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

Chapter 230 The Human Emperors of Huoyun Cave emerge, and the siege begins!
The news of the sage's return to the Three Realms spread like a thunderclap. The Jade Palace on Kunlun Mountain was bathed in radiant light, the Eight Views Palace on Shouyang Mountain was filled with auspicious purple clouds, the Thunder Sound Temple on Mount Sumeru was illuminated by the Buddha's light, and the Golden Turtle Island in the East Sea was even more magnificent than ever before.

Since the time of the Investiture of the Gods, when Tongtian shattered heaven and earth and the sages left the prehistoric world, the return of the sages has shocked all parties in the prehistoric world. The most distressed are these great gods.

Their lofty position was instantly lost, but there was nothing they could do; the general trend of the primordial world had nothing to do with them anyway.

The descent of a sage instantly altered the balance of power in the Three Realms. The Chan Sect, Buddhism, and the Human Sect, which had closed their mountains due to the loss of order during the Great Tribulation, instantly returned to their peak of combat power.

All people are like ants beneath a sage. No matter how great the failures one may have encountered before, as long as a sage is born, everything is enough.

It can be said that the descent of a sage caused Yin Ziyu, the number one fighter in the Three Realms, and Jiu Feng to instantly drop to seventh or eighth place, with a huge gap between them and the top six.

This is equivalent to changing the world order in an instant, restoring the absolute power of the sages' martial prowess to what it was before the Investiture of the Gods.

At this time, the holy sites of various religions were in a state of great prosperity.

Outside Biyou Palace, disciples of the Jie Sect, dressed in various colored Taoist robes, stood on both sides, each one full of energy, their eyes filled with excitement and reverence.

After all, this was the first time these disciples had ever seen a sage, so they were naturally extremely excited.

Inside the palace, the Tongtian Sect Leader sat upright on the Daoist platform of Biyou Palace, his gaze sweeping over the disciples below. Looking at his seven personal disciples, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

At this time, the direct disciples of the Jie Sect were Jinling Shengmu, Guiling Shengmu, Wudang Shengmu, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, and Wuyun Xian.

There are also Zhao Gongming and others who returned from the Investiture of the Gods, but they have not yet entered the Quasi-Saint realm. Nowadays, one cannot enter the personal discipleship without reaching the Quasi-Saint realm.

Since the Investiture of the Gods, the Jie Sect had suffered heavy losses. The victory in the Journey to the West allowed the disciples to improve their cultivation, creating a thriving scene that filled Tongtian with mixed emotions.

"Congratulations on Master's return to the Primordial World!"

The disciples shouted in unison, their voices resounding throughout Jin'ao Island, causing the sea to churn and auspicious clouds to gather.

Golden Spirit Mother stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Reporting to Master, since the beginning of a new era, the Primordial Origin has descended upon the world, and the disciples of the Intercepting Sect have benefited immensely. There are now seven Quasi-Saints, and the number of third-generation disciples has reached as many as one hundred, all of whom have stepped into the Golden Immortal realm."

The Tongtian Sect Leader stroked his beard, his smile deepening: "Jin Ling, I am very pleased that the Jie Sect has achieved its current prosperity during your tenure. From now on, the Jie Sect will continue to be under your leadership."

"Disciple obey!"

The Holy Mother Jinling respectfully responded, then frowned slightly and said with concern, "Master, Ziyu has been in seclusion for the past Yuanhui, and no news has come out. I wonder how he is doing now. Now that a sage has descended to earth, I'm afraid it will be detrimental to Ziyu!"

The Tongtian Sect Leader calculated for a moment, but shook his head: "I have not been able to find Ziyu's whereabouts either. He is obviously in a special space. Even a saint cannot deduce his location."

Yunxiao stepped forward, his face full of worry, and said, "Master, during the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, Ziyu killed Subhuti. Such a great sage has such karma. Now that the sage has descended to earth, I fear they will find Ziyu's whereabouts and kill him. What should we do?"

The Tongtian Sect Leader said in a deep voice, "Ziyu's cultivation is now close to attaining the Dao. The descent of the sages is both a tribulation that hinders his attainment of the Dao and an opportunity for him to do so. The fact that those sages are looking for him and trying to kill him is precisely the tribulation that will lead him to attain the Dao."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, the disciples exclaimed in surprise.

Jin Ling frowned and said, "All those below the level of a sage are ants. Even if Zi Yu is close to attaining enlightenment, how could he possibly be a match for a sage!"

The Tongtian Sect Leader frowned slightly: "This humble Taoist cannot deduce Ziyu's whereabouts, nor can the other sages. But they will certainly find a way to force Ziyu out!"

