"Demoness, pay with your life!"
Yang Jian and Nezha had first learned that Taiyi had met his tribulation, and now they had witnessed Guangchengzi being slain with their own eyes. They immediately summoned their magic treasures and moved to charge forward.
"Come back!"
Jiang Ziya hurriedly stopped them. Even Guangchengzi had been no match for her; if the two of them went up, they would only be throwing their lives away.
Though Jiang Ziya was panicking, he had not lost his reason.
Nezha said in grief and fury, "Uncle-Master, she killed my master!"
Yang Jian also shouted angrily, "That demoness killed Uncle-Master Guangchengzi and Uncle-Master Taiyi. This hatred is irreconcilable! How can we not avenge it?"
Jiang Ziya sighed inwardly and replied, "A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years. With your current cultivation, you are not her match. I will seek justice for you."
As Jiang Ziya spoke, he forcibly brought the two back to the command tent.
Back in the command tent, gloom filled Jiang Ziya's heart. With Shi Ji in Chong City, even if he had a million troops, there was nothing he could do.
Shi Ji was no longer the Shi Ji she had once been.
Not only had her strength soared, but she had also become decisive and ruthless in battle.
Their side had lost three great experts in succession, something Jiang Ziya had never anticipated.
If they could not deal with Shi Ji, then the so-called strategy of besieging a stronghold to lure in reinforcements would be nothing but a joke. Marching north with the army would be an even greater fantasy.
Among the Three Sects, the only ones who could defeat Shi Ji were likely Antarctic Immortal Elder and Xuandu Grand Mage.
As for the Western Sect, it was not that they lacked experts, but the Two Sages of the West were unlikely to send powerful figures to take such a risk.
Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva had already been the Western Sect's strongest contribution. Now that Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva had met his tribulation, Jiang Ziya had yet to figure out how to explain matters to the Western Sect. There was even less chance of asking Mount Sumeru for aid.
After much deliberation, Jiang Ziya finally headed for the Eight Scenery Palace on Shouyang Mountain.
First, Xuandu was stronger than Antarctic Immortal Elder. Second, the Chan Sect had already lost two experts in a row, and Jiang Ziya did not want anything else to happen to the Chan Sect.
If the Chan Sect suffered too many losses, Yuanshi would never spare him once the Investiture of the Gods was over.
"Jiang Ziya of the Jade Void Palace requests an audience with Grand Mage Xuandu."
Before the gates of the Eight Scenery Palace, Jiang Ziya called out loudly.
"Come in!"
Not long afterward, two Daoist attendants came out and led Jiang Ziya inside.
When Xuandu saw Jiang Ziya, he asked, "Junior Brother Ziya, why have you come to my Eight Scenery Palace instead of building merit in Xiqi?"
Jiang Ziya replied, "The royal army has been stalled outside Chong City and cannot advance north."
"Oh?" Xuandu asked curiously. "Junior Brother Ziya has the Chan Sect at his back and the support of the Western Sect. How could he be stopped by a mere Chong City?"
Jiang Ziya smiled bitterly. "The army had originally advanced smoothly, and Chong City was practically within our grasp. Unexpectedly, an expert suddenly came to Chong City's aid, forcing me to call off the offensive and rest the troops."
"An expert?" Xuandu asked in surprise. "What sort of expert could frighten off a million-strong army?"
"Shi Ji!"
The moment Shi Ji was mentioned, an inexplicable hatred rose in Jiang Ziya's heart.
"Shi Ji?" Xuandu grew even more curious. "That insignificant Shi Ji possesses such abilities? Does the Chan Sect have no one? Does the Western Sect have no one?"
Xuandu was not unfamiliar with Shi Ji. She was not only poor as a church mouse, but her cultivation had merely been that of a Great Luo Golden Immortal.
If Jiang Ziya could not even handle a Shi Ji, then he should stop talking such big words about replacing Shang with Zhou.
The Intercepting Sect still had its Eight Great Direct Disciples, each one an extraordinary figure. Dobao and Zhao Gongming had even attained Quasi-Saint cultivation.
That did not even include Gu Changqing, who had already attained the Dao!
Jiang Ziya smiled bitterly. "Today's Shi Ji is no longer the Shi Ji of old. Just today, Shi Ji slew Senior Brother Taiyi and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva in succession, then pierced Senior Brother Guangchengzi through with a single spear thrust."
"What?"
Xuandu's expression shifted slightly. Shi Ji had become this outrageous as well?
"Junior Brother Ziya, do not deceive me," Xuandu added. "I still know Shi Ji well enough."
Heh heh!
Jiang Ziya laughed bitterly to himself, then said, "I witnessed this with my own eyes. How would I dare deceive Grand Mage? Shi Ji's strength has not only risen dramatically, but her methods are also ruthless. None beneath the Quasi-Saint realm can stand against her. Helpless, I had no choice but to seek your aid, Grand Mage."
Jiang Ziya's face twisted with bitterness as he continued, "If not for Uncle-Master Ran Deng having already met his tribulation, I would not have dared trouble you, Grand Mage."
