Don't let Yu Ding take on any more disciples.

Chapter 392 Mo Zheng Da Luo
Seeing Ji Fa deep in thought and silent, Zi Shou said nothing more.

Saying anything more at this point would be superfluous.

"Senior brother, I'm hungry!"

Ji Fa suddenly rubbed his stomach lazily and said with that carefree smile on his face, "This is my first time visiting your territory. You won't be stingy with a good meal, will you?"

In another hour or two, it would be dawn... Zi Shou's lips twitched slightly, and he got up and silently left the room.

As Zi Shou left, Ji Fa's smile slowly faded, and his expression turned serious as he looked at the sword in his hand.

He originally thought that his master meant that the two of them would decide the fate of the world, and that they should choose a wise ruler to assist and use their skills.

after all……

The Shang Dynasty has existed for over five hundred years, and the problems it has accumulated are now extremely serious.

Internally, there was corruption in the bureaucracy and rigid social classes. The nobles themselves lived extravagantly and exploited the common people and slaves, leading to serious conflicts.
Furthermore, as vassal states enfeoffed by the Shang Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty would send troops to rescue them when they encountered danger, in exchange for regular support from the Shang Dynasty.

Previous Shang kings waged wars year after year, which expanded the Shang territory and defeated barbarian tribes, but also greatly depleted the country's strength and population.
Such foreign wars are the most draining on a nation's resources.

The vassal states also needed to contribute money and troops to help the Shang Dynasty fight. In the end, these costs would naturally be shared among the common people of the vassal states. The conflict between the Shang Dynasty and the vassal states continued to worsen, and the common people in the country were full of complaints and had long been dissatisfied with the rule of the Shang Dynasty.

It can be said that the current major merchants are like being placed on a fire.

It only takes a spark to ignite, and eventually the flames of the people's anger will sweep across the Shang Dynasty, burning it to ashes.

At that time, the world will inevitably be in chaos, with heroes rising up, fighting to establish new dynasties and vying for a new king. The new king will then enfeoff the meritorious officials who followed him, thus separating them from the common people.

But new dynasties can also decay. Years later, the dynasty and the nobility will be burned to ashes by the anger of the common people, leading to chaos once again, with various warlords vying for power, and finally, a new dynasty and nobility will emerge...

All of this seems to be the destiny of humankind.

It goes on and on, endlessly, without end.

As disciples of Guiguzi, they need to choose a wise ruler who aligns with their path, to display their knowledge, and to decide the fate of the world.

Needless to say, he already had a family business, and although his older brother was a bit too artistic, he was still family, so he was a good choice.

Therefore, his purpose in coming to Chaoge was twofold: first, to search for his senior brother's whereabouts, and second, to observe the local conditions and the terrain of Chaoge in order to prepare for a future attack on Chaoge.

The only thing that surprised him was that his senior brother, with whom he had spent many years and who was both a friend and an enemy, was actually the new king who had only been on the throne for a few years.

If we go back further... this senior brother should have ascended the throne not long after he left the mountain.

Ji Fa sighed, "Master, you foresaw all this long ago, didn't you?!"

No wonder when he was in Guigu, he always felt that his senior brother, who was in his twenties, seemed to live a more tiring life than an old man in his fifties, as if he was carrying a lot on his shoulders.

If it were him, he probably would have run away.

A moment later, Zi Shou came in carrying a tray with two buckets of rice, several dishes, and a pot of wine.

Back in Guigu Valley, their master could go without food, but the two of them couldn't. Although they were used to being pampered and waited on, and were extremely reluctant to cook, they eventually succumbed to the rumbling of their hungry stomachs.

Ji Fa, however, was quite unceremonious. He picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began to eat heartily, as if he were at home, not in the Shang Dynasty palace.

Seeing this, Zi Shou also picked up another bowl of rice and started shoveling it in, because there really was a glutton sitting opposite him who would steal his food!

The two of them, with no manners whatsoever, devoured the entire bucket of rice and several plates of dishes in a flash.

"Hiccup~"

After finishing his meal, Ji Fa let out a satisfied burp, patted his stomach, and laughed, "Rice cooked with superior internal energy is always delicious, especially today when the King of Shang cooked for me. Oh, it's even more fragrant."

Zi Shou said calmly, "The one here tonight is not the King of Shang."

He looked up and stared directly at Ji Fa, saying, "The feudal lords are powerful now, and the Shang Dynasty is beset by internal and external troubles. How about our two families form an alliance and join forces?"

"We've eaten, drunk, and said goodbye; it's time to go."

Ji Fa chuckled, hoisted the sword, still sheathed, onto his shoulders, and walked out. As he approached the door, he paused as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

Zi Shou calmly observed all of this, saying nothing in return.

During their three years in Guigu, they knew each other far better than they knew themselves.

Therefore, they know that it would be superfluous to tell the other party to give up now.

Of course, if the other party truly deviates from their path, then they are no longer the person they approve of.

The Shang dynasty was on the verge of collapse, but as the Shang king, Zi Shou could not abandon the legacy of his ancestors and his people.

