Primordial Era: Mistakenly Taking Emperor Xin as Father, Nuwa is Destroyed at the Start

Chapter 20 The Heavenly Court is Giving Up? Then We'll Confer Godhood Ourselves! The restless Yunxiao: What Does It Mean That the Jie Sect is Even Worse Than the Shang Dynasty? [Two-in-One]

It was precisely because it was certain that Yunxiao was shocked and incredulous.

I think Li Xuan is too brave.

This is all their own doing.

What is he trying to achieve?

Just because he's human?

Yunxiao felt even more admiration for him.

Upon hearing this, Di Xin felt somewhat embarrassed and coughed twice.

"Ahem, let's not talk about Su Daji. Let's get down to business." He quickly changed the subject.

Li Xuan guessed something and pressed for an answer:

"Is this why the Heavenly Court is even more furious?"

Di Xin nodded, his expression turning serious.

"Indeed. The Heavenly Court is furious and has issued a decree ordering all mountain gods, river gods, land gods, and other deities, large and small, within the territory of my Great Shang Dynasty to enter seclusion for a month, forbidding them from responding to human prayers or performing their divine duties!"

He added with great concern:

"The gods do not only manage the people's worship and incense offerings, but more importantly, they suppress the mountain spirits and monsters in their territory and regulate the earth's veins and water vapor."

During this period of seclusion, the spirits and monsters of various places were no longer restrained and began to ravage villages, disrupting the waterways and causing frequent droughts and floods... The people suffered terribly, and their resentment was widespread!

Yunxiao, who was listening nearby, also frowned secretly.

The Heavenly Court's move to cut off the source of the problem was indeed ruthless, directly hitting the most painful spot for the people of the Shang Dynasty.

She found the matter very difficult to handle.

Li Xuanze appeared very calm.

"That's normal," he shrugged. "Killing a god of Heaven, this is the result. There are only two paths left."

He held up two fingers. "Either kneel down like a dog and kowtow to admit your mistakes, or stand your ground to the end."

He grinned and deliberately bumped Di Xin with his shoulder.

"Hey, Father, tell me, has our great Emperor knelt down yet?"

Di Xin was so annoyed by his actions and tone that he glared at him, thinking to himself that this brat was definitely provoking him on purpose.

"Of course not!" Di Xin glared at him, annoyed. "According to your previous logic, whether the Human Emperor kneels or not, those sages in heaven are determined to destroy the Shang Dynasty. How could they possibly kneel! They're not that spineless!"

He sighed, his brow furrowed.

"However... many treacherous villains in the court and among the people are taking this opportunity to make a big fuss, attacking Your Majesty for being stubborn and self-willed, angering Heaven, and thus bringing about this disaster. Moreover... the people have indeed suffered too much because of this, and I cannot bear to see it."

Li Xuan expressed his understanding, but his tone remained calm.

"That's normal. Rebelling against the Heavenly Court and forcing the Shang Dynasty to rise on its own is a necessary period of growing pains. What kind of change doesn't involve bloodshed?"

He felt that Di Xin's concerns were too narrow-minded.

"Father, I think your perspective is too narrow," Li Xuan shook his head. "How can you consider the Heavenly Court as a real adversary?"

"The Heavenly Court hasn't even conferred titles yet! It's completely in a state of disarray, with only a handful of people, just an empty shell. The Jade Emperor doesn't have any truly capable figures under his command."

"In the end, this matter won't be about our Great Shang begging the Heavenly Court for mercy. On the contrary, I dare say, the Heavenly Court will be the one begging our Great Shang in the end!"

Di Xin was taken aback: "Huh? The Heavenly Court is begging us?"

Yunxiao listened from the side, feeling even more puzzled.

She couldn't understand why Li Xuan was so certain that the Heavenly Court would come to the Shang Dynasty for help.

Even if the Heavenly Court is weak, it is still the legitimate successor of the Three Realms appointed by the Dao Ancestor.

Seeing their bewildered expressions, Li Xuan directly pointed out the key point:

"The reasoning is simple. Right now, because the Heavenly Court doesn't have the Investiture of the Gods as a constraint, the gods with any reputation in heaven, such as star lords and celestial officials, are basically in a state of obeying orders but not summons. Do you understand?"

"They only go when Haotian calls them, otherwise they pretend they didn't hear him."

