Primordial Era: I am a member of the Jie Sect, and I am the God of Literature.

Chapter 196 King Wen led his horse 80,000 paces, promising to ensure the Zhou Dynasty's fate for 80,000 years—a promise from a great sage of military strategy.

"I have recently heard that a great sage of the human race lives on the banks of the Wei River. He has taken in four disciples, and the reputation of his disciples is extremely famous in our Xiqi. Your Excellency has the ambition to conquer the world and look down upon the eight wastelands. You should seek out this sage. If I were to summon him by the king, it would be beneath the dignity of a sage and would not be enough to show that Your Excellency values ​​him. Now that I have come to this place, I should personally visit this sage."

The other ministers also spoke up, prompting Ji Chang to ponder for a moment before replying, "Excellent! Since our land of Xiqi possesses such a wise man, I, the Marquis, shall personally seek him out so that the human race may unify the nine provinces as soon as possible!"

"Your Excellency is wise!" The generals behind him bowed and said upon hearing Ji Chang's words.

They naturally knew perfectly well about this great sage of the human race. They had already inquired about Jiang Ziya's origins from the disciples of the Chan Sect.

However, the other party was so special that even Ji Chang, who was at the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, had to come and visit him in person. This person was likely to be the one to unify the Chan Sect in the future, and would be of great importance to Xiqi's campaign against the Great Shang. Therefore, today's trip to the mountains came about.

As for whether he truly assisted capable ministers, Ji Chang didn't know...

Just as Ji Chang was touring the scenery of the Wei River with his generals, a fisherman came singing.

"By day I sing of the mighty surging waves, by night I gaze at the stars and fish alone. Fishing alone is not as good as the vastness of heaven and earth, and with white hair I look up and down at the ever-growing world."

Ji Chang, who had initially doubted Jiang Ziya's abilities, heard the ballad and felt the influence of the I Ching and the Eight Trigrams appear around him. The Later Heaven Bagua appeared in his hands, and he deduced one heavenly secret after another. Ji Chang couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He glanced at the fisherman and strode over, saying, "Gentlemen, please follow Ji Chang to pay your respects to the great sage!"

"Yes!" Although Xin Jia, San Yisheng and the others did not know what had happened, they couldn't help but hurry up and follow when they saw the Marquis's actions.

Just as Ji Chang was about to reach the place where Jiang Ziya lived in seclusion, San Yisheng stopped him and said, "My lord, in the past, the Earth Emperor of the human race worshipped Chang Sang, the Yellow Emperor worshipped Feng Hou, Xuanyuan worshipped Lao Peng, Tang personally went to Longshan to worship Xiang Zhonghui, and Tai Mao entered Longshan three times to offer great sacrifices to Wenchang to honor the imperial teacher. All of them chose an auspicious day to welcome him as a sign of respect for great sages. If you, my lord, were to worship him rashly today, I fear it would be inappropriate."

San Yisheng, as Ji Chang's confidant, now possesses martial arts cultivation at the peak of martial intent. However, when he inadvertently glanced at the scene inside the room, he realized that Jiang Ziya was definitely a great sage of the human race.

The books and military tactics displayed in the room ignited a passion in San Yisheng, who was also a military general.

There was definitely a reason why he became Ji Chang's confidant. When he saw the Marquis's serious attitude just now, he had a guess. Now that his divine sense had inadvertently witnessed that scene, he immediately understood and stopped Ji Chang.

But was Ji Chang a mere mortal? He was a powerful figure with martial arts skills, on par with the Great Luo Golden Immortals of the Primordial World, and he was also well-versed in various historical records. How could he not know this?

But why did he pretend to forget and even have San Yisheng remind him?

He probably wanted the great human sage inside the house to see how much he valued him...

"Haha, Sanqing's words almost offended the great sage. Listen to my command, three days from now is an auspicious day. We shall bathe and fast to welcome the great sage!" Ji Chang said to the crowd with a look of sudden realization.

"Yes!" Ji Chang then left the Wei River in a hurry without lingering any longer.

Jiang Ziya, who was studying books in the room, was fully aware of this, but his expression remained calm, as if unmoved.

Three days later, Ji Chang sat upright in his imperial carriage, carrying the betrothal gifts, followed by countless officials of Xiqi and thousands of soldiers, all lined up and heading towards the Wei River.

When he arrived at the place where Jiang Ziya lived in seclusion, Wu Ji and Wei Ben had been waiting there for a long time.

Upon seeing that it was King Wen, Ji Chang, in person, the two men were utterly astonished. They hurriedly bowed and said, "Wu Ji and Wei Ben pay their respects to King Wen!"

Clearly, their acting skills were still somewhat immature, but since their teacher had told them that doing this would likely lead to them being promoted to high-ranking positions, the two of them waited there.

"Very well, young generals, there's no need for such formalities. Your talents are worthy of entering Xiqi. How about we appoint you as General Wude and General Huben of Xiqi?" Ji Chang personally helped the two up and said gently.