This is the responsibility and destiny he bears.

He has no choice!

Ji Fa didn't have as many burdens, so he could see the problems of the Yin Shang Dynasty more rationally and clearly, analyze the advantages and disadvantages, and choose the best answer.

Starting from scratch is undoubtedly the simplest, most direct, and most in line with the expectations of the people.

Even though he knew that dynastic changes were like a cycle that would never end, he had no way to solve it.

He can only make the best choice in the current era.

"It's so beautiful, just like the one I saw in Guigu."

In the courtyard, Ji Fa looked up at the moon blankly and whispered, "Farewell, Senior Brother."

The people in the courtyard had disappeared.

In the room, only Zi Shou remained, sitting at the table, pouring himself a glass of wine and drinking it alone.

The moonlight streamed in through the door, casting a long, long shadow of him as he drank alone.

Suddenly, as if he heard something, he picked up the sword beside him, and with a clang, the longsword was drawn.

Immediately, several cracks appeared on the sword, and it broke into several pieces, falling onto the table with a 'clang'.

Zi Shou was slightly taken aback.

……

Inside the post station.

"How did my sword break?"

Ji Fa looked at the sword broken into several pieces, feeling as if he were about to cry but had no tears left, as if his heart was about to break.

This was the sword they used when they were training in Ghost Valley. Even at the foot of the mountain, it would be considered a divine weapon, extremely useful. Yet, it was shattered in last night's battle.
When did this sword become so brittle?
"After all these years, that guy's strength is terrifyingly real?"

Ji Fa was filled with doubt and uncertainty, but when he recalled their battle the previous night, he realized that their strengths were still evenly matched.

At the very least, they are at the same level.

"Perhaps... it's not that the sword has become brittle, but that I've become stronger."

Ji Fa seemed to be deep in thought, then he could only look for a new sword.

Then he remembered Zi Shou's last suggestion.

"An alliance? What a brilliant strategy of forming alliances! Senior brother, you've already set your sights on me so quickly."

"Let Xiqi ally with you first to buy you time. Once you've resolved your internal and external troubles, it will be our turn, right?"

Ji Fa rolled over, lazily pulled the blanket over himself, and planned to take a nap.

Although he doesn't need to sleep much at his level, he just can't help it, he really loves to sleep.

The so-called "horizontal alliance" means to use the strength of one party to attack the weakness of many others, and to try every means to divide and sow discord among the enemies.

Yes, they are fellow disciples, so we need to be even more careful.

However, forming alliances or going to war is too complicated, as it involves the interest groups behind them, and the two sides are still in opposition.

For generations, Emperor Xin's ancestors had wanted to get rid of Xiqi as soon as possible.

Besides, I'm not the number one position in Xiqi!
He wasn't sure if his senior brother would spare his life in a life-or-death situation, but he was certain that given the chance, the other party would not hesitate to devour Xiqi whole.

……

The next day, early morning court.

The civil and military officials stood on either side.

"I have something to report!" "Your Majesty, I have a report to make. Last night, unidentified and dangerous individuals engaged in a fierce battle in the city, destroying one of the Imperial Observatory's observation towers and several guesthouses, and injuring more than thirty people. I was unable to subdue them, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me..."

Huang Feihu stepped forward and began to apologize.

This scene caused a stir among the civil and military officials, who were all somewhat surprised.

“Your Majesty, this old minister is also guilty. Last night, when we were capturing the enemy, this old minister also led the Xuan Niao Division to assist, but we were still unable to capture them. Please punish me, Your Majesty,” said Grand Tutor Du Yuanxian.

Zi Shou's eyelids twitched, and he said calmly, "Then each of them will be fined three years' salary to repair the damaged Guantian Tower. At the same time, martial law will be imposed in the city to prevent such scoundrels from causing trouble again."

Don't you feel bad about things being destroyed when they're not your own?
He wanted to go outside the city last night, but that bastard Ji Fa acted too quickly and didn't give him a chance to speak.

Next time he tramples Xiqi, let's say hello and see if Ji Fa feels sorry for him.

"Penalty..." Huang Feihu and Du Yuanxian exchanged a glance and breathed a sigh of relief.

It should be noted that these few days are different.

Eight hundred feudal lords gathered in Chaoge to pay homage.

For the two people responsible for security within the city, what happened last night was a very serious dereliction of duty.

A three-year salary deduction is considered a very light punishment.

After all, by the time they reached their positions, their ancestors had already accumulated a large amount of property, and they no longer relied on salaries for a living.

The minister who was about to step forward to request funding for the building's repairs reluctantly retreated from the procession.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The two retreated.

"His Majesty summons the lords of the four garrisons to the palace!"

……

Ji Fa was catching up on sleep in his father Ji Chang's VIP room.

His father's room was high-class, comfortable to sleep in, and undisturbed.

Until Ji Chang pushed open the door and came in.

Ji Fa glanced back and noticed that his father's expression was not good. He couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you go to pay homage? What happened?"

