Defying Heaven and Changing Fate, Controlling the Gods' Allegiance with a Single Thought

Shen Zhaochi didn't hesitate at all.

He couldn't make too much noise, or his Masters would notice.

He mobilized all the immortal essence within his body, not releasing it outwards, but choosing to collapse it inwards.

Compressing the entire energy of a Golden Immortal into his own Purple Mansion primordial spirit.

This was the most thorough and cleanest way to commit suicide.

The primordial spirit self-destructed, and the True Spirit left the body.

The outside world wouldn't even detect any energy fluctuations.

Intense pain surged from the depths of his soul, as if it were tearing him apart.

Shen Zhaochi gritted his teeth; this was his only chance.

He thought of Master Yunxiao's gentleness, Master Qiongxiao's charm, and Master Bixiao's fiery spirit.

He thought of their diligent teachings, unchanging for a million years.

"I'm sorry."

"I had no choice."

With a deafening roar, it exploded in the depths of his soul.

Shen Zhaochi's body remained standing, but his life force had been completely extinguished.

A wisp of imperceptible True Spirit, enveloped by the System, detached from the physical body.

The next second.

His consciousness pierced through endless space, crossed the East Sea, and descended upon Kunlun Mountain, the Jade Void Palace.

He "saw" three Daoists whose auras were terrifying to the extreme.

Taishang, Yuanshi, Tongtian.

Before them, a golden scroll was slowly unfurling, emanating boundless Heavenly Dao pressure.

The Investiture of the Gods!

[True Spirit beginning to inhabit...]

[Detecting Saint aura, System energy consumption increasing...]

[10%...30%...70%...]

[Inhabitation successful!]

[Congratulations to the Host for becoming the sole supreme controller of the Investiture of the Gods!]

[Mysterious Treasure Chest has been issued, please check.]

Buzz--

Shen Zhaochi's consciousness merged with the entire Investiture of the Gods.

He could feel the numerous blank divine positions reserved on the scroll.

Three hundred and sixty-five proper gods, two thousand minor gods.

From this moment on, who would be on the list and who wouldn't was no longer decided by Venerable Yuanshi.

It was him, Shen Zhaochi, who decided!

A sense of control never before felt filled his True Spirit.

This was the taste of authority.

In the Jade Void Palace, the three Saints sat opposite each other.

Venerable Yuanshi's expression was blank, Venerable Taishang closed his eyes to rest, and Sect Master Tongtian looked utterly stifled.

Just after signing the Investiture of the Gods, his Intercepting Sect disciples made up the majority.

Out of the three hundred and sixty-five proper gods, his Intercepting Sect had to fill over two hundred.

The rest were for the Heavenly Origin Sect and the Human Sect.

This wasn't a joint discussion of the Three Religions; this was purely a two-against-one, ganging up to trick him, Tongtian.

"Two elder brothers, must you truly be so heartless?" Sect Master Tongtian's voice was laced with suppressed anger.

Venerable Taishang's eyelids didn't even lift. "Junior Brother, such is the will of heaven, not something we can control."

Venerable Yuanshi snorted coldly. "Junior Brother Tongtian, it is not we who are forcing you. It is your disciples, with their fur and horns, born of wetness and eggs, who do not cultivate virtue. They are entangled in karma and should ascend the list to serve the Heavenly Court and eliminate their own karmic consequences."

"You!" Sect Master Tongtian was so enraged that the three flowers atop his head trembled.

"Fine, fine, fine! You say my disciples don't cultivate virtue? Your Twelve Golden Immortals are all entangled in the calamity and have committed worldly killing karma. Why shouldn't they ascend the list?"

Venerable Yuanshi's expression sank. "My disciples are all True Immortals of Fortune and Virtue, and they have their own methods to overcome the tribulation."

The implication was clear: my people have a way to pass, yours don't, and they deserve to die.

"Hmph!" Sect Master Tongtian flicked his sleeve and rose, unwilling to waste any more words with these two old schemers.

Just then, an unexpected change occurred!

The Investiture of the Gods, which had been bestowed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun and was suspended between the three of them, not yet sent to the Investiture Altar, suddenly flashed with golden light!