"When the Heavenly Court needs to ask someone for a favor, it can't possibly use the decree of the Dao Ancestor Hongjun to pressure them for everything, can it? That would be too beneath them."

When you ask someone for help, you have to give them something in return, right? What can the Heavenly Court offer?

The best form of currency is—merit!

Li Xuan made the final decision:

"And isn't merit something that arises from the faith, incense offerings, and governance of mortals? The source lies in the human realm, in the millions of people of our Great Shang Dynasty!"

His gaze swept over Di Xin and Yunxiao.

"Think about it, if our Great Shang Dynasty holds firm and stands its ground to the end, cutting off the Heavenly Court's source of worship and offerings on earth, who will be the first to succumb?"

Di Xin suddenly slapped his thigh, realizing what was happening, and his eyes lit up:

"So that's how it is! Brilliant! That's it! Water without a source, a tree without roots! Without its foundation in the mortal world, how can Heaven command those immortals and gods? How can it generate merit?!"

Huang Feihu was also greatly excited and couldn't help but clap and cheer:

"Young master's insight is brilliant! It hits the nail on the head! It gets straight to the point!"

Yunxiao, however, remained calm. She considered a crucial practical issue, her brows furrowing slightly as she questioned:

"What you say, young master, does indeed hit the Heavenly Court's weak point and makes a lot of sense. But... I'm afraid it's not that simple."

She looked at Li Xuan and voiced her concerns:

"As long as mountain spirits and monsters continue to ravage and harm the people, even if the Shang Dynasty explicitly forbids the people from worshipping the gods of Heaven, the people will still secretly worship those Heavenly Gods who are 'capable' of suppressing the spirits in order to survive and seek temporary peace. It is difficult for faith to be truly eradicated."

Huang Feihu's smile froze instantly, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

"Yes...this..." He scratched his head, starting to worry again, "People need to survive. If they see monsters causing trouble, they'll panic and run for their lives, not caring about any prohibitions..."

Li Xuan seemed to have anticipated this question, showing no surprise on his face. Instead, he smiled slightly, appearing confident.

"This," he said casually, offering his groundbreaking solution, "is simple."

His gaze swept over everyone present, and he said clearly:

"Let the Shang dynasty bestow divine titles upon themselves."

Di Xin, Huang Feihu, and even Yunxiao, who had been calmly observing, were all stunned when they heard these six words. Their eyes widened, and they wondered if they had misheard.

"He...deified himself?!"

Di Xin's voice rose several decibels.

As soon as Li Xuan said this, the entire courtyard fell silent.

Di Xin and Huang Feihu were completely dumbfounded.

Even Yunxiao, who was standing next to him, had an expression of disbelief on his face.

To deify oneself?

This idea is just too... too outrageous!

Di Xin swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly: "Xuan'er, what... what did you say? You're making yourself a god? This... how is this possible?"

Li Xuan replied matter-of-factly, "Why not? The Heavenly Court can provide things like merit offerings and incense, so why can't our Great Shang Dynasty provide them ourselves?"

He counted on his fingers: "The Heavenly Court bestows titles upon gods with positions recognized by Heaven and with merit. Our Great Shang Dynasty bestows titles upon gods with positions recognized by humanity and with merit and incense offerings. Essentially, aren't they both just paying wages to hire people to do work?"

Huang Feihu was stunned and muttered to himself:

"This...this can't be the same! The Heavenly Court is..."

"What's the difference?" Li Xuan interrupted him directly, retorting, "If the Heavenly Court can bestow titles of gods, why can't the Great Shang Dynasty do the same? Who made that rule?"

This rhetorical question struck Di Xin and Huang Feihu like a thunderclap.

boom!

It was as if some unseen force had been touched.

Humanity's fortune surged violently, emitting a buzzing sound that only a very few beings could perceive!

Di Xin and Huang Feihu felt a sinking feeling in their hearts, as if a tremendous burden had been placed upon them, or as if something had been completely shattered.

Yunxiao's pupils shrank sharply. As a disciple of a sage, she clearly felt the tremor originating from the very source of humanity!

This kid... a casual remark actually resonated with the will of humanity?!

Her eyes were filled with horror as she looked at Li Xuan.

