This time, when he went overseas, relying on his glib tongue, he had already become close with many Jie Cult disciples.
After establishing good relations with the Jie Cult disciples, he returned to Great Shang with peace of mind, preparing to make a big splash.
Isn't Jiang Ziya the one who confers gods on behalf of Heaven? Isn't he destined to prosper Zhou and conquer Shang?
He just had to join Great Shang. He wanted to see how Jiang Ziya would prosper Zhou and conquer Shang.
But what he never expected was that after returning to Great Shang, he found that Jiang Ziya had actually become a minister of Great Shang.
Moreover, it is said that Jiang Ziya was a great talent who could make the talent recruitment bell ring, and now he already held a crucial position in Great Shang.
Isn't Jiang Ziya the one who confers gods on behalf of Heaven? Isn't he supposed to prosper Zhou and conquer Shang?
What's the deal with becoming a minister of Great Shang?
Isn't this what he should be doing? How did Jiang Ziya get ahead of him?
No! He had already made all preparations, just waiting to display his grand ambitions in Great Shang.
Now, Jiang Ziya has become a high-ranking official of Great Shang, already one step ahead of him. How can this be?
Therefore, he rushed to Chaoge City and entered the Talent Recruitment Hall.
Since Jiang Ziya could make the talent recruitment bell ring, he naturally couldn't be worse than Jiang Ziya and also had to make the talent recruitment bell ring.
Relying on his own Taoist magic, he was indeed recognized as a great talent, and the ringing of the talent recruitment bell was only natural.
This was nothing to him; his goal was to meet King Zhou and showcase his abilities.
What is Jiang Ziya? This time, he would let King Zhou know that compared to him, Jiang Ziya was nothing.
He arrived at the royal palace with a swagger, and he was actually very curious about King Zhou.
Although he had been overseas, even there, many Disciples discussed King Zhou.
Slaying the deities appointed by the Heavenly Court and personally leading the army to make the Chan Cult Twelve Golden Immortals lose face—these matters were relished by many Jie Cult disciples.
Now, in the eyes of countless people, King Zhou was already a wise and mighty emperor.
King Zhou was not simple; this was already the consensus of many Jie Cult disciples, and he was naturally very curious about how King Zhou was not simple.
After all, according to his Master, King Zhou was without virtue, the Zhou was destined to rise, and prospering Zhou and conquering Shang was the Heavenly Dao.
The current King Zhou was wise and mighty, showing no sign of being without virtue, and Great Shang was even more prosperous.
Although he was somewhat puzzled, he was more excited; didn't this situation mean his Master was wrong?
He misjudged Jiang Ziya, he misjudged him, Shen Gongbao, and even the Deification Ceremony.
With such a mood, Shen Gongbao finally met King Zhou and couldn't help but take a few curious glances.
Compared to Shen Gongbao, King Zhou was much calmer, even though the person in front of him was the famous Shen Gongbao.
That phrase, "Fellow Daoist, please stay," had unknowingly entrapped and killed countless Jie Cult disciples; it could be said to be the number one killing weapon of the Deification Ceremony.
However, no matter how many Jie Cult disciples Shen Gongbao had entrapped and killed, during the Deification Ceremony, he had always worked tirelessly for Great Shang.
For Great Shang, Shen Gongbao widely invited his friends and did his utmost to help Great Shang deal with West Qi, truly dedicating himself wholeheartedly.
From this point alone, Shen Gongbao was a great loyal minister to him.
"Since You can make the talent recruitment bell ring, You must be a great talent. I will not be stingy with rewards, and I hope You will serve Great Shang well in the future!" King Zhou said.
Shen Gongbao probably didn't even know that before he appeared, King Zhou already had plans for him.
He was very clear that if Shen Gongbao could be used well, he would be a great weapon.
Making the best use of things, even if Shen Gongbao himself was not a good demon, it didn't matter much.
"Thank You, Your Majesty. I don't have many other abilities, but I have made many good friends. These people are not only profound in Taoist magic but also have profound cultivation.
If Your Majesty is willing, I will surely be able to persuade these Fellow Daoists to come out and serve our Great Shang!" Shen Gongbao said confidently.
Upon first meeting King Zhou, he was a bit impatient, wanting to quickly demonstrate his abilities and surpass Jiang Ziya.
After much thought, handling state affairs was not his forte. Although his cultivation was impressive, there were many strong individuals in the current Great Shang.
For example, that Yuan Hong, who was actually a peerless Profound Immortal, had made significant contributions in quelling the rebellions of the Marquis.
As a newcomer, to gain King Zhou's attention and quickly establish merit, he couldn't use ordinary methods.
"Love of the Court, what You say is excellent. If all the great talents in the world can be used by me, why should I worry about Great Shang not prospering?" King Zhou said with a smile.
He was waiting for Shen Gongbao's words. In his opinion, Shen Gongbao, Jiang Ziya, and even Yuan Hong were all different.
Although Jiang Ziya's cultivation was not great, he was, after all, a hero who could make Zhou prosper for eight hundred years, and he was definitely a good hand at handling government affairs.
Yuan Hong not only had extremely high personal strength but was also an excellent hand at commanding troops and fighting.
In terms of handling state affairs, Shen Gongbao couldn't compare to Jiang Ziya. In terms of commanding troops and fighting, Shen Gongbao also couldn't compare to Yuan Hong.
But when it came to extensive friendships and eloquence, Jiang Ziya and Yuan Hong combined couldn't compare to Shen Gongbao.
Although Shen Gongbao was only one person, he could bring dozens of strong individuals of Yuan Hong's caliber to him with his glib tongue.
This was Shen Gongbao's role. If all the heroes in the world were under his command, what would he fear from the Buddhas?
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will now go to the Three Mountains and Five Peaks to widely invite my friends; I will surely be able to persuade them to come out!" Shen Gongbao said.
King Zhou's address to him changed from "You" to "Love of the Court," and he naturally knew what this change meant.
This also strengthened his conviction, making him feel that he had made the right gamble this time.
