Yuanshi Tianzun Descends Upon Western Kunlun, Yuanshi Tianzun and Lu Ya Plot in Secret!

Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.

After leaving the Purple Firmament Palace, the Supreme Purity Sage and Yuanshi Tianzun returned directly to the Jade Void Palace.

Within the main hall of the Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun sat cross-legged in midair, seemingly lost in thought.

Just then, Yuanshi Tianzun's gaze turned toward Western Kunlun.

With a flash of light, Yuanshi Tianzun vanished from the cloud bed in the void.

Within a hidden cave abode in the Western Kunlun mountain range, a middle-aged man clad in a Daoist robe sat cultivating in a secret chamber.

At that moment, the middle-aged man, who had been cultivating with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them.

With a flash of light, the middle-aged man vanished from the secret chamber.

Outside the hidden cave abode, a stern-faced old man stood silently in the void.

When the middle-aged man came outside and saw the visitor, he frowned.

Then he cupped his hands in greeting. "May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist Yuanshi here?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Lu Ya, I have indeed come this time to tell you of a tremendous stroke of good fortune."

That was right—this middle-aged man was none other than Lu Ya, the famed loose immortal of Western Kunlun in the Primordial World!

Lu Ya frowned as he looked at Yuanshi Tianzun. "What tremendous stroke of good fortune is Fellow Daoist Yuanshi referring to?"

Yuanshi Tianzun glanced around.

Lu Ya immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, please enter my cave abode so we may speak in detail!"

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded. "Good!"

Yuanshi Tianzun then followed Lu Ya into the cave abode.

Inside a hall within the cave abode.

Lu Ya personally brewed two cups of tea, then he and Yuanshi Tianzun both took their seats.

Lu Ya said, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, what was it you said you had come to see me about?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, I have naturally come for the matter of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation!"

Lu Ya said in surprise, "What? The Investiture of the Gods Tribulation?"

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded. "Correct!"

Lu Ya said, "Another great tribulation is upon us? What race will be the protagonist of this one?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "The human race!"

Lu Ya asked doubtfully, "The human race? They are the protagonists of this Investiture of the Gods Tribulation?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, you have remained in seclusion for too long."

"Since the Witch-Demon Tribulation in the Primordial World, Fuxi Heavenly Sovereign has led the human race to ascend to the position of protagonists of the Primordial World."

"By now, after several changes of dynasty, the human race of the Primordial World has reached the Great Shang Dynasty."

After pondering for a long while, Lu Ya said, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, I suspect this Investiture of the Gods Tribulation is not as simple as merely involving the human race, is it?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, to be frank, although the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation has the human race as its protagonists—"

"In truth, it is because the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress of the Heavenly Court feel that such a vast Heavenly Court has only a scant few immortals and gods."

"Thus, Haotian bitterly appealed to the Dao Ancestor that such a vast Heavenly Court had no one at his command, and was even unable to maintain the operation of the stars of the heavens."

"Therefore, the Dao Ancestor bestowed the heavenly book, the Investiture of the Gods List, and initiated the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation!"

Lu Ya asked in confusion, "Gods?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Correct. Those invested in the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation are collectively known as gods!"

Lu Ya said, "What is the difference between immortals and gods?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Previously, in the Primordial World, anyone in the world who cultivated and attained the Dao was an immortal."

"As for gods, their physical bodies have dissipated, leaving behind only their true spirits or Primordial Spirits. They can only rely on the power of immense providence to maintain their realms."

"That is the difference between immortals and gods!"

Lu Ya said, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, how many experts must be entered onto the list in the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation?"

"And how are the experts entered onto the list to be enfeoffed?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "By the Dao Ancestor's decree, investiture is divided into three ranks: those with deep foundations attain the immortal Dao, those with slightly lesser foundations attain the divine Dao, and those with shallow foundations attain the human Dao!"

Lu Ya nodded. "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, I understand!"

"However, what does this Investiture of the Gods Tribulation have to do with me?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun frowned. "Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, that is not correct."

"Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, during the Witch-Demon Tribulation, the Witch and Demon races accumulated endless resentments and Sha Qi in the Primordial World."

"Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, now that the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation has begun, it can allow the Demon Race to wash away the endless resentment and karmic force they have borne!"

After hearing Yuanshi Tianzun's words, Lu Ya fell into deep thought.

In truth, Lu Ya only half-believed what Yuanshi Tianzun had said.

Lu Ya thought to himself, "During the Witch-Demon Tribulation, if not for Hongjun and the present Heavenly Dao Sages scheming against the Witch and Demon Races—"

"—why would the powerful members of the Witch and Demon Races have suffered such devastating losses, withdrawing completely from the stage of the Primordial World?"

"Now that Yuanshi Tianzun has come here, he merely wishes to use the murderous tribulations and karmic debts incurred by my Demon Race as an excuse."

"If that is the case, then I will have no choice but to cooperate with Heavenly Dao Sages such as the Supreme Purity Sage and Yuanshi Tianzun."

The moment Lu Ya considered joining forces with several Heavenly Dao Sages, he immediately felt that it was extremely ill-omened.

After all, every one of the current Heavenly Dao Sages was ruthless and vicious.

A moment later, Lu Ya came back to himself and looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.

Lu Ya said, "Yuanshi Tianzun, I have one final question."

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Please speak, Fellow Daoist Lu Ya!"

Lu Ya said, "I wish to know exactly how many powerful beings the Heavenly Court needs to enter the list?"

"Which forces in the Primordial World have powerful beings included on the list being plotted against?"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, I will tell you plainly: the Heavenly Court needs three hundred and sixty-five powerful beings to enter the list."

"These listed powerful beings shall become the Orthodox Gods of the Eight Divisions, each presiding over their respective offices and governing the stars of the heavens according to their divisions!"

"In addition, there are two thousand deputy gods under the Eight Divisions' Orthodox Gods, as well as eighty-four thousand heavenly soldiers and generals—for a total of eighty-six thousand three hundred and fifty-six divine positions!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ya paled in shock. "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, why are so many powerful beings needed to enter the list?"

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded. "Indeed!"

Lu Ya said, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, forgive my bluntness, but where can so many powerful beings be found to fill these divine positions?"

After Lu Ya finished speaking, Yuanshi Tianzun's gaze turned toward the east of the Primordial World.

Lu Ya asked doubtfully, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, as far as I know, the direction you are looking is precisely where Tongtian Sage's sect lies!"

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Indeed. The powerful beings needed for the list are perfectly suited to be drawn from the Interception Sect's disciples."

"Furthermore, the disciples of Junior Brother Tongtian's Interception Sect are all wet-born and egg-hatched creatures, just right to fill the divine positions on this Investiture of the Gods List!"

"Besides, the Interception Sect's disciples are a mixed lot, poor in character, and have tarnished the name of the Heavenly Dao Sages!"

"Letting their souls return to the Investiture of the Gods List will also ensure that the Interception Sect's fortune endures, flowing on without end!"

Hearing this, Lu Ya sneered inwardly. "Hmph, Yuanshi, you have demeaned your junior brother's Interception Sect disciples until they are worth less than a single coin?"

"And among your Twelve Golden Immortals, which one is not ruthless, vicious, ungrateful, and faithless?"

"Yuanshi Tianzun, for the sake of your own interests, you truly are pushing your fellow junior brother's disciples into the eighteen levels of hell!"

After a moment of thought, Lu Ya looked at Yuanshi Tianzun.

Lu Ya said, "Very well, Fellow Daoist Yuanshi. I agree!"

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded. "Good!"