Nüwa thought Xiao Tian had come to deliver the Breathing Soil that she didn't want.
"These instant noodles are alright, but they don't have much spiritual energy; they're only good for satisfying cravings."
"Hehehe, next time I'll get some spicy strips and braised eggs, I guarantee it'll be satisfying. Besides, you're practically Sage, you're still thinking about eating these things, are you any better than a teacher?"
"That's true, how could you be so bored as to invent such a simple and quick way of eating?" Nüwa covered her mouth and giggled.
"There's no other way. Attaining the Dao through Strength too difficult, and I can't stay in seclusion forever. After Great Tribulation, so I have to keep an eye on the Primordial, right? I just took advantage of my spare time to do a little something." Xiao Tian was shameless, trying to cover up his act of copying Earth's delicacies.
" Xiao Tian, Attaining the Dao through Strength truly too difficult. Although your combat strength can be considered the strongest below the Sage, without becoming a Saint, you are ultimately just an ant. You have many magical treasures; consider Severing the Three Corpses."
"No." Xiao Tian shook his head and said, " Severing the Three Corpses means severing good and evil, and the ego. What remains is only reason, like a machine devoid of joy and sorrow, without emotions. That's not what I want. Besides, although I haven't become a saint, currently, apart from those two in the West who really want me dead, there's no other Sage."
"Sigh, I can't persuade you. In short, you should be careful during this Great Tribulation." Nüwa sighed, then enthusiastically brought out the figurines she had collected recently and showed them to Xiao Tian.
One month later, Xiao Tian left the Empress Wa Palace.
Nüwa discovered a lot of Breathing Soil in a certain place in the palace. She was both angry and annoyed. She thought that this Breathing Soil came from Houtu and wondered whether she should throw it away. However, she found that this Breathing Soil had a special power compared to the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. It seemed to be very suitable for making figurines.
"Never mind, it was given to me by Xiao Tian after all."
After leaving Empress Wa Palace, Xiao Tian visited Five Manors Temple and reminisced with his "old friend" Great Immortal Zhenyuan, the ancestor of Earth Immortal. He freeloaded food and drinks, which made Zhenyuanzi feel sorry for his Ginseng Fruit.
After Xiao Tian Five Manors Temple, Zhenyuanzi looked at the three remaining Ginseng Fruit on his ginseng fruit tree in the backyard, and his heart bled.
In Zhaoge, Marquis Ji attended the morning court session with tribute. After the session, Marquis Ji felt that King Zhou was not a good king, but at most a marshal or general who could fight.
The morning court sessions were usually attended by the vice-ministers and prime Shang Rong, including Shang Rong, who came according to the schedule. They inquired among some officials and learned that King Zhou rarely attended the morning court sessions.
Marquis Ji led his family troops away from Zhaoge and returned to his fiefdom.
Zhunti underhanded tactics!
During this time, Zhunti discovered that Marquis Ji's second son Ji Fa, was both literate and martial, and extremely rebellious. He deeply hated King Zhou and was also a brother-obsessed man. He made his sister-in-law his queen and blamed all the mistakes of his brother's depressing journey to the West to seek the Dao on King Zhou's head.
This made Zhunti feel like he had found a like-minded 'brother'!
"As long as you hate King Zhou, I Zhunti, will support you!"
And so, the body of Marquis Ji was sent back to his fiefdom by his family soldiers and presented to Ji Fa!
"Father!"
Ji Fa wept bitterly and angrily questioned his family soldiers about what had happened.
"Second Young Master, we were attacked by mysterious figures on our return journey. Our lord was assassinated by a powerful Evolver. We failed in our duty to protect him! Please punish us, Second Young Master!"
"Mysterious people?! When you went to Zhaoge, did my father meddle? Did he do anything wrong?"
One of the lieutenants seemed to recall something and couldn't help but say, "The day our lord of Zhaoge attended the morning court session, he returned to his residence and complained that the attack would increase by 50% next year. He was furious."
"Damn it! Our people in this fiefdom are suffering from a severe drought this year, and their income is already poor! This is trying to force us to our deaths!" Ji Fa was so angry that his hair stood on end.
" King Zhou is trying to weaken the power of the feudal lords and disperse their strength! My father's death is definitely related to King Zhou!"
"Second Young Master, what should we do?"
