Jiang Ziya Panicked

"Immortal, please come inside the residence so we can discuss this in detail."

The Martial Accomplishment King welcomed Shi Ji into the royal residence.

"According to you, there must have been a problem with the messenger we sent out."

Thinking of how Di Xin had sent only a hundred thousand reinforcements, the Martial Accomplishment King analyzed, "The rebels likely intended to besiege one point and strike the reinforcements. If the capital sent too many reinforcements, the rebels would break their teeth trying to swallow them. By having the capital send reinforcements bit by bit and letting the rebels devour them mouthful by mouthful, they could swiftly drain Great Shang's strength while preserving their own forces to the greatest extent."

Thinking that if not for Shi Ji's extraordinary methods of concealing the army with her own body, these hundred thousand armored soldiers would have long since been swallowed by the rebels, the Martial Accomplishment King cursed, "What a vicious Jiang Ziya!"

Shi Ji added, "Zhou Ji has already defected. The urgent matter is to purge the spies within the city. Though I do not understand military affairs, I know that one must first secure the interior before resisting external enemies."

"What the Immortal says is absolutely correct." After saying this, the Martial Accomplishment King immediately arranged for the purge of traitors.

While the city began its campaign to eliminate spies, Jiang Ziya, in the rebel commander's tent outside the city, was secretly frowning.

He presided over the Investiture of the Gods, so he was always the first to know who had been added to the list.

First Taiyi Zhenren had been added to the list. Less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva of the Western Sect had also been added.

Two experts had been added to the list in succession, and neither held a low position in the Chan Sect or the Western Sect.

At this moment, Jiang Ziya was beginning to panic.

He had no idea what had happened within Chong City, much less how he was supposed to explain it to Yuanshi and the Two Sages of the West.

More importantly, Zhou Ji, the inside informant they had worked so hard to win over, had also gone silent.

Jiang Ziya swept his gaze across the commander's tent. There were quite a few experts from the two sects, but none could surpass Taiyi Zhenren and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva.

Sending them out to challenge the enemy would merely be sending them to their deaths. He could not even ascertain the enemy's strength, so how could he explain himself to the Saints?

After some thought, Jiang Ziya summoned Yang Jian and said, "Yang Jian, hurry to Immortal Cave on Mount Kongtong and invite Senior Brother Guangchengzi down the mountain. Tell him Chong City is guarded by an expert and ask for his aid."

"Yang Jian accepts the order!"

Jiang Ziya did not tell Yang Jian that Taiyi Zhenren had already perished. Otherwise, if that brat and Nezha got hot-headed and charged into Chong City, they would be finished!

If the enemy could so easily deal with Taiyi Zhenren and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva, dealing with two little brats would be as easy as playing around.

Less than two hours later, Guangchengzi arrived at the invitation. Upon seeing Jiang Ziya, he smiled and said, "Junior Brother Ziya, what difficulty are you facing? Just speak freely."

But Jiang Ziya could not smile. He replied, "An unknown expert has arrived in Chong City. I would like to ask Senior Brother to challenge them. Even if you cannot injure the enemy, you must at least learn their background."

"Challenge them?"

Guangchengzi was slightly stunned. You called me here just to challenge the enemy? Do you think too highly of the opponent, or too little of me?

As a mighty expert infinitely close to the Quasi-Sage realm, Guangchengzi possessed his own pride.

Seeing through Guangchengzi's thoughts, Jiang Ziya added, "Senior Brother, do not underestimate the enemy. Senior Brother Taiyi and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva of the Western Sect were defeated by the enemy one after another, yet neither managed to probe the enemy's true abilities. Senior Brother should be cautious."

"Oh?" Guangchengzi asked curiously, "Summon Taiyi Zhenren here to report. I would like to see what sort of expert this opponent is."

"This..."

Jiang Ziya hesitated briefly, but in the end, he revealed the truth.

"Senior Brother Taiyi... he... he has answered his tribulation!"

Paper could not wrap up fire forever!

"What!"

Guangchengzi roared, "Could the enemy be one of the Intercepting Sect's eight direct disciples?"

"I don't know." Jiang Ziya shook his head.

"Could it be Gu Changqing?"

Jiang Ziya shook his head again.

"You!" Guangchengzi snapped. "You know neither this nor that. How are you fit to command an army?"

Jiang Ziya was left speechless by the rebuke. Having Taiyi Zhenren lie in ambush before the battle and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva deliver the finishing blow within the city had originally been a good plan.

Unfortunately, they had misjudged Shi Ji's strength. They had suffered defeat one after another, and before Zhou Ji could even send a warning, Shi Ji had captured him alive.

