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

Laozi's face turned deathly pale.

He gazed at Tongtian, at that gaunt yet mad face.

A chilling coldness surged through my heart.

Tongtian has gone mad.

Tongtian has gambled himself away too.

He not only wanted to put the disciples of the Jie Sect on the list, but also the disciples of the Chan Sect, the disciples of the Ren Sect, and the disciples of the Western Sect.

They even want to include these saints on the list.

Is this Tongtian's counterattack?

Is this the trump card of the Jie Sect?

Lao Tzu took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions in his heart.

He turned his head and looked at Hongjun.

The gray figure stood with his hands behind his back in the chaos, expressionless.

What seemed like an astonishing statement was nothing more than a gentle breeze.

Lao Tzu spoke, his voice hoarse: "Dao Ancestor, what do you think of Tongtian's words?"

Hongjun did not look at him.

He simply gazed at the towering peaks.

A faint glimmer of light flashed in the depths of those eyes that had been indifferent for countless years.

The light was very faint.

So faint as to be almost imperceptible.

But if someone is nearby, they will definitely be able to see it.

That is... appreciation.

It is an appreciation that is suppressed to the extreme.

"Reaching the Heavens".

Hongjun spoke, his voice calm:

"You want a saint on the list?"

Tongtian nodded.

"want."

"Since this is a great eon, it should be fair."

"Since it is a predetermined fate, it should be treated equally."

"The lives of disciples are lives, and the lives of sages are also lives."

"If the disciples are on the list, then the sages should be on the list too."

"Otherwise, the Investiture of the Gods would be nothing more than a tool for the strong to oppress the weak."

"This so-called destiny of Heaven is nothing more than an excuse for sages to manipulate ants."

"Disciple is not convinced."

The two words fell like a thunderclap.

Lao Tzu was jolted.

Yuan Shi's face turned ashen.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Nuwa lowered her head, her hands clenched so tightly they made a cracking sound.

Hongjun gazed at Tongtian and remained silent for a long time.

"What do you want?"

Tongtian raised his eyes, uttering each word slowly and deliberately:

"The three religions signed their seals, and the Investiture of the Gods was issued."

"Those who make the list are not distinguished as saints, quasi-saints, or golden immortals."

"Only consider cause and effect, only consider luck, only consider destiny."

"Whoever deserves to be on the list, will be on the list."

"If a sage is to be listed, then a sage will be listed."

"This disciple deserves to be on the list, this disciple deserves to be on the list."

"Fairness, impartiality, and equal treatment for all."

"Only then will this disciple sign."

As soon as the words fell, a solemn silence fell over the Purple Cloud Palace.

Lao Tzu closed his eyes and said no more.

Yuanshi gritted his teeth, and the Jade Purity Immortal Light flickered uncertainly.

As the Buddha chanted the name of Jieyin in a low voice, Zhunti's face turned deathly pale.

Nuwa raised her head and looked towards Tongtian.

In those eyes, there was hatred, fear, and even a hint of despair that was hard to describe...

Reaching the heavens.

That was a ruthless move of yours.

You've gambled yourself on it.

They gambled away the Jie Sect.

They gambled away the Chan sect.

They gambled away the education of human beings.

They gambled on Western religions.

Everyone's staked out.

If the Dao Ancestor agrees, even sages will be included on the list.

How many of us are likely to survive?

How many are left?

Nuwa dared not even imagine it.

She simply stared at the gray figure.

Gazing at that supreme being who holds sway over the Heavenly Dao.

and so on.

Waiting for his reply.

Hongjun stood amidst the chaos, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

He gazed at the towering peaks.

Looking at that thin yet stubborn face.

Gazing into those eyes, where the sword light flowed yet remained steadfast.

silence.

a long time.

He spoke slowly:

"It is not impossible for a sage to be included on the list."

"It is only because the true spirit of a sage is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao that even if he dies and his Dao dissipates, he can be resurrected."

"Whether or not you make the list is not very meaningful."

Upon hearing this, Tongtian's cold smile deepened.

"The Daoist Ancestor is mistaken."

"The true spirit of a sage is entrusted to the Way of Heaven; even if he dies and his spirit dissipates, he can be resurrected."

"But what happens after you're resurrected?"

"Is your cultivation still there? Is your foundation still there? Is your path to enlightenment still there?"

"Senior Brother Nuwa is a cautionary tale."

"She has been resurrected, but her cultivation has been greatly damaged and her foundation has been shaken."

