Learning the Reason

Lu Chuan's goal was now crystal clear: cultivate until he attained the Dao and became an immortal, then live forever, free and unrestrained.

Longevity meant a long, lengthy lifespan.

If he really attained immortality, how would he spend all those long years?

Lu Chuan hadn't thought about it. But without a doubt, living longer meant having the chance to do many things that other people could never finish in a lifetime.

"Disciple, close the door. We're not opening for business today."

Shen Gongbao glanced at the busy street, then turned and headed into the shop's back courtyard.

Lu Chuan was just about to ask what they would eat if they didn't open for business, but then he remembered that Shen Gongbao had just bought the shop outright.

This was a rich man.

At the very least, he was someone who knew how to make money, unlike Jiang Ziya, who had nowhere to go after coming down from the mountain and could only seek refuge with Song Yiren.

Though Jiang Ziya possessed Daoist arts, he was too rigid and didn't know how to earn a living.

With Song Yiren looking out for him, he hadn't been reduced to abject poverty. But later, after taking Ma's advice and going into business, everything he tried had gone wrong. Whatever he did lost money, so the couple were always quarreling and at odds.

By comparison, following Old Shen offered better prospects. At the very least, he was doing well, with connections on both sides of the law and the ability to make his way anywhere.

Lu Chuan quickly shut the shop and went to the back courtyard.

There was a well in the courtyard, along with three rooms, one of which was the kitchen.

"Sit!"

Shen Gongbao sat cross-legged in the courtyard with his eyes closed, perched on a meditation cushion. Another cushion opposite him was empty. Sensing Lu Chuan's arrival, he pointed to it.

Lu Chuan walked over and sat down. The instant he did, Shen Gongbao's eyes snapped open.

"You asked why I'm teaching you the art of war when that great tribulation comes, didn't you?"

Shen Gongbao spoke in a grave tone. "Then I'll tell you. To understand this matter, we must start with your dozen or so martial uncles..."

Just as expected, Shen Gongbao explained that the Twelve Immortals of the Exposition Sect had cultivated for many years but had yet to sever their Three Corpses, and so killing karma had wound itself around them.

The Killing Tribulation meant that they would have to kill to overcome it.

At the same time, the Heavenly Court had no one to put to use. Haotian the God had ordered the Twelve Immortals to submit to the Heavenly Court, but Primordial Heavenly Lord was unwilling.

So the Three Teachings—Human, Exposition, and Jie—had met to discuss the matter and drawn up a list of deities to fill the positions of the Eight Departments' three hundred and sixty-five righteous gods.

"The List of Conferred Gods..."

Lu Chuan pondered. "So it was my twelve martial uncles who brought this about."

"You're wrong. They were only the spark!"

Shen Gongbao corrected him. "The spark that set off this great tribulation."

"The spark?"

"First, the Cheng Tang dynasty was destined to fall. Second, the Zhou Dynasty was destined to rise. Third, the immortals were destined to face this tribulation. Fourth, the positions in Heaven were vacant, and the Three Realms were without order. The gods were urgently needed to govern the mortal world..."

Shen Gongbao sighed. "Your twelve martial uncles just happened to be caught up in it. Even if they hadn't been burdened by killing karma, something else would have set off this tribulation."

"Oh!"

"Your grandmaster, Primordial Heavenly Lord, is in charge of the Investiture of the Gods. But how could someone of his exalted station personally come down to the mortal world? So he'll surely find a disciple to handle it for him."

Shen Gongbao continued, "Your twelve martial uncles are already caught up in the tribulation because of their killing karma, so they can't possibly take on this task.

"Your martial uncle Nanji is already a minister in the Heavenly Court, so he can't be in charge either. That leaves only me for this assignment."

As he said this, a confident smile spread across his face.

Hearing this, Lu Chuan couldn't help but freeze.

What?

So you think you're the one who'll be entrusted with the Investiture of the Gods?

