Chapter 2: Three Spirits at Xuanyuan Tomb
"What? How can such a foolish person still have the blessing of vital energy flow?" Nuwa slowly extended her jade-like hand, finger counting, "the Shang still has twenty-eight years of vital energy..."
With that, she couldn't intervene personally. After all, Nuwa was still the Heavenly Saint with the help of merits by creating humans. If she acted recklessly, she might face a counterattack...
But enduring this was not an option.
"No... Summon my demon emissary!" Soon, the demon emissary was presented to Nuwa by a young boy.
With a gentle shake, the area outside the Nuwa Palace was instantly in chaos! Countless demons knelt before Nuwa: "Goddess Nuwa!"
Nuwa nodded, "All demons, step back. The three spirits from Xuanyuan Tomb, come forward!"
"Yes!"
In an instant, a demonic wind stirred in the Nuwa Palace. When the hurricane subsided, the myriad demons were gone, leaving only three beautiful women kneeling at Nuwa's feet: Nine-Tailed Fox, Jade Pipa, and Nine-Headed Pheasant.
"Follow my orders!"
“Yes, Your Highness.”
"With the Shang's luck running out, you three find a way to infiltrate the imperial palace, interfere with the internal affairs, and harm the fate of the Shang Dynasty!"
"Yes!"
Three beams of light flashed, and the three spirits vanished, returning to Xuanyuan Tomb...
...
"Your Majesty, the country is currently suffering from widespread floods, and the people are in dire straits. There are also droughts in some areas with no harvest!"
Di Xin asked, "What do you all think I should do?"
"We ministers believe this is a natural disaster. Your Majesty should bathe and change clothes, then go to the Nuwa Palace to pray to Goddess Nuwa!"
The courtiers immediately agreed, "Lord Bi Gan's suggestion is excellent!"
"We also believe that Your Majesty should go to the Nuwa Palace again!"
Di Xin nodded, understanding what these people meant.
"Prime Minister Shang, what about the casualties from the floods?"
"Um... in the millions!"
"Good. Bi Gan, I ask you again, how about the drought and famine among the people?"
Bi Gan shook his head, answering, "I don't know!"
"One in the millions, one unknown!" Di Xin slapped the dragon case in front of him angrily, glaring at the officials. "As the pillars of the country, instead of aiding in the disaster, you are blaming me and asking me to worship Nuwa!"
"Absurd!"
"Let me ask you, when did the worship begin, and when did the offerings run out?"
"In which year did disasters not occur?"
"We are the owners of ourselves and things can only happen when we make them so. What’s the use of worshiping those celestial beings up in the heaven? Why not focus on governing the nation?"
"When the great flood ravaged, did Emperor Yu beg Nuwa?"
"People say there are foolish rulers in the world; looking at you, you are simply foolish ministers!"
"With your idle ways, how can the prosperous Shang Dynasty thrive?"
For a moment, the Jinluan Hall fell silent.
"Dismissed!" Di Xin grabbed a few memorials in front of him and returned to the harem.
Shang Rong and others looked at each other.
"Is this... our Emperor?"
"It doesn't seem right. Every word makes sense, but none of them seem to be the ones that our Emperor would say..."
No one understood why Di Xin seemed like a different person today.
At this moment, a eunuch approached.
"Prime Minister Shang, Lord Bi Gan, His Majesty requests your presence for a meeting..."
The two exchanged glances, each with their thoughts.
"We obey!"
In the rear hall, the two found not only Di Xin but also King Wucheng, Huang Feihu.
"Prime Minister Shang, with the severe flooding now, I heard that Li Jing, the General of Chentang Pass, has a good relationship with the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan. I want him to negotiate with the Dragon Clan to help solve the flood for our the Shang..."
"It may be difficult at this time. The Dragon Clan is inherently unruly; they may not be of use to the Shang Dynasty."
Di Xin's gaze was firm, "We must try!"
"Then, Your Majesty, who do you want to send?"
"This is something vitally important that I can't easily entrust to anybody. I can only trouble King Wucheng to go on this journey."
At this point, the system's voice suddenly sounded.
"The task triggered: Persuade the Dragon Clan to align with the Human Clan!"
"Reward: Ensure prosperity for the Shang Dynasty, gain five hundred years of cultivation, and receive the essence of the ancestral dragon's blood (reward can be advanced)!"
"Consequence of the failure: The fortune of the Shang Dynasty vanishes!"
"Does the host accept?"
Upon hearing this, Di Xin couldn't help but feel a tightness in his heart.
If the task failed, did that mean the fortune of the Shang Dynasty would disappear?
Then it was truly over!
However, the fact that rewards could be advanced would undoubtedly make it much easier to seek the Dragon Clan for assistance.
Given the current situation, he had no choice. If it was indeed a natural disaster, there was no need to take such risks...
But was though? The authority over rainfall had always been firmly in the hands of Heavenly Court, and the current state of the Shang Dynasty was likely related to those celestial beings!
With such indulgence, the demise of the Shang Dynasty was just a matter of time.
"Accept the task!"
As soon as he spoke, a drop of blood, imbued with powerful vitality, appeared in his hand.
"King Wucheng, take this with you."
"Yes!"
"King Wucheng, remember, this item must not be lost. If the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan refuses to join us, show this to them."
"Also, check how many children Li Jing has now. If the third one is born, have him come to see me!"
Knowing that Nezha, that troublesome child, held a crucial position in the Shang Dynasty's destiny, his appearance signified the opening of the divine trial!
If this little guy had already been born, there was no chance to win over the Dragon Clan.
Huang Feihu took the box containing the ancestral dragon's blood from the system and bowed deeply to Di Xin before leaving the hall.
The Chentang Pass.
"Chentang Pass General Li Jing pays his respects to King Wucheng!"
Huang Feihu smiled, "No need for excessive courtesy. I heard that General Li has a close relationship with the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan?"
"Not very close, just occasional interactions..."
"Can you please introduce me to them?"
Li Jing was puzzled; he didn't understand why King Wucheng wanted to meet the Dragon Clan.
"I wonder what King Wucheng wants from them?"
Huang Feihu explained, "The Emperor sent me to discuss an alliance with the Dragon Clan..."
"Alliance? The Dragon Clan has been secluded for years, and their temperament is untamed. They may not be willing to ally with us."
"General Li, just make the introduction. This concerns the prosperity of our Shang Dynasty and is very important."
"Oh, then I will definitely give my full recommendation!"
Huang Feihu nodded and glanced at Li Jing's wife.
Li Jing was uneasy.
Is King Wucheng interested in my wife?
Should I directly refuse him when he speaks, or should I politely decline...
"I see that Madam Li is pregnant."
"Yes, this is our third child."
Now Huang Feihu was in a dilemma. The Emperor mentioned that he wanted to see Li’s three children, but it hadn't been born yet.
How should this be counted?
Two and a half?
Madam Li was pregnant, and she couldn't travel for a long time. It seemed he had to hurry back to the capital to ask the Emperor how to handle this.
"The Emperor is concerned about General Li and specially asked me to see how General Li is doing. Seeing that you already have three children, General Li is truly fortunate!"
Li Jing breathed a sigh of relief. Fine, as long as it's not about my wife.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone