I subdue demons and monsters, and cultivate immortality in hell to become a saint.

The group's faces turned deathly pale instantly, but instead of feeling relieved, they panicked.

They are all ancient monsters who have lived for countless years and possess formidable strength. Even if they face calamity, they are confident that they can escape unscathed.

But their disciples are different. They don't have the same great fortune and merit to protect them. Once they enter a calamity, they will most likely die without a burial place!

If all our disciples die, all our life's work will be destroyed, our sect will become an empty shell, our fortune will be lost, and we will be banished to the mortal world!

The group pondered the situation, growing increasingly alarmed with each thought.

In particular, the True Lord of Cangdao was so aggrieved that he almost cried. He was clearly the victim, so why should he have to suffer such punishment?

But when faced with King Qin Guang, they could only cower like quails, not daring to utter a single word of dissent.

Zhong Jiu glanced at them, already seeing through their thoughts, and a playful smile appeared on his lips: "This is my order, do you have any objections?"

The group exchanged glances, their faces full of bitterness, and replied in unison, "We... have no objections."

It's not that we don't have them, it's that we dare not have them.

Before King Qin Guang, their resistance was nothing more than ants trying to shake a tree; they would only be courting their own demise.

"very good."

With a wave of his sleeve, Zhong Jiu sent an invisible force sweeping the group out of the Xuanming Palace. His tone was indifferent as he said, "This matter is settled. Summon all your disciples to the City God Temple in the capital to sign the Investiture of the Gods."

The group was suddenly thrown outside Fengdu City, but they dared not utter a single complaint. They had long known that King Qin Guang's strength was unfathomable, but they were filled with doubt: what exactly is this Investiture of the Gods?

"Let's gather our disciples and go to the City God Temple in Kyoto to take a look!"

After a brief discussion, the group departed. The oppressive power of Fengdu made them dare not harbor any illusions and they could only obediently comply with the decree.

Upon returning to their sect, the group dared not delay and immediately summoned the sect's core members and top disciples, heading in a grand procession to the City God's Palace in the capital.

The five leaders, along with their core disciples, stepped into the City God's Palace. Their expressions gradually calmed down. Although the City God of the capital was majestic, it was worlds apart from the palace of King Qin Guang.

Before King Qin Guang, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly, but here, before the City God of the capital, they finally dared to speak.

They wanted to find out the truth about the Investiture of the Gods.

What they didn't know was that all of this was part of Zhong Jiu's plan. He brought them to the City God's Mansion so that they would dare to speak up.

Once you open your mouth, you've completely stepped into the trap he's set up.

The old venerable one could no longer contain himself and spoke first, his tone tinged with urgency: "May I ask, Divine Lord, what is the Investiture of the Gods?"

These words echoed the thoughts of everyone present. The leaders and disciples of the five sects held their breath, staring intently at the City God.

This concerns the lives and livelihoods of all of them, and there is no room for carelessness.

Zhong Jiu's voice came through the City God's body, calm yet carrying an undeniable power: "The Investiture of the Gods is a wondrous artifact of the Underworld. Born in response to the calamity, you will all enter the calamity. Those who perish in the calamity will have their physical bodies destroyed, but their souls will not dissipate. Instead, they will be recorded on the Investiture of the Gods, and that is what it means to be listed. After the great calamity ends, those on the list will all serve in the Underworld and be under my jurisdiction."

boom!

These words were like a thunderclap, leaving the group pale and trembling.

To take up a post in the underworld?

In other words, once their disciples are listed, they are no longer their people, but subordinates of the underworld!

This is not about quelling the calamity; it's clearly about completely weakening the five religions and severing their foundation!

The disciples' faces also turned grim. They were carefree and proud members of their sect in the mortal realm. Who would want to serve in the underworld and be subject to the jurisdiction of others?

Even if they could become spirits of the underworld, it would never be what they wanted.

Yuan Zun suppressed his shock and anger, and asked in a trembling voice, "May I ask, Divine Lord, is there... any chance of a turnaround in this matter?"

Zhong Jiu nodded slightly, pointed his finger, and a golden light flew out. It was the legendary Investiture of the Gods, hanging in mid-air, exuding endless majesty.

"Yes, but it depends on whether you dare to gamble."

