Investiture of the Gods: Childhood Sweetheart Daji, Starting with Quasi-Saint Cultivation

Nuwa did not ride in a phoenix carriage, nor did she bring any attendants; she simply wore a green robe and walked into Chaoge on foot.

When the people saw her, they felt a sense of closeness and spontaneously knelt down. It was not out of fear, but out of a connection stemming from blood ties—she was the Holy Mother who created humanity and mended the heavens to save the world.

Nuwa traveled all the way to the palace without being stopped.

At the palace gate, King Zhou led his entourage to greet them.

"Welcome, Holy Mother." King Zhou bowed.

Nuwa looked at him with a complicated expression.

"Di Xin, you've grown up."

King Zhou was taken aback.

This sentence sounds like an elder's sentiment to a younger generation.

"Our Lady, please come inside."

The top floor of the Star-Picking Tower.

Nuwa and King Zhou sat facing each other, with Su Yunbai, the Three Immortals, and others accompanying them.

"What brings you here, Holy Mother?" King Zhou asked bluntly.

Nuwa sighed softly, "I dare not offer any guidance. I have come here to...apologize."

Everyone was stunned.

A saint apologized?

"Back then, I sent the Nine-Tailed Fox to wreak havoc in Chaoge, nearly destroying you and the foundation of the Shang Dynasty," Nuwa said slowly. "This matter was my fault."

King Zhou remained silent.

After a long silence, he asked, "Why did the Holy Mother do that?"

"Because... it is the will of Heaven." Nuwa smiled bitterly. "The will of Heaven has revealed that the fate of the Shang Dynasty is coming to an end, and the Western Zhou Dynasty is destined to rise. As a sage, I must obey the will of Heaven."

"So you want to destroy my Great Shang? You want the people to suffer?" King Zhou raised his voice.

"I...was wrong." Nuwa lowered her head. "Later, when I saw you awaken humanity and see the human race become stronger, I realized that while destiny can be changed, the human heart cannot be betrayed."

She looked at King Zhou, her eyes filled with tears.

"Di Xin, you are a descendant of the human race I created. Seeing how outstanding you are, I am very pleased."

King Zhou's heart softened.

Ultimately, Nuwa was the Holy Mother of Humanity. Though she made mistakes, she was still, in the end, a "mother."

"You flatter me, Holy Mother," King Zhou said in a gentler tone. "The past is gone, like smoke in the wind. Humanity has awakened, and the human race must strive for self-improvement. If Holy Mother can help the human race, I will forgive and forget everything that happened in the past."

Nuwa looked up, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"really?"

"really."

Nuwa rose and bowed solemnly.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Majesty. I hereby swear, by the attainment of sainthood, that from this day forward, the Nuwa Palace will live and die with the human race, upholding humanity and protecting all living beings!"

The oath was made, and Heaven responded, bestowing auspicious omens.

In Chaoge City, hundreds of flowers bloom and hundreds of birds sing.

The Holy Mother of Humanity has officially returned to her rightful place!

That night, the phantom of the Nuwa Palace descended upon the sky above Chaoge, merging with the River of Humanity.

Humanitarian fortunes rise by another 30%!

Nuwa not only returned to her position, but also brought with her the spiritual materials, cultivation methods, and secret techniques accumulated over countless years by the Nuwa Palace, which she bestowed upon the Human Dao Academy.

"These are my dowry," Nuwa said to King Zhou with a smile.

King Zhou was both amused and exasperated.

However, this "dowry" did indeed solve the urgent problem of the Humanitarian Academy's resource shortage.

Three days later, Nuwa went to visit Qiongxiao.

Using the Dao of Creation in conjunction with the Human Emperor's Seal, she managed to neutralize most of the destructive power of the Holy Slayer Spear.

"The rest she will have to refine herself slowly," Nuwa said to Su Yunbai. "However, if she can refine the power of destruction after this ordeal, she may be able to comprehend the Great Dao of Destruction and advance her cultivation to a higher level."

Su Yunbai was overjoyed: "Thank you, Holy Mother."

Nuwa looked at him and suddenly asked, "Su Yunbai, are you and Qiongxiao... Daoist partners?"

Su Yunbai nodded.

Nuwa then looked at Yunxiao and Bixiao beside her.

"And what about them..."

"Too."

Nuwa was speechless for a moment, then laughed.

"You are quite... frank."

She paused.

"Treat them well. The Three Immortal Maidens of the Jie Sect are all good matches."

"I understand."

Nuwa stayed in Chaoge for ten days, instructing the students of the Human Dao Academy and teaching them the Way of Creation.

On the eleventh day, she took her leave.

"I need to return to the Nuwa Palace to handle some old matters. However, I will leave an avatar in Chaoge to help you deal with the final tribulation."

