Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

After ending the so-called Black Fox Young Clan Leader with a single spear, Li Mingzhu paid no heed to the expressions of hatred on the two remaining individuals behind him. He immediately began a Soul Search on the soul of the Young Clan Leader.

A moment later, Li Mingzhu had already uncovered the cause of Qingqiu's upheaval.

Now that he had the information he wanted, the lives of the remaining three were no longer necessary. With a sweep of his Fire-tipped Spear, the two remaining souls were obliterated into ash.

It turned out that Qingqiu Mountain was home to two major Fox Clans—the Black Fox Clan and the White Fox Clan.

Although the two clans followed different cultivation paths, they were actually distant relatives. During the ancient war between Demon and Witch Clans, the Black Fox Clan's dwelling was shattered by the Witch Clan. It was the White Fox Clan that took them in, allowing them to recuperate within Qingqiu.

If not for that refuge, the very existence of the Black Fox Clan today would have been highly uncertain.

However, now that the Black Fox Clan had restored its strength, they followed the path of cultivating as Great Demons of the Demon Clan. As a result, their combat power generally surpassed that of their White Fox counterparts of the same cultivation realm, leading to different ambitions arising among them.

The White Fox Clan had long been aware of the Black Fox Clan's shifting intentions. However, their confidence in their own foundation led them to dismiss the potential threat. Now, they were reaping the bitter consequences of their own neglect.

That confidence of the White Fox Clan, however, was not entirely baseless. Without the sudden interference of the White Tiger Clan from the West, the Black Fox Clan indeed would have struggled to achieve their current standing.

As for how the White Tiger Clan came to appear in Qingqiu Mountain, there was no trace of such knowledge in the memories of the Black Fox Young Clan Leader.

The conflict between the Fox Clans ultimately stemmed from Hu Mei. Of course, this was mostly because the Black Fox Clan had long been scheming, with Hu Mei serving merely as the catalyst.

An excuse to act!

Hu Mei was the Princess of the White Fox Clan. Although she followed the cultivation path of a Fox Demon, her noble status as the Princess could not be ignored. Furthermore, she bore the rare and supreme Nine-Tailed Fox lineage, making her the most exalted bloodline among the Fox Clans. Upon her return, her clan fully embraced her.

Yet, this news reached the ears of the Black Fox Clan, who then sent envoys to propose marriage. The White Fox Clan, however, would never agree to give away Hu Mei, their rare Nine-Tailed Fox of supreme lineage.

What began as verbal disputes soon escalated into armed conflict between the two clans. Despite the White Fox Clan's profound foundation, boasting the Innate Spiritual Treasure Nine-tailed Shuttle, two Daluo Golden Immortals, three Taiyi Golden Immortals, and fifteen Golden Immortals, it proved insufficient.

Such resources could rival even some larger Primordial World clans, let alone the relatively weaker Fox Clans.

This was largely because the White Fox Clan had avoided calamity during the ancient Demon-Witch War, preserving their heritage and resources.

Who could have anticipated that the Black Fox Clan would somehow pledge allegiance to the Western White Tiger Clan? Although just five White Tigers had been sent, three of them were Daluo Golden Immortals.

The White Tigers of the West were Geng Metal Divine Beasts, an ancient great clan on par with the Dragon and Phoenix Clans. Though less renowned due to their small numbers, their strength was undeniable.

No matter how strong the White Fox Clan became, even if they gained ten more Daluo Golden Immortals, they couldn't possibly resist. With merely two Daluo Golden Immortals, their odds were nigh impossible.

This led to the scene Li Mingzhu had witnessed. Hu Mei was gravely injured by Black Fox experts but narrowly escaped. By relying on her familiarity with Qingqiu, she managed to hide near the mountain's border for over a month.

It was only upon encountering Li Mingzhu that she revealed herself, which ultimately led to her being discovered by the Black Fox Young Clan Leader.

Thus, the story unfolded: a power struggle between the White and Black Fox Clans, interrupted by the sudden appearance of five White Tigers, with the Black Fox Clan pledging fealty to them.

