The Sages entered the palace.
Haotian and Yaochi followed behind.
Zhao Xuan should have stopped there.
But Master Tongtian did not stop.
He raised a hand and beckoned.
The Golden Ao Three Steles followed him into Zixiao Palace.
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Tongtian.
"The Sages are discussing affairs, and you still intend to bring a disciple inside?"
Master Tongtian said:
"If not for this disciple today, you would already have written the Interception Sect into its grave."
Yuanshi Tianzun's expression darkened.
Taishang Laozi spoke.
"Let him in."
With those words, Yuanshi Tianzun no longer barred the way.
Inside Zixiao Palace.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun sat above them.
The original Investiture of the Gods List hung in the hall.
The God-Beating Whip lay horizontally beside it.
A tear now marred the once-intact surface of the list.
The tear lay precisely at "Golden Ao's Ten Thousand Immortals."
As soon as the Golden Ao Three Steles entered the hall, the tear deepened a little more.
Hongjun looked at Tongtian.
"You reject the Investiture of the Gods List?"
Master Tongtian said:
"This disciple rejects a list that only the Interception Sect must fill."
Hongjun then looked at Zhao Xuan.
"You wish to change the list?"
Zhao Xuan stepped forward, bowed first, and only then spoke.
"Yes."
Zixiao Palace fell silent.
Zhao Xuan raised his hand, and several lines appeared on the Golden Ao Three Steles.
[The Interception Sect fills the list.] [The Chan Sect diminishes its tribulation.] [The Heavenly Court replenishes its gods.] [The Western Sect converts disciples.]
Zhao Xuan said:
"That was how the original list divided things."
"The Interception Sect sacrifices lives."
"The Chan Sect gains peace."
"The Heavenly Court gains divine positions."
"The Western Sect gains disciples."
"This is not the investiture of the gods."
"This is dividing the spoils."