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

Chapter 162 Intercepting Sect

After seeing that everyone had arrived, Hongjun said to them, "Although I have ordered the three religions to sign the Investiture of the Gods, they have been unable to finalize everything after two discussions."

"Because of Taiqing's words, apart from those already listed, the remaining vacant positions will be filled by those within the Three Realms who are destined to be listed. Therefore, I have summoned you here again to tell you that during the Great Tribulation, all those who enter the tribulation have the possibility of being listed."

Upon hearing this, Xuanhuang, Zhenyuanzi, and Nuwa remained expressionless, while Jieyin and Zhunti frowned slightly.

However, since Hongjun had already said that, the two of them had no choice.

Hongjun added, "A hundred years from now, the person to be conferred the title of God will be born. At that time, whichever sect he joins will be the one to control the Investiture of the Gods."

"You may now return."

Everyone left Zixiao Palace. Xuanhuang also returned to Xuanhuang Heaven, but unexpectedly, the Tongtian Sect Leader came to visit him shortly after his return.

Xuanhuang had no choice but to invite him into the Xuanhuang Palace, saying, "Senior Brother, your visit is truly a rare honor. May I ask what you wish to instruct me on?"

Tongtian sighed and said, "I have no advice to offer, but I have no other choice but to ask my junior brother for help."

Tongtian then briefly recounted the events that occurred during the Three Kingdoms Conferred Gods List period at Zixiao Palace, pointing out that Yuanshi had somehow managed to win over Laozi and make things difficult for him.

"I originally planned to have my disciples close the mountain gates and meditate in seclusion, reciting the Yellow Court Classic, after returning home, in order to weather this calamity. However, after much thought, I realized that this was not a good idea. The calamity of the witches and demons is still fresh in our minds. Even if we can avoid it for a while, how can it last?"

"Especially if a sage intends to harm my disciple, there is no way he can escape it."

"Therefore, I have come to you, my junior brother, to ask for your advice: what should I do now that the Investiture of the Gods has begun?"

After listening, Xuanhuang pondered for a moment and said, "Fellow Daoist, do you know that there is no eternal overlord in the world?"

"In the beginning of time, there was the first great calamity, and the protagonists were ferocious beasts. Afterwards, all races followed the will of Heaven and fought against the ferocious beasts, and they perished! After the ferocious beasts, among the hundred races, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin races rose to prominence. These three races also became protagonists of a great calamity, the overlords of Heaven and Earth. But what of these three races?"

"However, the same thing happened again. They were destroyed in one great calamity. After that, the Lich Kings dominated the world, ruling the heavens and the earth. For a time, they were incredibly powerful, but they could not withstand the calamity of one great calamity either."

"It is evident that there is no eternal overlord in the world. Even the human race today is no exception, except that the external has turned inward, and the struggle has become an internal conflict among humans, which has been replaced by the form of national dynasties."

Xuanhuang shook his head repeatedly and said, "I have seen the reason behind this and know the law of the rise and fall of the protagonists. That is why I do not establish a great sect, but only observe the changes of heaven and earth from outside the Thirty-Three Heavens."

Upon hearing this, Tongtian exclaimed in admiration, "So that's how it is! Junior Brother is truly insightful."

"However, everyone has their own ambitions. I wish to emulate Master Hongjun's ambition to spread the Dao to all beings, hence the establishment of the Jie Sect. Now that the Jie Sect is flourishing, a great calamity is about to begin. As their teacher, how can I bear to see them fall into the calamity? Once they suffer, their cultivation over millions of years will all turn to dust, and they may even be listed on the list of those driven by others."

Xuanhuang nodded, then said, "Senior brother still doesn't understand."

"Where is it unclear?" Tongtian asked.

"What I say is that there is no eternal overlord in the world, and by the same token, there is no eternal prosperity. Now that the Jie Sect has reached its peak, it should also follow this principle and decline," Xuanhuang said.

Upon hearing this, Tongtian's expression changed drastically, and he said, "Junior Brother, do you also intend for my Jie Sect disciples to be listed on the Investiture of the Gods, in order to preserve the Chan Sect?"

Xuanhuang waved his hand and said, "That's not the case; you truly cannot see through it. Let me ask you: After the rise of the Jie Sect, if the Jie Sect were to perish, what sect could rise again?"

