Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Cola Novels always has a story waiting for you to open.

At dawn, the fog had not yet dissipated at the foot of Qishan Mountain.

The five fairy maidens of the Jie Sect once again arrived before the reed hut, their robes fluttering, their fairy-like figures graceful and charming.

Yunxiao stood at the front of the formation, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, her face serene and aloof, her eyes reflecting the rising sun over the city of Xiqi. Her gaze passed over the reeds and landed directly on the Taoist Ran Deng.

"Randeng, please come out and answer," Yunxiao said, his voice clear and melodious, overpowering the morning horns of the 100,000-strong army.

Inside the reed hut, the Taoist Ran Deng sat upright on a futon, his eyes closed and silent. His aura was as deep and mysterious as an abyss, and a faint golden light of annihilation appeared between his brows.

Jiang Ziya's expression was solemn, his mind unsettled, and the apricot-yellow flag in his hand trembled slightly.

"Teacher Randeng, this..." Jiang Ziya looked at Randeng, his voice tinged with trepidation. The current situation was extremely dangerous, as Yang Jian and the other two had been captured yesterday.

The Taoist Ran Deng slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them. He glanced at the immortals of the Chan Sect behind him. Guang Chengzi's face was solemn, his red eyes gleaming. Taiyi Zhenren gently stroked his whisk, Huanglong Zhenren gripped his long sword tightly... Each of the eleven had their own thoughts.

"Fellow Daoists, let's go together." Ran Deng stood up, flicked his sleeves, and took the lead out of the tent.

Eleven golden immortals emerged one after another, their celestial light faintly emanating from them, their Daoist aura flowing freely.

Guang Chengzi held the Fantian Seal, his bare waist adorned with the Yin-Yang Mirror, Taiyi Zhenren lightly swung his whisk, and Huanglong Zhenren's sword gleamed... Their auras intertwined, causing the primordial energy of heaven and earth to surge violently, and the wind and clouds on the city walls of Xiqi changed color.

At the front of the two armies, Yunxiao stood gracefully in the center, with Qiongxiao and Bixiao standing on the left and right respectively, and Hanzhixian and Caiyun Fairy slightly behind.

Although the five beams of immortal light were not as vast as those of the Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, they possessed their own innate Shangqing Daoist essence.

Ran Deng approached the front of the formation, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Fellow Daoist, why are you pressing me so aggressively?"

His voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but his address of "fellow Daoist" carried a profound meaning. Although Yunxiao was only a Great Luo Golden Immortal, he had deeply inherited the true teachings of the Tongtian Sect Master, and his Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation was so powerful that even Randeng dared not underestimate him.

Yunxiao stopped Bixiao, who was about to speak up, and said coldly, "Randeng, today's battle must be decided. Anyone in the Chan Sect with courage is welcome to break the formation."

She paused, a cold glint flashing in her eyes: "Of course, I advise you not to send juniors or unrelated people to their deaths in vain."

Upon hearing this, a hush fell over the area in front of the reed hut.

Bixiao had a lot to say, but her sister stopped her, so she could only glare fiercely at Randeng. Qiongxiao's face was cold, and the light of her Azure Phoenix Sword flickered in her hand. Hanzhixian and Fairy Caiyun exchanged a glance, each secretly activating their magical treasures.

After a moment of silence, Ran Deng slowly said, "Since Fellow Daoist Yunxiao says so, then... let's see who's the real deal."

Before he finished speaking, Yunxiao had already turned and left. The five fairy maidens transformed into five beams of light and disappeared into the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation. Within the formation, faint traces of light wandered, revealing a vast and ancient aura.

Ran Deng glanced back at the eleven Golden Immortals behind him and said in a deep voice, "Which fellow Daoist is willing to enter the formation first?"

Chi stepped forward: "I'll go and meet them."

The Yin-Yang Mirror at his waist trembled slightly, with black and white energies swirling around it. As the second-ranked among the Twelve Golden Immortals, Chi, though not as renowned as Guang Chengzi, was still a standout among the Great Luo Golden Immortals.

"Junior brother, be careful," Guang Chengzi said in a deep voice. "The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation is extremely dangerous; do not be careless."

Chi nodded, his figure transforming into a golden light as he charged straight into the formation.

