Chapter 714

They addressed each other as Grand Tutor and Lord Taibai Jinxing respectively.

Li Changshou stood behind Wen Zhong with his hands behind his back. He was still sighing in his heart. Wen Zhong did not even sense his aura and dared to insist that he was him.

If the Heavenly Dao casually made an appearance like ‘Huang Long’, wouldn’t Wen Zhong immediately fall for it?

This junior was not vigilant at all.

Li Changshou nodded and sat on the chair at the side.

“You should have this opportunity. Come and talk.”

“Lord Taibai Jinxing.” Wen Zhong cupped his hands and lowered his head. “I wonder what your teachings are. Now that the three armies have set off, we need the general. Wen Zhong is here to conquer. Naturally, we can’t let the soldiers of the three armies wait.”

“Are we going to die for nothing?”

Li Changshou asked warmly.

Wen Zhong was stunned. Then, he lowered his head and bowed. “Wen Zhong is under the orders of the King. Now, I can only fight.”

“A gamble.”

Li Changshou smiled and said, “You’re not even going to serve me a cup of tea?”

“Lord Taibai Jinxing…”

Wen Zhong paused and heaved a sigh of relief. He said softly, “Wait a moment. I’ll get my disciple to send it over.”

After saying that, Wen Zhongyan walked to the tent opening and whispered a few words to the outside. He summoned the Black Qilin to land in front of the tent before turning around and returning to the tent.

Li Changshou smiled and sized up the situation in the tent. Wen Zhong could not figure out what Li Changshou was doing and could only wait by the side.

The drums outside the camp sounded like thunder. The armies slowly approached the periphery of Xiqi City.

The King of Shang had an absolute advantage in terms of military strength. At that moment, the Zhou Army could only rely on the geographical advantage.

In the tent, Li Changshou seemed to have deliberately found a topic.

“You want to attack Xiqi City. What do you think?”

Wen Zhong pondered for a while and said respectfully, “He was originally a minister of the Shang Dynasty. However, he did not follow the King’s orders and was ambitious. He privately expanded the army and fought the Fang Nation. Everyone knows that he wants to rebel. The King is kind and spared Ji Chang’s life. Now…”

A hint of helplessness flashed across Li Changshou’s eyes. He said coldly, “You’re thinking that even if we have to use all the Shang troops here, we have to break through Xi Qi City. At the very least, we have to exhaust the Zhou Nation’s army and damage their national power. Right?”

Wen Zhong was silent. He lowered his head and sighed slightly.

“Lord Taibai Jinxing, I’m foolish and have no other choice.”

Li Changshou said, “Most of the troops you deployed are from the various checkpoints in the northwest of the Shang Nation. Half of them are the troops of the feudal lords in order to exhaust the power of the Zhou Nation. It will not cause much damage to Chaoge City. You seem to think that as long as you destroy the luck of the Zhou Nation, even if the immortals of Chan School secretly support you, you will not be able to threaten Chaoge City in a short period of time. That disciple of your Great King can complete the reformation of the Shang Nation, right?”

Wen Zhong lowered his head and sighed. “Your wisdom is enough to support the Heavenly Courts and mediate in the Saint’s sect. In the end, you will become an extraordinary hero. However, Wen Zhong is only a disciple of Jie School. A mortal Grand Tutor cannot be compared to the Lord of Heaven.”

“That’s just an excuse. As long as you admit that you are helpless and say that you are nothing much, it is actually a form of self-consolation and a commonly used escape technique.”

Li Changshou sighed and said, “Wen Zhong, you’ve already missed too many opportunities. I don’t see the Heavenly Dao interfering with your thoughts. Why have you reached this stage? Do you know that many living beings in the Three Realms are scolding you? They said that you killed many immortals of Jie School and dragged Jie School into the mortal world of the South Continent.”

“You can never get the best of both worlds,” Wen Zhong said in a low voice. “Wen Zhong has been betrayed by Jie School and Master Grandmaster.”

“You’re just letting yourself down.”

Li Changshou’s voice slowed down. “What you did was actually a path chosen by Jie School. You used each other. Do you still remember what I told you when I was still in Chaoge City?”

“I have never forgotten what you said.”