When he returned with his widely invited friends, he would surely make King Zhou look at him with new eyes, and surpassing Jiang Ziya would be just around the corner.
"Since Love of the Court is serving me, You naturally cannot be without a title. I shall confer upon Love of the Court the title of Vice National Preceptor of my Great Shang!" King Zhou said.
In the original plot, Shen Gongbao was the National Preceptor of Great Shang, and it was precisely because of this title that Shen Gongbao was able to invite so many cultivators.
Otherwise, no matter how good the friendship, if there wasn't a reasonable explanation, how would those cultivators believe Shen Gongbao?
However, now it was impossible for Shen Gongbao to become the National Preceptor of Great Shang; he could only be a Vice National Preceptor.
Upon hearing these words, although Shen Gongbao didn't say much, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on his face.
He wanted to be the National Preceptor; why would he want to be a Vice National Preceptor?
He knew, of course, that Great Shang already had a National Preceptor, but he had never heard the name Kong Xuan before, so he probably wasn't a formidable character.
But he was just a newcomer and had not yet achieved any merit, so it was not appropriate to say much at this time.
Once he demonstrated his abilities and achieved great merits, wouldn't the position of National Preceptor be his for the taking?
Thinking of this, after bidding farewell to the king, he eagerly went to invite some friends to come out.
"Issue my order: Tomorrow's grand court assembly, everyone must be present!" King Zhou said.
The deadline for the Three-Year Development Plan had arrived, which meant he had been in this world for three years.
Over three years of development, Great Shang was flourishing, and his cultivation was steadily improving.
The dormant period was over; next, he would unleash his full power, stir up a storm, and turn everything upside down!
Chapter 91: Human Clan Conferring Gods, Fortune Sweeps Ten Thousand Miles!
"In the past three years, our Great Shang has fully implemented the Three-Year Development Plan, focusing on improving the lives of the common people, involving..."
Today's grand court assembly, the king ordered everyone not to be absent, so it was clear that this assembly would be very important.
Many ministers were not surprised by this; they knew how important this grand court assembly was.
It had been exactly three years since the king personally announced the Three-Year Development Plan.
This also meant that the deadline for the Three-Year Development Plan had arrived, and now was the time to inspect the results.
When the king first announced the Three-Year Development Plan, many people were puzzled and even opposed it.
However, due to the king's strong insistence, the Three-Year Development Plan was able to be implemented, but it still caused rebellions among the Marquis.
It was only after the rebellions of the Marquis were quelled that the Three-Year Development Plan was truly implemented and promoted throughout Great Shang.
Now, three years had passed, and many ministers could feel the changes in Great Shang, but it was still difficult to say exactly how.
After all, the ministers only saw the changes in Chaoge City, but very few knew how the entire Great Shang was doing.
Whether the Three-Year Development Plan was more detrimental than beneficial, or more beneficial than detrimental, would be decided today.
As soon as the grand court assembly began, Asia Prime Minister Bi Gan was the first to report, and what he spoke of was indeed the Three-Year Development Plan.
From how the Three-Year Development Plan was implemented, what aspects it involved, and what results it achieved, and so on.
Through Bi Gan's words, the ministers, with their various thoughts, for the first time gained a comprehensive understanding of the Three-Year Development Plan.
As Bi Gan narrated, the ministers, with their various thoughts, quickly forgot everything else, their faces showing only undisguised astonishment.
The ministers in the court were not unfamiliar with the Three-Year Development Plan, but they were often only responsible for a portion of the affairs.
The only ones who could fully grasp the overall situation, besides the King, were Asia Prime Minister Bi Gan.
Many ministers actually knew that the Three-Year Development Plan had achieved good results, but they had not expected it to be so successful.
Yes! In Asia Prime Minister Bi Gan's narration, many ministers learned for the first time that the results of the Three-Year Development Plan were so abundant.
This Three-Year Development Plan involved all aspects and concerned the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of common people.
In Asia Prime Minister Bi Gan's description, with the implementation of the Three-Year Development Plan, the living standards of the Great Shang people had significantly improved.
This alone is enough; when the people are prosperous, the nation is strong. If the living standards of the Great Shang people improve, how can Great Shang not flourish?
This single point is enough to prove that the Three-Year Development Plan is absolutely correct!
What's more, the improvement of the people's living standards is merely one part of the Three-Year Development Plan.
Army construction, mineral exploitation, education promotion, urban construction...
In all aspects of affairs, many Love of the Courts have already seen a Great Shang that is booming.
Among the Love of the Courts, if there was anyone whose mood was the most complex, it was undoubtedly Prime Minister Shang Rong.
Although he was the Prime Minister, the Three-Year Development Plan had nothing to do with him; in fact, he had once strongly opposed the Three-Year Development Plan.
Perhaps it was for this reason that, although he was still the Prime Minister, he had already become a marginalized figure in the court.
The Prime Minister, who originally held an important position in the court, has now become deserted.
Although he seemed to take it in stride, he couldn't help but feel some resentment in his heart, and he had been waiting for this day.
In the face of ironclad facts, You naturally knew he was correct and would realize his importance.
But the truth was so cruel; he never expected that Your Three-Year Development Plan would achieve such incredible results.
His past opposition, in the face of such brilliant achievements, seemed so ridiculous and short-sighted.
"Was I really wrong?" Shang Rong thought to himself.
His heart was full of dejection; Great Shang was developing so vigorously, yet it had nothing to do with him.
Although he was still the Prime Minister, in the face of this surging trend, he no longer had any standing in the court.
It wasn't just Shang Rong; those Love of the Courts who had originally opposed the Three-Year Development Plan now seemed somewhat uneasy.
Whether something is correct or not has nothing to do with the number of people who oppose it, but rather depends on the final outcome.
Now, the results of the Three-Year Development Plan are laid bare, and no one can deny the correctness of this matter.
In this way, anyone who had opposed the Three-Year Development Plan would now appear short-sighted.
