Primordial Era: Taibai, the Poison Master of Yaochi, drives a Sage insane!

Yaochi pondered carefully, and in an instant, everything became clear, her eyes filled with sudden realization.

Empathy among all people has always been the core principle behind dynastic changes and uprisings in times of chaos.

For example, when princes rebelled, nine out of ten times they failed, but Zhu Di succeeded in one lifetime. The core reason was that he did not win the hearts of the people and had no empathy for the common people.

The power struggles among the elite are of no concern to the common people; who sits on the throne and who rules the world is none of their business.

In times of war, it is always the common people who die, are displaced, and are driven to despise war. People will only hate war and will not support a rebellious vassal king.

The reason why grassroots uprisings can shake the foundation of dynasties and even overthrow ancient dynasties is that they resonate with the suffering of the people, evoke empathy from the masses, inspire aspirations in everyone, and inspire a willingness to follow and die for them.

Even though figures like Zhang Jiao, Huang Chao, and Li Zicheng ultimately failed, they were able to directly bring down a prosperous dynasty because they grasped the hearts and minds of the people and manipulated the overall trend of the world.

The original Ji Chang perfectly possessed this advantage of empathy.

In his later years, Emperor Xin became tyrannical, oppressed the people, and overturned ancient systems, causing widespread fear among the feudal lords and unbearable suffering among the common people.

Ji Chang's reputation as a sage gave all people in the world a sense of hope and reliance.

This profound empathy with the people overshadowed all of Ji Chang's flaws.

Ji Chang's extensive adoption of offspring, numerous wives and concubines, strict etiquette, and rigid hierarchy formed the rudiments of the Zhou Dynasty. All these drawbacks were overshadowed by the halo of his saintly virtue, and no one investigated or criticized them.

But after this battle, Li Bai's scheming was completely exposed.

Ji Chang's true nature as a pseudo-sage was exposed in public, shattering the illusions people had of him and destroying the foundation of empathy.

From then on, the uprising in Xiqi was no longer a righteous act to save the common people, but merely a rebellion of feudal lords to seize power.

Even with the support of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, it only proves that Xiqi is restoring the old system of antiquity and can no longer win the hearts of the people.

At the same time, the conflict between the Shang Dynasty and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was brought to the forefront, and the opposition between the ancient human tradition and the new policies of the Shang Dynasty became public, plunging the prehistoric world into complete chaos.

This seemingly simple border standoff, seemingly a case of the Human Emperor turning the tide, had in fact already quietly rewritten the underlying trends of the entire Investiture of the Gods.

Before the Three Mountains Pass, all eyes were focused on Tian Shou, and everyone was waiting to see him accept this supreme opportunity and become a disciple of the Human Emperor.

To everyone else, refusing the Emperor's personal instruction was an incredibly foolish choice, a missed opportunity to become a saint.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Tian Shou stood tall and composed, bowing with a humble tone yet a firm attitude, without the slightest hesitation.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Such an opportunity is rare in my lifetime. However, I have already made my choice and it is inconvenient for me to change schools or seek another master. I hope Your Majesty will understand."

Upon hearing this, Fuxi's expression remained unchanged, showing neither joy nor anger, his demeanor still calm and gentle.

This interview to recruit disciples was not a genuine attempt to recruit them; it was merely a performance staged for the benefit of all living beings in the primordial world.

Under the guise of recruiting Tian Shou, he praised Tian Shou's profound understanding of the principles of the hexagrams, thus providing evidence that the profound origins of the sixty-four hexagrams came from the lineage of Fu Xi. This indirectly confirms that Ji Chang was merely a successor, not someone who fabricated or stole the knowledge.

After a brief pause, Fuxi slowly spoke, his voice resounding throughout heaven and earth, definitively settling the matter for the day.

"It's a pity that your lineage is already established, and you have no chance to inherit my mantle. I have lived in seclusion in the Fire Cloud Cave for ten thousand years, quietly comprehending the Great Dao of the Eight Trigrams. Day by day, I have accumulated knowledge and deduced its changes, and only then did I comprehend the complete lineage of the Sixty-Four Hexagrams."

