Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao followed Shen Gongbao to Lingtong Pass, where another grand banquet awaited them.
Suffice it to say, the atmosphere was almost overwhelming.
Feeling respected, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao eagerly announced, "Just wait until tomorrow—you’ll see what we brothers are capable of!"
The next day, Yang Ren issued a challenge. Wen Zhong’s reinforcents had yet to arrive, and the Shang Army had no one capable of lasting even a single round against him.
Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao exchanged glances. Xiao Sheng gripped a copper coin with two pairs of tiny wings, spurred his horse forward, and flung it directly at Yang Ren.
The armor on Yang Ren’s body imdiately disassembled, transforming into a purple, cube-shaped summoning device that flew into the hollow center of the coin and beca irreversibly disconnected from Yang Ren. Together, they landed in Xiao Sheng’s hand.
Yang Ren’s expression changed drastically as he charged forward to reclaim his armor-turned-transforr.
It was obvious Xiao Sheng had no idea what kind of treasure he had just acquired, but being an immortal wasn’t for idiots. He strapped the summoning device to his waist and gave it a light tap, prompting it to emit a radiant purple light.
The Purple Ribbon Immortal Armor wrapped itself over Xiao Sheng’s body.
Unfamiliar with the artifact but guided by its user manual, Xiao Sheng stretched out his hands and inspected the armor in every direction. When Yang Ren lunged forward again, Xiao Sheng instinctively summoned a massive purple greatsword and clashed against Yang Ren’s blade-like chanical arm.
Their martial skills were fairly evenly matched, but Xiao Sheng’s superior cultivation and the advantages provided by the immortal armor left Yang Ren’s heated vision and cold ice breath ineffective. Even his chanical arm, capable of dealing damage, fell short due to his lack of proficiency with it.
From a distance, the disciples of the Chan Sect saw how the battle was turning and hurriedly put away their magical treasures. However, one stubborn exception remained—Lei Zhenzi!
Having regained his confidence over a long period of recovery, he now dashed forward, clad in his own armor and wielding the Fire-tipped Spear, pointing it directly at Xiao Sheng.
Xiao Sheng wasn’t one to show off. Without hesitation, he tossed the Treasure Money to Cao Bao.
Following Xiao Sheng’s example, Cao Bao flung the copper coin at Lei Zhenzi. Instantly, Lei Zhenzi’s Mystic Eagle Immortal Armor disassembled as well. Grabbing the summoning device, Cao Bao donned the armor and rcilessly mocked Lei Zhenzi, whose plucked wings now looked utterly pathetic.
Lei Zhenzi was furious. Manifesting his three heads and eight arms, he unleashed an arsenal of treasures: the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Shield, Fire-tipped Spear, Demon Suppressing Sword, Golden Brick, Dharma Wheel, Treasure Mallet, Huntian Silk, and Qiankun Ring. Beneath him, the Wind and Fire Wheels spun furiously.
Cao Bao took one look and exclaid, "Well, damn! We’ve hit the jackpot!"
Back at Wuyi Mountain, even ten independent immortals couldn’t scrape together one decent treasure, yet here was Lei Zhenzi, flaunting top-tier magical items in each hand as if they grew on trees.
"How’s anyone supposed to handle this?"
Cao Bao declared, "I, Cao Bao, have officially had it with the filthy rich! Hand them over!"
The tiny wings on the Treasure Money flapped so vigorously they almost sparked as Cao Bao dismantled and reclaid every single magical treasure Lei Zhenzi possessed. Overjoyed, Cao Bao couldn’t help but grin. With this bounty, he’d return to Wuyi Mountain as the undisputed mountain king!
But he had no idea what price he would pay for this triumph.
Lei Zhenzi, unwilling to accept defeat, charged at Cao Bao with his bare fists. Cao Bao quickly stashed most of the treasures, leaving only the Qiankun Ring and Fire-tipped Spear. Clad in the Mystic Eagle Armor and with a cultivation level higher than Lei Zhenzi’s, it only took two moves to humble the enraged Lei Zhenzi.
"So *this* is what my past opponents felt like!" Cao Bao marveled.
Seeing that things were escalating out of control, Jiang Ziya hurriedly sounded the withdrawal signal.
Lei Zhenzi flapped his injured wings, grabbed Yang Ren, and fled. Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, unable to match their speed, let them go.
