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

Although the Journey to the West was not yet over, the Great Tribulation had ended. After the Chan Sect ordered the disciples from all sides of the Three Realms to return to Kunlun Mountain to seal off the mountain and relinquish this order, the remaining matters were no longer of great importance.

This time, it was Zhen Yuanzi who was conferred the title of god. Zhen Yuanzi was a rogue cultivator, which ensured a certain degree of fairness.

Now that the time for bestowing the gods has come, Zhen Yuanzi was the first to arrive at the Investiture Platform and knelt before the Zixiao Palace, saying: "Dao Ancestor above, today your disciple, upholding the Dao Ancestor's decree, begins the Investiture of the Gods!"

Jiang Ziya conferred titles upon gods in the past by following the decree of Yuanshi Tianzun, while Zhen Yuanzi's conferment of titles upon gods in this case is by following the decree of Hongjun. Therefore, the authorization for this conferment of titles is much higher.

At the same time, a new logic is also revealed: in the previous Investiture of the Gods, Yuanshi Tianzun represented the will of Heaven, while this time the Investiture of the Gods represents the will of Hongjun. This also means that in terms of influence on the Three Realms, Hongjun truly has the opportunity to exercise his will.

Of course, all of this started with Yin Ziyu. At the beginning of the Journey to the West, he gave Hongjun an opportunity.

Otherwise, Hongjun would always be the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao, but the affairs of the Three Realms are all done by the sages in accordance with the will of the Heavenly Dao.

What is the will of Heaven?
Equivalent to the emperor, the emperor naturally had to maintain the law when facing numerous ministers, but there were many things he wanted to do that he could not do, and he had to rely entirely on the law. The general trend he wanted to promote could not be promoted, and this is where the sage came in.

For example, the primordial world needs the three paths of Heaven, Earth, and Man to be complete in order to stabilize the fundamental order. However, the Heavenly Path cannot openly oppose it. Hongjun, who attained the Dao, was incorporated into the Heavenly Path. Others who might attain the Dao were granted purple qi, pacified by the Heavenly Path, and given extremely high status. All those below the sages were like ants.

It should be understood that when the sages attained enlightenment, the primordial world didn't even know how to enter the realm above the Great Luo Golden Immortal. How tempting would the six sages be to directly become sages? Why would they ask for anything else!
Sages are somewhat similar to the role of the Eastern Depot of the emperor, capable of comprehending the will of Heaven and then directly carrying it out. As for Tongtian and Nuwa, they each have their own representatives.

Nuwa was originally the master of the Great Dao of Creation, the master of humanity, and the master of all living beings, but she replaced herself with a saint at the very small cost, which is reasonable.

Tongtian, one of the Three Pure Ones of Pangu, was destined to become a saint. If he were not allowed to become a saint, he would inevitably attain the Primordial Chaos, which would be equivalent to being granted amnesty.

These saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, truly obtained the opportunity to become saints, while the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa were more like being granted sanctification by the Heavenly Dao.

Therefore, this conferment of gods was done by decree of Hongjun, and the gods conferred their power came from Hongjun. Furthermore, Haotian Yaochi was Hongjun's person. This is the core significance of this conferment of gods.

Zhen Yuanzi, holding the Investiture of the Gods, stood solemnly at the Investiture of the Gods site. Suddenly, he shouted, "Those who were conferred the title during the Investiture of the Gods calamity are now freed from the shackles of the Investiture of the Gods. They can take their divine bodies and regain their freedom. Once they cultivate their primordial spirit, their divine bodies will automatically return to the Investiture of the Gods. I will now begin the conferment of the title."

After Zhen Yuanzi finished speaking, divine power surged and radiance emanated from the Investiture of the Gods.

In an instant, all 365 righteous gods of the Investiture of the Gods period felt a power of law upon them, and the shackles of the Investiture of the Gods that had bound them for so long dissipated. All the righteous gods experienced both joy and sorrow, but in the end, they all gained their freedom.

