Chapter Summaries

Ji Fa and Ji Dan spread rumors that Ji Fa would proclaim himself king to test King Zhou’s intentions, while preparing for either a Shang invasion or unrest across the realm. At court, the officials urged Zi Shou to march on Xiqi, but Zi Shou doubted the rumors and asked Wen Zhong to assess the situation.

• Xiqi townspeople discussed the Qiang raids, the refugees heading for Chaoge, and rumors that Ji Fa planned to proclaim himself king.
• Ji Fa and Ji Dan carried out Bo Yikao’s plan to spread the rumor and praise King Zhou among the people to gauge Chaoge’s response.
• Ji Fa and Ji Dan prepared for a possible Shang invasion, counting on resistance in Xiqi and unrest among the Foreign Tribes, Eastern Yi, and other Feudal Lords.
• Shang Rong reported the Qiang raid, Bo Yikao’s disappearance, and Ji Fa’s rumored plan to the court, prompting officials to urge Zi Shou to attack Xiqi.
• Zi Shou questioned whether Ji Fa would truly rebel while Ji Chang remained imprisoned and asked Wen Zhong for his judgment.

Zi Shou chose not to attack Xiqi, aiming to delay the Investiture Calamity and avoid a war that might draw in immortals. He established the Censorate, then summoned a dog to the hall for the day’s main event.

• Wen Zhong warned Zi Shou that rumors from Xiqi concealed a scheme to provoke Shang into war, and Zi Shou decided to hold back.
• Lu Xiong, Fang Xiang, Fang Bi, and Zhang Guifang urged an attack, but Wen Zhong supported restraint and the court accepted Zi Shou’s decision.
• Zi Shou ordered the western feudal lords to deal with Ji Fa if he proclaimed himself king.
• Zi Shou established the Censorate and appointed Yang Ren, Tai Dian, and Xin Jia as its leaders.
• At Zi Shou’s decree, a eunuch led a frightened dog into the hall.

Zi Shou staged a dog official’s procession to mock disloyal ministers, but the court interpreted it as a warning to secure Great Shang from internal threats. He then asked for Imperial Preceptor Shen Gongbao, who was cultivating on Cloud Dream Mountain.

• Zi Shou paraded a dog dressed in official robes through the Nine-Chamber Hall and called it a dog official.
• Chong Houhu connected the spectacle to the need to secure peace within before confronting the Feudal Lords, and the ministers praised Zi Shou’s wisdom.
• The ministers took the dog official as a rebuke to disloyal officials, while Fang Xiang and Fang Bi planned to punish San Yisheng when he recovered.
• Zi Shou noticed the dog’s trainer was as bewildered as he was and asked where the Imperial Preceptor was.
• Wen Zhong said Imperial Preceptor Shen was cultivating diligently on Cloud Dream Mountain and suggested it was time for Shen Gongbao to enter worldly affairs.

Zi Shou ordered Shen Gongbao to invite immortals to a banquet at the Star-Plucking Tower, while he prepared an unexplained ceremony involving heavenly-god carvings and the Great Shang anniversary. The banquet began with officials and immortals arriving, though the Chan Sect sent only junior disciples, and Zi Shou hinted that the gathering was not really about celebrating with immortals.

• Zi Shou declared that Great Shang had reached its six-hundredth anniversary and ordered Wen Zhong to have Shen Gongbao invite immortals to a Star-Plucking Tower banquet.
• Wen Zhong accepted the decree, hoping the gathering would build goodwill and gain support for Great Shang amid the investiture calamity.
• Zi Shou waited through the settlement period, then ordered the Royal Guards to retrieve the heavenly-god carvings they had distributed to commoners.
• Zi Shou arrived at the Star-Plucking Tower on September fourteenth with his officials, ordered Xin Jia to record the event, and opened the banquet with a performance by Zi Yan's theater troupe.
• Shen Gongbao announced the arrival of Interception Sect immortals, including Duobao, Turtle Spirit Holy Mother, Luo Xuan, and Lü Yue, followed by Chan Sect disciples and attendants.
• Zi Shou noticed that the Chan Sect had sent junior disciples instead of prominent figures and suggested that the banquet had another purpose beyond celebrating with immortals.

