I Am King Zhou, Human Emperor!

Just as Yuan Hong's great army was about to reach Xiqi, this hexagram appeared, naturally filling him with deep worry.

However, this anxiety of his had not just arisen now; it had been present for over a year.

Back then, when King Zhou had just done that unthinkable deed in Nüwa Temple, the face of a debauched ruler had already been laid bare.

The rebellion of Marquis Su Hu of Ji Province was in fact an omen, heralding that the Great Shang would soon descend into chaos.

Things had unfolded just as he had predicted; now, with lords rebelling one after another, the Great Shang showed signs of impending ruin.

But what he hadn't expected was that King Zhou suddenly seemed like a different person, committing one astonishing act after another.

Executing treacherous ministers, issuing an Edict of Self-Reproach, implementing the Three-Year Development Plan, launching an Imperial Expedition to the North Sea...

One by one, these deeds were nothing like what the old King Zhou could have done.

Yet, after all these actions, where was the slightest trace of a debauched ruler left in King Zhou?

Calling him "wise and mighty" would not be an exaggeration; King Zhou even deserved the title of "enlightened sovereign."

Thus, though the Great Shang now appeared to be plagued by lordly rebellions, it remained as steady as Mount Tai, with no sign of collapse.

Everything that had happened in the past period had turned his fears into reality.

The seemingly grand lordly rebellions were quickly quelled under Yuan Hong's campaigns.

"Looking back now, King Zhou ordering us Four Lords to suppress the rebellions after his Imperial Expedition was actually a brilliant move!"

Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, was slow to realize this, only gaining insight after seeing the current situation.

King Zhou ordering the Four Lords to suppress the lordly rebellions was, in fact, a good thing for them.

In the process of crushing the rebellious lords, Xiqi had greatly increased its strength and reaped enormous benefits.

The Marquis of the South and the Marquis of the East had also had the same opportunity to expand, but they simply hadn't seized it.

What had once been a good thing had now become a deadly threat, with Yuan Hong's army bearing down on them.

Moreover, because of the series of events before, the Marquis of the South and the Marquis of the East had become like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.

Thus, they could only obediently follow Yuan Hong's army all the way to Xiqi.

After all, having witnessed the sight of a single Imperial Edict slaying a Deity, it was hard for them to harbor any further disloyalty.

Now, with Yuan Hong's army nearly at Xiqi, it was his turn to be at a loss for how to respond.

He certainly didn't believe that Yuan Hong had led his army all the way to Xiqi just to pay him, the Marquis of the West, a visit.

"The only course now is to quickly pacify the lordly rebellions, leaving them no excuse to act!" the Marquis of the West thought to himself.

So, by the time Yuan Hong's army reached Xiqi, all the rebellious lords in the western lands of the Great Shang had already been subdued.

With the lordly rebellions quelled, logically, Yuan Hong's campaign had achieved a complete victory, and he should have returned to court.

But Yuan Hong stationed his army outside Xiqi City, showing no intention of marching back.

Moreover, after the army was encamped, Yuan Hong directly declared that the King had issued an edict summoning the Marquis of the West to an audience.

The Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, naturally did not wish to go, but with the King's decree, refusing would be open rebellion.

Clearly, the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, was not yet ready to rebel against the Great Shang, so he had no choice but to comply.

"The Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the lordly rebellions. Let him accompany the army back to Chaoge, where Imperial We will personally bestow rewards!"

At first, upon hearing that the King had issued an edict, the Marquis of the West's heart was filled with unease.

But after hearing the content of the Imperial Edict, the weight in his heart finally lifted.

"The Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, accepts the command!"

It was merely a summons to Chaoge City, not an attack on Xiqi—far better than he had anticipated.

Still, this journey to Chaoge might be fraught with uncertainty, which also confirmed the hexagram he had cast.

"Marquis of the West, where are those rebellious lords now? And how have their territories been dealt with?" Yuan Hong asked.

When facing the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, he maintained a purely official demeanor, revealing no emotion.

"The rebellious lords have been imprisoned; the general may take them back to Chaoge. As for their territories, they shall be handled as the general sees fit!"

The Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, said calmly. From the moment Yuan Hong's army arrived, he knew he would have to yield something.

Though those rebellious lords' territories had been occupied by Xiqi, this was still the Great Shang, so he naturally had to hand them over.

