Chapter 595

Speaking, Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes were blood-red, full of hatred.

"Indeed." Laozi stepped forward and echoed, "Master, I also once used the Investiture of the Gods List to deduce; those listed should be Severing Sect disciples."

We only came to attack the Severing Sect on Golden Ao Island because we followed the Heavenly Dao's great trend.

I never expected the Severing Sect disciples to be so treacherous; they actually harmed our disciples.

May I ask, Master, since the Severing Sect's downfall follows the Heavenly Dao's great trend, why did those listed become my disciple Xuandu and the various nephews of the Expounding Sect?

Laozi felt resentful toward the Investiture of the Gods Calamity as well, because his disciple Xuandu had fallen.

He even dared to question Hongjun Patriarch, wondering how the Heavenly Dao's great trend could be reversed.

In his words, there was full dissatisfaction with the Heavenly Secret.

Hongjun Patriarch remained expressionless, undisturbed.

It seemed no worldly affair could move him.

Facing Laozi's question, he calmly uttered the Dao's voice: "The Heavenly Dao's minor trend can be changed, the major trend cannot be reversed; this is fate."

The disciples of the two teachings of the Expounding Sect have fallen; this is merely a variable.

Although I do not wish to see them fall, I also cannot change this variable.

Yuanshi Tianzun and Laozi heard this, their faces changing unpredictably.

Finally, they resentfully stared at the Tongtian Sect Leader.

All this is the disaster caused by the Severing Sect!

Let the Investiture of the Gods Calamity come early, trapping and killing the disciples of the two teachings of the Expounding Sect.

The Severing Sect is undoubtedly the chief culprit.

"Tongtian, do you think the Severing Sect can win a total victory in the Investiture of the Gods Calamity?"

"My Dao lineage is severed; you also cannot hope to escape!"

Yuanshi Tianzun again bowed to Hongjun Patriarch and said: "Master, fair and just, leaving aside the disciples of the two teachings of the Expounding Sect, why can the Severing Sect remain unharmed in the Investiture of the Gods Calamity? Could it be that Severing Sect disciples should not be listed on the Investiture of the Gods List?"

"What audacity! Yuanshi, why are you so ruthless!"

Upon hearing Yuanshi Tianzun's words of borrowing a knife to kill, the Tongtian Sect Leader instantly became uncontrollably angry.

Before Hongjun Patriarch could even speak, he could not help but rebuke Yuanshi Tianzun: "Your Expounding Sect claims extraordinary talent and solid foundations, yet ultimately fell in the calamity—this is destiny ordained by heaven. How dare you repeatedly blame my Severing Sect disciples?"

If you had not come to Golden Ao Island to provoke and seek to conquer the Severing Sect, how could our disciples have fallen?

All this is your own doing!

My Severing Sect disciples are all extraordinarily talented. That Bixiao girl has even proven the Dao, achieving the sixth-stage Primordial Unity Grand Void Golden Immortal fruition.

They bear great fortune and great opportunity; their Dao path is boundless!

One must say, the Tongtian Sect Leader usually appears easygoing, but at critical moments he always remains clear-headed and calm, every word a pearl, every sentence reasonable.

However, Hongjun Patriarch slightly furrowed his white brows, his eyes revealing displeasure, glanced at the Tongtian Sect Leader, and said in a deep voice: "Tongtian, how dare you make such a racket before me?"

As his words fell, a terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the Tongtian Sect Leader, causing him to stagger violently, his face turning deathly pale. After all, the gap in cultivation level between him and Hongjun Patriarch was truly enormous.

Hongjun Patriarch first mildly punished the Tongtian Sect Leader, then said coldly: "I have long stated that the Heavenly Dao's minor trend can be changed, the major trend cannot be reversed. Yuanshi's words about the Heavenly Secret are not mistaken."

In this Investiture of the Gods Calamity, the Heavenly Dao's great trend dictates that Severing Sect disciples either fall or are listed; the Severing Sect is destined to perish.

But your Severing Sect disciples act treasonously against heaven, go against heaven, and ignore the Heavenly Dao's great trend.

