Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

It was late at night.

The city walls of Xiqi were brightly lit, and soldiers patrolled back and forth in an endless stream. Inside the reed hut, the Twelve Golden Immortals were each regulating their breathing, while only the Daoist Burning Lamp sat alone in a corner, lost in thought with his eyes closed.

In the daytime battle, Zhao Gongming displayed his might, capturing Huanglong, injuring Yuding, and holding his own against Guangchengzi.

Those scenes kept replaying in Ran Deng's mind, but what truly kept him tossing and turning at night was not Zhao Gongming's cultivation level, but those twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls.

The brilliance of the five-colored light still burns in his eyes to this day.

"The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl..."

Burning Lamp murmured to himself, "If I can obtain this treasure, my path to enlightenment will be complete."

Since attaining enlightenment at Mount Lingjiu, he has been searching for a path to transcendence. The coffin lamp was originally his treasure for proving his enlightenment, but that lamp is now in the hands of the Great Emperor of Fengdu.

"If this loss hadn't occurred, why would I be living under someone else's roof?"

A sense of resentment welled up in Ran Deng's heart. Although the Chan Sect respected him as its vice leader, it was merely an empty title. Guang Chengzi and the others had never truly regarded him as a fellow disciple, and even Yuanshi Tianzun had always kept a distance from him.

He quietly rose, and with slow, deliberate steps, passed silently through the reed hut.

……

Thirty miles outside Xiqi City lies a secluded valley.

The valley is densely wooded, and moonlight filters through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The lamp landed in the valley, and with a wave of his hand, he cast dozens of restrictions. As golden light flashed, runes disappeared into the void, sealing the entire valley completely.

After doing all this, Randeng sat down cross-legged and took a deep breath.

He took something out of his pocket.

It was a Bodhi seed, about the size of a longan, with a faint golden glow. Its surface had naturally formed patterns, which, upon closer inspection, faintly formed the outline of a seated deity.

This is a Bodhi seed that the Daoist Zhunti personally picked under the Bodhi tree when he traveled to Mount Ling. Later, he gave it to him as a token of his love.

Ran Deng stared at the object in his palm, remaining silent for a long time.

"Once this step is taken, there's no turning back..."

He muttered to himself, his voice tinged with struggle and hesitation.

He was the vice leader of the Chan Sect, a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, and held a highly respected position. Yet, beneath this esteem, he was forever an outsider.

"If that's the case..."

Dipankara gripped the Bodhi seed tightly, his hesitation gradually turning into resolve. "Then let's end it all."

He slowly channeled his magical power into the device.

In an instant, the Bodhi seed shone with brilliant golden light. Within the light, a figure slowly materialized…

The man was dressed in a gray-white Taoist robe, holding the Seven Treasures Tree in his hand. His face was like a full moon, his eyes were filled with compassion, and he stood in the golden light, his aura shifting between reality and illusion.

Master Zhunti.

Although it was just an avatar descending, the oppressive aura of a saint still made Randeng's mind tremble.

"Fellow Daoist Ran Deng."

Zhunti spoke, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, "I wonder what brings you to this humble Taoist?"

Ran Deng quickly stood up, bowed deeply, and said with utmost sincerity, "Greetings, Sage. I have found the method to attain enlightenment, and therefore I have a request to make."

"Oh?"

Zhunti was slightly surprised, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "Congratulations, fellow Daoist. This is a fortunate occasion. Please feel free to speak your mind; there's nothing wrong with that!"

Ran Deng raised his head, his gaze intense: "The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl."

Zhunti paused for a moment, then realized: "The twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls in Zhao Gongming's hand?"

"Indeed." Ran Deng nodded. "This treasure is destined for me. If I can obtain it, I can attain the Great Luo Dao and completely transcend."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "This humble Taoist wishes to borrow something from the Sage."

Zhunti looked at him quietly, her gaze piercing through his heart.

The lamp calmly accepted that gaze, remaining motionless.

After a long while, Zhunti smiled.

"Can."

He raised his hand, and the Seven Treasures Tree floated in his palm.

The branch was about three feet long, its entire body crystal clear like glass, with seven-colored precious lights flowing across it: gold, silver, glass, crystal, giant clam shell, red pearl, and agate. Each of the seven treasures had its own shape and emitted its own light. Each leaf seemed to contain a small world, and each ray of light revealed supreme truths.

This is the treasure of the Western religion, the supreme treasure of the Sage Zhunti's enlightenment—the Seven Treasures Tree.

"I'll lend you this."

Zhunti handed over the Seven Treasures Tree.

Randeng received it with both hands, and felt a warm and peaceful power flow from his palms into his body. That power was completely different from the immortal techniques of the Chan Sect, yet it was equally vast and profound.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ran Deng bowed deeply. "This humble Taoist is deeply grateful."

Zhunti nodded slightly, his figure gradually fading away, leaving only a voice echoing in the valley:

"Fellow Daoist Ran Deng, the gate to the West is always open for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the golden light dissipated.