"Many years ago, I secretly appeared in Ji Chang's dream and passed on the lineage of the Sixty-Four Hexagrams, instructing him to carry on the ancient tradition and continue the foundation of the Three Sovereigns' rule. However, Ji Chang's talent was limited and his skills were not refined. He only learned the superficial aspects and did not grasp the essence. It is only natural that he made a fool of himself in public today and your words exposed his flaws."

"If it weren't for today's upheaval, I wouldn't have broken with tradition and left the Fire Cloud Cave to descend to the mortal realm and vindicate the human race's lineage."

In just a few words, Ji Chang's stains were easily erased.

Ji Chang was no longer a thief seeking fame and fortune, but merely a poorly trained successor.

The orthodox origins of the Sixty-Four Hexagrams were fully confirmed, and the loopholes in the layout of the Chan Sect were personally filled by the Human Emperor.

In the fairyland of Yaochi, Yaochi looked at the settled situation in the lower realm and asked again.

"The Emperor has completely stabilized the situation, Ji Chang's reputation has been completely cleared, and the power has returned to the hands of the Chan Sect. Are we really without any countermeasures now?"

Li Bai pondered for a moment, his eyes deep, and in an instant, he came up with a brilliant plan.

"The solution is easy to find, and it's an unsolvable situation, a completely open and aboveboard scheme."

"Now, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors only know that Emperor Xin overturned the ancient system and damaged the human emperor's lineage, and only know that the Primordial Sage sought help under the pretext of reviving the ancient lineage and saving the ancient rites of the human race. They are completely unaware that the true purpose of the Chan Sect is to support Ji Chang in raising an army to attack Shang and to completely complete the sage's order."

"The Primordial Sage deliberately concealed the core truth and used the Human Emperor's sense of crisis to make his move. So let's go with the flow and have Tian Shou speak in public, earnestly requesting that all the Human Emperors make a conclusion today and leave behind evidence of the lineage."

"There are strict rules: Ji Chang has the inheritance of the Human Emperor and is in charge of the sixty-four hexagrams. He can only serve as a subject, uphold ancient rites, and assist the human race for the rest of his life. He must never raise an army to rebel or overthrow the dynasty."

"This is an unsolvable, openly calculated scheme."

"If the Emperor does not agree, it means that Ji Chang is presupposing that he may commit treason in the future. All the support and evidence presented today are hereby nullified, and the fairness of the Emperor's lineage has been completely destroyed."

"If the Emperor agrees, he will personally block all of Ji Chang's paths. Ji Chang will never be able to rebel. If he makes any rash move, he will be disobeying the Emperor's decree and betraying the ancient tradition, and he will never be able to rise again."

"At the same time, we leave a way out, surrounding three sides and leaving one open, with the rules only binding Ji Chang and not his descendants."

"In this way, the one who will raise an army to overthrow the Shang Dynasty in the future will inevitably be a descendant of Ji Chang. The son inherits the father's will and carries the father's debt. Ji Chang will live a peaceful life with the reputation of a sage, while his descendants will bear the infamy of rebellion and overthrow the dynasty."

"The Western Zhou has been completely severed, and the reputation of a sage clashes with the reality of rebellion. The Chan Sect's ten-thousand-year plan has ultimately come to nothing. All the variables are now under our control. Even if the Primordial Sage is unwilling, he can only grit his teeth and accept it all."

Upon hearing this ingenious, nest-like scheme, Yaochi couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes crinkling with admiration.

"Pfft! Taibai, your ingenuity and deadly strategies are truly unmatched! This kind of open scheme is unsolvable and unbreakable, completely trapping the Sage in his trap!"

.................

Above the Three Mountains Pass, Emperor Fuxi set the tone, seemingly suppressing the entire storm, clearing Ji Chang's name of all stigma, and stabilizing the Chan Sect's plans and the ancient traditions of the human race.

Li Bai, on the other hand, used a telepathic jade talisman to inform Tian Shou of the countermeasures.

Tian Shou closed his eyes for a moment, digesting all the instructions. When he raised his eyes again, his brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was solemn and dignified, a stark contrast to his previous humble and respectful demeanor.