Therefore, I follow the Heavenly Dao's will and decide to erase all Severing Sect disciples, neither allowing them to enter the Investiture of the Gods List nor the cycle of reincarnation.

As Hongjun Patriarch's words fell, all saints erupted in an uproar. The faces of the Tongtian Sect Leader and the Severing Sect disciples turned deathly pale.

Could it be that, to follow the Heavenly Dao, Hongjun Patriarch truly intends to personally erase all Severing Sect disciples? For the Severing Sect, this is undoubtedly an unimaginable catastrophe, even an irreversible disaster.

What exalted being is Hongjun Patriarch? He is the true supreme ruler who controls the Honghuang heavens and earth. Once he acts, how could the Severing Sect possibly survive?

At this moment, whether it was Duobao Daoist and his close disciples, or the millions of Sect of the Cutting Edge disciples watching the battle inside Golden Ao Island, all showed despair. They never imagined that, having won a complete victory in the Fengshen Calamity, they would still face the fate of being erased, merely for the so‑called great trend of the Heavenly Dao.

Even Bixiao, who had already proved the Dao as a sixth‑stage Mixed Yuan Daluo Golden Immortal, showed a hint of despair on her face. Though she was strong enough to easily suppress Yuanshi Tianzun, before Patriarch Hongjun she still could not match him.

Once Patriarch Hongjun makes up his mind, the Sect of the Cutting Edge will face only one path: annihilation.

Upon hearing Patriarch Hongjun's words, Yuanshi Tianzun, Laozi and the others revealed vicious, vengeful smiles. They gloated at the painful expression of the Sect Master of the Way of Heaven, feeling immensely satisfied.

Although the disciples of the Sect of Enlightenment and the Sect of Humanity had fallen, at least they could still be placed on the Fengshen List and become proper gods of the Heavenly Court.

As for the disciples of the Sect of the Cutting Edge, they would be utterly annihilated, reduced to ashes between heaven and earth.

"Master, have mercy!" the Sect Master of the Way of Heaven cried, suppressing his injuries, his voice deep as he asked Patriarch Hongjun, "All my Sect of the Cutting Edge disciples possess flourishing fate and extraordinary talent—why must they suffer such calamity?"

Facing the Sect Master's question, Patriarch Hongjun merely let out a light sentence: "It is the trend of the Heavenly Dao."

"Hahaha!" the Sect Master laughed in fury, staring coldly at Patriarch Hongjun, "The trend of the Heavenly Dao? That's nothing but a ridiculous joke!"

"What is the trend of the Heavenly Dao? Does it mean erasing those with extraordinary talent?"

"What does it mean to follow the Heavenly Dao? To follow it is to provoke a calamity merely to perfect the Heavenly Dao?"

"If that is the case, I, the Sect Master of the Way of Heaven, will never accept it!"

As soon as his words fell, the Sect Master instantly released a terrifying aura. At the same time, the Four Swords of Execution shot forth again, each standing at the four extremes of heaven and earth, ready at any moment to activate the Execution Sword Formation.

Even facing Patriarch Hongjun, he showed no fear. To annihilate countless disciples of the Sect of the Cutting Edge? He would rather smash the Honghuang world to pieces, letting everything return to chaos!

At the same time, the Three Pure Ones sisters, Duobao and other Sect of the Cutting Edge disciples all unleashed their auras. Even the millions of Sect of the Cutting Edge disciples within Golden Ao Island streamed forth in single file, tearing through the void and stepping upon the air.

"No matter who it is, I, the Sect Master of the Way of Heaven, will never agree to the annihilation of the Sect of the Cutting Edge!" he said, his expression icy, shouting in anger.

"Insolent!" Patriarch Hongjun roared. "Insolent!" Patriarch Hongjun bellowed in a low voice, and at the same time an immeasurable heavenly might surged forth like a tide, instantly enveloping the Sect Master of the Way of Heaven, as if the entire heavens were pressing down upon his head.

In an instant, even as mighty as the Sect Master of the Way of Heaven, his face turned deathly pale, and a faint crack even appeared on his forehead, as if his physical body were about to collapse under that heavenly might, unable to bear it.

