Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Who could say for certain about such things? In any case, Li Mingzhu harbored nothing but genuine blessings for Meng Po as she departed.

"Where is this? Didn't I already die?"

Ao Yu woke up with a face full of confusion. Looking around at the unfamiliar Illusion Realm, she appeared utterly perplexed, though her eyes lit up upon seeing Li Mingzhu, as though she had found her anchor in the storm.

"This is the Rebirth Inn, by the Naihe Bridge. You're certainly not dead!"

Li Mingzhu smiled as he spoke. While it seemed that Ao Yu had forgotten everything that happened following her memory loss, it was clear that not only had her injuries completely healed, but her previous memories had also returned.

"Don't tell me I haven't died. Isn't the Naihe Bridge part of the underworld? I've already reached the underworld, so how could I not be dead? Still, being able to see Brother Mingzhu once more, even in death... I have no regrets!"

Ao Yu wore a face marked by both sorrow and deep contentment.

Her desires had always been simple. Even now, to see her beloved in her final moments was enough.

"Die? What nonsense! You were saved. Now, leave already!"

Standing by, the newly appointed Meng Po, Liuli, couldn't stand it any longer. She promptly barked at them to leave.

"Who are you? What business is this of yours if I'm talking to Brother Mingzhu?"

Ao Yu snorted coldly. After her near-death resurrection, her temperament seemed to revert to that of the mischievous Princess of the Dragon Clan once more.

Though the change wasn't overly apparent yet, one could sense traces of that old demeanor.

"Who am I? I am the Divine Beast Liuli, the current Meng Po, and also the one who saved your life!"

Liuli proclaimed with exceptional pride and impatience.

"Brother Mingzhu, is this true?" Ao Yu quietly pulled Li Mingzhu aside and asked.

"Indeed, it's true. Alright, let's be on our way now. Our journey through the underworld is complete." Li Mingzhu laughed, casually bidding farewell to Liuli before leading Ao Yu away.

Li Mingzhu, naturally, would not tell Ao Yu about the events that occurred after her death. If she could forget, that would be best. It was enough for him to bear those dark memories alone.

"If one day you tire of being Meng Po, come to the North Sea!"

As Li Mingzhu gazed at the receding figure of the Naihe Bridge, he suddenly spoke, not caring whether Liuli heard him or not.

He had initially intended to pay his respects to Ping Xin, but upon reflection, he decided it made no real difference.

After all, to go would only add to his sorrows.

Having the gratitude engraved in his heart was enough; saying excessive thanks aloud was an empty gesture.

He gave a brief summary of the events in the underworld and explained them to Ao Yu. In short, it was Ping Xin and Meng Po who intervened to save her life.

As for his own role, Li Mingzhu deliberately understated it to the point of near omission.

Although Ao Yu knew there must be more to the story, she couldn't pry if Li Mingzhu chose not to share. She could only follow him back to the North Sea.

Nearly a year had passed, and the North Sea had finally stabilized. The people lived in peace and contentment, and Li Jing governed the region with remarkable efficiency.

Although he was merely a regional marquis, the prosperity under his rule rivaled that of Chaoge.

The Golden Body Cave Mansion, devised by Li Mingzhu, was being excavated in an orderly manner, not delayed by his absence.

In fact, compared to Chaoge, North Sea City now radiated even greater vitality—everything was moving in the best possible direction.

Nonetheless, a lingering regret remained: Li Mingzhu had yet to return.

Though the Marquis of Beihai was Li Jing, everyone knew that the true soul of the North Sea was Li Mingzhu. Without Li Mingzhu, something always felt off.

But today, Li Mingzhu returned, bringing Ao Yu with him.

Seeing Li Mingzhu return with Ao Yu, unscathed, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. The ones most deeply affected were the Yin family and Yang Chan.

For one was his mother, and the other, his soulmate—they naturally shared in his emotions.

Despite the joyous atmosphere among the crowd, Li Mingzhu didn't immediately join the welcoming banquet they had prepared. Instead, he declared that he needed to seclude himself for a period... his aura brimming with killing intent!

"Has the princess returned?"

As Li Mingzhu, Yang Chan, and Ao Yu strolled through the rear courtyard, Li Mingzhu turned to ask Yang Chan, who had steadfastly remained by his side through thick and thin.

"She has returned, but ever since, she's been confined to her courtyard and hasn't stepped outside."

Li Mingzhu understood. Nüba was consumed by guilt. If she had been present back then, the assassin would have stood no chance of harming Ao Yu.

"Li Mingzhu seeks an audience with the Princess. Ao Yu is fine now, so there's no need for you to blame yourself. I plan to set up a grand array and use the power of three Spiritual Treasures to deduce the whereabouts of the culprit. Would you be interested?"

Standing before Nüba's courtyard, Li Mingzhu didn't enter. Instead, he stated his intentions and then turned to leave.

"You go in!"

Li Mingzhu softly instructed Ao Yu. Nüba's only vulnerability was Ao Yu; she would only lower her guard for her.

"Once you find them, I will go with you!"

A steely, ice-cold voice emanated from the courtyard, carrying an immense, chilling killing intent.

Returning to his own courtyard, Li Mingzhu set up a defensive array to ensure he wouldn't be disturbed, then began contemplating how to fuse the River Map, the Luo Book, and the Dream Disc perfectly for his calculations.

In previous attempts, he had tried using the River Map and Luo Book or the Dream Disc separately for his deductions, but both efforts had failed to determine the culprit's location. Hence, this new idea emerged.

At this moment, the item most valuable to him was undoubtedly the scroll gifted by Fu Xi. Its records on deductions and arrays were extraordinarily rich.

The Jie Sect was skilled in array formations, but they excelled primarily in offensive battle formations, whereas Fu Xi excelled in esoteric, mystical methods.

Later generations spoke of the "Eight Doors of the Jianghu," which included: Rest, Life, Harm, Hurdle, Sight, Death, Shock, and Open—each symbolizing a particular skill among wanderers. Among these, the Rest Door, representing Qimen Dunjia, was considered foremost, with Fu Xi, known as the Green Emperor, revered as its ancestral master.

Blindly copying was out of the question. Li Mingzhu comprehended his own array formation. While he couldn't fully harness the powers of the three Spiritual Treasures, his method was unquestionably better than using them independently.

No matter who the mastermind was or where they hid, Li Mingzhu was already determined: even if it meant searching the farthest heavens or deepest netherworlds, he would find them.

When it came to himself, Li Mingzhu might have been indifferent. But harming someone dear to him—especially Ao Yu—meant the perpetrator would undoubtedly pay the price, even if it cost him everything!

The Dragon has its reverse scale; touch it, and you will die!

There was no doubt about it—Ao Yu was one of Li Mingzhu's reverse scales.

The array Li Mingzhu designed was a fusion of the Three Talents Formation and the Ziwei Taiyin Star Array. The former was an offensive formation, the latter a divination array.

The ability to merge two fundamentally different types of arrays was likely a feat only Li Mingzhu, possessing the strengths of both schools, could achieve.

This wasn't just about unparalleled talent in arrays; it also hinged on mindset and resources. First, Li Mingzhu had the imaginative thinking required, and second, he had the means—both array systems had been imparted to him by his elders with no reservations.