Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Meanwhile, Yao Bin, seeking a swift victory, used the Soul-Stealing Technique within the Soul-Losing Formation. He spat out a mouthful of blood into the peach wood sword, and the sword instantly ignited with a chilling black flame. As the flame flickered, a large patch of black sand appeared in the void, fine as dust, and chilling to the bone.

This black sand was no ordinary substance; it was Netherworld sand collected by Yao Bin from the depths of the Yellow Springs and the Nine Netherworlds, which he then refined using a secret method. Each grain of sand contained countless vengeful spirits. Now, driven by his essence and blood, the black sand surged and spread like dark clouds, instantly filling the entire Soul-Sinking Array. The temperature within the array plummeted, and even the air seemed to freeze into frost.

Countless vengeful spirits appeared and disappeared in the black sand, emitting mournful howls. These vengeful spirits had all died violent deaths in their previous lives, and their resentment was deep. They were imprisoned by Yao Bin with evil magic, and now, nourished by his essence and blood, they became even more ferocious, baring their fangs and claws as they pounced on the visitors outside the formation.

Standing in mid-air outside the formation, Chi saw the black mist rising into the sky from the Soul-Sinking Formation, and the howls of the ghosts pierced his mind. His expression changed drastically. He had cultivated the Dao for many years and his Dao heart was firm, so he was not afraid of these ghosts. However, through the churning black mist in the formation, he clearly saw that two of the three bright lamps on the straw figure's head had been extinguished, while the seven ghostly lamps at its feet were burning like blood flames, scarlet and dazzling.

The soul thread connecting the straw man to the direction of Xiqi had now grown as thick as a child's arm and was frantically drawing something out.

"Not good!" Chi Xin's head sank. "Junior Brother Ziya's soul has already been mostly taken away. If the last soul and spirit are also taken away, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal will find it difficult to save him."

He immediately began to cast a spell, summoning the Water-Fire Blade. Two bells, one blue and one red, swelled in the wind, growing to several meters in size. The blue light was like the sea, and the red light was like fire. They flashed alternately, radiating brilliant light, and crashed hard into the barrier of the Soul-Slaying Array.

Rumble...

Amidst the deafening roar, the black aura surrounding the Soul-Sinking Formation churned violently, and the light of the Water-Fire Strike clashed fiercely with the Yin energy within the formation, unleashing a blinding burst of light.

Chi Nai is one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, with the cultivation level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal. The Water-Fire Edge is his protective treasure, which he has refined for many years. The power of this strike is enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, and to burn rivers and boil seas.

However, the Soul-Slaying Formation only trembled for a moment before returning to normal.

Yao Bin sneered from within the formation: "Red..." "How dare you! My Soul-Slaying Formation is one of the Ten Ultimate Formations passed down by my master, the Sage Tongtian. It contains profound mysteries of heaven and earth; how could you possibly break it? Since you're here, then stay!"

Having said that, he bit his tongue and spat another mouthful of blood onto the peach wood sword. Upon spitting out this mouthful of blood, Yao Bin's face instantly turned ashen, and his aura weakened considerably.

But the effect was immediate.

The amount of black sand surging from the void suddenly increased, sweeping outwards like a monstrous wave. Each grain of black sand carried a ghostly spirit, and thousands of ghostly spirits wailed in unison, their cries converging into visible ripples that distorted and deformed space wherever they passed.

Chi's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly summoned back the Water-Fire Blade to protect himself. The Water-Fire Blade transformed into a red and blue light shield, enveloping him within it. However, the black sand was overwhelming and endless. With each grain of black sand that struck the light shield, a ghost opened its mouth to bite and devour the spiritual energy on the shield.

In a short while, the red and blue light shield dimmed by more than half.

Even more terrifying was that the wails of those vengeful spirits pierced straight to the soul. Even with Chi's Dao heart, he felt his mind waver, and all sorts of illusions appeared before his eyes—his confusion when he couldn't find the Dao in his youth, his regret when he accidentally injured innocents while slaying demons, and all sorts of obsessions he had held for ten thousand years of cultivation...

