Chaoge, the heart of the Nine Provinces, the royal city of humanity, where millions of humans converge, is one of the ten great cities in all the myriad worlds.
On this day, outside Chaoge City, a figure appeared on the vast official road. He was clad in a flowing gray robe, his hair unbound, carrying nothing. Yet, upon entering the mortal realm, he was untainted by its impurities, a state only achievable by those in the Great Power realm.
Kong Xuan arrived from the west, his presence ushering in the fortune of the Phoenix Clan. He proceeded directly to the center of the grand royal tripod altar in Chaoge and sat down cross-legged.
At this moment, the skies above Chaoge churned with wind and clouds. A phoenix cry echoed through the heavens as a magnificent giant phoenix unfurled its wings, soaring through the firmament. The fortunes of the eight directions converged, and a golden phoenix appeared, auspicious.
The elders of the human race frowned. They were unwilling to allow foreign races to participate too deeply in the fortune of humanity. However, the newcomer was an ultimate mighty being, and most importantly, he was of the Phoenix Clan.
King Zhou rejoiced. The direct descendant of Yuanfeng had entered Chaoge, and the fortune of one of the three ancient clans had been incorporated. Even though the fortune of the Great Shang was nearing its end, this would extend its national destiny by a hundred Yuanhui.
Even with the opposition from the Chan and Ren Sects, and even the human elders, King Zhou was resolute and would not retreat, suppressing all dissent in the court.
In the past, perhaps he would have hesitated. But since Daji’s arrival, he had used her to feign a foolish ruler, disrupting the court and killing "wise ministers," thereby consolidating his power.
Naturally, Daji's role had diminished considerably; she was, in essence, no longer needed.
With King Zhou’s wisdom, capable of being a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, how could he be a mere foolish ruler ensnared by beauty? Everything had been a performance, a part of his grand plan.
King Zhou stood within the royal city, gazing upon the realm, a smile playing on his lips. While various factions schemed against him, how could he be merely a fool to be manipulated? If he were truly incompetent, how could he have reached the pinnacle of humanity and been hailed as the Human King of all heavens?
In Wa Huang Palace, Nuwa chuckled lightly, "I underestimated this mere Human King. To dare scheme against me."
The Golden Phoenix asked, puzzled, "Your Majesty, even if King Zhou used Daji, how can this be considered scheming?"
"No. This Human King is truly audacious. He has not only schemed against me but also against Yuanshi, who issued the decree for the Investiture of the Gods." Nuwa narrowed her eyes, a cold glint appearing within them. "But the more he is like this, the less this Shang Dynasty can remain. Otherwise, the demon race and all its myriad clans will have no hope of rising!"
The Golden Phoenix inquired, "Should we eliminate Daji to prevent her from being used further?"
Nuwa shook her head, "Such a minor matter does not require our intervention. Someone else will handle it. After all, it is not my Wa Huang Palace that is orchestrating the Investiture of the Gods on behalf of the heavens."
On Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi Tianzun's expression grew grim. To be schemed against by a mere Human King was unprecedented in history.
"Go, summon Yun Zhongzi."
Yun Zhongzi entered Yuxu Palace and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Master."
Yuanshi instructed, "You shall go to Chaoge and eliminate that fox demon."
Yun Zhongzi was taken aback. "But this demon is not under Our Lady Nuwa's command..."
"Fear not," Yuanshi Tianzun replied. "That King Zhou is using this very fact to seize absolute power in the realm, even drawing in the influences of my Chan and Ren Sects within the human race. Ji Chang has already rebelled, but the timing is not yet right, and he has been provoked prematurely. He lacks the celestial timing, the geographical advantage, and even human unity. To speak of conquering Shang and destroying Tang is one thing; even establishing himself would be perilous. You are already a great power. Your journey to Chaoge will not be suppressed by the power of humanity, nor will you be tainted by the mortal karma. You are the most suitable."
Yun Zhongzi respectfully agreed.
Upon leaving Kunlun Mountain, Yun Zhongzi retrieved a primordial spiritual root from his cave, which suppressed the clan's fortune – a branch of the Primordial Gengyun Pine. He forged it into a supreme-grade post-celestial spirit treasure named the Juque Sword, specifically designed to subdue demons and evil.
He then carried his water-and-fire basket and descended into the mortal realm, arriving before Chaoge City.
However, as he was about to enter, he was suppressed by a vast surge of human fortune.
Yun Zhongzi chuckled, "I am a true immortal. Upon entering the mortal realm, how can its essence suppress me?"
A pure jade immortal light manifested above Yun Zhongzi, illuminating the void and dispelling the mortal dust.
He prepared to enter the city once more.
But as he stepped into the city, he looked up and saw a colossal golden phoenix circling in the sky above Chaoge. Its sharp phoenix eyes fixed upon him, and its immense pressure forced him to take several steps back.
