Zhong Dajun’s auspicious cloud was not swift, so he did not ride it, allowing himself to be enveloped in Ye Wen's sword light, streaking across the sky like a brilliant rainbow toward the Heavenly Court.

The Investiture of the Gods list was a weighty item of the Heavenly Court, naturally not to be casually misplaced; nowhere offered the same peace of mind as keeping it close at hand, so it remained within the Court itself.

To reach that place, one had to pass through the South Heaven Gate, then twist and turn through the Heavenly Court for quite some time before arriving at a grand hall where a large plaque hung, bearing the three large characters: "Fengshen Hall."

Within the hall was a high platform called the Fengshen Terrace, upon which the Investiture of the Gods list was enshrined. Countless divine officials bustled about, entering and exiting; it appeared Fengshen Hall had been very busy these past few days. After Ye Wen stood at the entrance and observed for a moment with curiosity, he spotted a familiar face—it was none other than Guan Yu.

Guan Yu was still cloaked in his green robe and wore a green kerchief atop his head. Ye Wen had always deeply admired this aspect of the Second Master—to so calmly wear green upon his head, showing not the slightest concern! Clad in golden armor and holding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade at the ready, he stood there, truly majestic and imposing.

However, this majestic Martial Saint currently wore an expression of bitter distress; his nearly two-meter height seemed to lack its usual imposing aura.

Opposite Guan Yu sat another figure. This man wore golden armor and a red robe, sporting a purple-gold three-pronged crown. He held a halberd. Even while seated, facing a burly man like Guan Yu, he did not appear short, indicating his own physique was exceptionally robust; should he stand, he would likely be comparable in stature to the Second Brother Guan.

Ye Wen knew instantly that the man must be Lü Bu, simply by the halberd he carried. Although such a Fangtian Huaji could not have been crafted during the Three Kingdoms period, with the myriad divine mysteries of the Investiture of the Gods list, equipping him with a weapon inconsistent with the era was not surprising.

Just as he was about to speak, another general approached not far ahead. He was clad in a white robe and silver armor, possessing a tall, well-proportioned physique about the same height as Ye Wen. Unlike the other two figures whose exaggeration seemed fit for basketball, this man was a peerless beauty with a dignified appearance.

This man held an iron whip in his left hand and carried a long bow and quiver slung over his shoulder, while his right hand carried a halberd. Except for the halberd, which seemed utterly unremarkable, the quiver, long bow, and the white robe all emanated waves of immortal power. Ye Wen sensed this faintly even from a distance, and his curiosity made him look at the man a few extra times. Coincidentally, this man also turned his head at that moment and offered Ye Wen a polite, smiling clasping-fist salute.

Neither of them spoke. Ye Wen assumed this man was a guard stationed here in the Heavenly Court. However, such an outstanding figure—which famous general had he been reincarnated from? After saluting Ye Wen, the man looked around for a moment, then, after scrutinizing the area, walked directly toward Ye Wen.

“May I ask, esteemed Daoist!”

After greeting him, Ye Wen paid him no further mind. Seeing Zhong Dajun walk toward Guan Yu, he turned to follow, but just as he lifted his foot, Artemis tugged his arm and subtly gestured to the side. Only then did Ye Wen notice the general who had greeted him had approached and that his opening words stunned him into silence.

“What place is this?”

Ye Wen blinked, suspecting he had misheard. After a moment, he recovered: “This is the Heavenly Court!” He was about to ask if the man was confused—how could he not know where he was?—but the thought died as he suddenly realized he was in Fengshen Hall; this was the very place of investiture! Generals receiving divine appointments would naturally appear here!

“Could this man be a newly enshrined divine general?” he wondered. As he puzzled over it, he glanced over to see a nearby divine official speaking to Zhong Dajun, pointing toward the general in the white robe and silver armor. It seemed his guess was correct.

Turning back, he saw the white-robed general frowning as he scrutinized Ye Wen up and down. After observing for a while, he said, “Esteemed Daoist, do not mock me. How could this possibly be the Heavenly Court?”

Ye Wen now understood this man was merely a newly appointed divine general, likely still disoriented. Having been a mortal, suddenly opening his eyes to hear he was in the Heavenly Court—anyone would have trouble believing it.