At the Star-Plucking Tower banquet, Zi Shou staged an inflammatory opera and publicly destroyed heavenly-god carvings before performing acts of defiance against Heaven. When Yun Zhongzi and other immortals tried to leave, Zi Shou ordered Shen Gongbao to stop them, and Shen Gongbao asked them to stay.

• Zi Shou presented the immortals with an intensified version of Meng Jiangnü Weeps at the Great Wall that portrayed him as a tyrant and ended with Meng Jiangnü denouncing him and drowning herself.
• The opera unsettled the ministers and guests, while Zhao Gongming and Luo Xuan struggled to reconcile it with their view of King Zhou.
• Zi Shou questioned the heavenly gods’ usefulness, then smashed, crushed, or burned all the wooden carvings brought to the banquet.
• Zi Shou shot in the four directions and whipped soil heaped on the ground, prompting Wen Zhong to ask what his actions meant.
• Yun Zhongzi rose to leave with his attendants, but Zi Shou told Shen Gongbao to stop the departing immortals, and Shen Gongbao called, “Fellow Daoist, please stay-”

Shen Gongbao gained recognition as Great Shang’s Imperial Preceptor, while Yun Zhongzi urged Zi Shou to accept heaven’s mandate and reform his rule. Zi Shou rejected the doctrine, ordered Yun Zhongzi removed, and publicly declared that heaven’s mandate need not be feared.

• Shen Gongbao reflected on his years of hardship in the Chan Sect and felt that becoming Great Shang’s Imperial Preceptor had finally earned him his fellow disciples’ acknowledgment.
• Yun Zhongzi called Zi Shou unfit to rule and explained that heaven sent disasters to correct sovereigns and granted kings their authority.
• Zi Shou considered how Yun Zhongzi’s doctrine of Interaction Between Heaven and Humanity could strengthen royal power but also make common people accept oppression as their divinely ordained lot.
• Yun Zhongzi urged Zi Shou to repent for abolishing the title of Son of Heaven and disrespecting the gods.
• Zi Shou ordered his attendants to haul Yun Zhongzi out, but Yun Zhongzi evaded them and challenged the king to stop being obstinate.
• Zi Shou declared that heaven’s mandate need not be feared and that the ancestors had set the example through their own deeds.

Zi Shou argued that humanity should rely on its own efforts rather than submit to Heaven or the gods, and Wen Zhong and Shen Gongbao were moved by his words. He declared that Shang’s mandate surpassed the Heavenly Emperor’s and prepared to end the Star-Plucking Tower banquet with a bold demonstration.

• Zi Shou rejected Heaven’s mandate and recounted how humans had overcome hardship through their own efforts rather than by begging the gods.
• Wen Zhong recalled how he had used his Thunder Technique to make people believe Wu Yi was punished by Heaven, and recognized Zi Shou as someone willing to stand against calamity for humanity.
• Shen Gongbao understood Zi Shou’s opposition to the gods and resolved to walk that road alongside him.
• Zi Shou asked which gods had fed, healed, or protected humanity, while Qian Bao reflected on performing risky cesarean sections despite the deaths and blame that followed.
• Zi Shou proclaimed that Shang’s mandate surpassed the Heavenly Emperor’s and prepared to close the Star-Plucking Tower banquet with a concrete act of defiance.

Zi Shou declared that humanity would invest its ancestors as gods, while Yun Zhongzi chose not to spread his speech. When Wang Chan challenged the skeptical Chan Sect disciples, he revealed a woman who called herself Meng Jiangnü, leaving Zi Shou stunned because he had invented her on the spot.

