Chapter 653

Looking at the clarification video from Yin Qi and Zhou Ji, Jiang Ziya only felt a buzzing in his head.

How could this be?

Why would Yin Qi know about their top-secret plan, and even use a counter-strategy?

Who exactly leaked the secret?

Or, as Yin Qi said, was it calculated by the National Teacher, Yang Daoren?

In truth, Jiang Ziya no longer cared about these things.

What he truly cared about was the impact brought by Ji Chang's death, and even more so, the impact brought by this incident; the blow to the morale of the Xiqi army was absolutely fatal.

Fortunately, for the sake of easy management during wartime, the soldiers' mobile phones had all been confiscated. Before the soldiers learned the news, he still had enough time to make amends and handle the aftermath.

Taiyi Zhenren did not have much of a reaction; he was merely puzzled.

They had already mobilized their troops, yet such a thing had to happen.

Jiang Ziya put away his phone, looked up, and said heavily: "Senior Brother, I must return to Xiqi. You take my place in guarding this location to prevent a sneak attack from Yin Shang."

Taiyi Zhenren nodded and said: "Mm, go ahead."

………

Xiqi.

Xibo Marquis Mansion.

The ministers were gathered, but the atmosphere was dull and oppressive, completely lacking the high spirits from before the troop mobilization.

After a long while, Jiang Ziya finally said: "Everyone, speak up; what suggestions do you have?"

San Yisheng said in a deep voice: "The matter of the Marquis must absolutely not be leaked. In my view, we can announce that the Marquis is going into seclusion to cultivate, and at the same time hand over state affairs to... um..."

He originally wanted to say Ji Fa, but suddenly remembered that the Heir Apparent, Bo Yikao, was still there.

Although Bo Yikao was disheartened and had no interest in politics due to the matter of cursing Zhou Ji, he was, after all, the legitimate eldest son, and both his talent and character were top-tier.

Unless Bo Yikao explicitly stated he would not contend, the next Xibo Marquis would be him.

Ji Fa secretly gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tight.

"Anything else?"

Jiang Ziya nodded; this was actually his thought as well.

Ji Chang's death could not be exposed, so let Ji Chang go into seclusion; they would talk about it after the Investiture of the Gods war ended.

As for the successor, that would be determined later.

What needed to be done next was how to eliminate the influence of Yin Qi and Zhou Ji's clarification video.

San Yisheng frowned and could not continue.

The others also had their brows tightly furrowed, not knowing what to do.

Jiang Ziya also had a headache. Seeing everyone silent, he could only cast his gaze toward Yin Qi: "Brother Daoist, what do you say?"

Yin Qi said indifferently: "It's very simple. We just insist that the Empress was impersonated by someone, and that the real Empress is already dead. Even if Zhou Ji arrives in Xiqi in person, we will still refuse to admit it.

As long as we don't admit it, the people of the world will hesitate.

In a situation where they cannot distinguish the truth, what follows will be a war of words, but the morale of the army will be stabilized."

"Brilliant!"

Jiang Ziya's eyes lit up.

They only needed a righteous cause for their expedition; why care about anything else?

If I say the Empress is fake, then the Empress is fake; it doesn't matter if others believe it or not.

"The Daoist is wise!"

San Yisheng and the others praised him one after another, their moods easing.

"Then who shall inherit the Marquis title?"

As soon as Xin Jia said this, the scene fell silent once again.

Jiang Ziya still said: "The matter of the Marquis still needs to be told to Bo Yikao; we will discuss this later."

………

Zhaoge.

Imperial Palace.

Zichen Hall, a small court meeting; Shen Gongbao was also in attendance.

Yao Chen reported: "... Xiqi, with Jiang Shang as commander, has mobilized ten million troops, divided into three routes to attack our Yin Shang. The northern route is led by Nangong Kuo as the main general... the southern route is led by Ji Fa as the main general... the central route is personally guarded by Jiang Shang himself...

It is estimated that in half a month, Xiqi's six million troops will all arrive outside Sishui Pass.

In addition, there is one person in the central army who must be taken seriously, and that is Taiyi Zhenren. This person is one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, possessing the cultivation of a late-stage Golden Immortal, as well as the superior innate spiritual treasure, the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover, and the Yin-Yang Sword." If it were in the past, hearing of an enemy at the late Golden Immortal stage, Shang Rong and the others would likely have shown expressions of despair.

