Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

At this moment, the Shang army camp was in complete disarray.

Outside the gate, the barricades were overturned, the palisades were knocked down, and tattered flags and broken weapons littered the ground. The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood and burnt flesh, a nauseating mixture.

Wounded soldiers were everywhere in the camp, and under the flickering torchlight, morale was as low as the cold night wind.

The central command tent was brightly lit, and Wen Zhong sat in the main seat with a solemn and iron-like expression.

After a bloody battle, although the Xiqi army had completely retreated, the Shang army also suffered heavy losses, with more than 10,000 soldiers killed in action and several thousand seriously wounded. This was only a preliminary count; many lightly wounded were not included.

"What are the losses of grain and supplies?" Wen Zhong asked in a deep voice, this was his biggest concern.

Jili turned to the last page, his expression softening slightly: "The rear camp's provisions are undamaged, and the armory is intact. However..."

"Just what?"

"Of the three thousand soldiers responsible for guarding the rear camp, half have been affected by some kind of bewitching spell and remain unconscious. The army doctor examined them and said that their souls have been disturbed and they need to rest for several days to recover."

A cold glint flashed in Wen Zhong's eyes: "Is this a tactic of the Chan Sect?"

"It should be," Jili nodded. "But what's strange is that if the other side could so silently knock out so many guards, why didn't they just burn the grain? There are no signs of damage around the granary."

This question caused everyone in the tent to fall into deep thought.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the tent.

A guard lifted the curtain and entered, kneeling on one knee, his voice hoarse: "Your Excellency, a man has arrived outside the gate, claiming to be Zhang Kui, the deputy commander of the Western Expeditionary Army, requesting an audience with Your Excellency."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the tent changed abruptly.

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong was overjoyed and immediately stood up: "Zhang Kui, he's arrived? Quickly, invite him in, no... I'll go greet him myself!"

"Master, you are injured..." Ji Li quickly tried to dissuade him.

"A minor injury, nothing to worry about!" Wen Zhong strode towards the tent.

Ji Li and Yu Qing exchanged glances and both saw joy in each other's eyes. They had known Zhang Kui for a long time and were well aware of his abilities. His arrival with his troops to help them was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

Deng Zhong, Xin Huan, Zhang Jie, and Tao Rong had never met Zhang Kui before and were unaware of the details. They simply looked at each other, unconvinced.

With their own thoughts, everyone followed Wen Zhong to the gate of the camp.

Under the moonlight, Zhang Kui stood alone outside the camp gate. He was not wearing armor, only a black close-fitting outfit, with the dark gold Dragon Sparrow Sword hanging at his waist.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui!" Wen Zhong quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, "I have been waiting for you for a long time!"

Zhang Kui returned the greeting calmly: "I'm late."

"Not too late, not too late!" Wen Zhong grasped Zhang Kui's hand, examining him carefully. "Fellow Daoist, your cultivation has improved again; congratulations! Please come in!"

The two walked into the camp side by side, with Ji Li and Yu Qing following closely behind, and Deng Zhongsi bringing up the rear.

Upon entering the central command tent, everyone took their seats according to their status as guests and hosts.

Wen Zhong sat in the main seat, Zhang Kui sat in the first seat on the left, and Ji Li and Yu Qing sat next to him; on the right were the four generals, Deng Zhong and Zhang Kui.

The guards served hot tea, and Wen Zhong waved them away, leaving only a few core members in the tent.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui," Wen Zhong said bluntly, "how many troops have you brought this time?"

"Thirty thousand elite troops," Zhang Kui replied. "They are all elite soldiers drawn from Qinglong Pass, and are currently stationed at the foot of Qishan Mountain, seventy miles away. If the Grand Tutor needs them, they can be dispatched here tomorrow."

A look of satisfaction flashed in Wen Zhong's eyes: "Thirty thousand...good, good! On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank you, fellow Daoist!"

"You're too kind, Grand Tutor." Zhang Kui waved his hand. "As the deputy commander of the Western Expedition, I will naturally do my utmost. However..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the tent: "When I entered the camp just now, I saw the scene inside. I wonder what the battle situation is like?"

Wen Zhong sighed and recounted the battle of the night in detail. He suddenly remembered something and looked at Zhang Kui: "By the way, half of the guards in the rear camp were unconscious, but the food supplies were intact. This is very strange."

Zhang Kui smiled slightly, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

"Zhang knows a little about this matter."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent was taken aback.

"Does fellow Daoist know this?" Wen Zhong pressed.

"Because," Zhang Kui put down his teacup, his voice calm, "when Yang Jian, this old acquaintance, infiltrated the rear camp, I happened to be there as well."

"What?!"

A gasp of surprise rippled through the tent.