"Thank you, Holy Mother."

With Nuwa gone, Chaoge gained another powerful ally.

Three more months passed, and all was calm and uneventful.

But Su Yunbai's unease grew stronger.

He always felt that something big was about to happen.

On this day, he was teaching at the Taoist temple when suddenly the heavens and earth shook.

It wasn't an earthquake, it was... a tremor throughout the entire Three Realms!

All cultivators, regardless of their level of cultivation, felt a sense of urgency and looked towards the heavens.

The phantom of the Investiture of the Gods reappears in the heavens!

But unlike before, this time the Investiture of the Gods was fully unfurled, ten thousand feet long and a thousand feet wide, with the three hundred and sixty-five divine positions on the list shining brightly.

Below the list, a figure appeared.

Gray robe, white hair, face blurred.

Dao Ancestor, Hongjun!

"The Great Tribulation has ended, and the Investiture of the Gods has begun again." Hongjun's voice resounded throughout the Three Realms. "All those destined for this tribulation, regardless of life or death, regardless of their allegiance, must be included in the list of gods. This is the will of Heaven, and cannot be defied."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Investiture of the Gods emitted 365 golden rays, scattering across the Three Realms.

Each ray of golden light locked onto a person destined for calamity.

Dozens of golden rays descended upon Chaoge City.

King Zhou, Su Yunbai, Wen Zhong, Huang Feihu, the Three Immortals, Yang Chan... even Daji, Jiang Xiaowu, and Ao Ling were all locked onto by the golden light!

"This is..." King Zhou's expression changed.

He sensed that the golden light contained the power of the Heavenly Dao, which was pulling at his soul, trying to draw him into the Investiture of the Gods!

"Your Majesty!" Su Yunbai exclaimed urgently.

"I...cannot resist..." King Zhou gritted his teeth.

Not only him, but everyone locked onto by the golden light was resisting, but the power of the golden light was too strong. Those with weaker cultivation, such as Daji and Jiang Xiaowu, had already begun to have their souls leave their bodies!

"No--!!!"

Su Yunbai's eyes widened in fury.

He activated the Law of Emotion with all his might, attempting to sever the golden light.

But the golden light was formed by the Heavenly Dao, and the Law of Emotion could not shake it!

It seemed that everyone was about to be included in the Investiture of the Gods—

"Dao Ancestor, wait!"

A sharp shout rang out.

The Master of Heaven has returned!

Behind him, ten thousand immortals from the Jie Sect arrived.

"Master, help me!" Tongtian roared to the sky.

The four swords of Zhuxian were drawn together, and the sword formation unfolded, enveloping Chaoge and temporarily blocking the golden light.

"Tongtian, are you going to defy the heavens?" Hongjun said indifferently.

"This disciple dares not," Tongtian bowed. "But the Investiture of the Gods requires a set of rules for recruiting people. To forcibly take them in like this is no different from being a demon."

"Articles of association?" Hongjun looked at him. "What kind of articles of association do you want?"

Tongtian gritted his teeth: "At least... give those destined for this calamity a chance to choose. Those who wish to be on the list will be, and those who do not... should have a chance to escape."

Hongjun remained silent.

After a long pause, he said, "Alright. But you must pass the 'Investiture of the Gods Trial.' Those who participate in the trial will enter the Investiture Platform and undergo the test. Those who pass can freely choose whether or not to be listed; those who fail will be forced to be listed."

What are the contents of the trial?

"Mental fortitude, combat prowess, and merit—these are the three tests," Hongjun said. "Each test carries the risk of death. Do you... dare to attempt them?"

Tongtian looked at King Zhou.

King Zhou gritted his teeth: "How dare I!"

"Alright." Hongjun nodded. "Three months from now, the Conferred God Platform will open. All those destined for this calamity must participate in the trial."

After he finished speaking, the golden light dissipated, and the phantom image of the Investiture of the Gods disappeared.

The crisis has been temporarily averted, but everyone's hearts remain heavy.

The Trials of the Gods—you can tell how dangerous they are just from the name.

"Your Majesty, we..." Wen Zhong hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

"I will participate," King Zhou said decisively. "This is the only chance. If I fail to make the list, I will have to completely break free from the shackles of Heaven's will."

He looked at Su Yunbai.

"Yunbai, we need to make final preparations this March."

"clear."

That night, a secret meeting was held at the General's residence.

"The Trials of Conferred Gods test one's character, combat prowess, and merit," Yunxiao analyzed. "The test of character may be an illusion, testing one's Dao heart. The test of combat prowess may be actual combat, testing one's cultivation. The test of merit... is the most difficult."

"Why?" Bixiao asked.

"Merit needs to be accumulated, not just overnight," Qiongxiao replied. "Although we have been helping others, the time has been too short, and we have not accumulated enough merit."

