Chapter 16: The Upcoming Investiture of the Gods

After giving instructions to the three monkeys, Kong Xuan prepared to go into seclusion, for the Battle of the Investiture of the Gods was only two thousand years away. He had to cultivate diligently; at the very least, he had to comprehend a Law, otherwise, he would undoubtedly be cannon fodder.

Taking out the Hongmeng Purple Qi he had snatched, Kong Xuan felt incredibly fortunate. It seemed he was well-favored by the Heavens; otherwise, how could he have obtained the Hongmeng Purple Qi by such a coincidence?

Kong Xuan opened the fire-element space within the God-Slaying Spear and prepared to cultivate. He planned to first fuse the Hongmeng Purple Qi and then cultivate the Blazing Divine Art. After all, this was also a power of a Law. If it weren't a fire-element one, hehe, he would be able to possess two types of Laws—a fire-element Law on the surface, with another Law hidden underneath. It was essential for backstabbing people; just thinking about it made him happy.

Having fused the Hongmeng Purple Qi, Kong Xuan faintly sensed a trace of a Law, but he could not determine which Law it was and would only be able to comprehend it slowly in the future.

He slowly entered a state of cultivation.

On Dongying Island, three monkeys could be seen fighting on the island. They were precisely Yuan Hong, Liuer, and the Ma Hou.

One monkey was seen battling the other two.

One used his fists, while the other two used staves. Everywhere one looked, there were monkey shadows and light and movement.

Liuer and the Ma Hou had superb staff techniques, dancing their staves so tightly that not even wind could pass through, launching continuous attacks against Yuan Hong opposite them.

Yuan Hong was even more powerful; every attack was blasted back by his fists, shaking the two monkeys until the webs between their thumbs and forefingers went numb. He was truly majestic.

"I'm not fighting, I'm not fighting! You are a Tongbi Ape Monkey by nature, born with divine strength, and you have already reached the Fifth Turn realm. We two are only at the Four-Turn Peak; we can't resist at all. Every time, you just bully us two. I'm not fighting you anymore," Liuer complained.

"That's right, if you want to fight, go fight Chiyou, Xingtian, or Liuxiang. Why do you always bully us two? No more," the Ma Hou echoed.

"How can I fight them? Uncle Chiyou is already at the Sixth Turn peak, and Liuxiang and Uncle Xingtian have also just broken through. Junior brother, fight with me; I won't even use fifty percent of my strength, okay?" Yuan Hong said, sounding slightly ingratiating.

"Not fighting, no matter what, I'm not fighting," Liuer said firmly.

"Boring. If you won't fight, then don't. I'll go find someone else to fight." Saying this, he went off to find other members of the Witch Clan to fight.

At this moment, a woman dressed in white suddenly flew onto Dongying Island.

Upon seeing her, Yuan Hong immediately bowed: "Greetings, Junior Martial Aunt. I wonder what brings you to the island?"

The person who arrived was Yunxiao, who said: "Where is your Senior Martial Brother? Where is he?"

"Grandmaster is currently in seclusion. Is there something the matter?" Yuan Hong asked.

"Your Grand-Grandmaster sent me to find the Eldest Senior Martial Brother, saying there is a major matter to discuss. I didn't expect him to be in seclusion," Yunxiao said.

"Junior Sister, I am coming out of seclusion now. I will go with you to see Grandmaster in a moment." The one speaking was Kong Xuan.

He had sensed a familiar aura arrive on Dongying Island. With a sweep of his divine sense, he saw it was Yunxiao. Kong Xuan knew something was about to happen, so he came out of seclusion.

As he spoke, a young man walked out from the place of seclusion.

"Greetings, Grandmaster," the three monkeys said, kneeling immediately upon seeing him.

"You three are not bad. One at the early Fifth Turn, two at the Four-Turn Peak. It seems Chiyou has taught you well. Not bad," Kong Xuan said, seeing their cultivation levels at a glance.

"Greetings, Senior Martial Brother," Yunxiao said.

"Alright, Junior Sister, let us go see Grandmaster. Grandmaster looking for me must mean there is a major matter," Kong Xuan said.

Then the two flew off Dongying Island and headed toward Jinao Island.

