The greatest killing formation of the Primordial Era!
They had originally been Tongtian's Attendant Immortals. How could they not know the terrifying power of the Primordial Era's greatest killing formation?
Was this something they could test so casually?
It would have been fine if they had a way to break the formation!
But they did not!
They still had to test it themselves.
How terrifying was that?!
Did Lingya Xian not know the consequences of failure?
It meant death and the dissipation of one's Dao!
If Minghe allowed it, Chang'er Dingguang Xian truly wanted to fight Lingya Xian—one where they would settle matters with life and death!
But...
Lingya Xian had already boasted.
Did Chang'er Dingguang Xian dare resist?
He did not!
He was the most pragmatic one!
It was obvious that the two Sages of the West were cultivating Minghe.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Minghe would become the future leader of the Western Teachings.
If he offended Minghe...
Then despite the vastness of the Primordial Era, there would truly be nowhere for him to settle!
There would certainly be no place for him in the Eastern Mystic Gate,
And if he dared disobey the Western Teachings—especially when this mission had been "won" by themselves—
Then after leaving the Western Teachings, everyone would turn against him!
Chang'er Dingguang Xian cursed Lingya Xian bloody in his heart,
But he wore a resolute expression. "Master, we disciples are willing to contribute to the great teaching!"
Minghe was greatly pleased.
He was very satisfied with the awareness displayed by the five immortals.
He could not understand it—how could Tongtian bear to expel such useful and loyal subordinates from his sect?
But regardless,
The five immortals had volunteered—Lingya Xian had dragged the other four immortals into it—and that was a good thing!
Minghe still cautioned the five immortals:
"This is the legendary Immortal Slaying Sword Array. If things go awry, retreat at once. Preserving your lives comes first!"
The five immortals were deeply moved and thanked him together.
Whether willing or unwilling, the five former Attendant Immortals of Tongtian stepped forth and charged straight toward the Immortal Vanquishing Sword!
Duobao, Jinling, Wudang, Zhao Gongming, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao wore disappointed expressions—it had not chosen their side after all!
Guiling and Zhao Gongming were overjoyed—fortune truly favored them!
Out of caution, Minghe shielded the five immortals from behind.
Duobao smiled. "Fellow Daoist Minghe, there is no need to be so cautious."
"I have not even activated the Immortal Slaying Sword Array. I am giving you the chance to break it."
"But you have disappointed me greatly."
"I clearly told you the correct answer, yet you still chose the wrong one."
After saying that, he kept shaking his head!
Yet the more impatient Duobao was to tell them the correct answer, the less Minghe believed him!
Who could believe that?
This was the Immeasurable Calamity. Either you died, or I perished!
Would an enemy kindly tell you the weakness of the Immortal Slaying Sword Array?
Was that not absurd?
Minghe absolutely did not dare gamble with the lives of the Western Teachings' disciples!
Yet he had forgotten.
Were the lives of these five immortals not lives as well?
Perhaps, in his subconscious mind, those who could serve as a Sage's Attendant Immortals were no ordinary immortals!
That was indeed true!
But the problem was that the Eight Great Disciples guarding the Immortal Slaying Sword Array were all Quasi-Saints!
In short, no matter what Duobao said, Minghe did not believe a single word—he trusted only his own judgment!
By coincidence, Lu Ya thought the same way.
The two highest commanders of the Western Teachings both held such attitudes, let alone everyone else!
Although Chang'er Dingguang Xian had just cursed Lingya Xian half to death!
Once the real battle began, however, he immediately cast aside all distractions.
He said, "Lingya Xian, take the others and hold back the two senior siblings. I will remove the Immortal Vanquishing Sword!"
Lingya Xian did not mind in the slightest. Instead, his face was full of excitement!
He had long wanted to measure himself against the Eight Great Disciples.
But the great teaching's hierarchy was strict, and rank distinguished superior from inferior.
His status had always been a level lower than theirs.
Lingya Xian grinned and called Qiushou Xian, Jinguang Xian, and Piluxian over. In pairs, they charged at Guiling and Zhao Gongming!
Zhao Gongming smiled and saluted Guiling. "Senior Sister, do not dirty your hands. Let your junior brother deal with them!"
