I Am King Zhou, Human Emperor!

Bang bang bang! The two figures separated, each standing still, silently facing each other.

"The King's physical body is unmatched, with innate divine strength—truly admirable!" Yuan Hong said.

Since arriving at Zhaoge, he had heard much of the great victory at the North Sea, and the King was undoubtedly the center of it all.

Stories of the King's peerless valor, charging alone at the front, routing the Seventy-Two Route Lords of the North Sea in utter disgrace.

Stories of the King's awe-inspiring might, facing danger without fear, battling the Demon Race and personally slaying demons over the North Sea.

He had not fully believed these tales, suspecting much of it was exaggeration.

In his eyes, King Zhou was indeed wise and martial, no tyrant, and the North Sea victory likely held little falsehood.

But that the King was invincible in valor, unmatched in physique, charging enemy lines alone and slaying countless demons—that he did not believe.

Not a cultivator, without any Dao arts on him, no matter how strong the flesh, how far could it go?

Nor could he be blamed for doubting; this was basic cultivation common sense, known to every Daoist.

Today, the King summoned him to the palace, saying he wished to spar, and he had not taken it seriously.

Sparring with the King was merely going through the motions; he need not even show his true skill.

But what he never expected was that the King's physical body was truly this strong, not a whit inferior to a True Immortal.

A True Immortal meant nothing to him, but a physique this powerful was indeed astonishing.

"Compared to Beloved Minister, This Lonely One merely has some brute strength—nothing worth mentioning!" Zi Shou said with a smile.

Yuan Hong was the foremost of the Meishan Seven Saints, having cultivated for millennia with profound Dao arts, already at the Mystic Immortal realm.

Moreover, Yuan Hong's strength was immense, nearly unmatched below the Golden Immortal level.

With his current power, even if he went all out, he could never be a match for Yuan Hong.

This spar with Yuan Hong was partly to scratch an itch and partly to gauge Yuan Hong's abilities.

"The King is too modest. A physique this powerful is already rare in the world!" Yuan Hong said.

The more he interacted with the King, the more he felt the King was no simple man, and he had long shed any trace of contempt.

In his view, the King had never cultivated any Dao arts, yet his body was already this formidable.

Such an inconceivable physique—if it were to cultivate Dao arts, what then?

"Without understanding the Dao, one is still but a mortal. Today, I summoned Beloved Minister to witness your divine abilities!" Zi Shou said.

To him, Yuan Hong's strength was secondary; after all, no matter how strong, he could not surpass Kong Xuan.

But the Dao arts Yuan Hong cultivated greatly intrigued him, and he had long wished to see them.

"Your Majesty, this minister cultivates the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill. This art encompasses all things, containing numerous divine powers and spells..."

Between heaven and earth, the greatest yin number is eight, the greatest yang number is nine; eight times nine yields the greatest number.

The Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill is named thus, showing at once that this technique is no ordinary one.

According to Yuan Hong, the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill not only holds the method for cultivating the Golden Core Great Dao but also includes various divine powers and spells.

Instantaneous Golden Light, Law Manifesting the Universe, Seventy-Two Transformations, Riding the Clouds and Mist, Five Elements Escape Technique, Samadhi True Fire, Five Thunders Incantation, Soul Leaving the Body...

These well-known divine abilities all originate from the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill, proving that this technique indeed encompasses all things.

At that moment, Yuan Hong demonstrated many divine powers before Zi Shou, including his specialty, the Seventy-Two Transformations.

"Cultivating the Golden Core Great Dao, achieving the Ninefold Completion, can strip away all acquired yin and reveal the innate true yang—truly profound!" Zi Shou said.

Though the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill contains many divine powers, its core remains the method of cultivating the Golden Core Great Dao.

Cultivating the Golden Core Great Dao can refine the innate three souls and seven spirits, merging the ninefold into one; from then on, the Golden Core endures forever, and the Great Dao can be achieved.

If truly accomplished, not only can the primordial spirit gather without dispersing, but the physical body can also remain indestructible through countless kalpas.

In the Canonization of the Gods, Yang Jian cultivated the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill and ultimately achieved sainthood through his physical body.

"Does the King wish to cultivate the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill?" Yuan Hong asked hesitantly.

The King personally summoned him, sparred with him, and had him demonstrate the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill—it inevitably made him think.

Bound by his sect's restrictions, the technique could not be casually passed on, let alone to the King.

"Grand Tutor Wen once said that the Human Sovereign cannot cultivate the Dao. This Lonely One has long abandoned any thought of cultivation!" Zi Shou shook his head and said.

He naturally understood Yuan Hong's concerns, but he truly had no intention of cultivating the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill.

