Chapter 139: Ji Fa's Ambitious Schemes

Three days later in Xiqi.

Ji Fa arrived as promised.

After carefully pondering for three full days, Ji Fa finally made a decision.

When Ji Fa reached the lakeside, Jiang Ziya, whose snow-white hair fluttered gracefully, seemed to have been waiting for quite a long time.

Uh... being a young man, was he actually running late?

Ji Fa suddenly felt his pride stinging a bit and quickly bowed to Jiang Ziya: "Elder Jiang, I am truly sorry. I was delayed by some matters on the way, keeping you waiting for so long."

"It is of no consequence!"

Jiang Ziya waved his hand and smiled slightly: "Those three days have passed, and since the Second Young Master Ji has arrived as promised, this old man naturally feels deeply grateful."

"Elder Jiang is too courteous, which only makes me feel even more ashamed."

"Haha, well said. Young Master Ji, there is no need for us to waste time on such minor details."

Jiang Ziya's expression sank instantly, turning solemn: "Young Master Ji, let me ask you, do you wish to change the destiny and fortune of your Xiqi?"

Ji Fa nodded: "Naturally I do. If I did not, I would not have come as promised."

"Very good!" Jiang Ziya was quite satisfied with Ji Fa's answer.

"Elder Jiang, I am very eager to know how you intend to change the fortune of our Xiqi? There is also another question that I do not quite understand, and I hope the senior can enlighten me."

"What is it? Speak your mind."

Jiang Ziya stroked his long beard, projecting an aura of profound wisdom.

Ji Fa paused to collect his thoughts, then asked: "Senior, it is like this: can the national fortune and destiny of a country truly be altered? If one were to defy the heavens and change this outcome, would it cause some negative consequences?"

"There are both advantages and disadvantages, though it is not entirely absolute. To mention nothing else, let us look at Great Shang. For over a month, I have observed the Polaris star. Great Shang, which was originally destined to fall, somehow had its fate reversed and underwent tremendous changes."

"The current state of Great Shang is something you all must have witnessed, even if I say nothing."

"In just a little over a year, Great Shang has carried out numerous national reforms, land reforms, and so on."

"From introducing sweet potatoes, potatoes, radishes... all the way to the recent planting of paddy rice, they have reaped bumper harvests year after year. Today, Great Shang has already grown into a self-sufficient agricultural powerhouse."

"The common people of the Yin-Shang no longer worry about going hungry. Visit any random village, and you will find every household's granary piled high with all kinds of grain."

"Food is the paramount necessity of the people, and he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. Great Shang is growing stronger day by day, night by night. That rate of progress is simply terrifying."

Jiang Ziya's words caused Ji Fa to involuntarily shiver.

With Great Shang being so formidable, how could they possibly expand the Zhou Dynasty of Xiqi?

Any spark of rising ambition would be nipped in the bud before it could even begin.

"Senior, since Great Shang is expanding at such a rate, what should we... what should we do?"

Living under someone else's roof and depending on their mercy is truly a miserable feeling, forcing one to survive by watching another's breath like a stray dog.

Living such a repressed and suffocating life is worse than death.

Ji Fa was a man of ambition—wild and boundless ambition.

Seeing Ji Fa's constipated expression, Jiang Ziya stroked his beard and continued: "Young Master Ji need not belittle himself. The reason I summoned you here today is to clarify one matter."

"It is true that Great Shang is expanding rapidly, but this precisely presents us with an opportunity." Jiang Ziya maintained an inscrutable demeanor.

Ji Fa asked in bewilderment: "What do you mean by that, Senior?"

"We can open the Investiture of the Gods. Once the Investiture of the Gods is opened, the current situation can be reversed."

Ji Fa grew even more confused: "What? Open the Investiture of the Gods? Senior, this... why does this sound more and more incomprehensible to me?"

Jiang Ziya explained further: "It does not matter if Young Master Ji does not understand for now; allow me to explain it to you in detail."

"Once the Investiture of the Gods is opened, it will be an event of monumental significance. As the saying goes, troubled times produce heroes. Once the investiture begins, heroes across the land will rise together, and chaos will inevitably descend upon the world."

"By then, whether it is the human race, the demon race, the magical race, or even the celestial gods of heaven, all will have to undergo this calamity, and none can escape it."

"With the world plunged into chaos, Xiqi will be able to seize this very opportunity to rise, gathering heroes and men of valor from all corners of the realm. If so, how could Xiqi fail to achieve hegemony?"

"Ah... Senior, this, this... is this really possible?" Ji Fa could not help trembling with excitement.

This was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

For Xiqi to rise, it could leverage this exact opportunity to suppress the development of Great Shang.

When the time was ripe, if necessary, they could annihilate Great Shang in one stroke and replace it.

The more he thought about it, the more violently his heart surged with excitement.

Jiang Ziya nodded and said: "This matter must be carried out. However... the opening of the Investiture of the Gods requires a person chosen by destiny. In other words, a predestined person chosen by the heavens."

"A predestined person chosen by the heavens? This... then where is this chosen person right now?" Ji Fa asked eagerly.

Jiang Ziya shook his head: "This chosen person... for now, even this old man cannot locate him. Being chosen by the heavens, it is a matter of destiny and affinity. However, this old man believes he will appear very soon."

"Last night, I observed the Polaris star and discovered it is shifting toward the southeast. Therefore, I deduce that this chosen person who will open the Investiture of the Gods is very likely within Great Shang."

"Ah... The chosen person is in Great Shang? Senior, what are we waiting for? We must dispatch people to search for him immediately!"

"Young Master Ji, there is no need to rush. Even if you rush, it cannot be forced."

"Since he is chosen by destiny, it must be guided by affinity."

Jiang Ziya stroked his long beard and continued: "Young Master Ji, this old man intends to take a trip to Great Shang. Firstly, to investigate their strength, and secondly, to wander and observe along the way. Perhaps this journey will bring some unforeseen fortune."

"Very well, I wish Senior a smooth and safe journey. I shall await Senior's good news."

...

Yin-Shang, Chaoge, Star-Plucking Pavilion.

The two ministers, Wen Zhong and Bi Gan, hurried to seek an audience with King Zhou.

Noticing the anxious expressions of the two officials, King Zhou asked: "Do you have matters to report?"

Wen Zhong and Bi Gan exchanged glances, and Wen Zhong spoke up: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject has a matter to report."

King Zhou waved his large sleeve: "What matter? Speak."

"Your Majesty, this subject has received extremely ominous news. If this news is true, Great Shang may suffer a catastrophe unprecedented in history."

Wen Zhong's words startled King Zhou greatly: "What? An unprecedented catastrophe? What on earth is going on? Wen Zhong, stop beating around the bush and speak at once!"

"Yes! This subject received intelligence stating that the Investiture of the Gods is about to be opened. Should that happen, the world will inevitably fall into utter chaos. Humans, demons, monsters, and even celestial gods will be dragged into the turmoil. By then, our Great Shang will surely become the primary target of all."