This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

Wang Yangming suddenly realized what Li Daoxuan meant by "gods".

In layman's terms, it means that people worship gods, offering incense and faith for the gods to enjoy and exist.

The gods help humans regulate the spiritual energy of mountains and rivers, control wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, and ensure favorable weather for the region.

There is no distinction of superiority or inferiority between them; they are simply in a relationship of mutual need.

Wang Yangming was somewhat puzzled.

"Master, the Taoist scriptures say that man follows the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature."

"The operation of all things in the universe has its own rules."

"If that's the case, why bother establishing a divine path, adding even more uncertainty to the world?"

Li Daoxuan looked at Wang Yangming and nodded with satisfaction.

"You can see this point; no wonder you were able to create the Confucian school."

"You're right. If we follow the usual procedure, establishing a Shinto order would be superfluous and would only leave some hidden dangers."

"only..."

Li Daoxuan was unwilling to reveal too many heavenly secrets. The cataclysmic calamity involved the operation of the Great Dao of all heavens, and only the current emperor of each era could see through it.

If you don't reach that level, even if you know it, it will only add to your troubles.

Li Daoxuan didn't say it, but Wang Yangming understood that his master must have his reasons for doing things.

It would never be superfluous.

So he didn't ask any more questions, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Since Master has come to the Confucian Temple, there must be something you need me to do. Master, please give your instructions. Even though I am just a broken soul and body, I will do my utmost to fulfill them."

Li Daoxuan sighed, patted Wang Yangming on the shoulder, and said with a sigh:

"This is a task I can only entrust to you. And you are the only one best suited to do it."

After saying that, Li Daoxuan, without waiting for everyone to react, lightly tapped his foot, and the scene before them changed drastically once again.

When everyone came to their senses, they found themselves in a fantastical world that seemed to be deep within the stars.

Beneath our feet lies a dazzling avenue stretching as far as the eye can see, filled with a captivating and inspiring atmosphere.

"The Ancient Path of Xuanhuang...this is the Ancient Path of Xuanhuang..."

Mingyue exclaimed in surprise.

"The Ancient Path of Xuanhuang? Senior Sister, what is this?"

Wang Yangming asked curiously.

Mingyue came to her senses and gently shook her head.

"I cannot explain its existence in words, but you can consider it the source of the Xuanhuang Great World..."

"The origin of the world?"

Li Daoxuan nodded and said:

"It can be understood that the birth of the Xuanhuang Great World began from this place."

Wang Yangming and the seven sages behind him were deeply moved by this scene.

This place is like stepping into a myth.

Mingyue, who had visited once before, was equally shocked.

After leaving the Xuanhuang Ancient Path, they could no longer sense the existence of this opportunity. They never expected that their master could enter at will.

It is said that every emperor in the Xuanhuang Great World has this ability: to enter the source of the Xuanhuang Ancient Path and absorb the Xuanhuang Mother Qi.

"Could it be that Master... has already cultivated to become a celestial being?"

Mingyue thought to herself.

Ignoring the surprise in everyone's hearts, Li Daoxuan took out a scroll that had been written on beforehand and imprinted the Dao Ancestor's seal on it.

With a wave of his hand, the scroll instantly expanded and floated above the Xuanhuang Ancient Road.

Strands of primordial energy swirled around, radiating a mystical and sacred light.

Mingyue stared in surprise at the scroll, feeling a faint sense of oppression emanating from it.

You must know that Mingyue is someone who has received seven strands of Xuanhuang Mother Qi, so even a Quasi-Emperor might not be able to make her feel pressured.

This is enough to show how extraordinary this scroll is.

Li Daoxuan, with a solemn expression and dignified appearance, addressed the ancient path before him in a clear voice:

"I am the Ancestor of the Xuanhuang Dao, the Supreme True Daoist Mysterious Heavenly Venerable."

"Now, the world is in peril, and the heavens and earth are in turmoil. To save the world from collapse and the people from suffering, I, in the name of the Ancestor of the Xuanhuang Dao, establish the Divine Path, forge the Investiture of the Gods, and confer titles upon the gods and deities of heaven and earth, so as to stabilize the mountains, rivers, seas, sun, moon, and stars, and ensure peace and prosperity for all things..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Daoxuan raised his hand and grabbed at the air.

