Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Outside the battle formation, cheers from the Shang army camp were deafening.

But Zhang Kui couldn't laugh.

No, it's not that there's anything wrong with Qin Wan winning, it's just that Deng Hua's skills are indeed no match for Qin Wan.

The problem is, it went too smoothly.

What is this if not suicide?

"Sending them to their deaths..."

Zhang Kui murmured those two words over and over, when suddenly a thought struck him.

What if the Chan Sect originally intended to send Deng Hua to his death?

His gaze shifted to the Xiqi camp, landing on the withered and aged Daoist Ran Deng, who sat atop a sika deer.

Is it him?

As Zhang Kui was pondering, Manjushri Bodhisattva rose up, his body shimmering with golden light and faintly glowing with immortal radiance, and gracefully landed before the Heavenly Annihilation Formation.

Zhang Kui's pupils contracted slightly; the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect had arrived.

No, I have to be careful. Zhang Kui made up his mind and secretly used the formation entry technique that Qin Wan had taught him. He silently entered the Heavenly Annihilation Formation and was hard to find.

……

Within the Heavenly Annihilation Formation, chaotic mist surged like a tide.

Manjushri Bodhisattva walked slowly forward, and with each step he took, a golden lotus bloomed beneath his feet, supporting his figure. The mist that touched the golden lotuses dissolved, unable to get within three zhang (approximately 10 meters) of him.

"Fellow Daoist Qin Wan," Manjushri said in a clear voice, which, though not loud, penetrated the entire formation, "I have come to break the formation. Please show yourself."

As soon as he finished speaking, the fog in front of him suddenly surged.

A figure slowly emerged, surrounded by faint lightning, his face as cold and stern as frost; it was Qin Wan.

"Manjushri," Qin Wan sneered, "do you think you can break my Heavenly Annihilation Formation by yourself?"

Manjushri smiled slightly and flicked his whisk: "How will you know you can't do it if you don't try?"

Qin Wan said no more and leaped forward.

He took a step forward, and his four-sided golden mace swept across, bringing with it a sky full of lightning.

Manjushri neither dodged nor avoided, but simply waved his whisk.

Thousands of silk threads transformed into a sky full of golden light, coiling upwards. These threads, seemingly soft, were in fact incredibly tough, and when they collided with the golden mace, they produced a metallic clang.

The dust from the maces clashed, producing a deafening roar.

The surrounding mist churned violently, as if stirred by an invisible force, forming countless vortexes that collided with each other, layer upon layer.

Zhang Kui hid in a corner of the formation, observing every move the two made in their exchange.

As Qin Wan swept his golden mace, the lightning around him grew increasingly intense, with purple lightning and silver snakes coiling around him, crackling and popping. Those threads that touched the lightning scorched and broke, turning into ashes.

Manjushri's expression remained unchanged, and he waved his whisk again.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name 1110 ...

Qin Wan snorted coldly, and his golden mace trembled.

In an instant, thunder roared.

Countless bolts of lightning surged from his body, transforming into a sea of ​​lightning that enveloped his entire body within a ten-foot radius. Before the threads could even get close, they were annihilated by the lightning, leaving not even ashes behind.

"Manjushri," Qin Wan said coldly, "if this is all you've got, then stay in this Heavenly Annihilation Formation today!"

Having said that, he leaped onto the altar.

The altar, located in the center of the formation, stood about three zhang tall and was cast in bronze, its surface covered with densely packed runes. These runes were ancient and mysterious, seemingly alive, and shimmered faintly with light.

Qin Wan grabbed the banner on the altar and swung it around several times.

The banner was over ten feet long, entirely black, and embroidered with countless thunder patterns. As Qin Wan moved it, the banner fluttered, and the thunder patterns on the banner seemed to come alive, moving erratically.

Suddenly, thunder roared.

Countless bolts of lightning struck down from the chaos, their purple light dazzling and their power astonishing. These were no ordinary lightning bolts, but primordial lightning, containing the destructive power of the very beginning of creation.

Manjushri's expression turned solemn, and he quickly activated his protective magic weapon.

