Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

Biyou Palace on Jin'ao Island

Purple clouds swirl around, and green jade carpets the ground.

Tongtian sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, his sword intent flowing like water around him.

Those eyes were slightly closed, but beneath that closed gaze, the light of a sword could be faintly seen.

He has been practicing cultivation ever since the awakening of humanity.

Stabilize your realm, comprehend the way of the sword, and await the attainment of godhood.

It will take another thousand years for the Five Emperors to return to their rightful places.

A thousand years is neither a long nor a short time.

That's enough for him to do many things.

This was enough for him to further develop the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation.

That's enough for him to hone his sword intent to its fullest potential.

This is enough for him to become stronger before the Investiture of the Gods begins.

Tongtian opened his eyes.

A flash of sword light appeared in those eyes.

He sensed it.

The merits of the Five Emperors were accumulating.

Shaohao was in the East, where he taught and enlightened the people, created the calendar, and established the solar terms.

Emperor Zhuanxu was in the north, where he quelled the rebellion of the Jiuli and established the northern borders.

Emperor Ku was in the west, where he taught the people to cultivate the land, promoted rites and music, and cured all diseases.

When Yao was in the south, he controlled the floods, brought peace to the people, and established order in the nine provinces.

When Shun was in the central government, he influenced his family with filial piety, won over the people with virtue, and governed the people with benevolence.

The five paths of merit are like five long rivers, converging from the five directions of the primordial world.

It flows into the sea of ​​human destiny and fortune, into that slumbering state of being.

When the merits are fulfilled, the Five Emperors will return to their rightful place.

At that time, the three saints of humanity will descend to their positions.

First come, first served; no one will be waited for.

Tongtian's lips slowly curled into a smile.

The smile was faint, yet it carried an undisguised sense of satisfaction.

That kid Xuandu set up a scheme involving tens of thousands of yuan.

Now, the time for harvest has finally arrived.

Just now.

Tongtian shuddered.

The sword light in those eyes suddenly froze.

He sensed it.

A voice came from the heavens above.

Passing through the purple clouds, passing through the void, passing through the barrier of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation.

It fell straight into his ears.

The voice was ancient, indifferent, and devoid of sorrow or joy.

It carries an aura of authority that has remained unchanged despite the billions of dollars involved.

"Tongtian, come to Zixiao Palace for a meeting."

Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor.

Tongtian's pupils shrank slightly.

A meeting?

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun wants to discuss matters with him?

His mind raced, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Since the awakening of humanity, Hongjun Daozu has been lying dormant in Zixiao Palace.

They never appeared, never spoke, and never made any move.

It was as if they had given up.

It's as if they've accepted the reality of the balance between Heaven, Earth, and Man.

It was as if that gray figure was no longer the sole ruler of the primordial world.

It can reach the heavens and know.

Hongjun will not admit defeat.

That old Taoist priest had lived for countless years, and his scheming was far beyond that of ordinary people.

He retreated not because he couldn't win, but because it wasn't worth it.

His lying low was not an admission of defeat, but a sign of waiting.

Wait for the Investiture of the Gods to begin, wait for the destiny of Heaven to descend, wait for that chance to strike and kill.

Now, he has sent a telepathic message.

He wanted to go to Zixiao Palace to discuss matters himself.

What are you discussing?

Tongtian frowned deeply.

He didn't believe that Hongjun would negotiate peace with him.

He didn't believe that Hongjun would discuss anything good with him.

After all, he and the Jie Sect are now thorns in the side of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

I wish I could pull it out as soon as possible.

"Meeting?"

Tongtian spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of coldness.

"It seems they're about to sign the Investiture of the Gods list."

As the four words fell, Biyou Palace fell silent.

The purple haze that lingered between the palaces seemed to freeze for a moment.

Conferred God list.

The three religions signed and pledged.

The destiny is determined.

Those who make the list are deified and made to serve the Heavenly Court.

Those who make the list must die and their spirit be listed.

From now on, there will be no more freedom, no more transcendence, and no more Great Way.

They could only be confined to the Heavenly Court and driven by the Jade Emperor.

A billion-dollar party, yet no escape.

This was the calamity that Hongjun set up for the Jie Sect.

This is the gray-clad figure, the mastermind behind a scheme involving billions of dollars.

Tongtian's gaze grew cold.

