Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

After returning to the North Sea, Li Mingzhu immediately went into seclusion, ignoring all worldly matters.

Previously, his spear technique had already developed the first form. While the second form was still in its infancy, it was not far from being fully deduced.

At Li Mingzhu's level, using others' techniques could still unleash considerable power, but in the end, those techniques were not truly his own.

Only techniques born of himself were the ones most suited to him. Influenced by Qianye Wuheng, Li Mingzhu had also begun to walk his own path.

In truth, even without Qianye Wuheng as inspiration, Li Mingzhu would have ultimately embarked on this path—perhaps merely at a later time.

The first form, named "Eternal Sovereignty Throughout the Ages," focused on fully manifesting Li Mingzhu's power. However, it required great preparation and was highly restrictive.

Although immensely powerful, it could not be used freely at all times. Thus, in envisioning the second form, Li Mingzhu considered two directions: one to complement the first form by mitigating its limitations,

and the other to stand as an independent domain that could be executed at will. There was no inherent superiority between the two paths.

In practice, however, Li Mingzhu leaned more toward the first approach. Otherwise, he would not have named it "Stepping Heaven," emphasizing methodical steps and spear movements. Each spear thrust appeared to exhaust power but in reality accumulated spear intent.

Thus, the second form, seemingly chaotic, was actually a preparation for the first form.

"Stepping Heaven Nine Steps," consisting of nine spear thrusts, culminated in "Eternal Sovereignty Throughout the Ages."

Although labeled the second form, in essence, it was an extension of the first, or rather, the two techniques were inherently intertwined.

Stepping Heaven Nine Steps. Eternal Sovereignty Throughout the Ages!

It took Li Mingzhu three whole months to fully deduce this spear technique. The difficulty of this process deepened Li Mingzhu's respect for Qianye Wuheng.

If deducing a spear technique was so challenging, one could only begin to imagine the obstacles and perils Qianye Wuheng faced in creating cultivation techniques.

After perfecting the spear technique, Li Mingzhu emerged from seclusion, eager to test its might. Naturally, he sought out Fu Yao.

After all, Fu Yao's strength was closest to his own. Although Li Mingzhu's cultivation level hadn't advanced during this seclusion, his overall power had grown tremendously.

"Let's agree on one thing first: no hits to the face!"

Fully aware of Li Mingzhu's abilities, Fu Yao had no illusions of winning. Dragged into this as a test subject, he quickly voiced his request.

Knowing he couldn't avoid it, he might as well face it head-on.

Fu Yao's willingness to go along was commendable, although he eventually left the training arena battered and bruised, retreating into seclusion for two months to recover.

The result of the duel was undeniable: Fu Yao, despite utilizing Kunpeng True Form, was overpowered in just two spear strikes by Li Mingzhu.

In the end, Li Mingzhu mercilessly landed a blow on Fu Yao's face, proving that among allies, thick skin was a must—a principle Li Mingzhu understood deeply.

During this time, Hao Tian, who had been scheming to undermine Li Mingzhu's foundation in the Mortal World, remained entirely dormant for five months. Even in Chaoge, there was no activity, leaving many puzzled.

However, on this very day, a black-robed Shen Gongbao rode a tiger into Chaoge!

This key figure in the Divine Enthronement finally stepped onto his designated stage.

At this point, the major authority of the Yin Shang dynasty had completely fallen into the hands of Lady Xi, while King Zhou had been reduced to little more than a puppet.

If not for the protection of the Emperor's Aura, King Zhou would likely have perished long ago.

Upon Shen Gongbao's arrival in Chaoge, he was promptly appointed as the State Preceptor and spent a lengthy private discussion with Lady Xi. After his appointment, Shen Gongbao did not stay long in Chaoge but instead embarked on a journey.

A month later, he returned, accompanied by two individuals of unusual appearance. And why were they called unusual?

The reason was obvious: one had verdant blue eyes, and the other bore pointed ears. Both stood over eight feet tall, distinctly different from ordinary people.

When Shen Gongbao brought the pair back to Chaoge, Lady Xi lavishly rewarded them by appointing them as Third-Rank Commanders.

At the same time, Lady Xi issued a decree under the name of King Zhou, summoning Northern Marquis Chong Houhu to Chaoge, ready to set her plans against the North Sea into motion.

Knowing Li Mingzhu's immense capability, Lady Xi had been cautious and meticulous in her preparations.

In addition to Shen Gongbao's recruits, the extent of Lady Xi's covert preparations remained unknown, but it was surely not trivial.

If Li Mingzhu failed to withstand the Yin Shang's assault, all his prior strategies would have been in vain. Without the North Sea as a foundation, his influence in the Divine Enthronement would be as fleeting and unrooted as duckweed.

Given his conflicts with both Hao Tian and Lady Xi, there was no possibility for Li Mingzhu to align himself with the Yin Shang faction.

Even his deep ties to the Jie Sect couldn't make it feasible. The fate of Grandmaster Wen in Chaoge, dethroned and stripped of power, made it clear what awaited Li Mingzhu should he join Yin Shang.

As for West Qi, that was even more unthinkable. Li Mingzhu had previously offended Taiyi and even defeated Chijingzi, so joining their ranks was an impossible notion.

Thus, his only choice was to establish his own foundation. Yet, should that foundation be destroyed, rebuilding it would be as arduous as ascending to the heavens.

When Chong Houhu arrived in Chaoge, Lady Xi, under King Zhou's name, issued a decree commanding him to lead a million-strong army to conquer the North Sea, with Gao Ming and Gao Jue accompanying him.

As for what other demons and monsters might be lurking in the shadows, no one could say. But surely, the situation would not be simple.

The North Sea City now stood like a lone fortress, bracing for an ordeal akin to Jizhou City in the past—defending one city against an entire nation.

As the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach." After seven months of preparation, Lady Xi had left nothing to chance.

Even if she couldn't defeat Li Mingzhu outright, she was determined to grind down the North Sea City until its defenses crumbled under relentless pressure. Her goal was unwavering: to eliminate Li Mingzhu's foundation in the Primordial World.

At Chaoge's Yangxin Palace.

"State Preceptor, do you think the Northern Marquis will succeed?"

Though Lady Xi's cultivation surpassed Shen Gongbao's, she was not as adept at strategic calculations as he was.

"Difficult!"

Shen Gongbao captured the essence in a single word. Li Mingzhu's momentum had already solidified, making him an exceedingly challenging target.

"Why?"

Lady Xi was puzzled. She didn't believe Li Mingzhu had the means to oppose their massive army. Women, as always, seek outside opinions despite having plans of their own.

"Can a Quasi-Saint's sword fail to halt a million-strong army? Would a million from the Human Clan not bow before the Xuanyuan Sword?"

Shen Gongbao saw the situation clearly. With the presence of the female demoness Nu Ba, Li Mingzhu was entrenched in the Innate Invincible Land. Regardless of how large an army was sent, it would be futile.

Their only hope lay in the strange creatures and extraordinary individuals Shen Gongbao had gathered, as well as the faint chance of employing a strategy of attrition. Otherwise, there was no other option.

Shen Gongbao bore no ill will toward Li Mingzhu and felt there was little value in targeting him. Otherwise, he would have sought to enlist more reinforcements.

This was merely to placate Lady Xi and further his own ambitions for power; otherwise, he wouldn't have even participated in this plotting.

Shen Gongbao came to Chaoge solely to prove that he was superior to Jiang Ziya—nothing more, nothing less.