Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

"Zhang Kui Asks the Way in the Investiture of the Gods" - Stunning writing style and a thrilling plot!

Inside the Prime Minister's residence in Xiqi City, candlelight flickered.

Jiang Ziya leaned against the couch, his face as pale as paper, his hands still trembling slightly. He had just forced himself to sit up, but was so startled by a single sentence from Randeng that he almost fainted again.

"Teacher Ran Deng, what did you say?" Jiang Ziya's voice was hoarse and low, yet filled with barely suppressed anger. "You want King Wu, Ji Fa, to personally fire the final arrow?"

Ran Deng stood with his hands behind his back by the window, his voice calm: "Ziya, in your current state, if you were to shoot the seventh arrow, I'm afraid you would be annihilated before the arrow even leaves the bowstring."

"We can't let King Wu shoot him!" Jiang Ziya struggled to sit up, aggravating his injuries and coughing violently. "The late king entrusted his son to me on his deathbed, instructing me to assist him properly. Now you want me to watch him succumb to such evil magic? How can I face the spirit of the late king in heaven?"

Randeng turned around, his gaze indifferent: "Ziya, please listen to what I have to say."

Jiang Ziya, having caught his breath, raised his head to look at the vice leader of the Chan Sect.

"The rebellion of Xiqi against Shang was carried out under the banner of 'mourning the people and punishing the guilty.' Ji Fa, as the ruler of a regional lord and the future emperor, should indeed not have been involved in such a curse-like killing technique," Ran Deng said slowly. "But have you considered what would have happened if the seventh arrow hadn't been shot, Zhao Gongming hadn't died, and he had recovered?"

Jiang Ziya remained silent.

"Zhao Gongming possesses the cultivation of a peak Great Luo Golden Immortal, and the power of his twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls is unparalleled, as you and I both know. Without methods like the Seven Arrows of Nailhead, even if all twelve Golden Immortals were present, they might not be able to capture him," Ran Deng continued. "I ask you, will you allow Ji Fa to bear the burden of temporary criticism, or will you allow the fall of Xiqi City and the deaths of countless soldiers?"

Jiang Ziya closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.

After a long while, he opened his eyes, his voice hoarse: "Even so, I should be the one to shoot. I would be willing to give my life for it."

"You can't shoot," Ran Deng said calmly. "If you force yourself to shoot the seventh arrow, the backlash from the curse will surely kill you. If you die, who will preside over the Investiture of the Gods?"

Jiang Ziya was speechless for a moment.

Silence fell in the secret room, with only the flickering candlelight casting shadows on the two faces.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Is the Prime Minister present?"

That was Ji Fa's voice.

Jiang Ziya's expression changed, and he was about to speak when the door to the secret chamber was pushed open. Ji Fa stepped in, followed by two guards. He waved for the guards to leave, his gaze sweeping across the room, landing on Randeng, before looking at Jiang Ziya on the bed.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?" Jiang Ziya struggled to get up and pay his respects.

Ji Fa quickly stepped forward and placed his hand on the shoulder: "Prime Minister, you are injured, there is no need for such formalities."

He straightened up and looked at Ran Deng, his gaze clear and firm: "Daoist Master, Daoist Lu Ya has just told me everything."

Jiang Ziya's expression changed drastically: "Your Majesty, Lu Ya is of demonic origin; how can his words be trusted?"

"Prime Minister, please don't be anxious." Ji Fa smiled slightly and sat down by the couch. "Daoist Lu Ya explained things clearly, without hiding anything."

Jiang Ziya opened his mouth, but could not utter a word.

Ji Fa turned to look at Ran Deng: "Daoist, if I shoot this arrow, will Zhao Gongming truly be doomed?"

Ran Deng nodded: "Zhao Gongming's soul has been mostly scattered; only the seventh arrow will determine his fate. If Your Majesty shoots this arrow, Zhao Gongming will surely die."

"That's good." Ji Fa stood up, his tone chillingly calm. "Prime Minister, prepare the arrows."

"Your Majesty!" Jiang Ziya struggled to sit up. "Do you know the price you will pay for this arrow?"

Ji Fa turned around and looked directly at Jiang Ziya: "Prime Minister, if you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight, isn't that right?"

Jiang Ziya closed his eyes, unable to speak.

