The Investiture of the Gods Begins

Buzhou Mountain.

Pangu Hall.

The space rippled slightly, Dao Body appeared out of thin air.

It was Zhou Ming who had returned from Golden Ao Island.

Houtu, who had been waiting there, came forward to greet them, her usually cool face showing a hint of concern.

"Elder Brother, you're back."

"Did you gain anything from this discussion with Fellow Daoist Tongtian?"

Houtu's concern was evident; she hoped that Zhou Ming could go further on this path and soon glimpse the supreme realm of the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

Zhou Ming nodded calmly, then shook his head slightly.

"Something was gained, but not much."

Upon Houtu, Houtu couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment.

She originally thought that with her Elder Brother's current level of cultivation, coupled with the Heaven -Heaven-Opening Mark that reached the Tongtian, he could achieve great things.

The two complement each other, and will surely spark brilliant ideas, leading to a path to a higher level.

Unexpectedly, the result was not as satisfactory as hoped.

Is the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal truly so unattainable?

Even someone as exceptionally talented as my Elder Brother has struggled to find his way forward.

Zhou Ming noticed her disappointment and smiled calmly.

"Sister Houtu, there's no need to be disappointed."

"Although this discussion of the Dao has had limited effect on improving my own realm, it has not been entirely without benefit."

I've discovered an interesting secret.

"Secret?"

Houtu's attention was immediately drawn to it, and she asked curiously.

What secret?

A meaningful smile curved at the corners of Zhou Ming's lips.

"Tongtian... he cannot comprehend the Heaven-Opening Mark left by the Father God."

"What?"

Houtu was utterly shocked; this answer completely overturned her understanding.

"How is that possible!"

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian is a descendant of the Father God, bearing the Heaven-Opening Mark. With such profound roots, how could he not comprehend the Father God's legacy?"

This completely defies common sense.

The inheritance from the Father God, which should have been an innate talent and treasure for the Pangu Descendants, how did it become an insurmountable chasm?

Zhou Ming explained calmly.

"I didn't believe it at first either, but it's true."

"He has pondered this for billions of years, yet he has only grasped the basics, and could even be said to have made no progress whatsoever."

"I suspect this is related to his becoming Heavenly Dao Saint."

"Heavenly Dao Saint 'Primordial Spirit resides in the Heavenly Dao, seemingly immortal and indestructible, yet in reality, they are also subject to the Heavenly Dao."

"The Father God's Great Dao may... be fundamentally in conflict with the Way of Heavenly Dao itself."

Zhou Ming's words plunged Houtu into a long silence.

She was incredibly clever and immediately figured out the key to it.

After a long while, she let out a complicated sigh.

"What my Elder Brother said is indeed possible."

"The Heavenly Dao Saint, seemingly enjoying boundless glory, are in reality... nothing more than puppets of the Heavenly Dao."

"Tongtian is like this, then Taiqing and Primordial Lord must be the same."

This means that Three Pure Ones possesses the greatest treasure left by the Father God, yet is completely unable to explore it.

Their proud status as Saint has become a shackle that prevents them from going any further!

Zhou Ming nodded, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"That's fine too."

"Their possession of the supreme treasure left by the Father God, without any way to access it, actually makes my subsequent plans more advantageous."

This discovery instantly made his previously somewhat vague plans clear.

The Three Pure Ones are no longer a threat.

Zhou Ming pulled himself out of the conversation and moved on to ask about something else.

"How are Zhen Yuanzi and Fellow Daoist Hongyun doing while I was away?"

"And how are Di Jun and the East King Duke and the Others's cultivation levels recovering?"

Upon hearing Houtu, Houtu's face lit up with joy.

Houtu answered immediately.

"Don't worry, Elder Brother."

"Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun are both top-notch in talent and perseverance, and they also have the insights and understanding bestowed upon them by their Elder Brother."

"Not long ago, they both successfully dismembered their bodies and are now in seclusion to stabilize their cultivation levels and rebuild their foundations."

"As for Di Jun, the East King Duke and the Others..."

"I have not disappointed my Elder Brother's expectations."

"With the abundant resources provided by the Wu Clan, their cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds."

"Most of them have now returned to the Daluo Golden Immortal realm and are in seclusion, diligently cultivating to restore their peak strength as soon as possible."

Zhou Ming nodded in satisfaction.

These once Great Powers Primordial Wilderness have now become important pawns in his game.

The stronger they are, the more it will help their future plans.

"Very good."

Zhou Ming asked again.

"During the nearly one Eon I spent discussing the Dao with Tongtian, what major events occurred in the Primordial Wilderness?"

Houtu pondered for a moment before replying.

"It's nothing major, just one thing that might interest Elder Brother."

Subsequently, she secretly married Yaoji off to a mortal, who was then suppressed by Haotian under Peach Mountain.

The story of how Yuanshi Tianzun used this opportunity to coerce Haotian, causing him to lose face, was briefly recounted.

Zhou Ming listened without showing any emotion.

All of this was within his expectations.

This was one of the triggers for the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, and its occurrence now signifies that the Great Calamity is drawing ever closer.

He simply asked a question calmly.

"And then?"

Has Haotian made any moves?

Houtu shook her head, then added.

There's been no overt action; the Heavenly Court remains in a state of semi-living disarray.

"However... some time ago, Xing Tian sent a message from Heavenly Court."

It is said that Haotian once left the Heavenly Court alone for a period of time, his whereabouts kept secret, as if he had gone into the Chaos.

"What exactly they were going to do, however, remains unknown."

Did it go into the Chaos?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming instantly understood.

His first thought was that Haotian had gone to the Purple Cloud Palace.

A faint smile appeared on Zhou Ming's face.

"He must have gone to the Purple Cloud Palace to complain to Hongjun."

Besides Purple Cloud Palace, where else in the Chaos can Haotian go?

Zhou Ming smiled and shook his head.

"That's fine too."

"It's time for the next Tribulation to begin."

Houtu was taken aback upon hearing this.

"Does my Elder Brother mean... that Haotian's visit to Hongjun is related to the next Tribulation?"

Zhou Ming nodded, his eyes gleaming with an all-knowing wisdom.

"Good."

"Haotian must be resentful after suffering such a great humiliation."

"His only hope lies with Hongjun."

Houtu looked at Zhou Ming Mingdao.

"Elder Brother, what should we do next?"

Zhou Ming gazed into the Depths of Chaos, as if he could already see the impending battle within the In Purple Sky Palace.

"You don't need to do anything."

"We just need to... wait patiently."

"It won't be long before Hongjun makes a move."

Zhou Ming's face showed anticipation.

The Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, a grand drama personally directed by the Dao Ancestor and in Saint participate in the game, is finally about to begin.

Finally, it's about to begin.