Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

The myriad immortals of the Jie Sect, using their own Dao fruits, magical power, and life as a foundation, transformed into endless variations within the formation. Immortal light and demonic energy intertwined, and the great formation evolved into earth, water, fire, and wind. Ferocious beast phantoms roared, and countless magical treasures and supernatural powers flickered within, turning the vast territory beyond Jin'ao Island into a meat grinder.

However, faced with the combined forces of the four saints, this tragic resistance ultimately proved futile.

Lao Tzu's head is adorned with the Xuanhuang Pagoda, impervious to all laws. With a light tap of his flat cane, even a Jie Sect immortal would vomit blood and fly backward, his three flowers swaying on his head and his five energies dissipating from his chest.

Yuanshi Tianzun sat in the central heaven, the illusory image of the Pangu Banner swayed slightly, and the chaotic sword energy crisscrossed. Wherever it passed, the array flags broke, and the immortals' bodies and primordial spirits turned into dust.

The monks Jieyin and Zhunti showed no mercy; under the all-encompassing Buddha light, their power of salvation was all-pervasive. Many disciples of the Jie Sect with slightly weaker cultivation, upon being bathed in the Buddha light, involuntarily laid down their magic weapons, their faces filled with fascination, chanting Buddhist mantras, and turning to attack their fellow disciples! The Western followers followed closely behind, throwing out golden bowls, prayer beads, and precious banners, capturing the souls of those Jie Sect disciples who had been converted or had lost their ability to resist, filling them into the "Eight Treasures Merit Pool" projection they had prepared beforehand, to serve as provisions for future Dharma protectors, Vajras, and Arhats of the Buddha's Kingdom!

"Shameless!" Daoist Duobao's eyes were bloodshot. As the chief disciple of the Jie Sect and the one in charge of the core of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, he watched his fellow disciples being either killed, converted, or had their souls taken away. He was filled with grief and indignation.

He roared and, disregarding his own safety, unleashed all his magical power to completely detonate the final changes of the Myriad Immortals Formation!

"Ten thousand immortals fall, the will of Heaven is severed! Explode!"

Rumble—!

The entire Ten Thousand Immortals Formation seemed to transform into a star about to explode. Boundless immortal power, demonic power, malevolent energy, and resentment began to contract inward, then suddenly expanded outward and burst! This was a suicidal tactic, aiming to use the remaining power of the Ten Thousand Immortals to severely injure the Four Saints and the incoming enemy!

"Stubborn fool!" Yuanshi snorted coldly, and the illusory image of the Pangu Banner was fully unfurled. A chaotic storm, as if creating the world, swept out and collided with the core of the explosion!

At the same time, Jieyin and Zhunti also offered up the twelve-petaled golden lotus of merit and the seven-jeweled tree, with the Buddha's light and seven-colored radiance intertwining to form an endless barrier.

Lao Tzu sighed, and the Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda of Heaven and Earth lowered down billions of Xuanhuang Qi to protect everyone on his side.

The earth-shattering explosion engulfed the entire battlefield.

When the light faded, the Myriad Immortals Formation was completely destroyed. Only countless fragments of broken magical artifacts, scorched earth, and the lingering stench of blood and wails remained. Most of the Jie Sect disciples had been annihilated in the explosion; the few survivors were all severely injured and on the verge of death, quickly subdued and captured by the disciples of the Chan Sect and the Western Sect.

Daoist Duobao was covered in blood, his Daoist robes were torn, and his aura was extremely weak. He was trapped by the four Golden Immortals, Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Yuding Zhenren, and Taiyi Zhenren, using the Four Directions Treasure Banners. Looking at the devastation and the loss of his fellow disciples, tears of blood streamed down his face.

Those who were personally taught by the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit, Holy Mother of Wudang, etc., either died in battle, were captured, or escaped by chance like the Holy Mother of Tortoise Spirit (this is the only example).

The Jie Sect, a sect renowned throughout the primordial world where ten thousand immortals paid homage, was utterly destroyed in this battle, existing only in name!

The four saints stood in mid-air, their faces showing little joy.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Lao Tzu's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Yuanshi remained expressionless, as if he had simply done what he was supposed to do.

Jieyin and Zhunti could not hide the joy in their eyes. This time, not only had the fortune of the Xuanmen been greatly weakened, but a large number of disciples of the Jie Sect had also been captured, and the foundation of the Western Sect had been greatly enhanced!

"Duobao, what else do you have to say?" Yuanshi looked at the captured Daoist Duobao.

Daoist Duobao gave a bitter laugh, closed his eyes and did not answer, his heart ashen.

"The Investiture of the Gods still has vacancies. You disciples of the Jie Sect are shallow in your roots and entangled in karma. You are worthy to be listed and fill the divine positions to atone for your sins," Yuanshi said slowly. "Duobao, as the chief disciple, you have failed to restrain your disciples and are also guilty. Now your cultivation is revoked, and you are escorted to the Heavenly Court to await your judgment."

Guang Chengzi and the others received the order and were about to step forward to carry it out.

At that very moment, another unexpected event occurred!