Back at camp, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao were elated. It was a "zero-cost shopping spree"—pure bliss!
Admiring their newfound loot, they inspected each item thoroughly before evenly dividing the spoils and heading off to celebrate at the feast.
Having made such a splash earlier that day, they were now the brightest stars in the camp!
While Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao were reveling, Lei Zhenzi and Yang Ren sat grimly, wearing expressions as dismal as defeated kittens. They looked to Jiang Ziya with pleading eyes.
Their aning was obvious: "We lost our treasures for *your* sake, Uncle. You’ve got to get them back for us."
Old Jiang glanced at Wei Hu, who sat with his eyes closed, ditating and showing no intention of helping.
Behind him, Han Dulong and Xue Ehu mimicked his indifference.
As mbers of the second batch of "master-as-tribulation-shield" success stories, they had little tribulation energy left and no interest in further risks. Wei Hu, especially, had no desire to ascend to the Heavenly Court. What use were those gods anyway?
Old Jiang was truly worried now. As things stood, there were only two viable candidates to deal with Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao: Yang Jian and Master Huang Long.
But both had a fatal flaw—they were broke. Neither relied on magical treasures in fights.
Huang Long’s treasure sword could technically pass as a magical treasure, but Yang Jian’s Three-pointed Two-edged Blade was a flood dragon in disguise. Even if they lost their treasures, they couldn’t lose their pets, right?
Unfortunately, Yang Jian hadn’t returned since leaving. No one even knew where to find him.
And as for Master Huang Long, the last ti he visited the Heavenly Court, it was just to freeload food and drink. He didn’t follow the Chan Sect immortals back to Kunlun but instead stayed in West Zhou to recuperate. Dragging him out now would seem unreasonable.
After all, he’d co to help, not to be exploited!
At least let the man heal first, right?
Originally, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao only had the Treasure Money; their combat strength wasn’t that high. With Wei Hu holding mundane weapons, there had still been a chance. Now each of them had a suit of formidable armor and the divine equipnt they’d pilfered from Lei Zhenzi. Even Wei Hu would be at a disadvantage.
In the end, Old Jiang ca up with an idea: request reinforcents. Who to call? Yang Jian.
But the thought of returning to Yuxu Palace made him cringe. Every ti he went there, Bai He’s disdainful gaze pierced his heart—an indignity for soone his age, over eighty.
"Go if you want; I’m not going anymore. Worst case, West Zhou falls. My wife and son can retire to Nantang and enjoy life there."
"Nantang has our people too!"
After giving his instructions, Jiang Ziya mounted the Four Unlikes and set off for Nantang.
His timing was impeccable. Nezha had just mastered his new cultivation technique and returned to Nantang, intending to visit the Doushuai Temple in the Heavenly Court to refine so dicines. While the new technique was insanely powerful, it drained him physically. Luckily, his teacher had prescribed herbal redies to counteract the toll on his body.
By balancing training with dicinal supplents, he managed to stay in good shape.
As fate would have it, their paths crossed.
Over at Daji’s palace, Daji and Deng Chanyu leaned against Nezha’s shoulders, one on each side. Daji animatedly recounted a story to Deng Chanyu about the Little Raksamon Girl.
"So there I was, stretching out my leg like this, and the little girl froze with wide eyes. After stamring for ages, she finally managed to squeak out, ’Fox spirit!’—I nearly died laughing!"
Deng Chanyu was laughing so hard her chest heaved. "That girl, claiming to be the Rashamon Princess, huh? What a joke!"
Nezha chid in eagerly, "Exactly, exactly. How could she possibly compare to the two grand kings of Nantang?"
Outside, one of Daji’s handmaidens gently knocked on the door and respectfully announced, "Great Kings, Honored Prince Consort, West Zhou’s Pri Minister Jiang Ziya is here to seek an audience. He claims to be looking for soone."
The trio were old acquaintances of Jiang Ziya. Nezha casually tidied up and stepped out to et him, while Daji and Deng Chanyu, now of high status, prepared themselves to et him as well, knowing it could no longer be as carefree as their past etings.
After Nezha left the chamber, two lines of palace maids carrying various outfits entered to assist Daji and Deng Chanyu in preparing.
Nearly an hour later, the two won finally erged, fully dressed. Daji was clad in a golden royal robe, while Deng Chanyu dazzled in a black one, both exuding an undeniable aura of majesty.
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