Investiture of the Gods: I am Bigan, the Master of Conspiracy

Chapter 231 The Investiture of the Gods is repeated, and Xiqi once again launches an eastern expedition against Chaoge!
Surrounded by the aura of the human emperors, Xuanyuan Zhuanxu and others instantly arrived outside the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain.

Guang Chengzi had been waiting there for some time. When he saw Xuanyuan Zhuanxu arrive, he nodded slightly and said, "Your Majesties have arrived."

Xuanyuan bowed first: "We dare not delay in being summoned by Immortal Master Guangchengzi. May I ask what instructions you have for us?"

After all, they were all disciples of Guang Chengzi, and now that they had left Huoyun Cave, they were still following Guang Chengzi's orders, and were also members of the Chan Sect.

Humanity has long since entered an era without mortals, so the Human Emperor of Fire Cloud Cave no longer has any reason to remain there.

The original significance of Huoyun Cave was that Laozi prevented the emperor from continuing to rule for too long, mainly to establish a succession order of death and the end of the regime. However, now that Di Xin has been the emperor for so long, the status of Huoyun Cave is quite awkward.

Although the Huoyun Cave Emperors have descended to the mortal realm, their position is also awkward because they have no power to restrain Emperor Xin and are expired emperors. Therefore, if they want to regain their power, they have to cause trouble.

Guang Chengzi led Zhuanxu into the side hall of Yuxu Palace and said with a solemn expression, "Do you, fellow human emperors, know that the Mind Path advocated by Ziyu, which seems to allow all living beings to gather their inner source, actually makes the human race lose the restraint of the Heavenly Dao, and become more self-centered and disregard the Heavenly Dao. Now, Emperor Xin is leading the human race, and there is even a hint that he is about to violate the shackles of the Heavenly Dao."

Guang Chengzi paused, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes: "To prevent the human race from being wiped out by the Heavenly Dao due to Di Xin's arrogance, the most urgent task is to destroy Shang and re-establish the order of the human race. Grand Master Uncle has already ordered all the human emperors to descend to earth. This matter of destroying Shang still needs to be led and presided over by Emperor Zhuanxu."

The person in charge of destroying the Shang dynasty was Zhuanxu, not Xuanyuan. This is because Zhuanxu was ruthless, and he was the one who orchestrated the severing of the heavenly barrier. He also had great ambitions. Xuanyuan, on the other hand, was portrayed as benevolent and righteous, but he was not suitable to be the commander-in-chief.

Upon hearing this, Zhuanxu's eyes flashed with determination, and he immediately said, "What the Immortal Master says is absolutely right! The human race is the most precious and intelligent of heaven and earth, and it must not be destroyed because of Di Xin alone. To save the human race from peril, Zhuanxu will do everything in his power, even if it means being shattered to pieces!"

Guang Chengzi stroked his beard and laughed, “That’s excellent. In this battle, Emperor Zhuanxu will lead the charge, and the Chan Sect, Buddhism, and the Human Sect will all provide their full support to help the Emperor succeed.”

At this moment, the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan said in a deep voice: "The Sage Laozi passed on a formation to me, called the 'Bloodline Returning to the Heart Formation'. It uses my Xuanyuan bloodline as the guide. Anyone in the Three Realms who has my Xuanyuan bloodline will sense the summons within the formation and come to respond."

Guang Chengzi was overjoyed upon hearing this: "With the help of this great formation, our great cause is assured! We will launch this campaign in Chang'an, which will be the place where we attack Shang."

Everyone agreed and immediately set off for Chang'an.

Chang'an, once a fiefdom of the Tang Dynasty, has undergone two cycles of change and is now once again a place where great events converge.

The immortals of the Chan Sect arrived on auspicious clouds, with the Golden Immortals such as Guang Chengzi, Yun Zhongzi, and Taiyi Zhenren exuding a powerful aura.

