Chapter 253 Union
The sun rises high in the sky, and on the top of the mountain surrounded by clouds and dancing cranes stands the Taoist palace of the Golden Spirit Mother, which is named "Purple Sky Jade Palace".

The Taoist palace is built against the mountain and is magnificent. The glazed tile roof shines brightly in the sun. The golden and purple lights interweave, reflecting the lush ancient trees and lingering smoke around it, adding a bit of mystery and solemnity.

Yu Yuan walked into the Taoist palace casually, and saw exotic flowers and plants blooming on both sides of the bluestone paved corridor, emitting a faint fragrance, leading him into a world beyond this world.

The palace is majestic, with flying eaves and carved with auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes and rolling clouds. Inside the palace, the candlelight flickers, and the light and shadow interweave, as if it can cleanse all distracting thoughts in people's hearts.

In this palace, Yu Yuan saw an old and majestic figure pacing back and forth. Although his Taoist robe was a little old, it could not conceal his extraordinary temperament.

Time has left deep marks on his face. His hair is as white as snow and his beard hangs down to his chest, but his eyes sparkle with indomitable spirit and wisdom.

Sometimes he gazed at the statue enshrined in the center of the hall, with his hands behind his back and a frown on his face, as if he was praying for guidance from the gods; sometimes he turned and looked outside the hall, his eyes penetrating the thick clouds and mist, as if he was looking for some unknown answer.

His anxiety was evident in his words, but Wen Zhong remained calm and composed.

"Junior brother, why are you so anxious?" Yu Yuan's hearty voice sounded, with a sense of carefreeness in his voice, which formed a sharp contrast with Wen Zhong who was full of worries.

"Ugh."

Wen Zhong sighed, "Brother, you have a high level of cultivation and a profound state of mind, so you will naturally not be bothered by these mundane matters. But I, your level of cultivation is not high enough, and I have too many trivial matters in my mind, which makes me feel very depressed."

"What's there to worry about? Don't we still have our Master?" Yu Yuan said carelessly, "If our Master won't help, I'll still be your senior brother! I'll stand up for you and teach that guy Yang Ling a lesson."

"Thank you, senior brother!"

Wen Zhong hurriedly thanked him, feeling warm in his heart.

No matter what, after returning to the Penglai Fairy Island, the brothers and master he met still took good care of him as before.

The two brothers started chatting in the hall.

Yu Yuan has been practicing on the Penglai Fairy Island and seldom goes out. He is very interested in the news from the outside world. As Wen Zhong is the Grand Master of the Shang Dynasty, news from all over the country will be gathered to him.

Therefore, one of them was responsible for talking and the other for listening, and they were chatting enthusiastically.

While they were chatting, the Golden Spirit Mother came back.

Wen Zhong hurriedly went over to him and asked expectantly, "Master, what did our great master say?"

"Let's put aside the conflict with the Human Religion for now."

The words of the Golden Spirit Holy Mother stunned Wen Zhong. He looked at his master in confusion and said in disbelief, "Are we going to give up the destiny of humanity that should belong to our Jie Sect?"

“The connection between the Great Shang and our Jie Religion is close. Even if the Human Religion supports Bigan to take over the throne of the Human King, it is impossible to sever the connection between the Great Shang and our Jie Religion.

At most, they can only get a piece of the pie, so how can they give it up?"

"But isn't this just a move against us?" Yu Yuan said in confusion, "Disciple doesn't quite understand why we should give in at this time?"

"Because the Chan sect also wants to attack us... Wen Zhong, do you know that Xiqi has already raised an army and is gathering a large force to march towards Chaoge?" The Golden Spirit Holy Mother stared at Wen Zhong and said.

"what?"

Wen Zhong was stunned. He really didn't know about this.

These days he had been thinking about how to attack Chaoge. In addition, the Chan sect deliberately cut off the news, so that he, the Grand Master of the Shang Dynasty, did not receive any news at all.

"The Xiqi army has already reached the gate of Sishui Pass." The Golden Spirit Holy Mother said calmly, "If we continue to fight with the Human Sect, I'm afraid that the Chan Sect will gain the upper hand for nothing."

