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

Suppressing his shock, Yuan Zun stepped forward and asked, "May I ask, Divine Lord, who is the one who conferred the titles of gods?"

Zhong Jiu smiled mysteriously, his tone unfathomable: "The time is not yet ripe. This person is among your five sects."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock and suspicion. They looked at their fellow disciples with increased wariness.

The person who was conferred the title of God was among the Five Religions, which was enough to overturn the entire landscape of the cultivation world!

"The matter is settled for today. I have said what needed to be said. You may all leave and prepare for your tribulation."

Zhong Jiu waved his hand to shoo people away, his tone impatient, and his aura surged again.

"We'll take our leave!"

No one dared to linger; they quickly bowed and retreated in a disheveled state.

As soon as they stepped out of the City God Temple, the respect on everyone's faces vanished instantly, replaced by coldness and hostility.

The First Venerable and the Old Venerable clashed with eyes that seemed to explode like thunder. They both snorted coldly and left with a flick of their sleeves, their malevolent aura almost overflowing.

The True Lord of Cangdao walked briskly, a smile playing on his lips, and leisurely departed.

He is now the most advantageous of the five religions, and he is full of pride.

Only Yuan Zun and Hua Mu remained. They exchanged a glance, and Yuan Zun waved his hand to set up a barrier, cutting off outside detection. He said in a deep voice, "The great calamity is presided over by the Underworld and is a punishment from Heaven and Earth. It is impossible to protect us by our own strength alone. Why don't the Good Sect and the Elf Sect join forces and work together?"

A glint of light flashed in Hua's mother's eyes, and she immediately nodded: "That's exactly what I wanted!"

The two made a vow with a high five, then turned and left without further ado. They both knew that this alliance was as fragile as paper, and whether they could truly unite as one depended on how the situation developed.

The group returned to their respective mountain gates, and the first thing they did was to summon their core disciples to discuss the matter.

The old venerable one stood in the main hall, his gaze majestic, his tone leaving no room for argument: "From this day forward, everyone shall return to their caves for seclusion, forbidden from contact with the outside world. Those without caves shall remain by my side until the calamity is over, at which point they shall regain their freedom!"

The disciples were greatly alarmed, and one of them couldn't help but ask, "Master, the Divine Lord says that our Yun Sheng Sect is already deeply mired in calamity. Is this kind of escape really going to be of any use?"

The old venerable one sighed softly, his tone heavy yet firm: "Do your best and leave the rest to fate. I can protect you for now; the rest is up to your own destiny. It's better than sitting and waiting to die!"

The Yun Sheng Sect has tens of thousands of disciples. Now that I have taken them in, I will never allow anyone to harm them in the slightest!

"Rest assured, even if the sky falls, I will hold it up!"

The old venerable one's voice resounded throughout the universe, and the Azure Rainbow Sword was drawn in response, its cold light piercing through the clouds.

He lightly flicked the sword with his fingertips, and a sword cry that shook the heavens and earth resounded. A chilling aura swept across the land like a tsunami, reaching the sky where thunder and clouds rolled.

Protecting his disciples was his lifelong obsession!

Even if it means being shattered to pieces, even if it means defying the heavens, he would never let his disciple suffer the slightest injustice!

Within the Zhuo Sect, the First Venerable One acted decisively and publicly issued a decree ordering his disciples to go into seclusion to avoid calamity.

Although the disciples were worried, they dared not disobey. Only Master Puhua, whose primordial spirit was suspended in mid-air, had a fierce look in his eyes that was almost overflowing, and his teeth were filled with resentment.

Having been humiliated by being watched by Grand Master Ji Weng and Immortal Ruyi, and then having his physical body destroyed by Bai Jin's sneak attack, leaving only a wisp of his primordial spirit alive, he was eager to seek revenge immediately, given his vengeful nature!

But the Emperor had ordered everyone to go into seclusion, and this feeling of unease was suffocating him.