Kong Xuan and Yunxiao flew to Jinao Island. Kong Xuan walked straight into Biyou Palace.

"Greetings, Grandmaster. I wonder what matter Grandmaster has summoned me for?" Kong Xuan knew it must be that the Battle of the Investiture of the Gods was about to officially begin. Of course, he knew, but he couldn't say it out loud. If Grandmaster asked, what would he say? He couldn't say he guessed it.

"This matter is of great importance and concerns the safety of my Jie Sect, so I have summoned you to discuss it and hear your opinion. After all, you are my most outstanding disciple. I fear that by now, you have already comprehended a Law," Tongtian said solemnly.

"Grandmaster, what exactly is the matter that has made even you, who are always so forthright, look so troubled?" Kong Xuan asked, knowing the answer.

"A few days ago, the Dao Ancestor summoned us Saints and told us of a very major matter," Tongtian continued.

"Oh? The Dao Ancestor rarely shows himself; he only appeared once when the sky was broken. What is this matter about?" Kong Xuan asked.

"It is all because of that bastard Haotian," Tongtian complained.

"What happened to Haotian?" Kong Xuan asked.

"He went to the Dao Ancestor and said that the Heavenly Court had no one to suppress the world, so he asked the Dao Ancestor for help. Consequently, the Dao Ancestor gave Haotian the Investiture of the Gods list and summoned us Saints, saying that the list required three hundred sixty Orthodox Gods, to be drawn from Buddhism, the Chan Sect, and the Jie Sect. Furthermore, those on the list would have their true spirits bound to it, unable to cultivate further, and would be under Haotian's control," Tongtian said indignantly.

"Then what happened later? Did you agree?" Kong Xuan asked.

"Of course we couldn't agree! Isn't that sending our disciples to the guillotine? Naturally, we refused," Tongtian said angrily.

"Then what did the Dao Ancestor say?"

The Dao Ancestor said it must be done and told us Saints to discuss how to provide the people.

"Oh, that is indeed a difficult problem. The Saints surely will not agree to their own disciples being on the list. I do have a method," Kong Xuan said mysteriously.

"Oh? It seems I was right to look for you. What is the method?" Tongtian asked.

"I have heard that the Emperor of the human world, King Zhou, is a licentious and lawless tyrant, and he was bold enough to flirt with the Saint Nuwa, which enraged her. She sent a nine-tailed fox spirit to seduce the tyrant and ruin his empire."

"Indeed, but what does this have to do with the Investiture of the Gods list?" Tongtian asked, puzzled.

"Of course it has to do with it! The Shang Dynasty currently has three major powers: King Zhou, the Eastern Earl, and the Western Marquis. And the sects that need to provide people are the Jie Sect, the Chan Sect, and Buddhism—exactly three parties."

"And then?" Tongtian was even more confused.

"Since discussion won't yield a result, why not resolve it through battle? Let the three sects each support one side and send disciples to help them contend for supremacy. Those who die, if they are lucky, will be on the Investiture of the Gods list. Is this suggestion acceptable?" Kong Xuan proposed the method he had long since thought of.

"Good, this method is good! I will go discuss this with them now. I am off." Tongtian flew off in a hurry.

Kong Xuan left Biyou Palace, preparing to go find Junior Sister Qiongxiao. He hadn't seen her for two thousand years and truly missed her.

As Kong Xuan walked to Qiongxiao's door, he heard her petulant voice from inside: "Stupid Brother Kong Xuan, bad Brother Kong Xuan, he never comes to play with me. Every time I look for him, that monkey says Grandmaster is in seclusion. It makes me so mad! When he comes out, I definitely won't talk to him."

"Won't talk to whom?" Kong Xuan pushed the door open and entered.

"Ah, Brother Kong Xuan! You didn't hear anything just now, right? You definitely didn't hear anything!" Qiongxiao said in a panic.

"That's right, I didn't hear anything." Hearing Kong Xuan's words, Qiongxiao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Didn't hear anything? Bad Brother Kong Xuan, stupid Brother Kong Xuan," Kong Xuan teased.

"You are too mean! You just came out and you're already bullying me," Qiongxiao said, embarrassed and angry.

"Alright, no more teasing. Brother will take you out to clear your head." Having said that, he took Qiongxiao's hand and walked outside.