Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Beneath the city of Xiqi, the Ten Deadly Formations shone brightly into the sky, their killing intent permeating the surrounding dozens of miles as if it were a tangible force.

The Shang army lined up in formation, their armor gleaming and banners fluttering, but the gates of Xiqi were tightly shut, and not a single soldier came out to fight.

Wen Zhong sat atop the black Qilin, gazing at the majestic city of Xiqi in the distance, his brows gradually furrowing. Military strategy dictates: "Strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum wanes with each attack, and exhausts with each subsequent one." The army's morale was high; if this stalemate continued, their fighting spirit would surely be dampened.

"Grand Tutor!"

Zhang Kui rode his Bixie forward, walking alongside Wen Zhong. "There are only two possibilities for Xiqi's avoidance of battle: one is that they are afraid of the power of the Ten Deadly Formations, and the other is that they have already sent someone to Yuxu Palace to request reinforcements. In either case, a prolonged delay in battle is not in our favor."

"Fellow Daoist is absolutely right. I intend to issue a challenge, and we shall meet in battle." Wen Zhong nodded and said in a deep voice, "If Xiqi does not accept the challenge, we will launch a full-scale attack and crush Xiqi in one fell swoop!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than the Golden Light Holy Mother beside her chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken."

As everyone looked, they saw that this female immortal of the Jie Sect was dressed in a golden Taoist robe, with a beautiful face but a sinister look in her eyes. She raised her delicate hand and pointed to the "Golden Light Array" she had set up. Twenty-one precious mirrors in the array were arranged according to the three powers (heaven, earth, and man), and the mirrors had faint lightning flowing on their surfaces.

"The Ten Deadly Formations are a supreme formation personally passed down by our master, the Sage Tongtian. They contain the mysteries of heaven and earth and are infinitely changeable," said the Golden Light Holy Mother proudly. "Although Jiang Ziya is a disciple of the Chan Sect, he is merely a mortal with shallow cultivation. Rather than launching a brute force attack, which would only increase casualties, it would be better to confront him honorably with the Dao of Formations. This would not only demonstrate the wonders of our Jie Sect's true teachings but also let the world know that the disciples of the Chan Sect are nothing more than this."

She glanced around at the other Heavenly Lords: "Fellow Daoists, what do you think?"

"good!"

"Fellow Daoist Jin Guang's words are truly insightful!"

"That's exactly right!"

……

The ten Heavenly Kings nodded in unison, each with a confident expression.

Qin Wan stroked his beard and laughed, "Now that we have set up the Ten Deadly Formations, we should let the formations prove their strength. If Jiang Ziya has the guts to break them, then let him know the methods of the Jie Sect; if he doesn't have the guts, then the world will laugh at the Chan Sect for having no one!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui inwardly cried out in alarm.

He quickly cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoists, the art of war says, 'Strike where the enemy is unprepared.' Our army is currently riding high, and Xiqi is filled with unease. Now is the time to press our advantage. If we give the enemy a chance to catch their breath and they come to our aid, things may change."

He paused, noticing the displeasure on the face of the Ten Heavenly Lords, but still insisted, "The essence of warfare is speed. We must take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness, attack them from unexpected directions, and strike where they are least expecting it. The Ten Deadly Formations are indeed profound, but can victory or defeat on the battlefield be entirely determined by a single method? Hesitation will only lead to chaos."

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, do you not believe in the power of my Ten Deadly Formations?" Bai Li's expression darkened slightly.

"It's not that I don't believe it," Zhang Kui said solemnly, "but the battlefield is ever-changing. Xiqi has the entire Chan Sect behind it, and the Jade Void Palace has many Golden Immortals. If they all come, although the Ten Deadly Formations are powerful, they..."

"Zhang Kui!"

Wen Zhong suddenly spoke, his voice carrying an air of authority.

He winked at Zhang Kui, subtly waving his hand to signal him to stop talking, then turned to the Ten Heavenly Lords and said loudly, "I have long admired the Ten Absolute Formations of my fellow Daoists. It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to witness them in person. Since you all wish to use formations to fight, then let us proceed as Fellow Daoist Jin Guang wishes!"

Zhang Kui sighed inwardly. He could see clearly that Wen Zhong was not unaware of the implications, but rather that the disciples of the Jie Sect were always proud and arrogant. If he were to forcefully go against their wishes, he feared that even before facing an enemy, a rift would be created between them.

This truly is a case of "good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease, and honest advice is unpleasant to the ear but is beneficial to conduct," but alas, good advice is hard to persuade a damned devil!

With things having come to this point, Zhang Kui had no choice but to remain silent and swallow his words of further advice.

The pillars of energy in the Ten Deadly Formations are linked together, forming a chain, which is indeed extremely mysterious.

Just then, Yao Bin, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Gentlemen, in my opinion, why wait for Jiang Ziya to break the formation?"