At this moment, Yu Yuan seemed to have remembered something and exclaimed, "Sishui Pass? Isn't this the city pass where my disciple is?"

"Brother, when did you accept a disciple?" Wen Zhong asked in surprise, "Who is so lucky to be favored by you?"

"A deputy general of Sishui Pass, named Yu Hua... I still remember that twenty years ago, I was ordered by my master to go to Chaoge to visit you. On the way, I met a young man with excellent talent. On a whim, I taught him a few skills. I didn't expect that he learned so quickly..." Yu Yuan said with a smile on his face, and it was obvious that he was very satisfied with his disciple.

Wen Zhong nodded and said with a smile: "I see. When I return, I must meet this nephew properly."

"I'll go with you." Yu Yuan said seriously, "The Xiqi troops have already reached Sishui Pass. I'm a little worried, so I have to go and take a look."

Wen Zhong was overjoyed when he heard this, "It would be great if you could come with me!"

After saying this, he turned to look at the Golden Spirit Mother and bowed respectfully, "Disciple already knows what to do. I will go back and form an alliance with Yang Ling to deal with the Chan Sect together."

The Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit nodded and said, "If we can form an alliance, it would be a good thing. However, if they don't want to, we don't have to be so lowly. The worst that can happen is that both sides will be destroyed!"

"Yes, disciple understands!" Wen Zhong nodded heavily and said in a deep voice: "Master, don't worry, I will never lose face for Jiejiao!"

“Yes.” Seeing that he understood what she meant, the Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit nodded with satisfaction, turned to look at Yu Yuan, and admonished him: “Don’t be too competitive. If you encounter a strong enemy, retreat in time, and then take your time.”

"Don't worry, Master. I won't do anything rash." Yu Yuan said carelessly.

The Golden Spirit Mother frowned slightly, feeling a little uneasy, and said hesitantly: "Why don't you stay here..."

Before he could finish his words, Yu Yuan interrupted him and said, "That won't work. I don't know what the situation is with your disciple right now. I have to go and see for myself before I can rest assured."

"Okay, just be careful." Mother Goddess of the Golden Spirit reminded again.

"Do not worry."

Yu Yuan nodded, looked at Wen Zhong and said, "Brother, let's go quickly. I can't wait to see my disciple."

Wen Zhong nodded, bowed solemnly to the Golden Spirit Mother, then turned and left with Yu Yuan.

As soon as he came out of the Taoist Palace, his mount, the Black Qilin, immediately came to meet him.

Wen Zhong turned over and rode on the Black Qilin, while Yu Yuan beside him also rode on the Five-Cloud Camel. The two of them each rode their mounts into the air and rushed towards Da Shang.

……

Dashang West
Sishui Pass

This city is like a towering giant, standing among the mountains. Its height and majesty are breathtaking.

The city walls tower into the clouds, like an insurmountable barrier on the skyline, tightly wrapping the land and giving the residents an endless sense of security.

The city wall is made of huge stones and blue bricks. It has experienced erosion from wind and rain, but it is still as strong as ever. Every brick and stone seems to carry the weight of history, witnessing countless baptisms of war and years of peace.

On top of the city wall, arrow towers and city towers are arranged in an orderly manner, and beacon towers are towering into the clouds. Once an enemy attacks, they can quickly transmit the alarm, gather troops, and form an iron wall-like defense system.

The terrain of the city is extremely dangerous, with steep cliffs and bottomless ravines all around, as if it were a natural barrier set up by nature for this city.

Such terrain made it difficult for the enemy to launch an attack from the ground, and even if they did so, they would have to pay a huge price. Inside the city, however, there was a flat area with sufficient food and water, providing solid logistical support for the soldiers defending the city.

In this city, the characteristics of being easy to defend and difficult to attack were brought into full play. The solidity of the city walls, the strategic terrain, and the perfect defense facilities in the city together formed an indestructible line of defense.

It would be a pipe dream for the enemy to capture this city. Even the most powerful army would have to stop here and sigh in despair.

But now, a large army is marching towards Sishui Pass, vowing to flatten this majestic city!

