Primordial Era: I've become a cheat code by taking Yang Jian as my disciple?

The master of Zixiao Palace has arrived—Hongjun Daozu.

There was no shadow, no form.

Because he has merged with the Way of Heaven, the Way of Heaven is him, and he is the Way of Heaven.

He doesn't need to manifest a physical body to express his existence.

His existence is this world itself!

"The Beginning".

Yuanshi Tianzun put away the Pangu Banner and bowed in respect.

"Disciple is here."

"Chaos Bell Spirit".

A golden light flashed on the wall of the Chaos Bell.

Zhong Lingyun did not bow.

He was neither Hongjun's disciple nor one of the "all things under the Heavenly Dao" in the sense of the native inhabitants of the primordial world.

He is a traveler!

He had no reverence for the Heavenly Dao, no sense of subordination to Hongjun, and even, because of Taiyi, he only felt hatred for Hongjun Daozu!

But he's not stupid either.

Hongjun's body is in harmony with the Heavenly Dao, which is the very rule of the primordial world.

Within this world, nothing can defy the rules.

Even if he burned away all of Taiyi's essence, it would only be the dying struggle of a primordial treasure.

Hongjun doesn't need to intervene.

He only needs to modify one rule, such as "the Chaos Clock must not be activated".

That's it.

Even if it requires Hongjun Daozu to pay a great price!

Therefore, Zhong Lingyun remained calm.

The light of the Great Sun Burning Heaven Technique slowly receded, and Taiyi's mirror image re-condensed from the light.

But this time, the outline of the mirror image was extremely blurred—the Golden Crow's essence had been consumed by nearly 80% in this attack.

The remaining 20% ​​barely maintained the existence of the mirror image.

Taiyi's arrogant face appeared and disappeared in the illusory light, like a candle flame that might be extinguished at any moment.

"My world shall not be broken."

Hongjun's voice was devoid of any emotion; it was simply stating the facts.

"If the two of you continue to fight, the primordial world will be unable to bear the burden. The world will shatter, and I will also be wounded."

"I will not allow it."

These four words carry more weight than any decree.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable remained silent and took three steps back to show his obedience.

Zhong Lingyun controlled Taiyi's mirror image and withdrew all the power he had released.

The Chaos Bell fell back to the ground, the sun dissipated, and the Hundred Thousand Mountains saw the light of day again.

However, the once vast and desolate Shiwan Mountains—one-third of the outer mountain ranges—have been razed to the ground by this great war, and the area eroded by the chaotic currents has become a gray and barren wasteland, where not a blade of grass grows.

"Six sages, hear my decree."

Hongjun's voice rang out again.

Not just the Ten Thousand Mountains—every saint in the entire prehistoric world, no matter where they were, heard this decree at the same time.

"The Chaos Bell is a supreme innate treasure, with a status comparable to that of a sage. From this day forward, the six sages of the Primordial World shall not wage war for the purpose of obtaining the Chaos Bell. Those who violate this rule will suffer the backlash of the Heavenly Dao."

East Sea, Biyou Palace.

Upon hearing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader's lips twitched slightly.

He had coveted the Chaos Bell for tens of thousands of years, but now it was shut down by Hongjun's single sentence.

From the direction of Kunlun Mountain and Yuxu Palace, a faint sigh was hidden in the clouds.

On Mount Sumeru, Jieyin closed his eyes, and Zhunti's smile froze for a moment.

Inside the Nuwa Palace, Nuwa actually breathed a sigh of relief.

As for Lao Tzu—he hadn't given it a second thought from beginning to end, and at this moment he simply gave a faint "hmm".

The decree was issued, and Heaven blessed it.

This is not a verbal agreement, but an ironclad law engraved into the primordial laws.

If the Six Sages disobey, it is tantamount to going against the Way of Heaven.

Hongjun, who is in harmony with the Heavenly Dao, is the Heavenly Dao itself!

To go against the will of Heaven—this is something even a sage cannot do.

Zhong Lingyun had been waiting for this moment.

"The Dao Ancestor".

This was the first time Zhong Lingyun had spoken to Hongjun on her own initiative.

Golden light flickered on the surface of the Chaos Bell, like a mouth opening and closing.

