[Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, achievement points required to redeem: +999999...]
But when Di Xin saw the fine print beneath the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, the devastating weapons he coveted most, he immediately gave three cold laughs.
He had known it. How could this damned system possibly be so kind? Sure enough, it was still just as shady and treacherous, like a black hole with no bottom in sight.
Completing one mission earned him just one achievement point. For nearly a million points, how many monkey years and horse months would he have to grind? Even if he was lucky enough to finish one every hour, without eating, drinking, or sleeping, it would still take him a full 114.155137 years.
And that was assuming he could live that long!
"Systems have been screwing people over since ancient times. The ancients truly did not deceive me!"
Di Xin heaved a long sigh and closed the interface. All he could do now was wait for Bi Gan to arrive, squeeze some more negative emotion points out of the old fellow, and smoothly break through the fifty-thousand mark to reach the Qi Refining into Spirit Realm and become a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
Meanwhile, at Bi Gan's residence.
"Gentlemen, we cannot sit idly here any longer! We must rise up and bring about change! We must make the tyrant cleanse his heart and mend his ways, restoring a bright and just world! I have already written to Grand Tutor Wen. Before long, he will bring his army back to court and thrash the tyrant with the Male-and-Female Golden Whip, making him repent and learn to revere the gods, so that our dynasty may endure!"
Standing in the center of the hall, Bi Gan addressed the men around him with impassioned words. Then he suddenly heard two faint sobs. Turning, he saw Huang Feihu slumped in his chair, his face ashen and his eyes vacant, with tears streaming from their corners. "King of Wucheng," he asked gravely, "what are your thoughts?"
"My bull, oh, my bull, my dear bull... The pain is killing me!"
Huang Feihu looked dazed, as though he had not heard Bi Gan at all. Clutching his chest, he coughed violently several times, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Bi Gan frowned and stamped his foot in frustration. Huang Feihu really was a hopeless case. It was only a bull. If it was gone, it was gone. Why take it so much to heart?
But then he could not help recalling certain rumors that had circulated in Chaoge City about the King of Wucheng: how his love for his bull surpassed even his love for his wife and daughters... How he ventured deep into the cowshed at midnight, and the untold tales of what happened there...
He had once dismissed them as chasing wind and grasping shadows, utterly baseless nonsense. Now, however, it seemed the wind might not have come from an empty cave after all.
"Palace-Guarding Generals, look at what the tyrant has driven the King of Wucheng to! If we do not set things right now, it will be too late. I fear the entire realm of our Great Shang will be destroyed by that tyrant's hands!"
Although Bi Gan was inwardly speechless, Huang Feihu's condition was precisely what he needed. Seeing this, he thumped his chest and addressed the brothers Fang Bi and Fang Xiang with tears in his eyes.
"His Majesty's actions these past few days have indeed gone too far. First, he inscribed those obscene verses in the Empress Wa's temple, then forcibly seized the Duke of Jizhou's daughter, killed Weizi and Jizi, and even spoke words disrespecting the gods. It is truly outrageous, and deeply troubling to us..." Fang Bi gave Huang Feihu a sympathetic glance, then slammed his hand against his chair. "Chancellor, whatever you have in mind, just say it. My brother and I will carry it out."
"Good, good! You two Brothers Fang truly are loyal subjects of our Great Shang!" Overjoyed, Bi Gan clapped his hands in repeated praise, then looked at Fang Bi and Fang Xiang. "Naturally, we must make His Majesty understand exactly what he has done wrong and set things right! Therefore, we must force his hand at the palace!"
Force his hand at the palace!
The moment Bi Gan spoke, the brothers Fang Bi and Fang Xiang stiffened, the corners of their eyes twitching.
Even the befuddled Huang Feihu suddenly came to his senses. He sucked in a cold breath and stared at Bi Gan, shaken.
He had never imagined Bi Gan would be so bold as to plan to force the king's hand at the palace!
What did that mean? Defying the sovereign, fomenting rebellion-treason! Once it was over, their heads would be chopped off. They would be executed!
"Good, good! Well said, Chancellor! A cruel and foolish ruler like him must have his hand forced! Only by teaching him to fear the consequences can we set things right!"
Before any of them could speak, another man seated in the hall slammed his hand against his chair, rose, and shouted. Then he looked at Huang Feihu, Fang Bi, and Fang Xiang. "If you are loyal subjects of Great Shang, you should support the chancellor's words!"
