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

Kunlun Mountain Yuxu Palace

The ground is paved with gold bricks, and jade pillars reach for the sky.

Yuanshi sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, with the Jade Purity Immortal Light surging like a tide.

Below, the twelve Golden Immortals sat cross-legged.

Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Yunzhongzi, Taiyi Zhenren, Yuding Zhenren...

All twelve were quasi-saints.

At this moment, he is looking up at his master.

There was expectation and unease in those eyes.

Yuan Shi looked at them and remained silent for a moment.

Then, he slowly began to speak:

"The Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip have been handed over to me by the Dao Ancestor."

As soon as the voice fell, the Jade Void Palace fell silent.

The pupils of the Twelve Golden Immortals are shrunken.

Conferred God list.

The God-Slaying Whip.

Did the Dao Ancestor entrust these two supreme treasures to his master?

Doesn't that mean...?

Was the Chan Sect the mastermind behind the Investiture of the Gods?

As Yuanshi gazed at the astonished faces, a slow smile crept onto his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a hint of barely suppressed smugness.

"From this day forward, the calamity of the Investiture of the Gods will be under the control of my Chan Sect."

"Those whose names are on the list will die and their spirits will be recorded on the list."

Even saints are no exception.

The sound fell like an ancient, frozen ice.

The Twelve Golden Immortals shuddered.

Guang Chengzi spoke, his voice hoarse:

"Master, that Jie Sect..."

Yuanshi raised his hand, interrupting him.

"No matter how prosperous the Jie Sect's fortune may be, it cannot surpass the predetermined fate of Heaven."

"No matter how many saints the Jie Sect has, they can't surpass the names on the Investiture of the Gods."

"No matter how strong Xuandu is, he can't be stronger than the Dao Ancestor."

"The Intercepting Sect is the one destined to face the calamity of the Investiture of the Gods."

"They can't escape."

The unease in the hearts of the Twelve Golden Immortals gradually dissipated.

Master is right.

No matter how powerful the Jie Sect is, it cannot defy the predetermined fate of Heaven.

No matter how powerful Xuandu is, he can't outdo the Dao Ancestor.

The Intercepting Sect was the one destined to face the tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods.

They cannot escape.

Side Hall of Jade Void Palace

Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged, his aura faint.

Jinxian.

His cultivation level is not high, his foundation is not strong, and his aptitude is mediocre.

But those eyes were as clear as water.

He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the depths of his dantian.

Sensing the Way of Heaven and comprehending its laws.

Day after day, year after year.

Never stopping, never slacking off.

suddenly.

He opened his eyes.

A glint of light flashed deep within those clear eyes.

I sensed it.

The master's aura is returning from the direction of Zixiao Palace.

Moreover, there were two more items within that aura.

Extremely strong, extremely prosperous, extremely vast.

Conferred God list.

The God-Slaying Whip.

Jiang Ziya felt a chill run down his spine.

The tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods is about to begin.

Another side hall

Shen Gongbao sat cross-legged, his aura surging.

Taiyi Golden Immortal.

He is exceptionally intelligent and has extraordinary potential.

But those eyes flickered uncertainly.

He was also sensing it.

I sensed the aura of my master's return.

Sensing the oppressive power of the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

That smile was cold, like ancient ice.

"The Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods..."

He murmured softly:

"It's finally going to open."

Jade Void Palace

Yuanshi sat upright on his cloud bed, looking down with his eyes lowered.

The Twelve Golden Immortals stood on either side.

Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao knelt in the hall.

Both of them were destined to be flying bears.

Both of them were destined for disaster.

Both of them will play crucial roles in the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods.

Yuanshi looked at Jiang Ziya, at that calm yet ordinary face.

"Ziya".

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

Jiang Ziya kowtowed:

"Disciple is here."

The Primordial Way:

"Go down the mountain and join Xiqi to assist a wise ruler."

"When the time is right, I will bestow divine titles on behalf of Heaven and wield the God-Slaying Whip."

Jiang Ziya was startled.

Conferring titles of gods on behalf of Heaven?

Wielding the God-Slaying Whip?

he?

A Golden Immortal?

A mediocre disciple of the Chan Sect?

"Master, your disciple..."

Jiang Ziya spoke, his voice hoarse.

Yuanshi raised his hand, interrupting him.

