Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Over the course of several days, Zhao Gongming's unusual behavior became increasingly apparent.

At first, he was just occasionally distracted, and everyone assumed he was thinking about how to defeat the enemy.

But gradually, this Great Immortal would suddenly freeze during discussions, his gaze unfocused, as if his soul had left his body.

On one occasion, Wen Zhong was speaking when he discovered that Zhao Gongming had already closed his eyes and fallen into a deep sleep, and no matter how he called out to him, he would not wake up. When he finally awoke, he had no idea that he had just fallen asleep.

Zhang Kui saw this, and the dark cloud in his heart grew thicker and thicker.

That night, Zhao Gongming fell into a deep sleep in his tent again. His disciples Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi stood outside the tent, their eyes red, but dared not make a sound to disturb him.

Wen Zhongli stood before the tent, his face solemn and grave.

"Grand Tutor," Zhang Kui stepped forward, lowering his voice, "Your symptoms... are probably unusual."

Wen Zhong turned to look at him, his gaze deep: "What are your thoughts?"

Zhang Kui remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "These past few days, I have been using my divine sense to investigate Xiqi, but I have not detected anything unusual. The more this is the case, the more it suggests that something is amiss. Lu Ya's origins are mysterious, and since his appearance, you have begun to exhibit these strange behaviors. If you say that the two are unrelated, I find it hard to believe."

Wen Zhong frowned: "You mean, Lu Ya secretly cast a spell?"

Zhang Kui nodded: "Very likely. I've connected it to the Soul-Sinking Formation. Don't you think your current symptoms are quite similar to those of Jiang Ziya, who was cursed by Fellow Daoist Yao Bin?"

Wen Zhong's expression changed drastically.

"If that's really the case..." he said in a deep voice, "then wouldn't Brother Zhao be..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi, who were originally outside the tent, had already fallen to the ground.

"Grand Tutor!"

Chen Jiugong's voice choked with emotion, "General Zhang, please save my master!"

Yao Shaosi was also in tears, and kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhang Kui quickly helped the two up and said in a deep voice, "You two don't need to do this. Senior has been kind to me beyond measure. Even if it costs me my life, I will do my best to save you."

He turned to Wen Zhong, his gaze resolute: "Grand Tutor, I intend to infiltrate Xiqi tonight and investigate."

Wen Zhong was taken aback, then shook his head: "No. There are countless experts in Xiqi City, including all twelve Golden Immortals. Although you have already attained the Golden Immortal realm, if you venture in alone, once exposed, your chances of survival will be slim."

Zhang Kui replied, "Grand Tutor, rest assured. I possess the 'Flying Body Concealing Traces' supernatural ability, which allows me to hide my presence. Although those Twelve Golden Immortals are powerful, they may not be able to detect my whereabouts."

Wen Zhong remained silent, lost in thought.

Zhang Kui then said, "Grand Tutor, the senior's life is hanging by a thread. If we do not find out the reason, it will be too late to regret it. Rather than waiting to die, we should take a risk and fight."

Wen Zhong looked at him, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

After a long silence, he slowly nodded: "In that case, you should proceed with caution. I will have Bai Li set up the 'Blazing Flame Formation' tomorrow to invite Xiqi to break it. When the formation is activated, it will surely attract the attention of the Twelve Golden Immortals, and you can take advantage of the opportunity to sneak in."

Zhang Kui clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Grand Tutor."

Wen Zhong waved his hand and sighed, "No need to thank me. Brother Zhao came for me, how could I stand idly by? But..."

He paused, staring intently at Zhang Kui: "General Zhang, you must protect yourself on this journey, and do not lose your life easily."

Zhang Kui felt a warmth in his heart and solemnly replied, "Grand Tutor, rest assured, I understand."

……

The next morning, as dawn broke.

In the commercial area, bugles sounded.

Bai Li stepped out of the camp, followed by three hundred elite talisman soldiers. He stood at the front of the formation, raised his hand, and a crimson banner fluttered in the wind.

"You cowardly rat from Xiqi, do you dare to enter my 'Blazing Flame Formation'?"

The sound was like thunder, rolling towards the top of Xiqi City.

Inside the reed hut, the Twelve Golden Immortals were holding a meeting. Upon hearing this, all eyes turned to Randeng.

Randeng frowned slightly, about to speak, when he saw Lu Ya stand up with a smile.

"Fellow Daoists, I am willing to go."

Taiyi Zhenren couldn't help but say, "Fellow Daoist, that Blazing Flame Formation is one of the Ten Deadly Formations. It contains fire in the air, fire on the ground, and Samadhi True Fire. The combination of these three fires is extremely dangerous. Although your Daoist arts are profound, you must still be careful."

Lu Ya smiled slightly and said calmly, "Rest assured, Master. I have no other special skills, except that I am not afraid of fire."

As he spoke, his gaze was deep and his lips held a faint smile.

A strange light flashed in Ran Deng's eyes, but he said nothing more.

Jiang Ziya stood up and said, "In that case, I'll trouble you, fellow Daoist."

