Chaoge
Above the Nine-Room Great Hall, civil and military officials stood before the white jade steps, their voices thunderous enough to shake the heavens!
On the hall, a young man dressed in black royal robes embroidered with golden-edged Black Birds sat steady and upright upon the throne. From time to time, traces of panic flickered in his eyes, but they were hidden behind the bead curtain hanging from his crown, so no one noticed anything amiss.
"Transmigrated? Ancient times? Why so sudden?"
"Judging by this appearance and setup, I'm the emperor of the human world? Three palaces and six courtyards? Three thousand concubines? I don't think I can handle this... Bah! A man can never say he can't do it!"
Just as "Di Xin" was letting his imagination run wild, an old man stepped out from below the white jade steps and shouted:
"Your subject, Shang Rong, the Prime Minister bearing guilt, who oversees the affairs of the court, has something to report and dares not withhold it!..."
"I have one sentence I don't know whether I should say..."
When Di Xin first heard the name Shang Rong, he still hadn't realized where he had transmigrated. But the moment he heard about offering incense at Nuwa Palace, then looked at the surrounding decorations, and finally tugged at his own clothes, the energy seemed to drain from him in an instant. His face turned black as coal:
"Heavens, do you have to mess with me like this? Why couldn't I transmigrate as anyone else? Why did I have to become King Zhou, Di Xin, that damned man... His life didn't seem all that worthwhile either. Huh? Can I sleep with Daji?"
"Bah! Your life is almost over, and you're still thinking about sleeping, sleeping, sleeping!"
"Great King? Great King? Are you all right?"
After Shang Rong finished speaking, he waited for Di Xin to decide. Yet through the bead curtain, all he saw was... a smile?
How should he describe that smile? It seemed somewhat inappropriate, out of place for his status. It was truly the kind rarely seen...
"Ahem! I... I am well! Old Prime Minister, did you just say that tomorrow we are to offer incense to the Holy Mother at Nuwa Palace?"
Han Chen subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. Then he suddenly remembered something and looked up, only to see every civil and military official lowering his head in unison!
I didn't see anything. I didn't see a thing.
You didn't see anything? What a coincidence. I didn't see anything either.
See what? There's nothing here!
The officials fell silent. Shang Rong had no choice but to steer the awkward and dangerous topic aside:
"Great King, shall we offer incense tomorrow?"
Here comes the deadly part!
Di Xin straightened his expression. His mind spun rapidly as he considered everything from beginning to end:
According to the original story, Di Xin saw Nuwa's statue at Nuwa Palace and wrote an obscene poem beneath it. Wasn't that utterly absurd?
What normal person would become lustful toward a statue?
Therefore, there was only one truth: a hidden mastermind was manipulating things from behind the scenes!
Nuwa would be worshiped with incense, the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation would begin, an evil fox would throw the world into chaos, and the Two Sects would turn against each other!
In the end, the Western Sage would lure away the three thousand Mortal Guests and become the greatest winner. The Heavenly Court would seize human authority, suppress humanity, and pardon the Human King by making him the Son of Heaven. It would gather the three hundred and sixty-five righteous gods, becoming the second winner!
Therefore, the hidden mastermind was definitely one of them!
"Great King? Great King? Are you...?"
Seeing Di Xin become lost in thought once again, Shang Rong could only speak up again. Yet Di Xin suddenly leaped to his feet, his qi and blood surging:
"Go! Of course we must go! However..."
Di Xin deliberately dragged out the final word. His gaze swept across the civil and military officials. Only after everyone's hearts jolted did he continue:
"However, I have recently felt somewhat restless, as though disaster may soon befall the world. To prepare for trouble before it arises, I wish to first visit Three Sovereigns Hall and pay respects to the three Sacred Sovereigns of our Human Race, praying that the Three Sovereigns bless our Human Race's destiny so that it may flourish, multiply without end, and thrive forever! May they bless the people of Great Shang with peace and prosperity, and bring peace to all under heaven!"
After this passionate declaration, Di Xin had expected thunderous applause and complete submission from below the jade steps. Instead, the officials merely looked left and right. Even Shang Rong's old face collapsed:
"Great King, what do you mean?"
