Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The night was as dark as ink.

In the Shang army camp, the brightly lit area was the wounded soldiers' camp, from which faint cries of agony could be heard.

The central command tent was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The nine Heavenly Lords sat on either side, with Wen Zhong seated in the main position.

Zhang Kui, who had received the notification, was also among those seated.

The cold wind outside the tent whipped the banners, making a fluttering sound.

Wen Zhong broke the silence, slowly saying, "In tomorrow's battle, it is highly likely that Randeng will personally enter the fray."

"Personally enter the battle?" Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the Heavenly Lords changed.

Bai Li said in a deep voice, "Ran Deng has been famous for a long time. If he personally enters the battle, we..."

Zhang Kui shook his head slightly and said slowly and deliberately, "Fellow Daoist, do not be anxious. I have a plan that may be able to counter this."

"Please speak!" Wen Zhong said in a deep voice.

Zhang Kui raised his hand and tapped several times on the map: "Tomorrow, we will use Fellow Daoist Zhao Jiang's Earthly Fiery Formation as the open force to confront the enemy head-on, while the other Daoists will activate their respective formations as covert forces to catch the enemy off guard."

"The formations are connected?" Yao Bin pondered.

"Exactly." Zhang Kui nodded. "Several great formations are interconnected, their movements interdependent. If Ran Deng enters the Earthly Fiery Formation, the other five formations will operate simultaneously, using their power to reinforce the Earthly Fiery Formation. In this way, they can form a combined force."

Dong Quan pondered for a moment and said, "This method is feasible. When we were deducing the formation before, we had a tacit understanding with each other, so this method is worth a try."

Yuan Jiao clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant! This plan is brilliant!"

Golden Light Mother frowned slightly: "Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui, while connecting multiple formations is good, there is a key point. Someone needs to be in the center to coordinate the operation of the formation. Otherwise, if each formation fights its own battle, it will become a disorganized mess."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui's gaze narrowed slightly.

He certainly knew this crucial point.

Each of the several large formations requires the person in charge of the formation to operate it with all their might. If they are distracted in their work, the power of the formation will inevitably be affected.

"Leave this matter to me."

Wen Zhong suddenly spoke.

All eyes turned to Wen Zhong.

"Although I dare not claim to have profound cultivation, I have done a good job in the Shangqing Dao and have some knowledge of formations. In addition, I have the divine eye of heaven, which allows me to observe the flow of qi and the changes in formations."

As he spoke, Wen Zhong slowly rose, his eyes shining brightly, exuding an aura of authority: "At that time, I will be stationed there, communicating with everyone through my divine sense and coordinating our advances and retreats. Fellow Daoists, please just focus on presiding over the formation and do not need to be distracted."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui secretly praised him.

Wen Zhong is indeed the best choice.

His cultivation is profound, he possesses the divine eye, and he has extensive experience in battle; his ability to make decisive decisions on the spot is far beyond that of ordinary cultivators. It is indeed most suitable for him to take charge of the overall command.

"It's settled then!" Zhao Jiang exclaimed with delight, slamming his hand on the table. "Tomorrow, I'll make those people of the Chan Sect pay! If that old Daoist Ran Deng dares to enter my Fierce Formation, he'll never return!"

"In that case," Wen Zhong said in a deep voice, "I would like to ask all fellow Daoists to determine which formations to use to defend against the enemy and to make preparations as soon as possible. This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly."

The nine Heavenly Lords rose in unison, bowed respectfully, and then filed out.

Only Wen Zhong and Zhang Kui remained in the tent.

Wen Zhong remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

Zhang Kui nodded: "Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

The night sky is filled with twinkling stars.

As Zhang Kui stepped out of his tent, he looked up and saw the Milky Way stretching across the sky, dotted with countless twinkling stars. He gazed at the starry expanse, lost in thought.

"The Way of Heaven is profound and distant, while the Way of Humanity is near. He who understands the Way of Heaven may become a sage; he who practices the Way of Humanity may become a king."

He muttered to himself, his voice barely audible.

……

The next morning at dawn, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, shrouding the open area between the two armies. The mist surged and undulated like the tide, turning everything in the world into a hazy gray-white.

Banners fluttered, and a murderous aura filled the sky.

The Earthly Fiery Formation had been activated, its malevolent energy surging and soaring into the sky, forcing the morning mist back several feet. The malevolent energy was earthy yellow, and as it surged, flashes of lightning and fire could be faintly seen within it, its power astonishing.

On the Xiqi side, the Taoist Ran Deng rode a sika deer and led the crowd to stand solemnly.

