Primordial Era: Refusing Hongjun's path to sainthood, I attained the Dao of Hunyuan.

Chapter 164 The Descent of the Spirit Pearl

Meanwhile, in the primordial world, as news of the Investiture of the Gods calamity spread, undercurrents were stirring. After all, the great war between the Lich King and the Demon King in the previous calamity had just ended, and everyone had witnessed how brutal that war was.

But who would have thought that a new great calamity was about to arrive? Suddenly, the whole world was filled with panic, and the peace of the past was gone.

It was also due to the great calamity that the evil aura was pervasive, affecting the karma of all living beings, and gradually igniting the killing intent.

Now, in the Shang Dynasty of the human race, Emperor Xin is currently on the throne. Who is Emperor Xin? Emperor Xin is King Zhou, the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty. However, the so-called "King Zhou" is actually a posthumous title, and it was conferred by King Wu of Zhou.

It means "tyrannical king," and it's easy to imagine that Di Xin would never refer to himself in that way.

Di Xin, whose surname was Zi and given name was Shou, inherited the throne because his mother was the empress. After Di Xin ascended the throne, the country was very prosperous and even expanded its territory. If it were not for the will of Heaven, Di Xin might have continued to be wise and become a great ruler.

Unfortunately……

It is said that in the seven years since Emperor Xin succeeded to the throne, the people lived in peace and prosperity, the weather was favorable, the country was peaceful and prosperous, the barbarians from all directions paid tribute, and the eight directions submitted to the Shang. Four major vassal states led eight hundred minor vassal states to pay tribute to the Shang. They were the Eastern Marquis Jiang Huanchu, the Southern Marquis E Chongyu, the Western Marquis Ji Chang, and the Northern Marquis Chonghouhu. Each of the four major vassal states led two hundred minor vassal states.

In February of that year, Chaoge suddenly received news that Yuan Futong had led the seventy-two princes of Beihai in rebellion.

Emperor Xin convened a court meeting, and after discussion, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong volunteered to lead an expedition against Yuan Futong.

Di Xin didn't take it seriously, thinking it was just a minor matter. After Grand Tutor Wen Zhong left, he would no longer have this former minister who held the golden whip bestowed by the late emperor to look after him, so he could enjoy himself for a while.

However, Wen Zhong's departure unexpectedly triggered a cataclysmic disaster. It was also the inevitable decline of the Shang Dynasty, a consequence of its inherent fate.

Not long after Wen Zhong left that year, it was the birthday of the Goddess Nuwa. At the suggestion of Prime Minister Shang Rong, Emperor Xin went to Nuwa Palace to offer incense.

Then, a very familiar scene unfolded. Yes, it was him again, our little vanguard of the Great Tribulation, the Sage Zhunti.

Through Zhunti's underhanded maneuvering, Di Xin successfully wrote that poem that has amazed humanity for thousands of years:

The phoenix-and-dragon canopy is a magnificent sight, adorned with exquisite gold leaf. Distant mountains rise in verdant hues, while fluttering sleeves reflect the rosy clouds.

Pear blossoms, glistening with rain, vie in their delicate beauty; peonies, shrouded in mist, display their alluring charm. If only such captivating beauty could move freely, she would be brought back to Chang Le Palace to serve the emperor.

Good grief, Xuanhuang, who was secretly watching the show, quickly went offline and pretended to disconnect.

Sure enough, not long after, Nuwa discovered this and was furious. She originally wanted to kill Di Xin directly.

However, after some calculation, it was discovered that this great calamity was crucial for the Shang Dynasty, and that it still had twenty-eight years of good fortune remaining.

But it shouldn't be her doing it. After some thought, Nuwa ordered Fairy Jin Ning to fetch the Demon-Summoning Banner.

This Demon-Summoning Banner is a treasure of the demon race. When the banner is waved, all the demons immediately gather at Nuwa Palace.

Nuwa then selected three demons from Xuanyuan Tomb: a thousand-year-old fox spirit, a nine-headed pheasant spirit, and a jade pipa spirit.

She said to the three demons, "The Shang dynasty is nearing its end and will lose the world. The phoenix cries on Mount Qi, and the Western Zhou has already given birth to a sage ruler. This is the will of Heaven, determined by destiny. You may obey my command, conceal your demonic forms, and hide in the inner palace of the royal court to sow discord in the king's heart. Wait for the Western Zhou to conquer Shang, and you will help them succeed. Remember, you must not harm any living beings. After the deed is done, come back to the Nuwa Palace, and I will grant you the opportunity to attain enlightenment."

