Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Even if you can't endure, you must endure!

Looking at the weakening Ao Yu, Li Mingzhu stood up again without saying a word, awaiting the arrival of the next punch.

"Sigh!"

King Qinguang sighed deeply. Though reluctant, Houtu's orders had to be followed.

Punch after punch landed, but Li Mingzhu never made a single sound of protest.

No matter how King Qinguang struck, he endured it silently. As long as he wasn't dead, as long as he had one breath left, Li Mingzhu would not fall.

Time and again, he collapsed in pools of blood, and time and again, he rose up anew—repeatedly welcoming King Qinguang's fists.

"Just one more punch!"

Li Mingzhu rose from the ground once again. Though his breaths were faint, his back remained straight and unbroken.

"After this final punch, not only will we Ten Halls Yama no longer stand in your way, but within the underworld, before you meet the Lady Ping Xin, no one will obstruct or provoke you either!"

King Qinguang steadied himself, then delivered the final punch with fierce force.

Li Mingzhu stared directly at the punch, refusing to defend himself.

"Blood splattered everywhere!"

Li Mingzhu fell to the ground again, but remarkably, he once more rose resolutely. The Nine Revolution Profound Skill was indeed formidable. If the Physical Strength of his body weren't at Li Mingzhu's Realm, and without cultivating the Nine Revolution Profound Skill, he'd have undoubtedly perished under King Qinguang's ten punches.

Hunched over and dragging his injured body, Li Mingzhu limped away, leading Ao Yu deeper into the underworld. Beyond the Ten Yama Palaces lies the Eighteen Layers of Hell.

The wails of wandering spirits reverberated, and countless specters toiled under the supervision of various infernal messengers, forcing souls to face their punishments.

The first level of the Eighteen Layers of Hell—the Tongue-pulling Hell.

In life, those who sow discord, slander and harm others, use deceitful flattery or lies, are cast into the Tongue-pulling Hell upon death. There, demons pry open their lips, clamp their tongues with iron tongs, and pull them out—not in one swift motion, but slow, excruciating stretches... Before progressing to the Scissors Hell.

The second level—the Scissors Hell.

If, during a widow's grieving period for her husband's untimely passing, one incites her to remarry or arranges her betrothal, they are cast into the Scissors Hell upon death, where their ten fingers are severed!

The third level—the Iron Tree Hell.

Those who break familial bonds, provoke estrangements between fathers and sons, brothers, sisters, or spouses, are sent to the Iron Tree Hell after death. Razor-sharp edges adorn the iron trees—piercing flesh from the back before hanging the offender upon them. Afterward, they are ushered into the Mirror Hell and Steaming Cage Hell.

The fourth level—the Mirror Hell.

Those who commit crimes in life but conceal their deeds through bribery or deception, eventually meet their end and are sent to the Mirror Hell upon arriving in the underworld. The Mirror reveals their crimes, and they are subsequently punished in other designated hells.

The fifth level—the Steaming Cage Hell.

Those who spread gossip, slander, or malicious lies—commonly called "long-tongued women"—are cast into the Steaming Cage Hell after death. Their bodies are steamed within a cage. Afterward, cold winds reshape their forms and return them to the Tongue-pulling Hell.

The sixth level—the Copper Pillar Hell.

Arsonists who maliciously set fires to destroy evidence, seek revenge, or harm others, are sent to the Copper Pillar Hell after death. Stripped naked, they are forced to embrace a copper pillar heated with roaring flames inside. The infernal blaze renders the pillar glowing red-hot.

......

The eighth level—the Iron Bed Hell....

The ninth level—the Covering Mountain Hell.....

The tenth level—the Cold Ice Hell.....

The eleventh level—the Skin Stripping Hell....

The twelfth level—the Beast Hell....

The thirteenth level—the Sword and Spear Hell....

The fourteenth level—the Iron Mill Hell....

The fifteenth level—the Crucifixion Hell....

The sixteenth level—the Iron Book Hell....

The seventeenth level—the Maggot Hell...

The eighteenth level—the Copper Melting Hell....

Li Mingzhu traversed them one by one, forging ahead even in his severely injured state. Otherwise, he could simply have flown through them.

The end of the Eighteen Layers of Hell leads to the Six Paths of Reincarnation. In reality, the entire underworld is contained within the Six Paths of Reincarnation, classified as the Hell Path.

The Six Paths of Reincarnation are divided into the Heavenly Dao, Human Path, Asura Dao, Beast Path, Hungry Ghost Path, and Hell Path.

The underworld itself belongs to the Hell Path, whereas the Nether River Blood Sea belongs to the Asura Dao. The Heavenly Dao, in contrast, entails direct transformation into celestial beings—born as Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, albeit mere cannon fodder.

After all, if that wasn't the case, how could Hao Tian's Heavenly Court remain so fragile?

"What are the Six Paths?"

Before a massive grindstone, a voice of profound resonance emerged—imbued with both Nuwa's sanctity and an overwhelming sense of authority.

"The places where all beings find solace—that is the Six Paths!"

Li Mingzhu voiced his understanding, knowing that this was surely Houtu's test for him. Likely, even the earlier obstruction from the Ten Halls Yama was orchestrated by Houtu.

"Wrong!"

Li Mingzhu showed confusion. If the Six Paths weren't where all beings reincarnate, then what were they?

"I used to view it this way, but now I believe: wherever my heart finds peace—that is the Six Paths."

"Your purpose for coming here is already clear to me. But even Saints cannot resolve this injury—do you think I, a crippled old woman, could possibly have the means?"

Houtu's voice echoed again from the Six Paths, prompting Li Mingzhu to kneel hastily and plead for her intervention.

"I beg the Lady to show mercy and save Ao Yu. As long as Ao Yu can be saved, I am willing to meet any condition."

"Any condition? What if I asked for all your cultivation and all your Physical Strength to exchange for her fragile life—would you agree?"

Houtu's form suddenly materialized above the Six Paths, draped in flowing dark-green veils, regal and noble.

"I agree!"

Without hesitation, Li Mingzhu responded. Becoming an ordinary person wasn't a concern to him. After all, arriving in the Primordial World was already a lucky chance—and saving Ao Yu's life made it worthwhile.

Houtu's Primordial Spirit, manifested as Lady Ping Xin, stared deeply into Li Mingzhu's eyes. Yet he met her gaze unwaveringly, resolute and steadfast.

Whatever it took to save Ao Yu, he would do.

"To save her isn't entirely impossible, but it depends on whether you possess the capability!"

Houtu suddenly spoke, casting a yellowish glow over Li Mingzhu, healing his injuries in an instant.

"Don't overthink it. Even if you agreed to give your life to me, what use would your life be to me? If you're truly willing, simply remember this: when the critical moment comes, lend the Witch Clan a hand. Furthermore, even if I tell you the method, there's no guarantee you'll succeed."

Houtu interrupted Li Mingzhu before he could speak further. Simultaneously, a greenish aura flowed toward Ao Yu.

As the light enveloped her, Ao Yu slowly opened her eyes, even moving her fingers.

"Ao Yu, Ao Yu, you've awakened?"

But no matter how Li Mingzhu called out, Ao Yu seemed soulless, blank and unresponsive.

"This merely preserves her life temporarily. Moreover, it will only last a year. What you need to do is to take her to the Birchwood Forest and survive there. Within that year, you must make her fall in love with you again. The true salvation lies within the Birchwood Forest. Whether you can find it depends on your own abilities!"

Houtu restrained Li Mingzhu before vanishing without another word!