Chapter Summaries

Queen Jiang worried that Di Xin’s actions against Su Hu would damage his reputation and alienate loyal ministers, but Di Xin dismissed her concerns. He revealed that Su Daji was a Nine-tailed Fox hidden by a Saint’s method and decided to keep her in the palace under his control.

• Queen Jiang warned Di Xin that Fei Zhong and You Hun’s pressure on Su Hu could chill loyal ministers and spread damaging rumors about the King.
• Di Xin told Queen Jiang that the matter was his own business and dismissed her without explaining his reasons.
• After Queen Jiang left, Di Xin revealed that Su Daji was a Nine-tailed Fox who had entered Chaoge under a Saint’s concealment.
• Di Xin concluded that the Human Path Fortune grand formation had loopholes against Saints and resolved to inspect Chaoge more carefully.
• Di Xin decided to let Su Daji enter the palace and keep her close rather than kill her or let her act in secret.

As the feudal lords gathered to pay court, Di Xin confronted Ji Chang over the rumor that Heaven’s Mandate was with Zhou, then let him go with a warning. Su Hu arrived at the palace to present a memorial against Fei Zhong and You Hun, leaving the court awaiting his audience.

• Su Hu told Su Daji to remain at the posthouse while he went to court, and she secretly hoped his anger would provoke a clash with Fei Zhong and You Hun.
• The Four Great Vassal Lords reported on their territories to Di Xin in the Nine Chamber Hall.
• Di Xin challenged Ji Chang about the rumor that the Phoenix cried on Mount Qi and Heaven’s Mandate was with Zhou; Ji Chang denied treason and pleaded his loyalty.
• Jiang Huanchu, E Chongyu, Chong Houhu, Bi Gan, Shang Rong, and others pleaded for Ji Chang, and Di Xin released him with a warning to keep Xiqi in line.
• Su Hu announced that he had a memorial to present, and Di Xin ordered that he be summoned.

Su Hu accused Fei Zhong and You Hun of falsely invoking Di Xin’s authority to pressure him into sending Daji to the palace. Di Xin denied wanting more consorts and punished the two with a year’s salary docked, but Su Hu objected that the penalty was far too lenient.

• Su Hu entered Nine Chamber Hall and impeached Fei Zhong and You Hun for falsely conveying royal orders and coercing him to offer Daji to the palace.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun denied forging an edict, claiming they had only suggested Daji enter the palace and that Su Hu had misunderstood them.
• Su Hu accused the pair of sending feudal lords to pressure him, while they denied responsibility for the lords’ actions.
• Di Xin declared that he had no intention of taking additional consorts and warned the ministers against speculating about his wishes.
• Di Xin docked Fei Zhong and You Hun one year’s salary and told them to apologize to Su Hu.
• Su Hu protested that the punishment was too lenient and urged Di Xin to punish the two more severely.

Di Xin asked Su Hu to send his daughter Su Daji into the palace to keep the Queen company, while insisting the request was not an attempt to take a consort. Su Hu left the court under pressure to consider the demand, furious and fearing for his daughter.

• Fei Zhong and You Hun apologized to Su Hu after Di Xin denied rumors that he would take a consort.
• Di Xin told Su Hu that the Queen was lonely and asked him to send Su Daji to the palace as her companion.
• Su Hu tried to refuse, but Fei Zhong and You Hun praised Su Daji’s talents and accused Su Hu of making excuses.
• Di Xin warned Su Hu that refusing could call his loyalty to Great Shang into question, then dismissed the court and told him to think it over.
• Fei Zhong and You Hun mocked Su Hu as they left, and Su Hu remained alone in the hall, clenching his fists in anger.

Su Daji persuaded Su Hu to accept the King’s order for her to enter the palace under the pretext of keeping the Queen company. Su Hu reluctantly agreed, while Su Daji secretly planned to seduce Di Xin and bring ruin to the Great Shang Dynasty.