The rebellious lords themselves were no exception; they had to be escorted to Chaoge to await the King's judgment.

"And what of the armies of those rebellious lords?" Yuan Hong pressed on.

Seeing the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, so cooperative, he felt contempt mingled with disappointment.

If the Marquis of the West had dared to utter a single "no," he would have had grounds to make a big issue of it.

He had held high hopes for the Marquis of the West, but with such compliance, he had no chance to stir up trouble.

"Those were merely common folk, forced into rebellion by those lords. I have already sent them back," the Marquis of the West said.

He could give up the rebellious lords' territories and abandon the lords themselves, but how could he let go of the armies he had already swallowed?

"Oh? The King specifically instructed before departing that not a single rebel should be spared. Marquis of the West, you've put me in a difficult position!"

Yuan Hong put on a troubled expression, but inside he was overjoyed—he knew the Marquis of the West couldn't be without a flaw.

"If even common people cannot be spared by the King, I fear the people's hearts will be unsettled!" said the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang.

This was the argument he had prepared long ago; even before the King, the King could not fault him for it.

But just as his words faded, a Phoenix Cry rang out from Xiqi City, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Vast power emerged, strange phenomena appeared, and even the presence of Deities manifested!

The Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, was stunned. The phenomena in Xiqi City were so grand that it was impossible to ignore them.

Phoenix Cry of Xiqi—within the vast phenomena, figures of Deities appeared, and not just one.

"What is this? What has happened in Xiqi City?" the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, murmured to himself.

Faced with this situation, the shock in his heart was beyond words, even bordering on terror.

How could he not know what it meant for such a scene to appear in Xiqi City at this moment?

"Marquis of the West, the King has issued an Imperial Edict—within the lands of Great Shang, Deities are forbidden to act. Why are there Deities in your Xiqi?" Yuan Hong said in a deep voice.

Yes! That was the biggest problem!

The King's Imperial Edict to slay Deities had been enforced more than once and had long spread throughout the realm.

Now, Deities had appeared in Xiqi City—what was the meaning of this?

Openly defying the King's Imperial Edict?

Even with countless excuses, before this ironclad fact, the Marquis of the West could not defend himself.

"Who would have thought! The Marquis of the West is colluding with Deities—no wonder he wins battle after battle!" said the Lord of the East, Jiang Hengchu.

"Those rebellious lords surrendered without a fight—was that all prearranged?" the Lord of the South, E Chong Yu, said with a sarcastic tone.

Good heavens! They had toiled bitterly to suppress the lords' rebellion, only to suffer great defeat and heavy losses.

Faced with Yuan Hong's army and the King's Imperial Edict, they could only obediently come to Xiqi.

But the Marquis of the West had smooth sailing, without moving a single soldier, and the rebellious lords surrendered on their own.

They suffered and lost heavily? The Marquis of the West grew stronger and was praised by countless people?

How could such a good thing exist in this world?

So, seeing this scene in Xiqi City, they were overjoyed inside.

Still the greatest lord under heaven—now you're dumbfounded, aren't you!

"This has nothing to do with my Xiqi. My loyalty to the King is as clear as the sun and moon!" the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, said in a deep voice.

Were there Deities in Xiqi City?

Of course there were!

Since the lords' rebellion, he had made those rebellious lords surrender without spending a single soldier.

Was it really because he, the Marquis of the West, was so benevolent and righteous that the rebellious lords submitted willingly and came to surrender?

But ever since he learned that the King used the Imperial Edict to slay Deities, all the Deities in Xiqi had gone into hiding.

He didn't even need to say a word—no Deity dared to appear at such a time.

Yet now, Deities had appeared in Xiqi City. He didn't need to guess to know he had been set up.

"Save those words for the King yourself," Yuan Hong said coldly.

Ignoring the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, he stepped forward and was already above Xiqi City.

The King's Imperial Edict was opened again. The Luck Flame of humanity blazed fiercely, and the Mysterious Bird was reborn from the flames!

Before the luck of humanity, the Phoenix Cry of Xiqi became the greatest joke—the two had no comparison at all.

The Mysterious Bird bathed in the Luck Flame, and no matter what kind of Deity it was, in that moment, all were reduced to ashes.