Tzu-ya said:  “My elder brother, since you know all you can pardon him.  In the Taoist heart there is no place where mercy cannot be exercised.  Remember the many years during which he has faithfully followed the Path.”

Eventually the Ancient Immortal was persuaded, but in the meantime Shen Kung-pao, finding that his head did not return, became very much troubled in mind.  In an hour and three-quarters the blood would stop flowing and he would die.  However, Tzu-ya having succeeded in his intercession with the Ancient Immortal, the latter signed to White Crane Youth, who was flying in space with the head in his beak, to let it drop.  He did so, but when it reached the neck it was facing backward.  Shen Kung-pao quickly put up his hand, took hold of an ear, and turned his head the right way round.  He was then able to open his eyes, when he saw the Ancient Immortal of the South Pole.  The latter arraigned him in a loud voice saying:  “You as-good-as-dead charlatan, who by means of corrupt tricks try to deceive Tzu-ya and make him burn the List of Immortals and help Chou Wang against Chou, what do you mean by all this?  You should be taken to the Jade Palace of Abstraction to be punished!”

Shen Kung-pao, ashamed, could not reply; mounting his tiger, he made off; but as he left he hurled back a threat that the Chou would yet have their white bones piled mountains high at Hsi Ch’i.  Subsequently Tzu-ya, carefully preserving the precious List, after many adventures succeeded in building the Feng Shen T’ai, and posted the List up on it.  Having accomplished his mission, he returned in time to resist the capture of Hsi Ch’i by Chang Kuei-fang, whose troops were defeated with great slaughter.

Ch’iung Hsiao’s Magic Scissors

In another of the many conflicts between the two rival states Lao Tzu entered the battle, whereupon Ch’iung Hsiao, a goddess who fought for the house of Shang (Chou), hurled into the air her gold scaly-dragon scissors.  As these slowly descended, opening and closing in a most ominous manner, Lao Tzu waved the sleeve of his jacket and they fell into the sea and became absolutely motionless.  Many similar tricks were used by the various contestants.  The Gold Bushel of Chaotic Origin succumbed to the Wind-fire Sphere, and so on.  Ch’iung Hsiao resumed the attack with some magic two-edged swords, but was killed by a blow from White Crane Youth’s Three-precious Jade Sceptre, hurled at her by Lao Tzu’s orders.  Pi Hsiao, her sister, attempted to avenge her death, but Yuean-shih, producing from his sleeve a magical box, threw it into the air and caught Pi Hsiao in it.  When it was opened it was found that she had melted into blood and water.

Chiang Tzu-ya defeats Wen Chung

After this Lao Tzu rallied many of the skilful spirits to help Chiang Tzu-ya in his battle with Wen Chung, providing them with the Ancient Immortal of the South Pole’s Sand-blaster and an earth-conquering light which enabled them to travel a thousand li in a day.  From the hot sand used the contest became known as the Red Sand Battle.  Jan Teng, on P’eng-lai Mountain, in consultation with Tzu-ya, also arranged the plan of battle.