Chapter 43: The Phoenix Cries at Qi Mountain, Ji Chang's Worries

  Suddenly, a clear and bright light appeared in the air, and a white light fell straight into the Water Immortal Cave. The dark clouds on all sides were like covering water, slowly pouring into the cave. The long cloud rotated and fell, forming a huge hourglass on the mountain top, with the mouth of the hourglass facing Zhang Emperor's eyebrow center.

  Just as the sky leaks and falls, it's like a great house is about to collapse. The heart stores the spirit, in the acquired realm it is called the spirit of recognition, in the innate realm it is called ritual propriety. When empty of sorrow, the spirit becomes stable, and the fire energy of the Red Emperor of the South arrives at the origin.

  The liver stores the ethereal soul, in the acquired realm it is called the wandering soul, in the innate realm it is called benevolence. When empty of joy, the ethereal soul becomes stable, and the wood energy of the Green Emperor of the East arrives at the origin.

  The spleen stores the intellect, in the acquired realm it is called the deluded intellect, in the innate realm it is called faith. When empty of desire, the intellect becomes stable, and the earth energy of the Yellow Emperor of the Center arrives at the origin.

  The lungs store the corporeal soul, in the acquired realm it is called the ghostly corporeal soul, in the innate realm it is called righteousness. When empty of anger, the corporeal soul becomes stable, and the metal energy of the White Emperor of the West arrives at the origin.

  The kidneys store the essence, in the acquired realm it is called the turbid essence, in the innate realm it is called wisdom. When empty of pleasure, the essence becomes stable, and the water energy of the Black Emperor of the North arrives at the origin.

  This is the five Qi in the chest. With these five elements, one has already reached the realm of the immortal, which is the longevity of the ancient times, not subject to the control of heaven and earth, forever green for ten thousand years, without being affected by worldly dust!

  That dark shadow, seeing this, actually retreated in slow steps, its body gradually dispersing. Zhang Emperor Xin let out a long sigh of relief and suddenly opened his eyes to find a brilliant light shooting straight up to the sky, illuminating the heavens into a bright blue!

  Zhang Di Xin suddenly felt his heart calm and peaceful, the objects he saw with his eyes clearer than before, the air in his chest more abundant than before. Even the clear air circulating through his meridians was slower and more relaxed than usual. As it circulated through his body several times, it flowed even more smoothly and harmoniously than before.

  "Crack!" In the Xiqi city, Ji Chang was calculating the heavenly timing, but unexpectedly, the turtle shell in his hand had just revealed a hint, and suddenly cracked open from the middle, breaking into two pieces.

  In this, one side is in harmony with the heavenly pattern of perfection, and Ji Chang knew that the number of his descendants would be complete. On the other hand, it is rugged and overgrown, following the heavenly pulse which is cut off in the middle, one side is sunken and horizontal, with branches changing, it is a chaotic pattern, difficult to distinguish.

  "Heaven's will is hard to predict, heaven's will is hard to predict......" Ji Chang saw this hexagram and couldn't help but sigh, "This hexagram is both extremely auspicious and ominous, yet I don't know what Heaven has in store..."

  After a long time, Ji Chang finally covered up the turtle shell and slowly got up, saying: "Can the king's sons be in the mansion?"

  "Reporting to Your Highness, except for West Ping Hou who is outside, all the other princes are in the mansion." Ji Chang furrowed his brow upon hearing this, and just as he was about to speak, he let out a sigh. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh and walked into the room, not coming out again.

  But at this time, it was just the spring hunt season, all things were reviving, a hundred herbs were stretching green, and four sides were lush with new life. The clear wind was blowing gently from eight directions, and the whole sky and earth were filled with beautiful scenery.

  The river water begins to move, a bay of clear and gentle flow, moistening the spring soil with a deep color, green water and green shore. A line of horse riders comes from the head of the river, led by one person, wearing a golden helmet and silver armor, with a white horse and a blue-green saddle. The horses are all colorful, if you ask where they come from, it is Xiqi City outside the Western Pingling!

  "Master Hou, it's getting late, you should head back to the mansion." The person who spoke was a man standing behind Ji Fa, wearing an ice-cracked patterned robe and a tall white jade crown on his head, riding a Lu white horse. This person was none other than San Yi Sheng, a high-ranking official of Xiqi.

