Chapter 44

Tongtian and Yuanshi instantly guessed his meaning, then smiled as if it were only natural.

They soon went their separate ways. For this Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, they needed to make preparations.

Li Er did not try to keep them.

In truth, he too had many matters to handle.

Besides the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, who had learned that the great tribulation was approaching, could no longer sit still either.

Apart from Nuwa and Jieyin and Zhunti of the Western Sect, the other Saints were also drawn into a grand confrontation.

The killing tribulation, originally confined to the disciples of the Saints, gradually evolved into a struggle involving a broader range of Daoist lineages.

However, those beneath the Saints were merely supporting players in it.

Unexpectedly, this great tribulation also dragged Nuwa, who had always stayed removed from worldly conflicts, into it.

Amid the tense atmosphere, dazzling divine light suddenly flashed across the Thirty-Three Heavens, as though a supreme treasure had appeared, drawing forth endless spiritual energy.

This scene immediately caught the attention of all Saints.

The Saints sensed a powerful aura from the Heavenly Scroll and all showed wariness toward this spiritual treasure.

They realized that this spiritual treasure might be connected to the Heavenly Court.

Sensing this grand trend, many Quasi-Saint experts acted without hesitation and rushed toward the place where the supreme treasure had emerged.

Within the Lingxiao Treasure Hall of the Heavenly Court, Haotian, who had been in seclusion, was also startled awake by this aura.

He sensed the grand trend of a supreme treasure emerging, and several thoughts surfaced in his mind. He realized that all this might be connected to the killing tribulation previously triggered by the Supreme Saint.

Haotian could not help pondering the meaning behind this matter, sighing at the methods of the Saints involved.

[Rewritten text]

Clearly!

Even if the other Saints had failed to foresee the imminent emergence of the Heavenly Court's supreme treasure, the Supreme Saint had discerned the heavenly secrets.

After a long while, Haotian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his expression was clearer, yet the turmoil in his heart was plainly revealed through the hands tightly gripping his throne. He could not help sighing. "The Supreme Saint truly is unfathomable."

A long sigh echoed through the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

In the western land, beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, Zhunti sat atop the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus, pressed his palms together, and proclaimed a Buddhist invocation: "Amitabha."

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At this moment, he was surrounded by the cleansing of three thousand side paths, radiating boundless golden light that made others feel the urge to bow in worship.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged behind him, condensing into his Heaven-and-Earth Dharma Form—beneath an Ancient Bodhi Tree sat a Buddha, displaying the scene of comprehending the Dao of side paths.

If Yuanshi were here and saw that Zhunti's aura had actually reached the Saint level, his heart would surely be shaken.

In merely a hundred years, Zhunti had returned from the Heavenly Immortal realm to the Saint Dao Fruit. Joy finally appeared on his face. "Three thousand side paths—our Western Sect is finally complete!"

Clearly, the reason Zhunti could so quickly cultivate back to the Saint Dao Fruit was not the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, but the three thousand side paths he had comprehended.

At this moment, Zhunti and Jieyin sat cross-legged above the Merit Pool with their eyes shut. Two distinct yet mutually clashing auras rose from their bodies into the sky, seeming both Daoist and Buddhist.

In an instant, their destiny shifted, leaving only the aura of the Buddhist Sect.

Jieyin and Zhunti comprehended the three thousand side paths beneath the Heavenly Dao, separating the Western Sect from the Daoist school and renaming it Mahayana Buddhism.

The moment they spoke, the aura of the Daoist school instantly dissipated.

Within the Eight Sceneries Palace, the Heavenly Scroll and the phenomenon of the mysterious turning into Buddha appeared together.

Li Er watched with a smile at the corners of his mouth.

He murmured, "The Buddhist Sect and the Heavenly Scroll emerged at the same time. Do they intend to seize authority through this?"

His words revealed his insight into the situation.

The Western Sect had already transformed into Buddhism, and it had emerged just as the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods began, earlier than the predetermined trajectory.

All of this was because Li Er had slain Zhunti, forcing him to recultivate his Dao Fruit and perfect the three thousand side paths.

At this time, Li Er turned a blind eye to the Western Sect's transformation and focused solely on the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List.

His gaze burned as he declared firmly, "The Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, will ultimately be mine."

At the Jade Capital Golden Palace of Kunlun Mountain, Venerable Yuanshi wore a Daoist robe, his majesty fully displayed.

