Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

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Half a month has passed since Wen Zhong left Mianchi, and Zhang Kui has been studying the jade slip every day.

Inside the quiet room, the air was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood.

Zhang Kui sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes slightly closed. The jade slip containing the seventh method of the Golden Elixir Path floated three feet in front of him, emitting a warm spiritual light.

His consciousness was immersed in it, his mind as clear as a mirror, reflecting every word in the jade slip.

What Wen Zhong gave him was not only the subsequent teachings, but also his insights from hundreds of years of practice. These annotations and reflections are all gems and the essence of his teachings.

However, when Zhang Kui devoted all his attention to the Golden Elixir Path technique, an indescribable sense of unease gradually rose in his heart.

"wrong……"

Zhang Kui frowned slightly, his divine sense scanning back and forth over the scripture in the jade slip.

This seventh method of transformation is about the way of refining the Golden Elixir. According to the scriptures, after the Golden Elixir has been perfected through six transformations, the cultivator must draw the essence of the five elements between heaven and earth into the body, using the Golden Elixir as a furnace and the five internal organs as a cauldron, to refine the essence of external things into the Golden Elixir, so that the Golden Elixir "transforms from emptiness to reality, from the inside out", and finally achieves the "indestructible Golden Elixir", laying the foundation for the Golden Immortal Dao.

The method is quite detailed—where to collect what kind of Five Elements essence, when to use what kind of technique to guide it, how to harmonize the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements, how to avoid external impurities from contaminating the Golden Elixir... everything is meticulously detailed.

The more detailed the information, the deeper Zhang Kui's doubts became.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sparkling with spiritual light. The light emanating from the jade slip was warm, pure, and genuine, and should be absolutely genuine.

"Too 'complicated'..." he muttered to himself.

Yes, that's the feeling!

Zhang Kui stood up, his thoughts churning like waves.

This method was created by the sage Laozi specifically for the human race. Legend has it that Laozi observed the wonders of the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, using the human body as a furnace and the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit as ingredients. After nine cycles of refining, the Golden Elixir was perfected, ultimately transcending life and death and attaining the Dao fruit of the Great Luo Golden Immortal.

According to the Taoist theories he remembered from his previous life, this method aligns with the cultivation philosophy of what is known as "Internal Alchemy" in later generations. It takes the unity of heaven and man as its guiding principle, advocates "self-nature perfection," and does not require external seeking. The human body is a universe in itself, so why should it need external things to supplement it?

The first six stages of "The Golden Elixir Path" are exactly like this, with each step involving exploring the body's potential and stimulating one's innate Qi.

However, this seventh transformation... follows the path of "borrowing the false to cultivate the true," using the essence of various rare and precious materials to make up for one's own deficiencies, from the outside in.

This completely contradicts the core principles of Neidan (internal alchemy).

Zhang Kui stopped and looked at the jade slip again, as the Taoist classics he knew from his previous life surfaced in his mind.

The Tao Te Ching says: Man follows the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature.

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic states: "When righteous qi is stored within, evil cannot invade."

"May I hear from Fellow Daoist Zhong..."

Given Wen Zhong's character, Zhang Kui was certain that he would never use a false method to harm him.

So where does the problem lie?

"Two possibilities." Zhang Kui's eyes gleamed. "Either I've misunderstood, and the seventh stage of the Golden Core Path should be cultivated in this way; or..."

He paused, and a startling conjecture came to mind.

"Either way, this method has been tampered with!"

As soon as the thought arose, Zhang Kui immediately used the Great Yin-Yang Void-Penetrating True Eye to carefully examine the jade slip. However, no matter how he examined it, the Daoist rhyme on the jade slip remained pure as ever, and could not be faked.

"If it has been tampered with, then the cultivation level of the person who did it must far surpass that of Fellow Daoist Wen Zhong..."

Shaking his head, Zhang Kui temporarily suppressed this alarming conjecture. His immediate priority was to confirm whether this method could actually be practiced.

Zhang Kui sat down cross-legged again, his consciousness sinking into his dantian.

There, a golden elixir the size of a longan was slowly rotating. Six golden Dao patterns shone brightly on the surface of the elixir, corresponding to the Nine Breaths Breath Absorption, Five Elements Great Escape, Subduing Dragons and Tigers, Size Control, Flying and Leaping, and Mastering the Five Thunder Six Gates Heavenly Gang Divine Powers. After completing the six cycles, the golden elixir had formed its own cycle, constantly absorbing and exhaling spiritual energy and transforming it into magical power.

If it is as the jade slip says, then it is time to draw the essence of the five elements into the body.

With a thought, Zhang Kui activated his "Five Elements Great Escape" supernatural power. His understanding of the Five Elements had already reached a state of perfection. At this moment, with a slight activation, five-colored radiance immediately appeared in the quiet room—the Qi of the Eastern Green Wood, the Qi of the Southern Crimson Fire, the Qi of the Central Yellow Earth, the Qi of the Western White Metal, and the Qi of the Northern Black Water.

These five elements of spiritual energy are extremely pure, all extracted and refined by Zhang Kui from the world using his supernatural powers.

According to the jade slip's instructions, he should guide these five elements of spiritual energy into his five internal organs, and then use the golden elixir as the central hub to refine and fuse them.

Zhang Kui hesitated.

The physical body of a Spirit Witch Realm cultivator is extremely sensitive to energy. He can clearly sense that although these external Five Elements spiritual energies are pure, they are ultimately subtly different from the innate Five Elements Qi nurtured by his own blood and qi.

"Forcibly introducing and refining it might quickly improve the quality of the Golden Core in the short term, but in the long run..." Zhang Kui frowned, "These foreign spiritual energies will accumulate in the Golden Core like impurities, destroying its purity. By the eighth or ninth stage, these impurities could become fatal flaws!"

