Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Meeting but not recognizing each other, because they were destined to be two impossible beings.

One was a carefree and unconstrained floating white cloud, while the other was a mountain formed by accumulated dust, immovable and steadfast.

After Zhen Yuanzi pulled Hongyun away, he had been cultivating painstakingly at Longevity Mountain, seeking the opportunity to prove the Dao, but unfortunately, he could not become a Saint.

During the third lecture at the Purple Cloud Palace, Houtu did not attend. Instead, she joined the twelve ancestor witches to annihilate the Demon Clan's lair.

Although they did not uproot the Heavenly Court completely, it suffered severe losses, and at least for a long time afterward, they had to avoid confronting the Witch Clan.

After the great battle, Houtu did not return to the Witch Clan but began wandering the Primordial World.

Looking at the vengeful spirits drifting aimlessly in the Primordial World, Houtu suddenly felt a pang in her heart. She wanted to do something for them but found herself powerless.

She could only watch helplessly as they were either refined into Magical Treasures or dissolved by the passage of time, utterly incapable of doing anything.

As she walked, Houtu eventually arrived at the Blood Sea on the banks of the River Styx. Although her intentions were unclear, the River Styx chose not to provoke her and let her be.

In this Blood Sea, there were even more vengeful spirits, but in the end, they were all devoured by the sea.

At this moment, Houtu seemed to attain an epiphany: all beings in the Primordial World had something to rely on, but why did these vengeful spirits have nothing?

Realizing this, Houtu's expression suddenly became sorrowful, as if she had understood her destiny.

Simultaneously, in that instant, her Primordial Spirit was born, and her cultivation soared rapidly, nearing the level of a Saint.

With such cultivation, she caught a glimpse of a fragment of the Witch Clan's future destiny, which made her even more sorrowful.

Houtu suddenly soared above the Blood Sea, releasing an aura close to that of a Saint, unmatched and invincible.

"Let the Six Paths of Reincarnation manifest!"

Houtu shouted, and her ancestor witch body began to slowly disintegrate, leaving only the illusory Primordial Spirit.

Houtu transformed into the Reincarnation, and the entire Primordial World knew and bowed in reverence.

Moved by Houtu's compassion, even the Demon Clan, which was hostile to the Witch Clan, respectfully addressed her as "Lady Houtu."

The saying "Heaven is above, Houtu is below" originated here.

"Houtu's benevolence exceeds mine!"

The Western sage Jieyin sighed infinitely. Though he deemed himself sufficiently compassionate and virtuous, he paled in comparison to Houtu.

Once the Six Paths of Reincarnation were established, the underworld emerged but lacked the current structures of Hell or the Naihe Bridge, containing only a palace.

Far away at Wuzhuang Temple, Hongyun naturally learned of Houtu sacrificing herself to create the Reincarnation. He felt a pang in his heart but struggled to articulate his emotions.

After all, there was no substantial relationship between them, not even a reason to feel pain.

Houtu transformed into Reincarnation, ceasing to be part of the Witch Clan; Ping Xin now held authority over Reincarnation.

Long unable to achieve Saint-hood through comprehension, Hongyun left Longevity Mountain at this moment—perhaps due to his fruitless cultivation or Houtu's actions.

Unclear!

After departing Longevity Mountain and Wuzhuang Temple, Hongyun transformed into a wisp of red cloud drifting aimlessly across the sky.

Drifting and drifting, he eventually arrived near the Blood Sea. Realizing where he was, Hongyun decided to observe the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

Even knowing it was impossible, he still wanted to see.

Yet fate had already decided: there would be no more chances.

Emperor Jun, Donghuang, Kunpeng, the two Demon Emperors, and the Demon Master joined forces, even deploying the Celestial Star Battle Formation, intent on obtaining the Hongmeng Purple Qi.

"Hongyun, surrender the Hongmeng Purple Qi and we'll spare your life, or don't blame us for being ruthless!"

Kunpeng sneered coldly. Though Donghuang and Emperor Jun disapproved of Kunpeng's demeanor, they chose to remain silent.

"Impossible!"

Hongyun rejected outright. How could he relinquish it? It was his opportunity to become a Saint!

"Then die!"

With domineering force, Taiyi wielded the Donghuang Bell, striking directly while the Celestial Star Battle Formation above rained endless starlight.

The outcome needs no elaboration. When the three demon titans strike alongside the Celestial Star Battle Formation, in the Primordial World, who but a Saint could survive?

Meanwhile, within the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Houtu could only watch helplessly as everything unfolded, utterly unable to interfere.

She couldn't leave the underworld.

Though her Houtu Pity Light could preserve Hongyun's shattered soul, and even her drop of Sad Tears could fully restore him, she lacked even the ability to summon Hongyun's fragmented soul!

A seven-colored radiance flickered beside Houtu, disappeared, then returned again, carrying the remnants of Hongyun's fast-fading soul.

But it was too late.

A clear tear slid down Houtu's cheek, caught by the Divine Beast Liuli. Warm yet cold—a paradox impossible to unravel.

"Not dwelling on it, yet unforgettable. Ten thousand years of life and death, boundless and sorrowful."

"The fragmented soul was planted by Houtu in the Riverside Forest, transforming into the seeds of Bianhua. Back then, they weren't yet called Bianhua; Houtu named them Manjusri Flowers. As their leaves fell and blossoms bloomed, they never saw one another—lifetimes eternally estranged."

The story abruptly ended with Meng Po's final words. Li Mingzhu finally understood the true nature of Sad Tears.

At the same time, he was shocked that such a past was entangled in the matter—how could it be recorded when it had no beginning?

"Aren't you Houtu?"

Li Mingzhu was puzzled. Based on handed-down manuscripts and Meng Po's tone, she was surely Houtu!

"No, Houtu is me, but I am not Houtu!"

Meng Po directly denied it. She was a sliver of Houtu's consciousness but possessed her independent thoughts.

Just as Houtu still longed for Hongyun, Meng Po treated him as an irrelevant story of a stranger.

"Then how can I obtain that drop of Sad Tears? If I'm not mistaken, that drop of Sad Tears must currently be with the Divine Beast Liuli, right?"

Though moved by the ill-fated connection between Houtu and Hongyun, Li Mingzhu remained fixated on obtaining Sad Tears—it was the only thing capable of saving Ao Yu.

"It lies within this Riverside Forest. Truthfully, Liuli resides here. In fact, Bianhua has always been one singular flower; the rest are merely illusions created by Liuli. If you can find the true Bianhua, you'll naturally obtain Sad Tears."

"Finding it is easier said than done. Illusions that deceive the eyes at all times—no wonder Liuli is worthy of being an Ancient Divine Beast!"

Li Mingzhu took the words and sighed.

"Indeed. However, one thing to note: do not view Liuli lightly. Though Hongyun once subdued Liuli with ease and claimed that its combat strength was weak, remember that during their time, even the weakest were late-stage Quasi-Saints."

What they considered weak might not be so easy for you to handle."

Meng Po spoke again. By now, the wine on the table had long been emptied.