Scheming as the Investiture of the Gods Begins

Inside the Purple Sky Palace, everyone had different thoughts, especially some clan elders who, after the retreat of the witches and demons, saw hope of becoming the rulers of humanity and all wanted a share of the spoils.

Now that he had received Hongjun's affirmative reply, his desire burned even brighter.

However, some truly sensible people know that they cannot succeed; the final victors will be the human race, or perhaps the demon race and the Dragon Clan.

The human race has the support of Donghua and Nuwa, and the attitude of the Three Pure Ones is even more ambiguous.

As for the demon race, they have the advantage of a huge population, and with the addition of the Saint Nuwa, it's also possible.

The Dragon Clan race also has a considerable population, and now they have pledged allegiance to the Heavenly Court. If Donghua and the Heavenly Court support them, they may become the rulers of humanity.

Apart from them, the other races are merely supporting characters and are unlikely to succeed.

However, when enough benefits come their way, many people fail to recognize reality, or are unwilling to believe it, and become immersed in their own world.

But then again, isn't that the allure of the Primordial Wilderness? It's also the allure of cultivation—everything is unknown. After all, there are fifty Great Daos and forty-nine Heavenly Evolutions, with one remaining unexplored, so anything is possible.

If all the races truly seize the opportunity, Donghua and the others will be powerless to stop them. Even powerful beings like them must follow the will of Heaven and act according to the general trend; they cannot possibly defy Heaven's will.

After all, who dares to defy the Primordial Wilderness heavens?

First, you will face the unfathomable Hongjun, and second, the even more powerful Heavenly Dao. Although the Heavenly Dao has no consciousness, you will feel Heavenly Dao power when Heavenly Punishment descends.

Hongjun ignored everyone's thoughts and said to himself, "The Great Tribulation has just passed. In this struggle for the position of Lord of Humanity and Protagonist of Heaven and Earth, let's try to minimize the bloodshed!"

"The third reason I summoned you here is that the Outer Demonic Realm is about to emerge, Luohu will also be returning from the Heavenly Dao. This is the Devil Dao's last chance."

"With the invasion of the Demon Realm, the Starry Sky and the Heaven Realm will bear the brunt. Donghua, you must be prepared to resist the invasion of the Demon Realm and, if necessary, disrupt the Devil Dao's momentum."

Donghua nodded and said, "Please rest assured, Master. With Di Shitian and the three thousand Heavenly Demons, we cannot accomplish anything great. My only worry is Luohu. I wonder when he will return?"

Donghua was well aware of the current situation in the Outer Demonic Realm, after all, his Evil Corpse Jingyang was the Demon Emperor and the current leader of a force in the Outer Demonic Realm.

Therefore, what he was truly worried about was the Demon Ancestor Luohu, a person from the same era as Hongjun, but he didn't know what level of cultivation he had after returning this time.

"The timing of Luohu's return is uncertain; it depends on the development of the Demon Realm!"

After Hongjun finished speaking, he stopped mentioning the matter and instead looked at everyone, saying, "The emergence of the Outer Demonic Realm also signifies the arrival of Demon Tribulation. Anyone below the level of Daluo Golden Immortal may be possessed by Heavenly Demons during the Inner Demon tribulation. Therefore, you must strengthen your mental cultivation and not just focus on improving your cultivation level."

"I will heed your teachings!"

Hongjun waved his whisk and said softly, "Now that everything is settled, let's go back!"

After he finished speaking, Hongjun's figure disappeared from the Purple Sky Palace.

Donghua and the others also left Purple Sky Palace one after another!

Just as Donghua emerged from the chaos, Houtu blocked his path. West Queen Mother and the people of the Heavenly Court, who were standing nearby, said nothing and left directly.

Houtu's face showed signs of exhaustion, with a hint of paleness. Upon closer inspection, Donghua discovered that Houtu was injured, and it was a Dao injury at that!

I just don't know how they got injured!

