Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Upon learning that Zhang Kui had killed the attackers, Wen Zhong summoned him for a talk.

Upon entering the tent, Zhang Kui saw Wen Zhong with a furrowed brow, deep in thought. Clearly, the escalating war had exhausted this veteran official who had served three dynasties.

Upon seeing Zhang Kui arrive, Wen Zhong composed himself and said, "I heard you just annihilated the invaders from Xiqi. Not bad, not bad!"

"Grand Tutor, you flatter me. This is what I should do. However... we need to make plans for what to do next." Although he knew it was not appropriate to mention the current predicament at this moment, Zhang Kui couldn't help but mention it.

Hearing Zhang Kui's words, Wen Zhong gave a wry smile, "I already have a plan in mind. I summoned you here so that you would come with me..."

"Grand Tutor, what is it?" Zhang Kui asked.

Wen Zhong raised his hand to stop Zhang Kui, "Come with me, and you'll know when we get there. I've already arranged for Ji Liyuqing to guard the camp, so let's set off immediately."

After saying this, Wen Zhong left the tent, mounted the black unicorn, and took to the air.

Although Zhang Kui was puzzled, he still followed after them on his Bixie.

The wind was like a knife, whistling past my ears.

Before my eyes, a sea of ​​clouds surged, and the outline of a fairy mountain appeared and disappeared in the mist.

So this is where it is!

Mount Emei—this was the purpose of Wen Zhong's trip.

The last time Zhang Kui came here, it was to learn the "Flying Body and Leaving Trace" supernatural power. He discussed the Dao with Zhao Gongming in Luofu Cave for more than a month and was given the Dragon Sparrow Treasure Sword. At that time, the autumn was in full swing, and the mountains were covered with red leaves like fire; now, in late spring, everything in sight is lush and green.

The scenery remains the same, but people's hearts are no longer the same.

He remembered every word in the original text: Zhao Gongming went down the mountain to help Wen Zhong, but was ambushed by Lu Ya with the Seven Arrows of Nailhead, resulting in his death and the dissipation of his Dao. Immediately afterwards, the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao went down the mountain to seek revenge, and the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation cut off the three flowers on the heads of the Twelve Golden Immortals. In the end, the Primordial Heavenly Lord himself arrived, and two of the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao died and one was imprisoned.

The death of one person can affect the whole situation.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui, what are you thinking about?"

Wen Zhong's voice suddenly rang out, pulling Zhang Kui back from his chaotic thoughts. He looked up and saw that Wen Zhong had slowed down the black Qilin and was looking back at him. The light in Wen Zhong's eyes shone through his forehead, as if he could see through people's hearts.

Zhang Kui pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Grand Tutor, there is something I do not understand."

"speak."

"Inviting Senior Zhao Gongming down the mountain... Has the Grand Tutor considered the consequences?"

Wen Zhong narrowed his eyes slightly, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "You mean..."

Zhang Kui frowned slightly. "If Senior Zhao Gongming were to descend the mountain, given his temperament, he certainly wouldn't stand idly by and watch us be trapped. But if he were to make a move..."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "There is no room for maneuver in this conflict."

Wen Zhong sighed, his gaze drifting towards the distant, faintly visible Mount Emei. His voice carried a hint of desolation: "Zhang Kui, do you think I... did this willingly?"

Zhang Kui was taken aback.

"I received the late king's favor and assumed command of the Yin Shang army; I knew I could not escape this calamity." Wen Zhong's voice was low and muffled like thunder. "But Qin Wan, Zhao Jiang, and the others—died because of me. Those seven great formations, seven lives, just like that, one by one, they were gone..."

He gripped the male and female whips tightly in his hands, his knuckles turning white.

"If I cannot get justice for them, I will have no face to face them even if I die."

Zhang Kui remained silent.

Wen Zhong continued, "Furthermore, do you think the Chan Sect will give up so easily if I don't invite Zhao Gongming? Seven of the Ten Deadly Formations have already been broken. How long can fellow Daoists Bai Li, Wang Bian, and Zhang Shao hold out?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, waking Zhang Kui up.

Yes, even without Zhao Gongming, the Chan Sect wouldn't stop. They would break through the formations one by one, sending all ten Heavenly Kings to the Investiture of the Gods.

Rather than waiting to die, we should take the initiative to change.

"The Grand Tutor is right," Zhang Kui said softly, his lowered eyelids concealing the complex expression in his eyes. "I had misunderstood."

Wen Zhong waved his hand and suddenly asked, "You seemed hesitant to speak just now, did you know something?"

Zhang Kui's heart tightened suddenly.

He knew Zhao Gongming would die. He knew the Three Immortals of Sanxiao would come. He knew that the arrival of all the immortals of the Jie Sect would ultimately turn them into a handful of dust.

But can he say these things?

"I'm just worried," Zhang Kui said, carefully choosing his words, his voice calm as ever, "that if Senior Zhao Gongming were to descend the mountain, the Chan Sect would surely stop at nothing to stop him."

Wen Zhong glanced at him thoughtfully, and after a moment, slowly said, "What you said may be right. But this... is cultivation."

