Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Yao Tianjun erupted in anger and bowed repeatedly. Meanwhile, Chi Jingzi floated in the air and saw Yao Bin bowing down. He lowered the twin lotus flowers under his feet to descend and attempt to seize the straw effigy.

Unexpectedly, Yao Bin raised his head upon finishing his bow and saw Chi Jingzi descending. He exclaimed, "Chi Jingzi! So you dare enter my 'Soul-Losing Array' to steal Jiang Shang's soul!" Hastily, he threw a handful of Black Sand into the air. Chi Jingzi hurriedly fled; though swift, he lost the twin lotus flowers under his feet within the array and was nearly trapped inside. In great haste, he escaped and arrived at West Qi. Yang Jian caught him and saw Chi Jingzi pale-faced, his breath labored.

Though Chi Jingzi had already achieved the cultivation of a Quasi-Saint, the 'Ten Extreme Formation' was unified and leveraged malevolent energy, making it difficult even for a Quasi-Saint to break through. Yao Tianjun's ability to drive him away was not unexpected.

Yang Jian asked, "Master, were you able to recover the soul?"

Chi Jingzi shook his head and repeatedly said, "So fierce! So fierce! The 'Soul-Losing Array' nearly trapped even me! Even though I fled quickly, I still lost the twin White Lotus flowers under my feet within the array."

When King Wu heard this, he cried bitterly and said, "If that's the case, the Prime Minister cannot be revived!"

Chi Jingzi said, "Your Highness, no need to worry; I suspect it is harmless. This is merely Ziya's calamity causing such delays. I will now head to another place."

King Wu asked, "Where does the Master intend to go?"

Chi Jingzi replied, "I shall return shortly. Do not leave this place and attend carefully to Ziya." With these instructions, Chi Jingzi left West Qi, stepping onto beams of auspicious light and using Earth Escape to arrive at Kunlun Mountain.

Before long, the Southern Pole Immortal Elder emerged from Yuxu Palace and, seeing Chi Jingzi, quickly asked, "Is Ziya's soul recovered?"

Chi Jingzi recounted the earlier events, saying, "...I must ask for your assistance, Fellow Daoist, to petition our Master and inquire precisely how Ziya can be saved."

The Immortal Elder entered the palace, bowed before the throne, and narrated Ziya's situation in detail. Primordial said, "Though I preside over this great sect, the matter, if fraught with difficulties, requires clarification. Have Chi Jingzi visit the Eight Sceneries Palace to meet the Grand Patriarch; only then will the truth be revealed."

The Immortal Elder obeyed, exited the palace, and told Chi Jingzi, "The Master instructs you to proceed to the Eight Sceneries Palace to seek an audience with the Grand Patriarch; you will then understand everything."

Chi Jingzi took leave of the Southern Pole Immortal Elder, rode on the clouds, and journeyed to Xuandu. Soon, he arrived at the immortal mountain. This place was the Xuandu Cave in the Daluo Palace, the dwelling of Laozi. Within it lay the Eight Sceneries Palace, an extraordinary celestial realm that left one marveling and lingering.

Chi Jingzi arrived at Xuandu Cave and saw an inscription above which read: "The Dao divides Hong Meng; once witnessed the Tai Chi Diagram forming Two Principles and Four Symbols. Hong Meng transmitted the teachings; even led the barbarians westward across Hangu Pass."

Chi Jingzi waited outside Xuandu Cave, not daring to enter presumptuously. After waiting for some time, Xuandu Grand Master emerged from the palace, saw Chi Jingzi, and asked, "Fellow Daoist, what pressing matter brings you here?"

Chi Jingzi respectfully bowed and answered, "Fellow Daoist! I come today bearing no small matter and dare not enter unannounced. This concerns the roaming of Jiang Ziya's soul..."

He explained the situation in detail, adding, "By the will of my Master, I come to seek an audience with the Grand Patriarch. May I trouble you to convey my request."

Xuandu Grand Master listened, hurried into the palace, bowed before the meditation mat, and petitioned, "Chi Jingzi awaits outside the palace for instructions."

