517: Chapter 517 Chaos in Chaoge - Disguised Entry into the World

"Junior Brother, your actions this time were truly reckless. By inadvertently offending the Holy Master, the road ahead will be difficult to tread." Jieyin looked at Zhunti, who was still shaken and ashen-faced before him, his own heart heavy. He had thought it would be a simple matter of going with the flow, but who would have expected King Zhou to be so audacious as to overstep his bounds to this extent.

"Senior Brother, what should we do now? The Holy Master is no ordinary figure; he cannot be deceived, nor can he be brushed aside!"

"Forget it. Since you returned safely, it means the Holy Master has no intention of pursuing this for now. By the way, did you hear anything said?"

"Ah! That's right—the Holy Master sent a voice transmission, demanding an item in exchange. As for what exactly it is, this disciple truly cannot fathom..."

Upon hearing this, Jieyin concentrated and pondered: Of all the treasures in our West, only the Twelve-Grade Lotus Throne and the Five-Direction Flags are the most precious. Could it be that he has his eye on these two? Yet, they are ultimately not innate supreme treasures and are unworthy of the Holy Master's status... Thinking further, there wasn't a single other item worth presenting. He could only hope that the request wouldn't be too outrageous.

The Three Pure Ones were also deeply shaken—the moment this figure appeared, all the gods and immortals held their breath and composed themselves. How could a mere word like "fear" describe it?

"Xuandu, go quickly and invite your two Martial Uncles to come immediately!"

"As you command, Master."

Before the words had faded, Yuanshi and Tongtian had already arrived on clouds, sitting together in Taiqing Heaven, facing Laozi.

"My two virtuous brothers, you must already know that our Martial Uncle has come out of seclusion, and you are surely aware of the recent events. If this matter is handled carelessly, the consequences will be unimaginable."

The two nodded without speaking. While mortals were completely unaware, they could clearly perceive the silent, formless pressure emanating from Jiang Chen that made their primordial spirits tremble—King Zhou truly had the guts of a bear and the courage of a leopard to dare claim he was ordained by Heaven? A single order from the Human Race Ancestral Land would be enough to depose or enthrone a king; what more needed to be said!

"Senior Brother, if this truly angers our Martial Uncle, I fear it will be difficult to resolve."

"Indeed, Eldest Senior Brother. Many of my disciples are currently serving in the Great Shang. If they are implicated in this, I fear their lives will be hard to preserve."

"Tongtian, you must be even more careful on your side. Quickly recall all the elites of your sect and strictly forbid them from descending to the mortal realm. As for the rest, it depends on their own fate—if they still cling to power and assist the tyrant in his evil deeds, do not blame the laws of Heaven for being unforgiving."

Tongtian's face turned livid, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Yet, when he thought of his Martial Uncle's awe-inspiring and inviolable pressure, he finally lowered his eyes and replied: "Very well! I will issue the order immediately upon returning. Anyone who dares to disobey and descend to the mortal realm deserves to die!"

Yuanshi heard this and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly; Laozi also nodded slightly—with this level of resolution, things could be considered secure.

Jiang Chen himself had not expected that his appearance would be like a spring breeze melting ice, quietly healing the almost unhealable rift between the Three Pure Ones—even the Ancestor Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao had not foreseen this.

The city of Zhaoge was already in chaos, with rumors flying everywhere and hearts unsettled. Only King Zhou sat high on his dais, completely oblivious, still arrogant and high-spirited, his mind filled with fantasies of jade towers and celestial maidens, truly believing himself to be the Holy Master ordained by Heaven, indestructible through ten thousand tribulations.

Shang Rong and a group of veteran ministers, however, all looked ashen, their brows knotted in deep concern. They sighed secretly: How will this end? Although the Holy Master has been in seclusion for many years, the incense of the human race has never been cut off. During every great sacrifice, the solemnity of the rituals was sometimes even more grand than those for worshipping Nüwa. Now that the statues have been smashed and the palaces destroyed, leaving only scorched earth and broken beams, how could it not break one's heart and twist one's gut?

"Prime Minister, what path is left for us now? Could the fate of the Great Shang really be destined to end in this short span of time?" An old minister with white hair and beard gripped his sleeves, his voice trembling, a last glimmer of light burning in his eyes, hoping for a turning point.

