Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The Taoist Ran Deng stood in mid-air, watching the figure of the Sage Zhunti disappear into the heavens, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

The Seven Treasures Tree has been taken away.

This was within his expectations; how could the treasures of a sage's enlightenment be lent out for long? But what truly weighed on his mind was Zhunti's last words.

"Zhao Gongming will be dealt with by someone later. As for Zhang Kui... you'll have to deal with him yourself."

Should I handle this on my own?

The lamp's eyes flickered.

The sage is trying to pin all the blame on himself. The kindness in lending the treasure is genuine, but that kindness ends there.

He suppressed his distracting thoughts, turned around, and rode the clouds toward Xiqi City.

……

Inside the reed-covered pavilion, the Twelve Golden Immortals were discussing matters.

Upon seeing Ran Deng return, Guang Chengzi stood up and asked, "Teacher Ran Deng, what about Zhao Gongming...?"

"It's alright."

Ran Deng waved his hand, his expression returning to normal. "Although we didn't achieve complete success today, we did manage to ascertain the truth. Zhao Gongming's cultivation is high, but he is not uncontrollable."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions softened slightly.

Just then, a soldier hurriedly climbed onto the reed hut and knelt on one knee: "Esteemed immortals, a Taoist priest has arrived outside the camp. He claims to be Lu Ya and requests an audience with you."

A thought struck Ran Deng.

"please."

Before long, a figure appeared.

The man wore a fish-tail crown and a crimson robe. He had a thin face and bright, clear eyes. He climbed onto the reed hut and bowed to the crowd: "This humble Daoist is Lu Ya, greetings to all fellow Daoists."

Guang Chengzi and the others returned the greeting, but their eyes were secretly sizing up the man.

Its origins are unknown, its aura is elusive, and its true nature is unfathomable.

Ran Deng stepped forward and asked with a smile, "May I ask where you cultivate, fellow practitioner?"

Lu Ya smiled slightly and said frankly, "I am a free spirit, having attained enlightenment through cultivation in Xikunlun. I have come here today because I have witnessed Zhao Gongming defying Heaven and committing heinous acts with his treasure, and I have come to subdue him."

Upon hearing this, the reed hut fell silent.

Guang Chengzi frowned slightly. Zhao Gongming was the senior disciple of the outer sect of the Jie Sect, with the cultivation of a Great Luo Golden Immortal. He wielded two powerful treasures, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl and the Dragon-Binding Rope. Even the twelve Golden Immortals dared not claim certain victory.

This Taoist priest came alone and immediately declared that he would "subdue him," which is far too arrogant.

Taiyi Zhenren stroked his beard without speaking, his gaze sweeping over Lu Ya several times.

Master Yu Ding shook his head slightly, clearly not believing it.

Only Ran Deng's eyes flashed with a strange light.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist!" Ran Deng bowed deeply, his voice sincere.

Guang Chengzi and the others all looked at Randeng, their eyes filled with confusion. This Taoist's origins were unknown, and his words were arrogant; why did Randeng believe him so easily?

Ran Deng didn't explain much, but simply smiled and invited Lu Ya to take a seat.

Lu Ya didn't stand on ceremony, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes without saying a word.

……

The next morning, as dawn broke.

In the commercial area, bugles sounded.

Zhao Gongming rode a black tiger, wielding a golden whip, and charged straight towards the city of Xiqi.

Zhang Kui rode a Bi'an, gripped the Dragon Sparrow Blade horizontally, and led over ten thousand elite troops in close pursuit.

"Light the lamp!"

Zhao Gongming's voice boomed like a bell, causing the flags on the city wall to flutter wildly, "Come out and face your death!"

Before the words were even finished, the gates of Xiqi City swung open.

The Taoist Ran Deng stepped forward first, followed by the Twelve Golden Immortals and Jiang Ziya, among others. Beside Ran Deng stood another Taoist, dressed in a red robe and wearing a fish-tail crown.

Zhao Gongming glanced around and his gaze fell on the Taoist priest, his brows furrowing slightly.

Who is this person?

I didn't see it yesterday.

"Randeng," Zhao Gongming sneered, "having fled in such a sorry state yesterday, you dare to show your face today? Have you found backup?"

Ran Deng remained expressionless and said calmly, "Zhao Gongming, don't be so arrogant. Today, a fellow Daoist will settle the score with you."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Ya had already gracefully stepped out of the formation.

He bowed to Zhao Gongming and said with a smile, "This humble Taoist, Lu Ya, greets Fellow Taoist Zhao."

Zhao Gongming stared at him, his gaze sharp: "Who are you? Do you think you're worthy to fight me?"

