His features remained as handsome as the first time he was seen. Feng Zikang regarded this somber, handsome monk with the same deep disdain he held for the withered old Daoist.

This man was the foremost among the old monsters of the Deification Stage and the leader who had slain the General Lu whose body he had once possessed. Feng Zikang’s expression remained unchanged as he quietly watched this de facto leader of the current cultivation world settle firmly into his seat, smiling as he greeted everyone.

“This is the Sect Master of the Buddhist School, Abbot Yuan Yuan of Baima Temple, and also the master of Chan Master Wule, Yuan Buhuan,” Yuan Buhuan whispered into his ear after turning back. Feng Zikang nodded slightly, a faint smile on his face.

The Assembly of Tianzhu Mountain had already begun. The sect masters of the Three Teachings and Nine Streams—eleven in total—sat upright, each harboring their own machinations.

These individuals were the very pillars holding up the contemporary cultivation world. As Feng Zikang surveyed the assembly, his heart tightened almost imperceptibly.

Excluding the absent master of the Shu Family Sect, these eleven nearly represented the absolute peak convergence of power within the Central Plains' cultivation sphere. The Three Teachings and the Nine Streams held the lifeblood of the Central Plains' cultivation world, and in turn, dictated the direction the Central Plains would take in the future.

At least for today, the fate of the Great Tang Dynasty would be decided by a single word from their lips. Men such as these certainly would not waste time.

Abbot Yuan Yuan looked around and cut straight to the chase: “We have summoned everyone here today to discuss the matter of this coming Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth. Our three orthodox schools—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—have already formed an alliance and intend to dispatch disciples to assist the Great Tang and strive to maintain stability in the Central Plains!” This outcome was anticipated by those of the Nine Streams; Yan Haoran and True Man Qanyang seated nearby showed no change in expression, clearly having reached a prior consensus.

Yuan Buhuan smiled faintly, “If that is the case, then there is nothing to be done. We of the Nine Streams have also reached an alliance: we will follow the Will of Heaven and support Duke Wu Ji of Ying to overthrow the Tang Dynasty and establish a new order!” He spoke as the representative for the Nine Streams, and the other factions offered no opposition, implicitly agreeing.

Abbot Yuan Yuan sighed, “If it must be so, then endless warfare is inevitable, and the Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth cannot be avoided.” Although his tone conveyed regret and lamentation, there was clearly no hint of yielding. This assembly at Tianzhu Mountain seemed merely a formality for the Three Teachings and Nine Streams to declare their positions.

Yuan Buhuan sneered inwardly. Indeed, the intent of the Three Teachings lay elsewhere.

If they genuinely wished to uphold the Tang court, they would have attempted to persuade the Nine Streams. “Since this is settled, then matters of the mortal realm are thus decided.” Just two or three sentences had clarified their respective stances, leaving no room for further debate.

“The Three Teachings and the Nine Streams shall each employ their own means and fight it out. However, to prevent the calamity from spreading too widely, only disciples of the second generation and below shall be permitted to act.” If elders who had lived for hundreds of years were to intervene, especially masters of the Nascent Soul or Deification stages, the ensuing battle could radically alter the face of the Central Plains after the dust settled.

“That is only natural,” Abbot Yuan Yuan nodded. “Furthermore, there is one more matter that must be discussed today…” The main event was approaching!

Yuan Buhuan and Feng Zikang exchanged a look; their earlier suspicions were confirmed—the fate of the Tang court was not the true focus; the matter following it was. Abbot Yuan Yuan fumbled inside his robes and produced a roll of yellowed ancient silk, smiling as he declared, “Coinciding with this Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth, the Heavenly Court of the Mystic Realm is also short of many official posts.

Our three schools have deliberated and decided to emulate the stories of Yin and Zhou to establish a Fengshen Bang (Investiture of the Gods list) to radically reorganize the divine assignments of the Heavenly Court!” “Boom!” Even these sect masters, whose control over their qi was exceptionally strong, were profoundly shaken by such a staggering proposal. They gasped involuntarily, crying out in shock.

Yuan Buhuan stared at the yellowed silk in Abbot Yuan Yuan’s hand, his expression shifting dramatically, revealing clear excitement. “The Fengshen Cao!

That is the Investiture of the Gods list!” Feng Zikang started at the mention and turned his gaze toward the ancient silk in Abbot Yuan Yuan’s hand, sensing an almost palpable, compressed essence within the scroll—it was clearly no ordinary object. “Abbot Yuan Yuan!” Finally, someone from the Nine Streams lost composure.

Gongsun Can, the master of the School of Names, spoke up, “When the original Investiture of the Gods occurred during the Yin and Zhou dynasties, it was orchestrated by deities from the Upper Realm; our predecessors were merely present at the opportune moment. What is the reason for re-conferring these titles today?” Abbot Yuan Yuan glanced at him, pressed his palms together, and loudly intoned a Buddhist chant.

“No individuals from the Upper Realm will participate in this Investiture of the Gods. It will be entirely determined by our own cultivation world.” “This…” The initial alarm stemmed mainly from Gongsun Can’s question.

It had been over two thousand years since the Upper Realm ceased interfering in this realm's affairs. Although many present enjoyed long lifespans, none were old enough to remember that era.

They had grown accustomed to absolute autonomy in their own domain. To be subject to the Upper Realm again would strip their positions as leaders of the righteous path of all meaning.