All eyes were focused on the scene. Everyone thought the storm was about to pass and the situation would be settled. They were just waiting for the Emperor to make a decision and for Ji Chang to be freed. But unexpectedly, Tian Shou spoke again, and his words directly changed the situation that had just eased.

"This junior was unaware of the background and has offended you greatly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Tian Shou first observed the proper etiquette of a junior, maintaining a dignified posture and giving full respect to Fuxi and the lineage of the Human Emperor, not allowing anyone to find any fault. Then, he changed the subject, his words resounding and each sentence adhering to the rules and principles, leaving no room for compromise.

"However, I am responsible for guarding the territory of the Great Shang Dynasty and guarding Qinglong Pass on the imperial edict to punish the rebels. I have a duty to perform and dare not be biased. Ji Chang is wanted by the imperial edict of Chaoge and is a fugitive criminal as designated by the court. Even if he has the sixty-four hexagrams of the Daoist lineage passed down by the Emperor, I absolutely cannot release a criminal criminal and neglect my duties based on a single source."

The moment the words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.

Everyone could tell that Tian Shou had not refuted Fu Xi, questioned the orthodoxy of the Human Emperor, or contradicted the ancient sages. He had adhered to etiquette and duty as a subject throughout, and there was not a single fault to be found. Yet it was precisely these upright rules that effectively blocked the Human Emperor's escape route.

Tian Shou raised his eyes, looked directly at Fu Xi in front of him, and calmly stated the final conditions, laying his open scheme completely on the table.

"This junior wishes to show sufficient respect to the Human Emperor and the ancient Daoist lineage, and also to give an explanation to all living beings of the primordial world. If the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and all the Holy Emperors, are willing to publicly swear an oath guaranteeing that Ji Chang will never harbor any rebellious thoughts, will never raise an army to rebel, and will never overthrow the human dynasty, then this junior will immediately lift the blockade, open the pass, and allow Ji Chang to leave. This confrontation at the Three Mountains Pass will be resolved immediately, and we will not pursue the matter any further. What does Your Majesty think?"

These words instantly made Fuxi's brows furrow and his heart sink.

Fuxi instantly saw through their sinister intentions.

This proposal, seemingly simple—just a guarantee and a vow—is in reality a blatant act of coercion, a deadly scheme that blocks all avenues for Xiqi's future.

The current situation is extremely unusual, with layers of constraints that are impossible to break through.

First of all, the arrest warrant for the rebellion was issued openly and publicly, in black and white, and was based on law and reason. It was a decree issued by the legitimate court and was by no means unfounded.

As a border guard, Tian Shou acted in accordance with orders and regulations, stopping people in a just and legitimate manner, thus occupying all legal and moral grounds.

Secondly, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors secluded themselves in the Fire Cloud Cave for countless ages, and the authority of the ancient human emperors had long since faded.

Now that the human realm is entirely under the control of the Shang Dynasty, Emperor Xin has always abandoned the old systems of antiquity, disrespected ancient rites, and refused to serve the Human Emperor. The entire human realm, from the court to the common people, no longer reveres the empty title of the Holy Emperor of Fire Cloud Cave.

The authority of the Human Emperor is extremely weak in the current human world.

Without the approval of the Great Shang Dynasty, the Emperor's verbal favors are no match for a warrant for arrest.

Tian Shou used this as an excuse to remain steadfast in his duties, and no one could criticize him in the slightest.

Most importantly, at this moment, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were completely unaware of the profound plans of the Chan Sect and the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, and they did not know that Ji Chang would be supported in the future to launch a rebellion against the Shang Dynasty and overthrow it.

The Human Emperor descended to the mortal realm this time only to protect the ancient traditions and to check and balance Emperor Xin's overthrow of the ancient system, simply to preserve his own eternal achievements and the old order of the human race.

But Li Bai saw through it all and specifically instructed Tian Shou to set up this scheme.

If the Human Emperor publicly swears an oath today, guaranteeing that Ji Chang will never rebel in this life, and if Ji Chang, with the support of the Chan Sect, raises an army to attack Shang and stirs up chaos in the world, it will be a public slap in the face to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, a betrayal of the Human Emperor's oath, and a deception of the ancient sages.

