Investiture of the Gods/Chapter 63.5
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(Due to Chapter 63's length, it has been expanded)
[edit] Full Summary (continued)
That night within the camp of Shang, Yin Jiao felt as if he knew the elder of the two prisoners from somewhere into the past, and thus approached Yellow Flying Tiger, who was still presently within bonds, and asked him his name and title under Rebel Commander Jiang Ziya. Upon realization that the prisoner sitting before him is none other than the man who saved him from King Zhou's clutches seven years prior, Yin Jiao elaborated the full reasoning--including his confrontation with Shen Gongbao--behind why he has chosen to destroy both Jiang Ziya and that of King Zhou in order to claim the throne of Shang for the sake of the people and that of his ancestors. Additionally attempting to convince Yellow Flying Tiger to defect from the Western Hill forces for the sake of a brilliant future, which unfortunately resulted to no avail, Yin Jiao nonetheless freed the bonds from him and his son, allowing them return to their respective city as a token of his former gratitude only at the cost of showing their commander written letter via the hands of his messenger, informing him to surrender in seven days of time; if such an action is refuted, then all of Phoenix City shall be turned to a flaming sea of ash as legions of celestials tear apart their homeland. Promising the prince that he shall ensure the safety of such a missive, the two friends parted from each other's sides with great emotion.
As Yellow Flying Tiger and Huang Tianhua returned to Phoenix City that same night, approaching Prime Minister Jiang Ziya and informing him of their happenings, the messenger of Shang was allowed entrance, to which he handed the prime minister Yin Jiao's written letter presently following. Tearing apart the letter as a showing of his disgust towards such declared arrogance, Jiang Ziya knew that the superiormen under the "will of Heaven" will unconditionally ensure that such a happening shall be negated regardless of the circumstances. With the rise of the sun the following morning, Yang Bliss's earth blockade was no longer, and General Ma Shan seized such an opportunity to stride forthward to do battle against Phoenix City as soon as Prince Yin Jiao had received word on the rebel commander's unwise response to his former letter. Being immediately confronted by Deng Jiugong of Zhou momentarily following, the two generals clashed their blades with intense furiosity. But as Ma Shan was nothing more than a bandit in the mountains without excelled training in the art of the sword, as opposed to that of Deng Jiugong, who has served as Commander of Shang for several years, he was naturally bested in mere moments following their engagement, resulting in his immediate capture.
As Ma Shan was brought before Prime Minister Jiang Ziya in Phoenix City shortly following capture, he was immediately sentenced to beheadment after uttering rude defiant words in his determination to remain standing before the former. General Nangong Kuo, who took up such an order, presently within the executionary grounds, was astonished beyond words as his sword cleaved through Ma Shan's neck only for the neck to retake its original form as if possessing the property of water. Reporting such a matter to Jiang Ziya, who was naturally astonished at such a turn-of-events, ordered samahdi fire to spread throughout the execution grounds in attempt to burn the prisoner into ash. As such an action was carried out momentarily following the declaration of such an order, Ma Shan was clearly not effected even in the smallest of measure; and as the warrior stood among the burning flames, he let out a single loud cry of laughter as he directed the fire to open a pathway at which he was able to escape from Phoenix City. Jiang Ziya, who was, needless to say, distressed at the detrimental report of Ma Shan's escape, was received by Yang Bliss, who proposed whether he could visit Grand Completion at Nine Immortal Mountain concerning the case involving Yin Jiao's use of his Heaven Overturning Stamp, while additionally confronting Master of the Clouds of Mount Zhongnan for the sake of receiving the reputed "Demon Exposing Mirror" to destroy Ma Shan. The Prime Minister, who was naturally willing to destroy the threat of Yin Jiao to save Phoenix City from harm with complete reassurance in it's backing, unhestitatingly consented to the former's request.
As Yang Bliss confronted Grand Completion within his Peach Spring Cavern only to receive knowledge that Yin Jiao, the latter's disciple, had been sent to the Western Foothills for the sake of assisting Prime Minister Jiang Ziya against the cause of Shang, Yang Bliss told the superiorman the truth behind such circumstances: The prince had declared the threat to wipe out the entire Phoenix City with unknown rationale backing his intentions. Grand Completion, who was taken aback with confusion as to why his disciple would break his oath with such an intense showing of resolve against his former words that expressed clear conviction, promised Yang Bliss that he shall head to the Western Foothills very shortly. As Yang took leave with a kowtow of gratitude, he immediately took leave to Mount Zhongnan, his second intended region, and bowed low before Master of the Clouds, who presently exited his cavern to confront the former. Elaborating the characteristics of a certain man by the name of "Ma Shan", along with the incident involving his escape, Master of the Clouds understood the circumstances, and unhestitatingly gave Yang Bliss his Demon Exposing Mirror, who left with a showing of gratitude as he took leave from the mountain and returned to the side of Prime Minister Jiang Ziya back at Phoenix City.
Confronting Ma Shan of Shang in front of the Shang encampment after receiving the consent of Jiang Ziya to take leave to battle, Yang Bliss firmly hid in his grasp the new weapon he had recently received the day prior -- much to the opposition's unknowing. Pulling out the Demon Exposing Mirror and shining it in the direction of Ma Shan as he presently charged forward, he saw nothing more than a mere flick of fire from a lamp emitting within. Immediately contracting the mirror and parrying the enemy's blade with his longsword, Yang Bliss, following a mere few rounds of battle, retreated in expectation that the former would not pursue him after taking realization of the new weapon recently deployed. As Ma Shan acted in such a manner, ordering a full retreat back to the encampment of Shang for the time being in order to elaborate this new potential threat to Crown Prince Yin Jiao, Yang Bliss had meanwhile entered the Prime Minister's mansion and explained to all present that Ma Shan, according to the mirror, was a flick of fire suggesting to be of host to that of a lamp. General Wei Hu, who was well-knowledgable about the world's "Three Magical Lamps" elaborated that their is an equal possibility that either the Eight Landscape Palace, the Jade Emptiness Palace, or that of Mount Divine Hawk are missing their specific lamps of origin, and that Ma Shan is more than likely one of these three when considering his properties of eternal life, to which his "flame" is ever burning such as only present within the magical lamps. Comprehending Wei Hu's logic, Yang Bliss took leave to Mount Kunlun's Jade Emptiness Palace presently following the Prime Minister's consention to his request.
Being received by White Crane Lad upon immediate arrival, Yang Bliss learned shortly that their glazed lamp was still in full flame, and he thus gave a kowtow of acknowledgement before leaving to Mount Divine Hawk, where he confronted Burning Lamp with full inquire involving the condition of the latter's lamp. Burning Lamp, who gave a false display of frustration and surprise at the realization that the flick of his lamp had disappeared dispite unconditional restraint, was enlightened upon the happenings at the Western Foothills involving the probable incarnation of his flame: A man that calls himself by the name of "Ma Shan". Vowing to Yang Bliss that he will settle such circumstances as soon as he is able to attend to the matters presently acting against the "will of Zhou", regardless whether this "Ma Shan" is in truth his lamp's flame, Yang Bliss gratifiably kowtowed in thanks and took leave just following. As Yang Bliss informed Jiang Ziya about the highly-probable success involving Burning Lamp's declared assistance, Grand Completion arrived as originally promised, and headed to the Shang encampment after explainin to the Prime Minister that he is indeed the master of the defiant prince, Yin Jiao.