"This is... a demon in my heart?!" Chi exclaimed in horror.

He bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain bringing him to his senses in an instant. Without further hesitation, he immediately used the Golden Light Leap Technique, transforming into a golden rainbow and fleeing without looking back.

Behind them, the black sand waves chased for dozens of miles before slowly retreating back into the Soul-Sinking Formation.

……

The walls of Xiqi City.

Yang Jian stood atop the city tower, his third eye fully open, constantly monitoring the battle situation in the distance. Seeing a golden streak fleeing back in disarray, his expression changed, and he hurriedly flew to meet it.

"Uncle-Master!" Yang Jian helped the staggering man to the ground. The Golden Immortal of the Chan Sect was pale and his breathing was disordered. There were even a few specks of black sand on his Taoist robe, which were wriggling and seemed to be trying to burrow into his flesh.

Yang Jian made a hand seal, and Samadhi Fire surged forth, burning the black sand into nothingness.

Chi let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes still filled with lingering fear: "That was close! That Soul-Sinking Formation was extremely strange. If I hadn't escaped in time, I would probably have perished in it today."

Yang Jian's heart sank: "Uncle-Master, I wonder if we've managed to save Uncle-Master Ziya?"

Chi's face was grim, and he shook his head slightly: "The Soul-Snatching Formation has an altar set up inside, with the name and eight characters of Junior Brother Ziya written on a straw figure to perform the art of stealing souls and seizing spirits. I just observed that Junior Brother Ziya's three souls and seven spirits have been mostly taken away, with only one soul and one spirit barely maintaining his life. That formation is extremely dangerous, with countless yin spirits, and it is also protected by Netherworld Sand. Even with my cultivation, I cannot break it."

He paused, then sighed, "I'll return to Kunlun first. The matter of Ziya needs further discussion. You all must defend the city and refrain from engaging in battle."

Having said that, he ignored Yang Jian's hesitation and disregarded King Wu Ji Fa who had rushed over, riding on auspicious clouds and heading straight for Kunlun Mountain.

Ji Fa watched Chi's departing figure, opened his mouth, but ultimately did not utter a sound. He turned to Yang Jian, his eyes reddening, "General Yang, the Prime Minister, he..."

"Your Majesty, rest assured," Yang Jian said in a deep voice. "My senior uncle has returned to Kunlun to seek help. My senior uncle Ziya is not destined to die; there must be a way to save him."

Even so, he was still uneasy.

……

Kunlun Mountain, Yuxu Palace.

Chi arrived riding on a cloud, and as soon as he landed, he saw the Old Man of the South Pole already waiting outside the palace gate. This white-haired old man held a whisk, his face solemn, clearly already aware of what had happened.

"Junior brother, did you manage to rescue Junior Brother Ziya?" the Antarctic Immortal asked as he stepped forward.

Chi smiled bitterly and shook his head, cupping his hands and saying, "Please ask Senior Brother to inquire of Master and request a way to save us. That Soul-Sinking Formation is extremely strange, containing Netherworld Sand, countless Yin Souls, and a Soul-Capturing Altar. With my cultivation, I am completely helpless."

He then recounted in detail what he had seen upon entering the formation, from the failure of the Water and Fire Edge to break the formation, to the emergence of black sand and the wailing of vengeful spirits, and then to the illusions of inner demons, leaving nothing out.

The Antarctic Immortal frowned deeply upon hearing this: "In that case, the Soul-Sinking Formation is indeed dangerous. But Junior Brother Ziya is a key figure in the Investiture of the Gods. If he were to perish here, how could we explain it to our master?"

Before the words were finished, the gates of Jade Void Palace burst open with a loud crash.

A majestic yet peaceful voice emanated from the palace; it was none other than the Primordial Heavenly Venerable: "Red..." There are still doubts and difficulties regarding Ziya's affairs.