Ji Fa took a few steps closer, his voice low and firm: "Prime Minister, my late father taught me that a ruler should always have the well-being of the people in mind. If one day I have the power to save the people, I should cherish it and not hesitate or back down."

He paused, then continued, "Doesn't today's events fulfill my late father's words? I, Ji Fa, am willing to sacrifice some of my lifespan to save the lives of countless people. What is wrong with that?"

Jiang Ziya trembled violently, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"My lord..." Jiang Ziya murmured softly, tears streaming down his face.

Ji Fa gently patted his shoulder, then turned to look at Randeng: "Daoist Master, when shall we begin the archery practice?"

Ran Deng gave him a deep look and slowly nodded: "Since Your Majesty has this intention, I will certainly protect you. Tonight at midnight, when the Yin energy is at its peak, I will perform my spell. Your Majesty only needs to draw your bow and nock your arrow."

"Okay." Ji Fa nodded. "I'll go prepare."

He turned and left, his steps steady, his back straight.

Only Randeng and Jiang Ziya remained in the secret chamber.

After a long while, Jiang Ziya raised his head and looked at Randeng. In his eyes, there was weariness, helplessness, resentment, and a trace of indescribable complexity.

"Teacher Ran Deng, do you really intend to do this?"

Ran Deng did not answer, but simply looked at him quietly.

Jiang Ziya smiled bitterly, struggled to his feet, and staggered towards the door. Reaching the door, he stopped, his back to Randeng, and said in a hoarse voice, "Once this arrow is fired, the karmic ties between the Chan and Jie sects will never be severed."

He pushed open the door and stepped out, his figure disappearing into the night.

Ran Deng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep and profound.

"Cause and effect?" he murmured to himself. "In the midst of a great calamity, who doesn't carry countless karmic burdens? What difference does it make if one more or one less?"

……

child time.

On the walls of Xiqi, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

The altar had already been set up, complete with incense, candles, talismans, peach wood arrows, and mulberry wood bows. In the center of the altar, a straw figure inscribed with the three characters "Zhao Gongming" lay quietly, surrounded by a thick black aura, and six peach wood arrows stuck in its body were a startling sight.

Ji Fa stood before the altar, dressed in a plain robe, his face calm.

The Taoist Ran Deng stood beside him, holding a whisk, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in a moment I will perform a spell to activate the final connection between the straw man and Zhao Gongming. Your Majesty only needs to draw your bow, nock an arrow, and aim it at the straw man. Remember, if you were to only read one fantasy novel in your life, it would probably be 'Zhang Kui Asks the Way in the Investiture of the Gods.' When the arrow is released, do not hesitate."

Ji Fa nodded: "Rest assured, Daoist Master."

Jiang Ziya stood not far away, his expression complex. He wanted to speak again to persuade him, but he knew that it would be useless to say anything, so he could only watch silently, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Lu Ya Daojun stood on the other side, a faint smile playing on his lips. He looked at Ji Fa, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

This human monarch does have some courage.

They lit lamps, burned incense, and prayed, muttering incantations.

The incantation was low and eerie, like a call from the deepest hell. The straw figure on the altar began to tremble slightly, and the runes on the six peach wood arrows flickered with an eerie blood-red light.

"Your Majesty, now is the time!"

Ran Deng let out a low shout.

Ji Fa took a deep breath, stepped forward, picked up the mulberry wood bow, and nocked the seventh peach wood arrow.

The bow is drawn as full as a moon.

The arrow tip was aimed at the straw man's chest, and the straw man trembled violently, as if it sensed the threat of death.

Ji Fa closed his eyes, then opened them again. In that instant, his eyes flashed with the lights of thousands of homes in Xiqi, the expectant gazes of his soldiers, and the simple, honest smiles of the people…

"For the sake of the world."

He murmured to himself as he released the bowstring.

The peach wood arrow transformed into a streak of blood, striking the grassman squarely in the chest.

boom……

An invisible wave emanated from the altar, causing a fierce wind to rise on the city wall, whipping up sand and stones. Ji Fa swayed, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and fell backward.

With lightning speed, Ran Deng caught him. Ji Fa's face turned pale at a visible rate, and a glaring silver strand appeared in his originally black hair.

"Your Majesty!" Jiang Ziya exclaimed in surprise and rushed forward.

