"Stubbornly obstinate."
That voice held no anger, only an ancient indifference. "Since this is the case, let us follow the ancient precedent and establish the 'Investiture of the Gods List'—what say you?"
"Those whose names appear on the list shall have their true spirits preserved eternally, receiving the Heavenly Dao's investiture."
Though they lose their freedom, they gain immortality—which can be considered a form of preservation. This is a compromise.
We, too, shall make corresponding sacrifices to fulfill the tribulation requirements.
Investiture of the Gods List?
Chen Chang'an's heart stirred. This name was all too familiar to him.
However, when he saw the phantom list that the figure gestured to appear in the air—draped in golden light and covered in dao patterns—his expression instantly darkened.
On that list, names shone with different radiances.
Yet Chen Chang'an only needed to sweep his gaze across it once before he laughed in anger!
On the lofty figure's side, none of those renowned disciples and close friends with their vast divine abilities appeared on the list!
Those listed were all names he had never heard of—clearly inconsequential people, perhaps even those who had long since perished!
Conversely, on his side, apart from his own name and his wife Ji Hongli's being absent, from his eldest disciple Xiao Chen, to Han Yu, Jiang Che... all the disciples he valued and painstakingly taught had their names prominently displayed!
Even his precious daughter Chen Xingcai's name shone with blinding light!
"This is the mandate of heaven."
That lofty voice explained as if stating something self-evident. "Your disciples are all deeply connected to the nascent Heavenly Dao."
Where fortune gathers, so too does tribulation entwine. Their appearance on the list is born of responding to the tribulation—a necessary sacrifice, and the cornerstone of the future new Heavenly Court.
"Necessary sacrifice?"
Chen Chang'an repeated these words, the smile on his face completely vanishing, leaving only cold mockery. "Cornerstone of the new Heavenly Court? What a brilliant calculation you've made!"
He raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of auspicious clouds to directly confront that lofty existence.
His tone was sharp as a blade: "Using the freedom and cultivation paths of disciples I've painstakingly raised—who have limitless futures—to fill your tribulation quota and achieve your so-called 'preservation'?"
The sacrifices are all my people, while the benefits are secretly hidden with you?
Does your Excellency take me, Chen Chang'an, for a fool, or do you take me for a lamb awaiting slaughter?
"Do you think that because I've long resided in the lower realms, I don't know what this 'Investiture of the Gods' truly is?"
His voice grew even colder. "It's nothing more than binding living beings' true spirits to the list, subjecting them to heavenly laws, stripping them of their freedom to be driven by others!"
You call it immortality, but how is it different from being a puppet?!
"Such calculations—are entirely too despicable!!"
A deathly silence filled the great hall.
The sounds of golden bells and jade chimes had long ceased. Only Chen Chang'an's cold and furious voice echoed.
Upon the high platform, that figure shrouded in endless radiance remained silent, offering no response.
Yet the pressure suffusing the entire hall suddenly became immeasurably heavy, as if it could crush and grind all things to dust.
Clearly, this meeting could no longer continue.
Different paths—no common ground.
Chen Chang'an snorted coldly. Without another glance at the list or that lofty figure, he turned and left.
Seeing this, the attendant boy hurried forward, waving his fly-whisk once more. Clear light enveloped them, and spatial fluctuations suddenly arose.
In the next moment, Chen Chang'an's figure had vanished from this majestic yet bone-chillingly cold great hall, returning to his tranquil Xianling Valley.
Left behind was only the empty hall, and upon the high platform, that supreme existence who remained silent, contemplating who knows what.
This meeting ended in discord.
And the tribulation clouds looming over the myriad worlds seemed to grow even darker and more concentrated because of it.
...
Time passed like a white horse through a crevice. The Heavenly Alliance Grand Competition had reached its tenth day.
With vast numbers of lower-realm cultivators being gradually eliminated, those remaining on the arena platforms were without exception the cream of the Long Life Realm.
Even Heaven Human Realm sect giants and aristocratic family ancestors were not uncommon.
The intensity and level of combat had become incomparable to the early stages. Every exchange caused heaven and earth's spiritual energy to violently fluctuate, arena barriers to flash wildly, and gasps of amazement to rise unceasingly from the audience.
On this day, the mountainous roar of voices reached yet another peak!
For it was his turn—the Heavenly Alliance Alliance Master, Xiao Chen!
Countless gazes converged upon the central grand arena. Xiao Chen, dressed in black martial attire, stood tall as a mountain, his features resolute, his eyes calm as he stepped onto the platform.
