Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 129: The Seven Sages Sign the Investiture of the Gods

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: The Seven Sages Sign the Investiture of the Gods

But it was said that Hong Jun issued an edict, summoning the Three Pure Ones and the three saints of the Buddhist Sect, as well as Xuan Ming, who had recently become a Fang Chengsheng, to Lord of Primordial Beginning’s Jade Void Palace to discuss matters.

Laozi sat on a mat of wind and fire and slowly said, "When the Taoist Patriarch Hong Jun commanded my brother Pangu to split Heaven and Earth, the Chaos Heaven Demon obstructed him. Subsequently, Pangu and our master devised the Slaying Immortals Sword Formation, slaying three thousand demons, and only then was the splitting of Heaven and Earth successful. During the Ancient Era, due to the instability of Heaven and Earth, the Chaos Heaven Demon tore open rifts to invade, leading to the great ancient war, causing Nuwa’s demise."

Xuan Ming listened quietly and did not speak. These secrets were highly confidential and generally unknown to the common folk.

"By the time of the ancient period, Di Jun came into being and Demon Emperor Taiyi became a saint through his enlightenment, yet he was defeated by Di Jun’s hands and pledged allegiance to him. Then, you Twelve Ancestral Witches emerged because Di Jun established the wheel of reincarnation, and you also built a reincarnation system. Both sides wanted to completely control reincarnation, leading to the Witch-Demon War. We also felt that Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi joining forces was too overpowering. If they truly controlled reincarnation, it would likely disrupt the balance of this world. Thus, we secretly schemed and joined forces to kill Taiyi and suppress Di Jun," Laozi said slowly.

This was a secret unknown to ordinary people. At that time, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were almost unbeatable in the ancient world. But Eastern Emperor Taiyi was severely wounded by the Twelve Ancestral Witches using the Capital Heavenly Divine Slayer Formation, although he temporarily killed the Twelve Ancestral Witches. He was also ambushed and beaten by Zhun Ti and Jie Yin, resulting in the destruction of both his body and spirit.

Afterwards, the Three Pure Ones, Zhun Ti, Jie Yin, Profound Lady, and Luo Hou, seven saints together battled Di Jun. Profound Lady was even killed by a palm strike from Di Jun, and only then were they able to completely suppress him!

"Originally, the Three Pure Ones were not willing to establish the Heavenly Court. After all, the title of ’Lord of Ten Thousand Heavens’ was indeed too grand, even arguably overshadowing our Three Pure Ones. But our master foresaw the changes of Heavenly Dao, so he lowered the edict allowing us to establish the Investiture of the Gods and rebuild the Heavenly Court!"

This matter was even unknown to the three saints from the Buddhist Sect, thinking that the Investiture of the Gods was merely established by the Three Pure Ones to comply with Heavenly Dao, which was then used by Zhou Wu to attack King Zhou and opportunistically establish the Heavenly Court.

Originally, everything was calculated by Hong Jun. Amitabha Buddha and Zhun Ti felt a slight chill in their hearts, realizing that Hong Jun had foreseen their betrayal from the Taoist Faction to become saints and rename the Western Religion to Buddhism, then oppose the Taoist Faction... Originally thinking they could use everything under the heavens as chess pieces, they had not expected to be outmaneuvered themselves.

Zhun Ti and Amitabha had both listened to Old Ancestor Hong Jun’s lectures and achieved enlightenment, and thus became saints. Hence, they revered him as their master.

"Where is the Taoist Patriarch now?" Xuan Ming couldn’t help asking.

"We do not know. Since the ancient years after he enlightened us to become saints, he has not appeared, only occasionally lowering edicts. We also do not know where the master currently is," Lord of Primordial Beginning said, shaking his head slightly with a sigh.

After hearing this, Xuan Ming nodded slightly, saying, "It seems the Taoist Patriarch is busy with matters concerning the imminent calamity."

Lord of Primordial Beginning said, "It should be so."

Although Hong Jun hadn’t shown himself, many matters were within his control. Because he incarnated as Heavenly Dao, his approach was to let things take their natural course, and he rarely intervened directly. However, now he intervened in the conflict among saints, breaking this principle, clearly indicating that this imminent calamity was no trivial matter.

