Showing Weakness to the Enemy!

Whoosh!

The world spun around him. When Tongtian opened his eyes again, he saw Hongjun seated high in the Ninth Heaven, with the Four Saints below the steps.

"Greetings, Master."

Tongtian's expression was indifferent, his face calm.

He had no interest in even acknowledging the Four Saints beside him.

The Four Saints, however, looked utterly incensed at the sight of him.

"Third Brother, why did you destroy even your sage Dao fruit? With that stubbornness of yours, sooner or later you'll die and your Dao will perish!"

"To destroy your own sage Dao fruit over a flock of feathered beasts-you've clearly been blinded by tribulation aura."

"You were too hasty, Senior Brother Tongtian. Whatever the problem, we could have talked it over."

"To destroy your own sage Dao fruit over a few disciples, and even turn against your brothers-it's simply..."

The instant they saw Tongtian, they began.

Taishang Laozi merely admonished him, while Yuanshi was disdainful. The two sages, Zhunti and Jieyin, fanned the flames at every turn, as though they would not be satisfied until the whole world descended into chaos.

Tongtian remained calm, showing no intention of speaking to the Four Saints. He simply bowed toward Hongjun.

Hongjun's eyes flickered. Only after a moment did he speak coldly. "Why did you destroy your own sage Dao fruit?"

Hongjun paid no heed to the great Investiture of the Gods tribulation or the scheming between these sages.

To him, it was nothing more than playing house, a children's game.

Whether the Chan Sect, the Interception Sect, or even the Western Teachings prospered or fell made no difference.

Anything was acceptable, so long as it remained beneath the Heavenly Dao.

But Tongtian's destruction of his own sage Dao fruit had given Hongjun a sense that something was wrong.

This had slipped beyond his control.

Yet Hongjun had not discovered anything unusual about Tongtian himself.

After all, although the Great Dao had withdrawn and the Heavenly Dao ruled the Primordial World, the Great Dao still stood above the Heavenly Dao.

The power of primordial chaos was inherently stronger than Heavenly Dao spiritual power.

Unless Hongjun personally fought Tongtian, or Tongtian unleashed his full strength, even the Heavenly Dao would not detect anything unusual.

For now, Hongjun merely felt that something was off about Tongtian. He had not followed the path Hongjun had laid out for him.

"Master, this disciple was left with no choice."

Tongtian's eyes flickered as he threw himself into his performance. "My eldest brother is unfair and only ever helps my second brother. My second brother has never even treated me as his brother. This great tribulation of heaven and earth arose because of his Chan Sect in the first place, so why should I sign the Investiture of the Gods List?"

"Does my Interception Sect simply deserve to die?"

"And especially those two from the West, Zhunti and Jieyin. They keep fanning the flames, afraid the world isn't chaotic enough."

"The Four Saints joined forces to pressure me, and even my two blood brothers struck at me without mercy. Master, what else could I have done?"

"My Interception Sect was indeed entangled in tribulation aura, and we have no supreme sect-protecting treasure to anchor our fortune. But was destroying my sage Dao fruit not enough?"

"Even if my Interception Sect was partly responsible for this great Investiture of the Gods tribulation, surely a sage's Dao fruit was enough to repay that debt?"

"I have already destroyed my sage Dao fruit. Therefore, my Interception Sect will not participate in this great Investiture of the Gods tribulation!"

Everyone sucked in a breath.

Tongtian's words left them all stunned.

Clearly, none of them had expected that Tongtian had destroyed his own sage Dao fruit to cancel out the tribulation aura.

This...

They had originally possessed plenty of ways to force Tongtian to sign the Investiture of the Gods List, but now they could no longer bring themselves to speak.

A sage Dao fruit could indeed cancel out tribulation aura. Even Heavenly Dao merit could do so.

The problem was that no one could bear to part with it.

If Yuanshi also destroyed his own sage Dao fruit now, there would be no need to weather this great Investiture of the Gods tribulation. The tribulation aura would dissipate entirely on its own.

After all, powerful as the great Investiture of the Gods tribulation was, two sage Dao fruits would indeed be enough to cancel it out.

The crucial question was: could Yuanshi bear to do it?

