Chapter 581: Jiang Ziya Descends the Mountain

Yuxu Palace.

After arranging for the Phoenix to cry at Qishan for Xiqi, Yuanshi Tianzun summoned Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya's head was full of white hair, resembling an old man of the mortal world.

Yet his skin was fair and rosy, his eyes clear and spirited, showing not the slightest sign of old age.

Having cultivated in Yuxu Palace for thirty years, even with his poor aptitude, he possessed the cultivation of an Earth Immortal.

It was just that compared to Daoism, he preferred studying miscellaneous arts in his spare time, such as the Strange Gates, Six Ren, and Taiyi. In particular, the Strange Gates and Hidden Stems contained not only various miraculous arts but also the principles of training troops and governing a country.

Jiang Ziya stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Disciple Jiang Shang pays his respects."

"How many years have you been on Kunlun?"

Yuanshi Tianzun asked indifferently.

He was very dissatisfied with this disciple.

After thirty years of cultivation, he had only just managed to break through to Earth Immortal; it was simply a loss of face for him.

He did not know what he had been thinking back then to have taken him into his sect; he did not cultivate the Dao properly and only knew how to study the arts of the Strange Gates every day, otherwise, he would at least be a Heavenly Immortal by now.

To say Jiang Ziya had poor aptitude was only relative to people like Yunzhongzi and Guangchengzi.

In reality, Jiang Ziya possessed a Heavenly Pride-level Bone Structure, and his comprehension even reached the Heaven Grade Immortal Bone level.

But alas, his heart was not in Daoism, so even if Yuanshi Tianzun tried to spoon-feed him, it would be useless.

Of course, if placed on the Primordial Continent, cultivating to become an immortal in thirty years was already the genius among top geniuses.

But placed in Yuxu Palace, it was a disgrace.

Now that he had decided to support Xiqi, he needed to send a disciple down the mountain to preside over the Investiture of the Gods; it was perfect to let Jiang Ziya go, as it matched his expertise, and it would also serve to banish him from the mountain.

Jiang Ziya said respectfully, "Thanks to Master not abandoning me, I came up the mountain when I was thirty-two, and it has now been thirty years."

Yuanshi Tianzun said, "You were born with a thin fate, and the Immortal Dao is difficult to achieve; you can only enjoy the blessings of the human world.

The days of Cheng Tang are numbered, and the Zhou Dynasty will rise.

You shall act on my behalf, descend the mountain to preside over the Investiture of the Gods, assist a wise ruler, and serve as a general and minister; this will not waste the thirty years of cultivation you spent on the mountain.

This place is also not where you should reside for long; you may pack up and descend the mountain early."

Jiang Ziya was greatly shocked, hurriedly knelt on the ground, and begged, "Master, I do not know what I have done wrong to be expelled from the mountain? I hope Master will tell me, and the disciple will certainly correct it."

"Sigh, you have done nothing wrong; it is just that the matter of the Investiture of the Gods requires someone to preside over it, and it also requires someone to assist a wise ruler to complete the replacement of the Imperial Dynasty. In my entire Chan Sect, only you are the most suitable."

Yuanshi Tianzun sighed.

Although he was skilled in calculations, he had still done his utmost for his disciples.

Even though he did not like Jiang Ziya, he was, after all, his own disciple.

If it were not for the matter of the Investiture of the Gods, letting Jiang Ziya stay in Yuxu Palace would have been fine; the vast Chan Sect would not miss one Jiang Ziya.

"How about this, you descend the mountain to preside over the Investiture of the Gods first. After the Investiture of the Gods is finished, you may return to the mountain."

Jiang Ziya said happily, "Thank you, Master."

"Get up."

Yuanshi said, waving his large hand, and two golden lights fell before Jiang Ziya: "This is the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip. The Investiture of the Gods is a Superior Innate Spiritual Treasure; it can confer titles upon the various gods, suppress the Zhou Tian Star Constellations, and maintain the order of the Primordial Continent.

The God-Beating Whip is a mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

It can strike anyone whose name is on the list, and it possesses miraculous effects.

But for those not on the list, its power is average."

Next, he gave Jiang Ziya many instructions, such as the origin of the Investiture of the Gods, how to conduct the Investiture, and so on.

Jiang Ziya suddenly understood and put away the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip.

