Haotian Achieves Sainthood, Expelled from the Heavenly Court

Shaoyao gazed into the distance at the majestic and imposing Chaoge City, a myriad of emotions swirling in her heart.

She turned to look at the person beside her and sighed softly, "Senior Disciple Brother, the Vice Leader's deep affection for Hong Yun Senior is truly moving beyond words!"

Su Mu nodded slightly in agreement. His eyes grew profound as he recalled past events, and he couldn't help but say sincerely, "Indeed, to give Hong Yun Senior more thorough protection, the Vice Leader resolutely bid farewell to the Underworld and returned to Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain the moment Di Xin was born. From then on, he kept a constant watch over Di Xin's growth, never daring to slack off."

Pausing here, Su Mu added, "And now, with Di Xin newly ascended and his foundation unstable, the Vice Leader rushed over anxiously as soon as he heard the news to save the day. Such care is truly rare in this world."

Shaoyao seemed about to say more, but just then, an overwhelming, vast, and boundless saintly might surged forth like a tidal wave, spreading across the heavens and earth.

This Saint's pressure, heavy as Mount Tai crushing an egg, once again enveloped the entire boundless Primordial World.

Countless weak beings trembled under this terrifying oppression, unable to bear it, and involuntarily prostrated themselves on the ground in reverence.

Yet just as the human race was about to bow their heads in submission, a dazzling streak of Flowing Light suddenly shot out from Shouyang Mountain.

This light streaked across the sky like the brightest star in the night, instantly scattering across the entire Nine Provinces.

In that moment, the pressure felt by all humans vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

Seeing this, Shaoyao's face lit up with joy, and she blurted out, "It must be Teacher lending a hand!"

Su Mu's attention, however, was elsewhere. His deep, sharp gaze fixed directly on the direction of the Heavenly Court.

He mused to himself, "I didn't expect Haotian to have already succeeded in Achieving Sainthood! If so, Dao Ancestor Hongjun might be able to re-merge with the Dao." At this thought, Su Mu furrowed his brow, an indescribable sense of urgency surging within him.

"Junior Disciple Sister, the situation has changed—we must return to the Heavenly Court immediately!" Su Mu turned to his junior sister and said urgently.

"Understood, Senior Disciple Brother!" she replied without hesitation.

With that, Su Mu and Shaoyao transformed into two streaks of light and sped toward the Heavenly Court.

Up in the Heavenly Court, Haotian's face was brimming with joy. After enduring countless hardships, he had finally realized his dream of Achieving Sainthood.

Standing nearby, Yaochi could barely contain her excitement and congratulated him in a sweet voice, "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on Achieving Sainthood today! From now on, our Heavenly Court will truly rise and become one of the top powers in the Primordial World!"

But just as Haotian was basking in this immense joy, a mysterious voice transmission reached his ears.

The voice was majestic and unmistakably from Dao Ancestor Hongjun: "Haotian, immediately order all humans and members of the Human Sect who hold divine positions in the Heavenly Court to leave. From now on, all Heavenly Court positions must be placed on the Investiture of the Gods Scroll and conferred through it."

Hearing this, the smile on Haotian's face froze instantly, replaced by a grave expression.

"Expel the humans and the Human Sect from the Heavenly Court? This..." Haotian's brow tightened, his face full of hesitation.

He muttered to himself, "What am I to do? If I do this, won't I offend Empress Nuwa terribly? She possesses the terrifying power to slay a Saint!"

"And then there's Su Mu, another one capable of killing a Saint. Though I don't know why he's now a Golden Immortal of the Origin, I can't guarantee I'd defeat him."

At this thought, Haotian felt a headache coming on. After all, whether it was Empress Nuwa or Su Mu, neither was someone he could afford to provoke.

Yet if he disobeyed the Great Master's command, the consequences would be dire.

Weighing his options repeatedly, Haotian finally steeled himself and gritted his teeth, "Fine, I'll follow the Great Master's orders. If trouble comes, the Great Master will bear it."

With his mind made up, Haotian immediately set things in motion. He first dispatched his subordinates to send away the humans who had previously joined the Heavenly Court.

