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

Outside the Nuwa Temple.

The ministers were in a state of great anxiety over the assassination attempt on Emperor Xin.

Fei Zhong and You Hun, those two bastards, never stopped talking, constantly spreading panic.

They whispered to each other, "Oh dear, if something really happens to His Majesty, what will become of our Great Shang? The sky will fall!"

"Exactly, I don't even want to think about the consequences!"

The other ministers, upon hearing this, felt even more uneasy and gloomy.

Only the old prime minister, Shang Rong, remained calm.

He stroked his beard and said in a calm voice, "What's the panic! His Majesty is a lucky man, protected by Heaven! Besides, isn't Prince Wu Cheng protecting him?"

He had barely finished speaking when he said that.

The words had barely faded when someone came running in, stumbling and crawling: "Your Majesty! His Majesty is outside the palace gates! Prince Wu Cheng has returned as well!"

Upon hearing the news, everyone's faces immediately brightened, and they were overjoyed.

Fei Zhong and You Hun reacted the fastest, their worried expressions instantly turning into fawning as they rushed forward like lapdogs.

They completely changed their previous pessimistic tone and showered Di Xin with praise:

"Your Majesty! You've finally returned safely! I knew it! Your Majesty is wise and powerful, blessed with boundless good fortune, and would surely turn misfortune into good fortune!"

"Yes, yes, yes! The old prime minister was just comforting everyone, saying that you are a lucky person, protected by King Wu Cheng, and that you would be fine! See, it's come true!"

This flattery was so blatant; it directly used Shang Rong's words of comfort to pat himself on the back.

Shang Rong watched the two smug faces from the side, and his beard stood on end in anger.

He snorted heavily, flicked his sleeve, and turned his face away, his meaning clear: he was ashamed to associate with such a despicable person!

When Fei Zhong and You Hun saw Shang Rong's appearance, they were not angry at all; on the contrary, they were even more smug.

Why? As the old saying goes, a gentleman can be deceived by his principles.

The reason these two can thrive in the imperial court is because the proper ministers of the Shang Dynasty are too concerned with their reputation and usually don't bother with petty people like them.

As for Emperor Xin, no matter how wise and powerful he was, he was still just a human being.

No matter how hard a person works, they will always like to hear some pleasant words.

This gave Fei Zhong and You Hun an opportunity to exploit the loophole.

So right now, they're both feeling really good.

But after today's flattery, things have taken a turn for the worse.

They eagerly awaited Di Xin's usual approving glance or words of encouragement.

The results of it?

The way Di Xin looked at them was completely different from before!

Those eyes were full of scrutiny and vigilance, scraping across them like a knife.

Why?

Because in Di Xin's mind, the words Li Xuan had said in the thatched hut were still echoing!

Li Xuan specifically named Fei Zhong and You Hun, saying they were treacherous ministers sent by Nuwa to bring disaster to the Shang Dynasty and specifically to dig pits for it!

Although Emperor Xin did not fully believe Li Xuan's words, this thorn had been planted in his heart.

The level of vigilance towards these two was naturally raised to the highest level.

Fei Zhong and You Hun felt their skin crawl under Di Xin's gaze, and cold sweat broke out on their backs.

Their hearts pounded: What's going on? His Majesty's gaze... what did we do wrong?

Fei Zhong forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and cautiously asked, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty? You... you're looking at us like that, is it... that we've done something wrong?"

Di Xin ignored them.

He swept his cold gaze over the two men and ordered indifferently, "Enough talk. Lead the way, let's go into the temple first."

Fei Zhong and You Hun quickly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, Your Majesty, please!"

He agreed verbally, but secretly he was a little excited.

Why? Because they know the real show is about to begin! Their chance to make a name for themselves and be rewarded has arrived!

In fact, it wasn't just the two of them who were excited.

At this very moment, high in the sky.

The gazes of countless gods and Buddhas were also subtly focused on this small Nuwa Temple.

The atmosphere inside Nuwa Palace was even more subtle.

The three sages, Nuwa, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Taiqing Laozi, are gathered together.

They looked down from their high vantage point at the scene in front of the Nuwa Temple in the mortal realm below, their eyes filled with a hint of amusement and a sense of complete control.

Yuanshi Tianzun stroked his long beard, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said to Nuwa, "This time, Your Majesty will have to suffer a great loss. I thank you for your sacrifice."

His implication was that Nuwa's reputation would be "sacrificed" to advance the Investiture of the Gods.

Nuwa remained calm and waved her hand gently: "You flatter me, Heavenly Venerable. It's just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."

