Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

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The Netherworld, Mount Luofeng

Deep within the Fengdu Palace, the eternal aura of the netherworld surged like the tides. On the imperial throne, the black-robed emperor slowly opened his eyes, his gaze reflecting the laws of reincarnation and death.

Sensing Zhang Kui's call, he stirred his mind slightly, and ripples appeared in the void in front of him, revealing a phantom portal engraved with underworld runes.

Zhang Kui stepped out, his body still carrying the pure and ethereal aura unique to the mortal world, making him stand out conspicuously in this underworld palace.

"You've arrived." The deep, resonant voice of the Emperor of Fengdu echoed in the empty hall.

"I've run into some trouble." Zhang Kui didn't stand on ceremony and handed over the jade slip containing the seventh stage of the "Golden Elixir Path." "Take a look at this."

The avatar accepted the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense. In an instant, a solemn expression appeared between his brows—having governed reincarnation for ten thousand years, he had witnessed far too many traps and detours on the path of cultivation.

A moment later, he raised his head, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:

"This method... has a big problem."

"Just as I suspected!" Zhang Kui's spirits lifted. "What exactly is the problem?"

The Emperor of Fengdu held the jade slip in his palm, the laws of reincarnation transforming into a dark radiance that enveloped it. Under the illumination of the power of reincarnation, the hidden patterns within the jade slip became apparent, and subtle distortions appeared behind the scriptures.

"Look here." The avatar tapped lightly with its fingertip, and a technique about "drawing Geng metal energy into the lungs" was extracted. "On the surface, it draws the essence of Geng metal from the West to temper the lungs, but in reality, it contains a hidden mechanism of assimilation. Once you start practicing, the external Geng metal energy will spread like mercury, gradually eroding your own innate metal energy, eventually making you dependent on external objects of a specific attribute."

He then pointed to another passage: "And here, it seems to harmonize the five elements and promote mutual generation, but in reality, it subtly alters the fundamental cycle. When you cultivate to a deeper level, your balance of the five elements will no longer arise from within; you must constantly absorb the essence of external things to maintain it. It's like drinking poison to quench thirst; you can no longer be self-sufficient."

The voice of the Emperor of Fengdu grew colder, and the ghostly energy in the hall surged: "This is not a method of cultivation, but a finely crafted shackle. Once you embark on this path, you will go against the path of 'perfect self-nature,' and be bound by external things for life, with no chance of transcendence."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui felt a chill run down his spine: "What should we do now? If I don't cultivate according to this method, will my path to enlightenment end here?"

The Emperor of Fengdu pondered for a long time, then suddenly raised his head and looked at the dome of the main hall—it was not made of bricks and stones, but of flowing netherworld laws, through which one could see the shadows of all the heavens and myriad worlds.

"This matter is quite complex, perhaps... we should consult the teacher."

"Empress Pingxin?" Zhang Kui's eyes lit up.

"Indeed." The Emperor of Fengdu rose, his black robes fluttering without wind, with the image of stars rising and falling between his sleeves. "My master has transformed into the cycle of reincarnation, living as long as the primordial world. Her understanding of the myriad paths of the heavens far surpasses that of you and me. Such a secretive method will surely not escape her discerning eyes."

"Shall we go now?" The true self could not hide his eagerness.

The Emperor of Fengdu nodded slightly: "I will take you directly to Houtu Palace. Remember, when you see your master, just tell the truth. Do not make any wild guesses, and do not hide anything."

Zhang Kui nodded solemnly: "I understand."

Without another word, the Emperor of Fengdu waved his sleeve, and the Law of Reincarnation transformed into a deep, dark passage. The two stepped into it, and their figures vanished from the main hall in an instant.

When it reappeared, it was in a wondrous, chaotic space.

Here, there is neither heaven nor earth, neither above nor below; the concepts of time and space become blurred. Only an ancient palace floats silently in the center. The palace is neither gold nor stone, its material resembles jade but is not jade, and its entire body flows with a chaotic aura.

The three great Dao runes on the gate plaque shone brightly: Pangu Hall.

There were no steps or stairs in front of the hall, only the chaotic air currents rising and falling like breaths.

He bowed before the Hall of the Great Emperor of Fengdu and said, "Disciple Fengdu requests an audience with the Venerable Master."

After a moment of silence, the palace gates opened silently.

A gentle female voice rang out, as if whispering in one's ear:

"Come in."

The two stepped inside.

The palace interior was surprisingly simple, yet it exuded a profound sense of simplicity. There were no ornate decorations or elaborate arrangements, only a plain prayer cushion and a woman dressed in a simple yellow dress.

She sat serenely on the prayer mat, her face gentle as a loving mother, yet her eyes were as deep as the cosmos, as if they could see through the eternal cycle of reincarnation. She was none other than the compassionate and benevolent Lady Pingxin, who embodied the cycle of reincarnation.

"Sit down and talk."

Empress Pingxin pointed to the ground in front of her, and two prayer cushions naturally rose up.

The two sat down as instructed.

Zhang Kui took out the jade slip and presented it with both hands: "Respectfully informing you, Ancestor, I recently received the seventh method of the Golden Elixir Great Dao, but after studying it, I have some doubts and have come to ask for your guidance."

Empress Pingxin took the jade slip but did not examine it immediately. Instead, she glanced at Zhang Kui first.

She probed the jade slip with her divine sense, and with just a glance, a meaningful smile appeared on her lips, a smile that contained emotion, reminiscence, and a hint of mockery.

"Brother Laozi's 'Golden Elixir Path'..." she murmured to herself, her voice like a clear spring flowing, "So that's how it is. It seems that this is what was circulated before."

Zhang Kui's heart tightened.

