Investiture of the Gods' Schemes, First Glimmers

Crane Boy grew more fearful the more he thought about it, and the more fearful he became, the more he thought.

The tears he had finally managed to stop flowed ceaselessly under his fear.

Given Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning's temper, he wouldn't just spare Crane Boy, but would also find an opportunity to act, perhaps not even allowing him a chance to be on the Investiture of the Gods Scroll.

When Crane Boy thought of his potential fate of being annihilated by Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning, he couldn't help but cry continuously.

He kowtowed fiercely to Qin Hong, weeping:

"I was wrong... I was wrong..."

"Uncle Qin Hong, Crane Boy didn't know it was you, I was blind..."

"Please, Uncle, don't tell Heavenly Lord!"

"Uncle, Crane Boy was wrong, Crane Boy knows he was wrong..."

Seeing Crane Boy's tear-streaked face, Qin Hong's heart stirred. "Heh heh, you know you were wrong? You want me not to tell Second Uncle?"

Sensing an opening, Crane Boy immediately kowtowed even harder:

"Uncle, please spare Crane Boy's life, please be merciful!"

"Spare your life!" Qin Hong looked up, pretending to be mature as he, with his chubby little hands, stroked his chin, his eyes thoughtful. "It's not impossible!"

"However, you have to promise to do some things for me, and then I won't tell Second Uncle. We'll be even."

At this moment, he held Crane Boy's leverage in his hands. Crane Boy was a personal attendant to Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning, so anything he knew or came into contact with was bound to be unusual.

If he could be used for his own purposes, Qin Hong would have a greater chance of calculating against Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning.

"Okay... Okay, Uncle, please say it. Crane Boy will definitely do anything you ask, even if it means death!"

Hearing Qin Hong's words, Crane Boy felt like a drowning man grabbing a life-saving straw. Whether he could reach the shore or not, he had to grab it first.

"From today onwards, Crane Boy will obey Uncle in everything and follow Uncle's lead!"

He kowtowed heavily several more times, which made Qin Hong feel a surge of secret delight. No wonder this guy became Heavenly Lord's favorite third-generation disciple; his skill at speaking prettily was simply impeccable!

"Mhm, Crane Boy, I came to Kunlun Mountain today because I was really bored staying on Golden Ao Island. I'm just visiting relatives and dropping by."

"Is... is my Second Uncle here?"

"Oh, right, who's at Jade Void Palace right now? Come keep me company for a while!"

"I've traveled a long way, I haven't had any fun yet!"

Hearing Qin Hong's words, Crane Boy breathed a long sigh of relief. He had thought Qin Hong was going to ask him to do something bad. Turns out he just wanted to visit relatives and find someone to play with.

As expected of a child, even with high cultivation, he couldn't shake off his playful nature.

Crane Boy tremblingly stood up, his head bowed low, and said:

"Reporting to Uncle, Heavenly Lord has gone to Zixiao Palace!"

"The Twelve Golden Immortals under Heavenly Lord already have their own dojos, so only some third-generation disciples are left in Jade Void Palace."

Thinking of a few figures, Crane Boy continued, "And some second-generation disciples who aren't very noteworthy."

Although Crane Boy paused for only a short time, Qin Hong still noticed it.

However, Qin Hong didn't show any unusual reaction, merely saying indifferently:

"Who are they? Name them. If you just say there are disciples, how would I know anything!"

Crane Boy quickly and respectfully replied:

"Among the second-generation disciples are Uncle Shen Gongbao and a few others. As for the third-generation disciples, I am at the forefront."

When he said "I am at the forefront," Crane Boy seemed slightly proud, but then he immediately lowered his head, not daring to look up, remembering Qin Hong was beside him.

Precisely because of this, Crane Boy didn't see the fleeting look of surprise and bewilderment on Qin Hong's face.

"Shen Gongbao?"

"An unexpected gain!"

This name was not unfamiliar to Qin Hong; on the contrary, it was incredibly famous, like Sun Wukong from Journey to the West.

Throughout the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, Shen Gongbao played a very important role.

