The Legend of Deification

  "No, the Sealing God Platform is the foundation, and the Sealing God List is just a token."

  Zheng Duan's identity is just a rural private school teacher, but he has the professional spirit that those bricklayers and beasts do not have. As a teacher, he transmits the Tao, teaches his skills, and dispels doubts, and also exhausts his energy to explain the truth to Lin Xu who comes to seek guidance.

  As soon as he heard these words, Lin Xu felt like he had been suffocating in a dark room for a long time and suddenly someone kindly opened a window, letting in the bright sunlight and fresh air from outside, filling his heart with an indescribable joy.

  Suddenly feeling a sense of clarity in his heart, Lin Xu joyfully got up and bowed to Zheng Duo, thanking him.

  "Lin certain received teachings, but how to say this Shentai method, and how to build it, I'm not talented yet, so I hope Mr. will give me more teachings."

  "I dare not accept your instruction, please condescend to enlighten me in detail."

  It must be admitted that historians are extremely skilled at gathering information and collecting intelligence on prominent figures. Their expertise in stealing secrets and rumors is absolutely comparable to that of ancient paparazzi, making them a shining example of being all-pervasive. People often see incongruous scenes in historical books, such as those strange scenarios where only two parties were privately talking, which shouldn't have had any third party present, even when many times they were in fully enclosed secret chambers, secretly discussing top-secret plots like rebellion and assassinating the emperor, a matter that would lead to the extermination of nine clans if a single whisper was leaked, absolutely not allowing anyone else to eavesdrop.

  It is incomprehensible that these seemingly impossible internal affairs were all clearly recorded by historians who should not have been present, written in black and white on historical books for later generations to admire the shameless style of their predecessors.

  If we analyze these facts in reverse, then either the historians themselves sat at home biting their pen tips and fabricated them out of thin air, or they went to eavesdrop on people's walls in the dead of night without sleeping, and there won't be a third explanation.

  That Lu Wang, who was habitually referred to as "General Jiang" by the people, was born into a family of historians, and his mother came from the noble Jiang clan of the pre-Qin era. This was also one of the reasons why Lu Wang later rose to prominence. If it weren't for this internal connection, in a society where nobility and aristocracy were revered, an ordinary commoner wouldn't have been able to rise to a high position no matter how talented they were.

  In pre-Qin times, the universal norm for addressing names was that men were referred to by their clan name, in order to distinguish between nobility and commoners. Women were referred to by their surname, in order to differentiate between those who were married and those who were not.

  The Jiang surname was a renowned and respected family at that time, with a status so high that it is hard for people to imagine nowadays. Even the emperors of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties had to frequently intermarry with the Jiang surname, constantly taking Jiang women as wives to maintain good relations between the two sides; other smaller vassal states didn't even need to be mentioned.

  Lü Wang, destined to achieve great things, first studied with the historian for a period of time. Later, for some unknown reason, he switched to studying military strategy under the tutelage of a military strategist. Eventually, through his calculations and assistance to King Wu of Zhou in overthrowing the Shang Dynasty's last ruler, Emperor Zhou of Shang, Lü Wang rose to prominence. Not long after the conquest of the Shang, the newly established Zhou Dynasty began rewarding its meritorious subjects, and subsequently enfeoffed Lü Wang on the eastern seaboard, tasking him with monitoring the Eastern Yi tribes. Thus, Lü Wang established what would become the illustrious state of Qi, bearing the surname Jiang, and eventually becoming one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period.

  What was said earlier is the content written in orthodox history, and in the unofficial history filled with struggles between gods and demons, Jiang Taigong's background became even more mysterious.

  No matter whether it is about Lü Wang's background as a practitioner or his academic experience in learning Taoism on Mount Kunlun, it seems to be hinting at one thing: the change of dynasty from Zhou to Shang, the initial cause and final result are not simple. Even later, there were writers who wrote a book of gods and monsters, which collected countless black materials, compiled into "The Investiture of the Gods". The book also focuses on the two objects that tightly connect the main storyline: the Investiture of the Gods and the Investiture Platform.

