Primordial Celestial Worthy's Choice! Binding Lingxiao with the Ties of Dao Companionship!

Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.

Immortal charm flowed, and the Dao's essence stretched vast and boundless.

Primordial Celestial Worthy sat high upon a cloud platform, his expression solemn and majestic. Auspicious light radiated from his body as he held dominion over heaven and earth, his transcendent bearing inspiring awe.

The Cloud of Celestial Celebration hung high above Jade Void Palace. The radiant brilliance of sun and moon dyed the heavens, celestial melodies of the eight tones resounded through the cosmos, and countless phenomena emerged one after another, supremely sacred.

"Dao Ancestor has decreed Lingxiao the Eastern Pole Qinghua Emperor, assisting the Jade Emperor in governing the Heavenly Court and the Three Realms. With his wisdom and vision, he surely will not be content with the status quo."

"On top of that, he commands the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip. When the calamity descends, he will surely stir up bloody storms in the Primordial World."

"May I ask, Master, how should we disciples deal with him?"

Guangchengzi performed a Daoist salute and bowed slightly, asking with a trace of tension in his heart.

Lingxiao's every move in the Heavenly Court had long since reached the ears of the Clarifying Sect's disciples. Especially those words he had spoken to the Jade Emperor—they had filled them with groundless fears.

To make the saints of the heavens lower their heads—Lingxiao's ambitions were far too great!

"Dao Ancestor has allowed the Jade Emperor to govern the Three Realms and become lord of the Heavenly Court, granting him the heavenly authority to command all living beings of the Primordial World. It is only because we are disciples of saints, with identities beyond the ordinary, that we are not subject to the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction."

"If Lingxiao reaches out for us, then without Master's protection, even if we Twelve Golden Immortals joined hands with Vice Sect Leader Daoist Randeng, we likely would still be unable to do anything to him."

"After all, behind Lingxiao stand not only the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother. His true support is Immortal Zhenyuan and Daoist Hongyun. Those two are renowned far and wide, their divine abilities immeasurable!"

Daoist Cihang stepped forward and voiced the concerns in his heart to the others.

Even when Lingxiao had still been a disciple of the Interception Sect, he had been able to suppress the other sects and help the Interception Sect seize the positions of masters to several Human Emperors. Now that he had become the Eastern Pole Qinghua Emperor, Daoist Cihang truly could not imagine what mischief he might stir up.

At this moment!

Primordial Celestial Worthy's expression grew slightly more serious. His emotions were unreadable as he slowly said, "Foolish children, do you still remember the doctrine of our Clarifying Sect?"

Clarifying Sect—clarify, to make clear; conform to Heaven and follow the people, expounding the Heavenly Dao.

Compared with his disciples, Primordial Celestial Worthy possessed a far broader vision. The moment Dao Ancestor Hongjun issued the decree appointing Lingxiao, he had sensed a change in the heavenly secrets.

To follow the current and conform to the Heavenly Dao—this was the clarifying path of Primordial Celestial Worthy.

Seeing the bewildered looks on his disciples' faces, Primordial Celestial Worthy continued, "The great trend of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity is for disciples of the various sects to enter the Investiture of the Gods, filling the vacant divine positions in the Heavenly Court."

"Now that Lingxiao has become the Eastern Pole Qinghua Emperor, Immortal Zhenyuan and Daoist Hongyun stand behind him. This also means Lingxiao can gain the support of countless living beings between heaven and earth. If it were merely a matter of filling divine positions, he would only need to raise his arm, and countless cultivators would surely take the initiative to ascend to Heaven!"

"But if that were the case, why has the calamity aura between heaven and earth not subsided? And why did Dao Ancestor bestow the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip upon Lingxiao?"

Mystery upon mystery, the gateway to all wonders.

Primordial Celestial Worthy stroked his beard, testing the disciples below.

After a long while.

South Pole Immortal Elder raised his head and said calmly, "Looking back upon the Dragon-Han First Calamity and the Witch-Demon Calamity, both were struggles over destiny. Thus, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity is no exception."

"The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is a struggle for destiny among the Human Sect, the Interception Sect, the Western Sect, and our Clarifying Sect. No matter who wins or loses, the Heavenly Court can use the Investiture of the Gods to gather enough cultivators and return the gods of every division of the Heavenly Court to their posts."

"But now, Lingxiao's emergence has exposed the ambitions of the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother. He will represent the Heavenly Court in joining the Investiture of the Gods Calamity—not to contend for the destiny of heaven and earth, but to contend for true authority as the orthodox ruler of the Three Realms."

"If the saints of the Heavenly Dao lower their heads to the Jade Emperor, then every sect will submit to the Heavenly Court, and in the end, all destiny will belong to the Heavenly Court..."

Just a few words, yet they struck terror into their hearts.

South Pole Immortal Elder was not one of the Twelve Golden Immortals, but he was Primordial Celestial Worthy's attendant disciple. His cultivation was in no way inferior to that of the Twelve Golden Immortals, and his status was second only to Guangchengzi. He could be considered highly virtuous and greatly respected.

South Pole Immortal Elder's comprehension was exceptional, and he had handed Primordial Celestial Worthy his answer.

