Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Sensing the array in the Marquis Mansion activate, Li Mingzhu realized something had gone wrong. She dared not delay and transformed into a bolt of lightning, speeding toward the Marquis Mansion.

Even the flying eagle, transfigured into a sharp blade, brushed past Li Mingzhu without pursuing her. Instead, it headed straight to where Ao Yu was.

With her cultivation, Li Mingzhu only needed to sweep her Divine Sense to discover Ao Yu's plight.

A lament sung at the peak of grief!

At her fastest possible speed, Li Mingzhu arrived by Ao Yu's side. She quickly embraced him but felt an inexplicable sense of loss, unable to find the words to say.

Their relationship had always been lukewarm, neither close nor distant. Yet seeing Ao Yu, his Dharma Form gravely injured and at the brink of death, her heart felt as if pierced by knives.

In that moment, her spirit seemed to drain halfway, and she sat dazed, clutching Ao Yu's deeply wounded body outside Nuwa's courtyard, unable to utter a word, as though her soul had fled.

She murmured continually, her words unintelligible.

She remembered their first meeting: the charming and mischievous girl who once led him to plunder the Xuanlong Palace, who dared to raid her own brother's lair alongside him.

She also recalled how she risked everything to avenge him, while he, in turn, resolutely cut down her third brother.

Later... What came after, she couldn't quite recall. When they met again, the lively, innocent maiden had already become a peerless sword immortal, a deity of killing.

Even subconsciously, he started viewing her as a sword immortal towering above all, neglecting the truth—that no matter how formidable, no matter how supremely skilled in swordsmanship, she was still just a woman, still that girl in the soft yellow dress from before.

Her invincibility, her sharpness in battle—those were merely façades!

She remained herself, still the girl by the East Sea, declaring, "A cat that drinks wine is no good cat!"

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry..."

....

Li Mingzhu seemed as if in a stupor, repeatedly apologizing to Ao Yu. All her former dominance, all her calculated strategies, had seemingly vanished in that moment.

"I'm sorry. I should've treated you better. Why did I begrudge a single embrace?

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so cold toward you.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pursued the Ziwei Emperor Star. What good is the Purple Emperor Seal compared to you?"

But now, what meaning do these words hold?

"To Chaos!"

After a moment of overwhelming sorrow and disorientation, Li Mingzhu suddenly scooped up Ao Yu and declared with unwavering determination.

Beside them, Yang Chan, with tears streaming down her face, finally smiled as she witnessed this. Her laughter mingled with her tears.

The resolute and seemingly omnipotent Li Mingzhu she remembered had returned. Though she knew, rationally, that Ao Yu's survival was an impossible hope, she believed he would return with Ao Yu alive.

And she, she only needed to wait here.

Waiting for their next meeting.

Li Mingzhu carried Ao Yu and vanished in a flash, madly rushing toward Chaos!

Meanwhile, seated on the Thirty-Third Heaven, Hao Tian finally laughed. At last, he had exacted revenge on this young man. The matter of the Heavenly Streamer was one thing, but daring to seize the Primordial World's control—unforgivable indeed!

The killing of Ao Yu was just the beginning. Someday, he would personally strike down this youth.

Thinking he could save Ao Yu?

Impossible. Anyone wounded by the Seven Killing Sword had no chance of survival, especially when struck with the full force of the Flying Eagle.

Though Ao Yu's body appeared intact, every fiber within had already been ravaged by the Seven Killing Sword, and his Divine Soul was no exception.

The only reason he hadn't yet breathed his last was the Treasure Lotus Lamp defying the heavens.

Li Mingzhu carried Ao Yu into Chaos, sprinting frantically in uncharted directions.

At last, a Golden Bridge appeared beneath Li Mingzhu's feet. This was Nuwa, unable to bear the sight of Li Mingzhu's madness, who directly led him to Nuwa Palace.

"I beg the Lady's mercy—save Ao Yu!"

