Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

The Jade Emperor trembled all over.

He knew he couldn't stop Tongtian.

Below the sage, all are ants.

He, a mere ant at the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm, is nothing in the face of a Saint.

But he dared not let go.

The Investiture of the Gods is the foundation of the Heavenly Court and the source of the Jade Emperor's power.

Those primordial spirits on the list were his bargaining chips to command the immortals.

If they are released, the Heavenly Court will fall apart.

His position as Jade Emperor thus became merely an empty shell.

The Jade Emperor gritted his teeth:

"I won't let go."

Tongtian nodded:

"it is good."

He raised his hand and grabbed deep into the Lingxiao Palace.

The void shattered.

He pulled a golden list out of the void.

Conferred God list.

Countless names flashed on the list.

Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit.

Zhao Gongming.

Yunxiao.

Qiongxiao.

Bixiao.

Ten Heavenly Kings.

Three thousand travelers in the mortal world.

Each name is a primordial spirit that has been imprisoned.

Every name represents a disciple of the Jie Sect.

Tongtian gazed at the list, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

During the Investiture of the Gods, the Jie Sect was destroyed, and the arrival of ten thousand immortals turned into nothing.

The root of all this is this list.

He raised his hand and placed it on the Investiture of the Gods.

The blue light surged.

He's going to ruin this list.

The Jade Emperor exclaimed in alarm, "No! That was set up by the Dao Ancestor; destroying it would be to oppose the Heavenly Dao!"

The journey to the heavens never stopped.

The blue light grew brighter and brighter, and the Investiture of the Gods trembled violently.

The names on the list lit up one by one, struggling desperately.

It was as if I sensed something.

It seemed to be calling out to something.

Tongtian closed his eyes.

Take a deep breath.

Apply pressure with your palm.

boom!

A deafening roar echoed throughout the three realms.

The Investiture of the Gods is shattered.

It shattered into countless points of light, dissipating between heaven and earth.

The imprisoned primordial spirits on the list surged out like a tide.

Golden Spirit Mother, Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, the Ten Heavenly Kings, Three Thousand Mortals...

Countless primordial spirits soared into the sky.

They looked around blankly, not knowing where they were.

Then, they saw the figure in the green robe.

I saw that old and tired face.

I saw those incredibly bright eyes.

The Golden Spirit Mother was the first to react.

She trembled all over, and tears welled up in her eyes:

"Master...it's Master!"

"Master has come to save us!"

Countless primordial spirits knelt down in unison.

He knelt before the figure in the green robe.

The cries shook the heavens and echoed throughout the celestial realm.

Tongtian stood in the Lingxiao Palace, looking at the countless kneeling disciples.

Her eyes were red-rimmed.

But he didn't cry.

He simply gazed at them, speaking each word clearly:

"Walk."

"I'll take you home."

Countless primordial spirits transformed into streams of light, following the figure in the green robe.

They burst out of the Lingxiao Palace, burst out of the South Heavenly Gate, and plunged into the depths of chaos.

Jin'ao Island awaits them.

Home is waiting for them.

In the Heavenly Court.

The Jade Emperor slumped on his dragon throne, his face ashen.

The Investiture of the Gods was shattered.

The foundation of Heaven is gone.

He gazed at the shattered void, at the dissipating points of light.

self-mumbling:

"It's over...it's all over..."

outside the temple.

Venus struggled to her feet, gazing at the receding streak of light.

He sighed softly and shook his head.

It seems that the Heavenly Court is truly about to undergo a major upheaval.

Countless streaks of light pierced through the chaos.

Golden Spirit Mother, Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, the Ten Heavenly Kings, Three Thousand Mortals...

Vast and boundless, like a galaxy rolling backwards.

They followed behind Tongtian, flying towards the direction deep in their memories.

Jin'ao Island.

That was their home.

It was the place where they sought out masters and learned the Tao.

It is a place where all the immortals come to pay homage and where the Jie Sect is at its peak.

It was also the place where their dreams were shattered.

Tongtian stood at the very front, his green robe fluttering and his long hair flying.

He didn't turn around.

But he could sense the aura of every primordial spirit behind him.

Jin Ling, his second disciple, was killed by Jiang Ziya during the Investiture of the Gods and was listed on the Investiture of the Gods list.

Zhao Gongming was cursed to death by Lu Ya's Seven Arrows Book, and didn't even have the chance to be reincarnated.

