Investiture of the Gods: I am Bigan, the Master of Conspiracy

Meanwhile, in Chaoge, the atmosphere was tense and solemn, with a sense of impending doom.

Wen Zhong, the renowned Grand Tutor of the Shang Dynasty and the Grand Marshal of the Army, dressed in a black robe and wearing a purple-gold crown, with a solemn yet resolute expression, resolutely stepped onto the command platform.

The opportunity for the Northern Expedition has now arrived. Yin Ziyu has already made arrangements, ordering Wen Zhong to launch the Northern Expedition. The trigger for the Great Calamity is certainly not just the decisive battle at Lion Camel Ridge.

The decisive battle at Lion Camel Ridge is a battle between the main forces of both sides, and the entire Three Realms will also be thrown into a struggle for order.

Now that the decisive battle at Lion Camel Ridge has begun, the time has come to mobilize the entire Three Realms and launch a full-scale war. There is no need to wait for the outcome of the Lion Camel Ridge battle, because if Lion Camel Ridge loses, it will be annihilated, and if it wins, it will determine the order of the Three Realms.

Therefore, actions began to be taken in all directions throughout the Three Realms, with the Northern Expedition being of paramount importance.

At this moment, Wen Zhong, as the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition, began to muster his troops in Chaoge.

Wen Zhong's gaze swept across the neatly arranged army below the stage, sharp as lightning.

After a full cycle of preparation, the elite troops of the Great Shang Dynasty were full of fighting spirit. The soldiers wore immortal armor, held immortal blades, and had firm eyes, determined to wipe away the shame of the southward migration of the Han Chinese.

The black bird banner, the military flag, fluttered wildly in the wind, making a "whooshing" sound, as if playing a stirring prelude to the upcoming battle.

Wen Zhong's voice resounded throughout the training ground and the entire Chaoge like a great bell: "Fellow soldiers! Now, the great calamity has arrived. This is the time to wipe away the shame of the Investiture of the Gods and the opportunity for the Great Shang to return to its old capital. The time for the Northern Expedition has come. In this battle, we must completely destroy the old order of the Investiture of the Gods of the human race and let the Xuan Niao Banner stand tall in the Three Realms once again."

"A northern expedition, to reclaim the old capital!"

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In an instant, the sound of the Northern Expedition resounded throughout the Three Realms.

At the same time, the Shang Dynasty's proclamation for its northern expedition began to be circulated throughout the Three Realms.

I am the Grand Tutor and Commander-in-Chief of the Great Shang Dynasty. By order of the High Priest Ziyu, I hereby proclaim to all beings in the Three Realms that since the war of the Investiture of the Gods, the universe has been turned upside down and the world has changed color.

The Human Emperor died in battle at Chaoge, and the human race lost his protection. Now, they have become slaves to the faith of the gods and Buddhas of the Three Realms. The current Journey to the West, ostensibly to save all living beings, is actually to completely destroy the human race.

The laws of the Great Shang Dynasty are inherited from the will of the ancient human race. At this time of crisis for the human race, the Great Shang Dynasty should launch a northern expedition to save all living beings.

We, the people of the Great Shang Dynasty, were forced to migrate south in our traditional attire, and have been confined to a small corner of the country for nearly a full cycle.

Time may pass and the world may change, but the shame of being deified remains a thorn in my side, etched into my heart, and I have never dared to forget it for a single day.

Since the Investiture of the Gods, gods and Buddhas have held sway, treating humans like cattle and sheep, taking and robbing them at will, and driving them around at will.

Human dignity has been trampled to the ground; the fate of humanity has been controlled by others.

They should have been upright and honorable, the most intelligent beings in the world, but instead they were reduced to being appendages of gods and Buddhas, enslaved and at their mercy.

Looking at the world today, gods and Buddhas are extravagant and enjoy the offerings of humankind, yet they show no concern for human suffering.

Humans toil year-round, yet reap little reward, lacking food and clothing, enduring unspeakable hardship.

When I, Tang, established my kingdom, I was ordained by Heaven and followed the will of the people. My virtue extended to all living beings, and my power shook the four seas. Tang ruled the world with benevolence and virtue, and the world submitted to my rule, and all people revered me.