At the same time, when the gods were originally conferred titles, the physical bodies of those who were conferred titles had long since disappeared, but the divine bodies created by the Investiture of the Gods were not taken back, allowing them to continue using these divine bodies.

Of course, the divine body is only temporary. It is the origin of the Investiture of the Gods. When the person dies or cultivates a primordial spirit, the divine body will return to the Investiture of the Gods as the origin of the Investiture of the Gods.

At this moment, Di Xin, who had regained his freedom, went straight to Wen Zhong's camp.

Wen Zhong was overjoyed to see Di Xin return and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty is back!"

Di Xin nodded slightly, his eyes filled with excitement, emotion, and joy: "It's all thanks to my royal uncle, I'm back!"

Not long after, Yin Ziyu also returned to the Northern Expeditionary Army.

The great war is long over. The Heavenly Court order is easy to manage. Once the Investiture of the Gods is completed and Haotian Yaochi truly takes power, a new Heavenly Court order will begin. As for the human race, the transition of order will only be complete once they launch a northern expedition into Chang'an, replace the emperor, and re-establish the Human Emperor.

Upon seeing Di Xin's return, Yin Ziyu smiled and said, "Now that Your Majesty has returned, let us ascend the throne again and continue the great cause of the Northern Expedition."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xin hurriedly said, "Your Imperial Uncle has rendered great service to the nation and turned the tide. It would be more appropriate for Your Imperial Uncle to ascend the throne."

Upon hearing this, Yin Ziyu said solemnly, "Your Majesty need not be modest. The Human Emperor defended the land and died for the country, and is the backbone of the people of the Great Shang. Now that Your Majesty has returned, the hearts of all people will naturally be with you. As for me, after the Great Tribulation ends, I will go into seclusion to plan my path to enlightenment."

After all, Yin Ziyu now possesses a transcendent mind and will break free from the shackles of Heaven in the future, so this human emperor no longer holds any meaning for him.

The position of the Human Emperor does not need to be changed, at least not once every hundred years. For example, the Demon Emperors Di Jun and Tai Yi have been in power for countless eons. Frequent changes prevent a race from truly improving.

Since I am in charge of order, my future governance of the Three Realms requires delaying the eons of calamity and returning to the ancient times to cleanse cause and effect. My ideal for this world is at least a hundred million years of seclusion, during which the world remains unchanged without much alteration.

The world can be filled with endless wars for power and profit, but it cannot suffer the devastating loss of its fundamental essence, the loss of its fortune, or the depletion of its spiritual energy.

The great battles for power are merely the replacement of all living beings, which is insignificant. However, the loss of the origin, the loss of fortune, and the decline of spiritual energy represent the degradation of the world.

In other words, Yin Ziyu and the Jie Sect's goal for the future order is to elevate the world's dimensions, while the Primordial Era and the current Three Realms are essentially not on the same dimension, representing a severe downgrade.

After Yin Zi expressed his opinion, Wen Zhong immediately followed suit, since compared to the Human Emperor, this Dao attainment was the fundamental guarantee for the eternal prosperity of the Shang Dynasty.

Wen Zhong echoed, "The human race is the head of all races and must be led by the Human Emperor. We urge Your Majesty to lead the army on a northern expedition to demonstrate the justice of Heaven and Earth."

Emperor Xin was filled with emotion: "My royal uncle once said that if I could endure this humiliation for a time, I would surely be able to restore the sun and moon from darkness and bring peace to the nation from peril. Today, that promise has finally come true."

Wen Zhong, his expression filled with fervor, shouted, "His Majesty has returned! The entire army pays homage to the Emperor!"

Among the army were many people who had migrated south in the past, all of whom had witnessed Emperor Xin's heroic feat of fighting the sage to the death. Today, seeing Emperor Xin return, they were all deeply moved.

In an instant, everyone knelt down and shouted that they paid homage to the Emperor.