The moment the gate opened, a vast and ancient aura rushed out. Chi felt a blur before his eyes and found himself in a chaotic void. All around was a hazy gray, with no sky, no earth, no east, no west. In the void, faintly visible were winding streaks of light, like a sleeping primordial dragon, breathing in and out the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

"The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation..." Chi murmured to himself, his mind slightly shaken.

Although he had long heard of the array's ominous reputation, he never imagined that its true terror would far exceed the rumors once he actually entered it. Each of the nine curved light traces contained the power of the laws of heaven and earth, and each of the eighteen bends subtly corresponded to the concept of reincarnation. Even more terrifying was that the array was actually slowly rotating, and with each rotation, the restrictions deepened.

"red A sharp shout suddenly rang out.

Qiongxiao's figure emerged from the chaos, her Azure Phoenix Sword transforming into a hundred-foot-long sword aura, slashing down from the sky. Chi's expression hardened, and the Yin-Yang Mirror flew from his hand, the black and white energies transforming into a Yin-Yang fish pattern, meeting the sword aura head-on.

The sword energy collided with the Yin-Yang symbol, unleashing a deafening roar. The chaotic void trembled violently, and the nine-curved light trace surged wildly. Chi staggered back three steps, and Qiongxiao also retreated several feet. The two exchanged a glance, both their eyes filled with shock.

"What a Yin-Yang Mirror!" Qiongxiao snorted coldly, and the Azure Phoenix Sword rose again, its light like a rainbow, aiming straight for Chi's throat.

Chi activated the Yin-Yang Mirror, causing black and white energies to surge and transform into countless sword lights to meet the attack. The two exchanged dozens of blows in an instant, their sword lights and mirror reflections intertwining, tearing cracks into the chaotic void.

Just then, Yunxiao's figure suddenly appeared.

She stood deep within the chaotic void, raising her hand with a gentle gesture. The Primordial Golden Cauldron soared into the air, transforming into a beam of golden light that shot straight towards the Crimson... .

Chi sensed the danger and retreated hastily. But the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron was even faster; with a flash of golden light, it was already above his head. Chi felt an irresistible suction force, and his entire body was involuntarily pulled into the cauldron.

"Yunxiao! You..." Chi's voice abruptly stopped.

With a flash of golden light, Chi fell into the bucket. Yunxiao gently raised her hand, and the Hunyuan Golden Bucket tilted, causing a figure to fall from the opening of the bucket, crashing straight into the depths of the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation.

Outside the formation, Guang Chengzi's expression suddenly changed.

Although he couldn't see what was happening inside the formation, he sensed that Chi's aura had suddenly vanished. That was a sign that he had been isolated by the formation; he... had been captured.

"red "!" Guang Chengzi shouted, his figure transforming into a golden light as he charged straight into the formation.

The Heaven-Turning Seal appeared in his palm. This innate spiritual treasure, forged from half of Mount Buzhou, exuded a vast and profound aura. This treasure contained the power of Pangu's creation of the world; a single strike was enough to shatter mountains and split the earth.

The moment Guang Chengzi entered the formation, Bi Xiao's figure suddenly appeared.

She wielded the Golden Dragon Scissors, two beams of golden light crisscrossing as she aimed straight for Guang Chengzi's head. Guang Chengzi coldly snorted, his Heaven-Turning Seal meeting the Golden Dragon Scissors head-on. The two magical treasures collided, unleashing a deafening roar. The chaotic void trembled violently, the Nine-Bend Light Traces surged intensely, and several of them were even on the verge of cracking.

Bixiao was forced back dozens of feet, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Guangchengzi, however, remained motionless; the power of the Heaven-Turning Seal far surpassed that of the Golden Dragon Scissors.

But at that moment, Bixiao suddenly smiled.

With a wave of her hand, she seized control of the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation. In an instant, the entire formation trembled violently, the nine bends of light flashed simultaneously, and countless restrictions erupted at the same time, transforming into a massive net of light that enveloped Guang Chengzi.

