Gu Changqing returned to the side hall. Rather than rushing to cultivate, he fell into deep thought.
He had started with thirty billion merit, blown through more than ten billion in a single day, and the system had promptly topped him back up with twenty billion.
An Innate Supreme Treasure only cost one billion merit. What was the system trying to do?
Yet the system ignored him completely.
Forget it. As long as it felt good, that was all that mattered!
Wasn't transmigrating all about having fun?
Before long, Water Fire Child led Shi Ji and her disciples to the side hall as well.
"Senior Brother Changqing, Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji will be cultivating in this hall from now on too."
"Oh."
Gu Changqing glanced at Water Fire Child and only then remembered that the spiritual treasure he had given him earlier was merely a mid-grade one.
If this kid was dissatisfied and casually babbled a few words into Tong Tian's ear, Gu Changqing would be in for a long stretch of misery.
He exchanged for another High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure and gave it to Water Fire Child.
"Thanks for your trouble. Take this little trinket and play with it, Junior Brother."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Water Fire Child accepted the spiritual treasure and left in high spirits.
"Junior Brother Changqing, are you cultivating here too?"
Shi Ji was somewhat embarrassed upon seeing Gu Changqing.
Though the side hall was luxurious, it did not have many rooms—only three.
The two children needed one room, and one had to be left vacant for receiving guests. That left... one room?
"Yes. I've only recently entered the sect and don't yet have a cave abode, so Master had me cultivate here." Seeing Shi Ji blush, Gu Changqing immediately understood. He smiled and said,
"The left room can be for Nephew Disciples Bi Yun and Cai Yun. Senior Apprentice Sister can cultivate in the right room. I'll cultivate out here."
"This..." Shi Ji hesitated briefly before replying, "I should stay out here instead. I can also look after the two children."
"Either works."
Gu Changqing did not dwell on such trivial matters. He had barely returned to the side hall before Tong Tian sent Water Fire Child to bring Shi Ji over.
That old schemer really thought he'd never seen the world?
Biyou Palace was hardly short on a side hall!
Gu Changqing turned and returned to the stone chamber on the right, with no intention of deepening his relationship with Shi Ji.
It was not that Shi Ji was not outstanding enough. He simply felt she was not worth it.
Shi Ji devoted her entire life to upholding the Intercepting Sect's reputation, only to be sold out by that old schemer in the end. No wonder she was the first to face the calamity.
Cultivators were heartless!
Tong Tian was faithless!
Tong Tian never would have imagined that his well-intentioned gesture not only failed to earn him points, but also cost him his reputation.
Seeing Gu Changqing give Water Fire Child another High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure, Tong Tian felt even more pleased with himself.
You little brat, I knew you had designs on Shi Ji!
Well? Isn't your master the one who understands you best?
Gu Changqing and Shi Ji cultivated separately, while the two children caused no trouble. The days passed in peaceful tranquility.
The disciples of the Three Sects also reported the Intercepting Sect's situation upward. On this day, all the Saints except Nüwa and Tong Tian gathered at Zixiao Palace.
Besides the Saints, Haotian was also present at Zixiao Palace!
The Saints stared at their noses and contemplated their hearts, looking as though nothing had happened, as if they had come to Zixiao Palace merely for a teacher-student exchange meeting.
Haotian cursed the Saints as old schemers under his breath, then spoke first. "Dao Ancestor, I was ordered to govern the Heavenly Court. Yet after several thousand years, I have achieved little. I ask the Dao Ancestor to punish me."
Hongjun frowned. "What happened?"
Haotian continued, "It is not that this disciple is occupying his position without doing his duty. I simply have the will but lack the strength. The Heavenly Court has no one to employ!"
"No one to employ?" Hongjun's brows furrowed slightly. He did not need to think to know what was happening.
In their struggle for destiny, the Saints openly and covertly fought one another. Who had the time to spare for the Heavenly Court?
At that moment, Laozi spoke. "Junior Brother Haotian, it is not that I refuse to help you. The Human Sect is sparsely populated. Even if I wished to help, I lack the means."
Yuanshi also said, "Though Ran Deng leads my Chan Sect, we have only the Twelve Golden Immortals barely holding things together. We truly have no time to spare."
Jie Yin wore a pained expression as he replied, "The West is barren. Even if I wished to lend Junior Brother a hand, I am powerless to do so." Then he changed the subject. "I have heard that Senior Brother Tong Tian enjoys the reputation of having ten thousand immortals come to pay homage. Why not ask Senior Brother Tong Tian for help?"