Golden Spirit Mother hurriedly asked, "Master, what should we do?"

The Tongtian Sect Leader's expression was solemn: "This is Ziyu's tribulation for attaining enlightenment. No matter what, the Jie Sect will do its utmost to help. However, at that time, I and Nuwa will probably be overwhelmed. Laozi's One Qi Transformation into Three Pure Ones is enough to restrain us. Therefore, whether Ziyu can attain enlightenment ultimately depends on himself."

The Golden Spirit Mother's heart tightened, and she pressed on, "If they can't find Ziyu's hiding place and want to force him to show himself, will they attack the human race?"

The Tongtian Sect Leader nodded: "Only in this way. Ziyu is a member of the Shang Dynasty royal family. Since the Investiture of the Gods, all causes and effects have stemmed from the rise and fall of the Shang Dynasty. If the human race faces the danger of national extinction, Ziyu would never sit idly by. Now that the sages have descended to the mortal realm, they can openly use the tribulation of attaining enlightenment as an excuse to besiege Ziyu."

Tongtian pondered for a moment, then looked at the Golden Spirit Mother and solemnly said, "Golden Spirit, when the time comes, you can lead the disciples of the Intercepting Sect to Chaoge to resist the invading enemy. Remember, never forget your alliance with Ziyu."

With a firm gaze, the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit bowed and said, "This disciple will obey Master's orders!"

Inside Biyou Palace, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy. All the disciples understood that there was a reason for the sage's descent into the world, and therefore, an eruption was inevitable.

Yin Ziyu did not want to trouble the Jie Sect this time, because the Jie Sect's crisis had been resolved, and seeking out the Jie Sect would mean losing common interests, with the other side bearing the brunt of the costs.

Now that the original source has descended upon the Three Realms, the survival of the Jie Sect has been greatly enhanced, and the Dao of the Jie Sect has also been greatly improved.

Therefore, Yin Ziyu did not intend to seek out the Jie Sect and make them solely for his benefit. This was not a long-term solution, as it would consume a great deal of the other party's interests, and consuming interests would inevitably consume feelings.

Of course, the Jie Sect was not ungrateful either, and naturally they had to make choices and take action.

Of course, the situation was basically correct. Once the sage made his move, Tongtian would inevitably be left to fend for himself. He could not rely on others to attain enlightenment; he could only rely on Yin Ziyu himself.

At the summit of Kunlun Mountain, auspicious clouds swirl around the Jade Void Palace, and purple mist hangs in the air.

A golden light pierced the sky, and the Nine Dragons Incense Chariot slowly approached. On the chariot, the Primordial Celestial Venerable had a majestic face and exuded a vast sage's aura. Wherever he passed, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth submitted to him.

Guang Chengzi, Yun Zhongzi, Antarctic Immortal, Taiyi Zhenren, Yuding Zhenren, Qingxu Daode Zhenjun, Chijingzi, Huanglong Zhenren, and other Chan Sect immortals had already led their younger disciples, including Yang Jian, Nezha, and Lei Zhenzi, to wait in front of the palace.

Upon seeing the arrival of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, everyone bowed in unison, their voices respectful and resounding: "Welcome to the arrival of our Master (Grandmaster), may you live a long and prosperous life!"

Yuanshi Tianzun sat atop his Nine-Dragon Sandalwood Chariot, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He nodded slightly: "Rise, all of you." "Thank you, Master (Grandmaster)!"

The crowd responded in unison, slowly rising to their feet, their eyes filled with awe and joy.

If a sage descends to earth, then the Chan Sect and the Human Sect will become one family, and the Chan Sect will once again take control of the order of the Three Realms and become the number one sect in the Three Realms.

Guang Chengzi stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Master, since the primordial origin descended into the world, the disciples of the Chan Sect have diligently cultivated without ceasing. Now there are seven Quasi-Saints, which is comparable to the Jie Sect. It is the sect with the most Quasi-Saints in the Three Realms."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun showed a hint of satisfaction on his face and nodded, saying, "Guangchengzi, you have managed the great sect with great care, and I am very pleased that the Chan Sect has achieved its current prosperity."

Guang Chengzi was overjoyed and asked, "Master, now that sages can descend into the world, I wonder if a great calamity is about to befall us?"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable gazed intently and slowly said, "There will be no immeasurable calamity, but a great event is about to occur. Ziyu and Jiufeng are about to attain enlightenment. If these two wish to break the shackles of the Heavenly Dao and forcibly prove their path, they must first defeat the Heavenly Dao Saint in order to succeed."