A large mass of primordial energy from the origin of the Xuanhuang Ancient Path arrived here and landed on the scroll.

In an instant, the ancient road trembled.

Li Daoxuan himself was enveloped in an unimaginable golden light of profound merit.

At the same time, the scroll also suddenly shone brightly.

The golden light of merit fell upon the scroll, making the three characters "Investiture of the Gods" shine brightly.

Li Daoxuan was overjoyed upon seeing this, realizing that the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang World had approved of this matter, and had recognized the divine way.

Li Daoxuan made a decisive move, using his own Dao Ancestor's fortune and boundless power to enhance the Investiture of the Gods.

He shouted:

"The Investiture of the Gods, the investiture of the gods of heaven and earth, becoming..."

As soon as the words fell, all living beings within the Three Domains and Nine Provinces of the Xuanhuang Great World subconsciously looked up at the sky.

A strange feeling stirred within me.

It was as if some unseen force had been born out of thin air, watching over heaven and earth, and over everything in the world.

Those martial arts practitioners with extremely high cultivation even saw some clues and sensed that a new rule of heaven and earth had been added to the world.

In the Heavenly Court, the Heavenly Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, a look of shock flashing in them.

"It's him again... What did he do this time?"

Chang Geng of the Hongyu Imperial Clan gazed at the sky for a long time, finally sighing silently. He then turned his gaze to Xing Luo, who was meditating cross-legged outside his thatched hut, and muttered to himself:

"This can be considered a karmic connection..."

The other imperial holy sites also had different reactions.

Those who could see through the situation were all amazed, thankfully they hadn't done anything offensive when the Taoist sect first emerged.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

He turned to look at Li Daoxuan, who was also looking at him.

The master and apprentice smiled at each other.

Wang Yangming then straightened his clothes and stood solemnly.

Li Daoxuan held a divine writing brush, created from the primordial energy of Xuanhuang, and began to write.

"Ye Wenyuan, a great Confucian scholar, was a man of high moral character and noble conduct, and was revered by the world. He was conferred the title of First-Rank Righteous God, Haoran Wenqu Dade Zhenjun, and was put in charge of the moral standards of the world."

As soon as Li Daoxuan finished speaking, a beam of golden light of profound merit descended directly upon the great sage named Ye Wenyuan.

Almost instantly, his body transformed from an illusory divine soul into a tangible form, condensing into a divine golden body and gaining control over boundless divine power.

His attire also changed, and he was clad in a majestic and solemn divine robe. In his hand, he held a mirror that could reflect the true and false virtues of people in the world.

Ye Wenyuan immediately understood the divine power and divine duties he controlled, and also sensed a divine method for extracting divine power from countless beliefs.

From then on, he lived in harmony with humanity, and as long as there was still a shrine to him in the world, he would live forever.

Ye Wenyuan was overjoyed and bowed deeply, saying:

"This humble deity bows in gratitude to the Dao Ancestor for bestowing this title..."

Li Daoxuan nodded and continued with the investiture ceremony.

Wang Yangming's seven great disciples were all conferred the title of First-Rank True God, each with different divine duties, corresponding to virtues such as morality, propriety, benevolence, righteousness, and trustworthiness.

This perfectly matches their characteristics during their lifetime.

In the end, only Wang Yangming remained unappointed.

Seeing that Li Daoxuan had already closed the scroll, the seven first-rank righteous gods looked at each other, not understanding what Li Daoxuan meant.

Wang Yangming, however, was not in a hurry. Instead, he bowed deeply and said:

"Master, I'm worried that I'm not up to the task..."

Li Daoxuan stood with his hands behind his back and smiled slightly:

"You are my personal disciple, Li Daoxuan, and you single-handedly established the Confucian literary tradition. No one else in this world can hold this position..."

Wang Yangming pondered for a moment and then did not refuse.

Li Daoxuan held the Investiture of the Gods in one hand and the Investiture of the Gods Brush in the other, and said loudly:

"The Confucian sage Wang Yangming stepped forward to receive the order..."