The Yellow Emperor, along with the Five Emperors Zhuanxu, Emperor Ku, Yao, and Shun, stood tall and imposing, their aura of imperial power emanating from them, causing the entire city of Chang'an to tremble.

Buddhist deities such as Maitreya Buddha and Guanyin also arrived with their disciples. The Buddha's light, the aura of immortals, and the aura of the emperor intertwined, creating a scene of peace tinged with a sense of impending doom.

Everyone gathered at the largest training ground in Chang'an City. The Yellow Emperor walked to the center of the training ground, immediately arranged the battle flags, formed hand seals, and chanted incantations.

In an instant, the power of the Xuanyuan bloodline within him surged forth, transforming into a dazzling golden pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

"With my Xuanyuan blood as the guide, I summon my descendants back!"

With a loud shout from the Yellow Emperor, the golden pillar of light suddenly exploded, transforming into countless tiny golden rays that scattered throughout the Three Realms.

The Bloodline Array is a deep genetic summoning for all those with the Xuanyuan bloodline; it doesn't mean everyone will come.

Rather, it is the kind of person who, after receiving the summons, strengthens their resolve to return home, and then, after making their own judgment, chooses to go to Chang'an.

There are countless people with the Xuanyuan bloodline. Even if only one in ten thousand of them arrives, that would still be countless people.

In an instant, turmoil began to erupt in the Three Realms. Countless human cultivators and soldiers of the Xuanyuan bloodline sensed the summons and gathered from all directions.

Emperor Zhuanxu walked to the side of Emperor Xuanyuan and said in a deep voice, "Grandfather, the Bloodline Array is complete. We are just waiting for the order to march on Chaoge!"

Guang Chengzi looked at the immense force gathered in the training ground, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Everything is ready. When the time is right, it will be time for us to attack Shang!"

On the training ground, banners fluttered in the wind, and a murderous aura filled the air.

The immortals of the Chan Sect, the Five Emperors, the Human Emperor, and countless human soldiers who responded to the call were all quietly waiting for the order to set off.

It truly is a cycle. Originally, during the Investiture of the Gods, the eastward expedition also began from Xiqi. After several cycles, this scene is being repeated, still starting from Xiqi, still involving the immortals of the Chan Sect, and still featuring four sages.

At this time, the Great Master Xuandu of the Human Sect, the immortals of the Chan Sect, and the Buddhas of Buddhism all arrived.

Meanwhile, the winds of change swept through Chang'an, and the very essence of heaven and earth seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, surging ceaselessly.

The countless streams of immortal energy from the Chan Sect gathered together, forming a majestic immortal mountain that caused the earth outside Chang'an to tremble slightly.

Not to be outdone, the Buddhist Buddhas also stood out. Maitreya Buddha sat serenely on a twelve-tiered lotus throne, his body radiating boundless light that illuminated half the sky, and the sound of his chanting seemed to cleanse the soul.

Boundless Buddhist light converged, forming a huge phantom of a Buddhist kingdom, hanging solemnly and majestically above Chaoge City.

Several human emperors were even more imposing. Zhuanxu, Diku, Yao, Shun and others stood side by side, their indestructible human emperor aura soaring into the sky. It was the human race's fortune that had been accumulated over countless years, profound and magnificent.

The auras of the emperors intertwined, forming a massive pillar of light that pierced the sky, echoing the sun, moon, and stars above.

Zhuanxu, now the commander-in-chief, possessed both the indestructible status of the Human Emperor and the cultivation of a Quasi-Saint. He immediately shouted, "Send a proclamation to the Three Realms, and march on Chaoge!"

Soon, a proclamation was issued.

It is said that Heaven and Earth have their own way; those who follow it prosper, and those who oppose it perish. Since the time of the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors, the human race has acted as regents for Heaven, with reverence for the Way of Heaven and harmony among all nations as its fundamental principles.

However, Emperor Xin of the Shang Dynasty disregarded the Mandate of Heaven, defied human ethics, and spread heresies and evil doctrines, causing chaos and disorder in the world.