Di Xin was filled with emotion and said loudly, "Very well, all soldiers, please rise. All thanks to my Imperial Uncle for turning the tide and saving the nation from collapse. Now there is hope for the restoration of the country. Ten thousand years ago, the gentry fled south, but today they follow me on the northern expedition to rebuild Chaoge!"

In an instant, the morale of the Northern Expeditionary Army soared, and they swept forward like a surging torrent, rushing swiftly towards Chang'an.

The four pilgrims rode the clouds eastward, but the atmosphere was unusually oppressive. They were completely unaware that the power structure of Mount Ling had changed hands because of their departure.

Furthermore, Mount Ling, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, was no longer there; instead, it was moved back to Mount Sumeru, and Maitreya Buddha took charge of Mahayana Buddhism.

Pigsy naturally knew that the Great Tribulation had failed, and that returning to Chang'an was merely to complete the Journey to the West. Therefore, he remained silent and taciturn throughout the journey, his usual banter gone, and he simply kept his head down and hurried on his way.

Sha Wujing also had an indifferent expression, with a hint of vicissitude and confusion in his eyes, as if he had become indifferent to all things in this world.

Sun Wukong's face was filled with hatred, a hatred that burned like a raging fire in his eyes, as if he wanted to avenge his master.

Tang Sanzang, however, was filled with doubts and knew nothing about the tremendous changes that had occurred in the Three Realms. He was still immersed in the joy of returning from his pilgrimage and the anticipation of unknown rewards.

The four rode on clouds and finally saw Chang'an.

Tang Sanzang gazed at the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar city of Chang'an, his heart filled with countless emotions.

Looking back, I remember setting off from here on that long journey to the west, enduring countless hardships and dangers, braving the elements, all for the sake of obtaining the true scriptures and saving all sentient beings.

Now that I've returned, Chang'an is still as prosperous as ever, but my state of mind is completely different.

"Looking back, I embarked on this journey alone, single-mindedly seeking Buddhist scriptures. I endured eighty-one tribulations before finally returning today. Only I know the hardships I have faced along the way. Now that I have the true scriptures in my hands, I hope to bring blessings to the Tang Dynasty, to live up to His Majesty's trust, and to fulfill the hopes of all people."

Tang Sanzang muttered to himself, his eyes filled with emotion, unaware that the world had already changed.

Sun Wukong, however, paid no attention to Tang Sanzang's lament. With his sharp eyes, he spotted the massive Northern Expeditionary Army surging towards them like a tidal wave from afar.

Following Sun Wukong's gaze, Tang Sanzang exclaimed in surprise, "Wukong, what's happening in Chang'an? Are there rebels?"

Sun Wukong's expression was solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "Let's go into the city first."

The four entered the city. At this time, the Tang emperor was extremely frightened. The immortals of the Chan Sect and the Buddha of Buddhism had all withdrawn. The powerful immortals and Buddhas he once relied on had vanished in an instant. Now, the army of the Northern Expedition was about to besiege the city. The Tang Dynasty was in grave danger.

Upon hearing of Tang Sanzang's return, the Tang Emperor seemed to have grasped at the last straw and hurriedly summoned him.

Upon seeing the Tang Emperor, Tang Sanzang immediately prostrated himself and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble monk has traveled west for over a decade and has finally obtained eighty volumes of the true scriptures!"

The Tang emperor was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Eighty divisions? Why not eighty-one?"

Tang Sanzang was also puzzled: "Buddha said there are eighty sections, but this humble monk does not know why."

These eighty and eighty-one true scriptures, though only one scripture apart, are like the vast and insurmountable gap between a quasi-saint and a saint.

Emperor Tang frowned immediately, looking worried, and said, "My brother's journey to the West is not yet complete? The rebel army is about to arrive in the north, and the fate of my Great Tang Dynasty is in danger. I'm afraid my brother's scriptures are useless now!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was immediately flustered: "Your Majesty, how could this be?"

At that very moment, the Northern Expeditionary Army had already reached the city gates.

Pigsy sighed and said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, Brother Monkey, the journey to the West is over. I, Old Pig, should be going now. I hope we'll meet again!"