  The List of Enshrined Deities is a list of deified gods, which is easy to understand. The Altar of the Gods seems to be a purely ceremonial place, and it doesn't seem to have any profound or mysterious aspects either.

  When Lin Xu finished listening to Zheng Duan's astonishing words, he once again verified a simple truth: things can't be judged solely by appearance, and even if you see something with your own eyes, it may not necessarily be real, let alone what others have written.

  Struggling to digest and understand the large amount of dark history information coming from Zheng Duo's mouth, Lin Xu hesitantly said:

  "...In this case, Lü Bu's construction of the Fengshen Platform on Mount Qi was intended to suppress the Zhou dynasty's fortune."

  Upon hearing this, Zheng Duan burst out laughing and said:

  "That's natural, it's a situation where one stone can hit two birds, why wouldn't Taigong Wang be delighted to do so?"

  The sound of the zither string reveals a refined intention! Lin Xu had asked Zheng Duo so many questions, and naturally, Zheng Duo could also see his intentions. Zheng Duo himself was not a person who liked to hide or conceal things, he spoke straightforwardly:

  "May I ask if the Honorable God is intentionally emulating Lü Wang?"

  Facing Zheng Duo's inquiry, Lin Xu did not immediately make a positive response, but instead asked back:

  "Do you think it's feasible, sir?"

  Recalling the legendary battle of gods that took place at the transition between the Shang and Zhou dynasties, a war so brutal it was unparalleled in history, even a historian who had grown accustomed to the ebbs and flows of human affairs couldn't help but be moved.

  Carefully observing Lin Xu's changing expression, Zheng Duan suddenly let out a long sigh and said:

  "Alas, when a country is about to perish, there must be evil omens. This great Qin dynasty will probably soon come to an end as well. Changes in human affairs must originate from heavenly changes. Lately, I have been observing the celestial phenomena at night and often see guest stars appearing in the sky, which seems to be a warning sign from heaven! Since the gods have this intention, it is also following the trend to take action. Although success or failure is still uncertain, it doesn't hurt to give it a try."

  Lin Xu assumed a humble and attentive posture, nodding as he listened, saying:

  "Want to try your luck? Alright, at least there's something to bet on, better than nothing. Thanks for the advice, sir. I'll take my leave now."

  At this time, Zheng Duo raised his hand to stop Lin Xu from leaving and said:

  "Please stay for a moment, Lord. I have a map of the Sealing God Platform here, although it's incomplete, it might still be useful to you."

  Lin Xu took over the drawings with both hands, put them away properly and bowed his head to Zheng Duo, saying:

  "I dare not thank you for your great kindness today, I will repay it in the future, farewell for now."

  In the shape of ancient Chinese architecture, "Tai" refers to the palace building built on top of a large rammed earth foundation, the lower part of the earth mound is called "Tai", and the wooden structure on top of the earth mound is called "Xie". The two together are called "Tai Xie", also known as "Tai".

  As for the specific shape and size of this type of building, there has never been a uniform standard, with a relatively high degree of arbitrariness.

  In the Taoist classic "Tao Te Ching", there is a phrase "Nine-storeyed tower, rising from accumulated earth", which can be seen as a relatively vivid summary of the construction techniques of this type of building.

  If we talk about the most famous historical allusion related to "Tai", it is none other than Zhou Tianzi of Eastern Zhou, who was so heavily indebted that he had nowhere to escape and could only build a debt tower to hide in every day.

  The overall plan of the Sealing God Platform that Zheng Dang gave to Lin Xu, sounds exceptionally intimidating at first glance, but in reality it's just a building exterior diagram drawn with cinnabar and ink on animal skin. This drawing is not a magical artifact, nor can it even be considered a magical tool, it's just an unknown piece of animal skin.

  Affected by the negative impact of years of erosion, plus the destruction caused by water immersion and insect bites, fortunately Lin Xu is a divine being with piercing eyes that can see through the darkness. If it were someone else, they would probably die from exhaustion without being able to make out anything. It's already not easy to discern the general outline of Jiang Ziya's built Fēng Shén Tái just by looking at the layout of this painting, let alone with all the stains and holes on the painting covering up many details. Nevertheless, Lin Xu still appreciates Zheng Dōng's kind intention in gifting him the painting, and it's easier to follow the map than to fabricate something out of thin air.

