I Am King Zhou, Human Emperor!

"Heaven's Mandate, the Mysterious Bird descended and gave birth to Shang! May Imperial We take it that the Great Shang and Your Excellency share weal and woe?"

A powerhouse ranking among the few beneath the Sages, yet willing to serve as an official in the Great Shang, neither revealing his brilliance nor concealing his strength, all while shielding the dynasty.

Why was this so?

He had to confirm Kong Xuan's identity to ensure Kong Xuan would stand with him.

"Since the King knows all, why ask further?" Kong Xuan said.

Heaven's Mandate, the Mysterious Bird descended and gave birth to Shang! This spoke of the Great Shang Dynasty's origin!

The Mysterious Bird appeared, gave birth to Qi, and thus established Shang, leading to the Great Shang Dynasty of today.

From then on, the Mysterious Bird became the Great Shang's totem, sharing its fortunes and misfortunes.

Why was Kong Xuan willing to aid the Great Shang?

Because he was the Mysterious Bird, bound to the Great Shang in glory and ruin.

As long as the Great Shang existed for a single day, Kong Xuan could enjoy its destiny—how could he wish to see it fall?

This, then, also explained why the fortune upon him took the form of a phoenix bathed in black flames.

"Excellent! From this day forth, Your Excellency shall be my Great Shang's Grand Preceptor!"

After learning Kong Xuan's identity, Zi Shou's all doubts vanished without a trace.

Without question, aside from Grand Tutor Wen, Kong Xuan was the greatest support the dynasty currently had.

With Kong Xuan accompanying the army on campaign, the Seventy-Two Route Lords of the North Sea?

Mere chickens and dogs!

"Reporting to the King, Li Jing's wife is about to give birth!" Just then, someone came to report.

Li Jing had previously come to Zhaoge, and under Zi Shou's arrangements, naturally brought his entire family along.

Moments ago, after Li Jing finished his counsel and stepped out of the palace gates, he received word that his wife was in labor.

Li Jing rushed home in haste, and the news reached the King's ears at once.

"Today brings double joy. Your Excellency, why not join me in offering congratulations?"

Today, Kong Xuan became the Great Shang's Grand Preceptor, and Nezha was about to be born—truly a double blessing.

When Nezha was born, he had to arrive immediately; any delay might bring unforeseen changes.

Kong Xuan felt a flicker of curiosity—why would the Human Sovereign pay such attention to the birth of a child?

At that moment, Li Jing was like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously waiting for his child to be born.

When he heard that the King himself had come, Li Jing was greatly startled and hurried out to greet him.

Though the King had once said that this unborn child would bear strange signs and prosper the Great Shang, Li Jing had taken those words as the King's way of showing him favor, and thus spoke accordingly.

Who would have thought that before his child was even born, the King would come in person?

Such favor was rare in the world, leaving him somewhat unsettled.

Just then, a servant rushed in, shouting, "It's terrible, Master! The lady has given birth to a monster!"

Li Jing's face changed drastically, and forgetting the King was right before him, he dashed madly toward the inner courtyard.

Zi Shou smiled without speaking, and followed behind Li Jing together with Kong Xuan.

Entering a room, they saw a mass of red qi, the whole chamber filled with strange fragrance, and a fleshy ball spinning round and round like a wheel.

This was Nezha, still a fleshy ball at this point—no wonder the servant had said a monster was born.

Li Jing, both shocked and enraged, raised his sword and struck. The fleshy ball split open, revealing a child.

"This child is indeed extraordinary; his origins must be no small matter," Kong Xuan suddenly spoke.

With his strength, he could see at a glance the abnormality in the child before him.

Just then, another servant came to report that a Daoist was seeking an audience outside.

Zi Shou's heart stirred. Nezha had just been born, and Taiyi Zhenren had arrived so quickly.

Li Jing welcomed the King and Kong Xuan into the main hall, then had the servant bring the Daoist in.

Soon, a Daoist with an immortal bearing entered the hall. Seeing Li Jing seated in a lower position while two others sat above, he was somewhat surprised.

But he had come for an important matter and gave it little thought. He clasped his hands to Li Jing and said, "This poor Daoist is Taiyi Zhenren of Qianyuan Mountain's Golden Light Cave. Hearing that the General has fathered a son, I have come specially to offer congratulations!"

Li Jing had once trained under Duen of West Kunlun—how could he not know who Taiyi Zhenren was?