"A path? There is only one—appease the anger of the Holy Master. You all know in your hearts, what has the human race relied on to survive until today? It is the protection of the Holy Master! Which of the great calamities of Heaven and Earth hasn't been weathered by relying on his name? It is difficult..."

The other veteran ministers bowed their heads in silence, a thousand-catty stone pressing on their hearts. They knew that the gods of the heavens had likely long since perceived this matter; even those deep-rooted supporters in the Human Race Ancestral Land were likely speechless at this moment—who would truly dare to defy the majesty of the Holy Master? That would be inviting their own annihilation.

"Forget it, let us do what we can and listen to the will of Heaven. If it truly reaches the point of no return... we can only say that it is the will of Heaven, the will of Heaven." Shang Rong's voice was low, his back bent even further. This veteran minister, who had served two generations of kings, had never wavered in his loyalty, but now, even his spine was nearly broken by despair.

Everyone looked at one another, their lips moving, yet they could not utter another word. Their gazes swept over the broken walls and ruined remains, and only silent sighs remained, dissipating in the wind.

As the last minister turned and left, the downfall of the Shang Dynasty had quietly entered its countdown.

"Master, you have finally come out of seclusion!"

Three figures moved upon hearing the sound, dropping their tasks and rushing into the Dao Chen Hall as if their feet were barely touching the ground.

Jiang Chen lifted his eyes and swept them over his three disciples, and seeing that their Dao foundations were solid and their auras composed, he could not help but nod in approval. Only Gui Lingzi seemed slightly lacking, stuck at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, having not yet knocked on the door of the Quasi-Saint realm—it was the perfect time to take him out for a journey.

"Hmm. Now that I have come out of seclusion, there is no need for long closures in the future, unless some sudden change occurs. Mei Lingzi, Qing Zhuzi, guard the mountain gate well. Gui Lingzi, come with me to travel, traverse the mountains and rivers, hone your state of mind, and take the opportunity to break through your realm. This time, it should be successful."

Before the words had faded, he had already named Gui Lingzi, and his purpose was stated clearly and plainly.

"Yes, Master! Junior Brother has never stepped out of the Grotto-Heaven; he truly needs to be tempered. Perhaps that final step will land right amidst the smoke and fire of the mortal world." Mei Lingzi responded readily; if he hadn't guarded the human borders back then, how would he have achieved such progress?

Qing Zhuzi did not speak, only nodded gently, his eyes filled with agreement—going out for a walk was, after all, the right path of cultivation.

"Very well, Gui Lingzi, make some preparations. We will set off in half an hour."

"Yes, Master!" Gui Lingzi's heart beat like a drum. Having been in seclusion in the Wuji Grotto-Heaven for many years, sitting in meditation and refining Qi every day, even if he didn't feel the hardship, it was like being trapped in a birdcage for too long, feeling stifled. Now that he could finally spread his wings, how could his blood not surge with excitement?

"By the way, regarding those living beings within the Grotto-Heaven, they have grown up under your care all these years. If any have the opportunity and wish to enter the world, do not hinder them. The Major Thousand Worlds are filled with myriad phenomena; every ant and every blade of grass has its own Dao. Let them bump into things, seek, and live for themselves."

"Yes, Master, this disciple will keep it in mind."

Jiang Chen smiled slightly and said no more, his mind already set.

Before long, Gui Lingzi was packed and ready. Earth Spirit came running over excitedly, nuzzling its head affectionately against his hem, its tail wagging like a windmill, looking completely ingratiating.

Jiang Chen laughed and patted its neck, scolding with a smile: "You good-for-nothing beast, you've been raised so sleek and shiny all these years, you're getting so fat you can barely walk. It's time to take you out to stretch your muscles and bones."

Upon hearing this, Earth Spirit immediately raised its head and neighed, whining and whimpering, acting just like a scolded puppy, yet it stubbornly refused to take human form, preferring to cultivate in this honest, original form.

"Alright, suit yourself. This trip will be a good chance to help you lose some weight—stop howling, even if you howl, you won't escape this errand." Before the words had faded, he pressed his palm against the horse's back and vaulted onto it. Gui Lingzi stepped forward silently, firmly holding the reins, and with every step leaving a mark, they slowly walked out of the mountain gate.

When the Wuji Grotto-Heaven appeared once more between the Heaven and Earth of the Great Wilderness, the soul-shaking phenomena had already subsided, replaced by a hazy realm that seemed both real and illusory—mist swirled like the breathing of a living creature, and the shadows of mountains and lights of water appeared and disappeared, as if they could be touched, yet they were clearly separated by an impassable void. The surrounding living beings held their breath, a burning anticipation welling up in their hearts; they dared not declare it false, yet found it hard to believe it was real.

