It was a Rainbow Bridge condensed from the laws of the Great Dao itself.
Below the bridge churned the Sea of Chaos.
Above it lay the only path to the pinnacle of power in the Primordial World.
Holding the Jade Scroll in his hands, Chen Changsheng stepped onto it.
Five indescribable wills instantly projected themselves from the ancient, unchanging palace at the end of the Rainbow Bridge.
One was like an eternal divine mountain, lofty and exalted, filled with the coldness of judgment and order.
One was like a sea of suffering and extinction, seemingly compassionate yet searching every corner for "fated ones" who could be converted.
One was like the creation of all things, impartial and peaceful, carrying a faint trace of curiosity.
One was pure and effortless, like a breeze passing over the hills, untouched by even the slightest karma.
The last was filled with unruliness and delight, bearing undisguised protective intent.
These were the gazes of Sages.
An ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal would likely have his Dao heart collapse and his primordial spirit turn to dust before he could even take a single step beneath such scrutiny.
Yet Chen Changsheng continued forward steadily.
He neither activated any mana nor revealed any phenomenon.
He simply walked.
The distance of every step was precise to the smallest fraction.
The rhythm of every breath remained steady as ever.
He treated himself as a Project Manager about to enter the highest conference room and report to the board of directors.
And those Sage wills were merely the pre-meeting stress test from each director.
His calm was the best possible response to that test.
The Rainbow Bridge was not long, yet it felt as though he had walked for an entire Yuanhui.
When Chen Changsheng finally stepped onto the plaza paved with Chaos Divine Stone, the Rainbow Bridge behind him silently vanished.
There was no retreat.
Ahead stood a palace whose material could not be discerned, yet which seemed older than the entire Primordial World.
Purple Cloud Palace.
Its gates stood wide open. Purple qi swirled within; nothing could be seen, yet it seemed to contain every "Dao" and "principle" between heaven and earth.
Chen Changsheng adjusted his robes, held the Purple-Gold Jade Scroll, and stepped inside.
The hall was vast, grand, and silent.
Six Prayer Mats were arranged beneath an elevated platform.
Five figures were already seated upon them.
First on the left, Primordial Heavenly Venerate's expression was as still as water. Scenes of heaven and earth being created and destroyed flickered within his opening and closing eyes. Simply by sitting there, he seemed to have frozen the entire order of Purple Cloud Palace into eternal black ice.
Beside him sat the two Sages, Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti. One looked burdened by suffering, while the other wore a solemn, dignified expression. Both watched their noses, and their noses watched their hearts, as though entirely uninterested in the outside world.
On the right, Saintess Nuwa wore a calm expression, her gaze resting on the void as though she were pondering something.
Sect Leader Tongtian sat at the very end. When he saw Chen Changsheng enter, encouragement flashed through his eyes before he resumed that carefree, unruly demeanor.
Only the Prayer Mat at the highest position, which should have belonged to Senior Uncle-Master Grand Supreme Moral Heavenly Venerate, remained empty.
Without looking aside, Chen Changsheng walked straight to the center of the hall and gave the five Prayer Mats on the platform, along with the empty one, a respectful ninety-degree bow.
"Interception Sect disciple Chen Changsheng, acting under the Dao Ancestor's decree, has come to attend."
His voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly through the absolutely silent palace.
No one responded.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate's gaze was as cold as a Pangu Banner about to leave its sheath, as though he would erase this ant that dared disrupt the Sages' agenda the very next moment.
Sect Leader Tongtian raised a brow and was about to speak.
Just then.
A figure appeared upon the empty Prayer Mat without any warning.
He still wore plain hemp robes and still looked as though he might fall asleep at any moment.
Grand Supreme Elder Lao.
The moment he appeared, Primordial Heavenly Venerate's razor-sharp pressure melted away without a trace, like spring snow beneath the sun.
"Everyone is here."
Grand Supreme Elder Lao spoke slowly, his voice as calm as an ancient well.
"Then let us begin."
The instant his words fell.
Light and shadow shifted upon the previously empty platform above.
A figure slowly emerged.
He seemed to exist, yet also seemed not to exist.
You could not see his face clearly, yet felt that he contained every face in the world.
He was the Dao.
He was Hongjun.
"Sit."
A simple syllable left Hongjun's mouth.
A seventh Prayer Mat silently condensed beside Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng bowed once more before calmly sitting cross-legged upon the Prayer Mat that represented supreme glory—and endless storms.
"You likely already know why I summoned you here today."
Hongjun's voice held no emotion, as though the Heavenly Dao itself were speaking.
"There was an error in the Process of the Investiture of the Gods. It must be reconsidered."
He did not waste any words and went straight to the point.
"Taiqing, this matter began with you. Speak first."
Grand Supreme Elder Lao did not even raise his eyelids, merely saying calmly,
"This humble Daoist believes the previous contract had unclear objectives, unclear rights and responsibilities, and uncontrolled risks. It should be discarded."
"Agreed."
If you cannot find a book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!
At the request of many readers, we have introduced an ad-free VIP membership feature.
Click to view.
Hongjun nodded and turned his gaze toward Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
"Yuqing, what is your view?"
Primordial Heavenly Venerate snorted coldly, and the temperature throughout Purple Cloud Palace abruptly plummeted.
"Senior Brother, you are mistaken!"
His voice was filled with unquestionable authority.
