For several days, Gu Changqing had not seen Wen Zhong. On this day, he came to Dragon Virtue Hall and found ruler and ministers discussing affairs, every official wearing a worried expression.
Gu Changqing asked, "Your Majesty, is something troubling you?"
"Teacher?"
When Di Xin saw Gu Changqing, his face lit up. "Greetings, Imperial Teacher. King Wen has personally led three hundred thousand armored soldiers to the foot of Chong City. Though the Martial Accomplishment King is skilled in battle, there are too many cultivators under the rebel army's command. In the end, he cannot withstand them and has repeatedly requested aid from Chaoge."
Gu Changqing asked, "Where is the Grand Tutor?"
Di Xin replied, "The Grand Tutor has already marched to the southeast. There are no capable generals left at court. Who can resolve Chong City's crisis?"
After a brief consideration, Gu Changqing replied, "Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji is still in Chaoge. She has already reached the Peak Great Luo Golden Immortal realm and has cultivated a golden body. None below a Quasi-Sage can defeat her. Have Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji lead one hundred thousand armored soldiers to reinforce Chong City."
"Excellent!" Di Xin thought for a moment, then added, "But mobilizing an army will inevitably take time. Will it delay the critical moment?"
Gu Changqing replied, "King Wen seeks fame and reputation. He will not launch a fierce assault on Chong City with thunderous force. Even if the battle is deadlocked now, the Martial Accomplishment King can still hold on for some time."
According to the original plot, Chong Houhu's entire family had died at Chong Heihu's hands. Now that Chong Heihu was dead, Jiang Ziya no longer had anyone to win over. The battle for Chong City would surely drag on for a long time.
"Excellent!"
Di Xin added, "Summon Immortal Shi Ji to the hall!"
Though Shi Ji was a formidable cultivator, she was not part of the imperial court. Since arriving in Chaoge, she had been cultivating within the Grand Tutor's Mansion.
Before long, Shi Ji entered Dragon Virtue Hall.
"Shi Ji pays respects to Your Majesty."
Shi Ji bowed to Di Xin. Though her seniority surpassed his, ruler and subject were distinct within the imperial court.
"Rise, Martial Aunt Shi Ji."
Even Di Xin did not dare put on airs before Shi Ji. He knew well her place in Gu Changqing's heart.
Di Xin continued, "Chong City is in urgent danger. The Imperial Teacher has recommended that Martial Aunt take command and march to Chong City. What does Martial Aunt think?"
"I..." Shi Ji had intended to agree, but then remembered that she had no experience in military warfare and hesitated for a moment.
At that moment, Gu Changqing said, "Senior Apprentice Sister need not worry. There are capable generals within the army; you need only take command. Once the royal army reaches Chong City, simply hand the armored soldiers over to the Martial Accomplishment King. Senior Apprentice Sister need only focus on dealing with those from the immortal sects."
"The hundred thousand armored soldiers are merely reinforcements for the Martial Accomplishment King. Senior Apprentice Sister need not concern herself. During the march, simply follow the lead of the army's officers."
Hearing Gu Changqing say this, Shi Ji immediately gained confidence. She replied, "Shi Ji accepts the command!"
The next day, Shi Ji assembled her troops and set out with the army.
Gu Changqing glanced at the list in his hand but ultimately did not give it to Shi Ji.
Shi Ji was kind-hearted. She likely could not bear to see Intercepting Sect disciples die in vain, and she might instead become implicated when the time came.
Gu Changqing needed to remain behind to guard Chaoge, so it was inconvenient for him to accompany the army and watch over her.
He summoned Fei Lian, handed him the list, and said, "Fei Lian, deliver this list to Wen Zhong. Tell him that when assigning generals, he should prioritize the experts on this list."
"Yes."
Fei Lian accepted the order and vanished from Chaoge in the blink of an eye.
Gu Changqing returned to the Grand Tutor's Mansion to continue cultivating.
After Proving the Dao of Mixed Origin, cultivation became even more difficult. Half a month had passed, and despite spending one hundred billion merit points, there had been no noticeable effect.
Meanwhile, after Shi Ji led her army out of Chaoge, she worried about Chong City's peril and did not march slowly. Instead, she brought out the Primordial Chaos World Piercing Shuttle.
As an Innate Supreme Treasure—and a flying artifact at that—the Primordial Chaos World Piercing Shuttle could easily carry one hundred thousand armored soldiers.
When she arrived beneath Chong City, Shi Ji saw the rebel army stretching endlessly like mountains and seas, and her brows furrowed.