"Alas!" Haotian sighed and continued, "Though Senior Brother Tong Tian's disciples are spread across the Primordial World, each and every one of them is unruly by nature. Even if they entered the Heavenly Court, how could they be restrained?"
"That is true."
Jie Yin revealed a faint bitter smile.
Yuanshi said, "That pack of furred and feathered creatures is indeed difficult to control."
Hongjun swept his gaze over the Saints, inwardly dismissive.
Your disciples all think themselves above everyone else. Are they so easy to restrain?
They were setting a trap for Tong Tian!
Though Hongjun was dissatisfied, he said nothing further.
Tong Tian indeed had many disciples, but most were demons and evil creatures who had incurred countless karmic debts. If this continued, they would surely suffer Heaven's punishment.
As the Intercepting Sect's leader, Tong Tian would inevitably be harmed as well.
The calamity had arrived. I might as well give you a hand.
With that thought, Hongjun summoned Tong Tian and said, "The great calamity has arrived. The Heavenly Dao has bestowed the Investiture of the Gods List. What are your plans?"
The Investiture of the Gods List?
What was that?
Tong Tian was slightly stunned.
Hongjun continued, "The disciples of the Three Sects are all within the calamity. Each shall depend on their own fortune..."
Hongjun could not be bothered to argue and directly explained the matter of the Investiture of the Gods.
Once Tong Tian understood the hidden implications, he readily signed the Investiture of the Gods List.
The Intercepting Sect's destiny had greatly increased, and he also had Gu Changqing, this treasure of a boy. Why would he refuse to sign?
When the time came, he could send the Human and Chan Sects onto the Investiture of the Gods List, allowing the Intercepting Sect alone to reign supreme...
It could not get any better!
Seeing Tong Tian agree so readily, the Saints were all dumbfounded.
He had fallen into the trap that easily?
Seeing Tong Tian sign first, Yuanshi and Laozi could not very well refuse. They could only grit their teeth and sign the Investiture of the Gods List.
After signing it, Yuanshi and Laozi both felt that something was wrong, though they could not figure out what.
Only Haotian and the Two Sages of the West secretly rejoiced. Haotian needed no explanation, while the Two Sages of the West felt that another opportunity had come their way.
Tong Tian returned to Golden Turtle Island and immediately summoned his many disciples, informing them of the matter of the Investiture of the Gods.
The gods were about to be invested!
The Intercepting Sect was about to be finished!
As soon as the Intercepting Sect was finished, he could return to modern society and show off.
Gu Changqing's mood was just as wonderful as Tong Tian's.
Tong Tian said, "The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is upon us. The time has come for you to establish merit and achieve great deeds."
Gu Changqing:?
This seemed different from the original plot?
In the original story, Tong Tian had strictly restrained his disciples and told them to avoid going out whenever possible.
Why had he suddenly thrown out the words "establish merit and achieve great deeds"?
Had a donkey kicked him in the head, or was he fake to begin with?
Forget it. The sooner the Intercepting Sect was finished, the better!
Gu Changqing remained as steady as an old dog.
Tong Tian continued, "If you wish to establish merit and achieve great deeds, the first thing you must do is kill Jiang Ziya."
Fuck!
Gu Changqing was dumbfounded.
This guy really had guts. He even dared to kill one favored by destiny!
Were Saints truly this fearless?
Dobao asked curiously, "Jiang Ziya? What kind of immortal is he?"
The other disciples were equally bewildered.
Tong Tian continued, "Jiang Ziya is Senior Brother Yuanshi's disciple. Though his aptitude is mediocre, he controls the Investiture of the Gods List and is one favored by destiny. Killing one favored by destiny will inevitably invite the Heavenly Dao's backlash. Only someone carrying immense merit can do it."
"This..."
The Intercepting Sect disciples instantly fell silent.
They had no merit, but they had plenty of karmic debt.
Killing Jiang Ziya would not be difficult. The difficult part was enduring the Heavenly Dao's backlash.
No one present dared to provoke the Heavenly Dao!
At last, Tong Tian turned his gaze toward Gu Changqing and smiled. "Changqing, what do you think?"
Gu Changqing: What do I think? I'm sitting here watching!
Kill one favored by destiny!
You really dare to imagine it!
Before you continue