"In that case, this humble Taoist will not stand on ceremony!"
Shen Gongbao clenched his five fingers, and the Imperial Preceptor's seal appeared in his hand.
In an instant, the immense human fortune surged forth like a river bursting its banks, rushing straight to the crown of the head along the meridians.
Suddenly, the rise and fall of the Shang Dynasty over six hundred years flashed before his eyes: the golden spears and iron horses of Cheng Tang when he founded the state, the worship of the people when Pan Geng moved the capital to Yin, and the banners that blotted out the sun when Wu Ding conquered the Yi people...
These images flashed by like a revolving lantern, giving Shen Gongbao the illusion that he was living and dying alongside the nation.
But he quickly realized that the black bird-patterned seal was the real key, and that he and the Shang Dynasty were ultimately unrelated individuals.
This ambiguous relationship was exactly what he wanted.
"Fellow Daoist Shiji?"
Shen Gongbao glanced at him and asked for his opinion.
After the other party nodded, Shen Gongbao lightly touched the ground with his toes and leaped into the air, his clothes fluttering as he looked toward Xiqi.
There, something seemed to be echoing him from afar.
As Shen Gongbao turned his gaze to the northwest, Wuliang Xianweng's expression changed drastically; he had a premonition of what Shen Gongbao was about to do.
"Junior Brother Shen, stop right now! Don't make another mistake!"
His response was a clear shout that resounded through the heavens:
"The Investiture of the Gods, come forth!"
The sound, imbued with the Taoist aura of a Golden Immortal, reverberated, causing the roof tiles of the Grand Tutor's mansion to rustle.
The Immortal Wuliang looked at Shen Gongbao with eyes full of disappointment:
"Junior Brother Shen, why do you keep making the same mistake? Aren't you afraid of disrupting the normal progress of the Investiture of the Gods by frequently activating the Investiture of the Gods?"
Shen Gongbao remained calm:
"Interfering with the Investiture of the Gods? If I don't intervene, will the Investiture of the Gods even begin? Do you think dragging this out won't affect the Investiture of the Gods?"
Wuliang Immortal Elder paused, while Julusun beside him wore a look of disdain:
"Shen Gongbao, no matter how well you speak, you are still deliberately stealing the credit of Junior Brother Jiang Ziya. You are such a despicable and shameless person. Fortunately, our master saw through your schemes and expelled you from our Chan Sect early on. Otherwise, who knows how many more of our fellow disciples would have been harmed by you?"
Shen Gongbao nodded indifferently:
"Fine, fine, if you say I'm harming my fellow disciples, then I'm harming my fellow disciples. But once the Investiture of the Gods is opened, within seven days, anyone whose true spirit is not extinguished can be listed. Yun Wu, Huang Tianhua, and the like haven't crossed the Bridge of Helplessness yet, have they? I just don't know if your actions in preventing me from opening the Investiture of the Gods also count as harming your fellow disciples?"
These words were like a thunderclap in the ears of the three immortals, causing them to be greatly shaken.
A struggle flashed across the eyes of the Boundless Immortal Elder, but he finally stepped forward and bowed deeply to Shen Gongbao:
"Please, junior brother, activate the Investiture of the Gods!"
Detained Sun looked at the Boundless Immortal in disbelief:
"Senior Brother, are you crazy? How could you let Shen Gongbao activate the Investiture of the Gods?"
As he spoke, Detention Sun turned to look at the Pure Void Moral True Lord standing to the side:
"Senior Brother Qingxu Daode, please come and persuade our eldest brother. We absolutely cannot let Shen Gongbao open the Investiture of the Gods. This is a task that Master gave to Junior Brother Jiang Ziya."
"Junior brother, Huang Tianhua is my direct disciple!"
As he spoke, the True Lord of Emotions and Morality, with a similarly complex expression, looked at Shen Gongbao, bowed, and said:
"Please, junior brother, activate the Investiture of the Gods and help my disciple's name be recorded on it!"
Shen Gongbao ignored the three immortals, Wuliang Xianweng, because at that moment a golden light flew in from beyond the sky.
