"Who is it?" Bixiao's eyes lit up.
"Our elder brother, the current Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar True Lord, Zhao Gongming," Yunxiao said slowly.
"So it's our elder brother." Bixiao's eyes lit up again. "That's right. He seems to be known as the God of Wealth, so he should have plenty of treasures, right?"
Zhao Gongming.
He had originally been the Interception Sect's foremost disciple among its outer sect.
His strength was extraordinarily formidable. Back then, he had wounded Guangchengzi, True Lord Jade Cauldron, and the other Twelve Golden Immortals by himself. He had even been able to contend with Daoist Burning Lamp.
Unfortunately, the Sea-Calming Pearls in Zhao Gongming's hands were eventually taken by Daoist Burning Lamp, and he was killed by Lu Ya's Nail-Head Seven Arrows Book, becoming one of the List of Deities.
Regardless, Zhao Gongming's strength was obvious.
Even throughout the entire Heavenly Court, there were only a handful of immortals stronger than Zhao Gongming.
"Two elder sisters, shall we set out now?"
"Good, let's go."
The Primordial World: Dou Mu Yuan Jun, Head of Female Immortals!
Heavenly Court, Palace of the Altar True Lord.
This was Zhao Gongming's residence.
As one of the most powerful figures in the Heavenly Court, Zhao Gongming was not someone many immortals would casually disturb.
That gave Zhao Gongming a period of peaceful living.
Zhao Gongming had once been full of ambition. Who could have known that he would become one of those destined to undergo tribulation during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity?
It could only be said that sometimes it was a matter of timing, and sometimes a matter of fate.
"Elder brother, elder brother..." A crisp voice came from the distance.
A trace of delight appeared on Zhao Gongming's face.
He was very familiar with the newcomers. They were several of his younger sisters—the Three Xiaos.
After becoming members of the List of Deities, the Three Xiaos still came to visit their elder brother from time to time.
After all, within the Interception Sect, Zhao Gongming had the closest relationship with the Three Xiaos. His relationships with the other disciples of the Interception Sect were secondary.
Soon, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao walked in.
Given the relationship between the Three Xiaos and Zhao Gongming, they did not need to report their arrival in advance.
If they had been other immortals, they would not have dared to act so casually.
After all, Zhao Gongming was a Quasi-Saint powerhouse.
He had once been able to somewhat contend with Daoist Burning Lamp.
"Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, what brings you here?" Zhao Gongming asked with a beaming smile.
"What? Elder brother, can't we come if we have nothing to do?" Qiongxiao immediately replied.
"Haha, of course you can." Zhao Gongming shook his head. "But from what I know of you, you only came to visit me recently. Normally, you wouldn't come again so soon, so I assume you have something to discuss with me."
"Our elder brother really is clever. You're right." Yunxiao nodded. "We do have something to discuss with you."
"Hmm." Zhao Gongming's eyes flickered. "Yunxiao, ever since we were made into gods, you haven't needed my help with anything. Yet you've come to me now. It seems this is something major?"
A long time had passed since the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.
The Three Xiaos had never asked Zhao Gongming for help before. For them to come this time...
They could not have encountered anything major.
As Grand Unity Golden Immortals, the Three Xiaos could certainly resolve ordinary matters.
That meant they had probably encountered something they could not deal with—or perhaps an enemy at the Quasi-Saint level?
Zhao Gongming speculated silently.
"Elder brother, we really have encountered something major. And this matter concerns not only us but you as well," Yunxiao said slowly.
"Hmm? It concerns me too?" Zhao Gongming was stunned.
That made him even more curious.
He could not think of anything that could still have anything to do with him at present.
"Elder brother, do you want to leave the List of Deities and regain your former freedom?" Yunxiao asked.
"Bang..."
Zhao Gongming's expression froze as the bricks beneath his feet shattered continuously. It was enough to describe how excited he was at that moment.
Leaving the List of Deities had always been his greatest wish.
But as time passed, Zhao Gongming also came to understand that the Investiture of the Gods was a calamity governing the workings of this world.
