Chapter 18: The Investiture of the Gods Officially Begins

Kong Xuan flew back to Dongying Island and immediately summoned the three great divine monkeys: Yuan Hong, Liuer, and Ma Hou (a name he had given himself).

"Grandmaster, is there something important for which you have summoned us so urgently?" Yuan Hong asked, somewhat puzzled as he looked at Kong Xuan's solemn face; he had never seen Kong Xuan wear such a serious expression before.

"You are all my disciples, and I am the fourth disciple of the Jie Sect, so you are also of the Jie Sect. Now, the Jie Sect has a matter that requires your assistance," Kong Xuan said.

"Yes, we are all disciples of the Jie Sect. We do not know what matter the Jie Sect needs us for, but Grandmaster, please speak; we will certainly accomplish it," Yuan Hong continued, acting as the leader among the three monkeys.

"En, it is like this: the Dao Ancestor is about to open the Investiture of the Gods list, which requires three hundred sixty Orthodox Gods. They must come from Buddhism, the Chan Sect, and the Jie Sect. However, the Saints do not agree to send their disciples to the list, so they have decided that the three sects will each support one of the three current factions of the Human Race in their struggle for hegemony. Those who die in battle will enter the Investiture of the Gods list. Since the Second Generation Disciples will not be sent until the final moment, they are sending you, the Third Generation Disciples, to lead the vanguard. Are you willing?" Kong Xuan said heavily.

"Grandmaster, we are willing, of course we are willing! Isn't the daily training on the island meant to strengthen our abilities so we can roam the world? When the time comes, there will surely be many experts from the two sects taking action; fighting such battles is what's truly satisfying," Yuan Hong said excitedly.

"Good, worthy of being my disciples. Not fearing hardship, having the spirit to struggle—only in this way can you become powerful existences. Very well, I will find a weapon for each of you. Tell me, what weapons do you want?" Kong Xuan continued.

"Grandmaster, don't you dislike giving us weapons?" Liuer asked in confusion.

"Yes, I do not advocate giving you fine spiritual treasure weapons, because relying too much on weapons is not good for your future growth; your own strength is what is most important. For instance, several Saints do not use weapons when they fight; their weapons are generally used to suppress the fortune of their sects. But in this battle of the Investiture of the Gods, the various sects will give their disciples fine weapons in large numbers. If you do not have any, what will you do if your ordinary weapons break while fighting others? If you are lucky, you will die in battle and enter the Investiture of the Gods list; if you are unlucky, you will turn into dust and vanish from heaven and earth."

"Grandmaster, I want a pair of gauntlets, but I don't need any special functions; they just need to be sturdy," Yuan Hong said first.

"Grandmaster, I want a staff. I only have two requirements: it must be heavy enough and sturdy enough," Liuer said.

"Grandmaster, I want the same weapon as the Second Senior Brother," Ma Hou said last.

Seeing that his disciples understood his words, Kong Xuan was very happy. "Good, I am very satisfied with your performance. I will go find weapons for you now."

Saying this, he flew off to find materials to forge the weapons. What kind of iron should I find? If it needs to be heavy and sturdy, he suddenly remembered the meteorites from his previous life, so he immediately flew toward the outer heavens to look for Refined Iron. Kong Xuan flew past eight planets before finally finding Refined Iron that satisfied him; it could actually withstand 30% of his strength without deforming, truly hard indeed.

Upon returning, he forged two staves and one pair of gauntlets.

He called over Yuan Hong, Liuer, and Ma Hou. "Here you go. These gauntlets are absolutely sturdy; I fear that even ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasures could not damage them in the slightest. These two staves are identical, and both weigh thirteen thousand six hundred catties; they can grow or shrink at will."

"Thank you, Grandmaster! Finally, we have weapons that are easy to handle. In the past, every time the fight was getting good, the staff would break. This is great!" Liuer said excitedly.

"Very well, now that you have your weapons, prepare yourselves and go to the Eastern Earl of the Shang Dynasty. Find Shen Gongbao and tell him you are my disciples, here to assist in the battle," Kong Xuan said.

"Yes, Grandmaster, we will go now." Having said this, the three monkeys flew toward the human world, heading to the Eastern Earl.

Watching their departing backs, Kong Xuan sighed and said, "The battle of the Investiture of the Gods has finally begun."

"I hope that this time, the scene of the Jie Sect's defeat will not appear again."