At this very moment, while Ao Qing, the East Sea Dragon King, was returning triumphantly to the Dragon Palace—after flooding Chentang Pass and defeating both Taiyi Zhenren and Li Jing's wife—the skies above the Eastern Sea remained turbulent.
Far beyond the mortal realm, in the Thirty-Third Heaven, atop Mount Kunlun, sat the celestial Jade Void Palace.
As one of the Three Great Holy Palaces, the Jade Void Palace was once the sacred dojo that nurtured the Twelve Golden Immortals. But now, unlike its former bustle, an eerie stillness loomed over the palace. The atmosphere was so tense, it felt like even time had paused.
Inside the Jade Void Palace, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, one of the Three Great Saints, sat silently upon a meditation cushion. His divine eyes, calm and unmoved, revealed not a single ripple of emotion—no one could guess what was stirring in his heart.
Seated before him on identical cushions were two other Saints.
One wore white robes, adorned with the symbol of the Yin-Yang Fish. The other was clad in pitch black, his presence shrouded in an oppressive, storm-like aura.
These two were none other than the other Great Saints: The Dao Ancestor—Taishang Laojun, and the enigmatic Tongtian Cult Master.
These three Saints had emerged from the purest primordial Qi during the Great Desolation, when Heaven and Earth were first cleaved apart. Their strength was vast and unmeasurable—some even claimed they possessed the power to reforge the world itself.
It was a rare event indeed for all three Saints to convene. Not even during the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation or the Witches-and-Demons Cataclysm had this happened. Yet today, they had gathered in the Jade Void Palace of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable—for a matter of utmost importance.
"I'll get straight to the point," said the Primordial Heavenly Venerable coldly, his voice like ancient frost. "The reason I've summoned you both is to discuss the matter of the Fengshen List."
Though his tone was flat and aloof, the moment he uttered those three words—Fengshen List—a faint tremor betrayed the unrest in his heart.
"The Investiture List… We've both known about this for some time," Taishang Laojun replied slowly. "But what is it that you, Primordial Saint, wish to do this time?"
"Yes," the Tongtian Cult Master added. "How exactly do you plan to proceed with the Investiture?"
Truth be told, this was not the first time the Three Saints had discussed the Fengshen List.
But in the past, their conflicting interests had prevented any agreement.
Now, however, things had changed.
Haotian, the former Lord of the Heavenly Court, had perished under mysterious circumstances. The Celestial Bureau was desperately short of divine marshals and generals, and reinforcements were urgently needed. Thus, by decree of Hongjun, the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, the Three Saints had been summoned again—to finalize the matter of investiture.
"The names on the Fengshen List have long been determined," said the Primordial Saint, raising his hand. "They were appointed by the Heavenly Dao itself, under Hongjun's authority. You may both have a look."
As he spoke, he passed a scroll to the other two Saints.
Taishang Laojun and the Tongtian Cult Master paused for a moment, then gave small nods. Though this was supposed to be a 'joint discussion', in truth, it was just a formality. Most of the chosen names had already been decided by the Heavenly Dao—unalterable and inevitable.
But the moment Tongtian unfurled the list, his expression darkened, brows furrowing with rising displeasure.
"Primordial Saint… This list—"
Before he could protest, the Primordial Saint waved his hand.
"As you can see, Tongtian Cult Master, this list was divinely ordained. The names have been finalized. Even we, as Saints, have no authority to change them."
Tongtian's brows furrowed tighter, but he swallowed the rage brewing inside.
The reason for his anger was simple:
—Too many names on the list were his disciples!
On the surface, the Fengshen List appeared to be a glorious opportunity—to be conferred divine titles and join the ranks of Heaven.
But in reality, the list was a form of control. Anyone who made the list would be stripped of their freedom, bound in eternal servitude to the Heavenly Court.
Yes—slaves to Heaven!
Before their names were etched onto the scroll, his disciples of the Jiejiao Sect had roamed freely across the Three Realms, backed by formidable cultivation. But once on the list, they would become cogs in the Heavenly machine—forced to obey every command, whether it was fighting in the East or perishing in the West.
And once finalized, the Fengshen List would be handed over to the Jade Emperor himself. With the scroll in hand, the Jade Emperor would gain absolute power over every name upon it. Should any listed being resist—they could be instantly erased by the scroll's divine might.
To put it plainly—
It was a dog collar.
Tongtian was not one to sacrifice his disciples so easily. And now, seeing so many of his own underlings—Jiejiao disciples—listed by name, he understood the real game being played.
This wasn't just about filling Heaven's ranks.
It was a power play. A way for Primordial Saint and Taishang Laojun to weaken his influence in the mythic world.
"If neither of you object," the Primordial Saint said with a faint, calculating smile, "then I will proceed to submit the Fengshen List back to the Heavenly Dao and assign one of my disciples to carry it out."
Seeing that Tongtian still hadn't exploded in fury, the Primordial Saint and Taishang Laojun exchanged the briefest, most imperceptible smiles.
"If I'm not mistaken," said Taishang Laojun suddenly, "the one you intend to entrust this task to… is Jiang Ziya, correct? One of your Twelve Golden Immortals?"
The Primordial Saint nodded slightly. "Correct."
The moment the name Jiang Ziya was spoken, Tongtian's expression turned even gloomier.
He sneered inwardly. So you've planned everything already—and still have the audacity to summon me here?
This wasn't a consultation.
It was a setup.
They were going to use Jiang Ziya to butcher his forces, to cut down the Jiejiao Sect's power under the pretense of divine investiture.
"Then the matter of the Fengshen List… is settled," the Primordial Saint said with finality.
Indeed, the struggles between Saints never ceased. This time, he and Taishang Laojun had seized the opportunity of the upcoming Heavenly Tribulation to consolidate control—and weaken their rival.
But just as the Primordial Saint prepared to leave—Fengshen scroll in hand, ready to assign his chosen executor—a sudden burst of divine light exploded from the list!
In an instant, several names vanished from the scroll.
Lotus Prince Nezha… Li Jing… the entire family—gone.
Their investiture designations had disappeared—as if they had never been part of the list at all.
"What!?" The Primordial Saint's eyes widened. "Who… Who dares tamper with the Fengshen List? Who has stolen Nezha and Li Jing's fate and fortune!?"
When the Primordial Saint first drafted the Investiture List, he had deliberately included Nezha and Li Jing's entire household—intending to have them serve as the core of the Celestial Army. One as Vanguard Marshal, the other as Supreme Demon Slayer…
Their rise would have strengthened the Chan Sect's hold on Heaven.
But now—those critical chess pieces had vanished.
He immediately began calculating with his divine senses, trying to deduce the cause—and what he found made his face grow pale.
Even Taiyi Zhenren's fate threads… had been severed.
"This… This can't be…"