At dusk that day, a million-strong army from Xiqi came like a surging tide, and arrived more than thirty miles away from Sishui Pass.

The momentum was so great that even the heaven and earth seemed to change color.

From afar, one could see flying dust and fluttering battle flags. Countless flags were waving in the wind, with totems and texts embroidered on them, demonstrating the identity of the Xiqi army.

In the army, war drums thundered, trumpets blew, and passionate war songs resounded through the sky, stirring the hearts of every soldier, making their blood boil and their fighting spirit high.

With the advancement of tens of thousands of vanguard troops, the open space in front of Sishui Pass was gradually filled up, and densely packed soldiers were arranged in neat formations, like a sea of ​​steel.

Their armor gleamed coldly in the sun, and the weapons in their hands flashed with cold light, revealing an unparalleled domineering aura.

However, facing this massive army, Sishui Pass did not show any panic or fear.

The towering city walls still stand tall, and the defenders on the arrow towers and city walls are on high alert, staring intently at the enemies below.

They knew that this pass city had high and thick walls, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack, and that the mountain roads were narrow. Even though the Xiqi army had a million people, it was impossible for them to attack together.

As the defenders of the city, the enemies they had to face were at most tens of thousands of people.

Of course, these tens of thousands of people must be the enemy's elite, the elite who are truly capable of capturing cities and plundering territories.

The setting sun was like blood, sprinkling on the ancient and solid city walls, coating the blue bricks and gray tiles with a layer of tragic golden glow.

On top of the city wall, the wind was whistling, carrying a bit of murderous atmosphere, and seemed to be telling of the upcoming decisive battle.

A middle-aged general wearing heavy armor and holding a spear stood at the highest point. His figure was elongated in the setting sun, appearing particularly tall and majestic.

His face was firm, and his eyes flashed with indomitable spirit and determination, as if he had put life and death aside, leaving only the desire for victory and a deep sense of responsibility towards his soldiers.

Behind him followed a group of generals who were also fully armed. Some of them held swords, some knives, and some bows. They stood alone with solemn yet brave expressions.

These generals are all warriors who have experienced many battles. Their eyes show both vigilance against the enemy and trust and respect for their commander.

Everyone's eyes looked past the battlements and toward the vast battlefield outside the city.

The Xiqi army came like a tide, a black mass, with flags waving, drums thundering, and the sound of horse hooves and shouts of killing intertwined together, shaking the earth.

However, in the face of this seemingly invincible offensive, the soldiers on the city walls did not panic or retreat at all.

On the contrary, their eyes were burning with an even more intense fighting spirit, as if they wanted to use this raging fire to burn all invading enemies to ashes.

The middle-aged general in the lead turned around and glanced at each general. His voice was steady and powerful: "Everyone, this battle concerns the safety of our city and the lives of the people. As military generals, we should set an example and defend the city to the death, live up to the trust of His Majesty, and live up to the expectations of the people!"

After saying this, he raised his spear and pointed it at the sky, as if declaring their determination and faith to the heaven and earth. The generals responded one after another, shouting in unison: "Defend the city to the death! Defend the city to the death!"

Their voices echoed on the city walls, penetrating the noise of the battlefield and reaching people's hearts.

"Tsk... quite impressive."

Thirty miles outside the city, a black-spotted tiger was walking slowly from a distance. Its steps were steady and powerful, and every step seemed to be in rhythm with the army's march, causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly.

This tiger has shiny black fur, and the spots on its body are like the brightest stars in the night sky, shining with a mysterious and majestic light.

Sitting on the tiger's back was a Taoist with an immortal look—Shen Gongbao.

He was wearing a long robe with wide sleeves, the lapels of which swayed gently in the wind. His silver hair was as white as frost and snow, his face was gaunt, and his eyes revealed extraordinary wisdom and depth.

Shen Gongbao held an exquisite whisk in his hand, gently placing it on his knees, and his whole body exuded a temperament that was detached from the world and one with heaven and earth.