Yet these words made the Twelve Golden Immortals, already gripped by unease, even more terrified.

Rather than be enslaved by the Heavenly Court, they would rather roam free between heaven and earth, comprehending the ultimate principles of the Heavenly Dao and the laws of the Great Dao.

"According to South Pole Immortal Elder and Master, we disciples of the Clarifying Sect may follow the tide of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity. At the crucial moment, not only must we avoid offending Lingxiao, we must also forge a bond of goodwill with him."

"Victory or defeat among the sects is not important. Only whether the saints of the Heavenly Dao are willing to be constrained by the Heavenly Court will determine the course of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity. Should we truly be driven into a corner with no road ahead, that bond of goodwill with Lingxiao may allow our Clarifying Sect a better ending."

"I have to say, the Jade Emperor's move is truly a desperate gamble. Lingxiao is a madman as well!"

Taiyi True Person swallowed hard and spoke in disbelief.

Even with his broad experience and knowledge, he was shocked by the true purpose of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

The Jade Emperor and Lingxiao were far too ruthless!

Upon the cloud platform!

A smile appeared on Primordial Celestial Worthy's face, and his eyes held a gratified light.

"Since you understand, then cultivate diligently and prepare for the Investiture of the Gods Calamity! Our Clarifying Sect must contend for destiny. Otherwise, would that not mean that I am inferior to the other saints?"

"To conform to the great trend of the Heavenly Dao and learn to ride its momentum—this is the way of our Clarifying Sect!"

Primordial Celestial Worthy waved his hand and spoke earnestly.

In his heart, however, he felt somewhat proud.

For Primordial Celestial Worthy was certain that among all the saints of the Heavenly Dao, he was the first to comprehend the true essence of the calamity. Even Grand Pure One Laozi could not compare to him.

"We respectfully see off Master!"

The Twelve Golden Immortals shouted in unison, while Daoist Randeng also bowed slightly.

"The Interception Sect is probably in chaos by now—a pot of porridge stirred to a mess!"

"While cultivating, junior brothers, don't forget to enjoy the show..."

Guangchengzi mocked darkly.

At once, the Clarifying Sect disciples could not help but laugh, the smiles on their faces laden with meaning.

Azure Roaming Palace.

Daoist Duobao, Zhao Gongming, Kong Xuan, and the other disciples had gathered together. Lord Tongtian was deep within the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, using Great Dao merit to sort through the karmic consequences of slaughter, and so he did not appear.

"Heavenly Dao is unjust! Why should that traitor Lingxiao become the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole? The Six Imperial Heavenly Emperors hold positions of supreme honor. Letting such a petty man enjoy that vast quantity of Heavenly Dao fortune and merit is simply casting pearls before swine."

"And Dao Ancestor bestowed the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip upon Lingxiao. Once the Investiture of the Gods Calamity begins, if any disciples of our Interception Sect meet with misfortune and end up on the Investiture of the Gods, they will surely suffer that thief's harassment."

"I ask all senior and junior brothers to think of a way—best if we can make Lingxiao fall from his altar!"

Immortal Dingguang ground his teeth and roared at the heavens.

As Lord Tongtian's personal disciple, with late-stage Primordial Unity Golden Immortal cultivation, his pride and ambition were enough to defy the heavens. Yet now, he had suffered a severe blow.

He had never expected Lingxiao to be invested by Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

And the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother as well—they were simply making a farce of things!

"Hmph!"

"Can Dao Ancestor's decree be altered? Now that Lingxiao has the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole as his talisman, along with the support of the Heavenly Court, Immortal Zhenyuan, and Daoist Hongyun, one need not even think to know that he will act against our Interception Sect."

"The only way is to have him return beneath Master's tutelage, or bind him through the ties of Dao companions and make him work his life away for our Interception Sect!"

Zhao Gongming blew out his beard and glared, his expression exceptionally grave.

Yet his gaze fell upon Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao.

Back when Lingxiao was still in the Interception Sect, the Three Xiao Sisters had been closest to him. Yunxiao and the others had even once joked about becoming Dao companions with Lingxiao together.

But after Lingxiao became a cripple, no one ever brought up that joke again.

"If Lingxiao returns to our Interception Sect, would not the remaining four Imperial positions be ours to command? In the past, we had no interest in the Heavenly Court, but now it seems that the Six Imperial Heavenly Emperors are unlike the other divine positions."

"Of the Six Imperial Heavenly Emperors, five would belong to our Interception Sect. The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother would become the laughingstock of the world—mere clowns..."

Kong Xuan's heart, unshaken by favor or disgrace, had also been unusually stirred into towering waves after witnessing Lingxiao's investiture by Dao Ancestor Hongjun as the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole.

In Kong Xuan's view, once Lingxiao's heart returned to the Interception Sect, one of the remaining four supreme positions would certainly be his. Then, he could wash away the Heavenly Dao shackles placed upon the Phoenix Clan and perhaps even lead the Phoenix Clan back to its prosperity of ancient times.

At this moment!

Kong Xuan's ambition, like maggots clinging to bone, was gnawing away at him.

As the Interception Sect disciples continued their discussion, everyone's eyes turned toward Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao. An unseen storm encircled the three female immortals.

How would they choose?