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

Jin'ao Island.

Purple clouds swirled, and golden light shone like the sea.

The streaks of light fell one after another onto the island.

Duobao was the first to land, standing in front of Biyou Palace.

Kong Xuan landed second, his five-colored divine light shimmering.

The golden-winged roc folded its wings and transformed into human form.

Wudang, Guiling, and Jinling landed side by side.

The Three Immortals and Zhao Gongming followed closely behind.

Behind him, the immortals of the Jie Sect descended one after another, forming a dark mass in front of the palace.

The energy gathered into a sea, reflecting the golden light of fortune above Jin'ao Island.

A moment later, another streak of light fell.

Jiang Ziya stood behind the crowd.

He held the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip in his hands, his expression calm and his gaze serene.

Duobao turned around and looked at him.

"Jiang Ziya, the Vice Master is waiting for you at Lingyun Peak."

Jiang Ziya nodded.

"Thank you, senior brother."

He stepped forward, passing through the dark mass of Jie Sect immortals.

He walked each step with a steady hand.

Every step I take is firm and steady.

Every step was taken with confidence and ease.

He walked through the crowd, past all those gazes, and headed towards Lingyun Peak.

Duobao stared at the gray-white figure and remained silent for a moment.

He then turned around and faced the immortals.

"Fellow junior brothers and sisters."

"The vice-leader and Jiang Ziya have something to discuss."

"We will wait here."

Everyone nodded and sat cross-legged in front of Biyou Palace.

The purple clouds surged, and the golden light was like a sea.

It softened their tired faces.

Lingyun Peak.

Inside the cave, purple clouds swirled and the ground was covered with green jade.

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 Purple Mansion, sensing the countless auras returning from the direction of Sishui Pass.

I sensed each and every one of those familiar figures.

All the immortals of the Jie Sect returned.

Not a single one was damaged.

None of them made the list.

Not one perished.

A slow smile crept onto Xuan Du's lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of relief and ease.

"Buzz".

The void rippled slightly.

A greyish-white figure slowly emerged from the ripples.

Jiang Ziya landed in the cave, holding the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip in his hands.

He knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Disciple Jiang Ziya greets the Vice Master."

The sound shook the cave, and purple clouds surged.

Xuan Du looked at him, and nodded slightly at that calm yet weary face.

Get up.

Jiang Ziya got up and stood in the cave.

His hands still held the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip, never putting them down.

"Vice Leader."

"This disciple has taken proper care of the matter in Xiqi."

"Ji Fa committed suicide, and the entire army of Xiqi surrendered."

"The true spirits of disciples from the Chan Sect, the Human Sect, and the Western Sect have all been included in the Investiture of the Gods."

"The true spirits of the five Heavenly Saints are also on the list."

"This disciple requests the Vice Master's decision."

"What should be done with this Investiture of the Gods?"

Upon hearing this, Xuandu smiled slightly, and with a wave of his hand, the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip flew from Jiang Ziya's palm and hovered beside him.

The golden and purple light shone brightly, illuminating the entire Lingyun Cave.

Jiang Ziya was taken aback.

He gazed at the suspended Investiture of the Gods, at the countless rising and falling spirits on the list, and then at the figure in green robes, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

"Vice Master, you intend to give the Investiture of the Gods... to Haotian?"

Xuan Du nodded.

"Naturally, this Investiture of the Gods was initiated because the Heavenly Court was short of manpower."

"The reason why the Dao Ancestor Hongjun set up this calamity is to gather 365 righteous gods, 2,000 deputy gods, and 84,000 heavenly soldiers and generals for the Heavenly Court."

"Now that the calamity is over and the list is complete, it is natural to hand it over to Haotian."

"Let him have a headache."

Jiang Ziya remained silent.

He gazed at the Investiture of the Gods, at the true spirits of the five saints on the list, and for a moment he was at a loss for words.

Yuanshi, Laozi, Jieyin, Zhunti, Nuwa.

Five Heavenly Saints.

Although he has perished, his true spirit remains, the lingering aura of the saint remains, and the foundation accumulated by the billion-dollar association remains.

Haotian, a mere Quasi-Saint at the peak, dares to order them around?

Even if they only have their true spirit left, it is still the true spirit of saints.

Why would they listen to the orders of a quasi-saint?

"Vice Master, may I humbly offer my opinion?"

