After Gu Changqing arrived at the Martial Accomplishment King Residence, he received the highest courtesy.
Gu Changqing, Great Shang's Imperial Preceptor, Great Shang's god!
After Shi Ji released the Martial Accomplishment King and the others, they all knelt and paid their respects to Gu Changqing.
"Chong Houhu pays respects to the Imperial Preceptor!"
"Huang Tianhua pays respects to the Imperial Preceptor!"
Whether they knew him or not, all of them looked at Gu Changqing with reverence.
In their hearts, Gu Changqing was omnipotent.
Putting aside the battle at the North Sea, they had just heard that Gu Changqing defeated Xuandu with a single finger. Who would not be stunned?
That was Xuandu!
The leader of the second-generation disciples of the Mystic Sect!
What shocked them most was that Gu Changqing had proven the Dao!
Proving the Dao of Mixed Origin was like becoming a saint on the spot!
With Gu Changqing stationed in Chong City, they had nothing to worry about!
"You soldiers have worked hard!"
Gu Changqing used his mana to help everyone up, then said, "We all serve in the same court. There is no need for such formality."
"Thank you for risking your lives for Great Shang."
"Thank you for guarding this great pass for Great Shang."
As Gu Changqing spoke, he exchanged for three thousand Nine Revolutions Golden Pills and three thousand Limitless Creation Pills. He handed them to the Martial Accomplishment King and said:
"Martial Accomplishment King, the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill can help one swiftly break through to the Golden Immortal realm, while the Limitless Creation Pill can help one swiftly break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Distribute ten of each to everyone. The remainder will be your reward."
No matter what Di Xin's reputation was, no matter how difficult their circumstances became,
they had always remained loyal to Great Shang and never abandoned it. They had always faithfully fulfilled their duties.
Such people deserved rewards!
"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor!"
"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor!"
"We will give our lives for the Imperial Preceptor!"
Another wave of thunderous cheers erupted.
They had charged across battlefields and shed blood for years. They had only heard tales of immortals, yet had never entered the path of immortality.
Now, they were ascending to the heavens in a single step. How could they not be excited?
No!
This was not one person ascending to the heavens in a single step. It was one person attaining the Dao and bringing chickens and dogs along with him!
Because everyone received ten portions!
How could this not move them to tears?
They were all men of iron, soldiers of unwavering loyalty and courage.
At this moment, they were so excited that tears streamed down their faces.
"No! You are mistaken."
Gu Changqing raised a hand in a pressing gesture, stopping the cheers, then said:
"The one you should be loyal to is not me, Gu Changqing, but Great Shang and your Majesty!"
"We will devote ourselves wholly to His Majesty!"
"We will die ten thousand deaths without regret for Great Shang!"
Who cared whom they pledged loyalty to? Was there really any difference between being loyal to Great Shang and being loyal to the Imperial Preceptor?
The Imperial Preceptor was His Majesty's teacher. Even His Majesty had to kneel before him!
The soldiers respected Gu Changqing even more now. What they respected was not merely his cultivation.
It was also his loyal heart.
Even after proving the Dao, he still upheld the distinction between ruler and subject.
After shedding blood for Great Shang for so many years, they had finally received their reward today.
It had all been worth it!
The Xiqi rebel army?
Heh heh...
With hundreds or thousands of Great Luo Golden Immortals, what the hell was Xiqi?
Gu Changqing figured that since he had already given them cheats, he might as well make them even more overpowered.
Thus, he exchanged for another three thousand High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasures and handed them to the Martial Accomplishment King for distribution.
This...
Was this the bearing of a true big shot?
Everyone had already been dazzled senseless.
Happiness had come too suddenly, too fiercely!
Poor Zhou Ji had once risked his life for Great Shang and performed great deeds in battle as well.
Yet in the end, for petty gain, he ruined his good name in his final years. Not only had he lost his head, but he had also missed the greatest opportunity of his life.
Life truly was like a play!
Wasn't it?
Who could have imagined that the Imperial Preceptor would suddenly come to Chong City?
Who could have imagined that the Imperial Preceptor would be so generous?
Who could have imagined that the Imperial Preceptor would be so wealthy?
There were simply too many unimaginable things!
Seeing morale rise, Gu Changqing smiled knowingly.
If sixty or seventy billion merit could not raise morale, then they truly were beyond saving.
Gu Changqing looked toward Xiqi. He truly could not see where the Three Sects had any chance of victory.
In any time or place, no kind of power could compare to the power of money.
Especially in war.
In the Primordial World, merit was the power of money!
Gu Changqing possessed not only the power of money, but cheats as well!
How confident had Lu Ya been back then?
He had not even regarded a Mixed Origin Great Luo Golden Immortal as a threat, yet he ultimately died to Gu Changqing's cheat, slain by his own Immortal Slaying Flying Knife.
He died with his eyes wide open!
A banquet.
A victory banquet!
First, to celebrate Gu Changqing's great victory. Second, to celebrate their own fortunate opportunities.
When the drinking was half underway, a shout suddenly rang out from beyond the city.
"Gu Changqing, come out and die!"
Immediately afterward, a great sun rose into the sky.
"Imperial Preceptor, allow us to capture that traitor!"
The generals were drunk and a little carried away.
Gu Changqing smiled. "I should go instead. Mahavairocana of the Western Sect could swallow all of you in one bite and still not be full."