  As the incarnation in Hanoi activated the divine technique to transmit the picture to Huoshan, Lin Xu began to prepare for the construction of the Sealing God Platform. The first thing to do was to select a site.

  The Tao Te Ching says that man is governed by the earth, the earth is governed by heaven, heaven is governed by the Tao, and the Tao is governed by nature. The human body has eight extraordinary meridians since birth, responsible for the circulation of energy, and corresponding to this, there are also earthly meridians under the ground, whose basic function is the same as that of the meridian points in the human body. This endless source of energy surging through the earthly meridians is fire, one of the four elements: earth, fire, water, and wind.

  The four elements belong to the innate realm and can exist independently without relying on the world, while the Yin-Yang school that summarizes the five elements of the post-heavenly theory believes that fire can generate earth, so the energy of the veins running through the earth can also be seen as fire energy, it's just that its relationship with the earth is a bit closer.

  With the three-life stone as a town thing and the drawings of the seal god platform in hand, Lin Xu's prospects can already be seen, he is on a winding and tortuous road of seeking.

  After months of hard work, with the help of a team that feared neither death nor hardship, day and night, a majestic tower stood proudly on the summit of Tianzhu Mountain, rivaling the fallen Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. From afar, it seemed as if this towering mountain had suddenly grown even taller, its grandeur awe-inspiring.

  Sealing a god sounds ordinary, but in the context of gods truly existing, it's no different from rebelling against the central authority. Even if this piece of land became an abandoned place for the Heavenly Court, the big shots seemed to have taken an attitude of letting things develop on their own. However, Lin Xu holding such a high-profile god-sealing ceremony is still a high-risk move. If the Heavenly Court has any dissatisfaction with this, they don't need to send out any major gods; just dispatching some heavenly soldiers and generals to investigate would be enough for Lin to get into big trouble.

  It's come to this, and there's no turning back now. Lin Xu calmed himself down, cleared his mind of distractions, and then stepped up onto the high platform.

  Lin Xu held a torch to ignite the sacrificial firewood, and along with the firewood, a large amount of incense and various offerings were also ignited. As the orange flames rolled up, thick smoke billowed straight into the clouds.

  At this scene, the audience below erupted in cheers. No way, those who can come here today are all under Lin Xu's command. In such a public occasion, if the younger brother doesn't give his boss some face, it's clear that he doesn't want to continue mixing with him anymore.

  Lin Xu turned around, his expression serious, and said loudly to his subordinates:

  "From today on, I shall be known as Lord of Mount Huo. When Heaven's Mandate is received, the establishment of the dynasty will begin."

  As Lin Xu's voice fell, a thunderous thunder suddenly sounded in the sky, and many yin soldiers and ghostly soldiers trembled with fear. Lin Xu looked up at the sky with his face upturned. Sealing gods is not for power and ambition, but to strengthen one's strength for survival. This reason has no shame under heaven, and he still has this confidence.

  After a thunderclap, a beam of light shone on Lin Xu's body, and an uncontrollable smile immediately appeared on his face. This beam of light signified the approval of the Heavenly Way, which meant that Lin Xu had won the gamble.

  "The people below the platform, come forward and listen to the imperial edict..."

  When Lin Xu said this, the assistants who had rehearsed several times before came to Lin Xu's side with a knowing look, and they all knelt on one knee waiting for their fiefs.

  At this time, Lin Xu slowly unfolded the yellow silk scroll and said in a loud voice:

  "Wang Liang steps forward to receive the appointment, I hereby appoint you as the Grand General of Shanyang Dao, and grant you the symbol of authority, seal, and ceremonial mace. Zhang Xin steps forward to receive the appointment, I hereby appoint you as the Grand General of Shanyin Dao, and grant you the symbol of authority, seal, and ceremonial mace. Mi Long steps forward to receive the appointment, I hereby appoint you as the Grand General of the Imperial Household Department, and grant you the ceremonial mace. Bai Tianxie steps forward to receive the appointment, I hereby appoint you as the Grand General of Placement, and grant you the ceremonial mace..."

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