He looked up at the dual phenomena and sensed the emergence of the Heavenly Scroll.

However, when he saw the scene of the Western Sect's mysterious transformation into Buddhism, he could not help frowning.

He murmured softly, "Jieyin and Zhunti are indeed as Elder Brother said—harboring sinister intentions."

Sect Master Tongtian stood proudly in Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island, his gaze profound and silent.

Facing the Heavenly Scroll that was about to emerge, sword light flickered around him, carrying deeply hidden intent.

His concern and protective feelings for the ** under his sect were unmistakable.

However, if anyone blocked his path, he would not hesitate to wield the sword in his hand—slaying Heaven, slaying Earth, slaying all Saints.

That resolute aura sent chills through people's hearts.

At this moment, countless Great Divine Power Users across the Primordial World were drawn by the Heavenly Scroll, its soaring rosy light and treasure aura impossible to ignore.

When the Quasi-Saint giants revealed themselves one after another, they were all deeply shocked.

This struggle was already beyond their ability to take part in.

Even the aftershocks from the Quasi-Saint giants were beyond what Grand Unity Golden Immortals could endure.

The weak dared not even entertain such hopes.

Faced with so many Quasi-Saint giants, they understood that this was already a contest beyond their level.

The grand trend and aura shrouding the Heavenly Scroll seemed to be drawn forth by the rules of heaven and earth.

The Heavenly Scroll now took the form of a scroll and a divine whip, bearing a similar marvelous quality to the Human Scroll, the Book of Life and Death, and the Reincarnation Brush.

Two great characters were inscribed upon the scroll—"Investiture of the Gods."

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It radiated the power of the great tribulation, striking fear into anyone who looked upon it.

All who witnessed this could not help marveling. The appearance of the Investiture of the Gods Heavenly Scroll heralded the arrival of the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

Divinities appeared within the Heavenly Scroll; the mysterious Investiture of the Gods emerged.

At this time, giants from every side fixed their attention on this treasure.

Though the Saints remained hidden for now, Quasi-Saint giants appeared one after another.

The Heavenly Emperor Haotian, Queen Mother, and other experts surveyed their surroundings. Every one of them was a peak existence of the Primordial World.

Meanwhile, the lower-ranking Grand Unity Golden Immortals watched from afar.

No one dared make a rash move.

The conflicts among the factions behind those giants grew ever fiercer. The clashes between Nuwa and Demon Master Kunpeng, as well as between the Two Sages of the West and the Daoist Three Pure Ones, gradually came to light.

The Heavenly Emperor Haotian had his heart set on the Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip, and could not resist making the first move. The others followed close behind.

The following is the rewritten text:

What he sought to control was the final ownership after the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods ended.

At this moment, Haotian made his move, and the Quasi-Saint giants responded one after another.

Drawn by invisible auras, no one could conceal their whereabouts.

In the chaotic battle, strength and weakness no longer mattered, because no one could withstand the attacks of two or three Quasi-Saints and still preserve themselves.

Their goal was to protect the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List.

Clearly, the struggle over this Heavenly Scroll could not be decided by slaughter among Quasi-Saints alone.

Only after all the Quasi-Saint forces under the Saints had been eliminated and a true victor decided could the other Saints be convinced.

Whoever controlled the authority of Investiture of the Gods had to possess the strength to convince all Saints.

Otherwise, even with the Investiture of the Gods List in hand, he could not determine the Investiture of the Gods.

Though the Saints said nothing, all the Quasi-Saints understood this struggle perfectly well.

As the savage slaughter and collisions continued, Quasi-Saint giants were constantly eliminated.

The struggle among Quasi-Saints began with Haotian and Yaochi, continuing through battle after battle.

In the end, Quasi-Saints of the Daoist faction such as Zhen Yuanzi, East Emperor Jun, and West Queen Mother firmly held the upper hand.

The contest between Quasi-Saints across the Primordial World came to an end.

The three Saints in Mount Sumeru and Wa Huang Palace were destined to be eliminated.

The struggle for the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, was now concentrated upon the Three Pure Ones: Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian.

At this moment, a flash of sword light suddenly came from Biyou Palace. Tongtian had made his move.

The Qingping Sword shook the nine heavens. Boundless sword qi howled through the void, every strand sufficient to slay a peak Quasi-Saint, turning the faces of countless Quasi-Saints deathly pale.

Sword Dao reaching Heaven!

