As soon as Chen Da’s apotheosis was complete and his form manifested, he was consumed by rage, “Give me back my head!”

He knew that Luo Kedi had killed him, but he also recognized the person before him as a member of the Wuji Battalion. Seeing him suddenly, hatred surged, and he lunged forward with bared teeth and claws.

“Vile creature! Still obstinately clinging to error!”

Feng Zikang sharply rebuked him, and Chen Da, who had moments before looked so imposing, suddenly found his knees buckle, forcing him to the ground.

“Truly unrepentant!” Feng Zikang sneered coldly, reaching out as if to strike the name off the Investiture of the Gods tablet. Chen Da’s face paled with terror, and he scrambled to kowtow repeatedly, “Immortal Sir! Forgive my trespass! I was temporarily confused and offended you, I beg your pardon!”

He had only just become a god, and his mind had not yet caught up. His memories seemed stuck in the midst of battle formations. It was only when the divine consciousness of his new station flooded in that he realized his error: he had rudely offended this great Immortal. That was a catastrophic mistake.

Not only was the Master of the Investiture of the Gods tablet capable of controlling his very life and death at any moment, but he was also the sovereign of this entire Xuan Realm—essentially the direct superior to Chen Da’s own newly conferred divinity.

How could he dare display any remnant of his former arrogance? Trembling with fear, he offered ceaseless pleas for mercy.

“Indeed, you submit to my command!” Feng Zikang was overjoyed. That the newly enshrined gods would obey him was a tremendous benefit. It seemed he could proceed at a leisurely pace to add eight hundred true deities to this Xuan Realm. If that came to pass, restoring this realm to its former glory might not be an impossible dream.

He wondered, however, what the attitudes of the higher-ranking Immortals and great transcendent beings would be toward him in the future, but at least dealing with these lower-tier gods seemed entirely manageable!

Examining Chen Da’s cultivation, Feng Zikang noted he was indeed slightly weaker than Wang Gui. However, Chen Da’s original heretical Daoist art of condensing resentful souls had transformed into a technique using cloud spirits, which was structurally quite similar. This confirmed that his intrinsic cultivation level had successfully carried over into the apotheosis.

Feng Zikang dismissed him to join Wang Gui in recruiting the Cloud-Drilling Cavalry Heavenly Soldiers. Though they were old rivals, Wang Gui’s current power surpassed Chen Da’s, and he was now his superior, so Feng Zikang surmised no major issues would arise.

Having narrowly escaped death, Chen Da was immensely grateful. Reflecting on the difficulty of achieving godhood, his lingering resentments dissolved. He kowtowed respectfully several times to Feng Zikang before flying deep into the Xuan Realm, relying on his divine sense to seek out his superior.

Having tested the functionality of the Investiture of the Gods tablet and being greatly pleased, Feng Zikang regretted that the great calamity had only just begun, meaning there were temporarily insufficient souls available. He would wait a few days to enthrone Geshu Luo. As for Prince Li Zhi, not only did he possess little genuine ability, but his identity was too significant; it was better to enshrine him as a true deity within the Heavenly Court to prevent any unexpected complications.

A few days later, after he had rested and recovered, he enshrined Geshu Luo as the Dragon Rider Commandant, tasked with recruiting and training demon beast cavalry. Geshu Luo proved compliant, understanding the necessity of humility when under another’s roof. Upon appearing, he launched into excessive praise, showering Feng Zikang with a flood of flattering words.

This man was inherently a petty opportunist who shifted allegiance with the wind. Feng Zikang smiled faintly. Since Geshu Luo was now sealed as a god of the Xuan Realm, betrayal was impossible; such a character trait was irrelevant, so long as he worked diligently.

After consecrating three individuals, Feng Zikang re-entered seclusion within the Xuan Realm to cultivate.

After all, with the great calamity imminent, strength was the ultimate path. He was currently advancing both the Demonic Path and the Military Path simultaneously. Although progress was arduous, he had gained significant insight, and the combination of the two made him even stronger.

He remained in seclusion for another two or three months. When he opened his eyes, he observed that the Five-Story Twelve-City structure formed during his Foundation Establishment was even more magnificent, marking another step forward in that realm.

The form of the Demonic Fetus had also become clearer.

He nodded, thoroughly satisfied with the results of this retreat.

“My Lord!”

The Ghost King Tu had managed various documents and intelligence reports for him during his seclusion. Seeing him emerge, the Ghost King hurried forward to report.

In the last three months, the Great Tang imperial court had dispatched another punitive army, but they had unfortunately been defeated again. Word had it that the Son of Heaven was furious and was preparing to find a more powerful commanding general to lead the next assault.

Feng Zikang glanced at the Investiture of the Gods tablet; indeed, several nameless souls had been collected. He spent several days consecrating them one by one as minor deities to manage the affairs of the Xuan Realm.

The current state of the Xuan Realm was vastly improved compared to before, largely thanks to Immortal Tianfu. With her presence, all things grew, and the previously somber and terrifying courtyard was now lush with greenery. The surrounding land was gradually becoming richer and fuller. Though it was still only a small patch, it was infinitely better than the previous state where the courtyard seemed to be supported by a single, isolated pillar.

If this momentum continued for a few hundred or a thousand years, the Xuan Realm could generate vast lands and gradually restore its vitality.

“However, this young lady cannot live that long.”

Feng Zikang looked at Immortal Tianfu. She possessed innate spiritual acuity, but her cultivation was extremely poor; she was still only at the Qi Refining stage, and advancement was proving difficult. If all else failed, he would have to take her to a military formation, have her killed, and then proceed with her apotheosis.