The Dragon-Hiding Stake flew out, growing taller with the wind, transforming into a three-zhang (approximately 10 meters) golden pillar. Three golden rings on the pillar shimmered with light, forming a seven-jeweled golden lotus that protected him within.

Thunder roared down and struck the golden lotus.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Bolts of lightning exploded, the golden lotus trembled violently, and ripples appeared on the light barrier. Manjushri's expression was solemn as he exerted all his magical power. Auspicious clouds rose above his head, his necklace of pearls appeared, and the seven-jeweled golden lotus shone brightly, barely managing to stabilize his figure.

Qin Wan sneered and waved the banner again.

This time, the countless bolts of lightning no longer scattered, but converged into a gigantic pillar of lightning, which crashed down with a deafening roar. The pillar of lightning was about three zhang thick, entirely purple-gold in color, and contained world-destroying power.

boom!

The golden lotus trembled violently, and cracks appeared on the light shield.

Manjushri's expression changed, and he hurriedly activated his auspicious cloud. The jeweled pendants shone brightly, transforming into rays of auspicious light that barely protected his body. But he knew in his heart that he couldn't hold on for long if this continued.

"This Heavenly Absolute Formation... truly lives up to its reputation."

Manjushri pondered to himself, but his gaze unconsciously drifted towards a certain direction outside the formation.

Teacher Ran Deng, will you step in?

As if in response to his expectations, a sudden change occurred.

Suddenly, countless fine gray threads emerged from within the Heavenly Annihilation Formation.

The threads were as thin as hair, almost transparent, and impossible to detect without careful examination. They seemed to be alive, emerging from the chaotic mist and spreading silently, heading straight for Qin Wan.

Qin Wan was fully urging the banners when he suddenly felt a jolt in his heart.

He turned around abruptly and saw countless gray threads almost within reach.

"This is……"

Qin Wan was shocked and hurriedly activated his golden mace to defend himself. The golden mace swept across, bringing with it a sky full of lightning, engulfing all the silk threads.

But those threads were incredibly strange; when the golden mace swept across them, it was as if it were sweeping through the void, unable to stop them in the slightest.

The lightning struck the silk threads, causing them to pause slightly before continuing their journey, as if the lightning had no effect on them. They pierced through the sea of ​​lightning, through the golden mace, through Qin Wan's protective immortal light, and instantly entered his body.

Qin Wan felt his primordial spirit momentarily stagnate.

After the threads entered his body, they immediately wrapped around his primordial spirit, tightening and becoming more and more dense. He was horrified to discover that these threads could actually erode his primordial spirit, imprison his magical power, and even... sever his connection with the Heavenly Annihilation Array.

"What...what is this?"

Qin Wan was terrified and hurriedly activated his secret technique, trying to force the threads out of his body. But the threads were incredibly strange; the more he activated his magic power, the tighter they entangled him, as if feeding on his magic power, and the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.

"Manjushri, you are unworthy of being a member of the orthodox sect of Taoism, yet you resort to such despicable tricks."

Qin Wan angrily rebuked Manjushri, his voice filled with resentment.

But Manjushri did not respond.

He was also stunned at this moment, looking at the gray threads with a complex expression in his eyes.

Teacher Ran Deng... your methods are indeed unfathomable.

The threads tightened more and more, and Qin Wan felt his primordial spirit gradually become drowsy, his consciousness beginning to blur. His connection with the Heavenly Annihilation Array was severed, the array's operation immediately stalled, and the thunder in the sky vanished without a trace.

"not good……"

Qin Wan was terrified and hurriedly used a secret technique to try to escape from the formation. However, the threads had already bound him tightly, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not break free even slightly.

Just then, Manjushri moved.

He took a step forward, and his figure was already in front of Qin Wan. The Dragon-Binding Stake flew out, and three golden rings, subtly in harmony with the three elements of Heaven, Earth, and Man, bound Qin Wan firmly.

Qin Wan struggled desperately, but his primordial spirit was eroded by those threads, and he could not even exert one-tenth of his usual magical power at this moment.

The gold ring tightened more and more, digging into his flesh and blood, almost cutting him in half at the waist.

"Fellow Daoist Qin Wan," Manjushri said softly, "I apologize for the offense."