In the center of the battlefield, where countless immortal souls and endless malevolent energy converged, a faint spiritual light suddenly appeared, then rapidly expanded, transforming into a phantom, towering figure of a young Taoist priest—the last divine imprint left by the Tongtian Sect Master in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation!

This brand was originally the core of the binding array; now that the array has shattered, the brand will also dissipate. But before it vanishes, it lets out a mournful howl that shakes the primordial world:

"What you sow today will reap tomorrow!"

"I, Tongtian, swear: Though the Jie Sect has disintegrated, its lineage will not perish! Not a single wisp of my remnant soul will vanish, not a trace of my true spirit will be extinguished, and one day we will see the light of day again!"

"Yuanshi! Jieyin! Zhunti! This hatred will last forever!"

Amidst the mournful howls, the brand completely shattered, transforming into specks of clear light. Some merged into the void, while others, seemingly drawn by some force, shot off in several different directions—the largest of which headed towards the Netherworld! A smaller one, however, disappeared into the depths of the East Sea…

The four sages' expressions changed slightly. Tongtian's final divine imprint seemed to have used some secret method to send out a portion of the Jie Sect's fortune and fragments of its lineage!

"A dying struggle." Yuan Shi snorted coldly, not paying much attention. A few fragments of fortune are nothing to worry about.

Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes flickered as they secretly noted the directions in which the clear lights had vanished, pondering whether they could search for and convert them in the future.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Formation has come to an end, and the dust has settled.

The four sages did not linger and departed on their own. Laozi returned to Shouyang Mountain, Yuanshi led the immortals of the Chan Sect back to Kunlun, while Jieyin and Zhunti, laden with "harvests," happily returned to the Western Paradise.

Jin'ao Island fell into complete silence. The protective array, having lost its master, slowly closed, and the spiritual energy within the island began to dissipate. The magnificent scene of countless immortals coming to pay homage was gone forever.

……

In the distance, through the clouds, Lu Chen watched all of this quietly.

He saved the Holy Mother of the Tortoise Spirit, but was powerless to change the inevitable annihilation of all immortals. Tongtian's final, mournful cry stirred a turmoil within him as well.

"Is the Jie Sect really over?" he murmured to himself.

Suddenly, he sensed that the small ray of clear light flying towards the depths of the East China Sea seemed to be attracted by something as it approached a familiar sea area, its speed suddenly increasing, and then... it disappeared into an archipelago shrouded in mist.

"That's... towards the Three Immortal Islands?" Lu Chen was taken aback.

The Three Immortal Maidens! A portion of Tongtian's last remaining Daoist lineage and fortune actually flew to the Three Immortal Islands? Was it a coincidence, or was it intentional on Tongtian's part?

He immediately remembered that the Three Immortals of Sanxiao still possessed the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, which shared the same origin as the Great Dao of Tongtian. Perhaps, in his final moments, Tongtian had placed some of his hopes on them?

Lu Chen's eyes flickered slightly. He recalled that when he persuaded the Three Immortals to return to the island, he had discussed with them the Dao, mentioning that combining the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation with the Primordial Golden Cauldron to create a Primordial World might offer a glimmer of hope for survival amidst the calamity…

"Could it be..." A thought arose in his mind.

He didn't immediately head to the Three Immortal Islands to investigate, as they were undoubtedly under intense scrutiny from all sides. He concealed his aura and used a brick-遁 (a type of escape technique) to leave this troublesome place.

After this battle, the climax of the Investiture of the Gods had passed, and the outcome of the Shang-Zhou conflict was almost a foregone conclusion. But Lu Chen knew that things were far from over.

The destruction of the Jie Sect was merely the surface. The oath that reached the heavens, the scattered fortune, the rescued Turtle Spirit Mother, and the Daoist lineage that flew towards the Three Immortal Islands... these were all variables.

More importantly, because of the "scapegoating" in the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, he was now firmly on the "kill list" of Yuanshi Tianzun and the two Western Saints. Although he successfully escaped, the grudge was now irreconcilable.

"Next, it's my turn to have a headache," Lu Chen said with a wry smile.

However, he didn't gain nothing. He absorbed a portion of the Immortal Execution Sword Intent, deepening his understanding of the Chaos Brick and the Great Dao of Power; he saved the Holy Mother Turtle Spirit, forging a good relationship (although she might not know it was him); more importantly, he witnessed the battle of the saints and the operation and destruction of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, which greatly enhanced his realm and vision.

"First, I'll find a place to retreat and digest what I've learned, and recover from my injuries. Then..."

He looked at Kunlun Mountain, then at the Western Sacred Mountain, a cold glint gradually rising in his eyes.

"Yuanshi, Jieyin, Zhunti... and that bastard who lurked in the shadows and plotted against me..."

"We'll settle this score properly once I'm out of seclusion!"

With a flash of light, Lu Chen's figure completely disappeared into the primordial sky, heading towards the depths of chaos, to that hidden place known only to himself.

The grand drama of the Investiture of the Gods has come to a close.

But Lu Chen's legendary "Sixth Brother" story, and the undercurrents and revenge hidden beneath the calm surface, have only just begun.