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

Xuan Du nodded and raised his hand to put the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip into the Chaos Pearl.

The golden and purple light disappeared, leaving only surging purple clouds in the cave.

"You should go and rest."

"You've worked hard in this battle."

Jiang Ziya shook his head, his voice low and deep:

"I haven't worked hard; I've only done what I was supposed to do."

He then turned and stepped out of Lingyun Cave.

The greyish-white Taoist robe billowed in the purple glow, and the straight back receded into the distance in the golden light.

The cave returned to silence.

Xuandu stood alone before the cloud bed, gazing at the departing figure and the gradually closing void.

long silence.

Then a chaotic light surged from his palm, transforming into a fine ripple that pierced through the void and sped toward the heavens.

"Haotian, come to Jin'ao Island and retrieve your Investiture of the Gods."

The Lingxiao Palace.

Surrounded by clouds and mist, it was resplendent in gold.

Haotian sat upright on the dragon throne, his imperial robes flowing down, his crown majestic.

He closed his eyes, his mind sank into the depths of his Purple Mansion, comprehending the laws and consolidating his foundation.

suddenly.

He shuddered, and his closed eyes snapped open.

A sudden gleam shone brightly from the depths of his indifferent eyes.

A voice came from the heavens, piercing through the void and the many restrictions of the Lingxiao Palace, and fell directly into his ears.

"Haotian, come to Jin'ao Island."

"Take your Investiture of the Gods."

Haotian's pupils suddenly contracted.

The Investiture of the Gods? To retrieve the Investiture of the Gods?

Xuan Du's voice?

His mind raced with thoughts, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

He knew about the Investiture of the Gods.

The Heavenly Treasures refined by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun are the names of those whose souls are destroyed upon death and whose true spirits are added to the list, thus enabling them to serve the Heavenly Court.

On that list were five Heavenly Saints.

There are countless disciples of Chanjiao, Renjiao, and Xifangjiao.

The true spirits of those people are now all on the list.

If he obtains the Investiture of the Gods, it will be equivalent to controlling those true spirits.

Then they could command those saints and drive those golden immortals.

The Heavenly Court then possessed true fighting power, true authority, and true foundation.

Then he could escape the awkward situation of being a figurehead and become the true ruler of the three realms.

But on that list, there were also five Heavenly Saints.

Although those five have perished, their true spirits remain.

The arrogance of that saint remains, as does the lingering essence of his cultivation accumulated over millions of years.

How could Haotian, a mere Quasi-Saint at the peak, possibly command them?

If he obtains the Investiture of the Gods, will it be a blessing or a curse?

If he goes to Jin'ao Island, will he live or die?

But the crucial point is that he has no choice but to go.

The cause and effect began the moment he opened his mouth to complain to Dao Ancestor Hongjun that there was no one in Heaven who could be of use.

I had no choice!

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

He rose, stood with his hands behind his back before the dragon throne, his imperial robes draped over his shoulders, and his crown majestic.

I looked up and gazed out of the hall, towards the heavens below.

Looking towards the East China Sea, looking towards Jin'ao Island.

After a moment, he spoke.

"Jade Pool".

As soon as the voice faded, a figure stepped quickly into the hall, adorned in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes, with a beautiful and refined appearance.

Yaochi stood in the hall, bowing slightly.

"His Majesty."

Haotian looked at her, his resolute face now filled with determination.

"Send the order to prepare the carriage for Jin'ao Island."

Yaochi was taken aback.

"His Majesty?"

Are you going to Jin'ao Island?

Haotian nodded.

"The Vice Master of Xuandu has sent a message, ordering me to go to Jin'ao Island to retrieve the Investiture of the Gods."

"I cannot refuse to go."

Yaochi's expression changed slightly.

"Your Majesty, Jin'ao Island is the heartland of the Jie Sect. Although Vice Master Xuandu has returned with the immortals of the Jie Sect, it is still Jie Sect territory."

"Won't it be alright if you go alone...?"

Haotian raised his hand to interrupt her.

"Won't."

"If Xuandu wants to harm me, he doesn't need to send me to Jin'ao Island."

"He could take my life with just a single message."

"He sent me there so that I could retrieve the Investiture of the Gods in a dignified and honorable manner."

