Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

The door to the quiet room opened silently, and Zhang Kui slowly stepped out.

His aura was harmonious and restrained, devoid of the previous sharpness, like a piece of warm jade polished by time, its brilliance concealed, yet unfathomable. Unless one was a powerful being with an extremely keen perception of the laws of heaven and earth, it would be extremely difficult to see through his true nature at a glance.

After adjusting his breathing and getting used to the flow of his own energy, he went straight to the main hall of Luofu Cave to pay his respects to Zhao Gongming.

Zhao Gongming was giving instructions to Chen Jiugong when Zhang Kui entered. His gaze swept over Zhang Kui, a hint of surprise flashing across his dark face before turning into sincere admiration. He clapped his hands and laughed, "Congratulations, fellow Daoist! In just a few months, you have not only mastered your supernatural powers, but your cultivation has also advanced so much. Your Daoist aura is harmonious and your energy is perfectly unified. It seems you have mastered the 'Flying Body and Levitating Technique'."

As a Great Luo Golden Immortal, his spiritual perception far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators, allowing him to perceive the subtle fluctuations of the laws of heaven and earth. In his eyes, Zhang Kui's current state was like a perfectly integrated piece of a puzzle into his surroundings, harmonious and natural. If it weren't for his much higher cultivation level and deliberate probing, he would almost have overlooked Zhang Kui's existence.

Zhang Kui cupped his hands and said sincerely, "It is entirely thanks to your generous teachings and guidance that I was able to grasp this path. I will forever remember this kindness and virtue."

"Ah, fellow Daoist, you are mistaken." Zhao Gongming waved his hand, his expression serious. "There is a sequence to learning the Dao, and those who attain it are our teachers. As far as the Great Dao is concerned, we are all seekers, so why should we distinguish between high and low? Fellow Daoist, you have been able to forge your own path beyond what I and Brother Yun Zhongzi have described, and condense your own true meaning. I admire your understanding and courage."

He abruptly changed the subject, his eyes gleaming with keen interest, and said with a smile, "This humble Taoist observes an extraordinary presence in you, fellow Daoist. Your self-taught 'Flying Body Transmission' must possess some profound mysteries. Would you be so kind as to broaden my horizons?"

Zhang Kui knew this was a good opportunity to exchange skills and verify his knowledge, so he didn't refuse and nodded, saying, "Senior, how could I dare to disobey your command? Please give me your guidance."

Having said that, with a slight thought, the fifth Dao pattern representing "flying and carrying traces" on the fifth-stage golden core in his dantian quietly lit up. Without much movement, Zhang Kui's aura instantly became extremely "thin," as if an invisible, extremely cold frost covered his body, quickly merging with the surrounding light, air currents, and even the cold texture of the stone wall. His figure completely disappeared, yet he gave people a strong sense of "uncertainty"—as if he could be a mottled mark on the wall, a wisp of cold air, or an imperceptible ice crystal on the ground, his form constantly and subtly changing depending on the observer's focus of perception, making it difficult to pinpoint his exact existence and location.

A glint flashed in Zhao Gongming's eyes, his smile vanished, and his vast divine sense spread out like mercury, carefully probing. After a moment, he nodded slightly and sighed, "Wonderful, truly wonderful! Fellow Daoist's method contains a true meaning of 'adapting to circumstances.' Although I can perceive it, it requires a great deal of mental effort to lock onto. Its effectiveness is even better in chaotic battles or specific environments. May I ask what this true meaning is called?"

Zhang Kui dispersed his supernatural powers, his figure solidifying once more, and explained, "This junior calls it 'Frost Without Fixed Form.' It takes its name from the condensation of frost, which takes on countless forms, adapting to its surroundings and becoming stronger when faced with a stronger opponent. Its aim is to act as one pleases, without a fixed pattern, making it impossible for the opponent to predict or counter it."

"Frost has no fixed form... it takes on different shapes depending on the object... what a wonderful 'Frost has no fixed form'!" Zhao Gongming savored the words, his eyes sparkling with wonder. "This method is truly unique, especially in terms of adaptability in battle. By not being attached to a fixed form, it possesses infinite possibilities. Fellow Daoist's enlightenment has also inspired me. It seems that my 'Wind Without Form' can be further enhanced with variations."

