Dao Ancestor's Edict! The Investiture of the Gods and God-Beating Whip!

High Heaven Palace.

A thousand streams of auspicious radiance shone, with endless blessings in the air.

Haotian rose from his throne, his body towering and straight. He looked down upon the Heavenly Court deities beneath the jade platform, his gaze growing ever more majestic and profound as he took the entire Three Realms into his sight.

The aura of a peak quasi-saint, carrying the Heavenly Dao's fortune and laws, descended upon the Primordial World in an instant. All living beings trembled in spirit and turned their eyes toward the summit of the celestial firmament.

Purple qi came from the east, heavenly flowers rained down, and wondrous phenomena streaked across the sky.

"What is Haotian trying to do?"

Western World, Mount Sumeru!

Sage Jieyin and Sage Zhunti exchanged a glance, both puzzled.

This was because!

Ever since the Witch-Demon Calamity came to an end, Haotian and Yaochi had taken charge of the Heavenly Court. Other than recruiting a few low-cultivation cultivators, they had caused no further commotion.

Yet now, Haotian was wielding the authority of the Heavenly Dao, seemingly intending to proclaim something to all living beings of the Three Realms.

"The chief culprit behind the Investiture of the Gods Calamity is precisely this lord of the Heavenly Court. If he had not gone to complain before the Dao Ancestor, that venerable elder would not have flown into a rage and unleashed the calamity."

"Senior Brother Tongtian drove Lingxiao out of the Interception Sect because he intended to use the sect's foundation and influence to suppress the Human Sect, the Clarifying Sect, and our Western Sect, becoming the greatest victor of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity."

"Now the Heavenly Court is stirring up trouble as well. We brothers must find a way out for the Western Sect ahead of time!"

Golden Buddhist Dao merit light flickered behind Sage Zhunti. His heart was filled with resentment toward Lord Tongtian and Haotian alike; after all, among the many sects, the Western Sect had the shallowest foundation.

Fortunately, Zhenyuanzi had held compassion in his heart and repaired the earth veins of the Western World.

Hearing this, Sage Jieyin nodded. "Senior Brother Tongtian's Interception Sect is indeed the greatest threat to our Western Sect. One misstep, and the beings of our Western World will be buried in the Investiture of the Gods Calamity."

"Once one enters the Investiture of the Gods, everything will fall under Haotian's control. By then, one can only subsist on incense and merit to preserve one's existing cultivation, forever unable to break free of those shackles and attain great freedom."

"Let us first see what Haotian intends to do..."

The phenomena stirred by Haotian not only alerted the Two Sages of the West. The Three Pure Ones, Lady Nuwa, and Lady Serenity also turned their attention toward the Heavenly Court at this moment.

The disciples of every sect likewise raised their heads toward the clouds.

Lu Ya looked up, his expression unpleasant.

"Thirty-Three Heavens, High Heaven Palace, ruler of the Three Realms—these were all supposed to be mine!"

"A cuckoo in the magpie's nest, courting your own death. I will certainly drag you, Haotian, down from the Heavenly Emperor's throne..."

Lu Ya clenched his fists, his heart churning like storm-tossed seas.

The other disciples wore different expressions as well, each harboring their own thoughts.

At this moment, within the High Heaven Palace.

Haotian's expression was solemn. A jade slip of laws appeared in his hand. As it unfolded, immortal Dao laws evolved into boundless order, and Lingxiao rose to his feet as well.

Holding the jade slip, Haotian loudly recited the Heavenly Dao divine inscriptions upon it. "Dao Ancestor Hongjun decrees: The Great Dao is vast, and the Dao follows nature. Lingxiao possesses extraordinary talent and bears all living beings in his heart. Having passed through tribulations, he has at last attained fruition."

"I specially appoint Lingxiao as the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole, to command the myriad kinds of the Three Realms, govern the growth of all things, relieve suffering and rescue the distressed, deliver wandering souls, and assist the Jade Emperor in ruling the Three Realms!"

"The calamity approaches, and the Heavenly Dao does not reveal itself. I bestow upon Lingxiao the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, entrusting him with the affairs of the Investiture of the Gods! I hope you will follow Heaven and revere ritual, place the living beings of heaven and earth foremost in your heart, protect the Three Realms, and nourish all things."

The resplendent Dao voice was deafening.

The vast Dao might shook all things into submission.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun's decree manifested between heaven and earth. In an instant, the heavenly secrets shifted, while two spiritual treasures transformed into streams of light and descended from beyond the chaos, landing in Lingxiao's hands.

The Heavenly Book, the Investiture of the Gods, conferred titles upon the Heavenly Court's deities.

The supreme-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure, the God-Beating Whip, could whip deities and judge all living beings. Any who damaged the majesty of the Heavenly Dao or brought calamity upon the common folk could be buried beneath the God-Beating Whip.

"This poor Daoist respectfully obeys the Dao Ancestor's command. I shall not disgrace the honored position of Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole. I will assist the Jade Emperor in enlightening all living beings, uphold the majesty of the Heavenly Dao, and set right the laws of heaven and earth!"

Lingxiao gazed beyond the chaos and bowed deeply in salute.

Every word was sincere, questioning his Dao heart.

