Investiture of the Gods: I'm Really Just a Scholar!

Also known as Fengshen: I Conquer the Primordial World with Paper Figures!

Reborn as Bo Yikao, he's about to be made into a meat pie from the start?

Ji Kao says: Thanks for asking, but do you want this blessing instead?

While everyone else is busy cultivating immortality, practicing the Dao, and competing for fortune, he writes the Six Arts on bamboo slips, tinkers with tree bark to make paper, grinds inksticks into Hui ink, and carves bamboo tubes into writing brushes. The Four Treasures of the Study appear, and Heaven and Earth celebrate. Humanity surges with life, and merit pours in like a tide!

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on establishing the foundations of the Literary Dao. You have gained countless Heavenly Dao merits and the fortune of humanity!"

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on compiling the Six Arts of rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. For your contribution to educating humanity, your death tribulation is broken, and you are granted the title of Gentleman of the Six Arts!"

Looking at the golden merit light circling above his head, Ji Kao touches the unsharpened black jade sword at his waist and says with an innocent expression, "I really mean nothing by it. I'm just a scholar who wants to live in peace..."

But can someone tell him why the art of papermaking drew the attention of the Three Pure Ones? Why did the transmission of the Six Arts prompt the Chan and Jie Sects to rush to offer him an alliance? Why did even Nuwa send someone to ask if he wanted to become the Sage of Humanity?

Ji Kao says, "No, no. The mortal world is too noisy. I'll go meditate in seclusion at Wuyi Mountain... and build a city while I'm at it, stockpile some food, and raise a few 'paper people' to guard the house."

And so the Investiture of the Gods war begins, and the feudal lords rush into battle.

As King Zhou and Ji Fa fight tooth and nail for the realm, a massive city quietly rises in Wuyi Mountain.

At the city gates, a scholar in blue robes stands with his hands behind his back. Behind him, ranks of paper soldiers stand in formation. The Four Treasures of the Study become divine weapons, and the true meaning of the Six Arts subdues Heaven and Earth.

Ji Kao sighs. "I told you, I'm just a scholar... Why force me to use brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to decide the fate of the realm and establish the Eastern Zhou?"