"If it weren't for the Dao Ancestor's assistance with the origin of the Heavenly Dao, she would still be a Quasi-Saint."

"This is the price for being listed as a sage."

"Even if one dies and one's cultivation is extinguished, even if one's cultivation level plummets, even if one spends hundreds of millions of dollars on arduous cultivation, it will all vanish in an instant."

"Did the Daoist patriarch say it's not very meaningful?"

"This disciple cannot agree."

As soon as the words fell, Nuwa's face turned deathly pale.

She gazed at Tongtian, her eyes brimming with hatred.

But beneath that hatred lay even greater fear.

Tongtian is right.

She came back to life.

But she lost too much.

His sacred foundation was damaged, his cultivation level plummeted, and less than one-tenth of the essence accumulated by the billion-dollar club remained.

If it weren't for the Dao Ancestor's assistance with the origin of the Heavenly Dao, she would still be a Quasi-Saint.

This is the price for being listed as a sage.

That is, death and the annihilation of one's spiritual path.

His cultivation level plummeted.

Even if you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on arduous cultivation, it can all vanish in a single day.

If she makes the list again...

Nuwa dared not even imagine it.

Hongjun gazed at Tongtian in silence.

a long time.

He nodded slowly:

"you're right."

"The price for a saint to be on the list is not small."

"But if you want a sage to be on the list, you are going against the will of Heaven."

"They want to be my enemies."

"Tongtian, have you thought this through?"

Tongtian looked at him, his gaze calm as still water.

"This disciple has thought it through very clearly."

"The Investiture of the Gods was a calamity set up by the Dao Ancestor for the Jie Sect."

"This disciple acknowledges it."

"But what this disciple does not acknowledge is unjust."

"Why are only disciples of the Jie Sect on the list?"

"By what right can the Chan sect, the Ren sect, and the Western sect remain aloof?"

"Why should the saints stand high above, watching their disciples go to their deaths?"

"This is unfair."

"Disciple is not convinced."

"Therefore, disciples must strive."

"Fight for fairness."

"Strive for equal treatment for all."

"The Investiture of the Gods, where even a saint has to be listed."

After the sound faded, Zixiao Palace fell into a deathly silence.

Lao Tzu opened his eyes and gazed at the heavens.

Those once tranquil and indifferent eyes are now filled with complexity.

Yuanshi closed his eyes, and the Jade Purity Immortal Light flickered uncertainly.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both seeing the bitterness in each other's eyes.

Nuwa lowered her head and remained silent.

Hongjun gazed at Tongtian in silence.

a long time.

He spoke slowly:

"it is good."

"As you wish."

Even saints are on the list.

"Treat everyone equally and fairly."

The four characters fell like a decree from heaven and earth.

Lao Tzu was jolted.

Yuanshi suddenly opened his eyes.

Jieyin and Zhunti were deathly pale.

Nuwa looked up, her eyes filled with despair.

The Dao Ancestor... agreed?

Even saints are on the list?

This……

Yuanshi spoke, his voice hoarse: "Dao Ancestor!"

Hongjun raised his hand to interrupt him.

"No need to say anything more."

"Tongtian is right."

"Throughout the ages, each will rely on their own abilities."

Even sages are no exception.

"Even saints had to sign their names on the Investiture of the Gods."

"Whoever deserves to be on the list, will be on the list."

"No one can stand aside."

After the sound faded, Zixiao Palace fell into a deathly silence.

Lao Tzu slowly closed his eyes, and the ashen look on his withered face deepened.

Yuanshi gritted his teeth, and the Jade Purity Immortal Light surged like a tide, but he dared not speak again.

The guide chanted the Buddha's name in a low voice, his tone mournful.

Zhunti lowered his head, his hands trembling.

Nuwa collapsed to the ground, her face ashen.

Tongtian looked at the Five Saints, at their pale faces.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried an undisguised joy.

"Fellow senior and junior brothers."

"Since the Dao Ancestor has agreed, then let's sign the document."

Even saints are on the list.

"Treat everyone equally and fairly."

"Whoever deserves to be on the list, will be on the list."

"No one can stand aside."

The Purple Cloud Palace was deathly silent.

Lao Tzu closed his eyes and remained silent.

Yuan Shi's face turned ashen.

Jieyin and Zhunti lowered their heads and looked down.

Nuwa collapsed to the ground.

The five saints, none dared to sign.

Tongtian looked at them calmly.

"What? Weren't you just arguing so confidently?"

"Now that the Dao Ancestor has agreed, why are you all refusing to sign?"