In the Taoist Faction, it was said that one kalpa was one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred years, but many didn’t believe it. How could such a calamity affect millions in the Earth Immortal Realm, including immortals, gods, and Buddhas, even saints! Thus, Amitabha Buddha initially didn’t believe it, but with Hong Jun’s recent edict, he couldn’t help but believe.

"Why is Luo Hou not here?" Xuan Ming asked.

"His path differs from ours; he would rather see the world in chaos. He is deeply hidden. If it weren’t for the fear that his desperate actions might disrupt important matters, we, the Three Pure Ones, would have long since flattened his Demon Abyss in the Northern Region," Tong Tian Sect Master scoffed lightly, speaking indifferently.

During the ancient years, it wasn’t only the Witch-Demon War; that conflict occurred in the middle period of the ancient era, but in the earlier period, it was the struggle for supremacy among the saints. Tong Tian Sect Master had battled this Ancestral Demon Luo Hou, using the Slaying Immortal Four Swords. Luo Hou was no match for Tong Tian back then, so now speaking of this Ancestral Demon, Tong Tian Sect Master regarded him with contempt.

Xuan Ming said, "The Three Pure Ones invited us to the Jade Void Palace, surely not just to discuss these matters?"

Lord of Primordial Beginning said, "Empress Pingxin probably hasn’t yet received the master’s edict. You are invited here because there is a significant matter to discuss."

Finally, Zhun Ti spoke, saying, "What significant matter? Having received the Taoist Patriarch’s edict, we certainly will not defy it."

Amitabha also said, "Just speak directly, there is no need to beat around the bush."

Lord of Primordial Beginning and Laozi looked at each other, and then Laozi said, "Now the world is in disorder. The master already lowered the edict that saints must not intervene openly, only able to strategize in the shadows, or they will directly break the Heavenly Heart Seal and fall from the saintly realm. Now, the rise of Water Curtain Cave is inevitable, and to prevent too much loss of experts this time, we have decided to issue another Investiture of the Gods!"

"What!"

The three saints from the Buddhist Sect were all startled. Another signing of the Investiture of the Gods? Wouldn’t all those who die belong to the Three Pure Ones, wouldn’t that drastically enhance the power of the Three Pure Ones?

Laozi said, "This matter is no trivial concern, but signing the Investiture of the Gods is inevitable. I have a feeling that this imminent calamity will not pass so easily."

Lu Ya Taoist but sneered, saying, "Supreme Taoist Sovereign, if we sign the Investiture of the Gods again, won’t all those who die ascend to your Taoist Faction’s Deification Platform? Compared to you, won’t our Buddhist Sect be too weak?"

Laozi said, "Lu Ya, you’ve truly disappointed me. What time is it now? It’s a critical moment for the survival of the Earth Immortal Realm, yet you are still concerned about this. In that case, I vow that those who ascend the Deification Platform will never be enemies with your Buddhist Sect, how about that?"

Hearing Laozi speak this way, Lu Ya didn’t make him truly swear, as saints greatly value their dignity, and Laozi’s words were probably just a formal gesture. If Lu Ya really made him swear, it would be somewhat embarrassing. But a saint’s word is as good as gold!

Really, ascending the Deification Platform isn’t much; it’s just a slight reduction in power, and afterward having to obey commands, losing some freedom.

Nezha in the past wasn’t someone who ascended the Deification Platform but rather retired after King Wu’s campaign against King Zhou. Later when the Heavenly Court recruited him to an official position, that’s when he went. Otherwise, how could he have defected from Heavenly Court? If he had really been inclined to, he would likely have been struck to ashes by a Heavenly Dao thunder calamity.

Those who ascended the Deification Platform could not defy the will of the Divine Court, lest the Heavenly Dao would send down punishment, completely obliterating them.

"Do we need to establish a Lord of Ten Thousand Heavens this time?" Xuan Ming asked.

"No need to establish one, to avoid another like the Jade Emperor who develops a rebellious mind. Those on the Deification Platform will all be controlled by Lord of Primordial Beginning, in preparation for the coming calamity," Laozi said.