Not that the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill was lacking; many of its divine powers tempted him greatly.

For instance, the Seventy-Two Transformations—if mastered, one could change into all things, the wonder of use lying solely in the mind.

Birds and beasts, mountains and trees, anything within heaven and earth's yin and yang and five elements—transform at will.

But he already had a technique suited to him, and had cultivated it to a certain level; there was no need to switch.

Moreover, Yuan Hong was of the Demon Race yet willingly served the Great Shang as an official—what his intentions were, he had yet to discern.

Without knowing Yuan Hong's purpose, how could he reveal that he himself possessed cultivation?

"The Grand Tutor speaks truly. The Human Sovereign cultivating the Dao is taboo—Your Majesty must never attempt it!" Yuan Hong said, relieved.

Though he said this, there were still many doubts in his heart. If it wasn't about cultivation, why had the King summoned him?

"This summons of Our Beloved Minister is regarding the rebellion of the lords. What does Our Beloved Minister think?" Zi Shou said.

He did not beat around the bush. Aside from witnessing the Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill, he indeed had other arrangements for Yuan Hong.

Since his last audience, Yuan Hong had become a commander of Great Shang, training troops outside Chaoge City.

Judging by the results over this period, Yuan Hong truly possessed the talent of a great general in military command.

"The King has already ordered the Four Lords to campaign against the rebellious lords, but judging by the outcome, the results have not been good," Yuan Hong said.

After the King's decree was issued, the Four Lords displayed utmost loyalty, all choosing to accept the order and dispatch troops.

The Four Lords, from the four directions of east, south, west, and north, each campaigned against the lords who had already rebelled.

The Four Lords were powerful, the foremost among the lords of the realm, naturally not comparable to those rebellious lords.

Under normal circumstances, with the Four Lords' campaigns, those rebellious lords would soon be suppressed.

But the reality was otherwise. Aside from the Lord of the West, the other three lords had all suffered defeats.

The three defeated lords temporarily ceased their efforts, further emboldening the rebellious lords' momentum.

As for the Lord of the West, it was said that as soon as his army set out, the rebellious lords voluntarily surrendered.

In a short time, the Lord of the West's prestige had soared, already showing signs of becoming the foremost lord of the realm.

"Our Beloved Minister speaks truly. The Four Lords cannot be relied upon. We wish for Our Beloved Minister to lead the army on campaign. What does Our Beloved Minister think?"

Lead the army on campaign? Yuan Hong was slightly startled, both excited and puzzled.

He was of the Demon Race, originally carefree on Mount Mei. Coming to serve as an official in Great Shang, he naturally wanted to achieve merit and establish himself.

He had full confidence in his own abilities, but he was not without self-awareness.

His time in Great Shang was still short; lack of seniority was his greatest weakness.

Though there were rebellious lords in Great Shang now, it was not yet at a critical juncture.

Not only was there Grand Tutor Wen, a Pillar of Heaven, but also King Wucheng Huang Feihuang, who guarded the nation, and many seasoned generals like Zhang Guifang.

No matter how one calculated, it should not fall to him to lead the army on campaign. Yet the King was inclined to let him do so and had specifically asked for his opinion.

"The King may rest assured. If I am allowed to lead the army on campaign, I will surely pacify the lords' rebellion!" Yuan Hong said.

Such trust, such respect, such grace of recognition—if he said he felt no excitement, it would be a lie.

For this reason, his words were not only resolute but also brimming with confidence.

If the King truly entrusted him with such a heavy responsibility, he would spare no effort and not betray the King's trust.

"With Our Beloved Minister personally taking the field, We are naturally at ease. But what Our Beloved Minister does not know is that those rebellious lords are actually not important.

The reason they can make such a grand show and even defeat the three lords is that they have the support of Deities behind them!" Zi Shou said.

This was why he wanted to send Yuan Hong on campaign. To deal with Deities, a strong hand was necessary.

Grand Tutor Wen could also do it, but a mere lords' rebellion was not enough to warrant this Pillar of Heaven of Great Shang to personally take the field.

"Deities? Since the King knows of this matter, why did he order the Four Lords to campaign against the rebellious lords?" Yuan Hong asked.

He naturally knew what Deities were and understood why the three lords had lost, but he was even more puzzled.

The King had clearly long known of the Deities' existence, yet he still sent the Four Lords to campaign against the rebellious lords.

Wasn't this deliberately letting the Four Lords suffer defeat?

Could it be that the King intended to use the rebellious lords' hands to eliminate the Four Lords?

"The Four Lords have not rebelled, but they are still lords after all," Zi Shou said.