Before Guiling could answer, Lingya Xian flew into a rage. "Zhao Gongming, stop boasting! Take this!"
A single sentence from Zhao Gongming offended all four immortals!
Together, they abandoned Guiling and attacked Zhao Gongming!
Guiling was dumbfounded!
What was this situation?!
Were they looking down on her or what?
Only after quite a while did Guiling react, and she flew into a furious rage. "How dare you look down on me?!"
She swayed slightly, releasing the majesty of a Quasi-Saint, then pounced fiercely toward the four immortals!
The four immortals instantly felt an immeasurably immense pressure descend upon them.
It sealed off the ten directions—east, south, west, north, above, below, left, and right—and that was not all,
It also imprisoned the surrounding time and space and locked onto each of their Karmas.
The four immortals changed color in alarm. They wanted to beg for mercy, but how could they even speak?
Zhao Gongming sighed in astonishment. Guiling was his senior sister; since she had acted, it was not proper for him to compete with her.
He could only helplessly step back half a pace.
Chang'er Dingguang Xian, who had been waiting nearby for an opportunity, was overjoyed. With a flash, he arrived before the Immortal Vanquishing Sword and reached out to seize it!
Suddenly, Minghe's panicked voice rang out. "Not good! Retreat at once!"
Chang'er Dingguang Xian was puzzled. What had happened?
Then came four deafening bangs!
He could not help turning around, and terror shattered his courage!
He saw Guiling smash the heads of Lingya Xian, Qiushou Xian, Jinguang Xian, and Piluxian one by one with her fists, crushing them like overripe watermelons!
The four immortals died instantly.
Four True Spirits wandered through the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, clearly seeking to enter the Investiture of the Gods List!
Zhao Gongming gave a cold chuckle and pointed. Four rays of Merit light flashed forth, wrapped around the four True Spirits, and reduced them to ash in an instant, leaving not the slightest trace behind!
Chang'er Dingguang Xian went cold all over with fright!
Subconsciously, he grabbed the Immortal Vanquishing Sword and tried to flee!
In his haste, he saw Guiling and Zhao Gongming standing with their hands behind their backs, faint sneers on their faces.
Chang'er Dingguang Xian felt slightly reassured. He had no time to consider why those two immortals were not stopping him.
He had only one thought now: return to his own formation with the sword!
Suddenly, Dingguang Xian's primordial spirit throbbed violently—an ominous premonition, a warning from the Heavenly Dao!
Chang'er Dingguang Xian was still staring blankly at the sword when the Immortal Vanquishing Sword flashed faintly and a great beam of light silently swept past.
He felt only a burst of cold before turning to ash in an instant. Even his True Spirit ceased to exist!
Inside the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, there was dead silence!
After a long while.
Hiss!
The Western Teachings' disciples all sucked in sharp breaths.
In an instant, these five supreme Grand Unity Golden Immortals had turned to ash without even managing to escape!
Minghe's eyes split with rage as he roared, "Guiling! Zhao Gongming! You have gone too far!"
Although Lingya Xian had just died, his True Spirit had clearly remained.
He was merely trapped within the Immortal Slaying Sword Array's space—the formation sealed heaven and locked earth, becoming a world unto itself. Unless its master opened it or someone forcefully broke it apart, none could enter or leave freely.
But Zhao Gongming had gone so far as to burn Merit just to reduce those four immortals to ash!
What ruthless cruelty!
Zhao Gongming answered Minghe calmly, "Fellow Daoist, this is the Immeasurable Calamity!"
Boom!!
Minghe was instantly speechless, and the Western Teachings' disciples also fell silent.
That was right. The Investiture of the Gods Calamity was an Immeasurable Calamity, and they were now within it!
What was an Immeasurable Calamity?
Nine deaths and one chance at life, perhaps even ten deaths with no life at all!
That was the Immeasurable Calamity.
The Western Teachings' disciples could not help recalling what they had just witnessed.
The moment they had entered the Immortal Slaying Sword Array,
More than three thousand of their fellow Daoists and companions had vanished!!
More than three thousand disciples under a Sage!
Any one of them would have been an unquestionable great power in the Primordial Era.
Merely by virtue of being a Sage's disciple, they could have strutted unhindered through the Primordial Era!