• Su Daji saw Su Hu return from court in despair and learned that the King had ordered her to enter the palace to keep the Queen company.
• Su Hu angrily accused the King of using the Queen as an excuse to take Su Daji into his harem.
• Su Daji warned Su Hu that refusing the King’s stated reason could bring disaster on their clan and Ji Province.
• Su Hu accepted that he had no choice and agreed to send Su Daji into the palace.
• Su Daji concealed her delight and resolved to ensnare Di Xin and ruin the Great Shang Dynasty.

Di Xin exposed the Nine-tailed Fox possessing Su Daji, seized Nuwa’s jade talisman, and spared the demon by making her a pet for the Queen. Su Daji chose to remain in the palace rather than return to Ji Province, and left Nine Chamber Hall carrying the little fox.

• Di Xin recognized that Su Daji’s soul was still alive beneath the Nine-tailed Fox’s control and revealed that he knew the demon’s identity.
• Di Xin pulled the Creation Jade Talisman from the Nine-tailed Fox and suppressed its power, forcing the demon to reveal herself and Su Daji to awaken.
• Su Daji thanked Di Xin for saving her, while the Nine-tailed Fox begged for her life and agreed to obey him.
• Di Xin spared the Nine-tailed Fox but ordered her to become the Queen’s pet, and she transformed into a small white fox.
• Di Xin offered to send Su Daji back to Ji Province, but she chose to stay in the palace and serve the Queen.
• Di Xin sent Su Daji to find the Queen with the little fox, and she carried the demon out of Nine Chamber Hall.

Tongtian Sect Master ordered Jiang Ziya to descend to Chaoge and command Jie Sect disciples during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, while Primordial Lord Tianzun sent Shen Gongbao to Xiqi to urge Ji Chang to rebel against Shang. Both left their mountains to begin their roles in the coming conflict.

• Tongtian Sect Master told Jiang Ziya to assist the Human Emperor in Chaoge and revealed that Jie Sect backed Shang while Chan Sect backed Xiqi.
• Tongtian Sect Master appointed Jiang Ziya to direct Jie Sect disciples and protect them from casualties during the Tribulation.
• Jiang Ziya accepted the task and departed Golden Ao Island for Chaoge, prepared to wage war.
• Primordial Lord Tianzun ordered Shen Gongbao to go to Xiqi and have Ji Chang raise an army against Shang.
• Shen Gongbao questioned when the Twelve Golden Immortals would join him, then accepted the order and left Jade Void Palace intending to use his nominal authority to mobilize Chan Sect power.

Jiang Ziya arrived in Chaoge and met Di Xin, who appointed him acting Grand Tutor until Wen Zhong returned. Jiang Ziya accepted the responsibility as a subject of Great Shang and went to take charge of the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

• Jiang Ziya entered Chaoge and was summoned to Nine Chamber Hall by Di Xin.
• Di Xin told Jiang Ziya to temporarily assume the Grand Tutor's post and handle the mansion and court affairs until Wen Zhong returned.
• Di Xin reassured Jiang Ziya that he could return to Golden Ao Island after the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation and arranged for veteran ministers to support him.
• Jiang Ziya accepted the appointment, declared himself a subject of Great Shang, and vowed not to fail Di Xin's trust.
• Di Xin personally helped Jiang Ziya rise and sent him to the Grand Tutor's Mansion, where Jiang Ziya set off to begin his duties.

Shen Gongbao visited Ji Chang in Xiqi on Primordial Lord Tianzun’s orders and declared that Heaven’s Mandate favored Zhou. Ji Chang rejected the call to rebel for now but accepted Shen Gongbao as Xiqi’s Grand Master, leaving their alliance in place without committing to an uprising.

