Yinn Shang Royal Court.

The gloomy, chillingly vast hall carried an oppressive atmosphere; the inner palace attendants were as silent as cicadas in winter.

The royal palace had just completed renovations, leaving the great hall feeling particularly empty.

Not only were the buildings sparse, but the people had decreased significantly.

The rebellion of the Dining Minister led to ninety percent of the palace officials' deaths, and many of the remaining individuals were killed in King Zhou's rage.

Those still alive tread on thin ice, fearful of sharing the same fate.

Inner Hall.

King Zhou's expression was dark, and behind him stood a woman of unparalleled beauty, dressed provocatively, her eyes filled with charm, her skin as flawless as snow.

"Still can't find it?" King Zhou suppressed his anger.

"No, we haven't found it."

"What about on the sun?"

King Zhou, being knowledgeable, understood the significance of the sun for cultivators of Innate Pure Yang.

"It's not on the sun either."

"Very well, leave it aside for now; focus on accelerating progress."

The five-hundred-year foundation of Yinn Shang could not possibly be hindered by a mere Eastern King.

Chaoge inherently possessed the qualifications to become a Heavenly Court on Earth. Perhaps the Eastern King saw this potential and sought to use such despicable methods to obstruct his path.

But no matter how hard one attempts to destroy it, Chaoge remains unchanged—still bearing the foundation for becoming a Heavenly Court on Earth.

The appearance of the Eastern King only fueled King Zhou's ambition.

Since he remains hidden and refuses to face me, I shall unify this world so thoroughly that he has nowhere to stand.

Thus thought King Zhou.

Afterward, King Zhou embarked on increasingly tyrannical campaigns, capturing more prisoners for ritual sacrifices, and employing force or punishment to force the vassals into submission.

Another twenty years passed, and King Zhou ruled over ten thousand miles of land, with one thousand vassals beneath him.

Some vassals were given territories, while others were retained in the court to serve as officials.

King Zhou declared himself the Human Emperor.

He established the Three Officials beneath him.

Dragon Official Wen Zhong, wielding the male and female flood dragon whips, was the foremost military general of the dynasty, possessing Harmonization Seventh Layer cultivation and commanding both the Dragon Clan and Water Clan.

Bird Official Luan Feng, rumored to be Daji's sister, held dominion over all birds.

Cloud Official Tushan Clan, a masked woman who controlled all beasts, was suspected to be Daji's incarnation.

Besides them, there were the Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth Five Justices, and the Eight Witches governing the celestial, mortal, divine, demonic, and spirit realms.

King Zhou, as the Human Emperor, placed these individuals in charge of the future highest echelons of the Heavenly Court, each presiding over the rules of the universe.

The four barons of East, South, West, and North guarded the four cardinal directions.

Under such a regime, the Mortal World had already become a subordinate class of the heavenly hierarchy, weakening the power of the various vassals significantly.

King Zhou, having seized control of the Heavenly Phenomenon, further solidified his governance, growing increasingly unrestrained in his tyranny.

More and more nobles met their demise through various punishments, while the prisons held at least six hundred thousand slaves awaiting slaughter.

If Song Lin were present, he would undoubtedly understand King Zhou's intentions. King Zhou wasn't simply violently oppressive; on the contrary, he sought to weaken the power of the nobility without exhausting effort or leaving hidden threats lingering behind. Hence, he resorted to such methods of mass killing.

While killing, he simultaneously sent a warning to the feeble aristocracy, compelling them to submit.

"But does this truly work?"

By the banks of the Weis River, Song Lin questioned after hearing Bo Yikao's judgment.

"This tactic can command the world, yet it has already lost moral virtue."

Bo Yikao replied.

"I see. So long as Xibo fosters benevolence widely, refrains from alienating allied vassals, maintains relationships with adversarial vassals, and focuses on building robust defenses and stockpiling resources, the world will eventually belong to him."

Suppressing the nobility was a good strategy, but King Zhou's goal was merely to become the greatest slave owner under Heaven, turning everyone else into slaves to sustain his rule.

In doing so, he not only stood against the vassals but also lost the support of the commoners.

Setting these judgments aside, Song Lin examined the Tiger Talisman in his hand.

This was Cheng Tang's Tiger Talisman.

Cheng Tang excelled in warfare and comprehended the Gold Dao.

This gold was no ordinary gold but Innate Golden Qi, capable of evolving the essence of metals.