Furthermore, although Ye Wen’s robes appeared somewhat ornate, they were indeed Daoist robes, a fact Ye Wen had never paid attention to. Xu Xian used to tease him: “You’ve never been a Daoist priest, yet you wear Daoist robes?” As for others? The Shu Mountain Sect was, after all, an immortal sect; for Ye Wen, the sect leader, to wear Daoist robes was hardly strange. Moreover, the Shu Mountain Sect possessed Daoist lineage, and when greeting fellow cultivators, they used Daoist courtesies, addressing them as 'Daoist friend,' so no one found Ye Wen’s attire inappropriate—only those close to him knew Ye Wen was a fake Daoist.

This newcomer was clearly unaware of that. Seeing Ye Wen’s unusual attire and noticing he was young yet clearly no ordinary Daoist acolyte, he addressed him as 'Daoist.'

“Why would I mock you?” Ye Wen replied with a casual smile. “Has the General forgotten that you are already deceased?”

After saying this, he suddenly felt awkward, realizing he had slipped into an archaic tone mirroring the general. Although it wasn't quite courtly or overly ornate, speaking that way felt inherently uncomfortable. Cursing inwardly, he added, “General, think carefully—you should recall some things! If you have any doubts, you may ask this… Steward Zhong!”

He raised his hand to call Zhong Dajun over, but found the man already standing beside him, startling Ye Wen: “How did you appear so suddenly?”

Zhong Dajun smiled, then politely introduced himself to the general: “I am Zhong Dajun, serving as a minor steward in the Heavenly Court. I have received the Jade Emperor’s decree to welcome newly appointed divine generals here. If the General has any questions, feel free to ask… May I inquire as to the General’s name?”

Though the white-robed general remained bewildered, upon careful reflection, he clearly remembered his entire life and indeed recalled that he had died. While some doubt lingered, his expression was not as grim as before. Seeing this man in official attire being so courteous to him, he could not maintain a cold demeanor and replied, “I am Xue Li!”

“Ah, General Xue!” Zhong Dajun nodded, his not-so-large eyes sweeping over Xue Li repeatedly. Especially noticing his distinguished appearance and the immense immortal power radiating from the items he carried, Zhong Dajun knew this was a general deemed exceptionally potent by the Investiture of the Gods list.

Setting aside others, this entire ensemble was not something an ordinary enfeoffed general would possess. Brother Guan, having received human incense offerings for many years, only acquired the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and a divine Red Hare horse upon his apotheosis. Speaking of which, Lü Bu didn't receive the Red Hare; could it be related to Guan Yu having obtained it? Although Lü Bu looked splendidly outfitted, his halberd and armor were mere ordinary articles, nothing rare. If Lü Bu disliked them, he could easily exchange them before going to battle; it would have no real impact.

But the man before them was vastly different. The iron whip in his hand, the white robe he wore, and the bow and arrows were all extraordinary. To put it plainly, these items were high-grade immortal artifacts; dropping them into the mortal world would cause countless people to fight tooth and nail for them. However, these items discarded alongside the Investiture of the Gods list could not be used even if someone else managed to seize them, unless Xue Li died and these possessions became ownerless.

It had been many years since Zhong Dajun had seen a general so heavily laden with treasures. A flicker of curiosity entered his eyes, yet lacking knowledge of Earth’s history, he could not place which famous general of ancient times Xue Li might be. He asked again, “May I ask which dynasty the General was born into?”

Xue Li did not understand the relevance of the question but still replied, “Tang!”

“Oh?” Zhong Dajun’s eyes brightened. “Do you recognize Yuchi Gong or Qin Qiong? Those two are currently guarding the South Heaven Gate. If the General knows them, you will have familiar faces here.”

Upon hearing this, the others present were startled: “The two old generals are here too?”

From this remark, Zhong Dajun immediately understood that this man was likely not of the same generation as those two; perhaps separated by a generation or two. This presented a slight complication, as Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong currently appeared in the prime of their manhood, and Zhong Dajun wasn't sure if this newcomer would recognize them.

He turned and instructed someone nearby, “Go fetch General Yuchi and General Qin, tell them an old acquaintance might have arrived here… Wait, no need to go. I forgot those two have been dispatched to the border front lines.”

Having given the order, he remembered that those two were currently absent from the South Heaven Gate; with the ongoing fierce battles against the Buddhist Realm, both had been reassigned to the front lines and were not in the Heavenly Court.