“Ziyu?” Guang Chengzi frowned slightly: “This child has not appeared in the Three Realms since his journey to the West. Now that his origin has descended to earth for a whole era, he has completely disappeared and we do not know where he is hiding.”

The Primordial Celestial Venerable said calmly, "This child is close to attaining enlightenment; even sages cannot deduce his whereabouts. However, within the Three Realms, the only place that can obscure the sages' divination is the Pangu Palace in the Netherworld. He might be there." Upon hearing this, Guang Chengzi's heart stirred, and he asked, "May I ask, Master, are we perhaps destined to find this person? If he is hiding in the Pangu Palace, are we perhaps to attack the Underworld? Perhaps we can reclaim it in one fell swoop!"

Yuanshi Tianzun waved his hand: "There is no need for that. You should all prepare yourselves. When my elder brother orders the Five Emperors of Huoyun Cave to return and attack Shang, this boy has a deep connection with Shang. He will surely show himself when Shang is in trouble. At that time, Fellow Daoist Zhunti will take action to kill this boy and settle the karma of Subhuti from back then."

Guang Chengzi's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "Master, can we join forces with the Western Sect to attack Chaoge and rebuild the order of the human race?"

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded: "Agreed. The human race's order does indeed need to be reorganized. Taking advantage of the war against Shang, we can both bring out Ziyu and reshape the human race, which is a win-win situation."

Master Yu Ding stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, “Master, Yang Jian, Nezha, and other younger disciples have already achieved some success in their studies. They can take this opportunity to gain experience and make contributions to the Chan Sect.”

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Yang Jian, Nezha, and the others, seeing their heroic spirit and the fighting spirit gleaming in their eyes, and nodded in satisfaction: "Excellent. The younger generation of disciples should undergo more trials before they can shoulder great responsibilities. They will be the commanders-in-chief in this campaign against Shang."

"I will obey my master's orders!"

Yang Jian, Nezha, and the others responded in unison, their eyes filled with excitement.

Yuanshi Tianzun then discussed the specific details of the campaign against Shang with everyone before letting them disperse and prepare.

Inside the Jade Void Palace, only the Primordial Celestial Venerable remained. He gazed at the vast landscape of Kunlun Mountain outside the window and said, "Ziyu, your tribulation to attain the Dao is not so easy. How could you possibly break the shackles of the Heavenly Dao? It is nothing more than throwing an egg against a rock. I never expected that the Heavenly Dao would send down its source for this, which is also an opportunity for the rise of the Chan Sect!"

At Leiyin Temple on Mount Sumeru, the Buddha's light shines in myriad rays, and the sound of chanting fills the air.

The two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, arrived on lotuses, their bodies radiating Buddhist light, enveloping the entire Mount Sumeru in a peaceful atmosphere.

The Buddha Tathagata, Maitreya Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, and other followers were already waiting outside the temple. Upon seeing the two saints arrive, they all bowed and said, "Welcome, saints! May you live a long and prosperous life!"

Sage Zhunti swept his gaze across the crowd and said, "The West has been silent for a long time. Now that the Primordial Source has descended into the world and the Sage has returned to his position, it is time for the West to rise. Maitreya, soon the Chan Sect will raise an army to attack Chaoge. You will lead the Western followers to go with the Chan Sect."

Maitreya Buddha, holding a purple-gold alms bowl, bowed and replied, "Disciple will obey Master's command!"

Guanyin Gu Fou, holding a vase, asked softly, "Sage, Ziyu's whereabouts are unknown. What should we do?"

A cold glint appeared on Zhunti's face: "This person's whereabouts are currently shrouded in mystery, and even a sage cannot deduce his location. However, he has a deep connection with the Great Shang Dynasty. As long as the Chan Sect attacks Chaoge, he will surely appear. This boy killed my good corpse during the Journey to the West, which is a grave karmic debt. Once this boy appears, I will personally kill him. You only need to support the Chan Sect and restore order to the human race."

"Follow the Saint's command!"

The ancient Buddha Tathagata, Maitreya Buddha, and others responded in unison.

Meanwhile, the Eight Views Palace of Shouyang Mountain was shrouded in purple mist and ethereal atmosphere.

Lao Tzu arrived riding a green ox, and Grand Master Xuandu was already waiting in front of the palace.

Laozi entered the palace and said to Xuandu, "Xuandu, you have now severed the three corpses and are not far from the unification of the three corpses. This is Ziyu's tribulation for proving the Dao. You should observe it carefully, and perhaps you can gain some enlightenment."