Jiang Ziya spoke, his voice deep and resonant.

"Although Haotian is the Jade Emperor and the nominal ruler of the Three Realms, he is only a Quasi-Saint."

"How could the true spirits of the five Heavenly Saints listed on the Investiture of the Gods obey his commands?"

Even those disciples from the Chan Sect and the Western Sect on the list might not be convinced by him.

"You've handed him this hot potato, can he... handle it?"

Xuan Du looked at him, his gaze calm.

Beneath that calm surface lies a profound understanding that sees through everything.

Whether he can handle it or not is his business.

Whether it's too hot to handle or not is his problem.

"The calamity of the Investiture of the Gods was caused by him. The Dao Ancestor Hongjun set up this calamity precisely to gather manpower for the Heavenly Court."

"Now that the list is full and everyone is present, it's only right that it be given to him."

"As for whether he can control those people or command those true spirits..."

He paused, and the smile on his lips deepened.

"That's his skill."

"If he can't control it, then he's incompetent."

"If he cannot be ordered to do something, then he is without virtue."

"It has nothing to do with anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya felt a slight tremor in his heart.

He gazed at Xuan Du, at that young yet composed face, at those calm yet profound eyes.

Suddenly, he understood.

The vice leader did not intend to hand over the Investiture of the Gods to Haotian so that he could strengthen the Heavenly Court.

The idea is to throw this hot potato at him and let him have a headache.

Are the true spirits of the five Heavenly Saints so easy to manage?

Are the true spirits of those disciples of Chanjiao, Renjiao, and Xifangjiao so easy to suppress?

If Haotian can catch it, that will be a testament to his skill.

If he can't handle it, it's his incompetence, and it has nothing to do with the Jie Sect or Xuandu.

"The vice-leader is brilliant."

Jiang Ziya bowed slightly, his voice carrying a hint of sincere admiration.

Xuandu waved his hand.

"It's not exactly brilliant."

"It's just going with the flow."

"The Investiture of the Gods is a supreme treasure of Heaven; it cannot be destroyed, nor can it be kept."

"If we stay in the Jie Sect, it will be a hot potato."

"The only one who can take over is the Heavenly Court."

"That is Haotian."

"He is both the Jade Emperor and a beneficiary of the Investiture of the Gods."

"If not him, who should get this list?"

Jiang Ziya nodded and said nothing more.

He simply stood in the cave, gazing at the suspended Investiture of the Gods, and at the true spirits floating on the list.

A surge of emotions welled up within me, emotions I had never felt before when spending tens of thousands of yuan.

The calamity of the Investiture of the Gods arose because the Heavenly Court lacked capable people.

They acted according to the predetermined fate set by Hongjun.

The Jie Sect was engulfed in calamity.

Ultimately, however, it was all reversed by the Vice Master of Xuandu.

Those on the list are no longer the myriad immortals of the Jie Sect.

Instead, they were disciples of the Chan Sect, the Human Sect, and the Western Sect, and even included the five Heavenly Saints.

This is nothing short of a complete comeback.

Jiang Ziya took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

"Vice Leader."

He spoke, his voice low and deep.

"When will this Investiture of the Gods be handed over to Haotian?"

"How should this disciple be dealt with?"

Xuandu looked at him and thought for a moment.

"There's no rush yet."

"I will have Haotian come to Jin'ao Island to retrieve it himself later."

Jiang Ziya was taken aback upon hearing this, and then his expression changed slightly.

"Vice Master, you're sending Haotian to Jin'ao Island to retrieve it? A quasi-saint like him, coming to the Jie Sect to take the Investiture of the Gods?"

Will he come?

Xuan Du smiled slightly.

"meeting."

"Because he had no choice."

"The Investiture of the Gods is a supreme treasure of Heaven. The true spirits on the list are not subject to reincarnation and cannot transcend."

"The Heavenly Court is so short-handed that it can hardly maintain even basic operations."

"Haotian has been waiting for the Investiture of the Gods for billions of years."

"The list is now full, and everyone is here."

"So he had no choice but to come."

Jiang Ziya fell silent upon hearing this.

He gazed at Xuandu, at that calm and resolute face.

He knew in his heart that the vice-leader had already calculated everything.

Haotian had no choice.

Even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, he'll still come.

Even if it's a trap, he'll still go.