.

Yuanshi suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the void, asking, "What do you think of this matter?"

Master, this is a conspiracy… Kongxu pondered, “Let the mortals handle their own affairs.”

This isn't in the original story, but after some thought, he figured that must be the reason.

As we all know, the scale of war gradually escalates, but regardless of whether a great immortal or a sage intervenes in the later stages of the Shang-Zhou conflict, it is still a struggle between mortals at this point.

Although Zhang Guifang possessed extraordinary skills, he was still human at heart and, as the commander-in-chief of the Yin Shang dynasty, had not broken any rules.

If we send a deity to deal with Zhang Guifang now, wouldn't that break the rules first?

He remembered that in the original story, Wen Zhong was worried that Zhang Guifang would not be able to take down Xiqi, so he first invited the Four Saints of Kowloon Island, which led to the continuous expansion and upgrading of the scale of the attack.

Yuanshi looked deeply into the emptiness, neither confirming nor denying, and then slowly closed his eyes again.

Feeling empty, he went back, closed the door again, and continued his meditation.

Although he is only at the Golden Immortal realm, when his main body and his avatar are in harmony, he can use the method of "my mind is his mind" to borrow the realm of the Great Luo.

However, this method was forbidden by several teachers, so there was no other way but to practice it on my own.

"Junior Brother Ziya!"

As soon as Jiang Ziya left the Jade Void Palace, the Antarctic Immortal was already waiting with a smile, leaning on his dragon-headed immortal cane. He presented a jade scroll with golden cloud patterns, saying, "Didn't I tell you, sir?"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Antarctica."

Jiang Ziya looked at the scroll, his expression hardened, and he took it with both hands, saying, "I've already told you!"

The Old Man of the South Pole smiled and nodded: "That's good, I'll see you off."

The two walked towards the place where they were going down the mountain.

The Old Man of the South Pole said, "Ziya, this Investiture of the Gods is of great importance. The Investiture of the Gods is also a calamity for us immortals and gods. You must be careful."

"A calamity?" Jiang Ziya was taken aback.

The Antarctic Immortal nodded and said, "This great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods is due to three reasons: first, the immortal path is flourishing, but the good and the bad are mixed, and their roots and practices are different; second, your twelve senior brothers are suffering from the calamities of the mortal world and are facing death; and third, the Heavenly Court is in need of talent, and the Jade Emperor has ordered the twelve immortal leaders and other immortals of the Intercepting Sect to submit to him. Therefore, this calamity has been sent down upon us by Heaven."

He sighed softly, “Thus, the three religions of Chan, Jie, and Rendao came together to compile three hundred and sixty-five good and evil deities, including Thunder, Fire, Plague, Fighting, the constellations, the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, and those who bring rain and clouds, to complete the tribulations during the change of dynasties in the human world.”

"Are the twelve senior brothers afflicted by the calamities of the mortal world?"

Jiang Ziya pondered for a moment and said, "Could it be that Senior Brother Yu Ding is among them?"

The Old Man of the South Pole shook his head: "He's not here."

Jiang Ziya breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good!"

Although he was nominally a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, he was actually taught skills by Yu Ding on his behalf, so his feelings for Yu Ding were ultimately different from those for others.

The Old Man of the South Pole shook his head and casually said, "He has already met with disaster!"

"What?!" Jiang Ziya shook his head in shock and disbelief, saying, "This... how is this possible? How could Senior Brother Yu Ding, with his level of cultivation, possibly..."

The Old Man of the South Pole seemed to realize his slip of the tongue and hurriedly said, "You've been down the mountain for so many years, so it's fine if you don't know. This has nothing to do with you, so don't ask so many questions. Just focus on going down the mountain and completing your great mission."

Jiang Ziya asked anxiously, "What exactly happened, Senior Brother? Please tell me!"

After he came down the mountain, he encountered all sorts of misfortunes and struggled to make a living. Later, his career was not going well, so how could he know anything about the Jade Void Palace?
Today was the first time he had returned to Yuxu Palace since he came down the mountain. The only person who came to see him, Shen Gongbao, had been chased away by the shrew he had married and had never come back.

Seeing his anxious expression, the Antarctic Immortal reluctantly said, "Junior Brother Yu Ding has suffered a calamity, is seriously injured, and has greatly lost his magical power. I don't know the specific reason."

The more vague his words, the more anxious Jiang Ziya became: "How could this be?"

He immediately made a hand seal and circulated his magic power. With a hum, his whole body glowed and a strange formation appeared under his feet, which began to slowly rotate.

