Primordial Era: Refusing Hongjun's path to sainthood, I attained the Dao of Hunyuan.

Chapter 161 Investiture of the Gods

Xuanhuang sat in silence for a while, then suddenly said, "The great calamity of heaven and earth is about to begin again."

Upon hearing this, Kong Xuan was greatly alarmed and asked, "May I ask, Master, what is the meaning of this? The great calamity of the Lich King has only just passed, how can there be another great calamity?"

"Moreover, the human race is now the sole protagonist; without conflict, how can a great calamity be averted?"

Xuanhuang shook his head and said, "The great calamity of heaven and earth is not only determined by race. The Dragon-Han Calamity was a struggle for supremacy among the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin races, and the Lich-Demon Calamity was similar. As for the great calamity that is about to come, although the only race is human, why can't there be conflict within a single race?"

"Consider the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. During the time of the Human Sovereign Xuanyuan, there was also Chiyou who contended with him. Later, Yu the Great passed the throne to Qi, changing the public ownership of the world to a family ownership of the world. There were those who were not convinced, and the situation of turmoil was common!"

"Now, the Xia dynasty has overthrown the Shang dynasty, and the same applies to the Shang. Although the Shang dynasty has gained the world, it will soon disintegrate, and a successor will take over. This can also be called a struggle, only it has changed from a racial struggle to a struggle between nations."

Kong Xuan seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.

Xuanhuang continued, "Of course, this great calamity is not entirely a struggle within the human race. The one who truly dominates is actually the Great Heavenly Venerable Haotian. He is resentful because he does not accept that we, the Holy Heavenly Venerables, have been above him for a long time, stripping him of his authority and power. Thus, the struggle began."

"Furthermore, the coexistence of various religions, their conflicting doctrines, and their struggles over destiny are all manifestations of the Great Calamity. In addition, the disciples of the Chan Sect, such as the Twelve Golden Immortals Guang Chengzi, engaged in excessive killing during the time when the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan was fighting Chiyou at Zhuolu, which is precisely the cause and effect of this Great Calamity."

"The human race, the demon race, the witch race, and the numerous causes and effects of various religions continue the struggle of the previous kalpa, but will be reenacted in this kalpa."

Upon hearing this, Kong Xuan finally understood and said to Xuanhuang, "So that's how it is. But what teachings does the teacher have for me?"

Xuanhuang shook his head and said, "There is no instruction, I am just telling you. This great calamity has nothing to do with us. We just need to watch."

Kong Xuan seemed to understand, but Xuanhuang didn't explain further.

After some time, as expected, Hongjun issued a decree, ordering all the saints and Xuanhuang to go to Zixiao Palace.

"We greet our teacher." The group entered the Zixiao Palace and bowed to Hongjun.

Hongjun nodded and said, "The reason I have summoned you here today is because heavenly secrets are revealed and a great calamity is about to occur. Therefore, I have given you my instructions."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. The heavenly secrets were changing, and a great calamity was approaching, which everyone was well aware of.

Hongjun continued, "Besides that, firstly, Haotian came to see me not long ago and said that the Heavenly Court is incompetent and unable to manage the beings of the Three Realms. Secondly, it was your disciple of the Chan Sect, Yuanshi, who committed a calamity during the time of Xuanyuan, which is the root cause of this calamity."

"Therefore, I wish to establish the Investiture of the Gods, firstly to resolve the situation of the Heavenly Court being devoid of talent, and secondly to better complete this great calamity."

Upon hearing this, everyone agreed and said to Hongjun, "We will follow your instructions, Master."

Hongjun then took out the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip, and explained their functions to everyone, saying, "Although this great calamity was initiated by the Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, other sects also participated in it. Therefore, apart from Nuwa and Xuanhuang not establishing their own sects, and the fact that the Earth Immortal Sect has already transformed from the Immortal Path to the Divine Path, the Earth Immortal Sect is also not included."

"The remaining four religions—Human, Chan, Jie, and Western—are all included. The conferment of titles and ranks should be divided into three levels: those with deep roots and good deeds will achieve the path of immortality; those with slightly lesser roots and good deeds will achieve the path of gods; and those with shallow roots and good deeds will achieve the path of humans and still enter the cycle of reincarnation in the six realms."

