Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

"Sun and Moon Essence Wheel!"

Perhaps feeling it wasn't enough, Lu Ya unexpectedly produced two additional supreme Innate Spiritual Treasures; these were the betrothal gifts Emperor Jun had gifted Heavenly Empress Chang Xi and Xi He back in the day.

Now, they lay in Lu Ya's hands. However, Lu Ya, who had already exerted all his strength to wield the Golden Crow Sword, was unable to fully utilize the Sun and Moon Essence Wheel as well.

Though possessing multiple magical treasures is undoubtedly commendable, it isn't beneficial if they cannot be fully harnessed.

Li Mingzhu, having already decided to confront Lu Ya with the Ghost Car Dominator Spear, wouldn't change her course simply due to Lu Ya's possession of powerful treasures. To retreat while wielding the Overbearing Spear would defeat its very essence.

Mountain Opening, Sea Breaking, Sky Splitting, Mountain River Shattering!

Li Mingzhu charged forward with no hesitation. Regardless of what Divine Skills Lu Ya unleashed or what treasures he summoned, she would respond with a single strike!

The overbearing essence completely activated the boundless killing intent within the Fire-tipped Spear. Man and spear became one, colliding with the spectral Donghuang Bell.

To defeat Lu Ya, crossing this threshold was inevitable.

The Fire-tipped Spear spun rapidly before slamming into the phantom Donghuang Bell, causing sparks to erupt and echoing a deafening toll.

"Li Mingzhu, to force me into using the Donghuang Bell's shadow left by my Second Uncle—you can already take pride in yourself. Die now!"

Lu Ya laughed aloud. Li Mingzhu had not yet breached the Donghuang Bell's shadow, and seizing the moment, Lu Ya charged forward with the Golden Crow Sword in hand.

"Crack... crack…"

But at this precise moment, the previously indestructible Donghuang Bell shadow began to fracture slowly.

With Li Mingzhu's current level of strength, it was naturally impossible to break the Donghuang Bell shadow in a single strike. As Donghuang himself stated, it was unbreakable by anyone beneath the Quasi-Saint stage. But if not in one attempt, what about ten?

If ten failed, what about a hundred, or a thousand?

In the instant Lu Ya spoke, Li Mingzhu had already hammered the bell countless times with her spear, so swiftly that no ordinary onlooker could even track her movements.

Lu Ya, with his Daoist cultivation, should have seen through her moves. However, emboldened by his apparent advantage, he once again committed the fatal flaw of underestimating his opponent.

"Fool stuck in the past—die!"

Li Mingzhu sneered. A Crown Prince living forever under the shadow of the Demon Clan's past glory was but a worthless failure, no matter how blessed he seemed.

Unless Lu Ya managed to transcend the bygone grandeur of the Demon Clan, he would never break through to Quasi-Saint. Though his eventual breakthrough remained a mystery, he obviously wouldn't live to see that future now. Shattering the Donghuang Bell's shadow, Li Mingzhu pressed her advantage without hesitation, merging four techniques into one and striking Lu Ya with overwhelming force.

Though Lu Ya resisted with the Golden Crow Sword and Sun and Moon Essence Wheel, both were effortlessly knocked aside by Li Mingzhu's Fire-tipped Spear.

No suspense remained!

The supposedly invincible shadow of the Donghuang Bell was shattered by Li Mingzhu, dealing a devastating blow to Lu Ya's confidence, leaving his Daoist mind in disarray.

Forced into frantic defense from offense, how could Lu Ya stand against a god-like Li Mingzhu, whose killing intent surged like a rainbow and whose domineering spirit towered to the heavens?

With the Fire-tipped Spear landing firmly on Lu Ya, its intent, domineering essence, killing force, and the power of the stars exploded together. Not even the Golden Crow's resilient body, let alone a Quasi-Saint, could survive such a blow without losing half their life.

Drip by drip, Golden Crow Blood drenched the skies in a bloody downpour!

