"Ding-dong! Congratulations, Host. You have subdued the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei and received ten million points of Great Dao Merit!"
Just then, the system's notification rang out in Deng Jiugong's mind.
The reward had arrived. Deng Jiugong nodded in satisfaction.
This time, he had not only received ten million points of Great Dao Merit but also subdued the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei.
In the future, when he faced Jiang Ziya, his side would have numerous formidable generals. He would see how Xiqi planned to fight.
"You are to head to Three Mountains Pass at once and find my deputy commander, Kong Xuan. He'll make all the arrangements!"
Deng Jiugong ordered.
At his words, the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei nodded. With a flicker, they turned into streaks of light and disappeared over the horizon.
Deng Jiugong changed direction and sped toward Chaoge.
Chaoge, the royal palace!
Emperor Xin looked drunk and deeply annoyed.
"Deng Jiugong still hasn't returned to court. The nerve of him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he used the liquor in his veins as an excuse to flip the table in front of him, then flew into a fit of rage.
The ministers below trembled with fear. They all lowered their heads, not daring to say a word.
The king was in one of his unpredictable moods again!!!
They had sent an urgent message to Three Mountains Pass long ago, ordering Deng Jiugong to return to court at once.
It had been meant as a gesture of goodwill. The ministers had discussed it and nominated Deng Jiugong to replace Wen Zhong as Grand Tutor of Great Shang.
But many days had passed, and Deng Jiugong still had not returned to court.
"Your Majesty, Deng Jiugong's continued absence is defiance of your decree! What regard does he have for Your Majesty?"
Fei Zhong spoke at once.
"Exactly! Deng Jiugong is far too bold. He completely ignores the royal decree and does as he pleases, as if winning a few battles gives him the right to act so arrogantly!"
You Hun chimed in.
He was plainly showing the king no respect!
Fei Zhong and You Hun had never wanted Deng Jiugong to become Grand Tutor of Great Shang.
After all, while Wen Zhong was still alive, he had publicly berated them in front of the civil and military officials, making them lose face.
At long last, Wen Zhong had died, and the boulder pressing down on them had finally been lifted. They had finally been able to breathe again.
Now the civil and military officials were nominating Deng Jiugong to become Grand Tutor of Great Shang. It was as if they were piling another boulder on top of them.
How could Fei Zhong and You Hun possibly be pleased?
Now the king had summoned Deng Jiugong back to court, but Deng Jiugong still had not returned. That gave them a chance.
The king heeded the queen's counsel seven-tenths of the time, which left them three-tenths of influence.
With that much power, all they had to do was prevent Deng Jiugong from taking the post, and the position of Grand Tutor of Great Shang would eventually be theirs.
Fei Zhong had long harbored such ambitions. How could he let Deng Jiugong take the post?
"Deng Jiugong really has gone too far. Winning a few battles has made him arrogant!"
Daji the Nine-tailed Fox spoke with displeasure.
At her words, the two other demons beside her, the Pheasant Spirit and the Pipa Spirit, joined in.
"With Deng Jiugong acting so high-handedly and doing as he pleases, how can he possibly be fit to serve as Grand Tutor of Great Shang?"
"He's not even Grand Tutor yet, and he already shows Your Majesty such disrespect. Imagine what he'd be like if he got the position!"
At their words, Emperor Xin grew even angrier.
"Outrageous! I'll punish him for this!!!"
Indeed, when Grand Tutor Wen had been alive, he had feared him.
That was because Grand Tutor Wen had possessed the King-Beating Whip.
But aside from Grand Tutor Wen, Emperor Xin feared no one!
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Fei Zhong and You Hun looked delighted.
The civil and military officials below looked stricken, their faces full of worry.
If the king punished Deng Jiugong, who else could keep Great Shang safe?
Whoosh!
Just then, Deng Jiugong had somehow appeared outside Nine Chambers Hall.
