"Do you want to kill Gu Changqing?"
A voice suddenly rang out.
"Who's there?!"
Haotian was greatly startled.
There was no one else in the Tongming Treasure Hall besides him.
"Do you want to invade the human realm?"
The voice came again.
"Who exactly are you?!"
Haotian flew into a rage.
As the lord of the Heavenly Court, who would dare toy with him?
"Do you want supreme power?"
The voice came from every direction, immensely seductive.
Haotian was both shocked and enraged. Though he had acted pitiful before the Saints, he had in fact already reached the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm.
As the lord of the Heavenly Court, he possessed countless supreme treasures. He did not even regard the likes of Zhen Yuanzi and Xuandu as worthy opponents.
Unless it was a Saint!
"Do you thirst for power?"
The voice rang out once more, every word striking straight at Haotian's heart.
"Who exactly are you? If you possess such ability, why hide your head and show your tail?"
Haotian rebuked him again.
"Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that I can help you."
A Black Shadow appeared before Haotian.
Haotian narrowed his eyes and said, "Since you have already shown yourself, why not reveal your true face?"
The Black Shadow laughed. "Truth and falsehood, falsehood and truth—whose face is real, and whose is fake?"
"You wag your tail and beg for mercy before the Saints, yet have you never wished to trample them beneath your feet?"
"Beneath that kindly face of yours lies a restless ambition. That compassionate heart that mourns for all living beings—which is real, and which is false?"
Haotian's expression changed again and again, but in the end, he did not strike.
He could not gauge this person's depth. Without certainty, he did not want to alert the enemy.
"How do you intend to help me?"
The Black Shadow sneered. "Di Xin wants to establish an immortal dynasty with a mere ten thousand Great Luo cultivators and a few Quasi-Saints? What a joke."
Haotian replied, "Even so, they are not an enemy my Heavenly Court can defeat. Besides, the human realm has Gu Changqing—Gu Changqing, who suppresses the Saints!"
"You want me to invade the human realm. Do you want me to follow in the Demon Court's footsteps?"
"Hehe." The Black Shadow laughed. "So-called invincibility exists only within the limits of one's knowledge."
"Putting distant matters aside, in the depths of Chaos, the one in Zixiao Palace is far stronger than Gu Changqing."
"Do you think that one will help you, or Gu Changqing?"
"Without Gu Changqing in the human realm, what is there to fear from ten thousand Great Luo cultivators and several Quasi-Saints?"
"You hold the Investiture of the Gods List and command countless experts. Would you still care about the mere human realm?"
"The Human and Chan Sects have withdrawn from the human realm, while the Western Sect no longer concerns itself with affairs in the Eastern Lands. The human realm is at its weakest now. What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for the human realm to attack the Heavenly Court?"
The Black Shadow's words bewitched Haotian, and he was already tempted.
Haotian raised the Investiture of the Gods List in his hand and said, "Though I control the Investiture of the Gods List, I have no power of incense offerings. The gods are trees without roots. Of their full strength, they can barely wield thirty percent."
"What is so difficult about that?" The Black Shadow laughed. "Great Shang is vast beyond measure, with countless hundreds of millions of people. Di Xin's immortal dynasty has only just been established. How could he possibly manage them all?"
Haotian snorted coldly. "The human realm does not interfere in the affairs of immortals and Buddhas, and the Three Realms do not meddle in mortal karma."
The Black Shadow said again, "I am neither immortal nor Buddha. I can help you with such matters, but..."
"But what?"
"But I need to borrow your Investiture of the Gods List."
"The Investiture of the Gods List?" Vigilance filled Haotian's eyes as he stared at the Black Shadow. "Do you know what you are saying?"
The Investiture of the Gods List was a Chaos Spiritual Treasure he had obtained only with great difficulty. How could he casually hand it over to another?
The Black Shadow continued, "Do you wish to reign over the Three Realms, or spend your entire life guarding the Investiture of the Gods List? Once I walk out of this hall, you will no longer have a choice." With that, he headed for the hall's entrance.
The entrance was not far away, and Haotian did not have much time to consider.
Without the power of incense offerings, the Investiture of the Gods List would be greatly weakened, perhaps even rendered meaningless.
If he merely wished to rule the Heavenly Court, he did not need the Investiture of the Gods List at all.
Whoosh—
Before the Black Shadow reached the entrance, Haotian threw the Investiture of the Gods List to him, though he kept the God-Slaying Whip.
With the God-Slaying Whip in hand, the gods within the Investiture of the Gods List could not cause trouble.