Tang Sanzang hurriedly asked, "Where are you going, Bajie? Why don't you come back to Mount Ling with me to receive your title?" Bajie shook his head helplessly and said with a bitter smile, "Master, Mount Ling is gone, what's the point of receiving a title?"

After saying that, Pigsy transformed back into his original form, becoming a burly man carrying a rake, and rode a cloud straight towards Shouyang Mountain.

Seeing this, Sha Wujing also spoke up, "Master, it's time for me to go too."

After saying this, Sha Wujing also rode a cloud and headed towards Kunlun.

The white dragon horse instantly transformed into a small white dragon and galloped towards the West Sea.

Seeing his disciples taking their leave, Tang Sanzang was stunned and stood there dumbfounded. He turned to Sun Wukong and asked anxiously, "Wukong, what happened? Why didn't they come back to the mountain to receive their titles?"

Sun Wukong ignored him and instead looked south, shouting, "I, Old Sun, will hold off the rebels for you!"

After saying this, Sun Wukong immediately used the technique of transforming heaven and earth, and his body instantly became enormous, towering into the sky and standing on the ground, like an ancient war god, and rushed straight towards the Northern Expeditionary Army.

Upon seeing this, the Emperor felt a warmth in his heart: "My brother's disciple is quite capable; I wonder if he can stop the rebels!"

Tang Sanzang quickly said, "Your Majesty, this disciple is none other than Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. He will surely be able to defeat the rebels!"

When Sun Wukong blocked the Northern Expeditionary Army like a towering mountain, Yin Ziyu calmly stepped out.

Yin Ziyu looked at Sun Wukong with a half-smile and said, "Monkey, have you come to avenge your master?"

Sun Wukong's anger intensified, and he said bitterly, "Of course I, Old Sun, will avenge my master!"

Just then, the Golden Spirit Mother appeared, looked at Sun Wukong, and angrily rebuked him: "You monkey, you are truly foolish beyond measure!"

Sun Wukong looked at the Golden Spirit Mother with a puzzled expression: "You are the one who gave me the Origin Pearl and saved my life? Why did you give me the Origin Pearl? Why is my Origin Pearl in your hands?"

Yin Ziyu gazed calmly at Sun Wukong and slowly said, "Your Origin Pearl was actually given to you by me. If I hadn't intervened that day, the Six-Eared Macaque would have already taken your life. Don't be in a hurry to seek revenge. Know that there are many in the Three Realms who know your origins. When you were first born, your Origin Pearl was difficult to preserve and almost dissipated. I spent considerable effort collecting it for you and gave it to you when your life was in danger. As for why your Origin Pearl disappeared, it was all due to your so-called master, Subhuti, deliberately indulging you. He did this because if you obtained the Origin Pearl, you would find it difficult to sincerely become his disciple; only in this way could you follow his arrangements and embark on the Journey to the West."

Yin Ziyu didn't offer much explanation, simply recounting the truth. He said that he needed to find the answers himself, and even if he were told the truth directly, the man might not believe it.

Now that the Journey to the West has ended, Sun Wukong is no longer the one destined for tribulation and is considered a free man, so it is time for Sun Wukong to know all of this.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was struck dumb, his heart filled with immense pain. He roared, "No, impossible! I, Old Sun, don't believe it!"

Sun Wukong's voice was filled with endless grief and disbelief, as if it could shatter the heavens and earth. He simply couldn't believe that his master would harm him!

Yin Ziyu didn't explain much, but simply said calmly, "Now that you possess the ability to hear the myriad things of the Three Realms, you can go and explore the truth of the Three Realms. Subhuti is not your true master; he is actually an incarnation of the Sage Zhunti. Find out the truth for yourself. It won't be too late for you to seek revenge after you've uncovered everything!"

Sun Wukong felt a roar in his mind, as if the whole world was collapsing at that moment.