Zhang Kui was taken aback.

Is this what spiritual practice is?

He suddenly recalled what Ji Chang had said in Youli City: "The way of immortals is the way of immortals, not the way of men."

Word for word.

"arrive."

Wen Zhong's voice woke him from his reverie.

Zhang Kui looked up and saw the sea of ​​clouds suddenly disperse, revealing a majestic immortal mountain. The mountain was magnificent, with peaks upon peaks, and amidst the swirling clouds and mist, ancient trees reaching for the sky and exotic flowers and rare herbs covering the ground could be faintly seen.

Mount Emei, Luofu Cave.

The two descended from the clouds and landed in front of the mountain gate.

The young Taoist priest guarding the mountain immediately came forward to greet them.

Wen Zhong nodded and followed the young Taoist priest up the steps.

After passing through a bamboo forest, the view suddenly opened up before me.

An ancient cave dwelling sits nestled among the cliffs, with a person standing with their hands behind their back on the flat ground in front of it.

The man was dressed in a black Taoist robe, with a handsome face and three long wisps of beard flowing down his chest. His aura was restrained, yet he possessed an imposing and dignified presence, as if the heavens and earth, mountains and rivers, should make way for him.

Zhao Gongming.

Two young Taoist priests stood behind him; they were Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi.

"Fellow Daoist Wen Zhong!" Zhao Gongming laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the mountains. "You are a rare guest indeed!"

Wen Zhong quickly took a few steps forward and bowed deeply to the ground: "Brother Dao, I apologize for disturbing you."

Zhao Gongming quickly helped him up, but his gaze passed over him and landed on Zhang Kui.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui?" A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then his smile deepened. "In just a few years, you have already attained the Golden Immortal realm? This level of cultivation... even in my Jie Sect, it is rare."

Zhang Kui bowed respectfully and said, "You flatter me, senior."

Zhao Gongming laughed heartily, stepped forward, patted Zhang Kui on the shoulder, and said with the same enthusiasm as before, "Last time you left in a hurry and we didn't have a chance to talk in depth. This time you must stay a few more days!"

Zhang Kui felt a sudden pang of sadness.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui?" Zhao Gongming's voice rang out again, tinged with concern. "What's wrong?"

Zhang Kui snapped out of his reverie and, seeing Zhao Gongming staring at him, quickly said, "Senior, please forgive me. I was just thinking about some past events and got a little distracted."

Zhao Gongming didn't take it seriously and invited the two into the cave.

Inside Luofu Cave lies a hidden paradise.

A bright pearl adorned the dome, illuminating the cave as if it were daytime. The cave walls were covered with runes and arrays, faintly glowing. It was as if the entire mountain was breathing along with these runes. In the center stood a stone table, upon which were placed several dishes of spiritual fruit and a pot of celestial wine.

After the guests and hosts were seated, Wen Zhong remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"Brother Dao, I have come here today with a request."

Zhao Gongming's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this: "Is it about the war in Xiqi?"

Wen Zhong nodded and began by recounting Qin Wan's death in battle, Zhao Jiang's killing of Ju Liusun, and then Randeng's personal entry into the formation, resulting in the simultaneous breaking of all six formations and the inclusion of all six Heavenly Lords on the list.

As he finished speaking, the Grand Tutor, who held military power in the Shang Dynasty and was a veteran of three dynasties, choked up a little.

"...I am truly ashamed that I have caused all of you fellow Daoists to suffer this calamity. I deserve to die ten thousand times over."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming's expression turned ashen.

He remained silent for a long time, then slowly stood up and looked out at the sky.

"Qin Wan, Zhao Jiang, Dong Quan, Yuan Jiao, Golden Light Holy Mother, Sun Liang, Yao Bin..."

He pronounced those names one by one, his voice low and deep, yet it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

"I know all seven of them. Qin Wan is straightforward, Zhao Jiang is bold and righteous, and although the Golden Light Saintess is a female cultivator, she is even more fierce than men..."

He turned around and looked directly at Wen Zhong.

"Fellow Daoist, we have known each other for many years. Have you ever seen me fail to answer your requests?"

Wen Zhong was taken aback, then overjoyed, and stood up: "Brother Dao is willing to go down the mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming suddenly smiled.

That smile revealed the pride of a disciple of the Jie Sect.

"I attained enlightenment during the reign of Emperor Fuxi." Zhao Gongming stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant as if traversing an ancient river. "On the endless path of the Dao, I have witnessed too many deaths. Some died from heavenly tribulations, some from vengeful killings, some from inner demons... Of course, those who died by my hand are countless as well."

As he spoke, his aura suddenly surged outwards, and a chilling pressure instantly filled the entire cave.

Great Golden Immortal!

The heavens and earth changed color, and the mountains trembled.

"What kind of cultivation is it if one is timid and hesitant, always looking back and forth?" Zhao Gongming declared loudly, his voice echoing across the land. "Disciples of the Jie Sect would rather break than bend! Since Qin Wan and the others are fighting for the Jie Sect, I, Zhao Gongming, as the senior disciple of the outer sect..."

