Chapter 144: The Opening of the Conferment of Gods is a Good Thing

In the evening, A Shan, Fatty Niu, and the others started clamoring for a hotpot.

Having been unjustifiably trapped in the minor realm of a forbidden spell for nearly half a year, they were now safely back at the farmhouse, and the two mischievous rascals were absolutely dying for a good meal.

Chu Xiaoyu satisfied all their demands: ingredients were supplied in unlimited quantities, and they could make as much of a mess as they pleased.

The family happily gathered around the hotpot, and even Yan Beigui, who was in charge of running errands and odd jobs, took a seat at the table.

However, an even livelier event was yet to come. With the opening of another Immortal Gate, King Zhou and Bi Gan both arrived.

Sharing joy with others is better than enjoying it alone. Goodness gracious, with yet another Immortal Gate opening, things were bound to get even more bustling.

"Hehe, wonderful. We came at just the right time."

King Zhou and Bi Gan stood on no ceremony whatsoever. Treating themselves completely as insiders, the two of them immediately took their seats and, acting like famished ghosts, set their chopsticks to work at once.

Halfway through the hotpot session, King Zhou suddenly and abruptly asked Chu Xiaoyu, "Sir, do you know about the Investiture of the Gods?"

"Cough..."

A piece of fatty beef got stuck right in Chu Xiaoyu's throat. "What are you... why are you suddenly asking about this?"

King Zhou put down his chopsticks and looked at Chu Xiaoyu with utmost seriousness. "Sir, the situation is this: our Shang Dynasty has recently run into a very tricky problem. There is a man named Jiang Ziya who is holding the scroll of the Investiture of the Gods and claims he is going to activate it... Once this Investiture of the Gods is activated, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Indeed. By then, the realm will inevitably fall into great chaos. Demons and monsters will roam everywhere, and the God Clan will also get involved. In their scramble for divine positions, innocent people will surely be implicated, and in the end, it is the innocent common folk of the world who will suffer," Bi Gan said, his expression filled with deep worry.

The noisy dining table suddenly fell silent.

The most unsettled person of all was Yan Beigui, whose heart was surging with tumultuous waves of shock.

Earlier on, Yan Beigui had already realized that these people who suddenly appeared at the farm out of nowhere like wraiths were not only abnormal, but also terrifyingly powerful and awe-inspiring.

Eventually, Yan Beigui figured out the true identity of each and every one of them—a realization that could be said to have astonished mortals and shaken the entire world.

These individuals were actually ancient antiques hailing from different eras and spaces.

People from different spaces and times actually gathering together was even more terrifying than savage beasts.

"Sir, I would like to ask you, is there any way to prevent the activation of the Investiture of the Gods?" King Zhou asked with a hint of urgency.

Now that their Shang Dynasty was finally on the right track and national affairs were flourishing day by day, they could not afford to let everything fall apart because of the activation of the "Investiture of the Gods."

"The activation of this Investiture of the Gods is an inevitable trend. This action complies with the Heavenly Dao, and you cannot stop it."

Chu Xiaoyu's words came as a great shock to King Zhou. "No... Sir, what on earth does this mean? Is it really impossible to stop? But..."

"How should I put it? If you hadn't brought this up, I would have really forgotten about it. Back then, you blasphemed before the holy statue of Nüwa and suffered that woman's retaliation, prompting the issuing of the Summoning Banner. Yet look at you now? Isn't your Shang Dynasty still doing just fine? No major incidents happened, right?"

"Sir, while that may be true, if it hadn't been for you turning the tides back then and altering the national fortune and destiny of our Shang Dynasty, all of this is entirely thanks to your merits, Sir."

It was Bi Gan who took over the conversation. "However, this matter is very tricky. Once the Investiture of the Gods is activated, the one to suffer the heaviest blow will undoubtedly be our Shang Dynasty."

"Ugh... What makes you say that? Why are the two of you so certain?" Chu Xiaoyu asked Bi Gan.

Bi Gan looked toward King Zhou. "Your Majesty, I truly do not know how to phrase this."

"Very well, I can understand your worries. Leaving everything else aside for a moment, the activation of that Investiture of the Gods might not necessarily be a bad thing."

Pouring a cup of tea and taking a sip, Chu Xiaoyu continued leisurely, "You two, let me put it this way: the more you want to prevent certain events from happening, the less you will be able to stop them. Just like this Investiture of the Gods you are talking about now, it is destined to be activated, and no one can stop it."

"Ah... If that's the case, then it really cannot be stopped?"

King Zhou's mood soured instantly, and Bi Gan felt the exact same way.

Chu Xiaoyu continued, "You shouldn't lose heart or be discouraged either. The activation of this Investiture of the Gods is no big deal at all. Of course, once it is activated, the world will inevitably fall into chaos, and troubled times create heroes. I understand that this is what you are worried about."

"However, if you look at the problem from another perspective, your moods won't be so depressed and tangled."

"When that time comes, turmoil in the realm is an inevitable trend. The reason you are worried is because it will shake the foundation of your Shang Dynasty's national affairs. Actually... you are all worrying for nothing."

"Worrying for nothing? Sir, no... what do you mean by that?" King Zhou was even more confused now.

"Hehe, the Investiture of the Gods? Master, what on earth is this Investiture of the Gods anyway?" Sun Wukong decided to join in on the fun as well.

"This Investiture of the Gods is actually based on the same logic as your escorting that monk Xuanzang to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures; it revolves around the accumulation of merits and achievements."

"Investiture of the Gods, Investiture of the Gods—understood literally, it's very simple. It's the same principle as granting promotions and conferring noble titles. Once the investiture begins, mortals, demons, monsters, and even those higher deities will all be qualified to enter the list of the gods. This action is just like enjoying the incense offerings and worship of the mortal people. Driven by interests, everyone will want to carve out a place for themselves on this list."

"Oh, so that's how it is. Old Sun finally understands. Hehe, no wonder... Master, your disciple suddenly wants to go to the Western Paradise to retrieve scriptures again. This..."

Sun Wukong was instantly filled with vexation.

If not for that damned White Bone Spirit's three transformations, he, Old Sun, would not have beaten that old man, that old woman, and ultimately that daughter to death with his cudgel in succession.

Which only managed to infuriate that bald-headed monk, who accused his monkey of being cruel and merciless, slaughtering people like hemp... what a bunch of utter nonsense.

Bah, bah!

Old Sun was not slaughtering people like hemp; that was called eliminating demons and ghosts and acting on behalf of Heaven. In the end, he was the one who was left isolated and misunderstood on all sides.

That bald monk is utterly detestable!

The Monkey King's mood was filled with grievance.

Chu Xiaoyu glanced at the monkey. "I'll talk to you about your matter later."

Now, let's return to the issue of the Investiture of the Gods.

"Di Xin, you two don't need to fret over the activation of the Investiture of the Gods. The foundation of your Shang Dynasty's national affairs is already quite solid. Even if the Investiture of the Gods is truly activated, you do not need to be anxious. Just keep doing whatever you are supposed to do as usual."

"Of course, the activation of this Investiture of the Gods will directly cause certain obstacles to your Shang Dynasty, or even deal a blow to it, so to speak."

"It will initiate an era of troubled times. By then, various states will rise together, and heroes and bold figures from all directions will gather around. In the scramble for resources and interests, fierce conflicts will be inevitable."