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

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Chang immediately gave an order to Xin Jia, the general beside him.

"Quickly go and invite the composer here; I wish to meet him in person."

Xin Jia accepted the order, spurred his horse forward, and shouted loudly to the group of fishermen on the riverbank.

"Where are the wise men of the song? Quickly step forward and pay homage to the Marquis of the West!"

Upon hearing this, all the fishermen on the riverbank knelt down in fear and kowtowed repeatedly.

"We are just ordinary fishermen, not virtuous men, and we dare not deceive you, my lord."

Xin Jia frowned slightly and asked again.

"The clear, melodious singing just now echoed throughout the mountains and fields; how dare you say they were all idle people?"

The fisherman answered honestly, his words simple and sincere.

"We go out to fish in the river every morning and have nothing to do in the afternoon, so we call ourselves idle people. The song we just sang was not written by us, but we hear it every day and know it by heart, so we just sing it casually."

Xin Jia was speechless for a moment, and could only turn around and bow to Ji Chang in response.

"My lord, the riverbank is inhabited only by ordinary fishermen; there are no wise men here."

Ji Chang shook his head slightly, his gaze resolute and his mind unwavering.

"The song has an extraordinary artistic conception and a profound rhythm; it could not possibly have come from an ordinary person. There must be a great sage here."

Seeing that the Marquis of Xibo was determined to visit, the fisherman quickly told him the truth.

"If Your Excellency is looking for the composer of this song, you may go to the Wei River, thirty-five li away. There is an old man fishing by the stream named Jiang Ziya, who has spent his days fishing here. This song is what the old man often recites. We have heard it every day and that is why we have memorized it."

Upon hearing this, Ji Chang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he was overjoyed. After searching for days, he finally found a clue.

He immediately waved his hand to dismiss the fishermen, ordered the civil and military officials to retreat to the rear and wait, and then, with his personal entourage, headed straight for the banks of the Wei River, thirty-five miles away.

At this moment, Ji Chang was already at a loss, with no way to advance or retreat and no clear future ahead.

The righteousness of the sages of the past has been broken, and the emperor has vowed to lock himself in. The future of Xiqi is bleak and it is constrained at every turn. No one in the court can break this deadlock.

The only hope is to find a wise and capable person in seclusion and borrow their wisdom to open a path to survival for Xiqi.

The Chan Sect had already laid out a complete plan, with the flying bear in the dream, the fisherman's song by the river, and the reclusive sage in the mountains and fields all being carefully laid out and lured step by step, all to set up the meeting between the ruler and his minister today.

After a search, Ji Chang successfully met Jiang Ziya. After a conversation, discussing the Dao and analyzing the general situation, he became more convinced that Jiang Ziya was the flying bear in his dream and the wise minister who would save the world.

Despite the simplicity of the mountain village and the age difference, Ji Chang sincerely invited Jiang Ziya to the Xiqi court and appointed him as the prime minister of Xiqi, in charge of all internal and external affairs and overall situation.

No one in the court disagreed with him, and everyone in Xiqi hoped that a wise minister would emerge to reverse the decline.

But no one could have predicted that just a short time after Jiang Ziya entered Xiqi and became prime minister, Ji Chang, who had been overwhelmed with worry and mental exhaustion, suddenly fell ill and was bedridden. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died mysteriously without any warning.

The life of the Marquis of Xibo, a disciple of Fuxi, and a sage of the human race has come to an end.

With Ji Chang's death, power in Xiqi immediately changed hands, and his eldest son Ji Fa succeeded him, ascending the throne as King Wu.

At the beginning of King Wu's reign, his foundation was not yet stable, the court was only just beginning to settle down, and the situation in the world changed again.

The Shang Dynasty court was increasingly corrupt. Emperor Xin was tyrannical, persecuting loyal officials and neglecting the state. King Wucheng, Huang Feihu, whose family had been loyal and meritorious for generations, was repeatedly suspected and persecuted. His family was unjustly accused and he himself was controlled, making it difficult for him to stand in Chaoge.

Left with no other choice, Huang Feihu resolutely abandoned his noble title, military power, and business empire in the Shang Dynasty. He led his entire family, generals, and personal guards out of Chaoge overnight and headed west to seek refuge in Xiqi.

Huang Feihu returned to Qi, completely filling the gaps in Xiqi's military and political affairs.