From the direction of Jade Void Palace, Jade Purity qi circulated, and divine light blossomed through the void.

The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi appeared, its precious radiance brilliant and its exotic fragrance spreading, as if the realm of immortals and Saints had descended.

Meanwhile, from the direction of the Eight Sceneries Palace, black and white qi circulated, and the sky revealed the twin poles of yin and yang.

It had to be said that after Li Er experienced the killing tribulation, a subtle change occurred in the authority to control the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List.

In the original trajectory, the ** under the Chan Sect were tainted by the killing tribulation, causing the Investiture of the Gods List to emerge ahead of time.

Originally, they had needed to sign the Investiture of the Gods at the Purple Sky Palace.

However, the Saints did not accept this arrangement, thus leading to the later dispute when the Flying Bear person sought a master.

Whichever Saint's sect he entered would control the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, and possess the authority to confer gods on behalf of Heaven.

But Li Er's killing tribulation left the ** under the Saints unaffected. Instead, it awakened the will of the Heavenly Dao, causing the Investiture of the Gods List to emerge directly.

Therefore, whoever wanted to obtain the authority of Investiture of the Gods now had to fight for it.

Whichever Saint obtained the Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip would hold the authority to confer gods on behalf of Heaven.

That was Li Er's purpose in this struggle.

Sensing the aura from the Eight Sceneries Palace, the Qingping Sword and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi instantly made their decision.

Although the Three Pure Ones were brothers, everything had to give way before the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

Victory in the struggle for the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, could not be easily decided. Only by eliminating one's competitors would there be a chance to obtain control of the Investiture of the Gods List.

Though Tongtian and Yuanshi had not discussed it beforehand, they both realized this at this moment.

In a one-on-one fight, neither was Li Er's match. Only by joining forces could they stand a chance.

Thus, they joined forces to attack Li Er.

The struggle among the Three Pure Ones was more shocking than ever.

Setting aside the previous command of the Heavenly Dao, the struggle among the Three Pure Ones now became the focus.

In that battle below, the Heavenly Dao Will controlled the Saints. They had no choice but to fight Li Er.

Yet in today's struggle for the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, no one restrained Yuanshi and Tongtian or forced them to battle Taishang.

By comparison, this contest was even more intense.

One sword light shone brilliantly with the might of world destruction, while one ruyi was incomparably noble, shaking heaven and earth.

Yuanshi and Tongtian joined forces to attack, releasing immeasurable divine light.

The terrifying pressure made every Quasi-Saint giant's heart tremble.

The Two Pure Ones joined forces to battle Taishang. At this moment, every Quasi-Saint giant focused their attention here.

They had only one thought: Could they win? Although the Three Pure Ones themselves had not arrived and only their Dao Attainment Supreme Treasures were present, the power of the Two Pure Ones joining forces could not be underestimated.

The entire void suddenly brightened, and three successive thunderous booms rang through it.

That terrifying momentum was enough to destroy heaven and earth.

Yet whether it was the Qingping Sword, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, or the Yin-Yang Taiji, their control was exquisitely refined to the peak.

At the moment they clashed, they ensured that no one could use the impact to approach the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, and seize the Heavenly Scroll supreme treasure.

At this moment, Li Er wore a smile. Seeing this, he shook his head slightly.

As his words fell, Taishang's Grand Trend within the Yin-Yang Taiji shot forth with a roar.

In the collision, both the Qingping Sword and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi were blasted away.

Incredible as it was, even with Yuanshi and Tongtian's power combined, they were no match for a single strike from Li Er.

This scene once again shook the Quasi-Saints present.

They knew that Li Er was the foremost among all Saints, invincible beneath Heaven.

Yet seeing him use only a Yin-Yang Taiji, without even deploying a Dao Attainment Supreme Treasure, to effortlessly defeat the immense power of the Two Pure Ones' combined attack still filled them with awe.

Yuanshi and Tongtian were defeated.

Storms surged through the void.

Time and space seemed to freeze. Only Li Er's Yin-Yang Taiji could be seen descending from the heavens, rolling with supreme might as it firmly seized the Investiture of the Gods Heavenly Scroll.

The pupils of the many Quasi-Saint giants contracted as they reacted instantly.

Yuanshi and Tongtian sensed the Heavenly Scroll, the Investiture of the Gods List, and the God-Beating Whip fall into Li Er's hands, and the Qingping Sword and Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in their hands fell silent.