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

Haotian was completely stunned upon hearing this.

The light in those eyes suddenly froze.

He gazed at the Investiture of the Gods, at the five true spirits floating in the golden light, and at the five Heavenly Saints.

Even though only the true spirit remains, it still exudes a powerful and lingering aura that makes people tremble.

His last shred of hope shattered at that moment.

He originally thought that Xuandu would extract the true spirits of the five saints separately, either suppressing, refining, or completely erasing them.

He then handed over the remaining disciples of the Chan Sect and the Western Sect to himself for disposal.

Although those disciples were also Golden Immortals, Taiyi, and Daluo, Haotian could still suppress, manage, and control them.

But Xuan Du only said one sentence: "This list is yours."

This sentence was an insurmountable chasm, severing all his illusions.

Five Heavenly Saints.

Yuanshi, Laozi, Jieyin, Zhunti, Nuwa.

Each and every one of them was someone he could only look up to during his cultivation journey at Haotian Billion Yuan Hui.

Even if only the true spirit remains now, it is still the true spirit of a saint.

Saints must not be insulted; this has always been true.

How could they possibly take up positions in the Heavenly Court? How could they possibly be controlled by a mere quasi-saint at the peak of the Jade Emperor's power?

Haotian opened his mouth, his voice hoarse:

"Vice Master...the true spirits of these five saints, you...you won't deal with them separately?"

Xuandu looked at him, his gaze calm as still water, without a ripple of emotion or even a hint of surprise, as if he had long expected Haotian to ask this question.

"Handle it separately? Handle what?"

Haotian's heart tightened, and he forced himself to say:

"Although they have perished, the Daoist essence and will of the sages still remain in their true spirits."

"Even if only their true spirits remain, a Quasi-Saint cannot suppress them. This disciple... this disciple is merely at the peak of Quasi-Saint, how dare I command them?"

"Even if they are made into celestial gods, they will not obey the disciples."

"Vice Master, I humbly request that you... extract the true spirits of these five saints separately, or suppress them, or refine them, or... or completely erase them."

He knelt on the ground, his imperial robes hanging down, his crown touching the ground.

"This disciple... truly cannot receive this."

After the sound faded, the cave fell silent.

The purple clouds still surged, the green jade still covered the ground, and the Investiture of the Gods still hung in the void. Golden and purple light intertwined, shining on Haotian's face, which was trying to remain calm but could not hide his fear.

Xuan Du looked at him and remained silent.

After a moment, he spoke, his voice not loud, but clear as a stone falling to the ground.

"What does this have to do with me?"

As the four words fell, Haotian trembled.

The last glimmer of light in those eyes was completely extinguished.

He knelt there, his imperial robes spread out on the ground, his crown hanging low, his hands pressed on the jade, trembling slightly, yet he could not utter a single word.

Yes, what does Guan Xuan have to do with this?

In the end, Haotian was nothing more than a pageboy of Hongjun Daozu.

Back in the Zixiao Palace, he served tea and water, attending to those around him without ever overstepping his bounds.

Later, Hongjun Daozu appointed him as the Jade Emperor, making him the ruler of the Heavenly Court. In name, he ruled the Three Realms, but in reality, he was just a puppet pushed to the forefront, a chair used to save face.

The Heavenly Court is short of people; there is no one available to serve; the Heavenly Court is essentially a mere shell.

Wasn't this something Haotian himself lamented to Hongjun Daozu?

What caused the calamity of the Investiture of the Gods?

It's because Hongjun Daozu wanted to suppress the Jie Sect and destroy all the immortals, because the destiny of Heaven cannot be defied.

But the most direct trigger was Haotian himself, who complained to the Dao Ancestor that there was no one in the Heavenly Court who could be of use, and that his position as Jade Emperor was like that of a prisoner.

Then Hongjun Daozu set forth the Investiture of the Gods, then the three religions signed the decree, then the Jie Sect faced the calamity, then the saints entered the list, then ten thousand immortals perished, and then everything rushed headlong in that irreversible direction.

He Haotian was one of the instigators.

Haotian was a beneficiary of the Investiture of the Gods.

He, Haotian, was the one who sat in the Lingxiao Palace, waiting for the Investiture of the Gods to be delivered, waiting for all the immortals to come to pay homage, and waiting for the Heavenly Court to grow stronger.

Xuan didn't kill him; that's already an immense favor.

Why should I help him?

By what right should we deal with the true spirit of the saint on his behalf?

Why should I clean up his mess?

