The prehistoric infrastructure maniac

Chapter 168 Shi Mo Bestows a Treasure
After spending more than half a year, they finally quelled the rebellion of Wen Zhong, the King of Pingling in the East Sea, but it was a Pyrrhic victory.

Outside the east gate of Chaoge City, a wave of black-armored soldiers surged forth. Despite being a victorious army, they appeared as if they had suffered a defeat, as if these elite Yin Shang troops had been traumatized by some blow.

Upon seeing the officials led by Wei Zi who came to greet him, Wen Zhong dismounted from the Mo Qilin and exchanged a few pleasantries with them. Not seeing Huang Feihu, he couldn't help but ask. He was greatly surprised to learn that Huang Feihu had actually rebelled against the Five Passes and defected to Xiqi.

*Pfft.* After understanding the reason, Wen Zhong couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, startling the assembled officials who gasped in shock. His disciples Ji Li and Yu Qing rushed forward to support him, crying out, "Teacher!"

"It's alright! During this campaign against the East Sea, I was seriously injured by King Pingling and haven't recovered yet, but I'm not going to die," Wen Zhong said, waving his hand. He closed his eyes to catch his breath before riding the black Qilin and following his ministers into the city to see King Zhou.

King Zhou was somewhat surprised to learn that Wen Zhong was injured. Faced with Wen Zhong's questioning about Huang Feihu, he did not dare to offer any further explanation.

Wen Zhong seemed disappointed and helpless, and without asking any further questions, he left the palace to return to his residence to recuperate.

Although the battle in the East China Sea did not take long, it was no less difficult than the battle in the North China Sea. The twists and turns of the battle need not be detailed, but Wen Zhong's injury was truly serious.

If it were an ordinary injury, Wen Zhong would have had the elixirs and spiritual medicines of Biyou Palace, and his cultivation was not weak, so recovery would not have been difficult. But this injury had truly damaged his foundation.

"The one who rescued Huang Feihu was actually a disciple of the True Martial Emperor? And Jiang Ziya, who was a disciple of the Sage Shi Mo, also went to Xiqi to assist Ji Chang and his son. Could it be that the fate of our Yin Shang Dynasty has truly run out?"

That evening, as Wen Zhong looked at the military intelligence report sent by Han Rong from Sishui Pass, his brows furrowed and his eyes were filled with worry.

Early the next morning, Wen Zhong gathered all his generals to discuss the campaign against Xiqi. In the end, he sent Generals Chao Tian and Chao Lei to test Xiqi's strength and weaknesses.
However, unexpectedly, this was a case of throwing good money after bad. The Chao brothers, Chao Tian and Chao Lei, were not particularly skilled in martial arts and had no strategy. How could they be a match for Jiang Ziya?
Wen Zhong was caught off guard and allowed Chao Lei to return and swindle some grain and supplies, while Chao Lei also took his valuables and family away.

However, Wen Zhong quickly realized what was happening and sent men to chase after him. Before Chao Lei could escape the five passes, they intercepted him.

Somewhat resentful of Chao Lei's betrayal and deception, Wen Zhong directly ordered Chao Lei and his family to be escorted to Sishui Pass. He also instructed Han Rong, the general of Sishui Pass, to send someone to Xiqi to inform Chao Tian that this traitorous villain should return to confess his crimes and face death.

Upon learning that his brother's life was hanging by a thread, Chao Tian became anxious and couldn't help but rush to Sishui Pass.

"General Chao, going back now is suicide!" Huang Feihu couldn't help but try to dissuade him.

"But my brothers and their families are all at Sishui Pass. How can I disregard their lives and live on my own?" Chao Tian was in great pain. How could he not know that going back this time would be a matter of life and death?
Jiang Ziya also frowned, feeling that the matter was somewhat tricky and difficult to handle.

Fortunately, Nezha arrived at the crucial moment, and also rescued Chao Lei and brought him with him.

However, when Han Rong of Sishui Pass discovered that Nezha had gone to rescue people, he decisively ordered his men to kill, slaughtering Chao Tian and Chao Lei's entire family. Nezha only managed to save one of Chao Lei and Chao Tian's youngest sons.

As a result, the Chao brothers, Chao Tian and Chao Lei, were naturally heartbroken and hated the Yin Shang dynasty to the core. They had no choice but to stay in Xiqi to serve the country, hoping to have the opportunity to avenge their family in the future.