He knew this day would come sooner or later.

I just didn't expect it to come so quickly.

The Five Emperors have not yet returned to their positions, and the three venerable saints of humanity have not yet attained their positions.

Although the Jie Sect is experiencing a period of great fortune, it has not yet reached its peak.

If the Investiture of the Gods were signed now, the Jie Sect would suffer a great loss.

But can he not go?

No.

Hongjun is the Dao Ancestor and the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao.

He communicated the matter telepathically, implying that if he did not go, he would be disobeying the imperial decree.

That would be to go against the will of Heaven.

This gave Hongjun an excuse to take action.

Tongtian rose.

He stood with his hands behind his back before the cloud bed, his green robes hanging down, his sword intent flowing.

He raised his eyes and looked towards the outside of the palace gate.

Looking up at the heavens above.

I looked toward the gray figure hidden behind the purple aura.

His gaze was as cold as frost.

"Hongjun, you certainly know how to pick your timing."

He spoke in a low voice, as cold as ice.

Before the Five Emperors returned and the titles were bestowed, the Investiture of the Gods had to be signed.

That was a brilliant move.

It was so wonderful that one had to go.

It was so wonderful that the Jie Sect had no choice but to respond.

The ingenious layout of Xuandu had to be disrupted.

But so what?

Even the signing of the Investiture of the Gods was merely a matter of finalizing the list.

To truly be included on the list, we must wait until the Investiture of the Gods begins.

We still need to wait for the Five Emperors to return to their positions.

We still need to wait for those three saints of humanity to attain their positions.

There is still time.

There's still a chance.

There are still variables.

Tongtian took a deep breath, suppressing the chill surging in his heart.

He raised his hand.

A beam of sword light surged from his palm, transforming into a fine ripple that pierced through the void and fell straight toward Lingyun Peak.

It landed on the figure in green robes sitting cross-legged.

"Xuan Du, come to Biyou Palace."

The five words fell like the sound of a morning bell and an evening drum.

Lingyun Peak.

Deep within the cave, Xuandu sat cross-legged.

He opened his eyes.

A faint glimmer of light flashed deep within those eyes, which were as calm as an ancient well.

His master was calling him.

And the tone was inappropriate.

It wasn't the usual casualness, nor the usual indifference.

It is solemn.

It's repression.

It was a heavy, impending storm.

Xuan Du stood up and stood with his hands behind his back in the cave.

Her green robe fluttered slightly, and her black hair cascaded over her shoulders.

He took a step forward.

The void rippled silently.

next second.

Inside Biyou Palace, the void distorted slightly.

The figure in green slowly materialized.

Xuandu landed on the cloud bed and looked up at Tongtian.

"Master."

Tongtian looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

Then, he slowly began to speak:

"The Dao Ancestor Hongjun transmitted his voice, instructing his master to go to Zixiao Palace for a meeting."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Du's gaze narrowed slightly.

Deliberation.

At this time?

The Five Emperors have not yet returned, the titles have not yet been bestowed, and the Investiture of the Gods has not yet begun.

What does Hongjun want to discuss?

His mind raced, and in a moment he understood the key.

"Investiture of the Gods".

The three words fell with a resounding clang, like metal striking stone.

Tongtian nodded.

"That's what I think too."

"Aside from the Investiture of the Gods, Hongjun wouldn't seek out his master at this time."

"Aside from the Investiture of the Gods, there's nothing else worth him personally sending a message to."

"Besides the Investiture of the Gods, there's nothing else that would force me to go."

Xuandu remained silent.

He stood beneath the cloud bed, his brows slightly furrowed.

The Investiture of the Gods was signed by the three religions.

This is the predetermined course of Heaven, and it cannot be changed.

Even Xuan Du himself could not reverse it.

Because the Investiture of the Gods was based on the Jade Tablet of Creation by Hongjun Daozu, guided by the origin of the Heavenly Dao, and centered on the fortunes of the three religions.

It took hundreds of millions of dollars to forge this supreme treasure.

Those whose names are on the list, even saints, cannot erase them.

Even the Great Primordial Immortal could not save him.

Even if one dies and one's spirit dissipates, one's true spirit will still be listed on the list.

From then on, there was no more freedom.

This is the Investiture of the Gods.

This was the calamity that Hongjun set up for the Jie Sect.