Chapter 714: Wen Zhong's Death, Offering Strategies in a Dream

One called him "Tai Shi," another "Xing Jun"—these titles only made things feel more distant with each one.

Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back, just behind Wen Zhong, still marveling in his heart. Wen Zhong hadn't even sensed his own aura, yet he was so certain it was him.

What if Tiandao had simply disguised someone else, like "Huang Long"? Wouldn't Wen Zhong fall for it immediately?

This junior had no caution at all.

Li Changshou nodded and walked straight to a chair nearby, sitting down calmly.

"You must have seized this brief moment to come and talk."

"Xing Jun," Wen Zhong bowed with his hands clasped, "I do not know what instructions you have. Now, with the three armies mobilized, we need their commander.

I, Wen Zhong, have come personally to lead the campaign and cannot keep the troops waiting."

"To go and die in vain?"

Li Changshou asked softly.

Wen Zhong paused, then bowed in a Daoist salute, his head lowered. "I bear the king's command, and now I have no choice but to fight with all I have."

"A fight to the end."

Li Changshou smiled and said, "Not even a cup of tea?"

"Xing Jun..."

Wen Zhong hesitated for a moment, then let out a soft sigh and whispered, "Please wait a moment. I'll have my disciple bring some right away."

With that, Wen Zhong went to the tent entrance, murmured a few words to someone outside, summoned Mo Qilin to land in front, and then turned back into the main tent.

Li Changshou smiled as he surveyed the tent's interior, while Wen Zhong stood nearby, unable to fathom why Li Changshou was here, simply waiting.

Outside the camp, the drums thundered like rolling thunder, as the various armies slowly advanced toward the outskirts of Xiqi.

The Shang forces held an absolute numerical advantage, while the Zhou army could only rely on their defensive position.

In the tent, Li Changshou seemed to steer the conversation deliberately, speaking warmly:

"How exactly do you plan to assault Xiqi?"

Wen Zhong pondered briefly and replied respectfully, "Zhou was originally a vassal of Shang, but they have disobeyed the king's orders and harbored wolfish ambitions. They have secretly expanded their military and waged wars against other states, their intent to rebel clear to all.

The king, in his mercy, spared Ji Chang's life, but now..."

A hint of helplessness crossed Li Changshou's expression, and he said coldly, "What you mean is, even if it means exhausting the Shang forces here, you must break through Xiqi—at the very least, wear down the Zhou army and damage their national strength.

Is that right?"

Wen Zhong fell silent, lowering his head with a soft sigh.

"Xing Jun, this old minister is foolish and has no other options."

Li Changshou continued:

"The forces you've assembled mostly come from the northwestern passes of Shang territory, with half being troops from various vassals. Using them to drain Zhou's strength won't cause much harm to Chaoge itself.

It seems you believe that by disrupting Zhou's destiny, even with Chan Jiao immortals supporting them in secret, they won't threaten Chaoge in the short term.

And then, your king-disciple can complete the internal reforms of Shang, correct?"

Wen Zhong sighed softly, his head bowed: "Xing Jun's wisdom was enough to establish the Heavenly Court from nothing, to navigate among the great sage sects and achieve unparalleled fame. But I am merely a disciple of Jie Jiao, a mortal Tai Shi—far from comparable to you."

"This is just an excuse.

Whenever someone admits they're powerless or that's just how they are, it's a form of self-comfort, a common way to evade responsibility."

Li Changshou sighed: "Wen Zhong, you've missed so many opportunities.

I haven't seen any interference from Tiandao in your thoughts, so how did you end up like this?

Do you know how many beings in the Three Realms are cursing you right now? They say you're the one who doomed so many Jie Jiao immortals and dragged the sect into the mortal world's chaos."

"There's no such thing as a perfect solution in this world," Wen Zhong whispered. "I have failed Jie Jiao and my master and ancestors."

"You've only failed yourself."

Li Changshou's voice softened a bit: "What you're doing is just one path that Jie Jiao chose—it's mutual exploitation, that's all.

Do you remember what I said to you back when I was the court historian in Chaoge?"