One look at Yuanshi's unruffled demeanor told everyone that was impossible.

The Two Sages of the West, on the contrary, did not want Yuanshi to do so. If the great Investiture of the Gods tribulation vanished, how would their Western Teachings grow?

As Taishang Laozi looked at Tongtian now, a trace of remorse appeared in his eyes.

He had indeed been in the wrong.

Just as Tongtian had said, Yuanshi was his second brother-but was Tongtian not his third brother as well?

He had originally felt that Yuanshi's disciples were indeed of somewhat better quality, while Tongtian's were all feathered beasts. It would be no great matter for Tongtian to put a few names on the list during this great Investiture of the Gods tribulation.

But now that Tongtian had destroyed his own sage Dao fruit, he finally understood that the Interception Sect was the very Dao within Tongtian's heart!

Forcing him to abandon his own Dao was, in itself, demanding the impossible.

After all, they had been blood brothers since the beginning of the Primordial World. Even broken bones remained joined by sinews.

With a sigh, Taishang Laozi spoke outright. "My Human Sect will not involve itself in this great Investiture of the Gods tribulation. But if certain people entertain any filthy schemes now that my third brother has lost his sage cultivation, don't blame me for turning against them!"

Tongtian's plight was too wretched. Taishang Laozi had no choice but to speak up in his defense.

He was his third brother, after all!

And as soon as Taishang Laozi spoke, Yuanshi was dumbfounded.

Well, then!

Tongtian had destroyed his own sage Dao fruit, and the Interception Sect's tribulation aura was indeed gone. Even Yuanshi had no good way around that.

Now his eldest brother had sided with Tongtian as well. What was he supposed to do?

Was the Investiture of the Gods List to be filled entirely with his own disciples?

What nonsense!

But Yuanshi also knew he could not blame Taishang Laozi. After all, the three brothers had walked together since the beginnings of the Primordial World, and their bond was naturally profound.

He could certainly understand Taishang Laozi's choice.

Had it not been for the great Investiture of the Gods tribulation, Yuanshi would never have turned against Tongtian either.

But now Yuanshi was genuinely anxious. Unable to help himself, he appealed to Hongjun. "Master, please judge fairly! Surely this great Investiture of the Gods tribulation cannot require only my Chan Sect disciples to enter the list!"

Watching this unfold gave Hongjun a splitting headache.

Tongtian had paid too great a price for him to reasonably demand anything more.

Moreover, although a sage Dao fruit was ordained by the Heavenly Dao, it still had to be cultivated through one's own efforts.

Thus, it was impossible for Hongjun to simply condense another Dao fruit and give it to Tongtian after he had destroyed his own.

But having only Chan Sect disciples enter the list was hardly feasible either.

What was he to do?

Hongjun was at a complete loss himself!

For now, all he could do was close his eyes in thought, his mind racing.

Of everyone present, the Two Sages of the West were the most anxious after Yuanshi.

The great Investiture of the Gods tribulation had to proceed. Otherwise, how would they reap any benefits?

"Master Hongjun, I believe that although Senior Brother Tongtian's destruction of his own sage Dao fruit can indeed cancel out some of the tribulation aura, it cannot cancel out all of it."

"Why not let the Chan Sect and the Interception Sect contend with one another?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi stopped mentioning having Tongtian sign the Investiture of the Gods List and hurriedly spoke. "Master, my Chan Sect is willing to compete fairly with the Interception Sect. In the end, let each side rely on its own abilities!"

Hongjun considered the matter for a long time. Only after everyone had made their positions clear did he finally settle on a decision.

"Tongtian's destruction of his own sage Dao fruit can cancel out a portion of the tribulation aura."

"Therefore, ten disciples under Tongtian may be exempted from entering the Investiture of the Gods List."

"Furthermore, sages may not take action during this great Investiture of the Gods tribulation."

"Tongtian, although you are no longer a sage, your place as a Heavenly Dao Sage has already been ordained. You are destined to occupy one of those positions. Thus, you will naturally not enter the Investiture of the Gods List, nor may you personally intervene in the Investiture of the Gods."

"Of course, to compensate you, your Interception Sect will preside over this Investiture of the Gods!"