Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The three days passed in the blink of an eye.

At dawn, outside the east gate of Mianchi City, banners and flags obscured the sun, and the army was in full force.

On a plain stretching for miles, 100,000 troops stood in formation. Although the official decree stated 60,000, Zhang Kui actually mobilized all of his elite forces—the Longxiang, Yingyang, and Huben armies, totaling 80,000 combat soldiers, plus 20,000 auxiliary troops and supply trains, for a total of 100,000.

Ahead stood the mighty cavalry, clad in heavy black armor, standing solemnly like a forest, their murderous aura coalescing into a dark red cloud.

The central Tiger Warriors heavy infantry, with the front rank carrying sturdy shields and wielding sabers, and the rear rank carrying long spears and powerful crossbows, were disciplined and well-organized.

The left and right wings are flanked by archers, clad in light armor, with swords at their waists and powerful bows weighing three stones each.

Behind the army formation, carts and horses stretched as far as the eye could see, banners fluttering, as 20,000 auxiliary soldiers and laborers escorted grain and supplies.

Zhang Kui stood at the highest point of the city tower, with Gao Lanying, Zheng Lun, Chen Qi, Wu Wenhua, and others behind him.

Zhang Shan, fully armed, stood beneath the city walls, awaiting the imperial decree.

"Husband, everything is arranged." Gao Lanying said softly. Today she was wearing a light gold soft armor, looking heroic and dashing.

Zhang Kui nodded without saying anything.

"My lord," Zheng Lun stepped forward and whispered, "the Embroidered Uniform Guard has reported that Shen Gongbao had a secret meeting with Fei Zhong and You Hun in Chaoge until late at night the other day."

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Kui's eyes.

Shen Gongbao... this jinx who killed countless masters in the original storyline with his phrase "Fellow Daoist, please wait" is finally coming.

"It's alright," Zhang Kui said calmly. "If he obediently proclaims the imperial decree today, all will be well. But if he dares to play any tricks..."

At the third quarter of the hour of Chen (7:45 AM), a faint tiger's roar came from the horizon.

On the eastern horizon, a cloud about an acre in size drifted in, and two people, both dressed in Taoist robes, stood on it.

The leader, around thirty years old, had a handsome face and striking features. Dressed in a robe embroidered with the Eight Trigrams, he was none other than Shen Gongbao. He wore a smile and rode a white-browed tiger, giving him a truly otherworldly air at first glance.

The other was an old man in black robes, with a withered face, sunken eyes, and a chilling aura emanating from him.

The auspicious cloud slowly descended thirty feet in front of the army formation, hovering three feet above the ground.

Shen Gongbao straightened his Taoist robe and slowly stepped down from the tiger's back. "Shen Gongbao, the Grand Preceptor of the Great Shang Dynasty, has come to deliver the imperial decree by royal command!"

The sound traveled clearly throughout the ten-mile-long military formation; this "sound transmission over a thousand miles" technique was clearly intentional.

Zhang Kui smirked and led the group down the city wall.

"This humble general, Zhang Kui, respectfully welcomes the Imperial Preceptor."

Zhang Kui clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, speaking in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant.

Shen Gongbao sized up Zhang Kui, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

With his mid-stage Xuanxian cultivation, he couldn't see through Zhang Kui's true strength. The Mianchi garrison commander before him possessed an aura as deep as an abyss, especially his eyes—his left eye was as blazing as the sun, while his right eye was as cold and serene as the moon.

"I have long heard of General Zhang's great name, and seeing him today, I can see that it is indeed well-deserved." Shen Gongbao's smile remained unchanged. "General, to cultivate to such a level with a mortal body is truly a blessing for our Great Shang."

"You flatter me, Grand Preceptor." Zhang Kui said neither humbly nor arrogantly. "This humble general has only gained some understanding from Grand Preceptor Wen's guidance. Please, Grand Preceptor, proclaim the imperial decree."

A glint flashed in Shen Gongbao's eyes, clearly understanding the unspoken meaning. However, he was extremely shrewd, and his smile remained unchanged: "General Zhang is right. Grand Tutor Wen has a discerning eye and is a role model for us all."

