"Matters concerning the calamity?"
Tong Tian's heart leaped with joy. This kid had finally decided to do something serious.
"Indeed." Gu Changqing replied, "How does Master intend to deal with the calamity?"
How to deal with it?
With you, that was enough!
A fierce glint flashed through Tong Tian's eyes as he replied, "At Zixiao Palace, the Three Sects made a fool of me. This time, I will send the Exposition Sect onto the Investiture of the Gods List."
"Only the Exposition Sect?" Gu Changqing frowned. "What about our Intercepting Sect? The matter of the Investiture of the Gods does not concern just one sect."
Tong Tian frowned. "Do you intend to send our Intercepting Sect onto the Investiture of the Gods List as well?"
Gu Changqing spoke bluntly. "Though the Intercepting Sect boasts the spectacle of ten thousand immortals paying homage, its members are a mixed lot. Why not use this opportunity to weed out the bad and preserve the good?"
"Weed out the bad and preserve the good?" Tong Tian said coldly. "The Intercepting Sect teaches without discrimination. What is bad, and what is good? The very foundation of the Intercepting Sect is to carve out a sliver of survival for demon immortals across the world. Yet you want to send them onto the list? Are you still a disciple of the Intercepting Sect?"
Tong Tian was somewhat dumbfounded!
This kid had gone out for a trip. How had his mind gone wrong? Had he been turned?
Yet Gu Changqing's gaze was clear, and he did not seem to harbor ulterior motives.
Gu Changqing continued, "This disciple believes those burdened with heavy killing karma should be listed. This calamity judges virtue, not cultivation! If one's virtue is lacking, then regardless of the depth of one's cultivation, one must be listed."
"Virtue?" Tong Tian continued, "What virtue are you talking about when it comes to demon immortals? And by what standard do you judge virtue? By that of the Human Race?"
"What a joke! When the Human Race hunts demon spirits, it is called eliminating demons and defending the Dao. But when the Demon Clan kills a few humans, it is called acting against the Dao?"
This...
Gu Changqing was left speechless by the rebuttal.
This was the racial antagonism between demons and humans—a natural conflict that could not be reconciled.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Changqing said, "But the Human Race is now the protagonist of heaven and earth."
"Heh." Tong Tian sneered. "The protagonist of heaven and earth? Have you ever considered who gets to decide who becomes the protagonist of heaven and earth?"
"Of course, Heaven..."
Gu Changqing did not utter the words Heavenly Dao.
After Hongjun merged with the Dao, Hongjun was the Heavenly Dao, and the Saints were its spokesmen.
Damn it!
"This disciple shall take his leave."
There was no way to continue this conversation.
As for the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, he would just play his own game.
Tong Tian watched Gu Changqing leave, feeling rather helpless. The kid had not been turned; his origins merely determined his stance.
Forget it, let him do as he pleased!
The fifteenth day of the third month.
At Shang Rong's request, Di Xin set out for Nüwa Palace to offer incense.
Built in commemoration of Nüwa's lofty conduct and sacred virtue, Nüwa Palace was resplendent in gold and jade.
After Di Xin finished offering incense, a sinister wind suddenly swept through, lifting the veil from the divine statue.
So beautiful!
Upon seeing the true face of Nüwa's statue, Di Xin's heart could not help but race. Compared to Nüwa, the women of his three palaces and six courts lost all color.
Di Xin immediately took up a brush and wrote: "The phoenix-canopied bedchamber held scenes beyond compare, adorned throughout with ingenious patterns of gilded clay. Layer upon layer, distant hills flew in emerald hues; fluttering sleeves danced, reflecting robes like rosy clouds. Pear blossoms, wet with rain, competed in delicate beauty; peonies veiled in mist displayed seductive charm. If only such enchantment could move and walk, I would bring her back to Changle to serve the king."
"Great King!" The moment Shang Rong saw the obscene poem, he was greatly alarmed. "Great King, Nüwa is a divine maiden of Heaven. She refined stones to mend the sky, and her merits are immeasurable. How can Your Majesty profane a deity?"
Di Xin's heart jolted. Turning back to look at the poem he had written, he grew even more furious.
I was set up!
I have always devoted myself to affairs of state. How could I be bewitched by beauty? Someone must have clouded my mind just now, making me write, 'I would bring her back to Changle to serve the king.'
What audacity!
Di Xin swept his gaze over the gathered ministers, but saw no one capable of harming him in the slightest.
Who was it?
It seemed immortal sects truly could not be underestimated!
He already possessed the cultivation of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, yet he had still fallen for such a scheme.
