Primordial Era: I, Tongtian, will slay all enemies!

At night, in the Xiqi camp at Jinji Ridge, candlelight flickered in the night wind, casting jagged shadows on the tent walls.

Randeng sat firmly in the main seat, his face as solemn as ancient black iron. The twelve Golden Immortals sat on either side, and the atmosphere was as oppressive as the still, deep sea before a storm, making it almost suffocating.

Taiyi Zhenren, thinking of tomorrow's battle and the fact that he had no disciples to shield him from the calamity, and that Yuanshi was not concerned about him, frowned and sighed heavily.

Upon hearing Taiyi Zhenren's sigh, Guang Chengzi frowned, his eyes flashing with anger, and immediately began to rebuke him.

"You insolent fool! Which of my third-generation disciples isn't exceptionally talented and possesses cultivation as profound as the ocean? Why are you sighing for no reason? Do you think my Chan Sect is doomed to defeat?!"

Taiyi Zhenren's lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. His eyes were filled with deep worry about tomorrow's battle, and his gaze was like that of a bird trapped in a cage, full of struggle.

Seeing this, Chi Jingzi quickly stood up to smooth things over in order to prevent any damage to the harmony.

"Senior brother, please calm down. Although the third-generation disciples of our Chan Sect are all exceptionally talented, the third-generation disciples of the Jie Sect are by no means ordinary either. The spiritual treasures they possess are all formidable, and the power of those treasures alone is something our disciples would find difficult to withstand."

Guang Chengzi snorted coldly, his disdain evident in his words: "Do my fellow disciples lack spiritual treasures? Share some with us, and our Chan Sect will undoubtedly win. What is there to fear? Don't be so stingy!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked troubled, as if a heavy burden was pressing down on them.

Ran Deng slowly swept his gaze across the crowd and said in a deep voice, "You are all being far too cautious. These disciples have grown up by our side since childhood. Are you really afraid that they will betray their sect and defect to the enemy camp?"

The Pure Void Moral Heavenly Venerable suddenly stood up, his figure creating a gust of wind that caused the candlelight to flicker violently.

"Senior brother, Vice Master, it's not that I'm unwilling to bestow spiritual treasures upon my disciple. My disciple Huang Tianhua's father is the Martial King of the Great Shang Dynasty. Now, with the Investiture of the Gods calamity unfolding unpredictably, how can I not worry? If he were to turn against us due to familial ties, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Manjushri, the Heavenly Venerable of Vast Dharma, hurriedly echoed, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with a deep, unfathomable pool of helplessness.

"Yes, my disciple Jin Zha is the son of Li Jing, the garrison commander of Chen Tang Pass. If they defect on the battlefield, wouldn't we lose both our wife and our troops? We must carefully consider this risk."

The others nodded in agreement, each lost in thought. The tent was deathly silent, save for the heavy breathing that filled the air.

After listening, Ran Deng shook his head slightly and sighed softly, "They have followed you since childhood and rarely see their parents. How could they easily betray their mentor to help parents they have never met?"

Master Yu Ding stepped forward, "Senior Brother and Vice Master are absolutely right. Fellow disciples, we must have faith in our disciples. Look at my disciples; how close they are to me!"

The twelve Golden Immortals gritted their teeth and each summoned their disciples into their tents.

Manjushri, the Heavenly Venerable of Vast Dharma, looked at Jinzha, waved his sleeve, and with a flash of light, took out the Dragon-Binding Stake and the Flat Staff.

"Jin Zha, you have been my disciple for a long time. I did not bestow upon you a spiritual treasure before because you were still young, and I worried that you would not be able to handle such a treasure. Today I bestow upon you the treasure that guards my cave, hoping that you will display the divine might of my Chan Sect on the battlefield, and not disappoint your master's expectations!"

Jinzha hurriedly knelt down, respectfully accepting the spiritual treasure with both hands. He then bowed deeply, his voice as firm as a rock: "Thank you, Master. This disciple will certainly do my utmost to live up to your expectations!"

Qingxu Daode Tianzun took out an octagonal bright silver hammer and a Hunyuan Banner, and looked at Huang Tianhua.

"Huang Tianhua, you are naturally dull-witted, but I know you have a pure heart. I bestowed upon you spiritual treasures because I fear your straightforward nature might lead you to act impulsively and cause trouble again. Today I bestow upon you an eight-sided bright silver hammer and a Hunyuan Banner. I hope you will use them wisely and refrain from acting rashly."

"This disciple will humbly follow Master's teachings and will certainly uphold the prestige of our Chan Sect, making this world a place where our Chan Sect reigns supreme!"

Subsequently, the Immortal Puxian bestowed the Wu Hook Sword upon Muzha, and the other twelve Golden Immortals also bestowed spiritual treasures upon their respective disciples.

At the Grand Shang camp, the Shadow Guard knelt on one knee and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged. We will proceed as planned tomorrow."

Di Xin sat upright on his throne, his posture as straight as a pine tree. He nodded slightly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light like a hawk's: "Very good."

At this moment, Li Jing took a step forward and knelt down heavily with a "thump," his forehead hitting the ground hard with a dull sound. His body trembled slightly, like a leaf falling in the autumn wind.

He knew all too well that he was a subject of the Shang Dynasty, but his son was on the opposing side, a contradiction that pierced his heart like a thousand arrows.

His heart felt as if it were being torn apart by a sharp blade. On one side was his loyalty to the Shang Dynasty; on the other was his fatherly love for his son. These two emotions clashed fiercely within him, creating a turbulent storm.

Huang Feihu, standing to the side, felt a pang of inner turmoil upon seeing Li Jing kneel. He remembered the great favors he had received from the Shang Dynasty, and as the Martial King of the Shang, he felt it was his duty to serve the Shang with his life.

But the thought of his son, Huang Tianhua, made him want to plead for him.

He gritted his teeth, his jaw chattering, and finally made up his mind to kneel down and bow.

"Your Majesty, I am the Martial King of the Great Shang Dynasty. If Huang Tianhua becomes an enemy of the Great Shang, my Huang family will have no more of him, and I, Huang Feihu, will have no more sons." His voice was choked with emotion, and his eyes were filled with pain, a pain that pierced his heart like thorns.

The camp was deathly silent; everyone seemed to be frozen in place, remaining completely still.

After all, on one side is one's own flesh and blood, and on the other is the dynasty one is loyal to. This choice is like standing on the edge of a cliff, and one wrong step will lead to eternal damnation.

"You two, please get up. What crime have you committed? Besides, you are the pillars of our Great Shang Dynasty, the beams that hold up the sea. Don't kneel down so easily."

Upon hearing this, the two slowly stood up, tears still glistening in their eyes, the tears swirling in their sockets, carrying endless sorrow.

"Jin Zha, Mu Zha, and Huang Tianhua are all members of the human race and subjects of my Great Shang Dynasty. I will not stand idly by. Tomorrow's battle will reveal the outcome, so you can all rest assured."

After hearing Di Xin's words, Wen Zhong understood that Di Xin had his own plans, so he immediately stepped forward to comfort Huang Feihu and Li Jing: "Generals, please do not worry too much. His Majesty is wise and mighty, and will surely handle this matter properly."

"Alright everyone, if Jinzha, Muzha, and Huang Tianhua fight tomorrow, Lei Zhenzi and Nezha will face them. Remember, do not harm any of them; just capture them! The rest of you, be on standby in case the Chan Sect tries to shirk their responsibilities!"

"By order of the King, for the sake of humanity and for the Great Shang Dynasty, we will gladly die a thousand deaths!"