Deng Zhong suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with anger: "General Zhang, what do you mean by this? Since you are in the rear camp, why didn't you capture Yang Jian? Could it be...?"

He didn't say the second half of the sentence aloud, but the meaning was already very clear.

Could it be that you have a past relationship with Yang Jian and deliberately let him win?

Zhang Kui looked up at Deng Zhong, his gaze chilling.

In an instant, Deng Zhong felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, as if he were being stared at by a prehistoric beast, and the hairs on his body stood on end. He subconsciously took half a step back, his hand on the hilt of his sword, but he dared not actually draw it.

"General Deng," Zhang Kui began slowly, "if I were in league with Yang Jian, the supplies would have been reduced to ashes by tonight, wouldn't they?"

Wen Zhong quickly smoothed things over: "Deng Zhong, please don't be rude. Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui, please tell us what happened."

Zhang Kui then turned his gaze away and began to recount the battle of the rear camp.

"...In the end, Yang Jian gave up and the supplies were saved." After Zhang Kui finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and took another sip, as if he had just recounted an ordinary little thing.

But the people in the tent were already in turmoil.

When Deng Zhong and the other three looked at Zhang Kui again, their eyes were completely different. Disdain and doubt were gone, replaced by shock and awe. They asked themselves if they could withstand even three moves from someone like Yang Jian, let alone defeat him.

Wen Zhong took a deep breath and solemnly clasped his hands in thanks: "Fellow Daoist, you have done a great service by ensuring that the grain supplies were not lost. Without the grain supplies, our army would have collapsed without a fight. On behalf of the entire army, I thank you again, Fellow Daoist."

"You flatter me, Grand Tutor," Zhang Kui returned the greeting. "This is simply my duty."

Ji Li stepped forward, sincerely admiring him: "General Zhang is incredibly capable, I admire you greatly."

Yu Qing also said, "If the general hadn't arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Zhang Kui exchanged greetings with the two men, and the atmosphere was harmonious. They were already acquaintances, and this incident brought them even closer.

Watching this scene, Wen Zhong was filled with emotion. Zhang Kui's growth rate far exceeded his expectations.

Wen Zhong activated his divine eye and carefully examined Zhang Kui.

Upon seeing this, he was once again shocked.

Zhang Kui's aura was harmonious and unimpeded, with the five elements circulating in a self-contained system, and there was a faint image of auspicious clouds swirling around him—this is a characteristic of a Golden Immortal.

"Fellow Daoist has already attained the Golden Immortal realm?" Wen Zhong couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Kui nodded frankly: "A lucky breakthrough."

Silence returned to the tent.

Golden Immortal...

Deng Zhongsi gasped in astonishment. They had cultivated for decades, yet were only at the Earth Immortal level; the Golden Immortal realm was an unattainable dream for them. And Zhang Kui, looking so young, had already reached this level?

Ji Li and Yu Qing exchanged a glance, both seeing the complexity in each other's eyes. They had followed Wen Zhong in cultivation for many years, and their aptitude was considered excellent, yet they remained stuck at the peak of True Immortal, unable to break through. Zhang Kui…

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist!" Wen Zhong offered his heartfelt congratulations. "The Golden Immortal Dao Fruit grants longevity and immortality; your future is limitless."

"Grand Tutor, you flatter me," Zhang Kui said modestly. "The path of cultivation is long, and I have only just begun."

Wen Zhong shook his head and smiled bitterly. Just getting started?

If those who have been stuck at the True Immortal level for a thousand years and have not made any progress heard these words, they would probably vomit blood.

After a moment of reflection, Wen Zhong couldn't help but sigh: "I have led troops for many years, pacifying the East Sea and securing the North Sea, but I have never suffered such a great defeat. I am truly... ashamed before my generals and soldiers."

Ji Li stepped forward to dissuade him: "Master, there is no need to worry. Although Xiqi has the assistance of the Chan Sect, our Jie Sect has ten thousand immortals paying homage. How could we be afraid of them? Master can invite fellow Daoists from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks to come and help us. In this way, the great cause can be accomplished."

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong fell silent for a moment, a look of struggle flashing in his eyes.

He certainly wanted to ask for help, but the Investiture of the Gods was a far-reaching calamity. If his fellow disciples from the Jie Sect were drawn in, the entanglements of karma would make it difficult to escape. Moreover, his master, the Golden Spirit Mother, had warned him that during the great calamity, everyone should accept their fate and not force things.

But given the current situation...

Wen Zhong then looked at Zhang Kui and asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui, what do you think?"

All eyes in the tent were on Zhang Kui.

Zhang Kui pondered for a moment, his mind racing as he analyzed the situation.

