PDLP Chapter 50 Entrusted with an Important Responsibility
Chapter 50 Entrusted with an Important Responsibility
Inside the quiet room, the protective light flowed, isolating the inside from the outside. Upon hearing the words "Master's secret order," Zhang Kui's expression turned solemn. With a wave of his hand, he set up several more soundproof barriers and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Yu Qing, what are Grand Master's instructions? Please speak freely."
Seeing Zhang Kui's caution, Yu Qing secretly praised him and lowered his voice, saying, "General Zhang, the situation has changed. War has suddenly broken out in the southeast. Jiang Wenhuan, son of the Marquis of the East, Jiang Huanchu, has raised the banner of avenging his father and has gathered 400,000 troops, with his army pointing directly at Youhun Pass. E Shun, son of the Marquis of the South, E Chongyu, is also leading an army of 200,000 to advance on Sanshan Pass. The hearts of the 800 vassal lords in the world are unsettled, and the foundation of the Yin Shang dynasty is shaking."
Zhang Kui's gaze sharpened, and he quickly calculated in his mind, "They've come after all."
The curtain has been raised on the Investiture of the Gods, and this is just the beginning. Jiang Wenhuan and E Shun's uprising, seemingly to avenge their fathers, is in reality an eruption of long-simmering resentment, likely fueled by various powerful forces. Youhun Pass is secured by Dou Rong and his wife, generals praised even by Grand Tutor Wen for their excellent defense; for now, there's no need to worry. Sanshan Pass… he asked, “Grand Tutor, how should we deal with this?”
Yu Qing replied, "Master has decided to send the capable and battle-hardened General Deng Jiugong to Sanshan Pass as commander-in-chief. With General Deng's abilities, there should be no problem stabilizing the southern front. Master will also send reinforcements and supplies to Dou Rong at Youhun Pass, so it can be kept safe in the short term."
Zhang Kui nodded; Deng Jiugong was indeed a suitable candidate. However, he knew that Wen Zhong had sent Yu Qing secretly not merely to report military intelligence, so he waited to see what would happen next.
Yu Qing paused, looked at Zhang Kui, and said in a more solemn tone, "What Master is truly worried about is Chaoge itself. With the war in the southeast, Chaoge is vulnerable. If there are further changes in the west or north, the capital will be in danger. General, you are an absolutely reliable person. Therefore, Master has a matter he would like to entrust to you, General. This matter concerns the very foundation of the nation."
"Grand Tutor, you flatter me. Zhang Kui would gladly die for you." Zhang Kui declared without hesitation.
"Good!" Yu Qing continued, "Master plans to appoint General Zhang Shan as the Commander-in-Chief of Mianchi County once the situation at the front stabilizes!"
"Mianchi?" Zhang Kui's heart skipped a beat. He knew Mianchi County all too well. Although the city was small, its geographical location was extremely crucial. Located northwest of Chaoge, it guarded the Yellow River crossing and was the northwestern gateway for crossing the formidable Yellow River and attacking Chaoge. If it fell, the enemy could advance unimpeded and reach the gates of Chaoge. Wen Zhong's arrangement was indeed far-sighted, and he had already begun to prepare for the worst-case scenario, building the last line of defense around Chaoge.
Yu Qing continued, "Mianchi is a crucial point on the Yellow River and cannot be lost. While your younger brother Zhang Shan is being transferred to a new post, Master also plans to transfer Generals Zheng Lun and Chen Qi, two of your former subordinates, to reinforce Mianchi's defenses. Master said that General Zhang Shan is currently stationed in Youli, which is a heavy responsibility, but if the situation worsens in the future and Mianchi needs a stronger commander, he hopes that General Zhang Shan will be ready to take over the defenses of Mianchi at any time, and fight alongside General Zhang Shan against a powerful enemy, guarding this northwestern gateway for Chaoge."
Zhang Kui instantly understood Wen Zhong's overall plan. This meant entrusting the Yellow River defense line to the Zhang brothers, supplemented by extraordinary individuals like the Heng and Ha generals—a testament to the depth of trust and the high expectations placed upon them. Moreover, his mother was in their hometown of Mianchi; his brother's return to his post would allow him to care for her nearby, reuniting the family. From both a public and private perspective, this was the best arrangement.
He took a deep breath, rose and bowed towards the direction of the North Sea, then solemnly said to Yu Qing, "Please convey to the Grand Tutor that Zhang Kui obeys the order. My brother and I will do our utmost to guard Mianchi and will never disappoint the Grand Tutor."
Seeing Zhang Kui agree so readily, Yu Qing breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: "With the general's words, Master can now focus on the war in Beihai. The general is very understanding and righteous, Yu Qing admires him."
With business concluded, the tense atmosphere in the room eased, and Zhang Kui invited Yu Qing to sit down again. Only then did Yu Qing have a chance to carefully examine Zhang Kui, and the more he looked, the more alarmed he became. He hadn't had a chance to observe him closely before due to the urgency of the military situation, but now, calming his senses, he felt that Zhang Kui's aura was as deep as the sea, and his spiritual energy flowed harmoniously around him, subtly merging with heaven and earth. He was completely different from when they last met, and his cultivation was even more unfathomable, far beyond what he had been before.
