Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Towering mountains and steep ridges, the setting sun like blood.

The eight towering pillars of divine fire in the distance had long since been taken away by Yun Zhongzi, leaving only a scorched earth and an oppressive heat in the air. Wen Zhong's ashes had been buried by Zhang Kui atop a nearby green mountain.

"Grand Tutor..."

Zhang Kui murmured to himself, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He had known Wen Zhong for a long time, and this upright and loyal old man had indeed given him a lot of help.

"May you rest in peace." Zhang Kui bowed deeply three times in the direction of Wen Zhong's grave.

He knew that even if he tried his best, he couldn't change Wen Zhong's fate. This was the destiny of the Investiture of the Gods, the inevitability of the sage's move. But knowing was one thing, accepting it was another.

"Being content with one's lot and accepting of fate, one has no worries."

Zhang Kui closed his eyes for a long time, waiting for the turmoil in his heart to subside before opening them.

He decided to return to his sect, Shouyang Mountain, Bajing Palace.

Since becoming a disciple of Grand Master Xuandu, he has never formally gone to the Eight Views Palace to receive teachings.

Zhang Kui took one last look at Wen Zhong's grave, then turned into a five-colored rainbow and headed west.

……

Shouyang Mountain, Bajing Palace.

Located in the northeast of the Kunlun Mountains, this mountain is majestic yet not precipitous, with its peaks layered in verdant greenery and shrouded in mist. From afar, one can see countless rays of light and auspicious clouds, truly a first-class blessed land.

Zhang Kui descended from the clouds and landed in front of an ancient stone archway.

A couplet is inscribed on both sides of the archway, the characters of which are simple and vigorous, seemingly containing the profound meaning of the Great Way:

The Dao pervades the three realms: above, the sun and stars; below, the rivers and mountains.

Virtue is the embodiment of the two principles (yin and yang), manifested in the light as rites and music, and in the shadows as spirits and deities.

The horizontal scroll bears four large characters: Profound and mysterious.

Zhang Kui stared at the couplet for a moment, feeling as if every character had come alive, radiating a profound and mysterious Daoist charm. His mind trembled slightly, and he quickly composed himself, no longer daring to look at it.

"This is the mountain-protecting formation of the Eight Views Palace—the Two Elements Dust Formation."

Zhang Kui took out a warm, jade-like token from his robes, the very token of the Human Religion bestowed upon him by Grand Master Xuandu. The token was shaped like a yin-yang symbol, with the character "人" (human) engraved on one side and the character "教" (religion) on the other, emitting a faint, clear light.

He held the token high above his head and took a step forward.

In an instant, the scene before my eyes was completely transformed.

The once clear mountain path vanished, replaced by a chaotic void. Within this void, the pure and turbid energies intertwined, the yin and yang fish swam about, and earth, water, fire, and wind surged and roared.

Zhang Kui knew that this was the true form of the Yin-Yang Dust Array—this array was based on the supreme power of the Taiqing Sage, evolving the innate Yin and Yang energies, folding the void into dust, with a world within a grain of sand.

If one cannot find the entrance, even a Great Immortal would be trapped inside and unable to escape.

Fortunately, the Human Religion token in his hand was the key.

Following the method taught by Xuandu, Zhang Kui placed the token between his eyebrows and used his divine sense to communicate with the restrictions within. The token immediately shone brightly, transforming into a golden bridge of light that extended from beneath Zhang Kui's feet, leading straight into the depths of chaos.

As he stepped onto the bridge, the yin and yang energies on both sides separated on their own, as if making way for him.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

A magnificent palace came into view.

Built against the mountain, facing south, this palace boasts a series of grand halls and pavilions, exuding an imposing aura. The roof is covered with dark green glazed tiles, gleaming faintly in the sunlight. The walls are constructed of massive, bluish-gray stones, each one intricately engraved with countless runes.

Above the main gate of the palace hangs a plaque with three large characters: Bajing Palace.

These three characters seemed ordinary, even a little crooked, but Zhang Kui only glanced at them and felt his mind being drawn by an indescribable force, as if all things in heaven and earth had fallen silent in that instant.

"Beautiful characters."

Zhang Kui sincerely praised it.

It must be the work of the Supreme Sage. The calligraphy of a sage is not about neatness, but about spirit. These three characters contain the great Dao of the sage.

Without further hesitation, Zhang Kui stepped into the palace.

Inside the Eight Views Palace lies a hidden paradise.

From the outside, it appears to be a series of palaces, but once inside, you realize that each palace is an independent space. Some are shrouded in mist and have cranes flying around; some have waterfalls cascading down and springs flowing freely; some have towering mountains and craggy rocks.

Zhang Kui walked along the stone path, encountering many cultivators along the way. Upon seeing the token in Zhang Kui's hand, they all bowed and made way, and none of them came forward to question him.

Following the token's guidance, Zhang Kui finally arrived at a quiet courtyard.

In the courtyard stands a massive pine tree, its trunk so thick that it takes three or four people to encircle it. Its canopy casts a vast expanse of shade, blocking out the sun. Beneath the tree sits a stone table and benches, where a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a moon-white robe sits leisurely, reading a scroll of bamboo slips.

This person was none other than the Grand Master Xuandu.

Zhang Kui quickly straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and knelt down respectfully to pay his respects.

"Disciple Zhang Kui greets Master."

Xuandu put down the bamboo slips, raised his head, and carefully examined Zhang Kui.

His gaze was calm and deep, and when he looked at Zhang Kui like that, Zhang Kui felt as if he had been seen through from the inside out.