Lord of Primordial Beginning also nodded slightly and said to the Three Sages of Buddhism, "My fellow Taoists, rest assured, the Primordial will not use these people for his own private ends."

Seeing that the topic had reached this point, the Three Sages of Buddhism had little to say, though somewhat reluctant, they also understood that the matter was of great importance and could not be taken lightly.

"Go, fetch my Investiture of the Gods list," Lord of Primordial Beginning commanded the apprentice waiting by his side.

"Yes, my lord," the apprentice replied, withdrawing to retrieve the Investiture of the Gods list for Lord of Primordial Beginning.

Shortly, the apprentice brought back the Investiture of the Gods list.

The Investiture of the Gods list was golden-yellow in color, two feet long, and could be extended indefinitely once unfolded.

Lord of Primordial Beginning then ordered, "Go call Guang Chengzi."

The apprentice obeyed and left, and this apprentice was actually a Taiyi Golden Immortal, indicative of the profound depth of the Jade Void Palace.

Soon, Guang Chengzi was waiting outside the door, and Lord of Primordial Beginning had him summoned inside.

Guang Chengzi greeted everyone one by one, but did not recognize Xuan Ming.

Lord of Primordial Beginning then said, "This is also the lady in charge of the Underworld, Lady Xuan Ming."

It was then that Guang Chengzi bowed and said, "Guang Chengzi pays his respects to Lady Xuan Ming."

"I wonder what matter has led my master to summon his disciple here?" Guang Chengzi asked.

Since the Investiture of the Middle Ages, Guang Chengzi had been idle, spending his days in closed-door cultivation, and now he had reached the level of a Sect Founder and Primordial Golden Immortal, truly worthy of being the foremost among the Twelve Golden Immortals in the past. Xuan Ming caught a glimpse of the underpinnings of the Jade Void Palace, prompting a surge of awe within himself.

"The Twelve Golden Immortals were once captured by the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, and their Three Flowers and Five Qi were taken. Now this Guang Chengzi has actually cultivated to become a Primordial Golden Immortal. The other disciples of Lord of Primordial Beginning must also have strong cultivations!" Xuan Ming internally speculated.

Lord of Primordial Beginning instructed, "Go find Yun Zhongzi. The two of you should build a Deification Platform on the summit of Mount Qi together."

Guang Chengzi felt a silent alarm but dared not ask more questions; now that saints from both Buddhist and Taoist lineages had come to discuss, it was evidently no trivial matter, and there was also a newly ascended saint present. He received the decree from Lord of Primordial Beginning and hurried away, heading to Yun Zhongzi’s place to find him, then to Mount Qi to build another Deification Platform.

"Fellow Taoists, sign the list!" Lord of Primordial Beginning was the first to pick up the pen and sign his name on the Investiture of the Gods list.

The page of the Investiture of the Gods list had already been turned over; the previous page held the names of the Three Pure Ones, and the following page now bore the names of the current Heavenly Court deities. It was densely packed with the names of three hundred sixty-five Righteous Gods, with countless lesser gods listed thereafter.

Laozi was the second to sign.

The Tong Tian Sect Master took the pen, snorted coldly, and also signed his name. After all, the Investiture of the Gods list was unpleasant for him; he had suffered a great defeat in the battle of Investiture, with nearly all his disciples ending up on the Deification Platform, if not captured to become mounts for others.

The Three Sages of Buddhism also successively signed the Investiture of the Gods list. When it was Xuan Ming’s turn, she hesitated.

Laozi, as if seeing through her thoughts, then said, "Sign it. Now that the Revered Taoist has issued his decree, you cannot defy it! With this list, even if that monkey dies, a trace of his True Spirit will remain undestroyed, allowing for rebirth and cultivation on another day."

Xuan Ming sighed deeply, gritted her teeth, and signed.

This scene left the three saints of Buddhism somewhat surprised; Xuan Ming was a saint, how could she harbor such deep emotions?

Little did they know, Xuan Ming had entered the path through emotions.

After fifty thousand years, the Investiture of the Gods list was signed again, and the Deification Platform was reconstructed.

The outcome of these events remains unknown; please listen to the next part for the details.