Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

With the Immortal Slaughtering Formation broken, the disciples of the three sects of Xuanmen were overjoyed. That very night, they held a grand military exercise in the city to reward their troops.

During the banquet, the Taoist Ran Deng directly proposed that Jiang Ziya be appointed commander-in-chief at Jintai, leading the army to overthrow Emperor Xin and establish the Western Zhou Dynasty.

Ji Fa naturally wouldn't refuse, and immediately ordered a golden platform to be built in the city. Then, Ji Fa personally bestowed the commander's seal upon Jiang Ziya on the golden platform, appointing Jiang Ziya as the Grand Marshal of the Three Armies.

Just as Jiang Ziya was about to be appointed commander at Jintai, battles broke out at Youhun Pass and Sanshan Pass. However, with Yin Jiao and Yin Hong guarding the two passes, the feudal lords in the southeast were driven into a panic.

Ultimately, it was the arrival of Guang Chengzi and Chi Jingzi that turned the tide of the battle. And just as Youhun Pass and Sanshan Pass were about to be breached, the disciples of the Human Sect finally arrived.

With the help of the disciples of the Human Sect, the advantages of Marquis E Shun of the South and Marquis Jiang Wenhuan of the East vanished instantly.

Even Guang Chengzi and Chi Jingzi were routed by their own disciples. In the end, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong led their troops into battle and captured both Nandu and Donglu in one fell swoop.

Finally, Marquis Jiang Wenhuan of the East and Marquis E Shun of the South, under the protection of Guang Chengzi and Chi Jingzi, led their families to escape to Xiqi.

By this time, the southeastern regions had also been completely subjugated by the Shang Dynasty. Furthermore, new policies were implemented immediately, firmly placing the political power of both regions in the hands of Emperor Xin.

With the pacification of the southeastern regions, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong were finally able to return to the capital in triumph and report to their father, Emperor Xin.

Meanwhile, Wen Zhong had already led his army to Sishui Pass. However, he did not stop at Sishui Pass, but headed directly towards Xiqi City.

Just as Wen Zhong arrived at the Shang army camp outside Xiqi City, the ceremony of assembling the commander at Jintai in Xiqi City had already begun.

Jiang Ziya, clad in golden armor, received the golden command seal from Ji Fa. He then led the army, preparing to resolve the crisis in Xiqi City in one fell swoop.

Just as Jiang Ziya led his disciples from the Xuanmen sect and a million-strong army out of the city, Wen Zhong, having assumed military command, also led his army towards Xiqi City.

When the two armies met on the battlefield, there was no duel between generals. They immediately launched into a fierce battle, a contest of which side had the strongest and most powerful troops.

As for the disciples of the Xuanmen and Daomen sects, they were not idle either, charging back and forth among the army. However, none of them dared to use immortal techniques or Daoist arts, relying solely on their martial arts cultivation.

Even so, it caused enormous casualties on both sides. In the end, both sides reached a tacit agreement to avoid excessive casualties.

That means the Xuanmen disciples will only fight against the Daomen disciples, and the Daomen disciples will not attack the Xiqi army.

Even Jiang Ziya sought out Wen Zhong, and the two engaged in a fierce and earth-shattering battle on the battlefield.

Jiang Ziya's cultivation had been greatly enhanced by the ginseng fruit, making him far more powerful than before. However, he still couldn't gain the slightest advantage against Wen Zhong.

Jiang Ziya's God-Slaying Whip emitted bursts of Daoist energy, protecting himself while also attacking Wen Zhong.

Wen Zhong's twin whips transformed into two dragons, relentlessly attacking Jiang Ziya from mid-air.

For a time, Jiang Ziya and Wen Zhong were evenly matched. It was truly impossible to determine a winner in a short period of time.

Just then, a beam of clear light flew out from Wen Zhong's hand. In mid-air, it transformed into a giant ice and snow dragon and pounced directly towards Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya instinctively assumed that the giant ice dragon must be Wen Zhong's magic weapon. Without hesitation, he unleashed the God-Slaying Whip, but unexpectedly, the dragon changed course in mid-air.

Not only did it dodge the God-Slaying Whip, it even circled around to Jiang Ziya's back. A powerful lash from its dragon tail struck Jiang Ziya's back, instantly killing him.

At this moment, the giant ice dragon had transformed into human form, none other than Ao Bing, the third prince of the East Sea Dragon King. Why Ao Bing flew out of Wen Zhong's grasp was naturally also an arrangement by Jade Cauldron Immortal. The purpose was to achieve an immediate victory.

With Jiang Ziya's death at Ao Bing's hands, the Xiqi army instantly scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing desperately towards the city of Xiqi.

This greatly surprised Daoist Ran Deng, who hurriedly prepared a coffin and placed Jiang Ziya's body inside.

Don't underestimate this coffin; it's the very essence of the Daoist Burning Lamp. It was the first coffin at the beginning of creation.

Therefore, despite the Taoist disciples' frantic attacks on the coffin, they were unable to harm Jiang Ziya's physical body inside. He was thus rescued by the Taoist Ran Deng.

The once high-spirited Xiqi army instantly became demoralized. Even Ji Fa paced back and forth in the room.

Although all the disciples of the Xuanmen sect are now in Xiqi, Jiang Ziya is simply insignificant compared to them.

However, without Jiang Ziya, the connection between Xiqi and Xuanmen would be severed.

Just when Ji Fa was at his wit's end, Shen Gongbao appeared at the perfect moment. He assured Ji Fa that he could do an even better job than Jiang Ziya.

At this point, Ji Fa was desperate and grasping at straws, and Shen Gongbao became his lifeline. He directly appointed Shen Gongbao as the Grand Preceptor and prepared to have him replace Jiang Ziya in commanding the three armies.

This inevitably delighted Shen Gongbao, who immediately bowed to Ji Fa without hesitation, feeling that his moment of glory had finally arrived.

It turns out that Shen Gongbao, who was hiding in the shadows, witnessed Jiang Ziya's death at the hands of Ao Bing. He felt that his opportunity had finally arrived.

After all, with Jiang Ziya dead, Ji Fa was essentially without support. Shen Gongbao seized this opportunity to take advantage of the situation and launch a surprise attack.

Shen Gongbao harbored a deep-seated ambition: to surpass Jiang Ziya and gain Zhen Yuanzi's approval.

Now that he finally has the opportunity, Shen Gongbao naturally wants to make a good impression. As long as his actions surpass those of Jiang Ziya, Zhen Yuanzi will surely change his opinion of him.

Little did they know that at that moment, Jiang Ziya's voice came from outside, "Congratulations, Junior Brother Shen, on becoming the Grand Preceptor of my Western Zhou Dynasty."

Upon suddenly hearing Jiang Ziya's voice, Shen Gongbao froze on the spot. He even muttered to himself.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. I saw with my own eyes that Jiang Ziya's internal organs were shattered by Ao Bing's dragon tail."

"Such severe injuries would leave even the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect severely wounded, if not dead. How could they be like Jiang Ziya, whose injuries healed in the blink of an eye?"

Just as Shen Gongbao was still in a daze, Jiang Ziya stepped in and bowed to Ji Fa first.

Seeing Jiang Ziya on the verge of death, Ji Fa couldn't help but smile. He even completely ignored Shen Gongbao beside him.

He stepped forward and said, "Master, didn't you say you died because of Ao Bing's ambush?"

Jiang Ziya sighed and said, "I am the one chosen by Heaven to bestow the titles of gods, destined to suffer thirty-seven deaths. Today is merely my second death."

(End of this chapter)