Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

"Kong Xuan...is that you?"

Di Xin muttered to himself, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He knew that Kong Xuan had emerged out of nowhere during the Battle of Chuanyun Pass, suppressing the Four Saints with his Hunyuan body and reversing the Great Calamity.

At that time, his mind was controlled, and he only thought that Kong Xuan was the vice leader of the Jie Sect and the national teacher of Yin Shang. Although he was strong, he was still just a link in the game between immortals and gods.

Only now, with the restoration of humanity, has he truly understood.

What Kong Xuan wanted to do was never to win the Great Calamity.

Instead... overturn the chessboard!

"Report!"

A messenger hurried up the Star-Picking Tower, knelt down, and shouted:

"Your Majesty! Urgent reports from the eastern, southern, and northern borders!"

After the defeat of the Western Zhou army, Jiang Ziya led his remaining troops to retreat to Qishan and remained secluded within its walls.

"The Marquis of Dongbo, Jiang Wenhuan, and the Marquis of Nanbo, E Shun, have sent a letter of surrender, expressing their willingness to return to the Yin Shang dynasty and submit to its rule for eternity!"

"Marquis Chong Heihu of the North... has committed suicide to atone for his sins, and all two hundred lords of the northern garrisons have submitted petitions to surrender!"

Upon hearing this, Di Xin remained unmoved.

All of this was within his expectations.

With the loss of the sage's support, all twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect were listed. Jiang Ziya was just an ordinary man; how could he possibly withstand the onslaught of the Yin Shang army?

The rebellion of the feudal lords was originally caused by his incompetence. Now that he has regained his senses and humanity has been restored, those with ulterior motives are naturally terrified.

In Di Xin's eyes, which had regained their clarity, there was no trace of joy, only a cold indifference.

The feudal lords submitted to the emperor, offering their allegiance and begging for forgiveness.

They're nothing but opportunists who change their stance with the wind.

When the Shang Dynasty weakened, which of these so-called local lords didn't rush to raise the banner of rebellion, divide up the fortunes of the Shang Dynasty, and join forces with Xiqi, dreaming of changing dynasties and dividing the world?

Now that Xiqi has been defeated, its sage has fallen, and the great calamity is about to end, they see no profit to be made and want to come and grovel as vassals again, continuing to be their peaceful vassals.

There's no such thing as a free lunch!

"Pass on the order."

Di Xin's voice was not loud, but it carried the long-lost absolute majesty of a human emperor, clearly reaching the ears of every official standing below the steps.

"The Marquis of Dongbo, Jiang Wenhuan; the Marquis of Nanbo, E Shun; and the two hundred vassal lords of the northern lands... all those who previously submitted to the rebellion against Xiqi shall have their titles and fiefs stripped!"

"Grand Tutor Wen Zhong is hereby ordered to lead a large army to various regions to seize military power, take over city defenses, inventory treasuries, thoroughly investigate and punish the ringleaders of the rebellion according to the law, without any leniency!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the civil and military officials in the court were shocked!

Abolish the system of four regional dukes and marquises?!

This is an ancient system that has been in place for countless years since the founding of the Shang Dynasty, or even earlier, the Xia Dynasty!

The supreme ruler resides in the center, while powerful vassal states guard the four directions, protecting the royal family.

Now, does Di Xin intend to overthrow it completely in one fell swoop?

"Your Majesty! Isn't this move...isn't it too hasty?"

An elderly official stepped forward, trembling, in an attempt to offer advice.

"Although the four regional marquises have committed the crime of colluding with the rebels, this system has been in place for a long time. Abolishing it suddenly would likely cause turmoil throughout the land and reignite border troubles!"

Di Xin's eyes flashed like lightning as he swept over the old minister.

The old minister trembled as he felt an indescribable imperial pressure wash over him, causing even his soul, a cultivator who had practiced for hundreds of years, to feel a stinging pain.

This was neither the oppressive aura of an immortal nor the aura of an ordinary emperor.

Rather, it is a more ancient, more profound, and subtly resonant power that connects with the land beneath our feet and the bloodlines of hundreds of millions of people... a humanistic imperial power!

"turmoil?"

Di Xin sneered.

"The Investiture of the Gods, the Western Zhou's conquest of Shang—wasn't the world turbulent enough? People were displaced, nine out of ten houses were empty, and corpses littered the fields. Whose fault was this?"

"The marquises and lords of the four directions enjoy generous salaries and are supported by the people, yet they do not think of being loyal to the emperor and serving the country. Instead, they take advantage of the emperor's misleading attitude and the country's decline to carve up their own territories and raise armies. This is disloyalty!"

