565: The calamity has a new target.

"Fa'er..." A flicker of complex emotion flashed in the eyes of the Marquis of the West.

The signs of "Phoenix Singing on Mount Qi" and "Flying Dragon in the Sky" he had obtained from his divination were not false.

That was a path of blood and fire indicated by the old heavenly secrets.

Now, by responding to the calamity with his own body, he had severed that path and ascended to a divine position; in a sense, he had also cut off the "Supreme" fate of the human world that Ji Fa might have touched.

"As your father, I have chosen another path for you.

It is just that this path requires you to walk it yourself using Karma, and to verify it with time," the Marquis of the West sighed softly. "I hope you can come to an understanding soon."

He withdrew his gaze and swept it over his other sons.

Bo Yikao was benevolent, Ji Fa was firm and courageous, and the other sons each had their own strengths, whether in civil governance, martial arts, or moral conduct.

If they could walk the Righteous Path, accumulate Karma, and die at the right time, their souls would be evaluated by the heavenly law of merit and virtue,

and perhaps they would truly have a chance to fill some of the Star Lord divine positions; by then, father and son would be gods in the same hall, together controlling the stars of the universe, which would be a fine story indeed.

The Marquis of the West had ascended to the Ziwei Emperor position, his divine light shining upon the universe, but he also bore the heavy burden of two hundred divine positions.

Although he was more tired than a dog every day, he had ultimately detached himself from the Karma of the human world, overlooking the changes of the mortal world with the body of a deity.

However, the human world had not become completely peaceful because of his passing and ascension to godhood.

Undercurrents were surging and brewing in Western Qi, in the world, and among the Cultivators.

Western Qi, Bo Marquis Mansion.

Bo Yikao had already succeeded to the position for some time.

He was generous, benevolent, and filial, strictly following his father's orders, implementing benevolent governance, and lightening taxes; under his administration, the livelihood of the people in Western Qi had not changed much, and the common people loved and respected him.

For the common people, as long as the monarch did not cause trouble, he was a good monarch.

Bo Yikao strictly implemented his father's governing policies, which also kept everything in Western Qi on the right track.

On the drill ground, the wind of the spear whistled, whipping up dust that filled the sky.

Ji Fa's long spear was like a dragon emerging from the sea, its Aura fierce, every move containing an irrepressible ferocity and... malice.

With the final move, he withdrew the spear, the tip piercing the bluestone on the ground, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.

His chest heaved, sweat rolling down his sharp, angular cheeks, but there was not a shred of satisfaction in his tiger-like eyes, only an inseparable gloom and unwillingness.

"Second Young Master, excellent spear technique!"

A trusted general on the side stepped forward and praised in a low voice.

Ji Fa wiped his sweat: "What use is a good spear technique? Father's last orders, my elder brother's benevolence, the Son of Heaven's sagacity! A hero has no place to use his martial prowess."

"Phoenix Singing on Mount Qi... Flying Dragon in the Sky... Clearly there was a destined future, yet it was forcibly severed by his own father's hand."

"Father! For your own position. For the title of Ziwei Emperor, you forcibly severed your son's path to the heavens."

"How can I respect you, revere you now? My father, Lord."

The news of the Marquis of the West becoming the Ziwei Great Emperor of the Heavenly Court was not hidden.

Instead, it quickly spread throughout the Three Realms of cultivation; whether immortal or demon, those with some background all knew about this matter.

As the Emperor's family, they also knew about it, and took it as their greatest honor.

"Second Young Master," the confidant lowered his voice, "The old Marquis has deep foresight, perhaps there is another arrangement."

"Now that the Ziwei Emperor resides high in the Nine Heavens, perhaps he could..."

"Father is already a Heavenly God, the heavenly law is clear, how could he be partial?"

Ji Fa interrupted him, "He used my future to trade for his current position, do not mention that Ziwei Emperor to me."

"Human affairs must ultimately rely on human means."

"Father fulfilled his 'virtue', his 'morality', and went to the Heavenly Court. But what about me? Where is my path?"