Yet they were simply gone!
And those five immortals just now had been among the foremost Grand Unity Golden Immortals of the Primordial Era.
They were genuine giants of the Primordial Era—the Chan Jiao's public face amounted to only twelve Grand Unity Golden Immortals!
Yet they had turned to ash without even leaving behind their True Spirits!
The hearts of the Western Teachings' disciples wavered!
Guiling and Zhao Gongming had merely displayed a little of their methods.
They were afraid!
Outside the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, the two Sages of the West changed color in fury!
They suddenly discovered
That the Luck of the Western Teachings had decreased!
And by quite a substantial amount!
The two Sages looked toward the Immortal Slaying Sword Array and immediately understood what had happened!
Three thousand Western Teachings disciples had died!
Tongtian's former Attendant Immortals had all died!
The losses were devastating!
Zhunti could not help wanting to rush over,
But Yuanshi reminded him blandly, "Fellow Daoist, this is the Immeasurable Calamity."
"You had best not cause us to misunderstand!!"
The implication was clear: you may watch, but if you wish to intervene, then forgive us, but the Sages of the Mystic Gate will have no choice but to fight four against one!
Zhunti forcibly held himself back!
Jieyin's face was full of sorrow as his fingers continuously moved across the 108 Prayer Beads.
Yet each of the 108 Prayer Beads was engraved with one of his cultivation forms.
Turning the Prayer Beads meant seeking help from himself,
But what good solution could Jieyin possibly have now?
Zhunti's face was pitch-black.
This time, the Western Teachings had suffered tremendous losses!
The two Sages knew that among the Western Teachings' disciples who had just fallen, there must have been great disciples who would have shone brilliantly in the Western Teachings in the future.
Otherwise, the Western Teachings' Luck could not have fallen by so much!
But what use was there in saying that now?
The dead were dead. Though the Western Teachings spoke of cultivating this life and seeking the next life!
But if even reincarnation and rebirth were impossible, how could they speak of anything else?
Wouldn't that be a joke?
The two Sages exchanged a glance and cursed Duobao's shamelessness in unison!
His way of doing things was practically identical to Tongtian's!
What Duobao had told Minghe was the truth!
The two Sages of the West did not blame Minghe for his mistaken judgment.
If they had been in Minghe's place, they would have made the same judgment!
How could you trust an enemy's words?
You had to investigate and figure it out yourself!
If Duobao had said nothing, Minghe might have reached a different conclusion.
But now that Duobao had spoken, what could Minghe do?
Instinctively, he could only reject Duobao's opinion first, put forward his own, and insist on verifying it!
During that test, the Western Teachings suffered losses in strength!
Those were all costs!
The Two Sages of the West hated Duobao to the bone.
But things were completely different on the Mystic Gate's side.
As the saying went, one man's enemy was another man's hero!
Taishang, Yuanshi, and Nuwa were extremely satisfied with Duobao.
As expected of Tongtian's disciple—the disciple of the wisest man. He truly had his master's style!
The Mystic Gate would not lack successors!
Tongtian was also very satisfied with Duobao's open and forthright conduct!
As for Minghe misunderstanding Duobao's intentions—what did that have to do with Duobao?
He had clearly told him the answer, yet Minghe insisted on verifying it himself and even deliberately chose the wrong answer.
Could he avoid paying a price for that?!
Within Zixiao Palace on the thirty-third heaven of the Primordial Era, Hongjun shook his head with a bitter smile, his face expressionless!
Duobao truly understood the human heart. Among the Mystic Gate's third-generation disciples, he was the strongest!
However, Hongjun's mind was now wholly occupied with weakening the Eastern Mystic Gate so that the Western Teachings could spread their doctrine more easily!
During the Investiture of the Gods Calamity,
the weaker the Mystic Gate's forces became, the better.
The more of the Western Teachings' strength was preserved, the better!
That was Hongjun's true intention!
Yet now, an enormous variable had suddenly appeared.
The success or failure of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity all rested within that Immortal Slaying Sword Array!
Whoever won or lost, the Sages could only stare helplessly!
"No, I need to think of a way to help the Western Teachings break the Immortal Slaying Sword Array!"