To his left lay divination grass, with which Song Lin mastered the Sixty-four Trigrams over twenty years.

Divination was a minor technique; more significant was using the Innate Eight Diagrams to comprehend the heavens and earth, expediting enlightenment of the Great Dao.

If he could grasp the Innate Eight Diagrams, it would be even more advantageous.

"You've broken through to the Purple Mansion?" Song Lin asked.

"Indeed. Though I had cultivation from before, I recently converted my cultivation into Taoist Realm through the Taiyi Jinhua Technique, reaching Core Formation. I've gained some insights lately and finally broke through to Core Formation."

"Not bad. It spares you from starting over in cultivation."

The strength of the Taiyi Jinhua Scripture lay precisely here.

It could transform other magic skills into the more righteous Donghua Taoist lineage, stripping away all evil elements. So long as one's heart remained pure, they could correct their path.

The expansion and growth of Donghua Heavenly Court depended not only on its immense martial strength but also on its capability for assimilation.

Without assimilation, it would eventually be influenced by the constantly joining factions.

"Since you've now entered the threshold, go teach the others. Separate the Witchcraft from Taoism. The world has suffered long enough under witchcraft. Only the Great Dao shall prevail in the future; witchcraft must ultimately fade."

Song Lin remarked.

If one sought to compete for dominance under Heaven, Zhou and Shang must distinguish themselves.

Shang represented barbarity, while Zhou embodied civilization; King Zhou embodied tyranny, and King Wen must champion benevolence.

This was Jiangg Ziya's strategy, while Song Lin's strategy was simpler: Shang's witchcraft versus Zhou's Taoism.

In exchange for his understanding of the Innate Eight Diagrams, Song Lin offered considerable insight from his past life, enabling Ji Chang to follow his vision.

Abolishing human sacrifices and reducing the number of slaves, alongside suppressing the nobility, were essential measures—partly for benevolence and partly to liberate human resources.

After Bo Yikao withdrew, Song Lin was about to enter seclusion when Ji Dan arrived, accompanied by a man.

The man's eyes exuded sharpness, his demeanor heroic, with an innate air of kingly dominance between his brows.

Seeing this individual, Song Lin immediately realized this must be King Wu, Ji Fa.

"Ji Fa greets the State Preceptor."

"Greetings, elder brother."

Ji Fa performed a grand bow.

Ji Dan explained that his elder brother Ji Fa's cultivation had progressed too slowly, and Xibo recommended he come here to learn Dao.

"Perfect timing. I have one Magic Skill; you don't need to retreat into seclusion for cultivation—simply continue campaigning across the land, and you will break through naturally."

Song Lin took out a jade scroll and inscribed the contents of the Qiankun Treasure upon it using Divine Thought.

The Qiankun Treasure was a magic skill designed for emperors, comprising nine layers. Each time one conquered a state, one layer would unlock.

Completing the conquest of the Nine States would result in perfection, unlocking an exclusive ultimate technique at the tenth layer.

He had acquired it in the world of the Muu Emperor, and now passing it to Ji Fa completed a cycle.

King Wu's Qiankun Treasure originated from him, while his Qiankun Treasure came from King Wu.

Though it seemed paradoxical, Song Lin understood this was natural.

In the river of time, traversing through its flow rendered causality irrelevant; forming a closed loop sufficed.

The Great Thousand World harbored endless mysteries; incessantly seeking explanations could lead to collapse.

"Thank you, teacher."

Ji Fa rejoiced, bowing in discipleship etiquette.

With this magic skill, he no longer had to worry about lagging in cultivation.

Song Lin dismissed everyone, then entered secluded cultivation.

His Divine Thought ventured into the Spirit Platform.

Atop the Spirit Platform Primordial Spirit, a Golden Flower blossomed, surrounded by semi-circular, cloud-like green qi alongside a streak of golden energy and a single droplet of water.

These corresponded to Innate Pure Yang, Nature, and Innate Golden Qi, and Heavenly Water respectively.

The Natural Dao reached fifty percent, while Golden Qi reached ten percent.

The Primordial Spirit was surrounded by a diagram of the Eight Diagrams, and soon Song Lin entered an unfathomable realm.

Comprehending the Great Dao while perfecting his cultivation technique.

This technique, born from the Taiyi Jinhua Scripture, was named Qiaoyao Song by Song Lin.

While Song Lin meditated upon the Great Dao...

In the Real World...

Far away, deep within the void...

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