Lu Ya was not annoyed and still smiled: "Although I am not talented, I know that Fellow Daoist Zhao is defying the heavens and is immoral, so I have come to subdue you."

"presumptuous!"

Zhao Gongming was furious. He swung his golden whip, and a thousand feet of golden light slashed down on him.

Lu Ya neither dodged nor evaded; his figure suddenly transformed into a long rainbow, soaring straight into the sky. The golden whip slashed down, only striking an afterimage.

Zhao Gongming's gaze sharpened.

This escape technique...

He snorted coldly and raised his hand to summon the Dragon Binding Rope.

With a flash of golden light, the Dragon-Binding Rope emerged like a serpent from its cave, chasing straight after the long rainbow.

Lu Ya let out a long roar, his body transforming into a rainbow that soared and danced in the heavens, with the Dragon Binding Rope following closely behind, but always a step too late.

Zhao Gongming's expression darkened.

Lu Ya's escape technique is truly bizarre.

Without further hesitation, he raised his hand and waved...

Twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls rose into the air.

Five-colored rays of light burst forth, illuminating heaven and earth.

The light was so dazzling that even the Twelve Golden Immortals turned their heads away, not daring to look directly at it.

But the look of greed resurfaced in the eyes of the Taoist Ran Deng.

What a wonderful treasure, such a wonderful treasure...

Lu Ya also stopped his escape, his expression becoming solemn.

He stood in mid-air, staring at the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls, and suddenly raised his hand.

A red gourd flew out of his sleeve and hovered above his head.

The gourd was entirely red, about a foot tall, with naturally formed patterns on its surface. Upon closer inspection, it vaguely formed the outline of a fierce bird about to take flight.

The gourd's mouth opened slightly, and a beam of white light shot out.

The white light, like a bolt of silk, wrapped around Lu Ya's body, layer upon layer, protecting him completely. But upon closer inspection, within the white light, there was a thing shaped like a human head swimming around—it had a head and face, wings on its back, and its features were indistinct.

"This is……"

Zhang Kui's pupils suddenly contracted.

He quietly activated the Great Yin-Yang Void Eye, and two beams of light shone from the depths of his eyes, looking directly at the ball of white light.

Upon seeing this, he was deeply shaken.

Within that ball of white light was clearly a small figure—a human head, wings, a ferocious face, and an intense killing intent emanating from it.

The killing intent was so pure and intense that Zhang Kui could clearly sense it even from several miles away.

But when he tried to observe further...

The little man suddenly turned his head.

Although its face was blurry, Zhang Kui could clearly feel that it was "looking" at him.

A chill rose up from my spine and shot straight to the top of my head.

It was as if he were being stared at by a ferocious beast, whose gaze was cold, cruel, and devoid of emotion.

Zhang Kui's hair stood on end, his internal magical power circulated on its own, and his golden core shone brightly, barely managing to withstand the chill.

Suppressing the unease in his heart, Zhang Kui secretly transmitted his voice to Zhao Gongming, saying, "Senior, be careful, there's something strange about that gourd."

Zhao Gongming nodded, his expression solemn.

"go!"

Zhao Gongming roared.

The twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls transformed into twenty-four streams of light, carrying the power to destroy the heavens and the earth, obscuring the sky and crashing towards Lu Ya.

Wherever it passed, the void trembled.

Lu Ya's expression was solemn as he exerted all his strength to activate the gourd above his head.

A burst of white light engulfed him completely. The head-shaped object also swam rapidly within the white light, emitting a silent hiss.

boom!

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl crashed into the white light.

The earth shook violently!

The shockwave swept across the surrounding area, even shaking the walls of Xiqi City.

However, the white light, though dim, did not shatter and actually blocked the attack of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.

"What?"

Zhao Gongming's expression changed drastically.

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl was actually blocked by this strange white light?

Lu Ya's face was also pale, clearly not at ease. He gritted his teeth and urged the gourd with all his might. The little figure in the white light swam faster and hissed more urgently.

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl and the white light remained locked in a stalemate in mid-air.

A quarter of an hour.

Two quarters of an hour.

Three-quarters of an hour...

boom!

Another loud bang!

The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl and the white light flew backwards simultaneously.

Zhao Gongming grunted and withdrew the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. Lu Ya, on the other hand, swayed and nearly fell from the clouds.

The two exchanged a glance, both with a look of apprehension in their eyes.

"Well done, Lu Ya," Zhao Gongming said in a deep voice. "Let's call it a day and fight again another day."

Having said that, he waved his sleeve, retrieved the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and turned to leave.

Lu Ya did not pursue, but slowly returned to the formation.

……

The atmosphere inside the reed hut was heavy.

