bookandnovel Chapter 615 Daring to Defeat Even a Sage? Jiang Ziya Refuses to Accept the Investiture of the Gods!
Chapter 615 Daring to Defeat Even a Sage? Jiang Ziya Refuses to Accept the Investiture of the Gods!
Hearing the emotionless words of the Primordial Lord of Heaven, Jiang Ziya felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and the blood in his body almost froze.
Go down the mountain?
To assist Xiqi?
Overthrow the current emperor?
This...this can't be a joke!
Although he chopped firewood in the back mountains of Kunlun for seventy-two years and was isolated from news, it doesn't mean he was a fool!
In this ancient world, who doesn't know what the Shang Dynasty was like?
That was a true golden age of humanity!
Emperor Xin of the present day, bearing the mandate of the Black Bird and wielding the destiny of humanity, possesses overwhelming power, comparable to the ancient emperors!
Not to mention, behind that human emperor stood a terrifying being that made the entire prehistoric world wary!
Xuanming Guardian Heavenly Lord, Heavenly Enforcement God of the Heavenly Court, Grand Preceptor of the Great Shang Dynasty... Chen Changsheng!
This name is now practically a taboo in the primordial world!
The terrifying aura that shook the Three Realms not long ago, and even made the saints take notice, wasn't it emanating from the Fire Cloud Cave?
I heard that it was that National Preceptor Chen who managed to pull the ancient Emperor Xuanyuan out of the prison of Heaven!
Right now, the Yellow Emperor is stationed in Chaoge City!
Why would someone as old and insignificant as me, who isn't even an immortal, be tasked with assisting Xiqi and overthrowing the Shang Dynasty, which is backed by Emperor Xuanyuan and Chen Changsheng?
Isn't this like throwing an egg against a rock?
No, this isn't even like an egg hitting a rock; it's like trying to hit an ancient star with a speck of dust!
They died without even knowing how they died!
"Master! This disciple...this disciple dares not!"
Overwhelmed by immense fear, Jiang Ziya disregarded his saintly dignity and banged his head against the cold ground with a loud "thump," his voice trembling with sobs.
"This disciple only wishes to serve Master in Kunlun Mountain, to devote himself to cultivation, not seeking immortality, but only peace and tranquility! I beg Master to rescind his decree!"
He genuinely didn't want to go.
Going there would be a dead end!
Inside the main hall, there was a deathly silence.
The Twelve Golden Immortals looked at Jiang Ziya kneeling on the ground, pleading desperately, and each of them kept their eyes down, not daring to utter a sound.
They were actually a little skeptical.
Master's decision was indeed...too sudden.
These Great Immortals see the current state of the Shang Dynasty better than anyone else.
That was like the sun at its zenith, like oil being poured on a raging fire!
Especially after the birth of the Human Emperor Xuanyuan, the fortune of the entire human race reached an unprecedented peak.
Under these circumstances, it is hard to believe that the Shang dynasty fell and the Zhou dynasty rose.
"presumptuous!"
Just then, on the cloud bed, the cold voice of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, like thunder from the heavens, exploded!
A terrifying aura of a sage descended with a crash, pressing down firmly on Jiang Ziya.
"puff!"
Jiang Ziya didn't even utter a sound before spitting out a mouthful of blood, his aura instantly weakening to the extreme.
He felt as if his bones were about to be crushed by this oppressive force!
"The Mandate of Heaven is in Zhou; it is predetermined!"
"As a disciple of my Chan Sect, you should naturally act in accordance with Heaven's will and uphold justice on its behalf! How dare you stand here and make excuses?"
The voice of the Primordial Celestial Venerable was filled with an irresistible majesty.
He was burning with rage.
How dare a mere nominal disciple defy my will?
If it weren't for the fact that you are the chosen one to receive the list, I would cast you into the deepest hell right now, never to be reincarnated!
"Master...this disciple..."
Jiang Ziya lay on the ground, panting heavily, his eyes filled with despair.
He knew he had no other choice.
Before a sage, he was not even as insignificant as an ant.
I agreed, even though going down the mountain would be a near-death experience.
If you don't agree, you'll die right now!
Faced with two evils, he had to choose the lesser one and accept his fate.
"Disciple... obeys."
Jiang Ziya used his last bit of strength to squeeze out these three words from between his teeth.
Every word seemed to drain all his energy and spirit.
"snort."
Yuanshi Tianzun snorted coldly before withdrawing that terrifying pressure.
He looked at Jiang Ziya lying on the ground as if he were looking at a lifeless tool, and said indifferently.
"Considering the difficulty of your cultivation, I will give you another three years to prepare."
"Three years from now, you must descend the mountain and go to Xiqi to assist a wise ruler."
"Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"
"Yes... Master."
Jiang Ziya agreed in a trembling voice.
He knew this was the saint's final ultimatum.
"Step down."
Yuanshi Tianzun waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly.