"The Investiture of the Gods is still empty. If you voluntarily sign the list, your own calamities will be immediately averted!"

Zhong Jiu's voice was like a booming bell, causing the immortal mist inside the hall to surge. The blank Investiture of the Gods list floated in mid-air, and the golden light was so dazzling that the people from the five sects could not open their eyes.

The five sect leaders' expressions changed drastically, as if struck by lightning, and they froze on the spot, unable to move.

Voluntary signing?

This is hardly a turning point; it's clearly a way to force them to admit defeat and push their own disciples into a fire pit!

The hall was deathly silent; not a single person responded.

It was previously agreed that only those who perished during the tribulation would have their souls listed, but now they are voluntarily signing up for the list without even competing for it.

Let alone giants like the First Venerable and the Old Venerable, even ordinary disciples under their tutelage would not be able to swallow this insult!

Zhong Jiu tapped his fingertip lightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a knife: "No one is willing to sign the list?"

All the disciples lowered their heads in unison, their heads almost touching their chests, for fear that their names would be forcibly engraved on the Investiture of the Gods.

This is clearly a bottomless pit; whoever jumps in is doomed!

Some disciples, unaware of the situation, trembled with fear upon seeing the tense atmosphere around them.

If you voluntarily sign the list, your calamity will be averted; if you do not sign, you will face the calamity!

Zhong Jiu's gaze swept over the members of the five sects, lingering briefly on Zhong Yingmei, a subtle ripple flashing in his eyes.

The girl was deep in thought and didn't recognize that the god in front of her was her own brother whom she hadn't seen for a thousand years.

"I propose that Yun Sheng's disciples be included on the list!"

The First Venerable suddenly spoke, his tone sinister, his words aimed directly at the Yun Sheng Sect under the Old Venerable's command, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"Supreme Lord, you're talking nonsense!"

The old venerable one flew into a rage, his spiritual energy surging, his eyes so cold they seemed to drip ice. "Your Zhuo Sect prides itself on its elite, yet you dare not let your own disciples serve the Underworld? Instead, you set your sights on my Yun Sheng Sect!"

The First Venerable scoffed, his face full of disdain: "Your Yun Sheng Sect has countless disciples, but they are all born from eggs and moisture. What does it matter if a few die? What's there to regret?"

"All living beings under heaven are born equal; there is no such thing as a hierarchy!"

The old man's voice boomed like thunder as he retorted, "If your Zhuo Sect were truly loyal to the Underworld, you should have included your own elites on the list. Or are you harboring resentment towards the Underworld and deliberately making excuses?"

This label of "resentful underworld official" threw the First Lord into complete disarray. He abruptly stood up and shouted sternly, "Nonsense!"

He dared not bear such a crime, and hurriedly turned to Zhong Jiu, bowing respectfully and speaking in a fawning tone: "Your Majesty, please understand, this humble Taoist had absolutely no such intention; it was all this old venerable's slander!"

Chung Kau neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply nodded slightly.

The First Venerable breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head and glared at the Old Venerable, his eyes almost bursting with anger, and the tension between the two instantly escalated.

"My Zhuo Cult has very few disciples, and they are all core members. If they were to go to the Underworld, the Zhuo Cult would completely fall apart. It's not that I can't bear to, but that I simply cannot!"

The First Lord feigned righteousness and retorted, "It is your Yun Sheng Sect, with its many disciples, that refuses to sign the list; that is disrespectful to the Underworld!"

The two accused each other, neither daring to bear the charge of "disrespecting the underworld," but in reality, they were both testing the City God of Kyoto.

If we can push disciples with poor aptitude onto the list to make up the numbers, we can both eliminate the calamity and protect the core members. Why not do it?

The old man immediately replied, his tone laced with cunning: "Although I have many disciples, they are all worthless and incompetent. Could it be that the Divine Lord wants me to sign these unqualified people onto the list to appease the Underworld?"

These words stirred the hearts of the others, but none of them dared to actually speak. To deceive the underworld was to court death!

They were all waiting for the City God of Kyoto's attitude, but little did they know that Zhong Jiu had already seen through everything.

"Ordinary, mediocre disciples will simply vanish into thin air upon death. Those who can enter the Investiture of the Gods must be the core elites of your sect."