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:

"How can we sit idly by and do nothing?"

Zhang Kui stared at the imposing figure before him, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"There's no time to lose, let's go down the mountain now!"

Zhao Gongming waved his hand, urging his black tiger to leap into the air. Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi, each carrying a longsword, followed closely behind. Wen Zhong and Zhang Kui also mounted their mounts, transforming into streaks of light and disappearing into the distance in an instant.

Only on Mount Emei, the clouds and mist still surge.

……

Beneath the walls of Xiqi, on the battlefield between the two armies.

A streak of light rushed down from the horizon and crashed to the ground.

As the smoke and dust cleared, Zhao Gongming stood gracefully, his aura soaring into the sky without reservation, reaching straight to the heavens.

In an instant, the world changed color, and the wind and clouds reversed!

Within Zhou's camp, countless people suddenly looked up.

The Taoist Ran Deng's pupils contracted sharply, and his face became ashen.

He recognized the person who came.

Zhao Gongming, the senior disciple of the outer sect of the Jie Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao Gongming," Ran Deng spoke slowly, his voice tinged with a hint of probing, "why have you come here?"

"You're asking a question you already know the answer to!"

Zhao Gongming's gaze was like lightning, fixed on Randeng, a gaze that seemed to pierce through one's very soul: "Randeng, enough nonsense. I've come today only to demand justice!"

Ran Deng raised an eyebrow slightly: "Fairness?"

Zhao Gongming pointed at the three broken formations and shouted sternly, "Were Qin Wan, Zhao Jiang, and the other fellow Daoists killed by your Chan Sect?"

The sound was like a thunderclap, making everyone in the Zhou camp's ears ring.

Ran Deng remained expressionless and said calmly, "The Phoenix Cries on Mount Qi, and the Ten Deadly Formations obstruct Zhou's conquest of Shang, which goes against the will of Heaven. Death and the dissipation of one's Dao are the will of Heaven."

"Number of days?"

Zhao Gongming was so angry that he laughed instead, his laughter full of sarcasm and disdain.

"What a fine word about destiny! Randeng, how dare you speak so presumptuously about destiny?"

He was too lazy to argue with Ran Deng any longer, his gaze swept over Zhou Ying, and his voice boomed:

Where is Jiang Shang?

Jiang Ziya reined in his mythical beast, the Four-Unlikes, and stepped forward. Behind him, Nezha, Yang Jian, Lei Zhenzi, Huang Tianhua, Jinzha, and Muzha followed closely, each with a solemn expression.

Jiang Ziya took a deep breath, stepped forward to pay his respects, and then said, "Fellow Daoist is a Golden Immortal of the Dao. Please return to the mountain and silently recite the Yellow Court Classic to maintain the camaraderie among the three sects."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming's anger intensified.

"Sibling bond?"

He sneered, his voice suddenly rising: "I'm afraid in your eyes, apart from you disciples of the Jade Void Sect, everyone in my Intercepting Sect is a creature with fur and horns, born from eggs and moisture!"

After a pause, Zhao Gongming swung his golden whip, the sound echoing across the land:

"You, the Chan Sect, pride yourselves on being a pure and upright lineage, using the Mandate of Heaven as a weapon to force us to submit."

His golden whip pointed straight at the sky:

"Our Jie Sect retains its indomitable spirit, allowing this primordial world to once again hear the frost-covered sky of all living things."

Before the words were even finished, the golden whip had already arrived.

With a single blow, Jiang Ziya was powerless to retaliate, was thrown from his mount, and fell to the ground unconscious.

"Uncle-Master!"

Nezha was shocked and immediately stepped forward with his spear. Jinzha and Muzha quickly helped Jiang Ziya up and retreated back into the city.

However, in terms of martial arts, Nezha was no match for Zhao Gongming. After only a few rounds, he was knocked off his Wind-Fire Wheels by a whip and fell to the ground, covered in dust.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Yang Jian, Lei Zhenzi, and Huang Tianhua exchanged glances and attacked at the same time, surrounding Zhao Gongming!

At this moment, a figure descended from the sky and landed beside Zhao Gongming.

Zhang Kui stood with his sword in hand, his gaze sweeping over Yang Jian and the others, and said calmly, "Senior Gongming, leave these men to me."

Zhao Gongming glanced at him and suddenly put away the golden whip.

"No need."

His gaze swept past Yang Jian and the others, landing deep within Zhou's camp. His voice carried a hint of disdain: "Jiang Ziya is dead. You juniors should hurry back, lest you lose your lives too."

Yang Jian and the others looked at each other, but did not back down.

Zhao Gongming frowned.

"roll!"

Words become law...

As soon as the word was uttered, the power of heaven and earth surged forth.

Yang Jian, Lei Zhenzi, and Huang Tianhua felt an irresistible force strike them, and their bodies were involuntarily sent flying backward, falling back to Zhou's camp in a disheveled state.

The camp was completely silent.

Zhao Gongming stood at the front of the formation, his clothes fluttering without wind, his aura as vast and unfathomable as that of a Great Luo Golden Immortal.