• Shen Gongbao arrived at the Marquis of the West’s residence and was welcomed by Ji Chang and Bo Yikao.
• Shen Gongbao said Primordial Lord Tianzun had sent him and reassured Ji Chang that Ji Shudan and the other Chan Sect disciples were doing well.
• Shen Gongbao announced that the Mandate of Heaven favored Zhou and that he had come to assist Ji Chang in a great undertaking.
• Ji Chang hid his excitement, declared loyalty to Great Shang, and refused to rebel while the dynasty remained powerful.
• Ji Chang offered Shen Gongbao the post of Grand Master of Xiqi, and Shen Gongbao accepted.
• Ji Chang ordered Bo Yikao to arrange a welcome banquet for Shen Gongbao.

Di Xin told Jiang Ziya he would accelerate the Tribulation by issuing the Edict of Recommendation to dismantle the feudal lords’ power and unify the Human Clan. Jiang Ziya agreed to prepare for the rebellion he expected the decree to provoke, and Di Xin planned to proclaim it at the next court assembly.

• Di Xin spent time in the royal gardens with Queen Jiang, Consort Huang, Su Daji, and the Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb in their new roles.
• Jiang Ziya met with Di Xin, who noted that more than fifteen years had passed and that Wen Zhong remained stalled at the Northern Sea.
• Di Xin revealed the Edict of Recommendation, which would divide the feudal lords’ family power and force them either to submit or rebel.
• Jiang Ziya warned that the decree could unite the feudal lords against Great Shang and predicted Ji Chang would be unable to accept it.
• Jiang Ziya pledged to handle the coming warfare, and Di Xin ordered him to prepare for the decree’s proclamation at the next court assembly.

Di Xin announced the Edict of Recommendation, allowing all sons of the feudal lords except the eldest legitimate son to divide their fathers’ lands and establish fiefs. Jiang Ziya backed the decree and helped Di Xin silence the court’s objections, leaving Shang Rong convinced the policy would provoke rebellion.

• Di Xin proclaimed the Edict of Recommendation at court, ordering the feudal lords’ lands divided among their sons.
• Shang Rong and Bi Gan led the officials in pleading with Di Xin to rescind the decree, warning that it would destabilize Great Shang.
• Di Xin refused to reconsider and declared the matter settled.
• Shang Rong appealed to Jiang Ziya to remonstrate with the King, but Jiang Ziya defended the decree as benevolent and challenged the ministers to question the feudal lords’ loyalty.
• Di Xin ordered the Edict of Recommendation proclaimed to the eight hundred feudal lords, and Jiang Ziya left after telling Shang Rong that the times had changed.
• Shang Rong told Bi Gan he feared the decree would force the feudal lords into rebellion and wondered why Jiang Ziya supported it.

After Di Xin’s Edict of Recommendation threatened to divide Xiqi among Ji Chang’s many sons, Ji Chang decided that Xiqi must rebel, but only after coordinating with the other feudal lords. Shen Gongbao assured him that the Mandate of Heaven favored Zhou and pledged the Chan Sect’s support.

• Ji Chang condemned Di Xin’s edict as a scheme to break apart the Ji Clan, and Shen Gongbao urged him to rebel rather than wait for Xiqi to be dismantled.
• Ji Fa supported rebellion and offered to lead the vanguard, while Bo Yikao warned against acting rashly.
• Ji Chang chose to rebel but ordered San Yisheng to sound out the feudal lords and Ji Fa to unite the smaller lords around Xiqi.
• After the others left, Ji Chang asked Shen Gongbao whether the Mandate of Heaven truly favored Zhou, and Shen Gongbao said Di Xin could not stop the tide of Heaven’s mandate.
• Ji Chang committed Xiqi to the rebellion and asked Shen Gongbao for aid, and Shen Gongbao promised the Chan Sect’s full support.

Ji Chang secured the support or neutrality of the other great marquises, founded Great Zhou, and declared war on Shang. As armies from the south, north, and west marched toward Chaoge, a war engulfing the mortal realm began.