The two stood high in the sky, looking down at the entire Primordial World. Time seemed to have returned to the time when they stood on the Jade Emperor Peak of Mount Tai, looking at the entire eastern land.

The only difference is that the Witch Court has now been destroyed, the Witch Clan has declined, and Donghua is no longer the cautious and timid person who used the pseudonym Chongyang.

"What brings you here, Fellow Houtu?"

Houtu gazed quietly at the stars in the sky, the starlight shining on her face, giving her a sense of tranquility and peace.

"I tried to force my way into the Quasi-Saint realm before, but failed. Instead, I was backfired by the Great Dao and suffered considerable damage. Now, I have completely cut off any possibility of breaking through to the Quasi-Saint realm!"

Upon hearing this, Donghua opened his Dharma Eye and saw that cracks had appeared on Houtu's path, and even the true form that had appeared behind her was affected.

This injury is not minor at all; it's quite severe, especially since it's a wound on the Great Dao, which is very difficult to heal!

Houtu said to herself, "The Witch Clan has damaged heaven and earth, and is ashamed before the Father God and all living beings. Perhaps this is retribution!"

Donghua shook his head and said, "This has nothing to do with retribution. Retribution, to put it bluntly, is the power of fate. You are the lord of the Netherworld Earth Realm, so the power of fate can hardly affect you!"

"You cannot break through because your cultivation of the Great Dao is insufficient, and your fortune has weakened considerably, making it insufficient to support your breakthrough to Quasi-Saint. Even if your Earthly Dao and the Reincarnation Great Dao are perfected, it is impossible for you to break through to the Quasi-Saint realm!"

Houtu turned around and smiled gently, "It's not important anymore. Everything is in the past. I came to see you today for the sake of the Witch Clan. I wonder what your plans are for the Witch Clan?"

Donghua paused for a moment. To be honest, he really had no designs on the Witch Clan, neither in his current status nor in his cultivation level. Besides, Dijiang had already surrendered on behalf of the Witch Clan, and they had been punished.

In his vision, the best arrangement for the Witch Clan was to suppress the Netherworld Earth Realm and the Six Paths of Reincarnation of Reincarnation thereafter.

Seeing that Donghua did not answer, Houtu continued, "I hope you can spare the Witch Clan. The Witch Clan is no longer your enemy. Moreover, with Sister Xuan Ming's help, they can't do anything, nor will they affect your rule. On the contrary, the Witch Clan will become your ally, helping you conquer the Primordial Wilderness, the Outer Demonic Realm the Realm, and even other worlds!"

Donghua asked in confusion, "Xuan Ming? And what about you?"

"I'm going to die!"

Donghua frowned. He wasn't particularly shocked by Houtu's answer. If Houtu were to transform herself into the earth and use her own earthly path and the Reincarnation Great Dao to initiate the reincarnation of all living beings in the Primordial Wilderness world, in a sense, Houtu would indeed die!

Houtu gave a bitter smile and continued, "Actually, ever since I went to the Blood Sea last time, I have understood my Dao. However, I was too greedy and wanted to break through to the Quasi-Saint realm before establishing the Primordial Wilderness Heavens Reincarnation. But I didn't expect that fate would be against me, and I could no longer break through to the Quasi-Saint realm."

"If I were to establish the Primordial Wilderness Cycle of Reincarnation with my current cultivation level, I would surely die!"

Houtu paused here, her eyes fixed on Donghua, and said, "Therefore, I want to exchange the authority of the Netherworld for the reintegration of the Witch Clan into the mortal realm. After all, the Witch Clan poses no threat to you now, and they have no ambition to dominate the Primordial Wilderness. I can guarantee that!"

Donghua thought about the Netherworld Earth Realm in the original world. It could be said that most of the power in the Houtu, who survived, only had the final reincarnation, but even she had some power taken away by the Six Sages. It was a truly pitiful situation.