"To invite foreign gods and immortals to interfere in the rise and fall of human dynasties, causing endless wars and widespread suffering, is utterly inhumane!"

"To be blinded by profit, to waver between right and wrong, and to lack any integrity or sense of responsibility—this is unjust!"

"What use are the systems established by such disloyal, unrighteous, and inhumane individuals? They only sow the seeds of future disaster!"

With each word he spoke, his voice rose a notch, until finally it was like a booming bell, carrying an undeniable force of determination that resounded throughout Chaoge and even faintly echoed in all directions!

"My mind is made up!"

"Anyone who objects will be considered a traitor and punished the same as those rebellious ministers!"

"Court adjourned!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Emperor Xin turned away from the civil and military officials below, their expressions varied, and gazed once more upon the endless sky.

He could feel it clearly.

With his resolute declaration to abolish the old system, the awakened imperial aura within him became even more closely connected with the vast and surging river of humanity in the darkness.

It was as if his will was gaining the approval and blessing of all humanity!

Above Chaoge, the pale golden pillar of national fortune, which had been re-formed and become more magnificent than ever before due to the return of a massive amount of human fortune, trembled slightly and emitted an even more intense radiance.

Within the flow of fortune, illusory images of people farming, merchants traveling, scholars reciting scriptures, and soldiers training appear.

That was a brand new, thriving scene belonging to the human race!

"Not enough..."

Di Xin muttered to himself, a sharp glint in his eyes.

Simply taking back the fortune, abolishing the old system, and restoring order to the land are merely treating the symptoms.

What he wanted was for humanity to truly stand tall, so that the Shang Dynasty and all future human dynasties would no longer be at the mercy of any gods or the will of Heaven!

He wants to create an eternal golden age for this ancient human race... a golden age belonging to humanity!

And the opportunity is right now!

Just as this great calamity was about to end, the Heavenly Dao was just beginning to purify, the Earthly Dao was reviving, and the Human Dao was just awakening, the rules of the primordial world were most loose, and it was also the moment when indelible marks were most likely to be left... a critical moment!

"Issue my decree."

Di Xin's voice rang out again, this time even more magnificent, carrying a solemnity akin to that of a sacrifice to heaven and earth.

"South of Chaoge City, on the banks of the Qi River, a nine-zhang-high platform was erected, with a circumference of one hundred zhang, and it was built with five-colored soil, which corresponds to the number of the five elements."

"The platform is divided into three levels. The lower level is based on bluestone and is engraved with scenes of the ancient human race pioneering and cultivating the land through slash and fire."

"The middle level is made of white jade steps, inscribed with the achievements of the Three Sovereigns in governing the world and the Five Emperors in establishing order."

"The upper level is an altar of black and yellow, where...the torch of humanity is offered!"

"It must be completed within three days!"

"I will... use the fate of the Shang Dynasty as fuel, and the will of billions of people as fire, to ignite the flame of humanity, and prove myself... a sage of humanity!"

"To lay the foundation for lasting peace for humankind!"

Di Xin practically roared out the last sentence.

The sound was like thunder from the heavens, exploding in the sky above Chaoge, and resounding in the hearts of every citizen of the Yin Shang Dynasty, and indeed in the hearts of all living beings who care about the human race!

He is neither an immortal saint nor a celestial saint.

Rather... unique to the human race... the Sage of Humanity!

With the dynasty's destiny and the will of all living beings, they forged their own path to heaven amidst the myriad paths of the primordial world!

"Your Majesty is wise!!!"

After a brief silence, earth-shattering cheers erupted from within Chaoge City and from all directions of the Yin Shang territory, which had not yet been completely consumed by the flames of war!

Countless people left their homes, gazing towards Chaoge, their eyes brimming with tears.

They don't understand any profound principles or the division of realms into sages.

But they could feel the boiling of their blood, the throbbing deep within their souls, and the unprecedented hope and power emanating from the Emperor's words!

For the sake of humanity, to usher in an era of lasting peace!

This is not only Di Xin's grand ambition, but also a common desire imprinted deep in the soul of every human being!

"We will obey Your Majesty's decree!"

Wen Zhong, Shang Rong, Bi Qian, and other loyal ministers and veteran generals were all trembling with excitement. Without hesitation, they knelt down and shouted their orders.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was moved to tears.

He served three generations of Shang kings, weathering many storms and witnessing the Shang dynasty decline from its peak. He watched as His Majesty was controlled by treacherous people and their evil magic, almost personally destroying the empire.

Now that His Majesty has finally awakened, he is determined to undertake this monumental feat!

How could he not be excited? How could he not fight to the death?

"Your humble servant Wen Zhong will surely complete the altar within three days!"