The Three Immortals were personally suppressed and killed by Yuanshi, their souls scattered, leaving only a trace of their true spirit to be listed on the list.

The Ten Heavenly Kings, before the Ten Deadly Formations, were killed one by one as the formations were broken.

And those three thousand mortals, in the Array of Ten Thousand Immortals, some died, some scattered.

Now, they've all come back.

Follow him home.

Tongtian's eyes were red.

But he didn't cry.

He is the cult leader, the master.

He mustn't cry.

Jin'ao Island is getting closer.

In the chaos, the lonely island floated silently.

There are two or three thatched huts, surrounded by a bamboo fence.

The Holy Mother of Wudang and the Fairy of Wuyun stood on the edge of the island, gazing at the flowing light in the distance.

Wu Dang trembled all over, tears already blurring his vision.

Wu Yunxian clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"They're back..." he murmured, "They're all back..."

The light fell on the island.

It transformed into countless figures.

The moment the Golden Spirit Mother landed, her legs went weak and she almost fell.

Wu Dang rushed forward and helped her up.

"Senior Sister!"

Jin Ling looked at her, at that familiar yet unfamiliar face.

His lips trembled, and he couldn't speak.

He simply held her hand tightly, until his knuckles turned white.

Zhao Gongming stood still, gazing at the island, the thatched hut, and the figure in the green robe.

Suddenly he laughed.

The smile was bittersweet, yet it conveyed a sense of relief.

"I'm back."

He murmured:

"I thought I'd never come back in this lifetime."

The three Xiao sisters hugged each other, sobbing uncontrollably.

Yunxiao hugged her two younger sisters, tears silently streaming down her face.

Qiongxiao buried her face in her sister's shoulder, crying and trembling all over.

Bixiao, usually so fierce, was now weeping uncontrollably.

Ten Heavenly Kings stood aside, silently shedding tears.

Qin Wantianjun gazed at the thatched hut and murmured:

"Master... is still here..."

"Master has been waiting for us..."

Three thousand worldly travelers knelt on the ground, their foreheads pressed to the earth, sobbing uncontrollably.

Tongtian stood in front of the thatched hut, gazing at the disciples filling the island.

Looking at these disciples who were implicated by him, died for him, and were imprisoned for endless years.

Take a deep breath.

"Get up, all of you."

He spoke, his voice hoarse.

"The ground is cold, don't kneel."

No one got up.

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit knelt on the ground, looking up at him:

"Master, your disciple is incompetent."

"During the Investiture of the Gods, I failed to protect the Jie Sect."

"After being listed on the Investiture of the Gods, they were driven by the Heavenly Court for endless years."

"Disciple...disciple has no face to see you."

Tongtian stepped forward and helped her up.

"It's not your fault."

He looked at Jin Ling, at her face covered in tears.

"It's because Master is useless."

"I can't protect you."

Jin Ling shook her head desperately:

"No! It's not Master's fault!"

"It's because the disciples are not skilled enough, it's because the disciples..."

Tongtian raised his hand to stop her.

"I'm not going to say anything more."

"It's good that you're back."

He turned around and looked at the disciples all over the island.

"Get up, all of you."

"As long as the Jie Sect exists, our home still exists."

"From this day forward, you are no longer servants of Heaven."

"You are disciples of the Jie Sect, and my disciples, Tongtian."

"No one can bully you anymore."

The disciples slowly rose, their eyes blurred with tears, gazing at the figure in the green robe.

He had lost weight, aged, and his face was so aged that he was almost unrecognizable.

But those eyes still shone with an astonishing brightness.

The light reminded them of the past, when all the immortals came to pay homage, and their master sat upright on a futon, preaching and expounding the Dharma, looking down upon the world.

At that moment, they knew.

My master is still the same master.

The Jie Sect is still the same Jie Sect.

Everything is still in time.

Kong Xuan stood on the edge of the island, his hands behind his back, watching this scene unfold.

His gaze was calm and unwavering.

But beneath that calm, there was a hint of warmth.

Wu Dang walked to his side and whispered:

"Vice Leader, thank you."

Kong Xuan turned around: "What are you thanking me for?"

Wu Dang looked at his fellow disciples who had survived the calamity:

"Thank you for saving Master, thank you for saving everyone."