"Xing Jun's words, I have never forgotten."

"Then why haven't you wised up?"

Li Changshou frowned: "I am a Xing Jun of the Heavenly Court, a disciple of Ren Jiao, and the one in charge of the Fengshen calamity. From the perspectives of heaven and earth, the Daoist sects, and the great tribulation, I must remain neutral.

But back in Chaoge, I deliberately gave you a few hints!

Of course, all within the bounds allowed by Tiandao."

Wen Zhong was full of confusion: "You... what did you point out?"

"The question I asked you most often—think carefully."

"This..."

Wen Zhong pondered for a moment, calculated in his mind, and then said: "It seems to be, 'What should your ideal Shang be like?'"

"That's right—what should your ideal Shang be like?"

Li Changshou sighed lightly: "Back then, I was hinting that you should at least envision a complete future, then use that vision to convince those who share your goals.

But you and Di Xin? You wage wars abroad and rely on brute force, while at home, you use harsh punishments and intimidation.

Di Xin has grand ambitions, but there are so many ambitious people in the world—what good does that do? In the end, it's just all talk and no action!

You shouldn't admire a young man who shouts his ambitions aloud; you should pay attention to those who quietly strive toward theirs.

As Di Xin's teacher, you haven't fulfilled your duties as a mentor.

As a key minister of the human emperor, you haven't offered any real strategies for governance.

As a disciple of Jie Jiao, you've pulled your sect's immortals into the calamity.

Wen Zhong, how do you see your positions as deputy preceptor and Tai Shi? Have you ever truly considered where you want to lead Shang?

What kind of Shang do you want to create?

Reform isn't just for the sake of reforming, nor is it a quick fix for a failing empire.

Do you know why so many nobles in Chaoge fear Di Xin and you, Wen Zhong?

You've never told them what kind of new Shang you're trying to build—you've only made it clear that there's no place for them in it.

Why not try to get them to change? To make them your allies?

For a simple example, you could win over and cultivate the lesser nobles, get them to voluntarily give up some powers, like abandoning practices such as burying slaves alive or hunting them for sport. Then let them push out the greater nobles. Would you even need Di Xin to use harsh punishments to intimidate them?

Stubborn!

Foolish!"

"I..."

Wen Zhong trembled slightly, his old eyes reddening as he sighed deeply, his legs slowly bending until he knelt down with his head bowed.

"Please teach me, Tai Shi—please teach me!"

Li Changshou let out a cold laugh and said, "Do you know why I'm here scolding you today?

Because you're about to die.

This battle today is your end—the Fengshen Tai is already hanging over your head."

"Tai Shi..."

Wen Zhong's voice quivered, his fists clenching involuntarily, but he steadied himself and said firmly: "If the Tai Shi can save the king, I, Wen Zhong, am willing to die today! Willingly, without any resentment!"

"My appearance today means that the situation in heaven and earth has shifted slightly."

Li Changshou leaned back in his chair, speaking earnestly:

"I don't like Di Xin. He's brave but indecisive, not fit to be a human emperor.

But for now, the world needs him to test his strength against destiny.

Not for long—just ten years will do."

As he spoke, Li Changshou tossed a jade talisman in front of Wen Zhong.

"Inside are a few words. Comprehend what you can from them.

After you die, I'll hold back the Fengshen Tai for a moment, giving you a chance to enter Di Xin's dreams.

Use your death to wake him up, and give it one last try.

I won't place any hope in Di Xin, nor will I show any pity for Shang. Today, consider that I was never here."

With that, Li Changshou's figure quietly vanished from the chair.

Wen Zhong looked up, but Li Changshou was gone. He quickly picked up the jade talisman and glanced at it—the words inside were fading rapidly. He hurriedly memorized them.

Once the words disappeared, the talisman turned into a jade pendant, and the surrounding aura of the Dao dissipated with the wind.

Everything felt like a dream.

Or perhaps just his own illusion.

Wen Zhong thought of something, stood up abruptly, crushed the jade pendant in his hand, and tucked the fragments into his storage treasure in his sleeve.

