Primordial Era: A man at the mouth of the Guanjiang River marries the Third Holy Mother.

Back then, because of his connection to the demon race, he was ostracized by the Chan Sect. Even the self-righteous Golden Immortals like Guang Chengzi didn't even give him a second glance.

Fortunately, we met Chen Changsheng, the Grand Preceptor of the Shang Dynasty!

Chen Changsheng not only casually gave him a few top-grade elixirs to help him break through his cultivation level, but also directly arranged for him to be a retainer in Chaoge City, enjoying the support of the vast human fortune of the Great Shang Dynasty.

Here, Shen Gongbao could have whatever he wanted, a thousand times more comfortable than being treated coldly in Yuxu Palace!

"The Grand Preceptor's strategies are truly brilliant; the Chan Sect has indeed driven that honest man Jiang Shang down the mountain."

Shen Gongbao casually tossed the fruit pit aside, clapped his hands, and stood up.

The scouts have just brought news that Jiang Ziya has left Kunlun and is heading towards Xiqi.

"The great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods has officially begun."

Shen Gongbao narrowed his eyes, a cold smile creeping onto his face.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable is so biased that he's practically blaming his own backside.

In terms of aptitude, Shen Gongbao far surpassed Jiang Ziya, having already cultivated himself into a celestial being and mastered many Taoist arts.

In terms of intellect, he was ten times more agile than Jiang Ziya.

However, Yuanshi Tianzun handed over the supreme authority to hold the Investiture of the Gods and to bestow divine titles on behalf of Heaven to Jiang Shang, who was not even a celestial being!

On what grounds?

Just because Shen Gongbao is an anomaly who attained enlightenment, while Jiang Ziya is a pure human?

"Old man Yuanshi, do you think that by giving the Investiture of the Gods to Jiang Ziya, Xiqi will have a sure victory?"

Shen Gongbao snorted coldly.

He had personally witnessed the methods of Master Chen!

Chen Changsheng is not only the Heavenly Lord Protector of the Jie Sect and the Heavenly Law Enforcement God of the Heavenly Court, but also wields world-destroying divine weapons such as the God-Slaying Spear and the Eastern Emperor Bell. Furthermore, he has stepped into the invincible level of a half-step Primordial Golden Immortal!

Not to mention the current Emperor Zishou, who, under Chen Changsheng's tutelage, cultivated the "Human Emperor Scripture," making the Great Shang Dynasty's fortune as solid as a rock, and the divine might of the Xuan Bird awe-inspiring throughout the eight wastelands.

The Chan Sect's idea of ​​stepping over the corpses of the Shang Dynasty to achieve deification is simply wishful thinking!

"However... Jiang Ziya was, after all, my fellow disciple."

Shen Gongbao stroked his chin, his eyes darting around.

Back when they were fetching water in the Kunlun Mountains, they shared the same plight and their relationship was passable.

Now that Jiang Ziya has gone to Xiqi and the Wei River to play tricks, I have to go and see how this old fellow disciple makes a fool of himself.

By the way, let's find out just how many trump cards Yuanshi Tianzun gave Jiang Ziya!

"Let's go check out Xiqi!"

Shen Gongbao made up his mind, transformed into a streak of black and white light, silently tore through the void, and headed straight for the Wei River in Xiqi!

The autumn wind is bleak on both banks of the Wei River.

Jiang Ziya had been sitting on the rock for three days and three nights.

Because I hadn't completely stopped fasting, my stomach was growling loudly with hunger.

"Damn it, why hasn't the Marquis of Xibo arrived yet?"

Jiang Ziya rubbed his shrunken belly, cursing inwardly.

"If you don't come soon, I'm going to boil and eat this bamboo pole!"

Just then, a faint magical fluctuation suddenly appeared in the clouds above.

A mocking voice drifted slowly down from mid-air.

"Hey, isn't this Senior Brother Jiang? It's been decades since we last met. How come you've fallen so low as to be fishing here, starving?"

Jiang Ziya was startled and suddenly raised his head.

A Taoist priest dressed in black robes, exuding a powerful aura, descended from the clouds, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Junior Brother Shen Gongbao?!"

When Jiang Ziya saw who it was, his tense old face instantly lit up with joy, and he threw down his fishing rod and jumped up from the rock!

"Junior Brother Shen! It really is you!"

Jiang Ziya strode forward, grabbed Shen Gongbao's sleeve, and his beard trembled with excitement.

During those forty years at the Jade Void Palace of the Chan Sect, those Golden Immortal senior brothers looked down on him as if he were an ant.

Shen Gongbao was the only one who was also disliked because he was born into the demon race. The two of them carried water and swept snow together in the back of Kunlun Mountain and could be considered friends in adversity.

Now, encountering an old acquaintance in the unfamiliar territory of Xiqi, Jiang Ziya felt as if he had met a brother.

"Junior brother, it's been so many years, where have you been?"