Emperor Zhuanxu, as the ancient human emperor, could not bear to see the human race fall into ruin, and thus solemnly proclaimed this righteous cause to the world.

Emperor Xin favored evil spirits and falsely promoted the Way of the Heart, thus confusing and bewildering people's minds. The Way of Heaven is the guiding principle of all things and the standard by which all living beings follow.

Shang Shizi Yu was self-important and disregarded the principles of Heaven, causing people's hearts to be scattered and the social order to collapse.

Today's human race prioritizes selfish desires over public justice, and values ​​deceit over integrity, all due to the machinations of such people.

If this continues, humanity will surely be rejected by the Heavenly Dao, reduced to ashes, and never to be redeemed again!
Lao Tzu, a compassionate sage, decreed that the Five Emperors of Huoyun Cave return to their positions, hoping to save humanity from peril.

The benevolent Primordial Heavenly Venerable commanded the immortals of the Chan Sect to assist in restoring order to humanity from its collapse. The Buddhas of the West, also moved by this calamity, wished to join in this grand undertaking.

Emperor Zhuanxu, by the mandate of Heaven and by the imperial decree, now gathers the people of the Yellow Emperor's bloodline to rise up in Chang'an, based on the Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor's Bloodline Returning Heart Array, vowing to overthrow the tyrannical Shang Dynasty and restore order to the human race!
All people of my human race, regardless of rank or status, if they remember the virtues of their ancestors and cherish their own lives, should rise up upon hearing the news and respond to the righteous army.

Whether one takes up arms to defend the country, one can accumulate merit and benefit one's descendants.

If anyone resists, the heavenly army will arrive and destroy everything. If anyone hesitates or wavers, they will be condemned by heaven and earth and punished by ghosts and gods!
Ziyu, during his journey to the West, dared to kill the saintly corpse of Zhunti. His madness and depravity were unprecedented.

They are hiding in the shadows, attempting to disrupt the overall situation. When our righteous army arrives at Chaoge, we will surely expose their true colors and make them pay for their blood debt!
The ways of Heaven are clear, and the hearts of the people are at peace.

The campaign against Shang was not for personal gain, but for the eternal peace of the human race. The destruction of Ziyu, who had bewitched the human race, led to his abandonment by the Heavenly Dao and eternal damnation.

Emperor Zhuanxu hereby swears: I will not return until Chaoge is conquered; I will not rest until the tyrannical rebels are punished! I urge all people of wisdom in the world to join me in this national crisis, to work together to restore the glory of our people, and to restore peace and order to our world! This proclamation is witnessed by heaven and earth!

The proclamation for this campaign, which claimed that Yin Ziyu's belief would lead to the annihilation of the human race, was the main theme of the expedition to conquer Chaoge in the east.

All of this seemed like a reenactment of the Investiture of the Gods era, like a dream, with the Four Saints as the foundation and more than twenty Quasi-Saints marching in a mighty force straight towards Chaoge.

It was as if everything had changed, yet it was also as if nothing had changed.

The time of the Investiture of the Gods and the present have spanned several eras, and the people in all three realms have changed again and again, and Chaoge has once again entered a period of survival.

The only change is that Yin Ziyu has progressed from a minor immortal to someone close to the Dao Proving stage. Regardless of the true meaning of this battle, it doesn't really matter, because the Sage is here and can change the meaning of everything.

However, the current situation is still like a boulder crushing an egg. With the Four Saints supporting the bottom, even if Tongtian and Nuwa rejoin the battle after several cycles, it will still be a situation of certain defeat, and they will basically be swept away.

When the proclamation resounded throughout the Three Realms, it immediately shocked all parties in the Three Realms. History had repeated itself, but the crisis was even greater.

News of the army's eastward expedition hung over Chaoge like dark clouds. Just as the city's soldiers and civilians were filled with anxiety, several golden beams of light sped in from the direction of the East China Sea and landed on the square in front of the Chaoge Imperial Palace in an instant.

