Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Your portable library contains more than ten thousand volumes.

The night was as dark as ink, and the reeds in the river bend rustled in the night wind.

Tu Xingsun knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the damp mud, his whole body trembling like a leaf.

Zhang Kui's jade staff, transformed from the Qiankun Ruler, merely touched his back lightly, yet it displaced his internal organs and severed thirty percent of his meridians. Even more deadly was that the Five Elements Dao essence attached to the staff was like a bone-deep ailment, slowly eroding his dantian.

"Speak." Zhang Kui's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Tu Xingsun raised his head and, by the faint starlight, finally saw the face of the person in front of him clearly. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a face as handsome as jade, and an aura as deep and imposing as a mountain. He even bore a resemblance to Zhang Shan.

"I'll talk, I'll talk..." Tu Xingsun swallowed hard. "That Immortal-Binding Rope was a gift from my master, Ju Liusun. But..."

"Just what?" Zhang Kui's eyes narrowed slightly.

Tu Xingsun dared not hide anything and revealed everything he knew.

It turns out that ever since the Primordial Celestial Venerable bestowed the Immortal Binding Rope, a primordial spiritual treasure, upon him during his sermon at the Jade Void Palace, Ju Liusun had regarded it as the key to achieving enlightenment. This spiritual treasure contained twenty-four primordial divine restrictions, and according to common sense, with his cultivation as a Great Luo Golden Immortal, he should have been able to completely refine it over several thousand years.

After several attempts, Ju Liusun was horrified to discover that he was unable to refine the treasure.

This is because the restrictions on this Immortal Binding Rope are extremely special. The twenty-four restrictions are not like those of ordinary innate spiritual treasures, which progress from shallow to deep layer by layer. Instead, they are divided into three layers, eight in each layer, nested and interlocked. What's even more troublesome is that these three layers of restrictions are not fixed, but constantly mixed and changed according to some mysterious law, sometimes like the harmony of heaven and earth, sometimes like the balance of water and fire, and sometimes like the clash of wind and thunder.

If one were to refine it using conventional methods, even ten thousand years of effort would not be enough to achieve complete success.

After racking his brains for three hundred years and searching through all the books on innate spiritual treasures in the Jade Void Palace's library, Ju Liusun finally came up with a method that was unprecedented.

He personally went to the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain to seek an audience with his master, the Primordial Celestial Venerable, and finally obtained the opportunity to borrow the Pangu Banner.

The Pangu Banner is a primordial treasure formed from the axe blade of the great god Pangu when he created the world. When the banner is unfurled, it possesses the power to create the world, and can separate yin and yang, determine purity and turbidity, and distinguish the five elements.

Ju Liusun used the supreme power of the Pangu Banner to forcibly split the Immortal Binding Rope into three.

According to the natural division of the three layers of restrictions inside the Immortal Binding Ropes, disassembling them subtly corresponds to the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Each of the three Immortal Binding Ropes contains eight innate divine restrictions, corresponding to the ethereal and elusive nature of the Heavenly Dao, the profound and solid nature of the Earthly Dao, and the vibrant and burgeoning nature of the Mankind Dao.

In this way, the restrictions on each Immortal Binding Rope become clearly discernible, no longer mixed or altered.

Ju Liusun's ambitions went far beyond this.

During his early travels to the West, he received a scroll of Western Buddhist teachings personally taught by the Daoist Guide, which contained the secret method for condensing relics. The practice of Western Buddhism differs from that of the Xuanmen (Taoist school), which emphasizes the Great Dao of the Golden Elixir, while Western Buddhism emphasizes the golden body of relics.

He used the Xuanmen Golden Elixir as his foundation and attempted to condense a relic using Western religious methods. This attempt actually allowed him to condense a relic.

As soon as the relics were formed, he immediately thought of his own good and evil thoughts.

The method of severing the three corpses is an essential path for quasi-saints in their cultivation. The good corpse originates from the attachments of compassion, joy, and equanimity; the evil corpse originates from the attachments of greed, anger, ignorance, and pride. By severing the good and evil corpses, one can achieve quasi-sainthood. If one can further sever the most mysterious self corpse, one can sever all three corpses and attain the Primordial Chaos.