As for the Human Sect members, he would need to handle them personally for it to be proper.

So he quickly issued a decree, summoning the Four Directional Emperors, the Grand Marshal of Heavenly Court Armies, Marshal Dapeng, and the Great God of the Three Altars to the Lingxiao Palace for urgent discussion.

Just as Su Mu and Shaoyao arrived at the Heavenly Court, Haotian's summons reached their ears. The two of them sped toward the Lingxiao Palace.

The moment he stepped through the palace doors, Su Mu spotted Bei Xuan and other familiar figures.

His heart stirred slightly—he didn't need to guess the reason. It was almost certainly Dao Ancestor Hongjun ordering them to leave the Heavenly Court.

By now, Haotian was seated high on his throne. Once everyone had assembled, he wasted no time and got straight to the point: "Fellow immortals, my apologies. I have gathered you here today on the orders of the Dao Ancestor. The Dao Ancestor has decreed that from now on, all divine personnel of the Heavenly Court must be listed on the Investiture of the Gods Scroll."

"Only those whose names appear on the scroll are qualified to receive corresponding divine positions. So... I ask for your understanding. Please leave the Heavenly Court as soon as possible. This Celestial Venerable offers his apologies." With that, Haotian's face showed deep regret.

Hearing this news, those present couldn't hide their dismay. Though resentment brewed in their hearts, who would dare openly defy an order from Dao Ancestor Hongjun?

Left with no choice, they silently accepted this harsh reality.

Su Mu took a deep breath, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in salute: "Great Celestial Venerable, you speak too seriously. Since it is the Dao Ancestor's command, we naturally must obey it without a word. We part ways today. If fate brings us together again, we hope for your continued guidance."

With that, he turned and walked out the door. Shaoyao and the others followed suit.

Watching their receding figures, Haotian let out a long sigh: "Very well. If the opportunity arises, the Heavenly Court will always welcome you all back to serve." Yet his words echoed hollowly through the empty hall.

After leaving the Heavenly Court, Su Mu's expression turned solemn as he shouted into the distance, "Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, take Yang Chan and hurry to Shouyang Mountain immediately! No delays!" His voice boomed like a great bell, piercing the clouds and reaching straight into Yang Tianyou's home at Guanjiang Pass.

At that moment, Yang Jiao and the other two, who were practicing in the courtyard, suddenly heard this thunderous transmission.

Their hearts jolted. They stopped what they were doing and dashed into the house. Inside, Yao Ji was sitting at a table mending clothes, while Yang Tianyou organized scrolls nearby.

Yang Jiao hurried to his parents and said urgently, "Father, Mother, we just received a message from our teacher. He orders us to set out for Shouyang Mountain immediately."

Yao Ji set down her needlework, stood up, and looked at Yang Jiao with concern, speaking earnestly, "Jiao'er, and Jian'er and Chan'er, when you go to Shouyang Mountain, you must listen to your teacher's guidance. Don't be willful, understand?"

Yang Tianyou also stepped forward, gently patting Yang Jiao's shoulder, and added, "That's right, children. Your teachers are immensely powerful and knowledgeable. Study hard under them and learn the ways of cultivation, and you will achieve great things in the future. When the time comes, if you can, do your best to help your teachers."

Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, and Yang Chan replied in unison, "Father, Mother, rest assured. We will heed your words, diligently follow our teacher's training, and live up to your expectations!"

With that, the three quickly began packing their bags and gear, their movements swift and efficient.

Once everything was ready, they stepped forward with firm resolve and embarked on the long, uncertain journey to Shouyang Mountain.

Along the way, they crossed dense forests, rugged mountain paths, and swift rivers.

Aside from Yang Jian, the other two had never left the familiar lands of Guanjiang Pass. Their knowledge of the outside world was scant—they didn't even know exactly where Shouyang Mountain was, only a rough direction.

Yet this distant and unknown journey did not daunt them.

On the contrary, no matter how rough the road ahead or how many hardships they faced, these three fearless souls pressed on with unwavering high spirits and an indomitable will, step by step toward their goal.