“Then why aren’t you enlightened?”

Li Changshou frowned and said, “I’m the Heavenly Courts’ Lord Taibai Jinxing. I’m a disciple of Ren School and the God-Conferment Master. From the perspective of the world, the Dao Sect, and the Great Tribulation, I have to be neutral. I only reminded you a few times in Chaoge City! Of course, this is a slight bias that the Heavenly Dao allows.”

Wen Zhong was puzzled. “What… did you give me?”

“What do I ask you about the most frequently? Think about it carefully.”

“Well…”

Wen Zhong pondered for a while. He secretly deduced and said, “It seems to be, What should your ideal Shang Dynasty be like?”

“That’s right. What should your ideal Shang be like?”

Li Changshou sighed softly. “At that time, I was reminding you to at least think of a complete future. Then, I would use that prospect to convince those like-minded people. However, you and Di Xin are good. You attack and repel all forces outside. You torture others and rely on intimidation to subdue them. Di Xin does have a huge ambition, but how many people in the world have aspirations? Would that be useful? From the looks of it now, he is just arrogant and weak! You should not admire a young man who claims to have aspirations. You should pay attention to those who fought for their aspirations without saying a word. As the teacher of Di Xin, you have yet to fulfill your responsibility. As an important minister of the Human Emperor, you failed to offer a strategy to govern the country. As a disciple of Jie School, you have pulled the immortals of Jie School into the Great Tribulation. Wen Zhong, what do you think of your position as the Grand Tutor? Have you ever thought about where you want to lead the Shang Dynasty? What kind of Shang Dynasty do you want to create? The reform is not just for the sake of a reform, nor is it a last-ditch effort. Do you know why so many nobles in Chaoge City fear Di Xin and you? You have never told them what kind of new Shang Dynasty you want to build. You are just telling them that there is no place for them in the new Shang Dynasty. Why don’t you try and make them change? Become your helpers? Let me give you a simple example. Go and nurture the less powerful nobles. Let them take the initiative to give up some power, such as giving up the idea of burying slaves alive with their late family members and hunting slaves. Then, let them get rid of the more powerful nobles. Is there a need for Di Xin to use torture to intimidate them? Pedantic! Foolish!”

“I…”

Wen Zhong trembled a few times. His old eyes turned red. He lowered his head and sighed. His legs slowly bent, and he knelt down.

“Please teach me, Emissary. Please teach me!”

Li Changshou sneered and said, “Do you know why I came to scold you today? Because you’re dying. The battle today is the time for you to die. The God-Conferment Platform has already hung above your head.”

“Emissary…”

Wen Zhong’s voice trembled. He subconsciously clenched his fists and said firmly, “If you can save the King, I’m willing to die today! I’m willing! I won’t complain!”

“My appearance today has changed the current situation in the world.”

Li Changshou leaned against the armchair and said earnestly, “I don’t like Di Xin. He’s brave but indecisive. He’s not a qualified human emperor. However, now, he needs to try and see if he can resist the Heavenly Fate. It won’t take long. Ten years is enough.”

As he spoke, Li Changshou threw a jade token in front of Wen Zhong.

“There are a few words here. Comprehend them yourself. It’s up to you how much you understand. After you die, I will stop the God-Conferment Platform for a while and give you a chance to enter the dream of Emperor Xin. Use your death to wake Di Xin up. Try again. I will not place any hope on Di Xin, nor will I have any pity on the Shang Dynasty. Today, pretend that I did not come.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Changshou disappeared from his seat.

When Wen Zhong looked up, Li Changshou was nowhere to be seen. He hurriedly lowered his head and picked up the jade token to take a look. The words on it were rapidly fading, and he hurriedly memorized them.

When the words disappeared, the jade token turned into a jade pendant. The Dao runes around the tent also disappeared with the wind.

Everything was like a dream.

It was as if he was imagining things.

Wen Zhong thought of something and immediately stood up. He crushed the jade pendant in his hand and kept the fragments into the storage Dharma treasure in his sleeve.

He pondered for a while and digested the words inside. Then, he took a deep breath.

The sunlight outside the tent was just nice, and there was a little dust.

Wen Zhong walked out of the tent step by step. Shadows seemed to appear around him, revealing various images.

