Investiture of the Gods: I am Bigan, the Master of Conspiracy

Chapter 178 The Sage is in a panic and reopens the Purple Cloud Palace!
Hongjun's voice showed no emotion whatsoever, nor did it summon the sages; instead, it directly proclaimed to the entire Heavenly Court.

However, it was not announced to all beings in the Three Realms, because many people did not need to know about this.

The cycle of Heaven is endless, without beginning or end, and the recurrence of countless eons is the inevitable course of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Having endured countless calamities since the beginning of time, it is time to usher in a new era of renewal, establish a new system for the Investiture of the Gods, and rectify the shortcomings of the initial Investiture of the Gods list.

From this day forward, whenever a great calamity occurs, the Investiture of the Gods shall be changed. Those who made the list in the previous calamity may be released from their rank and return to the mortal world, regaining their freedom and seeking opportunities to attain the Great Dao. Those who perish in this calamity shall be granted the title of Immortal, guarding the Three Realms and upholding the principles of Heaven.

It is not to permanently solidify the divine position and imprison living beings in shackles, but to truly desire the flow of life and the restoration of clarity in the three realms.

The conferment of the gods was originally established to respond to calamities, but as time went by, they gradually lost their original intentions. The gods became attached to their power and forgot the Great Way of Compassion, which led to the obstruction of the Heavenly Way and the frequent occurrence of calamities. From then on, the great calamity broke this old rule. The divine position is not an eternal honor, but a means for all living beings.

Hongjun didn't say much, simply explaining the previous Investiture of the Gods, merely setting the plan for it, but not mentioning who would be appointed as gods or how long the investiture would last.

Now, the rules for bestowing gods have been completed, and from then on, the entire Three Realms will follow this rule: one bestowal of gods and one replacement, and no one can remain a god in the Heavenly Court forever.

Upon hearing this, Di Xin was overjoyed and looked at Yin Ziyu: "Uncle, does this mean that I will be free!"

Yin Ziyu nodded: "That's right, once this conferment of gods is over, Zishou will regain his freedom!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Jiang's expression changed drastically in an instant, turning from pale to ashen.

Yin Ziyu scoffed, "What? Hmph, how difficult it is for beings in the Three Realms to exist for eternity. Cultivators who don't enter the Great Luo Heaven are constantly plagued by the Five Signs of Decay. You naively believe that after being granted godhood, you can live forever? That's truly wishful thinking. You don't know that the cycle of Heaven doesn't allow for such a loophole for you to exploit. After this great calamity, the opportunity for those like you who don't cultivate to remain in a position of honor in the Heavenly Court and command the four directions will no longer exist. People like you, Bo Yikao, and Chong Heihu, who have little merit, will all be reincarnated according to their karma. Don't even dream of eternity!"

At this moment, almost all the star lords were stunned; some were happy, and some were sad!
Those who had no interest in the Great Dao were all devastated, while those who were devoted to it were naturally overjoyed.

Of course, 90% of people have no hope of achieving the Great Dao, but the Investiture of the Gods must complete a cycle. How can it be said that these people used the power of the Heavenly Dao to achieve a different kind of eternity?

To truly transcend life and death, one needs a Great Luo Golden Immortal; to truly transcend countless calamities, one needs a Primordial Golden Immortal; and to truly transcend immeasurable calamities, one needs a Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Could these people have achieved a different kind of eternity under the Hunyuan Daluo realm simply by being granted the title of a god?

Originally, the Investiture of the Gods was just a trigger, but during this great calamity, with Yin Ziyu's help, it directly became a rule of the Heavenly Dao.

This perfected Investiture of the Gods is excellent for the Heavenly Tribulation, but it is not friendly to the Heavenly Dao itself, because the Heavenly Court will also be replaced every time a tribulation occurs.

At the very least, this provided the conditions for Haotian Yaochi to truly become the Heavenly Emperor, and it also undermined the core of the Renjiao and Chanjiao sects' control over the Heavenly Court's fortune.

The order of the Investiture of the Gods is a huge flaw. When Haotian Yaochi met Hongjun, he explained it once, but in reality, he was explaining it to the Heavenly Dao.