Having said that, he faced the direction of Kunlun, cupped his hands in a salute, and said in a solemn and dignified voice: "Master, your disciple Manjushri is going to break the precept against killing today."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whisk transformed into a precious sword, its cold light gleaming.

With a swift movement of his sword, Manjushri severed Qin Wan's head.

Blood gushed out, staining the altar crimson.

Qin Wan's head rolled to the ground, his eyes wide open, dying with unfinished business.

Manjushri sheathed his sword, his face calm as still water. He picked up Qin Wan's head, turned and walked out of the Heavenly Annihilation Formation with unhurried steps, as if he had just done something insignificant.

……

Zhang Kui, who was hiding in a corner of the formation, witnessed all of this.

With his abilities, he could have saved people from the Manjushri Sword if he went all out, but he stopped in his tracks the moment he saw those gray threads appear.

It's not that I don't want to save them, it's that I'm afraid to.

The appearance of those gray threads was too strange; it didn't seem to be Manjushri's doing. They surged out of the void, as if they appeared out of thin air in the Heavenly Annihilation Formation.

That aura...

Zhang Kui closed his eyes and carefully sensed the surroundings.

The aura was deep and cold, carrying a faint... sense of annihilation.

"Light the lamp."

Zhang Kui opened his eyes and uttered those two words.

Can't go wrong.

That aura was exactly the same as the one he had sensed at Mount Lingjiu before; it was the Dao of Annihilation.

"What a clever lamp-lighting technique," Zhang Kui thought to himself with a cold laugh.

The gray threads were so strange that even Qin Wan, a cultivator who had been immersed in the art of formations for hundreds of years, was powerless to resist them.

If I were to encounter it...

When faced with a threat that endangers their lives and from which they have no recourse, people instinctively feel fear. He was no exception.

……

Outside the formation.

Manjushri walked out of the Heavenly Annihilation Formation carrying Qin Wan's head, and everyone who saw this was shocked.

In the Shang army camp, Wen Zhong, his hair standing on end in fury, rode out on his black Qilin, brandishing his whip and pointing it at Manjushri, shouting fiercely, "I'm enraged! Manjushri, don't run away!"

His three eyes were wide open, their light shining brightly, and his aura was as vast as the sea, his killing intent soaring to the sky.

But before he could reach the front of the formation, a figure blocked his way.

It was none other than the True Man Samantabhadra.

"Fellow Daoist Wen Zhong," Puxian said calmly, waving his whisk lightly, "Qin Wan killed my Chan Sect's Deng Hua. Now that his skills are inferior, he should die and his Dao dissipates. What's wrong with that? Please step back."

"you!"

Wen Zhong was furious, his eyes blazing with light, and he was about to make a move.

But just then, a hand grabbed him.

Wen Zhong turned around and saw that Zhang Kui had appeared behind him at some point.

"Grand Tutor," Zhang Kui said softly, "please calm down."

Wen Zhong was taken aback and looked at Zhang Kui. Their eyes met, and Zhang Kui shook his head slightly.

Wen Zhong took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, glanced coldly at Puxian, turned the black Qilin around, and returned to the formation.

Puxian did not pursue the matter further and turned back to the Xiqi camp.

……

On the Xiqi side, cheers rose and fell.

Jiang Ziya was overjoyed and greeted Manjushri with clasped hands, saying, "Senior Brother, your Taoist arts are profound and wondrous!"

Manjushri smiled slightly and said softly, "Junior Brother, you flatter me."

His gaze passed over Jiang Ziya and fell upon the Taoist Ran Deng, who sat upright on a sika deer.

Ran Deng remained calm, nodded slightly, and said gently, "Fellow Daoist, you have worked hard."

Manjushri walked up to Dipankara, looked at him with a meaningful gaze, and said softly, "This humble Taoist must thank Master Dipankara for his help; otherwise... how could we have broken this formation?"

Ran Deng did not deny it, but nodded slightly and said, "Why do you say that, fellow Daoist?"

Manjushri smiled slightly and said no more.

Teacher Ran Deng's methods... are indeed unfathomable.

Even he couldn't discern the origin of those gray threads, but one thing he was certain of was that the Dao of Annihilation contained within them was genuine.

Manjushri's lips curled up slightly.

That's...good.

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