"Not bad, not bad." Xuan Du nodded slightly, a satisfied look on his face. "It seems that your cultivation has improved since we last parted. The Golden Immortal Dao Fruit has already solidified, and the Five Elements Dao Essence is becoming more stable. Hmm... this speed is faster than I expected."

Zhang Kui quickly replied, "This disciple is dull-witted and relies entirely on Master's guidance."

"Stupid?" Xuan Du smiled faintly. "If you are stupid, then there are no smart people in the world. Get up, stop kneeling."

Zhang Kui then stood up and stood respectfully to the side.

Xuandu pondered for a moment, then said, "You've come at the right time. Come with me to pay your respects to your grandmaster."

"Grandmaster?"

Zhang Kui was stunned for a moment, then realized that it was none other than the Sage Taiqing.

He felt both excited and nervous.

The Supreme Saint of Taiqing is the head of the Three Pure Ones, the ancestor of Taoism, and one of the most powerful beings since the beginning of time. For a mere early-stage Golden Immortal like myself to have the opportunity to meet a Saint is an immense honor.

On the other hand, he was also somewhat uneasy.

The majesty of a sage is unfathomable. What if one's words or actions are inappropriate and offend the sage?

Xuandu seemed to see through his thoughts, patted him on the shoulder, and laughed, "No need to be nervous. Master... well, you'll know when you see him."

Xuandu led Zhang Kui through numerous palaces and arrived at a grand hall deep within the Eight Views Palace.

This hall has no plaques, no couplets, and not even any decorations. There are only two huge stone doors, tightly closed. Carved on the stone doors is a Tai Chi diagram, with the yin and yang fish connected head to tail, slowly rotating.

"Go in," Xuan Du said.

Zhang Kui took a deep breath and followed Xuan Du through the door.

The interior of the hall was surprisingly simple.

There were no glittering decorations, no dazzling treasures, only a futon, a stone table, and a dim lamp.

An old man sat on a prayer mat.

The old man had white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and wore a faded gray Taoist robe and straw sandals. His eyes were half-closed, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, carrying a faint smile.

This is... the Sage of Taiqing?

Zhang Kui could hardly believe it.

In his imagination, the Supreme Sage should be a lofty and inviolable being, perhaps even someone who is detached from emotions and indifferent. But the old man before him looked more like a kind old grandfather next door.

"Disciple Xuandu, accompanied by disciple Zhang Kui, pays respects to Master."

Xuan Du knelt down respectfully and performed the three bows and nine kowtows ceremony.

Zhang Kui quickly knelt down as well, following suit.

The Sage of Taiqing slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Kui.

In that instant, Zhang Kui felt as if every cell in his body and every wisp of his soul was being seen clearly. This feeling was even more profound than Xuan Du's gaze, as if all the secrets of his past and present lives were laid bare.

"This little monkey is quite interesting."

The Sage Taiqing spoke, his voice aged yet gentle, with a hint of teasing.

Zhang Kui was taken aback. Little monkey, was that calling him?

"He possesses the bloodline of the Wu clan, cultivates the Golden Elixir Dao of the Xuanmen, and also practices the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques... Hmm, he has already mastered the six supernatural abilities: Five Elements Great Escape, Subduing Dragons and Tigers, Nine Breaths Breath Control, Size Control, Flying and Leaping, and Mastery of the Five Thunders."

The Sage of Taiqing said with great familiarity, "In addition, there is the incarnation of the Emperor of Fengdu, who governs the laws of reincarnation. Not bad, not bad, so young, yet so greedy. But his teeth are quite good, he can chew it well."

Zhang Kui was startled. The sage was indeed powerful. With just one glance, he had figured out everything about him.

"Grandmaster's teachings are correct," he quickly replied.

"A lesson? This old Daoist didn't teach you a lesson." The Sage of Taiqing chuckled. "I was just afraid you'd try to do too much at once and end up not understanding it all. But if you can integrate these things, you might be able to forge your own path. There are three thousand great paths, all leading to the same destination. What is there to say about right or wrong paths?"

Zhang Kui felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this, and seemed to be deep in thought.

"Little monkey, do you know why this old Taoist calls you little monkey?"

"This disciple does not know."

"Because you're like a monkey, always jumping around and causing trouble." The Sage of Taiqing stroked his beard, smiling amiably. "In Xiqi, you caused trouble everywhere, but you were kind enough to save that girl Yunxiao; outside Chentang Pass, you stole the Qiankun Bow, incurring the wrath of the Chan Sect; on Skull Mountain, you killed Yu Yixian and Ma Yuan, making enemies of the Western Sect... Tsk tsk, in such a short time, you've offended so many people. What else could you be but a little monkey?"

Zhang Kui was sweating profusely and had no answer.

"However..." The Sage Taiqing changed the subject, "Causing trouble is not a problem, the key is to be able to resolve it. You caused trouble, yet you are still alive and standing before me, which shows that you have some ability. I appreciate capable people."

"Grandmaster is too kind."

"What flattery! This old Daoist speaks the truth." The Sage of Taiqing waved his hand. "Now that you have taken Xuandu as your master, you are a disciple of the Human Sect. The Human Sect teaches that one should uphold one's principles and follow nature. When it is time to fight, one should fight; when it is time to retreat, one should retreat; when it is time to endure, one should endure; and when it is time to act, one should not hesitate. Do you understand?"

"Disciple understands."

"Hmm." The Sage Taiqing nodded, then looked at Xuandu, "Your disciple is not bad. Teach him well, don't let him go astray."

Xuandu quickly agreed.

"Alright, this old Taoist is tired, you may all leave." The Sage of Taiqing waved his hand and closed his eyes again.

Xuan Du and Zhang Kui bowed again and left the main hall.

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