With Jiang Ziya in charge of the government and strategizing, and Huang Feihu leading the troops and guarding the territory, Xiqi had both civil and military leaders, and its army was well-equipped and well-supplied, thus possessing all the necessary resources to launch a campaign against the Shang dynasty.

Ji Fa summoned Jiang Ziya, Huang Feihu, and all the civil and military officials to discuss the overall situation and finalize national policies for several days. Finally, he made up his mind to officially raise the banner of rebellion against Shang, establish the state of Zhou, and honor Ji Fa as King Wu of Zhou.

The imperial court lavishly bestowed honors upon its officials, appointing Jiang Ziya as Grand Tutor and Prime Minister, entrusting him with overall strategic command; Huang Feihu was appointed King Wucheng, commanding all the armies and wielding supreme power of conquest; and all other civil and military officials were promoted, each relegated to their respective positions and duties.

With this, Xiqi completely broke with the Shang Dynasty and officially began its campaign against them.

From the time when the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors descended to the mortal realm through the Fire Cloud Cave and publicly swore an oath to Ji Chang that he would never rebel, to the time when Ji Fa succeeded to the throne and Xiqi openly rebelled against the Shang Dynasty, only one year had passed.

The one-year agreement, the vow still echoed in their ears, the Holy Emperor's witness had not yet faded, and the Heavenly Way's judgment remained clear, yet Xiqi suddenly raised an army and overthrew the dynasty.

The message swept across the land like a whirlwind, spreading throughout the four corners of the human realm and the territories of the various lords. In an instant, the world was in an uproar, with voices clamoring and endless discussions.

"Who could have imagined! The Emperor had just publicly sworn an oath for Ji Chang, guaranteeing that he would never rebel, and yet, less than a year later, with Ji Chang's body barely cold, his descendants have already rebelled against the Shang Dynasty. How despicable and faithless this act is!"

"This shows that Ji Chang was never without rebellious intentions throughout his life! He endured and pretended for many years, deceiving the people and the emperor, harboring evil intentions and plotting step by step. The fact that he sent beautiful women to court to be offered to him and showed utmost respect and submission was probably all a deliberate scheme!"

"Even the ancient sage emperor himself vouched for them, yet they were still deceived by the father and son of Xiqi. This shows how unpredictable human nature is and how hidden the seeds of disaster can be!"

"Emperor Xin was tyrannical and cruel, persecuting loyal officials and ravaging the land. The people suffered unspeakably. The uprising of Xiqi to punish him was in accordance with the will of the people, but the methods they used were far too ugly!"

Discussions arose from all sides, and no one was as enthusiastic and eager to follow as in previous years.

In the past, when Ji Chang was alive, all people shared his sentiments and the world was devoted to him. With a single command, he could command the responses from all directions and gather the feudal lords.

Now that Ji Fa has launched his rebellion, he lacks the popular support and the righteous cause of a sage punishing tyranny; all that remains is the power struggle between the court and the country, and the calculations of the feudal lords vying for power.

The people of the world were filled with shock and doubt. Some despised Xiqi for breaking its oath and being untrustworthy, some hated the tyranny of the Shang Dynasty, and some watched the situation from the sidelines, not daring to take sides. No one took the initiative to submit, and no one sincerely supported them.

While it may seem that Xiqi successfully established itself as a nation and officially launched its attack on Shang, in reality, from the moment it raised its army, it had completely fallen into the chess game that Li Bai had already laid out.

Without popular support, without the righteous cause of Heaven, and without the halo of saints, the Western Zhou's conquest of Shang, which was originally a righteous act of saving the world, completely degenerated into an ordinary rebellion by feudal lords to seize power.

There was no other way, because there was no way to legitimize Ji Chang's rule, and there was no way out.

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

In the fairyland of Yaochi, clouds surge and a gentle breeze blows, with countless celestial lights surrounding the jade palaces and pavilions.

Yaochi looked down quietly at Xiqi in the lower realm and witnessed Ji Fa openly establishing a state against Shang and raising the banner of war against Shang. She could no longer suppress the shock in her heart and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Everything Taibai said has come true. Ji Fa indeed could not restrain himself and resolutely raised an army to rebel against the Shang Dynasty, without the slightest error!"

Li Bai smiled calmly, everything was as expected, without the slightest surprise.

