Penglai Holy Realm creates its own heaven and earth, where it can always be sunny if needed.

The two saints from the Western Sect, along with a group of disciples, left the Penglai Holy Realm just in time to see a fiery red sun leaping from the valley, with rouge-like twilight spreading across the eastern sky.

Saint Zhunti slightly squinted his eyes.

The clear blue seawater mirrored the blue sky, white clouds, and the fiery red sun, with a few stars still visible in the far western horizon above the horizon...

The breeze brushed gently, and the golden morning light scattered on the water surface, turning into countless tiny grains of golden sand.

"The scenery of the East Sea surpasses that of my Western lands by far."

Saint Zhunti couldn't help but exclaim.

Beside him, the Guiding Saint glanced at him thoughtfully and softly said, "Our West will also prosper one day."

"Indeed."

Saint Zhunti smiled and said: "The West will prosper, and it won't be too far in the future!"

Saying this, he turned back to the disciples following behind and asked, "Where is Ksitigarbha?"

A young man with a pale, beardless face, and a handsome appearance stepped forward and bowed, "What teachings does the master have for me?"

Saint Zhunti looked at him and asked, "When was the last time you went to the Blood Sea?"

Without hesitation, Ksitigarbha replied, "It was eight hundred years ago. At that time, I was ordered to go to the Netherworld Blood Sea to convert the Asura Clan to our Western Sect, but I was obstructed by the Minghe Sect Hierarch."

Saint Zhunti nodded slightly with a smile and said, "You go to the Blood Sea again now, and find out why the Randeng of the Chan Sect went there... If my prediction is correct, you should have some unexpected gains from this trip."

Ksitigarbha, puzzled, still respectfully bowed and hurried away with doubts.

The Guiding Saint slightly frowned and said to Saint Zhunti, "Even if the Asura Clan can be converted to our Western Sect, we are still far from gathering the Eightfold Assembly."

"Don't worry."

Saint Zhunti confidently said, "Currently, the conflict between the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect is unresolvable, and the great calamity looms. The two sects oppose each other like water and fire, an opportune time for us in the West to profit.

Just seize this opportunity, and the prosperity of the West is near."

The Guiding Saint curiously asked, "What are your plans, junior brother?"

Saint Zhunti smiled and said, "We just need to return to the West and patiently wait. When the time comes, people will come knocking on our door."

The Guiding Saint realized it after a moment's thought.

"Junior brother speaks wisely; then let us return to the West and see who comes knocking."

...

Penglai Holy Realm

After the saints dispersed unhappily, the Sect Hierarch Tongtian entered the Biyou Palace.

A group of Jie Sect disciples were about to disperse when they heard the clear sound of three bell chimes, "Dang dang dang."

"Squeak!"

The doors of the Biyou Palace swung wide open, and the sculpted water and fire children appeared, calling out with a slightly immature voice, "The master is about to expound upon the Dao, anyone destined can enter and listen."

The Jie Sect disciples immediately showed joyful expressions and bowed in gratitude, "We thank the Hierarch for his holy grace!"

Thousands of Jie Sect disciples shouted together, their voices shaking the East Sea, attracting many curious East Sea loose cultivators and Water Clan, gathering like clouds and rain around the Biyou Palace.

Penglai Holy Realm revealed itself to the world, welcoming all comers; anyone could enter the Biyou Palace to listen no matter who they were.

Within the vast Biyou Palace, a world unto itself, regardless of how many immortal gods, demons, or spirits came, it never felt crowded.

Tongtian sat in the highest place of honor, starting to expound the Dao.

In an instant, the sky rained blossom petals, and golden lotuses erupted from the ground; countless immortals, gods, demons, and spirits listened intoxicatingly.

Yu Yuan didn't listen attentively, but watching this scene, he couldn't help but feel moved.

Such an open invitation, generously imparting the Dao, teaching without discrimination, treating all equally, throughout his past and present lives, Yu Yuan had only heard of two individuals doing so.

One was naturally this Sect Hierarch Tongtian.

The other was the supreme sage, Kong Zhongni.

However, the supreme sage had three thousand disciples, and seventy-two sages.