At that time, Ji Chang will no longer be seen as a wise and virtuous ruler who obeys Heaven and the people, but as a treacherous villain who betrays the emperor and deceives him. The uprising in Xiqi will no longer have any righteousness to speak of, and all his actions will be defined as the actions of a rebellious minister who defies the sages and abandons the way of Heaven.

In an instant, Fuxi's mind raced as he quickly weighed the pros and cons. At the same time, his gaze swept across the other human emperors who were hidden in the void, and then looked at the tense disciples of the Chan Sect beside him.

The situation is now a complete dilemma; advancing or retreating is a dead end.

If the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors dared not vouch for him, and today he has publicly backed down in a guilty manner, all the immortals of the primordial world will see this and will inevitably become suspicious instantly. The world will be convinced that Ji Chang has long harbored rebellious intentions, and even the Human Emperor who passed down the Daoist lineage dares not endorse him. Ji Chang's crime of treason will be completely confirmed, leaving no room for whitewashing, and the thousand-year plan of the Chan Sect will be completely rendered useless.

If the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were to publicly vouch for them, they would be falling into a complete trap, personally sealing the future of Ji Chang and Xiqi.

If Xiqi makes any move in the future, it will be considered a violation of the oath of the Human Emperor, and it will completely lose all support from righteousness, popular support, and the orthodox tradition. Raising an army will be considered a rebellion, and it will never be able to occupy the orthodox position of Heaven.

A difficult choice, stuck on the spot, left all the emperors and disciples of the Chan Sect helpless.

All the primordial forces, reclusive masters, and cultivators from all directions stopped to watch, countless gazes fixed on Fuxi, awaiting the Human Emperor's final decision. The entire world was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, the atmosphere extremely oppressive.

The situation could not be delayed any longer. The more we hesitated and wavered, the more likely it was to arouse suspicion among the people of the prehistoric world, and the more likely it was to confirm the suspicion that Ji Chang harbored ill intentions.

In the blink of an eye, the emperors communicated telepathically and quickly discussed the matter. Under extreme pressure, they ultimately had no choice but to compromise.

Fuxi's gaze was deep and focused as he secretly transmitted his voice to the hidden figure of the Human Emperor beside him, his tone resolute, setting the final tone.

"A decisive action must be taken without hesitation. Hesitation will lead to total defeat, inviting widespread criticism and solidifying Ji Chang's guilt. For now, we can only agree and stabilize the situation. Ji Chang himself is constrained, but his descendants are not bound by today's oath. There are still ways to deal with future changes, so we should not be preoccupied with temporary gains and losses."

Upon hearing this, the other emperors instantly understood the only way out and readily agreed.

Upon closer reflection, the conditions proposed by Tian Shou seem perfectly reasonable on the surface, consisting of nothing more than a public guarantee, without the slightest deviation from the rules.

If a dignified Holy Emperor of the human race doesn't even have the confidence to guarantee the character of his own disciples, and doesn't dare to accept such frank conditions, he will only appear guilty and make himself a laughingstock throughout the ages.

With countless eyes focused upon him, Fuxi no longer hesitated. He stepped forward, his majestic imperial power spreading out around him. His voice rang out, echoing throughout the Three Mountains Pass and reaching every corner of the prehistoric world where he made an eternal vow.

"Heaven and earth bear witness, and the Way of Heaven is my witness! I, Emperor Fuxi, hereby declare in public that Ji Chang of Xiqi is a disciple of the Sixty-Four Hexagrams lineage, personally taught by me. He cherishes humanity, adheres to ancient rites, and has absolutely no rebellious intentions!"

"My escape from Chaoge this time is solely due to the suffering of seven years of imprisonment, a situation beyond my control. It is by no means an intentional rebellion or treacherous plot. Today, I publicly vouch for Ji Chang and swear an oath to prove that Ji Chang will uphold the duties of a subject for the rest of his life, never harbor any disloyal thoughts, never plot rebellion, and will not betray the human race or the will of Heaven!"