On the other hand, those Love of the Courts who had contributed to the implementation of the Three-Year Development Plan all unconsciously puffed out their chests.
However, no matter what thoughts these Love of the Courts had, under the narration of Asia Prime Minister Bi Gan, everyone's gaze unconsciously converged on You.
Everyone was well aware that without Your strong support, the Three-Year Development Plan would never have been implemented.
From the final results, it is undoubtedly Your brilliant foresight that led to today's achievements.
With such a You, why worry about Great Shang not flourishing?
"Good! Although the Three-Year Development Plan still has many shortcomings, it can be considered largely completed. This is all thanks to the collective efforts of all Love of the Courts.
Now my Great Shang is full of vitality and prosperity, but this is only the beginning. All Love of the Courts and You must continue to work hard!" Zi Shou said.
When they first encountered the Three-Year Development Plan, everything was new to the officials of Great Shang.
Although he provided guidance, how things should be done specifically depended entirely on the efforts of Great Shang's officials.
Asia Prime Minister Bi Gan, possessing a seven-aperture exquisite heart, made immense contributions in the process of implementing the Three-Year Development Plan.
Other Love of the Courts, such as Jiang Ziya and others, also made indispensable contributions.
It was through the combined efforts of the officials of Great Shang that, although the Three-Year Development Plan was not perfect, it was basically completed.
Moreover, with this experience, the next Three-Year Plan will be much smoother to implement.
"You are brilliant and mighty, may You live ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" The officials bowed to the ground, shouting in unison.
If, before this, the officials' praises were merely out of courtesy and formality,
after listening to Bi Gan recount the various achievements of the Three-Year Development Plan, these words had become sincere.
No one had forgotten that it was You who defied all opposition and single-handedly pushed for the Three-Year Development Plan, even remaining unperturbed when the Lord of a States rebelled one after another.
If it weren't for Your far-reaching vision, how could there be today's achievements?
Wen Taishi's face was filled with relief; he had once been somewhat uneasy about You, but now it seemed that he had worried too much.
Your brilliance and might had exceeded his expectations; such a You no longer required his concern.
From now on, he only needed to closely follow Your footsteps and silently contribute his strength.
"For the next three years, according to Your wishes, we have formulated a new development plan, including..."
The former Three-Year Development Plan had become a thing of the past. The focus of today's grand court assembly was actually to determine the next Three-Year Development Plan.
Compared to the previous Three-Year Development Plan, this Three-Year Development Plan was undoubtedly more aggressive.
It not only involved all aspects of Great Shang, but many matters were also unheard of, making people listen with trepidation.
But with the results of the Three-Year Development Plan laid bare, at this moment, who would dare to say another word?
You had already proven Your brilliant might with facts. They had worried and questioned once before; were they going to do it again now?
No! If anyone were to object at this time, what else could it prove besides their short-sightedness?
Therefore, when the new Three-Year Development Plan was read out by Asia Prime Minister Bi Gan, no one dared to object.
"For the next three years, I hope all Love of the Courts will strive forward and work with You for the prosperity of Great Shang!
In addition, today You have one more thing to say. This matter is extremely crucial: You want Human Clan Conferring Gods!" Zi Shou said loudly.
As soon as these words were uttered, the entire hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone's gaze converged on Zi Shou.
What did they hear? You wanted Human Clan Conferring Gods?
Great Shang did indeed have deities in the past, but ever since You slew the deities, they had vanished from Great Shang.
However, it was precisely because You personally slew the deities that countless people's views on deities changed.
It turned out that deities were not omnipotent, that deities could also be afraid, and that deities could also die!
When reverence was lessened in their hearts, deities were no longer omnipotent, supreme beings in everyone's minds.
But this was merely a change in their perception of deities; Human Clan Conferring Gods was an entirely different matter.
You could slay deities, which was indeed incredible, but how could You confer gods?
Deities were bestowed by Heaven and possessed immense power. How could their Human Clan confer gods?
"You, absolutely not! Deities are bestowed by Heaven; Your action is going against the heavens!"
Just as the officials were stunned, a person stepped forward; it was Prime Minister Shang Rong of Great Shang.
Originally, after hearing about the various achievements of the Three-Year Development Plan, he was already doubting life.
He never expected it! The Three-Year Development Plan was just the beginning; Human Clan Conferring Gods was the main point.
But how could Human Clan Conferring Gods be possible? He knew how deities came to be; they were conferred by the Heavenly Court.
You wanting Human Clan Conferring Gods, wouldn't that be seizing the authority of the Heavenly Court? What is that if not going against the heavens?
No matter what his stance was, he could not agree to the Deification Ceremony, so he stepped forward without hesitation.
"Is there anyone else who wants to object?" Zi Shou surveyed the officials and said loudly.
He ignored Shang Rong, or rather, Shang Rong's objection was already within his expectations.
What he wanted to know more was how many people among the officials would object to the Deification Ceremony.
What pleased him was that, apart from Shang Rong, no other Love of the Courts stood up to object.
It made sense; it had been three years, and he had long established absolute authority. There were actually very few Love of the Courts who dared to openly oppose him.
Moreover, he had already discussed the Deification Ceremony with Bi Gan and Wen Taishi in advance, so they naturally wouldn't object at this time.
And since important Love of the Courts like Bi Gan and Wen Taishi didn't object, even fewer people dared to object at this moment.
"Love of the Court, You are old; why not retire and return to your hometown?" Zi Shou said, looking at Shang Rong.
He had kept Shang Rong before simply because Shang Rong was, after all, the Prime Minister and held considerable prestige in the court.
But three years had passed, and with his current prestige, he no longer needed to care about Prime Minister Shang Rong.
Moreover, looking at the reactions of the Love of the Courts at this moment, one could tell that Shang Rong had long lost popular support.
Retiring to his hometown was the last bit of dignity he was giving Shang Rong; it was up to Shang Rong himself to be sensible.
"You? This absolutely cannot..."
Shang Rong wanted to say something more, but upon seeing Your icy cold gaze, he immediately couldn't utter another word.