Xue Li had been hopeful, imagining he might actually see the two old generals, only to hear this. This caused the belief he was beginning to entertain to waver again, making him suspect these people were conspiring to trick him.

During this exchange, Ye Wen remained silent, merely rubbing his forehead and pondering, “That name sounds so familiar! Xue Li… Xue Li? Why can’t I place it?” He turned to ask someone suitable but hesitated. Just as he was struggling, Guan Yu’s voice came from behind him: “Xue Li? Could it be that Xue Li, Xue Rengui, from the Tang Dynasty?”

Ye Wen turned back and saw the Second Master Guan stroking his long beard, narrowing his eyes as he examined the man opposite him. After watching for a moment, he praised, “Truly, a phoenix among men!”

Upon hearing this compliment, a disdainful tsk sounded from behind him. Ye Wen followed the sound and saw that the person suspected to be Lü Bu had also approached. His halberd never left his grasp. After glancing at Xue Li a few times, he looked even more contemptuous: “I see nothing remarkable about him!”

Xue Li watched the two imposing figures approach. One, with a crimson face and long beard, clad in a green robe and golden armor, bore a striking resemblance to a certain legendary figure. However, he could not place the other.

Seeing Xue Li’s continued disbelief, Ye Wen spoke up, “This is Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang. General Xue must have heard of him?” At that moment, Ye Wen finally recalled who the eminent figure Xue Rengui was; he had only remembered his courtesy name and forgotten his given name. This man was a historical giant whose achievements, though not entirely undefeated, were dazzling.

Xue Li was startled. He had harbored some suspicion when he first saw Guan Yu’s appearance, but he hadn't expected it to truly be him. If a person from later eras saw Guan Yu’s iconic look and great saber, they would likely immediately prostrate themselves in reverence. However, the descriptions of Guan Yu in Tang Dynasty legends varied somewhat, which is why Xue Li couldn’t be certain.

Still, he wouldn't simply believe what others said. He looked back with slight suspicion. Seeing the doubt in his heart, Guan Yu merely smiled without comment.

Ye Wen then waved his hand, signaling everyone to move apart, and they complied. Lü Bu initially refused but was yanked by Guan Yu, before reluctantly stepping aside, though he muttered under his breath, “Let’s see what tricks this little Daoist can pull!” Seeing Ye Wen’s youthful face and Daoist attire, he referred to him as 'little Daoist.'

Guan Yu, overhearing this, merely covered his face and sighed repeatedly—Lü Bu’s arrogant temperament likely hadn't changed even across lifetimes!

Seeing everyone spread out, Ye Wen smiled and raised his right hand, bringing his sword fingers together. He pointed sharply upward, and a stream of purple light suddenly flashed from within his sleeves, shooting out as a long sword.

This action startled Xue Li, who instinctively leaped backward, holding his halberd and iron whip to guard his body, watching Ye Wen opposite him with extreme vigilance.

When he realized the purple light had emerged from Ye Wen’s sleeve but was not directed toward him, he knew the person facing him meant no harm. He lowered his weapons, but by then, he finally saw clearly what the suddenly emerging streak of light was: it was unequivocally a long sword shimmering with purple radiance.

Ye Wen was naturally wielding the Zixiao Sword. Legends of immortals abounded throughout history, and Sword Immortals were always revered by the populace. If Ye Wen wanted to gain Xue Li’s trust, he naturally had to employ a spectacle—flying through the air on a sword was the signature skill of a Sword Immortal.

Xue Li watched the sword circle around Ye Wen with his mouth wide open in astonishment. After a moment, he regained his composure, glanced at the Fengshen Terrace nearby with its dazzling Investiture of the Gods list, then surveyed the magnificent, imposing hall, finally resting his gaze back on Ye Wen.

At this point, Zhong Dajun also understood. He stomped his foot, and an auspicious cloud materialized out of thin air, carrying him aloft.

“General Xue should believe it now, right?”

Xue Li nodded, then looked at the iron whip clutched in his hand: “If this is so, then this object truly…” Before he could finish, he swung the iron whip sharply; the whip emitted roars like tigers, and everyone faintly perceived the fleeting image of a white tiger. Their gazes toward the whip now held a hint of astonishment.

“I thought I had fallen for some wicked spell and was wondering what was going on with this thing? So, it’s all real?”