Grand Master Xuandu bowed and asked, "Master, now that sages are descending upon the world, are we still unable to eliminate Ziyu?"

Lao Tzu shook his head and slowly said, "It's difficult. Even if the sages regard him as an ant, how can something that couldn't be accomplished during the Investiture of the Gods be easily achieved now? This boy has risen from humble beginnings to his current position, and he is by no means an easy opponent. To kill him is no easy task. This time, Ziyu's tribulation of attaining enlightenment will inevitably be fraught with many twists and turns."

Grand Master Xuandu exclaimed in surprise, "Master, could it be that Ziyu can really succeed in attaining enlightenment?"

Lao Tzu, with profound eyes gazing into the distance, slowly said, "It is not necessarily impossible, and this is not necessarily a bad thing."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lao Tzu closed his eyes, as if he were deep in thought.

Grand Master Xuandu stood aside, his heart filled with doubt, but he dared not ask any more questions, and silently pondered his master's words.

"We sages are not free to act as we please. If one of us breaks free from these shackles, it might change the Three Realms. It may not be a bad thing. However, regardless of the circumstances, this is the tribulation for this child's path to enlightenment. Xuandu, just follow the Chan Sect to besiege him!"

Laozi did not harbor the same intense malice towards Yin Ziyu as other sages. This stemmed from his own Dao; he valued not so much the annihilation of Yin Ziyu.

To attain enlightenment is like nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion requires pressure, and without pressure, it cannot be achieved. Sages are one of the sources of pressure. Therefore, if Ziyu has no way to deal with this siege, he will surely be killed. The way to deal with it is to attain enlightenment.

Xuandu asked, "Master, who should lead the campaign against Shang? There is currently no one among the human race capable of undertaking this great task?"

Laozi closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then suddenly opened them. A dark yellow decree flew out from his fingertip, piercing the sky and heading straight for the Fire Cloud Cave.

Wherever the imperial edict passed, the purple aura of heaven and earth gathered, forming a winding purple dragon that protected the edict as it moved forward.

"Imperial Decree: Release the seal on the Fire Cloud Cave, and let the Three Sovereigns, Five Emperors, and all previous human emperors descend to earth immediately!"

An aged and majestic voice resounded above the Fire Cloud Cave, causing the light curtain that had been sealed for countless years to ripple instantly, before shattering like glass.

Inside the cave, the souls of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and the emperors of all dynasties had already sensed the changes in the outside world. At this moment, the seal was broken, and their bodies burst forth with brilliant golden light, their imperial aura soaring into the sky.

In an instant, the Yellow Emperor, Shennong, holding the Shennong Cauldron, and Fuxi, wearing the Eight Trigrams Diagram, were the first to emerge from the Fire Cloud Cave.

Following him were the Five Emperors: Zhuanxu, Diku, Yao, and Shun, and then the successive emperors such as Cheng Tang.

Their figures gradually solidified in the golden light, and with each step they took, the earth trembled slightly, and the aura of the human emperor spread outwards like a tide.

First, Xuanyuan and the Five Emperors headed straight for Kunlun Mountain, while Shennong headed straight for Shouyang Mountain.

At the same time, in the ancestral temple of Chaoge City, a golden light shot into the sky, echoing the aura of the human emperor in the direction of Huoyun Cave.

Cheng Tang's figure slowly emerged in front of the offering table in the ancestral temple, while the memorial tablets behind him lit up one after another, and the figures of the emperors of past dynasties appeared one after another, connected with the aura of the emperors coming from Huoyun Cave.

"Our ancestors have returned; our great Shang Dynasty shall surely prosper!"

Di Xin stood outside Chaoge City, feeling the immense aura of the human emperor, and his voice trembled with excitement.

"Welcome back to the great Shang emperors of all time!"

The aura of the Human Emperor gathered in the sky above Chaoge City, forming a huge auspicious cloud. Above the cloud, the figures of the Human Emperors of past dynasties appeared and disappeared.

The entire city of Chaoge was enveloped by this heavy aura of the Emperor. Laozi stood atop Shouyang Mountain, gazing at the aura of the Emperor in the direction of Chaoge, a sigh flashing in his eyes.

"Now that all the emperors of the past dynasties of Cheng Tang have arrived, they are all the foundation for Ziyu. If Chaoge is surrounded, how can Ziyu not come out? If he does come out, he will face the sage. The only way to break the deadlock is to prove the Dao. However, breaking the shackles of the Heavenly Dao is not so easy. I am curious how Ziyu will deal with this situation!"

(End of this chapter)