He recalled some days ago, when a few strange-looking outsiders had secretly visited, expressing much dissatisfaction with that "reforming" Son of Heaven in Zhaoge,

and even sneered at the newly established "heavenly law of merit and virtue" of the Heavenly Court, calling it "restricting nature, severing transcendence."

They vaguely revealed that the world was not monolithic, and among the eight hundred dukes, there were many who harbored different ambitions, but they were afraid of the Yin Shang military might and the current Son of Heaven's reputation for "wisdom," so they dared not act rashly.

One of the black-robed Taoists looked at him meaningfully and said: "Extraordinary people should do extraordinary things. Heaven helps those who help themselves; only by striving for it yourself can the will of Heaven favor you."

"Striving for it yourself, intercepting a glimmer of life, that is the Righteous Path."

"Jiejiao..." Ji Fa gripped the spear shaft tightly.

He had heard of this name, the largest sect between heaven and earth, with ten thousand immortals under its banner, shaking heaven and earth.

It was a massive force that even the Heavenly Court had to retreat from.

At this moment, a personal soldier ran over quickly, bowed and reported: "Second Young Master, someone outside the mansion asks to see you, claiming to be a Qi Refining practitioner from Jinao Island, surnamed Lü, named Yue."

"Lü Yue?" Ji Fa raised an eyebrow. He had not heard this name, but the three words "Jinao Island" made his heart skip a beat.

He waved away his attendants, leaving only that trusted general, "Invite him to the side hall to meet, do not make a scene."

In the side hall, tea fragrance curled.

The visitor was a middle-aged Taoist, his complexion glowing with a strange green Aura, his eyes flickering with green fire when opened and closed, wearing hemp clothes and carrying a huge medicine gourd on his back.

He did not exchange pleasantries, directly sizing up Ji Fa, and grinned: "As expected of the destined Emperor Star, with Evil Qi contained within, it's a pity that it is bound by the 'benevolence' Aura of this Western Qi, unable to extend its claws."

Ji Fa dismissed his attendants and looked directly at the other party: "Daoist, why do you say that? All of us in Western Qi strictly adhere to the duties of a subject, where does this 'binding' come from?"

Lü Yue sneered and sat down on his own: "Second Young Master, no need to speak in riddles before a clear person. How your father obtained the position of Ziwei Emperor, both you and I know clearly."

"He gave up the possible warfare of the human world, exchanging it for the honor of his own divine position and the peace of the Heavenly Court."

"Have you ever thought about where your Imperial fate as the Son of Heaven should be placed?"

"Could it be that you really want to stay in this Western Qi, be a general charging into battle for your benevolent elder brother for a lifetime, and then die on your bed, your soul returning to the Underworld to suffer the pain of eternal Reincarnation?"

Every word was like a knife.

Ji Fa's face was gloomy, but he did not refute, only saying: "Daoist, you didn't just come here to say these things, did you?"

"Naturally." Lü Yue said solemnly, "My sect leader has said: The Heavenly Dao is impermanent, only by fighting for a glimmer can one succeed."

"Now the Heavenly Court has established that 'heavenly law of merit and virtue,' which seems orderly, but in reality, it uses the so-called 'Karma' shackles to strangle the vibrant life of all things, severing our path of Heaven-Defying to change our fate!"

"The doctrine of my Jiejiao is precisely to intercept this glimmer of opportunity for transcendence for all sentient beings in the world!"

"Second Young Master bears the destiny of heaven, your fate is noble, and you originally had the potential to contend for the world."

"Although Di Xin is ostensibly wise now, the atmosphere of Zhaoge is no longer as pure as it was when the Cheng Tang dynasty was founded."

"He honors the Heavenly Emperor and belittles the sects."

"Among the eight hundred dukes, undercurrents are surging."

"This is the time for heroes to rise! We are willing to help you, Young Master, to resist the shackles of the Heavenly Court together and strive for a bright and clear universe!"

Ji Fa's heartbeat accelerated, his blood seemed to heat up, and Calamity Qi gathered frantically in his spiritual platform, amplifying his ambition and negative emotions, but he still retained his reason:

"I appreciate your kindness, Daoist. But... the Heavenly Court is powerful, and my father is also within it. Open confrontation is likely not a good strategy."