Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The Qiankun Ruler, imbued with the power of annihilation, struck down once more, causing Zhang Kui's pupils to shrink sharply.

This attack was incredibly fierce; the golden light flowing around Chi seemed to obliterate the heavens and earth.

Zhang Kui had no time to think; the bloodline of the Wu clan within him suddenly surged...

"The true form of the Spirit Witch!"

With a low roar, Zhang Kui's body suddenly swelled up.

Kuafu's bloodline roared within him, and ancient, primordial runes appeared on his skin. Each rune seemed to writhe like a living creature, radiating a savage aura. In an instant, his figure transformed into a three-zhang-tall giant, his muscles bulging like the roots of an old tree, his veins bulging like a dragon coiling around a pillar.

At this moment, the Blood Refining Technique was operating at its peak, and Zhang Kui was surrounded by a layer of chaotic light, which was a strange phenomenon produced by the fusion of the physical body of the Wu Clan and the power of the Golden Core.

"Subduing Dragons and Tigers!"

Zhang Kui's arms trembled, and the roars of dragons and tigers erupted from his body. On his left arm, the phantom of a five-clawed golden dragon coiled and coiled; on his right arm, the phantom of a white-browed, glaring tiger roared to the sky. With the power of the dragon and tiger amplified, his strength increased several times over.

"The size is just right!"

This Heavenly Divine Power combined with Kuafu's true form, causing Zhang Kui's body to expand once more, transforming him into a ten-zhang giant. With each step he took, the earth trembled, and the rocks beneath his feet were crushed into dust.

"Nine breaths to absorb the breath!"

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged into Zhang Kui's body like rivers flowing into the sea, replenishing his previously depleted magical power, and causing his golden core to glow faintly once more. The Five Elements Dao Fruit trembled, and the phantoms of the five divine beasts within his five internal organs roared in unison, the power of the five elements circulating endlessly within his body.

The Dragon Sparrow Blade grew larger in his hands, transforming into a ten-zhang-long blade. The sparrow patterns on the blade seemed to flutter as if about to take flight, and the faint sound of a phoenix's cry could be heard.

"Come!"

Zhang Kui shouted loudly, and the Dragon Sparrow Blade, wrapped in the Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light, shot into the sky as a five-colored pillar of light met the Qiankun Ruler.

boom!

The sword and ruler clashed, the world lost its color, and the surrounding mountains, rocks, and trees crumbled and turned to dust.

Zhang Kui staggered back several steps. The power of annihilation emanating from the Qiankun Ruler was like a bone-deep infection, invading his meridians along the blade. Wherever it passed, his magical power was depleted and his blood and qi stagnated.

But he gritted his teeth, frantically circulating his Qi for nine breaths, and used the Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light to forcibly break down the annihilation power that had invaded his body into five elemental particles, which were then expelled from his body.

"What a remnant of the witch clan! He does have some skill."

The Taoist Ran Deng stood in the void, his robes fluttering, his expression indifferent. With a flick of his right hand, the Qiankun Ruler once again transformed into a thousand-foot-tall mountain and crashed down.

Zhang Kui raised his knife to parry, the blade colliding with the giant peak, sparks flying everywhere.

With his feet sinking into the ground, Zhang Kui's legs below the knees were completely embedded in the rock. Unleashing the power of the Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming Technique, he forcefully held up the giant peak formed by the Qiankun Ruler, his arms bulging with veins like rolling mountains.

"drink!"

With a roar, Zhang Kui's body shone brightly with witchcraft runes, unleashing the full power of his Spirit Witch True Body. He abruptly lifted the giant peak formed by the Qiankun Ruler and slashed out with a single blow. The Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light transformed into five-colored blade energy, slashing straight at Randeng's face.

Ran Deng frowned slightly, flicked his whisk, and the five-colored blade energy was dispersed. However, his figure involuntarily took half a step back.

"That does have some merit."

A hint of surprise flashed in Ran Deng's eyes. For a mere Golden Immortal to actually force him to retreat was quite a strange story if word got out.

But he quickly regained his composure.

"Unfortunately, that's all."

With a flash, Ran Deng appeared in front of Zhang Kui, and the Qiankun Ruler transformed into a three-foot length, piercing straight into his heart.