How could he not know that if he continued to speak, death would await him?
Only fear remained in his heart. Under the gaze of the Love of the Courts, he could only kneel to the ground and accept the decree with gratitude.
Zi Shou's face was full of disdain. Shang Rong prided himself on being a loyal official, but when faced with death, didn't he chicken out?
Or rather, Shang Rong's stance was inherently flawed, and contending with him at this moment was already a matter of a guilty conscience.
"Human Clan Conferring Gods includes all famous mountains and great rivers within the Great Shang territory, with mountain gods, water gods, earth gods, city gods..."
His desire for Human Clan Conferring Gods was not a recent one. With the preparations made by Wen Taishi and others, a preliminary plan had already been determined.
Today, at this grand court assembly, he personally announced the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan that had long been prepared.
At this moment, his identity was not merely the King of Great Shang, but also the Emperor of the Human Clan.
As the Human Emperor, condensing the Human Clan Luck, his words carried the weight of Heaven's decree; what he said at this moment represented the will of humanity.
At this moment, within the Human Emperor's Spirit Hall, the qi luck torch blazed fiercely, and the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon soared into the sky.
Ordinary people could not see it, but those with cultivation, like Grand Tutor Wen, could feel the anomaly on King Zhou.
On King Zhou, the Human Clan Luck fire burned fiercely, and a clear dragon's roar resounded.
The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, bathed in flames, soared into the sky, rushed out of the main hall, and appeared above Chaoge City.
At this moment, the Human Clan Luck gathered on King Zhou, sweeping across a hundred thousand miles, shaking the entire world.
At this moment, countless powerful individuals were startled; they felt an inexplicable change and simultaneously focused their gaze on Chaoge.
In the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor Hao Tian's expression changed drastically, and his gaze pierced through the void, looking towards Chaoge City.
Outside the Thirty-Third Heaven, the Taiqing Saint opened his eyes, but after a glance, he closed them again.
In Yu Xu Palace on Kunlun Mountain, the Saint Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning opened his eyes, which had been silent for eons, and saw everything happening in Chaoge City.
In Biyou Palace on Jinbie Island, a hint of surprise appeared on the face of the Saint Tongtian Cult Master, and he also looked towards Chaoge City.
In the Lingshan Holy Land in the West, the two Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, exchanged glances; their originally sorrowful faces were now replaced by shock.
Also outside the Thirty-Third Heaven, in Wa Huang Palace, a slight smile appeared on Nüwa's face.
"Such a Human Emperor, such a Human Clan, truly interesting!" A pleasant voice echoed in the empty Wa Huang Palace.
Just as countless gazes converged on Chaoge City, the Human Clan Luck swept across a hundred thousand miles, spreading throughout the entire Great Shang territory.
The Human Clan Luck fire burned fiercely, bright like a great sun, and a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon coiled above the Nine Heavens.
At this moment, the Human Clan gathered, its Luck so prosperous, its aura so magnificent, even Saints had to take notice!
Chapter 92: Luck skyrockets, gathering of forces!
When a Saint is born, there are myriad celestial phenomena, either purple qi coming from the east for thirty thousand miles, or golden lotuses falling from the sky, all drawing the world's attention.
But even the phenomena at the birth of a Saint were far inferior to the Human Clan Luck at this moment.
That Human Clan Luck, bright like a great sun, that fiercely burning qi luck torch, even Saints had to be wary of it.
Moreover, at this moment, it was not just how prosperous the Human Clan Luck was, but what was happening at this time.
What on earth happened to make the Human Clan Luck so turbulent?
Furthermore, the most powerful individuals in the world could feel that the Human Clan's Luck was increasing at an exaggerated rate.
Originally, the Human Clan's Luck was already incredibly prosperous, bright like a great sun, and now it was still increasing?
Such a Human Clan, such Luck, even the Buddhas, even the Saints, had to take notice.
King Zhou was unaware of the outside attention, but even if he knew, he would not care.
At this moment, for him, the Human Clan Conferring Gods was of paramount importance.
Today, in this imperial court, he was not merely announcing the Deification Ceremony to his ministers.
As the Human Emperor, condensing the Human Clan Luck, his words carrying the weight of heaven's decrees, he was proclaiming this matter to heaven and earth.
Had it not been for the qi luck torch's transformation, which allowed him to control the ability of 'Heaven and Earth United in Power,' he would not have been able to achieve such a degree.
With Heaven and Earth United in Power, wherever the Great Shang territory extended, there lay the Human Emperor's authority, and the power of heaven and earth converged upon him alone.
That was why he could make the Human Clan Luck condense, the qi luck torch burn fiercely, and even have his words carry the weight of heaven's decrees.
"Those who have made outstanding contributions to You Human Clan can all be conferred as Gods, enjoy the Human Clan Luck and incense, wield the power of deities, and live as long as the Great Shang..."
How to confer gods was not really a difficult problem for him.
The Human Clan Luck was so prosperous that it should have deterred the Buddhas from acting recklessly, but there were no individuals within the Human Clan who wielded this Luck.
But after the qi luck torch's transformation, he, as the Human Emperor, could now initially control the Human Clan Luck.
With the vast Human Clan Luck as a Foundation, shaping golden bodies with incense and transforming authority with Luck, conferring deities was effortless.
What he needed to consider was whether only the Human Clan could be conferred as Gods, and which members of the Human Clan were qualified to be conferred as Gods.
After discussions with Grand Tutor Wen and others, he finally decided that not only the Human Clan could be conferred as Gods.
Although 'non-You race, their hearts must be different,' the Human Clan needed the magnanimity to embrace all to develop.
For example, Yuan Hong, originally of the demon clan, served the Great Shang and made significant contributions; should he not be conferred as a God?
In addition, how these conferred Gods should be managed, and what rights and obligations they would have, also needed to be considered.
Although it was the Human Clan Conferring Gods, what was being conferred were still Gods, possessing the same authority as the Gods conferred by the Heavenly Court.