But now, they didn't feel much.

Firstly, Yin Shang has the National Teacher, Yang Daoren, guarding it, who recently captured the peak Golden Immortal Jin Ning alive; secondly, Shen Gongbao can also summon experts from all walks of life; a mere Taiyi Zhenren is nothing to fear.

Yin Qi nodded and said: "The Grand Tutor is still in the northern territory, so let the Grand Tutor command the various troops of the northern territory and be responsible for intercepting Nangong Kuo; as for the southern territory, let Huang Feihu lead his troops to intercept them.

As for the central route, I will trouble the two National Teachers.

Later, I will contact the Left National Teacher to go to Sishui Pass to take command.

At the same time, the Military Secretariat will mobilize two million troops, the Martial Hall will dispatch twenty Mysterious Immortals, one hundred Heavenly Immortals, and one thousand Earth Immortals, as well as ten Mysterious Immortal-class warships, one hundred Heavenly Immortal-class warships, and one thousand Earth Immortal-class warships to provide support."

Don't look at the scale of support as large; in reality, compared to Xiqi, Yin Shang is still much weaker.

Of course, this was also intentional on Yin Qi's part.

His goal is the same as Jiang Ziya's: not to defeat the opponent, but to complete the Investiture of the Gods. Therefore, he needs to let Xiqi break through layer after layer of passes, just like in the original story, until they are at the gates of Zhaoge City.

Please... collect 6... 9... books...!

Only then will the Jie Sect have a decisive battle with the Chan Sect, completing the Investiture of the Gods in one stroke.

After the Investiture of the Gods, the Sages will move to the Chaos.

Without the shackles of the Sages, that will be the time for him to truly show his capabilities.

……

After the small court meeting, the ministers dispersed, and Yin Shang's massive war machine began to operate.

Yin Qi sat before the imperial desk and took out a cultivation crystal.

It was precisely the Mosquito Daoist's.

Xiqi had already mobilized its troops, so he no longer needed to hide anything.

This cultivation crystal could be used now.

But who should it be given to?

Originally, Yin Qi wanted to give it to Wen Zhong; with Wen Zhong's merits, he was worthy of enjoying this cultivation crystal.

But in the end, Yin Qi still vetoed it.

Wen Zhong's merits were sufficient, and he was loyal enough, but his loyalty was to Di Yi, and his sincerity was to Yin Shang; moreover, he was a disciple of the Jie Sect. Whether now or in the future, he could never become his true core subordinate.

If Yin Shang and the Jie Sect were to have a conflict in the future, which side would Wen Zhong choose to stand on?

If a person has no long-term worries, they will have immediate troubles.

It is not that Yin Qi is using a villain's heart to measure a gentleman's belly, but human nature truly cannot withstand testing.

Rather than making Wen Zhong feel troubled later, making him uneasy on both sides, it was better to simply remove Wen Zhong from the selection, leaving only Zhang Shaokang, Ding Ce, and Huang Feihu.

In the end, Yin Qi still chose Zhang Shaokang.

Zhang Shaokang managed the Martial Hall and was his most trusted confidant; he also needed Golden Immortal cultivation to control the overall situation.

Thinking of this, he sent a message to Zhang Shaokang.

……

Half an hour later.

"Your Majesty!"

Zhang Shaokang hurried over and bowed in salute.

Yin Qi tossed the cultivation crystal to him and said: "This is a Golden Immortal Pill; taking it will allow you to achieve the Golden Immortal stage."

"Gol... Golden Immortal Pill!"

Zhang Shaokang caught it subconsciously, his whole body trembling, his eyes widening.

He was no longer the Heaven Realm martial artist he once was; naturally, he knew how difficult it was to achieve the Golden Immortal stage. Even among the disciples of the Sages, Golden Immortals were extremely rare.

Yet he never expected that he would one day have such an opportunity!

Yin Qi said warmly: "You are the Hall Master of the Martial Hall, responsible for expanding the territory for our Great Shang. In this process, you will certainly encounter one powerful opponent after another. If you become a Golden Immortal, you will be able to resolve strong enemies in time and control the situation."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Shaokang was moved; countless words of gratitude came to his lips, but only this sentence remained.

He knew that a thousand words could not express his gratitude.

As for where this Golden Immortal Pill came from, he did not need to care. (End of chapter)