Guang Chengzi's expression changed. He activated the Heaven-Turning Seal at full power, but only managed to shatter a few streaks of light. More streaks of light surged in like a tide, surrounding him completely. Each of those streaks of light contained the power of the laws of heaven and earth, and each of the eighteen bends subtly corresponded to the meaning of reincarnation. Although Guang Chengzi was a Great Luo Golden Immortal, he could not simultaneously withstand the power of the entire formation.

"Fellow Daoist Guang Chengzi, please enter the formation for a chat." Yunxiao's voice came from the depths of chaos, calm as water, yet exuding an undeniable power.

The Hunyuan Golden Cauldron rose again, flashed with golden light, and Guang Chengzi was also captured inside.

Zhang Kui was captivated; the art of array formations was truly unparalleled.

This is not even the most powerful formation in the primordial world. What about the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, which is said to be unbreakable by anyone but the Four Sages? What about the equally famous Heavenly Gods and Demons Formation and the Zhou Tian Star Formation?

Outside the formation, the remaining nine Golden Immortals looked at each other in bewilderment.

Chi was captured, and Guang Chengzi was also captured. In a short while, the two top-ranked Daluo among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect fell into the Nine Turns Yellow River Formation.

"This..." Master Huanglong's face turned pale, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

Master Taiyi's expression was solemn as he lightly flicked his whisk. Although he had met Yunxiao several times, he had never imagined that this fairy of the Jie Sect would possess such abilities. The power of the Nine Turns Yellow River Formation far exceeded his expectations.

Manjushri, the Heavenly Venerable of Vast Dharma, frowned, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

The three, Samantabhadra, Cihang, and Daoxing, exchanged a glance, all seeing solemnity in each other's eyes. Although they had not entered the formation, they had already sensed its terrifying power.

The Taoist Ran Deng stood before the formation, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Cihang, and Daoxing, the four of you will enter the formation together."

Upon hearing this, the four Golden Immortals all changed color.

"Master Dipankara!" Manjushri Bodhisattva exclaimed, "This..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Ran Deng raising his hand.

"The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation is extremely dangerous; one person entering the formation would find it difficult to withstand," Ran Deng said in a deep voice. "Only by working together can four people have a sliver of hope."

Manjushri and the other three exchanged glances, unable to refute him. Now that Dipankara had spoken, how could they, as Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, back down?

"Let's go." Manjushri took a deep breath and walked towards the array gate first.

Puxian, Cihang, and Daoxing followed closely behind, their four beams of light disappearing into the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation.

The situation within the formation remained unchanged. In the chaotic void, amidst the nine-curved light trails, the ancient and boundless aura was even more intense than before. Manjushri and the other three exchanged glances, each activating their magical treasures, and slowly advanced.

"Four fellow Daoists have come from afar; I, Yunxiao, have failed to greet you properly." Yunxiao's voice came from the depths of chaos, carrying a hint of coldness.

Manjushri said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Yunxiao, our two sects share the same origin, why force each other like this?"

"Same origin?" Yunxiao sneered. "When my brother was murdered yesterday, did you ever think of being of the same origin? When you fellow Daoists fell one after another in the Ten Deadly Formations, did you ever think of being of the same origin?"

Manjushri was speechless.

Yunxiao said no more, and raised his hand. The Hunyuan Golden Cauldron soared into the air, transforming into a golden light that shot straight at the four of them.

Manjushri roared, unleashing the Dragon-Binding Stakes, and three golden rings met the Primordial Golden Cauldron head-on. Samantabhadra summoned the Rainbow Rope, Cihang activated the Pure Glass Bottle, and Daoxing Tianzun threw out the Demon-Subduing Pestle. The four magical treasures simultaneously bombarded the Primordial Golden Cauldron with earth-shattering power.

But Yunxiao was prepared.

Four figures appeared simultaneously: Qiongxiao, Bixiao, Hanzhixian, and Caiyun Fairy, each facing a Golden Immortal. The Azure Phoenix Sword faced the Dragon-Hiding Stake, the Golden Dragon Scissors faced the Rainbow Rope, Hanzhixian's Wind Bag faced the Pure Glass Bottle, and Caiyun Fairy's Eye-Slaying Pearl faced the Demon-Subduing Pestle.

The eight beams of immortal light collided fiercely in the chaotic void, unleashing wave after wave of earth-shattering roars.

Taking this opportunity, Yunxiao fully activated the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron.