Tongtian's actions were by no means impulsive.
He had torn up the Investiture of the Gods List earlier to force the Heavenly Dao to recreate it, delaying the Investiture of the Gods.
Now, Tongtian took the initiative to attack the Four Saints for the same reason: to buy time.
Moreover, the power of primordial chaos he had just used had not yet fully dissipated.
Tongtian could therefore seize this opening to intimidate the Four Saints.
Once they grew wary of him, they should refrain from attacking him for a while.
This, too, was a way Tongtian had devised to buy time.
Time-Tongtian now needed a great deal of it to increase his strength.
Only then could he fight for a thread of survival in the coming war of the Investiture of the Gods.
Boom!
Before Golden Ao Island, a battle that would shake the world began to brew.
The entire island trembled violently beneath the pressure radiating from the five Saints.
Many Jie Sect disciples cultivating in seclusion on Golden Ao Island opened their eyes, their faces filled with shock.
Among them were powerful cultivators in the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.
Yet now, the disturbance outside left them trembling from head to toe.
Daluo Golden Immortals were already among the rare, supreme experts of the Primordial World.
One step above them were Quasi-Saints, and above Quasi-Saints were Saints.
Yet even mighty Daluo Golden Immortals could not help trembling now.
One could well imagine the ferocity of the clash outside Golden Ao Island!
"Tongtian, I will give you one more chance. Come with me to Zixiao Palace to meet the Dao Ancestor."
"Otherwise, do not blame us for disregarding our brotherly bonds!"
Yuanshi roared and swept his hand, and the Pangu Banner appeared in his grasp.
Legend held that the Pangu Banner had been formed from the blade of Pangu's axe after he split open heaven and earth.
It was one of the three great Innate Supreme Treasures, a weapon of slaughter.
When Dao Ancestor Hongjun had bestowed this treasure upon Yuanshi, he had warned that the Pangu Banner possessed boundless power and must not be deployed lightly.
Even Saints feared the might of the Pangu Banner.
By bringing it out now, Yuanshi had clearly demonstrated his resolve.
Yet upon hearing Yuanshi's words, Tongtian merely gave a cold laugh.
"Brotherly bonds? Second Brother, do you truly know what those words mean?"
"The Investiture Calamity was clearly caused by the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect defying the Heavenly Court and bringing about the killing calamity."
"Yet now, you want my Jie Sect disciples placed on the Investiture of the Gods List so yours can weather the killing calamity."
"You say Chan Sect disciples are precious. Does that mean my Jie Sect disciples deserve to bear the calamity in their place?"
As Tongtian spoke, killing intent flashed in his eyes. He spared Yuanshi not the slightest consideration.
Every word he had spoken was the truth.
After the Witch-Demon Tribulation had passed, the demon race's Ancient Heavenly Court had collapsed.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun had appointed his attendant boy Haotian and attendant girl Yaochi to take charge of the Heavenly Court anew.
Yet the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect had refused to obey the Heavenly Court's commands and repeatedly incurred the karma of slaughter.
This had thrown the order of the Primordial World into chaos, with no one submitting to the Heavenly Court's authority.
Only then had the Investiture Calamity erupted in full.
Now that the Karmic Calamity had broken out, Yuanshi had not only washed his hands of all responsibility, but also wanted Jie Sect disciples to take the disaster in his disciples' stead.
What kind of logic was that?
Yet Yuanshi, standing opposite him, showed no shame whatsoever upon hearing Tongtian's words.
Holding the Pangu Banner, he regarded Tongtian with cold eyes.
"Every Chan Sect disciple possesses profound blessings and towering fortune."
"The Twelve Golden Immortals in particular even have the potential to attain the Heavenly Dao in the future."
"How could such gifted talents be placed on the Investiture of the Gods List?"
"Jie Sect disciples, on the other hand, are all beasts born of wetness and eggs, clad in fur and crowned with horns."
"Teaching them to cultivate was already a gift from the Heavenly Dao."
"Now that the Karmic Calamity approaches, Jie Sect disciples should show gratitude to the Heavenly Dao and step forward of their own accord to face it."
"Yet you, Junior Brother, persist in your delusion and seek to act against heaven."
"We have come today to beat you awake and make you see the great tide of the Primordial World before you!"
Yuanshi's words made Tongtian laugh in utter fury.
What fine words-see the great tide of the Primordial World before me.
To dress up selfishness in such grand and righteous language, Yuanshi certainly had a thick enough skin.
"In that case, we have nothing more to discuss."
"Let our strength settle the matter!"
Tongtian gave a sharp cry. Light flashed in his hand, and the Qingping Sword, a supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, materialized.
Red blossom, white lotus root, green lotus leaf-the Three Pure Ones had once been one family.
Long ago, Pangu had possessed the Creation Green Lotus, a chaos supreme treasure.
But after the opening of heaven and earth was complete, the Creation Green Lotus had transformed into countless spiritual treasures.
The Qingping Sword had been formed from its green lotus leaf.
Besides the Qingping Sword, the white lotus root had become the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, which belonged to Primordial Heavenly Venerable.
The red blossom had become the Coiled Dragon Crutch, which belonged to Taishang Laozi.
These three spiritual treasures also symbolized the unity of the Three Pure Ones.
Tongtian confronted Yuanshi with the Qingping Sword.
This, too, declared his stance toward Yuanshi.
Boom!
The boundless sacred might of five Saints erupted in an instant.
The entire Primordial World trembled beneath it!
With his strength alone, Tongtian met the sacred might of four Saints head-on.
The next moment, he charged straight into their midst with the Qingping Sword in hand.
Surging sword qi began to pour forth.
In just a single breath, a vast black hole appeared in the void ahead.
Cold chaos qi continually spilled out from within, as though it would devour the Primordial World.
"Tongtian, cease your stubborn delusions. Come with us to Zixiao Palace at once to meet the Dao Ancestor."
"Tongtian, all Four Saints are here. Today, you have no choice!"
At that moment, the Two Sages of the West also began to act.
With the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit above his head, Jieyin stood invulnerable, impervious to all arts.
Jieyin also held the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, poised to strike.
As soon as the two sages attacked, they held nothing back.
They intended to subdue Tongtian outright.
Clearly, they had an ulterior motive in joining the battle now.
Tongtian now knew the entire course of the Investiture of the Gods. How could he fail to understand their intentions?
"The likes of you two dare to order me around?"
"Get lost!"
Tongtian roared. At that moment, he abandoned Yuanshi outright, turned, and charged toward the Two Sages of the West.
The Qingping Sword burst with myriad rays of light. Even hundreds of millions of miles away, its tremendous sword qi could be felt.
In a single exchange, Tongtian drove both sages back with the Qingping Sword.
The sword itself transformed into a streak of green light, striking straight at the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit above Jieyin's head.
In that instant, hundreds of millions of sword rays soared into the sky, piercing beyond the nine heavens.
The Qingping Sword sent the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit flying in an instant.
"What?!"
Both sages were utterly shocked and hastily retreated.
They had clearly felt the depth of Tongtian's magical power in that strike.
When had Tongtian's cultivation become so powerful?
"The Two Sages of the West amount to no more than this."
Tongtian beckoned with his hand, recalling the Qingping Sword, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
He had successfully taken a step toward his goal.
The Two Sages of the West had clearly been shocked by the strength he had displayed.
Yet Tongtian felt little joy at that moment.
He could sense the power of primordial chaos within his body beginning to wane.
The fifteen minutes were almost up!
Before you continue