Now, let us speak of the perilous Jue Long Ridge! Behold: towering peaks and ridges. Deep streams and steep ravines, the stone bridges naturally treacherous; sheer cliffs and precipices, the Tiger Head Stone bearing its majestic presence. Strange pines and cypresses coil like dragons; azure skies and crimson maples like emerald canopies. Clouds and mist shroud the mountain peaks, piercing the nine heavens; waterfalls rush forth, cascading for hundreds of miles. Truly, even crows and sparrows cannot fly there, and people avoid it altogether. The mist and haze obscure the view, even herb-gathering immortals fear the danger; brambles and thorns fill the fields, making it difficult for woodcutters to traverse. Wild sheep and horses dart about like shuttles, cunning rabbits and mountain cattle are arrayed like soldiers. Indeed: the wild grasses teem with spirits, the perilous terrain teems with ferocious beasts.

When Grand Tutor Wen arrived at Jue Long Ridge, he was about to enter when he saw the precipitous terrain and became puzzled. Suddenly, he looked up and saw a Taoist priest dressed in a water-infused robe, whom he recognized as Yun Zhongzi from Yuzhu Cave in Zhongnan Mountain.

Grand Tutor Wen hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "What brings you here, fellow Daoist?"

Yun Zhongzi said, "I have been waiting here for you for a long time on my master's orders. This is Jue Long Ridge. You have encountered a dead end. Why don't you surrender?"

Grand Tutor Wen laughed loudly, "Yun Zhongzi, you treat me, Wen Zhong, like a mere child. How can you say I'm in dire straits and use this to deceive me? Are you perhaps both skilled in the Five Elements and have attained enlightenment? You've played me for a fool; let's see what you can do to me!"

Yun Zhongzi said, "You dare come to this place?" Grand Tutor Wen, you're welcome. Yun Zhongzi conjured thunder with his hand, and eight pillars of divine fire, each over three zhang high and over one zhang long, rose from the ground, arranged according to the eight trigrams: Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, and Dui. Grand Tutor Wen stood in the middle and shouted, "What magic do you possess to trap me with these pillars?"

Yun Zhongzi unleashed a thunderous roar, shattering the pillar. Within each pillar emerged forty-nine fire dragons, their flames soaring. Grand Tutor Wen laughed loudly, "Everyone can escape the essence of the earth; everyone can master the art of fire. How dare this art deceive me!" He performed a fire-avoidance incantation and stood within the pillar. How could one discern the true power of this fire? A fire-themed poem testifies to its power: "This fire is no ordinary being, a successful fusion of three forces. A hero alone occupies the earth, its power like a nine-turn whirlwind. Forged into a central fire pillar, it contains several divine dragons, their mouths spewing smoke and flames, their claws glowing red. It boils the bitter sea dry, burns mountains to ashes, turns wood to ash, and transforms metal into a rainbow. It was first established by Suiren, appearing without a trace within wood. A rare treasure of lightning within stone, its golden light piercing the nine heavens. In the heavens, it is the sun, communicating with the Emperor; on earth, it brings smoke and life to the common people; in the human body, it is the master of the heart. The profound power within this fire is truly extraordinary." Even if you were a celestial being, you would not escape my wrath.

Grand Tutor Wen, having performed the fire-avoidance incantation, stood in the center of the flames and shouted, "Yun Zhongzi! Your Taoist arts are nothing more than this! I will not stay long, I am leaving!" He then ascended, intending to escape on his escape light. Unbeknownst to him, Yun Zhongzi had already blocked the purple-gold alms bowl of the Burning Lamp Taoist, as if it were a lid firmly on it. Grand Tutor Wen, unaware of this, charged upwards, knocking off his Nine-Cloud Flaming Crown and causing his black hair to fall loose. The Grand Tutor cried out and tumbled down. Yun Zhongzi outside unleashed thunder, and the sound of lightning echoed everywhere as the fire raged fiercely. Alas, the Prime Minister of the Shang Dynasty perished for his country! A soul traveled towards the Investiture of the Gods Platform, guided by the God of Pure Blessing using the Hundred Spirits Banner.

