Upon reaching the "Yellow River Formation," Grand Master Xuandu cried out, "Three Fairy Maidens, come quickly to greet me!" A bell rang from within, and three maidens emerged from the formation, standing but not bowing. Laozi said expressionlessly, "You disregard the rules and dare to be disrespectful! Even your master bows and kowtows before me; how dare you be so rude!"
Bixiao angrily said, "I worship the leader of the Jie Sect, but I know nothing of Xuandu. Disrespect for superiors and disrespect for inferiors is just common courtesy."
Upon hearing this, Grand Master Xuandu roared, "This beast is incredibly audacious, daring to offend the Emperor! Quickly, enter the formation!" The three goddesses turned and entered the formation. Laozi led the ox into the formation. The Primordial Incense Chariot also entered the formation. The White Crane Boy followed behind, and together they entered the "Yellow River Formation."
The two sages entered the "Yellow River Formation." Laozi saw that the disciples of the Chan Sect seemed to be drunk but not yet awake, fast asleep, their breathing barely audible. He also saw four or five people with incomplete limbs on the Bagua Platform. Laozi sighed and said, "What a pity that a thousand years of merit have all turned into a pie in the sky!"
Seeing Laozi enter the formation to observe, Qiongxiao released the Golden Dragon Scissors. The scissors, stiff and pliable in the air, crossed head to head and tail to tail, before falling. Laozi, atop the ox, saw the Golden Dragon Scissors descend and raised his sleeve to meet them; the scissors fell like mustard seeds into the sea, without a sound. Bixiao then summoned the Primordial Golden Cauldron; Laozi tossed the Wind and Fire Futon into the air and called to the Yellow Turban Warriors, "Take this cauldron to the Jade Void Palace!"
The three goddesses cried out, "Enough! You've taken my treasure, how can we let this go!" They all descended from the platform, swords drawn, and flew straight to attack. Qiongxiao arrived, sword in hand. Yuanshi ordered the White Crane Boy to offer the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in the air, striking Qiongxiao directly on the top of her head, opening her celestial crown. A soul departed for the Investiture Platform. Bixiao cried out in great sorrow, "A thousand years of virtue, all harmed by you! My accumulated merits have been in vain!" She used a flying sword to attack Yuanshi Tianzun, but the White Crane Boy struck her with the Ruyi, knocking the sword to the ground. Yuanshi took a box from his sleeve, opened the lid, and tossed it into the air, trapping Bixiao and her bird inside; soon they turned into blood. A soul also departed for the Investiture Platform.
The Fairy of Rainbow Clouds and Fairy of Lotus Blossom each drew their swords and stepped forward to attack Yuanshi, but like the Azure Sky and Jade Clouds, they were killed by Yuanshi. Their true spirits were listed on the Investiture of the Gods. Zhang Tianjun, who was in the formation, was about to shout and curse when Yuanshi casually turned a wisp of primordial energy and crushed him to death. His true spirit was also listed on the Investiture of the Gods.
In an instant, only Yunxiao remained. Seeing that his two sisters and other fellow Daoists had all been listed on the Investiture of the Gods, Yunxiao was filled with grief and indignation. He roared, "You two are originally saints. The three religions and three sects established themselves through the Investiture of the Gods. It was unavoidable for disciples of the Chan and Jie sects to fight each other. My Jie sect disciples still cherish old friendships and have not harmed any of your disciples' lives for a long time. Now that your disciples are fighting, you two have used your saintly status to bully the weak and kill my senior brother and junior sister. Are the disciples of your Chan and Jie sects so precious? Are the lives of my Jie sect disciples as worthless as grass? Enough, enough, enough! My brother and sister are dead today, but I do not wish to live alone. Even if it costs me my life, I will not let this matter rest with you two. My master will pay for what happened today in the future." After saying this, Yunxiao also drew his sword and slashed at Yuanshi.
