Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

The Ten Extreme Formation was broken, leaving only Heavenly Monarch Yao alive. It was only at this moment that Li Mingzhu finally managed to extricate himself and return.

He couldn't help but feel some helplessness. He had done his best to save the Jie Sect members, yet destiny was not in their favor, and there was nothing he could do.

Wen Grandmaster pondered alone with no solution in sight, when he suddenly thought of Zhao Gongming in Luo Fu Cave on Emei Mountain. He hesitated in his heart, "If I could secure his assistance, this great matter could undoubtedly be settled."

"Keep a close watch on the camp—I shall make my way to Emei Mountain."

With a casual command, Wen Zhong set off for Emei Mountain.

The Grandmaster mounted his Black Qilin, carried his Golden Whip, and rode on wind and clouds toward Luo Fu Cave.

With profound Daoist arts, divine winds carried him a thousand miles in an instant.

In no time, he arrived at Emei Mountain's Luo Fu Cave. Dismounting from the Qilin, the Grandmaster observed the mountain with admiration—it was truly serene and untouched: cranes and deer wandered freely, monkeys darted about, and vines draped the cave entrance. The Grandmaster called out, "Is anyone here?"

Soon, a young boy emerged, saw the Grandmaster's three eyes, and asked, "Where has this venerable elder come from?"

The Grandmaster replied, "Is your master present?"

The boy answered, "He is meditating inside the cave."

The Grandmaster said, "Inform him that Wen Grandmaster of the Yin Shang capital has come to visit."

The boy entered the cave and reported to his master, "Wen Grandmaster has come to pay a visit."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming quickly exited the cave to greet him. On seeing Wen Grandmaster, Zhao Gongming laughed and said, "Brother Wen, what wind has brought you here? Enjoying mortal wealth, indulging in golden halls and worldly splendor, have you entirely forgotten the Taoist way and the austere lifestyle of our order?"

The two clasped hands and entered the cave, where they saluted and sat down. Wen Grandmaster sighed deeply before saying a word, prompting Zhao Gongming to ask, "Brother Wen, why the heavy sigh?"

Wen Grandmaster replied, "I, Wen Zhong, was commanded to campaign westward and suppress the rebels. Unexpectedly, Jiang Shang of the Kunlun Sect, skilled in strategy and plotting, has been aiding the wicked. With many accomplices forming an evil faction, I've repeatedly suffered setbacks with no solutions in sight. Left with no alternative, I went to Golden Ao Island to enlist the help of Qin Wan and ten others, who then set up the Ten Extreme Formation, hoping to capture Jiang Shang. But now, nine of the formations have been broken, and nine of our fellow Taoists have perished. Such unwarranted calamity—it is truly infuriating! Reflecting on this today, I found no path open to me and shamefully came here to trouble you, Brother. I wonder, what is your opinion?"

Zhao Gongming said, "Why didn't you come sooner? Today's defeat was of your own making. Since that is the case, Brother, return first; I shall follow shortly."

The Grandmaster was overjoyed, bid Zhao Gongming farewell, mounted his steed, and rode on wind and clouds back to the camp. Let us now speak of Zhao Gongming, who summoned his disciples, Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi, and instructed, "Follow me to West Qi."

The two disciples received their orders. Zhao Gongming prepared for departure and instructed the boy servant, "Guard the cave well—I will return shortly." Taking his two disciples, he used Earth Escape and headed toward West Qi. As they journeyed, they suddenly descended onto a towering mountain, where the scene unfolded as follows:

Marvelous scenes and strange blossoms abound, a veritable small Penglai born of nature.

As Zhao Gongming admired the scenery of the mountain, a sudden gale erupted at the foot of the mountain, stirring up dust. Watching closely, he saw a ferocious tiger approaching.

With a laugh, he said, "I have no steed for this journey—riding this tiger up the mountain would be most fitting." The tiger, swishing its tail and shaking its head, approached.

Zhao Gongming, delighted at the sight of the Black Tiger, exclaimed, "You've come just in time!"

Stepping forward, he subdued the tiger with two fingers, looped a silk cord around its neck, mounted its back, and tapped its head. He then inscribed a talismanic seal on the tiger's neck.

The tiger's four legs rose upon winds and clouds, and in mere moments, they arrived at Wen Zhong's military camp. At the camp gates, the tiger came to a halt, causing the soldiers to shout, "A tiger has come!"

Chen Jiugong reassured them, "It's no worry—this is a household tiger. Inform Grandmaster Wen that Elder Zhao has arrived at the camp gates."

