Chapter 118: All Beings Discuss the Investiture of the Gods (Part V)
Chang-er Dingguangxian—those unfamiliar with the novel *Investiture of the Gods* might find this name strange, but he is known by another moniker. I believe everyone knows this name: "Lord Rabbit"! This "Lord Rabbit" is, in fact, Chang-er Dingguangxian. He was a time bomb planted by Yuanshi Tianzun within the Ling Sect; the moment Yuanshi Tianzun detonated it, the entire Ling Sect would fall into chaos. In *Investiture of the Gods*, it was because the Sect Leader Tongtian could not bear the insults from the Ren and Chan Sects that he set up the Ten Thousand Immortal Formation. He entrusted Chang-er Dingguangxian to guard the formation's eye, holding the Six Soul Banner, only to suffer a crushing defeat when the latter defected to the enemy!
"I have already contributed so much; the Eldest and Second Senior Brothers should do their part as well!" Tongtian said to the two, observing Yuanshi Tianzun’s devious expression. I have already shed blood; let's see what your attitude is!
"Hand it over!" Yuanshi Tianzun held out his palm, demanding the Investiture of the Gods from Tongtian. Tongtian spat softly before handing it over. Yuanshi Tianzun received the scroll, and with a flourish, he inscribed several large characters upon it, the paper radiating vast immortal energy. Seeing that Yuanshi Tianzun had finished, Tongtian snatched it back immediately.
"What are you doing?!" Yuanshi Tianzun snapped in anger. He had just finished writing, and this fellow Tongtian had snatched it away—truly beyond the pale!
"Just taking a look, heh heh, just a look," Tongtian replied with a thick skin.
"Third Junior Brother, as a Saint, you should conduct yourself with the dignity of a Saint!" Taishang Laojun began his "grand educational plan," but Tongtian let the words go in one ear and out the other; he simply wasn't buying it.
"Second Senior Brother, this can't be right—is this all?" Tongtian stared at Yuanshi Tianzun, eyes wide. This was far too little! It was merely a few loose immortals like Cao Bao and Xiao Sheng from Mount Wuyi; there were hardly any disciples from the Chan Sect listed. This entire affair was instigated by your Chan Sect—can it really be settled so hastily?! Not only would Tongtian not agree, but if the living beings of the Primordial World knew the truth, they wouldn't agree either!
"What, does Third Junior Brother have objections?" Yuanshi Tianzun raised an eyelid and said to Tongtian with profound meaning.
"What about those three hundred and sixty-five divine positions?! How can there be only these few people?" Tongtian pointed at Yuanshi Tianzun while brandishing the scroll.
"Then what would you have us do? Junior Brother has many disciples in the Ling Sect; you should contribute to the Dao of the Three Pure Ones!" Yuanshi Tianzun ignored Tongtian’s words entirely.
"You truly infuriate me!" Tongtian lost his usual composure, pointing at Yuanshi Tianzun’s head and roaring.
"Tongtian, mind your language!" Upon hearing this, Taishang Laojun stood up at once and unleashed a torrent of reprimands upon Tongtian.
"Since you cannot agree on the signing of the Investiture of the Gods, then do not sign it at all!" At this moment, the Ancestor Hongjun, who had been hiding on the sidelines watching the spectacle, manifested his divine presence and spoke to the Three Pure Ones. The goal of sowing discord among the Three Pure Ones had been achieved; what remained was now their own affair. Whether the West flourished or the East prospered, the Heavenly Dao did not wish for any single faction to become too powerful, as that would be difficult to control. Thus, the Heavenly Dao devised this strategy: allow one side to flourish, then cause it to collapse for various reasons. In this way, the cycles of fortune would be long at times and brief at others, making it easier for the Heavenly Dao to maintain control and reduce negative influences like the turbid energy of the world. One must admit, the calculation of the Heavenly Dao was ruthless; it not only caused the Three Pure Ones to turn against one another but also kept itself uninvolved, leaving no trace—a brilliant, overt conspiracy. One knows there is a pit ahead, but one has no choice but to jump in; that is the essence of an overt conspiracy!
"Then what are we to do?" Concerned about his own reputation, Taishang Laojun hurriedly asked Ancestor Hongjun. Just moments ago, he had explained to Tongtian and Yuanshi Tianzun that he intended to take a post in the Heavenly Palace; if any mishaps occurred now, would he not become a laughingstock? That was why Taishang Laojun was so anxious after hearing Hongjun’s words.
"Does the Master have any brilliant insights?" Even now, Yuanshi Tianzun did not forget to flatter Ancestor Hongjun. Hongjun appeared quite gratified, wearing a faint smile. *It is still this Yuqing who understands my heart.*
"Since you all disagree on the names to be signed on the Investiture of the Gods, then simply sign your own names upon it," Ancestor Hongjun said, his tone turning exceptionally stern. The Three Pure Ones did not hesitate and signed their names. As long as the heavenly secrets remained chaotic, there would be opportunities to exploit!
Tongtian knew that a new round of celestial closure was beginning, and new challenges awaited. When the entrance to the River of Time closed, no one could enter to investigate information. Relying on the experiences of his past life, the events that had occurred were vivid in his mind, leaving Tongtian unable to find peace for a long time. He had finally reached this day. Meanwhile, Yuanshi Tianzun and Taishang Laojun wore smiles on their faces. If arranged properly, they could potentially turn the tide completely!
"Good, let it be so!" Whether Taishang Laojun was truly happy or merely feigning it, he patted Tongtian on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
Tongtian and Yuanshi Tianzun exchanged a glance, both seeing the hypocrisy in the other's eyes. Although more than three hundred years had passed since the three sects signed the Investiture of the Gods, Tongtian still nervously ordered all his Ling Sect disciples to redouble their practice of Daoist arts. The Ling Sect possessed a vast array of scriptures: the *Tao Te Ching*, the *Huangting Jing*, the *Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing*, the *Lingbao Wuliang Shangpin Duren Miaojing*, and many others. In truth, aside from the *Tao Te Ching* and the *Huangting Jing*, these were all parts of the *Lingbao Mahayana Scriptures*. To strengthen the Ling Sect, Tongtian began lecturing for hundreds of years at a time. Furthermore, he led his disciples to traverse the River of Time, allowing them to refine their arts further. It could be said that if the Jie Sect was once the premier power of the Primordial World, the current Ling Sect was several times stronger! Whether in terms of personnel or the cultivation of his disciples, Tongtian's followers were truly the elite of the world.
Tongtian did not stop there. Once he emerged from his meditations, he had his four main disciples lead the others to explore mysterious regions of the Eastern Sea. To improve one's strength, one must temper their will through the struggle between life and death! While the Ling Sect burned with such intensity, the Ren and Chan Sects were not idle either. Antarctic Immortal and Yun Zhongzi, as the nominal disciples of Yuanshi Tianzun, were key targets for cultivation. Whether it was miraculous elixirs or mysterious, perilous lands, both were sent to explore them. As for the Twelve Immortals of the Chan Sect, they wandered the Primordial World incessantly. Why was this? It turned out that to eliminate their inherent karmic debt—the force of causality—they had to continuously accumulate merit through good deeds, using that merit to erode and dilute the karma until it vanished. For a full thousand years, the Twelve Immortals traveled, gathering merit to purge their karma. Doing good deeds did have its benefits; it not only built their reputations but also increased the influence of the Chan Sect. It seemed everyone knew a brutal war was coming, and a "military arms race" had begun, with all major factions constantly enhancing their own power. Beneath the calm surface of the Primordial World, turbulent currents were about to arrive.