Shi Ji's Worries, Investiture of the Gods Calamity Approaches

Shi Ji stood in place, her mind still buzzing.

She stared blankly at Qin Feng's retreating back as he disappeared through the grand hall's entrance. Then, she looked down at the jade slip in her hand, personally crafted by Goddess Yun Xiao, feeling as if she were dreaming.

Refusing the invitation of the Three Virtuous Goddesses.

And even telling them to come visit her instead.

If this news were to spread, perhaps no one in the entire Primordial World would believe it.

Yet, it had happened.

Moreover, the Dao Brother who uttered such bold words had acted so naturally throughout, as if this were the most righteous and proper thing in the world.

My perspective was too narrow.

Shi Ji took a deep breath. The shock slowly faded from her exquisitely beautiful face, replaced by an unprecedented firmness and adoration.

The world of Dao Brother is not something I can fathom.

All I need to do is obey unconditionally and trust him.

Without a shred of hesitation, she turned around and summoned Caiyun, the boy who served her.

"Take this jade slip and immediately head to Three Immortals Island. Convey my Dao Brother's exact words to the three Goddesses, without missing a single character."

Shi Ji's voice was clear and resolute, carrying an unquestionable authority.

The phrase "my Dao Brother" was spoken so naturally, filled with pride as if she were honored by the association.

Caiyun Boy took the jade slip, his small face instantly turning pale.

Although he hadn't dared to examine the contents of the jade slip, he had heard Qin Feng and Shi Ji's conversation clearly.

Asking him to refuse the Three Virtuous Goddesses? And to have the three Goddesses visit in person?

This... this wasn't delivering a message, this was delivering himself to death!

"Goddess... This... This..." Caiyun Boy's legs went weak with fear, and he couldn't even speak properly.

Shi Ji's phoenix eyes narrowed, and the pressure belonging to a Grand Unity Golden Immortal instantly enveloped him.

"What are you afraid of! If the sky falls, Dao Brother will hold it up! You just need to deliver the message. Whatever happens, my Azure Stone Palace will bear all responsibility!"

Sensing the determination in Shi Ji's tone and the confidence emanating from her very core, Caiyun, the young attendant, felt his heart tighten. He knew there was no turning back.

He gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and threw caution to the wind!

"Yes! This servant obeys!"

As the words fell, Caiyun Boy transformed into a streak of light and, with the resolve of certain death, sped towards the East Sea's Three Immortals Island.

And the transmission of this message was destined to stir up an unprecedented, colossal wave within the peaceful Jie Sect.

Three Immortals Island.

Yun Xiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bi Xiao, the three sisters, were enjoying tea and discussing the Dao with their elder brother, Zhao Gongming.

Several days had passed since they sent out their invitation.

Bi Xiao, the most impatient, was already restless.

"Eldest Sister, do you think Senior Qin Feng will actually come? It's been days, and there's been no news at all?"

Qiong Xiao also looked expectant: "Yes, I wonder if Fairy Caiyun, who delivered the invitation, has returned yet. I really want to meet that great hero soon!"

Only Yun Xiao remained composed, holding her teacup and gently blowing on the steam.

"Do not be anxious. Such an exalted being has his own principles of conduct. We shall simply await good news."

Just then, a streak of light shot rapidly from the horizon, carrying a hint of panic, and landed outside the grand hall.

It was Caiyun, the boy who served Shi Ji.

"He's back!"

Bi Xiao's eyes lit up, and she was the first to rush out. Qiong Xiao and Zhao Gongming followed closely behind.

"How is it, how is it? What did that senior say? Did he agree?" Bi Xiao bombarded him with questions like a rapid-fire cannon, her small face filled with excitement.

Caiyun Boy was startled by the reception and immediately knelt on the ground, trembling like a sieve.

"Reporting... Reporting to the three Goddesses and Master Gongming..."

He tremblingly offered the jade slip in his hand, then took a deep breath and, with all his might, recited Qin Feng's words verbatim.

"My Palace Master said... said that Azure Stone Palace has just been established and is busy with affairs, so he cannot get away for the time being."

As soon as he said this, the smile on Bi Xiao's face instantly froze.

Qiong Xiao and Zhao Gongming were also dumbfounded.

Cannot get away?

What kind of excuse was that?

However, before they could react, Caiyun Boy's next words struck them like a divine thunderbolt from the heavens, shattering their minds.

"My Palace Master also said... if the three Goddesses truly wish to discuss the Dao, they might as well come to Azure Stone Palace. He will surely welcome them with open arms."

Silence.

The entire grand hall instantly fell into a deathly quiet.

Bi Xiao's apricot eyes widened, her small mouth forming an "O" shape, as if she had heard a fairy tale.

Qiong Xiao also looked utterly incredulous, forgetting to put down the teacup in her hand.

Even the usually steady Zhao Gongming felt his mind buzzing, completely frozen.

Refused?

Not only refused, but they were also invited to visit him instead?

This...

"Outrageous!"

A furious roar broke the silence.

Bi Xiao slammed the table, trembling with anger, her pretty face flushed red.

"Who does he think he is? A Saint! We kindly invited him, and he's acting so arrogant and unappreciative! Does he really think he's some incredible figure?"

"Exactly! This is too arrogant! In all my life, I've never met anyone so audacious!" Qiong Xiao was also indignant, feeling like her good intentions had been completely disregarded.

To be personally invited by a direct disciple of a Jie Sect Saint, a powerful being at the Quasi-Saint level, what an honor this was in the Primordial World!

Not only was the other party not grateful, but he also put on such a condescending attitude?