Jiang Ziya felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He struggled to his feet and, without bothering to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, kowtowed three times to Yuanshi Tianzun.
Then, he turned around, dragging his body, which looked decades older, and staggered out of the Jade Void Palace that had suffocated him.
Every step was incredibly heavy.
He knew that his fate had been completely changed from this moment on.
Looking at Jiang Ziya's dejected figure, a cold glint flashed in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes.
He's just a pawn; why should we care about his feelings?
What he really cared about was how to break the trap set up by Chen Changsheng!
And Jiang Ziya was the first piece he placed.
As Jiang Ziya stepped out of Yuxu Palace, the blinding sunlight made it difficult for him to open his eyes.
He glanced back at the magnificent palace shrouded in endless Daoist charm, and all that remained in his heart was bitterness.
This is the sacred land of immortals that he has longed for for seventy-two years.
But now, it has become the cage that determines his tragic fate.
He sighed and prepared to return to the back of the mountain to pack up his meager belongings.
Just then, a voice rang out from behind him.
"Senior Brother Jiang, please wait!"
Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Ziya instinctively turned around.
A Taoist priest dressed in a black robe, with a lean face, a goatee on his chin, and shrewd eyes, was walking briskly toward him.
He recognized the person who came.
Shen Gongbao.
He was a disciple of the Chan Sect around the same time as him.
However, unlike himself, who was dull-witted and could only chop firewood in the back mountain, he was a good-for-nothing.
Although Shen Gongbao was originally just a leopard spirit, he was clever, eloquent, and very good at scheming.
Over the years, he has made a name for himself in Kunlun Mountain, befriending many formal disciples, and his cultivation has long since reached the Celestial Immortal realm.
Normally, Shen Gongbao was arrogant and looked down on people like him who were just menial laborers in the back mountains.
Why would someone greet me first today?
Although Jiang Ziya was puzzled, he stopped and cupped his hands in greeting to the newcomer.
"So it's Junior Brother Shen. May I ask what brings you to my humble abode?"
His voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying a hint of undisguised dejection.
Shen Gongbao strode up to him, his small eyes scanning him up and down.
When he saw the bloodstains at the corner of Jiang Ziya's mouth and his distraught appearance, a subtle, strange glint flashed in his eyes.
A warm smile spread across his face.
"Oh dear, Senior Brother Jiang, what happened to you? How did you get injured?"
He asked, feigning concern.
"Junior brother, I just saw the White Crane Boy from afar, leading you into the Jade Void Palace."
"Senior brother, you've received an incredible stroke of luck! To be personally summoned by the sect leader! I wonder... what did the sage say to you?"
He moved closer to Jiang Ziya, lowered his voice, and asked with a curious expression.
Looking at his gossipy appearance, Jiang Ziya felt a bitter self-mockery rising in his heart.
Opportunity?
What kind of opportunity is this?
This is clearly a death warrant!
He was filled with despair and fear, and had no mood to deal with Shen Gongbao's platitudes.
He simply waved his hand and said listlessly.
"It's nothing. The sage just... just told me to go down the mountain in three years to do a job."
"Oh? Coming down the mountain on business?"
Shen Gongbao's eyes lit up instantly.
A task that can be personally assigned by a sage is definitely no small matter!
What incredible luck did Jiang Ziya have?
A surge of intense jealousy welled up within him.
On what grounds?
Why is it that this old waste who has cultivated for over seventy years and still can't even enter the path of immortality can gain the favor of a sage?
As for myself, I am exceptionally intelligent and have profound cultivation, yet I can only be a nominal disciple and do not even have the qualification to meet the sage.
This is not fair!
The more he thought about it, the more unbalanced he felt.
His eyes darted around, and he continued to press for answers.
"Senior brother, what kind of job is it that makes you look like that?"
"Is it some incredible good news that you're afraid I'll steal your credit?"
There was a hint of sourness in his words.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya raised his head and glanced at him.
He saw undisguised jealousy and resentment in Shen Gongbao's eyes.
A sudden, inexplicable impulse surged within him.
Aren't you jealous?
Don't you think this is a fantastic thing?
it is good!
Then I'll tell you what this "good thing" really is!
He gave a self-deprecating laugh and slowly began to speak.
"Good news? Hehe, yes, it's fantastic news."
"My master instructed me to descend the mountain in three years to assist the ruler of Xiqi in overthrowing the Shang Dynasty."
boom!
These words were like a bolt of lightning from the heavens, striking Shen Gongbao squarely on the head!
He froze instantly.
The jealousy and resentment on his face froze instantly, replaced by a shock and horror that could not be described in words!
What...what did he just hear?
Overthrow the Shang Dynasty?
"Wh...what?"
Shen Gongbao's voice changed completely. He grabbed Jiang Ziya's arm and asked incredulously.
"Senior brother! You...you're not kidding, are you? The Sage wants you to...overthrow the Shang Dynasty?"
