Investiture of the Gods

His consort, Lei Zu, raised silkworms and made clothes. She also discussed pathology with Qi Bo and compiled the Huangdi Neijing.

Furthermore, the minister Cang Jie created characters and formulated the Six Scripts.

These actions completely reassured Shennong, who chose to abdicate on Mount Tai.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of Shennong's abdication and Xuanyuan's ascension to the position of Human Race Co-Lord.

On Mount Tai, the grand platform for abdication remained the same, only the abdicating party had changed from Fuxi to Shennong.

It was just like the torch of the Human Race, passed down from generation to generation.

Although the Human Race Co-Lord had changed, the Imperial Tutor remained a disciple of Taishang.

For this abdication ceremony of Shennong, not only the Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao came to witness, but also many Quasi-Saints and Zhen Yuanzi, the founder of the Immortal Estate.

Especially Zhen Yuanzi, who looked at Shennong on the high platform with immense excitement, respectfully calling out, "Younger Brother Hongyun."

Today, he had finally achieved great freedom and received the honor of a Saint.

The humans of the Lie Shan clan, with their mighty prowess, fashioned bows from wood, cultivated grains, experimented with herbs, and alleviated the suffering of the world.

Now that his cultivation was complete, in my supreme name, I bestow upon you the honor of the Human Race's Three Sovereigns.

The Earthly Sovereign is established! Li Er's voice, like ethereal Daoist resonance, echoed in every corner.

At this moment, the Kongtong Seal was raised again. After it descended, the position of the Earthly Sovereign merged with Shennong.

Beneath the seal's base, the name of the Emperor appeared, signifying the recognition of the human world's great trend, and this was the fruit of the Earthly Sovereign.

Instantly, following Fuxi, the image of the Emperor reappeared, it was the Earthly Sovereign Shennong.

From this moment on, Shennong was recognized by the Human Race's destiny and officially became the Earthly Sovereign.

An anomaly appeared between heaven and earth, with countless streams of merit converging, stretching for thousands of miles.

One portion went to Shennong's own cultivation, and another went to Xuandu.

Xuandu casually accepted it, intending to use it for his future breakthrough to higher realms.

On the grand platform of Mount Tai, as the streams of merit entered his body, Shennong's cultivation rapidly advanced, reaching the peak of Quasi-Saint in a short period.

This scene drew the attention of the Saints, including Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Nuwa.

They immediately realized that the different circumstances of Shennong and Fuxi must have a reason behind them.

At this moment, Zhen Yuanzi took out the Ninety-Nine Spirit Scattering Red Gourd, and the Saints instantly understood the key.

Shennong, who took the red gourd, burst into laughter and expressed his gratitude to Zhen Yuanzi.

Shennong was, in fact, the reincarnation of Hongyun, a fact the Saints tacitly accepted.

The authority of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was not in their hands, and whom Li Er wished to establish as the Earthly Sovereign was not something they could interfere with.

Hongyun had once possessed the Primordial Violet Qi. Although he had not succeeded in comprehending it, he already possessed the qualifications for creation.

His reincarnation into the Human Race and subsequent attainment of the Earthly Sovereign Saint status was only natural.

Venerable Yuanshi, though feeling complex about this, was quite displeased due to the disparity between Randeng Daoist's and Hongyun's fates.

He had originally thought that by accepting Randeng into the Heavenly Origin Sect, he could gain a slight advantage over others in the Yuqing lineage's Daoist tradition, but reality had repeatedly slapped him in the face.

After Li Er established the Emperor, Hongyun returned to Huoyun Cave like Fuxi.

Li Er's words echoed in Yuanshi's ears.

"The Imperial Tutor of the Five Emperors, do you wish to contend for the first position?"

Yuanshi inquired.

Of course!

This was a matter of face, how could Yuanshi let it go? Especially the position of the first Imperial Tutor among the Five Emperors, which would allow the Heavenly Origin Sect to overshadow the Intercepting Sect.

Thus, Yuanshi retorted, "Brother, are you willing to cede the position of the first master of the Five Emperors to my Heavenly Origin Sect?"

Li Er responded with a smile, "We shall discuss the details further at the Eight Sceneries Palace."

Afterward, the grand ceremony for the Earthly Sovereign's abdication concluded successfully.

Hongyun returned after the calamity, and Zhen Yuanzi and Li Er were both satisfied.

However, Jieyin and Zhunti faced a predicament.

When they were listening to the Dao in Zixiao Palace, the karma between Hongyun and them, the Two Sages of the West, regarding the matter of yielding was ordinary.

If it were merely an ordinary act of yielding, this karma would have been insignificant.

But Hongyun's act of yielding was related to the opportunity to become a Saint, making the act of yielding extremely crucial.