He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "General Zhang, forgive my poor eyesight, I didn't notice it just now. Judging from your aura, could it be... that you have already achieved the Five Elements Convergence and attained the true immortality?"
Zhang Kui smiled slightly and did not hide anything: "Fellow Daoist has discerning eyes. I was fortunate enough to succeed the other day and entered the realm of True Immortal for the first time."
"Hiss—" Despite having already guessed, Yu Qing still gasped in shock upon confirmation. "It's only been a short time... The speed at which the general has progressed in cultivation is simply unheard of! The realm of True Immortal... Many cultivators have to cultivate for thousands of years and still cannot achieve it, yet the general has..." He recalled his master Wen Zhong's evaluation of Zhang Kui as "a rough gem" and "his destiny is not limited to this," and only now did he realize his master's keen eye for talent.
Zhang Kui humbly replied, "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the Grand Master's past kindness in imparting the Dharma, and a series of fortuitous events. The realm of True Immortal is merely one step on the path of cultivation; the journey ahead is still long."
Yu Qing was full of admiration: "General, you are too modest. A True Immortal is already a first-rate figure in the world, with a long lifespan and great supernatural powers. Congratulations on your great achievement, General!" He was genuinely happy for Zhang Kui, and at the same time, he felt a sense of longing. He and his senior brother Jilika had been at the peak of Earth Immortal for a long time, and had not even attained the Heavenly Immortal realm, let alone the True Immortal realm of Five Qi Converging to the Origin.
The two men enjoyed tea and reminisced about the past, discussing everything from the war in the North Sea to the changes in the political situation, and from military affairs to cultivation. Yu Qing took the opportunity to ask him some questions about the circulation of the five elements of spiritual energy and the tempering of one's mind, all of which are crucial for breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm.
Zhang Kui, having just ascended to the rank of True Immortal, was deeply enlightened about his own path of cultivation. Furthermore, his close friendship with Yu Qing and Ji Li led him to share his knowledge without reservation. He combined his unique experience of using the Golden Elixir Dao to govern the bloodline of the sorcerer and the Heavenly Gang Divine Power to eloquently explain the subtle key points of "emptying the five emotions" and "stabilizing the five spirits" during the Five Qi Convergence, as well as a deeper understanding of the generation and restraint of the Five Elements. His explanations were profound yet simple, often directly addressing the essence of the matter, captivating Yu Qing and clearing up many of his previous confusions.
"Listening to the General's recent discourse has enlightened me greatly!" Yu Qing exclaimed with deep emotion. He rose and bowed solemnly. "We, Yu Qing and my senior brother, will forever remember this kindness in imparting the Way."
Zhang Kui helped him up and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be so polite. We're just verifying each other's understanding. I've had some insights this time, which I've compiled into a book. If you don't mind, you can take it back and study it with Fellow Daoist Ji Li." As he spoke, he took out a jade slip and imprinted his new insights into the Five Elements after advancing to True Immortal, especially the key to how to induce the Qi of the five internal organs to resonate with the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth, into it, and handed it to Yu Qing.
Yu Qing solemnly accepted the gift with both hands, extremely excited: "This... thank you for your generous gift, General. I am deeply grateful." For him and his senior brother Ji Li, Zhang Kui's gift was nothing short of pointing out a shortcut to becoming a Celestial Immortal.
After a brief conversation, Yu Qing, mindful of his master's orders and eager to return to share his insights with his senior brother, rose to take his leave: "General, the situation in the Northern Sea is urgent. I must return to the Northern Sea immediately to report to our master. As for the matter of Mianchi, our master will make arrangements as soon as possible, and the transfer order will be delivered then. Take care, General. I will take my leave now."
Zhang Kui knew the gravity of the situation and did not try to stop him. He personally escorted Yu Qing out of the quiet room and watched him disappear into the horizon as a streak of light.
After seeing Yu Qing off, Zhang Kui stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky. The southeast was in chaos, and the wheels of the Investiture of the Gods war had already begun to turn.
Mianchi...a strategic location that will be fought over by military strategists in the future.
Zhang Kui recalled the brutal description of the Battle of Mianchi from the original novel. Under the defense of Zhang Kui and Gao Lanying, the Western Zhou camp suffered heavy losses, with the Five Sacred Mountains collapsing and Tu Xingsun and his wife dying in battle...
Now that Zhang Kui has become a true immortal and has obtained the innate spiritual treasure, the Fallen Treasure Coin, along with the assistance of General Zheng Lun and General Chen Qi, he will never let history repeat itself. He will find a foothold for himself in this chaotic world of gods and demons.
"To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. While striving to improve one's own cultivation, one must also further develop one's own power. At the same time, one must secretly make arrangements and send out scouts to keep abreast of information from all sides."
Zhang Kui's thoughts raced...