Di Xin took several deep breaths to barely suppress the shock in his heart, and eagerly asked:

"Xuan'er, you said you'd become a god, but... how exactly will you do it?"

Li Xuan's thinking was very clear:

"It's very simple. Right now, the primordial land is teeming with cultivators, and mountain spirits and monsters roam everywhere. Slaying demons and protecting the people—the Heavenly Court can do this, and so can our Great Shang! We'll just recruit our own people!"

"Establish divine positions and assign responsibilities, such as mountain gods, river gods, land gods, city gods... Whoever does a good job and protects the peace of their region will be granted a title by our Great Shang, enjoying the incense offerings and the protection of human merit! Wouldn't that make them our own gods?"

Upon hearing this, Yunxiao couldn't help but interject, raising the crucial question:

"Young master's plan... is indeed ingenious. But if I may be frank, it's probably not that easy."

"Disciples of the three religions, especially those of the Chan and Jie sects, have always valued freedom and disliked constraints. They wouldn't even deign to be recruited by the Heavenly Court, so how could they possibly covet a divine position bestowed by the Great Shang Dynasty?"

"Without a truly powerful figure in charge, I'm afraid... it will be difficult to win over the people and resist those truly powerful demons."

Yunxiao's words hit the nail on the head.

The hopes that Di Xin and Huang Feihu had just begun to have were doused with cold water.

Yes, those truly capable and powerful beings, who would covet the gods bestowed upon them by the Shang Dynasty?

Li Xuan, however, remained completely unperturbed, calmly waving his hand dismissively:

"Miss Xiaoyun, you're overthinking it. If the disciples of the three sects don't want you, there will always be someone who does!"

He started calling out names, counting on his fingers:

"For example, Yu Yixian? That guy's pretty capable, right? And Ma Yuan? Oh right, the Seven Monsters of Meishan, those powerful demons are pretty formidable too, aren't they?"

When Di Xin heard these names, his eyes lit up:

"The Seven Monsters of Meishan? I... cough, His Majesty the Human Emperor did have some acquaintance with them in his early years and once helped them through a calamity. The demon race values ​​gratitude and loyalty; if we invite them with a divine position, they might be willing to come out of the mountains to help."

As a wealthy merchant, he did indeed have some good relationships with the Seven Freaks of Meishan in his early years.

But then, Di Xin frowned again, and said with concern:

"But Yu Yixian and Ma Yuan... they are both outer disciples of the Jie Sect! The Jie Sect... isn't the Jie Sect supposed to stand with the Heavenly Saints? Can they truly help the Great Shang?"

In Di Xin's mind, those sages in the heavens were all in cahoots and wanted to destroy his Shang Dynasty.

The Jie Sect is also a sect of saints; how could its disciples genuinely help them?

Maybe he's an undercover agent!

Huang Feihu nodded in deep agreement: "Your Majesty... oh no, Master's concerns are valid. It's easy to invite a god in, but difficult to send him away. If we let a wolf into the house, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

Su Daji, standing to the side, felt a jolt when she heard the words "Jiejiao" and subconsciously glanced at Yunxiao beside her.

Yunxiao frowned slightly, her mind racing.

Li Xuan specifically pointed out Yu Yixian and Ma Yuan, two outer disciples of the Jie Sect... Is he implying something to me?

As she pondered how to respond, she saw Li Xuan suddenly laugh, a laugh that carried a hint of mockery and a knowing look.

"Dad, Uncle Huang, your thinking is too one-sided."

Li Xuan shook his head.

"Who says disciples of the Jie Sect can't be used? Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, isn't he a disciple of the Jie Sect? He's also a direct disciple of the Golden Spirit Mother! Isn't he loyal enough to the Shang Dynasty and His Majesty? Can he be used?"

Di Xin and Huang Feihu were momentarily stunned by the question.

Wen Zhong?

That was the towering white jade pillar of the Shang Dynasty, the purple-gold beam that spanned the sea!

An absolute pillar of the nation, utterly loyal!

Seeing their speechless expressions, Li Xuan continued, "Besides, what do you think the Jie Sect and the Shang Dynasty have in common?"

His tone carried a hint of meaning:

"If you ask me, those two are now in the same boat, a truly tragic couple! If we're talking about who suffered the most during this great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods... perhaps, in truth, the Jie Sect suffered even more than the Shang Dynasty."

