"Come in."
Di Xin heard Gu Changqing's voice and knew that he had also emerged from seclusion.
"Zi Shou neglected court affairs for three years, causing unrest among the people and instability in the court. I have come to beg forgiveness from Teacher."
Upon seeing Gu Changqing, Di Xin bowed once more.
Gu Changqing replied, "You are the Human King. If you wish to apologize, it should not be to me, but to the people of the realm."
"Zi Shou was shallow-minded."
"Rise."
Gu Changqing did not rebuke Di Xin too harshly. Perhaps it was the will of heaven, or perhaps it was Di Xin's own thoughts.
This outcome concealed the greater course of the Heavenly Dao.
Great Shang would eventually decline, and Di Xin was ultimately incapable of turning the tide.
That was the original course of events.
Gu Changqing added, "To achieve great order, there must first be great chaos. What do you plan to do next?"
Di Xin replied, "I will rectify the court and sweep away the gloom."
"That will do." After some thought, Gu Changqing added, "The winds and clouds of the realm are about to change. We must prepare in advance as well."
Di Xin replied, "A few rebellions are nothing but jumping clowns, not worth worrying about."
The current Di Xin possessed the Kongtong Seal, wielded the Human Emperor Sword, and had reached the middle stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm. He was more confident than ever before.
He did not believe anyone could still shake his kingdom.
As for immortal sects causing trouble, Great Shang stood behind the foremost sect of the Primordial World. Those immortal sects stirring up trouble were nothing more than a minor affliction.
Though Saints were certainly fearsome, they would not personally deal with him.
Gu Changqing glanced at Di Xin. This fellow was still too young!
He did not know that the calamity was approaching, nor did he understand how shameless Saints could be.
Gu Changqing had no way to explain these matters to Di Xin directly, so he could only say, "It is always good to take precautions before trouble arises."
"Teacher's lesson is correct." Di Xin continued, "What does Teacher wish Zi Shou to do?"
"Select ten thousand armored soldiers," Gu Changqing replied. "They must be absolutely loyal to the Human Race and loyal to you. Hand them over to me, and I will train an elite force for you."
"Very well," Di Xin replied. "Zi Shou will assign ten thousand Black Bird Guards to Teacher. These Black Bird Guards are absolutely loyal and have not been infiltrated by any faction."
"Good."
Di Xin brought Gu Changqing to the Black Bird Camp, where tens of thousands of armored soldiers were drilling. Their ranks were neat and their morale high. They were truly the elite among elites.
"Teacher, you may choose freely from these armored soldiers. Take as many as you wish."
Di Xin then addressed the soldiers. "All soldiers, heed my command. This True Person beside me is an expert of the Intercepting Sect and the current Imperial Tutor. He wishes to select ten thousand personal guards. Cooperate properly."
"By the Great King's command!"
Tens of thousands of soldiers answered in unison, their cry shaking the mountains and rivers.
"Good!"
Gu Changqing raised a hand to stop the cheers, then secretly exchanged one billion merit points for an Innate Supreme Treasure, the Heavenly Mystery Abode.
The Heavenly Mystery Abode was a mobile cave abode, similar to a Mustard Seed Space. It could expand or shrink at will.
Gu Changqing tossed out the Heavenly Mystery Abode, and it instantly expanded.
"I need ten thousand armored soldiers. Those willing to follow me may enter the Heavenly Mystery Abode on their own. Once you enter, you will be cut off from the world. It may be ten years, twenty years, or even longer before you may leave."
"Those with elderly mothers, wives, or children must not enter. The rest may choose for yourselves."
"Entering the Heavenly Mystery Abode is both a fortune and a mission. Of course, it may also cost you your lives."
"Make your choice now!"
As soon as Gu Changqing finished speaking, people began entering the Heavenly Mystery Abode one after another. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, all ten thousand armored soldiers had been selected.
"I will return to the Grand Tutor's Mansion first."
After informing Di Xin, Gu Changqing recalled the Heavenly Mystery Abode.
After returning to the Grand Tutor's Mansion, Gu Changqing entered the Heavenly Mystery Abode as well and asked, "Who among you is the commander?"
"Xuan Ye greets the Imperial Tutor." At that moment, a lean general stepped forward and said, "Xuan Ye holds the highest military rank here."
