Zhang Kui's Journey to the West in the Investiture of the Gods

Unlike the imposing and solemn command tent, Wen Zhong's rear tent was rather quiet. At this moment, he was not wearing armor, but only a black Taoist robe. His divine eyes were closed, and he was reviewing memorials at his desk.

"This humble general, Zhang Kui, pays his respects to the Grand Tutor!"

Wen Zhong put down the case file, his gaze falling on Zhang Kui. He nodded slightly: "The military rations you delivered are excellent. Deng Jiugong's troops have tested them and found that they can quickly replenish physical strength and blood energy in extremely cold environments, comparable to low-grade elixirs. If we win this battle, you should be credited with the greatest merit."

"This is my duty, and I dare not take credit for it," Zhang Kui said respectfully.

Wen Zhong's gaze fell upon Zhang Kui as if it were a tangible object, seemingly able to pierce through the thick dragon armor and reach the depths of the surging blood and qi within him. Zhang Kui felt a tightness all over his body, as if every corner of his body was being probed by an invisible force, even the ancient and hidden power of the Wu clan within his bloodline had nowhere to hide.

"Your cultivation has progressed quite rapidly, and your foundation is also quite solid." Wen Zhong's voice was steady but carried an undeniable penetrating power. "Especially your vigorous blood and qi far surpasses that of other cultivators of the same level, and it is not something that pure martial arts cultivators can achieve."

Zhang Kui was shocked, his fists clenched so tightly that they were covered in sweat. Although he knew that this disciple of the Jie Sect was unfathomably powerful, he never expected that the other party would see through his greatest secret at a glance.

He took a deep breath and decided to speak frankly: "Grand Tutor, you are wise. I possess a trace of the Wu clan's bloodline, and my cultivation has mostly been self-taught, without any guidance. In particular, I have been unable to grasp the essentials of cultivating my Qi and harmonizing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth."

The candlelight flickered inside the tent, illuminating Wen Zhong's resolute face. He pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, producing a rhythmic sound.

"The ancient witchcraft emphasizes qi and blood, and the cultivation of the body, using brute force to break through all laws." Wen Zhong spoke slowly, each word with intonation. "This path is powerful, but it is too rigid and easily broken. Moreover, it relies too much on one's own innate talent. Progress is rapid in the early stages, but it is easy to get stuck in a bottleneck in the later stages, and it is difficult to have the opportunity to touch the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."

Zhang Kui listened intently, for these words precisely addressed the confusion he was experiencing in his cultivation. In recent years, he had indeed made rapid progress thanks to his Wu clan bloodline, but at every crucial juncture, he always felt an invisible barrier hindering his progress.

Wen Zhong stood up, his black Daoist robe fluttering even without wind: "In this world, the Xuanmen sect is the orthodox path. Cultivating one's Qi and body, comprehending the Dao of Heaven, and achieving a pure Yang primordial spirit are the true and righteous paths. Since you are destined to join my ranks, I will show you the right path."

Having said that, Wen Zhong formed a hand seal, and a point of clear light condensed at his fingertips. Although the light was small, it contained a vast Daoist essence. The light flew out and disappeared into Zhang Kui's brow like a shooting star.

In an instant, a mantra entitled "The Great Dao of the Golden Elixir" slowly unfolded. This mantra was vast and profound, yet balanced and peaceful, with each character shimmering with the golden light of the Dao.

The Golden Elixir Path was created by the Supreme Sage of the Human Sect specifically for the human physique. Combining the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir method, it is the supreme method that directly leads to longevity. This method uses the dantian as a cauldron and essence, qi, and spirit as ingredients. After nine rounds of refining, the golden elixir is perfected, ultimately transcending life and death and attaining the Great Luo Golden Immortal Dao Fruit.

The cultivation of the Golden Elixir Path begins with drawing Qi into the body, using the Dantian as a furnace to refine the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into one's natal true essence. Once the true essence is abundant, the three treasures of essence, Qi, and spirit are used as medicine to condense the embryonic form of the Golden Elixir. After the Golden Elixir is formed, it needs to be nurtured with the spirit and nourished with Qi and blood to make it more and more perfect. Each transformation is called a revolution, and the color, texture, and Daoist charm contained in the Golden Elixir will undergo a qualitative leap.

Wen Zhong taught Zhang Kui the methods for the first six stages of cultivation. Once mastered, one could attempt to inquire about the path to becoming a Golden Immortal. Although it was only a partial set of techniques, the system was complete, pointing Zhang Kui towards a path to heaven.

"This method is a legitimate and orthodox method of the Xuanmen sect, which places the greatest emphasis on cultivating a solid foundation. It is balanced and harmonious, and can be practiced alongside most other cultivation methods." Wen Zhong's voice brought Zhang Kui back from his shock. "It can help you harmonize your Qi and blood, and your primordial spirit, preventing you from losing control and suffering backlash."

"The first six chapters I am passing on to you were taught by my senior master Xuandu of the Human Sect. Study them carefully. If you have any questions, you may ask me."

Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Kui bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Grand Tutor, for your kindness in imparting your teachings!"

This bow came from the bottom of his heart. The teachings passed down by Wen Zhong precisely filled the biggest gap in Zhang Kui's path of cultivation.

Wen Zhong waved his hand, his gaze falling on the swirling snow outside the tent: "The dragon armor and black smoke beast I bestowed upon you before are more focused on defense and speed. You still lack a weapon that can break through enemy lines."