"Xiqi was already trapped in a dead end, with no way out and no way to advance or retreat. They had no other choice but to rebel against the Shang Dynasty. They had no choice but to rebel."

"Ji Fa's open betrayal of the Shang dynasty has presented us with an excellent opportunity. The Jie Sect has already decided to support Jiang Wenhuan, so we should seize the opportunity to join the game and choose the lineage of the Marquis of Dongbo as our support base."

"The Shang Dynasty's fate has run its course; the world is in chaos, and heroes rise up everywhere. The deer has been lost in the wild, and the whole world vie for it. Since ancient times, in times of chaos, only one ironclad rule has been followed: whoever enters Chaoge first can rule the world!"

Yaochi was startled by what she heard, instantly grasping the deeper meaning behind her words, and asked again with a hint of confirmation.

"Whoever enters Chaoge first will be king. In that case, our core plan now is to fully support Marquis Dongbo Jiang Wenhuan so that we can conquer Chaoge and establish our rule over the world before Xiqi?"

Li Bai nodded heavily, his tone resolute, clearly and logically dissecting the advantages and disadvantages of the entire situation.

"That's right. Now Xiqi's reputation has completely plummeted, and it no longer possesses any of the orthodox and sage-like qualities it once had. Ji Fa's hasty uprising, seemingly seizing the initiative to attack Shang, actually has inherent flaws. He has broken faith with Heaven and Earth, failed to live up to the oath of the Emperor, and has not gained the genuine support and empathy of the people."

"We should take advantage of this situation and immediately order the seven Tian Shou to fully support Jiang Wenhuan in raising an army to rebel. Right now, Emperor Xin has desecrated the goddess Nuwa, and Su Daji has wreaked havoc on the court, harmed loyal officials, and stirred up trouble in the world. The Shang Dynasty is enraged by the heavens and resentful by the people, and has lost the hearts of the people. We can make full use of this overwhelming momentum."

"Compared to the now infamous Xiqi, Jiang Wenhuan possessed unparalleled popular support and a strong foundation of empathy. His father, Jiang Huanchu, was the head of the eight hundred vassal lords. He was loyal, upright, and innocent, yet he was cruelly executed by dismemberment. His sister, Queen Jiang, was virtuous and kind, a model for the nation, but she was framed by a wicked concubine and died a tragic death."

"Everyone knows about the Jiang family's unfortunate injustice throughout the ages, and everyone feels sympathy and indignation. This deep-seated hatred and extreme injustice can evoke the empathy of people from all directions and feudal lords. Now, Ji Chang and Ji Fa's lineage in Xiqi has completely lost the support of the people and the righteousness of the nation. Jiang Wenhuan's prestige and the empathy of the people have far surpassed those of Xiqi."

Yaochi had a complete grasp of the entire plan, and his mind was suddenly enlightened. He couldn't help but sincerely admire her.

"Incredibly wonderful! Truly exquisite at every step, every word a gem!"

Throughout the entire Investiture of the Gods calamity, the Chan Sect spent hundreds of years laying the groundwork, painstakingly building the momentum of the Western Zhou sages, and planning and strategizing for half a lifetime. In the end, all the groundwork and momentum were taken advantage of by us and the Jie Sect, and we did the work for others.

Yaochi quietly reviewed the power structure of all parties and felt more and more that this arrangement was flawless.

Marquis Jiang Wenhuan of Dongbo is the most perfect candidate to start a rebellion in the current chaotic world, but he is the only one who is not related to the Chan Sect. He is a force that the Chan Sect can never touch or support.

Marquis Dongbo is located on the coast of the East China Sea, with the main base of the Jie Sect on Jin'ao Island behind him. The entire territory of the East China Sea is under the control of the Jie Sect's myriad immortals.

If the Chan Sect dares to intervene and support Jiang Wenhuan, the Jie Sect can launch a surprise attack from the rear and cut off all retreat routes without the Shang Dynasty's military intervention. Under the pincer attack, all of the Chan Sect's plans will collapse instantly, leaving them with no room for maneuver.

This advantageous geographical situation is a dead end for the Chan Sect, but an excellent fertile ground for the Jie Sect and the Heavenly Court.

In previous years, Ji Chang's prestige was overwhelming, and his reputation as a sage was unparalleled among the human race. The lineage of the Marquis of Dongbo could only lie low and endure, willingly becoming vassals of Xiqi, and wholeheartedly assisting Ji Fa in his eastern expedition against Shang, without having any chance to rise to prominence.

