Heart of the Demon Emperor

Zhao Gongming's True Spirit slowly condensed into form within the Investiture of the Gods Space.

He blankly gazed at the vast, boundless golden space surrounding him, filled with an aura of sanctity and majesty, unable to react for a moment.

"Where... where am I?"

"Didn't I... die?"

His memory was still stuck on the final moment of being ambushed by those nameless rats, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao.

The humiliation, the unwillingness, the despair, were still clearly imprinted deep within his soul.

Just then, a detached yet majestic voice echoed from all directions within the space, resonating directly within his True Spirit.

"This is the Investiture of the Gods."

"You, Zhao Gongming, have died in the Calamity. Your True Spirit is destined to be listed, and I shall bestow your title."

"The Investiture of the Gods?" Zhao Gongming trembled all over. Of course, he knew what the Investiture of the Gods was.

Wasn't that a scheme by the Sect of Explanation to plot against his Jiejiao?

How could he be here?

"Who are you?" Zhao Gongming asked warily.

"Who I am is not important," the voice sounded again. "What's important is that from now on, your fate will be in my hands."

As the words fell, a brilliant golden light descended from the heavens, enveloping Zhao Gongming's True Spirit.

Under the illumination of this golden light, Zhao Gongming felt all the resentment, unwillingness, and regret within his True Spirit being rapidly purified. His soul became purer and more peaceful than ever before.

Immediately after, a vast and pure Divine Power surged into his True Spirit, beginning to reshape his divine body.

"This... this is..."

Zhao Gongming could feel that this Divine Power was more advanced and purer than any magical power he had cultivated during his lifetime.

In the face of this power, his once-proud Grand Unity Dao Fruit seemed so crude and unworthy.

"Do not be alarmed, this is the power of Godhood."

Shen Zhaochi's voice carried a hint of guidance.

"Although you have died, it is also a new beginning. By entering my Godhood, you will escape the karma of immortality, be unbound by the Calamity, and attain true eternal life."

"I will bestow upon you the title of 'Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar True Lord,' in charge of the world's wealth, receiving offerings and incense from all people. This divine position is no lower than the Four Imperial Emperors of the Heavenly Court. Do you accept?"

God of Wealth!

In charge of the world's wealth!

Zhao Gongming was stunned.

He had originally thought that if he ended up on the Investiture of the Gods, the best outcome would be to become some Heavenly Lord, driven by Haotian, and lose his freedom forever.

He never expected that the other party would grant him such an extremely honored and immensely powerful divine position!

Wealth is the foundation of all living beings' survival.

Being in charge of the world's wealth meant he would forge the widest and deepest karma with all beings in the Primordial Era.

As long as the beings of the Primordial Era still needed "wealth," his incense offerings would never dry up, and his divine position would be as stable as Mount Tai!

This... this was simply a tremendous fortune!

"I... I accept!"

Zhao Gongming agreed almost without thinking.

He wasn't a fool.

He was already dead, so what was there to be coy about?

Having such a good outcome was already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Moreover, he could feel that the mysterious master of the Investiture of the Gods seemed... to have no ill will towards him.

"Good."

Shen Zhaochi's voice carried a hint of satisfaction.

He picked up a vermilion brush and, with bold strokes, wrote behind Zhao Gongming's name on the Investiture of the Gods.

I hereby decree: Zhao Gongming is appointed to the position of 'Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar True Lord,' granted the divine seal and the divine office!

As his brush fell, the Investiture of the Gods shone with golden light.

Zhao Gongming's divine body instantly took shape.

He wore a golden divine robe, a purple-gold divine crown, his face was majestic, surrounded by golden light of fortune, and he held a mysterious divine seal in his hand.

A powerful divine might emanated from him.

He felt the continuous divine power within him, connected to the laws of fortune throughout the Primordial Era, and was filled with shock.

This... was this Godhood?

A power completely different from immortality, yet incredibly powerful!

"Thank you... for the enfeoffment, God Lord!"

Zhao Gongming bowed deeply towards the void, this time with genuine admiration.

"No need for such formalities," Shen Zhaochi's voice echoed again. "Since you have entered my Godhood, cultivate here with peace of mind and familiarize yourself with your divine duties. The conflicts of the outside world are no longer your concern."

"But... my sisters..." Zhao Gongming asked with worry.

His greatest concern was for his three sisters: Yun Xiao, Qiong Xiao, and Bi Xiao.

He feared his death would provoke them, causing them to rashly plunge into the Calamity as well.

"They have their own destinies," Shen Zhaochi's voice carried no discernible emotion. "Your only task now is to manage yourself."

With that, the space fell silent.

Zhao Gongming knew that the mysterious God Lord had departed.

He looked at his new divine body, feeling the immense power within, his heart filled with a mix of emotions.

After a long moment, he let out a long sigh.

"So be it. Since I am here, I shall find peace."

He sat down cross-legged and began to calm his mind, sensing his divine position as the God of Wealth.

At the very moment Zhao Gongming's True Spirit was listed and enfeoffed as the God of Wealth.

In the East Sea, on Golden Ao Island.

In the rear hall of Biyou Palace, within the dojo of Three Immortals Island.

Fairy Yunxiao, who was in seclusion, suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if an invisible blade had pierced it.

She abruptly opened her eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Big Sister! What's wrong?"

Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao, who were nearby, were startled and rushed over.

Yun Xiao ignored them, her trembling hand reaching for a life-bound jade talisman that was intertwined with Zhao Gongming's life.

The originally smooth and warm jade talisman was now covered in web-like cracks.

"Crack—"

With a crisp sound, like a heart shattering.

The jade talisman shattered completely before the three sisters' eyes, turning into a pile of dull powder.

"Big Brother!!!"

A piercing, grief-stricken cry escaped Yun Xiao's lips.

Tears of blood instantly streamed from her eyes.

Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao stared blankly at the pile of powder, their minds completely blank.

The shattering of the life-bound jade talisman meant...

"No! Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Bi Xiao shook her head frantically, unable to accept the reality.

"Big Brother is powerful and has the Sea Calming Divine Beads protecting him! How could he possibly die! This must be fake! It's fake!"

"Who! Who was it!"

Qiong Xiao reacted most fiercely. She stood up abruptly, her eyes burning with intense rage and killing intent.

"Who killed my Big Brother!!"

"I will tear him limb from limb! Soul and spirit!"

Yun Xiao, usually the calmest and most rational of the three sisters, was now completely beside herself.

She slowly stood up, her exquisite face covered in frost, her eyes filled with a hatred and killing intent that could freeze time and space.

Without a word, she silently walked towards the depths of the dojo.

There, a magical treasure was enshrined.

An Innate Spiritual Treasure formed from a wisp of primordial chaos at the dawn of creation.

It was shaped like a dou, its color was gold.

It was the ultimate treasure of the three sisters, and besides the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, it was one of the most potent and destructive magical treasures in all of Jiejiao.

—The Primordial Golden Dou!

"Big Sister, you..." Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao looked at Yun Xiao's actions and understood what she intended to do.

"I am going down the mountain," Yun Xiao's voice was chillingly devoid of emotion.

"I will go and find out who killed my Big Brother."

"And then..."

"I will make his entire lineage pay for my Big Brother!"