Zhang Kui raised his knife to parry, but Ran Deng was too fast. His Flying Body Leap Technique was more than ten times faster than Zhang Kui's. Zhang Kui only had time to turn to the side before the Qiankun Ruler grazed his ribs, tearing away a large piece of flesh.

The Spirit Witch's true form immediately activated its self-healing ability, and the flesh at the wound began to writhe and heal rapidly. However, the power of annihilation attached to the Qiankun Ruler hindered the healing speed, and black death energy spread around the wound.

Zhang Kui gritted his teeth and activated the Great Yin Yang Void True Eye with all his might. His left eye shot out a blazing beam of light, aiming straight for Ran Deng's face, while his right eye shot out a cold beam of light, attacking Ran Deng's lower body.

He flicked his whisk repeatedly, ultimately dissolving the yin and yang energies, but his movements were a fraction too slow, and a stray burst of true solar fire scorched his sleeve.

"court death!"

With a furious roar, the Qiankun Ruler transformed into countless shadows, each carrying the power of annihilation, pouring down like a torrential rain.

Zhang Kui wielded the Dragon Sparrow Blade with impenetrable skill, enhanced by the Five Elements Escape Technique, the blade's light swirling with five colors, deflecting most of the attacks. However, several blade shadows still pierced his defenses, leaving deep, bone-revealing wounds on his body.

After more than ten moves, Zhang Kui was covered in wounds. The self-healing speed of his Spirit Witch True Body could not keep up with the speed of his injuries, and blood soaked through his armor, pooling on the ground.

But his fighting spirit only grew stronger.

"Old thief Ran Deng, is that all you've got?" Zhang Kui wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered.

Ran Deng's expression grew increasingly impatient. A mere Golden Immortal had wasted so much of his time; wouldn't this make him a laughingstock among his fellow disciples in the Chan Sect?

Ran Deng's expression grew increasingly impatient. A mere Golden Immortal had wasted so much of his time; wouldn't this make him a laughingstock among his fellow disciples in the Chan Sect?

"Fine, I don't have time to play with you anymore."

With a flick of his right hand, the golden alms bowl rose from above his head, expanding rapidly in the wind until it became a hundred feet in diameter, radiating countless rays of golden light and auspicious energy.

"go!"

The purple-gold alms bowl was turned upside down, its golden light like a curtain, completely enveloping the space within a thousand feet. This golden light was no ordinary thing; it was formed from an innate restriction, capable of blocking the void and severing the universe, forming an impassable barrier.

Zhang Kui felt as if the space around him had frozen, and he couldn't use his flying teleportation technique. He tried to use earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of escape technique), but found that the earth's energy was also blocked. The Five Elements Great Escape technique was completely ineffective at this moment.

"not good!"

Zhang Kui's expression changed drastically. The barrier of the purple-gold alms bowl was shrinking, and space was collapsing wherever the golden light passed. Once trapped, even with his extraordinary escape techniques, he wouldn't be able to escape.

He made a decisive move, flipping his left hand and sending the treasure coin out as a beam of golden light, heading straight for the purple-gold alms bowl.

The Falling Treasure Coin can bring down all the magical treasures in the world. As long as it sticks to the Purple Gold Bowl, this innate spiritual treasure will temporarily lose its connection with the Burning Lamp, and the barrier will break on its own.

With a flash of golden light, the treasure-dropping coins flew toward the purple-gold alms bowl at an incredible speed.

however……

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Taoist Ran Deng. He actually abandoned his attack on Zhang Kui and transformed the Qiankun Ruler into a sword light, precisely slashing at the Luobao Golden Coin.

clang!

The sound of metal clashing was deafening.

The Falling Treasure Coin was knocked away by the Qiankun Ruler and tumbled into the distant rocks, its golden light dimming.

"What?"

Zhang Kui's pupils contracted sharply, and a storm raged in his heart.

Since he obtained the Treasure-Dropping Coin, it has never failed. Whether it's the Immortal-Binding Rope, the Dragon-Hiding Stake, or even a sacred treasure like the Seven Treasures Tree, it has always been effective.

But at that moment, Ran Deng actually used the Qiankun Ruler to knock it away...

"Hahaha! Just as I expected..."

The Taoist Ran Deng burst into laughter, his voice brimming with smugness. "If I'm not mistaken," he said, "your magic weapon, though extraordinary, has its limitations. As long as I hold onto it and don't let go, it can only helplessly cry out in despair. Isn't that right?"