The valley returned to silence, with only the moonlight remaining.

Burning Lamp stood alone in place, holding the Seven Treasures Tree in his hands, remaining silent for a long time.

……

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Inside the camp, Wen Zhong was discussing military affairs with Zhao Gongming, while Zhang Kui sat to the side.

"Brother Dao's battle yesterday greatly boosted the morale of our army," Wen Zhong said with a smile. "If the Chan Sect still dares to fight today, Brother Dao can capture a few more of them and see how arrogant Jiang Ziya can be then."

Zhao Gongming waved his hand and said calmly, "The Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect each have their own strengths. Yesterday, they were able to capture Huanglong and injure Yuding only because they caught him off guard. Today, they will definitely be on guard, and it will probably be difficult for them to succeed again."

Wen Zhong nodded: "What you say is absolutely right, fellow Daoist. However, with your cultivation level, even in a direct confrontation, they would not come out on top."

Zhao Gongming smiled slightly but did not reply.

He turned to look at Zhang Kui, his eyes filled with admiration: "Young friend, your strike yesterday was a bit reckless, but it showed your loyalty. However, you must not do that again. Huanglong Zhenren is a rare species from the primordial era, born with divine strength. If you go head-to-head with him, you will only suffer the loss."

Zhang Kui smiled wryly: "Senior is right. I was rash yesterday."

Zhao Gongming laughed heartily: "However, your foundation as a Golden Immortal is indeed quite solid."

Just as Zhang Kui was about to say a few words of modesty, he suddenly frowned.

He suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing through the tent and shooting straight into the distance.

"What's wrong?" Wen Zhong noticed something was amiss.

Zhang Kui said in a deep voice, "Someone's coming."

Before he could finish speaking, a commotion arose outside the tent.

Immediately afterward, a soldier rushed in and knelt on one knee: "Reporting to the Grand Tutor, a man has come from Xiqi City, claiming to be the Taoist Ran Deng, and requests that Taoist Master Zhao Gongming answer questions on the battlefield."

Zhao Gongming raised an eyebrow and stood up.

"Lighting a lamp?"

He sneered, "Yesterday you hid and didn't dare to show your face, but today you've delivered yourself to our doorstep."

Wen Zhong also stood up: "Brother Dao, I will go with you."

Zhao Gongming waved his hand: "No need. You stay in the central army, I'll go and meet him."

He looked at Zhang Kui and suddenly said, "Young friend, if you have nothing else to do, you may come with me."

Zhang Kui was taken aback, then nodded: "Yes, sir."

……

On the battlefield between the two armies.

The Taoist Ran Deng stood alone in the morning light, showing no sign of brilliance.

Zhao Gongming rode a black tiger, wielding a golden whip, and slowly approached the front of the formation. Zhang Kui rode a bixen, holding a dragon-sparrow saber, and followed closely behind.

"Light the lamp."

Zhao Gongming's voice was as loud as a bell, echoing through the mountains: "You have come here alone today, to fight me, or to plead for Huanglong Zhenren?"

Ran Deng smiled slightly, neither humble nor arrogant: "Fellow Daoist is too kind. I have come today to resolve the predicament I encountered yesterday."

"Get out of trouble?" Zhao Gongming sneered. "How?"

Ran Deng raised his hand and pointed to Huanglong Zhenren, who was bound by the Dragon-Binding Rope—the Zhenren was being held in front of the merchant camp, his hair disheveled and in a sorry state.

"If you, fellow Daoist, are willing to release True Man Huanglong, I will forgive and forget what happened," Ran Deng said calmly. "In this way, both sides will get what they want, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming looked up to the sky and laughed loudly.

The laughter shook the mountain, causing rocks to tumble down and startling birds into scattering.

"Bandeng, oh Bandeng!" Zhao Gongming laughed, his gaze sharp as a knife. "How dare you utter such arrogant words?"

Ran Deng remained unmoved and said calmly, "If you insist, then please follow me!"

After saying that, Ran Deng used his Golden Light Leap Technique to disappear into the distance.

"Fight if you want, I'm not afraid of you!" Zhao Gongming waved his golden whip and used the "Wind Without Form" technique to fly and follow closely behind.

Zhang Kui gave Wen Zhong a slight nod, and after receiving confirmation, he also used the "Frost Without Fixation" technique to follow.

The lamp stopped at a ridge.

"Take this!"

Zhao Gongming roared, and the golden whip in his hand transformed into a thousand-foot-long golden light, slashing down on his head.

The lamp flickered and did not move, but simply raised its hand and waved.

The Qiankun Ruler flew out from his sleeve, growing taller in the wind, and in an instant transformed into a thousand-foot-tall mountain, colliding with the golden whip in mid-air.

boom!

A deafening roar shook the heavens, and shockwaves swept across the surrounding area.

Zhao Gongming swayed for a moment, then steadied himself. His gaze sharpened; this old man, Ran Deng, was indeed no ordinary person.