Yun Zhongzi took a breath and cupped his hands, "Greetings, Daoist Brother Kong Xuan. Daoist Brother, now that you have attained enlightenment through the fortune of humanity, why do you not depart from the mortal realm and instead linger here?"
On the Central Royal Tripod Altar, Kong Xuan replied indifferently, "I have my own path. Daoist Brother Yun Zhong need not worry. Since you have entered Chaoge, I will not obstruct you. However, within and without Chaoge, immortals and mortals are distinct. Those who enter are mortal, and those who leave are immortal, without exception."
Yun Zhongzi was stunned and slightly displeased. "Daoist Brother Kong Xuan, are you not being a bit too overbearing?"
Kong Xuan offered no further response.
Yun Zhongzi was helpless. If it were in the past, he might have contended with Kong Xuan. But now, Kong Xuan was at the peak of power, while he was merely a great power of heaven and earth. How could he compete?
However, he refused to believe it and still entered the city. He released the three flowers above his head and formed his five vital energies into a jade-xu celestial cloud, bearing the human fortune as he stepped into the city.
Alas, as soon as he entered, a divine light of five colors descended, sealing his primordial spirit and magical powers, rendering him like a mortal.
Yun Zhongzi was dazed for a moment, then sighed in resignation. He proceeded to the royal palace, where, with the help of a minister from the Chan Sect, he met King Zhou, presented the Juque Sword, and hung it on the Feng Gong Tower before departing.
Once the Juque Sword was hung on the tower, it emitted pure jade immortal light, suppressing Daji. Within a single day, Daji was on the verge of death.
King Zhou, fond of his beauty, could offer no cure. In his rage, he berated his servants. Then, he heeded Daji's words and dug out the heart of his uncle, Bi Gan, claiming that a heart with seven apertures would heal her.
Later, he ordered the Juque Sword to be burned. After Daji swallowed the seven-apertured heart, she was fully recovered within three days.
Meanwhile, in the imperial court, King Zhou's authority grew daily, and his officials lived in fear. Even the human elder, Bi Gan, had his heart gouged out and died. At this point, all factions became submissive.
Noble Consort Nangong Su was where Daji resided.
At this very moment, Daji was overjoyed in the palace, laughing with the pipa spirit. "With Bi Gan's heart, not only have I avenged the deaths of our descendants, but my nine-apertured heart is now complete, and I am close to reaching the Grand Unity realm. Once I step into the Grand Unity realm, even the position of Crown Princess Jiang will be within my reach!"
The pipa spirit sighed, "Congratulations, sister. It is a pity that sister Zhi has already returned her soul to the Investiture of the Gods. Otherwise, how wonderful it would be for the three of us to share wine."
Daji's expression grew somber upon hearing this. She then said, "Sister, there may still be opportunities for us."
"What?" The pipa spirit's eyes widened. "The Investiture of the Gods is the manifestation of the will of the Heavenly Dao. How can individuals like us decide its fate?"
Daji smiled and said, "While that is true. The Great Dao has fifty, and the heavens manifest forty-nine. Every living being must have a sliver of hope. Currently, the great disciple of the sage of all beings resides above Chaoge City. His entry into Chaoge represents not only the Phoenix Clan. Although Great Shang exists in defiance of heaven, it may yet unify the territories and conquer Xiqi. At that time, it will naturally be Great Shang that performs the Investiture of the Gods. I know Shen Gongbao; he and Jiang Ziya acted separately, both capable of presiding over the Investiture. If Jiang Ziya dies, it will naturally fall to him. At that time, I will secretly instruct him to release sister Zhi's primordial spirit and recreate her physical form, allowing her to attain freedom!"
The pipa spirit exclaimed, "Is that possible? This involves the saints! Moreover, sister, we are merely pawns. Surviving is already difficult enough..."
"Pawns?" Daji chuckled softly. "What does it matter if we are pawns? Pawns can still overturn the clouds and summon the rain. King Zhou used me to gain supreme power, but have I not also used others' royal fortunes to protect my cultivation?"
As she spoke, Daji reclined gracefully on the couch. A faint smile adorned her peerless beauty, a countenance capable of driving all males in the world to madness, yet she appeared calm and detached. "Others believe us to be pawns, easily manipulated and schemed against. Little do they know, they have been schemed against by me. The Sage of All Beings once said, 'How can ants overturn the heavens?' What then of Daji?"
In Chaoge City, Yun Zhongzi, upon hearing that Daji had not only survived but had also dug out Bi Gan's heart, sighed, "In the end, I came all this way for naught."
He then inscribed a poem on the outer wall of the royal palace before leaving Chaoge and returning to the mountains.
The people of Chaoge City saw the poem, which read:
The miasma of demons fouls the court,
While the sacred virtue spreads in the West.
To know that Chaoge is stained with blood,
Belongs to the Yuan family scion in the Wuwu year.