After saying that, he took out a vermilion scroll from his sleeve, slowly unfurled it, and found it decorated with black bird patterns, exuding a faint imperial aura.

"The Emperor decrees: A rebellion has broken out in the southern borderlands, and the forces at Sanshan Pass are insufficient, making the defense line extremely precarious. Therefore, General Zhang Shan of Mianchi is hereby appointed to lead 60,000 troops to Sanshan Pass immediately. I urge you all to fight bravely and uphold the prestige of our nation. So be it!"

Zhang Shan stepped forward three times, knelt on one knee, and raised his hands high: "This humble general, Zhang Shan, receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

Shen Gongbao placed the imperial edict in Zhang Shan's hand and then gestured for him to rise, saying, "General Zhang Shan, please rise. The King has high hopes for you brothers; do not fail to live up to His Majesty's grace."

"This humble general will certainly do his utmost to serve the country!" Zhang Shan stood up and solemnly put away the imperial edict.

Shen Gongbao nodded, turned his gaze to Zhang Kui, and said with a smile, "General Zhang Kui, His Majesty has another imperial edict."

"Please speak, Imperial Preceptor."

"His Majesty says that the brothers Zhang Kui and Zhang Shan are loyal to the country, and their ambition is commendable. They will be richly rewarded once the southeast is pacified. Furthermore, he hopes that General Zhang Kui will guard Mianchi well and protect the gateway to the royal domain."

Zhang Kui sneered inwardly.

A hefty reward? It's more like they'll discard the bow after the birds are all gone, or cook the dog after the rabbit is dead.

But he remained outwardly calm, saying, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Shen Gongbao cursed "slippery" inwardly, then glanced at the army formation: "General Zhang Kui, may I inspect your troops?"

"Of course." Zhang Kui stepped aside to make way. "Please, Imperial Advisor."

Shen Gongbao strode towards the army formation, while the old man in black robes remained standing still, and the white-browed tiger lay prostrate at his feet.

Zhang Kui and Gao Lanying exchanged a glance and followed.

The army of 100,000 men occupied an area of ​​several miles in radius.

Shen Gongbao secretly used a detection technique, his divine sense spreading out like an invisible spider web to probe the truth...

However, just as his divine sense was about to touch the edge of the military formation, an invisible force field suddenly rose up.

That was the military might and killing aura naturally formed from the blood and qi of 100,000 soldiers.

Shen Gongbao's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly withdrew his divine sense. Only then did he notice that the seemingly ordinary dark red clouds above the military formation were actually the military spirits formed from the blood and qi of countless soldiers.

This military force is no longer an ordinary elite force, but a nascent Daoist army truly qualified to contend with cultivators.

"General Zhang's military leadership is excellent; I admire him greatly," Shen Gongbao said with a forced smile.

Zhang Kui said indifferently, "You flatter me. These are just some rudimentary training methods, hardly worthy of serious consideration."

As they spoke, the group had already reached the center of the military formation.

Shen Gongbao stopped and turned to look at Zhang Kui, his smile meaningful: "General Zhang Kui, I have a question that I do not understand. I hope you can enlighten me."

"Please speak, Imperial Preceptor."

"I've heard that outside Xiqi City, General, you fought against four Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, including Manjushri Bodhisattva, and were undefeated," Shen Gongbao said slowly. "Is this true?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

Gao Lanying, Zheng Lun, and the others' faces darkened, and their hands were already on their weapons.

Zhang Kui remained unfazed and instead smiled, saying, "Grand Preceptor, you jest. What merit do I possess to dare to fight against a Golden Immortal of the Chan Sect? That day, I merely relied on the advantage of the formation to exchange a few blows with several immortals, and I only survived by sheer luck."

Shen Gongbao's eyes gleamed, clearly disbelieving. But he didn't expose him, simply smiling and saying, "General Zhang Kui is too modest. I am not very talented, but I would also like to experience your superior skills."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Gongbao suddenly cast a spell, gently pointing his right index finger at Zhang Kui.

Seemingly casual, he had actually unleashed the "True Mystery of the Five Elements," a technique he had painstakingly cultivated for a thousand years. The power of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—burst forth from Shen Gongbao's fingertips, transforming into an invisible and intangible ripple that silently attacked Zhang Kui.