Lu Ya nodded and gracefully left the city.

……

Before the blazing formation, Bai Li saw that the newcomer was the red-robed Taoist who had killed Wang Bian that day. His heart skipped a beat, and he sneered, "Lu Ya, you have quite the nerve to come here alone to die."

Lu Ya smiled without saying a word, and simply stepped into the formation.

Bai Li's expression darkened, and he immediately activated the formation.

In an instant, the sky and the earth changed color.

Fire poured down from the heavens, crimson flames like an inverted Milky Way; fire erupted from the earth, dark red magma surging like raging waves; the Samadhi Fire arose from the void, formless and without appearance, yet it burned everything.

When the three flames converged, the entire Fiery Array transformed into a sea of ​​fire.

The flames were so intense that even from the city walls of Xiqi, several miles away, one could feel the heat wave.

Lu Ya stood motionless amidst the sea of ​​fire.

The flames licked at his Taoist robe, yet not a single hem caught fire. He stood with his hands behind his back, bathed in the three flames, his expression as serene as if he were simply standing in a spring breeze.

Bai Li's pupils suddenly contracted.

"This...how is this possible?"

Lu Ya smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Bai Li, do you know what I was originally transformed from?"

He slowly raised his hand, and the flames around him suddenly pulsated violently, as if he were submitting to a king.

"Fire in the air? Fire on the ground? Samadhi True Fire?" Lu Ya said softly, "In my eyes, it's nothing but child's play."

Before he finished speaking, he held the red gourd in his hand and bowed slightly.

The movement was extremely light and slow, yet it carried an indescribable eeriness.

"Please turn around, baby."

A beam of white light shot out from the mouth of the gourd.

The light was incredibly fast, so fast that Bai Li had no time to react. He only felt a chill in his brow, as if something had entered it, and his whole body instantly stiffened.

Then, he saw his own body.

The headless body stood in the middle of the formation, blood gushing from its neck like a fountain.

That's...my body?

Bai Li had a final thought flash through his mind before he was plunged into eternal darkness.

A true spirit floated out and flew straight towards the Investiture of the Gods.

……

"This is outrageous!"

With a roar, the Red Water Formation Master Wang Bian moved like lightning, attempting to pounce.

But Wen Zhong stopped him: "Fellow Daoist Wang, do not be rash!"

Wang Bian gritted his teeth and stopped, his eyes fixed on the red-robed figure, filled with boundless hatred.

……

Inside the reed hut, Ran Deng saw Lu Ya return and rose with a smile: "Fellow Daoist, you've worked hard."

Lu Ya waved his hand and calmly sat down.

After a moment of contemplation, Ran Deng looked at Jiang Ziya and asked, "Ziya, do you have two generals under your command, Fang Bi and Fang Xiang?"

Jiang Ziya was taken aback, then nodded: "Yes. These two were former generals of the Shang Dynasty who later joined Xiqi. They are quite brave and strong."

Ran Deng smiled slightly: "Then let them go and break the Red Water Formation."

Jiang Ziya looked troubled: "Master, Fang Bi and Fang Xiang are brave, but they don't understand formations. Letting them into the formation would be..."

Ran Deng waved his hand, interrupting him: "Ziya, you don't understand. Sending people into the formation is not to expect them to break it, but to find out its true strength. Once the killing intent in the formation has been exhausted, then we can send in experts to break it in one fell swoop."

Jiang Ziya's expression changed slightly. After a long silence, he finally nodded slowly.

……

Red Water Formation.

Generals Fang Bi and Fang Xiang stood with their weapons in hand, gazing at the blood-red mist before them, their hearts filled with unease.

They were veterans of the battlefield, never flinching as they charged into battle. Yet, this formation was eerie in every way; from within the crimson mist, the faint sound of waves could be heard, as if a raging flood was brewing.

"Brother," Fang Xiang swallowed hard, "Are we really going in?"

Fang Bi gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Military orders are absolute; how can we back down?"

The moment the two entered the formation, the scene before them changed abruptly.

An endless, blood-red ocean, surging with waves and a stench that fills the air.

Countless skeletons rose and fell in the waves, emitting mournful howls.

"Not good!" Fang Bi exclaimed in alarm and turned to retreat.

But the way we came from has vanished, and all that remains is blood-red seawater.

A giant wave suddenly surged up and crashed down like a tidal wave.

Within that wave lay a strange power. Fang Bi raised his knife to parry, only to feel that power, like a bone-deep infection, instantly penetrate his body. His blood began to boil, as if it were about to burst through his veins and gush out.

"what!"

Fang Bi screamed in agony as his entire body turned into a pool of blood, merging into the crimson ocean.

Fang Xiang's eyes were bloodshot as he frantically swung his sword at the waves, but the waves were endless, and the more he slashed, the more there were.

A moment later, he followed in his brother's footsteps.

Two true spirits emerged from the blood and flew straight toward the Investiture of the Gods.

……

Inside the formation, Wang Bian sneered and prepared to leave the Red Water Formation.