The moment they stepped out of the Grotto-Heaven, the two men and the horse vanished instantly, leaving no trace, not even a ripple of aura. The onlookers felt their vision blur, as if waking from a dream. They hesitated for a long time, still unable to confirm whether what they had just seen was real or an illusion; many cultivators, eager to try, stepped in only to vanish like clay oxen entering the sea. When they looked back, they had lost their way and, looking around in confusion, found themselves in completely strange mountains, rivers, and cities.

They took a step into the territory of the Great Shang of the human race, but bypassed the Human Race Ancestral Land. Jiang Chen had no intention of using the Ancestral Land to pry open the wheels of history—in his eyes, that sacred place was the final backbone of the human race and a place where the top elites lay dormant; how could he easily reveal his trump card? Only when the crisis of extinction was imminent could it be unsealed, to protect the human race's fire from being extinguished with the utmost composure.

"Master, where... is this?" Gui Lingzi looked around at the blue stone streets and alleys, the wine flags fluttering, so completely different from the tranquility of the Grotto-Heaven, and spoke hesitatingly.

"Hehe, Jiangtang Pass." Jiang Chen laughed heartily, "Let's go, let's go into the city for a stroll! I haven't walked in the mortal world for many years, my bones are almost turning soft. It's time to stretch my muscles and bones and, by the way, learn the current rules of the marketplace." Before the words had faded, his figure swayed slightly, and he had transformed into a middle-aged wandering Daoist in plain clothes and straw sandals. His mount also shed its spiritual light, becoming an old horse with dull fur and a lazy gait, and it even winked at Gui Lingzi.

Gui Lingzi understood immediately, his small body gave a slight shake, and he instantly transformed into a handsome young boy. He patted his sleeves, took the reins, and walked toward the city gate with his head held high and chest out.

The street was bustling with noise, carriages and horses clamoring, appearing even more prosperous than expected. Logically, Li Jing should be guarding this pass at this moment, and indeed, he did not disappoint; the order within the pass was well-maintained, and it was full of the atmosphere of mortal life.

Just as they reached the city gate, Jiang Chen vaulted off the horse, and Gui Lingzi followed obediently, holding the reins, looking up with his little face, appearing innocent and naive.

"Where are you from, Daoist?" Two guards stepped forward, looking them up and down, their tone tinged with a bit of vigilance.

"This poor Daoist is going where he ought to go." Jiang Chen replied with a smile. Gui Lingzi held back a laugh, quietly gripping the reins tighter.

The guards looked at each other, confused. Nowadays, fake Daoists run rampant in the streets, either pretending to be gods and ghosts to swindle incense offerings, or using the names of talismans to cheat and swindle. They had long since trained a pair of sharp eyes; how could they easily let them pass?

Jiang Chen scanned their thoughts, a faint smile appearing in his heart: The craft of piracy had actually taken root as early as the Shang Dynasty, likely even earlier than he had expected. He was not annoyed, and said gently: "To tell you the truth, this poor Daoist wanders the four corners of the earth with no fixed abode; I cannot even say where my next stop will be—I ask for your understanding, kind sirs."

Hearing his frank and straightforward answer, the guards found it difficult to stop him further, so they simply noted their appearance and waved them through.

"Master, isn't this inspection a bit too detailed? And yet they let us go after just a few words?" Gui Lingzi muttered in a low voice.

"Silly boy, human hearts have always been like this—they would rather ask one question too many than let their guard down by one bit. Caution is not cowardice; it is a skill for survival. In the future, when you walk the world, you must also keep this caution in your bosom. Do not charge around just because you have some ability. Intelligence must be tempered with three parts of composure; that is what true cleverness is."

Hearing he was being lectured again, Gui Lingzi immediately drooped his head, twisting the reins with his fingers, not daring to utter a single word in retort.

Just as he was about to offer a few more words of guidance, he suddenly heard a chaotic noise at the city gate. A jujube-red steed shot in like an arrow released from a bow. The guards not only did not stop it, but instead stepped aside to yield the way. Jiang Chen's eyes sharpened, and he pulled Gui Lingzi aside to the street edge, watching as the horse's hooves flew, kicking up a trail of dust and smoke.