Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Burning Lamp stood in mid-air, holding the Seven Treasures Tree in his hand. Seven-colored precious light gathered behind him, gradually transforming into a huge light array.

The array of light was shaped like a lotus flower, each petal formed from pure seven-colored light. The petals slowly rotated, and with each rotation, countless chants and hymns arose. The sounds were like weeping and lamenting, like hymns and sighs, as if urging people to let go of their attachments and take refuge in the Western Paradise.

"The Bodhi Grand Array..."

Zhao Gongming's face was solemn and grave.

This formation is a closely guarded secret of the Western Sect, with the Seven Treasures Tree as its core and the Bodhi Mind as its foundation. It can liberate all living beings. Those who enter this formation, if their resolve is not firm, will gradually lose themselves and ultimately willingly convert to the Western Sect.

"Zhao Gongming." The voice of Ran Deng came from within the formation, calm and as usual, "You have nowhere to go. Enter my formation, convert to the West, and you can attain ultimate bliss."

"Dream on!" Zhao Gongming sneered and was about to rush into the formation.

"No, senior!"

Zhang Kui stopped Zhao Gongming and shouted, "Senior, this formation is dangerous. If you enter it, you will surely be harmed."

This is not the time to play the hero.

Zhao Gongming couldn't hear Zhang Kui's complaints; he simply turned and glanced at him, saying, "Young friend, you should leave quickly."

Without waiting for Zhang Kui's reply, he charged straight into the Bodhi Formation.

"senior!"

Zhang Kui shouted, but it was too late to stop him.

The moment he entered the formation, Zhao Gongming felt a strange fragrance in the air, which calmed his mind, yet also gave him a slight sense of disorientation.

"Zhao Gongming".

A voice rang out, gentle as a spring breeze.

Zhao Gongming looked up and saw golden light gathering in front of him, gradually transforming into a huge phantom of a Buddha. The Buddha sat cross-legged on a lotus platform, his face filled with compassion, his eyes slightly closed, as if looking at him and as if looking at all living beings.

"Let go of your attachments and take refuge in the West."

The Buddha spoke, his voice echoing throughout the golden world, "You have cultivated for ten thousand years, what have you sought? Nothing more than liberation. Why not enter the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and enjoy eternal purity?"

Zhao Gongming sneered: "Spreading heresy and misleading the public!"

With a flick of his golden whip, a thousand-foot-long golden light slashed straight at the Buddha!

The golden light passed through the Buddha's illusory image, but it was as if it had struck the air, having no effect whatsoever.

The Buddha remained seated on the lotus throne, his face filled with compassion.

"Your obsession is too deep, blinding you to the truth." The Buddha sighed softly. "Do you know that the Jie Sect you so painstakingly protect is nothing more than creatures with fur and horns, born from eggs and moisture, in the eyes of others?"

"shut up!"

Zhao Gongming roared and lashed out with his whip again.

"senior!"

A voice suddenly rang out, shattering the golden silence.

Zhao Gongming suddenly turned around and saw Zhang Kui, holding the Dragon Sparrow Blade, also rushing into the Bodhi Formation.

"Young friend?" Zhao Gongming exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here!"

Zhang Kui was panting heavily, his face pale, thinking to himself, "Do you think I wanted to get out? It's because the great formation has already been activated; even if I wanted to, I couldn't!"

But what came out of his mouth was: "Senior has entered the battle alone. Although I am not talented, I know that I should stand with you."

Zhao Gongming was stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter, "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

Before he finished speaking, countless Sanskrit characters suddenly appeared in the golden world.

The Sanskrit characters were densely packed, covering the sky, each one gleaming with a faint golden light. They swirled and danced in the void, gradually coalescing into golden chains that coiled towards Zhao Gongming and Zhang Kui.

"Watch out!" Zhao Gongming shouted, "Don't let them touch you!"

He activated the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and five-colored rays of light burst forth, brushing away the approaching Sanskrit characters one by one.