Jiang Ziya looked Shen Gongbao up and down, his eyes full of surprise.

"Back then, you left Kunlun Mountain quietly without even leaving a message. I thought something bad had happened to you out there!"

"Look at your current attire! Your magical power has actually advanced to the level of a True Immortal? Where did you strike it rich?"

Jiang Ziya's words were completely straightforward, without a trace of ulterior motive.

Looking at Jiang Ziya's weathered old face and his shabby coarse clothes, Shen Gongbao felt much of his initial hostility dissipate, replaced by deep sympathy.

What a fool who's been sold out and is still helping the seller count the money!

"I wouldn't say I've gotten rich; I've just found a wise ruler and am able to make a living."

Shen Gongbao pulled back his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and snorted coldly.

"As for you, Senior Brother Jiang, I heard you've made great progress in your cultivation and are highly regarded by our master."

Jiang Ziya's face stiffened, and he revealed a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Junior brother, please stop making fun of me."

"You know my aptitude. For forty years, I've only reached the Earth Immortal realm. My master... has already expelled me from Kunlun Mountain."

At this point, Jiang Ziya's eyes reddened slightly, and he sighed heavily.

"My master said that I am not destined to become an immortal and am only fit to enjoy worldly riches. So he sent me to Xiqi to assist the wise ruler and, incidentally... to take charge of the destiny of heaven."

Shen Gongbao's eyes flickered slightly, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"To control destiny? That sounds very appealing."

"Senior brother, tell me honestly, did Master entrust the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Slaying Whip to you?"

Jiang Ziya's heart skipped a beat!

These two treasures are top secrets, and the Primordial Celestial Venerable repeatedly warned that they should not be shown to others lightly.

How could Shen Gongbao know so much?

Jiang Ziya subconsciously pressed his hand on the Qiankun bag at his waist, took a half step back, and looked at Shen Gongbao warily.

"Junior brother, how...how do you know about these two treasures?"

"Hahaha!"

Shen Gongbao laughed loudly, his laughter carrying three parts desolation and seven parts sarcasm.

"How would I know?"

"Jiang Shang, you were wise all your life, but made a foolish mistake this time!"

Shen Gongbao took a step forward, approaching Jiang Ziya with an imposing aura.

"Back in the Kunlun Mountains, I, Shen Gongbao, cultivated diligently day and night. In terms of magical power, Taoist practice, and enlightenment, in which aspect was I not superior to you?"

"Just because I am a leopard spirit in human form, my master doesn't even give me a second glance, and dumps all the dirty and tiring work on the two of us."

"Now that the great calamity of heaven and earth has arrived, someone is needed to go into the mortal world to shield those Golden Immortals from disaster and sacrifice their lives. Master has remembered you!"

Shen Gongbao pointed at the Qiankun bag at Jiang Ziya's waist and began to curse.

"What is the Investiture of the Gods? It's a banner summoning souls! It's a death warrant!"

"What is the God-Slaying Whip? It's a deadly blade that offends all immortals, demons, gods, and Buddhas in the Three Realms!"

"You think these two things falling into the hands of a mere mortal who's not even a celestial being is a tremendous stroke of luck? They're practically putting you on the hottest flames!"

Shen Gongbao's rapid-fire words were like resounding slaps to Jiang Ziya's face.

Jiang Ziya's face turned deathly pale, and he stood frozen in place, his lips trembling violently.

He actually understood these principles vaguely in his heart, but he dared not think about them deeply, much less doubt the intentions of his sage master.

Now that Shen Gongbao had completely torn away this fig leaf, Jiang Ziya felt a chill run through his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"No...no way..."

Jiang Ziya tried to explain weakly, his voice so faint that even he himself didn't believe it.

"Master is a sage of the Heavenly Dao. The Chan Sect is in accordance with the will of Heaven. The Shang Dynasty is destined to perish, and the Zhou Dynasty is destined to rise... Master would never harm me!"

Shen Gongbao looked at Jiang Ziya, who was stubbornly refusing to admit his mistake, and sneered repeatedly.

"To follow the will of Heaven? To perish as the Shang dynasty deserves?"

"Jiang Ziya, open your dog eyes and go take a look at Chaoge City!"

Do you think the Shang Dynasty of today is still the same mortal dynasty that was once at the mercy of others?

Shen Gongbao took a deep breath, a look of genuine awe and fervor appearing on his face.

"Currently, the Imperial Advisor Chen Changsheng is in charge of Chaoge City!"

"The aura of the Black Bird envelops billions of miles of mountains and rivers!"

"The myriad immortals of the Jie Sect will protect and safeguard the Great Shang Dynasty!"

Shen Gongbao stared at Jiang Ziya and questioned him, word by word:

"You're carrying two broken magic weapons, running off to this godforsaken place, Xiqi, to fish? With Xiqi's meager army, what makes you think you can destroy Cheng Tang?!"