The concept of a born saint begins with Strange Tales from Liaozhai.

Duke Huan of Qi, Guan Zhong, and the ministers of Qi were completely stunned, standing there in a daze, with only one sentence echoing in their minds.

Just a coincidence?

Is this the real situation?

In an instant, Duke Huan of Qi was overwhelmed with a surge of emotions: anger, resentment, doubt, and shock.

He couldn't accept this situation!

Duke Huan of Qi couldn't help but exclaim, "If the Mandate of Heaven is not in Qi, where else could it be?!"

Upon hearing this crucial statement, Guan Zhong and the others were jolted awake, and the expressions of Xun Li and other spies from various states among the crowd also changed drastically.

Indeed, if the Mandate of Heaven is not in the State of Qi, then which State is it in?

At this moment, everyone felt a deep sense of doubt and astonishment.

The scene was silent for a moment.

Just when it seemed the mountain god might not answer.

A mysterious voice echoed in their ears.

“The Mandate of Heaven is not on you, nor in this age.”

The fishy chanting, the shaved legs, the gray emblem, the shrewdness

The sound continued.

"More than four hundred years from now, a man will emerge, bearing the mandate of heaven. He will sweep across all nations and unify the world..."

As these words fell.

Duke Huan of Qi and his entourage felt a chill run down their spines, as if they were witnessing a man destined for greatness appear more than four hundred years later, sweeping across the states and unifying them.

Unfortunately, they didn't know who this person was, nor did they know whether what Lord Wushan said was a joke or true.

This moment.

Duke Huan of Qi and others, as well as Xun Li and others, were filled with mixed emotions, feeling both resentment and relief.

If what Lord Wushan said is true, then it means that no vassal state can currently unify the world!

A moment later.

Duke Huan of Qi recovered from the astonishing prophecy, but his emotions were still somewhat turbulent.

Subconsciously, he gazed into the depths of the misty mountains and urgently asked, "Who is this?"

The wind rustled through the trees, making the leaves whisper in the breeze.

Xing Sui waited quietly.

Take a breath.

Two breaths.

A dozen or so breaths passed.

The area around Mount Wu was completely silent.

After a long while, the mysterious God of Wushan remained silent.

Clearly, Lord Wushan was unwilling to answer this question.

Duke Huan of Qi's expression gradually became complex, a mixture of resentment, doubt, and unease in his eyes.

He was still persistent and asked several other questions.

For example, will the future ruler of Qi, the one destined by heaven, appear among the various states in the present?

Unfortunately, no matter how he spoke, no sound came from the misty mountain.

Finally, Duke Huan of Qi fell silent, standing on the altar, gazing with a complex expression at the misty, winding mountain.

In the end.

With resentment and mixed feelings, Duke Huan of Qi, along with Guan Zhong, the ministers of Qi, and others, left Wushan and headed towards the capital of Qi.

As the sacrificial procession headed towards the capital of Qi, the various events that occurred during the ceremony were also leaked out by spies such as Xun Li through various means.

Time passed slowly.

Soon, the news spread to other countries.

This news, like a pebble dropped into a lake, created ripples among the feudal lords.

……

The State of Jin.

In Quwo City.

After reading the secret letter, the King of Jin frowned deeply.

Silence fell over the hall.

After a long while, he murmured softly.

"Lord of Mist Mountain..."

"The Mandate of Heaven more than four hundred years from now?"

Several ministers in the hall exchanged glances, and one of them couldn't help but speak up, "Your Majesty, this matter may not be credible. Perhaps it is just the words of the God of Wushan playing tricks on Marquis Qi."

"After all, how could the Marquis of Qi, a ruler of a nation, starve to death? It's utterly absurd!"

Putting aside the mysterious destiny more than four hundred years later, they all found the prophecy about the Marquis of Qi to be utterly outrageous—how could it possibly be true!

Since this outrageous claim is false, then this so-called concept of destiny is also very likely false!

It was nothing more than the words of the God of Wushan playing tricks on the Marquis of Qi!