Li Mingzhu did not enter Nuwa Palace but knelt at the gates, his face etched with heartbreak as he pleaded.

"Her body has crumbled, her Divine Soul shattered. Not even my teacher could restore her. Lingzhuzi, remember your mission. Ao Yu may not deserve death, but in such great tribulations, who truly does? Don't let obsession consume you!"

Nuwa sighed and said no more.

For someone of her Saint status to offer such words was already exceedingly kind. To bring Ao Yu here seeking redemption was, in itself, an unreasonable request.

Li Mingzhu's spirit, which had just begun to rally, withered once more upon hearing her response.

Since arriving in the Primordial World, his journey had always been smooth. But now, at his first setback, he was struck with calamity, feeling as if clear skies had turned to blustering storms.

Even with his resolute Dao heart, he struggled to accept this reality.

Perhaps he might overcome it someday, but this moment wasn't one to laugh lightly—it was impossible. Though the Dao is unfeeling, humans are full of feeling!

Li Mingzhu, holding Ao Yu, shuffled forward with slow, painful steps, leaving Nuwa Palace behind.

Inside the palace, Nuwa herself seemed lost in thought, her expression tinged with sorrow as she helplessly spoke: "Perhaps you could try the underworld. There may be a way to save Ao Yu there!"

Li Mingzhu, who had lost all hope, instantly regained his spark at Nuwa's words. Without pausing to thank her, he darted out of Nuwa Palace.

Scrambling madly toward the underworld, Li Mingzhu had regained his clarity. He understood the gravity of time for him and Ao Yu.

The core of the Treasure Lotus Lamp was indeed miraculous, preserving Ao Yu's life for now, but it had limits.

If he couldn't save Ao Yu in time, once the energy of the Treasure Lotus Lamp Core depleted, there would truly be no hope.

Now, he raced against death—every second mattered.

Past the Blood Sea lay the Yellow Spring Road. Various spectral spirits and ghost messengers filled the path, whom Li Mingzhu ignored, flying above them.

Before the Yellow Spring Road appeared the waters of the River of Oblivion.

To cross Oblivion, one must ride the Ferry of the Other Shore.

The River of Oblivion also harbored a bridge known as Naihe Bridge.

The Ferry of the Other Shore carries immortal souls; Naihe Bridge bears human souls.

To the left of Naihe Bridge lies a forest filled with Other Shore flowers, their enchanted blue petals eerily beautiful.

To the right of Naihe Bridge stands the Three-Life Stone, allowing departed souls who drink Mengpo Soup to glimpse their past lives and fate, before entering the underworld.

Meng Po herself was not the elderly figure of legend but a young woman—not particularly attractive, but not terrifying either.

Li Mingzhu wasn't here for reincarnation, so he avoided the Naihe Bridge altogether, choosing instead to fly directly over it, heading deeper into the underworld.

The woman currently known as Meng Po merely glanced at Li Mingzhu and Ao Yu in his arms before continuing her distribution of Mengpo Soup.

A faint song echoed from the River of Oblivion, forlorn and melancholy.

Sighing for mortal dust amidst the fleeting world, yearning only to be ordinary people, not Heavenly Immortals.

Bound by fate from the Purple Cloud Palace, matters tangled and hearts broken.

Lanterns entwined with red threads, purple auras yearning to connect.

Meeting again at Kunlun Mountain, hearts untouched, but minds filled with longing.

Above the Nine Heavens, the chill of a love turned to music.

On the edges of Chaos, in the Primordial World.

Mist turns to veil, lovers untouched.

Clouds drift afar, soil tilts askew.

The endless Yellow Spring stretches three thousand paths.

The murmuring waters called Oblivion.

The flow unending, laden with sorrow and grief.

On Naihe Bridge, a mere shadow chills alone.

Mengpo Soup cannot be exchanged anew.

In the next life, with you, entwined forever.