You may go to the Eight Views Palace to pay homage to your Grand Master, the Sage Taiqing, and seek a solution.

Upon hearing this, Chi immediately knelt on the ground: "Disciple obeys!"

The Old Man of the South Pole also bowed in respect.

Chi dared not delay. After bidding farewell to the Antarctic Immortal, he immediately rode on auspicious clouds, left Kunlun, and headed straight for Shouyang Mountain.

……

Shouyang Mountain is the place where Laozi, the sage of the Humanist religion, practiced seclusion.

This mountain soars into the clouds, reaching straight to the sky, with a majestic appearance and abundant spiritual energy. It is rich in beautiful jade, hence the name "Jade Mountain". It is also called "Shouyang" because it is the place where the sun rises first and the yang energy is first born.

Arriving on a cloud, Chi landed at the foot of the mountain and began to climb the steps. Along the way, ancient trees reached for the sky, and exotic flowers and rare herbs bloomed everywhere. At times, cranes fluttered and deer roamed about.

The mountains are shrouded in mist and clouds, with a sea of ​​clouds surging and faintly visible amidst the clouds, like palaces and pavilions.

As you walk halfway up the mountain, you will see an ancient Taoist palace standing majestically, which is the Bajing Palace.

Above the palace gate hangs a couplet:

The Dao divided the primordial chaos, and I once saw the Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate) and the Two Forms give rise to the Four Symbols.

The Hongmeng transmission of the Dharma further derived the Five Elements from the Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces.

The calligraphy is ancient and vigorous, each stroke seemingly containing the profound truths of the universe, which is awe-inspiring to behold.

Chi Zheng, dressed in formal attire, bowed deeply and said: "Disciple Chi of the Chan Sect..." "Greetings, Grand Master!"

His voice was respectful, and it carried throughout the mountains and fields.

A moment later, the palace gates slowly opened. A young Taoist priest dressed in a moon-white robe, with a handsome face, walked out of the palace. He was none other than Grand Master Xuandu.

"Fellow Daoist, please rise."

Xuan Du gently helped him up and smiled, "The matter you requested has already been communicated to Master by Uncle Yuanshi. Please come in with me."

Chi Cheng Xie followed Xuan Du into the Eight Views Palace.

The palace contained a hidden world, a void of chaos, devoid of heaven and earth, sun and moon, with only a hazy, primordial energy slowly circulating. In the center of this chaos, an old Taoist sat cross-legged on a futon, his beard and hair all white, his face ancient and simple, his eyes slightly closed, his aura ethereal and unpredictable, seemingly present yet absent—this was none other than the Supreme Sage Laozi.

Chi dared not look any longer, immediately straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply again: "Disciple greets Senior Uncle, may Senior Uncle live a long and healthy life!"

After the words were spoken, a profound silence fell over the chaos.

After a long while, Lao Tzu slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes were as deep as the starry sky, yet as clear as an infant's. Between opening and closing, it seemed as if the two currents of Yin and Yang flowed, and all things in heaven and earth were born and die.

"Jiang Shang was destined to face this calamity." Laozi spoke slowly, his voice like the chime of the Great Dao, echoing in the chaos. "This is the will of Heaven, and also destiny."

Chi Gongsheng said, "This disciple is foolish and ignorant; please enlighten me, Master Uncle."

Lao Tzu extended his right hand, his five fingers loosely clenched.

In an instant, chaos trembled, primordial energy surged, and a precious scroll emerged from the void. Upon its appearance, five-colored rays illuminated the mountains and rivers, and nine-colored auspicious energy shook the heavens and the universe. As the scroll unfolded, it contained the sun, moon, stars, mountains, trees, and all living things, resembling a complete world.

It is the Taiji Diagram, the supreme treasure of the Supreme Sage's enlightenment.