Ju Liusun's idea was nothing short of insane; he wanted to use the natural connection between the three Immortal Binding Ropes to try and draw out his own corpse.

Although these three binding ropes are separated, they ultimately originate from the same source. He wields the Heavenly Binding Rope with his good corpse and the Earthly Binding Rope with his evil corpse. The unbreakable connection between the three ropes can transform into an invisible bridge, linking the good and evil corpses with his own corpse.

The self-corpse is the most fundamental "ego" of a cultivator, and it is extremely hidden and difficult to find. Even an ordinary quasi-saint might not be able to catch its trace even if he exhausts his entire life's efforts. However, Ju Liusun believes that through the connection between the three Immortal Binding Ropes, the energy of the good and evil corpses will constantly impact the main body, and this impact will eventually trigger a reaction from the self-corpse.

As long as there is the slightest fluctuation in his own corpse, he can seize the opportunity to locate it and then strike it down.

When the three ropes are combined, there is a chance to sever all three corpses and achieve Hunyuan.

After listening to Tu Xingsun's story, Zhang Kui fell silent.

The night wind rustled through the reeds. In the distance, the cries of owls echoed, mournful and drawn-out.

After a long while, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, and felt a sense of sincere respect for the Golden Immortal of the Chan Sect who had died at his hands.

Ju Liusun was a narrow-minded and treacherous man who repeatedly plotted against me, and his methods were certainly not honorable.

However, it must be admitted that this person's comprehension and wisdom are truly exceptional.

Using the power of the Pangu Banner to divide innate spiritual treasures, employing the Three Corpses method to correspond to the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and then using the connections between magical treasures to deduce one's own corpse... Such ingenious ideas could only be conceived by those with great wisdom and perseverance. In terms of cultivation talent, Ju Liusun would probably rank among the top three of the Twelve Golden Immortals.

"What a pity," Zhang Kui sighed inwardly.

If Ju Liusun hadn't died, with his talent, he might very well have forged an unprecedented path in the future. Using the Xuanmen Golden Elixir as a foundation, integrating the Western Relic method, and then using innate spiritual treasures as a bridge to sever the three corpses... if this path could be successfully followed, it might open up a completely new path of cultivation.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in this world.

Such is the path of cultivation. No matter how exceptional your talent or how overflowing your brilliance, one wrong step can lead to utter ruin.

Long ago, the Yellow Emperor and Chi You fought a great battle at Zhuolu. Chi You was defeated and beheaded. Before his execution, the Yellow Emperor sighed, "You possessed the courage of ten thousand men, why did you follow evil?" Chi You replied, "The victor is king, the loser is villain; what is there to say about right and wrong?"

The struggles in the cultivation world are far more brutal than the dynastic changes in the mortal realm. There is no right or wrong, only life and death.

Seeing Zhang Kui remain silent, Tu Xingsun assumed he was considering his fate, and hurriedly kowtowed again, his forehead slamming against the muddy ground with a loud thud: "Senior, I have told you everything I know. Please spare my life!"

Zhang Kui snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Tu Xingsun, who was kneeling on the ground trembling.

This man was short and had a lewd face. His aura was mixed and impure, clearly indicating that his cultivation had been forcibly boosted by elixirs. The way he looked at Deng Chanyu was greedy and lewd; his provocation of Zhang Shan was arrogant and insidious. If I hadn't arrived in time tonight, even with the Qiankun Diagram protecting him, Zhang Shan might not have escaped unscathed.

Such people are a menace if left alive.

But Zhang Kui did not act immediately. He stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "I will not kill you."

Upon hearing this, Tu Xingsun was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead bleeding and his face smeared with blood and dirt: "Thank you, senior! Thank you for sparing my life!"

He got up and turned to leave.

Just then...

Pfft!

A blade protruded from his chest, carrying warm blood and glowing with an eerie red light in the night.

Tu Xingsun froze, looking down at the blood-stained tip of the knife at his chest, his face filled with disbelief. The murderous aura emanating from the blade was frantically eroding his meridians, extinguishing his life force inch by inch.

He turned around with difficulty and saw Zhang Shan standing behind him, his hands gripping the hilt of the Wolf Fang Wind-Breaking Blade, his eyes as cold as a pool in the dead of winter.

"You...you all..." Tu Xingsun opened his mouth, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth and dripping down his chin to the ground, "You went back on your word..."