• San Yisheng reported that E Chongyu and Chong Houhu would support Xiqi, while Jiang Huanchu would remain occupied suppressing unrest in the east.
• Ji Chang ordered Xiqi to raise troops against Shang, and Shen Gongbao urged him to found a state and claim a proper mandate.
• Ji Chang founded Great Zhou and proclaimed himself King of Zhou at a sacrifice outside Xiqi.
• Ji Chang appointed Shen Gongbao Prime Minister and Ji Fa Grand Marshal of the Campaign against Shang.
• E Chongyu and Chong Houhu led four hundred lords in rebellion as armies from the south, north, and west advanced toward Chaoge, while Jiang Huanchu suppressed unrest in the east.

Primordial Lord Tianzun gave Shen Gongbao the Investiture of the Gods, the God-Beating Whip, and the Four-Not-Like, then ordered him to build an Investiture Platform at Xiqi. Shen Gongbao recruited Bai Jian and Dragon-Bearded Tiger on his way back, while Primordial Lord Tianzun prepared to send his twelve disciples into the mortal world.

• Primordial Lord Tianzun summoned Shen Gongbao from Xiqi and entrusted him with the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, ordering him to oversee construction of an Investiture Platform on Mount Qi.
• Primordial Lord Tianzun told Shen Gongbao to find Bai Jian in the Northern Sea to supervise the platform’s construction and promised Bai Jian a position as an Orthodox God of Pure Blessing.
• Primordial Lord Tianzun bestowed the Four-Not-Like on Shen Gongbao as his mount, and Shen Gongbao flew toward the Northern Sea.
• Shen Gongbao found Bai Jian and persuaded him to go to Xiqi and oversee construction of the Investiture Platform.
• Shen Gongbao defeated Dragon-Bearded Tiger with Jade Pure Divine Thunder, then accepted the monster as a disciple to accompany the army.
• Primordial Lord Tianzun sensed Shen Gongbao had recruited Bai Jian and Dragon-Bearded Tiger, then decided to send Guang Chengzi and the other disciples into the mortal world.

Shen Gongbao began building the Investiture Platform as six hundred feudal lords rebelled and advanced on Chaoge. Di Xin revealed that he had provoked the rebellion to eliminate the lords and put Jiang Ziya in command of all Great Shang troops.

• Shen Gongbao ordered Bai Jian to oversee construction of the Investiture Platform and sent Dragon-Bearded Tiger to haul its materials.
• Ji Fa led Xiqi’s army east, while E Chongyu and Chong Houhu led the southern and northern lords into rebellion.
• Jiang Ziya reported to Di Xin that six hundred of the realm’s eight hundred lords had rebelled and that Jiang Huanchu had refused to mobilize.
• Shang Rong and Bi Gan urged Di Xin to revoke the Edict of Recommendation, placate the southern and northern marquises, and attack Xiqi first.
• Di Xin declared that he had wanted the lords to rebel so he could uproot them and ordered Jiang Ziya to command all Great Shang troops and pacify the realm.
• Jiang Ziya accepted the command and promised to crush the rebellion as Di Xin dismissed the court.

Di Xin recommended Nezha and Kong Xuan to Jiang Ziya for the coming campaign. Nezha was appointed vanguard for the Western Expedition, while Jiang Ziya asked why Di Xin considered Kong Xuan special.

• Di Xin summoned Jiang Ziya to the palace and recommended Nezha to join the campaign.
• Jiang Ziya welcomed Nezha but warned that he would be subject to military orders and punishment like any other soldier.
• Di Xin agreed to give Jiang Ziya full authority over Nezha, and Nezha pledged to obey his orders.
• Jiang Ziya appointed Nezha Vanguard Officer for the Western Expedition, set to march the next morning.
• Di Xin recommended Kong Xuan as well, and Jiang Ziya questioned the choice because he knew of no exceptional qualities or achievements to distinguish him.

Di Xin revealed that Kong Xuan could hold back a Saint long enough for Tongtian Sect Master to respond, and promised the Phoenix Clan a share of Human Clan fortune to persuade him to act. Jiang Ziya accepted the mission to deliver the offer and prepared to lead the western expedition with Nezha as his vanguard.