Seeing the Investiture of the Gods flying in from outer space, the crowd was even more excited than Shen Gongbao:
"My God, this really is the Investiture of the Gods! Shen Gongbao, no, the Imperial Preceptor Shen, he really didn't lie to us!"
"Haha, the Investiture of the Gods has actually returned to our Chaoge! This is truly a blessing from heaven for our Great Shang Dynasty!"
...
King Zhou of Shang had now completely dismounted from the chariot. Grasping Wen Zhong's hand unconsciously with all his might, he muttered to himself:
"Grand Tutor, Heaven has not forsaken our Great Shang! Heaven has not forsaken our Great Shang!"
Gently stroking the Investiture of the Gods in his hand, Shen Gongbao felt a surge of emotion. He could clearly feel the closeness that the Investiture of the Gods held in his hand had to him.
If he wanted, he could easily take the Investiture of the Gods for himself.
However, Shen Gongbao was also well aware that Yuanshi Tianzun would never allow such a thing to happen.
"I hope you won't personally hand over the Investiture of the Gods to me in the future."
Shen Gongbao sneered inwardly and slowly unfolded the Investiture of the Gods.
"Fellow Daoist Shiji, please step forward to receive your investiture!"
Lady Shiji stepped through the air, her body radiating a pure and ethereal light.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Shen Gongbao held the Investiture of the Gods in one hand and used the Imperial Preceptor's Seal to condense the inscription of the nation's destiny at his fingertips, enunciating each word with deliberate pause:
"By imperial decree, Shiji is hereby designated as the Pure Blessing Goddess, in charge of..."
As Shen Gongbao's voice fell, a blinding golden light suddenly burst forth from the Investiture of the Gods, and Lady Shiji's primordial spirit instantly transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into it.
The next moment, endless heavenly merits suddenly descended from the sky above Chaoge City, and the Xuanhuang Qi washed over Shiji's physical body like a waterfall.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Shi Ji's body, which had been depleted of essence and blood and was now emaciated, began to recover.
Moreover, Shi Ji's aura was growing stronger and stronger.
"Being listed on the Investiture of the Gods can actually improve one's cultivation level?"
"This aura is even more powerful than Shi Ji was before she was injured, isn't it?"
Exclamations of surprise rang out continuously, and the cultivators who had previously tried to avoid it now had burning eyes.
It turns out that being on the list is not a constraint, but rather a stroke of luck!
Sensing the constant changes in Lady Shiji, not only the Shang Dynasty officials present, but even Ju Liusun and his two companions hesitated.
Previously, no one in the entire prehistoric land was willing to be listed on the Investiture of the Gods, mainly because once listed, they would have no freedom left.
But looking at the changes in Shiji now, isn't this too much?
If everyone on the list has such benefits, then including them in the Investiture of the Gods list doesn't seem like a completely out-of-the-way option, does it?
Shen Gongbao looked around at everyone, a slight smile playing on his lips.
It's just being listed on the Investiture of the Gods, yet it's been treated like some terrible thing by a few saints.
You are saints, and cannot tolerate even the slightest restriction of your freedom.
But for lower-level cultivators, freedom is restricted?
So where is the restriction of freedom?
That's a golden opportunity, isn't it!
Previously, because of the sage's excuse, people did not realize the benefits of being listed on the Investiture of the Gods. It was only when everyone realized this that they understood.
Still complaining?
Everyone wants to be on the list, right?
While Shen Gongbao was secretly cursing, Shi Ji's primordial spirit had already broken free from the Investiture of the Gods and returned to her body.
"Golden Immortal!"
"Shi Ji has actually advanced to the Golden Immortal realm!"
Before this, Shi Ji only had the cultivation level of a Xuanxian. Now, because she was listed on the Investiture of the Gods, not only was her lifespan extended to the maximum, but her cultivation level was also raised to a higher level.
This is absolutely incredible!
The moment her spirit and body merged, Shi Ji bowed deeply, her face beaming with a smile like a blooming flower.
"Thank you for your help, Fellow Daoist Shen Gongbao!"
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