Seeking Guidance Without a Door

Imperial Guards came over and pried Gun Juan off Di Xin's leg. They dragged her away, ignoring her cries.

The remaining two hundred-plus Imperial Guards, led by Fang Bi, escorted Di Xin.

With the Imperial Guards around him, Di Xin seemed to feel more confident. He looked up at the crowd in the sky and said, "You have strong fists and can do as you please with mortals. I'll endure this insult. Let's return to the palace..."

With that, Di Xin waved his hand and was about to storm off with the Imperial Guards.

"Your Majesty King Zhou, please wait!"

Zhao Gongming called out to him.

King Zhou turned, frowning slightly. "Are you still not done?"

Zhao Gongming smiled. "Your Majesty King Zhou, the previous incident where we mistakenly trapped Great King in a magic treasure was purely a misunderstanding. We share a fellowship with Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and would never target Great King."

"Oh, you're fellow disciples with Grand Tutor Wen?"

Di Xin didn't want to pursue the matter further; he just wanted to leave as soon as possible. However, upon hearing Zhao Gongming mention Grand Tutor Wen, he couldn't help but have second thoughts.

"Immortal, since you are a fellow disciple of Grand Tutor Wen, could you teach me some cultivation methods as compensation for me? I only wish for immortality and eternal earthly riches."

Di Xin asked with burning eyes.

He knew very well that after today's events, he absolutely could not easily reveal his magic power, as that would be tantamount to admitting to the theft.

But when faced with life and death, he couldn't not use his magic power. Thus, he needed to find a reason to let these people know how he cultivated his magic power.

That was why he said what he did.

Zhao Gongming exchanged a glance with Lady Yunxiao and her sisters, then chuckled softly. "It was all a misunderstanding just now, and Great King suffered some hardship. Compensation is only reasonable. However, cultivation is about fate and aptitude. I see Great King as the Human Emperor, with no connection to the Daoist path. Forcing cultivation would be harmful and unbeneficial. Great King should abandon this idea!"

Zhao Gongming said this as an excuse; there was another hidden reason.

Long ago, Old Ancestor Hongjun summoned the Human Sect's leader Laozi, the Chan Sect's leader Primordial Lord of Heaven, and the Jie Sect's leader Lord Tongtian to jointly oversee the War of the Investiture of the Gods. This was because the conflict between King Zhou of Shang and the Ji Clan of Xiqi would inevitably involve the disciples of the Jie and Chan Sects. Furthermore, the heavens did not favor the Shang Dynasty, and it was clear their fate was sealed, with defeat being unavoidable.

Because some disciples of the Jie Sect found it difficult to achieve enlightenment, Lord Tongtian allowed them to enjoy earthly riches. Many of these disciples served as officials in the Shang Dynasty; in reality, they were already cast aside by the Jie Sect.

However, Lord Tongtian still cared deeply for his important disciples. To prevent them from being caught in the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, he inscribed a couplet before Biyou Palace: "Seal the cave gates tightly, quietly chant the Yellow Court a few times; cast your lot in the Western Lands, and your name will appear on the Investiture of the Gods."

This was to warn his disciples to guard their mountain gates and not to venture out to participate in the War of the Investiture of the Gods, lest they become entangled in karma and be forced to serve the Heavenly Court after death.

For these Qi Cultivators, the Investiture of the Gods was a great tribulation. If they survived, they might achieve enlightenment and become Immortals. But once their names were on the Investiture of the Gods, they would lose their freedom, and becoming a god would be the peak of their existence.

Immortals were far above gods, possessing eternal life, unbound by the rules of the Heavenly Court, and living freely.

Consider how the Curtain-Rolling General was banished to the mortal realm for shattering the Glazed Lamp, and Marshal Tianpeng for merely teasing Chang'e. This showed just how pathetic the status of these Heavenly Court officials was.

As a disciple of Lord Tongtian, Zhao Gongming, though not fully aware of all the secrets, understood this much. Therefore, he would not leave any cultivation methods for Di Xin.

If he were to leave any cultivation methods, it would be akin to accepting Di Xin as a disciple, inevitably entangling himself in karma and being drawn into the War of the Investiture of the Gods unnecessarily in the future.

If Lady Yunxiao hadn't lost the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors, and if he hadn't happened to be visiting Three Immortal Island at the time, he wouldn't even have come to this city of Chaoge.

Zhao Gongming naturally represented the wishes of the Three Ladies of the Auspicious Clouds. The Jie Sect was definitely out of the question.

Di Xin was not discouraged. He turned his gaze to Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden.

These two disciples of Goddess Nuwa already had a poor impression of Di Xin. After witnessing his interaction with Gun Juan today, their disgust only deepened.

They disdained even to offer a perfunctory response and simply turned away, ignoring Di Xin.

Di Xin's expression turned grim. He then looked at Yang Jian.

Yang Jian knew that he would eventually join Xiqi and assist the Ji Clan in their campaign against Zhou, which meant overthrowing the current Di Xin. How could he possibly leave him any cultivation methods?

Moreover, it was Lady Bixiao who had taken Di Xin with the Primordial Gold Dou. What did that have to do with Yang Jian? Why should he offer compensation?

If it weren't for the need to make King Zhou continue to lose the favor of heaven and the hearts of the people, thereby strengthening the Ji Clan's destiny and ushering in a sage ruler, Yang Jian might have acted against Di Xin right now.

Furthermore, besides the Chan Sect and Jie Sect, there was also the Human Sect, led by Laozi, the eldest disciple of Old Ancestor Hongjun.

Humanity was under the jurisdiction of the Human Sect. Unless Di Xin himself profoundly offended the Qi Cultivators, no one would want to act against him before the War of the Investiture of the Gods began, thereby offending Laozi.

Although Laozi also leaned towards the Ji Clan of Xiqi, his principle was for the Ji Clan to be the main force in overthrowing Zhou and completing the dynastic change.

Precisely because of these many reasons, Yang Jian, seeing Di Xin eyeing him, sneered and said, "King Zhou, your character is problematic. I cannot leave you any cultivation methods. Give up on this idea!"

"Hmph, who cares!"

Di Xin, facing rejection everywhere, snorted coldly and strode away.

He had tried to persuade everyone he could and didn't want to linger. Although he hadn't gotten what he wanted, this performance had served its purpose, making his actions seem reasonable and dispelling the suspicions of those present.

The Qi Cultivators present did not create any further obstacles for Di Xin, allowing him to return to the Royal Palace with his Imperial Guards escorting him.

Upon entering the palace gates, Di Xin dismissed the Imperial Guards and headed straight for Shouxian Palace.

"Beloved Consort, Beloved Consort, I saw Hu Ximei on the street today!"

As soon as he entered the palace, Di Xin shouted excitedly.

"Didn't she leave Chaoge? Why is she still on the street?" Su Daji asked, confused.

"Alas, it's a long story. In short, if she comes to you again, be sure to inform me."

Di Xin finished speaking and went directly to his own bedroom. He knew Hu Ximei's identity, but the Qi Cultivators on the street had not explicitly stated it.

As for the matter of the Nine-headed Pheasant Demon, Di Xin was unaware of it at the time, as he had been trapped in the Primordial Gold Dou.

[Option One: Immediately consume the Spirit Pill. Mission Reward: Immortal Beast Azure Ox.]

[Option Two: Do not consume the Spirit Pill for now. Mission Reward: High-grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure Primordial Gold Dou.]

As soon as Di Xin lay down on the couch, the two options above appeared before his eyes.