I Am King Zhou, Human Emperor!

This was now a probing move. Jiang Shang's view of the current Great Shang would likely reveal certain things.

"Your report to the King: though the Great Shang now has some rebellious lords, these are but scab-and-itch troubles. The Great Shang is as stable as Mount Tai! However, beneath the surface of prosperity, there are hidden worries. If they are not heeded, great calamities may arise in the future!" Jiang Shang said.

When he descended the mountain, his master Yuanshi Tianzun had told him that while he had no destiny for the immortal path, he could enjoy worldly blessings and was one fated to face the tribulation. His master spoke to him of the time of the Canonization of the Gods, saying that the fortunes of the Cheng Tang lineage were exhausted and the House of Zhou would rise. He was destined to aid a wise ruler and canonize the gods on Heaven's behalf.

After descending the mountain, he had originally planned to come to Chaoge City to observe the current Great Shang up close. But along the way, what he saw and heard was vastly different from his original understanding, and the doubts in his heart grew ever greater. It happened that the Hall of Talents was established, and King Zhou was sincerely recruiting worthy men from across the land. After much deliberation, he still entered the Hall of Talents. Displaying his abilities was merely to gain an audience with King Zhou, so he could observe this King of the Great Shang up close.

"Oh? This Lonely One is very curious to know what these hidden worries and great calamities are!" Zi Shou said.

That Jiang Shang could see the rebellious lords as mere scab-and-itch troubles, unable to shake the Great Shang's foundation, was naturally nothing special. If he lacked even this ability, he would not be the one fated to canonize the gods on Heaven's behalf and establish the Zhou dynasty for eight hundred years. What piqued his curiosity was why Jiang Shang had voluntarily brought up the Great Shang's hidden worries and great calamities.

"The hidden worries of the Great Shang lie not with the lords, but with the gods. Reverence for Heaven and emulation of the ancestors is the true path to lasting stability!" Jiang Shang said.

Regarding the King of Zhou before him, he had already gained considerable understanding during his journey down the mountain. In his youth, he had been spirited and majestic, bearing the aura of a great ruler. After ascending the throne, he had also taken measures befitting a wise sovereign. But later, he suddenly indulged in pleasure, became debauched and unprincipled, and even committed heinous acts in the Nüwa Temple. At that stage, becoming a king who lost his kingdom was only logical, matching what his master had told him. But then things took another turn. The King of Zhou, who had been debauched and unprincipled, changed once again. He executed treacherous ministers, recalled Grand Tutor Wen to court, implemented the Three-Year Development Plan, and led an Imperial Expedition to the North Sea. One after another, none of these actions seemed like something a debauched and unprincipled king could do. The Great Shang, which had been in decline, showed signs of a resurgence after this series of events. His master had said the fortunes of the Cheng Tang lineage were exhausted. He naturally dared not doubt the words of a Sage in the slightest. After much thought, he suddenly realized that the King of Zhou had still committed one great error. On the banks of the Qi Water River, he personally executed the Spirit of the Qi Water River and the Mountain God of Taihang Mountain, bringing the conflict between humans and gods into the open for the first time. As a direct disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, how could he not know what those gods within the Great Shang truly meant? In his view, if the Cheng Tang lineage's fortunes were truly exhausted, the conflict between humans and gods was definitely the root cause. And laying this matter out openly before the King of Zhou was itself a probe. He needed to know the King of Zhou's stance.

"In This Lonely One's view, offering sacrifices to ancestors is a matter of course. Without the human race's predecessors cutting through thorns and brambles, there would be no human race today. But revering Heaven is not fearing Heaven, and revering Heaven is not revering the gods. These are two different things!" Zi Shou shook his head and said solemnly.

Reverence for Heaven and emulation of the ancestors were traditions rooted in the bloodline of the human race, but he held a different view. Emulation of the ancestors needed no elaboration—offering sacrifices to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and other human sages was the most important inheritance of the human race. But regarding reverence for Heaven, his understanding was completely different from Jiang Shang's. Revering Heaven was not fearing Heaven. What was revered was the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, the rules by which all things operate. Following the laws of the Great Dao's operation was something no living being could escape, let alone the human race. And revering Heaven was fundamentally different from fearing the gods. The gods could not represent Heaven. They were merely gods enshrined by the Heavenly Court, in the end just living beings who had gained power through cultivation. Great strength could indeed inspire fear, but it could not inspire reverence!

"How can humans win in a struggle against gods?" Jiang Shang asked solemnly.