Everything stemmed from the "master" he trusted most—how could he accept this? He buried his face in his hands and wept bitterly, tears streaming down his face, the pain and confusion in his heart overwhelming him like a surging tide.

After a long while, Sun Wukong suddenly raised his head, a resolute glint in his eyes. He transformed into a streak of light and vanished in an instant, disappearing in one direction, determined to search for evidence and the truth within the Three Realms.

Watching Sun Wukong leave, Yin Ziyu gave an order, and the army surged towards Chang'an like a tidal wave.

Wen Zhong gazed at Chang'an before him, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He pointed at Chang'an and said, "This was once Xiqi, which we failed to conquer during the Investiture of the Gods era. I never imagined that after only one Yuanhui, we would once again besiege this place in such a way!"

Yin Ziyu remained calm and said indifferently, "Dynastic changes, whether it's Zhou or Tang, are essentially the same. Let's break through the city!"

Now that Chang'an is no longer protected by the Chan sect or Buddhist immortals, the army's momentum in attacking the city is unstoppable.

Before long, the city gates were breached, and the army poured into Chang'an as if it were empty.

The Tang emperor, accompanied by his ministers, stood solemnly at the palace gates, watching the army enter the capital without offering any resistance. The situation was already decided, and resistance from Chang'an was futile.

Emperor Xin, dressed in a black bird imperial robe, arrived at the palace gate. His eyes were like torches as he looked at Emperor Tang and asked, "You must be the current emperor. When I was a star lord, I was familiar with you. You are a hero, but unfortunately, many things are beyond your control."

After all, Di Xin had been a star lord of a Yuanhui, and he had witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties in the Three Realms. He still admired the Tang Emperor, but there was nothing he could do. As the representative of the Chan Sect's order, he was naturally not in control of his own destiny.

The Tang Emperor looked calmly at Di Xin, his expression showing a hint of helplessness but not losing his imperial dignity, and said, "Things have come to this, I have nothing more to say!"

Di Xin nodded slightly and said, "Very well, I will not make things difficult for you. Ji Fa once called himself the Son of Heaven, but I killed him. Now times have changed. You should proclaim to the Three Realms that the so-called Son of Heaven is nothing more than a enslaver of the people. I am willing to be the last Son of Heaven, and I will demote myself to the Human Emperor, and from now on I will relinquish the title of Son of Heaven. After you have done this, I will grant you your freedom!"

Upon hearing this, the Tang Emperor was slightly taken aback, then said, "I am willing to do this, for it is the future of humanity. Now that there are no longer any immortals to restrain us, it can be considered as freeing all living beings from the shackles of humanity."

Soon, in the name of the emperor, a proclamation was instantly proclaimed throughout the three realms.

It is said that the universe has its constant order, and humanity is supreme. However, fortunes change, affecting rise and fall. In the past, Ji Fa was rebellious and immoral, willingly becoming a traitor, and even demoted the human emperor to the position of Son of Heaven. This act was utterly wrong, causing the fortunes of our human race to decline like a river flowing downhill, and we have long suffered humiliation and disgrace.

Ji Fa, disregarding the well-being of humanity, flattered divine authority for his own selfish gain, lowering his status and abandoning the rightful position of Human Emperor, thus stripping humanity of its dignity and causing its fortune to dissipate. From then on, humanity depended on others for survival, eking out a living under the shadow of divine authority, its path of development fraught with hardship and suffering.

I, inheriting the legacy of my ancestors, ascended the throne and have worked diligently to save humanity from its decline and prevent its collapse. However, fate is fickle, and divine intervention has been ruthless, making it difficult to reverse the inherent weakness of humanity. Fortunately, with divine blessing, Emperor Xin has risen to power, possessing the grand ambition to restore humanity and the immense power to turn the tide.

After careful consideration, for the long-term benefit of our human race, I, as the last emperor, voluntarily surrender to Emperor Xin. From this day forward, I relinquish the title of emperor and solely acknowledge Emperor Xin as my lord. My mind is made up; my aim is to restore dignity to the human race, gather its fortune, and restore its former glory.