“After the Severance of the Celestial Pass, aside from Ascension, there is no longer any channel to enter the Upper Realm, nor can beings from the Upper Realm descend. This matter is purely within our own jurisdiction; all sect masters, please rest assured!” If it were determined internally, then this matter of the Investiture of the Gods was far more significant than the upheaval concerning the Tang imperial power!

Earthly imperial authority held little sway in their eyes; although the lands they occupied were granted by the terrestrial sovereign, even without imperial decree, given the status of the Three Teachings and Nine Streams, they could secure their own territories. Who would dare to dislodge them?

The struggle over imperial power in the Central Plains was merely about the legitimacy of their respective doctrines. With the support of the throne, proselytizing was naturally smoother, and recruiting disciples had a stronger foundation.

The Heavenly Court, however, was vastly different. Although it was merely a Mystic Realm opened up by great divine beings, the positions therein were equivalent to civil service roles, far removed from the supreme majesty imagined by mortals.

The gods each held specific duties—some managed the rotation of the stars, some governed mountains and rivers, some protected ordinary people, and some guided departed souls toward reincarnation. Most of these divine posts were fixed during the battles of Investiture during the Yin and Zhou period.

At the time, people paid little attention, but later they realized that occupying a favorable post brought immense benefits to a god’s relatives and associates, and their lineage would naturally gain prestige. Although the individual’s cultivation might slow, preventing true longevity, they could use their divine authority to benefit their sect greatly.

Consequently, everyone sighed endlessly, regretting not seizing the opportunity back then. Later, this original cohort gradually withered, replaced by new deities—some ascended through mortal merit, others entered through flawed cultivation—and piecemeal, the official duties became increasingly incomplete.

Abbot Yuan Yuan’s proposal to re-establish the divine order signaled a major structural change in the Heavenly Court. The masters of the Nine Streams immediately began calculating their advantages.

Yuan Buhuan had foreseen this situation; his plans were clear, and he was confident. He spoke, “Abbot Yuan Yuan, this matter of the Heavenly Court’s Investiture is no small thing.

How will the allocation of positions among our Three Teachings and Nine Streams be handled?” What he aimed for was naturally to secure more slots to prepare for the glory of the Military School over the next thousand years. Even if many disciples perished, as long as the union of Heaven and Earth was achieved, finding new disciples would not be a problem.

Abbot Yuan Yuan seemed to have anticipated his thoughts and chuckled. “Sect Master Yuan, regarding the allocation of these positions for the eight hundred principal gods to be installed this time, this old monk has calculated repeatedly, and it proves unsuitable in every configuration.

Finally, after discussions with True Man Qanyang and Mr. Yan, the conclusion is this: the slots will be granted to the destined person who is to bear the brunt of this Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth, allowing them to make the final decision on the divine assignments, sparing us the mental strain!” “What?” Yuan Buhuan, for all his calculations, had not anticipated this outcome.

He had absolutely believed that the Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist schools, holding the Fengshen Bang, would aim to secure the lion's share of benefits in this new Investiture. Perhaps the Three Schools would claim three hundred of the eight hundred principal positions, leaving the remaining five hundred for the Nine Streams to divide.

He had already prepared a speech to argue for an even split of the eight hundred principal divine roles, but Abbot Yuan Yuan’s suggestion left him with the feeling of punching cotton. “That old fox…” Yuan Buhuan muttered inwardly, though his face remained wreathed in a smile.

“Then, Master, how exactly will this destined individual be found?” Yuan Buhuan secretly pondered the Abbot’s cunning move. If he nominated someone from the Three Teachings as the destined one, that person, mindful of sectarian loyalty, would naturally reserve slots discreetly for their own school.

This way, the Abbot would avoid notoriety while reaping tangible rewards. He started contemplating how to object if Abbot Yuan Yuan intended to put forward a monk as the destined figure, only to hear the Abbot let out a long sigh, his face filled with melancholy.

“Since we decided this matter, our three schools have exerted great effort in searching, but we have yet to find this destined individual to this day.” “Not yet found?” Yuan Buhuan was first pleased, then startled. He was pleased because if the candidate hadn't been found, the position might fall to someone from the Nine Streams; but the shock was that the immense influence of the Three Teachings had failed to locate this person, suggesting the formidable power of the current Great Calamity.

“It’s not enough to just reap the benefits; one must also be cautious.” Such a calamity of Heaven and Earth was not only a trial for mortals but also for cultivators. A single misstep could result in the annihilation of both body and spirit.

While the Fengshen Bang now offered a guarantee of obtaining a divine post, abandoning the esteemed position of a sect master to become a mere divine official in the Heavenly Court seemed utterly foolish. “Then how is this destined person to be sought out?” Yuan Buhuan couldn't help asking again.

If this was the case, the immediate priority was finding this destined individual. Regardless of who it was, they must first find a way to bring them into their own fold; the benefits would come later.

Abbot Yuan Yuan chuckled. “Actually, it’s quite simple.” He tossed the yellowed silk scroll in his hand upwards.

It hung suspended in the air, its light shimmering brilliantly. “Whoever can open this Fengshen Bang will naturally be the destined person for this Great Calamity of Heaven and Earth!” “This?” Yuan Buhuan paused.

“Master, are you suggesting you will bring this Investiture of the Gods list into the mortal world and let everyone take a turn testing their strength?” “No need.” Abbot Yuan Yuan smiled faintly. “This Fengshen Bang possesses its own spiritual consciousness; it will guide us toward the direction of the destined person.

We shall seek them out then.” Before his words had even faded, the Fengshen Bang began to spin wildly, as if it had already located its true master!