After all, the gap between their strengths was simply too great; even the casual pressure emanating from Patriarch Hongjun made it hard for him to resist.

This sight made the Sect of the Cutting Edge disciples' eyes burst with rage, their fury soaring to the heavens. They transformed into streams of light, crossing the endless void to arrive, each glaring fiercely at Patriarch Hongjun without a trace of fear.

This is no surprise, for every one of the millions of Sect of the Cutting Edge disciples present has experienced countless realms and weathered countless storms.

The dangers and life‑or‑death crises they have endured are countless, and their Dao hearts have long been as firm as a rock.

Thinking back to when they were on Golden Ao Island, they dared to proclaim that they would seize the Heavenly Dao Saint Nüwa and bring her back to be Ye Qin's dao companion; they dared to openly denounce Yuanshi Tianzun, Laozi and the others as old fogeys and geezers, and had it not been for Duobao's intervention they would have charged up to the Nine Heavens to wage a great battle against Yuanshi Tianzun and the other Heavenly Dao Saints.

Nowadays, even when facing the true master of Honghuang, Patriarch Hongjun, as long as he is detrimental to the Sect of the Cutting, they still dare to glare at him angrily.

What is there to fear in life, what harm in death?

A true man born between heaven and earth—how could he covet life and fear death, leaving himself to be slaughtered?

In an instant, several million Sect of the Cutting disciples stared coldly at Patriarch Hongjun, their mana surging and rolling around them.

Although they knew that even swarming up they likely could not withstand a casual strike from Patriarch Hongjun, they had never thought of retreating even half a step.

For a moment, the Sect of the Cutting disciples' momentum surged to the heavens, shaking the sun, moon and stars!

Please... you... collect_()

Yuanshi Tianzun, Laozi and the others couldn't help but glance askance—was this the mettle of the Sect of the Cutting disciples, foolishness or boldness? Though they were unwilling to admit it in their hearts, they still chose to believe it was the latter.

At the same time, they couldn't help but sigh slightly, feeling that the Sect of the Primordial disciples were vastly inferior to those of the Sect of the Cutting.

"Perhaps... the Sect of the Primordial's defeat is not unjust." This thought arose unbidden in Yuanshi Tianzun's mind.

Actually, not only Yuanshi Tianzun and Laozi, but even Patriarch Hongjun glanced askance slightly, a hint of emotion appearing on his face.

"Sect of the Cutting, what exactly has happened? To enable millions of disciples to undergo such an earth-shaking change in just a few short centuries! Their fortune, will, and even their Dao hearts seem to have undergone a qualitative transformation!"

However, such thoughts fled in an instant. As Patriarch Hongjun, embodying the Heavenly Dao which is ruthless, he would feel no pity for any living being of Honghuang, let alone a shred of compassion.

Previously, if not driven by the will of the Heavenly Dao to keep Honghuang's order running normally, he wouldn't have bothered to resurrect those fallen ants.

Thus, Patriarch Hongjun again restored his indifferent gaze, and without joy or sorrow asked Leader Tongtian: "Tongtian, what do you have to object to?"

"I don't know what the great trend is, but if the so-called Heavenly Dao trend is to destroy the Sect of the Cutting, I will never submit no matter what!" Leader Tongtian's primordial Heavenly Dao power swirled around him, he stubbornly resisted Patriarch Hongjun's pressure, and roared like a great bell.

His rolling voice reverberated, shaking the sun and moon as if they lost their light, and ancient stars exploded one after another.

That unyielding will seemed to make heaven and earth change color.

At the same time, the Four Swords of Execution, originally suspended at the four extremes of heaven and earth, rang out with sword chimes, and the Execution Immortal Formation Diagram atop the firmament swayed uncertainly, as if awaiting its master's command, ready at any moment to unleash the Formation of the Four Swords of Execution.

"It seems the Demon Ancestor Rahu's demonic path treasure has affected your mind, making you want to fall into the demonic path." Patriarch Hongjun glanced coldly at the Four Swords of Execution, then suddenly extended his hand and seized from the void.