If he could seize half the power of the Netherworld and control the Underworld and the cycle of reincarnation, his path to becoming an emperor would definitely advance further. At that time, with the two paths of heaven and earth united, he might even be able to break through to the Hunyuan Triple Heaven!

The idea is good, but once Houtu transforms into reincarnation, everything she says will be invalid. If she wants to gain control of the realm, she will have to compete with the Three Pure Ones and others.

Therefore, this temptation wasn't very strong for him!

But sometimes things can't be thought of that way. After all, the righteous cause is very important, especially after reaching the level of Donghua and the Three Pure Ones, where every action affects the operation of the Heavenly Dao and all things in the Primordial Wilderness world.

Moreover, a quick start leads to continuous progress!

Secondly, he did not have much aversion to the Witch Clan. How could there be no death in a war between two sides? In the five thousand years of Chinese history, if the other side had to be exterminated because of war, there would be no idea of unification, and the Qin Dynasty would not have come into being.

Moreover, the Witch Clan is indeed very strong in combat!

Donghua pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "I can grant your request, but I have one condition: from now on, the Netherworld Earth Realm will be subordinate to the Heavenly Court. Regardless of your existence, you must use your current status as the ruler of the Netherworld to advance this matter!"

Houtu glanced at Donghua and said in a deep voice, "Alright!"

Time flies, and the most talked-about things in the Primordial Wilderness during this period were the conferment of gods by the Heavenly Court Investiture of the Gods and the establishment of the Heavenly Rules. Almost everyone was discussing these two things.

The first thing they asked upon meeting was whether I had received an invitation from the Heavenly Court to participate in the construction of the Heavenly Laws.

After a thousand years, the momentous event of the Heavenly Court Investiture of the Gods the gods finally arrived.

On this day, all the leaders of various forces arrived in the Great Luo Heaven of the Heavenly Court Heaven Realm to witness the conferment of Investiture of the Gods by the Heavenly Court. Afterwards, they would also participate in the construction of the Heavenly Laws. Among them, the lowest level of cultivation was Primordial Unity Golden Immortal.

All the gods and immortals gathered at the Tongming Hall of the Great Luo Heaven, and even a few demonic cultivators were invited by the Heavenly Court, demonstrating that the Devil Dao was also under the rule of the Heavenly Court.

After everyone met, they exchanged pleasantries, as surviving the lich was indeed no easy feat.

"Fellow Daoist Tianmu, it's been a long time! It's been so long!"

"So it's Fellow Daoist Cang Ling. It has indeed been a long time. I thought you had died at the hands of the demon race. I didn't expect you to be alive and well. It's truly remarkable."

The speakers were the ancestors of the Tianmu and Cangling clans. Despite their seemingly friendly conversation, the two clans were sworn enemies, each harboring a deep-seated hatred for the other. Such scenes played out repeatedly in the main hall.

The person in charge of entertaining these people was Randeng, the newly Quasi-Saint of the Heavenly Court. He had recently been enjoying immense prestige and the praise of all living beings. He had also made many friends among the Daoists and demonstrated the power of the She Niu, which led some people from all races to join the Heavenly Court.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Great Luo Heaven, some Quasi-Saint from Primordial Wilderness Great Powers were led into the Yaochi by Taiyuan, where they were received by the West Queen Mother.

Those present included Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, Minghe, Kunpeng, Bai Ze, Bi Xia Yuan Jun, Qing Ling Sheng Mu, and others.

However, the combined grandeur of both places doesn't match that of the Jingyang Palace in Donghua.

Inside the main hall of the Jingyang Palace, Donghua sits at the top, with the Saint Nuwa on the left, followed by the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin and Zhunti.

In terms of cultivation, the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin and Zhunti have all broken through to the Quasi-Saint realm. They are only one step away from practicing the Great Dao and breaking through to the Primordial Hun Yuan. However, it is likely that this will happen soon, since these five people Preaching the Dao the Dao in various parts of the Primordial Wilderness and expounding their own Great Dao principles, which are the doctrines of the later great sects!

