Chapter 630: It Is Time to Let Shen Gongbao Make His Entrance

A single "Fellow Daoist, please stay your step" sent so many people onto the Investiture of the Gods.

As Jiang Ziya's old nemesis, since Jiang Ziya had already descended the mountain, there was no reason for Shen Gongbao to still be on Kunlun Mountain.

The fact that the other party had appeared in Zhaoge previously likely meant he was waiting for an opportunity to enter service.

"It is about time to let Shen Gongbao make his entrance."

Yin Qi mused to himself.

Shen Gongbao was waiting for an opportunity, and he was likewise waiting for an opportunity to let Shen Gongbao appear.

"Tap! Tap!"

Outside Zichen Hall, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

Soon, Yao Chen strode in and reported with a grave expression: "Great King, urgent intelligence has arrived from Qingzhou."

Yin Qi raised an eyebrow: "Speak."

Yao Chen said: "An hour ago, the Fengyun Sect received a Talisman Edict from the Holy Mother Nuwa, along with a Space Jade Box. The Space Jade Box contained countless cultivation resources, estimated to be enough to cultivate ten thousand Immortal Dao practitioners.

As for the Talisman Edict, it was the Holy Mother Nuwa urging the Fengyun Sect to invade Youhun Pass.

Then, half an hour ago, the Fengyun Sect received personnel sent by the Holy Mother Nuwa; in addition to the Peak Golden Immortal Jin Ning, there were also ten Mysterious Immortals, two hundred Heavenly Immortals, and one thousand Earth Immortals.

Great King, the Fengyun Sect has already decided that Jin Ning will take action next to behead Ding Ce and the others."

Upon hearing this, Yin Qi's expression sank instantly.

Nuwa had raised the stakes again.

He felt secret resentment in his heart; it was just a poem written to tease her, and it wasn't as if she didn't know someone else was pulling the strings behind the scenes. The fact that she didn't go to settle the score with the person behind it was one thing, but to fixate on him—what was this supposed to be?

You, Nuwa, are the Holy Mother of the Human Race after all.

There is no mother who, upon her children making a mistake, strikes them dead with a single blow.

"Peak Golden Immortal! Hmph!"

Yin Qi snorted coldly.

If not for the fear of Nuwa's retaliation, he would have wanted to go and kill Jin Ning directly.

Yao Chen's expression was heavy, his eyes full of worry as he said: "Great King, according to Jin Ning's intentions, she will take action tomorrow. Ding Ce and the experts of the Martial Hall simply cannot stop her."

Although the Yin Shang has the National Teacher and the Grand Tutor, they are both Mysterious Immortals.

A Peak Golden Immortal is simply too strong.

Yin Qi heard the worry in Yao Chen's heart and said calmly: "No need to worry. To tell you the truth, the National Teacher is also a Golden Immortal. In a one-on-one fight, he might not be a match for Jin Ning, but stopping her is not a major problem. Furthermore, we can be considered to have the Jie Sect standing behind us."

"The National Teacher is actually a Golden Immortal!"

Yao Chen was both surprised and delighted, and he instantly felt much more at ease: "If that is the case, then this subject is relieved."

Yin Qi said: "Continue to keep a close watch on Qingzhou. I will notify the National Teacher later and have him head to Qingyang City to block Jin Ning."

"Yes. Great King, then this subject will take his leave."

Yao Chen bowed, then hurried away.

As the Hall Master of the Tianluo Hall, he was usually even busier than Yin Qi, needing to organize and analyze countless situations.

"Shen Gongbao, your opportunity has arrived."

Yin Qi whispered.

He had previously been thinking about how to lure out Shen Gongbao, and now the opportunity had come.

He could block Jin Ning, but he could not repel the other party, lest he expose himself and attract the attention of the Sages; thus, Shen Gongbao's role became apparent, as he was needed to invite experts from the Jie Sect.

Going to invite them directly would certainly not work.

He prepared to set a bounty; the bounty task would be to repel Jin Ning, with the reward being the position of National Teacher.

However, there was no rush for this bounty; he would wait for the matter to ferment first.

He also wanted to use this opportunity to severely strike at Nuwa's prestige among the Human Race and reclaim the Human Luck that belonged to the Human Race.

Nuwa and Laozi currently enjoyed forty percent and thirty percent of the Human Luck respectively, but this ratio was not set in stone. If the Human Race came to loathe Nuwa and Laozi, their share would continue to decline.