The First Venerable had already seen through his thoughts. After dismissing everyone, he left only True Man Puhua: "Puhua, I know you are unwilling, but the Investiture of the Gods is imminent, and this is not the time to act rashly! After the calamity, I grant you permission to take your revenge without restraint, and no one can stop you!"

Although Master Puhua was still filled with resentment, he understood the gravity of the situation and bowed, replying, "Disciple understands! Master, rest assured, disciple will first rebuild my physical body, and after the calamity, I will make my enemies pay for their blood debts!"

The First Venerable nodded, his tone softening: "Go back to your seclusion on Mount Sumeru. If you lack materials for reshaping your physical body, you can take whatever you need from here."

Even though the leaders of various religions have different personalities, they have never been harsh on their disciples. Protecting their own is an instinct ingrained in their bones.

Master Puhua felt a warmth in his heart and quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your kindness, Master. This disciple has already made arrangements."

The First Venerable waved his hand, and the primordial spirit of True Man Puhua transformed into a stream of light, heading straight for his cave.

After he left, the First Venerable closed his eyes, his weariness no longer concealed.

Today's events have had a great impact on him, and he needs to take good care of himself to calm down.

On the other side, after Yuan Zun and Hua Mu returned, they also ordered their disciples to go into seclusion to avoid the calamity.

Only the True Lord of Cangdao did the opposite, summoning core disciples and elders, and the atmosphere in the council hall was solemn.

"The core of this Investiture of the Gods calamity lies with the Four Religions. Why should we get involved? We should retreat to our mountains and live in seclusion until the calamity is over, then emerge and sit back and relax!"

An elder spoke first, his tone conservative.

"This is inappropriate!"

Immediately, someone retorted, their tone impassioned, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We are the least affected by the calamity. If we simply remain in seclusion, wouldn't we be wasting this heaven-sent opportunity? We should actively throw ourselves into the calamity, seize the Eastern fortune, and rise to power!"

"Nonsense! We are heading into this calamity; the slightest misstep could lead to utter destruction. How can we risk the lives of our entire sect?"

"The West is already barren, its fortune waning day by day. Clinging to this desolate place, it will never amount to anything! The East is where fortune converges; if we don't intervene now, we'll never have another chance!"

"Greed knows no bounds, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant!"

"Cultivators inherently defy fate and fight against destiny; without struggle, how can one attain the Dao?"

The two sides argued incessantly, their faces flushed red. The True Lord of Cangdao frowned, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before suddenly fixing on his disciple, Ye Youhua: "Ye Youhua, do you have any thoughts?"

Ye Youhua, who was usually impulsive, was unusually calm at this moment. After a moment's thought, he said, "I think that sealing the mountain is a waste of a good opportunity, and rushing into the tribulation is too reckless! It would be better to observe the situation and wait for the tribulation to become clear before seizing the opportunity to enter the arena and compete for the Eastern fortune. That would be the safest course of action."

These words, though seemingly a compromise, struck a chord with the True Lord of Cangdao, and everyone nodded in agreement.

This is undoubtedly the best choice if you don't want to give up the opportunity but also don't want to take too much risk.

"Do as you say."

The True Lord of Cangdao immediately made the decision, unaware that his momentary lapse in judgment had already sown the seeds of disaster.

If he had been determined to close the mountain and avoid the calamity, he might have been able to remain unscathed. However, he was indecisive and hesitant, wanting to share the spoils but also afraid of getting burned. This was the beginning of his eventual downfall.

News of the Investiture of the Gods, along with the actions of the five religions, swept through the entire cultivation world like a thunderclap, causing countless cultivators to panic and engage in heated discussions.

In their view, this conferment of gods was clearly a punishment from the underworld for the five religions, and if they were not careful, the five religions would be completely destroyed.

The five religions occupy seven or eight tenths of the power in the cultivation world, and this matter is closely related to every cultivator. For a time, people were in a state of panic and resentment was widespread.

At the summit of the towering Huashan Mountain, there is a "Teaching and Transformation Altar," a place for cultivators from all over the world to exchange ideas.