"If it weren't for you, Master would still be suffering in Zixiao Palace, and my fellow disciples would still be slaves on the Investiture of the Gods."

"The Jie Sect will never return."

Kong Xuan shook his head:

"You're welcome."

"I am the deputy leader, this is my duty."

Wu Dang looked at him and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it radiated warmth.

"Vice Leader, you always talk about your own duties."

"But we all know you don't owe the Jie Sect anything."

"It was you who gave the Jie Sect a second life."

Kong Xuan did not answer.

He simply turned around and continued to gaze at the chaos.

Wu Dang stopped speaking and stood silently beside him.

In the center of the island.

Tongtian sat cross-legged on a futon, with his disciples sitting around him.

Jinling, Wudang, Wuyunxian, Zhao Gongming, the Three Immortals, the Ten Heavenly Lords...

And there were three thousand worldly travelers, sitting on the ground in a dark mass.

Tongtian looked at them and slowly spoke:

"The matter of the Investiture of the Gods was my fault."

"I was too arrogant, thinking that the Zhuxian Sword Formation could not be broken by any but the Four Sages, and that no one could defeat the Jie Sect when all the immortals came to pay homage."

"But little did they know that under the laws of Heaven, everything is predetermined."

"You died, you made the list, you suffered."

"But your master is kneeling in Zixiao Palace, unable to do anything."

Zhao Gongming said urgently:

"Master! It's not your fault..."

Tongtian raised his hand to stop him.

"Let me finish."

He took a deep breath:

"I have knelt in Zixiao Palace for countless years and pondered for countless years."

"I've figured something out."

"The demise of the Jie Sect was not due to the Heavenly Dao, the Four Sages, or the Investiture of the Gods."

"It's about me, the teacher."

"I am too arrogant, too rigid, and too ignorant of how to conduct myself."

"Knowing that the Investiture of the Gods was aimed at the Jie Sect, they still refused to bow down."

"Knowing full well that the combined might of the four saints is no match for them, they still insisted on setting up the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation."

"And the result?"

He gave a wry smile:

"The Jie Sect is gone, you are all dead, your master kneels."

Nothing has changed.

The disciples remained silent, tears streaming down their faces.

Tongtian continued:

"But now, I've come to understand something else."

He looked toward the figure in black robes on the edge of the island.

"Someone gave the Jie Sect a second chance."

"This time, I will not make the same mistake again."

"This time, I will lead you on a different path."

Yunxiao said softly:

"Master, which way?"

Tongtian looked at her, and at his disciples.

Word by word:

"A road where no one can bully us anymore."

"A path to survival by standing tall."

"A path... that belongs to the Jie Sect itself."

The disciples looked at him with eyes full of light.

That light is called hope.

Kong Xuan stood at the edge of the island, listening to these words.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly.

This old man has finally come to his senses.

He turned and walked back to the center of the island.

When the disciples saw him coming, they all made way for him.

His eyes were filled with awe.

They had no more stories to tell about the deeds of this vice-leader.

With a single blow, he shattered the Five Elements Mountain; with a single finger, he enlightened Sun Wukong; he single-handedly stormed Mount Ling and wreaked havoc in the Purple Cloud Palace.

Even the Dao Ancestor Hongjun knelt before him.

This person was the vice leader of the Jie Sect.

Kong Xuan walked to Tongtian's side and sat down cross-legged.

"Master, your disciples have all returned."

"What should we do next?"

Tongtian looked at him and asked, "What insightful opinion do you have, fellow Daoist?"

Kong Xuan said calmly:

Three things.

"First, rebuild the tradition of the Jie Sect and re-establish its rules."

"Secondly, restore the disciples' cultivation. They have been trapped on the Investiture of the Gods for too long, and their foundations have been damaged. They need recuperation."

"third......"

He paused, his eyes turning slightly cold:

"Collecting debts."

Tongtian raised an eyebrow slightly: "Collecting debts?"

Kong Xuan nodded:

"At the time of the Investiture of the Gods, there were many people who owed debts to the Jie Sect."

"Yuanshi, Laozi, Jieyin, Zhunti, Jade Emperor..."

"They will all have to pay back, one by one."

Upon hearing this, the disciples' eyes were filled with hatred.

Zhao Gongming clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white.

The three immortals' faces turned ashen as they recalled the scene when they were personally killed by Yuanshi Tianzun.