The quickest method would be to directly reclaim the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, but that would ruin the selfless and impartial image he had painstakingly cultivated!
Hongjun was growing somewhat anxious.
The message to his fellow Daoist had already been sent, but it would still take some time before he returned.
After thinking it over, there was only one method left to help the Western Teachings.
Hongjun raised a hand, and a ray of light appeared in his palm.
He instructed the light, "Go find Minghe!"
The light tore through space-time and vanished!
Hongjun muttered, "Fellow Daoist, hurry up. Otherwise, this Investiture of the Gods Calamity will be over!"
On Penglai Immortal Island, Lin Dong grabbed another handful of wind and discerned the Karma origins within it.
"Duobao set up the Immortal Slaying Sword Array and trapped the Western Teachings' disciples..."
"Shangqing Heavenly Venerate Lingbao truly has courage. He actually bestowed even the Immortal Slaying Sword Array!"
"Huh? Chang'er Dingguang Xian, Qiushou Xian, Lingya Xian, and Piluxian were reduced to ashes!!"
Lin Dong was quite astonished.
"Guiling and Zhao Gongming, those two fellow Daoists, truly had courage!"
"They struck at the root, leaving no future trouble behind."
Lin Dong thought for a moment. In the Primordial Era novels, every one of the Interception Sect's direct disciples had been a combat genius.
Any one of those eight great disciples could crush the Chan Jiao's Twelve Golden Immortals.
They possessed an air of invincibility among those of the same realm.
But this was a good thing!
Chang'er Dingguang Xian was no ordinary person. As Tongtian's Attendant Immortal, he had obtained the essence of the Interception Sect. Later, he defected to the Western Teachings and cultivated the strengths of both schools.
He inherited part of the Interception Sect's legacy, established a separate lineage, and became Dingguang Joyous Buddha. His achievements were truly remarkable.
By joining forces, Guiling and Zhao Gongming had directly severed a branch of the future Buddhist lineage.
Invisibly, they had dealt a blow to the Western Teachings' Luck. It could be said that they had rendered great service to the Mystic Gate—truly impressive!
However, another piece of news carried by the wind made Lin Dong ponder deeply.
"What exactly is that Supreme One thinking?"
"Why... does it feel like he wants more than merely repaying the Primordial Era's Karma?"
"Not only did he refine that one into a puppet, he even personally intervened in the Immeasurable Calamity..."
Lin Dong was suddenly startled. He seemed to have discovered something extraordinary.
"Fortunately, I have the Immeasurable Great Array protecting me..."
"If it is truly as I suspect, then this matter is grave!"
"Whether that is the case or not will depend on whether that puppet appears during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity!"
Lin Dong's gaze flickered.
"Even with that Supreme One personally offering advice, breaking the Immortal Slaying Sword Array will not be easy."
"Let us wait patiently!"
Inside the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, the Western Teachings had fallen silent. They had been frightened by what they had just witnessed!
Minghe frowned deeply. He was considering a way to break the deadlock, yet no matter how he thought about it, it seemed unrealistic.
At that moment, a ray of light suddenly entered Minghe's Sea of Consciousness.
Minghe's eyes flashed brightly. "Brilliant! How could I have forgotten my greatest advantage!"
On the Investiture of the Gods Battlefield, outside the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
The Four Saints of the Mystic Gate—Taishang, Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Nuwa—along with the Two Sages of the West, Jieyin and Zhunti,
all six Supreme Ones wore grave expressions.
Nuwa hesitated for a moment before asking Yuanshi, "Senior Brother, why does this ray of light... feel so familiar?"
Yuanshi's face darkened.
Since the beginning of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, almost nothing had gone his way.
He had been unbearably irritated.
Yet after this ray of light appeared, Yuanshi suddenly became calm.
Though his face remained dark, his thoughts were calm, and his voice was icy.
"In the Primordial Era, there is only one person capable of ignoring our existence and sending information that even we cannot intercept!"
Yuanshi sneered.
"He is originally the Dao Ancestor of the Mystic Gate, but this light does not seem to be offering guidance to Duobao and the others..."
Taishang and Nuwa both looked grave.
However, they were not overly worried.
Those who could attain Sainthood were all people of great wisdom, great conviction, Great Dao practice, and great Merit.
Before you continue