"Great King, quickly erase the obscene poem, lest you anger the true deity and bring calamity upon us."
Shang Rong remonstrated once more.
It had already been written. How could he erase it now?
Di Xin frowned. "I merely offered a few words of praise. How would that anger a true deity? I am the Human King, wielding the Human Emperor Sword and bearing Heaven's mandate. Why should I fear Heaven? I would like to see how Heaven intends to bring calamity upon me!"
Having spoken, Di Xin flicked his sleeve and left.
The ministers did not dare speak. Only Shang Rong wore a troubled expression.
At this moment, in Wa Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Nüwa saw this scene and flew into a rage.
A mere Human King dares flirt with me!
Nüwa immediately struck toward Chaoge with her palm.
Infinite divine might gathered into an enormous palm that blotted out the sky, hurtling straight toward Chaoge.
Roar—
The Luck Golden Dragon let out a furious roar and charged headlong into the giant palm.
Boom!
With a deafening explosion, the sky-covering palm instantly collapsed, while the Luck Golden Dragon also dimmed somewhat.
Such powerful luck!
Nüwa was secretly moved. She had not expected Great Shang, though declining, to still possess such formidable luck.
Unless its luck was broken, taking Di Xin's life would not be easy.
Nüwa summoned the Fox Demon and instructed her, "The Human King Di Xin has insulted me. His crime is unforgivable. Enter Chaoge and make certain to ruin its foundations and sever its luck. If you succeed, your merits will be complete."
The Fox Demon bowed to the ground. "This disciple accepts the command."
Nüwa continued, "After descending to the lower realm, investigate who used the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram three years ago."
"The Mountains and Rivers State Diagram?" The Fox Demon asked curiously. "Has this treasure not always been carried by Your Ladyship?"
"Ask no more questions. Just obey."
Nüwa was greatly enraged. She had been toyed with by the mortal world again and again. Where was her saintly majesty?
"This disciple accepts the command!"
The Fox Demon descended to the lower realm with the Chicken Spirit and Pipa Spirit.
By this time, Gu Changqing had long since returned to the Grand Tutor's Mansion in Chaoge, and he had witnessed the entire scene.
What was meant to come had come after all!
Gu Changqing sighed inwardly.
There was now another Saint who wanted Di Xin dead.
Ever since the Witch Demon Calamity, Nüwa had secluded herself from the world, but that did not mean she had grown weak.
She was not only a Saint, but also the leader of the Demon Sect, governing demon immortals throughout the world.
If Nüwa truly decided to confront Tong Tian head-on, Tong Tian might not necessarily be able to withstand her.
Nearly all of the Intercepting Sect's tens of thousands of disciples were demon immortals. If Nüwa activated the Demon Gathering Banner, half the Intercepting Sect would be finished.
The Two Sages of the West, on the other hand, did not care who became Human King or who bore the title of Son of Heaven.
They only cared whether there was any advantage to be gained.
Laozi had severed his good corpse and sent it into the Investiture of the Gods List, so the Human Sect would not enter the calamity. Presumably, Laozi would not be obsessed with killing Di Xin.
But Yuanshi was determined to support Western Zhou, and Di Xin would be the first person he wanted dead.
With two Saints seeking to kill Di Xin, Gu Changqing felt immense pressure.
"Zi Shou requests an audience with Teacher."
Di Xin's voice interrupted Gu Changqing's train of thought.
"Come in."
After Di Xin entered the secret chamber, Gu Changqing said, "I already know what happened to you. It was ordained by fate, so do not take it too much to heart."
Di Xin said, "It was not that Zi Shou was bewitched by lust, but that someone framed me, provoking the wrath of Lady Nüwa."
"No need to explain. I believe you," Gu Changqing said. "Otherwise, I would not have given you the Kongtong Seal and the Human Emperor Sword, nor would I have accepted you as my disciple."
"Thank you, Teacher."
Di Xin felt greatly relieved. As long as Gu Changqing believed him, he had nothing to fear.
Gu Changqing was the pillar of his heart.
Gu Changqing continued, "Do not dwell on these useless matters. We should think about how to face a Saint's wrath."
Di Xin replied, "When soldiers come, generals will stop them; when water comes, earth will dam it."
Heh.
Gu Changqing smiled bitterly inwardly.
Di Xin had not originally been a cultivator and simply did not know how unfathomable Saints truly were.
"Govern well. I am going to the North Sea."
After saying this, Gu Changqing headed for the North Sea.
With Di Xin's poem, the calamity officially began.
He had to settle the Western Sect first, then turn back to deal with that lot from the Exposition Sect.
Before you continue