He clapped his hands three times, and four guards entered, carrying in a long box made of black iron. The moment the lid was opened, a chilling aura of blades rushed out, and inside lay a simple, ancient-looking longsword—the very same wolf-tooth wind-breaking blade that had previously gleamed with a cold light and exuded a menacing aura.

"I hope you will make good use of this sword, achieve many military exploits, and comprehend the true meaning of the Great Dao as soon as possible."

Zhang Kui took a deep breath and received the longsword with both hands. It felt heavy in his hands, and the blade trembled slightly, emanating a ravenous thirst for blood. He gently ran his fingertips along the edge, feeling the immense power contained within, and the surging blood within his body resonated with the blade.

Armor, mounts, divine weapons, and the great Dao techniques—Wen Zhong spared no effort in cultivating him.

"This humble general will certainly live up to the Grand Tutor's high expectations!" Zhang Kui said, holding his sword and clasping his hands in a powerful and resounding voice.

Stepping out of the back tent, the wind and snow were still biting.

At this moment, Zhang Kui felt that his path of cultivation was clearer than ever before.

He mounted his horse, and the Black Smoke Beast seemed to sense the change in its master's mood, letting out a joyful neigh. It gently stroked the hilt of the Wolf Fang Wind-Breaking Blade, tightened the reins, and galloped towards the rear camp.

From then on, Zhang Kui's path of cultivation was no longer a solitary journey in the dark.

First came the power of the Witch Clan bloodline, then the Heavenly Gang Techniques and the Golden Elixir Path, and now he has the guidance of a wise master. What kind of path will the combination of the Witch Clan bloodline and the orthodox methods of the Xuanmen forge? Zhang Kui felt boundless anticipation.

In the wind and snow, a man and a horse gradually disappeared into the distance...

Outside the tent, the wind and snow howled, but the candlelight inside Wen Zhong's tent remained motionless, casting a warm halo around him.

At this moment, the tent flap was gently lifted, and two figures, exuding a chill, walked in. It was Ji Li and Yu Qing. The two walked with steady steps and their auras were refined.

"Master." Ji Li bowed first. Usually, when there were outsiders present, the two would address Wen Zhong as Grand Tutor. "All the provisions, equipment, and camp arrangements for the army's attack have been inspected and are ready. We are just waiting for Master's decree."

Yu Qing then added, his tone becoming more detailed: "The cultivators in each camp have also been arranged according to the positions of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams to ensure that nothing goes wrong. However..." He paused slightly, seemingly hesitant.

Wen Zhong raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Speak."

Yu Qing then continued, "When I came in just now, I saw General Zhang Kui leave. His blood and qi were surging differently than usual, and there was still a sharp blade aura that he hadn't concealed. I was a little curious." There was no intention of probing in his words; it was purely the natural sensitivity of a cultivator to changes in qi.

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong's face revealed a subtle hint of approval.

He didn't answer directly, but first affirmed their work: "Good. Weapons are instruments of destruction, used only when necessary. The more preparation beforehand, the fewer losses during wartime." Then, his fingers unconsciously traced the marching map on the table, and for a moment, only the crackling of the lamplight and the howling of the wind and snow outside the tent could be heard.

"What you saw is correct," Wen Zhong said slowly. "Just now, I bestowed the Wolf Fang Wind-Breaking Blade upon Zhang Kui."

"Not only that, but I saw that he was stuck in a bottleneck in his cultivation, but his foundation was extraordinary, so I taught him the Golden Elixir Great Dao to help him harmonize his qi and blood and clarify his path."

Ji Li and Yu Qing exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

The Golden Elixir Path is the orthodox teaching of the Xuanmen sect. My master once said that this is the supreme method bestowed upon him by the Great Master Xuandu of the Human Sect. It will never be passed on lightly. Moreover, those who cultivate this method will have other opportunities.

The Master valued this person far more than they could have imagined.

Wen Zhong's gaze swept across his two beloved disciples' faces, and his tone became solemn: "I called you here for another matter besides military affairs."

He leaned forward slightly, the candlelight flickering in his eyes: "Zhang Kui is a man who carries the legacy of the ancients, with a resolute will, and even more importantly, a grateful heart. He is a rough gem that has not yet been fully polished. His destiny is probably not limited to this."

"You two should try to get closer to him in the future," Wen Zhong said earnestly. "Not as officials or colleagues, but as fellow Daoists. You can discuss Daoist techniques and exchange cultivation experiences. Our Jie Sect's doctrine is to teach without discrimination and to learn from all. The Golden Elixir Path and the path of Qi and Blood Refining the Body he follows are quite different from your Shangqing Primordial Spirit Qi Refining Path, so you can learn from each other."

The tent was silent as Ji Li and Yu Qing both digested the profound meaning of their master's words.

Finally, Wen Zhong's voice was as deep as a rock, each word striking the disciples' hearts: "Treat him with kindness and sincerity. Today you have made things convenient for him, and tomorrow he may... become an unexpected help and opportunity for you. Remember, remember."

Ji Li and Yu Qing bowed simultaneously and solemnly replied, "We will follow your teachings, Master! We will sincerely associate with General Zhang."

They understood that this contained their master's profound plan for the future and his extremely high regard for Zhang Kui.