Jin Ling closed her eyes, recalling the whip Jiang Ziya had used to kill her.

The Ten Heavenly Kings gritted their teeth, recalling the humiliation of being killed one by one when the Ten Deadly Formations were broken.

Tongtian remained silent for a long time.

Nod slowly:

"it is good."

"Collecting debts."

"But now, my disciples' cultivation has not recovered, and I have not yet reached my peak."

"Isn't it too hasty to demand payment now?"

Kong Xuan shook his head:

"No rush."

"I didn't say I'd fight now."

"What I meant was, get ready before you fight."

He looked at his disciples:

"I'm giving you time to recover your strength and time to cultivate."

"Wait until you are all ready, wait until the leader returns to his peak."

"At that time, both new and old scores were settled together."

The disciples said in unison:

"As the Deputy Headmaster commands!"

Kong Xuan nodded slightly.

He got up and walked to the side.

He still has one more thing to do.

Something he had been thinking about for a long time.

Kong Xuan raised his hand.

A wisp of chaotic light condensed in the palm of his hand.

Its radiance was gentle and warm like water, yet it possessed an indescribable mystery.

He gave it a gentle push.

The radiance drifted out and landed in the center of Jin'ao Island.

It landed on that open space.

The radiance landed and slowly spread.

Like ripples, like the tide.

Wherever it went, green grass sprouted from the soil, and hundreds of flowers bloomed in competition.

Like withered trees coming back to life, or dead ashes being rekindled.

A grand hall rose from the ground.

The hall is nine zhang high and thirty-six zhang wide, with a magnificent presence.

Above the palace gate, three large golden characters gleamed brightly...

Jiejiao Hall

The disciples stared at the grand hall, dumbfounded.

With a wave of his hand, a grand hall was erected?

What kind of supernatural power is this?

Kong Xuan withdrew his hand and said calmly:

"The reconstruction of the Jie Sect cannot be without a proper temple."

"This main hall will be used for meetings and discussions."

"It's not too late to expand later when the Jie Sect grows stronger."

Tongtian gazed at the grand hall, his eyes reddening.

He got up and walked towards the palace gate.

The disciples followed behind.

Upon reaching the palace gate, Tongtian stopped.

He raised his hand and pushed the door open.

"Squeak..."

The palace doors slowly opened.

Inside the hall, futons were neatly arranged, and in the very center stood a high platform where the leader of the sect sat.

Behind the high platform, a large calligraphy scroll was hung...

万仙来朝

That was the glory of the Jie Sect in the past, and it is also the dream of the Jie Sect in the future.

Tongtian stared at those four words and took a deep breath.

He strode into the hall.

He climbed onto the platform, turned around, and sat down.

The disciples filed in and sat on either side.

Jinling, Wudang, and Wuyunxian sat at the very front.

Zhao Gongming and the Three Immortals are next in rank.

The ten Heavenly Kings and three thousand mortal guests sat in order.

Kong Xuan did not sit down.

He stood beside the palace gate, his hands behind his back.

He was the vice-leader, but he was unwilling to sit in that high position.

He prefers to stand.

Standing allows you to see further.

Tongtian looked at the disciples filling the hall, at the faces of these survivors.

A feeling I had never experienced before welled up inside me.

That wasn't hatred, resentment, or bitterness.

That is hope.

It is the hope for the Jie Sect to rise from the dead and be reborn from the ashes.

He spoke, his voice resounding throughout the hall:

"From this day forward, the Jie Sect will be rebuilt."

"From this day forward, you are no longer servants of the Heavenly Court, nor prisoners on the Investiture of the Gods."

"You are disciples of the Jie Sect, and my disciples, Tongtian."

"No one can bully you anymore."

The disciples shouted in unison:

"May the Jie Sect live ten thousand years! May its leader live ten thousand years!"

The sound shook the chaos and resounded throughout the three realms.

Kong Xuan stood beside the palace gate, watching this scene unfold.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly.

The Jie Sect has come back to life.

This game has only just begun.

And he will always stand here.

Watching the Jie Sect, step by step, return to its peak.

Watching those who owed money, one by one, pay it back.

Watching this world, little by little, transform into what it should be.

Outside the palace, chaos surged.

Inside the hall, the light was dazzling.

On Jin'ao Island, a new generation of the Jie Sect was born.