"Yes." Zhang Kui readily admitted, "In the first six stages of my cultivation, I realized that the core of this path should be 'self-nature perfection,' without seeking anything external. But this seventh stage requires taking the path of 'borrowing the false to cultivate the true,' drawing the essence of external things into the body, which contradicts the core concept. Moreover, upon closer examination, some of the obstacles feel rather awkwardly pieced together."

Empress Pingxin nodded, her eyes flashing with approval: "Your Dao heart is clear and your foundation is solid. The fact that you could sense something amiss while still in the Profound Immortal Realm shows that you haven't taken any shortcuts on your path of cultivation. Anyone else would probably have been overjoyed and started cultivating right away. After all, this is a method passed down by a sage."

Cold sweat broke out on Zhang Kui's back: "May I ask, Ancestor, what is so strange about this method? And where is the true seventh stage?"

Empress Pingxin did not answer directly, but instead gently tossed the jade slip into the air. The jade slip hovered in mid-air, and under the protection of her saintly power, dense golden runes began to appear on its surface.

These runes are as fine as hair, perfectly interwoven with the original scripture. Unless one activates the power of a saint, no one can detect anything unusual.

"This is..." Zhang Kui's pupils contracted.

"A seal," said Consort Pingxin calmly, tapping her fingertip lightly. "Or rather, a sophisticated disguise. It seals away the true seventh stage of the Golden Core Path, replacing it with a dubious substitute."

She looked at Zhang Kui, her tone carrying a hint of admonition: "It's good that you can sense something is wrong. On the path of cultivation, the worst thing is to blindly follow others. Even when facing a sage imparting teachings, you should still have your own judgment."

Zhang Kui took a deep breath: "May I ask, Ancestor, who placed this seal? And what was its purpose?"

Empress Pingxin smiled slightly, a smile that seemed to see through eternity: "Actually, the version you have is also real, but... it's an early, somewhat immature draft."

A thought flashed through Zhang Kui's mind, and he blurted out, "Grand Master Xuandu?"

The Golden Elixir Path was a method passed down to the human race by the Sage of Taiqing, but throughout the ages, it seems that only Grand Master Xuandu has truly mastered it.

Empress Pingxin shook her head: "It's not that boy Xuandu. He has a detached nature and would much rather have more like-minded people to verify his beliefs."

She paused, her tone tinged with nostalgia and a hint of mockery: "Let me tell you a secret. This was actually the first edition written by my senior brother Laozi before he attained enlightenment. Back then, in his pursuit of speed, he didn't care about those hidden dangers. Later, when he broke through his cultivation level and created a truly perfect method, he sealed away this first edition."

The golden runes on the jade slip began to peel away and decompose under the fingertips of Lady Pingxin.

"This sealing technique bears the mark of the Eight Trigrams Palace," said Lady Pingxin slowly. "It should be the work of Xuandu. He hid the true method beneath the first version as a test for those who come after. If one cannot even see the problem within it, then one is not worthy of receiving the true transmission method."

Zhang Kui was shocked; it turned out that all of this was intentionally arranged.

Click!

The last golden rune shattered.

The jade slip shone brightly, and the originally lengthy and complex scripture receded like a tide, dissipating into specks of golden light. In its place was a brand new incantation, with only a little over a thousand words, much simpler than the previous "borrowing the false to cultivate the true" method.

But these thousand-odd words are all gems.

Zhang Kui only glanced at the opening chapter before his whole body trembled violently, and the golden core in his body involuntarily accelerated its rotation, emitting bursts of resonance.

The very first sentence of this mantra is:

"Refining emptiness and uniting with the Dao. Emptiness refers to the emptiness of the Golden Elixir; Dao refers to the Dao of oneself. Using the Golden Elixir as a guide, one unites it with oneself, achieving unity between man and elixir, which is the Great Dao of the Golden Elixir."

These few words reveal the true essence of the seventh revolution.

Every subsequent sentence goes straight to the source, explaining how to refine the Golden Elixir from "something within the body" into "the body itself is the elixir," truly achieving inner and outer harmony and complete self-nature. There is no external introduction, no borrowing, only a deep exploration and sublimation of one's own Great Dao.

"So that's how it is..." Zhang Kui murmured to himself, his eyes suddenly gleaming with inspiration.

This is the true path of cultivation that aligns with the core principles of Internal Alchemy, and this is the true essence of "Perfect Self-Nature." Previous versions were like a deformed key; they seemed to open the door, but in reality, they would completely destroy the lock.

Empress Pingxin handed the jade slip back to him: "The true Dharma is here; keep it safe. Remember, on the path of cultivation, a true teaching is contained in a single sentence, while false teachings fill countless volumes."

A profound light flashed in her eyes. "If you have the chance, go to the Eight Views Palace. Since Xuandu has set up this scheme, there must be follow-up arrangements."

Zhang Kui solemnly accepted the jade slip, stood up and bowed deeply: "Disciple will remember it, thank you for your guidance, Ancestor."

Empress Pingxin accepted the greeting with composure, then gently waved her hand: "Go. Cultivate diligently, and do not waste this opportunity."

"This disciple takes his leave."

Zhang Kui and Feng Du bowed again and respectfully withdrew from the Pangu Hall.

Looking up at the vast sky of the Netherworld, Zhang Kui murmured, "The path of cultivation is truly fraught with peril. But that's what makes it so interesting, isn't it?"

The Emperor of Fengdu smiled without saying a word, his figure gradually merging into the netherworld mist.

Inside the Pangu Palace, Lady Pingxin sat quietly on a prayer mat, gazing in the direction where the two had disappeared, a smile playing on her lips, and murmured to herself:

"Senior brother, your move... was brilliant."