Guangchengzi sneered inwardly, but said aloud, "Shen Gongbao, you lost."
Seeing that he was still unconvinced, Guangchengzi smiled. "You may compete again."
Shen Gongbao's eyes lit up. "Then... fine! I'll remove my head and toss it into the air. Within a day, it will travel through the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, then return to my neck, and I'll still be able to speak! Jiang Ziya, do you dare compete with me?"
Hearing Shen Gongbao's words, Jiang Ziya thought, How could that be possible?
Could a person's head be reattached after being cut off?
Besides, such a technique was far too profound. How could someone with my abilities possibly win?
At that moment, Hong Lie whispered, "Agree to it first. I'll help you. I'll make sure his head can't return."
Hearing this, Jiang Ziya's eyes shifted as he said to Shen Gongbao, "That technique truly is extraordinary. I don't know it, but you just said you could travel through the Three Mountains and Five Peaks. What if you can't return?"
Shen Gongbao glanced at Jiang Ziya and said, "If I don't return, then I lose, and you win. How about it?"
Jiang Ziya nodded. "Fine."
Shen Gongbao sneered. "Then it's settled."
Immediately afterward, Shen Gongbao raised a sword in one hand and slashed at his own neck.
His head fell off, and he tossed it into the air. The head drifted up into the sky.
Jiang Ziya was secretly alarmed. Such a miraculous technique really existed?
He watched Shen Gongbao's head fly through the air.
Hong Lie chuckled, suddenly turned into his true form, and became a golden eagle. He snatched Shen Gongbao's head in his claws and flew toward the distant south.
Shen Gongbao only felt as though something had seized his head.
He felt miserable inside and could only admit defeat.
By then, Shen Gongbao knew someone must have helped Jiang Ziya. Furious, he left.
Over the next few days, Jiang Ziya and Hong Lie grew closer and closer. Hong Lie had helped him twice, making Jiang Ziya trust him deeply and tell him everything.
One day, Yuanshi Tianzun suddenly said, "Send for Jiang Ziya. It is time for him to descend the mountain."
Guangchengzi thought to himself, What? Jiang Ziya is descending the mountain? Does that mean the Investiture of the Gods is about to begin?
"Yes, this disciple will summon him. But Teacher, has the Investiture of the Gods begun?"
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded with a dark expression. "That is indeed the case. But you need not worry. Our Clarification Sect is powerful, and we have joined forces with many parties. We will not lose this battle."
When Jiang Ziya arrived at Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi Tianzun looked down at him and said, "You have no destiny for immortality, but you do possess mortal wealth and honor. Now, Cheng Tang's fortune has run its course, and another wise ruler will arise. Descend the mountain to preside over the Investiture of the Gods ceremony and assist that wise ruler. In the future, you will enjoy great wealth and honor in the mortal world. Perhaps you may even gain an opportunity in the divine path."
Hearing this, Jiang Ziya quickly knelt on the ground. "This disciple sincerely seeks the Dao and does not desire mortal wealth and honor. Teacher, please guide me mercifully! I beg Teacher to show kindness!"
Yuanshi Tianzun's gaze turned cold. "Such is your fate. Say no more. Go."
Guangchengzi hurriedly said from the side, "Junior Brother Ziya, this is how things must be now. Besides, Heaven's will has decreed it. You are the one meant to carry out the Investiture of the Gods. Once you succeed in the future, you may return to the mountain. Perhaps another immortal opportunity will await you."
That was what Guangchengzi said aloud, but inwardly, he sighed.
Jiang Ziya simply did not have the talent. How could he possibly have an immortal opportunity?
That night, Jiang Ziya packed his belongings. The next day, he descended the mountain with Hong Lie.
After all, Hong Lie's identity was that of Jiang Ziya's companion, supposedly his mount.
Quite a few fellow disciples came to see him off, naturally all core disciples.
Hong Lie followed at Jiang Ziya's side, watching him from time to time. Before long, they returned to Song Family Village.
Song Family Village was where Jiang Ziya had lived before leaving.
