The Investiture of the Gods, the calamity that would engulf the heavens and earth, had now begun.
It was all because the two Sages had convened, and because the Three Pure Ones had decreed the Investiture.
At that time, in the 1134th Yuanhui of the Heavenly Emperor's calendar, the human dynasty of Great Shang was undergoing a change of monarchs. The thirty-second king of Shang, Zi Shou, ascended the throne, and the eight hundred lords of the realm hailed him as King Zhou.
The eight hundred lords were led by the four regional marquises, with four Great Golden Immortals presiding over each quadrant, leading two hundred lords respectively.
In addition, that year, Shang Tang, following the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great to pacify the nine provinces, expanded the human territory, establishing the Nine Provinces and Ten Passes to guard the capital of Shang, Chaoge.
Each of these ten formidable passes was guarded by a Great Golden Immortal, either a human immortal or a disciple of the Jie Sect who supported Great Shang. This was from a popular novel, "Baidian Novel".
Five of these ten formidable passes were located near the southwest. This was primarily because the west served as the border of the human race, where ancient alien races and various demons converged, necessitating the deployment of heavy troops to suppress them.
As for the east, it bordered the Eastern Sea. The north was adjacent to the Northern Ju Luzhou, which was under the rule of the Sage of All Beings. The south was a desolate land, with many powerful alien races invading from the Southern Jambu Continent.
Thus, the Nine Provinces and Ten Passes prioritized the southwest.
In Chaoge, atop the grand Ancestral Altar, the wind whistled. The banners of Great Shang fluttered in the wind. King Zhou ascended the altar and stood before the colossal, sacred Central Royal Cauldron. His gaze fell upon the magnificent cauldron as he spoke softly, "Ancestors of the human race, you expanded our territory. I, Zi Shou, shall defend this land and its people."
From a distance, a beam of immortal light descended, and an elder, though aged, still exuded strength, approached and bowed. "This old minister pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Zi Shou turned around, and upon seeing the elder, quickly personally helped him up. "Grand Tutor, why do you perform such a grand ceremony? This diminishes me, the King."
The Grand Tutor shook his head resolutely. "Although this old minister is an immortal of the Jie Sect, once I enter the mortal realm, I am but a mortal. I, Wen Zhong, am a subject of Great Shang. How can a subject not bow to his King?"
King Zhou sighed, "But Grand Tutor, you are my teacher..."
"Yet this old minister is also Your Majesty's subject. The relationship between sovereign and subject comes first, followed by that of teacher and disciple." The Grand Tutor earnestly said, "Your Majesty must set an example for the realm."
King Zhou had no choice but to accept the bow.
After the Grand Tutor completed his bow and rose, King Zhou asked, "Teacher, has the Investiture of the Three Sects been decided?"
The Grand Tutor nodded heavily. "Originally, our race was at the cusp of change, with a new dynasty set to replace the old after two hundred Yuanhuis. Now, coinciding with the calamity of the divine Investiture of the three sects, it is likely that our Great Shang will be the dynasty to face this tribulation.
The esteemed uncles and fellow disciples on Golden Turtle Island have each retreated to their own cave dwellings to avoid the calamity. Apart from us who dwell in the mortal world, it is probable that few disciples of the Jie Sect will be willing to re-enter the mortal realm.
However, Your Majesty, rest assured. If the calamity arrives, the immortals of our sect will undoubtedly assist with sincere hearts!"
Hearing this, King Zhou's expression slightly darkened. "Thank you, Grand Tutor, and all the esteemed members of the Jie Sect. In your opinion, which side should the Chan Sect support?"
The Grand Tutor pondered deeply. "The Chan and Jie Sects take turns overseeing the dynastic transitions. Our Great Shang should indeed abdicate and yield to a new dynasty. However, due to the great calamity, the Chan Sect will undoubtedly search for a successor within our Great Shang dynasty. Your Majesty need only pay attention to which of the lords exhibits the auspicious omens of heeding destiny; that will likely be the person supported by the Chan Sect."
"Auspicious omens?" King Zhou murmured, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.
...
In the Qingzhou region of the human realm, beams of immortal light descended from the nine heavens, drawing the attention of human immortals.
"Fairy Yunhua, by the command of the Jade Emperor, you are summoned back to the heavens!"
Majestic golden light enveloped thousands of miles, and hundreds of divine generals stood atop the clouds, confronting a woman.