“From now on, I will call you Teacher. From now on, please guide me. I will follow Teacher’s guidance and be a capable king.”

“Teacher, see if I can carry this tripod!”

“Teacher, I hate it! I hate it! The ministers colluded with the vassals, and the nobles secretly colluded too! Could it be that the foundation of the ancestors is going to be destroyed in my hands!?!”

What should I do? I can’t win their fear. Who will really respect me when I call him King?

Teacher, how many lives does Shang have?

“Teacher…”

“Teacher…”

“Master, what’s wrong?”

Wen Zhong was woken up from his daze. He looked at his disciple who had sent him a spell and smiled kindly.

“How’s the army preparing?”

“The three armies are ready. They have been arranged according to the army formation. They will be able to fight the Zhou army in two hours.”

Wen Zhong nodded slowly and took the golden whip from the soldier beside him. He turned around and jumped onto the back of the Black Qilin.

“Let the drums be louder. I can’t hear them!”

“Okay!”

…

In the clouds, Li Changshou’s paper effigy sat quietly. He pointed out a short table made of clouds and took out a pot of wine that was specially brewed at the Jade Pool. He drank in the sky.

The world was filled with killing intent. The black crowd seemed to have thickened the ground by seven to eight feet.

It was unknown who let out the first shout. The sound of bowstrings and wheels rolled. Mutated beasts often neighed and horses galloped. Millions of mortals roared in unison as blood energy soared into the sky.

The battle had already begun.

The immortals were mixed in with the mortal aura. The flying swords were deadly and the Dharma treasures were dazzling.

There were thousands of generals who could not stop them. Groups of strong men waved their heavy hammers and swept away the enemies in front of them.

The Shang Nation, the Zhou Nation, Jie School, and Chan School each used their abilities and killed each other.

Both parties were like the Qi Refinement cultivators who were trapped in the mortal world. At that moment, they ignored the negative karma and activated their Dharma spells to kill the enemy.

They were all little immortals who had lost themselves in the sounds of “Immortal Master” and “Senior”.

As for Yang Jian, Nezha, and Lei Zhenzi, they were all chasing after the immortals of Jie School and would not touch the mortals.

Wen Zhong was riding the Black Qilin and had a vertical eye on his forehead. He had defeated more than ten immortals of Chan School with a golden whip. He was about to tear a hole in the Zhou Army’s battle formation.

Suddenly, he heard a thunderclap. Lei Zhenzi attacked from the left. His entire body was wrapped in lightning. A golden rod steadily stopped Wen Zhong.

Wen Zhong actually ignited his essence soul and killed indiscriminately.

The morale of the Shang Army was greatly shaken. The entire army pressed forward. They did not care how strange the Zhou Army’s troops were or how sharp the traps in front of them were.

After fighting for half a day, blood flowed like a river.

At dusk, Xi Qi City was destroyed.

The soldier of Shang army’s eyes were red from killing, but the remnants of the Zhou army were rather tenacious. They fought and retreated, surrounding the elites of the Shang army near the east gate of Xi Qi City.

The remaining troops of the Shang army suddenly received Wen Zhong’s orders. They retreated in confusion and headed towards the nearest pass.

When they retreated, the two armies, one from the south and one from the north, arrived outside Xiqi City. However, the alliance army of the two vassal states’ happened ‘to arrive.

In Xi Qi City, Wen Zhong led the remnant troops to fight to the death. The disciples had died in battle, and their beloved generals had died.

The Black Qilin was shattered by Yang Jian’s punch.

The golden whip was sent flying by Nezha’s fire spear.

The divine light shot out from the vertical eye on Wen Zhong’s forehead could not hurt Lei Zhenzi’s Wind and Thunder Wings.

The dozen or so cultivators from Jie School who had suddenly rushed over were firmly stopped by the immortals of Chan School. There were more than ten piles of ashes.

“Wen Zhong!”

Jiang Shang sat on the back of the strange beasts and was dressed in mourning clothes. He was surrounded by strong warriors formed from dao techniques. He held a wooden whip and shouted at Wen Zhong,

“You are originally an immortal cultivator outside the sect. Why do you still want to help Di Xin be tortured?