But the Jie Sect...

Yu Yuan thought of this and felt a toothache.

Over the millennia, though most of his focus had been on cultivation, he had seen firsthand what was meant by "a mixed bag, good and bad mingled together"!

The supreme sage not only taught his disciples skills but also taught them the principles of being human!

But what about Sect Hierarch Tongtian? He only taught Daoist cultivation, nothing else!

Completely free-range education!

The Jie Sect had become smoggy as it is today, and the Hierarch had a huge blame to bear!

...

Long after.

The Sect Hierarch Tongtian stopped expounding the Dao, looked at the numerous Jie Sect disciples below, and solemnly said, "This time, Heavenly Dao manifests signs, settling the Divine Enthronement matter, which concerns the stability of the Three Realms and Six Paths. During this period, entanglements of karma and emanations of Evil Qi, signs of an emerging Calamity are evident.

Starting today, until the completion of Divine Enthronement, Biyou Palace will close its doors and stop teaching. Those among you unwilling to be listed must also return to their respective sanctuaries, tightly close their cave mansions, and not venture out, lest they cannot escape the dire outcomes and make a trip on the Investiture of the Gods list.

Have you all understood?"

All the Jie Sect disciples bowed deeply, saying, "We, disciples, will heed the Master's teachings."

Sect Hierarch Tongtian nodded slightly, "You may all leave!"

A group of Jie Sect disciples stood up, leaving Biyou Palace in small groups, discussing among themselves.

Yu Yuan stood up to leave with the Golden Spirit Saint Mother, but then he heard the voice of Sect Hierarch Tongtian in his heart.

"Stay here for a while."

Yu Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and his brow furrowed involuntarily.

At that moment, the Golden Spirit Saint Mother, as if she also heard the voice of Sect Hierarch Tongtian, looked at Yu Yuan and said, "Your grandmaster has important matters to discuss with you; I will wait for you outside the Biyou Palace."

Yu Yuan nodded slightly, his mind immediately becoming active.

What important matter requires a private discussion with me alone?

Moments later, the disciples and attendees all left, leaving only him and the Sect Hierarch Tongtian, who was seated on a cloud-bed. Suddenly, the vast Biyou Palace became eerily quiet.

Sect Hierarch Tongtian glanced at Yu Yuan and smiled, "Have you unintentionally traveled to the future and seen the great calamity that affects the Jie Sect?"

Yu Yuan frowned slightly and countered, "Did Grandmaster learn about this from my master?"

Sect Hierarch Tongtian shook his head and smiled, "Have you forgotten what you did before the meeting of the Three Sects?"

Yu Yuan suddenly realized.

During his meeting with Qiu Shou Immortal and the others to gain their trust, he had shared his experiences from the future.

"Your behavior during this union of the Three Sects doesn't resemble your usual self, and Qiu Shou Immortal isn't someone given to suspicion. Therefore, after returning to the Biyou Palace, I inquired about it from him..."

Sect Hierarch Tongtian continued, looking at Yu Yuan, "I originally thought that these actions were Duobao's doing, but it turns out you were the mastermind.

Tell me everything you saw in the future."

Yu Yuan, seeing that he wasn't angry, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Facing a Saint, he would naturally not lie and candidly shared everything he had seen in the future.

"Myriad Immortals Formation?"

Sect Hierarch Tongtian seemed reflective, "After the negotiation of the Three Sects, the dispute between the Chan Sect and Jie Sect has come to the forefront. Combined with the impending Calamity, the future you've seen could indeed come to pass..."

Yu Yuan remained silent.

At this point, he realized Tongtian's plans were more or less accomplished.

As for how to proceed, he believed the Saint would have his own judgment, without needing his further input.

Sect Hierarch Tongtian pondered for a moment and then suddenly looked at Yu Yuan, "How much do you know about the Calamity?"

"I only know that Calamity can cloud one's Primordial Spirit, and those fated to it will naturally enter it," replied Yu Yuan honestly.

Sect Hierarch Tongtian nodded slightly, "Correct, the Qi of the Calamity invades the Primordial Spirit, clouding it and also intensifying the invasion of the three poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion, prompting one to act differently than usual... Now that we have time, let me explain where this Calamity originates from..."