As a result, the White Fox Clan suffered a tragic fate. Many were killed or captured, and Qingqiu was now entirely under the rule of the five White Tigers.

Even the Black Fox Clan, who had allied with the White Tigers, enjoyed only slightly elevated status—essentially treated as subservient servants.

The White Tigers, being Geng Metal Divine Beasts, had traditionally resided in the West. Though their territory overlapped with that of the Western Sect, the Sect never targeted them. Logically, they should not have appeared here at all.

Li Mingzhu recounted the results of his Soul Search to Yang Chan and Ao Yu. Both were equally perplexed as to why the White Tigers had come to Qingqiu, and Hu Mei, still unconscious, could not provide any further insight.

Although Li Mingzhu had fed Hu Mei elixir pills, a month of hiding had left her both physically and mentally exhausted, her injuries severe. It was no surprise she had yet to awaken.

Bold and skilled as ever, Li Mingzhu decided to infiltrate Qingqiu alone, realizing that waiting outside yielded no useful information.

This was Qingqiu, guarded by three Daluo Golden Immortal White Tigers. If he were discovered, even with his Five-turn Peak body, survival was far from guaranteed.

After all, Hu Mei had recognized him as her master, which meant he was now obligated to intervene in the White Fox Clan's affairs.

Since he had resolved to intervene, he couldn't avoid dealing with the White Tigers. Gathering more intel before taking action was the natural choice.

As soon as he stepped into Qingqiu, Li Mingzhu felt a sharp, oppressive aura pressing against his back.

This was the innate Geng Metal killing intent of the White Tiger Clan. Outside of Qingqiu, it had been deliberately concealed. But within the mountain, it manifested fully.

Li Mingzhu restrained his restless Fire-tipped Spear, disturbed by the killing intent. The Spear's own killing aura flared in response, something Li Mingzhu had not anticipated.

Now was not the time to act. He needed to gather more information first.

The White Tigers were a solitary breed, and the gathering of five was a rarity. They would not appear without significant purpose.

True to his hypothesis, the five White Tigers occupied separate positions in Qingqiu. Even if they acted together, they would not remain inseparable.

Each position exuded a different level of killing intent. The central location, the most spiritually abundant area of Qingqiu, was the strongest. Although Li Mingzhu could not discern the cultivator's exact realm, even from a distance, the deadly aura left him with a deep sense of dread.

The title "King of Hundred Beasts" was no empty boast. Even the Dragon Clan would struggle to match a White Tiger in one-on-one combat on land.

Li Mingzhu quietly sneaked toward the northern region, where the killing intent was weakest. Utilizing the transformations of the Nine Revolution Profound Skill, he turned himself into a bee, sealing all his energy and aura.

The Nine Revolution Profound Skill boasted Seventy-Two Transformations, akin to the Eight-Nine Profound Skill later cultivated by the Monkey King. While ineffective against Quasi-Saints, it was incredibly useful under current circumstances.

The Monkey King's feats in later eras were testament enough to the astonishing potential of the Seventy-Two Transformations.

What exactly were the Seventy-Two Transformations?

They represented the pinnacle of Yin-Yang and Five Elements transformations.

The number seventy-two symbolized multitude and infinity. It did not literally denote seventy-two specific forms, but rather endless and boundless transformations.

Thus, the true strength of the Seventy-Two Transformations within the Nine Revolution and Eight-Nine Profound Skills lay in their infinite adaptability. Despite being physical cultivation methods, they secretly encompassed the principles of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements.

The Seventy-Two Transformations had countless applications in combat. Some critical practical aspects include:

1. One can transform oneself or others.

2. Transform into humans, animals, plants, or even inanimate objects.

3. Transform gender, age, young or old.

4. Transform size and shape, becoming large or small, long or short.

5. Transform into nothingness!

In essence, there's nothing in the world that cannot be transformed—though attempting to become a Saint would unquestionably be courting death.