Chapter 140: If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind?

Wen Zhong watched Jiang Yuan quietly. Even a ghost could tell the boy was showing off.

He certainly had the right to boast, but Wen Zhong refused to take the bait. Instead, he asked, "What is at the bottom of the Heavenly Abyss?"

Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment, recalling the answer Shennong had given him, and replied with a feigned air of mystery: "That is something the Grand Tutor must descend to discover for himself."

Wen Zhong stared at him coldly, and Jiang Yuan immediately felt a chill run down his spine. He hurriedly backpedaled: "I truly do not know, Grand Tutor. Although I am able to enter the bottom of the Abyss, I have no real insight into its inner secrets."

"If the Demon Sage Bai Ze does not emerge, does Your Majesty intend to wait here indefinitely? What of Zhaoge City?" Wen Zhong asked.

A nation cannot go a single day without a ruler; Jiang Yuan could not afford to stay away for too long. Even if he were to seek reinforcements, he had to return to Zhaoge periodically to preside over the grand affairs of state. The Crown Prince alone was not enough to hold the capital.

"I shall wait here for three days. After that, regardless of whether Senior Bai Ze has emerged, we shall depart," Jiang Yuan decided after some thought. He could not let the mission be delayed by Bai Ze, especially when the situation on the front lines of the Great Shang was so critical. Jiang Yuan had to consider the bigger picture; the Great Shang was currently at a disadvantage. With a shortage of top-tier powerhouses and the uncertainty of Bai Ze's return, he could not afford to waste time here.

"Your Majesty is wise," Wen Zhong said flatly. Had the King prioritized his own safety over the lives of the soldiers on the front lines, Wen Zhong would have taken matters into his own hands. While the King's life was precious, the lives of thousands of soldiers could not be disregarded.

"Grand Tutor, why are you gripping your twin maces so tightly?" Jiang Yuan asked, puzzled.

Wen Zhong laughed easily. "Do not misunderstand, Your Majesty. I am merely old and fear my grip on these maces might loosen."

Jiang Yuan scoffed inwardly. *Fear they might loosen? More like you wanted to beat me up.* If his previous answer hadn't satisfied the old man, he likely would have been taught a lesson.

"I wonder which master from the Jie School you intend to visit first?" Jiang Yuan asked with a smile. He was looking forward to utilizing Wen Zhong’s connections; the Great Shang was in dire need of talent, and he was eager to recruit.

"What level of expert does Your Majesty wish to enlist to assist our Great Shang?" Wen Zhong asked.

Jiang Yuan did not hesitate. "The stronger, the better, of course."

"Shall I summon the Master of Heaven for you, then?" Wen Zhong retorted dryly.

"Truly? You have connections with the Master of Heaven? That would be wonderful! I have been fretting over where to find a Saint to act as our patron," Jiang Yuan said, feigning excitement.

"If you have such blind faith in my connections, I suggest you advise the King to surrender to Western Zhou as soon as possible," Wen Zhong said coolly. "It would merely be a change of Emperor for the human race." In truth, he cared little for the outcome of the war, viewing it as an internal conflict among humans. Had Jiang Yuan not been the King, he would have preferred not to interfere at all. The longer the war dragged on, the greater the toll on humanity.

"Grand Tutor, are you aware of why the Chan School is interfering in our human disputes?" Jiang Yuan asked with a grave expression.

"Are they dissatisfied with Your Majesty?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head slowly. "They are not dissatisfied with me; they are dissatisfied with the entire human race."

"Grand Tutor, do you truly believe that if Western Zhou wins this war, it will simply be a matter of replacing one human emperor with another?"

"What is Your Majesty implying?" Wen Zhong’s expression turned serious.

"The Chan School wants to ensure there are no more Human Emperors!" Jiang Yuan’s words were shocking. "Do you know what treasure Jiang Ziya, the leader of their expedition, brought down from the mountain on the orders of the Primordial Heavenly Lord?"

"What is it?" Wen Zhong frowned. He had indeed found the Chan School's intervention in the civil war rather suspicious.

"Jiang Ziya brought the Investiture of the Gods down with him. Its purpose is to strip our people of the status of Human Emperor!" Jiang Yuan’s face burned with anger.

"What is this Investiture of the Gods?"

"It has only one function: to absorb the fortune of the Human Emperor. Once they succeed in overthrowing the Great Shang, there will never again be an Emperor of Humanity. Once the imperial fortune is swallowed by the scroll, our people will be reduced to mere vassals of the deities inscribed upon it."

Jiang Yuan explained the danger of the scroll, and Wen Zhong was instantly enraged. This was intolerable. How was this any different from destroying the human race?

"Is what Your Majesty says the truth?" Wen Zhong asked for confirmation.

"Every word is true."

"Two days," Wen Zhong declared with undeniable authority. "I will give the Demon Sage Bai Ze two days. If he has not emerged from the abyss by then, Your Majesty must accompany me to seek help from the disciples of the Jie School."

Jiang Yuan did not mind the stern tone; he knew Wen Zhong did this for the sake of the Great Shang's victory. "Agreed. I promise that, regardless of the circumstances, we shall depart with you in two days."

"Do you have a specific candidate in mind to recruit?" Jiang Yuan asked, curious if it might be someone he recognized.

Wen Zhong pondered for a moment. "Has Your Majesty heard of Shiji?"

"You mean Lady Shiji, the disciple of the Master of Heaven? The one with the disciples Caiyun and Biyun?" Jiang Yuan knew her well. Legend held that she was a spirit born from stone, tempered by the elements beyond the heavens. Jiang Yuan couldn't help but think, *Why is everyone popping out of stones? Is she Sun Wukong’s mother?* He knew that was impossible, but he couldn't help the thought. In the *Investiture of the Gods*, Shiji’s death was quite pathetic—first, one of her disciples was shot by Nezha for no reason, and when she sought justice, Nezha’s master, Taiyi Zhenren, burned her to her original form with the Nine Dragons Fire Cover. Jiang Yuan felt indignant for her; indeed, there wasn't a decent soul in the Chan School! Except for those who defected to his side, of course.

Why was she the first person the Grand Tutor thought of? This left room for imagination. *Could the old man be having his first spring of romance?* Wen Zhong had no children; perhaps he had been waiting for Shiji all this time. Was Jiang Yuan about to uncover some untold secrets between the Grand Tutor and the Lady?

Seeing Jiang Yuan’s meaningful gaze, Wen Zhong asked with disgust, "Why are you looking at me like that, you brat?"

Jiang Yuan replied nonchalantly, "It’s nothing. I was just reflecting that the New Year has passed and winter is fading. Can spring be far behind?"