Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The loess road stretches into the distance.

Qinglong Pass, this majestic fortress, reveals its desolate outline under the setting sun. The city walls are high and the watchtowers are numerous. Despite the ravages of war, it still stands firm, like a lurking beast lying between the mountains.

"At the current speed, we can enter the pass before sunset." Zhang Kui, riding on the back of the Bi'an, pondered, "There should still be some garrison troops left behind by Zhang Guifang inside the pass. Although their commander-in-chief is dead, their organization is not disbanded. If we can gather them together, plus my three thousand Xuanjia..."

As I was pondering this, the world suddenly fell silent.

It felt like being suddenly pressed down by an invisible hand.

The leaves on the roadside trees remained motionless, their leaves still curved by the wind. Several birds in the air seemed frozen in place, their outstretched wings frozen in time.

The dust no longer flies.

The three thousand Xuanjia soldiers, along with their mounts, were all frozen in place. Wu Wenhua was urging his horse forward, but at this moment he was like a stone statue, even the expression on his face frozen in a moment of astonishment. The dragon horse beneath him raised its front hooves, but could not put them down again.

The whole world seemed to have become a painting.

Zhang Kui was terrified.

His mind could still function, but his body was completely immobile.

The surroundings seemed to be forcibly "frozen" by some force.

"What kind of power is this?" Zhang Kui was horrified.

He had fought against Great Luo Golden Immortals before and felt the pressure of Manjushri's power. But even when Manjushri activated the Dragon-Binding Stake at full power, it only made it difficult for him to move, unlike now where he was completely immobilized.

Just then, a figure slowly emerged from the void.

He was a young Taoist priest dressed in a moon-white robe, with a gentle face, and looked to be no more than thirty years old. He walked very slowly, and with each step he took, a phantom of a blue lotus flower appeared beneath his feet, which then disappeared.

The Taoist priest walked towards Zhang Kui.

Zhang Kui tried his best to activate the Great Yin-Yang Void-Piercing True Eye, attempting to see through the other party's true nature. However, when his gaze fell on the Taoist, all he saw was a "blurry".

Even though the person was standing there, it was as if they had merged with the heavens and earth.

It wasn't until the Taoist priest was three steps away from Zhang Kui that Zhang Kui could barely "see" the other person's appearance.

He had an ordinary appearance, neither handsome nor imposing, but his eyes were clear as an ancient well, unfathomable. He had no aura about him; if the other person hadn't actually been standing right in front of him, Zhang Kui wouldn't have even been able to sense his presence.

This feeling is so strange.

In the realm of the Golden Immortal, one's divine sense can cover an area of ​​a thousand miles, and the movement of every blade of grass and every tree cannot escape perception.

However, at this moment, if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Zhang Kui's divine sense wouldn't have been able to "sweep" the Taoist at all.

The Taoist priest looked at Zhang Kui, and the corners of his mouth seemed to be slightly raised.

He raised his right hand and made a single, gentle gesture, instantly changing the surrounding environment.

The frozen wind began to flow again, birds took flight, and dust continued to swirl, yet all of this was happening in another "space." Zhang Kui clearly felt that he had been separated from the three thousand Xuanjia soldiers.

With a wave of his hand, the Taoist "removed" Zhang Kui from his original space and placed him in another independent space.

Zhang Kui found himself standing in front of a thatched hut in the mountains.

The thatched hut was simple, with a bamboo frame and thatched roof. In front of the door was a stone table and two stone benches. It was surrounded by lush bamboo forests, and in the distance, clouds and mist swirled, with rolling mountains faintly visible.

The Taoist priest was already sitting on the stone bench on the ground. He looked at Zhang Kui and flicked his finger.

"untie."

As soon as he uttered the word, Zhang Kui felt a sense of lightness throughout his body, and the terrifying binding force instantly dissipated. He staggered, almost kneeling, and quickly circulated his Nine Breaths Qi to stabilize the churning blood and qi within his body.

Upon regaining his freedom, Zhang Kui's first instinct was to escape.

But he managed to suppress that instinct.

There's no escaping it, and there's no way to escape it.

The fact that the other party could imprison him without his knowledge and transfer him to this secret realm with a wave of their hand was far beyond Zhang Kui's comprehension.

Zhang Kui gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, suppressed his shock, and stepped forward.

He could feel the Taoist's gaze on him; the gaze was peaceful, yet it seemed to see through everything about him.

The distance of just over ten steps felt like traversing thousands of mountains and rivers.

When Zhang Kui walked to the stone table, fine beads of sweat had already appeared on his forehead.

"Please sit down."

The Taoist priest uttered a single, gentle sentence.