Di Xin and Huang Feihu listened to Li Xuan's words and were filled with doubt.

Li Xuan said that the Jie Sect and the Shang Dynasty were a pair of star-crossed lovers, a metaphor that sounded fresh and interesting.

But before they could speak...

Yunxiao had already stepped forward, her voice carrying a hint of urgency that she herself didn't realize.

"Young Master, you just said... the Jie Sect is even worse off than the Great Shang Dynasty? This... how is that possible? Please enlighten us, Young Master!"

Yunxiao stared intently at Li Xuan, afraid of missing any expression on his face.

She desperately wanted to know the answer.

Li Xuan glanced at her, then at Di Xin and Huang Feihu, who both looked equally puzzled.

He sighed, his tone carrying a hint of indescribable emotion.

"You only see the current glory of the Jie Sect. Ten thousand immortals come to pay homage, and a sage is in charge. It sounds impressive."

"But have you ever thought about why this great calamity of the gods is called 'Investiture of the Gods'? It's because the Heavenly Court is short of people! It's short of gods who can do the work! So where will these gods come from?"

Li Xuan raised the crucial question.

Di Xin frowned and answered instinctively.

"Naturally...from among those destined for this calamity?"

"That's right!" Li Xuan slapped his thigh. "A tribulation to be faced! A tribulation to be faced with? The tribulation to be faced with this great tribulation! Whoever faces this tribulation will be listed on the Investiture of the Gods and go to serve in the Heavenly Court!"

"Then think about it again. When this great calamity strikes, which family has the most disciples in the world? Which family's disciples are most likely to become the 'those who face the calamity'?"

These words struck Di Xin and Huang Feihu like a bolt of lightning.

The two men's expressions changed drastically, and they spoke almost in unison.

"The Jie Sect?!"

Li Xuan nodded, confirming their guess.

"That's right, it's the Jie Sect."

"The Jie Sect is known as 'Ten Thousand Immortals Paying Homage,' boasting the most disciples and the greatest power. But precisely because there are so many people, there are all sorts of birds in a big forest. The disciples are a mixed bag, and those entangled in karma are countless."

"The Investiture of the Gods needs to be filled with 365 principal gods, plus countless auxiliary gods, heavenly soldiers, and generals. With such a huge gap, can the small number of people in the Chan Sect even fill a tooth gap? Definitely not!"

"Therefore, once this great calamity occurs, the disciples of the Jie Sect will be the biggest 'fat sheep'."

"They've been eyeing this place for a while now, just waiting for the feast to begin."

As Yunxiao listened, his face began to turn pale.

She vaguely felt a chill rising from the soles of her feet.

Li Xuan continued speaking, his tone becoming heavy.

"Think about it, the leader of the Jie Sect, Tongtian Shengren, is fiercely independent and extremely protective of his own."

"Could he just stand by and watch his disciples be sent one by one to the Investiture of the Gods, losing their freedom and becoming mere laborers for the Heavenly Court?"

"He definitely can't stand it!"

"What can we do then? We can only fight head-on and engage in battle with the other saints."

"And the result?"

"Two fists can't beat four hands. How can he, alone, defeat several people working together?"

Li Xuan paused, his voice lowering.

"In the end, some died, some were captured, some defected, and some were listed on the official list."

"The once mighty Jie Sect has fallen apart like monkeys scattering when the tree collapses."

"The Tongtian Sect Leader himself was also taken away by the Dao Ancestor and imprisoned. The Jie Sect's lineage exists in name only."

"Tell me," Li Xuan said, looking at Di Xin and Huang Feihu, "that one of them went from being the number one sect in the Three Realms to having his leader imprisoned, his core disciples all dead, his followers slaughtered, his lineage severed, and his reputation ruined."

"Did you lose everything? Even your underwear?"

"This ending," Li Xuan finally looked at Yunxiao, whose face was deathly pale, "is it... far more tragic than the Great Shang Dynasty?"

Li Xuan's words were like heavy hammer blows, striking Yunxiao's heart.

"The cult leader is banned..."

"The core is completely lost..."

"The lineage of tradition has been severed..."

"Completely disgraced..."

These words were buzzing in her head.

Yunxiao felt an indescribable chill instantly sweep over his entire body.

Her vision blurred, and her body swayed uncontrollably.