Heaven's way is impartial and cannot allow such a huge loophole. The original Investiture of the Gods was to prepare for the promotion of the Journey to the West, but the Investiture of the Gods has no end date, which is a huge bug in itself.

Therefore, the Investiture of the Gods was rewritten so easily this time, but this also gave Haotian Yaochi a great opportunity to control the Heavenly Court.

This event may not have much impact on ordinary people, but it is most shocking to sages because they understand what it represents.

In the Jade Pure Realm, where the primordial energy swirled and auspicious colors shone, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable was meditating and comprehending when Hongjun's words suddenly jolted the Primordial Heavenly Venerable's mind.

As a sage and a beneficiary of the previous conferment of gods, Yuanshi Tianzun naturally knew what Hongjun's decree represented.

Unexpectedly, the Jade Pool of the Heavenly Emperor has been quietly shaking the foundation of the order established by the Investiture of the Gods during this great calamity.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable was greatly alarmed. He had not expected that the Dao Ancestor would make this arrangement without consulting the other sages. He knew that this was no ordinary event and immediately set off for the Taiqing Heaven without further hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, the Primordial Celestial Venerable had arrived at Laozi's Taiqing Heaven. The Taiqing Heaven was shrouded in auspicious light, with cranes circling around it, while Laozi sat quietly on a futon. His usual carefree and unassuming demeanor was gone, and his expression was now extremely solemn.

Clearly, Hongjun's decree also made Laozi look solemn and nervous.

After all, the order of the Heavenly Court was controlled by his own avatar, Laozi, who also controlled the Heavenly Court's fortune. Although it appeared to be borrowing the fortune of the Heavenly Dao, it was actually under his own control.

Before exchanging pleasantries, Yuanshi Tianzun spoke directly, his tone filled with anxiety and doubt: "Elder brother, why did our teacher suddenly issue an edict demanding a revision of the Investiture of the Gods? The reason behind this is truly perplexing."

Lao Tzu slowly opened his eyes, a chaotic light flickering within them. He was naturally aware of the process and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Haotian and Yaochi personally went to Zixiao Palace to meet their teacher and said that although the Investiture of the Gods was now complete, there were still many shortcomings. It must be admitted that what they said was very true. If the Investiture of the Gods were allowed to continue, wouldn't those who were granted the titles of gods have obtained a kind of alternative eternity? In that case, it would be an injustice of the Heavenly Way, and the title of god that my junior brother granted to Jiang Ziya last time was criticized."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun frowned deeply, his expression filled with worry: "Elder brother, if the Investiture of the Gods is truly rewritten, then the order established in the last Investiture of the Gods will have to be overturned. Why didn't our teacher discuss such a momentous matter with us sages? This matter involves far too many things, and if we are not careful, it may cause a cataclysmic change."

Lao Tzu's gaze was profound, as if he could see through endless time and space: "Perhaps, Master has his own profound considerations and plans. Master understands the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and his actions must have profound meanings that we cannot easily fathom."

Yuanshi Tianzun stared intently at Laozi, his heart filled with doubt: "Could it be that Master's actions indicate that he intends to hand over the power of the Heavenly Court to Haotian and Yaochi?"

Laozi remained calm and nodded slightly: "Haotian and Yaochi are the Heavenly Emperors. If they can truly control the Heavenly Court, coordinate all the heavens and myriad realms, and maintain the order of heaven and earth, then it is rightful for them to do so. However, this re-establishment of the Investiture of the Gods has disrupted the general trend of the Heavenly Dao, and the consequences are unpredictable. It seems that the will of the Heavenly Dao has not changed, but because of this flaw in the Heavenly Dao, the re-establishment of the Investiture of the Gods has come about!"

After speaking, Lao Tzu fell into deep thought again, gazing at the endless void.

"Elder brother, could it be that Heaven's will is aligned with our teacher?"

Laozi immediately warned, "Second brother, don't say anything more or think too much. Jieyin and Zhunti have arrived. The person to be conferred the title of god has not yet been decided. Now we will go to see our teacher and try to find out who will be chosen!"