"How hateful!" Wen Zhong was furious when he received the news in Xiqi. He then ordered Zhang Guifang, the general of Qinglong Pass, to attack Xiqi.

From this point on, the years-long war between the Shang Dynasty and the Western Zhou Dynasty, as well as the battles between cultivators and immortals from all sides, began.
Zhang Guifang led an army of 100,000 men, with General Feng Lin as the vanguard, and marched straight to the outskirts of Xiqi City to set up camp.

Jiang Ziya, unaware of Zhang Guifang's background, inquired with Huang Feihu and learned that Zhang Guifang was not only the bravest in the army, but also possessed the secret art of calling out the name to seize the soul. In the battle between two armies, as long as he called out the opponent's name, he could make the opponent fall off his horse and be helplessly bound.

The generals naturally didn't believe it; how could such a strange thing happen? They thought Huang Feihu was just repeating hearsay and not to be believed.

Nezha laughed and said, "It's probably some kind of bewitching or mind-controlling technique. Don't worry, Uncle-Master. If Zhang Guifang really has such abilities, I'll go and meet him!"

After Zhang Guifang set up camp, she sent Feng Lin to provoke and challenge them to a battle the very next day.

Upon learning that someone had come to challenge him, Jiang Ziya hurriedly summoned his generals to discuss who should lead the battle.

Huang Feihu hurriedly reminded Feng Lin that he also had the strange ability to spit beads to hurt people, but Ji Shuqian, the hot-tempered and reckless younger brother of King Wu, was not convinced and directly volunteered to fight.

Jiang Ziya couldn't very well stop them, otherwise people would accuse him of suppressing the Ji clan's generals.

However, Jiang Ziya, still somewhat uneasy, had Nezha follow behind to keep watch, in case something happened to Ji Shuqian, which would be difficult to explain to King Wu, his mother Tai Si, and his grandmother Tai Ren.

But Nezha ultimately failed to save Ji Shuqian. This guy was too impatient and overconfident. Relying on his superior martial arts skills, he injured Feng Lin and then chased after him. He was injured by the red bead that Feng Lin spat out, knocked off his horse, and then killed with a single blow.

Bang! Although Nezha hurriedly used his Universe Ring to injure Feng Lin, he could only bring Ji Shuqian's body back to Xiqi City. The next day, Jiang Ziya personally led the Xiqi generals to fight against Zhang Guifang.
On the battlefield, Zhang Guifang displayed her divine power, fighting against many enemies single-handedly. Using her soul-snatching technique, she caused Huang Feihu, Zhou Ji, and Nangong Shi to fall off their mounts one after another. Fortunately, Nezha intervened in time and injured her with the Universe Ring, forcing Zhang Guifang to retreat in a sorry state, thus preventing Huang Feihu and the others from being captured alive.

However, this battle also allowed Jiang Ziya and the generals of Xiqi to witness how formidable and difficult Zhang Guifang was.

That soul-stealing technique, apart from Nezha who is not afraid of it, is something that no one else can withstand!

Worried that the Shang dynasty might send more capable individuals, which he feared he wouldn't be able to handle, Jiang Ziya entrusted the responsibility of defending the city to Nezha and Nangong Shi, and then headed to Jiuding Iron Fork Mountain overnight.

At Jiuding Iron Fork Mountain, Shi Mo, anticipating Jiang Ziya's arrival, had no desire for quiet cultivation and instead went to the summit of Babao Peak to observe the stars at night.
"Changes have occurred in the primordial world, a great calamity has begun, and all signs are present." Looking at the changes in the celestial phenomena, Shi Mo seemed to be deep in thought. All the changes in the primordial world contained the mysteries of the world's operation.

"Master, Jiang Shang has arrived," Jin Yan, with his crimson-gold hair, respectfully reported.

"Let him come over!" Shi Mo instructed, turning his head slightly.

Jin Yan responded and soon brought Jiang Ziya over.

"Disciple Jiang Shang greets Master! Wishing Master a long and prosperous life!" Jiang Ziya stepped forward and knelt down to pay his respects.

"Alright, get up!" Shi Mo turned around and waved for Jiang Ziya to get up. Then he sat cross-legged under the mother peach tree, with auspicious clouds appearing above his head: "Ziya, I already know why you came. I originally wanted to call you here to bestow the Investiture of the Gods upon you."