The Holy Mother Jinling, dressed in celestial robes, appeared with the Holy Mother Wudang, the Holy Mother Guiling, and the disciples of the Jie Sect. Her celestial aura swirled around her, echoing the imperial aura within Chaoge City.

"We are deeply grateful for the presence of Sect Leader Jinling! We have failed to greet you properly!"

Cheng Tang stepped forward first, followed closely by successive emperors such as Wu Ding, Pan Geng, and Di Yi, all bowing respectfully to the Holy Mother Jinling.

These emperors, who once held the destiny of humanity, are now outdated rulers, yet they still possess the aura of a supreme emperor who looks down upon the world.

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit stepped aside to avoid the grand ceremony, her voice steady and powerful: "Esteemed Human Emperors, there is no need for such formalities. Zhuanxu has already raised an army in Chang'an, vowing to destroy the Great Shang Dynasty. I have been ordered by my master, the Tongtian Sect Master, to lead the disciples of the Jie Sect to provide assistance."

Emperor Xin, dressed in a black bird imperial robe, cupped his hands in gratitude: "Thank you, Grandmaster, for your timely assistance. I and the entire Shang Dynasty will never forget this kindness!"

Di Xin was a disciple of Wen Zhong, who was a direct disciple of the Golden Spirit Mother. Therefore, Di Xin was a third-generation disciple of the Jie Sect.

The Holy Mother Jinling sighed softly, "I just don't know where Ziyu is. This time, Zhuanxu mobilized a large army to attack the Shang Dynasty. On the surface, he wanted to re-establish the order of the human race, but in reality, he wanted to force Ziyu to show himself and kill him. His purpose was to prevent Ziyu from attaining enlightenment."

Cheng Tang stroked his long beard, a knowing glint in his eyes: "Zi Yu is clearly at a critical juncture in his seclusion to attain enlightenment. If he cannot attain enlightenment, even if he forcibly returns, it will be useless in the face of sages surrounding him. If he can successfully attain enlightenment, he will naturally break through the void and arrive, and the crisis will resolve itself!"

After Cheng Tang finished speaking, he looked at the Golden Spirit Mother and said with a resolute tone: "Golden Spirit Mother, if Chaoge is truly indefensible, I ask all the Jie Sect Immortal Masters to evacuate first. This is the karma of the Great Shang Dynasty and should not be a burden to you. Moreover, even if the Four Sages descend, they will certainly be unable to protect it. It will only be a replay of the Investiture of the Gods!"

Di Xin nodded emphatically, his hands clenched into fists: "What the Imperial Ancestor said is very true. This battle is similar to the Investiture of the Gods in the past. Zhuanxu wanted to destroy the Great Shang, so I, as the Human Emperor, will fight again. What is there to fear! If Imperial Uncle Ziyu can prove his Dao and return, the Great Shang will surely survive. If he fails to prove his Dao, even with the protection of the Sage of Tongtian, the Great Shang will eventually come to an end."

Wu Ding stepped forward, his voice resounding: "Since King Tang destroyed the Xia Dynasty, our Great Shang Dynasty has been expanded by several generations of emperors, and the destiny has long been deeply rooted in the blood of the human race. Even if this battle is dangerous, we emperors of all generations will live and die with Chaoge, and strive for the last chance for Ziyu to attain enlightenment."

Looking at these unyielding emperors before her, the Golden Spirit Mother felt a surge of respect: "Rest assured, Your Majesties, since the Intercepting Sect has promised to aid us, we will never back down in the face of battle. Even if the road ahead is fraught with peril, my disciples and I will stand with Chaoge through thick and thin!"

Just as the atmosphere in Chaoge was tense, ten thousand rays of seven-colored light suddenly rose in the southern sky. Within the light, a huge white snake phantom coiled and danced. Wherever it passed, phantom flowers bloomed, and a gentle yet powerful demonic aura spread out.

