Zhang Kui Asks the Way in Investiture of the Gods

Forget it, since it's so hard to decide, I'll just stop thinking about it for now...

Inside the quiet room, the strange phenomenon of the sun and moon revolving in Zhang Kui's eyes slowly faded, returning to its profound depth. He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, which, upon leaving his body, transformed into two streams of air, one black and one white, swirling for a moment before dissipating into the air.

To unite oneself with the Dao is fraught with unpredictable risks. Once one takes this step, one is no longer a "cultivator" who purely seeks to realize one's true self. To a large extent, one will become the embodiment of the "Way of Balance," a part of the "Dao," rather than a person who wields the "Dao."

"I cultivate the Tao to seek my true self, to eliminate falsehood and preserve truth, and to take control of my own destiny, rather than being controlled by the Tao and losing myself." Zhang Kui's mind was clear, and he made a decision in an instant.

"The time is not yet ripe; strength is the key. I can explore the secrets of this Treasure-Dropping Coin when my cultivation is higher and I am better prepared."

He carefully put away the still ancient and mysterious Treasure-Dropping Coin, and then took out the Qiankun Bow and Zhentian Arrow that he had previously obtained in Chentang Pass.

The bow is simple and ancient, containing the weight of history; the arrowhead has a restrained cold gleam, revealing the light of the sun, moon and stars.

Zhang Kui ran his hands over the bow and arrow, the golden core power within his body flowing into them like a gentle stream. At the same time, he quietly activated his newly formed Great Yin-Yang Void Eye. His left eye glowed with a faint golden light, while his right eye shone with a dark light. Wherever his gaze fell, the layers of restrictions and vast energy pathways contained within the Qiankun Bow and the Zhentian Arrow became as clear as lines on the palm of his hand.

"So that's how it is..." After several days of tireless refinement and insight, combined with the ability of the True Eye to see through illusions, he finally thoroughly understood the core secret of this set of human sacred artifacts.

The Qiankun Bow was created by the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan to quell the chaos caused by Chiyou, stabilize the human race's territory, gather the fortune of the Three Sovereigns, take the horn of the dragon stele of the Heavenly Sovereign Fuxi to stabilize the heavens, take the five-colored millet soil of the Earthly Sovereign Shennong to enrich the earth's virtue, and melt ten thousand catties of red copper from Shou Mountain, using the true fire of the Eight Trigrams to forge it for a hundred days.

When the mission is accomplished, heaven bestows merit, and golden lotuses spring forth from the earth, forever linking the fate of humanity with the divine artifact. This bow is a symbol of humanity, possessing a natural deterrent and spell-breaking effect against demons and monsters. The vibration of the bowstring carries a majestic righteous energy, capable of resonating with the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth, suppressing evil spirits.

The three Heaven-Shaking Arrows each seal the essence of the sun, moon, and stars, and each possesses its own profound mysteries:

The Sun Arrow corresponds to "essence". The arrow is released like the sun, with intense golden light. It contains the ultimate pure yang power to dispel evil and can wear down the enemy's blood, essence, bones and flesh.

The Moonlight Arrow corresponds to "God". The arrow is as cold as the moon, with a chilling silver light, and it is designed to erode the primordial spirit and soul.

The Starlight Arrow corresponds to "Qi". The arrow is shot out like a galaxy of stars, with a deep purple light, and can devour and interpret true spiritual thoughts.

What shocked Zhang Kui even more was that when the power of the three arrows converged, yin and yang interacted, and the three lights resonated, they could actually condense into the legendary "Three Lights Divine Water".

This is the foremost healing elixir in the world, containing unparalleled life-giving power. It can reverse life and death, and can save anyone whose true spirit has not been completely annihilated. Furthermore, it can neutralize all poisons, curses, and demonic invasions in the world, making it a supreme treasure for preserving life and overcoming tribulations.

"What a sacred artifact of the human race! It combines offense and defense, killing and redemption, and is in harmony with the principle of balance in the heavens." Zhang Kui admired it in his heart, and his regard for this bow and arrow increased once again.