Without reservation, he shared his inspiration from "Frost Without Fixation" and his insights on how to better combine "change" and "integration" with Zhang Kui.

Zhang Kui nodded repeatedly, feeling his thinking broaden and his understanding of his own supernatural powers deepen.

The two chatted amiably, their conversation gradually shifting from Taoist magic and supernatural powers to various miscellaneous arts. Zhang Kui casually mentioned the magnificent training ground he had seen when he first entered the cave, praising, "Senior, your cave has such a training ground! The weapons on the racks gleam with a chilling light. It seems that you have reached the pinnacle of martial arts."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming's heroic spirit surged, and he laughed, "Those who cultivate, though valuing the Dao, should not neglect the art of protection. Only with strong muscles and bones, and abundant qi and blood, can one better withstand magical power and deal with close-range dangers. In my spare time, I also enjoy practicing a few moves. Judging from your figure and movements, you are also a veteran of many battles. Why don't we go to the training ground and spar a bit, just comparing techniques, without using magical power? What do you say?"

Zhang Kui's decision was also made on a whim. Since he began his cultivation, he had experienced countless battles on the battlefield, and his close combat skills were one of his strengths. He felt that it was a rare opportunity to exchange martial arts skills with a great master like Zhao Gongming, so he immediately agreed: "It is my wish, but I dare not ask."

The two arrived at the training ground and each chose their weapon. Zhao Gongming naturally used his familiar golden whip, the blade of which was covered with dragon patterns. Although he had not infused it with magic, he felt it was unusually heavy. Zhang Kui, on the other hand, took his wolf-tooth wind-breaking blade.

In the center of the training ground, the two stood facing each other.

Zhao Gongming possessed a majestic and imposing presence, like a mountain standing firm in the abyss. Zhang Kui stood tall and straight, like an ancient pine tree facing the wind.

"Fellow Daoist, please!"

"Senior, please forgive me!"

Before the words were even finished, Zhang Kui launched the first attack. His wolf-tooth wind-breaking blade sliced ​​through the air, carrying a fierce and bloody aura reminiscent of battlefield carnage, aiming straight for the center of the body. It was the concise, ruthless, and precise style of combat in the military. Zhao Gongming neither dodged nor evaded. With a flick of his golden whip, like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, he struck first despite being behind, precisely hitting the side of the blade.

"clang!"

With a sharp crack, sparks flew. The two figures clashed, instantly locked in combat.

Zhao Gongming's whip technique is expansive and unrestrained, sometimes like a raging storm sweeping across all directions, and sometimes like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, unpredictable and difficult to defend against. He fully utilizes various whip techniques such as "entangling, wrapping, pointing, chopping, and sweeping," and subtly contains a certain trajectory of heaven and earth.

Zhang Kui's swordsmanship, derived from the battlefield, is concise, efficient, and sharp. Every strike aims for maximum lethality. Combined with his formidable physical strength and exquisite footwork, he integrates the immense power honed by the Dragon Subduing Tiger Divine Hammer into ordinary slashes, achieving a defense that is watertight and an attack that is thunderous.

On the training ground, figures darted about, a web of flashing blades and whips. The golden whip whistled like a dragon's roar in the heavens; the wind-piercing blade hissed like a tiger's howl in the mountains. Neither of them used magic, fighting purely with physical strength and martial arts, yet their battle produced bursts of energy, leaving shallow craters in the hard lapis lazuli ground beneath their feet.

Zhang Kui grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. Zhao Gongming's martial arts had reached a state of perfection; his seemingly simple moves contained endless variations, and his control over force was exquisite. He could often find weaknesses in seemingly impossible situations, forcing Zhang Kui to fight with all his might.

Zhao Gongming secretly praised him. Although Zhang Kui's swordsmanship was not as gorgeous and complicated as that of the orthodox Xuanmen, it had its own tragic and resolute spirit of fighting through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. His strength was also extraordinary. If it weren't for his much higher cultivation level, it would have been difficult to defeat him in a short time based on martial arts alone.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged nearly a hundred blows. In the final strike, Zhang Kui channeled all his strength into his arms, his Wolf Fang Wind-Breaking Blade wielding an unstoppable force, delivering a powerful, mountain-splitting strike towards the golden whip. Zhao Gongming, also eager to test Zhang Kui's limits, neither dodged nor evaded, instead gathering all his strength to meet the blow head-on.