Following Shen Gongbao, a five-colored divine bull came stepping on auspicious clouds. Its fur was colorful and shining with five different kinds of light, just like the most gorgeous rainbow in the sky descending to the earth.

On the back of the divine bull sat a mighty and heroic general. He was wearing golden armor and holding a spear. His brows revealed a heroic aura that made him look majestic without even being angry.

This general is none other than Huang Feihu, the former King Wucheng of the Shang Dynasty and today’s Grand Marshal of Xiqi!

At this moment, Huang Feihu was staring at Sishui Pass in front of him with a sharp and firm gaze. His wife and sister had both died tragically at the hands of Emperor Xin.

Even he himself had difficulty escaping to Xiqi.

He dreamed of returning to Chaoge and killing the tyrant with his own hands to avenge his hatred.

However, he did not expect that the tyrant had been killed first. However, this did not affect his leading the Xiqi army to conquer the Shang Dynasty.

In his opinion, the Shang Dynasty had already declined and grown old, and the young Xiqi Ji clan was the one who was destined to succeed!
Otherwise, why would the gods of the Chan sect come and help on their own initiative?
Huang Feihu was very confident. He felt that it was only a matter of time to capture Chaoge and overthrow the rule of the Shang Dynasty.

But before that, we must first take the first pass to the east - Sishui Pass!

At this time, Shen Gongbao pointed the whisk in his hand at Sishui Pass and asked in a deep voice: "General Huang, you see that this city pass is in a dangerous position. How should we attack it?"

Huang Feihu stared at the impregnable Sishui Pass with a sharp gaze. He had been through many battles and was very experienced. He could tell at a glance that Sishui Pass was easy to defend but difficult to attack. He frowned and said in a deep voice, "Sishui Pass is in a strategic location and is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If we use conventional methods, it may not work. I intend to use a surprise attack to catch the enemy by surprise, so that we can defeat the enemy."

Upon hearing this, Shen Gongbao curled up his lips into a faint smile, with the light of wisdom gleaming in his eyes.

"General Huang's words make sense, but our army has just arrived and morale is high. If we cannot win the first battle fairly, how can we boost our military prestige? I want to send our generals forward and challenge them to a fair fight, so that everyone in the world will know the bravery of our army."

Huang Feihu heard this, although he had some doubts in his heart, he also admired Shen Gongbao's courage and spirit, so he stopped talking and turned to mention the powerful enemy inside the pass: "The guard of this pass, Han Rong, is mediocre in martial arts and is not a big deal, but he has many powerful generals under his command, especially Yi Yuhua. This man is well versed in Taoism and is known as the 'Seven-Headed General'. The Soul-Slaying Banner in his hand is extremely powerful. I wonder who can match him?"

Shen Gongbao heard this, a hint of mystery flashed in his eyes, and he stroked his long beard and said, "Don't worry, General. I just got a helper this morning. It's my nephew Huang Tianhua. He has been practicing with my senior brother since he was young. He has great magical powers and will definitely defeat the enemy."

Huang Feihu was shocked when he heard this. This name seemed to have touched his dusty memories.

Just as he was lost in thought, he saw a streak of light passing across the sky, and a young and handsome Taoist came gracefully on a cloud.

He was dressed in a Taoist robe and looked very graceful. After landing, he first bowed to Shen Gongbao and greeted him. Then he turned to Huang Feihu, his eyes full of warmth and respect, and whispered, "Father."

At that moment, time seemed to freeze. Huang Feihu widened his eyes and looked at the young man in front of him who was both familiar and unfamiliar in disbelief.

The child in his memory has grown into the child he is today. The feeling of blood connection instantly surged into his heart, making him so excited that he was speechless.

Seeing this, Huang Tianhua took a few steps forward, held Huang Feihu's hand tightly, with tears in his eyes.

"Father, I am an unfilial child. I have made you worry for so many years."

……

Wen Zhong and Yu Yuan rode the Black Qilin and the Five Cloud Camel respectively, like two streaks of light across the sky, passing through the clouds and mist and reaching the border of the Da Shang territory.