Ji Fa's eyes were cold as he gazed at the sky, his face contorted with rage. "Since this King Zhou won't give us King Zhou lords a way to survive, let's go and punish him!"
The soldiers were dumbfounded!
rebel!
Suddenly, light rain began to fall from the sky.
"Second Young Master, it's raining!"
"Second Young Master, since the recent timely rains, our fiefdom has received another much-needed blessing!"
Ji Fa laughed loudly, "Do you see that? This is the will of Heaven! Heaven is going to help my Ji Family!"
The following day, Ji Fa received a powerful figure who had come to seek refuge with him! It was Zhunti, a Vajra Arhat at the Golden Immortal realm.
The Vajra Arhat is tall and imposing, with a kind and honest face, eyes like copper bells, and an aura of uprightness and holiness emanating from his body.
"I am Vajra Arhat from the Western Spirit Mountain. While traveling nearby, I saw a proclamation at the city gate widely recruiting sages and capable individuals. I opened my Buddha Eye and saw that there is a person within the city with great fortune and perseverance, destined by the Purple Emperor Star. Upon seeing you, young master, I am certain that you are that person. I, the Vajra Arhat, am willing to lend you a hand!"
" The Western Spirit Mountain?" Ji Fa was shocked. That was the legendary place where Sage Buddhas resided. Wasn't his Boyikao going there to seek the Dao? He wondered if he had arrived yet.
How can I believe your words?
Without saying much, the Vajra Arhat demonstrated his abilities.
Before long, Ji Fa was overjoyed and welcomed the Vajra Arhat. He also gained more confidence in building his own power to overthrow King Zhou.
Even the Arhats, disciples of Western Sage, have come to help; this is divine intervention!
Several days later, after Ji Fa finished dealing with his father's funeral, a powerful figure arrived at his residence.
"My lord, this man is extraordinary! We must be careful!" Vajra Arhat warned Ji Fa.
Upon hearing Ji Fa sized up the newcomer.
" The Purple Emperor Star's destiny! I am Chang Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal, a disciple of the Sect Leader Tongtian! I have come to assist you, young master, in achieving great things!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Fa was overjoyed. He had heard of the name of the Sect Leader Tongtian since childhood; he was one of the Three Pure Ones and Sage.
Ji Fa was full of confidence, completely certain that he was the one destined for him!
On Golden Turtle Island, at the Biyou Palace, the Sect Leader Tongtian was puzzled as to why Xiao Tian had sent Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal, one of the Seven Attendant Immortals, to assist Ji Fa.
Tongtian didn't really want this person to be included in the Investiture of the Gods.
In the Human Clan Saint Teacher Hall, Xiao Tian was leisurely and content. He knew very well that under normal circumstances in the original timeline, Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal was a fence-sitter who defected to the Western Sect and even brought many people with him, betraying Tongtian's trust and even tricking the beautiful Three Xiaos sisters. After joining the Western Sect, he became Ding Guang Huan Xi.
Buddha.
The Investiture of the Gods Calamity was originally intended to pave the way for the rise and prosperity of the Western Sect, weaken the power of the Three Pure Ones of Daoism, and also to pave the way for the Deva Path to become stronger.
Xiao Tian is now beginning to doubt whether the Great Tribulation truly exists.
Bullshit! It's probably just something Deva Path wanted to do, something they orchestrated behind the scenes, a high-sounding scheme they pulled off!
"To destroy this Primordial Heavenly Dao, I, your humble servant, will become the Deva Path here. The Investiture of the Gods Calamity will be quite a spectacle!"
Xiao Tian scratched his head. The development of the Primordial had deviated too far. The Three Pure Ones and the Two Sages of the West hadn't even started fighting yet, and the Four Great Continents had already appeared. If, in the later stages of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, Zhunti Jieyin around and helped Laozi, Yuanshi had fought against the arrogant and boundless Tongtian, who possessed the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation that could not be broken by anyone other than the Four Sages, how shattered would the Primordial World have become?
"This ruthless Deva Path management system is quite adept. Some troublemakers are difficult to deal with, so they are slowly eliminated. When only countless ant-like troublemakers remain, they are completely carefree and can be managed at will, without any fear of being threatened."
"Dao Ancestor, Dao Ancestor, you are in danger too!"