Even Saints found it difficult to interfere.
Thus, Zhao Gongming could only accept it and give up.
Leaving the List of Deities had become an impossible matter.
Yet now, he had actually heard Yunxiao speak of transcending the List of Deities.
Was it possible?
"Yunxiao, what do you mean?" Zhao Gongming asked solemnly.
"Elder brother, Bixiao encountered a senior before. At that senior's place, she discovered a treasure. It is said that the treasure can allow us to leave the List of Deities," Yunxiao explained.
"That's right, elder brother. It's the Investiture of the Gods Edict." Bixiao nodded.
"Bixiao, you weren't deceived, were you?" Zhao Gongming asked.
After all, this matter truly seemed rather absurd to Zhao Gongming.
It was practically inconceivable.
"Elder brother, I don't want to explain anymore." Bixiao let out a cold snort.
Yunxiao and the others had doubted her earlier, and now Zhao Gongming was doing the same. This left Bixiao feeling rather unhappy.
"Elder brother, let me explain it to you." Yunxiao cleared her throat.
She then told him everything about the General Store, Wu Feng's existence, and even the existence of the Chaos Bell and the Pangu Axe.
After hearing all this, even Zhao Gongming, a Quasi-Saint, looked somewhat dazed.
The matter of leaving the Investiture of the Gods was actually true.
"So, according to what you're saying, the Investiture of the Gods Edict only requires ten thousand Exchange Points?" Zhao Gongming asked in a low voice.
"That's right. It's just that the few of us don't have many treasures, so gathering ten thousand points seems rather difficult. Aren't you the God of Wealth, elder brother? You should have plenty of treasures, right?" Yunxiao asked matter-of-factly.
"Ahem. Although I'm the God of Wealth, I don't have quite that many treasures." Zhao Gongming coughed awkwardly. "However, we can go to the General Store Bixiao mentioned now. If we still don't have enough by then, we can also ask Senior Sister Jin Ling."
"Holy Mother Jin Ling." Qiongxiao's eyes lit up.
Holy Mother Jin Ling was one of Master of the Heavens' personal disciples.
Back then, she had effortlessly fought Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang by herself. Unfortunately, she was eventually ambushed and killed on the spot by Daoist Burning Lamp using the Sea-Calming Pearl.
Even so, that did not diminish Holy Mother Jin Ling's power.
For precisely that reason, Holy Mother Jin Ling was granted the titles of Head of Female Immortals, Head of All Stars, and Dou Mu Yuan Jun on the List of Deities.
She could be considered one of the great figures in the Heavenly Court.
Perhaps she was second only to Central Great Emperor Haotian, Great Emperor Changsheng of the South Pole, and the other members of the Six Imperial Lords.
"That's right, it's Holy Mother Jin Ling, one of our teacher's personal disciples. But we haven't confirmed this matter yet, so it would be inappropriate to visit her just yet. We need to verify it first." Zhao Gongming spoke in a deep voice. "Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, get yourselves ready. We're going to Flower-Fruit Mountain."
"Yes, elder brother." The Three Xiaos nodded.
Whether the Investiture of the Gods Edict was real would soon be known.
Heavenly Court, Marshal Tian Peng's residence.
"Although I've gathered all the treasures in my residence, it's still too little." Marshal Tian Peng scratched his head. "Or should I be like Sun Wukong and sneak-attack the gods?"
At that thought, Marshal Tian Peng's eyes lit up.
This would be a highly profitable venture.
If Sun Wukong's methods were used by him, it would be even easier and more convenient.
Those immortals probably would not guard against him, either.
"No, that won't do." Marshal Tian Peng shook his head.
If he did that, it would be tantamount to rebelling against the Heavenly Court. He had no such plans for now.
As far as the current Marshal Tian Peng was concerned, staying in the Heavenly Court meant having a powerful backer.
"Perhaps I can only take out the Nine-Tooth Rake." Tian Peng took out the weapon in his hand.
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