"Clang—Snap!"

After a piercing clang of metal against metal, a clear snapping sound followed immediately.

Zhang Kui felt a sudden lightness in his hand. Looking closely, he saw that his Wolf Fang Wind-Breaking Blade, which had been with him for many years, had been broken in two. At the break, some faint, pre-existing dark marks were faintly visible.

The atmosphere in the room froze for a moment.

Looking at the broken sword in Zhang Kui's hand, and then at his own intact golden whip, Zhao Gongming's dark face immediately showed extreme embarrassment and awkwardness. He stammered, "This...this...fellow Daoist, this humble Daoist...this humble Daoist absolutely did not mean to..."

He was inwardly groaning; what a mess this was! What was supposed to be a friendly martial arts exchange, a thoroughly enjoyable experience, had turned into destroying someone's weapon. If word got out that he, Zhao Gongming, bullied a junior because of his superior weapon and even broke someone's sword, he'd lose all face.

Looking at the broken sword, Zhang Kui felt a pang of regret. After all, this sword had accompanied him in his campaigns in the North Sea, rendering great service, and it was a gift from Wen Zhong, making it exceptionally meaningful. However, he knew his own limitations. The sword had already been damaged when he resisted Gao Lanying's Golden Needles of the Sun. Subsequent fierce battles, especially his direct confrontation with Ma Yuan, had aggravated the internal injuries. It was already remarkable that it had lasted this long.

He quickly sheathed the broken sword, forced a smile, and said repeatedly, "Senior, please don't do this. This is absolutely not your fault. To be honest, this sword was damaged many years ago, with many hidden marks, which I noticed long ago. It is an honor to receive your guidance, Senior. How could I blame the weapon for being damaged? This sword was originally captured in Beihai and was a gift from Grand Tutor Wen. It has been used to its fullest potential."

His explanation only made Zhao Gongming more agitated. His dark face turned slightly purple, and he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Fellow Daoist, please don't try to comfort me. How could I, Zhao Gongming, be the kind of person who could be at peace with myself after damaging someone else's weapon? Besides, this knife was a gift from my nephew Wen Zhong."

At this point, Zhao Gongming seemed to recall a terrifying scene, and shuddered. "Wen Zhong is the most respectful of his teachers, which is fine, but his master, my Senior Sister Jinling Shengmu… is extremely protective of her own, and also has a very upright and intolerant nature. If she finds out that I damaged her disciple Wen Zhong's weapon and refused to compensate him, she'll definitely invite fellow Daoists from all over the land to spread the word, making it known to everyone that I, Zhao Gongming, am a despicable person who even embezzles the weapons of juniors and refuses to compensate for damages. No, absolutely not!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, grabbing Zhang Kui's wrist and saying firmly, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need for further words. This matter is my fault. You must accept this compensation. Otherwise, I will not be at peace, and my Daoist heart will be tarnished."

Seeing his resolute attitude and sincere feelings, Zhang Kui knew that further refusal would only seem pretentious. He could only smile wryly, cup his hands, and say, "Senior's kindness is too much for me... I really cannot refuse. However, I am not used to ordinary weapons. Could we discuss this later?"

Seeing that Zhang Kui had finally relented, Zhao Gongming's expression softened slightly, but he was still uneasy. He solemnly said, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, since I have promised to compensate you, I will not try to fool you with ordinary goods. I will find you a divine weapon that suits your cultivation techniques and supernatural abilities. Leave this matter to me."

He made sure Zhang Kui wouldn't refuse again before he breathed a sigh of relief, but he still felt a little embarrassed looking at the broken knife.

Zhang Kui felt both amused and touched. This senior disciple of the Jie Sect, who was famous throughout the prehistoric world, was so genuine and lovable, and valued loyalty and keeping his promises.

Although the martial arts competition on the training ground resulted in the loss of weapons, it brought Zhang Kui and Zhao Gongming closer together.