The Demon Queen Bai Suzhen, dressed in a plain white dress, led a group of great demon saints under her command, descending on auspicious clouds outside Chaoge City.

"I have come to aid Chaoge by the decree of the Goddess Nuwa!"

Bai Suzhen's voice was clear and melodious, yet carried an undeniable majesty. Her gaze swept over the crowd on the city wall, and she nodded slightly to Cheng Tang and Di Xin.

Cheng Tang and Di Xin exchanged a glance, both of them feeling a sudden urge.

Cheng Tang stepped forward first, cupped his hands to Bai Suzhen and said, "Thank you for your help, Demon Emperor and Goddess Nuwa. However... the survival of the Great Shang depends entirely on whether Ziyu can attain enlightenment. If Ziyu can attain enlightenment and return, the Great Shang can survive. If not, the Great Shang is willing to perish together with the enemy. There is no need for you all to fight for the Great Shang and cause unnecessary casualties."

Di Xin then spoke up: "What the Imperial Ancestor said is exactly what I think. I appreciate the Demon Emperor's good intentions. This battle concerns the fate of the Great Shang Dynasty, as well as the tribulation of Imperial Uncle Ziyu's enlightenment. Even with the assistance of the Demon Emperor and even the Goddess Nuwa, how can we possibly defeat the Four Saints? If Imperial Uncle Ziyu succeeds in his enlightenment, why worry about the prosperity of the Great Shang Dynasty? If he fails, no matter how many helpers he receives, it will be difficult to change the situation of destruction. At that time, we will all perish together, without involving the demon race."

Upon hearing this, Bai Suzhen frowned slightly, and the demon generals behind her also showed some surprise.

Bai Suzhen pondered for a moment and said, "The Goddess Nuwa knew about the perilous situation in Chaoge and specially ordered us to come. She did not want to see the Great Shang Dynasty perish, nor did she want to see Fellow Daoist Ziyu miss the opportunity to attain enlightenment due to lack of support."

Cheng Tang shook his head: "We will remember the Demon Emperor's kindness. However, the cycle of Heaven has its own destiny. The karma of the Great Shang should be borne by the Great Shang people themselves. If Ziyu can attain enlightenment, even Heaven cannot stop the Great Shang from continuing. If he cannot, then the Great Shang's fate has run out, and it cannot be forced."

Di Xin pointed his sword at the sky: "My ancestors and I have long been prepared. Even if we perish together, we will defend the last dignity of Chaoge and strive for that chance for my Uncle Ziyu to attain enlightenment. Demon Emperor, please return. There is no need for you to risk your life for my Great Shang."

Looking at the resolute eyes of Cheng Tang and Di Xin, and then at the determined emperors of past dynasties around her, Bai Suzhen couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

Bai Suzhen looked at the Jie Sect members who had arrived and sighed softly: "Since you human emperors have made up your minds, then we will set up camp outside the city. If we are powerless, we will not interfere; if we are capable, the demon race will not stand idly by."

Cheng Tang and Di Xin exchanged a glance, then cupped their hands and said, "Thank you, Demon Emperor."

The passes at the front are no longer a barrier; the decisive battle will take place just outside Chaoge City, and it will inevitably end in a thunderous victory.

Although these aids arrived, they were of little significance. Faced with the overwhelming power of the Four Saints and dozens of Quasi-Saints, they were merely a consolation. Emperor Tang of Shang naturally understood this as well.

If Yin Ziyu can directly attain enlightenment, the crisis will disappear on its own. If he cannot attain enlightenment, the Great Shang Dynasty will surely perish. This is inevitable. Even if Nuwa and Tongtian come together, they will only be entangled by the two sages. This is a fact!

Therefore, Di Xin and Cheng Tang understood that the original Investiture of the Gods and the plan to shatter the prehistoric world by sinking a ship would no longer happen in this battle. The only hope was that Yin Ziyu would return after attaining enlightenment!
(End of this chapter)