Master, this hasn't even been decided yet. Where did you get the confidence to think it'll be you?

"Master, there's also Martial Uncle Jiang..."

Lu Chuan reminded him quietly, feeling anxious.

No, he had to find a way to dispel his master's inexplicable confidence. Otherwise, when the choice was made, the blow to someone as proud as him would be unimaginable.

"Him?"

Shen Gongbao suddenly laughed. "Disciple, you've named the person least likely to get the job."

"Why?"

Looking at Shen Gongbao's unconvinced expression, Lu Chuan hurriedly asked.

"You don't know this, but the Exposition Sect has many disciples, and your Martial Uncle Jiang has the poorest natural endowment and talent of them all."

Shen Gongbao smiled. "He studied the Dao at Kunlun for forty years and only reached the level of Refining Qi into Spirit. Aside from your Martial Uncle Nanji, Yun Zhongzi, and the Twelve Immortals, I'm now the best in the Exposition Sect.

"Whether you consider natural endowment and talent, cultivation, Daoist arts, or learning and insight... however I look at it, it should be my turn."

Lu Chuan stared at him, dumbfounded.

This was a matter for his master, Primordial Heavenly Lord, to decide. Whoever he wanted to send was entirely up to him. How could Shen Gongbao calculate it like this?

Still...

What he said did seem to make a little sense.

"So I'm not only going to teach you Daoist arts and martial skills, but also the art of commanding troops in battle. I hope you'll be able to lend me a hand when the time comes."

Shen Gongbao continued with a smile, "Master and disciple will join forces to support the rightful ruler. Then we'll be granted high offices and military honors, earning a name that will live through the ages. That way, all my learning won't have gone to waste."

"I see. I see..."

Lu Chuan murmured absentmindedly. If things went according to Shen Gongbao's plan, it really would be perfect.

But he knew that all these plans and arrangements could only remain a beautiful dream for Shen Gongbao.

Plans never kept pace with change.

In the end, the one who carried out the Investiture of the Gods wouldn't be Shen Gongbao, but Jiang Ziya—the very person Shen Gongbao thought was least likely to be his rival.

"Master, since you've already attained the Dao and become a True Immortal, living forever, why pursue fame and profit?"

Lu Chuan tried to talk him out of it. "What's so good about being in charge of the List of Conferred Gods? Why fight for it?"

"Hmph, you have no ambition!"

Shen Gongbao snorted and rose to go into the room, leaving Lu Chuan behind to smile wryly.

"I understand now. I more or less understand everything."

He now understood why Shen Gongbao, who had once gotten along well with his fellow disciples, would turn against the Exposition Sect and become irreconcilable enemies with Jiang Ziya.

The reason, it seemed, lay in this List of Conferred Gods.

"Then what should I do?"

Lu Chuan pondered. Judging by his master's attitude just now, he was already determined to get the List of Conferred Gods.

Of course, to be fair, Lu Chuan also felt that Shen Gongbao would be a better choice to wield the List of Conferred Gods than Jiang Ziya.

With Shen Gongbao's abilities, the campaign to aid Zhou and overthrow Zhou of Shang would go more smoothly. Even if they ran into trouble, he could find helpers anywhere in the world.

At least he wouldn't be like Jiang Ziya, unable to handle so many things on his own.

Moreover, Primordial Heavenly Lord had full control over the beginning and outcome of the Investiture of the Gods. So whether Jiang Ziya or Shen Gongbao carried it out, the final result would be the same.

But...

If Shen Gongbao took charge, he wouldn't bring in so many extraordinary people and strange talents, and they wouldn't be able to fill all the positions on the List of Conferred Gods.

So the task could only go to the person Shen Gongbao least expected. That was the only way to deal him a blow and turn the two of them into enemies...

Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya were like two chess pieces, one black and one white, moved around by an unseen hand.

But...

Lu Chuan stared blankly up at the sky.

Even if he knew all this, what could he do? What could he possibly accomplish now?

Nothing at all.