Behind him, Guang Chengzi and Chi The Golden Immortals, including Taiyi Zhenren, Puxian Zhenren, and Cihang Daoren, stood in turn, their expressions solemn as they gazed at the great formation that exuded a murderous aura.

Further away, Jiang Ziya led the generals of Xiqi in a battle formation.

Ran Deng's gaze swept across the front of the formation and landed on the Earthly Fiery Formation. The earthy yellow malevolent energy surged endlessly, with faintly visible runes flashing within. Layers upon layers of restrictions made it indeed a fierce formation.

"Today, I will be the first to enter the formation and give it a try."

Upon hearing this, the Golden Immortals behind him were all startled.

Guang Chengzi said in a deep voice, "Teacher Randeng, are you going to enter the formation yourself? Why don't we disciples go in first to test the waters?"

"It's alright." Ran Deng smiled slightly, his face calm as still water. "This humble Taoist also wanted to witness the power of the Ten Deadly Formations of the Jie Sect. Now that I have the opportunity to see it, it would be a pity to miss it."

Having said that, he urged the sika deer forward slowly.

The sika deer walked unhurriedly toward the surging, malevolent formation; where its hooves landed, the mist parted automatically.

Zhao Jiang had been waiting at the front lines for a long time.

Seeing Randeng step forward personally, Zhao Jiang was secretly alarmed, but he sneered on the surface: "Randeng, you've come here to die in person? I thought the Chan Sect had no one else and was sending some juniors to test their skills."

Ran Deng shook his head and chuckled: "Zhao Jiang, you have cultivated for many years, do you not know your own limitations? Today, I am entering your formation. If you can trap me for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, then you will win."

Zhao Jiang was furious. He brandished his sword and said, "If that's the case, then please enter the formation!"

After saying that, he turned and disappeared into the Earthly Fiery Formation.

Zhao Jiang was furious. He brandished his sword and said, "If that's the case, then please enter the formation!"

After saying that, he turned and disappeared into the Earthly Fiery Formation.

Ran Deng smiled slightly, urged the sika deer, and slowly stepped into the formation.

The array gate closed, and the mist surged, instantly engulfing the figure.

Outside the formation, soldiers from both armies held their breath, gazing intently at the massive array surging with murderous intent. For a moment, the battlefield was deathly silent, save for the fluttering of banners in the wind.

……

Inside the Earthly Fierce Formation.

Ran Deng stood in the center of the formation, his gaze calmly sweeping over his surroundings.

Within the formation, a world of its own unfolded, connecting with the heavens above and the earth below. Endless turbid energy from the earth's veins surged forth, transforming into a thousand-foot-high cloud of yellow dust; above the nine heavens, thunder roared, and streaks of purple lightning struck down, intertwining with the earth's fire to form a net of thunder and fire.

Zhao Jiang stood on the central high platform, holding five banners, his body surging with magical power.

"Burning Lamp!" Zhao Jiang shouted sternly, "Today I'll show you the power of the Ten Deadly Formations of the Intercepting Sect!"

Having said that, he suddenly shook the flag.

In an instant, the world changed color.

Endless turbid energy from the earth's veins transformed into towering waves, surging towards Ran Deng from all directions. Within that turbid energy lay the filth and malevolent energy deep within the earth; even a trace of it would corrupt the primordial spirit of an ordinary immortal, greatly diminishing their cultivation. Thunder and fire intertwined, the earth's veins pulsated, as if to utterly crush those within the formation.

But Ran Deng's expression remained unchanged.

He raised his hand and waved, and the purple-gold alms bowl flew out from his sleeve, hovering above his head. Endless golden light surged from the bowl, transforming into a golden lotus platform that enveloped him.

Thunder and fire struck the lotus platform, scattering golden light and creating a deafening roar. Yet the lotus platform remained unmoved, its golden light flowing and deflecting all attacks. The sika deer stood quietly within the lotus platform, showing not a trace of alarm.

"Zhao Jiang," Ran Deng said calmly, "your Earthly Fiery Array is indeed extraordinary. The turbid energy of the earth veins combines with the thunder and fire of the nine heavens, achieving a harmonious balance of yin and yang, creating an endless cycle of life. It's a pity..."

He suddenly raised his hand and made a hand seal.

A gray light flew out from his fingertip, initially only an inch long, but it grew longer in the wind, instantly transforming into a rainbow several feet long, heading straight for Zhao Jiang.

Annihilation of Divine Light!

Zhao Jiang's expression changed, and he hurriedly activated the formation to defend himself. However, the gray light was extremely strange, ignoring the power of the formation and directly penetrating through layers of restrictions, entering his body.

In an instant, Zhao Jiang felt his soul freeze, as if his connection with his body and the formation had been severed. He could still see and hear, but he could not feel his own body, nor could he feel the formation that had been running thousands of times.

