Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Although it was an illusion, the experiences within were incredibly real; otherwise, they wouldn't have fooled this Divine Beast, Luli.

Every experience cut into the soul, unforgettable. Although Ao Yu had not yet woken after consuming the Bi An Flower, Li Mingzhu had already checked, and there wasn't any major problem.

Now, everything seemed well again, the storm had passed. Li Mingzhu let out a long sigh of relief.

Ao Yu was sleeping peacefully, and as long as Li Mingzhu was unharmed, that was all that mattered.

With this in mind, Li Mingzhu could finally put his mind at ease and prepare to battle Luli. Although the Bi An Flower had saved Ao Yu, Li Mingzhu did not think this Divine Beast Luli deserved any credit.

Especially since, in the final moments, it even attempted to provoke discord between Li Mingzhu and Ao Yu. No wonder Houtu had previously said that Ao Yu might need to fall in love with her all over again.

If Ao Yu hadn't been so deeply attached to Li Mingzhu, he might have chosen to consume the Bi An Flower himself at the last moment, falling straight into Luli's trap.

Li Mingzhu couldn't forget the serious tone Meng Po had used when warning him about Luli's knack for manipulating people's hearts. Luckily, with the Spirit Communication Eye, Li Mingzhu was impervious to such illusions, and Ao Yu, having lost his memories, was as blank a slate as pure white paper—his mind held nothing but Li Mingzhu.

With no distractions, there was no fear or hesitation!

What did death matter to her, as long as Li Mingzhu lived?

"How did you break this illusion?"

The Divine Beast Luli was enveloped in a seven-colored radiance, obscuring its true form entirely. Even its voice made it impossible to discern gender.

"How I broke your illusion is irrelevant. What matters is that right now, I have half a mind to bash you senseless!"

Killing Luli was, of course, not something Li Mingzhu could bring himself to do. However, the grievances in his heart needed an outlet. Without this Divine Beast Luli, he might have saved Ao Yu far sooner.

Besides, this Divine Beast Luli was Houtu's beast, and Li Mingzhu dared not truly harm it, as she was his great benefactress.

"Fine! Have at it then!"

Luli chuckled lightly, its form shifting. In a flash, it reappeared directly beside Li Mingzhu.

In that instant, Li Mingzhu's Fire-Tipped Spear erupted in an endless spray of sparks, mercilessly striking down toward Luli's radiant shield, the clash filling the air with brilliance.

After setbacks and isolation, Li Mingzhu's domineering aura had grown even thicker. That overwhelming presence, as if it could shake the heavens and rend the earth, left onlookers in awe when they saw him confront Luli.

Though they knew Li Mingzhu was strong, no one had realized just how powerful he truly was. If they'd known earlier, they might not have agreed to this. They had assumed he wouldn't dare make a move.

For a moment, even Luli felt a flicker of regret. Yet, as a Divine Beast, it possessed the pride of its kind. Having agreed to the fight, there was no room for backing down now.

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

In these past months, Li Mingzhu had endured the great sorrow of Ao Yu's brush with death, a glimmer of hope at Nuwa Palace, obstruction by the Ten Yamas of the underworld, and now, at last, a sense of closure.

Though it had been less than nine months, the weight of it all had deeply suppressed him. Now was the perfect moment to let it all erupt.

The Four Styles of Dominance Spear unified once again, and Li Mingzhu grew more frenzied in each strike. Life is meant to be lived with unrestrained joy. His youthful arrogance and sharp edge were the truest expression of self at this time.

Perhaps it was the influence of memories from his past life that had made Li Mingzhu overly composed and reserved. Yet, after such highs and lows, his true nature finally emerged.

"Madman!"

Luli roared furiously, conjuring a seven-colored palace that stood resiliently against Li Mingzhu's spear.

"Enough, I yield!"

A seven-colored fairy emerged atop Luli's palace, waving her hands to signal an end to the fight.

If this continued, she was sure to lose and perhaps even suffer a beating—a result she was quite unwilling to endure.

She had thought she could easily suppress Li Mingzhu, which was why she agreed to engage in the fight. Who could have guessed how ferocious he'd become?

Truth be told, although Li Mingzhu hadn't deliberately cultivated during this time, his strength had clearly increased significantly over the months.

His physical body aside, he had already naturally advanced to the early stages of Golden Immortal cultivation.

"Whether we continue or not isn't up to you!"