"This is destiny."

"You are born with the destiny of a flying bear, destined to face calamity."

"There is no way to refuse, and no way to escape."

"Go."

The sound fell, like a decree from heaven and earth.

Jiang Ziya remained silent.

He knelt in the hall, looking down at the bluestone floor.

a long time.

He slowly kowtowed:

"Disciple... obeys."

As the words fell, a sense of relief washed over him.

Yuanshi nodded and turned to Shen Gongbao.

The smile on that sinister face deepened.

"Male leopard."

Shen Gongbao kowtows:

"Disciple is here."

The Primordial Way:

"Go to Chaoge, join King Zhou, and help the Shang dynasty destroy the Zhou dynasty."

"When the time is right, I will travel far and wide to persuade the immortals to join me."

"Let all the immortals of the Jie Sect be listed."

Shen Gongbao looked up, his sparkling eyes filled with excitement.

"Your disciple obeys!"

The sound shook the palace, and the celestial light of Jade Purity surged like a tide.

Yuan Shi looked at the two men, at their two completely different faces.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

Jiang Ziya assisted the Zhou dynasty, while Shen Gongbao aided the Zhou king.

One positive, one negative; one bright, one dark.

This was the arrangement of the Dao Ancestor.

This is how the Investiture of the Gods progressed.

This is the predicament that the Jie Sect is facing.

"Go."

After those two words, nothing more was said.

Jiang Ziya stood up, turned around, and strode out of the Jade Void Palace.

Those steps were steady and deliberate.

That figure, so lonely.

Shen Gongbao stood up, turned around, and stepped out of Yuxu Palace.

The steps were light and quick.

That figure from behind was sinister.

The two of them headed in different directions.

Heading towards different fates.

Towards that unchangeable ending.

They sped away.

Lingyun Peak, Jin'ao Island

Deep within the cave, purple clouds swirled.

Xuandu sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, his green robes hanging down and his black hair flowing over his shoulders.

He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the depths of his dantian.

The three bodies each have their own duties.

One body was placed in Chaoge to prevent the emperor from causing trouble.

One body was located outside Jin'ao Island, protecting the Jie Sect.

One body is firmly established within the Chaos Pearl.

Business as usual.

suddenly.

He opened his eyes.

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

I sensed it.

From the direction of Kunlun Mountain, two streams of energy were rushing out from Yuxu Palace.

One is steady, the other is light and agile.

One road leads to Xiqi, the other to Chaoge.

Golden Immortal, Taiyi Golden Immortal.

His cultivation level is not high, and his foundation is not solid.

But that aura was incredibly strong.

The fate of the flying bear.

Jiang Ziya, Shen Gongbao.

A slow smile crept onto Xuan Du's lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a profound understanding that saw through everything.

"The Investiture of the Gods is about to begin."

He spoke in a low voice, which drifted through the cave.

"Yuanshi, you've finally made your move."

朝歌

Emperor Xin sat upright on the dragon throne, his imperial robes draped down, his crown majestic.

He gazed at the kneeling officials below, and at the empty hall.

His eyes were deep and his expression was calm.

Since assuming the throne, he has worked tirelessly day and night, never daring to slack off.

He repaired palaces, strengthened the military, established laws, and ensured the well-being of the people.

However, discontent still exists within the court.

The feudal lords still harbored rebellious intentions.

The borders are still plagued by foreign invasions.

He is tired.

I'm tired too.

"His Majesty."

A voice came from outside the hall.

Di Xin raised his eyes:

"Enter."

A figure strode into the hall and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, a Taoist priest is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"He claimed to be Shen Gongbao, a disciple of the Chan Sect."

Di Xin's eyes flickered slightly.

Chanjiao?

A disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun?

What are you doing in Chaoge?

"Let him in."

A moment later.

A figure stepped into the hall.

He wore a dark blue-green robe, had a sinister face, and his eyes gleamed.

Shen Gongbao knelt on the ground and kowtowed:

"This humble Taoist priest, Shen Gongbao, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Di Xin looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

"What brings you to Chaoge?"

Shen Gongbao looked up, a slow smile creeping onto his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a profound understanding of the ways of the world.

"I have come to assist Your Majesty."

"To assist Your Majesty in establishing the empire, securing the nation, pacifying the feudal lords, and calming the four directions."