Immediately, the Four Swords of Execution emitted an increasingly urgent sword chime, like a wounded demon god.

Merely a single grasp from the void could injure the Four Swords of Execution; Patriarch Hongjun's divine ability is simply beyond imagination.

At this moment, Leader Tongtian's face grew ever paler. He knew well that if he truly fought Patriarch Hongjun, he wouldn't even have time to let Honghuang heaven and earth return to chaos before being suppressed, possibly even sealed for countless eons, never to appear again.

After all, although he is an immortal Heavenly Dao Saint, he cannot escape Patriarch Hongjun's seal.

As Leader Tongtian's thoughts raced, Patriarch Hongjun flicked his finger and shot out a seven-colored light cluster at him.

The cluster instantly enveloped him, like a colored bubble. Yet on the cluster, endless Dao patterns flickered in and out of view.

Leader Tongtian was trapped within; no matter how he exerted his full strength to erupt, he could not burst that seemingly fragile translucent cluster, nearly driving him mad.

"Damn it! Release the master!"

"Old fogey, dare to imprison the master? I'll kill you!"

"What a crappy Patriarch, what a crappy Heavenly Dao trend—clearly it's just because you fear the Sect of the Cutting growing strong and escaping your control!"

"Exactly right, it's nothing but your nonsense, old geezer!"

"The Sect of the Cutting's fortune flourishes, each disciple gifted with extraordinary talent and enduring luck—how could they possibly be due to fall?"

"Exactly! What qualifications do you have to speak for the Heavenly Dao?"

"If the Heavenly Dao wishes to destroy us of the Sect of the Cutting, then we will overturn this heaven and destroy this world!"

……

Upon seeing Leader Tongtian imprisoned in the seven-colored light cluster, several million Sect of the Cutting disciples boiled over. Each one burned with rage, no longer caring whether Patriarch Hongjun was a patriarch, they directly unleashed a torrent of abuse at him.

It is no exaggeration to say that if the Sect of the Cutting disciples' words possessed absolute lethal power, Patriarch Hongjun would already have fallen countless millions of times.

Besides this, some Sect of the Cutting disciples have already taken out their Dharma treasures, circulating immense mana within their bodies, ready to strike at Patriarch Hongjun at any moment.

At this moment, Duobao stepped forward, holding the Chaos Spiritual Treasure, the Chaos Extinction Sword, his eyes coldly fixed on Patriarch Hongjun, the flesh on his face revealing a thick killing intent, and he spoke icily: "Old fogey, you merely want to destroy the Sect of the Cutting and wipe out its disciples—then release my master and let us fight openly!"

Hearing Duobao's words, Patriarch Hongjun's white brows slightly furrowed; he indifferently turned his head to look at Duobao and the Chaos Extinction Sword in his hand, a glint of greed flashing in the depths of his chaos eyes.

An attack-type Chaos Spiritual Treasure—such a treasure he, Patriarch Hongjun, had never possessed; its power is great enough to make even a Chaos Demon God feel three points of apprehension. After this matter, he will surely seize it for himself!

Thus, Patriarch Hongjun calmly said: "You lot are still not worthy to fight me!"

"Tongtian has rebelled against his superiors, defied the Heavenly Dao, and sought to overturn the Heavenly Dao trend—this is the calamity he deserves!"

However, as Patriarch Hongjun's words fell, a clear, crisp feminine shout suddenly rang out.

Following the sound, one saw Immortal Lady Bixiao's pretty face frosted over; her former playfulness and loveliness had vanished, replaced by the expression of an angered little demon.

Her pair of chaos eyes stared coldly at Patriarch Hongjun as she shouted: "You falsely claim to speak for the Heavenly Dao! I clearly saw just now that when you peered at my elder brother's Chaos Extinction Sword, a hint of greed flashed in your eyes!"

"How can the Heavenly Dao, which ought to be impartial and ruthless, give rise to a greedy heart? This is clearly your selfishness at work!"

"You proclaim to destroy our Sect of the Cutting, likewise out of your selfish self-interest! You fear that our Sect of the Cutting will grow strong and threaten your position!" (End of chapter)