The Grand Tutor's loyalty remained undiminished; a wisp of his spirit, carried by the wind, traveled to Chaoge to see King Zhou and plead his case. At that moment, King Zhou was drinking with Daji at the Deer Terrace, and suddenly felt drowsy, falling asleep at his table. Suddenly, he saw the Grand Tutor standing beside him, who advised, "This old minister was ordered to lead a western expedition, but suffered repeated defeats, his efforts fruitless, and now I am extinct in the western lands. I beseech Your Majesty to diligently cultivate benevolent governance, seek wise advisors to assist the state; refrain from indulging in debauchery and corrupting the court; do not disregard the importance of ancestral sacrifices and the state, nor disregard public opinion or the will of Heaven, but strive to reverse past transgressions, so that the situation may be averted. This old minister wishes to plead his case further, but fears it will be difficult to enter the Investiture Platform. I depart!" He then went directly to the Investiture Platform. Bai Jian guided his spirit into the platform and placed it there.

King Zhou suddenly awoke with a start, exclaiming, "How strange! How bizarre!" Daji asked, "What is it that startles Your Majesty?" King Zhou recounted his dream. Daji, her mind racing, said, "Dreams are the product of the mind. I have often heard Your Majesty worry about Grand Tutor Wen's western expedition, hence this omen. I believe Grand Tutor Wen is not one to miss his chance." King Zhou said, "My wife's words are true," and immediately felt relieved.

Upon seeing that Wen Zhong was dead, Yun Zhongzi sighed inwardly, put away the Nine Dragons Fire Cover, and returned to the mountain without further mention.

With Wen Zhong dead, Jiang Ziya had no rivals left. He was in complete control of the army, commanding the troops from the center and conquering all before him. He successively broke through Jiameng Pass, Qinglong Pass, and Sishui Pass. None of the people he encountered were his match. Moreover, with the help of the Chan Sect members in Xiqi, there were no major problems. Furthermore, even if there were any Chan Sect disciples who were no match for him, Laozi and Yuanshi would bestow magical treasures upon them in advance. No matter how high the cultivation level or how many people the Jie Sect disciples had, they were no match for those innate treasures and all perished.

After several such incidents, the Jie Sect cultivators suffered heavy casualties. Furthermore, the Chan Sect's Guang Chengzi killed the Fire Spirit Mother and visited Biyou Palace three times. The Jie Sect disciples harbored resentment and said to the Tongtian Sect Master, "That Guang Chengzi is too arrogant towards our sect, presumptuously exaggerating the power of his Jade Void Sect and insulting us terribly. How could Master know this? We disciples originally dared not speak, but now that Master is unaware of the details, we have no choice but to tell you frankly. He called our sect a heretical sect, saying, 'We don't distinguish between those with fur and horns, or those born from moisture and eggs; we can all live together.' He treats us as nothing, and only calls his Jade Void Sect 'Supreme and Venerable.' Therefore, we disciples are not convinced."

Seeing that his disciples all spoke in this way, the Tongtian Sect Leader was somewhat annoyed, but a slight smile appeared on his lips. He laughed and said, "I am equal to a feather, so who is his master? If I become a feather, then his master is also a feather. This beast is so frivolous!" He instructed the Golden Spirit Mother, "Go to the back and fetch those four precious swords." After a short while, the Golden Spirit Mother brought out a bundle containing four precious swords and placed it on the table.

The leader said, "Taoist Duobao, come here and listen to my instructions: Since he laughs at my teachings as inferior, you can take these four precious swords to Jiepai Pass and set up a Zhuxian Formation. Let's see which disciple of the Chan Sect dares to enter my formation! If anything happens, I will come and talk to him myself." Taoist Duobao asked his master, "What are the wondrous uses of these swords?"

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