How was this battle supposed to be fought?
If she threw her hundred thousand armored soldiers into this, they would be like a clay ox entering the sea, unable to stir even the slightest ripple.
Who said the rebel army had only three hundred thousand soldiers?
There had to be no fewer than a million!
Below the city gate, Shi Ji called for entry.
"Great Shang vanguard Shi Ji has arrived with one hundred thousand armored soldiers. I request an audience with the Martial Accomplishment King. Open the gate at once!"
Shi Ji?
One hundred thousand armored soldiers?
When the city guards saw Shi Ji below the walls, they were nearly dumbfounded.
Since when did Great Shang have a vanguard named Shi Ji? They had never heard of her.
One hundred thousand armored soldiers? Where were her hundred thousand troops?
"Rebel, how dare you deceive us into opening the gate!"
"Shoot!"
Arrows immediately rained down like a storm.
Shi Ji: What was going on?
I came here to reinforce you!
Why were allies attacking allies?
As a Great Luo Peak expert, Shi Ji naturally did not fear the rain of arrows. She simply could not understand why she was being attacked.
Could Chong City have already fallen?
If that were the case, why were those Zhou troops still besieging the city?
Every gate and stretch of wall was guarded by formation arrays. If she forced her way in, she would inevitably damage the formations.
Left with no choice, Shi Ji flew upward and arrived before the battlements. She demanded, "I bear His Majesty's decree. Who is the defending general? Why have you not opened the gate?" As she spoke, she displayed Di Xin's imperial edict.
"I am General Zhou Ji. I have served in the army for decades; how could I be deceived by you? You dare forge an imperial edict? Demoness, die!"
As Zhou Ji spoke, another volley of countless arrows flew forth.
Shi Ji had intended to release her hundred thousand armored soldiers, but upon seeing the sky full of arrows, how could she dare let them out?
Before they could fight the rebel army to the death, they would first die at their own allies' hands. What a heartbreaking outcome that would be!
Shi Ji frowned slightly. Something had likely happened within Chong City.
A city's defending general could not possibly fail to recognize Di Xin's imperial edict. Since Zhou Ji was deliberately making things difficult, there was clearly another hidden reason.
As Shi Ji considered whether to forcefully break through the gate, she suddenly heard an angry shout.
"Shi Ji, die!"
Shi Ji turned around and saw an old acquaintance.
Taiyi Zhenren!
"If you want Shi Ji's head, you will have to see whether you have the ability."
Shi Ji and Taiyi had long held a grudge. Now that they stood on opposing sides of the battlefield, she put away her compassionate heart and intended to settle the matter with him.
Taiyi Zhenren said no more and directly brought out the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover, striking at Shi Ji.
Shi Ji extended one hand and summoned the God-Breaking Spear, engaging Taiyi in battle.
The God-Breaking Spear was an imitation of the God Slaying Spear, no less formidable than a Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Before her expedition, Gu Changqing had specifically given it to her for protection.
Faced with the God-Breaking Spear's dense killing intent, Taiyi Zhenren did not dare be careless.
He had not expected Gu Changqing to give even the God-Breaking Spear to Shi Ji. It seemed Shi Ji held no small place in Gu Changqing's heart.
Back beneath Kunlun Mountain, Gu Changqing had wielded the God-Breaking Spear, and even Eldest Senior Brother had been no match for him. That showed just how formidable the spear was.
However, after his Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover had been reforged by Eldest Martial Uncle, its power had risen to another level. It might not fear the God-Breaking Spear.
Nine divine dragons flew from the Divine Fire Cover, breathing true flame. Shi Ji immediately felt her heart tighten.
She had not expected that after more than ten years apart, Taiyi Zhenren's cultivation had risen another level, and even his treasure's power had increased greatly.
Shi Ji clenched her silver teeth and spun the God-Breaking Spear into a flourish before charging at Taiyi Zhenren.
Boundless killing intent swept forth, flinging Taiyi Zhenren's Samadhi True Fire far away.
Having succeeded with one strike, Shi Ji's confidence surged.
With a sharp cry, she brought forth her golden body, and boundless golden light illuminated the great cosmos.
The Invincible Golden Body feared neither water nor fire.
Not even Samadhi True Fire could harm it in the slightest.
When Taiyi Zhenren saw Shi Ji bring forth the Invincible Golden Body, the anger in his heart grew even stronger.
Shi Ji's Invincible Golden Body had been given to her by Ran Deng.
Ran Deng had suffered his tribulation of slaughter because of it.
How could he possibly dispel this hatred?
Before you continue