With just those two simple words, Zhang Kui's body moved involuntarily, almost subconsciously, and he sat down on another stone bench.

Only after sitting down did he suddenly realize—how compliant he had been?

This is a natural and self-evident reaction.

It was as if the Taoist priest told him to sit down, and the laws of heaven and earth agreed that "he should sit down," so he sat down.

"This humble Taoist is Xuandu."

The Taoist priest spoke, announcing his name.

Upon hearing this name, Zhang Kui was utterly shaken.

Grand Master Xuandu!

The only direct disciple of the Supreme Sage of Tao and Morality, the first disciple of the second generation of the three religions of humanity, Chan, and Jie, and one of the sages of the human race.

In the original novel of Investiture of the Gods, this powerful being rarely appears, but every time he does, he represents the will of a sage.

How could it be him?

Zhang Kui's mind raced. He had never met this powerful figure before, so why were they meeting here? Could it be because of the "Golden Elixir Path"?

How could it be him?

Zhang Kui's mind raced. He had never met this powerful figure before, so why were they meeting here? Could it be because of the "Golden Elixir Path"?

Xuandu clearly noticed the change in Zhang Kui's expression.

A hint of surprise flashed in his clear eyes, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Eh... it seems you know me, young friend!"

These words were spoken calmly, yet they sent a chill down Zhang Kui's spine.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Kui forced himself to calm down.

He stood up, bowed respectfully, and said sincerely, "Junior Zhang Kui pays respects to Grand Master Xuandu!"

Facing the only direct disciple of the Taiqing Sage and a sage of the human race, Zhang Kui dared not act rashly in the slightest.

Yes, this Grand Master Xuandu was of human origin, one of the three thousand innate humans created by the goddess Nuwa. He witnessed the entire process of humanity's birth and prosperity, and is one of humanity's oldest guardians. In a sense, all later human cultivators are his "descendants."

Xuan Du accepted Zhang Kui's bow without yielding or offering any further words, simply raising his hand slightly: "Sit."

Zhang Kui sat down again, his posture upright, like a young child facing an elder.

"Young friend, are you aware," Xuandu spoke, his voice as gentle as the clinking of jade, "that the Golden Elixir Path you cultivate was transmitted by the Taiqing Sage of our Human Sect?"

"I understand," Zhang Kui quickly replied. "When Fellow Daoist Wen Zhong taught me this method, he already explained its origin."

His mind raced with thoughts.

What's going on? Did I violate a taboo of the Human Sect by practicing this method?

Zhang Kui felt a little uneasy.

He recalled what Lady Pingxin had said when she broke the seal on the jade slip—"This is a test set by Grand Master Xuandu." Could it be that he had already come into the sights of this powerful being since then?

Xuandu seemed to sense Zhang Kui's unease.

He smiled gently, a smile as warm as a spring breeze, instantly dispelling the tense atmosphere: "Young friend, there's no need to be nervous. This technique was originally created for the human race. You are a human, so naturally you can cultivate it."

"Thank you very much, senior!" Zhang Kui felt relieved upon hearing this and quickly expressed his gratitude, "I am deeply grateful."

Xuan Du waved his hand, indicating to Zhang Kui that he should dispense with the formalities, his movements casual and natural.

He paused, then continued, "However..."

Oops!

Alarm bells rang in Zhang Kui's mind.

It wasn't that simple after all. There's no such thing as a free lunch. How could there be no price to pay for learning someone else's core techniques?

He took a deep breath, ready to face the demanding requests.

There is very little room for bargaining in the face of such a powerful being.

"Please enlighten me, senior," Zhang Kui replied in a deep voice, his tone respectful.

Xuan Du brushed away non-existent dust from his sleeve, looked up at Zhang Kui, and a deep light flashed in his eyes:

"I observe that you have attained the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit through the Golden Elixir Dao, with a solid foundation and a resilient mind. Furthermore, you possess the bloodline of the Witch Clan and the authority of the Netherworld, yet you have not lost your true self. This is truly rare."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Zhang Kui:

"Young friend, I wish to take you as my disciple and pass on the teachings of my Humanist School. Are you... willing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui stood there dumbfounded.

It's not a requirement, not a condition, but... taking on apprentices?

To become a disciple of the Grand Master Xuandu?

This was completely beyond his expectations.

Zhang Kui's mind went blank, and then countless thoughts surged in like a tide.

Grand Master Xuandu, the only direct disciple of the Sage Taiqing, a Quasi-Saint and a sage of the human race.

Becoming his disciple means becoming a direct descendant of the Humanist Sect, receiving personal instruction from this great being, and having the entire Humanist Sect as your backing.

In this great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, is there any more reliable talisman than this?

Definitely not...