The Black Shadow caught the Investiture of the Gods List, turned around, and praised, "A wise man submits to the times. You truly are a man destined for great things."
Haotian said coldly, "Enough nonsense. How will you help me increase my strength?"
A blacksmith still needed strong iron. Constantly playing the victim would not lead him to the pinnacle of life.
The Investiture of the Gods Calamity had taught Gu Changqing that lesson thoroughly.
"Refine this, and you will be able to prove the Dao of Mixed Origin."
As he spoke, the Black Shadow took out a black lotus.
The black lotus emitted a faint, ghostly glow. At a glance, it was clearly an evil object.
Haotian frowned deeply, feeling intense resistance toward the black lotus.
"What ignorance." The Black Shadow sneered. "The Chaos Green Lotus bore five lotus seeds. The first became the Creation Green Lotus, the second the Twelfth Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus, the third the Twelfth Grade World-Cleansing White Lotus, the fourth the Twelfth Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus, and the fifth the Twelfth Grade Merit Golden Lotus. This is the second lotus seed, the World-Destroying Black Lotus."
"The World-Destroying Black Lotus?" Haotian exclaimed. "Are you one of Luo Hou's people?"
It was said that the World-Destroying Black Lotus had belonged to Luo Hou. After Luo Hou's death, its whereabouts became unknown.
The Black Shadow laughed. "Gu Changqing wields the God Slaying Spear. Do you think he is one of Luo Hou's people as well?"
Haotian hesitated. Gu Changqing's possession of the God Slaying Spear was no longer a secret in the Primordial World.
Because of it, the Saints had even formed the Demon Extermination Alliance, only to be utterly crushed by Gu Changqing in the end.
If anyone claimed Gu Changqing was one of Luo Hou's people, Haotian would be the first not to believe it.
Luo Hou was already dead. Even if Luo Hou were revived, he could not command someone like Gu Changqing.
The Saints had merely branded Gu Changqing as a member of the demonic path because he had threatened their interests.
Haotian accepted the black lotus and said coldly, "You want to turn me into a demon?"
The Black Shadow said disdainfully, "There were originally no demons in this world. Only after the Mystic Sect came to exist did the demonic path arise. The opportunity has been given to you. Whether you are capable of seizing it is up to you."
After saying that, the Black Shadow vanished with the Investiture of the Gods List.
Haotian stared at the black lotus in his hand for a long time without speaking.
If he advanced, he might be demonized—or he might prove the Dao of Mixed Origin and no longer fear Gu Changqing.
If he retreated, he would never have a chance at Mixed Origin in this life and could only wait for Di Xin to come knocking.
It seemed there were not many choices left.
On Golden Turtle Island, Gu Changqing cultivated as usual.
"Former Sanshan Pass Commander Kong Xuan requests an audience with the Imperial Preceptor."
Outside Golden Turtle Island, Kong Xuan spoke in a clear voice.
His voice was not loud, yet everyone on Golden Turtle Island could hear it distinctly.
"So it is Lord Kong." A female immortal came out to answer him.
Though Kong Xuan was not a member of the Intercepting Sect, he had protected Great Shang and rendered outstanding service in pacifying the realm. The Intercepting Sect had always been friendly toward him.
"So it is Immortal Qiong Xiao. Forgive my discourtesy."
Upon seeing Qiong Xiao, Kong Xuan smiled. "The realm has been pacified. I have resigned as commander and am no longer a court official. Immortal, simply call me Fellow Daoist."
"Please come in, Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan." Qiong Xiao welcomed Kong Xuan into Biyou Palace and added, "I am sorry, but Sect Leader Junior Brother is not on Golden Turtle Island. I fear Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan will be disappointed."
"If you have business, you may tell me. The Intercepting Sect will certainly assist you with all its strength."
"Thank you, Immortal." Kong Xuan smiled. "His Majesty sent me to Golden Turtle Island. His Majesty said that if the Imperial Preceptor was on Golden Turtle Island, then he was certainly on Golden Turtle Island."
"Sect Leader Junior Brother has returned?"
Surprise appeared in Qiong Xiao's eyes. When had Gu Changqing returned? She had not even known.
"Kong Xuan? What do you need from me?"
Gu Changqing emerged from the side hall.
Seeing that Gu Changqing truly was on Golden Turtle Island, Kong Xuan was secretly delighted. His Majesty truly had not deceived him.
"Kong Xuan wishes to enter the Imperial Preceptor's sect. I ask the Imperial Preceptor to grant my request."
"You want to take me as your master?" Gu Changqing asked curiously. "Did Di Xin send you?"
Before you continue