Su Yunbai pondered: "Perhaps... the test of merit is not about accumulation, but about... the heart."

"What does that mean?"

"Merit can be great or small. Small merit is like saving a life, while great merit is like saving the world and helping people," Su Yunbai said. "But true merit should be having a kind heart and being worthy of heaven and earth. If we are truly for the sake of humanity and truly protect human nature, that is the greatest merit."

King Zhou nodded: "That makes sense. Then we shall act according to our conscience."

"Our top priority is to improve our combat capabilities," Wen Zhong said. "How much can we improve in three months?"

Su Yunbai looked at everyone.

"Your Majesty, I can help you consolidate your cultivation as a Human Emperor, and perhaps even touch the threshold of the Primordial Chaos Realm."

"Sanxiao, you need to perfect the Three Talents Formation, and it would be best if you could evolve it into the 'Three Immortals Formation,' which would greatly increase its power."

"Grand Tutor Wen, you need to reorganize the army and form the 'Battle Formation of Ten Thousand People' in preparation for any eventuality."

"Everyone else, do your job and prepare for battle with all your might."

"yes!"

From this day forward, Chaoge entered its final sprint.

Su Yunbai assisted King Zhou in his cultivation, using the Law of Emotion to influence the fortune of humanity. King Zhou's cultivation steadily improved, and although he had not yet entered the Primordial Chaos stage, he had reached the peak of Quasi-Saint, and his combat power was no weaker than that of the early Primordial Chaos stage.

The Three Immortals are in seclusion, devising the Three Immortals Grand Formation. This formation is based on the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, and Man) and integrates the three paths of music, ice, and golden dragon, possessing boundless power.

Wen Zhong reorganized a million-strong army and practiced a battle formation involving tens of thousands of people. This formation drew upon the will and power of the people, and its power increased with the number of people involved.

The others also gained something.

Jiang Xiaowu broke through to the Great Luo realm, Ao Ling stepped into the Quasi-Saint realm, and Yang Chan's Lotus Lantern power greatly increased.

Even Daji, under the guidance of Nuwa's avatar, stepped into the threshold of the Great Luo realm.

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the Conferred God Platform appeared high in the heavens.

It was a white jade platform, suspended in the void, with clouds and mist swirling around it, and three gates could be vaguely seen.

The Gate of Mindset, the Gate of Combat Power, and the Gate of Merit.

Hongjun's illusory image stood in front of the platform.

"The Trial of Gods begins. All those destined for this tribulation, please enter in turn."

He looked at Chaoge.

"Di Xin, which of you... will go first?"

King Zhou rose into the air.

"I'll go first!"

"Your Majesty!" the crowd exclaimed urgently.

"It's alright." King Zhou turned back and smiled. "As the emperor, I should pave the way for the people."

He strode towards the Investiture Platform.

The first gate is the gate of mind and nature.

The door opened, and King Zhou stepped inside.

The people of Chaoge held their breath in anticipation.

They didn't know what was inside the door, so they could only pray.

After an incense stick had burned, the door opened.

King Zhou stepped out, his face pale, but his eyes resolute.

"Passed," Hongjun said calmly.

King Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the second gate—the Gate of Battle Power.

This time, it will take even longer.

Half an hour later, the door opened.

King Zhou staggered out, covered in blood, but carrying the carcass of a black dragon in his hand.

"This was an ancient ferocious beast, which I have already slain," he said, panting.

"Passed." Hongjun nodded.

The third gate is the Gate of Merit.

King Zhou took a deep breath and stepped inside.

This time, there was no battle, no illusion, only... a blank space inside the door.

A voice echoed from the silence:

"Di Xin, for the sake of humanity and the way of humanity, what you have done, is it from the heart, or... for power?"

King Zhou remained silent.

After a long silence, he said, "At first, it was to prove myself, for power. But later... it was for them."

"who are they?"

"They are the people of Chaoge, the citizens of the Great Shang Dynasty, and all of humanity," King Zhou said slowly. "As I watched them go from numbness to awakening, from timidity to self-reliance, I suddenly realized—the Emperor is not a king high above, but... the one who walks at the very front."

"If I were to die for this, would I regret it?"

No regrets.

As soon as the words were spoken, the silence dissipated.

The door opened.

King Zhou emerged, his body radiating a brilliant golden light.

That is... the golden light of merit!

"The test of merit has been passed with top honors." Hongjun's eyes flashed with admiration. "Di Xin, you have passed all the tests and are free to choose whether to be listed on the honor roll."

King Zhou declared without hesitation: "I choose—not to be on the list!"

"Alright." Hongjun nodded. "Next."

Everyone in Chaoge breathed a sigh of relief.

King Zhou succeeded.

So, what's next...?

Su Yunbai stepped out.

"I'll do it."