The Human Clan Conferring Gods was to help the Human Clan develop better; he did not want to create a group of "Gods" who would lord over ordinary people.
The Human Clan Conferring Gods was just the beginning; how to further develop the Human Clan after the Human Clan Conferring Gods was the top priority.
Therefore, after his discussions with Grand Tutor Wen and others, the standard for the Human Clan Conferring Gods was based entirely on contributions to the Human Clan.
If one made outstanding contributions to the Human Clan, whether an ordinary person, a cultivator, or an alien race, they could all be conferred as Gods.
After being conferred as Gods, they would receive the protection of the Human Clan Luck, enjoy Human Clan incense, and forge an indestructible golden body!
As long as the Great Shang existed for a day, and as long as the Human Clan Luck remained prosperous, these conferred Gods could live forever.
Do not underestimate this point; even for cultivators, this was a huge temptation!
Although after becoming an Immortal, there were no more Lifespan restrictions, Immortals were not Immortal and indestructible.
On the contrary, Immortals also faced three calamities and nine disasters, and even Golden Immortals faced the five decays of heaven and man, as well as various tribulations.
However, the Human Clan Conferring Gods allowed one to enjoy the protection of the Human Clan Luck; with prosperous Human Clan Luck, one could be free from all tribulations!
Given the Human Clan's current prosperity and its role as the protagonist of heaven and earth, it was not easy to weaken the Human Clan Luck.
Precisely because of this, while the Human Clan Conferring Gods might not appeal to top-tier powerful individuals, it held immense appeal for ordinary cultivators.
Especially those cultivators with less talent who could only Cultivate to the Heavenly Immortal or even Profound Immortal realm and could not advance further.
And for ordinary people, this was undoubtedly a supreme Opportunity to ascend to heaven in one step!
Just immortality alone was an irresistible temptation for ordinary Human Clan members.
As King Zhou's resonant voice spoke, the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan was not only heard by his ministers but also by countless top-tier powerful individuals.
Even King Zhou himself did not expect that his actions would attract so much attention.
After all, he had not yet officially carried out the Human Clan Conferring Gods; he had only announced the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan.
But for the top-tier powerful individuals in heaven and earth, it was entirely different.
In the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor Hao Tian frowned deeply, sneering repeatedly, his face filled with an eternal chill.
"A mere King Zhou, daring to attempt the Human Clan Conferring Gods? If You succeed, what am I? What is the Heavenly Court?"
The Jade Emperor Hao Tian's voice was filled with terrifying killing intent; he had never imagined that his concession would lead to such a result.
Originally, he had intended to wait until the Deification Ceremony began to settle accounts with King Zhou, but now it seemed he could not wait.
He immediately summoned all the Heavenly Court ministers to the Lingxiao Palace; he wanted to deal with King Zhou now, without a moment's delay.
This was no longer a matter of tolerance; he had to stop the Human Clan Conferring Gods.
After all, conferring Gods was the Heavenly Court's authority, the Foundation upon which the Heavenly Court survived.
If the Human Clan Conferring Gods succeeded, then what would the Heavenly Court be?
Even, to think more extremely, if the Human Clan could also confer Gods, would the Heavenly Court still have any value in existing?
Would there come a day when the Human Clan would replace the Heavenly Court, and his position as Jade Emperor would become the Human Emperor's?
Unacceptable! He would never allow such a thing to happen! Not even if there was only a slight possibility!
Thinking of this, the Jade Emperor Hao Tian's killing intent was fully revealed; no matter what method he used, King Zhou must die!
In Yu Xu Palace on Kunlun Mountain, the Saint Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning also heard the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan, but there was no expression on his face.
"King Zhou is without virtue, Zhou is destined to rise; Teacher's words cannot be wrong, but what about this situation now?"
No one knew that Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning, who usually sat high in the Nine Heavens, looking down on all beings, was now in self-doubt.
The Human Clan Conferring Gods had nothing to do with him, and he would not care about a few Human Clan Gods, but he had to pay attention to King Zhou.
After all, which Chan School Disciple did not know that he, the Saint, had said that the Deification Ceremony was set, King Zhou was without virtue, and Zhou was destined to rise.
Could King Zhou, who could confer Gods on the Human Clan, be an unvirtuous monarch?
Would King Zhou, who could confer Gods on the Human Clan, be replaced by Zhou?
Not to mention those Chan School Disciples did not believe it, even he, the Saint, could not help but have doubts in his heart at this moment.
If the Great Shang's Luck was prosperous and the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan was launched, how would their Chan School carry out the Deification Ceremony?
If they could not confer Gods, would all their preparations, all the Chan School's preparations, not become a joke?
Thinking of this, even though he was a Saint unmoved by external matters, ripples could not help but arise in his heart.
On this day, the golden bell in Yu Xu Palace rang, an extremely rare occurrence.
When the Yu Xu golden bell rang, all Chan School Disciples, no matter where they were at the moment, had to return to Yu Xu Palace.
Because this was the signal for the Saint Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning to summon the Chan School disciples; which Chan School Disciple would dare not come?
Even Jiang Ziya, who was in Chaoge City, could only obediently return to Yu Xu Palace when he heard the sound of the golden bell.
In Biyou Palace on Jinbie Island, Sage Tongtian, the Sect Master, looked at You with a smile, growing more satisfied the more he looked.
"Good! The Great Dao has fifty, and the Heavenly Dao has forty-nine, leaving the one that escaped! My Jie Sect intercepts a sliver of heavenly opportunity, and You are that sliver of life!"
The Deification Ceremony was already set, and since his teacher had personally spoken of it, he naturally knew the details.
Yet, his Jie Sect was deeply entangled, having an unbreakable connection with Great Shang. He had been conflicted for a long time, unsure what to do.
Now, You had personally initiated the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan. Was this truly the incompetent and muddle-headed You, destined to be the King of a fallen nation?
The Jie Sect's doctrine was to intercept a sliver of life. Wasn't the current You that sliver of life?