If the Human Race came to completely loathe Nuwa and announced a severance of ties with her, then Nuwa would not be able to enjoy even a shred of Human Luck, and the same would be true for Laozi.

…………

Qingyang City, the former capital of Qingyang State.

Three years ago, Qingzhou rebelled, and Qingyang State was quickly destroyed. Later, Ding Ce led a great army to take the initiative to engage the Qingzhou rebel army, winning three battles in three attempts and successfully recovering Qingyang State.

In the three years that followed, because Ding Ce executed Yin Qi's strategy, he was able to fight the Qingzhou rebel army to a draw, entering a stalemate. This Qingyang City was where Ding Ce's command camp was located.

"Greetings, National Teacher!"

Ding Ce and the other high-ranking generals in the army bowed respectfully one after another.

They had received a document from the Military Affairs Department saying that the Great King had sent the National Teacher to inspect. Although they could not figure out the Great King's intention, they certainly had to receive the National Teacher with seriousness.

As for the matter of Jin Ning's impending attack, they were unaware.

The Tianluo Hall, even within the Yin Shang, was known only to a few high-level officials.

Ding Ce knew, and he also knew the reason for the National Teacher's arrival, but there was no need to tell the other generals about this matter, lest the Tianluo Hall be exposed, thereby leaking information about the secret agents.

Yin Qi nodded faintly and said: "General Ding, you shall accompany this poor Daoist to inspect the city defenses; there is no need for others to follow."

"Yes!"

Everyone acknowledged the order.

……

Zhaoge.

As the lamps were lit at dusk, the Imperial Palace was as bright as day, with Spirit Stone Lamps everywhere.

Kunning Hall.

Yin Qi took out a Substitute Puppet and handed it to Zhou Ji, saying, "My beloved consort, the National Teacher told me that he suddenly had a premonition and calculated that you have been in danger recently, perhaps even facing a threat to your life. Therefore, he specially presented this Substitute Puppet. In a situation of certain death, it can die in your stead, allowing you to escape the calamity."

The Substitute Puppet looked like a crude little figurine.

It was about three inches long and pitch black all over.

This kind of life-saving treasure is not only difficult in its Refining, but its materials are also hard to find.

"A threat to my life!"

Zhou Ji was also startled.

She was, after all, a Heavenly Immortal, and she never left the palace; how could she have a threat to her life?

Unless someone entered the palace to assassinate her.

But even if it were an assassination, the primary target should be Yin Qi.

Thinking of this, she hurriedly said, "Great King, did the National Teacher say anything more specific? I do not even leave the palace, how could I have a threat to my life? You need this Substitute Puppet more."

Yin Qi said solemnly, "I am the Human Emperor; who would dare to harm me? Since the National Teacher has presented the Substitute Puppet, it means this matter is highly likely to be true. Moreover, secret harm does not necessarily require being face-to-face."

Zhou Ji also suddenly came to her senses; killing indeed does not require being face-to-face.

After becoming a Heavenly Immortal, she had read extensively and knew that there were many Secret Techniques that could kill from a distance, such as Witchcraft, curses, and so on.

It was just that she could not figure out who would want to secretly harm her.

However, since it was calculated by the National Teacher, it was better to believe it than not, so she took the Substitute Puppet and said, "Great King, please thank the National Teacher on my behalf."

………

The next day.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The dull and resonant sound of war drums echoed between Heaven and Earth.

A million rebel troops from Qingzhou closed in from the east, south, and north, banners fluttering and warhorses neighing; in the sky, there were also over a dozen Warships, which were actually purchased from Yin Shang.

When the number of people exceeds ten thousand, it is boundless, let alone a million-strong army.

Standing on the city wall and looking out, it felt like an ocean of heads before one's eyes, stretching for over ten miles, divided into different phalanxes, approaching the city wall with heavy and firm footsteps.

The million-strong army was divided into three directions, among which the four hundred thousand in the east was the main direction of attack.

The south and north sides each had three hundred thousand.

As three or four hundred thousand troops approached, a terrifying aura of blood and slaughter surged over, making everyone shudder.

It was fortunate that there were no new recruits left in Qingyang City, otherwise, seeing such a terrifying formation, they would likely be trembling at the knees and wetting their pants.