The Grandmaster received the report and hurried out to greet Zhao Gongming. The two entered the central military tent and sat down. Upon hearing Zhao Jiang had been strung up in West Qi's camp, Zhao Gongming became enraged and immediately set out from the camp to confront Jiang Ziya.

"Greetings, Master-Uncle Gongming."

When Zhao Gongming arrived, Li Mingzhu naturally came out to meet him.

"Ah, so Nephew Mingzhu is here as well! Excellent—join me in a battle against the Chan Sect immortals!" Zhao Gongming laughed loudly. Others might not know of Li Mingzhu's prowess, but how could he not?

He remembered witnessing firsthand Li Mingzhu's battle with Chijingzi. Such strength—had he not relied on twenty Ocean-Stabilizing God Pearls, he might have struggled to fend it off.

Little did Zhao Gongming know, not long ago, Li Mingzhu had even clashed head-on with Randeng. If he discovered this, he would be utterly astonished.

"Master-Uncle Gongming, I regret that I cannot. I have urgent matters to attend to," Li Mingzhu replied with a smile. With Zhao Gongming now present, Wen Zhong should have no major issues for the time being. Li Mingzhu had another concern to handle to remove potential threats for Zhao Gongming.

In Li Mingzhu's estimation, Zhao Gongming's strength was no less than Yun Zhongzi's. Even if he could not defeat the Chan Sect immortals, he likely wouldn't be in grave danger. Instead, the two loose cultivators on Wuyi Mountain needed to be dealt with.

The two loose cultivators, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, though their cultivation was not high, possessed a treasure—the Falling Treasure Coin.

While the Falling Treasure Coin's grade was modest, merely scraping the level of the Innate, its nature lived up to its name, capable of nullifying all sorts of spiritual treasures.

In a past life, Zhao Gongming had been locked in a stalemate with Randeng, only to have the two take advantage of him with the Falling Treasure Coin, robbing Zhao Gongming of his spiritual treasures.

With his spiritual treasures gone, Zhao Gongming naturally stood no chance against Randeng. He fled to the Three Immortals Island, borrowed Bixiao's Golden Dragon Scissors and other treasures, and resumed the battle, only to be schemed against by Lu Ya and lose his life.

Now, Li Mingzhu would not let such a thing happen. He had to make a trip to Wuyi Mountain, and if not entirely eliminate them, at least seize the Falling Treasure Coin.

Traveling swiftly, Li Mingzhu soon reached Wuyi Mountain and chanced upon Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao playing chess. Fortune or misfortune, they happened to be there when he arrived, leaving them at his mercy.

In truth, upon seeing Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, Li Mingzhu had already resolved to act decisively. In such a great calamity, who lives and who dies was a foregone conclusion.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoists!"

Li Mingzhu maintained an amicable demeanor and clasped his hands in salutation, temporarily concealing his murderous intent.

"Fellow Daoist, from where do you hail?"

Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao immediately returned his salute with courtesy.

"I have come for your lives!"

Li Mingzhu suddenly barked coldly. Since he had already decided to act, he wasted no time with further pleasantries.

His greeting had merely been to buy time to seal the surrounding space.

After all, Wuyi Mountain was their territory—if either managed to escape, it would complicate matters greatly.

"What do you mean by this?"

Xiao Sheng's eyes glinted with a ferocious light as he stared at Li Mingzhu and questioned him.

"What else could I mean? Exactly what you're thinking—die for me!"

Knowing they possessed the Falling Treasure Coin, Li Mingzhu refrained from using spiritual treasures. Instead, he sent a single palm strike directly toward them.

The peak physical strength of a Daluo Golden Immortal, combined with the Dharma Manifestation of the Heavens and Earth, unleashed a sky-covering palm.

Although Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao had some Daoist skill, how could they withstand Li Mingzhu's full-force attack? The palm descended—both men perished!

All that remained was a string of copper coins on the ground. As for the two men, they had long since been reduced to dust, their True Spirits ascending to the Investiture of the Gods.

Picking up the Falling Treasure Coin, Li Mingzhu wasted no time and sped back toward the Yin Shang camp.

This time, Randeng would have to pay. The Heaven Measuring Ruler and the Ocean-Stabilizing God Pearl were complementary treasures. If Zhao Gongming were to obtain the Heaven Measuring Ruler, his strength would increase greatly.

Now that he held the Falling Treasure Coin, Li Mingzhu naturally had plans to scheme for Zhao Gongming's advantage.