  Shan Yi Sheng was a great family in the Western Qi, and even in the Hou Mansion, he couldn't help but receive assistance from the Shan family. The Marquis of Xi had received many favors from the Shan family since his early days, and Ji Chang cherished their kindness, considering them close friends, and thus appointed him as the Grand Master of the Western Territory.

  "You're such a sourpuss, how can you be so depressing? If you want to go back, just go back on your own, don't keep chattering here!" Ji Fa had been out hunting for a long time and hadn't seen any gains that day. He was already feeling irritable in his heart and was about to speak when the man riding the red horse with a full beard spoke up first.

  "Nan Gong Yu, you're spouting nonsense! If all the people around Master Hou were like you, wouldn't it be a chaotic mess?! How can we talk about the prosperity of Xi Qi when things are in such disarray!" Upon hearing this, San Yi Sheng became enraged and immediately brought up the matter of Guo Xing's rebellion. Ji Fa was already feeling anxious, and upon hearing these words, his brow furrowed even deeper.

  Nan Gong was even more annoyed by these so-called wise ministers, one by one, the rise and fall of the world, is just a paper talk, no great use: "The prosperity of Xiqi, the prosperity of Xiqi is not achieved by just talking about it with your mouth!"

  "Nan Gong Yu, you...you're spouting nonsense!" Scattered Yi was so angry that he was shaking all over. On the other side, Nan Gong Yu's atmosphere was also extremely tense. If not for his status, he would have dismounted and dragged Scattered Daifu down to give him a good beating!

  "Two men, Wen Zhiwu and Wu Gong, are the pillars of the imperial court. General Nan Gong is the commander-in-chief of the Western Expedition Army. How can they be at odds with each other? It's all the fault of this humble king. I'll return to the palace now. The two of you, put aside your differences for the sake of the greater good, and don't quarrel." Ji Fa said to San Yisheng and Nan Gong Shi, also feeling quite helpless. These two men were important officials in Western Qi, and both internal and external affairs relied heavily on them.

  However, if they have a good relationship, this can only account for three points, and the other seven points are joy. These two people do not match, but it's good that they restrain each other. If these two people get along well, that would be troublesome.

  San Yisheng heard the words, but could only suppress his emotions, flinging his long sleeves and turning away without another word. Nangong Shi had wanted to speak up, but was glared at by Zhang Dixing, so he shrugged and also fell silent.

  The princess shook her head, and from that day on, whenever they went out, it was better to separate the two of them to avoid disturbing the atmosphere. The attendants here saw the Marquis of Xiping nodding, and turned their horses back to the mansion. Just then, a red glow suddenly rose up in the west!

  The red light is like a curtain, and it's the countless rays of light that slant down, reflecting off the clouds at the edge of the sky, adding another layer of color. The layered white clouds also turn into strips of red, stretching out endlessly, filling the western sky. Below, Mount Qi is enveloped in this radiant glow.

  In an instant, Mount Qi suddenly began to move slowly in the eyes of everyone, a wave of heat surged from the mountain, a flame shot into the sky, as if the sky was about to turn red, the rolling heat waves broke through the upper layer of clouds and rushed straight into the sky!

  This is... the maiden's gaze reached the horizon, and she couldn't help but pause, her footsteps involuntarily moving forward. Suddenly, a seven-colored cloud rose from Mount Qi, followed by a loud clap of thunder. The seven-colored light burst forth in an instant, and amidst it, a seven-colored divine bird slowly took flight. Its body was like that of a mandarin duck, its wings resembled those of a great roc, its legs were like those of a celestial crane, and in its beak, it held a bright red blood pearl. Behind it trailed a seven-colored tail feather, dancing in mid-air!

  The bird soared in the mid-air, its beak chirping incessantly. A seven-colored rainbow rose up, sprinkling the entire sky with colorful lights that flew out in all directions, shining brightly and beautifully in every corner of the horizon. The whole mountain was illuminated by it, making everything look even more beautiful, like a painting. It captivated everyone's hearts and minds, entrancing them within its beauty.

  Could it be... the mysterious bird?! Ji Fa's heart was stirred, and she couldn't help but move forward, her footsteps approaching, when suddenly a seven-colored red light flew straight into the mountains, and the magnificent painting scroll vanished without a trace!