No matter how he calculated, he felt that everything was shrouded in a thick fog and he couldn't see anything clearly. When he tried to force his eyes to see clearly, blood flowed from his eyes, he spat out a mouthful of blood and took several steps back, his face showing horror.

The magical array he created slowly dissipated.

"Why are you doing this? You can just ask Yu Ding yourself when you see him in the future."

The Antarctic Immortal raised his hand and placed it on Jiang Ziya's back, channeling his immortal power into him. Like a gentle rain nourishing the earth, he instantly healed Jiang Ziya's injuries.

Jiang Ziya sighed, "Senior brother is right. I was just too worried."

The Antarctic Immortal said, "In this great calamity, everyone's life or death is uncertain. Yu Ding has only suffered damage to his foundation and cultivation, but being able to save his life may not be a bad thing."

Jiang Ziya nodded: "I understand, senior brother. By the way, I came up the mountain to visit our master to ask for guidance on how to repel Zhang Guifang, but our master refused to tell me. Do you have any strategies to defeat the enemy?"

Although Zhang Guifang was just an ordinary person, she possessed extraordinary martial arts skills and was well-versed in military strategy. Her unique technique of "calling names to dismount" was so effective that anyone she called would fall off their horse, leaving them completely defenseless.

The Antarctic Immortal smiled slightly: "Since these masters have spoken, I need not say more. You may go now, but if anyone calls you, remember not to answer them. Once you arrive, I will not see you off any further."

The two then descended Qilin Cliff.

Jiang Ziya nodded, bowed respectfully, then picked up a wisp of earth, made a hand seal, chanted an incantation, and transformed it into a streak of earth-yellow light that shot away into the distance.

The Old Man of the South Pole looked in his direction and nodded gently.

Even he had to admit that Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao's concern and respect for the jade tripod were genuine.

This made him, who had taken advantage of this emotion, feel a little...uncomfortable!

At that moment, another beam of white light was flying rapidly toward Kunlun Mountain.

Before long, a white light flew over and landed on Qilin Cliff, revealing a Taoist priest riding a tiger with a hurried expression.

It was Shen Gongbao!
As soon as he landed, he put away his mount. It was clear he was in a hurry. He ran straight up Qilin Cliff to Yuqing Sacred Realm.

"Uncle-Master!" The White Crane Boy bowed respectfully.

Shen Gongbao smiled with some surprise: "Bai... Baihe? You... you're doing this here..."

The White Crane Boy, struggling to understand, quickly replied, "I'll wait for you, Uncle-Master."

Shen Gongbao laughed and said, "Well... I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. My master said that a great... great responsibility has been bestowed upon me by heaven, and he wants to... choose someone to be in charge of... conferring the titles of gods..."

White Crane Boy quickly replied, "It's already been chosen, Uncle-Master!"

Shen Gongbao was taken aback and said, "You...you've already chosen? I...I haven't even arrived yet!"

The White Crane Boy said, "Yes, the master originally decided that it would be you, but since Uncle Ziya just returned, the master changed his mind because of your speech... and chose Uncle Jiang to take charge of the Investiture of the Gods on behalf of the master."

"Is it... him?"

Shen Gongbao stood there dumbfounded, muttering, "How...how could it be him?"

However, what didn't match his demeanor was a glint of light in his eyes.

Senior Brother Yu Ding was surrounded and robbed by people from the Jie Sect, which destroyed his foundation and caused him to lose his cultivation. Although he personally witnessed those guys being seriously injured by unknown people a while ago.

But one code equals one code!
They were just unlucky to get beaten up this time; they didn't choose a good day to go out. But he still had to take the revenge for his senior brother Yu Ding.

He simply couldn't beat them in a fight. Although he was part of the Jade Void Sect, as a member of the sect, there was always a distance between them, and they were wary of him.

But at that moment, he had an idea.

Although the price he paid was high, he wouldn't be where he is today without Senior Brother Yu Ding.

For Senior Brother Yu Ding... he felt it was worth it!
Baihe Tongzi looked at Shen Gongbao cautiously and asked, "Uncle-Master, are you alright?"

Shen Gongbao took a deep breath and asked, "Where...where did your Uncle Jiang go?"

The White Crane Boy pointed in a direction.

Shen Gongbao looked up and gazed deeply at Yuxu Palace as if to memorize it, then turned and released his mount, the White Tiger, riding it away at breakneck speed.

He made a decision in his heart!
P.S.: I haven't been feeling well lately and spent the entire National Day holiday resting and didn't go out, so I haven't updated much. I'm ashamed of that. I'm feeling much better now and will finish up the remaining work properly!