The twelve Golden Immortals sat in a circle, their eyes all fixed on Lu Ya.

"Why didn't you press your advantage just now, fellow Daoist?" Guang Chengzi asked in a deep voice.

Lu Ya shook his head and said with a wry smile, "My gourd can temporarily withstand the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, but it cannot last long. If we continue to fight, the outcome is uncertain."

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions.

Jiang Ziya couldn't help but ask, "Then, in your opinion, what should be done?"

Lu Ya remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Lord Ziya, I have a method that can defeat Zhao Gongming."

Jiang Ziya's spirits lifted: "Please speak frankly, fellow Daoist."

Lu Ya slowly spoke, "Zhao Gongming's cultivation is profound, and the power of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl is boundless. In a direct confrontation, even I cannot say that I will definitely win. However, everything in the world has its weaknesses. Zhao Gongming is a man of fierce integrity and values ​​loyalty above all else. If we can use magic to shake his will, we can take advantage of his weakness."

Jiang Ziya pondered for a moment: "What do you mean, fellow Daoist?"

Lu Ya took something out of his sleeve.

It was a bow, about three feet long, entirely black, with seven copper nails on it, gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

"This item is called the 'Seven Arrows of Nailhead'," Lu Ya said slowly. "Use a mulberry branch as a bow and a peach branch as arrows. Write Zhao Gongming's name on it and bow to it three times a day. After twenty-one days, his soul will dissipate on its own."

Upon hearing this, the reed hut fell silent.

Guang Chengzi's expression changed slightly. This technique... is a curse technique, which is against the natural order.

Taiyi Zhenren frowned, seemingly wanting to speak but holding back.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Ran Deng's face lit up with joy: "Really?"

Lu Ya nodded: "Of course it is true. However, this technique requires sincerity and cannot be performed with the slightest negligence. If Lord Ziya is willing to perform it personally, Zhao Gongming will surely die after twenty-one days."

Ran Deng looked at Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Then we will do as you say, fellow Daoist."

……

into the night.

The business premises were brightly lit.

Inside the central command tent, Zhao Gongming sat cross-legged, his face showing signs of fatigue. Although the battle during the day had ended without a clear victor, it had still drained a considerable amount of his magical power.

Zhang Kui sat to the side, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Zhao Gongming opened his eyes and looked at him: "Young friend, do you have something to say?"

Zhang Kui remained silent for a moment before finally speaking: "Senior, what do you think of that Taoist's gourd today?"

Zhao Gongming frowned slightly: "That gourd is indeed strange. I have cultivated for ten thousand years and have never seen such a bizarre magic weapon."

Zhang Kui said in a deep voice, "I observed with my secret method that there was a human-head-shaped object hidden within the white light. That object seemed to be alive."

Zhao Gongming's gaze sharpened.

"Is it alive?"

Zhang Kui nodded: "Not only that, the killing intent emanating from that thing was terrifyingly pure. It was as if... as if it was born to kill."

Zhao Gongming remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "What do you mean, young friend?"

Zhang Kui took a deep breath: "Lu Ya's origins are illegitimate, and that gourd is probably not a righteous magic weapon either."

Zhao Gongming nodded, but didn't seem too concerned: "It's alright! I've cultivated for ten thousand years, why would I be afraid of his magic weapon?"

Zhang Kui was about to speak again, but Zhao Gongming stopped him by waving his hand.

"Young friend, there's no need to worry," Zhao Gongming said with a smile. "We'll meet force with force and water with water. If he has the ability, let him try."

Seeing this, Zhang Kui had no choice but to give up.

But the shadow in my heart just wouldn't go away.

The little figure in the white light...

That chilling, bone-chilling killing intent...

I always felt that it wasn't that simple.

……

For the next few days, the two sides did not clash again.

Zhao Gongming challenged them to battle every day, but Xiqi refused to fight and remained secluded.

Zhang Kui's unease grew, so he used his divine sense to search for clues in Xiqi every day, but... he could not detect anything unusual.

……

The night was dark.

Deep within the Prime Minister's residence in Xiqi City.

In a secret room, Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged.

An altar was set up in front of him, upon which was placed a mulberry wood bow with seven peach wood arrows nocked. A straw figure stood on the table, with three characters written on its chest: Zhao Gongming.

Jiang Ziya held three incense sticks and bowed deeply.

One bow.

Second bow.

Three bows.

Each time a bow was made, the seven peach wood arrows would tremble slightly.

Behind Jiang Ziya, Lu Ya stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching everything.

His gaze was deep and unfathomable, with a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Twenty-one days later...

Zhao Gongming is doomed.

Dark as ink.

A silent threat is quietly spreading.

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