Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

During this decade, Da Shang waged wars on all fronts, destroying the Southern Barbarians, Beirong, and waging a great war against the Eastern Barbarians, achieving victory after victory.

The lords of the land were terrified! Yet they were repeatedly forced and extorted, finding the pain unbearable.

Although Xi Qi had become a feudatory state of Shang, Ji Chang, the Western Lord, was still worried, fearing that after Shang annihilated the Eastern Barbarians, they would turn and destroy Xi Qi as well.

During this decade, he actively contacted all the small lords, his power and influence rising, waiting for an opportunity.

Now, Emperor Xin had sent Wen Zhong to attack the Eastern Barbarians, removing the main force of Shang from the city, leaving their defenses empty, making it an excellent opportunity.

However, Ji Chang's time was running out, bedridden with illness.

The future of all Xi Qi was once again in turbulence and uncertainty.

"Teacher!"

At Qishan, Ji Fa had grown up, now uncommonly courageous and noble, having forged the Earth Element Dao Body, entering the second level of the Immortal Dao, the Foundation Establishment realm.

This realm is also the pinnacle of refining essence into energy; once achieved, the mana within the body is endless, allowing for the execution of various spells.

Although its power does not match the small Divine Skills of the awakened Innate Gods and Demons, its range is vast, and when combined, it is not much weaker than Divine Skills.

"Ji Fa, you seem to have concerns..."

Zhong Shenxiu looked at Ji Fa, smiling.

"I do not know to whom my father wishes to grant the position of the Western Lord..."

Ji Fa said, "My eldest brother Bo Yikao is respectful, filial, kind, and righteous. My younger brother Dan excels in governance, already beginning to assist my father with important matters... In comparison, I fall far short."

"If you cannot attain the Princely Heir position, what will you do?"

Zhong Shenxiu asked.

"I lack virtue and talent, yet I am willing to contribute to the great cause of Zhou, willing to be merely a small soldier on the front lines!" Ji Fa said, but his gloomy expression could not be concealed.

"Ha ha, Ji Fa, you're trying to deceive even me."

Zhong Shenxiu laughed heartily.

This Ji Fa, after all, was born into the family of marquises and had the bearing of a Hidden Dragon, deserving of Zhong Shenxiu's previous praise of him as having the bearing of a dragon and tiger, and the appearance of the sun in the sky.

It is certain that if he cannot secure the Princely Heir position, he absolutely wouldn't mind enacting a change akin to the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing brothers and reigning with pleasure.

"I'll give you one more chance. Tell me, if you can't secure the Princely Heir position, what will you do?" Zhong Shenxiu asked slowly.

Ji Fa immediately knelt down: "Teacher... I... I want to be the Princely Heir! If my father doesn't grant it, I can only resort to force..."

"Ha ha, good!"

Zhong Shenxiu nodded: "Though you are not as filial as Bo Yikao or as adept in governance as Dan, you possess the quality of 'martial'! These two princes have not awakened their bloodlines, remaining mere mortals, far from being your match, and in terms of commanding troops in battle, they are even farther behind! Now, with Great Zhou's campaign against Shang imminent, how could the Western Lord be willing to hand over the great position to someone who knows nothing of warfare? When I called you the Princely Heir back then, it was because I knew... who but you could hold the position of Western Lord?"

Ji Fa seemed thoughtful.

At this moment, a servant ran over and shouted, "The Western Lord summons!"

Zhong Shenxiu and Ji Fa came together to Ji Chang's bedchamber to find Bo Yikao, Dan, and other sons of Ji Chang gathered, each with red eyes, as if they had just been crying.

And Xi Qi's leading generals, civil and military ministers were all present.

Ji Chang's expression was pale, holding himself up despite his illness, saying: "After my death, pass the position to Ji Fa!"

"Yes!"

The civil and military ministers were the first to kneel, Bo Yikao and Dan also wept and kowtowed, crying out, "Father..."

Ji Fa watched this scene and also kneeled, tears streaming down his face, though the feelings in his heart were complex and indescribable...

...

Not long after, Ji Chang passed away, and Ji Fa succeeded to the position.

Inside the hall.