When Hongyun suffered his calamity, Jieyin and Zhunti chose not to help. Instead, they passed information to Ancestor Minghe, exacerbating Hongyun's predicament.

If Hongyun had died, they would have been free from this karmic debt of becoming a Saint.

Since the person involved was dead, there was no need to repay the karma.

They had calculated shrewdly, obtaining the opportunity to become Saints without paying the price.

However, Li Er's assistance to Hongyun in his rebirth today caught the Two Sages of the West completely off guard.

Hongyun was not dead, and the karma still existed, making it difficult for Jieyin and Zhunti to escape.

Hongyun was no longer the same as before; he had now become one of the Human Race's Three Sovereigns and a Saint.

The Quasi-Saints of the past had now stepped into the true realm of Saints.

Karma cycles, today's fruit originated from a long-standing cause.

This karma had already developed into true Saint-level karma.

The Two Sages of the West, Jieyin and Zhunti, showed a hint of heartache in their eyes, lamenting inwardly, "This Laozi is trying to push us, the Two Sages of the West, to a dead end."

After the abdication ceremony concluded and the Saints departed, Hongyun, formerly the Earthly Sovereign, revealed his identity, drawing the attention of many Quasi-Saint magnates in the Primordial World.

The Human Race's Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, who had originally garnered much attention, now had their focus diverted by Hongyun's appearance.

The gazes of the Primordial World's great powers turned towards Hongyun, their minds silently speculating.

Li Er remained detached, as if everything had nothing to do with him.

However, when meeting Yuanshi in the Eight Sceneries Palace, Yuanshi did not hide his disdain for the Two Sages of the West, laughing, "Elder Brother, your scheme has certainly hit Jieyin and Zhunti where it hurts."

The relationships between Saints had always prioritized benefit; when interests were at stake, they could set aside their prejudices and form alliances.

The future Investiture of the Gods was a clear testament to this.

Once the benefits disappeared, they would revert to their original state of mutual dislike.

This was the essence of egoism.

Li Er smiled faintly upon hearing Yuanshi's words.

When he promised Hongyun the position of Earthly Sovereign, he had already considered this.

This move was tantamount to establishing a creditor with whom the Two Sages of the West had a strained relationship.

Next, a good show was about to unfold.

Li Er turned to the main topic, proposing to grant Yuanshi the position of the first Imperial Tutor for the Five Emperors.

Yuanshi showed great interest upon hearing this and inquired what he needed to do.

Li Er did not explicitly state it but gave an important signal—the Lingjiu Palace Lamp was within your Heavenly Origin Sect.

This lamp would be of immense help to Xuandu in his imminent slaying of the three corpses, allowing him to perfectly align with the Dao of the Evil Corpse and the Good Corpse.

Although Yuanshi harbored disappointment towards Randeng, his choice was obvious when faced with such an important transaction.

He was willing to give up Randeng, a useless Vice-Sect Master, in exchange for the benefit of his own disciple-nephew.

Li Er had originally wanted to exchange for Yuanshi's Pangu Banner, as he had the idea of merging it with the Taiji Diagram and other treasures to attempt to reverse-engineer the Primordial Chaos Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Axe.

Li Er possessed the Pangu Imprint, the ultimate Spiritual Power for One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones.

With the Pangu Axe, his power would be sufficient to challenge the Heavenly Dao.

However, Yuanshi would not exchange the Innate Supreme Treasure Pangu Banner for the position of Imperial Tutor for the Five Emperors. Li Er knew this demand was impossible, so he did not propose it.

The time was not yet ripe, and too many words would be counterproductive.

Li Er shifted his attention to Randeng Daoist. This person had led many Heavenly Origin Sect Golden Immortals to betray the sect and join Buddhism during the Investiture of the Gods calamity, which was intolerable to Li Er, the Sect Master of the Daoist Sect.

Although freedom of movement was allowed in the Daoist Sect, direct betrayal was unacceptable.

During the Witch-Demon Calamity, the Daoist Sect had endured much bloodshed, but some Golden Immortals had chosen to betray the sect and cultivate other paths during the Investiture of the Gods calamity, causing Li Er great heartache.

As a pragmatist, Li Er decided to confront those who harmed the interests of the Daoist Sect, including the Two Sages of the West and Randeng Daoist.

Although there was no absolute fairness in the Primordial World, survival of the fittest was an eternal law, a rule that even Saints followed.

While Yuanshi was not as thoughtful as Li Er, their personalities were quite similar; neither possessed mercy, prioritizing only benefit.

From Yuanshi's perspective, he had no psychological burden in protecting and supporting Randeng Daoist.