"not good!"

He was terrified and desperately tried to unleash his magic power to break free from the gray light's restraint.

Just then, the lamp lit up.

He raised his hand and waved it, and the Qiankun Ruler flew out from his sleeve.

The ruler was initially only seven inches long, but it grew longer with the wind, instantly transforming into a colossal peak thousands of feet tall, stretching across the heavens and earth. On the peak, one could vaguely see mountains, rivers, the sun, the moon, and the stars, as if it were bearing witness to a real world.

The giant peak carried a world-destroying power; wherever it passed, space collapsed, lightning and fire were annihilated, and the turbid energy of the earth veins dissipated.

Zhao Jiang watched helplessly as the giant peak crashed down upon him, unable to move.

Finished!

boom!

The giant peak crashed down, causing the entire Earth Fiery Array to tremble violently. The platform where Zhao Jiang was located, along with Zhao Jiang himself, was shattered by this attack.

A true spirit drifted out from the ruins, ethereal and hazy, its face vaguely discernible—it was Zhao Jiang. He looked around blankly, then transformed into a stream of light and flew towards the Investiture of the Gods in Xiqi City.

Earthly Fiery Formation, broken.

……

Just as Ran Deng killed Zhao Jiang, five streams of malevolent energy suddenly erupted.

The Wind Howling Array, the Frost Array, the Golden Light Array, the Blood Transformation Array, and the Soul-Losing Array—five great arrays—operated simultaneously. A murderous aura soared into the sky, piercing the clouds, and the scenes within the arrays were vaguely visible, inspiring awe and fear.

Dong Quan stood within the Howling Wind Formation, his body surging with magical power. Within the formation, the innate wind and fire forces surged, transforming into endless wind blades and fire dragons, howling and swirling. Wherever the wind blades passed, countless fine cracks were cut into the space; with each breath of the fire dragons, the air itself seemed to ignite.

Yuan Jiao stood within the icy array, his hands forming hand seals. Within the array, the icy ice of the Nine Heavens condensed, transforming into a thousand-foot-tall ice mountain, suspended in the air. Above the ice mountain, wind and thunder surged, and a chilling aura permeated the air. The chill was so intense that countless ice crystals condensed even in the air at the edge of the array.

The Holy Mother of Golden Light stood within a golden array, with twenty-one precious mirrors suspended in the air before her. Each mirror possessed the essence of the sun and moon, its light swirling and poised to strike. Once it unleashed its golden light, those touched would instantly turn to pus and blood; even a Golden Immortal would find it difficult to withstand.

Sun Liang stood within the Blood Transformation Array, his body surrounded by surging black sand. Innate killing intent flowed within the array; wherever the black sand passed, everything dissolved. The black sand was as fine as dust, yet as heavy as Mount Tai, each grain containing terrifying killing intent.

Yao Bin stood within the Soul-Sinking Formation, a straw effigy suspended in mid-air before him, three lamps above his head and seven below. The lamplight was dim and flickering, yet it exuded an eerie aura. Within the formation, the fierce energy of heaven and earth surged, dissipating souls and spirits; even from afar, it was enough to unsettle anyone who looked upon it.

The five great formations, their auras connected and their malevolent energy intertwined, formed a massive encirclement, completely surrounding the ruins of the Earthly Fiery Formation.

Five streams of malevolent energy intertwined, transforming into a gigantic hand that blotted out the sky, and fiercely grabbed down at Ran Deng.

The combustible lamp remained unmoved.

He raised his hand and waved it, sending the Qiankun Ruler flying out once more. It grew taller in the wind, transforming into a thousand-foot-tall mountain that hung in mid-air. The mountain exuded boundless pressure, temporarily forcing back the malevolent aura of the five great formations.

"Fellow Daoists," Ran Deng proclaimed loudly, "the opportunity to break the formation has arrived!"

As soon as he finished speaking, five figures appeared.

Cihang Daoren, holding a pure glass bottle, surrounded by celestial light, rushed straight towards the howling wind formation.

The True Man Puxian, wielding the Wu Hook Sword, its blade gleaming menacingly, charged straight towards the icy formation.

Guang Chengzi, holding the Fantian Seal, with the faint image of Pangu on it, rushed straight towards the golden light array.

Taiyi Zhenren, holding the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover, within which nine fire dragons roamed, rushing straight towards the Blood Transformation Array.

red Dressed in a purple robe with the Eight Trigrams, holding a Yin-Yang Mirror, black and white energy flowed in the mirror, rushing straight towards the Soul-Slaying Array.

The five people appeared without hesitation and instantly disappeared into the five great formations.

……