As everyone looked on, the Heavenly Lord who was in charge of the "Soul-Slaying Array" was pale-faced, with a sinister look in his eyes, and his body was emanating a faint soul fluctuation.

He sneered, "Jiang Ziya is nothing but a mortal who only rose to the position of prime minister because of the protection of the Jade Void Palace. I have a method that can send his soul to the Yellow Springs without losing a single soldier. At that time, Xiqi will be leaderless and will surely fall into chaos, and our army can win without a fight."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui frowned slightly. He cultivated the Golden Elixir Path, which emphasized the perfection of one's true nature. He had also once been in charge of the Netherworld and witnessed reincarnation. He instinctively felt disgusted by such evil arts that arbitrarily manipulated the souls of living beings and damaged their foundations.

Heaven and earth have their order, and life and death are inevitable; how can we act so recklessly?

However, Wen Zhong became very interested: "Oh? What wonderful method do you have, fellow Daoist?"

Yao Bin did not answer. With a flicker of his body, he transformed into a wisp of black smoke and drifted into the "Soul-Slaying Array" he had set up.

The group followed them into the formation, where a chilling wind howled and black mist filled the air. In the center stood a three-foot-high earthen platform, upon which was placed an incense table, on which sat a straw-made doll.

Three bright lamps burned atop the doll's head, their flickering flames a bluish-white; seven dim lamps burned beneath its feet, their flames a dark red like blood. A yellow talisman was pasted on the straw doll's chest, bearing the words "Jiang Shang" and his birth date, the characters in a glaring scarlet.

"This is a technique to seize souls and spirits," Yao Bin said in a hoarse voice. "It requires twenty-one days of practice, with three daily rituals—morning, noon, and evening—to burn talismans and chant incantations. After twenty-one days, Jiang Ziya's three souls and seven spirits will be completely scattered, and even a Great Immortal would find it difficult to save him."

Having said that, he let his hair down, held a peach wood sword, and began to perform the Dipper ritual in front of the earthen platform, chanting incantations.

As the incantation began, the three bright lamps above the straw figure's head dimmed abruptly, while the seven ghostly lamps beneath its feet suddenly blazed brightly.

An invisible thread of soul energy rose from the straw man, pierced through the great formation, crossed space, and stretched straight towards Xiqi City.

Zhang Kui felt a chill run down his spine. This evil magic was indeed vicious, capable of capturing souls from afar.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Wen Zhong clapped his hands in praise. "If this method succeeds, you, fellow Daoist, will deserve the greatest credit!"

Yao Bin sheathed his sword, a smug look on his pale face: "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Wen, Jiang Shang's life will be taken within twenty-one days!"

……

The back garden of the Prime Minister's residence in Xiqi City.

Yang Jian leaned against the pond railing, gazing at his reflection in the water, his brow furrowed. His loyal hound, Xiaotian, lay quietly at his feet, occasionally glancing up at its master, seemingly sensing the somber atmosphere.

In recent days, Jiang Ziya's behavior has become increasingly erratic.

First, he suddenly lost focus during a meeting and became incoherent. Then, while reviewing documents, he even reversed the order of the battle report. This morning, he stood in the courtyard of the mansion for half an hour, muttering to himself, and did not respond to anyone calling him.

"My uncle has cultivated for decades. Although he has not yet become an immortal, he has cultivated a pure primordial spirit. In addition, he is destined by heaven to assist the Zhou dynasty and has the protection of fortune. How could his spirit suddenly become so scattered?" Yang Jian was filled with doubts, like a stone thrown into a pond, stirring up ripples.

His divine eye, which he cultivated, made him particularly sensitive to changes in the flow of Qi.

Based on observations over the past few days, Jiang Ziya's symptoms are definitely not due to overwork or demonic possession, but rather seem to be eroded by some kind of force. His soul is slowly dissipating, like an ever-burning oil lamp whose oil is silently draining away due to damage.

"wrong!"

Yang Jian suddenly stood up, startling Xiaotian Dog, who also jumped up and looked around warily.

Just then, Nezha rushed into the garden and grabbed Yang Jian, crying, "Brother, something terrible has happened! Uncle-Master Ziya is dying!"

He was very strong, and pulled Yang Jian so hard that he stumbled.

The celestial hound that tried to block the way was kicked aside by Nezha, and whimpered pitifully—this red-robed boy is truly disliked by both humans and dogs!

"Run!" Yang Jian didn't have time to think, his expression changed drastically.

The two rushed to Jiang Ziya's bedroom, only to find the room already filled with people.

King Wu, Ji Fa, sat on the edge of the bed, tightly holding Jiang Ziya's hand, his eyes filled with tears: "My lord, you rise early and retire late, toiling for the country. If you were to leave this world today, what would I do!"