• Zi Shou proclaimed divine titles for human ancestors and asked Xin Jia to record his discussion of the Dao with Yun Zhongzi.
• Xin Jia reflected on how people revered heavenly gods while neglecting their ancestors, and Yun Zhongzi said he would return to fortune-telling and keep the banquet's words private.
• The Chan Sect disciples objected to a mortal investing gods, but Wang Chan defended Zi Shou by pointing out that he had done it.
• Wang Chan waved away the mist veiling the moon, and Meng Jiangnü descended from the sky and greeted Zi Shou.
• Zi Shou recognized Meng Jiangnü as a character he had invented and nearly fell over in fright.

Meng Jiangnü appeared as a deity born from human faith in the Great Wall, and the immortals realized her play condemned the heavenly gods for neglecting humanity. Zi Shou’s battered walnut-cracking stone revealed itself as the Kongtong Seal, leaving the immortals convinced that he had been pursuing a vast plan.

• Yun Zhongzi and the other immortals understood that Meng Jiangnü had formed from people’s gratitude for the Great Wall and their memories of its human cost.
• Meng Jiangnü took the stage, and Chong Houhu interpreted the play as an accusation that the heavenly gods had failed to help suffering people.
• Zi Shou panicked as he realized that human faith could bestow divine authority, and the stone he used to crack walnuts split open.
• Golden lights displayed the history of the Human Race above Chaoge before revealing the Kongtong Seal and its inscription, “May the human way flourish forever.”
• The Kongtong Seal flew toward Zi Shou, while Yun Zhongzi concluded that its appearance confirmed Zi Shou’s long-planned scheme was no coincidence.

After Zi Shou hosted Yun Zhongzi and the other immortals, an earthquake struck during the night, and Long Ji went to rescue people while Zi Shou organized relief. Reports left the ministers fearing heavenly punishment, but the tremors had caused no deaths in Chaoge and only minor damage in remote areas, leaving Zi Shou unsure what had caused them.

• Yun Zhongzi concluded that the Human Race had its own plan for weathering the calamity, though he could not discern its details.
• Zi Shou hosted the immortals and courtiers, then warned Yun Zhongzi not to tell outsiders about what had happened.
• Long Ji and Zi Shou were awakened by an earthquake, and Long Ji said they needed to save the people affected by the disaster.
• Long Ji rode away on her Azure Luan while Zi Shou summoned the ministers to organize relief.
• The ministers feared the earthquake was heavenly punishment for divine authority being bestowed by humanity, but reports revealed no deaths in Chaoge and little damage in remote areas.

After learning that Wuzhiqi had caused an earthquake and threatened Shang with floods, Zi Shou struggled to find a way to stop the disaster without making the immortals incur karmic entanglements. He sent Li Bing to evacuate Caozhou’s residents, while Wen Zhong turned to Tongtian for help and found him looking unwell.

• Wen Zhong and Luo Xuan told Zi Shou that Wuzhiqi had escaped his ancient seal and caused the earth to collapse.
• Zi Shou ordered Luo Xuan and then Lü Yue to eliminate Wuzhiqi, but Wen Zhong explained that they had to control the floods first and that using spells would incur karmic entanglements.
• Wen Zhong explained that spells could only move existing water, making flood control difficult without risking drought or leaving the floods unchecked.
• When reports arrived that Caozhou was flooding, Zi Shou sent Li Bing to evacuate the residents and told him, "blocking beats dredging."
• Wen Zhong went to ask Tongtian for a solution and found him looking unwell.

Tongtian explained the Heavenly Emperor’s plan to use the great tribulation and the war between Shang and Zhou to secure mortal incense offerings, then declared that the Interception Sect would gamble on aiding Shang. Zi Shou rejected King Pingling’s request to relinquish his title and ordered an envoy to confront him, suspecting his motives.

• Tongtian told the Interception Sect’s disciples that the Heavenly Emperor planned to make the gods of the Heavenly Court receive mortal worship through the Investiture List and the war between Shang and Zhou.
• Tongtian warned that the gods might eventually destroy sacred mountains and temples to claim the Human Race’s incense offerings, and said the plan could also involve the Three Teachings of the Daoist School.
• Qiongxiao asked whether aiding Shang meant opposing the Heavenly Court, and Tongtian answered that they would gamble.
• Zi Shou read King Pingling’s memorial requesting three years of mourning and permission to turn his kingdom into Pingling Commandery.
• Zi Shou argued that King Pingling’s proposal was suspicious and could destabilize the region, then refused the request and ordered someone sent to Pingling to scold him.