Judging from the original work, it was inevitable that Wen Zhong would ask for help. The Ten Heavenly Kings of Jin'ao Island, Zhao Gongming of Luofu Cave on Mount Emei, the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao... all these Jie Sect immortals would appear one after another, but in the end, most of them would be subject to tribulations and be conferred as gods.

This is the general trend, and it's hard to change.

"Grand Tutor," he said slowly, "Fellow Daoist Jili is right. With the help of the Chan Sect, this war in Xiqi is no longer an ordinary war, but a struggle for the orthodox lineage. In that case, it is only reasonable for the Grand Tutor to ask the fellow Daoists of the Jie Sect for assistance."

Wen Zhong's eyes flickered slightly.

Zhang Kui continued, "As for the karmic calamity... the great calamity has begun, and no one can escape unscathed. Rather than passively responding to the calamity, it is better to proactively plan ahead. Seeking reinforcements is certainly risky, but without them, defeat is inevitable. When hundreds of thousands of soldiers perish on the battlefield, what will the Grand Tutor do then?"

This statement is very straightforward, yet it hits the nail on the head.

Wen Zhong's expression changed, and finally he sighed, "Fellow Daoist is right."

He looked at Jili: "As you say. I will go and visit you fellow Daoists now."

"Grand Tutor is wise!" Ji Li and Yu Qing were overjoyed.

Deng Zhong and his four generals were also invigorated. They had long been seething with anger, and if they could get help from the immortals of the Jie Sect, they would definitely make Xiqi pay.

At this point, Zhang Kui added, "Grand Tutor, there is one more thing to note about this matter. Requesting reinforcements is only for defeating the enemy; do not let it become a matter of personal feelings. The feud between the Chan and Jie sects has a long history. If this battle escalates into a full-scale conflict between the two sects, it may be difficult to resolve."

These words sent a chill down Wen Zhong's spine.

Yes, if it's just asking a few fellow Daoists for help, it's still within a controllable range; but if it escalates into a war between the two sects, then it will truly be an overwhelming karmic consequence.

"Fellow Daoist is right to remind me," Wen Zhong said solemnly. "I know what I'm doing."

He immediately ordered: "Ji Li and Yu Qing, you two, together with the reinforcements led by Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui, hold the Qishan camp and guard it well. Deng Zhong, Xin Huan, Zhang Jie, and Tao Rong, you four, reorganize the troops, repair the camp defenses, and be wary of another surprise attack from Xiqi. I will be right back."

"Yes, sir!" The crowd accepted the order.

After much deliberation, Wen Zhong asked Zhang Kui, "Fellow Daoist, your cultivation is profound and your knowledge extraordinary. Would you be willing to accompany me on this journey to Jin'ao Island? We can look after each other on the road, and once we arrive on the island, I can introduce you to my fellow disciples."

Faced with Wen Zhong's invitation, Zhang Kui hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "How could I dare refuse the Grand Tutor's invitation? However, there are matters to be handled in the camp..."

"With Ji Li and Yu Qing in charge of the camp, that's enough," Wen Zhong said. "Besides, we can return in three to five days at the fastest, and seven or eight days at the slowest, so it won't take too long."

"In that case," Zhang Kui stood up and clasped his hands in greeting, "I am willing to accompany the Grand Tutor."

"Great!" Wen Zhong exclaimed with delight. "Without further ado, let's set off now!"

Both of them were decisive and efficient; once they made up their minds, they didn't delay any longer.

Zhang Kui handed his warrant to Ji Li and Yu Qing so that the two could coordinate military affairs with Wu Wenhua. Afterwards, he and Wen Zhong left the central command tent and went to an open area.

Wen Zhong raised his hand to summon the black unicorn, then leaped onto it. The black unicorn's four hooves produced clouds, and its nostrils exhaled auspicious vapors; it was truly a divine and extraordinary beast.

Zhang Kui then summoned the divine beast Bi'an and mounted it.

"Fellow Daoist, your mount..." Wen Zhong's eyes flashed with surprise.

"Alas... this Bi'an was originally the mount of Fellow Daoist Wang Mo, and I encountered it by chance," Zhang Kuiqian said.

Wen Zhong shook his head: "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to say more. This kind of fate is also an opportunity for Bi'an."

Having said that, he said no more, and patted the black Qilin: "Let's go!"

The black unicorn's four hooves pounded the air, transforming into a streak of black light that shot straight into the sky.

Zhang Kui rode his Bi'an close behind, and the two disappeared into the night sky in an instant.

On the ground, Ji Li, Yu Qing, and the others looked up and watched until they could no longer see him before turning their gaze away.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui... is becoming increasingly unfathomable," Yu Qing exclaimed.

Ji Li nodded: "Let's go, let's go to Qishan first to meet with Wu Wenhua, and then discuss countermeasures together."

Everyone went about their own business.