• Di Xin explained to Jiang Ziya and Nezha that Kong Xuan could briefly hold back a Saint, protecting them from a surprise attack by Primordial Lord Tianzun.
• Jiang Ziya questioned why Kong Xuan would risk offending a Saint, and Di Xin told him to promise the Phoenix Clan the status of a Human Clan totem with lasting access to its fortune.
• Di Xin confirmed Kong Xuan’s Phoenix Clan origin and insisted that the bargain was worth making.
• Jiang Ziya accepted Di Xin’s decree and promised to relay his words to Kong Xuan.
• Di Xin ordered Nezha to march with the army the next day, and Jiang Ziya established their commander-and-vanguard chain of command as they left the palace.

Twelve Chan Sect disciples arrived at Xiqi to help Ji Fa attack Sishui Pass, while Shen Gongbao endured their disdain and planned to see them caught up in the tribulation. At Sishui Pass, Jiang Ziya revealed Kong Xuan’s identity and secured his promise to hold off any Saint who intervened, in exchange for making the Phoenix Clan a Human Clan totem.

• Twelve Chan Sect disciples, including Ji Shudan and Lei Zhenzi, arrived at Xiqi and offered to aid Ji Fa against Shang.
• Jin Zha and the other Chan Sect disciples greeted Shen Gongbao with barely concealed disrespect, while he hid his anger behind a smile.
• Ji Fa ordered the Xiqi army to march on Sishui Pass at dawn.
• Jiang Ziya met Kong Xuan at Sishui Pass and revealed that he knew Kong Xuan was the first peacock and a descendant of the Phoenix Clan.
• Jiang Ziya offered to make the Phoenix Clan a Human Clan totem if Kong Xuan helped Great Shang and held off any Saint who intervened.
• Kong Xuan accepted the offer and vowed to stop a Saint from harming Jiang Ziya, even at the cost of his life.

Lei Zhenzi challenged Sishui Pass and fought Yu Hua, who wounded him with the Blood Transformation Divine Blade. Ji Shudan joined the battle and incapacitated Yu Hua with the Bell of Fallen Souls, leaving Lei Zhenzi poised to strike the unconscious general.

• Ji Fa named Lei Zhenzi the vanguard, and Lei Zhenzi challenged the Shang troops at Sishui Pass.
• Jiang Ziya sent Yu Hua to test Lei Zhenzi, and the two fought fiercely until Yu Hua began to falter.
• Yu Hua wounded Lei Zhenzi with the Blood Transformation Divine Blade, forcing Ji Shudan to rush to his aid.
• Lei Zhenzi and Ji Shudan fought Yu Hua together, but Yu Hua held his own against them.
• Ji Shudan rang the Bell of Fallen Souls and knocked Yu Hua unconscious, and Lei Zhenzi raised his Golden Cudgel to strike.

Nezha arrived at Sishui Pass and rescued Yu Hua, then challenged the Chan Sect disciples and fought off their group attack. As the outnumbered Nezha began to tire, Jin Zha freed his Dragon-Trapping Stakes and sent them toward him.

• Nezha struck Lei Zhenzi with his Universe Ring, badly injuring him and knocking him back into Xiqi’s formation.
• Nezha rescued Yu Hua and mocked Ji Shudan, Lei Zhenzi, and the Chan Sect disciples for attacking two against one.
• Jin Zha, Mu Zha, Tu Xingsun, and the other Chan Sect disciples surrounded Nezha and attacked with their weapons and magic treasures.
• Nezha used his spear, Universe Ring, Chaos Tunic, and Wind Fire Wheels to repel the disciples’ attacks, but their repeated assaults wore down his strength.
• Tu Xingsun attacked Nezha’s ankle as Jin Zha broke his Dragon-Trapping Stakes free from the Chaos Tunic and sent them flying toward Nezha.