Li Mingzhu snorted coldly. Though Luli was a woman, she still deserved to be taught a lesson.

Otherwise, all the suffering Li Mingzhu had endured in the Eight Hundred Li of Yellow Sands would have been for nothing.

How could there be such an easy escape?

"Something's happening over there!"

Though Li Mingzhu wanted to continue, Luli pointed toward the direction of the Inn of Passing Lives with a firm tone.

Scanning with his Divine Sense, Li Mingzhu indeed detected something and thus gave up his pursuit.

There was no real need to determine a victor, after all. Li Mingzhu just wanted to vent. Any further fighting to the death would only be awkward in the end.

Carrying Ao Yu, he and Luli headed toward the Inn of Passing Lives. Luli also withdrew her radiant palace, the Luli Palace. Only then did Li Mingzhu notice that Luli, without her blinding aura, was a delicate and elegant young woman.

Though she could not compare to the striking beauty of Daji or Lady Xi, nor did she possess Xiao Qian's pure innocence, her seven-colored brilliance lent her an extraordinary air despite her otherwise ordinary looks.

"Let's go!"

Li Mingzhu moved first, and it wasn't long before the two arrived at the Inn of Passing Lives.

Meanwhile, in the Eight Hundred Li Yellow Sands, the Bi An Flowers had blossomed. An endless expanse of vibrant petals stretched out—a far cry from the illusory wasteland it had been before. It wasn't that the Bi An Flowers couldn't bloom, but that their tears had kept them from flowering.

Glancing back at the Bi An Forest, Li Mingzhu didn't linger and pressed forward.

Within the Inn of Passing Lives, Meng Po's form was growing increasingly transparent. Upon seeing Li Mingzhu return, she finally smiled.

"There is no real Sad Tears. The only thing that could save Ao Yu was this fragment of my soul. Don't grieve; I am going to reincarnate. I hope to meet him in the vast red dust of the mortal realm—I know he's not dead!"

With these words, Meng Po vanished, leaving only a faint green light that drifted toward the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

Though the story was real, from the start, Li Mingzhu had always been the one being tested. Sad Tears did exist, but Meng Po was Sad Tears herself—a fragment of Houtu's soul.

If Li Mingzhu could pass the trials, he would naturally be able to save Ao Yu. If not, there would be no need for further discussion, as Houtu would never intervene.

Perhaps this was what Houtu had always desired—a fragment of her soul pursuing her true longing through reincarnation.

It might seem that Li Mingzhu was the biggest fool, manipulated at every turn. Yet, he bore no resentment.

He thought, perhaps, this was how it should be.

In the matters of love, who isn't a fool?

If Red Cloud hadn't been so foolish, he wouldn't have left the Wuzhuang Temple and wouldn't have perished.

If Houtu hadn't been so foolish, there would have been no Sad Tears, nor would Meng Po have guarded the Naihe Bridge for tens of thousands of years.

"From now on, I am Meng Po!"

From then on, the Naihe Bridge by the underworld lost its green-robed Meng Po and instead gained a seven-colored Meng Po.

Sighing at mortal life, amidst the transient world,

I only hope for ordinary folk, not to become heavenly immortals.

Under the Purple Cloud Palace, a bond is sealed.

Through looming uncertainty, my heart breaks inch by inch.

A lantern lights the red thread; purple spirit intends to connect.

On Kunlun Mountain, let us meet again.

A heart unchanging, harboring but one thought.

Above the Nine Heavens, desolation lingers; yearning becomes melody.

At the edge of Chaos, within the Primordial World,

The mist veils, and we do not meet.

Drifting clouds stretch afar, dust scatters askew.

The faint path of three thousand in the Netherworld,

The gentle flow of the River of Oblivion.

It cannot wash away the grief of longing.

Cold shadows linger on the Naihe Bridge.

The Meng Po Soup tastes no sweeter.

In the next life, let us entangle once more.

A low, melancholy voice once again echoed from the River of Oblivion. Where once Li Mingzhu didn't understand, now he completely grasped the meaning of this song!

May you meet each other in the next life. With sincere wishes, Li Mingzhu prayed for Meng Po, believing that Red Cloud's True Spirit might yet endure.

Though such a possibility was infinitesimally small, who could dare claim miracles don't exist?

After all, hadn't Ao Yu survived a wound even Saints deemed irreparable? And yet, he now lived!