As per Emperor Xin's request, the Tang Emperor's proclamation was successfully transmitted to the world. From the beginning of the Investiture of the Gods and the rebellion in Xiqi to the Tang Emperor's voluntary revocation of the title of Emperor, a whole cycle had passed, and this cause and effect was finally resolved.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang seemed to be in an absurd nightmare, completely dumbfounded.

I never expected that upon my return, instead of seeing the scriptures that could save all living beings, I would witness the change of dynasties in the Tang Dynasty.

Seeing the situation deteriorate rapidly, Tang Sanzang was filled with confusion and helplessness. It took him a long time to come to his senses. He hurriedly stepped forward to the Emperor, his voice trembling slightly, and asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do with this true scripture... this true scripture?"

The Tang Emperor looked somber and sighed helplessly, saying slowly, "Now that the Emperor has arrived in Chang'an, you should hand over this true scripture to him for disposal."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang, though reluctant, had no choice but to comply.

Tang Sanzang approached Emperor Xin, his eyes filled with earnestness and determination, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble monk has endured more than ten years of hardship to obtain these eighty copies of the true scriptures. These scriptures are meant to save all living beings, guide them toward goodness, alleviate worldly suffering, and cleanse the evil thoughts in people's hearts. I hope Your Majesty will make good use of them!"

Di Xin's expression was cold and stern. His gaze swept over the pile of scriptures, and he snorted coldly, saying, "The way of enslaving the people is not worthy to offend my eyes. Issue the order to burn them all!"

At Di Xin's command, the soldiers quickly piled up firewood and set it on fire.

A raging fire instantly rose up, engulfing the eighty volumes of true scriptures.

The flames burned the sacred scriptures, crackling and popping as if it were the final lament of the Journey to the West in this world.

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang was struck dumb, and his entire being collapsed instantly.

Tang Sanzang rushed to the scriptures without hesitation, knelt down, tears streaming down his face, and then burst into loud sobs. "The Buddha's teachings are the foundation for saving all sentient beings. All beings suffer; only the Buddha's teachings can save them from this sea of ​​suffering and guide them onto the path of enlightenment. Why burn them...?"

Tang Sanzang cried and shouted, his voice filled with despair and incomprehension: "This true scripture carries countless wisdom and compassion, it can lead people to abandon evil and do good, it can fill the world with peace, why... why destroy it..."

Tang Sanzang's wails echoed in the air, but those around him seemed to turn a deaf ear, and no one paid any attention to his heartbreaking cries.

Seeing the sacred scriptures that carried half a lifetime of his heart's blood and faith turn to ashes in the raging fire, Tang Sanzang's eyes instantly became empty and desperate.

"no no……"

Seeing the scriptures being burned, Tang Sanzang had lost all hope of living. He suddenly stood up and, without hesitation, jumped into the raging sea of ​​fire.

The flames instantly engulfed Tang Sanzang, who remained unmoved as the flames consumed him. He sat cross-legged on the flames, completely swallowed up, and burned along with the scriptures, which could be considered a perfect ending.

Before long, Tang Sanzang's physical body turned into several relics in the fire, leaving only a wisp of his true spirit floating in mid-air.

After reading it, Yin Ziyu sighed and said, "The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao. It pervades the world, and what you consider to be the correct Tao is no longer the Tao!"

At this moment, Zhen Yuanzi was at the Investiture Platform, methodically preparing to confer titles upon the gods.

Suddenly, Zhen Yuanzi's heart stirred, and he sensed this wandering true spirit. After all, it was the pilgrim, a key figure in the entire Journey to the West. Zhen Yuanzi slightly raised his hand, and the true spirit seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, slowly flying towards the Investiture of the Gods.

Zhen Yuanzi's gaze was calm and profound as he watched the true spirit merge into the Investiture of the Gods, and he uttered, "Now I include this true spirit in the ranks of the gods, and you will be the last person to enter the Investiture of the Gods in this great calamity." (End of this chapter)