"Yes, Wu Ji and Wei Ben accept the order. Thank you for your high regard, King Wen!" The two men, who had just received their official positions, were clearly very happy. At the same time, they were also very impressed with their teacher's methods. Although his cultivation level was low, his talent made them admire him at all times.

After receiving their official appointments, the two men took Ji Chang with them to the place where their teacher often went fishing.

When the group arrived at the place where Jiang Ziya was fishing, Ji Chang seemed to be casually observing Jiang Ziya. When he saw Jiang Ziya fishing without a hook, he clearly admired Jiang Ziya's skill even more.

To possess such a state of mind at the level of an Earth Immortal, one is destined for greatness if given the opportunity in the future...

Moreover, Ji Chang keenly sensed the unstoppable wisps of violent blood energy emanating from this place. Even Ji Chang himself felt extremely serious upon sensing this blood energy, which was at least at the high level of martial arts, or even possibly at the peak of martial arts.

However, martial arts have only been passed down through the human race for tens of thousands of years, and those who can reach such a level are probably only the disciples of the Martial Ancestor...

The disciples of the Martial Ancestor, following the orders of the Human Race's Martial Ancestor, would never come to this place without a reason; they have the intention of secretly protecting Jiang Ziya.

The only ones who could inspire the disciples of the Martial Ancestor to do this are probably the sages of the Fire Cloud Cave.

If that's the case, does it mean that this person might be watched over by the human race, or even by the sages of Fire Cloud Cave...?

Ji Chang thought of many things and approached Jiang Ziya with the same status, or even with a little more respect.

"Is the sage happy?" Ji Chang asked with a faint smile as he walked to Jiang Ziya's side, who was fishing.

Upon hearing the voice, Jiang Ziya turned around abruptly and saw that it was Ji Chang. He hurriedly put down the fishing rod in his hand, bowed, and said, "Ziya was unaware of King Wen's arrival and has failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

Ji Chang bowed and helped Jiang Ziya up, saying, "Great sage, why are you doing this? I have been governing Xiqi for a long time and have long admired your name. It is only today that I have the opportunity to visit you. I hope you will forgive me."

Then everyone entered the thatched hut where Jiang Ziya lived. Ji Chang looked around the hut and said, "Now that Ji Chang has come here, I know that a great sage has arrived. Ji Chang wishes to invite the great sage to Xiqi. If we can get the great sage's help, we will be extremely fortunate."

"It's not that Ziya refuses, but Ziya is already nearly eighty years old and no longer fit for the task. If I were to use him, I fear I would fail to live up to King Wen's expectations..." Although Jiang Ziya wanted to maintain his composure, he was aware of his own position and did not insist again and again...

"These words are different. Great sage, you are a man of great wisdom and strategy, a capable minister who can assist in governing the world and assisting the army. How can you see the chaos in the Nine Provinces and the suffering of the people? Now that you have come out of seclusion, it is not only for the sake of our Western Zhou, but also for the fate of our human race," Ji Chang said gently.

Then San Yisheng presented the betrothal gift list, which even surprised Jiang Ziya, a mortal immortal, upon seeing it.

The list includes three mid-grade innate spiritual fruits that can enhance cultivation, a mid-grade acquired spiritual treasure armor, and numerous betrothal gifts, demonstrating that Ji Chang is taking this matter extremely seriously.

Seeing Jiang Ziya's change, San Yisheng pushed the palanquin forward and shouted, "Please, Ziya, get on the palanquin!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya hurriedly shook his head, saying, "I am deeply grateful for King Wen's high regard; how could I possibly continue on this journey!"

When Ji Chang saw that Jiang Ziya truly meant it, he gently addressed the assembled ministers, saying, "Since the great sage is unwilling to ride in the carriage, how about the great sage ride in my carriage? I will personally lead the horse for the great sage."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly tried to refuse. However, Ji Chang forcefully helped Jiang Ziya onto his carriage.

Jiang Ziya was merely an earth immortal, how could he possibly defy Ji Chang? So Jiang Ziya rode in Ji Chang's carriage, with Ji Chang personally leading the horse.

Why did Ji Chang bow in such a posture?

Because he used the Later Heaven Bagua to deduce the secrets of heaven, the secrets of heaven revealed themselves to him. It seemed that as long as he did this, the Zhou dynasty would enjoy a long and prosperous future.

When Ji Chang personally led the horse for 80,000 steps, he seemed to have a premonition.

Jiang Ziya couldn't help but sigh deeply, "I am honored by King Wen's high regard for me. He led my horse for 80,000 steps, and I then risked my life to ensure the Zhou dynasty's survival for 80,000 years. I wonder why King Wen did this."

Upon hearing Jiang Ziya's words, Ji Chang also bowed deeply to Jiang Ziya. Ji Fa and the members of the Ji clan also bowed deeply in return.

"On behalf of future generations, Ji Chang expresses his deepest gratitude to the great sage!" Ji Chang's voice was filled with respect and earnestness.

(End of this chapter)