"What does the Imperial Preceptor mean by this?" Zhang Kui sneered inwardly, but remained unperturbed on the surface. He then curled his right hand into a claw, five-colored light flowing between his fingers—the Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Kui's figure vanished like frost flowers, and the five-element ripple pierced through the phantom and struck the ground behind him.

"laugh--"

Without a sound, the ground within a radius of three zhang transformed into a piece of colorful glass, demonstrating Shen Gongbao's profound mastery of the Five Elements.

"Bold Shen Gongbao!" Gao Lanying shouted, and the Golden Needle of the Sun was already unleashed.

Zheng Lun and Chen Qi stepped forward simultaneously, their magical power surging. Although the three thousand crow soldiers and the three thousand flying tiger soldiers were in the military formation, their energy was already linked, ready to form a battle formation at any time.

Zhang Shan's face turned ashen, his hand gripping the hilt of his knife, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

Although the 100,000-strong army had not moved, their military might and killing intent surged like a raging tide, locking onto Shen Gongbao and the black-robed old man standing outside the army formation.

The white-browed tiger, which had been feigning sleep, let out a low growl, its fur standing on end, as if it had sensed a deadly threat.

"Don't panic, everyone." Zhang Kui raised his hand to stop the crowd, a smile returning to his face. "It seems the Grand Preceptor also wants to take this opportunity to test the commander-in-chief's abilities!"

He looked at Shen Gongbao, his tone turning cold: "Grand Preceptor, if you wish to continue, I will certainly not disappoint you."

Shen Gongbao gave Zhang Kui a deep look, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

In that instant, Zhang Kui's movement technique was so profound and unpredictable that Shen Gongbao couldn't discern his trajectory at all. Even more terrifying was the five-colored light that gathered between Zhang Kui's five fingers as he dodged—though it was only a fleeting moment, Shen Gongbao could sense that the destructive power contained within that light was purer and more terrifying than his Five Elements True Mystery Technique.

He was now finally certain that it was true that the Golden Immortal of the Chan Sect could not defeat Zhang Kui under the walls of Xiqi City.

Shen Gongbao pondered deeply, then smiled again: "General Zhang is indeed exceptionally skilled. I was merely excited by the sight of him and wished to exchange a few blows with you. I hope you will forgive my abruptness."

Zhang Kui sneered inwardly, but waved his hand magnanimously on the surface: "Grand Preceptor, you flatter me. Since it's just a friendly exchange, then there's no problem."

The two looked at each other and smiled, their understanding unspoken.

"General Zhang Kui!" Shen Gongbao laughed, "Let the army set off immediately, I must also return to report."

Zhang Kui nodded: "Please take care, Grand Preceptor. I am busy with official duties, so I will not see you off further."

Shen Gongbao said no more, mounted the white-browed tiger, and together with the old man in black robes, rode on auspicious clouds and flew towards Chaoge.

Only after Shen Gongbao's figure completely disappeared did Zhang Kui's smile gradually fade, and his eyes turned icy cold.

"Brother, this Shen Gongbao..." Zhang Shan stepped forward, hesitating to speak.

"Ignore him," Zhang Kui said calmly. "He's just a clown. Proceed as planned."

"OK!"

Zhang Shan mounted his horse, drew his sword, and pointed it southeast.

"All troops, listen up—move out!"

The bugle sounds and the war drums beat.

The army of 100,000, like a giant black dragon, slowly began to move. The sounds of hooves, footsteps, and wheels merged into a deep rumble, causing the earth to tremble.

Zhang Kui stood on the city wall, watching the army depart into the distance.

This journey is long and arduous; who knows when the brothers will be reunited?

Gao Lanying walked to his side and whispered, "Husband, Shanzi will be safe. With Zheng Lun and Chen Qi assisting him, plus the 80,000 elite troops under the command of the four colonels, they can even fight against the 200,000 rebel troops of the Marquis of Nan."

"Yes!" Zhang Kui squeezed her hand. "The road ahead is long, and he has his own path to walk. Our path... is also rugged and winding!"

The walls of Mianchi City remain tall and sturdy, but the garrison is sparse.