After a moment of contemplation, he digested the words within, then let out a soft breath.

Outside the tent, the sunlight was bright, with specks of dust floating in the air.

Wen Zhong stepped slowly toward the entrance, and around him, faint shadows appeared, showing various scenes.

"In the future, I should call you 'Teacher.' Please guide me often—your disciple Zishou will follow your teachings and be a capable ruler."

"Teacher, watch me lift this cauldron!"

"Teacher, I am so full of hate! The ministers are colluding with the vassals, the nobles are secretly betraying us! Is our ancestors' legacy going to fall apart in my hands?"

"What should I do? Proclaiming myself 'solitary' and 'widowed' won't earn their fear. Who will truly respect me as king?"

"Teacher, how much destiny does Shang have left?"

"Teacher..."

"Teacher..."

"Master, are you alright?"

Wen Zhong snapped out of his trance and looked at his disciple, who had been taught some spells, forcing a kind smile.

"How are the armies prepared?"

"The three armies are ready, formed up in battle array. In one hour, they can engage the Zhou forces directly."

Wen Zhong nodded slowly, took the golden whip offered by a nearby soldier, and mounted Mo Qilin.

"Make the drums louder—they're too faint!"

"Yes!"

In the clouds, Li Changshou's paper effigy sat quietly, conjuring a low table from mist, taking out a pot of special brew from Yaochi, and drinking alone high in the sky.

The world was filled with an air of slaughter, as dark masses of troops seemed to thicken the earth by several feet.

No one knew who started the first shout, but soon bowstrings twanged, chariot wheels rumbled, exotic beasts roared, and horses' hooves thundered. Millions of mortals roared in unison, their bloodlust soaring to the heavens.

The great battle had begun.

Immortals mingled with mortal auras, flying swords claiming lives and treasures flashing brightly.

Warriors with the strength of a thousand horses charged forward, while groups of strongmen swung heavy hammers, sweeping through enemies like crushing dry weeds.

Shang and Zhou, Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao—both sides unleashed their skills in a fierce, evenly matched struggle.

Figures like Wen Zhong, deeply entangled in the mortal world and unable to extricate themselves, disregarded the karma and cast spells to kill.

For no other reason than that they had lost themselves amid cries of "Immortal Master" and "Senior."

Others, like Yang Jian, Nezha, and Lei Zhenzi, focused on battling the Jie Jiao immortals and avoided harming mortals.

Watch Wen Zhong, riding Mo Qilin with a vertical eye on his forehead, his golden whip defeating over a dozen Chan Jiao immortals in succession, on the verge of tearing a gap in the Zhou battle lines.

Suddenly, thunder cracked, and Lei Zhenzi charged from the left, enveloped in lightning, his vajra staff blocking Wen Zhong solidly.

Wen Zhong ignited his primordial spirit and fought recklessly.

The Shang troops' morale soared, and the entire army pressed forward, ignoring the strangeness of the Zhou formations or the sharpness of their traps.

After half a day of fighting, rivers of blood flowed.

At dusk, Xiqi fell.

The Shang soldiers were red-eyed with killing, but the Zhou remnants fought tenaciously, retreating while counter-surrounding the Shang elites near the east gate of Xiqi.

Then, the Shang army's reserves suddenly received Wen Zhong's order and, though puzzled, withdrew directly toward the nearest stronghold.

As they retreated, two more armies arrived from the south and north—it was the allied forces of various vassals, arriving just in time.

In Xiqi, Wen Zhong led the remnants in a desperate fight, his disciples slain and his favored generals dead.

Mo Qilin was shattered by Yang Jian's punch.

The golden whip was knocked away by Nezha's fire-tipped spear.

The divine light from Wen Zhong's vertical eye couldn't penetrate Lei Zhenzi's wind and thunder wings.

The over ten Jie Jiao immortals who rushed to aid were held back by the Chan Jiao immortals, leaving more than ten piles of ashes.

"Wen Zhong!"

Jiang Ziya sat on the back of the four unlike, dressed in white mourning clothes, surrounded by layers of spell-formed guards, holding a wooden whip as he shouted at Wen Zhong:

"You were originally an immortal beyond the secular world—why do you still aid Di Xin in his tyranny?