This diagram is surrounded by countless rays of light and auspicious colors. It is encircled by prophecies of the Great Dao, and within it, celestial talismans are subtly revealed. The diagram divides Yin and Yang, defines the Four Symbols, incorporates the Five Elements, and encompasses all things in the universe. Holding it can pacify earth, water, fire, and wind, transform Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, and unravel the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao. It is a primordial treasure transformed from the handle of Pangu's axe after Pangu cleaved the chaos at the beginning of creation.

"Take this treasure with you; it may save Jiang Shang." Laozi gently pushed the Taiji diagram, and the treasure slowly floated towards the red... "Remember, when faced with any situation, you must remain upright and neutral, and never entertain any delusional thoughts. Go quickly and return quickly."

He respectfully accepted the Tai Chi diagram with both bare hands, feeling as light as if it were nothing, yet as heavy as Mount Tai. He kowtowed again, saying, "Disciple will humbly follow Master's teachings!"

Having said that, he rose and left the Eight Views Palace, transforming into a golden rainbow and heading straight for Xiqi.

……

Within the Eight Views Palace, chaos remained unchanged.

Grand Master Xuandu stood beside Laozi, watching Chi Yuan's departing figure, and suddenly spoke: "Master, regarding your actions, what about Uncle Tongtian..."

He hesitated.

The Taiji diagram is a treasure of the Human Teachings, possessing boundless power. Although it is only used to save people, it inevitably leads to a deeper conflict between the Chan and Jie teachings.

Lao Tzu sighed softly, his voice filled with endless vicissitudes: "We are all caught in this great calamity of heaven and earth. The arrival of ten thousand immortals from the Jie Sect seems like a golden age, but in reality, it has become a cage. Long trapped in this cage, when will we return to nature? Junior Brother Tongtian... he needs to understand that some things cannot be forced."

Xuandu seemed to be deep in thought.

Laozi suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, Xuandu, when are you going to bring that little monkey you just took in, named Zhang Kui, back for your master to see?"

Upon hearing this, Xuandu's Dao heart trembled slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he rose to leave.

Laozi didn't stop him, but just said leisurely to himself, "That little fellow has witch blood, cultivates the Golden Core Dao, and has even won the favor of Junior Sister Houtu, wielding power in the Netherworld. Such a background is quite interesting. Tell him that if he has the chance, he should come and visit the Eight Trigrams Palace."

Xuan Du paused slightly, but still walked away quickly without looking back.

In his heart, however, he grumbled: "My master claims to be ruthless, yet he worries about just as much as I do. Tell me, who in this world can truly be ruthless?"

……

Meanwhile, seventy li outside Xiqi City, behind the Shang army camp.

Zhang Kui sat cross-legged in a secluded valley, his aura as restrained as a stubborn rock. His eyes were slightly closed, and black and white colors faintly flowed between his brows. His Great Yin-Yang Void-Piercing True Eye continued to operate.

"The Soul-Sinking Formation..." Zhang Kui murmured to himself, his expression grave. "Yao Bin's technique is indeed vicious. Even Chi was forced to retreat, which shows how dangerous this formation is."

With a thought, Zhang Kui's aura changed drastically.

In a daze, a majestic phantom of an emperor wearing a flat crown and a black imperial robe appeared behind him. The emperor's eyes were as deep as an abyss, and his body was surrounded by the Daoist aura of life and death reincarnation. It was none other than the Great Emperor of Fengdu.

"What are your orders, true self?" the avatar of the Fengdu Emperor asked, his voice deep and resonant, as if it came from the depths of hell.

"The thousands of souls imprisoned in that Soul-Sapping Formation are all tragically deceased beings, already unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation. I hope you can find an opportunity to use the laws of reincarnation to guide them and send them into the cycle of reincarnation," Zhang Kui said in a deep voice.

The Emperor of Fengdu, in his avatar, nodded slightly: "This is my duty."

After saying that, the phantom vanished.

Zhang Kui took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky.

This is the darkest hour before dawn; the stars and moon are nowhere to be seen, and the surrounding fields are silent...

Late-ripening rice is sincerely presenting "Zhang Kui Asks the Way of the Gods" by Kele Novels, exclusively released here!