Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Manjushri Vast Dharma Heavenly Venerate asked, "Qin Wan, your Jie Sect embraces a life of freedom and joy, so why set up this 'Heavenly Termination Array' to harm the masses? Since I have come to break the formation, there will surely be a massacre. It is not that we extinguish compassion, but rather, we resolve past karmic grievances. Do not regret this later!"

Qin Wan laughed wildly, "You immortals live carefree lives—why have you dragged yourselves into this misery? You clearly do not know the endless mysteries within my formation. I did not compel you; it is your own doing that invites calamity upon yourselves!"

Manjushri Vast Dharma Heavenly Venerate chuckled, "We shall soon see who truly invites the fate of death!"

Enraged, Qin Wan grabbed his mace and struck. The Heavenly Venerate exclaimed, "Well said!" and blocked the attack with his sword, parrying skillfully. After only a few exchanges, Qin Wan was forced to retreat back into the formation.

The Heavenly Venerate approached the gate of the 'Heavenly Termination Array,' where sharp winds howled and chilling mists swirled ominously. Hesitating, he dared not recklessly step forward.

Suddenly, the resonating sound of a golden bell echoed from the rear. No longer able to hold back, the Heavenly Venerate pointed downward with his finger, summoning two White Lotuses to bloom upon the ground.

Stepping onto the two lotuses, the Heavenly Venerate floated effortlessly into the array. Qin Tianjun shouted loudly, "Manjushri Vast Dharma Heavenly Venerate! Even if you have Golden Lotuses emanating from your mouth and white radiance flowing from your hands, you will never leave my 'Heavenly Termination Array!'"

The Heavenly Venerate laughed calmly, "Is that so?"

Opening his mouth, he spat out a Golden Lotus the size of a bowl. From his left hand, five streams of white light cascaded downward and then coiled upward. At the top of the white light was a lotus flower, which bore five golden lamps illuminating the way.

Meanwhile, Qin Wan displayed his Three-Headed Banner as before, but on top of the Heavenly Venerate's head appeared an auspicious cloud. Radiant rays of five colors emerged from the cloud, and suspended beneath it were strings of pearls and precious stones. Clutching the Seven Treasures Golden Lotus in his hand, the Heavenly Venerate revealed his transformed divine nature.

Qin Tianjun waved the banner dozens of times, yet it could not budge Manjushri Vast Dharma Heavenly Venerate. With his voice echoing through the divine light, the Heavenly Venerate declared, "Qin Wan! Today, as a humble Daoist, I cannot allow you to escape; I shall fulfill my vow to break this killing seal!"

He tossed the Dragon Escape Stake into the sky, sealing Qin Tianjun into submission. This stake adhered to the Three Talents principle, encircling Qin Wan within three rings, trapping him tightly.

Facing the direction of Kunlun, the Heavenly Venerate bowed deeply, "Disciple opens the seal for killing today!"

He then unsheathed his Treasure Sword and decapitated Qin Wan, carrying his head out of the 'Heavenly Termination Array.'

Grandmaster Wen Zhong, astride the Ink Qilin, saw Qin's demise and roared furiously, "This enrages me to death!" He urged his mount forward and shouted, "Manjushri, do not flee! I am coming for you!" The Heavenly Venerate paid no attention as the Qilin charged furiously.

Anger shakes the heavens—what can resolve it? His heart burns only to wage war. Do not claim this formation lies beyond victory; even the cleverest plans may go astray.

Manjushri Vast Dharma Heavenly Venerate ignored Wen Zhong entirely, heading straight back to the West Qi military camp. Meanwhile, Zhao Tianjun emerged from the second array of the Ten Extreme Formation.

A gong sounded from the Earth-Splitting Array, and Zhao Jiang rode out on his Plum Blossom Deer, reciting:

"Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous; profound, profound, beyond profundity. Words spoken manifest the Dao; silence is the true immortal.

In the palm, pearls shine bright; in the sky, the moon is round. Achieving mastery grants transcendence; directly stepping into Daluo Heaven."

Zhao Tianjun shouted, "Now that Manjushri Vast Dharma Heavenly Venerate has broken the 'Heavenly Termination Array,' who dares challenge my 'Earth-Splitting Array?'"

He charged fiercely into battle. Randeng Daoist commanded Han Dulong, "Go and break the 'Earth-Splitting Array.'"

Han Dulong leapt forward, shouting, "Do not proceed recklessly! Here I come!"

Zhao Tianjun asked, "Who are you to dare confront me?"

Han Dulong replied, "I am a disciple of the Heavenly Venerate under Randeng's command, sent here to break your 'Earth-Splitting Array' as per my master's order."

Zhao Jiang sneered, "Your feeble Daoist skill—how dare you attempt to conquer my array? You're throwing your life away in vain!"

