The State of the Investiture of the Gods War

The Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, the Daoist Jieyin, and the Daoist Zhunti immediately arrived at the Purple Firmament Palace.

"Disciple greets Master."

Upon seeing Ancestor Hongjun emerge from seclusion Celestial Venerable Yuanshi immediately went to greet him.

What is the current status of the Investiture of the Gods War?

Ancestor Hongjun asked calmly.

Celestial Venerable Yuanshi immediately informed Ancestor Hongjun of the situation.

"Master, there is still one thing I don't understand."

The Celestial Venerable Yuanshi couldn't understand how he had broken the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation of the Cult Master Tongtian. Fearing that his Dao Heart would be damaged, he asked the Ancestor Hongjun.

"Speak."

Ancestor Hongjun responded.

Then, the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi recounted how he, along with Jieyin, Zhunti, and Laozi, worked together to break the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation set up by the Cult Master Tongtian.

"You have not broken the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation of the Cult Master Tongtian."

"The Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation had little power left; he himself dispelled it."

After thinking for a moment, Ancestor Hongjun gave his answer.

"The Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation was dispelled by himself!"

Upon hearing these words from Ancestor Hongjun, Celestial Venerable Yuanshi was completely stunned, as if struck by God-Beating Whip.

Immediately, cracks appeared in his Dao heart. Not only the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, but also the Dao hearts of Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti were affected.

The four of them, working together, not only failed to break the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation of the Cult Master Tongtian, but also suffered severe injuries themselves.

On the surface, it appears that the four of them worked together to break through the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation of the Cult Master Tongtian, but in reality, it was the Cult Master Tongtian who forced them to retreat single-handedly.

"Master has emerged from seclusion, and I must return. Shen Gongbao, you will come with me."

Upon sensing the sound of the bell in the Purple Firmament Palace, the Cult Master Tongtian knew that Ancestor Hongjun had emerged from seclusion, and immediately set off for the Primordial World.

"Cult Master Tongtian, please come here to discuss the next steps."

After answering Celestial Venerable Yuanshi's question, Ancestor Hongjun began to sense the aura of Cult Master Tongtian. After finding him, he immediately notified him to come to him.

Before long, the Cult Master Tongtian arrived at the place where Ancestor Hongjun and Celestial Venerable Yuanshi were.

"Disciple greets Master."

Upon seeing Ancestor Hongjun, Cult Master Tongtian immediately bowed.

"Cult Master Tongtian, you severely injured the Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, Daoist Jieyin, Daoist Zhunti, and Laozi with your Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, achieving your desired goal."

"Although you ultimately withdrew the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation yourself, on the surface, you lost and they won; they joined forces to break your Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation."

"You must withdraw from this struggle. Furthermore, the Yin Shang's Karmic Luck out, and its defeat is inevitable. The world will surely belong to the Western Zhou."

"Of course, they won't exterminate you. You can lead the people of Yin Shang back to the new Nüwa that Nuwa found for you to live in."

"Go and make the arrangements now."

When Ancestor Hongjun saw Cult Master Tongtian arrive, he immediately stated the next step.

"Your disciple obeys."

The Cult Master Tongtian immediately agreed.

"Shen Gongbao, go and tell King Zhou that the fate of the Sheng Dynasty is sealed, its defeat is inevitable, and the world will surely belong to the Western Zhou."

"But don't worry, they are not without a place to stay. Tell King Zhou that if he is willing to fake his death and retreat, I can lead them to a new world that I have found for them to live in."

After returning from the Ancestor Hongjun, the Cult Master Tongtian told Shen Gongbao what he had said and asked him to pass it on to King Zhou before leaving.

Upon hearing these words, Shen Gongbao traveled day and night to Chaoge.

When he arrived, he discovered that Chaoge had been surrounded by the Western Zhou army, and it seemed that defeat was inevitable.

He then used his Law Treasure to bypass the Western Zhou army and infiltrate Chaoge to find King Zhou.

"Damn it, damn it! Is Heaven going to destroy my Yin Shang?"

At this moment, King Zhou was smashing things in his palace, venting his dissatisfaction.

"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report."

Shen Gongbao arrived outside King Zhou's palace and immediately spoke to him.

King Zhou seemed not to hear him and continued to smash and destroy things inside the palace.

"Your Majesty, please calm down, Shen Gongbao is here."

Upon hearing Shen Gongbao requesting an audience outside the door, Daji immediately stopped King Zhou and told him that Shen Gongbao had arrived.

"Oh, it's Shen Gongbao. What do you want to tell me?"

Upon seeing Shen Gongbao arrive, King Zhou gradually calmed his anger and lowered his sword.

"Your Majesty has good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

Shen Gongbao said to King Zhou with a smile.

"Our Yin Shang is on the verge of being destroyed by the Western Zhou, how can there be any good news!"

"Speak quickly!"

King Zhou roared at Shen Gongbao in dissatisfaction.

"Your Majesty, the good news is that the Yin Shang will not be destroyed; it will simply have to continue its rule in a different place."

"The bad news is that Your Majesty must leave this place and fake your death once more."

Upon seeing this, Shen Gongbao immediately responded.

"Explain clearly, what exactly happened?"

Upon hearing Shen Gongbao's words, King Zhou immediately became interested.

"Your Majesty, my master said that in this Primordial World, the fate of the Yin Shang is sealed, and they are destined to be defeated by the Western Zhou Dynasty. However, he has found a world where the Yin Shang can continue its lineage."

"Your Majesty, you only need to put on a show here, making the people of Western Zhou believe that you have been defeated and died. Then I will lead you to the new world that my master spoke of."

"In that world, the Yin Shang will endure forever."

Shen Gongbao immediately informed King Zhou of the details.

Upon hearing this, King Zhou's expression became somewhat hesitant.

Finally, after much persuasion from Daji, King Zhou agreed to the proposal.

"Alright, I agree. Now, go and make preparations immediately."

King Zhou eventually responded.

The next day, during the morning court session.

"I believe in your loyalty to the Yin Shang and to me, but I also know that none of you want to die; no one wants to die."

"Now there is a way out for us. Shen Gongbao has a way to take us to another world, where we can still survive."

"Now all of you go and gather the remaining troops, adopt a defensive posture, and when the Western Zhou launches their general offensive, you can offer minimal resistance and then retreat, trying not to get entangled in any prolonged fighting."

"The Yin Shang can do without me, but it cannot do without you."

King Zhou told his ministers and generals how to survive, thus winning their hearts and minds.

"We, your subjects, swear to follow King Zhou to the death."

Upon hearing King Zhou's words, both civil and military officials began to pledge their loyalty.

Two days later, Jiang Ziya led his army in a general offensive.

Meanwhile, the soldiers on the Chaoge City had already received orders to retreat after offering only minimal resistance.

Subsequently, the Western Zhou army, led by Jiang Ziya, swept all the way to the palace. However, no one noticed that the retreating Yin Shang soldiers along the way had all disappeared.

The soldiers of Western Zhou were very excited and clamored to capture King Zhou alive and present him to King Wu.

Jiang Ziya led a few trusted men to the front, fighting their way to King Zhou's palace, only to find it deserted.