"Alas!"

Guangchengzi sighed in disappointment. He could not be bothered to reprimand Jiang Ziya further and turned to rush toward Chong City.

"Senior Brother, be careful!"

Jiang Ziya followed him out as well.

There was no need for Jiang Ziya's reminder. Guangchengzi already knew the opponent was no ordinary figure.

How could someone capable of killing Taiyi Zhenren and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva be a minor character?

"What rat dares harm my junior brother and kill Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva?"

Arriving before the city gates, Guangchengzi shouted his challenge.

Inside the city, Shi Ji heard Guangchengzi's challenge and frowned slightly. She said to the Martial Accomplishment King, "An enemy general is cursing and challenging us outside the city. I will go meet him."

"Then I must trouble you, Immortal!"

The Martial Accomplishment King replied with a grateful expression. He had grown accustomed to hanging up the banner of no battle whenever enemy generals came to challenge them.

No matter how capable mortal generals were in battle, they were no match for immortals.

Though Huang Tianhua and his father possessed some cultivation, they were still far from being a match for the Chan Sect and Western Sect.

"May the Immortal return in triumph."

Shi Ji smiled. "Warm a cup of wine for me!" With that, she flashed away.

Perhaps it was the influence of the God-Breaking Spear, or perhaps it was because she had slain Taiyi and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva in succession. In any case, Shi Ji had become more confident.

She now carried herself with the imposing air of one who held a spear and possessed the world.

Taiyi Zhenren and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva of the Western Sect were no insignificant figures. They were among the rare experts of the primordial world.

When Guangchengzi saw a female general leap out from the city, he was slightly stunned. Isn't that Shi Ji?

"Shi Ji, did you kill my junior brother?"

Guangchengzi immediately demanded angrily.

"Indeed."

Shi Ji stood with her spear in hand.

What?

Guangchengzi was secretly shocked. A dozen years ago, Shi Ji had still been defeated by Taiyi. Could she now kill Taiyi?

Impossible!

Guangchengzi said again, "Quickly call out the person behind you. I will not make things difficult for you."

In Guangchengzi's view, Gu Changqing had most likely acted.

"If you want to fight, then fight. If not, get lost!"

After having been bullied by Ran Deng and nearly causing harm to Gu Changqing, Shi Ji no longer held any goodwill toward the Chan Sect.

Shi Ji declared, "He was merely a Taiyi. What was so impressive about him?"

"Hah!"

Hearing Shi Ji disparage the dead Taiyi, Guangchengzi's blood pressure instantly shot through the roof. He directly summoned the Heaven-Turning Seal and smashed it toward her.

Shi Ji leaped into the air and swung her spear, instantly knocking the Heaven-Turning Seal flying.

"Half-step Quasi-Sage is still not a Quasi-Sage."

Shi Ji activated the Invincible Golden Body and charged forward with the God-Breaking Spear in hand.

This...

Seeing Shi Ji knock the Heaven-Turning Seal away with a single thrust, Guangchengzi was secretly alarmed. When had Shi Ji become so ferocious?

His impression of Shi Ji remained fixed on how she had been over a dozen years ago. Back then, she had been kindhearted and modest, completely unlike the fierce woman before him.

During that brief moment of distraction, the God-Breaking Spear had already reached him.

In his panic, he could only summon the Great Treasure Sword and barely block the attack.

Shi Ji had originally been transformed from a stubborn stone. After cultivating her golden body, her strength had become boundless, and few within the same realm could rival her.

Caught off guard, Guangchengzi was instantly forced back.

Guangchengzi felt his sword-wielding right hand go numb and secretly thought, What terrifying strength.

But it was not over yet!

Seeing that Guangchengzi had not died from a single strike, Shi Ji thrust her spear at him again.

This was not the first time she had killed.

The God-Breaking Spear had already drunk the blood of two Great Luo Golden Immortals and had long since become incomparably excited.

Shi Ji's control of the spear also became increasingly fluid.

Pfft!

Her spear pierced Guangchengzi through the chest.

"Im... possible!"

A True Spirit flew toward the Investiture of the Gods List.

The foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals, Guangchengzi, had fallen!

Jiang Ziya, who had been watching the battle, was dumbfounded.

How could it be her?

How could it possibly be her!

In his understanding, Shi Ji was not strong enough to kill one of the Twelve Golden Immortals, and her temperament was not one that would kill easily.

But this was reality!

Even more terrifyingly, two of the Twelve Golden Immortals were already gone. How was he supposed to explain this to Yuanshi?

Jiang Ziya was completely panicked!