As he spoke, Hongjun placed the Investiture of the Gods list in front of everyone and asked the five saints, Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti, to fill in their names.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, their faces showing distress. They both bowed to Hongjun and said, "Please have mercy, Master."

"We in the West are already suffering, and now that we are being deified, our Western religion should not be included."

After much pleading, Hongjun finally relented, saying, "Disciples of the Western Sect who do not leave the Western Paradise will not be included on the list."

Upon hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed. They thanked Hongjun and then watched the show from the sidelines.

The remaining three sages, Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian, looked at each other in silence.

Although the Three Pure Ones have separated, their brotherhood remains. However, now, the Investiture of the Gods is related to the future of their disciples.

Laozi thought for a moment, then sighed and said, "Very well, my Human Sect only has one disciple, Xuandu, so I have no choice but to be on the list."

After saying this, Laozi wrote a name on the Investiture of the Gods, which was "Taishang Laojun".

This Supreme Lord Lao is none other than the incarnation of Laozi's benevolent self.

Yuanshi and Tongtian looked at each other, but they knew that the Human Sect only had one disciple, Xuandu, and no matter what, he could not be on the list.

Lao Tzu used this substitution method, and they had nothing to say.

However, since the Human Education faction is finished, the remaining choices must be made between the two other factions.

Yuanshi gritted his teeth and said, "My disciples are all virtuous and accomplished, and they should not be on the list."

"My junior brother's disciples are mostly born from eggs and hatched from wetness, and are covered in fur and horns. They only cultivate magical power and do not cultivate morality. Moreover, they happen to have karmic entanglements from the previous eon, so they deserve to be on the list!"

Tongtian was furious upon hearing this, saying, "Senior brother, don't forget, this great calamity was caused by your disciples. If we're talking about cause and effect, it all lies with them. Guangchengzi and the others should all be on the list!"

For a moment, the two sages started arguing and pushing each other around, neither willing to sign their own disciple onto the Investiture of the Gods list.

"Ugh."

Laozi sighed and said to Hongjun, "Master, the two junior brothers are arguing incessantly and haven't reached a conclusion yet. Could we go back and discuss it thoroughly before making a decision?"

Hongjun nodded and said, "Alright. Let's come back in three hundred years."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi and Tongtian stopped arguing, but their relationship was now completely strained, and they couldn't get along for the time being.

Tongtian snorted angrily and left first.

After thinking about it, Yuanshi invited Laozi to travel with him.

The remaining five spectators—Xuanhuang, Nuwa, Zhenyuanzi, Jieyin, and Zhunti—also began to leave upon seeing this.

However, just as Xuanhuang was about to leave, Hongjun called him back.

"What other teachings does the teacher have?" Xuanhuang asked.

Hongjun shook his head and said, "I'm just asking about your current state of Dao. Of the Five Tai—Taiyi, Taichu, Taishi, Taisu, and Taiji—have you comprehended any of them?"

Xuanhuang smiled and said, "Xuanhuang thanks you for your concern, teacher. However, although the Five Elements Dao are five elements, they are actually one. Although I have gained some understanding, I dare not claim to have mastered them."

Upon hearing this, Hongjun nodded and said, "That is indeed the case."

"Very well, let's get through this great tribulation first, and I'll talk to you then."

Hongjun did not explain the reason and let Xuanhuang leave.

Although Xuanhuang had doubts, he didn't say anything more and returned to Xuanhuang Heaven.

However, three hundred years later, Hongjun did not come to invite him to Zixiao Palace again, nor did he receive any decree from Nuwa, Zhenyuanzi, or the two Western Saints.

It seems that the two Shangs in the Investiture of the Gods should be left to the Three Pure Ones.

Three hundred years passed, and on this day, Hongjun issued another decree, ordering everyone to go to Zixiao Palace.

Upon arriving at Zixiao Palace, they still paid their respects to Hongjun.

Everyone looked at the Investiture of the Gods, but they only saw a few dozen names on the list, all of whom were disciples of the Chan or Jie sects with extremely poor strength and aptitude.

As for the true teachings of the two religions, not a single one remained.

(End of this chapter)