The two men parted ways here. Mo Qilin rode his hooves with the wind, carrying Wen Zhong straight to Chaoge; while Yu Yuan rode leisurely on the Wuyun camel, speeding westward. His destination this time was the distant Sishui Pass, and he was thinking about his beloved disciple whom he had not seen for a long time.

Before leaving, Wen Zhong smiled and said that if all went well, he would go to Sishui Pass soon.

Yu Yuan smiled and nodded, "Then I will wait for my junior brother to arrive at Sishui Pass."

The setting sun was as red as blood, dyeing the sky of Chaoge City red. Wen Zhong came to Chaoge City and did not even enter the military camp. He stood directly above the clouds, his eyes as sharp as torches, staring directly at this prosperous capital.

After a long while, he shouted in a deep voice, which penetrated the clouds and reached every corner of the city: "Where are Yang Ling and Kong Xuan? Wen Zhong wants to see you!"

After he finished speaking, two figures rose into the air from the city, like two bolts of lightning, and instantly met Wen Zhong at a height of thousands of feet.

The two looked at Wen Zhong, with complexities and expectations in their eyes.

"Master Wen, why are you so stubborn? Everything in the world has its destiny. Why don't you follow the will of heaven, submit to the court, and work together for peace?" Yang Ling tried to convince him with reason.

Kong Xuan stood aside, his eyes sharp, as if he thought this was a waste of time.

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong curled up his lips into a bitter smile. He was well aware of the burden and mission he shouldered, but he could not hide the fatigue and struggle in his heart.

"If I submit to the court now, how will the court treat me?" There was a barely perceptible hint of fatigue in his voice.

Yang Ling knew what he meant when he heard this, and he quickly explained, "Don't worry, Grand Master Wen. Your Majesty, Bigan, is a benevolent monarch. He has already issued a decree that as long as Grand Master and others can turn back from their mistakes, they will put aside their past grudges and join in the great cause. This is a blessing for Da Shang and Grand Master."

Wen Zhong heaved a sigh of relief and said solemnly: "I, Wen Zhong, have been loyal to my country all my life. If you can really forgive me and reinstate me, I will serve you like a dog and a horse."

Hearing this, Yang Ling and Kong Xuan looked at each other and felt a little relieved. At the same time, they were also curious about why Wen Zhong suddenly changed his mind.

You know, Wen Zhong before was a stubborn person and wanted to skin them both alive.

Why is it that after visiting the Jiejiao headquarters, his attitude has changed?

At this moment, Wen Zhong suddenly changed the subject, his expression solemn: "Do you two know that the Xiqi army is approaching the city? I wonder if the court has any countermeasures for this crisis?"

Upon hearing the news, Yang Ling and Kong Xuan looked at each other, with a flash of shock and solemnity in their eyes.

Xiqi has started an uprising?
Why didn't they receive any news?

Is the other party acting in secret, or is someone hiding the secret?
Thinking of this, Kong Xuan spoke first: "Please rest assured, Grand Master Wen, our Great Shang has its destiny, and the soldiers are ready to defend the territory to the death."

Kong Xuan's answer was powerful and resounding. It was not only a response to Wen Zhong, but also his own promise to the people of the Shang Dynasty.

Wen Zhong stood in the clouds, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on his resolute face, giving the old master a layer of golden glow.

He described in a deep and detailed voice how the Xiqi army besieged Sishui Pass like a dark cloud pressing down on one's head. His words not only contained an accurate analysis of the situation, but also revealed his unquestionable decisiveness.

Kong Xuan stood to one side, frowning slightly, his eyes flashing with caution and deep thought. He gently reminded: "This matter concerns the fate of the country. We need to report it to His Majesty before making a decision."

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong nodded slightly, with a hint of admiration in his eyes. The two smiled at each other, with a tacit understanding.

As the palace gate slowly opened, an atmosphere of luxury yet solemnity wafted over. Inside the palace, with its carved beams and painted buildings, and jade-like buildings, every detail demonstrated the prosperity and power of the Shang Dynasty.

The three of them walked into the hall, only to see the Shang King Bigan sitting on the dragon throne, wearing a dragon robe, looking extremely majestic, with an aura of authority revealed between his brows.