The Golden Elixir Path is the path that leads directly to the Great Luo Golden Immortal. How could it make such a basic mistake?

"No, there must be something wrong." Zhang Kui's eyes hardened. "We can't practice."

He dispersed the five elements' spiritual energy, and the quiet room returned to tranquility.

However, the problem was not solved. If he did not cultivate according to the method on the jade slip, his sixth-stage golden core would be perfected. If he did not break through, his path of cultivation would stop there.

Zhang Kui is caught in a dilemma.

He continued to ponder for three more days, but still had no clue. The method in the jade slip was logically consistent, and every step seemed reasonable, but the sense of unease in his heart lingered.

Those who cultivate the Tao should prioritize their own intuition and inner conviction. If one cannot even convince oneself, forcing cultivation will only lead to demonic possession.

"Forget it, let's be cautious!" Zhang Kui finally sighed and put away the jade slip.

He pushed open the door to the quiet room. The sun was shining brightly outside; it was almost noon. A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, bringing the fragrance of grass and trees, and also easing his fatigue from the past few days.

"My lord, you've emerged from seclusion?"

Hearing the commotion, Gao Lanying emerged from around the corner of the corridor and saw Zhang Kui standing at the door. A look of joy appeared on her face. She quickly stepped forward, carefully examining her husband's expression, her eyes filled with concern: "Did it go smoothly?"

Not wanting her to worry, Zhang Kui gently comforted her, "It's nothing, I've just hit a roadblock. Let me think about it some more."

He spoke lightly, but Gao Lanying was so perceptive that she immediately noticed the deep confusion in his eyes.

"Husband, why don't you speak up? Perhaps I have a solution?" Gao Lanying took Zhang Kui's hand, and the two walked side by side to the stone table and benches in the courtyard. A pure, ethereal light emanated from her fingertips, nourishing Zhang Kui's soul, which had been slightly depleted from his long period of meditation. "Since we are husband and wife, we should naturally be of one mind."

Zhang Kui felt a warmth in his heart as he sensed his wife's affection. He sat down on the stone bench and watched Gao Lanying pour him tea. Finally, he stopped hiding his feelings and told her all about his confusion.

After Zhang Kui finished speaking, Gao Lanying pondered for a long time, then slowly shook her head: "This is indeed difficult, and I have no clue either. The Golden Elixir Path was passed down by the Sage of Taiqing, and its mysteries are beyond our comprehension. The method given to me by Senior Brother Wen Zhong should, in principle, have no problems..."

She paused, then suddenly looked up, a glint of inspiration in her eyes: "However—"

Zhang Kui, who had initially given up hope, immediately listened attentively when he saw that Gao Lanying seemed to have something to say.

"My lord, I think it's enough to consult a great master," Gao Lanying said with certainty.

Zhang Kui was speechless after hearing this: "Lan Ying, the Golden Spirit Mother must have seen the jade slip given to her by Fellow Daoist Wen Zhong. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal like her didn't criticize it, so what's the difference between what you said and not saying anything at all?"

"Husband, don't be anxious!" Gao Lanying said calmly, pointing her slender finger to the ground beneath her feet, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "What if it's that person from the Underworld? If that doesn't work, what about the one behind him?"

Zhang Kui was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized and was overjoyed: "Hahaha, Lan Ying, you're so smart! How come I didn't think of that!"

Yes, how could he forget that!

In the Netherworld, the Emperor of Fengdu wields the laws of reincarnation, possessing knowledge and experience far exceeding that of ordinary people. More importantly, behind the Emperor of Fengdu stands the Goddess Pingxin, the ancestral witch who has embodied reincarnation and is a saintly ruler of the Netherworld.

If even Lady Pingxin cannot see the problem with this method, then there are probably very few people in this prehistoric world who can see through it.

"I'm going to the Netherworld right now!" Zhang Kui immediately stood up and acted swiftly.

"Husband, wait a moment," Gao Lanying pulled him back. "There's no rush. You should first regulate your breathing and recover, getting yourself into peak condition. Also..."

A hint of worry flashed in her eyes: "This matter involves the teachings passed down by the Sage. When you consult with Consort Pingxin, you must be careful with your words. After all, this might touch upon the inner workings of the Xuanmen..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Zhang Kui already understood.

If there is indeed a problem with the seventh stage of the Golden Core Path, then the person who tampered with it is probably of extremely high status. Revealing it rashly might invite unnecessary trouble.

"I understand." Zhang Kui nodded solemnly. "I will act with caution."

He sat back down on the stone bench, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing. He circulated his Qi at full power during the Nine Breaths Absorption Technique, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged in like a tide, forming a visible vortex of spiritual energy around him. With his Xuanxian realm cultivation fully activated, he replenished all the energy he had consumed during the past few days of comprehension in just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

After finishing his meditation, Zhang Kui opened his eyes, his gaze gleaming with divine light.

"Lanying, I'll be right back." He held his wife's hand. "I'll leave the household in your care."

"Don't worry, my husband," Gao Lanying said softly. "Go and come back soon."

Zhang Kui nodded, and then communicated with the underworld in his mind.

In the quiet room, he formed hand seals, and the laws of reincarnation within his body were activated, quietly creating a passage to the underworld.

"open!"

Zhang Kui gave a low shout and made a sweeping motion with both hands forward.

Ripples spread through the quiet room, and a dark portal slowly emerged. Within the portal, the sound of the River of Oblivion flowing gently could be heard, along with the fragrance of the other shore flowers and the chilling aura unique to the underworld.

Zhang Kui glanced back at Gao Lanying, and seeing her nod in acknowledgment, he stepped into the doorway without further hesitation.

The figure vanished, the portal closed...