Zhang Kui then activated the Five Elements Great Escape Technique, creating a five-colored light barrier to protect his body. However, there were simply too many Sanskrit characters, densely packed and endless; as one batch was swept away, another surged in.

Even more frightening was that the chanting and Buddhist hymns grew louder and louder.

One sound after another, over and over again, without end.

The sound pierced straight to the soul, as if it were trying to wear down one's will bit by bit.

Zhang Kui gritted his teeth and desperately held onto his principles.

But after a short while, he began to feel his vision gradually blurring.

Past lives, present lives... countless memories flash before my eyes like a revolving lantern...

Zhang Kui shook his head violently, trying to dispel the sounds.

But the sound grew louder and clearer.

At this moment, he saw a figure faintly emerging in the golden light ahead. The figure stood with its back to him, hands behind its back.

"Master?" Zhang Kui blurted out.

When the figure turned around, it was none other than Grand Master Xuandu.

"Foolish child," Xuandu sighed softly, "Do you know that your entire journey has been part of my schemes?"

Zhang Kui was stunned.

Xuandu continued, "I accepted you as my disciple, taught you the Great Dao of Golden Core, and bestowed upon you the Qiankun Diagram... Do you think it's because I value you? It's merely in accordance with the will of Heaven."

"you……"

"Let it go." Xuan Du stretched out his hand, his palm gleaming with a soft golden light. "Let go of your attachments, take refuge in the West, and you will find liberation."

Zhang Kui stared at the hand, his gaze gradually becoming unfocused.

He slowly raised his hand, as if to grasp that hand.

Just then...

"Young friend!"

A loud shout exploded like a thunderclap.

Zhang Kui suddenly woke up and saw Zhao Gongming standing beside him, calling out to him sternly.

"Hold fast to your principles!" Zhao Gongming shouted hoarsely, "Don't be misled by heretical words."

Zhang Kui took a deep breath and looked ahead.

Where is this so-called Grand Master Xuandu? There are only endless Sanskrit characters swirling in the void.

His back was soaked with cold sweat.

"Thank you, senior." Zhang Kui's voice was hoarse.

Zhao Gongming nodded and looked around.

Following his gaze, Zhang Kui saw that at the edge of the golden world, beams of seven-colored light were gathering. These beams gradually materialized, forming walls of light that sealed the entire formation completely.

The sound of lighting lamps came from all directions, carrying a hint of pride.

"You two need not struggle any longer. This formation uses the Seven Treasures Tree as its core and the Bodhi Mind as its foundation. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would not be able to escape once inside. If you two can let go of your attachments and take refuge in the Western Paradise, I can guarantee that you will enter the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and enjoy eternal peace."

Zhao Gongming sneered: "Dream on!"

He swung his golden whip and once again engaged in battle with the surging Sanskrit.

Zhang Kui gritted his teeth and drew his knife to meet the attack.

But the Sanskrit script is endless, and its extermination is impossible.

And the chanting of Buddhist hymns grew louder and louder, penetrating deeper and deeper into one's mind.

Gradually, Zhang Kui felt his vision begin to blur again.

This time, he saw not Xuan Du, but Gao Lanying.

"My husband," Gao Lanying said, standing in the golden light, her face filled with sorrow, "why haven't you returned? Mother longs for you every day, and my brother Shan misses you constantly..."

Zhang Kui's Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't utter a word.

"Husband, let it go." Gao Lanying reached out her hand. "Let go of your obsession, let's go home."

go home……

Zhang Kui stared at the hand, his gaze gradually becoming unfocused.

Yes, go home.

He raised his hand again.

Just then...

A sharp pain suddenly struck.

He looked down and saw that his left palm was glowing.

That's... a treasure-dropping coin.

A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Zhang Kui's eyes.

"Senior!" He suddenly looked up, "I have a solution."

Zhao Gongming was taken aback and turned to look at him.

Zhang Kui raised his hand, and the Treasure Coin flew out from his palm, hovering in front of Zhao Gongming.

