My classmates chose martial arts and fantasy, but I chose the prehistoric world.

Meng Chuan learned of Jiang Ziya's arrival in Xiqi on the same day.

He just smiled and took no action.

Life in Chaoge City remained peaceful.

Emperor Xin attended court and governed the country every day. In his spare time, he spent time with Daji and occasionally consulted Meng Chuan about the path of cultivation.

The young king seemed to have completely trusted this mysterious imperial tutor, and would always consult Meng Chuan on important matters of state.

Meng Chuan was quite responsible, offering guidance when necessary and reminders when needed, but never overstepping his bounds.

He was like an outsider, watching the game unfold slowly with detached indifference.

Until this day-

Wen Zhong rushed into the imperial study, his face ashen.

"Your Majesty, Xiqi has rebelled!"

Di Xin paused in his grasp of the vermilion brush, raised his head, and frowned: "What?"

"Ji Fa, son of Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, joined forces with Jiang Ziya to launch a rebellion!"

Wen Zhong slammed a military report onto the table. "They have captured three cities surrounding Xiqi, and the garrison has surrendered without a single resistance!"

Di Xin picked up the military report, quickly glanced through it, and his expression grew increasingly grim.

"What about Ji Chang? Didn't he always pride himself on his loyalty and righteousness?"

"Ji Chang is dead."

Wen Zhong said in a deep voice, "It is said that he died of illness. But I suspect there is more to it than meets the eye. Ji Chang's death is probably related to Jiang Ziya."

Di Xin remained silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Meng Chuan, who was drinking tea in the corner: "What does Teacher think?"

Meng Chuan put down his teacup and said calmly, "The rebellion in Xiqi was to be expected."

"As expected?"

Di Xin was taken aback. "Did you foresee their rebellion, Master?"

"What does Your Majesty believe Jiang Ziya's purpose was in traveling all the way from Kunlun Mountain to Xiqi?"

Meng Chuan stood up, walked to the window, and stood with his hands behind his back. "The great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods has begun, and Xiqi is the chosen pawn. Ji Fa and Jiang Ziya are nothing more than puppets on strings in this great calamity."

Wen Zhong frowned: "What exactly is the 'Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods' that the Imperial Tutor spoke of?"

Meng Chuan turned around, glanced at him, and said calmly, "Grand Tutor, why do you think there are immortals in this world?"

Wen Zhong was taken aback, not understanding why he suddenly asked this question.

"Because the Way of Heaven is incomplete."

Meng Chuan continued speaking to himself, "The Heavenly Way has flaws, and someone needs to fill them. Thus, the Investiture of the Gods came into being—those who died during the great calamity, whether they wanted to or not, would be included in the list and become gods of the Heavenly Court, forever subject to the Heavenly Way."

"And the sacrifice for this great calamity—"

His gaze shifted to Di Xin, "That is the Great Shang."

The imperial study fell into a deathly silence.

Di Xin's face was as pale as paper, and Wen Zhong's fists were clenched so tightly they cracked.

After a long silence, Wen Zhong finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "So, our Great Shang Dynasty is just... a sacrifice in the eyes of those sages?"

"To be precise, they are chess pieces."

Meng Chuan corrected him, "The Shang Dynasty is the chessboard, and the King is the most important piece. As long as the King falls, the Shang Dynasty will be destroyed, and this great calamity can be successfully completed."

"Why should I?!"

Wen Zhong slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups jump. "Our Great Shang Dynasty has been passed down for over six hundred years. Our predecessors have worked diligently to govern the country. Why should we become the victims of those sages' power struggles?!"

"Because of weakness."

Meng Chuan's answer was cold and direct: "Because in the eyes of those sages, the Shang Dynasty was nothing more than a mortal dynasty. What did the lives and deaths of mortals have to do with them?"

Wen Zhong opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

He knew Meng Chuan was telling the truth.

In the eyes of those lofty saints, mortals are indeed like ants.

"teacher……"

Di Xin's voice was somewhat hoarse, "Then what should I do?"

Meng Chuan looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a reassuring power.

"Your Majesty, rest assured."

He said, "I've said it before, as long as I'm here, no one can use you as a pawn."

Even a saint wouldn't do it.

His tone was flat, as if he were stating a trivial matter.

But both Di Xin and Wen Zhong knew that these words carried immense weight.

The news of Xiqi's uprising was like a boulder thrown into a lake, creating ripples.

Within just half a month, the Xiqi army captured twelve cities in succession, advancing with unstoppable momentum.

The merchant armies along the way either surrendered at the mere sight of the enemy or collapsed at the first contact, offering almost no effective resistance.

When the news reached Chaoge, it caused a stir throughout the court and the country.

Some ministers advocated immediately mobilizing a large army to attack, while others suggested sending envoys to offer amnesty. Still others discussed the matter privately.

All of this was because the king favored the wicked concubine, which angered the heavens and the people, leading to war.

Meng Chuan simply scoffed at the last claim.

"Democracy and public resentment?"

He sat on a stone bench in the imperial garden, peeling grapes as he spoke to Daji beside him, "Those people always like to blame others for their incompetence. Even though it was Xiqi that had been plotting this for a long time, they insist on saying it was because you bewitched the king."

Daji lowered her head and whispered, "This concubine dares not."

"What are you afraid of?"

Meng Chuan smiled. "You dare to save even a saint's pawn, what else wouldn't you dare to do?"

Daji's body trembled slightly. She raised her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Imperial Tutor...you knew all along?"

"Know what?"

Meng Chuan popped a grape into his mouth. "You know you were actually sent by Nuwa? You know you were supposed to wreak havoc on the Shang Dynasty, but you disobeyed your orders because you fell in love with Emperor Xin?"

Daji's face turned deathly pale.

She stood up, took two steps back, and said in a trembling voice, "Imperial Tutor...you..."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Meng Chuan waved his hand, gesturing for her to sit down. "I saw through Nuwa's intentions long ago. She sent you to wreak havoc on the Shang Dynasty so that Xiqi could rightfully take its place—but she didn't expect that you would actually fall in love with Di Xin."

Daji bit her lip, her eyes reddening: "This concubine...this concubine has indeed failed Your Majesty's trust. But this concubine truly cannot bear to harm the King..."

"I know."

Meng Chuan interrupted her, "That's why I said you're bold. Daring to disobey the sage's orders is not something an ordinary person can do."

Daji remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt down: "I beg the Imperial Tutor to save the King! My death is not a pity, but the King..."

"stand up."

Meng Chuan frowned. "I don't like people kneeling before me."

Daji paused for a moment, then stood up.

Meng Chuan looked at her, his tone unusually serious: "Don't worry, since I've chosen to stay here, I won't let anything happen to Di Xin. As for Nuwa—if she knows what's good for her, she should pretend nothing happened. If she doesn't…"

He paused, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"I don't mind letting her know what regret is."

Daji stared at him blankly, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her.

She didn't know who this imperial tutor was, but she did know—

When he said those words, the confidence he exuded from the bottom of his heart left her with no room for doubt.