"Very well. I shall make the trip with you."
Thinking of how the Chan Sect had indeed suffered many setbacks lately, Xuandu agreed to Jiang Ziya's request.
If Shi Ji truly was as formidable as Jiang Ziya claimed, Antarctic Immortal Elder might not be her match.
What Jiang Ziya needed now was military prestige and morale.
Replacing Shang with Zhou was not the Chan Sect's affair alone, but the affair of the Three Sects. This was the grand plan the Saints had decided upon at the Eight Scenery Palace.
At dusk, Xuandu arrived beneath Chong City with Jiang Ziya.
"Junior Sister Shi Ji, Xuandu requests an audience."
Shi Ji, who was in the midst of a victory banquet, changed expression upon hearing that Xuandu had arrived.
Though she had accomplished repeated feats today and her confidence had greatly increased, she knew that she was absolutely no match for Xuandu.
Xuandu had long since reached the peak Quasi-Saint realm. It was said that he was only one step away from attaining the Dao.
Among the second-generation disciples of the Mystic Gate, Xuandu stood above all. If Xuandu called himself second, no one would dare call themselves first.
"Please wait a moment, Senior Brother Xuandu!"
Shi Ji replied loudly, then said to the Martial Accomplishment King, "Xuandu has come. Chong City cannot be defended. Martial Accomplishment King, make preparations to retreat."
The Martial Accomplishment King paused slightly before saying, "Chong Houhu lived as a man of Great Shang and will die as a ghost of Great Shang. While the city stands, I stand. If the city falls, I fall. I swear never to surrender, never to retreat!"
"I swear never to surrender, never to retreat!"
The other generals and soldiers echoed the cry.
"You all..." Shi Ji was slightly moved, then said, "This is a strategic retreat, not surrender. I, Shi Ji, can prove your loyalty to His Majesty and the Imperial Preceptor."
"A soldier can only call it loyalty by dying on the battlefield."
"With our blood, we shall defend Great Shang."
Earlier, while they had been awaiting reinforcements, they could temporarily avoid the enemy's edge.
Now the reinforcements had arrived, yet they still could not prevail. They had already resolved to fight to the death.
"You all..."
Left with no choice, Shi Ji forcibly collected everyone into the Primordial Chaos World Piercing Shuttle, then gathered their families into the Primordial Chaos World Piercing Shuttle as well.
As for the other soldiers, Shi Ji was powerless to help them. Xuandu would not give her much time.
Shi Ji came before the formations, cupped her hands in salute, and said, "Shi Ji pays respects to Senior Brother Xuandu."
Though they belonged to opposing camps, Shi Ji still held Xuandu in deep respect.
Xuandu was not only profound in cultivation, but also humble and courteous. He was a model among the second-generation disciples of the Mystic Gate.
Xuandu smiled. "Junior Sister Shi Ji, it has been many years since we last met. Your bearing surpasses even that of the past. Congratulations. If circumstances did not force my hand, I would not wish to make things difficult for you."
"Junior Sister has always enjoyed a virtuous reputation. If you are willing to submit without resistance or retire from the world now, I likewise will not make things difficult for you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Xuandu." Shi Ji smiled bitterly. "Above me is my sovereign's command, beside me are my comrades, and below me are the common people. Shi Ji can advance but cannot retreat. I ask Senior Brother for understanding."
"Alas!"
Xuandu sighed, then said, "Junior Sister, make your move. I will grant you three attacks."
Shi Ji nodded slightly, drew forth the God-Breaking Spear, and her expression suddenly turned fierce.
Xuandu frowned slightly but said nothing more, allowing Shi Ji to thrust her spear toward him.
The spear shot forth like a dragon, swift as lightning and fierce as thunder.
Boundless killing intent surged forth, destroying all things as though it would tear this world apart.
Xuandu's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. Clearly, Shi Ji's will had been affected by her magic treasure.
Facing the terrifying God-Breaking Spear, Xuandu still did not strike, merely evading again and again.
Shi Ji's spear grew faster with every thrust and stronger with every thrust, each strike aimed at Xuandu's vital points.
Yet the gap in their strength was simply too vast. In the end, she could not harm him in the slightest.
"Three moves have passed. Be careful, Junior Sister!"
As Xuandu spoke, he extended a hand. Endless laws surged out, profound beyond measure.
Facing that terrifying hand of laws, Shi Ji suddenly realized there was nowhere she could evade.
Forget fleeing—she did not even have the chance to summon the Primordial Chaos World Piercing Shuttle.
Xuandu was too powerful!
She had originally thought that even if she could not defeat Xuandu, she could at least exchange a few moves with him.
She had never imagined that she could not even withstand one move from Xuandu!
A moment of arrogance had ruined everything!
Shi Ji regretted not bringing the Martial Accomplishment King and the others away sooner. Now, she could not escape calamity.
Her own tribulation was a small matter, but she had instead dragged the Martial Accomplishment King and the others down with her.
Unfortunately, it was already too late for regret!
Before you continue