Precisely for this reason, seeing You become the one that escaped, breaking free from his original destiny, how could he not be happy?
And it was precisely because of this sliver of life that their Jie Sect's stance in the Deification Ceremony perhaps ought to change.
Should they fully assist the one that escaped? Should they fully assist Great Shang, whose qi Luck was connected to their Jie Sect?
Even as a Sage who was nearly omniscient and omnipotent, at this moment, Sect Master Tongtian still hesitated.
After all, a single thought from him now would determine the future life and death of the Jie Sect, so he could not afford to be careless.
"Perhaps, I should personally meet that King Zhou!" Sect Master Tongtian murmured to himself.
Thinking of this, with a thought, the four inner Disciples of the Jie Sect appeared before him.
At the same time, in the Western Land, within the Lingshan Holy Land, Sage Jieyin and Sage Zhunti exchanged glances, their faces filled with confusion.
"Is this King Zhou? The King Zhou who is destined to become the King of a fallen nation?" Sage Jieyin asked hesitantly.
The Deification Ceremony was already set. Not to mention them, the Sages, which Disciple of the Three Religions didn't know about this matter?
King Zhou was supposed to be incompetent and muddle-headed, and Great Shang was supposed to decline. These were all predetermined events.
But what was this situation now?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I clearly..." Sage Zhunti looked at King Zhou in disbelief.
As if seeing something incredible, Sage Zhunti actually became so agitated.
Such an expression was extremely undignified for a Sage who looked down upon all beings.
"This is not a bad thing. It's the Chan Sect that should be anxious. Perhaps the struggle between the two Chan Sects will become even more intense!" Sage Jieyin said.
From the very beginning, the Western Religion's objective was very clear: when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. In the Deification Ceremony, they wanted to strengthen themselves as much as possible.
"Brother, You are right. A loss may turn out to be a gain! King Zhou has caused such a stir, there are others more anxious than us!" Sage Zhunti said.
He also understood. Whatever the Western Religion did, it was essentially just to stir up the waters.
Only by winning in Chaos could they strengthen their Western Religion as much as possible in this Deification Ceremony.
And now, with the initiation of the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan, the waters were no longer merely stirred up, but had turned into a complete mess.
Next, with all parties in motion, their Western Religion could actually stand aside.
Whether it was waiting for the best price or profiting from the conflict, their Western Religion was already in an invincible position!
In the Wa Huang Palace beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, Nüwa Niangniang's smile grew even wider.
She was increasingly interested in such a King Zhou, even somewhat eager to act again.
"Such a Human Clan, such a King Zhou, my brother would surely be pleased to see! But even so, how can one defy the heavens?
However, no matter what, the sin of blaspheming a Sage cannot be escaped. Who should I send this time?" Nüwa Niangniang said.
In the vast Wa Huang Palace, only her voice echoed, yet it was destined that no one could hear it.
After thinking for a long time, Nüwa Niangniang seemed to have made a decision. She raised her hand, and a Jade Slip flew out of the Wa Huang Palace.
At the same time, in an unknown place also beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, an old Daoist priest also opened his eyes at this moment.
"the one that escaped, could Tongtian truly have waited for that sole variable?" The Old Ancestor murmured to himself.
Chaos permeated the air, but the old Daoist priest did not look at Chaoge again. Instead, he closed his eyes, as if nothing in the world could move him.
In Chaoge City, Zi Shou naturally did not know that his Human Clan Conferring Gods plan had already caused a huge uproar.
Of course, even if he had known in advance, he would still have done it.
He had only just announced the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan and hadn't even started conferring gods, but he could already feel the change in Human Clan Luck.
No! To be precise, he could feel the change in the qi luck torch!
In just this short time, the qi luck torch had risen several points, and the qi Luck he possessed had significantly increased compared to before.
He had a very intuitive feeling about this, simply from his cultivation speed.
It should be known that after several increases in qi Luck, the qi Luck he now possessed was already incomparable to before.
If the qi luck torch used to only double his cultivation speed, now the qi luck torch could increase his cultivation speed by dozens of times.
An increase in cultivation speed by dozens of times, if it were only a little, or even a few times, would not have much impact.
But he could now clearly feel the change in cultivation speed, which showed how much the qi luck torch had increased.
He could even feel that he was just a little short of gaining another opportunity to draw Zhutian Qiwu (All Heavens Treasures).
If he was already like this, the increase in Human Clan Luck would only be more exaggerated!
What level would qi Luck reach when he truly began the Human Clan Conferring Gods?
He originally believed that the Human Clan Conferring Gods was a necessary undertaking, and now this idea was even more firmly rooted.
"The Human Clan Conferring Gods plan has been set. You will personally preside over it. What do You, Love of the Court, think?" Zi Shou said loudly.
In the great hall, the officials exchanged glances. Faced with the current situation, they were at a loss.
It wasn't that they had any particular thoughts, but rather that what You had just said was simply too incredible, beyond their comprehension.
"Your Majesty is wise and mighty. If the Deification Ceremony succeeds, our Great Shang will surely last for thousands of years!" Wen Taishi said.
The next moment, Bi Gan, Huang Feihu, and Yuan Hong stepped forward one after another, all expressing their agreement.
Chapter 93: The Worried Jade Emperor!
A full three years was enough for Zi Shou to do many things, such as the current situation in the imperial court.
With Wen Taishi, Bi Gan, and others all in support, no one could object anymore.
Whether it was the Three-Year Development Plan or the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan, they became a common consensus.
"Good! The Human Clan Conferring Gods plan has been set. You will now confer a few deities today!" Zi Shou said.
No time like the present. The Human Clan Conferring Gods plan had such good results, causing Human Clan Luck to surge, so how could he miss this opportunity?
Today, he would not only announce the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan to heaven and earth, but also confer a few deities.
"Wen Taishi, a veteran official of three dynasties, has rendered great service. He is hereby granted the title of Protector Grand Tutor, enjoying the qi Luck of Great Shang!"