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun's expression changed immediately, and he stopped talking about it.

Soon, Jieyin and Zhunti also arrived. After all, this great calamity had just begun, and Hongjun had actually rewritten the Investiture of the Gods, which was a variable that did not exist in this great calamity.

The original Journey to the West tribulation would not have affected the change of the Heavenly Court's order, but this revision of the Investiture of the Gods is different; it is equivalent to establishing the change of order in terms of law and principle.

After the four sages met, they immediately headed to the Zixiao Palace. At this time, Nuwa, seeing that all four sages had come out, also immediately went to the Zixiao Palace.

When the five sages arrived, the Purple Cloud Palace slowly emerged from the depths of the endless void. The ancient Purple Cloud Palace had been silent for a long time, but its grandeur and solemnity made everything in the world pale in comparison.

"Disciple greets Master!" "You may all enter!"

The five saints gathered in front of the Zixiao Palace, each with a solemn expression. They were summoned by Hongjun and then filed in.

Upon entering the hall, Tongtian was still sitting cross-legged in Zixiao Palace, while the other saints walked smoothly to their respective prayer mats and slowly sat down.

Above the futon, wisps of primordial purple energy swirled, echoing the Great Dao of the Six Sages.

Before long, the figure of Hongjun Ancestor emerged from the chaos and quietly appeared on the Dao Platform.

Hongjun was surrounded by chaotic energy, obscuring his face. One could only sense his supreme power that transcended all heavens and controlled the fate of all things in the world.

Upon seeing this, all the saints rose, their expressions solemn, and bowed in unison, shouting, "Greetings, Teacher!"

Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, the atmosphere was heavy as lead. Yuanshi Tianzun broke the silence first and asked Hongjun Laozu, "May I ask, Master, what is the reason for revising the Investiture of the Gods? The Investiture of the Gods is a matter that affects everything. If we act rashly, the order of the Three Realms may be thrown into chaos!"

Upon hearing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader sneered and said, "Hmph, I'm afraid he's just afraid that the order of the Chan Sect he established will be lost!"

Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes widened in anger, and he shouted sternly, "Tongtian, what exactly do you mean by this? Stop spouting nonsense here!"

Tongtian scoffed, his eyes full of disdain: "The entire Heavenly Court is now under the control of your Chan Sect disciples. Is this the Heavenly Court of Haotian Yaochi, or the Heavenly Court of Yuanshi Tianzun's family?"

Seeing this, Laozi frowned slightly and looked at Hongjun with a solemn expression, asking, "Teacher, if we really rewrite the Investiture of the Gods, I'm afraid it will increase the danger of the Great Tribulation, causing the cause and effect to become more chaotic, and the Heavenly Dao may be harmed. I hope you will think it over carefully."

Hongjun remained calm, his body shrouded in a slight surge of chaotic energy. He slowly spoke, “The Way of Heaven is impartial. If the Investiture of the Gods is not completed, then the Way of Heaven is unjust. I, acting on behalf of the Way of Heaven, shall naturally complete this matter. From now on, every calamity will be a time of Investiture of the Gods and the replacement of the gods. This is the inevitable course of the Way of Heaven.”

After hearing this, Laozi fell into deep thought, realizing that since Hongjun had already proclaimed it to the Three Realms, it could no longer be changed, and he could not continue to discuss the matter.

After a moment, Laozi raised his head and asked, "May I ask, Master, since we are going to revise the Investiture of the Gods, who should be the one to bestow the titles?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred, and their gazes all turned to Hongjun.

Since the matter of revising the Investiture of the Gods cannot be denied from the perspective of the Heavenly Dao, the question of who should be appointed as the deity becomes the key point of contention among all parties.

After all, the Investiture of the Gods does have flaws, and that cannot be changed.

Tongtian immediately said, "Reporting to the Master, the people appointed by the Chan Sect in the last Investiture of the Gods were truly incompetent. All the Great Emperors were people with shallow virtue and fortune, becoming a laughing stock in the Three Realms. This time, we must find people with profound virtue and fortune to take on this great responsibility."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun quickly said, "Master, my disciple Yun Zhongzi is a true immortal of virtue and fortune, with a pure heart and great magical power. He is certainly capable of carrying out the conferment of titles upon the gods."