When he arrived before the Song family estate, Jiang Ziya sighed. "Ah, it has been nearly forty years since I left this place, yet its scenery remains unchanged. Only the people are different."
A servant at the gate saw Jiang Ziya standing there blankly and foolishly. "Hey, what are you doing? Why are you lingering outside my family's home?"
Jiang Ziya saw that the servant looked to be in his thirties. Before he could speak, an old man who looked like the old butler came out and said, "Stop making a fuss. Today marks forty years since our Second Master left! Master is in a bad mood, so don't provoke him. Otherwise, a beating with the rod will be the least of your troubles!"
But when the old butler saw Jiang Ziya, he froze.
Although Jiang Ziya had been gone for forty years, he had consumed many spiritual treasures on Kunlun Mountain. His cultivation had advanced slowly, but he was practically a giant ginseng root; his appearance had barely changed.
The old butler stared at Jiang Ziya for a long while, then suddenly cried out and ran inside. "Master, something's wrong! Come out and see! Your nephew has arrived! Second Master's son has come back! Hurry, hurry! He looks exactly like Second Master!"
Jiang Ziya's mouth twitched.
Seeing Jiang Ziya like that, the gate servant hurriedly fawned over him. "So it's the Young Master! Please come inside! Don't take offense; everything I said just now was nonsense!"
Before long, Song Yiren came out. The moment he saw Jiang Ziya, tears streamed down his face. "Oh, my second brother!"
Jiang Ziya hurriedly tried to speak. "Big..."
Before he could say "brother," Song Yiren quickly supported Jiang Ziya. "Yes! I'm your uncle. Hurry and call me Uncle. Oh, right, where is your father?"
Jiang Ziya was a little dumbfounded.
"My father? He died many years ago. Didn't you know?"
Hearing Jiang Ziya's words, Song Yiren's head swam, and he nearly collapsed.
Then he began to wail. "Oh, my poor second brother! Why did you leave for forty years without a single word? You said you were seeking immortals and the Dao! So you were already gone! Oh!"
Jiang Ziya's mouth kept twitching. "Big..."
Before he could say "brother," Song Yiren seized his hand and said, "Yes, yes, thankfully you carry his bloodline. Otherwise, my second brother would not even have left behind a descendant. Your father was such a fool, insisting on seeking immortals and the Dao. Were immortals so easy to find? How could he possibly have found one? You've suffered so much!"
Jiang Ziya said helplessly, "He found immortals. Ah, my father... pfft! What father? I mean, I am..."
Song Yiren cut him off. "What? You must not follow in your father's footsteps! Don't seek immortals! I cannot let you become like your father. I will educate you properly. From today onward, listen up, all Song family servants: keep a close watch on the young master! Do not let him leave this place to search for any immortal pills or immortals!"
Jiang Ziya was speechless. He had spoken for so long, yet Song Yiren had not given him any chance to explain.
"Big..."
Song Yiren continued, "Ah, right, where did your father's remains get buried?"
Jiang Ziya scratched his head. "What?"
"Fine, fine, I understand. He always loved running around! I don't even know where his ashes were buried after he died. I..."
As he spoke, tears rolled down his face. Jiang Ziya was deeply moved. His elder brother had worried about him for forty years and still remembered him.
"Big..."
Song Yiren began crying again. "Big my ass! My second brother did not even leave behind a body, but at least he has a son now. Ah, how heartless..."
The old butler also wept. "Master, do not be sad. Though Second Master did not return, his child has come back. That is still a good thing."
Song Yiren nodded. "Yes, yes, yes! Hurry and find a matchmaker tomorrow to arrange my nephew's marriage. Once he starts a family early, he won't wander everywhere like my second brother did!"
Jiang Ziya was about to lose it. Hong Lie, who knew the truth, laughed so hard that he clutched his stomach.
"I'm telling you, Old Jiang, your brother sure talks a lot!"
Because Hong Lie had assumed his true form, he stood on the ground as a massive eagle three or four meters tall.
And he could even speak...
Song Yiren trembled all over in fright. "Monster!!"