"Bi Gan, who diligently implemented the Three-Year Development Plan, has rendered outstanding service. He is hereby granted the title of Protector Prime Minister, enjoying the qi Luck of Great Shang!"
"Huang Feihu, who strictly disciplined the army and comes from a loyal lineage, is hereby granted the title of Protector Military Sage King, enjoying the qi Luck of Great Shang!"
"Yuan Hong, who suppressed the Lord of a State rebellion..."
...
This time, he was not conferring deities like mountain gods, water gods, or earth gods within Great Shang.
He was conferring titles upon important court officials like Wen Taishi, so it was impossible to confer them as mountain gods or water gods.
To be precise, he wasn't conferring deities, but rather allowing these individuals to enjoy Human Clan Luck.
This was equivalent to distributing a portion of Great Shang's qi Luck to Wen Taishi and others. Even with his current ability, he couldn't confer much.
The mountain gods, water gods, and earth gods within Great Shang were the main focus, and they were the key to the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan.
However, by first conferring a few deities, he was actually setting a few examples.
He needed everyone to know that he truly could confer deities for the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan to be credible.
When everyone saw that Wen Taishi and others could enjoy Great Shang's qi Luck, living forever without disaster or misfortune, what would others think?
He had already made the criteria for the Human Clan Conferring Gods very clear: anyone who made outstanding contributions to the Human Clan could be deified.
Thus, as long as someone was tempted by the Human Clan Conferring Gods, they would inevitably strive to make outstanding contributions to the Human Clan.
As the King of Great Shang, as the Emperor of the Human Clan, no matter who it was, as long as they made outstanding contributions to the Human Clan, he would always profit.
The grand court assembly concluded, but the events that transpired today were destined to sweep across the entire world.
The Chan Sect rang the Jade Void Golden Bell, summoning all Chan Sect Disciples back to Kunlun Mountain, a truly rare occurrence.
Sage Tongtian, the Sect Master, summoned the four inner Disciples of the Jie Sect to discuss in detail how to deal with King Zhou and Great Shang next.
The two Sages of the Western Religion, while watching the commotion with amusement, pondered how to profit from the conflict.
In the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor's killing intent was palpable. He discussed with a group of deities in the Lingxiao Palace how to prevent the Human Clan Conferring Gods.
Undoubtedly, the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan was like a hurricane, sweeping across the entire world.
Anyone who learned of the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan would realize that an unimaginable storm would soon engulf the entire world.
In this storm, very few people could remain uninvolved. The Human Clan and the Heavenly Court were undoubtedly at the center of the storm.
After all, the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan would unfold within the Human Clan, and this was something the Heavenly Court could never agree to, no matter what.
However, for ordinary Human Clan, the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan was not so complicated, and they could not see the changes in the entire world.
What ordinary Human Clan could know was that the wise and mighty You, after slaying Buddhas, was actually going to confer Buddhas.
"Confer Buddhas? Can You really confer Buddhas? Those are Buddhas! Can they be arbitrarily appointed?"
"Why not? You has not killed Buddhas before. Since he can kill Buddhas, what is it to appoint Buddhas?"
"That's right! It is said that You has already appointed Grand Tutor Wen and others as Buddhas. This matter was witnessed by the ministers themselves."
...
In a short time, throughout the Great Shang, countless people were discussing the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan.
Upon first hearing this news, everyone's reaction was disbelief, because the Human Clan Conferring Gods was too bizarre.
Those were Buddhas! How could they be appointed so casually?
What's more, it was the current You who was appointing the Buddhas, which was even more incredible.
But the facts were right before their eyes; You had publicly appointed Grand Tutor Wen and others as Buddhas.
With such undeniable facts, everyone had no choice but to believe.
And after confirming that the Deification Ceremony was indeed true, countless hearts couldn't help but burn with fervor.
Those were Buddhas! How could ordinary people have a chance to become Buddhas?
But now, the opportunity to become Buddhas, and from then on gain immortality, protected by Great Shang Luck, was right before their eyes.
Not to mention these ordinary people, even some Human Clan who cultivated in famous mountains and great rivers were tempted.
Cultivation itself was an extremely difficult thing. If they were Jie Cult disciples, it would be easier to say, at least they would have guidance from their sect.
But becoming a Jie Cult Disciple was not an easy task; it could even be said to be as difficult as ascending to Heaven.
There was no need to mention Chan Cult, which valued background and origin the most; how could ordinary people become Chan Cult Disciples?
Although Jie Cult taught without discrimination, becoming a Jie Cult Disciple was also not an easy task.
For example, listening to the Sage Tongtian Cult Master preach could make one a Sage's Disciple, but there were not many who were qualified to listen to the sermon in the first place.
Even the Western Religion, which rejected no one, would not give You a second glance if your talent was not high enough.
Therefore, although there were many rogue cultivators in the famous mountains and great rivers, they basically did not amount to much.
These rogue cultivators often cultivated for long periods, but found it difficult to make any progress, often getting stuck at a certain Realm, making Breakthroughs impossible for their entire lives.
And now, there was an opportunity for these rogue cultivators to become Buddhas and enjoy the Great Shang Luck.
Becoming a Buddha and holding authority over a region was not very appealing to cultivators.
However, enjoying the Great Shang Luck and being free from disasters and difficulties from then on, was an irresistible temptation for these rogue cultivators.
What's more, if they could enjoy the Great Shang Luck, with the blessing of Luck, they might even have the possibility of further advancement.
Insufficient Aptitude compensated by Luck, this was actually a relatively common method.
But in the past, aspiring to Human Clan Luck was not something anyone could do.
And now, with the opportunity right in front of them, how could those rogue cultivators in the famous mountains and great rivers not be tempted?
After all, making outstanding contributions to the Human Clan might be difficult for ordinary people, but for these rogue cultivators, the difficulty was truly not great.
Moreover, there was also a Talent Recruitment Hall in Chaoge City, so these rogue cultivators were not afraid of having no way to serve the country.
...
"The wind starts at the end of the green duckweed; I don't have much time left!" King Zhou thought to himself.