This wasn't just a slap in the face; it was like having their faces repeatedly ground into the dirt!

However, just as the two sisters were furious and about to rush to Skeleton Mountain to get their revenge, a clear, cold voice echoed.

"Enough."

It was Yun Xiao.

She had stood up at some point, and on her usually serene, peerlessly beautiful face, a look of unprecedented solemnity and shock now appeared.

She wasn't angry or reprimanding, but stared intently at the jade slip, as if trying to see through it.

"Eldest Sister! Aren't you angry? That guy..." Bi Xiao tried to say more but was silenced by Yun Xiao's gaze.

"You are mistaken."

Yun Xiao spoke slowly, her voice trembling with an inexplicable emotion.

"This isn't arrogance; it's... absolute confidence!"

"He doesn't take us, doesn't take the Jie Sect, or even the Saints into consideration! In his world, he is the only rule!"

At these words, Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao were stunned.

Zhao Gongming's heart also trembled, vaguely grasping something.

Yun Xiao's gaze became incredibly profound, as if she were conducting a terrifying deduction.

"Think about it, why did he say the Azure Stone Palace was busy? Was he really occupied? No! He was telling us that his dojo, his territory, is more important than our invitation from Three Immortals Island! He was proclaiming that his Azure Stone Palace is the true sacred ground for discussing the Dao in the Primordial World!"

"He asked us to come to the Azure Stone Palace, not as an insult. It's a... gift!"

"A gift, granting us the qualification to enter his world!"

Boom!

Yun Xiao's words exploded like thunderclaps in the minds of Qiong Xiao, Bi Xiao, and Zhao Gongming.

They were completely dumbfounded.

Could... could it be understood that way?

"This... could it be... we're overthinking it?" Bi Xiao stammered, feeling her worldview severely impacted.

"It's absolutely not wrong!" Yun Xiao's tone was decisive. "To be able to defy a Saint's decree, to toy with the Chan Sect at will, how can the vision and scope of such an existence be fathomed by us?"

"He's not putting on airs; he's showing us his Dao! A supreme Dao that transcends all things, existing only for itself!"

"If we were to treat him with ordinary courtesy, it would be the greatest disrespect to him!"

Zhao Gongming listened, breaking out in a cold sweat, and slapped his thigh in sudden realization.

"Right! I remember now! That Azure Stone Palace isn't just an ordinary cave dwelling; it's a terrifying fortress built with supreme formations and innate spiritual veins! Its spiritual energy concentration surpasses even our Master's Golden Ao Island! That place truly deserves to be a sacred ground for discussing the Dao!"

His words completely stunned Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao.

The anger in their eyes gradually gave way to emotions called "shock" and "awe."

So... that's how it was?

So the senior's realm had reached such an unbelievable level?

They had judged a noble person with petty minds!

This response quickly spread within the Jie Sect, instantly causing a huge stir.

Some felt Qin Feng was arrogant and unappreciative, destined to suffer greatly.

But more Jie Sect disciples, who were aware of Qin Feng's achievements, especially after hearing Yun Xiao's analysis, felt this was the true demeanor of a master.

For a time, speculation about Qin Feng's identity and strength became increasingly outrageous, with some even believing he might be a reclusive Chaos Demon God!

Azure Stone Palace.

After the envoy departed, a familiar tranquility returned.

Qin Feng leaned back on a throne carved from a single piece of innate warm jade, while Shi Ji nestled beside him like a docile kitten, gently peeling a purple-gold grape for him.

This rare peace filled her with immense security and happiness.

Yet, for some reason, as she watched streaks of light with an ominous aura occasionally flash across the sky, and felt the increasingly heavy, almost drippingly oppressive killing intent in the world, a deep worry surfaced on her beautiful face.

She stopped what she was doing, lifted her head, and softly said to Qin Feng.

"Dao Brother, I feel uneasy, as if a great terror is about to descend."

Qin Feng opened his eyes, his gaze falling on her slightly pale little face, and asked calmly, "What is it?"

Under Qin Feng's gentle gaze, Shi Ji seemed to find an outlet, pouring out the fear that had been accumulating in her heart.

She had heard a world-shattering secret from her friends in the Jie Sect, one that could make the entire Primordial World tremble.

"I heard... that several Saints signed an Investiture of the Gods list in Purple Heaven Palace..."

Shi Ji's voice grew softer, trembling uncontrollably.

"Those whose names are on the list are all destined to face the calamity of the immortal path. After death, their souls will be seized by the Investiture of the Gods and enslaved by the Heavenly Court forever, with no freedom!"

"They say... this calamity will sweep across the Three Realms, and no one can escape!"

By the end, her beautiful phoenix eyes were filled with tears, and her delicate body trembled slightly.

She looked up at Qin Feng with a pleading gaze and said, her voice trembling, "Dao Brother, I am a Stone Goblin who achieved the Dao. Although I joined the Jie Sect, my roots are shallow, and I have no one to rely on. Those people from the Chan Sect have always viewed us as creatures with fur and horns, born from water and eggs, and wish to eliminate us swiftly."

"I'm afraid... I'm afraid I... will be one of those on the list."

This was the greatest fear in the depths of her heart.

Her origins were a brand she could never erase, and the source of her insecurity and unease.

Qin Feng listened quietly, his face expressionless.

He simply reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of Shi Ji's eyes, his movements tender.

Then, an extremely plain yet domineering voice, containing a power that could make all gods and Buddhas tremble, slowly echoed in the hall.

"Your name on the list?"

"I'd like to see who dares to write your name on it."