Buzz—

A wondrous Dao charm emanated from the list.

The expressions of the three Saints changed in unison.

"What's going on?" Venerable Yuanshi frowned deeply.

"The Investiture Altar has not been erected, and the Calamity has not begun. Why would the Investiture of the Gods react?" Venerable Taishang also opened his eyes, ripples appearing in his normally calm Dao heart.

Sect Master Tongtian stared at the Investiture of the Gods with surprise and uncertainty.

He could feel that, in that very instant, an extremely faint True Spirit had entered the Investiture of the Gods in a way they hadn't perceived.

This was impossible!

The Investiture of the Gods was a sacred artifact of the Heavenly Dao, suppressed by the power of Saints and protected by the rules of the Heavenly Dao.

Let alone a mere True Spirit, even they, Saints, could not interfere with its operation without the Heavenly Dao's permission.

"A True Spirit has ascended the list," Sect Master Tongtian said in a deep voice.

Venerable Yuanshi calculated with his fingers, but the Heavenly Secrets were in chaos, and he could not divine anything.

He sneered, "Nonsense! The great tribulation has not yet begun. Who would die and have their True Spirit ascend the list?"

Sect Master Tongtian ignored him. He deduced again, this time locking the Heavenly Secrets onto his own dojo, Golden Ao Island, and its subordinate immortal islands.

A moment later, his expression became peculiar.

"So that's how it is... It's my grand-disciple, Zhao Chi."

"Died by dissolving into the Dao, sacrificing himself for the Dao?"

Sect Master Tongtian couldn't quite understand.

This kid's aptitude was indeed lacking, but he was also the darling of Yun Xiao and her two sisters.

Why would he suddenly lose his mind and end it himself?

However, he did discern some of the method.

This Shen Zhaochi did not commit ordinary suicide. Instead, at the moment of his death, he used some unknown power to precisely cast his True Spirit into the Investiture of the Gods.

The Investiture of the Gods, though a tribulation, was also a sanctuary.

Once a True Spirit entered the list, it was equivalent to receiving the Heavenly Dao's protection. During the great tribulation, as long as the list itself was not destroyed, the True Spirit would not perish.

"This kid has some quick wit," Sect Master Tongtian muttered to himself.

Rather than being at the mercy of others and being killed to ascend the list during the great tribulation, it was better to enter voluntarily and gain an advantage?

Although he couldn't grasp the specific reason, Sect Master Tongtian had a feeling that this matter was not that simple.

But he did not expose it.

Yuanshi and Taishang could not calculate it, but he could get a general idea.

This was his opportunity.

"Second Senior Brother, since the matter is settled, I shall take my leave." Sect Master Tongtian suppressed his doubts, cupped his hands towards the two, and turned into a stream of green light, disappearing from Jade Void Palace.

He had to hurry back to Biyou Palace to study the anomaly of the Investiture of the Gods.

Watching Sect Master Tongtian leave, Venerable Yuanshi's expression grew even more somber.

"Senior Brother, this Investiture of the Gods..."

"It matters not," Venerable Taishang waved his hand and closed his eyes again. "It is merely the death throes of an ant. It will not affect the overall situation. The will of heaven is still on our side."

Upon hearing this, Venerable Yuanshi felt slightly relieved.

Yes, below Saints, all are ants.

No matter how much an ant struggled, what waves could it stir?

Three Immortals Island, Qionghua Palace.

Yun Xiao was feeling worried when her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a sense of inexplicable unease washed over her.

"This is bad!"

She suddenly looked towards the cave dwelling where Shen Zhaochi was in seclusion.

"Big Sister, what's wrong?" Qiong Xiao noticed her strangeness.

"Zhao Chi... Zhao Chi might be in trouble!" Yun Xiao's voice trembled slightly.

Before she could finish speaking, Bi Xiao, who had the fiercest temper, had already transformed into a ball of fire and rushed towards the cave dwelling.

"Zhao Chi! Get out here, you old hag!"

The stone door of the cave dwelling was shattered by her palm.

But inside, it was empty.

No, it wasn't empty.

Shen Zhaochi's physical body still sat cross-legged on the cushion, appearing serene and lifelike.

But... there was no life force.