Haotian knelt there, his hands slowly clenching and then slowly loosening.

He looked up at the figure in blue, at that young yet composed face, and at those eyes as calm as an ancient well.

"Vice Leader..."

Haotian spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Disciple understands."

He slowly rose and stood in the cave, his imperial robes falling down, his crown being straightened again.

He gazed at the Investiture of the Gods, at the five true spirits floating in the golden light, at the five beings who required courage even to look directly at him.

"This disciple will accept this Investiture of the Gods."

"I will also deal with the spirits of the five saints."

"If you can suppress it, then suppress it; if you can't, then you can't."

"The Heavenly Court has come to this point because of the path I chose."

"The calamity of the Investiture of the Gods was caused by your disciple, and you will bear the consequences yourself."

Xuan Du looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded slightly.

The movement was very light, yet it carried a sense of relief.

"It's good that you understand."

"The Investiture of the Gods is here; take it."

"Those on the list are all gods of the Heavenly Court."

"No matter who the true spirit is, no matter what level of cultivation, status, or background it had in life, once it enters the Investiture of the Gods, it becomes a person of the Heavenly Court."

"You are the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the Three Realms, and their master."

"If you can't control it, then you are incompetent."

"If you cannot be commanded, then you are without virtue."

"It has nothing to do with anyone else."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip slowly floated towards Haotian.

The golden and purple light shone brightly, casting an ever-changing glow on Haotian's resolute face.

He reached out and caught the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip.

The moment he got his hands on it, he was terrified.

That heavy weight is not just the weight of the Heavenly Treasure, but also the karma of the 365 righteous gods, the destiny of the 2,000 deputy gods, and the final destination of the 84,000 heavenly soldiers and generals.

They are the true spirits of the five Heavenly Saints.

It is Haotian, the destination that billions of yuan will wait for.

It was also the starting point from which Haotian could never turn back.

Haotian stood in the cave, holding the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip, his imperial robes hanging down and his crown majestic.

He then bowed deeply, giving a full salute.

"Your disciple will heed the instructions of the Associate High Priest."

He turned around and strode out of Lingyun Cave.

On Lingyun Peak, the purple clouds still linger, and the green jade still carpets the ground.

The figure in green stood alone before the cloud bed, remaining motionless for a long time.

The moment Haotian stepped out of Lingyun Cave, Kong Xuan was still standing outside the cave.

He looked at Haotian, at that resolute face, at those eyes that were no longer filled with fear, and nodded slightly.

"Jade Emperor, have you obtained it?"

Haotian nodded, looked at Kong Xuan, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke.

"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan, I have a question to ask you."

Kong Xuan looked at him and said, "Please speak."

Haotian took a deep breath, his voice low.

"After I return to Heaven, how should I conduct myself?"

"The Heavenly Dao has collapsed, Hongjun has departed, and all the sages have perished."

"Humanity and nature have been awakened, and a balance has been initially established among the three."

"How can the Heavenly Court, caught in the middle, establish itself?"

Kong Xuan looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke.

"It's not difficult to establish a foothold."

"The Heavenly Court has the title of the ruler of the Three Realms, holds the Investiture of the Gods, and has ten thousand immortal spirits as its subjects."

"As long as you act uprightly, sit honestly, and remain impartial and independent."

"Humanity will not make things difficult for you, nor will the earth."

"As for the Heavenly Dao... the Heavenly Dao has collapsed and is temporarily powerless to make things difficult for you."

Upon hearing this, Haotian seemed to be deep in thought. He looked at Kong Xuan, at that cold yet kind face, and bowed slightly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan."

Kong Xuan waved his hand: "No need to thank me, thank you Vice Leader."

"He didn't kill you; he handed the Investiture of the Gods to you; he gave the Heavenly Court a way out."

Haotian nodded: "I understand."

"I will cherish this path to survival."

He turned around, took a step, and the void beneath his feet solidified into a physical form.

The figure in the imperial robes slowly walked towards the golden dragon carriage outside the island.

Kong Xuan stood there, watching the departing figure, watching the imperial robes billow in the purple clouds, and watching the crown stand majestically under the golden light.

A faint smile slowly crept onto his lips.

"Haotian is more resolute than I imagined."

"Hongjun treated him as a pawn, Yuanshi treated him as a decoration, and Jieyin and Zhunti never took him seriously. He was just a servant under Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor."

"Now that Hongjun is gone, he can finally hold his head high and live a respectable life."

"Perhaps this is... cause and effect."