"Since the Dao Ancestor does not allow the primordial world to be shattered, then in the subsequent Investiture of the Gods calamity, all forces should naturally compete in an orderly manner."

Hongjun did not respond, but he also did not interrupt.

Silence is permission to continue speaking.

"The demon race of the Ten Thousand Mountains is an ancient remnant and a lineage of the primordial world. Since the Investiture of the Gods is a matter led by the Six Saints Sect, the demon race should also have the right to participate."

Yuanshi Tianzun's brow twitched slightly.

"My subordinates will participate in the Investiture of the Gods war."

Zhong Lingyun's tone was not a request, nor a discussion, but a notification.

"There are 365 righteous gods on the Investiture of the Gods—every divine position is something that the demon race is qualified to compete for."

At this point, Zhong Lingyun paused for a moment.

The golden light on the wall of the Chaos Bell suddenly surged for a moment, as if gathering strength for the next sentence.

"Including the supreme one—"

"The position of the Primordial Heavenly Emperor".

The moment those words were spoken, the entire prehistoric world felt as if someone had choked it.

The throne of the Heavenly Emperor.

The highest position on the Investiture of the Gods is that of the Heavenly Emperor, who rules over the thirty-three heavens, commands countless righteous gods, and acts on behalf of Heaven.

The current Heavenly Emperor is the Supreme God of Heaven.

Haotian was an attendant of Hongjun Daozu.

"A broken bell in one gulp—that's what the cultivators of the Chan Sect would say—how dare they open their mouths and ask for the position of the Heavenly Emperor?"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable's gaze fell upon the Chaos Bell, staring intently at the palm-sized bronze bell for a long time.

His expression remained calm throughout, but there was a thin layer of coldness deep in his eyes.

"Dao Ancestor," Yuanshi Tianzun spoke.

Hongjun did not respond.

But what Yuanshi Tianzun wanted to say was not opposition, but confirmation.

"The Great Tribulation is an inevitable consequence of the workings of Heaven. The Investiture of the Gods was established by your disciples on the orders of your master. If we allow the demon race to participate—will the rules of the Great Tribulation be applied equally to all?"

The meaning of this statement is very clear—the demon race can compete, but they must also abide by the rules of the Investiture of the Gods.

Those demons who are listed on the Investiture of the Gods will be granted titles by the Heavenly Court and obey its commands; those demons who die in the Great Tribulation will have their souls returned to the Investiture of the Gods and will never enter the cycle of reincarnation again.

Zhong Lingyun certainly understood this meaning.

The rules of the Great Tribulation were set by Hongjun and are also part of the operation of the Heavenly Dao.

If he wants to participate, he cannot go outside the rules.

but--

"Treat everyone equally?"

Zhong Lingyun's voice came from the Chaos Bell, carrying a very faint hint of mockery.

"Disciples of the Chan Sect who make it onto the list can be appointed as righteous gods, and disciples of the Jie Sect who make it onto the list can also be appointed as righteous gods. Humans who make it onto the list can be appointed as righteous gods, and demons who make it onto the list—naturally, can also be appointed as righteous gods. The rules are the same, so what's the problem with treating everyone differently?"

He paused.

"But you, Yuanshi Tianzun, just now led the Twelve Golden Immortals to besiege the Ten Thousand Mountains, and you didn't even mention any rules to me. Should we settle this score now or later?"

The Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning remained expressionless.

The story of the Twelve Golden Immortals besieging the Ten Thousand Mountains was, to put it bluntly, the Chan Sect's attempt to eliminate the demon race first, in order to avoid any unexpected changes during the Great Tribulation.

Now that Chaos Bell has turned the tables and Hongjun has issued a ban, this situation is indeed not looking good.

But a saint is a saint.

"This time, I failed to consider things thoroughly."

The Primordial Celestial Venerable glossed over the matter with a single sentence, offering no explanation or further elaboration.

"Since the Dao Ancestor has already issued a decree, this humble Daoist will naturally comply."

He turned to face the void where Hongjun was and bowed deeply.

"This disciple requests the Dao Ancestor to make a judgment."

silence.

A long silence.

Hongjun's voice finally rang out again.

"The great calamity has begun, and the secrets of heaven have been revealed. The positions of the true gods on the Investiture of the Gods will be occupied by the most capable."