"Now Shang is achieving victory after victory against the Eastern Barbarians, but their homeland is empty, presenting a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Ji Fa said: "Father always had the aspiration to attack Shang, and now the great enterprise is before us, I ask you all to assist me!"

"We are willing to die for the Western Lord!"

Bo Yikao and others knelt, only Zhong Shenxiu stood there.

As Ji Fa's teacher, he was greatly respected, especially after this incident.

Ji Fa couldn't help but ask: "What do you have to teach me, Teacher?"

"There is one thing, the position of Western Lord is granted by Yin Shang. As a subject, attacking the king is unrighteous!" Zhong Shenxiu said: "If the Western Lord wishes to attack Shang, he could claim the king's title for himself, proclaim it to the world, and follow the mandate of heaven. This is where the great righteousness and legitimacy lie, and it cannot be ignored."

Ji Fa's expression was shaken: "The teacher is right!"

At present, in the world, only the Emperor of Shang is called the 'Xuan King.'

It can be said that the king's title is the highest, equivalent to the emperor.

Now Zhong Shenxiu wanted Ji Fa to proclaim himself emperor; this is not merely a matter of title but represents a stance of irreconcilable conflict with Shang.

After all, there cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers in a country.

"Please, Western Lord, assert your rightful position as king, in accordance with the heavenly mandate!"

In ancient times, urging someone to ascend the throne was a very serious political issue. Seeing Zhong Shenxiu raise it, and with Ji Fa not strongly opposing it, the ministers below knew what to do and promptly advised unanimously.

Ji Fa declined three times with modesty, and then, under the ministers' pleas, reluctantly accepted the position of king, blushing slightly, and asked: "If so, since Shang uses 'Xuan' as the king's title, what should my title be?"

"When Your Majesty came to the world, the Phoenix called from Qishan, signifying great fortune. How about the 'Phoenix King'?"

"Xi Qi is to the west; using just the character 'Xi' alone is inappropriate, but it can be 'Qi King'!"

...

The ministers offered their suggestions.

Ji Fa looked around, finally turning to his teacher.

He once considered appointing Jiang Shang as Prime Minister, but was directly refused.

Zhong Shenxiu, looking as composed as ever, said: "Your Majesty already has a decision in mind, there is no need to ask me."

Ji Fa thought for a moment and said: "Mighty Great Zhou, rising with martial strength! If I were to assume the title of king, it must take the character 'Wu,' becoming King Wu!"

"King Wu!"

"King Wu!"

The ministers cheered loudly.

The next month.

Ji Fa, the Western Lord, set the Heavenly Altar at Xi Qi, officially proclaiming himself king, taking the royal title of 'Wu,' and called upon the various lords to raise an army to attack Da Shang!

On the day of the heavenly sacrifice, Ji Fa, dressed in the ceremonial robe designed by Zhong Shenxiu, climbed the Heavenly Altar step by step.

Below, musicians were striking the chime bells.

In the midst of a solemn atmosphere, Ji Fa personally recited the sacrificial text and burned the offerings.

Boom!

At that moment, the color of the heavens changed, wind and clouds surged.

Amidst the tempestuous wind and clouds, suddenly a high-pitched phoenix cry was heard.

The Phoenix, which appeared on the day of Ji Fa's birth, reappeared, trailing its five-colored wings across the sky.

And in the sky, a faint shadow of a Divine Mountain emerged.

It was majestic and towering, with an overwhelming presence of being the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains.

"It's Kunlun!"

"Divine Mountain Kunlun!"

The Zhu You in charge of the sacrifice shouted: "Phoenix Calling from Qishan, Kunlun appears, this is the will of the gods! The Phoenix is the messenger of the gods, conveying the divine will, and this campaign against Shang will surely be a great victory!"

"Victory!"

"Victory!"

The allied marquises present roared fervently.

"Let us raise arms and punish Da Shang!"

"Raise arms against Shang!"

"Punish Shang!"

Wave after wave of cheers rang out, and Ji Fa stood there in a daze, gazing at this scene, particularly at the unique figure of Zhong Shenxiu, his eyes inevitably darkening...

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