As he narrated calmly, Yu Yuan had an epiphany.

The birth and death, the cycle of reincarnation, are the basic laws of Heavenly Dao's operation.

Whether it's considered that Heavenly Dao is merciless or merciful, it's merely the wishful thinking of all beings.

Heavenly Dao is without joy or sorrow, without love or hate, operating on its pre-set rules.

Essentially, cultivators violate the natural law of birth and death!

Those who seek immortality do not naturally perish but only increase in number, requiring more karma and resources.

If this phenomenon were limited to a few Yuan assemblies, it wouldn't disrupt the balance.

However, as time progresses, the number of immortals increases, their needed resources expand, and correspondingly, other beings' resources diminish.

This imbalance can lead to various contradictions and conflicts, intertwining karma, and heavy resentments, eventually evolving into Calamity.

Looking back at the past occurrences of Calamity, they all arose from conflicts.

The essence of Calamity is a man-made disaster, but since it's unavoidable, it can also be called a natural disaster.

There is a slim chance of survival in Calamity; if mishandled, it could transform into Infinite Tribulations.

Infinite Tribulations lead to the collapse of karma, returning everything to chaos, irreversible by anyone except Saints.

Thus, whenever Calamity descends, the Saints guide and resolve it in Zixiao Palace, clearing karma, restoring the balance of heaven and earth.

"I initially did not wish to partake in this Calamity," Sect Hierarch Tongtian told Yu Yuan seriously. "However, what you all said makes sense. The lives and futures of my Jie Sect disciples naturally need to be under my control."

Saying this, he waved his hand, and a rolled-up scroll appeared before Yu Yuan.

Without needing to look, Yu Yuan knew this scroll was the Investiture of the Gods!

"The matter of divine investiture shall be managed by you."

"Hmm?"

Yu Yuan was somewhat surprised.

He had thought this task would fall to Duobao and Zhao Gongming, or perhaps selected from the Seven Attendant Immortals.

"Unwilling?"

Sect Hierarch Tongtian slightly raised his eyebrows, "Didn't you say you were willing to devote all your efforts for the Jie Sect?"

Yu Yuan pondered slightly, "It's not that I'm unwilling; I just planned to refine a Spiritual Treasure recently..."

Sect Hierarch Tongtian immediately understood his intention, saying somewhat irritably, "Didn't you just acquire Minghe's Yuan Tu and Avici? Aren't two top-notch Spiritual Treasures enough? Right, you haven't yet refined them..."

While speaking, he gestured, and the Yuan Tu and Avici, trapped within the Four Symbols Formation, appeared in his hand.

"Eh, why is the Primordial Spirit Seal of Minghe still on them? There, I've wiped the Minghe's Primordial Spirit Seal off for you. Take them back and refine them... What, you don't seem happy?"

Yu Yuan: "..."

"It's not that I'm unhappy, just... I had another purpose for these two Immortal Swords..."

He had actually planned to use these two swords to "fish" for something.

But with Sect Hierarch Tongtian wiping off the Primordial Spirit Seal of Minghe, it indeed made refining these two top-notch treasures much easier.

Sect Hierarch Tongtian picked up his eyebrows but did not inquire about his purpose, smiling, "Well, that was my mistake as a grandmaster... By the way, I remember you like using hammers, right?"

Saying this, he waved his sleeve, and a spiritual light appeared before Yu Yuan.

Within that spiritual light, a delicately small hammer was suspended, surrounded by a glowing purple aura.

Yu Yuan's eyes brightened slightly; he hastily collected the hammer, Yuan Tu, Avici, and the scroll of the Investiture of the Gods into his Qiankun Ruyi Bag, then stood up and respectfully bowed, "Thank you, Grandmaster, for bestowing this treasure!"

"You're quite slick, always scheming to get my spiritual treasures," Sect Hierarch Tongtian said, not pleased.

Hearing this, Yu Yuan suddenly remembered that he had previously taken a piece of the Chaоs Bell from him.

Indeed, this "again" was not unwarranted!

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