His single phrase, "Fellow Daoist, please stay," had undoubtedly led countless cultivators onto the Investiture of the Gods Scroll, most of whom were disciples of the Sect of Interception.

When Qin Hong read the Investiture of the Gods Scroll before, he simply knew Shen Gongbao as a bad guy, a major villain.

But now, being in the Primordial Era, with the Investiture of the Gods Calamity about to begin, Qin Hong's thoughts began to stir.

The role Shen Gongbao played in the entire Investiture of the Gods Calamity was no less significant than the role Jiang Ziya played.

If there was one major difference between the two, it was that Jiang Ziya was the one who ultimately read the Investiture of the Gods Scroll.

When the Investiture of the Gods Calamity was about to commence, Sect Master Tongtian, in order to prevent his disciples from encountering disaster, ordered all disciples of the Sect of Interception to go into seclusion and not to move about freely in the Primordial Era, all for the sake of safely passing through the great calamity of Investiture of the Gods.

However, under Shen Gongbao's influence, disciple after disciple from the Sect of Interception emerged from their abodes, joining the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, and ultimately being tricked onto the Investiture of the Gods Scroll.

Eventually, even Sect Master Tongtian couldn't sit still and had to emerge to face the calamity, only to end up imprisoned by Hongjun in the Outer Heavens for eternity.

The Sect of Interception, once hailed for "ten thousand immortals paying homage," collapsed instantly. Those who survived were reduced to mere puppets, laborers for the Heavenly Court, or mounts for Western Buddhism, living a fate worse than death!

It can be said that without Shen Gongbao, the Sect of Interception disciples would have barely figured in the entire Investiture of the Gods.

To claim there was no scheme involved would be impossible.

Qin Hong mused that Shen Gongbao must have been guided by Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning, tasked with making the Sect of Interception disciples emerge and get listed.

Otherwise, if only Jiang Ziya held the Investiture of the Gods Scroll and Shen Gongbao was absent, how could the Sect of Interception disciples be persuaded to leave their seclusion?

Therefore, Shen Gongbao, or more accurately, his role, was essential.

Without Shen Gongbao, there would have been a Wang Gongbao, a Li Gongbao...

If not, and the Sect of Interception disciples refused to emerge, then it would have been the disciples of his Sect of Enlightenment who ended up on the scroll.

"Heh heh, Second Uncle, I never imagined you'd planned everything so early, just waiting to make your move against my Sect of Interception!"

A strange glint flashed in Qin Hong's eyes.

At this moment, the parts of the Investiture of the Gods Scroll that he had previously skipped over now appeared in his mind.

Jiang Ziya was bestowed the Heavenly Book, Shen Gongbao was expelled from the Sect of Enlightenment, joined the Sect of Interception, became associated with it, and then joined the Shang Dynasty as the Grand Tutor.

The Sect of Enlightenment was based in Xiqi. The Shang Dynasty had no immortal lineage to support it, except perhaps for Grand Tutor Wen, a close brother of the King of Shang. Consequently, disciples of the Sect of Interception, unable to stand by and watch the Shang Dynasty fall, were drawn in.

This way, there weren't enough candidates for the Investiture of the Gods Scroll. Subsequently, Shen Gongbao tirelessly persuaded various Sect of Interception disciples, drawing them all out and onto the Investiture of the Gods Scroll.

In the end, Shen Gongbao even shouldered an immense burden and was also placed on the Investiture of the Gods Scroll.

Truly, it was a masterful play of "birds are gone, the bow is put away; the cunning rabbit is dead, the hounds are cooked!"

It was likely that even until his death, Shen Gongbao would never understand that Second Uncle had intended for him to die from the very beginning!

Heh heh, Second Uncle, what a brilliant tactic!

But Qin Hong wondered just who was involved in this scheme, and how many people played what roles within it?

Qin Hong's mind was now highly focused, constantly analyzing the intricacies of the Investiture of the Gods.

The calculations and plans involved were undoubtedly far more complex than he initially thought.

As the son of Tongtian and the young sect master of the Sect of Interception, his primary objective was to thwart the schemes against the Sect of Interception and his father during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

Even if it meant opposing the entire Primordial Era, what was there to fear?