Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

Chaoge Royal Palace

Emperor Xin sat upright on the dragon throne, his imperial robes draped down, his crown majestic.

Below, the courtiers stood on both sides.

Civil and military officials each occupied their respective positions.

The atmosphere inside the hall was both solemn and enthusiastic.

Because today, the phoenix sings in Chaoge.

Because today, the black bird returns to its nest.

Because today, destiny belongs to the merchants.

Wen Zhong stood in the hall, a divine light flickering in his three eyes.

He bowed slightly, his voice low.

"Your Majesty, Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan has arrived in Chaoge."

"We are now resting at the post station."

"If Your Majesty wishes to see him, I will go and invite him immediately."

Di Xin waved his hand.

"No need."

"I will go myself."

Wen Zhong was taken aback.

"Your Majesty, although Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan is a disciple of the Jie Sect, he is a direct disciple of the Vice Master of Xuandu."

"But he is, after all, a cultivator, a person outside the secular world."

"Your Majesty is the most exalted of emperors; how could you possibly lower yourself to such a position?"

Di Xin looked at him, his gaze calm.

"Condescend to do so?"

"Grand Tutor Wen, you are wrong."

"I am not the supreme ruler."

"I am the supreme ruler of the human race."

"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan has come to Chaoge, to speak for me, and to establish the destiny of the Shang Dynasty."

"Such kindness is something I would not be too much to express my gratitude on my knees."

"Moreover, would you condescend to do so?"

The sound fell, like the clanging of metal and stone.

Wen Zhong remained silent.

He looked at Di Xin, at that resolute yet sincere face.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

His Majesty has changed.

He was no longer the headstrong and autocratic monarch.

He is no longer the tyrant who refuses to listen to advice and cannot tolerate dissent.

He learned to be grateful.

I learned humility.

I've learned to bow my head.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Wen Zhong bowed and stepped aside.

Di Xin rose and stood with his hands behind his back before the dragon throne.

The emperor's robes hung down, and his crown stood majestically.

He raised his eyes and looked out of the hall.

Looking towards the direction of the post station.

"Prepare the carriage."

"I will personally go to the post station to pay my respects to Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan."

As soon as the words fell, the assembled officials knelt down.

"Your Majesty, we obey!"

驿馆

The courtyard is deep and secluded, with ancient trees reaching for the sky.

Kong Xuan stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, the five-colored divine light swaying slightly.

He looked up at the sky.

His gaze was calm.

The phoenix sings in the morning song, and the black bird returns to its nest.

Destiny lies in business.

He had completed the task assigned to him by his master.

But he can't leave.

Because Xiqi had not yet raised an army.

Because the Investiture of the Gods has not yet begun.

Because the true great calamity has not yet arrived.

He will be stationed in Chaoge to oversee the situation.

We must protect the Shang Dynasty, protect Emperor Xin, and protect the destiny of the Phoenix Crying in Chaoge.

It will not fall.

It is indestructible.

It won't end.

"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan."

A voice came from outside the courtyard.

Kong Xuan turned around.

Emperor Xin stood outside the courtyard gate, his imperial robes hanging down, his crown majestic.

Behind him, the courtiers knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Kong Xuan looked at him, her gaze calm.

"His Majesty has arrived."

Di Xin nodded and stepped into the courtyard.

He walked up to Kong Xuan and bowed slightly.

A complete bow.

"I thank Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan."

The sound fell, like the clanging of metal and stone.

Kong Xuan looked at him, at that resolute yet sincere face.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

This was Emperor Xin.

The supreme ruler of the human race.

The kings of the Shang Dynasty.

Although his cultivation level was low and he was a mortal,

But his heart was more resolute than that of many cultivators.

They were all sincere.

They are all sincere.

"Your Majesty need not be so polite."

Kong Xuan raised his hand and gently helped her up.

A gentle force lifted Di Xin up.

"I have come here on the orders of my master to speak out for Your Majesty and to determine the fate of the Shang Dynasty."

"This is what I should do."

"If Your Majesty wishes to express gratitude, then I thank my master."

Di Xin nodded.

"I will naturally thank Vice Master Xuandu."

"I should also thank my fellow Daoist Kong Xuan."

He paused, his gaze deepening slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan, I have a request to make."

Kong Xuan looked at him and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."

Di Xin took a deep breath and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"I request that you remain in Chaoge, fellow Daoist."

"Protect the country for me, protect the destiny of the Shang Dynasty."

"Wait until the calamity of the Investiture of the Gods is over, until Xiqi is pacified, until the world is at peace."

"If you wish to leave, I will not force you to stay."

The sound faded, like the evening drum and the morning bell.

Kong Xuan remained silent.

He looked at Di Xin, at that sincere yet expectant face.

Thoughts raced through my mind.

Stay in Chaoge.

Protect the nation and its destiny.

Is this what Master means?

he does not know.

But he knew that his master had sent him to Chaoge not just to make a sound.