Ji Chang glanced at the doorway and whispered, "The King is about to take action against your Uncle Su."

"Huh?" Ji Fa was startled.

How could his senior brother make such a foolish move?
After all, although the feudal lords have come, they still have pillars of their families. If something happens to them, their families will surely lead a rebellion, which may become the spark that ignites the Shang Dynasty.

However, upon closer inquiry, it was discovered that there were two treacherous officials in the court named Fei Zhong and You Hun, who enjoyed the deep trust of King Di Xin of Shang.

Ji Fa understood this perfectly.

Even if there are capable ministers who do good deeds, there must always be someone to do the dirty work for the emperor. In short, for the emperor, it is not a good thing for any faction, whether upright or treacherous, to dominate the court.

That is why the feudal lords would bring gifts to the two of them when they came to Chaoge. After all, they were not afraid of offending gentlemen, but they were afraid of offending villains.

Of course, this gift wasn't given for nothing. If they accidentally offended the king, the two of them would genuinely do their best to speak on their behalf.

However, Su Hu did not send any gifts, which incurred the wrath of the two men. Today, they advised Emperor Xin that Su Hu had a daughter who was exceptionally beautiful, gentle, and virtuous...

Ji Fa sighed and said, "Uncle Su is too arrogant and upright. He is also the largest vassal lord besides us, and he often speaks rudely. If Your Majesty doesn't deal with him, who should you deal with?"

As for the so-called desire to marry his daughter, it was undoubtedly just an excuse to deal with Su Hu.

After all, he knew that his senior brother was not a lecher; otherwise, his father would have had many women and children. Besides, even a human king would lack women, but he would never lack women.

For Su Hu, this was a test of his attitude.

Agreeing would be easy, but it would also diminish Su Hu's prestige among the feudal lords.

You, Su Hu, weren't you supposed to be tough? In the end, you still had to bow your head.
You won't agree? Well, that'll be a good opportunity to make an example of you and teach you a lesson.

Ji Chang sighed and said, "Who says otherwise? You know your Uncle Su's temperament. He just wrote a rebellious poem outside the Meridian Gate and led his troops back to Jizhou."

The king is furious; he'll probably be selecting men to attack Ji Province soon..."

"Not good..." Ji Fa suddenly exclaimed.

Just as he was about to say something, a voice rang out in the courtyard of the post station: "Marquis Ji Chang of Xibo, receive the imperial decree!"

The father and son looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Excellent... excellent strategy of forming alliances."

Ji was furious but laughed instead. He hadn't expected Di Xin to act so quickly and to have his schemes against them so soon.

His father had a close personal relationship with Su Hu, so sending the troops from Xiqi to attack Jizhou would not only break their relationship but also deplete the national strength of both countries.

"What alliance?" Ji Chang asked in surprise.

Ji Fa shook his head and said, "It's nothing, Father. Go and receive the imperial decree. We are going to attack Ji Province."

Ji Chang's face turned grim as he said, "This...is there really no other way?"

Ji Fa shook his head: "There is a way..."

Ji Chang's eyes lit up: "Tell me quickly."

Ji Fa whispered, "Rebellion!"

"Varied……"

Ji Chang glanced around in alarm, and seeing no one was around, whispered:
"Never mind, I didn't ask!"

Then he hurriedly went to receive the imperial decree.

Ji Fa sighed. In truth, he also felt that now was not a good time to rebel.

After all, even rebellion needs to be justified.

Although the bureaucracy is corrupt, social classes are rigid, and the common people and slaves are suffering...

But to be honest, Lord Shang didn't really make any major mistakes.

If your cause is not legitimate, then there is no reason for you to rebel, right?
In short, we can only take it one step at a time.

Everything seemed unchanged, yet something seemed to have changed.

At this moment, in the distant Yuquan Mountain.

Inside Jinxia Cave.

Yu Ding sat cross-legged on the cloud bed with his eyes closed, his chest glowing with five-colored energy flowing around him, and a plant emitting a clear light with three flowers on his head.

"Breathe in, breathe in, breathe out."

Yu Ding calmed his mind and breathed in a special rhythm. At this moment, he was trying to sever the three corpses in order to quickly cultivate into a Great Luo.

The great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods has already begun, and he feels very insecure if he doesn't quickly cultivate to become a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

The so-called "slaying the three corpses" does not refer to the legendary act of slaying the good and evil corpses to enter a higher realm, but rather to the three worms within the body of a Qi cultivator.

"Mo Zheng~ Da Luo~"

Just as Yu Ding was wholeheartedly trying, suddenly, a voice came from somewhere in the darkness.

moment,

Disturbed like this, the three flowers on the top of the jade cauldron immediately fell back, the five qi in the chest shone inward, and the aura around the body became somewhat chaotic.

"who is it?"

Yu Ding opened his eyes, which were a little red, and gritted his teeth, speaking fiercely.

He felt he could easily defeat the Seven Fairy Attendants on his own right now.

No joke!

(End of this chapter)