However, due to the chaos of the Investiture of the Gods, treacherous villains plotted against the emperor, who sacrificed himself for his country and died in battle. The Shang Dynasty collapsed, the country was destroyed, and the family was wiped out. This hatred is irreconcilable!
Now, with another great calamity approaching, it is the perfect opportunity for our Great Shang Dynasty to restore our nation and avenge our humiliation.

Although the dynasty has experienced many ups and downs, its bloodline has never been broken and its legacy has been passed down from generation to generation.

We, the descendants of the Shang dynasty, have endured humiliation and hardship, persevering and striving for our rise today.

Now, Wen Zhong, the Grand Marshal of the Shang Dynasty, upholds the legacy of his ancestors and follows the general trend of the world. He has launched a northern expedition to reclaim justice for the human race, restore its dignity, and restore the glory of the Shang Dynasty.

This Northern Expedition is not for the sake of seizing power and profit, but for saving humanity from suffering and restoring the dignity of our human race.

This is not merely the rise and fall of the human race, but the survival of all living beings in the primordial world. The rise of demons in Xiniu Hezhou has swept across the Three Realms, bringing all races to the brink of extinction. In this crisis of the Three Realms, the success or failure of the Journey to the West is uncertain, and all living beings have no way out.

Now that the proclamation has been issued, all under heaven shall bear witness. May the soldiers and people of our Great Shang Dynasty unite as one and fight to the death for the rise and fall of the human race and the balance of all races!

Wen Zhong's proclamation for the Northern Expedition swept across the Three Realms like a thunderbolt.

After the proclamation for the Northern Expedition was issued, with Wen Zhong's order, horns sounded and war drums beat.

The elite army surged out of Chaoge City like a tidal wave, its momentum seemingly capable of breaking through all obstacles in the world. Its power was so great that the Heavenly Army was like a child in comparison. The million-strong army marched north, causing the earth to tremble.

When Wen Zhong's proclamation announcing his northern expedition reached Zhennanguan, the atmosphere there suddenly became tense, like the oppressive calm before a storm.

Zhennan Pass was built by the Chan Sect after the Shang Dynasty's elite migrated south. Even though the northern part of the Southern Continent had become a mortal world, the Chan Sect still constructed the Zhennan Pass defense system here to prevent the Shang Dynasty from launching a northern expedition.

After all, although the human race in the Three Realms has entered the era of myriad kingdoms and the court is undergoing a change of dynasties, there is only one emperor, who still upholds the will of the Chan Sect.

Do not underestimate the authority of the emperor currently controlled by the Chan Sect. The emperor of the Han Dynasty once dismissed all other schools of thought and exclusively promoted Confucianism, which instantly swept across the Three Realms. The emperor is the mouthpiece of the Chan Sect's will, and it is essential to ensure his existence.

Zhennan Pass is a defensive system built by the Chan Sect that spans an entire era, connecting the entire earth's veins and setting up a great restriction.

Yang Jian, Li Jing, Nezha, Lei Zhenzi, and others gathered on the Zhennanguan city tower, their expressions solemn as they watched the war clouds that were faintly rising in the north.

Nezha, riding on his Wind-Fire Wheels and with the Universe Ring in his hand gleaming, looked at Yang Jian with an anxious expression and said, "Three-Eyed, these remnants of the Yin Shang dynasty are really launching a northern expedition! They're coming on strong this time!"

Yang Jian frowned, his eyes cold and stern, and said solemnly, "The Great Tribulation has arrived, and the cause and effect of the Investiture of the Gods must have come to a conclusion. Their northern expedition is also reasonable. We must not panic. Immediately activate the Zhennan Pass restriction. No matter what the cost, we must hold on until the battle of Lion Camel Ridge is over. That battle is of great importance, and we must not make any mistakes on our side."

Yang Jian, as the commander of Zhennan Pass, was well aware of the severity of the situation. Zhennan Pass was a crucial defensive line to block Wen Zhong's northern expedition, and the consequences of its fall would be unimaginable.

Lei Zhenzi flapped his wind and thunder wings and came from the south. After circling once in the air, he landed and shouted, "The enemy army will arrive in an instant. There is no time to lose. Activate the restrictions immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian immediately shouted, "Issue the order: Open the gates at Zhennan Pass!"

With Yang Jian's command, the Great Dao Proverbs flashed and shone brightly within Zhennan Pass.

Countless laws of the Great Dao surged forth from every corner of Zhennan Pass, echoing the surrounding rolling mountains.

In an instant, a series of booming sounds seemed to resound throughout the world, and the entire formation was activated instantly.