Zi Shou decided to send Shen Gongbao to berate King Pingling, despite the ministers’ objections, and dispatched You Hun to Caozhou with instructions for Li Bing. Wen Zhong arrived at court the next day, unaware that both men had already left, and began to feel uneasy.

• The ministers questioned Zi Shou’s suspicion that King Pingling’s filial memorial concealed a plot, and their remonstrations stopped him from sending Tai Dian as an envoy.
• Zi Shou secretly summoned Shen Gongbao, gave him the Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant, and ordered him to fly to Pingling and scold King Pingling.
• Zi Shou sent You Hun to Caozhou to find Li Bing, deliver a jade pendant, and repeat the instruction that blocking was better than channeling.
• Shen Gongbao departed that night, and You Hun began packing for his journey while Fei Zhong was left behind.
• Wen Zhong entered court the next day, reflected on Zi Shou’s apparent foolishness, and grew uneasy when he could not find Shen Gongbao or You Hun.

Zi Shou sent Shen Gongbao to berate King Pingling, who mistook the envoy’s arrival for a chance to seize Shang authority and command the feudal lords. After realizing the plan had been exposed, King Pingling decided to present Shen Gongbao as the commandery governor and use his supposed authority to crush opposition.

• Wen Zhong confronted Zi Shou about sending the Imperial Preceptor and Grandee You east without consulting the ministers, and Zi Shou admitted he had sent Shen Gongbao to reprimand King Pingling.
• Zi Shou remained unconcerned after Wen Zhong left, believing Shen Gongbao would already be berating King Pingling in Pingling.
• King Pingling welcomed Shen Gongbao, expecting a decree and commandery governor he could exploit to strengthen his power and attack neighboring feudal lords.
• Shen Gongbao presented the Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant and harshly accused King Pingling of disloyalty, unfilial conduct, and misrule.
• King Pingling concluded that King Zhou suspected his rebellion and had sent Shen Gongbao as a test, then decided to claim the envoy was the commandery governor and ordered anyone who resisted him killed.
• Flames blazed into the sky that night.

King Pingling rebelled and used the commandery governor’s name to purge nobles, while Shen Gongbao escaped and Zi Shou faced ministers’ objections over sending him to reprimand the king. The chapter ended with Zi Shou confirming the rebellion to the Marquis of the East and ordering preparations to suppress it.

• King Pingling purged nobles and ministers in Pingling, placed Shen Gongbao under house arrest, and let fleeing commoners spread his cover story.
• Shen Gongbao escaped Pingling and decided to avenge the insult to King Zhou’s reputation rather than return directly to Chaoge.
• Wen Zhong questioned Zi Shou about Shen Gongbao’s mission, and Zhao Qi called for the Imperial Preceptor’s impeachment.
• Zi Shou ordered Wen Zhong to investigate the incident thoroughly and establish concrete evidence, while secretly hoping the fallout would generate foolishness value.
• After receiving an urgent report from the Marquis of the East, Zi Shou declared King Pingling a rebel and ordered preparations to suppress him, sending the reply by slow horse.

Shen Gongbao exposed King Pingling’s slaughter as a rebellion disguised under the title of Commandery Governor, and Jiang Huanchu agreed to lend him troops despite the political risks. In Chaoge, Zi Shou and his ministers learned of the atrocities and began discussing how to quell the rebellion.

• Shen Gongbao told Jiang Huanchu that King Pingling had slaughtered nobles and ministers and abused their women, but Jiang hesitated to send troops before Chaoge issued an edict.
• Shen Gongbao argued that King Pingling’s false claim to command a commandery revealed his treason, and Jiang concluded that the king had planned to exploit unrest among the Feudal Lords.
• Shen Gongbao asked Jiang to lend him troops to protect the fleeing commoners, and Jiang agreed to provide eight thousand soldiers.
• At the Nine-Chamber Hall, Fei Zhong praised Zi Shou for recognizing King Pingling’s treachery, and Zi Shou credited the Imperial Preceptor’s warning.
• You Hun returned from Caozhou, and Zi Shou asked his ministers how they should put down King Pingling’s rebellion.

