Volume One, Chapter One: Summoning the Demons and Spirits of Past, Present, and Future—To Contend with the Heavens and Battle the Myriad Skies!

“Come, come, gather around and listen to the story!”

In a modest inn, a storyteller dressed in a long robe, holding a feather fan, reclined on a lounge chair. Around him clustered children and workers just emerged from the coal mines.

Once everyone had settled, the storyteller slowly fanned himself, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, as if rekindling the fiery passion of his youth.

“Today’s tale is my favorite one. Listen carefully, for now, the story begins!”

It is said that in ancient times, the last monarch of the Shang dynasty was King Zhou, also known as Di Xin.

He was once a wise ruler, diligent and reform-minded, who governed with determination, refused to kill slaves, promoted production, embraced new ideas, and did not believe in ghosts or gods.

However, as Di Xin’s achievements mounted, pride grew within him. He became increasingly arrogant and tyrannical. In his later years, he indulged in wine and debauchery, neglecting state affairs.

He famously established the “meat forest” and “wine lake” in the capital, seeking pleasure without restraint.

This led to the fall of the great dynasty in 1046 BCE.

But was that really the truth?

Why was King Zhou the last human emperor of mankind?

Were the meat forest and wine lake truly places of his debauchery?

Had this once wise ruler truly degenerated into excess in his twilight years?

All of this was nothing but a conspiracy!

Today, let me tell you the story in detail.

Our story begins in a small mountain village, surrounded by hills on all sides.

Smoke curled from chimneys as the villagers toiled in the fields. Among the bustling countryside, lively young figures could be seen.

“Hey, Er Gou, where are you running off to?”

“Going hunting in the back mountain. Second uncle said if he catches some fish, he’ll bring some for you.”

“Alright, alright. You kid, don’t wander too far.”

“Okay!”

The boy called Er Gou was named Chen Yan, the protagonist of our tale.

Second uncle watched with a helpless smile as Chen Yan dashed along the ridges of the fields.

Chen Yan seemed as if he had a motor under his feet, and in no time, he and his friends reached the back mountain.

They lined up, and Chen Yan, the leader of the children, stood before them like a general, proclaiming:

“Today, our goal is to catch wild rabbits in the back mountain. Split up and see who catches the most!”

“Got it!”

The children responded unanimously. Without waiting for Chen Yan’s command, they sprinted off in different directions, each eager to be the first to venture deep into the forest.

Of course, sixteen-year-old Chen Yan was no exception. He ran faster than all the other children, plunging deep into the dense woods.

Soon after entering the forest, Chen Yan spotted a white rabbit right in front of him.

The rabbit noticed Chen Yan and, which had been quietly nibbling grass, now stared intently at the intruder. Any sudden movement would send it fleeing instantly.

Chen Yan understood this well. But just as he and the rabbit locked eyes for a moment, the noisy chatter of children behind him startled the rabbit, which instantly vanished into the underbrush.

“Brother, what are you doing?”

“Shh, don’t make noise. I thought we had good luck today, but you scared the rabbit away.”

Without turning his head, Chen Yan scanned for the rabbit’s trail. Hearing his words, the child behind quickly fell silent and moved off to the right, knowing that lingering would only distract Chen Yan.

Chen Yan paid no attention to the child behind him and crouched down to examine the ground carefully.

Because of the recent rain and the dense forest, the earth was muddy and soft.

Soon enough, he spotted small rabbit footprints in the mud and began to follow them.

Time passed as Chen Yan tracked the rabbit deeper into the woods. The high sun slowly faded, and a full moon rose over the mountains.

In those times, supplies were scarce, and meat was a luxury rarely enjoyed even during festivals. This was why Chen Yan refused to give up.

How could he let the rabbit meat slip away?

So he patiently followed the tracks, paying little heed to the passing hours.

When he finally emerged from the forest, he found himself by a lake where the rabbit stood still.

Overcome with excitement, he restrained himself and crept closer.

Approaching the water’s edge, the rabbit remained unmoving. Chen Yan edged toward the perfect spot to capture it!

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, but the rabbit lightly hopped away.

His confident leap ended in failure as his momentum sent him plunging into the icy lake.

Damn!

Chen Yan cursed silently, kicking his arms to swim toward the shore.

Suddenly, a white light filled the water around him.

Puzzled, he looked down and saw a glowing white radiance spreading across the lakebed.

Alarmed, Chen Yan accelerated his swimming, desperate to escape.

Yet the surface seemed impossibly far away, as if his body was frozen in place beneath the water.

Looking down again, he was horrified to see glowing white bands extending from the light, coiling around his limbs and binding him.

Shock paralyzed him as he struggled, but more white tendrils emerged, wrapping and restraining him completely.

The white light soon enveloped his vision, and although he choked on water in terror, the suffocating sensation lasted only moments.

Gradually, the sense of weightlessness faded.

His feet touched solid ground, and faint murmurs reached his ears.

Chen Yan didn’t understand what was happening. Struggling, he suddenly opened his eyes wide.

Before him was no lake or white light, but a grand palace.

Around him, people bowed low wearing official hats.

A towering platform appeared before his eyes.

But none of this mattered to him. Still coughing from having swallowed water, he began to cough violently.

Those nearby watched in confusion until an official beside him gently pulled Chen Yan close, wrapping him in long sleeves and tenderly asking,

“Chen’er, what’s wrong?”

Chen’er?

Hearing this name, Chen Yan realized the pain in his throat from the water had vanished.

He looked up at the official with bewilderment.

“Are you… calling me?”

“Don’t be silly, Chen’er. The resistance of the human emperor is about to begin. This time, let us see if Heaven itself can overturn our Shang dynasty!”

“The Shang dynasty? Am I in the Shang dynasty?”

Chen Yan was surprised. Although born in a rural village, his parents were scholars, and he had naturally absorbed some historical knowledge since childhood.

He looked up at the towering platform, where a man stood holding a bronze sword.

Countless crows circled the sky overhead, darkening the heavens.

Black clouds gathered above the platform, with flashes of lightning faintly illuminating the gloom.

“Uncle Wang! Watch closely, your sacrifice will not be in vain.

Today, I, King Zhou of Shang, Di Xin, offer my blood upon this altar, binding all living beings of the world through this Deer Terrace.

I summon past, present, and future — humans, demons, and spirits — to contend with the heavens, to battle the myriad skies!

With the fate of mankind and the mandate of the human emperor, we shall fight the celestial tribes to the death!”

Having spoken, King Zhou plunged the bronze sword into his own chest.

Nearby on the Deer Terrace, an elderly man in his seventies witnessed the scene and spoke with a voice resonant and profound, reaching Chen Yan’s ears:

“Begin the sacrifice!”

Soldiers holding torches stepped forward and ignited the pyre beneath King Zhou.

Flames soared skyward, seeming to challenge the endless darkness itself.

Chen Yan watched the scene in astonishment.

“King Zhou self-immolating on the Deer Terrace? Have I really arrived in the era of the last human emperor?!”

Suddenly, memories about King Zhou flooded his mind…