Ran Deng retrieved the Qiankun Ruler, his expression remaining calm, but inwardly he was thinking: the Dinghai Pearl has not yet been used; let's wait a little longer.

Seeing that he wouldn't produce the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, Zhao Gongming wasn't in a hurry. He put away his golden whip and suddenly produced something else.

Twenty-four precious pearls flew out from his sleeve and hovered in mid-air. Their five-colored rays were dazzling and illuminating the heavens and the earth.

Dinghai Pearl!

A glint of light flashed in the lamp's eyes; it was this very thing.

Zhao Gongming said coldly, "Randeng, I didn't witness the power of this treasure yesterday. Today, I'll show you!"

Before the words were finished, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl suddenly swung down.

Five-colored rays of light obscured the sky and earth, and Ran Deng felt that everything in front of him was blurred and he could not see anything.

He was secretly alarmed and immediately activated the Qiankun Ruler to protect himself. But the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl was too fast, so fast that he had no time to react.

boom!

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl swept down from above.

Ran Deng was knocked to the ground, looking utterly disheveled.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Zhao Gongming laughed loudly, "Randeng, is that all you've got?"

Ran Deng got up, his face ashen.

He stared at the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl suspended in mid-air, his greed no longer concealed.

"My darling, my darling..."

He muttered to himself, then suddenly raised his hand.

A golden light flew out from his sleeve, heading straight for the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

Zhao Gongming's expression changed, and he immediately activated the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls to try and dodge. But the golden light was too fast, and in an instant it was in front of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, transforming into a large golden hand that grabbed down fiercely. In an instant, the six Sea-Stabilizing Pearls were captured and could not break free.

"How dare you!"

Zhao Gongming was furious, and the Dragon Binding Rope shot out, wrapping around the golden hand.

But the golden hand seemed illusory; the Dragon-Binding Rope passed through it, yet it grasped nothing.

The golden light grabbed the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl with its large hand and pulled it back sharply.

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl trembled violently, its five-colored rays flashing wildly, yet it could not break free.

Zhao Gongming's expression changed drastically. What was this?

In the blink of an eye, a figure suddenly appeared and landed beside Zhao Gongming.

Zhang Kui!

He offered a word of advice: "Senior, it's better to guide than to block."

Zhao Gongming suddenly awoke and immediately used his magic to activate the remaining eighteen Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, which rushed straight towards the golden hand.

"town!"

Zhao Gongming roared.

The eighteen Sea-Stabilizing Pearls crashed directly into it, causing the golden hand to tremble violently and its grip to suddenly loosen.

Taking advantage of the situation, the six trapped Sea-Stabilizing Pearls broke free and flew back into Zhao Gongming's hands.

The golden hand gradually dissipated under this attack, turning into specks of golden light and returning to nothingness.

"What?"

The lamp's expression changed drastically.

Taking advantage of the situation, the six trapped Sea-Stabilizing Pearls broke free and flew back into Zhao Gongming's hands.

The golden hand gradually dissipated under this attack, turning into specks of golden light and returning to nothingness.

"What?"

The lamp's expression changed drastically.

He never expected that the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl would be so miraculous, able to break through the grasping hand formed by his Seven Treasures Tree.

The lamp burner's face was ashen and somber.

"So it was you." He stared at Zhang Kui, then suddenly sneered, "You've chosen the path to death; today, I'll send you to your doom."

Zhang Kui remained expressionless and said calmly, "That depends on whether you have the ability."

Ran Deng snorted coldly and suddenly raised his hand.

The Seven Treasures Tree flew out from his sleeve and hung above his head.

The tree-like treasure grew taller in the wind, its seven-colored light flowing endlessly, illuminating the heavens and the earth. In an instant, the entire area within a hundred miles was enveloped in the seven-colored light.

"This is……"

Zhao Gongming's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "The Seven Treasures Tree! Randeng, have you gone mad! This is the treasure used by the sage Zhunti to attain enlightenment, and you dare to...?"

Ran Deng sneered, "This humble Taoist borrowed the treasure with the personal permission of the Sage. How can there be talk of 'daring' or 'not daring'?"

Zhao Gongming's gaze was sharp as a knife: "Randeng, how dare you betray your sect and defect to the Western Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Ran Deng's expression changed slightly.

"Zhao Gongming, stop making baseless accusations. I merely borrowed the treasure for a short time; how could this be considered betrayal?" Of course, Daoist Ran Deng would not admit to such an accusation.

"Borrow a treasure?" Zhao Gongming sneered. "The Seven Treasures Tree is the treasure that the Sage Zhunti used to attain enlightenment. If you hadn't already pledged allegiance to the Western Sect, would he have lent it to you so easily?"

Ran Deng's face turned ashen; he knew the matter could no longer be concealed.

If that's the case...

His gaze sharpened, and a murderous intent suddenly arose.

Then let these two shut up forever!

"Bodhi Grand Formation, activate!"