During the Witch-Demon Calamity, Randeng Daoist had survived because of him and obtained the position of Vice-Sect Master of the Heavenly Origin Sect, allowing him to cultivate with the sect's momentum.

Now, Yuanshi wished to trade with Li Er for the position of the first Imperial Tutor for the Five Emperors, and Randeng Daoist was naturally involved.

If Yuanshi mentioned it, Randeng would have to respond.

The law of karma was ruthless; there must be a consequence for every cause, an iron rule of the Primordial World.

Although Yuanshi's disciple-nephew Xuandu was envied, Yuanshi, as a Saint, would not hinder Xuandu's path due to personal feelings.

He knew well that from a broader perspective, even Xuandu's learning, his own disciple-nephew's, had a part of Yuanshi's contribution.

His cultivation of Xuandu had long surpassed personal pride and narrow-mindedness.

Now, using Randeng Daoist's Lingjiu Palace Lamp as part of the transaction was extremely beneficial for Yuanshi.

This transaction between him and Li Er was a win-win situation, and both felt satisfied.

Ultimately, Yuanshi decided to use this lamp as a bargaining chip.

After Li Er agreed to Yuanshi's proposal, Yuanshi tore open a spatial rift in the air, revealing a majestic immortal mountain and the Jade Void Palace amongst the clouds.

He quickly found Randeng Daoist, who was cultivating, and extracted the Lingjiu Palace Lamp from his Primordial Spirit.

As compensation, he bestowed upon Randeng Daoist a similar Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Yuanshi then tossed the Lingjiu Palace Lamp in the direction of Shouyang Mountain.

Xuandu, who was in seclusion cultivating, immediately sensed it. After receiving the lamp, he bowed towards Eight Sceneries Palace to thank his senior martial brother Yuanshi for the gift.

Atop Kunlun Mountain, within the Jade Void Palace, Randeng Daoist was extremely dejected.

The Lingjiu Palace Lamp was his accompanying spiritual treasure, and now that it had been taken, he felt immense pain in his heart.

He knew that this lamp had been taken for Xuandu, Taishang's disciple.

Xuandu had previously used the Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp to slay his corpse, and Randeng had already foreseen this day.

Among the three lamps of Heaven, Earth, and Man, his Lingjiu Palace Lamp was the most suitable spiritual treasure for Xuandu to use to slay his evil corpse.

However, Randeng was merely a Grand Unity Golden Immortal with shallow cultivation. Faced with the actions of a Saint, he could only silently endure the humiliation.

Randeng did not dare to casually mention the famous saying, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river."

The Human Race had already been unified by Emperor Xuanyuan, who established the ancient kingdom system, divided territories, and entered a stage of self-strengthening.

After Emperor Xuanyuan abdicated the position of co-ruler, he finally achieved complete merit.

Zhuanxu, as the grandson of the Xuanyuan Clan and the son of Changyi, although not initially considered as a successor, his extraordinary background drew attention.

His mother, Nüshu, had conceived him after sensing the Yao Guang star of the Big Dipper.

Zhuanxu's birth was recognized by Guangchengzi, a disciple of the Heavenly Origin Sect Saints, who came to take him as a disciple.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Emperor Xuanyuan decided to pass on the position of co-ruler to Zhuanxu.

Xuandu, as the Imperial Tutor, remained steadfast.

Mount Tai bore witness to all of this, as Emperor Xuanyuan's role transitioned from successor to abdicator.

Many powerful cultivators observing the ceremony were surprised, but they were well aware of Xuandu's status as the Imperial Tutor to the Three Sovereigns.

They understood that this was a unique honor of the Human Race's Three Sovereigns.

At the same time, the unfamiliar figure appearing beside Xuandu signaled the end of the era of the Three Sovereigns and the dawn of the era of the Five Emperors.

Above the void, Li Er, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, the Six Saints, gathered once more.

What was noteworthy was that Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions seemed less than ideal, possibly due to the matter of the Earthly Sovereign Shennong being the reincarnation of Hongyun.

The Xuanyuan Clan lineage originated from the primordial ancestor Xuanyuan's comprehension of the Great Dao of Chaos, establishing formations, unifying the Human Race, and dividing Huaxia into nine provinces.

Today, Emperor Xuanyuan's achievements were complete, and he received the esteemed title of one of the Human Race's Three Sovereigns. Xuandu acknowledged him as the Human Sovereign.

This ceremony was extraordinary. Xuanyuan bowed deeply to Xuandu, showcasing their profound master-disciple bond.

The merit of the Three Sovereigns' Imperial Tutor erupted from Xuandu, demonstrating his profound authority in the way of the master.

The lamp light flickered, infinitely bright! At the wick, three streams of fire—gold, purple, and gray—intertwined, and an image appeared.