At this moment, in Zhaoge, at the royal palace.
King Zhou rarely attended the morning court session again.
"Speak quickly if you have something to report; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
The officials had all gotten used to it.
Prime Shang Rong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Marquis Ji his return journey and died from his injuries. Marquis Ji's second son, Ji Fa, is recruiting talented individuals and building an army, seemingly preparing for a rebellion."
King Zhou Di Xin raised an eyebrow; Ji Fa's actions were not unexpected.
However, the fact that Marquis Ji had died was something that he and the original body had overlooked.
"So, Ji Fa believes that the death of Marquis Ji was caused by me?"
Shang Rong shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, the reason is still unknown. Perhaps Ji Fa's rebellious nature was exposed after he obtained real power over his family's fiefdom. Moreover, in recent years, our implementation of the late king's plan to weaken the feudal lords may have already caused them to secretly form cliques and harbor treacherous intentions."
"Heh! Summon all the lords! Advance to Zhaoge!"
King Zhou ordered the messenger to be dispatched at full speed to the fiefdoms of the various vassal states.
In Western Qi, Ji Fa directly imprisoned the messenger who was delivering the message.
" Zhaoge has already figured out our moves! Fortunately, I informed several lords in advance; I absolutely cannot go to Zhaoge." Ji Fa frowned.
"Our lord is a man chosen by Heaven. The fortunes of the Great Shang are gradually slipping away, and this is already predetermined. Although King Zhou is loved by the people, he only knows how to wage war. The power of the court is controlled by the old ministers. Looking at the small countries throughout history, when ministers hold power, the country is destroyed. The Shang Dynasty will be finished sooner or later," a clerk analyzed.
"Rational."
Ji Fa clenched his fists. In the near future, he would be facing the Shang Dynasty army! His Western Zhou was still no match for them.
"Spread the word! Let all the warlords take note!"
Soon, Ji Fa ordered the news to be spread, and the 'truth' about Marquis Ji's tragic death on his return journey became known to all the feudal lords and countless people in various cities and towns of the Great Shang. They all demanded that King Zhou give them justice, clear their name, and reveal the truth.
The situation is starting to deteriorate!
Many feudal lords ignored King Zhou's order to Zhaoge and secretly began to amass troops.
However, some feudal lords obeyed the order, such as Su Hu, the Marquis of Jizhou and father of Queen Su Daji, and Huang Feihu, who went to Zhaoge.
Inside Zhaoge City, Ji Fa's men from the Western Zhou Ji Fa spread rumors, forcing King Zhou to explain the death of Marquis Ji!
King Zhou contacted his true form, Xiao Tian.
"Explanation? Explain my ass! Spread the word that Ji Fa, that brat, not only interfered with Boyikao and Su Daji's relationship for the sake of military power and Su Daji, preventing them from being together, but also harbored resentment because his father Marquis Ji, only favored his eldest son and neglected his younger son. Furthermore, with Su Daji entering the palace, Ji Fa became completely twisted and devised a plan to kill his father and rebel."
"Let's see who's afraid of spreading rumors!"
Xiao Tian naturally knew that Marquis Ji was killed by Zhunti, but he couldn't tell the people of Western Zhou and Great Shang.
Soon, in the Shang Dynasty and Western Qi, public opinion erupted. Some factions supported King Zhou's plan to weaken and kill the King Zhou lords in order to consolidate power and kill Marquis Ji. Others clung to the idea that the rumors of Marquis Ji were orchestrated by Ji Fa himself.
According to big data statistics, 95% of the people in the Shang Dynasty sided with King Zhou! This was because King Zhou reduced taxes for the people. Furthermore, Shang Dynasty officials blindly sided with King Zhou. Why? Because their salaries increased after the tax reduction!
After half a year of intense public debate, Ji Fa Western Qi has been branded as a rebel and insurgent, a label that is now impossible to shake off.
Water can carry a boat. King Zhou reduced taxes early on and increased the salaries of his officials, thus winning over the hearts of the people. Moreover, King Zhou's conquests expanded the territory of the Great Shang Dynasty, and many people from Western Qi fled and joined the Great Shang.
Ji Fa remarked, "Being the chosen one is no easy task!"
" King Zhou, you are truly despicable!" Ji Fa gritted his teeth.