It was only because Shen Gongbao harbored resentment that he brought about the thirty-six campaigns of subjugation. Yet as Yin Jiao, Yin Hong, and the others died or surrendered, the thirty-six campaigns had now run their course.
But through these repeated failed campaigns, the Shang Dynasty had depleted the foundations of its realm and buried its former prestige.
At this time, all the realm's feudal lords turned toward Western Qi. King Wu and Jiang Ziya rose with the tide, worshipped a general upon the Golden Terrace, and sought to gather the lords of the realm at Mengjin to jointly punish King Zhou of Shang.
Before his departure, Yuanshi Tianzun had bestowed a verse upon Jiang Ziya. It read:
"Past Boundary Marker Pass lies the Immortal-Slaying Formation; beneath Cloud-Piercing Pass, the Plague awaits. Guard well against Da, Zhao, Guang, Xian, and De; once the Ten Thousand Immortals are passed, the body shall be sound."
These words had already laid bare the tribulations to come: before Boundary Marker Pass lay the calamity of the Immortal-Slaying Formation, while beneath Cloud-Piercing Pass awaited the obstruction of the Plague Formation.
Da, Zhao, Guang, Xian, and De referred to Yu Hualong, the commander guarding Tong Pass, and his five sons: Yu Da, Yu Zhao, Yu Guang, Yu Xian, and Yu De.
Of these five, Yu De had once studied the Dao overseas and mastered the art of pox and rash. With one careless move, he could wipe out all six hundred thousand men of the Zhou camp; thus, he had to be guarded against.
Beyond Tong Pass lay the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation. Only after passing this formation and gathering in the myriad gods of the heavens would the road ahead become a broad, level highway.
The army set out. Though there were obstacles along the