Chapter 50

At this moment, Zhunti's visit seemed perfectly timed. He might even win an Innate Five Directions Flag.

Amid the interweaving golden light, Zhunti focused his gaze on the radiance.

At last, they saw a solemn golden scroll slowly tear through the Ninth Scene in an utterly breathtaking manner, finally appearing outside the Eight Sceneries Palace.

A whip also appeared alongside it.

The whip was three feet, six inches, and five fen long. It had twenty-one sections, each bearing four talismanic seals, for a total of eighty-four seals.

This was the subsidiary treasure that stood alongside the Heavenly Scroll Reincarnation Brush—the God-Beating Whip.

Thus, the Heavenly Scroll Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip finally emerged in response to fate.

At that moment, Zhunti, Jiang Ziya, Shen Gongbao, and Li Er were all watching the Investiture of the Gods List shrouded in golden light.

The golden light was brilliant, its majesty fully displayed, inspiring awe in all who saw it.

"So that is the Heavenly Scroll Investiture of the Gods List?"

A trace of shock appeared in everyone's eyes.

Regardless of the depth of their cultivation, all of them could sense a ripple of rules and order from the Investiture of the Gods List.

Among the Heaven, Earth, and Human Books, the Heavenly Scroll was undoubtedly the most exalted.

Golden light flowed around it like mist, enveloping the Investiture of the Gods List. It appeared gentle, yet it contained an indestructible might.

Feeling that power, Zhunti could not keep his heart calm.

Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya stared blankly at the Investiture of the Gods List before them.

Although they knew it was the central key to the Great Tribulation, seeing it in person gave them an indescribable feeling.

The Investiture of the Gods List was now on the verge of fully emerging. It had reached a critical moment.

Zhunti was interrupted by Li Er, who turned to Shen Gongbao. "Will you try recognizing it as your master first?"

Though he appeared to yield and let Jiang Ziya test the waters, Zhunti also worried that Li Er would secretly assist Jiang Ziya's side.

After receiving the order, Shen Gongbao merely smiled indifferently.

He had long known that everything about him was false. Whether he could make the Investiture of the Gods List acknowledge him as its master was something he had already understood.

To him, the Green Lotus Precious Color Flag had nothing to do with him anyway. If he lost, then he lost.

Yet just as Shen Gongbao had expected, when he poured his mana into the Investiture of the Gods List, the golden scroll did not react at all.

Zhunti's mentality completely shattered as he roared, "Impossible! My disciple is a Golden Immortal—how can he fail to make the Investiture of the Gods List acknowledge him as its master? Jiang Ziya is merely an immortal who has yet to become an Immortal. How could he possibly do it?"

Endless shock filled his heart.

The moment the Saints sensed the emergence of the Investiture of the Gods List and saw that Shen Gongbao could not make it acknowledge him as master, they finally realized that Jiang Ziya was the true protagonist of the Investiture of the Gods.

Watching this scene, the expressions of All Saints were indescribably complicated. Some rejoiced, while others worried.

In contrast, Li Er remained calm. With a faint smile that was not quite a smile, he looked at Zhunti and reminded him, "Zhunti, a wager is a wager. It is time to hand over the Green Lotus Precious Color Flag."

Zhunti's expression became even uglier upon hearing that.

The Green Lotus Precious Color Flag was a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure of their Western Buddhist Sect. He would only have brought it out if he had been certain of winning the wager.

Now, not only did he have to suffer humiliation, he was also about to lose this treasure.

The resentment and impatience in his heart were beyond words.

At last, he could not help shouting, "I do not believe it! I must first verify whether this Investiture of the Gods List is genuine!"

He waved the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and swept it toward the Investiture of the Gods List hanging in the void.

The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree was his Dao Attainment Supreme Treasure. It could sweep away all things, and its power was formidable.

Zhunti hoped to use this opportunity to verify the authenticity of the Investiture of the Gods List and recover some of his dignity.

Yet Li Er did not stop him, seemingly allowing him to make the attempt.

Zhunti had always been thoughtful and meticulous, considering every possibility before acting. Yet once he acted, he would always be decisive and ruthless.

