Many children, many blessings; the twelve ancestral witches forced marriages throughout the primordi

Xiqi, the residence of the Marquis of Xibo.

The atmosphere was as oppressive as a covered iron pot, inside which wasn't meat being cooked, but Ji Chang's heart that was about to explode.

Ji Chang sat in the main seat, holding a piece of intelligence from Chaoge in his hand. The paper was crumpled so badly that his fingernails almost dug into his flesh.

"This is outrageous... utterly outrageous!"

Ji Chang slammed the intelligence report on the table, making the teacups jump around.

The intelligence report clearly stated that the Shang Dynasty's "Spirit Stone Coin" reform had been fully implemented. The people of Xiqi were flocking to the Shang Dynasty with their families, hoping to exchange for those shiny coins that could be used for cultivation and purchasing goods.

In the past, everyone praised Xiqi for its benevolence and righteousness, saying that Ji Chang was a sage reincarnated. But what about now? Ordinary people are very pragmatic; whoever can feed them and give them some extra money is their father.

That woman, Su Daji, is too ruthless. This economic warfare tactic is even more painful than sending an army of 100,000 to attack a city. The warehouses of Xiqi are piled high with unwanted cowrie shells and copper coins, making it difficult to even buy some grain.

"My lord, if this continues, Xiqi will be empty in less than three years." San Yisheng stood below, his face full of bitterness. "At that time, let alone rebellion... cough, let alone raising an army to attack Shang, we won't even be able to support our own soldiers."

Ji Chang's chest heaved violently, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.

He then recalled that day in Yanshan.

That brat Lin Tian, ​​leading a bunch of unruly kids, pointed at his nose and cursed him, saying he wasn't fit to be a father. Lei Zhenzi was robbed, his dignity trampled into the mud, and he coughed up blood several times.

"The Mandate of Heaven... Where is my Mandate of Heaven?" Ji Chang muttered to himself. "Didn't the Primordial Celestial Venerable say that when the phoenix cries on Mount Qi, Xiqi will prosper? Why is there no phoenix here, only chicken feathers?"

Just then, a soft laugh suddenly came from the shadows of the study.

"My lord, sometimes you have to fight for destiny yourself."

Ji Chang was startled and turned around abruptly: "Who?"

The shadow shifted, and a person shrouded in a black robe emerged. Their face was obscured, but an unsettling aura emanated from them, like moldy wood or the greasy smell of incense.

These are people from the Western religion.

Since the Western Religion suffered a great loss in Chaoge last time, they dared not come openly and could only carry out this kind of underground work.

"It's you?" Ji Chang looked at him warily. "Didn't your Western Sect close the mountains? What, you dare to come out again?"

"The mountain closure is to avoid their sharp edge, not to wait for death." The black-robed man's voice was hoarse. "My lord, you've seen the current situation. That anomaly, Lin Xuan, has made the Shang Dynasty as impregnable as an ironclad fortress. If you continue to talk about benevolence and morality, about being upright and honorable, then you can only watch helplessly as the Ji family line dies out."

Ji Chang gritted his teeth: "What do you want me to do?"

The man in black robes pulled a piece of black bone from his sleeve. It was covered with twisted runes and faintly exuded a bloody smell.

"West of Xiqi, there is an ancient seal. It suppresses a group of ferocious beasts and demons who fled here after the Demon Court was defeated."

The man in black robes pushed the bone fragments in front of Ji Chang.

"As long as Your Excellency throws this thing into the seal, those demons will break free. They have been starving for ten thousand years, and once they come out, they will surely devour blood and flesh in a frenzy."

Ji Chang's pupils contracted: "You want me to release demons? What about the people of Xiqi?"

"My lord, those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles," the man in black robes said enticingly. "When demons emerge, the borders of the Great Shang will be the first to be affected. The Great Shang will inevitably descend into chaos, and Su Daji's economic reforms will collapse due to the war. Even if Lin Xuan is incredibly powerful, he'll still have to go and put out the fire, won't he?"

"Once the Shang Dynasty falls into chaos, you, my lord, can seize the opportunity to raise the banner of 'purging the court of corrupt officials and eliminating evil forces' to win over the hearts of the people. This is the only chance to turn the tide."

Ji Chang looked at the bone fragment, his hand trembling slightly.

He always touted himself as someone who loved his people like his own children. But releasing demons would only lead to widespread suffering and death.

but……

If they didn't do it, Xiqi would be finished. Ji Chang would become a laughing stock in history, forever trampled underfoot by Lin Xuan, that gigolo.

"Lin Xuan... Dashang..."

The struggle in Ji Chang's eyes slowly disappeared, replaced by a frenzied hatred.

"You forced me into this situation. I didn't want it to be like this, but you're not giving me a way out."

He reached out his trembling hand and grabbed the bone fragment.

The bone fragments were icy cold, like a ticket to hell.

"Fine." Ji Chang raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his voice sinister like a vengeful ghost, "What does it matter if a few people die, as long as we win? Anyway... anyway, those lowly commoners are all loyal to the Shang now, they deserve to die!"

The man in black robes smiled with satisfaction; his laughter sounded like the hooting of an owl.

"Your Excellency is wise. The Western Religion will fully support you."

That night, Ji Chang, accompanied by a few trusted confidants, quietly left the Marquis of Xibo's residence and headed straight for the desolate mountains to the west.

The wind howled, as if weeping for the impending catastrophe.

……

The next day at dawn.

A deafening roar echoed from the border of Xiqi.

Immediately afterwards, billowing black smoke rose into the sky, obscuring the rising sun. Countless ferocious roars, mixed with a nauseating stench, swept across the land in an instant.

"Roar—! Blood food! Fresh blood food!"

"Kill! Slaughter all of humanity!"

The ancient demons, suppressed for ten thousand years, have been released.