Her tone was flat, as if she were talking about something insignificant.

At this moment, Nuwa seemed to remember something and casually asked, "By the way, why hasn't Fellow Daoist Tongtian arrived?"

Upon hearing the mention of the Tongtian Sect Leader, Yuanshi Tianzun's face immediately darkened, and he let out a cold snort.

His tone was full of dissatisfaction with his junior brother: "Hmph! Him? He thinks our methods are despicable and doesn't want to associate with my Chan Sect! He disdains to be here!"

His words were filled with contempt for the Tongtian Sect Leader's "lack of common sense".

Taiqing Laozi, who had been resting with his eyes closed and whose face showed neither sorrow nor joy, slowly opened his eyes at this moment.

His gaze was deep, as if he could see through everything. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority: "This is all due to the Great Calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, and it is only a last resort."

He seemed to be setting the tone for the actions of Yuanshi Tianzun and Nuwa, and also trying to convince himself.

After speaking, he cast his indifferent gaze down at the Nuwa Temple, his eyes filled with a contemptuous look as if he were looking down on ants.

Everything seemed to be under their control.

In front of the Nuwa Temple.

Led by Fei Zhong and You Hun, Di Xin walked step by step toward the temple gate.

According to the "script," he should be bewitched at this moment, enter the temple, and do something inappropriate in front of the statue of Nuwa.

However, just as they were about to step into the temple gate...

Di Xin's steps suddenly stopped!

He stood rooted to the spot like a nail, refusing to move an inch forward!

Fei Zhong and You Hun were both stunned and exchanged glances.

Fei Zhong asked cautiously, "Your Majesty? What...what's wrong? The statue of Goddess Nuwa is inside..."

Di Xin frowned, as if he was pondering some difficult problem.

He paused for a moment, then spoke slowly, his tone carrying a deliberate hesitation:

"Today... I was attacked by an assassin, a bloody disaster, which I fear may have offended the Holy Mother's countenance. Therefore... let's not offer incense today. We will wait until a month later, when we find an auspicious day to worship the Holy Mother!"

Upon hearing this, Fei Zhong and You Hun almost jumped up!

Fei Zhong was so anxious his face turned pale: "Your Majesty! You mustn't! Goddess Nuwa is the Holy Mother of Humanity, compassionate and kind-hearted. How could she mind such a trivial matter? Besides, we're already here..."

You Hun quickly chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty! The ceremony must not be abandoned! It is the Empress's birthday, and Your Majesty's personal attendance to offer incense is a great blessing; how can it be abandoned halfway?"

They're in a hurry!

The leaders in the sky are all watching; this is such a great opportunity to show off.

The mission was about to be completed, so why did the king suddenly change his mind at this crucial moment?

If they mess this up, how will they explain it?

Fei Zhong's eyes darted around, and he steeled his heart, deciding to go all out!

He strode into the temple, glanced inside, and then exclaimed in an exaggerated tone:

"Oh my! Your Majesty, look! This statue of the Goddess Nuwa... it really is... it really is..."

He deliberately paused to keep the audience in suspense.

Seeing his partner make a move, You Hun steeled himself and rushed in, pretending to be completely infatuated.

He stared at the statue, his eyes glazed over, and murmured to himself, "So...so...beautiful...even the fairies of heaven are far inferior to her, and earthly beauties are nothing compared to her..."

The two of them put on such a show for one purpose: to arouse Di Xin's curiosity and trick him into the temple!

Only when Emperor Xin stepped into this Nuwa Temple would the humanistic fortune surrounding him appear with a slight gap under the intertwining of the holy energy of this place.

Only sages can take advantage of the situation to use small tricks to confuse his mind and make him do that "reckless thing".

However, Di Xin completely ignored their offer.

He didn't even glance into the temple, but instead suddenly turned his head and looked sharply at the old prime minister Shang Rong beside him.

Di Xin asked in a deep voice, "Shang Rong, according to the laws of my Great Shang Dynasty, what is the punishment for anyone who utters words that blaspheme against the sages?"

Shang Rong was taken aback by his sudden question and didn't react for a moment.

Di Xin's gaze swept over Fei Zhong and You Hun, who were still performing energetically inside the temple gate, and he coldly added:

"For example, people like Fei Zhong and You Hun dared to speak ill of the Holy Mother's appearance, even comparing her to celestial maidens. What crime did they commit?"

Shang Rong then realized that the king was asking about Fei Zhongyouhun's flippant remarks earlier.