This was one of the famed Twelve Golden Immortals of Chanjiao, a personal disciple of the Sage Yuanshi Tianzun.

He dared not be remiss and quickly said, "The Zhenren honors me with his presence. I failed to welcome you from afar—please do not take offense!"

The King was right before him, and though he came from a Daoist background, he could not show too much enthusiasm at this moment.

At the same time, he wondered in his heart: why had Taiyi Zhenren come now?

"This poor priest calculated that your son shares a karmic bond with me as master and disciple, hence the boldness to intrude upon your home!" Taiyi Zhenren said.

Having announced his name and explained the reason, the next moment, Li Jing would naturally agree with delight.

There was no suspense at all—he was a Sage's personal disciple, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chanjiao.

For his son to be able to worship him as a master was a blessing Li Jing couldn't earn even in ten lifetimes; how could he possibly refuse?

Yet, as he waited and waited, he did not hear Li Jing's voice choked with gratitude.

Shooting Li Jing a puzzled glance, he found Li Jing looking up at the man seated above with a conflicted expression.

Who was that man seated above? Did he need this person's approval to take Li Jing's son as a disciple?

At this moment, Li Jing was indeed torn. He was naturally willing for his son to be accepted as Taiyi Zhenren's disciple.

But he was valued by The King, and whether this matter could proceed, he had to consider The King's opinion.

After all, The King had come in person today; if he made a decision on his own, would that befit a subject's conduct?

Seeing Li Jing's conflicted look, Zi Shou nodded inwardly—it seemed his efforts had not been in vain.

Li Jing did not immediately agree to Taiyi Zhenren but sought his approval instead; that already spoke volumes.

"This child shall bring prosperity to my Great Shang. The matter of taking a master must be handled with care. Imperial We also have a suitable candidate in mind!"

If he had wanted Taiyi Zhenren to take Nezha as a disciple, he would not have come in person today.

In other words, since he had come today, Taiyi Zhenren's plan to take a disciple would absolutely not succeed.

At these words, Taiyi Zhenren's brow furrowed slightly as he began to scrutinize the man before him.

He had not expected to encounter the King of Great Shang within this Li Mansion.

"Greetings to the Human Sovereign! Though this poor priest is but a hermit cultivating in the wilds, I dare say I possess some cultivation. Could it be that some eminent figure resides here?"

Though the man before him was merely a mortal king, he was the current Human Sovereign, and Taiyi Zhenren could not afford to treat him lightly.

Moreover, his coming here to take a disciple was tied to the great calamity to come—how could he let the King of Great Shang interfere?

Besides, not to boast, but he was a dignified Golden Immortal; who was more qualified than him to be Nezha's master?

"This is Kong Xuan, Grand Preceptor of Great Shang. In Imperial We's view, he is the most suitable candidate!"

Taiyi Zhenren indeed had reason to be proud, but that depended on before whom.

Before Kong Xuan, let alone Taiyi Zhenren, even if all Twelve Golden Immortals of Chanjiao came together, what did they amount to?

"Kong Xuan? May I ask, fellow Daoist, from which famed mountain do you hail, and who is your master?" Taiyi Zhenren asked in a deep voice.

Had the Human Sovereign not brought it up, he might have forgotten there was another person present.

But no matter how he looked, this Kong Xuan before him did not seem like a being of profound cultivation—he appeared as ordinary as a mortal.

"I hail from no famed mountain, nor do I have a master," Kong Xuan said indifferently.

Everyone could see that Kong Xuan seemed to hold Taiyi Zhenren in no regard at all, hence his cold attitude.

Taiyi Zhenren was instantly enraged. No famed mountain, no master—so he was merely a rogue cultivator?

A mere rogue cultivator dared to treat him with such insolence?

"Fellow Daoist, do you truly wish to contend with me for this disciple? Then let us settle it with a bout and see who wins!" Taiyi Zhenren said sternly.

He was determined to take this disciple today, whether the Human Sovereign blocked him or Li Jing disagreed—it was useless.

If necessary, he would have to display some skill and let these people witness the wonders of the Jade Void Dao Arts.

"If you wish for battle, then battle it is!" Kong Xuan said.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and waved, and five-colored light flashed. In an instant, he and Taiyi Zhenren were outside Chaoge City.

Taiyi Zhenren stared at Kong Xuan, his face full of shock and uncertainty.

He had thought Kong Xuan was a mortal, but who would have guessed that with a wave of his hand, the other had transported him outside Chaoge City.