"Physician Yang, of course we know the chancellor has a point. But the tyrant has Zheng Lun at his side, and his divine abilities are astonishing. A single muffled snort can knock even someone as powerful as the King of Wucheng unconscious, body and soul. What chance would we have...?"
Fang Xiang gave a bitter smile and spoke slowly, though deep in his eyes lurked a trace of disdain.
The man who had just struck the table and stood was the court official Yang Ren. His reputation in Chaoge, however, was hardly good. He habitually made exaggerated claims to draw attention, crying that the kingdom would fall one day and predicting chaos the next. Anyone who contradicted him was branded a traitorous rebel. He had practically cursed his way into his official position.
"Hahaha! A good friend of mine arrived in Chaoge from West Kunlun just a few days ago. With him here, that Zheng Lun is hardly worth mentioning!" Yang Ren chuckled at these words, then clapped his hands sharply. "Brother Flying Bear, please come out!"
So they had planned everything already!
Hearing this, Fang Bi, Fang Xiang, and Huang Feihu glanced at Bi Gan. His expression remained unchanged, and they immediately understood that he had known about all of this. Perhaps he had even personally invited this Brother Flying Bear, merely using Yang Ren to introduce him.
"Jiang Shang pays his respects to you, my lords!"
Just then, an elderly Daoist stepped out and bowed to everyone around him. His hair and beard were white, and he wore the Blue Daoist Robe. He looked to be in his seventies, yet had a tiger's back and a bear's waist, a ruddy complexion without a single wrinkle, and a mouthful of snow-white teeth that looked capable of crushing a walnut in one bite.
What an impressive-looking Daoist!
Whether Huang Feihu or the brothers Fang Bi and Fang Xiang, all inwardly applauded the moment they laid eyes on Jiang Shang.
Regardless of whether Jiang Shang possessed any genuine ability, his appearance alone certainly gave him the air of an accomplished master.
"Gentlemen, this is my close friend Jiang Shang, who has just returned to Chaoge after studying the arts in West Kunlun. His surname is Jiang, his given name Shang, his courtesy name Ziya, and his Daoist name Flying Bear!"
Yang Ren hurried forward, took Jiang Shang's hand, and introduced him to everyone.
Jiang Ziya... Why does that name give me such a strange feeling...?
As soon as the name was spoken, Huang Feihu's heart stirred faintly. He vaguely felt that this name was somehow intertwined with his own fate, yet he did not know the man at all.
"Ziya, you studied the arts in West Kunlun. What abilities do you possess?"
After scrutinizing Jiang Ziya, Fang Bi asked in a deep voice.
"I cultivated the Dao on Kunlun Mountain for sixty years. Guiding fire and summoning lightning, I have mastered them all, and can wield Samadhi True Fire as well. With an iron tongue, I unfailingly resolve questions of fortune and calamity; with two extraordinary eyes, I discern the world's ruin and harmony."
Jiang Ziya stroked his beard, smiled faintly, and answered in a deep voice.
"Hahaha! Daoist, you certainly boast boldly. Why not tell the chancellor's fortune and see what is about to happen to him?"
Fang Bi laughed as he looked at Jiang Ziya.
Jiang Ziya lightly worked his fingers through a brief calculation, then looked at Bi Gan with a soft chuckle. "Before long, someone from the palace will come to summon the chancellor, and the matter will be of great importance!"
"Hahaha! Daoist, what nonsense! I have already heard that there is no court business today. The tyrant has been enjoying Daji's favors. Why would he send for the chancellor?"
Fang Bi shook his head repeatedly, scoffing at Jiang Ziya's words.
Huang Feihu was also doubtful.
Knock, knock, knock...
But just then, heavy knocking suddenly sounded from beyond the courtyard, followed by the sound of the gate opening. A short while later, a servant hurried to the hall entrance and reported respectfully, "My lord Chancellor, the palace has sent someone to request your presence!"
At those words, Fang Xiang, Fang Bi, and even Huang Feihu all looked utterly astonished, staring at Jiang Ziya in shock.
None of them had imagined that Jiang Ziya's divination would be so formidable. He had predicted something mere moments away without the slightest error. His iron tongue truly delivered unerring judgments!
With such ability, there could be no doubt that he came from West Kunlun. Perhaps he really could subdue Zheng Lun.
"Chancellor, go receive the decree and hear what the tyrant has to say. If he has a change of heart, we can leave it at that. But if he stirs up any further trouble..." Fang Bi pondered briefly, then looked at Bi Gan and said slowly, "With Ziya's help, we will force his hand at the palace!"
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