A dazzling light curtain shot into the sky from the ground, like a barrier that reached the heavens and the earth, slowly unfolding above Zhennan Pass and eventually forming a massive celestial canopy. This canopy exuded an insurmountable aura, with laws flowing across it, completely blocking Wen Zhong's northern expedition route, leaving him no chance to flank.

After all, the Chan Sect had been operating for countless eons. Don't underestimate the vision and planning of a sage. If it weren't for Yin Ziyu's foresight, he wouldn't have been able to gain the upper hand in the planning.

To prevent the Shang dynasty's northern expedition, the entire defensive line was formidable and had a high degree of tolerance for error, making it extremely difficult to break through.

This is also why Yin Ziyu, who once plotted the destruction of Xiqi, did not launch a northern expedition, because it was indeed impossible to conquer it. At the same time, Yin Ziyu set up a defensive system of the Hunyuan Five Elements Formation here. Although it no longer has the power of Hunyuan, it is still an extremely strong defensive system.

This great calamity brought about a change of order, and the capture of Chang'an was a crucial part of it. The present-day Chang'an is the former Xiqi.

Wen Zhong's Northern Expeditionary Army, like a surging black tide, marched mightily toward Zhennanguan.

Now that the decisive battle has arrived, it will inevitably involve the entire army of the nation, as well as all the elite troops cultivated by the Great Shang during this Yuanhui (a specific period in Chinese history). Like a thunderbolt, the force is overwhelming and makes it hard to breathe.

The restrictions on Zhennan Pass have been activated, and the light curtain shines brightly, resembling a majestic ancient divine mountain that stands before the army.

Wen Zhong stood before the army, his three eyes flashing with divine light. He sat atop the black Qilin, his posture upright, like a war god descending upon the world.

At this moment, Wen Zhong's eyes blazed as he stared straight at Zhennan Pass. Then, with a sudden wave of his hand, he commanded in a booming voice, "Form the formation!"

In an instant, hundreds of thousands of troops moved in perfect unison.

When an army goes to war, whether it is immortals or mortals, the most important thing is the formation of the army. The most important thing is that the formation is not chaotic. It is not a matter of one person fighting alone.

The army was deployed in an ingenious formation, and the Sixty Jiazi Formation gradually took shape.

The grand formation is based on the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. Each formation is named after a Jiazi cycle, with one formation for Jiazi, another for Yichou, and a total of sixty formations arranged in an orderly manner, drawing upon the power of the origin.

With the successful setup of the Sixty Jiazi Grand Formation, the weather in the world changed dramatically.

The entire world was instantly shrouded in thick clouds of calamity, like a huge black curtain that completely blocked out the sunlight.

Thick bolts of lightning raged through the clouds like mad dragons, emitting deafening roars, as if gathering immense power to destroy the world.

Wen Zhong waved his command flag and shouted, "Change formation! Six Ding Divine Fire Formation!"

As Wen Zhong's banner flashed, the entire Sixty Jiazi Formation instantly transformed into the Six Ding Divine Fire Formation.

The six formations of Dingchou, Dingmao, Dingsi, Dingwei, Dingyou, and Dinghai serve as the source of divine fire, while the power of the other formations continuously converges on these six locations with the power of the five elements.

In an instant, a violent force began to surge within the formation, and the five elements intermingled and collided, generating a strange and powerful suction force that frantically absorbed the essence of heaven and earth.

Immediately afterwards, at the Six Ding point, divine fire surged forth like a volcanic eruption.

The Six Ding Divine Fire has a strange purplish-gold color and emits a whooshing crackling sound when it burns, as if countless fire snakes are hissing.

The divine fire instantly coalesced into a raging sea of ​​flames, sweeping towards the restrictions of Zhennan Pass with overwhelming force.

Wherever it passed, space rippled like shattered glass, and the air was instantly ignited, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

The protective light barrier of Zhennan Pass trembled violently under the impact of the raging Six Ding Divine Fire.

The Taiqing Qi runes on the light screen flashed wildly, and the power of origin was activated and transformed by the Taiqing divine runes, which actually prevented Wen Zhong's army from advancing an inch.

When Wen Zhong's Northern Expeditionary Army blocked their way at Zhennan Pass, Yaochi looked at Yin Ziyu and asked, "Fellow Daoist, now that the Northern Expeditionary Army is blocked, what do you plan to do in this situation?"