Nuwa was at the peak of the Hunyuan Double Heaven, while Donghua was at the mid-stage of the Hunyuan Triple Heaven.

Therefore, the people from the other two places combined are not as powerful as those here.

Inside the main hall, the Three Pure Ones and Jieyin and Zhunti their respects to Donghua and Nuwa respectively. After all, their strength and status were evident. They had not yet Attain Hunyuan Dao, so they naturally needed to pay their respects. This was also a sign of respect for their strength. Even the usually arrogant Yuanshi was very humble at this moment.

After the Taishang sat down, he asked, "What is the purpose of the Heavenly Emperor's summons?"

Donghua smiled and said, "Senior Brother Taishang, there's no need for such formalities. After all, it's only a matter of time before the three senior brothers and two junior brothers attain Attain Sainthood."

"I have invited you all here today because of what Master said about the Lord of Humanity. I wonder what the three senior brothers and two junior brothers think about this?"

Looking at Donghua and Nuwa sitting upright above, the group immediately understood that the two had formed an alliance on this matter, meaning the outcome was practically a foregone conclusion.

Taishang smiled and said, "As the Heavenly Emperor, Junior Brother Donghua, with the support of the Saint Junior Sister Nuwa, should be able to make a decision with a single word. This humble Daoist has no other ideas."

"Old fox!" Donghua sighed inwardly. The Taishang's words were truly watertight, and he directly pointed out the relationship between Donghua and Nuwa, which should have been an unspoken understanding.

Donghua's face showed a touching expression, and he said excitedly, "My Senior Brother Taishang's support for me is truly a Donghua. He is a true friend of Donghua. I will now announce this to the Primordial Wilderness, so that our brotherhood may last forever!"

Upon hearing this, the Taishang's face twitched involuntarily, and his long eyebrows rose, clearly revealing his inner turmoil.

Zhunti shone brightly, and he exclaimed inwardly, "A fellow traveler!"

Yuanshi thought to himself, "Utterly shameless!"

Nuwa and Tongtian both wore expressions that suggested they wanted to laugh but couldn't, instantly creating an eerie atmosphere in the hall.

Taishang said helplessly, "I wonder what Junior Brother Donghua's choice is?"

Donghua smiled but did not answer the question. Instead, he looked at everyone and said, "All of you here today are people whose cultivation is unparalleled in the Primordial Wilderness, and are also future Hunyuan Saint. Therefore, as long as we can reach a consensus on the matter of who will Protagonist of Heaven and Earth, then everything will be fine. I wonder if any of you have any other ideas?"

Donghua invited these people to the Jingyang Palace today to unify their thoughts and support the human race to the throne. Anyone with other ideas is his enemy.

Since they are enemies, even the Three Pure Ones cannot help you Attain Hunyuan Dao in a short time. Although they cannot completely stop you, they can easily delay it by tens of thousands of years.

The group exchanged glances, somewhat taken aback by Donghua's revelation.

"Would it be feasible to write our answers on our palms, compare them, and then choose the final result?"

Nuwa agreed, saying, "Let's go with Junior Brother Donghua's suggestion!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he began to write directly on his palm with his finger, without any attempt to conceal it. It was quite obvious that he was writing "human race".

The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin and Zhunti cursed inwardly, but their faces remained expressionless. Now they were at the mercy of others, like fish on a chopping board. They had no choice but to accept this; after all, they couldn't defeat them.

Ultimately, all seven people answered "human"!

Donghua laughed and said, "We are indeed worthy of being fellow disciples, our minds are perfectly in sync. Now that the outcome is decided, we will each rely on our own methods to determine the remaining matters of Human Dao Destiny and Fortune and merit."

"Good!"

"Good!"