Seeing Wen Zhong stepping into the hall, a hint of surprise flashed in Bigan's eyes. He then stood up with steady and powerful steps, as if even the air was shaking.

He took a few quick steps, tightly held Wen Zhong's hands with both hands, his excitement was beyond words, his eyes were slightly red, and it seemed that tears were glistening: "It is a blessing for our Shang Dynasty that Master Wen has returned!" There was a bit of sob in his voice, which showed the joy and gratitude in his heart.

Wen Zhong bowed and saluted, his voice sonorous and powerful: "Your Majesty, now that the Xiqi army is invading, Sishui Pass is in danger. I am willing to lead the troops to fight, swear to defend the territory, and protect the peace of our Shang Dynasty!"

As he spoke, his eyes were firm and fervent, as if he were already on a battlefield filled with smoke.

Hearing this, Bigan's eyes flashed with admiration and relief. He patted Wen Zhong on the shoulder and said in a deep voice: "Master Wen is both wise and brave. With you here, why should we, the Shang Dynasty, fear a strong enemy? I will grant your request and immediately mobilize the troops to go to war. We must return victorious!"

Hearing this, Kong Xuan's brows slightly raised, a trace of deep thought flashed in his eyes, and he slowly asked: "Which generals does the Grand Master want to send to accompany him? How many soldiers are needed to bolster our morale?" After saying this, his eyes were bright, and it was obvious that he attached great importance to the upcoming battle.

Wen Zhong smiled slightly and answered confidently: "Our soldiers are all elite and have experienced hundreds of battles. They are enough to deal with the Xiqi army. This time, we don't need a large number of people, but we need elites. We just need to quickly replenish food and grass to ensure that the army has no worries."

He paused, his tone becoming more earnest, "However, to ensure that nothing goes wrong, I will also need to invite General Kong Xuan and his Li Jing and his wife, Nezha, Yang Jian and other brave generals to come with us. They all have unique skills and will surely be able to help our army."

Kong Xuan nodded slightly when he heard this, with a flash of approval in his eyes. He knew the deep meaning of Wen Zhong's move, which was not only a trust in himself and his generals, but also a decision made after careful consideration of the battle situation. He said in a deep voice: "What the Grand Master said is very true. For such a major event, we should go all out. Li Jing and his wife, Nezha, Yang Jian and others are all brave and good at fighting. With their help, we will definitely be able to defeat the enemy. This matter is not a big problem, I will arrange it immediately."

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong felt relieved and quickly bowed to express his gratitude: "General Kong Xuan is a man of great righteousness. I am grateful to you. With the help of you and other generals, we will definitely win this battle!" The two smiled at each other, and the tacit understanding and trust between them reached its peak at this moment.

Afterwards, Kong Xuan quickly mobilized the necessary troops and prepared food and fodder, while Wen Zhong began to deploy strategies and plan the marching route.

As the morning light began to break, outside the city of Chaoge, the Xiqi army surged like a tide, yet marched out in an orderly manner.

The flags fluttered in the wind, each carrying the warriors' faith and determination. The horses neighed and their hooves stomped the ground, making a roar like the heartbeat of the earth, foreshadowing the upcoming decisive battle.

Yang Ling and Jiang Ziya stood side by side on the top of the city wall, looking at the well-organized army below.

In the army, Wen Zhong rode on a black unicorn, wearing armor, holding a golden whip, and inspecting the entire army with a sharp gaze.

Li Jing and his wife, Nezha, Yang Jian and other generals each led their elite troops and followed closely behind Kong Xuan.

The army that went to Sishui Pass for support this time was led by Wen Zhong as the commander-in-chief, and Kong Xuan served as his deputy.

As the horn sounded, the army slowly advanced forward, marching firmly towards the direction of Sishui Pass. The sun shone on them, and their golden armor shone brightly, like an invincible iron stream, sprinting towards the other side of victory.

Along the way, people came out of their homes and watched this heroic army leave.

The army marched out in an orderly manner, with the ranks uniform and neat, like a giant dragon winding forward, marching mightily towards Sishui Pass.

……

(End of this chapter)