The ministers thought confidently.

Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Jin nodded in agreement, as he also somewhat agreed.

After a moment of silence, a slight smile finally appeared on his lips. "As long as fate doesn't intervene, that's fine!"

Speaking of which, the recent developments in the State of Qi have been quite alarming to him. Even though the words of Lord Wushan were just teasing the Marquis of Qi, they still made him feel somewhat at ease.

……

The State of Chu.

Yingdu.

After hearing the scout's report, King Cheng of Chu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the hall.

"Hahaha!"

"That guy, Marquis Qi, Jiang Xiaobai, actually starved to death?"

King Cheng of Chu laughed and shook his head, jokingly saying, "What the God of Wushan said is quite interesting, hahaha..."

He didn't take what the God of Mist Mountain said very seriously, and just took it as a joke.

Several nobles and ministers from the Chu state in the hall couldn't help but smile.

They all felt that these were just words spoken by the God of Wushan to tease the Marquis of Qi.

However...

After the laughter subsided, King Cheng of Chu's gaze gradually sharpened, and he began to ponder.

"More than four hundred years later..."

He whispered, "Do you think that person might be from my Chu state?"

The stench emanating from the hall startled them, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

……

At the same time.

The location of the Zhou royal family.

Luo Yi.

King Xiang of Zhou, seated high on his throne, listened quietly to the messenger's report.

Upon hearing the prophecy that Duke Huan of Qi would starve to death in the palace in his later years, he was slightly taken aback and found it hard to believe.

Upon hearing that a chosen one would appear more than four hundred years from now, defeat all the nations, and unify the world, he was filled with unease.

The main hall fell silent for a moment.

A long time passed.

King Xiang of Zhou had mixed feelings.

If this is true...

"Has the mandate of heaven for my Great Zhou come to an end?"

At this moment, he felt a mixture of sorrow and worry about the future of the Zhou Dynasty, as well as a strange sense of relief.

If what Lord Wushan said is true, then it means that the Great Zhou Dynasty has more than four hundred years left to rule!

Even if the feudal lords of various states only nominally acknowledge him as their lord, that would be enough!

……

The State of Qin.

An envoy was kneeling in the center of the hall, reporting the details of the Qi Kingdom's Wushan sacrifice without missing a single word.

The atmosphere inside the main hall was exceptionally quiet.

"More than four hundred years from now, a chosen one will appear, defeat all the nations, and unify the world?"

Is this true or false?

Who exactly is this person?

Duke Mu of Qin pondered this with a puzzled expression.

This scene is just one of many.

The states of Song, Lu, Wei, Zheng...

Upon hearing the news, the reactions of the various feudal lords were all roughly the same.

Chapter 115 The Fate of Guan Zhong and Duke Huan of Qi

While the various vassal states were abuzz with discussion about what happened during Duke Huan of Qi's sacrificial ceremony.

Time also passed slowly.

In the blink of an eye, several years have passed.

In these past few years, many things have happened in the State of Qi, one of the hegemons.

Linzi was the capital of the State of Qi.

Deep within the palace.

Guan Zhong lay on his couch.

The once powerful Chancellor Guan Zhong, who held sway over the Qi state, established its hegemony, and subdued the feudal lords, is now barely clinging to life.

He was already thin, but now he was even more emaciated, with a sallow complexion and white temples. Only his eyes remained deep and clear.

Beside the bed.

Duke Huan of Qi personally sat in guard, his former majesty and composure gone, replaced by anxiety and unease in his expression.

a long time.

After grieving for a while, Duke Huan of Qi asked in a low voice, "Uncle Zhong, to whom shall I entrust my affairs after my death?"

Guan Zhong slightly opened his eyes, his breath weak, and said with effort, "The one who can be used is Xi Peng."

Duke Huan of Qi nodded, then suddenly asked, "What do you think of Yi Ya? He is skilled at preparing the five flavors, and I am very pleased with him."

Guan Zhong frowned, his murky eyes darkening, and he said weakly, "Your Majesty, Yi Ya cannot be used!"