With the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan launched, winds and clouds gathered in Great Shang, and various changes were already within his expectations.
It was certain that the Buddhas in the sky would never stand by and watch him proceed with the Human Clan Conferring Gods.
Nothing else mattered, but the Heavenly Court, whose fundamental interests were touched, would definitely act without hesitation.
Because of this, he knew very well that he did not have much time left, and he had to prepare in advance.
Completing the Human Clan Conferring Gods in advance was not only the foundation for him to establish his own Dao, but also the fundamental basis for the Human Clan to stand invincible.
As long as the Human Clan Luck was prosperous and the Great Shang Luck was at its zenith, no one in this world could do anything to him.
For example, the Heavenly Court at this moment was probably troubled by Great Shang, because facing the current Great Shang, the Heavenly Court had no good solution.
King Zhou's guess was correct. At this moment, in the Lingxiao Palace of the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor Haotian was frowning with worry.
Upon learning of the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan, his first reaction was that the Human Clan Conferring Gods must not succeed.
The most direct way was naturally to kill King Zhou; as long as King Zhou died, everything would be nothing to worry about.
However, when he arrived at the Lingxiao Palace, he suddenly realized that this matter was simply as difficult as ascending to Heaven.
King Zhou was the Human Emperor; when the Human Clan Luck was prosperous, who would dare to kill the Human Emperor? Who could kill the Human Emperor?
If King Zhou could not be killed, how could the Deification Ceremony be stopped?
Looking at the noisy Lingxiao Palace, where a group of Heavenly Court Immortals and Buddhas only knew how to prattle on, his nameless anger surged.
Such a vast Heavenly Court, yet not a single usable Buddha existed; it was simply a joke.
"Enough! Stop arguing, You asked You to come up with solutions, not to quarrel!" the Jade Emperor Haotian said angrily.
Everyone felt the endless anger in the Jade Emperor Haotian's words, and immediately, the vast Lingxiao Palace became silent.
Seeing all the Heavenly Court Immortals and Buddhas bowing their heads in silence, the Jade Emperor Haotian's anger surged again.
"You have been discussing for a long time, have You not even come up with a single solution?" the Jade Emperor Haotian asked, suppressing his anger.
Whether it worked or not, at least there should be an explanation, but what was going on with no one speaking now?
Could it be that the Heavenly Court's Immortals and Buddhas were really so useless, not even one capable of presenting a solution?
In the silent Lingxiao Palace, Taibai Jinxing sighed secretly and stepped forward.
He really didn't want to step forward at this moment, but seeing the Jade Emperor's angry gaze, he had no choice but to do so.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, that King Zhou is, after all, the Human Emperor, protected by Human Clan Luck. Slaying the Human Emperor is truly not a wise move!
However, the key to this matter is not King Zhou, but the Human Clan Conferring Gods. Why should Your Majesty be fixated on King Zhou?" Taibai Jinxing said.
How could he not know where the difficulty of this matter lay? Precisely because he knew, he was at a loss.
After much deliberation, a flash of inspiration came to his mind, and he actually thought of a solution.
"Oh? What does Love of the Court mean by this?" the Jade Emperor Haotian's expression softened slightly as he inquired.
Taibai Jinxing was indeed his trusted minister; at critical moments, he could still be very useful.
"Your Majesty's apprehension regarding the Human Clan Conferring Gods is merely that the Buddhas conferred by the Human Clan will no longer be within the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction!
If the Buddhas conferred by the Human Clan are still Buddhas of our Heavenly Court, wouldn't that be mutually beneficial?" Taibai Jinxing said.
As soon as these words were uttered, all the Heavenly Court Immortals and Buddhas' gazes converged on Taibai Jinxing, and even the Jade Emperor Haotian was filled with surprise.
But upon closer thought, what Taibai Jinxing had just said was not without reason.
What the Heavenly Court feared was nothing more than the severe threat to the Heavenly Court's authority after the Human Clan Conferring Gods.
If the Buddhas conferred by the Human Clan were still Buddhas of the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Court's authority was not lost, then the Heavenly Court would actually profit.
After all, since King Zhou slew Buddhas, there were no longer any Buddhas appointed by the Heavenly Court within the Great Shang territory.
Chapter 94: The Heavenly Court Congratulates the Human Clan on Conferring Gods!
Taibai Jinxing, with a sorrowful expression, left the Heavenly Court and headed towards Chaoge.
Under the Jade Emperor's coercion, after much deliberation, he finally thought of a way to resolve the Heavenly Court's predicament.
Naturally, he became the Heavenly Court's envoy, and was now on his way to Chaoge City to meet King Zhou.
Traveling by cloud to Chaoge City, having witnessed King Zhou's domineering nature, he dared not be too presumptuous.
He dutifully reported his arrival and waited for King Zhou's audience, keeping his posture very low.
This was something that would have been impossible in the past, but now, it had become a matter of course.
"Heavenly Court Envoy Taibai Jinxing seeks an audience outside?"
Upon hearing the report, King Zhou looked surprised; he truly had not expected Taibai Jinxing to arrive at this time.
Ever since he announced the Human Clan Conferring Gods plan to the world, he knew very well that what was meant to come would eventually come.
No matter what reaction the Heavenly Court had, even if ten thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals attacked, he would not be surprised.
But the Heavenly Court had sent an envoy at this time, and it was Taibai Jinxing, the Jade Emperor's trusted aide; what was he trying to do?
Although his heart was full of questions, he still had to meet Taibai Jinxing, just to see what tricks the Heavenly Court could play.
"Heavenly Court Envoy Taibai Jinxing greets You!"
It was not Taibai Jinxing's first time seeing King Zhou, but meeting him again, he felt something was different.
He couldn't quite pinpoint what was different, but he could feel that the King Zhou before him was indeed different from when they last met.
If he had to say what was different, he could only say that at this very moment, he felt he was facing a true Human Emperor.
The Human Clan Luck, as brilliant as the great sun, made him almost afraid to look directly at it.