Huang Feihu, Nangong Shi, San Yisheng and other civil and military officials all looked grief-stricken.

Jinzha and Muzha stood aside, looking anxious.

Lei Zhenzi, being new to the area and unaware of the situation, stood silently in a corner. Huang Tianhua, standing behind his father, was arrogant and didn't get along well with the others.

Yang Jian pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, reaching out to grasp Jiang Ziya's pulse.

Upon touching him, the pulse was so weak it was almost imperceptible, intermittent, like a candle flickering in the wind. He then used his Heavenly Eye to investigate and saw that Jiang Ziya's spirit was dim, and most terrifyingly, his three souls and seven spirits were slowly dissipating like smoke.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, my uncle is still breathing," Yang Jian said in a deep voice, though his heart had already turned cold.

Upon hearing this, Ji Fa felt somewhat relieved and quickly ordered his attendants to take good care of him. He then asked, "General Yang, do you know what illness the Prime Minister is suffering from? All the good doctors in the city are at a loss."

Yang Jian shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Now that none of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect are in Xiqi, he is the most accomplished and experienced among the third-generation disciples, and has become the backbone of the sect.

He pondered for a moment, then decided, "It seems my uncle's illness is due to some evil magic. The only thing we can do now is return to Kunlun Mountain and ask our seniors for help."

"I'll go!"

Nezha immediately shouted, "I have the Wind Fire Wheels, they're the fastest!"

Yang Jian nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother. Go to Yuxu Palace immediately and report your Uncle's symptoms in detail."

"no problem!"

Nezha responded, and in a flash, he was outside the door. He rode on his Wind and Fire Wheels, transforming into a streak of fire and soaring into the sky.

Jinzha and Muzha exchanged a glance, a hint of displeasure flashing across their faces—their younger brother actually obeyed Yang Jian's every word, leaving their two older brothers in a rather awkward position. However, given the current critical situation, they couldn't afford to lash out.

Yang Jian saw all of this, but paid no attention to it.

He walked back to Jiang Ziya's bedside and carefully examined him again with his Heavenly Eye. Suddenly, he discovered a very fine black thread that came from the void and was wrapped around Jiang Ziya's soul, constantly drawing away his soul power.

"This is... a curse?" Yang Jian's heart skipped a beat. "It must be the work of someone from the merchant group."

He turned around abruptly and looked towards Qishan, where a brilliant golden light shone from his Heavenly Eye.

……

Inside the central command tent of the Shang army camp

Wen Zhongzheng was discussing follow-up strategies with the others.

Zhang Kui sat at the lower end, saying nothing. He had just secretly used the divine power of the Fengdu Emperor to successfully lock onto a wisp of soul drawn by the Soul-Losing Array, which must be Jiang Ziya.

"Jiang Ziya is a key figure in the Investiture of the Gods, and he will certainly not perish easily," Zhang Kui thought to himself. "I'm afraid that when the Golden Immortals of Jade Void Palace arrive, it will be difficult to withstand them."

He recalled his master, the Grand Master Xuandu's, instructions: "Float like an unmoored boat, roaming freely in the void."

Human beings should act in accordance with the natural order, but they should also uphold their original intentions and protect the common people.

Human beings should act in accordance with the natural order, but they should also uphold their original intentions and protect the common people.

Currently, the members of the Jie Sect are going their own way. If he were to forcibly interfere, it would not only be futile but could also trigger internal strife.

"I have to find another way." A glint of light flashed in Zhang Kui's eyes.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent. A scout rushed into the tent and knelt on one knee: "Report! Flames shot into the sky from Xiqi City, heading towards Kunlun."

Wen Zhong abruptly stood up: "They must have gone to Jade Void Palace for reinforcements. Fellow Daoists, we must be on high alert!"

The Ten Heavenly Kings all stood up, and Qin Wan sneered, "That's perfect, let the Chan Sect witness the power of the Ten Absolute Formations."

Zhang Kui also stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Grand Tutor, fellow Daoists, I am willing to patrol the front lines to prevent a surprise attack from Xiqi."

Wen Zhong nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist."

Zhang Kui left the main tent, mounted his Bi'an, but instead of rushing to the front lines, he circled around to the west side of the camp. With a thought, he silently used his flying and teleportation technique, his figure as frost and mist, instantly disappearing into the twilight without a trace.

A moment later, he appeared in a dense forest three miles outside the Soul-Slaying Formation.

With the Great Yin-Yang Void Eye fully open, one could see the black energy churning within the Soul-Sinking Array, and the thread connecting Jiang Ziya's soul becoming increasingly clear.

Yao Bin was burning talismans and dancing with his sword in front of the earthen platform. With each spell he cast, the silk threads grew thicker.

"This technique is vicious, damaging to the foundation of humanity and against the harmony of Heaven."

Zhang Kui frowned. "Even in a battle between two armies, such methods should not be used."