Upon hearing this, the three demons quickly agreed and transformed into three wisps of breeze as they departed.

Not long after, the thousand-year-old fox spirit among the three demons took advantage of Emperor Xin's beauty pageant to kill Su Daji, the daughter of Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou, possess her body, and enter the palace. As expected, she was deeply favored and bewitched the emperor.

As a result, Di Xin's original lofty ambitions turned into debauchery and pleasure, gradually destroying the once glorious Shang dynasty.

Moreover, it also implicated countless virtuous and loyal officials, who were either persecuted or forced to flee, and the Shang dynasty gradually crumbled.

Meanwhile, in the Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun, the Jade Pure Sage, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, was silently calculating the secrets of heaven on this day.

However, as the great calamity gradually arises, even for sages, calculating the secrets of heaven is much more difficult than usual.

And as time goes on, it will become increasingly difficult until it becomes completely impossible to predict.

However, now that the great calamity has just begun, even a sage can still calculate many heavenly secrets. Suddenly, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable stopped, but a strange look appeared on his face.

After a while, Yuanshi Tianzun summoned Taiyi Zhenren to see him and instructed him: "Go to Nuwa Palace and ask your aunt Nuwa to tell her, 'The great calamity is about to begin and the conferment of gods is imminent. Originally, there was no cause and effect related to you, but unfortunately, someone interfered and made you take the first step. Therefore, this great calamity will have to start from you. Please send someone to be the vanguard of the Western Zhou's conquest of Shang.'"

Upon hearing this, Taiyi Zhenren accepted the order and left. Yuanshi Tianzun watched Taiyi Zhenren depart and shook his head, muttering to himself, "This great calamity is indeed difficult to endure. During the time of the witches and demons, the various sects and doctrines could not yet flourish, so the witches and demons had to be eliminated first. However, now that the witches and demons have been eliminated, the various sects and doctrines are starting to fight each other again."

The Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Taiyi Zhenren, who had received the decree of Yuanshi Tianzun and went to Nuwa's palace, indeed obtained a spiritual pearl from Nuwa, which he cast into the cycle of reincarnation and was reborn as a human to serve as the vanguard of the Western Zhou's conquest of Shang.

Now, there was a general in Chentang Pass named Li Jing, who had been seeking the Dao and cultivating immortality since childhood. He became a disciple of a Daoist named Du'e Zhenren in Xikunlun.

This Daoist Du'e is no ordinary person. Although he is a rogue cultivator, he is a powerful figure who once listened to the Dao in Zixiao Palace. Moreover, he is one of the few strong individuals who survived the Lich War.

Li Jing learned the Five Elements Escape Technique from the True Man Du'e, but ultimately his aptitude was insufficient, and he could not achieve immortality. Therefore, the True Man Du'e sent him down the mountain to assist the Yin Shang Dynasty. Because of his Taoist skills, his position was not low.

He rose to the rank of General of Chentang Pass and enjoyed worldly riches. His first wife, Lady Yin, bore him two sons; the elder was named Jinzha, and the younger was named Muzha.

Lady Yin became pregnant again, but after three years and six months of pregnancy, she still hadn't given birth. The couple worried day and night, fearing that the baby in her womb was not auspicious.

In the dead of night, Madam Yin was fast asleep when she suddenly dreamed of a Taoist priest with his hair in two buns and dressed in Taoist robes. The priest entered the inner room, placed two objects in Madam Yin's arms, and exclaimed, "Madam, quickly receive the baby!"

Madam Yin was immediately jolted awake, breaking out in a cold sweat. She quickly summoned Li Jing and said, "I just dreamt of a Taoist priest who threw two objects at me."

Before she could finish speaking, Madam Yin felt a pain in her abdomen. Li Jing quickly ordered someone to fetch a midwife. Shortly afterward, Li Jing was in the outer hall when he suddenly saw a burst of red light emanating from the inner room, filling the room with fragrance.

But there was no sound of a baby crying, which made him even more alarmed. At this moment, two maids ran out of the room and cried out in panic, "Master, something terrible has happened! Madam has given birth to a demon!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing immediately grabbed his sword and entered the room. Sure enough, he saw a red mist inside, with a fleshy ball floating in the air, spinning perfectly round like a wheel.

(End of this chapter)