Liu Yunfeng said, "But isn't the Supreme an eternal being who transcends reincarnation?"

Zi Dao responded ethereally, "However, the Supreme can leave."

"Leave?" Liu Yunfeng murmured, "Leave this vast universe?"

Zi Dao nodded, "Yes, but what happens after leaving this universe, even the Supreme may find hard to predict. Moreover, there's the Investiture of the Gods. It is said that these supreme beings care not so much about young people reaching the ancestral realm, but rather fear that an increase in those within the ancestral realm will compete for a place on the Investiture of the Gods!"

"Investiture of the Gods?" Both Liu Yunfeng and Chu Mo were stunned. They had never heard of such a thing.

Zi Dao said, "I've only heard bits and pieces about it. Within the entirety of the Primordial Universe, there are countless universes like the Luotian Universe. Since the dawn of the Primordial World, an Investiture of the Gods has formed between Heaven and Earth. This roster roams amongst the various universes. But no one knows when it will appear, nor does anyone know what beings are eligible to be listed. However, there's a belief that only those at least of the ancestral realm are qualified for it."

"Only those on the list are truly gods. While their realms may not be as profound as the Supreme, and their cultivation not as powerful, they are indeed spirits recognized by the Primordial Universe, affirmed and revered as deities with divine status!" Zi Dao said with a wry smile, "Regarding this, I really don't understand. I only heard about it... well, to be honest, from my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather."

"The supreme elder of the Zi Family?" Liu Yunfeng was shocked and muttered, "No wonder you chose the name Zi Dao."

Chu Mo was also surprised, looking at Zi Dao, not expecting him to have had the fortune of meeting the elder of the Zi Family.

Zi Dao said, "To be precise, the name Zi Dao was given to me by the elder himself. He used to tell me these legends as bedtime stories. Although the elder does not interfere with worldly affairs, by some fortunate coincidence—I still don't know why—I caught his favor. The elder once secretly entered the Trial Field and taught me for three full years."

So that was it!

Both Liu Yunfeng and Chu Mo showed envy on their faces.

The things that Zi Dao talked about had completely surpassed their understanding of this world.

Zi Dao continued, "The elder once told me that this era might be when the Investiture of the Gods enters the Luotian Universe. Therefore, the Supreme will not leave. And because of this, those supreme beings are so wary of Monkey Great Saint and his group of young top talents. Once Monkey Great Saint and his comrades gain a solid footing in the entire Luotian Universe and possess their own power and sufficient resources to contend for the Heavenly Dao, just one of them advancing to the ancestral realm would lessen these supreme beings' chances of entering the Investiture of the Gods. Thus, there's a legend that a supreme being named Spiritual Master Lingtong, upon his imminent enlightenment, made a prophecy."

Zi Dao then turned his gaze to Chu Mo, "He said, 'The monkey caused havoc in Heaven; it had its reasons, but affected too many innocent beings, and thus was suppressed by the Buddha. However, the Buddha might not necessarily gain immeasurable merit by doing this, because the human heart is unpredictable. But one day, from the southeast Yanhuang region, another even more ruthless person will emerge; someone who can overturn the heavens, easily destroy many people's path of cultivation, and ruin many people's progress in Dao. Yet, he commits no evil acts. Any forceful intervention from you will lead to your downfall; without intervention, you will still wane. The Great Dao is boundless, and I cannot see it clearly. All I can say is that with the cycle of reincarnation, it's time for our generation to depart.'"

Chu Mo looked at Zi Dao in shock. If he hadn't been certain that at the time the monkey spoke these words, Zi Dao and Liu Yunfeng had already been thrown out of the Withered Leaf Forbidden Land by the monkey, he would've thought Zi Dao had heard it himself—it was word for word!

Zi Dao continued, "Spiritual Master Lingtong made this prophecy, probably hoping to persuade those supreme beings to accept fate and hold back. But unexpectedly, it stirred up a backlash instead. They collectively pressured the Buddhist community, using the monkey's chaos in the Luotian Universe and the harm it caused to living beings as a pretext, and forced the Buddha to take action."

"What right do they have to do this?" Liu Yunfeng exclaimed angrily.

"No particular right, just because of the Buddhist teachings," Chu Mo replied indifferently.

Liu Yunfeng was instantly speechless as he was obviously aware of the Buddhist teachings.

"So, the Buddha knew the consequences of his actions but still went ahead," Zi Dao said. "However, things are unpredictable, and the Buddha ultimately left a contingency. If it weren't for you, how could Monkey Great Saint have been released? So, each drink and every peck, all are causes and effects! It's just unknown how long those supreme beings can withstand. And whether the Investiture of the Gods will really appear in our Luotian Universe. If it doesn't manifest, those people will assuredly go mad."

"Is being crowned deity by Heaven and Earth really that important?" Liu Yunfeng asked.

Zi Dao glanced at him, "At the Supreme realm, being immortal and transcendent over reincarnation is indeed incredibly powerful. But ultimately, it is still defying Heaven! Every step in the path of cultivation for all beings is against Heaven! According to the rules of the Heavenly Dao, every being should undergo birth, aging, sickness, and death. No matter how powerful you are, when your lifespan ends... you must die! This is the law! But for gods... it's different. They're recognized by this world! Not just our world, but the entire Primordial Universe, including the immeasurable Luotian Universes. Do you understand what that implies?"

