After several repeated attempts, Jessica Bolton was certain he had completely mastered the method of reading the jade tablet. Not in a hurry to cultivate, he got up and left the study. Thinking of the two beauties still waiting for his “favor,” Jessica Bolton couldn’t help but feel a surge of heat in his heart, quickening his pace—of course, matters of human relations took precedence; as for cultivation, that could wait until he had time…

That night, the three of them consummated their union. Jessica Bolton was born with extraordinary vigor and stamina, and, equipped with modern “techniques,” was more than capable of satisfying both women. The Foster Family and The Miller Family, both young married women in the prime of their lives, had been lonely for a long time. After a fierce night, the two were brought to the brink of ecstasy several times by his methods, and, with his gentle care, felt as if they were in a dream, wishing never to wake. From then on, Jessica Bolton finally became fully integrated into his new role.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Jessica Bolton had been cultivating the Battle Soul Technique for two months. The Foster Family and The Miller Family were pleasantly surprised to find that their husband, who had always cared only for pleasure, had become diligent and eager to learn. Not only did he no longer carouse with songstresses or cause trouble outside as before, but he also cultivated himself, read extensively, and showed great concern for state affairs. Sometimes, he would even invent some novel and practical little items, such as toothbrushes, kites, scissors, and so on, which made people look at him with new eyes.

Thanks to Jessica Bolton’s care and consideration, the feelings among the three grew ever deeper, and their conjugal bliss was harmonious and fulfilling. As the Prince of Shou, he enjoyed the blessings of having multiple wives with a clear conscience. The only thing that made him feel a bit awkward was his two “adopted” sons, Liam and Logan; there was always a sense of distance, as they were not his biological children. Fortunately, they were still young, and with the strict fatherly image Jessica Bolton deliberately established, they always held him in awe and did not dare to be too mischievous.

The slave Owen, whom he had rescued at the market, was granted the surname “Sun” by Jessica Bolton (as slaves in the Shang dynasty had only given names, not surnames), and both he and his sister were freed from slavery. Owen Scott’s sister Ethan, under the care of the imperial physician, soon recovered her health. The siblings were deeply grateful to the Prince of Shou, and Owen Scott even swore loyalty to him in the name of his parents. As for the physician Feilian, he was quite tactful; upon learning that his servant had offended the Prince of Shou, he immediately had Brian Brooks executed by waist-chopping and personally brought generous gifts to apologize. Although Jessica Bolton despised his character, he knew it was not yet time to deal with him, so he did not make things too difficult.

At this time, good news arrived from the front: the campaign against the rebellious Grand Preceptor William Clark in Beihai had ended in a great victory, and the army was returning to the capital. John Adams was overjoyed and ordered a grand banquet for all the ministers in the Xianqing Hall. As the Prince of Shou, Jessica Bolton naturally had to attend this banquet. Upon hearing the news of William Clark’s return, he couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. Grand Preceptor Clark was one of the four direct disciples of the Lord of Heaven, a disciple of the Golden Spirit Holy Mother. Although not the top disciple of the sect, he was knowledgeable, possessed extraordinary skills, and was very familiar with the original Prince of Shou. Jessica Bolton would have to be extremely careful not to reveal any flaws.

Since becoming the Prince of Shou, this was the first time Jessica Bolton had attended such a grand court banquet with all the officials present—it was quite an eye-opener. Before the banquet, the supreme leader John Adams first gave the customary speech, which was nothing more than thanking the gods and the ancestors of Shang for their protection, allowing the rebellion to be quickly quelled. Jessica Bolton secretly scoffed: by this logic, the gods and ancestors were the true heroes of suppressing the rebellion—so what use were Grand Preceptor Clark and the soldiers?

What was the cause of the War of Investiture of the Gods?

In the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi Tianzun, the master of the Chan Sect, saw that his twelve disciples had been tainted by the mortal world, and, at the command of the Heavenly Emperor, the twelve immortals were to submit. Thus, the three sects convened, and the Chan Sect, Jie Sect, and the human path together compiled a list of 365 destined to become gods—these so-called immortals and deities, for the sake of their own grudges or calamities, did not hesitate to overturn the authority of mortal kings, causing the common people to suffer terrible wars and disasters—they were the true culprits behind the destruction of peace!

Jessica Bolton was indignant in his heart, but his face remained respectful, seemingly listening intently to his imperial father’s speech. Although John Adams’s health had not been good recently, today he was full of energy, his usual sickly appearance gone. After the customary thanks to the gods and ancestors, the true heroes, Grand Preceptor William Clark and the generals, finally received their due praise.

William Clark was a veteran of two reigns, appearing to be in his fifties, with a dignified appearance, piercing eyes, and though not tall, he exuded an extraordinary aura that commanded respect. Jessica Bolton secretly admired him, but when he thought of this loyal old minister of the Shang dynasty ultimately meeting his end at Juelong Ridge, he couldn’t help but feel sad.

Seated next to William Clark was a tall, young military general with phoenix eyes, thick brows, and a short beard, somewhat resembling the famous general Guan Yu from the Three Kingdoms period. This was none other than the deputy commander who had accompanied Grand Preceptor Clark on the campaign, General Wucheng David Carter. In the novel, David Carter was considered the greatest general of the Shang dynasty—not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also well-versed in strategy, a rare talent. Yet Jessica Bolton knew that if fate’s trajectory could not be changed, then in the future, this strongest general under his command would defect to the Western Zhou and become a main force in the campaign against King Zhou…