Though Nuwa's reason told her that the little fellow before her had laid a trap, and that she ought to refuse outright,
as the Mother of the Human Race, as long as humanity survived, she could maintain her transcendent status forever.
However,
after hesitating for just a few seconds, Nuwa smiled and accepted the stone symbolizing an Innate Supreme Treasure.
There was no helping it!
Though the human race could reproduce rapidly, its individual members were still too weak—especially compared with the Wu and Yao races.
What if they offended a Sage?
Heh!
Even the mighty Wu, Yao, dragons, phoenixes, and qilin... What had become of them? They'd still ended up as mounts and pets for people like them.
Thinking of this, Nuwa took a deep breath. Turning over the seemingly ordinary little stone in her hand, which in truth contained a mysterious power, she asked curiously,
"Xuanming, how do I use this? Tell Grandmaster!"
"It's simple!"
Xuanming's smile grew even wider. He guided Nuwa to place the Upgrade Stone on her Red Embroidered Ball, and in an instant, the heavens and earth changed color.
The Thirty-Third Heaven,
the Heavenly Court,
just as the eight Buddhas of Buddhism led a mighty force of a hundred thousand monks toward them, the Heavenly Court was in complete chaos. The sound of hurried footsteps, shouting, and even cries rang out without end.
They had enjoyed peace for far too long.
Or rather, aside from a few ambitious souls, all the gods of the Heavenly Court usually just coasted through their days whenever they could.
Bullying a few little demons was naturally no problem.
But now they were supposed to go to war with Buddhism?
Give me a break!
Even powerful figures like Erlang Shen, Nezha, and the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing felt their hearts sink when they heard the news.
Who didn't know that two Sages stood behind Buddhism?
And since they dared to make such a grand show of it, didn't that mean the two Sages behind them had agreed to it as well?
"Gasp?!"
Erlang Shen Yang Jian couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath. He looked up at the Jade Emperor, whose face was livid. "Uncle, what does Taishang Laojun say? Are the Sages going to fight it out again?"
"Alas... Who knows?"
The Jade Emperor sighed at that. His mind was in a complete muddle, and he even felt like running away outright.
They were impossible to manage!
Those bastards from the Interception Sect would rather die than go into battle. How could they possibly stand against Buddhism with just their own forces?
As for the Sages?
Heh!
It would be one thing if the opposing Sages made a move. But if they didn't, would Taishang Laojun really step in?
"Your Majesty, if you ask me, there's no need to be polite with them!"
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing held the pagoda he never let out of his hands, his tone full of displeasure. "Zhao Gongming and the others are members of the Heavenly Court, so they must contribute to it. How can they simply refuse to fight?"
"Exactly!"
Nezha chimed in from the side. But before Li Jing could be pleased, Nezha's tone suddenly changed.
"Dad, since His Majesty's words aren't doing any good, why don't you go talk to them?"
"If that doesn't work, just fight them!"
"I'm rooting for you!"
"..."
Li Jing's mouth twitched. He was supposed to go fight Zhao Gongming?
What a joke!
Zhao Gongming was a bona fide second-generation disciple of the Interception Sect. If they really fought, he'd probably kill Li Jing with a casual flick of his hand.
That unfilial son was nothing but trouble!
"Do not bring this up again!"
Before Li Jing could think of a retort, the Jade Emperor glared at him. Did that old fool want him dead sooner?
Look at the situation!
Who knew what Sect Leader Tongtian was plotting in secret? And now he wanted to wipe out the man's disciples?
Tsk, tsk!
Did he really think the Jade Emperor could take a beating?
What if Buddhism hadn't even arrived yet, and he, Lord of the Three Realms, had already vanished without a trace?
"R-report..."
Just as the Jade Emperor and the others were frowning over how to respond, several Heavenly Soldiers rushed inside, looking terrified.
"Y-Your Majesty, a great disaster! A great disaster has struck!"
"What now?!"
The Jade Emperor sprang to his feet, his brows furrowing. "Have the people from Buddhism arrived already?"
"N-no, it's... it's..."
The Heavenly Soldier faltered, as if he didn't know how to continue.
"Speak!"
The Jade Emperor's patience was nearly gone. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "With me here, the sky won't fall. Whatever it is, hurry up and tell me!"
"Yes, yes!"
The Heavenly Soldier hurriedly acknowledged him, then reported hesitantly, "Your Majesty, just now, all the immortals in the Heavenly Court vanished without a trace!"
"What??"
The Jade Emperor wondered if his ears were playing tricks on him. "What did you just say? The immortals vanished? How?"
"They... they just whooshed away!"
The Heavenly Soldier gestured with his hand, his voice tinged with unease. "They vanished right before our eyes, and a great many of them disappeared at once."
"A great many? How many?"
The Jade Emperor had a rough idea, but he still asked, unwilling to give up hope. "Are the generals of the Thunder Division and the God of Wealth still there? What about the Star Lords? Are they all still there?"
"They've all vanished!"
"Phew..."
The Jade Emperor let out a long breath. The heart he'd been holding in suspense finally gave up.
It was confirmed!
Those damned members of the Interception Sect had actually joined forces with Buddhism? Did they really think—really think—the Sages would spare them?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the Jade Emperor's vision blurred. Two figures suddenly appeared before him.
He looked up.
The Jade Emperor, who had just sat down, sprang to his feet again. "Sage Taishang, Sage Yuanshi, you've finally arrived..."
"You just said the members of the Interception Sect have all vanished?" Yuanshi Tianzun asked, frowning at the Jade Emperor.
"That's right!"
The Jade Emperor nodded and complained bitterly, "Sages, they must have joined forces with Buddhism. With Buddhism about to attack, they vanished ahead of time and went into hiding."
"Went into hiding? Why didn't you look for them?!"
Yuanshi Tianzun drew a deep breath. He wanted to crack open the Jade Emperor's skull and see what was inside.
Wasn't that Investiture of the Gods of yours just for show?
They were already on the list, and you were saying you didn't know where they'd gone? Did you think they were that easy to fool?
"I looked. I couldn't find them!"
The Jade Emperor didn't waste time. He immediately brought out the Investiture of the Gods and handed it to Yuanshi Tianzun after opening it. "If you don't believe me, take a look yourself. Their true spirits are still there, but their exact locations can't be determined!"
"Looks like someone wants to fight it out with us!"
Yuanshi Tianzun finally understood. He turned to exchange a glance with Taishang Laojun. The meaning in their eyes was clear.
Sect Leader Tongtian!
Only Sect Leader Tongtian, a Sage of their own level, could hide them while preventing the others from calculating their whereabouts.
But,
before Yuanshi Tianzun and the others could figure out how to find them, an aura that shook the entire primordial world erupted.
Yuanshi Tianzun: "W-what is this?!!"
Before you continue