He circulated his Qi through nine breaths, adjusting himself to his peak condition, and then left his unique divine soul imprint within the core restriction of the bow and arrow.

The moment the refining was completed, the Qiankun Bow and the Zhentian Arrow transformed into streams of light, entered his brow, and hovered around his primordial spirit, continuously nourishing it.

At the same time, he clearly felt that after his own fortune was connected with this sacred artifact that carried the heavy history of the human race, it became more solid and profound, and his connection with the human way in the dark became closer.

After doing all this, Zhang Kui finally pushed open the door to the quiet room.

Outside the door, the first rays of dawn were breaking; it was already early morning.

"Husband!" Gao Lanying, who had been waiting outside, immediately rushed into his arms, her beautiful eyes filled with worry and concern. She carefully examined him, afraid that he might have suffered some hidden injuries from forcibly refining the treasure.

Zhang Kui felt a warmth in his heart, reached out and gently put his arm around her slender waist. Feeling the tension in the woman in his arms, he comforted her gently, "Don't worry, Lan Ying, I'm fine, everything is alright." His breathing was long and steady, clearly indicating that he was in good condition.

Gao Lanying finally breathed a sigh of relief, her face regaining its color. She clenched her fist and lightly punched his chest a few times, scolding, "Don't make me worry next time!"

"Haha, I will obey your orders, Madam." Zhang Kui replied with a smile, glancing at Zheng Lun and Chen Qi, who were trying hard to suppress their laughter and whose faces were flushed.

"Ahem," Zheng Lun quickly composed himself, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your Majesty is truly awe-inspiring. It seems you have gained a great deal from this seclusion. We, your humble servants, offer our congratulations."

Chen Qi quickly echoed, "It is truly a blessing for us and for Mianchi that our lord has safely emerged from the pass."

Zhang Kui waved his hand, indicating that the two men did not need to be so polite, and then asked, "Zheng Lun, Chen Qi, how are your Raven Soldiers and Flying Tiger Soldiers training? The situation is currently turbulent, and the Daoist Soldiers are one of our army's future reliance, so we cannot be complacent."

Zheng Lun solemnly replied, "My lord, the Raven Army is already taking shape. The three thousand carefully selected soldiers are all familiar with basic formations and combined attack techniques. They move like the wind and have already shown their power in harassing and trapping the enemy. However, their ability to conceal themselves and unleash their full potential still needs time to be honed."

Chen Qi continued, "The Flying Tigers have also selected three thousand fierce soldiers, full of vigor and courage. When they charge in formation, they already have the momentum of tigers and wolves, and their killing intent is beginning to solidify. However, their individual strength and the subtlety of their formation changes still need more practical experience."

Zhang Kui listened carefully, and based on his observations of the two men's auras and the faintly gathering military aura around them, he pointed out several key points: "The Crow Soldiers are Yin in nature, emphasizing unpredictability. They can be supplemented with talismans for lightness and concealment, and even try to guide a trace of Yin energy into the formation to enhance their stealth and endurance. The Flying Tiger Soldiers are Yang in nature, emphasizing attacking strong points. They need to further stimulate the soldiers' potential, and can be supplemented with the Blazing Sun Array Pattern to make their aura more effective in destroying evil and burning. The two of you can communicate more, complementing each other's Yin and Yang, which may lead to even more variations."

His words were precise and to the point, enlightening Zheng Lun and Chen Qi, who responded in unison, "We understand, and we will certainly work harder to live up to our lord's expectations."

After offering some encouragement, Zheng Lun and Chen Qi took their leave and went to continue training the Taoist soldiers.

A few days later, Zhang Shan, the younger brother, came to Zhang Kui's study with an indecisive look on his face.

"Brother, I've pondered the visualization diagrams you gave me for a long time." Zhang Shan got straight to the point. "The four ancient visualization diagrams—the Great Sun Traversing the Sky, the Bright Moon in the Sky, the Brilliant Stars, and the Divine Mountain Suppressing the Prison—each have their own profound mysteries. But after much consideration, my own qi and blood characteristics and temperament seem to align more closely with the meaning of 'The Divine Mountain Suppressing the Prison.' What do you think?"