With just a few words, he could feel the strength and dominance of the King before him. But what moved him most was the confidence that came from the heart and the unwavering conviction. These were gods, after all! Summoning wind and rain, moving mountains and filling seas, overturning heaven and earth—these were trivial matters to them. For mortals, fearing the gods should be an instinct from the depths of the heart. But in the eyes of the King before him, the gods were nothing to fear. He had even personally slain gods. How could he dare? With mere mortal flesh, wanting to shake the gods—what kind of boldness did that require?

"Are humans inferior to gods? This Lonely One once heard Grand Tutor Wen say that humans can also possess the power of gods, and even surpass it!" Zi Shou said.

In the eyes of mortals, gods were exalted and nearly omnipotent. But gods were not born that way. If an ordinary person cultivated the Dao, they could also gain the power of gods. So what was there to fear about gods? Of course, he also understood that, knowing of the Canonization of the Gods, Jiang Shang was not speaking only of gods.

The Deities are merely a facade; the true calamity is that the Canonization of the Gods is already set in stone!

The fate of Great Shang, his fate, had long been sealed in the eyes of those countless gods and buddhas.

It was less a battle against the Deities and more a struggle against predestined fate—how could such a fight be won?

But he had no choice. For the sake of the human race, for his own sake, he had to fight.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Mere Deities—we can slay them ourselves!" Yuan Hong suddenly spoke.

In the exchange between the King and Jiang Shang, he sensed the King's immense boldness and felt fortunate for his own decision.

Now, if only they could resolve the awkwardness of their identities, they could truly integrate into Great Shang.

Jiang Shang kept his expression neutral, but inwardly he sighed. He knew he could not sway the King before him.

Their differing philosophies destined them to walk entirely separate paths.

"Excellent! All of you possess extraordinary talents. Since you are willing to serve Great Shang, Imperial We will not treat you poorly!" Zi Shou declared.

As a Chan Sect Disciple, Jiang Shang was deeply influenced by the sect and revered his master, Yuanshi Tianzun, as a god.

Changing Jiang Shang's mindset was not entirely impossible, but it was by no means a task achievable overnight.

Should he seize this chance to kill Jiang Shang?

He had entertained the thought, but he felt the odds of success were slim.

As one chosen by Heaven's Mandate, countless eyes were fixed on Jiang Shang—how could he be so easily slain?

If he harbored murderous intent, he would not be surprised if Yuanshi Tianzun, a Sage, appeared before him instantly.

It was better to keep Jiang Shang by his side for now. Even if he could not change his views, he might still serve other purposes.

As for Yuan Hong and the Three Demons, though they were of the Demon Race, they might actually prove useful to him and become assets to Great Shang.

"I dare not hide this from Your Majesty—the three of us are all of the Demon Race. We wonder if Your Majesty is still willing to accept us!" Yuan Hong said.

As he spoke, his expression remained unchanged, but there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Having chosen to come to the Hall of Talents, he had already made his decision. Now came the final hurdle.

Would King Zhou, who had just slain demons in the North Sea, accept them?

"As long as your hands are not stained with human blood, and from now on you abide by the laws of Great Shang, Imperial We can accept any race!"

This was not said solely for Yuan Hong and the Three Demons. It was a declaration to all living beings under heaven, a conclusion he had reached after deep deliberation.

All creatures of heaven and earth—humans were but one among them. Beyond them were the Dragon Race, the Demon Race, the Phoenix Clan...

If their hands were stained with human blood, there was nothing more to say—blood must be repaid with blood.

But what of those who had never harmed humans and bore goodwill toward them?

Though humanity's fortune was now at its peak, unmatched by other races, humans could not simply slaughter every other race.

The sea accepts all rivers; tolerance is greatness!

As long as they were loyal to humanity and obeyed its laws, he could treat all creatures of heaven and earth equally.

"We thank Your Majesty for your grace!" Yuan Hong and the Three Demons bowed.

That the King did not mind their demonic origins and was willing to accept them had already exceeded their expectations.

They could not claim to be utterly devoted on the spot, but their view of the current King had quietly shifted.

"From this day forth, you four Beloved Ministers are subjects of Great Shang. Imperial We hope each of you will use your talents to prosper Great Shang together!" Zi Shou said.

The specific arrangements for Yuan Hong, the Three Demons, and Jiang Shang were not his concern; the ministers would handle them.

Watching Yuan Hong and the Three Demons thank him and depart, his face took on a contemplative expression. He was not yet fully at ease with these three demons.

As members of the Demon Race, why would they willingly come to serve as officials among humans? What was their true intent?

He did not believe that mundane official positions held any appeal for beings like the Meishan Seven Saints.