Even Anan and Kasyapa, locked in battle with four White Tigers and Ao Yu and Yang Chan, were stunned by the sight. For a moment, they even forgot to activate the Vajra Pestle, inadvertently allowing the White Tiger quartet to escape.

But it lasted only a moment. Reacting swiftly, the pair were overjoyed, realizing all conditions had finally converged. Now, only the key remained missing!

"Don't run! Hand over the key, and we'll spare your lives!"

Anan and Kasyapa manifested a Golden Lotus blocking Ao Yu and Yang Chan's onslaught as the Vajra Pestle pressed once more toward the White Tigers.

Upon Lu Ya's demise, even his Divine Soul was shredded by Li Mingzhu's Fire-tipped Spear, leaving no hope of survival.

Yet at the place of his death, a faint light emerged, transforming into a figure resembling Lu Ya—transparent and phantom-like—as it headed towards Kunlun Mountain.

As it drifted away, it cast a bizarre smirk at Li Mingzhu.

This was being recorded onto the Investiture of the Gods, though the final smirk left Li Mingzhu with a chilling sense of dread. She couldn't pinpoint its exact significance.

Meanwhile, as Golden Crow Blood rained across the heavens, Qingqiu's domain began to radiate endless white light, suggesting something was emerging, only to feel suppressed by an unseen force.

Additionally, the River Map and Luo Book, retrieved by Li Mingzhu earlier, now pulsed restlessly. While pondering the reason, Hu Hao dashed toward her, pursued by Anan and Kasyapa.

Hu Hao, unable to withstand the Vajra Pestle, seized an opening to charge toward Li Mingzhu. Li Mingzhu, snapping back to focus upon seeing Hu Hao pursued, intercepted them with the Fire-tipped Spear, which flew from her grasp once more.

Tossing the Fire-tipped Spear to block the Vajra Pestle, Li Mingzhu inadvertently provoked Anan and Kasyapa, who resumed their coordinated offense.

A massive Golden Lotus descended toward Hu Hao, whose expression turned grim as he realized escaping this lotus would be near impossible.

Though Hu Hao trusted Li Mingzhu's power absolutely, missing the chance to deliver this item would mean losing an entire opportunity forever.

The key decision was influenced by Li Mingzhu's earlier use of the River Map and Luo Book, triggering Hu Hao's final resolve.

"Fellow Daoist, catch this!"

With the Golden Lotus approaching, Hu Hao hurled a golden key toward Li Mingzhu. The key bore carvings of two Golden Crows supporting the sun.

Li Mingzhu caught the key and immediately began examining it while still moving to rescue Hu Hao. Suddenly, however, the River Map and Luo Book flew out on their own.

Upon seeing the golden key, the River Map and Luo Book enveloped it and shot toward Qingqiu's depths.

Though Li Mingzhu had refined the River Map and Luo Book, she now found herself completely incapable of controlling them as they accelerated toward Qingqiu's mysterious core.

"Quick, chase it!"

Kasyapa urged, but Li Mingzhu blocked the two men's path.

"Fellow Daoist Li, this is a great opportunity—why must you hinder us? Why not join forces to claim it together?"

Anan restrained Kasyapa while smiling placidly. Fighting Li Mingzhu now would be ill-advised.

"What opportunity?"

Li Mingzhu, holding the Fire-tipped Spear, glared at them. She had fought relentlessly to understand the purpose of the key only for it to vanish; the mystery remained unsolved.

"That's the Demon Treasure! Why else would Lu Ya have pursued the White Tiger without rest? But who would have thought the Demon Treasure lies here in Qingqiu?"

Anan explained eagerly, hoping the fierce warrior before him might allow them to continue rather than delay, lest the treasure escape them once more.

"Then I'm sorry, but this road is closed!"

Li Mingzhu's expression suddenly turned icy. She desired the Demon Treasure herself, but would never permit the Western Sect to lay their hands on it.