As Shi Mo spoke, he gestured, and instantly the power of the stars in the heavens converged, causing a purple scroll radiating a mysterious aura to descend from the sky:

"Now, the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods is upon us, and the Shang Dynasty is about to fall. You will follow the will of Heaven and the people to fight against Shang. The loyal ministers and generals who died during this period, as well as those cultivators who could not uphold the path of immortality, will all have their souls and true spirits listed in the Investiture of the Gods after death. There will be a total of 365 righteous gods of the Zhou Tian, ​​who will be responsible for the Jade Emperor's rule over the Three Realms in the future."

“Ziya, you are the chosen one. You may build a divine altar on Mount Xiqi and hang this list there. After the victory against King Zhou, you will hold this list and preside over the conferment of titles upon the gods.”

Hearing Shi Mo's words, Jiang Ziya was somewhat surprised and moved. Looking at the Investiture of the Gods that had floated down in front of him, he excitedly and carefully took it with both hands: "Yes, Master, disciple obeys!"

“This great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods is filled with bloodshed, and life and death are unpredictable,” Shi Mo continued. “Therefore, I bestow upon you the God-Slaying Whip to control all the gods in the heavens, and the Southern Flame Banner for protection.”

As he spoke, Shi Mo flipped his hand and took out the God-Slaying Whip and a small flag wreathed in flames, presenting them to Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya was overjoyed: "Thank you, teacher!"

“This Southern Flame Banner is one of the Five Innate Banners, and it is the most top-grade innate spiritual treasure in the primordial world. It can protect you from harm,” Shi Mo continued. “The God-Slaying Whip can only strike those destined on the Investiture of the Gods list. I hope you can use it wisely.”

"Next, Xiqi will be plagued by constant warfare, and the Shang Dynasty will launch multiple campaigns against it. There will also be some cultivators and even heretical and evil people getting involved, but don't worry. At the crucial moment, someone will come to your aid," Shi Mo's words reassured Jiang Ziya, making him feel both pressured and at ease.

"I will bestow upon you another mount!" Shi Mo said, waving his hand. Accompanied by the echoing sounds of horses neighing and dragons roaring, a magnificent dragon horse appeared from the heavens, riding on clouds and arriving before Jiang Ziya in the blink of an eye.

“This dragon-horse is a primordial auspicious beast, possessing considerable merit and good fortune, and has long since attained immortality. Today, I will temporarily lend it to you for your transportation, so that it may protect you on the battlefield in the future,” Shi Mo said. Hearing this, Jiang Ziya was so moved that he prostrated himself on the ground: “Master, your disciple…”

"Alright, you've suffered on my behalf this time. Just focus on completing the Investiture of the Gods," Shi Mo said. "When you succeed, it will be a great merit. Even if you are destined to never attain immortality in this life, I will still guarantee that you will cultivate into a carefree immortal in the future."

With Shi Mo's assurance, Jiang Ziya became even more invigorated: "Rest assured, Master! Your disciple will certainly live up to your expectations and complete the great task of bestowing titles upon the gods as soon as possible!"

"Alright, Ziya, you may go down the mountain now!" Shi Mo waved his hand to indicate this, and Jiang Ziya respectfully responded without getting up to leave Babao Peak and Jiuding Iron Fork Mountain.

After Jiang Ziya left, Shi Mo instructed Jin Yan, who was standing beside him, "The Investiture of the Gods is of great importance. I fear that some people may covet it. In order to prevent Ziya from suffering any mishaps along the way, Jin Yan, go and see him off and make sure he returns to Xiqi safely. After that, you stay in Xiqi Mountain to guard the Investiture Platform. Once the Investiture of the Gods is over, it will be a meritorious deed."

"Yes!" Jin Yan replied respectfully and hurriedly left Jiuding Iron Fork Mountain.

As Shi Mo had predicted, not long after Jiang Ziya left Jiuding Tiecha Mountain, he encountered Shen Gongbao, a disciple of the Jade Void Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

Shen Gongbao, with his silver tongue, wanted to challenge Jiang Ziya to a duel over the Investiture of the Gods, but Jiang Ziya refused.

He tried to seize it by force, but Jiang Ziya struck him hard with the God-Slaying Whip, leaving him severely injured and forcing him to flee in a sorry state.
At the same time, Bai Jian, who had once been a general under the Yellow Emperor, was also ordered to leave the Netherworld where he had served for many years and go to Qishan to await orders.
(End of this chapter)