  San Yisheng, Nan Gong Shi and others knelt down as soon as the big bird flew out. They saw it disappear earlier and only lifted their heads now. However, they saw a colorful light falling into the hands of Hou Ye. Ji Fa lowered his head and saw that there was an extra seven-colored jade pendant in his hand. The jade pendant was one foot square, with eight characters engraved in the middle: "Yin Shang's prosperity declines, Ji Shi should rise!"

  The decline of the Yin and Shang dynasties, the rise of the Ji clan... could it be that there is a will of heaven in the darkness? Ji Fa's heart was unable to stir for a long time, and his hand trembled slightly, almost dropping the jade pendant to the ground. Xian Yi saw this and shot him a glance from the side. Nan Gong had been displeased with him earlier, but he knew that this matter could not be revealed, so he slowly drew out the long sword at his waist...

  "Father, this is a heavenly omen. I, Xi Qi, should take the lead and rise up to become a wise ruler of the world!" Ji Fa returned home and told everything that had happened today to Ji Chang. Upon hearing the words, Ji Chang held the blood jade and pondered for a long time before slowly speaking: "What nonsense! This is a heavenly auspicious sign, how can you recklessly take up arms!"

  Xiang'er heard this and immediately hung her head in silence, thinking to herself: "Why is Master Hou so cowardly? The Xiang family has always been favored by heaven, how can we not follow the will of heaven?"

  On the side, Bo Yun saw Ji Fa like this, and couldn't help but laugh in his heart. King Xi Ping also asked how he could get the world, wasn't it still his own? He opened his mouth and said: "Father king, my second brother's words are very good, only this matter needs to find an opportunity, absolutely cannot be too hasty."

  Ji Chang listened and simply shook his head, waving his hand: "The heavens are not responding at this time, Fa'er you stay behind, you wait for a while before retreating."

  Ji Fa was delighted to be left behind, but Bo Yi Kao was discontented in his heart, yet he could do nothing about it. He secretly resented himself for not going to the spring hunt at Qi Mountain today, which allowed this person to gain an advantage.

  Bo Yikao stepped down, and Ji Chang just stared at the jade pendant in his hand, speechless for a long time. Ji Fa didn't know what Xi Bo Hou meant, although he was impatient in his heart, he had to wait quietly.

  "Ah, young one, what do you think of this jade pendant?" Only after the lamp in the room was lit and the moon outside shone brightly with sparse stars did Ji Chang slowly speak up.

  "This... " The question of the Marquis of Xi Bo was not easy to answer, and Ji Fa furrowed his brow as soon as he heard it. He could only force himself to reply, "This is heaven's will. The seven colors of the mysterious bird predict that Western Qi will prosper and Yin Shang will decline. When the time comes, it will be the day when my father, the king, ascends to the throne."

  Ji Chang listened, his face half joyful and half worried, unable to discern the intention. He let out a long sigh: "This is heavenly clarity, but why was it not given to me? I'll ask you, if you were the Son of Heaven, what would you do?"

  "When praying for the people, resolving the world's great calamities, supporting the poverty of all the people, and making the four seas surge upwards, the common people will enjoy happiness!" Ji Fa heard this and immediately responded on horseback. In his heart, he thought that Ji Chang was very popular among the people, had always been wise and virtuous, and such a response would be exactly what he liked, perfect in every way.

  Ji Chang heard this and let out a long sigh, shaking his head. After a while, he slowly spoke: "If you were to rule the world, you must treat your brothers well. If... if..."

  Ji Chang said this, but did not continue. He grasped the world and treated his brothers well. Ji Fa didn't know why Xibo Hou made such a request, so he was confused and didn't dare ask more questions. He could only listen to the request and say "I remember", then retreated.

  "The phoenix is born, although it's a great prosperity, it can't be without great difficulties..." Ji Chang held the jade pendant, pondered for a long time, and was about to smash it, but he restrained himself, sighed for a long time, and could only carefully put it away, no longer looking at it.

  Suddenly appeared, a mysterious woman in a fiery red dress knelt before a man, who slightly raised an eyebrow and asked: "Have you done all that I instructed?"

  The woman nodded in agreement, the Taoist slightly nodded and a hint of smile appeared on his face. He handed her an object and waved his hand saying: "This is very good, you go cultivate quietly and wait, if there's anything, someone will come find you." "Thank you Master for your kindness, I'll take my leave..." The woman finished speaking and transformed into a red light, disappearing to who-knows-where...