Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

"There's no choice—retreating without a fight is simply not my style!"

Li Mingzhu chuckled. Even Nüba could laugh now; it seems that recent reconciliation with Xuanyuan at Fire Cloud Cave had gone well.

"Knowing you'll lose, yet still choosing to fight—what foolishness!"

Nüba returned to her cold, indifferent demeanor. After reprimanding Li Mingzhu, she spoke no further.

This visit to Fire Cloud Cave not only resolved the grudges with Xuanyuan but also revealed, through the divinations of Fu Xi, Ying Long's place of reincarnation.

To Nüba, there was no better news than this, so naturally, she no longer carried her previous grim countenance.

"Hao Tian's scheme—if I refuse to fight, I'll have no way to return to the North Sea, let alone continue my plans. Moreover, even if I don't fight, Hao Tian will still find ways to draw me into his web."

Li Mingzhu remarked helplessly. Such was the reasoning: even wanting to escape was a futile endeavor.

Hao Tian was undoubtedly determined to eliminate him on his journey to the North Sea. Even if Li Mingzhu didn't step into his trap, Hao Tian had countless methods to force him in.

"Let's keep going. From here on, leave it to me!"

Nüba said no more and simply took it upon herself to face the upcoming trials.

Li Mingzhu smiled bitterly. Although the further they ventured, the greater the danger, it was impossible for him to let Nüba face it alone.

The party continued their journey, while at Lingxiao Palace, Hao Tian was now genuinely troubled—not by the fact that Li Mingzhu and his companions had already overcome six trials,

but by the unexpected presence of Nüba. What's to be done with her? As for the final three trials, Hao Tian had absolute confidence in them.

Even a late-stage Quasi-Saint would face certain death. However, if Nüba truly perished, that would spell grave trouble!

She was none other than the only daughter of Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor. Should anything happen to her, Hao Tian would find it difficult to bear the consequences.

To kill Li Mingzhu and face pressure from the Saints was something he might endure with Daoist Ancestor's protection. But harming Nüba? Even Daoist Ancestor might not shield him from that fallout.

The final three trials, each brimming with lethal danger, left no chance even for Quasi-Saints to survive, unless they were extraordinary figures like Hao Tian himself—peerless beneath the Saints.

These final three trials bore a name: "Ascending to Heaven," each trial loftier than the one before.

The reason being that these last three trials were formed by three separate microcosms, consecrated in the names of the Three Pure Ones!

Among the Thirty-Three Heavens, the uppermost three heavens birthed microcosms under the Heavenly Dao.

The Primordial World had its Heavenly Dao, and so did each microcosm. The last three heavens of the Thirty-Three Heavens were no exception—they too embodied a semblance of the Heavenly Dao.

Though it could not compare to the Primordial World's Heavenly Dao, it nonetheless wielded the power of its respective microcosm.

Thus existed the last three heavens: a death sentence to all but those as mighty as Hao Tian—peerless beneath the Saints.

Upper Pure Heaven, Yuqing Heaven, Taiching Heaven!

These three realms were initially reserved for the Three Pure Ones. Yet, how could the Three Pure Ones possibly care for these realms in the Heavenly Court? Finally, they ceded authority over them to Hao Tian.

Now, however, Hao Tian was employing them here to sever Li Mingzhu's path!

"Jie Sect's Duobao Heavenly Monarch has arrived, and Wudang Saint Mother has arrived!"

Just as Hao Tian was caught in his predicament, Duobao and Wudang Saint Mother arrived hand-in-hand.

Given Hao Tian's ostentatious targeting of Li Mingzhu, how could Duobao not know? Upon learning what Hao Tian was employing, he rushed to the Heavenly Court with Wudang Saint Mother.

The Nine-layered Heaven Pass—Duobao had heard of it. Even he knew he could never cross it, to say nothing of Li Mingzhu.

But what puzzled Duobao was how Tongtian, his master, would've been aware of this. Why, then, remained he silent? Could it be he truly intended to watch Li Mingzhu meet his end?

Despite having no directions from Tongtian, Duobao could not sit idly by. After discussing with Wudang Saint Mother, they came to the Heavenly Court.

"Two Fellow Daoists! Such rare guests. What brings you to my humble Heavenly Court today?"

Hao Tian greeted Duobao and Wudang in Red Cloud Palace, his face all smiles. Coming to plead for help now, weren't they?

"Great Heavenly Venerate, let us speak frankly—we won't play word games. Withdraw the Nine-layered Heaven Pass, and I will settle all disputes on behalf of Mingzhu. From now on, we will not meddle in Heavenly Court's affairs!"

Duobao showed decisiveness, prioritizing saving Li Mingzhu above all else. Everything else could be sacrificed.

"Are you in any position to make such a promise? Our young friend Mingzhu seeks to claim two of this Venerate's divine thrones!"

Hao Tian sneered, his words deliberately expressing double meanings.

"I am qualified to make this decision. As long as Great Heavenly Venerate withdraws the Nine-layered Heaven Pass, all the plans of Nephew Mingzhu shall cease entirely!"

"Very well."

Hao Tian agreed. However, while he retracted the Nine-layered Heaven Pass, he added, "The lesson to be learned must yet be delivered!"

Duobao and Wudang sighed helplessly. The times were against them; they had no choice but to bow their heads.

The key issue was that without Tongtian's orders, they dared not disregard Li Mingzhu's life and turn against Hao Tian.

Meanwhile, beyond Chaos, several Saints convened in conversation.

"Hao Tian's use of the Nine-layered Heaven Pass—he has overstepped!"

Laozi of Taiching, as the foremost among the Saints, set the tone for the discussion with his opening statement.

"Indeed. To dare lay hands upon even the Three Pure Heavens—truly ignorant arrogance!"

Primordial Yuqing, clothed in a white Daoist robe, spoke with cold detachment.

How Hao Tian schemed against Li Mingzhu mattered not to him. But daring to manipulate the Three Pure Heavens was a blatant challenge to the Saints' authority—utterly unforgivable!

"That's well and good. However, what Li Mingzhu is plotting is no small matter. Between Gouchen and Ziwei—and their positions—he can have but one!"

Zhunti did not object but turned his gaze to the contested rankings of the Four Imperial Lords.

"Li Mingzhu bears the Purple Emperor Seal. Why should he not claim the Ziwei position? As for Gouchen's position, it is equally within his rightful grasp!"

Tongtian scoffed coldly. The positions of the Four Imperial Lords—if not Li Mingzhu's to claim, it certainly was not for Zhunti to interfere!

"I, of Chan Sect, will claim the Southern Longevity Emperor's throne!"

Primordial spoke unusually without opposition, staking his claim for the Southern Longevity Emperor's position instead.

This role, in ages to come, was to be held by the Elder of the Southern Pole. Neither Laozi nor Tongtian raised objections.

"So then, let Li Mingzhu suffer some hardship!"

Zhunti sneered. Clearly, he was uncomfortable, facing the united pressure of the three Eastern Saints.

"Agreed."

Primordial approved. Tongtian wished to protest, but Laozi quelled him.

"In that case, issue the Jade Talisman Decree!"

Spoke Laozi, as he traced his finger through the void, manifesting a Jade Talisman in mid-air.

"Agreed."

The Saints unanimously consented, imprinting their seals upon the Talisman.

"Xuandu, deliver this Talisman to the Heavenly Court!"

Once completed, Laozi handed the decree to Xuandu to deliver to the Heavenly Court.

Though it did not directly punish Hao Tian, its implications were unmistakable—a warning sufficiently clear, while simultaneously stripping away three of the Four Imperial thrones.