Determining fate.

It was to protect the Shang Dynasty during the Investiture of the Gods.

This was to ensure Emperor Xin's safety during the great calamity.

This was to completely thwart Xiqi's scheme.

"it is good."

Kong Xuan nodded.

Each word fell with a resounding clang, like metal striking stone.

"I will stay."

"To protect the nation for His Majesty, and to safeguard the destiny of the Shang Dynasty."

"Wait until the calamity of the Investiture of the Gods is over, until Xiqi is pacified, until the world is at peace."

"I will return to Jin'ao Island to report back to my master."

Upon hearing this, Di Xin's eyes reddened slightly.

He knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan!"

The sound shook the courtyard, and the officials knelt down.

Kong Xuan gazed at the kneeling figure, at that excited yet grateful face.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of relief and ease.

The phoenix sings in Chaoge.

The black bird returns to its nest.

Destiny lies in business.

From this day forward, he, Kong Xuan, will be the guardian deity of the Shang Dynasty.

He was a guest of Emperor Xin.

It was the stabilizing force of the Jie Sect in Chaoge during the Investiture of the Gods.

Kong Xuan raised his eyes and looked eastward.

Looking towards Jin'ao Island.

The aura of fortune was as vast and boundless as the sea.

"Master."

He spoke in a low voice.

"Your disciple has lived up to your expectations."

"The phoenix sings in Chaoge, the mandate of heaven rests in Shang."

"Xiqi's scheme has failed."

"Yuan Shi's plan has been broken."

"Next, I will await your instructions in Chaoge."

......

Xiqi Prime Minister's Residence

The night was as dark as ink, and the moon and stars were few.

Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged in the quiet room, his Taoist robe was gray and white, and his face was calm.

The Investiture of the Gods hung overhead, shimmering with golden light.

The God-Slaying Whip lay across his knees, its purple light swirling around him.

He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the depths of his dantian.

It's not spiritual practice.

We are waiting.

Waiting for the person who is meant to come.

"Knock knock knock".

There was a knock on the door, three knocks, neither too loud nor too soft.

Jiang Ziya opened his eyes.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a figure stepped into the quiet room.

He wore a dark blue-green robe, had a sinister face, and his eyes gleamed.

Shen Gongbao.

Jiang Ziya looked at him calmly.

"Junior brother is here."

Shen Gongbao nodded and sat down opposite Jiang Ziya.

The two sat facing each other in silence for a moment.

Shen Gongbao spoke, his voice low and deep.

"Senior brother, have you heard about Fengming Chaoge?"

Jiang Ziya nodded.

"I've heard about it."

"Kong Xuan let out a cry in the sky above Chaoge, and five-colored divine light appeared, with ten thousand birds paying homage to the phoenix."

"Destiny lies in business."

Shen Gongbao gritted his teeth.

"We were originally going to arrange for Fengming to come to Xiqi as well."

"Master instructed Senior Brother Guangchengzi to use the Jade Purity Immortal Light to transform into a Black Bird and manifest its divine power in the sky above Xiqi."

"But if Kong Xuan makes a sound, and Xiqi makes a sound, it will be like Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi."

"It's like drawing a tiger but ending up with a dog."

"That would be inviting humiliation upon oneself."

"Senior brother, what kind of expression do you think Master has right now?"

Jiang Ziya remained silent.

He looked at Shen Gongbao, at that sinister face that revealed a hint of schadenfreude.

He shook his head gently.

"Junior brother, be careful what you say."

"Although our master is unkind, we cannot be unrighteous."

"After all, he passed on the Daoist teachings to us and gave us the path to cultivation."

Even if we are used as pawns, this cause and effect cannot be erased.

Shen Gongbao sneered.

"cause and effect?"

"Senior brother, you are quite magnanimous."

"But I can't."

"I suffered endless scorn and bullying during my time at the Chan Sect's Ten Thousand Yuan Society."

"Those fellow disciples with better backgrounds are not as skilled as me in cultivation, nor as accomplished as me."

"But they hold high positions as direct disciples, while I can only languish in the outer sect."

"Now I have joined the Jie Sect and become the deputy leader of the Xuandu Sect."

"It means to live with dignity, and to show those who look down on me what I'm made of."

"I, Shen Gongbao, am no worse than them."

Jiang Ziya looked at him, at that stubborn yet heartbroken face.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

Isn't he the same?

Mediocre talent, weak foundation, and low level of cultivation.

Within the Chan Sect, they are at the very bottom.

Those fellow disciples with good backgrounds, even if their cultivation was inferior to his, were still a level above him.

Even if their achievements are not as great as his, they still surpass him.

Even if someone is less talented than him, they'll still step on him.

He endured tens of thousands of yuan.

I can't take it anymore.

So he came to Xiqi.

So he's waiting.

When the Investiture of the Gods begins, when the Great Tribulation descends.

Wait for the opportunity to save as many as you can.