The woman below, known as Fairy Yunhua, replied with a cold expression, "Please convey to the Jade Emperor that this immortal is a mortal cultivator. I am solely under the jurisdiction of the Human King. Though the Jade Emperor is revered, he has no authority over me."
"Presumptuous!" A resounding divine voice boomed, and a powerful divine aura caused mortals to prostrate themselves in fear, their hearts shattered. "Fairy Yunhua, you are the Jade Emperor's sister, how can you consort with mortals of the lower realm? Furthermore, you have engaged in an illicit relationship between an immortal and a mortal, violating the heavenly laws. According to the heavenly statutes and ordinances, your mortal affections shall be purged!"
An immortal with disheveled white hair, floating barefoot through the air, roared, "All generals, hear my order! Immediately apprehend Fairy Yunhua and cleanse this lineage of forbidden immortal-mortal relations!"
Upon receiving the order, the heavenly army descended from the clouds, forming a formation to surround Fairy Yunhua, as well as the young children and her husband within the mortal dwelling behind her.
Fairy Yunhua, merely at the Golden Immortal realm, was the closest blood relative of the Jade Emperor in his final mortal reincarnation, his younger sister. Having cultivated to become an immortal, how could she possibly be a match for these heavenly soldiers?
In less than fifteen minutes, as she was about to be apprehended by the heavenly army, Yunhua's expression hardened. She flipped her hand, conjuring clouds, and produced a jade-colored ancient lamp. The wick of the lamp was seven-colored and shone brightly. With a mere flick of her sleeve, empowered by the lamp's light, she repelled over a hundred heavenly soldiers.
This immediately made the heavenly soldiers wary, and they halted their assault.
Above the clouds, the barefoot immortal's expression changed. "Innate spiritual treasure? And not just of the mid-grade?"
Yunhua said coldly, "Great Immortal Chi Jiao, what I hold in my hand is a top-grade spiritual treasure, the Bao Lian Lantern, bestowed upon me by Empress Nuwa!"
"Empress Nuwa?" The barefoot immortal's face contorted with shock. For a moment, he was unsure of how to proceed. Even as a Great Golden Immortal, before a Sage, he was no more than an ant.
Just then, a golden light flashed in the void. It was a golden scroll, which moved on its own. As the pages turned, the name of Fairy Yunhua appeared upon it.
Following that, the golden scroll enveloped Fairy Yunhua, and the wick of the Bao Lian Lantern was extinguished. Fairy Yunhua was then carried away into the heavens.
The barefoot immortal, seeing this, bowed. "Many thanks to Queen Mother!"
With that, he waved his hand, and the heavenly army descended, bringing out a man and two children, intending to execute them.
Just then, a beam of cloud light descended from the sky. "Great Immortal Chi Jiao! Are you going to execute them?"
Upon seeing the newcomer, he chuckled. "So it is Golden Star Chang Geng. Indeed, that is the case."
Taibai Jinxing looked at the mortals below. "After all, they possess immortal and divine bloodlines. Let them die with some dignity."
The barefoot immortal nodded at this and waved his hand. Three red lights descended, and the three fell to the ground, their souls returning to the underworld.
A host of heavenly soldiers departed grandly, leaving behind only three corpses buried in the soil.
Unexpectedly, a golden light returned soon after. It retrieved the corpses of the two young children from the grave soil, and with a wave of its hand, the two children slowly awoke.
The two children wept for a long time beside their father's corpse, but they were also very intelligent. They bowed in gratitude for their lives being saved.
Chang Geng, seeing this, sighed softly. "Henceforth, you two siblings must be careful and never reveal your origins. You must fend for yourselves."
With that, he departed the mortal realm and returned to the Heavenly Court. Entering the Hall of Marriage, he asked, "Senior Brother, did you conceal the heavenly secrets for me?"
Yue Lao, drinking wine beneath the osmanthus tree, laughed. "What are you worried about?"
"How can I not be worried?" Taibai Jinxing said with a grimace. "I am deceiving the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother!"
"With the intervention of a Chan Sect Sage, what else do you have to worry about?"
"What? The Chan Sect? Does that mean all our efforts were in vain?"
Yue Lao smiled and said, "All this is still uncertain. Do not worry. Let us quietly observe what the future holds."
Speaking of which, your cultivation has stagnated for many years. You have remained at the third heaven of the Great Golden Immortal realm for quite some time."
Taibai Jinxing heard this and appeared quite troubled. "As a favored minister of the Jade Emperor, I naturally have my own worries."