Zi Shou welcomed the delay in assembling an army to suppress King Pingling’s rebellion, but Wen Zhong halted his bid to lead the campaign and adjourned court. Meanwhile, Shen Gongbao marched toward Pingling with eight thousand troops and promised to make a force of more than ten thousand barbarians surrender with a few words.

• Ministers debated the troops and provisions needed to suppress King Pingling, while Zi Shou secretly welcomed the delay and hoped to lead the campaign himself.
• Wen Zhong stopped Zi Shou from taking command, persuaded him to adjourn court, and left the ministers to continue planning.
• Shen Gongbao’s army encountered more than ten thousand barbarians blocking the road to Pingling, and the deputy general urged him to detour.
• Shen Gongbao insisted that they must advance and claimed he would make the barbarians surrender by speaking to them.
• The deputy general doubted Shen Gongbao could succeed and arranged to accompany him to the meeting to keep him safe.

Shen Gongbao exposed King Pingling’s false authority to the Northern Tribes, secured Bird Yi soldiers, and marched on Pingling. He camped outside the city and challenged its officers, but King Pingling ignored him and continued using the other gates.

• Shen Gongbao showed Wu Shu the Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant and persuaded the Northern Tribes to surrender and join his forces.
• Shen Gongbao negotiated with the Bird Yi Chieftain, pledged the pendant and half the spoils, and secured three thousand soldiers.
• Shen Gongbao combined the Bird Yi soldiers, Northern Tribes, and Linzi troops, then marched to Pingling City’s North Gate.
• Shen Gongbao explained that King Pingling’s ruthless killings had made officials fear him and that a public campaign could tip the balance.
• Shen Gongbao ordered his officers to challenge Pingling’s defenders, but King Pingling ignored them and continued moving troops through the other gates.

Shen Gongbao exploited fear of King Pingling’s purges to turn guards inside Pingling against him, then led the allied army into the city and surrounded the Royal Palace. As King Pingling tried to flee, Shen Gongbao confronted him and asked him to cut off his head.

• Cheng Yuan and Song Xu, fearing King Pingling would turn on them, persuaded the guards at the commandery governor’s mansion to rebel and seize Pingling’s North Gate.
• Song Xu rode to the allied camp and asked the army to enter the city, and Shen Gongbao confirmed the gate had truly been seized.
• Shen Gongbao led the allied forces into Pingling and surrounded the Royal Palace, where King Pingling resisted with his troops.
• When King Pingling attempted to escape, Shen Gongbao walked through the fighting unharmed and approached him.
• Shen Gongbao ducked beneath King Pingling’s sword and asked him to cut off his head.

Shen Gongbao conquered Pingling after King Pingling struck off his head, then stabilized the city by crediting King Zhou with the victory. Meanwhile, Zi Shou reviewed reports from Caozhou, where Ao Bing’s inaction was beginning to give way to understanding.

• King Pingling beheaded Shen Gongbao, whose flying head proclaimed him the Imperial Preceptor of Great Shang before he reattached it; King Pingling collapsed, and the palace guards surrendered.
• Shen Gongbao took control of Pingling and delayed returning to Chaoge, directing Wu Shu, the deputy general, and Yi tribesmen to reassure the people and spread stories praising King Zhou.
• Zi Shou learned that Shen Gongbao had borrowed eight thousand troops from Jiang Huanchu and that Li Bing had spent half a month relocating residents near the floodwaters without other reported progress.
• Zi Shou chose to leave the settlement effort alone and went to Shouxian Palace, believing the Pingling rebellion and Caozhou floods would continue earning foolishness value without further intervention.
• Ao Bing reflected on his service to King Zhou, his former role in the Heavenly Court, and his doubts about defying the Heavenly Emperor; after watching events in Caozhou, he finally began to understand.