Zhong Jiu's tone was indifferent, yet carried an undeniable authority; with a single sentence, he shattered everyone's illusions.

The Fifth Master's face turned deathly pale instantly, his whole body trembled, and cold sweat soaked his Taoist robe.

The core disciples of the five sects combined are not many. To gather 365 would be a devastating blow to any sect, and could even lead to their complete annihilation!

"It seems none of you are willing to sign the list."

Zhong Jiu glanced at everyone, then raised his hand and put away the Investiture of the Gods, his expression completely calm.

He had long anticipated that these people were extremely self-serving, and no one would willingly do such a losing business.

"When a great calamity strikes, no one can escape it; do not harbor any illusions."

Zhong Jiu's gaze swept across the entire hall with piercing intensity, his voice icy and chilling, "Since no one is willing to sign the list, from this moment on, the great calamity begins. All five sects are caught in this calamity, with no way to escape!"

The group nodded silently, their faces grim but helpless.

There is absolutely no way we can voluntarily sign the list. Even if it means death, we must fight for it. How can we just admit defeat like this!

Suppressing his unease, the True Lord of Cangdao stepped forward and bowed, asking, "May I ask, Divine Lord, in what form will this calamity descend? Are the five religions treated differently as they enter this tribulation?"

"The calamity is not yet settled. The great calamity began the day the calamity arose, and the subsequent course of events depends entirely on your own choices."

Zhong Jiu spoke calmly, paused, and then added, "Differentiated treatment will naturally occur."

"This great calamity is caused by the five religions vying for fortune and destroying the spiritual veins of the West, resulting in widespread suffering. The calamity will be dealt with in three stages."

Zhong Jiu's voice suddenly turned cold, "The Zhuo Cult and Yun Sheng Cult, as the masterminds, will surely be plunged into utter ruin, with no hope of redemption!"

The First Venerable and the Old Venerable froze, their faces ashen, their hearts filled with despair.

They were already afflicted by a calamity, with no way to escape it!

Zhong Jiu then pointed at Hua Mu and Yuan Zun, his tone icy: "The Spirit Cult and the Benevolent Cult, having fueled the flames, can't expect to remain uninvolved. Entangled in calamity, they'll find it difficult to escape!"

The two men looked bitter, filled with resentment but dared not refute. The City God of Kyoto had already seen through everything. To argue now would be to defy the underworld and only lead to a more miserable death. They could only silently accept their punishment.

Finally, Zhong Jiu looked at the True Lord of Cangdao, his tone softening slightly but carrying a warning: "Although the Myriad Dao Sect was forced into this and is least affected by the calamity, the great calamity is full of variables. If they dare to act recklessly, they will still be deeply mired in the calamity and never recover."

"Whether you choose to retreat into seclusion and peacefully weather the storm, or recklessly enter the fray and try to snatch chestnuts from the fire, is entirely up to you."

The True Lord of Cangdao was overjoyed and quickly bowed in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Divine Lord!"

Compared to the other four religions, he had a wide range of choices: either he could go into seclusion to avoid the calamity and suffer minimal losses, or he could wait and see and perhaps seize a tremendous opportunity.

Zhong Jiu saw through his thoughts at a glance, sneered, and said in a piercing tone, "Keeping to yourself and avoiding the world will ensure your safety; but if your ambition is too great, and you try to snatch chestnuts from the fire, the Myriad Paths Sect will surely be reduced to ashes!"

The True Lord of Cangdao felt a chill in his heart and quickly restrained his thoughts, daring not to make any further moves.

"To initiate the Investiture of the Gods, there must be someone who bestows the titles of gods. This person must possess great fortune and great impartiality, wield the Investiture of the Gods List, and hold the God-Slaying Whip."

With a wave of his hand, Zhong Jiu summoned the God-Slaying Whip, which appeared in mid-air, crackling with purple lightning. Its divine pressure swept across the entire area, making everyone's knees go weak.

"With this whip, even a mortal can lash out at those who have made the list!"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, and no one dared to even entertain the thought of being on the list anymore.

Once on the list, not only will you lose your freedom, but you will also be subjected to torture and beatings, making your life worse than death!