Yaochi remained silent, gazing at Haotian, at his resolute yet determined face.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

Yaochi bowed.

"Your Majesty, I will immediately issue the order."

Haotian nodded, then turned and stood with his hands behind his back in front of the dragon throne, looking up at the outside of the hall.

Looking towards the East China Sea, looking towards Jin'ao Island.

......

Outside Jin'ao Island.

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

A golden dragon-shaped carriage slowly descended from the sky, hovering a hundred feet off the island.

On the imperial carriage, a figure stood with his hands behind his back, his imperial robes hanging down and his crown majestic.

Haotian.

He gazed at the fairy island ahead, at the surging purple clouds, and at the soaring golden light.

Looking at the Chaos Bell suspended in the pivot of destiny, and at the innate Dao patterns flowing endlessly on the bell's body.

An indescribable emotion surged within me.

This is the Jie Sect.

This is the Jie Sect, where all the immortals come to pay homage.

This is the strongest force in the primordial world.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, and stepped out of the imperial carriage.

The void solidified beneath his feet, and he walked step by step toward Jin'ao Island.

A moment later, he landed in front of Jin'ao Island.

Before the island gate, a figure stood with his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttering, his long beard swaying, his face thin and his eyes deep.

Kong Xuan looked at Haotian and nodded slightly.

"The Jade Emperor has arrived."

Haotian bowed slightly.

"Fellow Daoist."

"I have come here to retrieve the Investiture of the Gods on the orders of the Vice Master of Xuandu."

Kong Xuan nodded.

"The Vice Leader is waiting for you at Lingyun Peak."

"Come with me."

He turned and walked deeper into Jin'ao Island.

Haotian followed closely behind.

Along the way, purple clouds swirled and golden light surged.

Countless caves are scattered like stars, and countless auras are as deep and vast as the sea.

There are dozens of Primordial Golden Immortals and countless Daluo Golden Immortals.

Those scents intertwined like a net, vast as the sea.

Haotian sensed those auras and felt an indescribable shock welling up in his heart.

This is the Jie Sect.

This is the Jie Sect, where all the immortals come to pay homage.

This is the Jie Sect, which even the Dao Ancestor Hongjun suffered a loss from.

A moment later, Lingyun Peak was in sight.

Kong Xuan stopped and turned to look at Haotian.

"Jade Emperor, the Vice Master is waiting for you in the cave."

"You may go in now."

Haotian nodded and took a deep breath.

He stepped into Lingyun Cave.

Deep within the cave, purple clouds swirled and the ground was paved with green jade.

A figure in green robes sat cross-legged on a cloud bed, his green robes hanging down and his black hair flowing over his shoulders.

He has a youthful face and deep, penetrating eyes.

His aura was restrained and deep, yet beneath that restraint lay a terrifying power capable of destroying the world.

Xuandu.

As Haotian gazed at the figure in green, the tension in his heart slowly dissipated.

He bowed slightly, his voice calm.

"Vice Master of Xuandu"

Xuan Du looked at him, his gaze calm as still water.

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

"sit."

The word fell like a gentle spring breeze.

Haotian nodded slightly, sat cross-legged in the cave, and sat opposite Xuandu, only a few feet apart.

"The Vice-Sect Leader summoned me, saying he wanted to retrieve the Investiture of the Gods?"

Xuan Du nodded.

"Exactly."

He raised his hand, and golden light swirled and purple light flowed in his palm.

The Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip emerged from the Chaos Pearl and hovered between the two.

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

It illuminated Haotian's face, which was trying to appear calm.

He gazed at the Investiture of the Gods and at the God-Slaying Whip.

Looking at the countless rising and falling true spirits on the list, and at the true spirits of the five Heavenly Saints.

Clench your hands slightly.

"Is this the Investiture of the Gods?"

Haotian spoke, his voice trembling slightly.

Xuan Du nodded.

"This is the Investiture of the Gods."

"Those on the list are all destined for calamity."

"Yuanshi, Laozi, Jieyin, Zhunti, Nuwa."

"The five Heavenly Saints are all within."

"Disciples of the Chan Sect and the Western Sect are all on the list."

"Three hundred and sixty-five principal gods, two thousand secondary gods, and eighty-four thousand heavenly soldiers and generals."

"Everything is available."

"Now, this list is yours."