"You didn't understand?"
Di Xin was stunned as well. The ministers of this generation aren't up to par. How can they not understand something this obvious?
After coughing twice, Di Xin withdrew his imposing aura, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke one word at a time:
"I! Want! To! Leave! Court!"
Three Sovereigns Hall
Di Xin got his wish and ended the morning court session. Handling state affairs was nowhere near as important as saving this country and this race! Besides, with capable and virtuous ministers such as Prime Minister Shang Rong, Royal Uncle Bi Gan, and Bo Yi Shu Qi, it was better for him not to say anything.
After dismissing everyone around him, Di Xin stepped into Three Sovereigns Hall and looked straight at the statues of the Three Sovereigns:
Sure enough, what normal person would feel anything toward a statue?
He obtained three sticks of fine incense and tried to transform his qi and blood into spiritual flames. After lighting the incense, he inserted it into the great cauldron before the statues. His expression solemn, he spoke with soaring spirit:
"Ancient Three Sovereigns, hear me. I am the current Human King, Cheng Tang's Di Xin. It has now been seven years since I took the throne of the Human King! During these seven years, though I cannot say I have worried day and night, I can still claim to have worked diligently every single day and night. Above, I have not failed the blood and sweat shed by the ancient sages who carved out a path through thorns. Below, I have not failed the heavy responsibility passed down by the Human Kings of Cheng Tang's successive generations to bring prosperity to the Human Race. Nor have I failed the countless living beings of our Human Race!"
The fine incense curled upward and vanished into the void, carrying Di Xin's words into Huoyun Cave!
"Why would this generation's Human King suddenly think of us three old fellows?"
Xuanyuan sat upon his Jade Chariot. With a wave of his hand, the fine incense transformed into a round mirror, displaying the scene inside Three Sovereigns Hall.
Fu Xi frowned. Two divine rays flew from behind his head, evolving into all things in the world. They were none other than the Innate Spiritual Treasures: the River Diagram and the Luo Script!
After seeing the result revealed by the River Diagram and Luo Script, Fu Xi's brows furrowed even tighter:
"Using the Human Race's destiny as a guide and the River Diagram and Luo Script as instruments, I can see only that the Human King's aura shows signs of decline, while the Human Race's destiny faces the threat of turmoil! Could it be that those few intend to move against our Human Race?"
The Human Race's destiny was closely tied to them, so naturally they could not simply ignore it!
"Imperial Brother, do not be anxious. This generation's Human King must have sensed something. Let us continue listening to what he has to say."
Shen Nong raised a hand and pointed. The three men's gazes followed the incense and landed upon the divine statues!
Sensing someone watching him, Di Xin felt somewhat reassured. If I can't get that treasure, I should practice matters of marriage first. After all, that will be my livelihood once I become a god, so I can't be careless about it.
"But there are those who remain determined to destroy our Human Race! They seek to disrupt our destiny and make our Human Race kneel before Heaven! I am the current Human King. I do not wish for the Human Race to decay beneath Heaven during my reign! I will make the Human Race stand upright in this world with dignity for all eternity!
Heaven moves with vigor; a noble man should strive unceasingly for self-improvement! The earth is broad and receptive; a noble man should carry all things with profound virtue! This is the foundation that allowed our Human Race to walk through blood and tears and become the protagonist of Heaven and Earth!
Therefore! I have come here today for three reasons. First, to pay respects to the achievements of the Three Sovereigns! Second, to calm the hearts of all officials and common people! Third, I dreamed yesterday of a Nine Dragons Carrying Head Seal and wish to request that this seal be brought out, so that it may break the calamities facing our Human Race!
Those who scheme against our Human Race will surely suffer the backlash of our destiny! Our Human Race is the true protagonist of Heaven and Earth, the sole master upon this stage! I will show those outsiders that our Human Race still possesses the ferocity to exterminate demons and destroy witches! We can still take up blades and spears, swing staffs and clubs, and defend our honor and land!"
"Excellent!"
"Wonderful!"
"Very good!"
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