Do you think I, a humble Taoist priest, would dare to joke about the decrees of the sages?
Jiang Ziya asked in return, his face expressionless.
Looking at his utterly dejected expression, Shen Gongbao knew that what he said was true.
A chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!
He was completely stunned.
Overthrow the Shang Dynasty?
What a joke!
What kind of entity is Dashang today?
Humanity's fortunes are flourishing like never before!
Emperor Xin of the modern era was a man of great talent and ambition, whose cultivation was unfathomable!
In the imperial court, there were also Wen Zhong, Bi Qian and other disciples of the Jie Sect, as well as great sages of the human race assisting them!
The most deadly thing is that behind the Great Shang Dynasty stand two great gods, Chen Changsheng and Xuanyuan Renhuang!
Chen Changsheng is a fierce man who dares to confront even the schemes of a sage!
That Xuanyuan Emperor was a war god from ancient times who terrified all the gods and demons!
To overthrow such a powerful merchant?
What's the difference between this and deliberately running naked in the center of the Lich Wars?
"Senior brother... this... this..."
Shen Gongbao's lips were trembling. He looked at Jiang Ziya with eyes full of sympathy and... relief.
fortunately!
Fortunately, the sage did not choose me!
His previous jealousy vanished instantly.
Instead, there was a lingering fear of surviving a disaster.
He looked at Jiang Ziya and couldn't help but speak.
"Senior brother, how is the Sect Leader's action any different from sending someone to their death?"
"That Chen Changsheng is not someone to be trifled with."
"Your journey there... is likely to be fraught with peril!"
His words made Jiang Ziya's heart sink even deeper.
Yes, even Shen Gongbao can see it so clearly. Do I have any chance of survival if I go here?
He gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"There's no point in saying more now that things have come to this."
"Junior brother, you'd better watch yourself."
After saying that, he ignored Shen Gongbao and, dragging his heavy steps, slowly walked towards the back mountain.
Only Shen Gongbao remained, standing there with an uncertain expression on his face.
A tidal wave of emotions surged in his mind.
How could a sage do something so contrary to the will of Heaven?
He, the founder of the Chan Sect, was truly going to confront the once-powerful Shang Dynasty and the ruthless Chen Changsheng head-on.
A thought, uncontrollably, sprouted wildly from the depths of his heart.
This is the teaching of Chan Buddhism...
I can't wait any longer!
……
Meanwhile, inside the Jade Void Palace.
As Yuanshi Tianzun watched Jiang Ziya's departing figure, his brows furrowed slightly.
He felt that something was amiss.
Jiang Ziya's cultivation level was far too low.
If he were to preside over the Investiture of the Gods and fight against the disciples of the Intercepting Sect, he would probably be incapable of doing so.
It seems we still need to find him a protective treasure.
The thoughts of the Primordial Celestial Venerable were racing.
Soon, the name of a treasure appeared in his mind.
God-Slaying Whip!
This treasure was bestowed upon Haotian by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun after the sages signed the Investiture of the Gods, as an object to control the power of the immortals in the Three Realms.
This is the most crucial magic weapon in this great undertaking of the Investiture of the Gods!
only……
This treasure is now in Haotian's hands.
However, for the sake of the grand plan of the Chan Sect, it seems that I must personally make a trip to the Heavenly Court.
Yuanshi Tianzun sat on his cloud bed, his face calm, but his heart was not as peaceful as it appeared.
Go to the Heavenly Court and borrow a treasure from Haotian.
This matter made him feel somewhat displeased.
He was a true descendant of Pangu, a sage of the Heavenly Dao, and the leader of the Chan Sect. What an honorable status he held!
And what is Haotian anyway?
He was just one of the two Daoist boys who served the Daoist Ancestor in the Zixiao Palace back then.
If it weren't for the Dao Ancestor's mercy, allowing him to gain an advantage and sit in the position of the Lord of the Three Realms, he wouldn't even have the right to speak to him!
Why should I ask such a "junior" for something?
This is an utter insult to his saintly dignity!
The heart of Yuanshi Tianzun was filled with innate arrogance.
He looked down on the demon race, on those born from eggs and moisture, and similarly, he looked down on Haotian, a "nouveau riche" who had no roots and rose to power through chance.
In his view, the position of the ruler of the three realms should rightfully belong to him, the true descendant of Pangu.
But the Dao Ancestor bestowed this position upon Haotian.
This left a lingering resentment in his heart.
Now, for a mere magical artifact, he has to personally make a trip to see that Daoist boy he has always looked down upon.
How frustrated and resentful Yuanshi Tianzun must have felt!
But he had no choice.
The God-Slaying Whip is extremely important for this great undertaking of the Investiture of the Gods!
Without this treasure, if Jiang Ziya were to descend the mountain, let alone contend with the myriad immortals of the Jie Sect, he probably wouldn't even be able to defeat an ordinary outer disciple of the Jie Sect.
What's the point of bestowing titles upon gods then!