At the time when the rebel kings were feasting through the night,
Outside the endless military camps, a Taoist priest arrived.
This priest wore a jade-colored robe, his eyes gentle yet slightly bearing a sense of vicissitudes, carefully observing the massive military encampment.
“Eighty miles of continuous camps, smoke rising everywhere…”
Having already attained enlightenment of the celestial mysteries, he could perceive the flow of qi with perfect clarity. Just like Wu Ming, he witnessed the immense calamity looming over the military camp.
“General Xu Zongwu!”
The Yuqing Taoist looked toward the central tent, his eyes slightly darkening: “You were originally destined to be a great general under King Wu, possessing both literary and martial brilliance. However, I, in my haste years ago, performed a spell prematurely to help King Wu gain an assistant, which caused an error and severed your destined path…”
“Yet I never expected that without King Wu, you would soar like a dragon, achieving great feats! Your fortune has flourished, even surpassing King Wu’s at his peak!”
“How unpredictable is fate!”
The old Taoist sighed: “But now King Wu’s true dragon aura has finally surged. Although your success was initially influenced by King Wu’s fate, your immense fortune allowed you to fear nothing. Now, however, it is time to repay that debt!”
The Wenqu and Wuqu stars are naturally destined to assist emperors, inevitably becoming officials in the imperial court, destined for honor and high rank.
Yet years ago, when studying Ji Yi’s fate, the Yuqing Taoist knew of this assistant and, in haste, acted prematurely, causing such a deviation.
“Nevertheless, it might be for the better! Originally, King Wu had a great calamity, but now you can take its place. As long as you pass this trial, you will face no further disasters and will surely establish a new dynasty!”
“A dragon fighting in the wild, its blood dark and yellow!”
To seize the world and become the true dragon, how could one avoid calamities?
However, there is a secret method in the Taoist sect to find someone to “take the calamity,” automatically absorbing the heavenly and earthly disasters, allowing the substituted person to smoothly pass the trial.
Initially, the Yuqing Taoist had hesitated, but upon seeing the camp’s aura now, he finally made his decision.
“Since you have already become a rebel king, paving the way for the true ruler, it is already your destiny!”
“At this point, whether you live or die, you might as well bear King Wu’s original calamity as well! This is your fate!”
The Yuqing Taoist murmured.
Originally, the great Shang dynasty’s dragon pulse required the blood sacrifice of forty rebel kings to be broken, and even so, Ji Yi would still face a bloody battle when attacking Shengjing.
Since the Yuqing Taoist had already placed his bet, naturally he would spare no effort to ensure the true dragon’s success.
“I have secretly obtained Ji Yi’s blood and hair… I have found the necessary catalyst for the spell!”
He thought silently, three copper coins appearing in his hand: “In the past, Xu Zongwu’s ancestors were in hardship and received great kindness from the Ji family. These three copper coins were part of that kindness, and now they are perfect for performing the spell!”
Indeed, finding someone to take the calamity is not something just anyone can do. The most skilled practitioners go with the flow, leaving no trace. Even the Yuqing Taoist must try to follow heaven’s will.
Since Xu Zongwu’s ancestors received kindness, it is now time to repay it. If even heaven keeps track of debts and repayments, how much more so should humans?
Only with this premise can the spell be performed. Otherwise, even a land immortal could not touch Xu Zongwu now.
“Ji Yi is nearly a true dragon now. To find someone to take the calamity, one must at least possess a dragon’s fate. Besides Xu Zongwu, there is no better candidate…”
The Yuqing Taoist’s expression suddenly became very strange: “Never thought that a single mistake years ago would bring such a gain. Misfortune lies within fortune, and fortune within misfortune. Truly profound words!”
Losing a great general would naturally be tragic for Ji Yi, but it would also avert a future calamity, a great gain indeed.
At this moment, the Yuqing Taoist couldn’t help but feel reverence for the heavenly decree.
Feeling how fate twists and turns people’s lives.
…
Meanwhile, within Shengjing.
This was the imperial capital of the Great Shang, a city of splendor, with twelve grand avenues crisscrossing, magnificent buildings lining both sides, exuding the grandeur of a mighty nation.
Though rebel forces were approaching momentarily, the entire Shengjing had already been placed under martial law. Within the golden palace, twelve towering figures had been erected.
These figures were bronze-colored, like unsharpened swords, yet already exuding a fierce and ominous aura, causing birds and insects to avoid the area for dozens of miles.
Around the legs of the golden figures, wooden scaffolds stood, swarming with countless craftsmen like ants. Great flames burned, making the surrounding temperature unbearably hot, causing people to sweat profusely.
“The Emperor has sent me to ask about the twelve golden figures.”
At this moment, a palace eunuch approached, walking softly and speaking in a gentle voice, dressed in palace servant attire.
“Reporting to Master Gao!”
The one who responded was a middle-aged man with long arms and legs, an ordinary face like a common farmer in the fields. He carried a black ink ruler, and his demeanor bore the meticulousness of a craftsman. The surrounding craftsmen all respectfully saluted him upon seeing him.
This was the current head of the Mohist sect. The Mohist tradition dictates that regardless of the previous name of the head, upon succession, all previous identities are forgotten, and they are simply referred to as “the Head.”
The middle-aged man’s voice was steady, carrying a meticulous tone: “With the power of the imperial court, we collected the finest iron and steel from across the land. All Mohist experts were dispatched, and it took nine years of hard work, drawing upon subterranean toxic fires to forge the figures, resulting in the deaths of eighteen elders due to counterattacks. We barely completed the rough forms, then invited ten of the highest-level legalists and sorcerers to continuously cast spells on them day and night, finally completing these twelve golden figures!”