Zhang Kui's face turned ashen.

The weakness of the Fallen Treasure Coin was actually seen through by Randeng.

Although this innate spiritual treasure can restrain all magical treasures below the level of innate supreme treasure and has the effect of deducing heavenly secrets, it is ineffective against weapons.

Similarly, a magical artifact held in one's hand cannot fall as long as the owner does not let go.

"Damn it!" Zhang Kui gritted his teeth, his heart filled with resentment.

Randeng was a former guest of Zixiao Palace, and had lived for countless eons. His knowledge and experience far surpassed that of myself.

Having repeatedly achieved great feats by relying on the miraculous effects of the Treasure Dropping Coin, he has finally met his nemesis today.

The golden light from the purple-gold alms bowl intensified, and the barrier shrank to a radius of a hundred feet. Zhang Kui felt the pressure around him increasing, making it difficult to even breathe.

"Zhang Kui, stop struggling."

Ran Deng stroked his long beard, a look of smug confidence on his face. "Today, this humble Taoist will send you into the cycle of reincarnation. It is your good fortune to die by my hand."

Having said that, he once again activated the Qiankun Ruler, which transformed into a golden streak of light and aimed directly at Zhang Kui's heart.

Zhang Kui gritted his teeth, holding the Dragon Sparrow Blade horizontally in front of his chest to take the blow head-on.

boom!

The force emanating from the Qiankun Ruler was like a mountain pressing down, causing Zhang Kui's arms to creak under the strain, his tiger's mouth to split open, and blood to splatter. He was thrown backward by the shock, crashing into the golden light barrier of the Purple Gold Bowl, only to be bounced back.

puff……

Zhang Kui spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as if his internal organs had shifted.

The spirit sorcerer's true form finally reached its limit under this attack. One by one, the ancient sorcerer's runes on the surface of his skin went out, the phantom of Kuafu's true form began to crumble, and his figure rapidly shrank from ten zhang to the size of an ordinary person.

With a crisp "crack," a fine crack appeared on the blade of the Dragon Sparrow Sword.

Zhang Kui's heart sank. The Dragon Sparrow Blade, forged by Daoist Duobao, was of extraordinary quality, yet it couldn't withstand the continuous bombardment of the Qiankun Ruler and had been damaged.

He managed to steady himself, leaning on his sword, panting heavily.

His internal condition was even worse. His golden core was dull and lifeless, and the circulation of the Five Elements Dao Fruit had also become much slower. Continuously practicing the Nine Breaths Breath Absorption Technique had already exhausted his mental energy. At this moment, his sea of ​​consciousness was turbulent, and his soul was somewhat dazed.

His magical power was almost exhausted, and his vital energy was nearly depleted. After the collapse of the spirit sorcerer's true form, his physical defenses were greatly reduced, and his wounds began to bleed profusely.

"We've truly reached a dead end..."

Zhang Kui smiled bitterly. He had never been so disheveled since he embarked on the path of cultivation.

But there was not a trace of fear in his eyes.

"Randeng, I am a direct descendant of the Human Sect, do you really dare to kill me?"

Zhang Kui endured the excruciating pain and cried out in a hoarse voice. He smiled bitterly to himself, realizing that he had actually fallen to the point of having to call on his "parents" when he couldn't win a fight.

Upon hearing this, Randeng hesitated for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Young man, you're far too naive!"

Ran Deng's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he coldly stared at Zhang Kui. "Since I began listening to your teachings at Zixiao Palace, countless cultivators of various races have died at my hands. Do you know why I have rarely been entangled in karma?"

"Hmph, I am quite curious!"

Zhang Kui snorted coldly, but secretly he seized the time to circulate his Nine Breaths Qi, trying to recover some of his magical power. Although he refused to admit defeat, he knew in his heart that the most important thing at this moment was to buy time.

Ran Deng clearly saw through Zhang Kui's little tricks, but he didn't care at all. In his eyes, Zhang Kui was already a dead man.

"The path of Nirvana that I cultivate corresponds to the Way of Heaven above and is in harmony with the cycle of reincarnation below."

Speaking of his path, Randeng was quite self-assured, his words filled with arrogance, "This path has another small benefit—killing doesn't incur karmic consequences. What do you think?"

"You can do that?!"

Zhang Kui's expression changed drastically.