"The power of this treasure can destroy all the magical treasures in the world," he said in a deep voice. "Although the Seven Treasures Tree is a treasure used by sages to attain enlightenment, it has now become the core of the array and is connected to this Bodhi Array."

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:

"It is both the core of the formation and a magical artifact. Since it is a magical artifact, it can 'land'!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming's eyes also gleamed.

"What you mean, young friend, is..."

Zhang Kui said in a deep voice, "Senior is also familiar with this Treasure-Falling Coin, and I'm sure you understand the price of using it."

Zhao Gongming replied without hesitation, "Leave it to me!"

Upon receiving the treasure-dropping coin, Zhao Gongming activated his magical power, causing his aura to surge dramatically.

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl hung above his head, and the twenty-four precious pearls shone with an unprecedented brilliance.

"Light the lamp!"

Zhao Gongming roared, "Take this strike!"

Before the words were finished, all twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls flew out simultaneously, transforming into a chaotic pillar of light that crashed straight into the dome of the golden world.

Rumble!

Crashed!

The entire Bodhi Array trembled violently, and countless Sanskrit characters shattered instantly!

Dipankara's expression changed drastically. He desperately urged the Seven Treasures Tree to exert all its power into the formation to stabilize it.

Seven-colored light shot into the sky and collided violently with the pillar of chaotic light.

At this very moment...

"Now!" Zhang Kui shouted.

Zhao Gongming released the treasure-dropping coin from his hand.

The coin spun in the air, its wings spread, and it transformed into a golden beam that shot straight toward the very center of the golden dome.

That place is where the Seven Treasures Tree connects to the Bodhi Array.

A flash of golden light.

The Seven Treasures Tree trembled slightly.

Even a single tremor was enough.

Taking advantage of this brief moment of tremor, the chaotic beam of light suddenly crashed in.

boom!

The golden world shattered with a deafening roar.

Countless Buddhist scriptures were reduced to dust, and the resounding chants of Sanskrit abruptly ceased.

Outside the formation, Daoist Ran Deng screamed, spitting out blood, and was sent flying backward.

The Seven Treasures Tree flew out of his hand and hovered in mid-air, its light dimming.

Zhao Gongming and Zhang Kui had already broken through the formation and escaped.

"Great! Hahaha..."

Zhao Gongming laughed loudly, his voice stretching endlessly.

With a wave of his hand, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl was returned to his sleeve, and the Dragon-Binding Rope flew back to his waist.

Then, Zhao Gongming stared intently at the dimly lit Seven Treasures Tree, his killing intent surging.

"Bandeng, today is your death day!"

With a wave of his hand, the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls rose into the air once more, their five-colored light illuminating the heavens and earth, transforming into twenty-four streams of light that hurtled straight toward the flying Daoist Ran Deng.

Without hesitation, Zhang Kui activated the Five Elements Great Escape, and five-colored divine light flowed on the Dragon Sparrow Blade. He followed up with a slash towards Burning Lamp.

The Taoist Ran Deng's face turned deathly pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. As the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls approached with earth-shattering power, a trace of fear finally surfaced in his eyes.

He retreated rapidly, shouting sharply, "Teacher, save me!"

Before the words were finished...

A soft sigh suddenly came from the void.

The sigh was extremely soft, seemingly far away yet close at hand. The twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls suddenly froze in mid-air, unable to move.

Zhang Kui's Dragon Sparrow Blade was also frozen in place, its blade no more than three zhang away from Ran Deng, yet it could not advance even an inch further.

Zhao Gongming's expression changed drastically.

He suddenly looked up and saw a figure slowly descending from the heavens, bathed in golden light.

The man was dressed in a gray-white Taoist robe, with a face like a full moon, compassionate eyes, and surrounded by golden lotuses, wafting a fragrance that was refreshing and delightful.

The Western religion, the Sage Cundi.

"Disciple Randeng pays respects to Master." Despite his injuries, Randeng struggled to kneel down on the ground.