Tongtian frowned deeply, unwilling to hear of the impending demise of the Jie Sect, but he couldn't help but ponder. After a moment, Tongtian asked, "Could it be the Chan Sect?"

Xuanhuang shook his head.

Tongtian then asked, "The Human Religion?"

Xuanhuang shook his head again.

Tongtian frowned even more, and said, "Could it be the Western Sect?"

Xuanhuang nodded and said, "It is indeed the Western Sect."

"Master Hongjun passed down his teachings and established the Xuanmen sect. However, my senior sister Nuwa and I did not establish a sect, so we are not included in this count. In addition, my three senior brothers and three junior brothers all established major sects, making a total of five sects."

"They are the Human Sect, the Chan Sect, the Jie Sect, the Earth Immortal Sect, and the Western Sect! In fact, before my senior brother's Jie Sect flourished, the first to flourish was actually my junior brother Zhenyuan's Earth Immortal Sect."

"However, while the Earth Immortal Sect flourished, it also perished. Now the Earth Immortal Sect is no more; it has been transformed into gods."

"After the Earth Immortal Sect, my senior brother's Intercepting Sect also flourished, claiming to have ten thousand immortals paying homage. However, have you not heard that prosperity leads to decline? After the great rise of the Intercepting Sect, it should also decline. But what will take its place in the great rise of the Intercepting Sect will not be the Human Sect or the Chan Sect, but the Western Sect."

"This is because the third senior brother is a brother of the eldest and second senior brothers, and their fates are intertwined. If the Jie Sect perishes, how can the Ren and Chan Sects not be affected and also show signs of decline? Therefore, the one that will succeed the Jie Sect and flourish is the Western Sect."

Tongtian was speechless upon hearing Xuanhuang's words. After a long while, he finally came to his senses and said, "Then according to Junior Brother's logic, wouldn't my struggle with Laozi and Yuanshi be doing all the work for others?"

Xuanhuang smiled again and said, "That's the theory, but things depend on human effort. I'll tell you the truth now, Senior Brother. With your supernatural powers, there are ways to ensure the continuation of the Jie Sect. Besides, Senior Brother might consider whether there are any other sects flourishing in the Three Realms, in addition to the others?"

Tongtian fell into deep thought, and after a long while, he said, "The fall of Shang and the rise of Zhou is a change of dynasties. The Zhou Dynasty will also rise to prominence."

"Anything else?"

"The Heavenly Court?"

Indeed.

Xuanhuang nodded and said, "The one who benefits most directly from establishing the list of gods is the Heavenly Court, which also has the opportunity to prosper."

"But if that's the case, what does it have to do with my Jie Sect?" Tongtian asked.

Xuanhuang said, "I often observe the teachings of the three religions, and thus I understand the aspirations of my three senior brothers. Senior Brother Laozi is a master and disciple, passing on his knowledge and teaching everything he knows. Senior Brother Yuanshi, on the other hand, has taken in more disciples based on Senior Brother Laozi's teachings, but he values ​​lineage even more, and tries to select and teach a disciple from among these disciples who can fully inherit his true teachings."

"As for you, Senior Brother Tongtian, your ambition is even broader. You believe in teaching all beings without discrimination, giving every kind of life a chance to attain enlightenment and cultivate."

Tongtian was completely confused and became even more bewildered.

Xuanhuang smiled and said, "I wonder if Senior Brother has considered that spreading the Dao is not limited to just one sect?"

Tongtian was stunned upon hearing this, and it took him a long time to come to his senses. He then exclaimed in horror, "Junior Brother means..."

Xuanhuang nodded and said, "Whether it's the Western Sect, the Heavenly Court, or the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, can't they all be seen as another Jie Sect?"

Xuanhuang's words were direct and to the point, yet they still made even the saints of Tongtiantang feel a chill run down their spines, their scalps tingle, and their hearts pound with fear.

However, Xuanhuang's idea was so shocking that it was simply unthinkable.

If we consider the Western Sect as the Jie Sect, and the Heavenly Court as the Jie Sect, then wouldn't the rise of the Western Sect also mean the rise of the Jie Sect, and the rise of the Heavenly Court also mean the rise of the Jie Sect?

Tongtian wanted to refuse, but for some reason, he felt his heart pounding wildly...

(End of this chapter)