As his voice fell, boundless Heavenly Dao fortune swept in from the eight directions, along with an ocean of Heavenly Dao Merit that descended upon his head.

Seeing this, Lingxiao did not refine the Heavenly Dao Merit to raise his cultivation. Instead, he transformed it into a merit golden wheel roughly a zhang wide, which hovered behind him before gradually withdrawing and vanishing.

As for the Heavenly Dao fortune, it intertwined with Lingxiao, deepening his comprehension of Great Dao laws and the supreme principles of the Heavenly Dao.

His original mid-stage Primordial Unity Golden Immortal cultivation also showed signs of loosening, but Lingxiao quickly suppressed it. He intended to continue tempering his Dao foundation.

With the Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler, the Pure Yang Sword, the Investiture of the Gods, and the God-Beating Whip in hand, even if he could not claim invincibility beneath the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, he could still preserve himself.

"In the original history of the Primordial World, the affairs of the Investiture of the Gods were overseen by Jiang Ziya. Now, because of my existence, that heavy responsibility has fallen into my hands."

"Disciples of the Interception Sect, once you run into this poor Daoist, you are in for a world of suffering..."

Lingxiao put away the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, calculating silently to himself.

Having severed his karma with the Interception Sect, Lingxiao chose to lie flat when it came to its affairs, but that did not mean he intended to ignore the Interception Sect.

He who wished to wear the crown must bear its weight.

The honored position of Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole also represented the responsibilities of the Heavenly Dao!

"There shall be Six Sovereigns within the Heavenly Court!"

"The Jade Emperor of Central Heaven and the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole have already been decided. As for the remaining Four Sovereigns, this palace, the Jade Emperor, and Fellow Daoist Lingxiao shall deliberate over them together!"

"Before the Four Sovereigns take their places, all Heavenly Dao duties and authority shall be held by the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole. All you gods of the Heavenly Court must fulfill your duties diligently. Do not fail the blessings bestowed by the Heavenly Dao!"

Yaochi swept her gaze across the people within the great hall. Then her red lips parted as she spoke.

One sentence stirred up waves a thousand layers high!

At once, the gods looked at one another, breaking into a buzz of discussion.

Yet very quickly, everyone either knelt and kowtowed or bowed in salute.

"We pay respects to the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole and obey the Queen Mother's decree!"

The cries echoed outward, shaking the clouds and mist of the Thirty-Three Heavens. Outside the High Heaven Palace, the Heavenly soldiers and generals standing guard also dropped to one knee and shouted Lingxiao's exalted title.

Within the hall, Lingxiao looked at Haotian and Yaochi, his brows drawing together slightly.

These two were planning to become hands-off shopkeepers!

Seeing this, Haotian slowly said, "I command the Three Realms, my station equal to that of the Heavenly Dao Saints. Under ordinary circumstances, I shall not intervene personally. I need only handle governmental affairs within this High Heaven Palace."

"The reason for having you oversee the duties of the remaining Four Sovereigns is so that, during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, Fellow Daoist Lingxiao may mobilize all the Heavenly Court's accumulated strength to assist you in coordinating the affairs of the various Saint sects."

"I believe you can handle everything well!"

Haotian refused to admit that he merely wanted to lighten his own burden, instead putting on a look as though he were thinking entirely of Lingxiao.

Watching Lingxiao get deflated, he felt a little amused.

Who told you to test me?

"Since the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother hold this poor Daoist in such high regard, then I shall respectfully accept rather than decline!"

"Anything the gods can handle shall be reported to you for a decision. Matters requiring this poor Daoist's appearance, I shall deal with personally!"

"Otherwise, I fear this poor Daoist will be worked to death, hahaha..."

Lingxiao sighed softly, effectively agreeing to Yaochi and Haotian's arrangement.

The Heavenly Court's workhorse was about to go online!

Still, he harbored no complaints. Instead, he was somewhat expectant.

"Fellow Daoist Lingxiao is truly magnanimous!"

Haotian beamed and went straight to sit upon the throne.

Lingxiao took his seat as well!

A short while later, the High Heaven Palace regained its lively bustle. The music resumed, the dancing resumed, and a joyous atmosphere filled the hall.

The many gods and immortal officials did not dare look down on Lingxiao. Rather, they regarded him with awe.

After all, Lingxiao was the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole personally acknowledged by Dao Ancestor Hongjun and enfeoffed through a decree. Even Heavenly Dao Saints could not defy Dao Ancestor Hongjun's command.

In a sense, Lingxiao's status within the Primordial World stood only half a head below that of the Saints.

From now on, whenever disciples of the Human Sect, Clarifying Sect, Interception Sect, and Western Sect encountered Lingxiao, they would have to bow in greeting. Otherwise, they would invite accusations of disrespecting the Heavenly Dao.

Of course, with the Heavenly Court's current foundation, it still lacked the strength to intimidate the many sects!

There were likely very few among those sect disciples who would genuinely respect Lingxiao!

"Now that this poor Daoist bears the exalted station of Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole, the matter has already become a surging tempest sweeping across the entire Primordial World. Those Heavenly Dao Saints and their disciples are probably going mad..."

Lingxiao drank the divine nectar, the corner of his lips curving upward slightly.

The good show was about to begin!