Yin Ziyu remained calm and said indifferently, "Your Majesty, after all, this is the result of countless millennia of effort by the Chan Sect. It is only natural that our army is blocked. It would be abnormal if we could break through it easily. This is a formidable pass to guard against the mighty Shang Dynasty, and we must have made thorough preparations. It is no easy task to forcibly break through the defensive array of Zhennan Pass."

Yaochi frowned upon hearing this and said, "If that's the case, what should we do? If we can't conquer Chang'an, the order of the Three Realms cannot be truly restored. After all, Chang'an is the land of the Son of Heaven."

Yin Ziyu simply smiled faintly and said, "The force that can truly break the deadlock and attack Chang'an is not this Northern Expeditionary Army. The enemy possesses many treasures, and it will be extremely difficult for them to win against such a strong defensive line as Zhennan Pass. Only by employing ingenious strategies and coordinating with others can we succeed."

Upon hearing this, Yaochi's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt, and she quickly asked, "If that's the case, then what should we do?"

Yin Ziyu narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly said, "Blooming from within, the countryside surrounds the city!"

Upon hearing this, Yaochi was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "How should we plan this?"

Yin Ziyu smiled and said, "Does Your Majesty still remember Zhang Jiao?"

Yaochi was stunned again, and the figure instantly appeared in her mind. She blurted out, "Zhang Jiao, who once shook the emperor and united the four directions?"

Yin Ziyu nodded: "It is indeed this person. Zhang Jiao failed back then because the time was not right, but now the time has come! I have arranged for Zhang Jiao and Yang Chan to join forces. This is the main force to break through Chang'an, not the Northern Expeditionary Army."

At this time, Yang Chan was traveling around with some young humans when a Taoist priest found her.

"I am Zhang Jiao of the Taiping Dao of the Shangqing School, and I greet the fairy."

Yang Chan was taken aback at first, and when she saw that the person who came was Zhang Jiao, she was extremely surprised: "Zhang Jiao, it's you! Didn't you die because of the backlash from the Han Dynasty's destiny?"

Zhang Jiao was very famous. He was the first person to shout that "Heaven is dead." The death of Heaven did not refer to the Way of Heaven, but to the entire order of heaven and earth. Not long after, the Han dynasty's fate turned against him and ended. Unexpectedly, this has happened today.

Zhang Jiao sighed softly, his expression revealing a sense of感慨 and vicissitude: "Indeed, I was doomed to perish back then, but it was my master, the Golden Spirit Holy Mother, who mercifully saved me and allowed me to live. Now that the great calamity has arrived and the Three Realms are in turmoil, I have come here on my master's orders to lend you a helping hand, Fairy."

Upon hearing this, Yang Chan nodded slightly and said, "So it is truly a great opportunity for you, Fellow Daoist, to become a disciple of the Golden Spirit Sect Master. But I wonder, how should we plan to deal with this great calamity that is about to sweep across the Three Realms?"

Zhang Jiao's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "I once cultivated and spread the Dao among mortals, enduring many hardships, only to realize that the suffering of humanity stemmed from the various constraints of the order of heaven and earth. Therefore, I once raised my arm and cried out, 'The Azure Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise!' Now, the critical moment for changing the order of heaven and earth has arrived. The Heavenly Court's order is being planned and executed by my master and others, while we bear another heavy responsibility—to gather troops and attack Chang'an."

After hearing this, Yang Chan nodded slightly and said, "Since it is the decree of Senior Sister Jinling, I will do my best to help."

Zhang Jiao continued, "Although the Taiping Sect, which I founded, is now in decline, it still has many loyal disciples hidden throughout the world. Now that the great calamity has arrived, seizing Chang'an is of paramount importance. Only in this way can we truly break the old shackles and change the order of the Three Realms. My intention is to start from the center, coordinate with all directions, and then attack Chang'an to capture the Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Chan was deeply shocked and immediately said, "In that case, I will take the Lotus Lantern and work together with you, fellow Daoist!"

Yang Chan, having studied under the goddess Nuwa, understood her own path, which was also the foundation of her existence. As for her brother Yang Jian's stance, at this point, it was no longer possible to consider it; as the saying goes, those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.

When humanity regains its emperor, and the emperor's aura returns, it fulfills Nuwa's wish and elevates its own status, preventing it from becoming a source of original sin. (End of Chapter)