Godhood granted a thousand years of existence, extended by the continuity of incense offerings, meaning her longevity would only increase. He just wasn't sure if this young woman was qualified to be sealed as a God of Fortune.

The little fox had grown larger again, exhibiting more human traits, and seemingly understood spontaneous cultivation. As a descendant of a great demon, she was certainly extraordinary.

Long Que was the most disappointing of all. As a mechanism beast, it could not cultivate. Therefore, it was relegated to helping the original wooden automaton clean and tidy. In the process, it inexplicably developed an affection, and now the two were inseparable, following each other everywhere.

Watching them clean the dwelling together, Long Que skillfully waving its paws to assist, Feng Zikang chuckled heartily.

“With the great calamity gripping heaven and earth now, I should venture out to visit various Daoist friends and find some people to assist Martial Governor Wu. That would be appropriate.”

In reality, he was looking for cannon fodder. The Great Tang court would inevitably send high-level cultivators sequentially to besiege Wuji. As the war escalated, more and more cultivators would become involved. With the Three Teachings fully backing the Great Tang and their numerous disciples, they would naturally be deployed onto the battlefield one by one. The Nine Streams could not afford to remain inactive, but Feng Zikang preferred to find cannon fodder elsewhere rather than weaken the strength of the Military School.

Furthermore, there was the matter of apotheosis. If he were to enthrone his Martial Uncles from the Military School, they would become inconvenient to command later. As for members from other sects, it didn't matter as much.

Ghost King Tu’s eyes lit up. “My Lord, I also have some overseas friends. I can invite them to come and help.”

Feng Zikang glanced at her and grinned slyly. “You haven't even been deified yourself, yet you are already thinking of others…” Wait, you intend for them to be test subjects, don't you? Haven't you been reassured by Geshu Luo’s precedent?”

Geshu Luo, who was at the Qi Refining stage, had actually seen his cultivation increase after being deified. The white mist that Feng Zikang had previously dispersed from him had condensed again, making him quite formidable.

Ghost King Tu was singularly focused on achieving apotheosis. However, since she possessed a Foundation Establishment cultivation—and no cultivator at that level had yet been deified—she naturally harbored hesitation. Hearing Feng Zikang speak of seeking cannon fodder, she quickly put forward her overseas acquaintances.

If they were successfully deified, that would be excellent; she could then follow suit. After all, she had followed her Lord for a long time and surely wouldn't suffer a loss.

“It is also for the purpose of sharing Your Lord’s burdens,” Ghost King Tu admitted, albeit with a brazen smile, knowing that her Lord would not harshly chastise her even after seeing through her intentions.

Feng Zikang burst into laughter. “Excellent. The East Sea certainly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers. You may invite some friends to assist; that is permissible. However, the matter of the Investiture of the Gods tablet is a heavenly secret and must not be divulged.”

Currently, only the high figures of the Three Teachings and the Nine Streams knew about the tablet. This matter absolutely could not spread, otherwise the struggles in the mortal world would become bizarre to the extreme—it would be unclear whether people were fighting to the death or merely struggling for life.

After all, for mortals, achieving godhood was already an incredible boon. Even those rogue cultivators overseas would likely fight tooth and nail to get in. Relatively speaking, the eight hundred true god positions were insufficient even for the disappointed disciples of the Three Teachings and Nine Streams, let alone other cultivators. Although Feng Zikang’s Xuan Realm held eight hundred divine seats, opening a future path, it could not withstand the entire world trying to seek death. If such a situation arose, it would mean he had utterly botched the affair.

“I certainly understand that!”

Ghost King Tu was cunning and by no means foolish. “I have my own methods to make them act.”

These demons and monsters always had weaknesses, always possessed some unfulfilled greed. Luring them out to serve as cannon fodder would not be difficult. Feng Zikang nodded. “Then you shall go with Julie’er! While you are at it, journey south to the Sea of No Return. The myriad demons there must also assist in this heavenly calamity. Pulling out a few of them is fine.”

“Yes!”

Ghost King Tu felt absolutely no attachment to the White Eagle King and readily agreed. Rong Julie’er, however, was stunned for quite some time, as the White Eagle King was her biological father. But considering that apotheosis wasn't necessarily a bad outcome, she raised no objection.

With his instructions delivered, Feng Zikang too needed to travel about and see if there were any suitable individuals he could drag off to serve as cannon fodder—that would be useful enough.

During this period, he had focused entirely on the Investiture of the Gods tablet, neglecting other merit-earning quests. Once the business of god-making was concluded, he knew he would reap countless merit points; he had no worries on that front.

He went to Sunset Peak and informed Yuan Buhuan that he would be departing for travels. The Sect Master was highly supportive; since Feng Zikang was a destined participant in the calamity and carried the Investiture of the Gods tablet for protection, there was no need to fear.

“Zikang, where do you plan to travel?”

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. “I think it’s best to travel naturally and spontaneously. If I encounter any extraordinary figures, I will recommend them to Lizhou to confront the Tang army forces. In this great calamity gripping heaven and earth, our Military School already possesses such an advantage; we must certainly strive for a resounding victory!”

His rhetoric naturally delighted the plump Sect Master, who smiled so broadly his face nearly split.

“Zikang, you indeed possess foresight. Then, take this.”

The Sect Master slid a ring off his finger and handed it to Feng Zikang, smiling. “This is a token of accreditation for the Military School. It was originally meant to be passed to you when you reached the Core Condensation stage and became an Elder, but since you are undertaking such a grand endeavor, having an identity will be beneficial. I provisionally appoint you as Acting Elder of the Military School for now. Once the apotheosis is complete, the Elder Council will formally confirm your position!”