But this time, faced with the mysterious Heavenly Scroll Investiture of the Gods List, he had clearly encountered something difficult to handle.

Zhunti was destined to face an unforeseen challenge this time.

The majesty contained within the mysterious Heavenly Scroll Investiture of the Gods List far exceeded his imagination. It seemed to contain the power of heaven and earth's order and laws.

Even he did not dare underestimate such power lightly.

Even though the Investiture of the Gods List had yet to reveal all of its power, the momentum of the Great Tribulation alone had already made him feel pressure.

The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree trembled in his hand as he sensed an intense threat.

Even as he resisted with all his strength, he was still forced to cough up blood and retreat beneath the pressure of the Great Tribulation's momentum.

At that moment, his heart was filled with unwillingness and terror.

He knew that he did not dare rashly challenge the true power of the Investiture of the Gods List.

It was not merely because of the Investiture of the Gods List's own power, but because the power of heaven and earth's order and laws contained within it was something he could not resist.

At this moment, he seemed to have lost all initiative. Facing such overwhelming external force, he felt utterly helpless and dejected.

Within the sacred grounds of the Saints, Yuanshi and Tongtian silently observed everything.

Seeing Zhunti's plight, both of them laughed.

They knew that Zhunti had truly run into trouble this time.

Faced with such a challenge, even Saints would feel pressure.

Zhunti had already lost his usual composure and confidence. His expression was incomparably gloomy, as though he had fallen into a deep predicament.

Zhunti's questioning voice echoed through the air. "Is this Investiture of the Gods List real?"

His words carried intense uncertainty and distrust.

Li Er answered calmly, "Whether it is real or not is not for you or me to decide. It depends on Jiang Ziya's ability."

Though Zhunti remained tough on the surface, he was still deeply shaken within.

He harbored doubts about Li Er's answer and questioned further, "You think Jiang Ziya of your sect alone can make it acknowledge him as master?"

But Li Er did not answer him directly.

He merely encouraged Jiang Ziya to prove it through action.

Jiang Ziya nodded, showing absolute trust in Li Er.

He knew that even if others could not accomplish something, it did not mean his master could not.

Thus, he stepped forward, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

He was Taishang's registered **, and all the Saints were extremely curious about his actions.

They all wanted to know what this young man could do. Would he gain the Investiture of the Gods List's recognition? It was a question to them—and an even greater challenge to Zhunti.

Yet no matter how those strange gazes focused upon him, Jiang Ziya seemed unaffected.

He closed his eyes and began cultivating a special technique.

This technique originated from the Dao arts of Taishang Induction.

For mortals who had not obtained divine abilities, it was an unimaginable realm.

It was the only cultivation technique his teacher, Li Er, had given him.

Today, he was prepared to use it.

At that moment, the Visage of the Flying Bear emerged behind him, and a special, mysterious power surrounded him.

His body began to drift, as if guided by some force toward the Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, Jiang Ziya successfully grasped the Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip in his hands.

At that moment, Zhunti's expression changed drastically, stunned by what had happened before his eyes.

The other Saints likewise revealed shocked expressions.

They had originally believed Shen Gongbao would be the one to carry out the Investiture of the Gods, but reality had surpassed their expectations. Jiang Ziya was the true one chosen for it.

When Jiang Ziya's aura surged and revealed the status of the Visage of the Flying Bear, storms of shock arose in the hearts of every one of those Saints.

They immediately connected this to Li Er's methods. Only the Supreme Saint could create such a profound wondrous art.

Unwillingness and shock intertwined in Zhunti's heart, as though his heart were bleeding.

He had originally intended to force Li Er's hand, only to be slapped in the face by reality once again.

He felt as though he had brought humiliation upon himself and lost all face.

Li Er, however, remained calm and collected as he directly demanded the Green Lotus Precious Color Flag from Zhunti.

Zhunti said nothing further and directly handed over the flag.

Then he left the Eight Sceneries Palace in disgrace with Shen Gongbao.

Within the Eight Sceneries Palace, Li Er looked at Jiang Ziya, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He had long known that the Investiture of the Gods List would choose Jiang Ziya as its wielder, but seeing it happen for real still stirred some emotion in him.