But just then...

A figure drifted over.

The man was dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, holding a feather fan. His face was as handsome as jade, and his eyes were as bright as stars. He landed in front of the Red Water Formation and bowed to Wang Bian: "This humble Taoist, the Pure Void Moral True Lord, has come to break the formation."

Wang Bian's expression changed, and he immediately activated the formation.

The crimson mist surged forth once more, transforming into towering waves that crashed down upon the Pure Void Moral True Lord.

The True Lord remained calm and composed, gently fanning himself with his feather fan.

The fan was made with phoenix feathers as its frame and vermilion bird feathers as its surface, with five-colored flame patterns flowing on it. It was the innate spiritual treasure - the Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan.

One fan after another.

Five flames erupted from the fan, transforming into five fire dragons that crashed straight into the crimson giant wave.

laugh!

Water and fire clashed, and white mist rose up.

The crimson wave melted instantly before the five-colored flames, like snow being poured on boiling water.

Wang Bian's expression changed drastically, and he frantically activated the formation. But no matter how he activated it, the five flames crumbled the Red Water Formation layer by layer, as if destroying dry leaves.

"No!"

Wang Bian roared furiously, desperately channeling his magic power in a final desperate attempt.

But the Pure Void Moral True Lord no longer gave him a chance.

The second fan is played.

The five fire dragons merged into one, transforming into a blazing white beam of light that shot straight toward Wang Bian.

Before Wang Bian could even scream, he was engulfed by the pillar of light and turned to ashes.

A true spirit emerged from the ashes and flew straight toward the Investiture of the Gods.

Red Water Formation, broken.

……

Meanwhile, in Xiqi City.

A faint, almost imperceptible figure was moving silently through the air.

Zhang Kui unleashed "Flying Body Leaning on Traces - Frosty Without Fixation," his figure appearing like mist and dew, seemingly real yet illusory, suppressing his aura to the extreme.

On the city wall, the auras of the Twelve Golden Immortals were clearly discernible. Their vast and imposing power was like the blazing sun in the sky, threatening to expose them at the slightest carelessness.

But Zhang Kui did not panic. He flashed through the gap like a ghost and landed in the city.

……

Prime Minister's House.

Zhang Kui sneaked outside the mansion and used his Great Yin-Yang Hollow Eye to peer inside.

Upon seeing this, he was deeply shaken.

Deep within the mansion, in a secret room, a faint, eerie fluctuation emanated. The fluctuation was so subtle that it would be undetectable without the Great Yin-Yang Void-Penetrating True Eye.

Zhang Kui took a deep breath and silently slipped into the mansion.

Outside the secret chamber, there were layers upon layers of restrictions, exquisitely crafted, clearly the work of a master. However, Zhang Kui possessed the Five Elements Escape Technique and had received the true meaning of "Flying Body and Leaving Trace" from the two masters Yun Zhongzi and Zhao Gongming, giving him a profound understanding of the art of escape and restrictions.

After observing for a moment, he found a flaw.

With a flash, he passed through the barrier and landed in the secret chamber.

……

The secret room was not large, about three zhang square.

In the very center stands an altar, upon which rests a mulberry wood bow, nocked with seven peach wood arrows. A straw figure stands on a table, with three large, blood-red characters inscribed on its chest.

Zhao Gongming.

Above the straw figure's head hung three lamps, their light dim, two of which had already gone out. At the straw figure's feet stood seven oil lamps, their flames flickering, four of which had already been extinguished.

Zhang Kui's pupils suddenly contracted.

The Seven Arrows of Nailhead!

Although he had suspected it beforehand, seeing it with his own eyes still left him deeply shocked.

The aura emanating from the straw figure was clearly that of Zhao Gongming's soul and spirit. Each of the seven oil lamps corresponded to a soul or spirit. Now, with two of the three lamps above his head extinguished and four of the seven below him out, it meant that two of Zhao Gongming's souls and four of his spirits had been absorbed into this place.

No wonder he seemed dazed, no wonder he inexplicably fell asleep...

Zhang Kui took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and began to carefully observe the altar.

The mulberry wood bow was as black as ink, with a faint glow of blood flowing within it. The seven peach wood arrows were densely covered with runes, each one emanating an eerie aura.

Zhang Kui's gaze sharpened.

"What a shrewd Lu Ya..."

If the altar is destroyed directly, the soul that was captured will definitely be damaged. Even if Zhao Gongming does not die, his soul will be severely injured and his cultivation level will drop drastically.

If the altar is not destroyed, Zhao Gongming will surely die after twenty-one days.

Zhang Kui's eyes flickered as he rapidly pondered.

Suddenly, a thought struck him.

He slowly raised his hand, and an ancient copper coin appeared in his palm.

Falling Treasure Coins.

Zhang Kui stared intently at the altar.

But just then...

A voice suddenly rang out, tinged with a hint of mockery:

"I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Zhang Kui suddenly turned around.

At the entrance to the secret chamber, a figure in a red robe stood with his hands behind his back, looking at him with a smile.