Zhang Kui stood with his hands behind his back, his face calm and still, without uttering a word. The moonlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.

Zhang Shan said coldly, "My elder brother promised not to kill you, but I didn't promise that."

He said this with complete confidence and without any psychological burden.

When Tu Xingsun heard Zhang Shan address the newcomer as "Big Brother," his pupils constricted sharply. He turned abruptly to look at Zhang Kui, his eyes filled with horror and despair. He finally understood that the person before him was the one he had been ordered to find but had never been able to find.

"You...you're Zhang Kui!"

Zhang Kui raised an eyebrow slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips: "You guessed right. Too bad, it's too late."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his right hand, his five fingers spread wide.

Within his palm, five colors of light—red, blue, yellow, white, and black—suddenly shone brightly.

The Great Five Elements Extinction Divine Light.

This supernatural ability was derived by Zhang Kui from the Five Elements Feathers of Destiny given to him by Kong Xuan, and was further developed by his own understanding of the Five Elements Great Escape.

All things in the universe are composed of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. They generate and restrain each other, giving rise to all phenomena.

Five-colored light burst forth from his palm, transforming into an extremely dazzling pillar of light that swept directly onto Tu Xingsun's body.

The five colors rotated, mutually generating and restraining each other. Before Tu Xingsun could even let out a scream, his entire body, along with his primordial spirit, disintegrated inch by inch in the five-colored radiance.

His body and soul were destroyed, and it is unknown whether his name will ever appear on the Investiture of the Gods again.

After a few breaths, the five-colored light gradually dissipated.

Zhang Shan sheathed his Wolf Fang Wind-Breaking Blade, staring at the pile of powder on the ground, still indignant: "That bastard got off too easily. Daring to lay a finger on Chanyu, he died just like that? Too quick a death."

Zhang Kui did not respond.

He looked down at the gradually dissipating five-colored light in his palm, but his mind was on something else entirely.

The Immortal Binding Rope.

Heaven, Earth, and Man – the three powers.

The Three Corpses Method.

Although Ju Liusun is dead, the line of thought he left behind may not be without value.

Zhang Kui took out his Immortal-Binding Rope from his robes. The rope was three feet and six inches long, pale gold in color, with a faint shimmering light flowing through it. He had taken it from Ju Liusun with the Falling Treasure Coin during the Ten Deadly Formations.

Zhang Kui put the two Immortal Binding Ropes into the Qiankun Diagram, and then took out the mutton fat jade pendant to examine it carefully.

The jade pendant is warm and smooth, with a blooming peony carved on the front and the character "Chan" engraved on the back. The pendant contains a very faint spiritual energy, obviously because it has been worn close to the body for many years and has been imbued with the owner's aura.

Zhang Shan took the jade pendant and carefully put it away close to his body. A rare serious expression appeared on his rugged face as he nodded and said, "Don't worry, brother, I understand."

Zhang Kui looked at him and suddenly asked, "Are your feelings for Deng Chanyu genuine?"

Zhang Shan was taken aback, then nodded emphatically, his eyes resolute: "Brother, I must marry her."

"If you want to marry her, you must have the ability to protect her." Zhang Kui's tone was calm and serious. "Deng Jiugong and Deng Xiu have both been controlled. If I'm not mistaken, that man in black robes should be Daoist Ran Deng. This person's cultivation is unfathomable, and he is also very cunning and good at scheming. With your current cultivation, you can't even withstand a single move from him."

Zhang Shan clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Zhang Kui continued, "But you don't need to underestimate yourself. You cultivate the Witch Clan's body-refining method that I taught you, and you've also obtained the Wolf Fang Wind-Breaking Blade and the Dragon Ink Scale Armor, so your foundation is solid. As long as you cultivate diligently without ceasing, you will one day reach that level. Remember, the Witch Clan's cultivation emphasizes an indomitable spirit. With something to protect in your heart, the blade will be invincible."

"I understand, brother," Zhang Shan replied solemnly.

Zhang Kui nodded slightly. Although this younger brother was impulsive, he was kind-hearted and quite talented.

Given time, he may very well achieve great things.

For die-hard fans of late-ripening rice, the latest chapter of "Zhang Kui Asks the Way of the Gods" has been released!