His voice carried a sense of emotion as he spoke.
“In that case, they are completed!”
Master Gao was delighted.
“They are indeed completed, but if we consider the twelve golden figures as a single person, we have merely completed its body. The most important soul is still missing!”
The middle-aged man shook his head.
“Where is the soul?” Master Gao asked anxiously.
“That is beyond my authority. Please consult others for that!”
The Head of the Mohist sect seemed to carry a touch of sorrow in his eyes: “With the twelve golden figures completed, the Mohist sect has suffered heavy casualties. According to the agreement, we must now completely retreat into seclusion, avoiding the world…”
“Eh?”
Master Gao was greatly surprised: “Master, upon completing such a great feat, the Emperor will surely be overjoyed, and you will gain honor and wealth. With the golden figures protecting the nation’s fortune, the Great Shang’s rule will last for ten thousand years. Why would you leave now?”
“Hmph…”
The Head firmly shook his head. Moments later, amidst a tremor of the earth and mountains, several massive wooden birds took flight, carrying faint silhouettes.
“Amitabha!”
Among the people on the ground gazing at the wooden birds, several monks dressed in black robes, resembling lamas, had appeared unnoticed.
“Master!”
Master Gao slightly bowed: “The Mohists have left. What shall we do now? The Emperor is waiting for these golden figures to save the nation!”
“All worldly causes and effects have their destined numbers!”
The elderly monk at the forefront had snow-white eyebrows but a completely beardless chin, his eyes exuding an aura of Nirvana: “The leader of the Mohist sect has overseen everything, enduring the relentless counterattacks of subterranean toxic flames and the lethal energy of martial and metallic forces day and night. His vital energy has already been severely depleted, destined for an early ascension to paradise… Under the Emperor’s divine majesty, the Mohists were compelled to emerge from seclusion to assist, sacrificing so many outstanding disciples. Now, they must retreat into seclusion once more. Truly lamentable…”
(Note: I adjusted “counterattacks” to “counterattacks” for fluidity, and “lethal energy of martial and metallic forces” to better convey “煞气.” The translation maintains the solemn tone and philosophical nuances of the original text.)
The Mohist sect had once suffered a great calamity, and the previous Head was only able to preserve the sect’s lineage under the protection of the Shang dynasty. This time, when King Jie summoned them, they could not refuse.
Furthermore, they presented all their treasures and magical artifacts, showcasing craftsmanship that surpassed all imagination. Without their help, even an additional ninety years might not have sufficed to forge the golden statues.
Having paid such a heavy price, the Mohists could now retire after accomplishing their mission, completely severing ties with the Shang dynasty.
In the eyes of the Fanmen sect, this was indeed a wise move.
Otherwise, among the factions that supported King Jie, facing a weakened yet highly accomplished Mohist school, there would undoubtedly be severe repression.
“But what about the Emperor’s golden figures?”
Master Gao was anxious.
“As the Head mentioned, the vessel’s body is already complete. All that remains is to infuse it with dragon qi to form its soul, granting it true immense power to suppress the land’s ley lines!”
A monk beside him stepped forward, pressing his palms together and said, “Our three senior masters have already concealed themselves using the Vajra-Garbha Light and Darkness Great Barrier, observing day and night with the Three Realms Dharma Eye. Everything is ready except for the east wind!”
The Vajra-Garbha Light and Darkness Great Barrier is the supreme secret technique of the Fanmen Sect, said to be capable of concealing celestial mysteries, surpassing the comprehension of both deities and mortals!
The Three Realms Insight is said to observe all three realms—heaven, earth, and humanity—without missing a single detail!
Combined, these two great powers truly allow surveillance of the three realms, undetectable even by land immortals!
“But why then…”
As soon as Master Gao spoke, he realized his mistake and quickly smiled apologetically: “I was too hasty. Please do not take offense, Masters!”
“To achieve great merit, thirty thousand good deeds are required! In addition, the timing, location, and human factors are all indispensable!”
The old monk from before spoke: “Now that internal cultivation is complete, external achievements will surely follow. You may inform the Emperor to begin preparations…”
“Understood!”
Master Gao quickly withdrew.
Although he held a high position, the old monk before him was subtly revered by King Jie as the national teacher, thus he dared not be careless.
After the craftsmen withdrew, a group of lamas took their place, sitting cross-legged, chanting incantations.
Amidst the swirling smoke and the ascending grandeur, golden Sanskrit characters drifted like the sands of the Ganges around the twelve golden figures, gradually merging into them—utterly mystical.
“To complete the twelve golden figures, one must break before building!”
The elderly monk clutched his prayer beads, a glint flashing in his eyes: “The vessel’s form is already complete, but the soul requires an immense amount of dragon qi and even the nation’s fortune to suppress the baleful energy within the vessel. Relying solely on the Great Shang dynasty may still prove inadequate!”
He was quite aware that the formation of such treasures was all due to the fortunate coincidences of ancient times.
Nowadays, attempting to forge them is going against heaven’s will.
His faction aided King Jie, employing a series of underhanded tactics, and made all preparations for the day to come!
“Master Buddha, disciple is willing to sacrifice this body, only wishing for our path to flourish in the world…”
The old monk murmured, his eyes filled with a sense of “sacrificing oneself for a righteous cause!”
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