"Very good." As Gu Changqing spoke, he exchanged for ten thousand Nine Revolutions Golden Pills and handed them to Xuan Ye. "The Nine Revolutions Golden Pills can allow one to enter the Golden Immortal Realm. Distribute them shortly, one pill per person."
He exchanged for another ten thousand Mid-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasures and threw them onto the open ground. Then he said to Xuan Ye, "Distribute these Mid-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasures as well. One for each person."
He then exchanged for the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation Diagram and the Six Souls Banner, handed them to Xuan Ye, and said, "After you break through, drill this formation."
"Did you hear me?"
Seeing Xuan Ye standing there in a daze, Gu Changqing suddenly barked.
"I... I heard!"
Xuan Ye and all the armored soldiers were utterly stunned by Gu Changqing's outrageous display.
Though they were mortals, they had never eaten pork but had at least seen pigs run.
They had heard plenty of legends about cultivators, and they had even seen legendary immortals before.
But...
They had heard that a single Nine Revolutions Golden Pill could grant entry into the Golden Immortal Realm.
But... but there were ten thousand of them here!
If they took these pills, they would become ten thousand Golden Immortals!
Even the Intercepting Sect, which boasted that ten thousand immortals came to pay homage, did not have ten thousand Golden Immortals!
No!
Even all Four Sects combined did not have ten thousand Golden Immortals!
And there were another ten thousand Mid-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasures beside them.
This was no longer merely extravagant. It was simply...
Were True Persons of the Intercepting Sect all this lavish?
The Intercepting Sect's True Persons had not been like this before!
What was the Imperial Tutor trying to do?
Did he want to unite all races of the Primordial World?
Forget it. They did not dare think further!
After giving his instructions, Gu Changqing left the Heavenly Mystery Abode.
Tong Tian's Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Formation had not even begun before it was crushed, leaving it with nothing but an empty name.
It was more reliable to keep such a devastating weapon in his own hands.
With these ten thousand Golden Immortals and the Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Formation formed by ten thousand soldiers, if Di Xin still could not turn things around when the time came, then Di Xin truly deserved to die!
More than twenty billion merit points would have been wasted!
The Investiture of the Gods was about to begin, or perhaps it had already begun.
When the Saints signed the Investiture of the Gods List, it had already begun operating in silence. Jiang Ziya simply had not yet descended the mountain, so it had not officially started. It merely lacked a ceremony.
Otherwise, why would Shi Ji have run to Kunlun Mountain to seek death herself?
It was time to discuss the calamity with Tong Tian!
With that thought, Gu Changqing left the Heavenly Mystery Abode and headed for Golden Turtle Island in the East Sea.
Several days later, Gu Changqing returned to Biyou Palace and met Tong Tian.
"Master, your complexion does not seem very good."
When Tong Tian saw Gu Changqing, he was delighted. Thinking of the treasures this brat possessed, he replied:
"Alas, my Six Souls Banner suddenly disappeared several days ago. Can you help me look for it?"
What?
Gu Changqing's heart skipped a beat. Could this be such a coincidence?
Could the Six Souls Banner he had exchanged for be Tong Tian's?
Gu Changqing asked tentatively, "Other than losing the Six Souls Banner, has Master noticed any other changes? For example, changes in fortune, or anything else?"
"Well..." Tong Tian thought for a moment before saying, "There has not been any change in my fortune. I have simply gained a great deal of merit out of nowhere."
Damn!
So that was it!
The system's merit exchange was a form of forced trade.
No wonder it was so cheap!
But what about the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation Diagram?
Theoretically speaking, Tong Tian had not yet developed the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation Diagram.
Then where had the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation Diagram come from?
Or had he forcibly exchanged merit for Tong Tian's future research results?
Was that not too ridiculous?
Was the system not a little too overbearing?
Never mind that for now!
Gu Changqing added, "Master, between that merit and the Six Souls Banner, which do you think is better?"
"Of course merit is better," Tong Tian said. "It is just that..."
He was too embarrassed to say the rest. Ever since accepting Gu Changqing as his disciple, he had earned a great deal of merit and fortune while doing nothing.
Gu Changqing smiled bitterly. "This matter is truly beyond this disciple's ability to help Master with."
"This disciple has returned this time because I have an important matter to discuss with Master." Gu Changqing changed the subject and continued, "This disciple wishes to discuss the calamity with Master."
Before you continue