He immediately straightened his back and said solemnly, "Your Majesty! To blaspheme a sage is a grave offense! At best, one will be flogged; at worst... one may be sentenced to death!"

When Fei Zhong and You Hun heard these words in the temple, they were terrified!

Fei Zhong scrambled out, then collapsed to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling:

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please understand! We...we had absolutely no intention of disrespecting the Holy Mother! We were merely...we were simply overwhelmed by the solemn and dignified appearance of the Holy Mother's image, and spoke in a moment of weakness! It was praise! It was praise from the bottom of our hearts!"

You Hun quickly knelt down and kowtowed, "Yes, yes, Your Majesty! We have the utmost reverence for the Holy Mother! We have absolutely no disrespect whatsoever! Your Majesty, please see the truth!"

Di Xin looked at the two people kneeling on the ground, trembling, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't give the two a chance to continue arguing, his voice firm and resolute:

"Oh? Praise? To praise the Holy Mother to the point of comparing her to ordinary fairies? Is such frivolous talk your form of reverence?"

He turned his gaze to Huang Feihu and said sternly, "King Wucheng!"

Huang Feihu, unable to contain himself any longer, immediately clasped his hands in greeting and replied, "Your subject is here!"

Di Xin pointed at Fei Zhong and You Hun, his tone chilling:

"Drag these two away! Give each of them fifty strokes of the cane! Beat them severely! Let them remember what respect is! What decency in speech is!"

"As you command!"

Huang Feihu's voice was as loud as a bell.

With a wave of his hand, several fierce palace guards rushed forward and, without saying a word, lifted up Fei Zhong and You Hun, who were limp on the ground.

Fei Zhong was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he screamed like a pig being slaughtered:

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I know I was wrong! I will never dare to do it again! Your Majesty—!"

Youhun also cried out and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, have mercy! Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Huang Feihu paid no heed to their cries.

He walked to the execution bench himself and coldly watched as the guards pressed Fei Zhong firmly onto the bench.

A burly guard raised the heavy rod high.

"Snapped!"

The first blow landed heavily, striking Fei Zhong squarely on the buttocks with a dull, resounding sound.

"Awooo—!"

Fei Zhong let out a shrill, distorted scream, his body jerked violently, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

The rods whistled through the air as they fell one after another, mercilessly.

Each blow to Fei Zhong left his skin torn and bleeding, and his official robe was quickly soaked with blood.

His pig-like screams echoed mournfully in front of the Nuwa Temple, causing all the surrounding ministers to turn pale and fall silent in fear.

You Hun was pinned to the side, watching Fei Zhong's miserable state. He was so frightened that his crotch was soaked, and he trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind.

Only the heavy sound of canes striking the temple and Fei Zhong's increasingly weak and heart-wrenching cries remained in front of the temple.

Fei Zhong's mournful cries pierced the hearts of Shang Rong and his fellow veteran officials like knives.

They felt incredibly sad listening to this.

But when they looked in the direction of Di Xin, the admiration in their eyes grew even stronger.

Everyone felt that Emperor Xin was indeed a wise ruler of the Shang Dynasty.

With him around, the Shang Dynasty will surely prosper more and more.

Emperor Xin sat in his dragon chariot, listening to Fei Zhong's increasingly weak screams outside, but he felt no joy at all.

Instead, it felt like falling into an ice cave, completely cold.

Why?

Just because of Fei Zhong and You Hun's performance just now, their eagerness to drag him into the temple, it completely confirmed what Li Xuan said in the thatched hut!

Li Xuan is absolutely right!

These two guys are just here to trick him!

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Di Xin felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He had been somewhat skeptical of Li Xuan's words before.

Now, the undeniable facts are right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to believe them.

Behind Fei Zhongyouhun stood the lofty sage!

The enemy he was about to face was actually a saint!

Di Xin's mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't help but ask himself:

"The Shang dynasty's opponent is a sage... Can we... really win?"

A tremendous sense of powerlessness overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

That was a saint!

An existence capable of turning the world upside down with a flick of the wrist!

How could a mere emperor like him possibly contend with a sage?

Despair gripped his heart like a vine.

In this boundless despair, Li Xuan's face suddenly popped into Di Xin's mind.

That kid in the dilapidated hut, calmly saying "abandoned saint".

That strange person who calls out the saint's name without any consequences.

Di Xin's eyes gradually emerged from the mire of despair and regained their resolve.

He clenched his fist tightly.

Perhaps only that kid can tell him what to do about this!