"The Investiture of the Gods is the Heavenly Dao Momentum. Those who follow Heaven prosper, while those who defy Heaven perish! What Process is there to speak of? This is merely the sophistry of Interception Sect disciples seeking to evade the Killing Tribulation and deceive Senior Brother!"
His gaze pierced straight at Chen Changsheng like two sharp swords.
"A mere third-generation disciple is worthy of sitting alongside us and discussing the Heavenly Dao? What an utter joke!"
"Senior Brother!"
Sect Leader Tongtian slammed his hand against the table and rose, Immortal Slaying Sword Qi soaring into the heavens.
"Wuwei is the Dao Protector of my Interception Sect and an attendee personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor! Are you questioning the Dao Ancestor with those words?!"
"Enough."
Hongjun spoke blandly, and Sect Leader Tongtian's sword qi instantly dissipated.
For the first time, his gaze fell upon Chen Changsheng.
"Chen Changsheng."
"Since you believe there is an error in the Process, how do you believe this Investiture of the Gods should 'follow the Process'?"
It had come.
The ultimate test had come.
Chen Changsheng rose to his feet and once again bowed to Hongjun on the platform and the six Sages to either side.
He was not nervous or fearful in the slightest.
He merely raised the Purple-Gold Jade Scroll in his hands, which contained the combined efforts of the entire Interception Sect over three days, and spoke calmly.
"In reply to the Dao Ancestor and all Sage uncles."
"This disciple believes that to establish a new Process, we must first clarify the project's 'core objective.'"
"May I ask: what is the most fundamental purpose of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation?"
At those words, Primordial Heavenly Venerate revealed a disdainful expression, while a glint flashed through Daoist Zhunti's eyes.
Hongjun's voice remained even.
"To fill the positions of the 365 Departmental Deities for Haotian's Heavenly Court and bring order to the Three Realms."
"Agreed."
Chen Changsheng nodded. This answer was exactly what he had expected.
"Since the core objective is to 'recruit people' for the Heavenly Court, then our previous method contained a fundamental logical error."
He swept his gaze around the hall, his voice growing clear and forceful.
"We should not use 'slaughter' to determine who enters the Investiture of the Gods. Those skilled in battle may not necessarily be qualified Departmental Deities. That does not accord with the basic principle of 'being responsible to the Heavenly Court.'"
"We should use a more scientific, rigorous, and efficient method to complete this 'recruitment.'"
"Recruitment?"
Saintess Nuwa spoke for the first time, curiosity in her voice.
"Precisely."
Chen Changsheng slowly unfurled the Jade Scroll in his hands with mana, suspending it in the center of the hall.
Light flowed across it as lines of clear text appeared before every Sage.
"This disciple has presumptuously drafted an entirely new performance evaluation standard for this Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. Its core can be summed up in only four words."
"Job Matchability Score."
Seeing Primordial Heavenly Venerate's expression grow increasingly cold, he remained unmoved and continued explaining.
"The 365 divine positions on the Investiture of the Gods should not be punishments. Rather, they should be... 365 positions openly recruiting throughout the Three Realms."
"Every position has a clearly defined job description and Qualifications."
He extended a hand and lightly tapped the Light Screen.
[Job Title: Director of the Thunder Department Grand Tutor Wen] [Job Requirements: Command lightning punishments, discipline the wicked, and uphold the authority of the Heavenly Dao.] [Qualifications: First, cultivation no lower than Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Second, an upright and impartial character that hates evil as an enemy. Third, extensive experience in team management and the decisiveness to carry out large-scale slaughter. Fourth, those with profound Merit and no karmic sin will receive priority consideration.]
"All disciples of the Three Teachings may be considered 'candidates' in this recruitment."
"The Tribulation will be the interview."
"Everything the candidates do during the Tribulation—the cultivation, temperament, abilities, and even karma they display—will be recorded by the Heavenly Dao and automatically converted into 'Matchability Scores' for each position."
"When the Tribulation ends, those with the highest scores will automatically enter the Investiture of the Gods and take office with honor!"
Chen Changsheng's voice rang like metal striking the ground.
"In that way, entering the Investiture of the Gods will no longer be the shame of Death of Dao, but the glory of one's ability being recognized by the Heavenly Dao!"
"The Killing Tribulation will become a great path to the true fruition, where every disciple leaps like fish through the Dragon Gate!"
"This is what it truly means to follow the Heavenly Dao and let everyone find their proper place!"
His words fell.
The entire Purple Cloud Palace became deathly silent.
Divine light surged in Sect Leader Tongtian's eyes, and he nearly could not stop himself from clapping and laughing aloud.
Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti exchanged a glance. In each other's eyes, they saw utter shock and... wild joy!
Saintess Nuwa's beautiful eyes shone with repeated flashes of brilliance.
Even Grand Supreme Elder Lao seemed to open his half-lidded eyes a fraction wider.
Only Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
His expression had changed from cold to livid.
He suddenly rose from his Prayer Mat, and the Sage pressure around him erupted uncontrollably, making the entire Purple Cloud Palace hum and tremble!
"Utter nonsense!"
His furious roar was like Chaos Divine Thunder, aimed directly at Chen Changsheng.
"The Investiture of the Gods is a slaughtering tribulation used by the Heavenly Dao to settle karma and eliminate those of shallow fortune! How can you, a mere child, twist its meaning with some so-called 'job matchability'!"
"Turning a Heavenly Dao trial into mundane recruitment?"
"This is... the greatest blasphemy against the Heavenly Dao!"
Before you continue