Fortunately, halfway through their journey, Su Mu and the others discovered them and brought them along.

By then, the three were utterly exhausted, covered in dust and sweat. But they had no time to rest; they followed Su Mu and the group closely.

Seeing their low cultivation and heavy fatigue, Su Mu used his magic to carry them forward.

When they arrived at Shouyang Mountain, they heard Empress Nuwa's voice transmission, clear as a celestial melody: "Come to the Human Dao Hall at once!" They all knew it was their teacher's call.

Without a moment's delay, they used their abilities and rushed toward the Human Dao Hall.

Soon, they reached the hall. As they stepped through the door, they saw Empress Nuwa seated high on her throne, with Golden Phoenix by her side. Below, on either side, sat Vice Leader Zhenyuanzi and an unfamiliar man.

They quickly bowed and said in unison, "Greetings, Teacher (Empress), and Vice Leader." Empress Nuwa nodded slightly, and Vice Leader Zhenyuanzi smiled and nodded in return.

Nuwa spoke slowly, "First, let me introduce someone to you. This man is Xing Zhou, one of the first humans to enter the Heavenly Court. Since his arrival, he has served as a Star Lord there."

"Xing Zhou has been diligent and responsible in his duties, and he has cultivated with extreme dedication, never slacking off. As a result, after long and unremitting effort, he has now successfully broken through to the Early Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal stage!"

After a brief pause, Empress Nuwa continued, "I saw that Xing Zhou has outstanding talent and a pure character—truly a promising individual—so I have taken him as my disciple. From now on, Xing Zhou will be your Fifth Junior Disciple Brother."

As Empress Nuwa finished, Xing Zhou stepped forward and said respectfully, "Greetings to all senior disciple brothers and sisters. I am new here; if I make any mistakes in the future, I hope you will guide me and be lenient."

Everyone smiled and nodded in response, saying in unison, "Junior Disciple Brother Xing Zhou, no need for such formality. To have reached the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal stage at your age—truly, the younger generation is formidable!" The atmosphere was warm and filled with laughter.

Empress Nuwa spoke at the right moment, "I imagine that before coming here, you already had some guesses about why I summoned you. Yes, as you suspected, the Tribulation is about to descend upon the world. The Investiture of the Gods Scroll you just heard mentioned is the key to this Tribulation. This Tribulation is called the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation."

Before she finished, Bei Xuan could no longer contain his excitement and blurted out, "Investiture? How large is this Tribulation? And why the investiture of gods?" He gestured wildly with his hands, visibly agitated.

Shaoyao chided him, "Second Senior Brother, why are you so worked up?"

Bei Xuan didn't turn around, replying firmly, "Junior Disciple Sister, you don't understand. Tribulations often hold countless opportunities. If we seize them, we might ascend to the Great Dao in one leap!"

With that, he fixed his gaze on Empress Nuwa, hoping to learn more about the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.

Empress Nuwa said slowly, "This Tribulation is vastly different from past ones. The greatest difference is that the souls of those who fall will not go to the Underworld as usual. Instead, their True Spirits will ascend to the Investiture of the Gods Scroll."

"This True Spirit is like a person's consciousness being drawn into the scroll. Once a True Spirit enters the scroll, unless it is utterly destroyed, it will be bound and controlled by the scroll for eternity."

Hearing this, Bei Xuan was shocked: "What? We have to ascend with our True Spirits? The True Spirit is even more fragile than the soul! How can we continue to cultivate then? We must never ascend to that scroll!" His face was full of worry and fear.

Shaoyao quickly comforted him, "Senior Disciple Brother Bei Xuan, don't worry too much. Teacher will surely not let us ascend. With Teacher protecting us, we will be safe." Her voice was gentle but firm, trying to calm his anxious heart.

Cangjie chimed in, "That's right, Senior Disciple Brother Bei Xuan. Teacher will definitely help us. Besides, Senior Disciple Brother is here—he's so powerful he can even kill a Saint. He'll protect us all."

He gave Bei Xuan a reassuring look, hoping to ease his mind.

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