Laozi said, "Bring him in."

Chi Jingzi entered the palace and prostrated himself, saying, "Disciple wishes the Master eternal longevity and boundless blessings!"

Laozi said, "You all have encountered this calamity. The 'Soul-Losing Array' and Jiang Shang's missteps are but part of destiny. Even my treasured 'Soul-Losing Array' has fallen prey to this tribulation. All these are decreed by the heavens. You must heed the moral precepts."

He instructed Xuandu Grand Master, "Fetch the Tai Chi Diagram."

Handing the diagram to Chi Jingzi, he said, "Take this diagram… follow my directive, and you can naturally save Jiang Shang. Go swiftly."

Chi Jingzi received the Tai Chi Diagram and departed Daluo Palace, arriving at West Qi in no time. King Wu heard of Chi Jingzi's return and, together with generals, greeted him before the palace.

King Wu asked hurriedly, "Master, where have you been?" Chi Jingzi replied, "I have just secured Ziya's rescue."

The generals were delighted upon hearing this news. Yang Jian asked, "Master, what time will the rescue take place?"

Chi Jingzi replied, "Around the third watch of the night." The disciples waited patiently until that hour, when Chi Jingzi rose and prepared.

He exited the city and arrived before the gates of the Ten Formation array. Utilizing Earth Escape, he ascended into the air and saw Yao Tianjun still bowing there.

Chi Jingzi unfurled Laozi's Tai Chi Diagram—a divine treasure blessed by Laozi during the primordial chaos, separating the clear and the turbid, stabilizing earth, water, fire, and wind, encompassing all things.

It transformed into a Golden Bridge emitting five-colored radiant light, illuminating the mountains and rivers while safeguarding Chi Jingzi. He descended swiftly and grabbed the straw effigy with one hand!

He fled into the sky immediately. Yao Tianjun saw Chi Jingzi re-enter the 'Soul-Losing Array' and screamed furiously, "Impudent Chi Jingzi! You dare to steal my straw effigy again! Despicable!"

He hastily threw a bucketful of Black Sand into the air. Chi Jingzi cried out, "Not good!" and let go with his left hand, dropping the Tai Chi Diagram into the array, which Yao Tianjun seized.

Yao Tianjun, understanding its significance, knew this was a sacred treasure of Laozi. Attempting to claim it recklessly would undoubtedly lead to disastrous consequences, yet he hesitated on how to proceed.

"Uncle Yao, are you troubled by how to handle this Tai Chi Diagram?"

Li Mingzhu stepped out from the side, her white Daoist robe fluttering with an air of ethereal grace.

"Ah, it's Fellow Daoist Mingzhu. What advice do you have?" Yao Tianjun replied with a smile. Although he was senior in generation relative to Li Mingzhu, he was merely a disciple listed in Tongtian's registry and lacked profound cultivation, hence treating Li Mingzhu as an equal.

"If Uncle trusts me, allow me to personally deliver this Tai Chi Diagram to the Patriarch Saint for resolution. What do you think?"

"Excellent! I'll trouble you then, Fellow Daoist!"

Yao Tianjun handed the Tai Chi Diagram to Li Mingzhu, who received it but did not immediately depart.

She added, "If the Chan Sect's immortals come to break the array, I urge you all not to act rashly with murderous intent. Once the killing begins, the array's malevolent energy will dissipate!"

Li Mingzhu planned to deliver the Tai Chi Diagram and naturally could not remain to oversee things. To prevent Chan Sect from sacrificing people to the formation, she gave Yao Tianjun this reminder.

Whether it would be effective was uncertain.

Nonetheless, the Tai Chi Diagram was immensely critical. Ensuring it reached Tongtian would establish karmic ties with Laozi.

With this karmic relationship, during the Divine Enthronement era, actions could be carried out far more favorably.

After Jiang Ziya's soul returned, about three days passed, during which he gradually recovered. However, he still had no solutions against the Ten Extreme Formation.