Kunlun Mountain, Yuxu Palace.

After returning from the Penglai Holy Realm, Yuanshi Tianzun sat upon the Eight Treasure Cloud Light Seat, preaching the Dao to the gathered disciples.

The light of Yuqing Fortune illuminated the hall.

Flowers fell in disarray, and Golden Lotuses erupted from the ground.

Those Chan Sect disciples sitting on their meditation cushions, listening intently, were utterly engrossed, feeling their Dao Hearts floating amidst the holy rhythm of the Dao.

Not long after, Yuanshi Tianzun ceased his lecture, gently waved the Ruyi in his hand, and looked towards his disciples, "A great calamity is upon us, you must seal yourself within your cave mansions, silently recite the Huangting scripture, and do not leave the mountain without necessity."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Guang Chengzi and the other Twelve Golden Immortals, and sighed lightly, "You are entangled in the karma of the Red Dust Calamity; inevitably, you must venture into that mortal realm."

Guang Chengzi and the other Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect confessed their faults, "We were frivolous in the past, we beg for Master's help!"

Yuanshi Tianzun slightly shook his head, "You all are virtuous and true immortals, deep-rooted in nature and naturally wise. You should not have encountered this calamity, however reluctantly you cannot cut off the Three Corpses Worm, unable to achieve the Daluo Dao Fruit...

I have already guided you on the path; if you still cannot clear the karma and complete the Calamity, even I cannot save you."

Hearing these words, Guang Chengzi and the other Twelve Golden Immortals felt both ashamed and uneasy.

Most of them had witnessed the terrifying Witch Demon Calamity.

With the great calamity's arrival, karma escalated wildly, the breath of calamity filling Heaven and Earth.

In almost an instant, the Witch and Demon clans declined from their peak.

Now, they too were in grave danger.

The Red Dust Calamity, making it impossible for them even to avoid the world and hide from the calamity.

All Twelve Golden Immortals, each one, would be entangled in this calamity, having to complete the event and sever their karma to free themselves.

Otherwise, they would die during the calamity, their True Spirits even possibly obliterated!

After all the disciples had left Yuxu Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun turned to Randeng Taoist who had not yet departed, speaking lightly, "You should return to Lingjiu Mountain for quiet cultivation.

Furthermore, send an order that starting today, should anyone from our Chan Sect encounter someone from the West preaching the Dao, let them be, and do not obstruct."

Randeng Taoist's heart stirred slightly, and he quickly understood the deeper meaning.

He respectfully bowed and took his leave.

After his departure, Yuanshi Tianzun turned his head towards the direction of the East Sea, faintly discerning the robust and imposing aura of Jie Sect.

Glorious as the sun and moon, majestic as mountains and seas!

He withdrew his gaze, looking towards a white crane boy attending him inside the palace, and asked indifferently, "In the recent millennium, have any disciples who ascended the mountain been particularly outstanding?"

The white crane boy pondered for a moment, replied respectfully, "Master, in the past thousand years, there have only been two disciples who ascended the mountain - one is called Shengong Bao, who has already cultivated to become a True Immortal. The other is Jiang Shang, who just came to the mountain last year."

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly, his eyes as profound as the vast starry sky.

After a moment, he shook his head slightly disappointed.

"Shengong Bao is superficial in nature, unable to achieve the great Dao; Jiang Shang was born with a thin fate, hardly able to cultivate the Immortal Path, only fit to receive blessings of the Human World... Nevertheless, call these two here, I want to take them as my disciples."

Hearing this, the white crane boy couldn't help but widen his eyes.

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If it weren't for his countless years of service in Yuxu Palace, honing a remarkable steadiness, he would likely have exclaimed in shock.

Is not this venerable Saint highly discerning of the root and fortune?

Why suddenly take Shengong Bao and Jiang Shang as disciples?

...