"This..."
The Martial Accomplishment King gave an awkward laugh.
Though they wanted to demonstrate their loyalty, their strength simply did not allow it.
Gu Changqing flashed outside the city. Raising his brows slightly, he asked, "Zen Master Wu Chao? Mahavairocana?"
"This humble monk is he. Are you Gu Changqing?"
Gu Changqing nodded and said, "I have heard that you share a deep connection with Taoist Lu Ya. Is that true?"
It would have been fine if Lu Ya had not been mentioned, but at the mention of Lu Ya, flames burst from Mahavairocana's body.
He had originally concealed himself within the Sun True Fire.
It was just that when his blood pressure rose, the flames burned even more fiercely.
"You knew that, yet you still dared to kill Fellow Daoist Lu Ya?"
Gu Changqing was somewhat bewildered. He could not understand why a Mixed Origin Great Luo Golden Immortal would not dare kill a Quasi-Saint.
Had this guy eaten too much vegetarian food and filled his brain with tofu dregs?
Gu Changqing said, "For Nüwa's sake, I will spare your life. Leave now."
Whether Lu Ya or Zen Master Wu Chao, both had some connection to Nüwa.
Had Lu Ya not schemed against him first, he would not have sent Lu Ya onto the Investiture of the Gods List.
"Dong—"
Just as Gu Changqing turned around, he suddenly heard the toll of a bell.
Thunder rolled through the nine heavens, while the earth shook and mountains trembled.
Gu Changqing hurriedly used the Creation Laws to stabilize the local earth, water, fire, and wind.
The Chaos Bell?
Gu Changqing turned back toward Zen Master Wu Chao and smiled. "Why do all of you always think that possessing a supreme treasure means you can kill me?"
This monk's intelligence was truly overdue on payment.
Back then, even Yuanshi holding the Pangu Banner had been unable to do anything to him.
Could a mere Quasi-Saint like him possibly threaten him?
Zen Master Wu Chao was about to strike the Chaos Bell a second time when Gu Changqing forcibly exchanged for it.
Holding the Chaos Bell, Gu Changqing said, "I do not blame you for wanting to kill me. But you cannot use the lives of countless living beings as the price!"
The Chaos Bell was a Chaos Spiritual Treasure, and its might even surpassed that of the Pangu Banner.
The Chaos Bell could reverse the time and space of all heavens, evolve the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao, and stabilize earth, water, fire, and wind.
It was said that after the Witch Demon Calamity, the Chaos Bell's whereabouts had become unknown.
Now that the Chaos Bell had fallen into Mahavairocana's hands, it was clear that this fellow shared no shallow connection with the Demon Court's Tenth Crown Prince.
With such power, if he were allowed to keep striking it, he might shatter the Primordial World itself.
Hatred had already stripped him of all bottom lines!
Gu Changqing had no choice but to exchange one hundred billion merit for the Chaos Bell.
"You..."
Mahavairocana was utterly shocked. He had thought that with the Chaos Bell, he could fight Gu Changqing.
Who could have expected that before the battle even began, the Chaos Bell would end up in the other party's hands?
Not even the Seven Treasure Wonderful Tree was this miraculous!
At the very least, it still had to be brushed once. Though it was said to brush away anything, it could not brush away Innate Supreme Treasures, much less the Chaos Bell.
"You... what method did you use to steal my treasure?"
Gu Changqing could not be bothered to answer such an idiotic question. He directly brought out the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife.
"For personal hatred, you disregarded the lives of all living beings. Your crime is unforgivable!"
"Please turn around, my treasure!"
The immortal gourd opened. A flash of white light passed, and Mahavairocana's head fell to the ground.
A True Spirit flew toward the Investiture of the Gods List.
After beheading Mahavairocana, Gu Changqing returned once more to the Martial Accomplishment King Residence.
The Chaos Bell was a Chaos Spiritual Treasure worth one hundred billion merit. The Seven Arrows Book had also cost one hundred billion merit, so perhaps it was a Chaos Spiritual Treasure as well.
"Imperial Preceptor, how did it go?"
Seeing Gu Changqing leave and return within only a brief moment, while the heavens and earth had shaken in between, the Martial Accomplishment King could not help asking with concern.
Gu Changqing smiled. "Someone wanted to die. I could hardly refuse to grant his wish."
"Everyone, continue the banquet."
"Good!"
Everyone celebrated once more. No matter how formidable the enemy was, they would never be more formidable than the Imperial Preceptor.
The Imperial Preceptor was Great Shang's stabilizing pillar. With this stabilizing pillar, Great Shang would be free of worry for ten thousand generations.
While this side celebrated its victory, the rebel army's side was shrouded in gloom.
Jiang Ziya had gone through great difficulty to invite Lord Daoist Lu Ya, only for Lu Ya to die miserably.
Following Yuanshi's guidance, he had invited Mahavairocana, only for him to end up on the Investiture of the Gods List as well.
Even King Wen had been so enraged that he fell ill!
Jiang Ziya only felt that when it rained, it poured.
No, it was not merely that his roof leaked. He did not have a roof at all.
Imperial Preceptor Gu Changqing was invincible beneath the heavens, one man capable of opposing a million soldiers.
Gu Changqing within Chong City was so powerful that Jiang Ziya could barely breathe.
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