Zhunti nodded slightly, raised his hand to support him, and a golden light entered Randeng's body, immediately improving Randeng's complexion.

Then, Zhunti turned around and looked at Zhao Gongming and Zhang Kui.

His gaze was calm and undisturbed, but Zhao Gongming felt an immense and boundless pressure bearing down on him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"Zhao Gongming".

Zhunti spoke, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, "Now that you have broken through the formation, why not leave quickly instead of trying to kill us all?"

"Zhao Gongming".

Zhunti spoke, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, "Now that you have broken through the formation, why not leave quickly instead of trying to kill us all?"

Zhao Gongming gritted his teeth, enduring the oppressive aura, and said in a deep voice, "Sage Zhunti, Daoist Randeng set up an array to harm us two. It is only right and proper for us to retaliate. As the leader of the Western religion, does the Sage intend to interfere in the affairs of the East?"

"Fellow Daoist Ran Deng has a karmic connection with me in the West."

Zhunti smiled slightly, "Besides, the Seven Treasures Tree he possesses is the treasure that enabled me to attain enlightenment. You want to kill him, so you don't take me seriously?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming's anger intensified.

"I am a disciple of the Sage Tongtian. Today, Randeng set up an array to harm me. It is only right and proper for me to break the array and pursue him." Zhao Gongming's voice was firm and resolute as he met Zhunti's gaze directly without flinching.

Zhang Kui, who was standing to the side, was also quite annoyed. After bowing, he asked, "This disciple would like to ask the Sage Zhunti, where was the Sage when Dipankara used the Seven Treasures Tree to set up the Bodhi Array in an attempt to convert us?"

Zhunti maintained his smile, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly laughed.

He slowly raised his hand.

Zhao Gongming felt an irresistible force rushing towards him, and he was struck as if by a heavy blow, falling to his knees with a thud.

Zhang Kui was shocked. Just as he was about to move, a tremendous force pressed down on him, and he was forced to his knees, unable to move.

"All men beneath the sage are but ants."

Although Zhunti's voice remained gentle, it concealed a suffocating majesty.

Zhang Kui tried to struggle, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree; he couldn't budge an inch.

Although he was a Golden Immortal, he was no different from an ant in front of a sage.

Zhunti slowly walked over...

"teacher!"

A look of delight flashed in the eyes of the man standing to the side.

Just then...

A mysterious light suddenly shone from Zhang Kui's body.

The light was extremely faint and soft, like the rising sun. But the moment the light appeared, Daoist Zhunti suddenly turned his head and fixed his gaze on Zhang Kui.

Zhang Kui was also taken aback.

Something flew out of his arms and hovered in mid-air.

The scroll of treasure was ancient and unadorned, with prophecies of the Great Dao surrounding it. The map divided Yin and Yang, defined the Four Symbols, incorporated the Five Elements, and encompassed all things in the universe. At this moment, it was slowly rotating, and a beam of mysterious light shone down, enveloping Zhang Kui within it.

Tai Chi symbol!

Zhunti Daoist's pupils suddenly contracted.

His eyes flickered, and the smile on his face vanished without a trace.

"The Tai Chi diagram..." he murmured, "How did it end up in your hands?"

Zhang Kui was also completely bewildered.

He had obtained this Tai Chi diagram by chance and kept it hidden in his bosom, never showing it to anyone. Today, for some unknown reason, it flew out on its own.

But this is not the time to think too much.

He took a deep breath, bracing himself against the oppressive aura, and said in a deep voice, "By chance, this disciple has been favored by Master Xuandu and has been accepted into the Human Sect."

Zhunti gave Zhang Kui a deep look, his gaze seemingly trying to see right through him.

After a long while, he suddenly smiled meaningfully.

Then, he waved his hand.

The oppressive force that had been pressing down on Zhao Gongming and Zhang Kui instantly dissipated.

"Let's go."

Zhunti turned around, his back to them.

Zhang Kui dared not say more, and pulled Zhao Gongming along as they transformed into streaks of light and disappeared into the horizon.