Penglai Holy Realm

Just as Yu Yuan emerged from Biyou Palace, he saw a fragrant carriage stopped in front of the palace gate, surrounded by colorful curtains, with a woman's silhouette faintly visible on them under the sunlight.

A gentle breeze wafted by, bringing waves of exotic fragrance.

"What took you so long, what did your Great Master have you do?"

From inside the carriage, the voice of Golden Spirit Saint Mother sounded, as clear as a flowing stream.

Before Yu Yuan could respond, a mighty voice emanated from Biyou Palace, spreading in all directions:

"Today, I decree One Qi Immortal Yu Yuan and this Sect Hierarch to handle the Divine Enthronement matters, in charge of the Investiture of the Gods. Any disciples of Jie Sect willing to enlist, should go to Tian Yuan Palace to register their names."

Oh boy, an official announcement!

But this also saved him from explaining himself; he directly flashed onto the Seven Fragrant Treasure Car and said in annoyance, "From now on, my Tian Yuan Palace will hardly be peaceful!"

The Seven Fragrant Treasure Car was lifted by streaks of rosy light, speeding towards Tian Yuan Palace.

Golden Spirit Saint Mother slightly pursed her lips, seeming in a good mood.

"Your Great Master entrusting such an important task to you shows his ample trust and approval; you should be pleased..."

"Pleased my hammer... Ah right, it's indeed the hammer to be pleased about."

"What hammer?"

Yu Yuan didn't conceal it, pulling out a purple hammer from his Qiankun Ruyi Bag.

On this small hammer, spiritual light interwove, its surface etched with countless mysterious runes, and lingering purple auras enveloped it, faintly exuding an aura capable of destroying heaven and earth.

"紫电锤!"

Golden Spirit Saint Mother's expression changed slightly, surprisedly looking at Yu Yuan, "I didn't expect your Great Master to give you this treasure."

Indeed it's this treasure.

Yu Yuan felt a slight thrill in his heart, pretending to be puzzled as he raised an eyebrow, "Is this hammer that powerful?"

Golden Spirit Saint Mother spoke seriously, "This Purple Lightning Hammer is a supreme innate spiritual treasure, legend has it that it transformed from the first bolt of thunder after Creation of Heaven and Earth. Possessing this hammer allows one to control the way of thunder, and summon any thunder in Heaven and Earth at will.

Speaking of its power in combat, it should rank in the top three among all treasures in Biyou Palace."

"Oh?"

Yu Yuan's eyes immediately lit up.

Being able to summon any thunder in the world, doesn't that mean he has found a new method for "cultivation"?

After sending Yu Yuan back to Tian Yuan Palace, Golden Spirit Saint Mother swiftly departed.

Seizing the opportunity of no visitors, Yu Yuan first probed the Purple Lightning Hammer with his Divine Thought and found that this treasure contained forty-five Innate Restrictions, far surpassing the Yuan Tu and Avici which only had thirty-eight!

No wonder the Golden Spirit Saint Mother held this hammer in such high esteem.

However, he did not rush to refine it, but instead took out the Sound Transmission Treasure Pearl.

Soon, the figure of Bai Ling materialized in the air.

Now that the Sealing God Ceremony was about to commence, many arrangements needed to be advanced.

The first thing to do was to eradicate the Jie Sect!

Starting with that dead rabbit!

...

Ding Guang Island

Within the luxurious Treasure Hall deep in this Immortal Island, a group of Immortals in light pink gauze twisted their graceful figures, singing and dancing to melodious music.

At a glance, the scene was full of springtime splendor.

However, as the master of this place, Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal's face was filled with a sinister look, oblivious to the beauties in the hall.

This time at the conference of the Three Sects, he should have been greatly favored by the Sect Hierarch, but unexpectedly, he became the scapegoat for Guang Chengzi, beaten miserably.

It didn't end there; after Yu Yuan declared his full support for the Jie Sect, he became the object of disdain among numerous Jie Sect disciples.

Simply because he was the only Jie Sect disciple to voluntarily admit defeat on stage.