Then, under everyone's complicated gazes, he strode inside, looking imposing.
Though he had not been there earlier, with Deng Jiugong's cultivation, nothing in the palace could escape his notice.
He knew everything that had happened in Nine Chambers Hall.
Once Deng Jiugong appeared, however, he first looked at Emperor Xin.
A golden dragon of fortune coiled around Emperor Xin. It was closely tied to the fortune of all Great Shang, but the dragon had been growing weaker by the day.
It showed that Great Shang's fate was nearing its end!
But with the golden dragon of fortune protecting him, even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal couldn't harm Emperor Xin. Anyone who tried would suffer the backlash of the Human King's fortune.
Though he was the ruler of the mortal realm, Emperor Xin had little cultivation. Even so, he was a bona fide Human King.
Above the Human King was the Human Emperor, and above him was the Human Sovereign.
However, according to legend, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors had been tricked by the Heavenly Dao into seclusion at Huoyun Cave. In the mortal realm, Emperor Xin's title as Human King was the highest there was.
With the title of Human King and the golden dragon of fortune protecting him, even some immortals could do nothing to him. Even the Sages were unwilling to directly suppress a Human King, as doing so would involve countless people of Great Shang and entangle them in vast karmic consequences.
That was why the Sages relied on all kinds of schemes, intending to make Emperor Xin's Human King fortune dissipate!
In particular, Emperor Xin harbored defiance against Heaven, making him a thorn in the Heavenly Dao's side.
The previous King of Shang, Emperor Wu Yi, had drawn his bow and shot at Heaven, defying the natural order. He had died under Heaven's punishment.
Emperor Xin had inherited Emperor Wu Yi's defiant will. Naturally, the Heavenly Dao would not tolerate him.
However, ever since the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors had ceased to interfere in human affairs, the title of Human King had become little more than a name. He had the title, but not the power to match. It was a sad and lamentable state of affairs!
What was more, Great Shang remained mired in corruption. Three demons of Nuwa's had bewitched Emperor Xin, while the treacherous ministers Fei Zhong and You Hun were stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
If things continued this way, Great Shang would fall sooner or later!
Emperor Xin had once been fairly astute. Otherwise, he would never have become Human King.
Everything had started when he went to burn incense at Nuwa's temple, where agents of the Heavenly Dao had schemed against him, leading him to write a poem on Nuwa's statue.
Then Nuwa had sent three demons to bewitch Emperor Xin and undermine Great Shang's fortune, and the kingdom had gradually fallen into its current state.
At that moment, seeing the drunken look on Emperor Xin's face, it was obvious he had only recently returned from the Wine Pool and Meat Forest.
Deng Jiugong was risking his life on the front lines, while Emperor Xin was enjoying himself in comfort.
And now the king had even threatened to punish him!
Still, as a courtier, Deng Jiugong would not neglect proper etiquette.
"Deng Jiugong pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Deng Jiugong spoke.
"Impudent!"
"Deng Jiugong, His Majesty summoned you back to court, but you delayed your return. Now that you stand before him, why have you not knelt?"
Fei Zhong immediately rebuked him, and the atmosphere in court turned tense in an instant.
"Deng Jiugong, get down on your knees!"
"You may disregard all the civil and military officials, but slighting His Majesty like this is no wise move!"
You Hun said.
With those words, he had placed Deng Jiugong in opposition to everyone in court.
At this, Emperor Xin narrowed his eyes at Deng Jiugong.
As a courtier, Deng Jiugong should have knelt before him. His failure to do so displeased Emperor Xin.
However, the Deng family had served loyally for nine generations, and Emperor Xin still had the most basic trust in Deng Jiugong.
Fei Zhong and You Hun had put Deng Jiugong in an awkward position. Though Emperor Xin was displeased, he still spoke up to smooth things over.
"The Deng family has served loyally for nine generations, and Minister Deng has repeatedly distinguished himself. He need not kneel before me!"
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