Zhunti Daoist bowed slightly and said, "Reporting to my master, in my humble opinion, it would be better to let someone from the West preside over the Investiture of the Gods. My disciple Maitreya is compassionate and virtuous, and is suitable to be the one to conduct this Investiture of the Gods."

Just then, the Goddess Nuwa parted her lips and slowly said, "Reporting to my teacher, I believe that we can select the person to be conferred the title of god from among the rogue cultivators. Zhen Yuanzi is known throughout the Three Realms to be fair, selfless, and uncontested. He is capable of undertaking this important task and carrying out the conferment of the title of god."

For a time, opinions were divided within Zixiao Palace. Each side held its own view on who should be conferred the title of god, and an invisible conflict quietly began in Zixiao Palace.

Hongjun remained calm and listened quietly to the debate. He was not in a hurry to make a decision on who would be appointed to the gods.

Because the revision of the Investiture of the Gods involved many complex matters, it was natural that only a few sages were known to be present.

First, Hongjun looked at Tongtian and said, "You and Zixiao Palace have been reflecting on your mistakes for tens of thousands of years. The great calamity has arrived. Do you know your wrongdoing?"

Upon hearing this, Tongtian was overjoyed and quickly said, "Reporting to Master, this disciple knows his mistake. The incident of shattering heaven and earth during the last great calamity was due to my impulsiveness, and I will never dare to do such a thing again!"

Hongjun nodded: "Very good. You have realized your mistake and may leave Zixiao Palace at any time!"

The fact that Tongtian no longer needed to be confined in the dark room startled the Four Sages, who wondered what had happened.

Why has such a drastic change occurred?

But at this moment, Lao Tzu was extremely solemn. Suddenly, after a change in his expression, he instantly displayed a state of non-action.

This revision of the Investiture of the Gods will have a great impact on the Three Realms. Empress Jiang is currently distraught. If the Investiture of the Gods is indeed revised this time, she will lose her divine position as Doumu Yuanjun.

However, lacking the aptitude, fortune, and virtue for cultivation, one may soon be reincarnated due to the five signs of decay in the celestial realm.

Yin Ziyu then said to Di Xin, "Zishou, continue to endure for a while. When the great calamity ends, you can return to Chaoge. Although the Great Shang Dynasty is not capable of ruling the human race of the Three Realms, it is not lacking in fortune. Zishou can cultivate normally in the future, and becoming a Great Luo Golden Immortal is not impossible."

As for Emperor Xin, because of his experience of fighting against a sage, his reputation soared to unparalleled heights. With ample good fortune, his future was naturally limitless.

"Rest assured, Imperial Uncle, I understand!"

After Di Xin finished speaking, he looked at Empress Jiang and a mocking smile appeared on his lips: "Foolish woman, what have you done now?"

Empress Jiang looked at Emperor Xin before her, her expression momentarily dazed. She hadn't expected the situation to change so drastically, which made her look extremely gloomy.

Yin Ziyu arrived at the Lingxiao Palace because Haotian and Yaochi had returned.

"Fellow Daoist, this monkey has taken the Sea-Stabilizing Needle from the East Sea. The Dragon King of the East Sea has already submitted his memorial. He has even disturbed the Underworld. How should we deal with this?"

Yin Ziyu naturally knew that this was a plot arranged by Zhunti, but he couldn't cause a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace because Haotian had not allied with Tathagata.

After a moment's thought, Yin Ziyu said, "In that case, let's use flattery to kill, a righteous strategy that subtly influences people!"

"Oh, praise to death? How does one praise to death?"

Yin Ziyu smiled faintly: "Since that's the case, let's cooperate with their plan. They want to establish the monkey's authority so that he won't be afraid on his journey to the west. Since he's the one destined to face the calamity, they guess we can't stop him. So let's go with the flow and let him cause even more trouble! Now that all the sages are in Zixiao Palace, let's seize this opportunity!"

(End of this chapter)