Monks often hold sermons here, each sharing their own teachings.

Recently, this educational forum has been bustling with activity, attracting numerous disciples from various schools of thought, who are engaged in lively discussions.

"The Investiture of the Gods is terrifying; it's probably no less severe than the Tribulation of Immortals and Demons of yesteryear!"

"Every so often, the underworld will unleash a great calamity, and this time the five religions are likely doomed."

"That's not how it works. The Underworld is always just. This conflict between the five religions destroyed the Western Earth's veins and harmed countless lives. They deserve to be punished!"

"But if the five sects are truly destroyed, it will be a catastrophe for the cultivation world! What will become of us disciples?"

"Alas, these are truly turbulent times!"

The concerns of the crowd were not unfounded. This was the era of the Five Religions, and the vast majority of cultivators were disciples of the Five Religions. No one wanted to see their patron collapse.

However, the calamity of heaven and earth had already taken shape, and everything was irreversible. Many people fell into despair, believing that as long as the underworld was determined to target them, the five religions would surely perish.

Just as people's hearts were becoming increasingly chaotic, a clear and cold female voice pierced the sky, instantly drowning out all the discussions.

The speaker was Zhong Yingmei, the vice leader of the Goodness Sect, who was also known as Fairy Zhong.

She held a prestigious position and was renowned far and wide. Moreover, because she was dedicated to educating the human race and did not get involved in sectarian conflicts, she was deeply respected by all cultivators.

"If the Underworld truly intended to destroy the Five Religions, why bother with the elaborate Investiture of the Gods? A mere flick of the wrist would be enough to obliterate them!"

Dressed in white, Zhong Yingmei descended on clouds, her ethereal beauty captivating. Her cold, resolute face was filled with determination. "The Underworld's actions are precisely just! One must settle one's own karma; one must resolve one's own calamities. Those who overcome them will live on for eternity; those who fail will only have themselves to blame!"

Since the beginning of her cultivation, Chung Ying-mei has believed in the underworld gods, and this belief has never wavered.

She devoted herself to the cause of good religion simply to realize her own ambitions. From initially seeking the well-being of the people to now working tirelessly for the entire human race, she is compassionate but never pedantic.

The damage to the Western land veins and the resulting loss of life should be borne by the five religions themselves, and should not be shifted onto innocent lives.

"It's Fairy Zhong!"

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they all stepped forward to pay their respects, their expressions full of reverence. "Fairy Maiden, you are merciful and willing to enlighten us!"

"No need for formalities."

Zhong Yingmei raised her hand calmly, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority, "The Underworld will never interfere with the Conferment of Gods. The Divine Lord has already made it clear that the Conferment of Gods has begun, and the future depends entirely on the five religions themselves."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with disbelief. Someone replied, "If the underworld doesn't interfere, the five religions can simply remain in seclusion and avoid the calamity. Wouldn't this Investiture of the Gods become a joke?"

"This is no joke."

Zhong Yingmei spoke with certainty. She was the person in the world who understood the underworld better than anyone else. She had witnessed the underworld's return to the mortal world and its wielding of supreme power. "Anything the underworld brings out is never as simple as it seems on the surface. You have far underestimated the dangers of the Investiture of the Gods."

No one knew that this Zhong Xiangu, who revered the underworld, was actually the younger sister of the Underworld God. If this were to be exposed, it would probably shatter her worldview.

"May I ask, Immortal Maiden, with the great calamity approaching, what should we, ordinary disciples, do?"

A cultivator mustered his courage to ask a question. Those who asked the question were all low-ranking disciples of the five religions. They were numerous but of low status and were extremely fearful and uneasy.

Zhong Yingmei's gaze swept over everyone, and she spoke bluntly: "The calamity is like cause and effect. The destruction of the Western Earth Vein by the Five Religions is the cause, and paying the price is the effect. As disciples of the Five Religions, you enjoy the fortune of your sects, and now that a great calamity is imminent, you naturally cannot escape responsibility."

One sentence instantly threw everyone into a panic and chaos.