Zhang Kui put down the array diagram he was studying and turned his gaze to his younger brother. He didn't answer immediately, but instead quietly activated his Great Yin-Yang Void-Piercing True Eye to carefully observe the circulation of Zhang Shan's qi and blood. He saw that the qi and blood within his body were surging like magma from the earth, hot and heavy. Although the pale red qi and blood smoke behind him wasn't deliberately activated, it already revealed a mountain-like, steady outline. His spiritual energy was resolute, flashing with a sharp, enterprising edge and an unwavering stability.

Combining his own understanding of martial arts and the bloodline of the Witch Clan, Zhang Kui pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, explaining: "Your feeling is correct. The core image of the 'Divine Mountain Suppressing Prison' Dharma Image is to use supreme divine power to transform a divine mountain into a prison to suppress all 'evil' in the world. This 'evil' can refer to external evils or inner demons."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the city walls of Mianchi and the distant mountains outside, continuing his explanation in greater detail:

The true meaning of "Suppressing": Towards the outside world, it is to suppress all dissent and crush all resistance with absolute power and unshakeable weight. Once the Dharma form appears, it is like a divine mountain descending from the sky, sealing off all directions, leaving the enemy with no way to escape and instilling despair. This is the Suppressing of Conquest, incomparably domineering.

The true meaning of "protection" is: internally, it is like the unchanging stability of mountains, guarding the warrior's soul and heart, making their will as firm as iron, impervious to all evil and undisturbed by any demon. No matter how turbulent the external world may be, I will remain unmoved. This is the protective barrier, indestructible.

He turned around, his gaze sharp, and looked at Zhang Shan: "Therefore, if you want to condense the true 'Divine Mountain Suppressing Prison' Dharma Image, your mindset must meet the following characteristics."

Unwavering will: a steadfast and unshakable mind; once a decision is made, nothing can sway it.

Upright and incorruptible: Only by acting with integrity and having a pure heart can one bear the righteousness, light, and majesty of the sacred mountain, and the Dharma image will naturally exude a noble spirit.

Great perseverance: With the determination and responsibility of "If I don't go to hell, who will?", one is willing to shoulder heavy responsibilities, suppress local unrest, and protect what is behind them.

Zhang Kui's words struck Zhang Shan's heart like a hammer blow. He recalled his elder brother's teachings since childhood, the battles on the Beihai battlefield, and his responsibility to protect Mianchi and his family. The confusion in his eyes was gradually replaced by determination.

"Brother, I've made up my mind!" Zhang Shan suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp and resolute. His blood and energy surged involuntarily, emitting a low, whistling sound like a mountain breeze. "I want to become that kind of person! I'm willing to transform into a mountain, to suppress evil spirits, and to protect humanity. I choose 'Divine Mountain Suppressing Prison'!"

Seeing the unwavering determination in his younger brother's eyes, Zhang Kui smiled with satisfaction. He stepped forward, patted Zhang Shan's broad shoulder firmly, and encouraged him, "Good! Now that your resolve is firm, strive forward with courage and diligence."

He then instructed, "Go and adjust your physical condition, nourishing your qi, blood, and spirit to their peak. When you are ready to begin visualization and concentration, your sister-in-law and I will personally protect you to ensure everything goes smoothly."

Gao Lanying, standing beside him, smiled and encouraged him, "Shanzi, belief is power. Now that you have attained enlightenment, the condensation of the Dharma form will surely come naturally. I believe you will succeed!"

The affirmation from his elder brother and the support from his sister-in-law dispelled the last trace of worry in Zhang Shan's heart.

He nodded heavily, clasped his hands in a salute, turned and strode away, beginning his final preparations for breaking through to the Martial Dao Dharma Aspect Realm.

Zhang Kui watched his younger brother's departing figure with a deep gaze. He knew that once Zhang Shan successfully condensed the "Divine Mountain Suppressing Prison" Dharma Image, combined with his Wu Clan bloodline, his strength would undergo a qualitative leap, becoming an indispensable and powerful ally in his future plans.

His path, his way, will be walked by him step by step, firmly and steadily.