Chu Mo quietly said, "It means that as long as one's name is on the Investiture of the Gods, they can forever transcend reincarnation, become eternal beings, and be truly acknowledged by Heaven and Earth. They can also freely roam the endless vast universe and experience all its wonders. Moreover, being on the Investiture of the Gods equates to having legitimate dominion over all living beings, acting as an envoy of Heaven's will."

Liu Yunfeng was speechless.

Zi Dao nodded, "Therefore, those supreme beings are playing a very big game..." Saying this, he turned to Chu Mo, "Speaking of which, it really seems predestined. Before the elder departed, he told me that if I ever encountered someone who offered to become blood brothers, I should not refuse. Then, as long as I'm not greedy, arrogant, or wicked, I might have a future even he would envy."

Liu Yunfeng looked at Zi Dao.

Zi Dao spoke frankly, "Honestly, it's been over a hundred years since the elder said this to me. Though I haven't forgotten, I have never actively pursued it."

Liu Yunfeng twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Seems like... it was me who brought it up?"

Both Chu Mo and Zi Dao nodded in agreement.

Liu Yunfeng burst into laughter: "Then in the prophecy, what role do I play?"

Zi Dao looked at Liu Yunfeng seriously for a long time, making Liu Yunfeng feel somewhat uncomfortable: "Well, aren't you going to say it?"

"Say what?" Zi Dao appeared completely clueless.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" asked Liu Yunfeng.

"I was checking to see if you've grown any flowers on your face," Zi Dao said with a deadpan expression, spouting nonsense.

Chu Mo couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Liu Yunfeng, feeling exasperated, rolled his eyes but soon laughed along: "Alright, alright, I'll resign myself to being the supporting greenery."

The three brothers laughed for a while, then Zi Dao spoke seriously: "Us brothers, we should all be the brilliant flowers, not the green leaves. However, all these things are after all just legends. Even that ancestor of mine back in the day said that no one could figure out, not even the Supreme, whether the Investiture of the Gods would appear in our grand universe. Hence, we brothers don't need to think too much about it. Even if it appears now, it has no relation to us, not a single hair's worth."

"That's true, there's no need for us to worry about this issue now. We just need to do what we're supposed to, and focus on our cultivation. Anyway, I reckon that right now, whether it's the Imperial Clan or those supreme beings, they must be in a total mess. The brothers of Monkey Great Saint have reunited, and this time, they will definitely turn the Luotian grand universe upside down," said Liu Yunfeng.

"For sure, they certainly will. Not to mention the demon Great Saints like Monkey Great Saint, they will definitely seek revenge for their two brothers who died back then," Zi Dao said.

"There were demon Great Saints that were slain?" both Chu Mo and Liu Yunfeng asked in shock.

Zi Dao nodded: "In those days, among the younger generation of the demon races, there were seven Great Saints: Monkey Great Saint, Fox Heaven Great Saint, Bull Demon Great Saint, Great Saint Roc, Great Saint Sea Dragon, Kun Fish Great Saint, and Cat Great Saint. These seven Great Saints had sworn brotherhood a long time ago, sharing weal and woe. Yet under the oppression of those supreme beings born of demon races, Kun Fish Great Saint was beaten down into the sea of the Heavenly Realm, and it's said that there's a nine out of ten chance that he has fallen. Because after being beaten down, he never appeared again. Many powerful beings have divined the Heavenly Dao and said Kun Fish Great Saint has fallen. As for Cat Great Saint, it had nine lives, but it was beaten to death nonetheless, finally falling in the Nine Nether. It is said that in the end, at best only a remnant soul was left, but it could never be restored."

After Zi Dao finished speaking, Chu Mo and Liu Yunfeng felt a heavy weight on their hearts.

The existence of Great Saint Realm, to be beaten so miserably. And those supreme beings, truly none of them are kind. They do not make a move, but once they do, it's utter annihilation, incredibly ruthless and brutal.

"These matters are still very far from us, so for the time being, we don't need to consider them. Let those big figures worry about them. Shall we explore the Huangshi Forbidden Area next?" Chu Mo suggested with a smile.

"You want to go again?" Liu Yunfeng made a face, his comic grimace very amusing.

Zi Dao also had a full head of sweat marks, looking at Chu Mo: "Are you sure you know what the Huangshi Forbidden Area is?"

Chu Mo nodded earnestly: "Yes, you've told me about it before."

"Did I not tell you that just any stone in the Huangshi Forbidden Area could trap the three of us to death?" Zi Dao looked at Chu Mo with a face that said are you crazy.

"I want to see it for myself. Who knows, perhaps those stones hide unimaginable opportunities?" Chu Mo said with a smile.

"Great Saints couldn't find the answer, but you can?" Liu Yunfeng rolled his eyes.

Chu Mo was about to speak when suddenly Liu Yunfeng took out a transmission stone. Upon activating it, instead of divine thoughts, an anxious voice came from the stone.

"Senior brother, it's not good, hurry back to the sect. Sister Lin Xiu has encountered trouble!"

The expression on Liu Yunfeng's face changed immediately. The faces of Chu Mo and Zi Dao next to him changed as well!

Who is Lin Xiu?

She is the porcelain doll... Liu Yunfeng's Taoist companion!

Now she is Zi Dao's junior sister, and Chu Mo's second sister-in-law!

Liu Yunfeng's hands, holding the transmission stone, couldn't help but tremble slightly, but he still asked in a deep voice: "What happened?"

"It's too much to explain in a few words, hurry to the Tian Gang exit, I'll tell you face to face." After that, the transmission stone was cut off.

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