He kowtowed three times to Yuanshi Tianzun, then stood up and said, "Taking my leave of Master this time, I will certainly complete the matter of the Investiture of the Gods and not fail Master's expectations."

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly and said, "Mm, go."

Jiang Ziya bowed again, retreated three steps, and then turned to leave.

Walking out of Yuxu Palace and looking at the familiar scenery around him, Jiang Ziya felt a sense of melancholy in his heart.

"Uncle-Master!"

At this moment, Baihe Tongzi walked up.

Jiang Ziya came back to his senses and dared not be negligent: "Nephew-disciple Baihe, is there something the matter?"

Baihe Tongzi said, "Uncle-Master, I remember you are a native of Zhaoge, right? This time when you descend the mountain, are you going home, or are you going straight to Xiqi to assist the wise ruler?"

Jiang Ziya's gaze turned reminiscent: "Naturally, I must go home. Having been on the mountain for thirty years, it is time to go home."

Although he was a lone man, he could not let go of the homesickness for his hometown.

Baihe Tongzi said happily, "That's great. It's like this, I have a sworn brother in Zhaoge named Jia Ren, who lives at XXXX. This time when you go home, I hope you can deliver this letter to him."

As he spoke, he handed over a Jade Slip.

Although he had only spent less than half a day with Jia Ren, he had experienced a level of care he had never felt before.

So much so that even now, he would often think of it.

"Ah~~"

Jiang Ziya was a bit bewildered.

How could Baihe Tongzi have a sworn brother in Zhaoge, and one named Jia Ren (fake person) at that?

He took the Jade Slip and said, "Fine, I will definitely deliver it into his hands."

Baihe Tongzi smiled broadly: "Then many thanks, Uncle-Master. This descent to preside over the Investiture of the Gods is a great merit. Uncle-Master, I will wait for your return on Kunlun Mountain."

"Then I shall accept your auspicious words."

Bidding farewell to Baihe Tongzi, Jiang Ziya went back to pack his luggage and then headed straight down the mountain.

Just as he was about to descend the mountain, someone called out to him again.

"Junior brother, junior brother!"

Jiang Ziya turned his head and saw a middle-aged Daoist wearing a black robe chasing after him.

The person who arrived was none other than Shen Gongbao.

With a single phrase, "Fellow Daoist, please stay your step," he had sent who knows how many people to the list.

"Junior brother, are you heading down the mountain?"

Shen Gongbao asked curiously.

He knew that Jiang Ziya had not once descended the mountain in the thirty years since he had gone up, and with only the cultivation of an Earth Immortal, descending the mountain to travel was no different from seeking death; those newly grown members of the Demon Race might not necessarily know the great name of Yuanshi Tianzun.

At Yuxu Palace, because he was of the Demon Race, he was not liked by Yuanshi Tianzun nor was he welcomed by the other senior brothers; only Jiang Ziya treated him with sincerity, and thus he had a rather good relationship with Jiang Ziya.

"Oh, it is Senior Brother Shen."

Jiang Ziya sighed and said, "Master said that my Immortal Dao is difficult to achieve, so he ordered me to descend the mountain to assist a wise ruler and complete the matter of the Investiture of the Gods."

"Investiture of the Gods?"

Shen Gongbao was puzzled; what was this?

"It is like this..."

Following that, Jiang Ziya recounted the matter of the Investiture of the Gods, and finally sighed, "Descending the mountain is toilsome; how can it compare to the comfort of cultivating in seclusion on the mountain? It is just that I must obey Master's command."

The corners of Shen Gongbao's mouth twitched, and a surge of grief, indignation, and fury welled up for no reason.

Descending the mountain to conduct the Investiture of the Gods was such a momentous task, and completing it would surely grant great merit, yet Jiang Ziya was putting on such an act and showing off in front of him; he had truly misjudged the other man before.

He had originally thought that Jiang Ziya was interacting with him in good faith, but it turned out he was no different from the other senior and junior brothers.

Perhaps his previous closeness was also utterly ridiculous in the other's eyes.

And then there was Master, how unfair!

He asked himself, compared to the other senior brothers, he had only come up the mountain a few hundred thousand years later.

But having cultivated to a Mysterious Immortal in a thousand years, in what way was he inferior to anyone?

Now, it was one thing that he could not compare to the other senior brothers, but for Master to actually entrust such a significant matter as the Investiture of the Gods to this good-for-nothing Jiang Ziya instead of him!