Their Taishang Lineage seemed to have truly accomplished the feat of gathering the Heaven, Earth, and Human Books.

Looking across the Four Saints of the Three Realms, who would dare act as their Taishang Lineage did? This lineage alone stood apart.

Zhunti had arrived full of enthusiasm, only to leave disappointed after being thoroughly dragged into the waters.

One had to know that the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods was no longer limited to the disciples of Saints. It would affect the entire primordial world.

This tribulation had both benefits and drawbacks. The benefit was that Saints could avoid slaughter, while the drawback was that all sides would have to contend through their own strength.

Though Zhunti was powerful, if he only wished to fish in troubled waters, he feared he would not get his wish.

Li Er had long seen through his intentions and left him with nowhere to hide.

The disciples of the Two Sages of the West might have been stable, but under Li Er's strategy, the Buddhist Sect had been dragged into the waters.

Why? Because the Buddhist Sect's fate was closely tied to Shen Gongbao, and Zhunti could not sever that connection.

Under Li Er's gaze, Zhunti felt incomparably embarrassed.

He had failed to obtain the Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip, only to lose the Green Lotus Precious Color Flag instead. It was truly not worth the loss.

Before the true man of the Investiture of the Gods, Shen Gongbao, any words seemed pale and powerless.

The Shen Gongbao Zhunti had raised was not the true candidate for the Investiture of the Gods, leaving Zhunti utterly helpless.

Likewise, Shen Gongbao's expression shifted repeatedly as he faced this scene.

Especially after seeing his master Zhunti's performance, he understood even more clearly the difference between Saint and Saint.

Shen Gongbao firmly believed in the promise Li Er had once given him.

Among all the Saints, he believed that only Taishang could change his fate.

As for his master Zhunti, Shen Gongbao did not care much. Following the principle of "better a dead fellow Daoist than a dead poor Daoist,"

even between master and disciple, he was more inclined to preserve himself.

He felt no sense of belonging toward the Buddhist Sect and cared only about his own growth.

Although Zhunti had accepted him as a disciple and used the Eight Treasures Merit Pool to rapidly raise his cultivation, Shen Gongbao did not consider that much in his eyes.

If he had not possessed the Visage of the Flying Bear, would Zhunti have given so much? The answer was clearly no.

During the days when Li Er had planted him as a hidden piece, Shen Gongbao had only one goal: under the name of "Fellow Daoist, please stay,"

to send the Buddhist Sect on a trip to the Investiture of the Gods Platform.

Jiang Ziya making the Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip acknowledge him as master today was nothing at all in Shen Gongbao's eyes.

He even brought "Fellow Daoist, please stay"

to its fullest extent, using those very words on his master Zhunti as well.

Outside the gates of Mount Sumeru, his voice rang with force, making Zhunti, who was about to return, stop in his tracks.

Zhunti knew that only his unfortunate disciple would say those words. He was exceedingly displeased and even felt the urge to kill Shen Gongbao.

Although Zhunti knew that Shen Gongbao was a central figure in the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods and could not be killed due to his Visage of the Flying Bear, he forcefully suppressed the impulse.

He turned back to look at Shen Gongbao. Though his expression revealed neither joy nor anger, he still asked, "What is it?"

Shen Gongbao deeply understood the change in Zhunti's attitude. He had his own way of dealing with it and did not care in the slightest.

He sneered inwardly. If he could not even endure this little pressure, how would he be qualified to ** and make use of others?

With the coming Great Tribulation and the Investiture of the Gods approaching, Shen Gongbao prepared to enter the world and lay out his plans.

He planned to make arrangements among the human race in advance and seize the initiative. He believed that as long as he held a steady advantage, then even if Jiang Ziya held the Investiture of the Gods List, his duty of investing gods on behalf of Heaven would not play a decisive role.

He even intended to scheme the key generals of the enemy camp to death one by one, turning Jiang Ziya's Investiture of the Gods into a hollow name.

Shen Gongbao's words were filled with cunning and confidence.

His words improved Zhunti's attitude somewhat and rekindled his confidence.

Zhunti understood the depth of Shen Gongbao's schemes. The power of his tongue surpassed any Innate Spiritual Treasure.