Ye Wen was clueless, and Lü Bu understood nothing of what this meant. Moreover, he had no interest in knowing. Since Zhong Dajun didn’t even know who Xue Rengui was, he certainly couldn't grasp the situation.

Only Guan Yu understood what the man meant by his words and simultaneously guessed the origin of that iron whip: clearly, like his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, it wasn't his original weapon but one bestowed by the Investiture of the Gods list based on some legendary tales.

“There is a legend that the Nine Heavens Xuannü Goddess once bestowed four treasures upon Xue Rengui: the Water-Fire Robe, the White Tiger Whip, the Heaven-Shaking Bow, and the Cloud-Piercing Arrow,” Zhong Dajun realized suddenly. “It seems General Xue is profoundly blessed; the Investiture of the Gods list equipped him with all four treasures without missing a single one!” Zhong Dajun then surmised that when Xue Rengui was deified, the list must have borrowed considerable immortal power from the Nine Heavens Xuannü Goddess, otherwise, it would be impossible to furnish him with these four treasures. Even if the Investiture of the Gods list itself was a potent artifact capable of absorbing spiritual energy, it could not equip such fine items under normal circumstances.

Brother Guan’s ability to receive the Green Dragon Crescent Blade was related to the millennia of incense worship he had received; the list could collect and transform that devotion into the Azure Dragon Saber. However, Xue Rengui had never received incense offerings, giving the list no leverage to borrow power from. In the end, the list had to seek out the Xuannü Goddess, to whom these four treasures were related. This alone showed that the Investiture of the Gods list was truly an object without independent will; if an ordinary person faced this situation, they would judge it mere storytelling, as the Xuannü Goddess couldn't possibly know Xue Rengui, so there would be no need to ask.

But the Investiture of the Gods list did ask—a thought transmitted, and the Goddess responded. Whether she lent her power was a matter of a single thought. And the Xuannü Goddess truly did lend her magic to the list, thus forging these four magical artifacts. Calculated this way, it seemed the Xuannü Goddess truly held great favor for Xue Rengui.

The great talents present naturally grasped the key point: this Xue Rengui, just after becoming a divine general, had already secured the backing of the mighty Nine Heavens Xuannü. Truly great fortune.

Ye Wen, once he understood, was also quite envious. However, if such immense fortune landed in his hands, he wouldn't dare accept it carelessly. Who knew if the Xuannü Goddess had some arduous task she needed him to perform? If he took the benefits, he might be obligated to act.

Indeed, before Ye Wen’s thought had fully settled, a stream of light flew in from outside the hall, finally stopping before Zhong Dajun. Zhong Dajun examined the runes carved on the jade slip, immediately glancing at Xue Rengui, then respectfully accepted the slip and closed his eyes to absorb the transmitted message.

The advantage of a jade slip transmission was that the receiver grasped the content almost instantly, without consuming time. After Zhong Dajun took the slip, it instantly dissolved into dust, and he opened his eyes, addressing Xue Rengui: “General Xue… Ordinarily, you should remain in the Heavenly Court for a period to learn the basic necessities before leading troops!”

“However, there is a task that must be assigned to you right now… one which you likely cannot refuse!”

Xue Li had clearly heard Guan Yu’s words and understood that the treasures in his hand were gifts from the Nine Heavens Xuannü Goddess, so he knew this was likely the time for him to repay that kindness. Recalling the power and efficacy of the artifacts imprinted in his mind, he felt that receiving gifts without rendering service was improper. If he could repay this debt of gratitude, it would be appropriate. He nodded, indicating his willingness to undertake the task.

Yet, Zhong Dajun paused: “I will tell you about that matter later; it’s not urgent! There is something else that must be resolved first. General Xue, please wait a moment!”

Having given the instruction, Zhong Dajun wiped away sweat that wasn't there: “This mess has all intertwined, making Sect Leader Ye wait a long time!”

“No matter!” Ye Wen turned, glancing at Lü Bu, who was also studying him—though his gaze was unfriendly, as if calculating exactly how to beat him up: “It’s not a troublesome matter anyway; whether one can see it or not is merely a blink of an eye!”

Before the words ended, his eyes blazed with light, filling the entire hall with a seven-colored radiance, even obscuring the light of the Investiture of the Gods list. Ye Wen’s eyes shifted through seven colors like stained glass, fixed on Lü Bu before him. After only a moment, Ye Wen suddenly paused.

“Oh?”