Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Li Mingzhu's expression was placid as her gaze met Yun Zhongzi's, who approached her slowly. The two exuded vastly different auras, despite both appearing as calm and tranquil as still water.

However, their inner dispositions revealed stark contrasts. Beneath Li Mingzhu's calm facade lay boundless killing intent, an overbearing domineering aura, and an unyielding battle spirit. By contrast, Yun Zhongzi's calmness carried the genuine air of detachment from worldly affairs.

He seemed at odds with this world itself, which was partly due to Yun Zhongzi's personality, but more so because his cultivation had reached an incredibly profound threshold—just a step away from becoming a Quasi-Saint.

"Li Mingzhu greets Uncle-Master. It's a pity we had to part the last time. I didn't expect us to meet again so soon!"

Li Mingzhu's tone toward Yun Zhongzi was markedly different from how she addressed Anan and Kasyapa. She too, understood the need for tact.

"Mingzhu, my dear niece in the Dao, such rapid progress you've made in just a short time! You've truly put this Uncle-Master to shame. I too lamented our brief parting. However, today, my arrival is unavoidable."

Yun Zhongzi laughed heartily, bearing no grudges from the events of their previous encounter. Someone like him was rarely perturbed by external trivialities.

"And yet, Uncle-Master, you too, covet the Demon Treasure?"

"Not at all, not at all. The Demon Treasure has nothing to do with me. I've come only to settle a karmic debt. If you return Lei Zhenzi to me, I shall leave immediately. If not, then we have no choice but to settle this with a duel."

Yun Zhongzi truly had no interest in the Demon Treasure. He merely sought out Li Mingzhu to resolve a karmic cause and effect.

Yet, the timing of his appearance was suspiciously intriguing.

"Uncle-Master, please!"

To hand over Lei Zhenzi was out of the question. Thus, the only path forward was to step into the battlefield and resolve this through combat.

"Please!"

A Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud appeared beneath Yun Zhongzi's feet, carrying him into the air where he awaited Li Mingzhu's move.

Li Mingzhu leaped forward with explosive power, brandishing the Fire-tipped Spear, which she thrust like a dragon, trailing sparks of starlight and lethal intent as it shot straight toward Yun Zhongzi's forehead.

Though their prior exchange resembled that of two old friends reunited, as soon as the duel began, Li Mingzhu left no room for mercy.

"Well struck!"

Yun Zhongzi laughed aloud, gently sweeping his horsetail whisk. A beam of five-colored radiance burst forth, effortlessly parrying Li Mingzhu's Fire-tipped Spear.

Yun Zhongzi's cultivation surpassed that of even those on the verge of becoming Quasi-Saints, like Chi Jingzi. In just this first clash, Li Mingzhu realized that Yun Zhongzi's refusal to transcend was deliberate—for if he wished, he could have ascended long ago.

Indeed, none of these disciples of the Saints were simple to contend with. At first, she had thought Chan Sect disciples to be unimpressive. Yet aside from that truly mediocre Huang Long, was there a single one who could be called weak?

Though Yun Zhongzi had deflected her opening strike, Li Mingzhu remained unfazed. After all, it was merely a probing attack.

Now was the time to fight in earnest. Li Mingzhu unleashed her Dharma Manifestation, wielding her spear as she struck down once more!

Though she refrained from employing the techniques of the Overbearing Spear, its domineering essence was subtly imbued in her attack. There was little distinguishing it from any form of the spear techniques.

After all, the Ghost Car Dominator Spear did not rely on fixed forms. Its essence lay in the domineering intent. The stronger this intent, the higher the form of the spear technique that could be unleashed.

Faced with this earth-tearing strike, Yun Zhongzi remained utterly unperturbed, wielding no Spiritual Treasures. With just his horsetail whisk, he swept lightly once more!

What appeared to be an effortless sweep was enough to rattle Li Mingzhu's soul. This was unmistakably the method of a Quasi-Saint.

In an instant, the whisk forcibly altered the rules of Heaven and Earth, before reversing the force of Li Mingzhu's Fire-tipped Spear back toward her.

Though one might argue these were Quasi-Saint techniques, they were essentially the pinnacle of the Daluo Golden Immortal. Yun Zhongzi's understanding of the Dao was so profound that he momentarily rewrote the operations of Heaven and Earth, freeing himself from their constraints.

Such techniques would be impossible for even ordinary Quasi-Saints to replicate. For while they may exceed Yun Zhongzi in raw power, they would struggle to match him in refined mastery.

Although Li Mingzhu was shaken, her battle spirit remained undeterred. If one strike was blocked, what would happen with greater strength?

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

Li Mingzhu shouted, her Fire-tipped Spear painting a strange trajectory in the air. The four styles of the Ghost Car Dominator Spear emerged simultaneously, before merging into a single attack!

Her deepening mastery over the spear techniques made their execution increasingly fluid.

Yet for the next quarter of an hour, despite unleashing the combined might of all four styles, Li Mingzhu found herself continually overpowered by Yun Zhongzi.

Time and again, his horsetail whisk dissipated her formidable spear techniques into nothingness. Though his cultivation remained at the Great Perfection of Daluo Golden Immortal, he bore an undeniable sense of omnipotence.

He repelled Li Mingzhu over and over with an ethereal grace, devoid of any trace of smoke or fire. This Yun Zhongzi seemed as limitless as an abyss, wielding only his whisk and no other means, pushing despair into the hearts of those who opposed him.

But Li Mingzhu refused to succumb. If the Ghost Car Dominator Spear proved insufficient, she would summon both the Treasure Lotus Lamp and the Qiankun Ring. Radiant seven-colored light and the essence of water and fire surged violently toward Yun Zhongzi.

This scene eerily mirrored the desperate struggle of Lu Ya from before.

In an instant, Li Mingzhu realized her mistake, but it was too late. Yun Zhongzi deflected both the Treasure Lotus Lamp and the Qiankun Ring with a casual sweep of his whisk, closing the distance between them. With a deft flick of his whisk, he landed a blow on Li Mingzhu.

The seemingly gentle touch delivered no harm to her physical body, yet it inflicted excruciating pain upon her divine soul.

Yun Zhongzi struck only sparingly, but each move hit Li Mingzhu's vulnerabilities with precision and extraordinary speed.

"A strong physical body, after all, is still just a body. Without cultivating Daoist truths, you cannot reach the Great Way. Your victories over many Daluo practitioners thus far were merely because their Dao lacked depth. Daluo—true Daluo—is far from simple!"

Yun Zhongzi spoke as if mulling over his own thoughts, yet his words seemed intended for Li Mingzhu.

Though Li Mingzhu heard his reasoning and even found some truth in his words, her focus remained on finding a way to defeat him.

But once again, Yun Zhongzi's whisk descended. Li Mingzhu knew that if Yun Zhongzi continued to strike at this rate, her only choice would be to concede—a result she refused to accept.

Even if losing to Yun Zhongzi was no disgrace, Li Mingzhu simply did not wish to lose!

"The moment has come!"

Whether Yun Zhongzi became overconfident or believed the victory was assured, he left himself entirely open for a fleeting moment.

"Three-foot Magic Sword!"

A dazzling radiance erupted from Li Mingzhu's left hand as an ethereal yet solid Three-foot Magic Sword manifested, thrusting aggressively toward Yun Zhongzi.

What just happened?