"Good! Well said, Daoist!"
King Zhou slapped the table and laughed lightly, every bit the delighted foolish ruler.
"Those rebellious traitors of Xiqi, those traitorous feudal lords, actually dared to openly rebel against my Great Shang!
"Since Daoist possesses such ambition, you will surely crush them in one stroke! From now on, the safety of Great Shang shall depend greatly on Imperial Preceptor Shen."
At the words "Imperial Preceptor," Shen Gongbao's entire body trembled, and a sharp gleam instantly lit up in his eyes.
That title was not inferior in the slightest to Jiang Ziya's position in Xiqi.
Though King Zhou had not granted him an official post with real authority, Shen Gongbao had never wished to be bound by a mundane office. Yet this single title of "Imperial Preceptor" was enough to grant him unparalleled prestige and invisible power within Zhaoge.
Shen Gongbao was overjoyed. With pride written all over his face, he repeatedly bowed in thanks.
"Thank you for your favor, my king! I shall devote myself heart and soul to assisting Great Shang, slaying Jiang Ziya, and destroying Xiqi, thereby proving that my talent and virtue far surpass those frauds who deceive the world and steal a reputation!"
For a time, ruler and minister were in perfect harmony within the court, a scene of peace that fell clearly into the eyes of immortals and gods throughout the heavens.
Within Jade Void Palace, Primordial Heavenly Venerate stroked his long beard as he watched the Zhaoge court through the Water Mirror. A nearly imperceptible trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes.
After all this circling about, he had finally placed Shen Gongbao, this chess piece, into Zhaoge as a matter of course.
In the future, Jiang Ziya would carry out the will of Heaven openly in Xiqi, while Shen