Ji Fa weakly waved his hand, forcing a smile: "Prime Minister, it's alright..."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Jiang Ziya quickly supported him and probed into his body with his magic power, his face turning ashen. Although Ji Fa was protected by the luck of humanity, the backlash from this arrow was still astonishing; his lifespan had been shortened by at least twenty years.

"Quickly, escort the King back to his residence to recuperate!" Jiang Ziya shouted.

Several guards rushed forward and carefully carried Ji Fa down from the city wall.

Jiang Ziya turned to look at the altar, and saw that the black aura around the straw figure had completely dissipated, and the seventh peach wood arrow was deeply embedded in its heart. The straw figure lay quietly, without making any further movement.

Jiang Ziya closed his eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Lu Ya stepped forward and said softly, "Lord Ziya, with Zhao Gongming dead, the crisis in Xiqi is over."

Jiang Ziya opened his eyes and looked at Lu Ya. His gaze was chilling, as cold as ice that had stood for millennia.

Lu Ya felt uneasy under that gaze, gave a dry laugh, and turned to leave.

……

In the red sand formation.

Zhang Kui sat cross-legged on the altar, his body shimmering with five-colored light as he adjusted his breathing to recover. Today's exertion had been immense; had it not been for his Nine-Breath Breath Control Technique, he probably would have collapsed long ago.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, Zhao Gongming on the altar opened his eyes wide, but there was no spirit in them, only endless emptiness and deathly stillness.

Zhang Kui was horrified and was about to step forward to check when he saw Zhao Gongming trembling violently, blood gushing from his seven orifices, staining his entire face red.

"senior!"

Zhang Kui exclaimed in surprise and leaped forward to catch Zhao Gongming. But what he touched was cold and stiff, devoid of any life.

Zhao Gongming trembled a few times before finally coming to a complete stop. His wide-open eyes stared straight into the void, pupils dilated, devoid of any remaining spirit.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Shao flew over. Upon seeing the scene before him, he was struck dumb, frozen in place, his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

"Master..." Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi were even more bewildered and knelt down on the ground, their hands trembling as they wanted to touch Zhao Gongming, but they dared not.

Zhang Kui's face turned ashen as he probed Zhao Gongming's body with his divine sense.

His sea of ​​consciousness was empty; the remnant soul he had painstakingly gathered had vanished without a trace. Although his physical body remained, it was devoid of any spirit, like an empty shell.

"How is that possible..."

Zhang Kui muttered to himself, incredulous.

He had clearly gathered Zhao Gongming's remnant soul, protecting it with the Falling Treasure Coin and stabilizing it with the power of reincarnation. Although the soul was weak, it had stabilized and only needed some time to rest before it could slowly recover.

How could this happen so suddenly...?

"The Seven Arrows of Nailhead!"

Zhang Kui gritted his teeth and spoke slowly and deliberately.

But he had clearly severed the connection between the spell and Zhao Gongming?

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the formation, and Wen Zhong strode in.

"Zhang Kui, Fellow Daoist Zhao, he..."

Wen Zhong stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence. He stared blankly at the corpse on the altar, blood flowing from its seven orifices, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

"This...how is this possible?" Wen Zhong's voice was hoarse. "Didn't you say you were alright?"

Zhang Kui closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. He opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "I was careless. I only managed to defend against Lu Ya, but I didn't expect that someone else would shoot the seventh arrow."

"Someone else?" Wen Zhong was taken aback. "Who?"

Zhang Kui shook his head: "I don't know. But that person's cultivation level must be quite high, otherwise, it would be impossible for him to penetrate the restrictions I set up."

He walked up to Zhao Gongming's body and examined it carefully.

A moment later, he reached out and took the treasure coin from between Zhao Gongming's eyebrows. The bluish-gold coin lay quietly in his palm, still radiating a gentle light.

But Zhang Kui didn't notice that the moment the precious coin flew back into his hand, there was a moment of hesitation. That hesitation was extremely subtle, like a fleeting ripple on the surface of water, gone in an instant.

This should never have happened.

He had already refined the Treasure-Dropping Coin, making it inseparable from his own body, as if it were an extension of his own arm. There should be no hesitation, not even the slightest delay.

But at this moment, Zhang Kui was so excited that he did not notice this subtle abnormality.