Their battle commenced, but Zhao Jiang had not even activated the Earth-Splitting Array before sending Han Dulong to the Investiture of the Gods. Han's fate was preordained—his death served as a sacrificial pawn in breaking the formation, nothing to lament.

After Han Dulong's death, Ju Liusun tapped his Dao Crown atop his head and recited:

"Sun and moon radiance refines golden essence; two Spiritual Pearls illuminate the chambers. Heaven and earth resonate with Dao force; moving across life and death reveals mastery.

Roaming the Four Seas leaves traces behind; returning to Xuandu establishes renown. Ascending five-layered clouds, the path is steady; Purple Phoenix and Red Cranes come forth to greet."

Ju Liusun spoke, "Zhao Jiang! You are an immortal of the Jie Sect, vastly different from us. Your intentions are malicious—setting up this malevolent array defies heaven itself! Do not boast of your Daoist skills; I fear you cannot escape the calamity awaiting you on the Sealing God Platform!"

Zhao Tianjun became enraged and flew forward with his sword, aiming straight for Ju Liusun. Ju Liusun met his attack head-on.

After a few exchanges, as before, Zhao retreated into the formation.

Ju Liusun pursued him to the array's entrance but hesitated before entering. Hearing the sound of bells urging him onward from behind, he was compelled to step inside.

Ju Liusun captured Zhao Jiang alive and returned him to the West Qi camp, where Jiang Ziya instantly executed him with the God-Beating Whip.

In the span of a moment, four immortals from the Chan and Jie Sects had already been added to the Divine Roster.

Randeng, employing sacrificial methods, broke two formations in succession, greatly boosting West Qi's morale. However, the third formation, the Wind Roar Formation, would prove far more challenging.

"This 'Wind Roar Formation' is not an ordinary wind. It contains winds of earth, water, and fire. Once activated, it will unleash ten thousand blades within the gales; how could one withstand this? First, the Wind Stabilizing Pearl must be obtained to suppress the wind. Only then can this formation be broken," Randeng said with evident frustration. Even without human sacrifice, having the Wind Stabilizing Pearl made breaking the formation achievable.

The Daoists questioned, "Where might the Wind Stabilizing Pearl be borrowed?"

One of the Spiritual Treasure Grandmasters spoke up, "I have a Daoist friend at the Eight Treasures Radiant Cloud Cave of Nine Tripods Iron Fork Mountain. Lord Overcoming Tribulation possesses the Wind Stabilizing Pearl. I shall write a petitionary letter, and it can surely be borrowed. Ziya should send one civil and one military official swiftly to request the pearl; the 'Wind Roar Formation' will naturally be broken then."

Hearing this, Jiang Ziya immediately dispatched San Yisheng and Chao Tian, one civil and one martial official, to fetch the treasure.

Back in the Primordial World, Li Mingzhu felt sorrow at the deaths of Qin and Zhao, two Heavenly Monarchs. Upon hearing that the next formation was the Wind Roar Formation, Li Mingzhu immediately thought of the Wind Stabilizing Pearl.

The Wind Stabilizing Pearl was owned by Lord Overcoming Tribulation. Although Lord Overcoming Tribulation's Cave Mansion was on Nine Tripods Iron Fork Mountain's Eight Treasures Radiant Cloud Cave, it was actually near the vicinity of West Kunlun. Many capable individuals of the Shang Dynasty came from that region.

Most importantly, Lord Overcoming Tribulation had excellent relations with several Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect. Borrowing the Wind Stabilizing Pearl wouldn't pose a challenge. If the pearl were acquired, the Wind Roar Formation would undoubtedly be destroyed.

Jiang Ziya's desire to borrow the Wind Stabilizing Pearl was something Li Mingzhu absolutely couldn't allow. Especially upon learning that Jiang Ziya only sent two mortals to fetch the pearl, Li Mingzhu easily intercepted Chao Tian and San Yisheng.

Unable to wait for the Wind Stabilizing Pearl, Randeng finally acted personally, making his way to Nine Tripods Iron Fork Mountain.

"Randeng, Fellow Daoist, this path is closed!"

Li Mingzhu, already stationed on the crucial route, revealed herself, bowing slightly as Randeng approached.

"Fellow Daoist Mingzhu, what is the meaning of this?"

Randeng did not take offense at Li Mingzhu addressing him as her peer. To him, Mingzhu's courage to speak in such terms suggested she possessed the strength to stand against him.

His mind was troubled—could it be that in just five years, Li Mingzhu had advanced to the level of Quasi-Saint? If so, this would indeed be troublesome.

"Fellow Daoist, you seek the Wind Stabilizing Pearl, but this humble Daoist blocks your way, and that is all," Li Mingzhu said with a smile, her white Daoist robe fluttering elegantly in the wind.

Having secluded herself for five years, Li Mingzhu was emerging once more—her first confrontation was against Randeng, the Quasi-Saint!