Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

After collecting the Star Essence, Li Mingzhu turned to see Yang Jian dealing with the loose cultivators. However, he did not kill them all.

Out of the ten cultivators who were either Daluo Golden Immortals or Taiyi Golden Immortals, Yang Jian eliminated four who were foolish enough to cross him. Six remained.

The group consisted of one Daluo Golden Immortal and five Taiyi Golden Immortals. These people were all loose cultivators from the Primordial World, either Human Clan or Demon Clan. They had obtained fragmented cultivation techniques from predecessors and refined their way to this point.

For them, reaching this level of cultivation was unquestionably a tremendous achievement, especially for the one who had climbed to the rank of Daluo Golden Immortal.

Yet, this was likely their limit. Progressing further was nearly impossible unless they encountered extraordinary opportunities.

They themselves understood this well; hence, they recklessly entered the Demon Clan treasure trove.

After all, in the Primordial World, a bit more strength meant a greater chance for survival. If they were fortunate enough to acquire the Demon Clan's inheritance from the treasure trove, that would be even better.

The reason Li Mingzhu spared their lives wasn't out of kindness. Naturally, he wasn't a benevolent person. In truth, he had his reasons—they were useful to him.

Five Taiyi Golden Immortals and one Daluo Golden Immortal—even as loose cultivators, they constituted a significant force. Especially useful for laboring tasks.

"Your turn now!"

Li Mingzhu threw out Treasure Division Rock and communicated the situation with his Divine Thought, promising that if it performed well, such opportunities would abound in the future.

Master Treasure Division Rock, who already relied on others for survival, had no choice but to agree. Moreover, persuading one Daluo Golden Immortal and five Taiyi Golden Immortals would undoubtedly yield immense belief power.

This would hugely aid his recovery. If he ever regained his Daoist cultivation level as a Quasi-Saint, the first thing he intended to do was seek trouble with Li Mingzhu.

Li Mingzhu, however, didn't mind. If that day arrived—the likelihood aside—he'd simply toss Treasure Division Rock to Tongtian to deal with.

Master Treasure Division Rock sauntered into the midst of the six individuals, releasing a powerful aura. Using an extraordinarily persuasive tone, he began his performance.

Ordinarily, even with Treasure Division Rock's silver tongue, brainwashing a Daluo Golden Immortal and five Taiyi Golden Immortals would be immensely difficult. Yet these six had been thoroughly terrified by Yang Jian. Resistance was not in their repertoire.

They opened their hearts and minds, allowing themselves to be manipulated by Treasure Division Rock without a hitch.

"This ancestor has roamed the Primordial World for untold ages without suffering a single defeat. Truly, life at the pinnacle is filled with profound loneliness—a solitude as pure as snow!"

Master Treasure Division Rock spoke in a deeply poignant and melancholic tone as he perched atop a high platform procured from somewhere—looking holier-than any Buddha of the future.

"Throughout the Primordial World, the Grand Supreme is too unfeeling, Primordial is too hypocritical, Tongtian is too arrogant, Zhunti is too shameless, Jieyin is too inscrutable, Nuwa... better left unsaid. All of them belong to the past. The future of the Primordial World belongs to your era!"

Master Treasure Division Rock even began grandly critiquing the Saints. Owing to his unusual properties, the Saints couldn't detect this transgression of cosmic laws—otherwise, he'd be in serious trouble.

"The ancestor is invincible across eternity! The ancestor's grand arts bridge ancient and modern times!"

The six individuals erupted into fervent cheers, utterly brainwashed in such a short period.

Though Yang Jian's intimidation set the stage, Treasure Division Rock's ability was undeniably remarkable. His skill in deception rivaled even Zhunti himself.

Yang Jian, watching from the sidelines, was utterly dumbfounded. He hadn't expected Li Mingzhu to have such an eccentric figure in his ranks and was at a loss for words.

Afterward, Li Mingzhu naturally ordered Treasure Division Rock to assign tasks to the newly-converted. With Star Essence and the Refining Method at hand, all that was left was continuous refinement.

Once everything was complete, Li Mingzhu retrieved Treasure Division Rock again. The six brainwashed individuals were also absorbed into Treasure Division Rock's core to work as laborers.

Forcibly coerced workers were rarely as effective as voluntary followers—let alone crazed fanatics like these, tirelessly refining without rest.

The resulting Star Flags, though unlikely to surpass the three hundred and sixty-five Star Flags of Ancient Demon Clan's Heavenly Court, would surely be of exceptional quality.

Treasure Division Rock was truly a double-edged sword. When wielded properly, it brought tremendous benefits; but unchecked, its capacity for chaos was immense.

Consider the terror of those brainwashed extremists in later generations—you could imagine how disastrous Treasure Division Rock could be if unleashed indiscriminately throughout the Primordial World, manipulating minds and amassing power. Mishandling such power would truly create catastrophe.

Thus, while Li Mingzhu resolved to leverage Treasure Division Rock's abilities, he intended to keep its reins firmly in his grip.

Yang Jian had not anticipated Li Mingzhu employing such methods to refine Star Flags, completely overturning his previous assumptions. Evidently, the Celestial Star Battle Formation was destined to emerge earlier than expected.

Although he knew this, there was no way for him to stop it now. On reflection, Li Mingzhu's growing strength also ensured Yang Chan's safety. This brought him some comfort.

Yang Jian and Li Mingzhu exited the Absolute Heaven Storm together. Upon their departure, the storm automatically dissipated.

This was expected, as the storm's existence hinged entirely on the Absolute Heaven Fan. Now that Li Mingzhu and Yang Jian had claimed it, the storm naturally dissipated.

The Great Demons of Jun Mountain, witnessing Li Mingzhu and Yang Jian emerging unharmed from the Absolute Heaven Storm, dared not show the slightest hint of disrespect, each treading carefully.

Who would provoke lunatics capable of venturing into the storm? And lunatics who emerged unscathed—dispersing the storm on their way out? They were utterly untouchable.

Indeed, Li Mingzhu and Yang Jian paid the demons no heed. After all, they were merely a few Golden Immortal-level Great Demons.

Both sped up, hurrying toward Beiming with all their might.

It was now confirmed: the Ten Absolute Lands were indeed the Demon Clan's treasure trove. Though treasure trove might not be the right term—they contained ten Innate Spiritual Treasures, each tied to phenomena like the Absolute Heaven Storm.

Beiming, Nine-Headed City!

Outside the city, four young men clad in yellow python robes led an army of one hundred thousand demons, marching grandly forward. These were the four major princes of the Beiming Dynasty.

Though the Beiming Imperial City had been challenged by Styx River, casualties were minimal, and most of the imperial family survived.

After Styx River left, the Beiming Dynasty resumed operations. As the imperial family of the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan, the naming of Nine-Headed City underscored its significance within the dynasty.

And rightly so—the city's lord, formerly known as the Nine-Headed King, was the brother of the dynasty's current ruler. Despite his mediocre talent for cultivation, he was greatly favored.

However, this Nine-Headed City Lord was slain by Ao Yu's sword, along with the annihilation of thirty thousand demon soldiers. Previously, due to Styx River's disruption, the Beiming Dynasty was unable to respond—but now they had come to settle scores with Ao Yu and Yang Chan.

More importantly, they had heard that Ao Yu and Yang Chan's actual cultivation levels were not particularly high. Their prowess was merely reliant on their magical treasures.

This prompted the four princes of the Beiming Dynasty to rally one hundred thousand demon soldiers for their punitive campaign.

But seriously, two Taiyi Golden Immortals who are disciples of Saints—not formidable?