At this moment, Lin Xuan had returned to Golden Ao Island.
He was in Biyou Palace, playing with a spirit pearl that radiated a faint, glimmering light.
This was the Houtian Spiritual Treasure the system had rewarded him with: the Wind-Settling Pearl.
It could suppress the countless divine winds of the Primordial World. Although it had little killing power, it was still an interesting toy.
If Lin Xuan remembered correctly,
some monkey from later generations had gone everywhere begging everyone he could think of just to find this pearl.
Just then, a string of silver-bell-like laughter drifted in.
Lin Xuan glanced over and saw Qiongxiao dancing through the sky above Biyou Palace, accompanied by two extraordinarily agile Innate Spirit Cranes.
Qiongxiao's face was filled with delighted smiles.
Not far away, Junior Disciple Duobao was earnestly lecturing Yunxiao and Bixiao, his two junior sisters.
He had never expected the Three Sisters of Sanxiao to be so outrageously bold as to follow Senior Disciple Brother and raid Saint Yuanshi's home.
Raiding his home was one thing, but they had even moved his Jade Void Palace back with them.
Heaven knew how close his heart had come to leaping out of his chest when he saw the plaque bearing the three characters "Jade Void Palace."
Thinking of this, Daoist Duobao once again felt a pang of anguish.
He launched into another round of nagging at Yunxiao and Bixiao.
As for Senior Disciple Brother Lin Xuan—cough, cough—he had once left Duobao with a profound psychological shadow.
Even now, after cultivating to the Quasi-Saint realm, Duobao still did not dare to point fingers at Senior Disciple Brother.
Meanwhile, the other disciples of the Interception Sect on Golden Ao Island were meditating or cultivating, presenting a leisurely and carefree scene worthy of immortals.
Lin Xuan took it all in, and could not help feeling a wave of emotion.
If the other four Saints had not schemed against them, his junior brothers and sisters would certainly have survived the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.
They would never have ended up in such a miserable state.
Suddenly, a booming sound came from beyond the heavens.
At the same time, a formation diagram radiating wondrous treasure-light appeared out of thin air before Lin Xuan, carrying four ancient swords with it.
These were none other than the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram that Sect Master Tongtian was renowned for!
When Lin Xuan saw the five divine artifacts, a bad premonition suddenly flashed through his heart.
Sure enough, his premonition had been right.
In the next moment, Sect Master Tongtian's majestic voice resounded across Golden Ao Island.
"By my decree, all disciples: I will follow the Dao Ancestor to Zixiao Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens to listen to the Dao for three kalpas."
"While I am listening to the Dao, your Senior Disciple Brother Lin Xuan will act as Sect Leader and assume the duties of Sect Master. He will hold the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram."
"Seeing him is the same as seeing me!"
The disciples of the Interception Sect on Golden Ao Island wore all sorts of expressions after hearing Tongtian's transmission.
What was happening?
What had happened?
Was this not the period of the great tribulation?
Why would their honored master suddenly follow the Dao Ancestor to Zixiao Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens to listen to the Dao?
While the disciples of the Interception Sect were filled with doubt and alarm, Duobao was the first to perform a Daoist salute toward Lin Xuan before speaking loudly:
"Your disciple obeys Master's decree. Greetings, Sect Leader Senior Disciple Brother!"
As Duobao's voice rang out, the disciples of the Interception Sect all steadied their minds.
They respectfully addressed Lin Xuan in unison:
"Your disciple greets the Sect Leader Senior Disciple Brother!"
"Your disciple greets the Sect Leader Senior Disciple Brother!"
"Your disciple greets the Sect Leader Senior Disciple Brother!"
Lin Xuan seemed not to hear the congratulations from his many junior brothers and sisters. He merely stared at the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram before him and muttered to himself:
"Old man, you sure were quick to dump this burden on me."
Lin Xuan knew perfectly well that his nominal master had definitely been imprisoned in Zixiao Palace by Old Daoist Hongjun.
He had also entrusted the entire Interception Sect to him.
Thinking of this, Lin Xuan drew a deep breath before grasping the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram, which represented the Interception Sect.
The moment Lin Xuan came into contact with the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram, he discovered that Sect Master Tongtian had already undone all the restrictions. He could refine the five peerless divine artifacts without any obstruction.
At the same time, Sect Master Tongtian had placed all his insights into the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, along with all his comprehensions of the Great Dao, inside the Immortal Slaying Sword.
Whoever obtained this set of peerless treasures would effectively obtain all of Sect Master Tongtian's inheritance.
Lin Xuan felt the deep care his nominal master held for him. He also understood that, with Old Daoist Hongjun personally entering the fray, this was the best choice Tongtian could make.
At that moment, a system notification suddenly sounded in Lin Xuan's mind.
"Ding! The host has gained control of a new secluded cultivation site: Biyou Palace on Golden Ao Island."
"Will the host lead all disciples of the Interception Sect into seclusion? Seclusion reward: formation flags and formation diagram for the Primal Chaos Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Formation."
"Reward for not entering seclusion: Primordial Five Elements Grand Formation."
When Lin Xuan heard this, his gaze flickered.
He then decisively chose to lead all the disciples of the Interception Sect into seclusion.
Because he knew very clearly that, given Yuanshi's vengeful nature, he would certainly come to Golden Ao Island to retaliate against him and the disciples of the Interception Sect.
The other three Saints would shamelessly follow him to take advantage of the situation as well.
Rather than let that happen, it would be better to lead all the disciples of the Interception Sect into seclusion.
Let's see how you carry out the Investiture of the Gods without the Interception Sect!
After he made his choice, 365 formation flags radiating the aura of the ancient stars appeared in Lin Xuan's spatial storage, along with 129,600 auxiliary flags, perfectly matching the number of the Zhou Tian and the Great Unity.
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