Now that you're trapped in death's grip, why not lay down your arms and surrender? For your loyalty, your life can be spared!"

"Hmph!"

Wen Zhong snorted coldly, and the few hundred armored soldiers behind him glared angrily at Jiang Ziya.

"You're nothing but a treacherous minister! Where is Huang Feihu? Get out here!"

Jiang Ziya shouted: "You don't recognize the mandate of heaven and remain stubbornly blind! Di Xin is tyrannical, having lost virtue, trust, and heart! Martial King Huang Feihu could no longer endure it and defected to Zhou to serve a true lord—what wrong is there in that?

Or do you not know that Di Xin, in his drunken state, tried to violate Huang Feihu's wife and drove her to jump from a tower?"

"Ha! Ha ha ha!"

Wen Zhong's eyes filled with sorrow. He looked up and cursed:

"The truth of that matter is clear to us immortals!

Di Xin has only a few consorts in his palace—if he were truly lustful, how could it be so?

Huang Feihu!

Have you no shame before the king's favor, or before the title of Martial King on your shoulders?"

"Different paths mean no collaboration."

Jiang Ziya raised his wooden whip, about to strike Wen Zhong.

"Wait!"

A stern voice rang out, followed by the sound of armor. Huang Feihu rode his five-colored divine ox and dismounted, lifting his robe and kneeling on one knee.

"I have failed you, Tai Shi, but I have not failed the king!"

"You traitor!" Wen Zhong cursed in rage.

Huang Feihu cupped his hands, his eyes showing pain as he slowly closed them: "I, Feihu, will see you off, Tai Shi."

Wen Zhong gave a desolate smile, the anger in his eyes fading somewhat. He scanned the Zhou army, gazing at the divine generals and the hidden Chan Jiao immortals among them.

Great calamity, destiny.

"When will this destiny become human destiny?"

Wen Zhong murmured, a sense of peace entering his eyes.

Suddenly, his face twisted in anger, and he lunged forward, striking at Huang Feihu with a palm!

From the side, flames erupted, and a red stone pillar appeared behind Wen Zhong, chains emerging to drag him back forcibly.

The fire dragon spewed flames that shot straight up, making many mortals retreat in fear.

Wen Zhong's body was instantly engulfed in flames, vanishing without a sound, turning to ashes.

A wisp of his remnant soul escaped the flames and fled into the void.

In the clouds, Li Changshou pointed a finger, and Wen Zhong's remnant soul disappeared, causing the Fengshen Tai's power to stall momentarily.

At the same time, in the royal palace of Chaoge.

In layers of pink curtains, Di Xin, who had been sleeping with a beauty in his arms, suddenly broke out in cold sweat on his forehead, his eyes trembling slightly.

"King, King..."

"Tai Shi! Why are you in tattered armor?"

"King, this is a dream.

I, your servant, died today in Xiqi, but you need not grieve too much. I will go to the Fengshen Tai and not truly die—I will merely ascend to the immortal realm.

To make it brief, I have only a moment in this dream to report some strategies for governance!

I have failed my sect and my masters, but I alone do not wish to fail you, King. Please listen carefully and miss not a single word.

First strategy: Take the blame yourself and proclaim throughout Shang that you are examining your own faults.

My death is an opportunity—you can shift all blame onto me, saying I used evil sorcery to mislead you. Now, these harsh punishments no longer deter the vassals and nobles; instead, they give them ammunition to call you unfit.

Second strategy: Unite the people of Shang around you. What we've done so far is far from enough..."

In the dream, Wen Zhong spoke rapidly, yet each word was clear.

The next morning.

Di Xin awoke shouting "Tai Shi" three times, weeping uncontrollably on his bed until he vomited blood and fainted.

In the Fengshen Tai, Wen Zhong stood quietly, staring blankly at the familiar figures around him, all smiling as they watched him. He couldn't help but sigh and bow in a Daoist salute.

"I, the sinful immortal of Jie Jiao, Wen Zhong, come to atone."