Laozi and Yuanshi were both embarrassed by Yunxiao's words. When Yunxiao attacked, Laozi refused to make a move. Yuanshi said, "The mandate of heaven belongs to Xiqi. You have acted against the heavens and should be listed on the Investiture of the Gods." After saying that, Yuanshi took the jade ruyi and threw it at Yunxiao.
Seeing that Yunxiao was about to perish, a foot flew through the air to block the jade ruyi. Laozi saw this and said, "The Sage of Xuantian has arrived. It would be better to wait for him to arrive." Yuanshi listened and reluctantly put away the jade ruyi.
Sure enough, a celestial melody appeared in mid-air, accompanied by the roar of a dragon. A person came singing: "I existed in chaos for countless years, and I was born when Pangu created the world."
The Taoist priest in the Purple Palace, I am the most respected before the Three Pure Ones.
I guided Nuwa in creating humans, and the underworld was born from my hands.
The merit of mending the sky and saving the world is great, and it also saves the lives of hundreds of millions of the dead.
Ignore the affairs of the world outside the window, and cultivate myself on Penglai Island.
With all the great principles in my heart, I alone lead the way to protect the profound sect.
It was Xuan Tian. Xuan Tian walked to the front of the formation and casually waved his hand. The "Yellow River Formation" was broken. Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao's bodies were still warm and lying on the ground. The other three were already turned into minced meat. Xuan Tian glanced at them casually and then ignored them.
Lao Tzu spoke first, "I wonder what brings the Sage of Xuan Tian here?"
Xuan Tian laughed and said, "We both know this, so there's no need to ask again." Yuan Shi snorted coldly and was about to speak when a burst of blue light appeared on the horizon, accompanied by the sound of a cow mooing. A person then sang: "When the white crane cries, heaven and earth turn; when the blue phoenix spreads its wings, the sea and mountains become clear."
The Master of Heaven left the Golden Palace to gather a million immortals.
Hongjun created creation, revealing the heavens; the ugly man of the earth ascended the platform.
Forged into a golden body through countless eons, nurtured many talents within the Biyou Palace.
It was Tongtian Jiaozhu who arrived riding an ox. He landed on the ground, greeted Xuantian, and upon seeing the corpse on the ground, Tongtian's face turned ashen. He said to Laozi and Yuanshi, "I wonder what explanation you two senior brothers have for this?"
Laozi stood silently to the side, while Yuanshi said in a slightly cold tone, "These people have little fortune and deserve to be listed on the Investiture of the Gods."
Tongtian was furious upon hearing this and said, "The three of us made a pact that the battle for the Investiture of the Gods would be a matter of fate for each of us. Why are you two bullying the weak and killing my disciples today? Even if their fortune was shallow, it is not necessary for you saints to take action."
Laozi interjected, "Junior brother, why be angry? The Investiture of the Gods is predetermined. Those who quietly recite the Yellow Court Classic behind closed doors are not involved in the mortal world and naturally do not have to suffer calamities and be listed. These people do not abide by the rules and act against the heavens, and are tainted by the mortal world and calamities. They should be listed and go."
Tongtian roared in fury, "Those disciples of the Chan Sect also wander in the mortal world, why don't you say they should be on the list? Even my Jie Sect should be on the list!"
Laozi didn't know what to say either. Yuanshi angrily said, "Junior brother, you've gone too far. Your senior brother gave you good advice, but you not only ignored it, but also spoke ill of him. You're truly not a son."
Tongtian was even angrier upon hearing this. "You two are clearly ganging up on me, and you think I can't even say anything?" He was about to speak when Xuantian stopped him, saying, "Junior Brother Tongtian, please hear me out. Let's just let this matter go. It was indeed inappropriate for these disciples to go down the mountain this time. Being on the list only proves that their fortune is not good enough. There will be plenty of time in the future. Just be more careful in the future." After saying this, he turned to Laozi and Yuanshi and said, "Let's leave this matter behind. We can't stay in the mortal world for long. My fellow disciples, you should return home as soon as possible."
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