Now, times have changed and the tides have turned. Xiqi has destroyed its own foundation and lost the trust of the world. The era and opportunity belonging to the Marquis of Dongbo have finally arrived.

Yaochi looked down at the reshuffled human race in the lower realm and was filled with joy.

Li Bai's scheming completely disrupted the Investiture of the Gods situation, and a brand-new chaotic power struggle was officially formed. The Heavenly Court completely broke free from its passive and bystander position and gained full initiative.

With the situation settled, Li Taibai no longer hesitated and immediately informed Tian Shou and the other seven of all their subsequent strategies, detailing the entire process of persuasion, assistance, and raising an army.

At this time, the seven people of Tian Shou had already bid farewell to Qinglong Pass and traveled eastward, quietly arriving under the jurisdiction of Dongbo Hou.

Ever since Jiang Huanchu died unjustly in Chaoge, people have been living in fear.

Despite the deep-seated hatred of losing both his father and sister, Jiang Wenhuan resolutely inherited the title and established himself as the new Marquis of Dongbo.

Knowing that Emperor Xin was tyrannical and suspicious and would never let him go, Jiang Wenhuan climbed the city walls every day to personally oversee the city's defenses, train the troops, and repair the fortifications. He remained vigilant against an attack from the Chaoge army, always ready for battle and never daring to relax his guard.

On this day, banners fluttered and the wind howled atop the city wall of Donglu. Jiang Wenhuan, clad in full armor, stood atop the city tower, directing his officers to arrange defenses and instruct them on matters of guard.

Above the clear blue sky, without any warning, a sudden shower of seven-colored celestial light descended, with countless rays of light and auspicious clouds enveloping the entire city. The peaceful and holy celestial aura instantly overwhelmed the murderous atmosphere that filled the city.

Amidst the flowing celestial light, seven figures clad in armor and exuding a dashing air descended from the sky, landing steadily atop the city wall. Their auras were imposing and their bearing extraordinary; they were none other than the seven members of Tianshou who had traveled eastward.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Wenhuan was greatly shocked. He could see with his naked eye the vast immortal aura and battlefield spirit emanating from the seven people, and knew that they were no ordinary cultivators. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, and paid his respects with perfect manners and a respectful attitude.

"Jiang Wenhuan greets all the fairies!"

Tian Shou, who was in the lead, stepped forward slowly, calmly cupped his hands, and frankly stated his origins without concealment or disguise. Every word he spoke was true and straightforward.

"We were once the generals guarding Qinglong Pass. Because we had previously allowed the Marquis of Xibo, Ji Chang, to pass through, we violated the taboo of the Shang Dynasty court. Emperor Xin ordered us to be arrested throughout the region and dismissed from all our official posts. With no other choice, we abandoned our posts and fled eastward. We have come here to pay our respects to the Marquis of Dongbo."

These few words, when they reached Jiang Wenhuan's ears, instantly stirred up a storm.

The earth-shattering events of letting Ji Chang pass through Sanshan Pass, forcing the Human Emperor to make an oath, and stirring up the world's order have long been known throughout the human race, and everyone in the world knows the name of Tian Shou.

This top figure, who stirred up the great trend of the Investiture of the Gods and even dared to derail the plans of the sages, actually took the initiative to come to Donglu to join him and became his subordinate.

After the initial shock, an overwhelming joy welled up inside Jiang Wenhuan, his eyes shone brightly, and all the pent-up emotions in his heart vanished.

"So it's General Tianshou! I've long admired your name; it's legendary! Your victory at Sanshan Pass subdued all the feudal lords, and I've always respected you, Jiang Wenhuan! I wonder if you fairies have any guidance for us in Donglu this time?"

Tian Shou remained calm and composed, stating his purpose directly and getting straight to the point.

"We, the seven sisters, have traveled thousands of miles eastward, not for travel or to seek refuge, but specifically to join you, Lord Marquis, and to wholeheartedly assist you. The current state of affairs is clear: the Shang dynasty's fate is sealed, and signs of its demise are evident. Among all the feudal lords of the human race, only you, Lord Marquis, are truly the unparalleled choice to contend for supremacy and inherit the rightful throne of humanity!"