As one of the few with the greatest overt power in today's Xuanying Continent, his every move drew intense scrutiny.
Even more breathtaking was his opponent—equally renowned, equally formidable—a giant who dominated his own domain: the Sacred Master of Luofu Sacred Land, Li Xinwu!
Li Xinwu was himself a legendary prodigy of his generation.
A generation older than Xiao Chen, he had reigned supreme atop the "Human Ranking" with absolute strength back in the era before the Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty's collapse, his radiance blinding.
His battle record was even more terrifying—at the Long Life Realm, he had more than once challenged across cultivation levels and defeated Heaven Human Realm experts!
His talent, his combat prowess—simply peerless.
Now, after years of tempering and the Sacred Land's full investment of resources, his cultivation had reached Heaven Human Realm Peak, his dao foundation incomparably deep.
After the Great Zhou's fall, many had come to call him "The First Person Below the Sage Realm"!
Some even declared that if any cultivator in Xuanying Continent could breach the Sage Realm barrier in the future, Li Xinwu would surely be among the strongest contenders.
Thus, in the eyes of most observers, the outcome of this clash between dragons and tigers seemed hardly in doubt.
More people favored Li Xinwu—with his deeper foundation, earlier fame, and more glorious battle record.
This also made many admire Xiao Chen's breadth of mind and boldness—daring to make such an important Alliance Master competition public, daring to personally enter the ring and accept any challenger, even an opponent of such formidable caliber.
On the arena, the two faced each other.
Li Xinwu wore a moon-white dao robe, his presence transcendent, his gaze sharp as a hawk's as if it could pierce through hearts.
He showed not the slightest negligence simply because his opponent was the Alliance Master—rather, his expression was gravely serious.
Xiao Chen was equally focused, spiritual energy surging within him like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
"Please!"
"Please!"
After two brief exchanges of courtesy, battle erupted instantly!
Li Xinwu truly lived up to his reputation—one strike was earth-shattering!
His fingers together like a sword, a sword-force condensed to the extreme, seemingly capable of slicing through the void itself, shot directly toward Xiao Chen's face.
The speed was absolute, the angle incredibly treacherous!
Xiao Chen let out a low shout and threw a punch—his fist intent domineering and powerful, like a meteor impact, directly meeting the sword-force head-on!
"BOOM!"
Energy exploded, radiance scattered in all directions. Both men retreated half a step simultaneously—it was a perfect draw!
Thunderous cheers erupted from below the platform!
However, in the exchanges that followed, Li Xinwu gradually revealed the terrifying power of one called "First Below Sage Realm."
His sword technique grew increasingly ethereal and lethal—sometimes like violent storms, sometimes like gentle rain, penetrating every gap.
His mastery over heaven and earth's spiritual energy had reached perfection, enabling him to stir surrounding energy into invisible suppression.
Xiao Chen's sword technique, though unmatched in power, seemed increasingly hard-pressed under Li Xinwu's nearly flawless assault and suppression.
His form began retreating continuously, defending more than attacking. His occasional counterattacks were easily neutralized—he appeared to have fallen into a disadvantage.
"Indeed, Sacred Master Li is still superior!"
"The Alliance Master is younger after all, his foundation somewhat lacking..."
"To reach this point—the Alliance Master has already achieved something remarkable!"
"Seems like the Heavenly Alliance Master position will be changing hands."
Discussions rippled through the crowd—most believed the outcome was already decided.
Li Xinwu delivered another sword strike that forced Xiao Chen to retreat in a somewhat disheveled defensive posture.
Yet he didn't press the advantage—instead, he suddenly withdrew his sword and stood still.
His gaze was like lightning, locked onto Xiao Chen whose breathing seemed somewhat disordered.
His voice was cold, carrying a sharpness that saw through everything, clearly transmitting across the entire arena:
"Alliance Master Xiao... are you going to keep pretending?"
...
[
Unlock 30 chapters instantly (for the price of the old 20-chapter tier), plus regular updates and extra benefits every month.
If you're enjoying the story, please consider supporting me on Patreon:
patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
I'll be honest—I'm in deep financial trouble right now, and your support genuinely makes the difference in whether I can keep writing consistently.
By joining, you'll get:
30 advanced chapters immediately
Ongoing monthly chapters
Bonus content and extra releases
If this story has kept you hooked even once, now's the time to support it. Every bit helps keep it alive.
Thank you.
]