Now that you are in a dead state, why don’t you remove your armor and surrender! On account of your loyalty, I can spare your life!”

“Hmph!”

Wen Zhong snorted coldly. The remaining hundreds of armored soldiers behind him glared at Jiang Shang.

“You’re just a traitor! How dare you spout nonsense! Where is Huang Feihu? Get the hell out!”

Jiang Shang shouted, “He doesn’t know any better and is stubborn. That Di Xin is violent, immoral, untrustworthy, and heartless! King Wu Cheng could not tolerate it and came to the Zhou Nation to seek refuge with the wise ruler. What’s wrong with that? Don’t you know that Di Xin was drunk and wanted to bully the wife of King Wu Cheng? He even forced his wife to jump off a tall building!”

“Hahaha, hahaha!”

Wen Zhong’s eyes were filled with sorrow. He looked up and cursed, “We Qi Refinement cultivators know exactly why! There are only a few concubines in Di Xin’s harem. If they are really lustful, why would they do that!?! Huang Feihu! You are really worthy of His Majesty’s high regard for you and the word ‘martial success’ on your shoulder!”

“The Dao is different. We don’t work together.”

Jiang Shang raised the wooden whip in his hand and was about to hit Wen Zhong.

“Hold on!”

With a low shout, there was a sound of armor rubbing. Huang Feihu rode a five-colored divine ox over. He rolled down from the ox’s back, lifted the hem of his robe, and slowly knelt on one knee.

“I betrayed the Grand Tutor, but I did not disappoint the King!”

Wen Zhong cursed angrily, “You traitor!”

Huang Feihu raised his hands, his eyes filled with pain. He slowly closed his eyes. “Feihu, send the Grand Tutor off.”

Wen Zhong smiled bitterly. The anger in his eyes dissipated greatly. He looked around and swept his gaze across the group of Divine Generals in the Zhou Army and the immortals of Chan School hiding in the Zhou Army.

Great Tribulation, Heavenly Fate.

“When will this destiny become human?”

Wen Zhong muttered, his eyes filled with tranquility.

He suddenly looked angry. He stood up and slapped Huang Feihu!

Flames suddenly surged from the side. A completely red stone pillar appeared behind Wen Zhong. Chains appeared on it and forcefully pulled Wen Zhong back.

The fire dragon stuck out its tongue and flames rose vertically, causing many mortals to retreat.

Wen Zhong’s figure was immediately engulfed by the flames. Before he could make any sound, he was turned into ashes.

A wisp of remnant soul seeped out of the flames and entered the void.

On the cloud, Li Changshou raised his hand and pointed. Wen Zhong’s remnant soul suddenly disappeared, and the divine power of the Divine Seal Altar froze for a moment.

At the same time, in the Shang King Palace of Chaoge City,

In a few layers of pink curtains, Di Xin, who was sleeping while hugging the jade statue, suddenly broke out in cold sweat. His eyes trembled slightly.

“King, King…”

“Grandmaster! Grandmaster, why is your armor withered?”

“King, this is a dream.”

“I died in Xi Qi City today, but you do not have to be too sad. I can still go to the God-Conferment Platform. I didn’t really die. I only returned to the Immortal World. In short, I only have a moment to dream. I have a good plan to report to you! I have betrayed the sect and my master, but I don’t want to betray the King. Please listen carefully, King. Don’t miss out on anything. The first plan is to commit a sin and report to the Shang Nation to reflect on my mistakes. The death of the old minister is an opportunity. King, you can push all the blame onto the old minister. You said that I had previously used evil techniques to bewitch and so on. Now, the torture can no longer suppress the vassals and the nobles. Instead, it became an excuse for them to accuse you of being immoral. The second plan is to gather the people and unite them. What we did previously was far from enough…”

In the dream, Wen Zhong said each word quickly but clearly.

The next morning.

Di Xin woke up and shouted ‘Grand Tutor’ thrice. He cried on the bed until he vomited blood and fainted.

On the God-Conferment Platform, Wen Zhong stood quietly. He looked around at the familiar figures who were smiling at him. He could not help but sigh and bow with his head lowered.

“I’m the most guilty immortal of Jie School. Please forgive me.”