With the matter settled, the group didn't delay. Instead, they began preparing how to compete for the Human Dao Destiny and Fortune and merits, a tempting prize that could satisfy even a Saint's appetite.

Just as the matter was coming to an end, a bell rang out in the Great Luo Heaven, followed by nine consecutive rings. This was the bell signaling the convening of the Heavenly Court Assembly.

"Fellow Daoists, why don't we all participate in the Heavenly Court's grand event of bestowing Investiture of the Gods? After it concludes, the construction of the Heavenly Laws will begin. At that time, my three senior brothers and junior brothers must offer their full support, especially Yuanshi Brother Yuanshi, whose Dao is most suited for this matter!"

"Alright, let's go together!"

"Heavenly Emperor, please!"

"Please!" Donghua said politely, then went straight out of the Jingyang Palace, followed by Three Pure Ones and the others.

Inside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, all the Heavenly Court officials were seated on the altar, while the other Great Powers invited to witness the ceremony were positioned within the space of the palace. The two groups overlapped, allowing them to see each other clearly, yet they were not in the same space.

This is the charm of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the core of the entire Heaven Realm. It is both a grand palace and a world, just like Jingyang Palace Donghua, but a level higher.

With the arrival of Donghua, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and others, the Heavenly Court's Investiture of the Gods ceremony officially began!

Donghua sits high on the Emperor's Seat, his presence as if the Great Dao were there.

Behind him, the Merit Golden Wheel illuminated all the heavens, the Emperor Dao Power spread throughout the Heaven Realm, Innate Supreme Treasure, the Heavenly Emperor Seal, suppressed everything. Around him, the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, all living beings, time, space, and destiny manifested.

He then spoke, saying, "Since Pangu created the Primordial World, it has gone through three great calamities and countless wars, until the Tai Wei year of Primordial Wilderness when the primordial world was unified."

"With the support of all living beings and the trust of the Dao Ancestor, I have finally Attain Hunyuan Dao, achieved the Heavenly Emperor Position, and ascended to the position of the Great Heavenly Venerate. All of this is inseparable from the support of you all."

"Now I shall bestow titles upon the gods, both to reward meritorious officials and to ensure the stability of all beings in the Three Realms and Ten Directions. From this day forward, the gods of the Heavenly Court shall act as my successors, holding the seal of Heaven on behalf of Heaven, maintaining the stability of the Three Realms, protecting all beings in the Primordial Wilderness world, establishing order, and thus promoting the development of the Primordial World to a higher level!"

As Donghua 'Voice of Dao, fell, everyone in the Heavenly Court was incredibly excited. Even the many Great God beings and Great Powers who were watching the ceremony could not hide their inner turmoil. Some even regretted not having pledged allegiance to Donghua back then, otherwise they would surely be standing on the divine platform today.

"Your humble servants respectfully await the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerate Venerable!"

Donghua pointed his finger, and a golden list appeared before him, which was the Heavenly Investiture of the Gods of Heavenly Book. Then, the innate treasure, the Innate Supreme Treasure Heavenly Emperor Seal, flew up and transformed into a golden Great Dao Brush.

Donghua spoke up, saying, "This Investiture of the Gods will be divided into two categories: divine positions and karmic positions. There are nine ranks of divine positions and nine grades of karmic positions. The positions of the Heavenly Emperor Great Heavenly Venerate and the Empress transcend the nine ranks and nine grades and are not within the hierarchy!"

"Although I am the Heavenly Emperor and the Great Heavenly Venerate of the Three Realms, I cannot handle all the affairs of the various realms. Therefore, there should be Six Imperial Sovereigns below the Great Heavenly Venerate Venerable to assist in governing and to oversee the Heaven, Earth, and Human Realms, Earth, and Man, all the stars and constellations, and all living beings!"

Upon hearing this, the entire Lingxiao Treasure Hall fell silent, and everyone's hearts burned with excitement!

P. S.: That's all for now, guys. Please vote with your monthly tickets!