Especially since Zhao Gongming and Duobao Taoist too were defeated but by their opponents' schemes, and they never once admitted defeat despite being in grave danger.

When compared, his cowardice was magnified manifold.

"It's all that damn Yu Yuan!"

Every time Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal thought of this, he couldn't help but curse bitterly.

Moreover, a recent decree from Biyou Palace further plunged him into desolation.

"I really don't know what the Sect Hierarch is thinking, actually handing over the Investiture of the Gods to that Yu Yuan!"

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal was endlessly irritable, his eyes revealing panic.

His longstanding grudge with Yu Yuan was well-established. Now, with the other controlling the Investiture of the Gods, it's likely he would deliberately list his name.

Such deeds, that Yu Yuan was certainly capable of!

Perhaps, should he humble himself?

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal was somewhat hesitant.

He knew how much he despised Yu Yuan.

That slap had demolished his reputation, turning him into a laughing stock!

If not restrained by the other being an Inner Sect Disciple, he would have long taken his life.

Even so, he kept actively seeking ways to deal with Yu Yuan.

"Regretfully, these incompetents have yet to secure concrete evidence of him conspiring against Lv Yue and others..."

Suddenly, he felt something, taking out a glowing Sound Transmission Treasure Pearl.

After waving away those enchanting Immortals in the hall, several illusory figures appeared.

Among them was the thin Daoist he had sent to capture the Nine-tailed Fox.

The rest were also Jie Sect disciples close to him.

But the person surrounded by them was an utterly beautiful woman in a white Immortal Dress, her arms and ankles bound by black qi, rendering her immobile.

"Senior Brother Long-ear, we've successfully captured the Nine-tailed Fox as per your command!"

The thin Daoist said with a face soliciting praise, "Moreover, we've also obtained conclusive news from her. Brother Lv Yue from Nine Dragons Island and the others have all been obliterated by that Yu Yuan!"

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal was both excited and cautious, "Is it truly Yu Yuan who killed them?"

"This matter is absolutely true! We've even made the Nine-tailed Fox take a Dao oath to verify it!"

The thin Daoist pointed at the white-clothed woman, "Besides, this Nine-tailed Fox is Yu Yuan's Dual Cultivation partner and knows many of his secrets. We'll send her to Ding Guang Island immediately, so you can personally interrogate her."

"Very good… wait!"

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal said cautiously, "Yuan Yuan is not someone to be underestimated anymore. If someone sees your tracks, it might alert him… No, if he realizes this, he will definitely ambush you halfway!

No, we must strike first!

You few directly escort the Nine-tailed Fox to Biyou Palace. I'll go there now and report the matter, confining him within Biyou Palace. When you arrive with the Nine-tailed Fox, that will be the moment he reveals his true form!"

"Senior Brother, this is a great plan! We will follow your instructions to the letter!"

Emei Mountain

The thin Daoist bowed respectfully until Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal's figure disappeared into the air, then he straightened up, crying bitterly, "We've followed the directions of our Dao friend, may you please spare us?"

"Whether to spare you isn't up to me, it will be decided by the young master."

Bai Ling gently shook her head, the black qi around her vanishing on its own.

At that moment, a Green Bird arrived, carrying a mature and beautiful woman in a black Daoist robe on its back.

"Thank you, Lady Shi Ji, for your assistance."

Bai Ling bowed respectfully.

Shi Ji returned the salute, "You've already attained the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, it's sufficient to address me as Dao friend. No need for such formalities."

Bai Ling nodded slightly, earnestly speaking, "Then I shall trouble my Dao friend to escort them to Penglai."

Shi Ji responded, "Since it's Yu Yuan's request, there's no trouble at all."

Saying so, she conjured a handkerchief with the symbols of Kan, Li, Zhen, and Dui, encompassing myriad treasures. It unfolded like a white cloud, enveloping the thin Daoist and his group before she, riding the Green Bird, hurried away.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com