Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

After Li Mingzhu was confined in the North Sea Cave Mansion, Tongtian brought Yao Tianjun and Zhao Gongming back to Golden Turtle Island.

Following Tongtian's return, Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun each retreated to their own Daoist schools, and Randeng and the others also returned to their respective places.

With Li Mingzhu and Zhao Gongming gone, only Wen Zhong struggled alone to uphold the Yin Shang army—how could it possibly withstand Jiang Ziya's ferocious assault?

Repeated victories earned through brilliant strategies, yet King Zhou indulged in debauchery with silken beauties. Within the state, letters of admonishment ceased to appear; arriving at lonely mountains, tears accompany the red maples.

Who knew dreams of victory would vanish amid flames and smoke? Listen, the mournful apes cry to the moonlit sky. Even with loyalty inscribed in history, yearly does the cuckoo weep into the eastern wind.

Under the fierce attack of West Qi's generals—Yang Jian, Jin Zha, Mu Zha, and others—Wen Zhong, despite wielding divine capabilities to turn the tide, ultimately failed to reverse the heavens' mandate.

Alas, turning to the green mountains, tears flow freely; the tragedy of armies brings no solace. What one thought to be a strategic retreat turned out to be utter defeat.

It is said that Grandmaster Wen composed a somber poem, his thoughts clouded with unease.

As the defeated army prepared their meals, Xin Huan organized their camp. The next morning, Wen Zhong ordered the troops to march.

Past midnight, loud noises shook the mountain peaks, cannons roared like thunder. Wen Zhong exited his tent to investigate and saw Jiang Ziya and King Wu atop the mountain drinking wine on horseback. Their generals pointed downwards, mocking, "The defeated troops of Grandmaster Wen are here!"

Furious like wildfire, Wen Zhong mounted the Mo Qilin and charged uphill, whip in hand.

A thunderous roar rang out, and suddenly no one was visible. Wen Zhong's divine eyes searched in every direction, yet found no trace.

The Grandmaster clenched his teeth in hateful frustration, remaining mounted and deep in thought. Suddenly, an explosion echoed from the valley below; troops surged like clouds to surround the mountain, shouting, "Do not let Wen Zhong escape!"

Enraged, Wen Zhong spurred his steed to charge downhill; yet upon reaching the foot of the mountain, no army or soldier was to be found.

Breathing heavily with exhaustion, Wen Zhong, attempting divinations, suddenly heard cannon blasts from the mountaintop. Jiang Ziya and King Wu clapped their hands in laughter, exclaiming, "Grandmaster Wen's loss today spells the end for several years' worth of heroism—how could he have the face to return to Chaoge?"

With a voice like thunder, Wen Zhong cursed, "Pathetic Ji Fa! How dare you!" He spurred his mount again to charge uphill.

Halfway through his ascent, he unexpectedly encountered Yang Jian. A blade swung down, forcing Wen Zhong to dodge swiftly, but his steed, the Mo Qilin, was fatally struck. Plummeting down the mountainside, Wen Zhong escaped with an Earth Escape technique.

Deprived of his mount, Wen Zhong lamented, "I cannot return to the kingdom. My thirty-thousand-strong army has campaigned westward for over three years. Who would have thought one mishap would reduce us to a mere remnant of troops? No fragments of armor remain; even my steed is gone. My disciples and vice-generals have all perished..."

Seeing Xin Huan dead, Wen Zhong sat alone, contemplating his losses. After some time, he raised his head and sighed toward the heavens: "The Cheng Tang dynasty is doomed! Mismanagement has caused heaven's favor to turn; grievances from the people rise daily. Though I hold deep loyalty and patriotism, I cannot restore even a fraction of prosperity. It is not due to lack of effort in my campaigns!"

Wen Zhong sat until dawn; then, gathering what remained of his troops, he began to march slowly forward. With supplies depleted, the soldiers appeared visibly weak and famished.

Suddenly, a village appeared. Wen Zhong hesitated, then commanded his troops: "Go ahead and ask for some food from the villagers—to relieve your hunger." The soldiers scouted ahead and found an idyllic spot.

Dense bamboo fences and clustered thatched cottages; towering wild trees greeted the path, while a winding creek and arched bridge adorned the homes. Willows swayed gently along the road; blossoms in gardens emitted fragrant scents. As the sun set to the west, mountain birds chirped; evening smoke rose from stoves, rustic paths led cattle and sheep. Truly, it was a scene of bliss: chickens dozed in the corners of cottages while tipsy villagers sang merrily.

The soldiers arrived at the village entrance and asked aloud, "Is anyone home?" Soon, an elder emerged and, upon seeing the battered soldiers, anxiously asked, "Honored guests, what business brings you to our humble village?"

The soldiers replied, "We are not strangers; we served Grandmaster Wen Zhong under the Cheng Tang dynasty, enforcing commands to battle Zhou and Jiang Shang. Having suffered defeat, we seek but a meal here to stave off hunger; in return, we vow to repay your kindness later."

Hearing this, the elder hurriedly said, "Quickly, invite the Grandmaster here!"

The soldiers returned to inform Wen Zhong, "An elder ahead has invited your presence." Wen Zhong, now fatigued, trudged to the village.

The elder bowed deeply before Wen Zhong, exclaiming, "Grandmaster, I apologize for my lack of hospitality—please forgive me."

Wen Zhong reciprocated with a courteous bow, following the elder inside to take a seat. The elder quickly prepared a meal, serving it to Wen Zhong first, then feeding the soldiers. That night, they rested in the elder's home.

The next morning, Wen Zhong prepared to leave and asked the elder, "What is your name? We disturbed your family yesterday; I wish to return someday to thank you properly."

The elder replied, "My surname is Li, my name is Ji." Wen Zhong instructed his men to note the name. Leaving the village, they marched towards the road leading to Azure Dragon Pass but soon lost their way. Wen Zhong commanded the soldiers to halt and survey the surroundings. Suddenly, the sound of woodcutting echoed from the forest, leading them to encounter a woodcutter.

Wen Zhong urged the soldiers to question the woodcutter, who abandoned his axe and approached humbly, asking, "Honored guests, what can I help you with?"

The soldiers said, "We are on an imperial campaign heading west. Can you tell us which path leads quickest to Azure Dragon Pass?"

The woodcutter pointed, saying, "Head southwest for fifteen miles, past White Crane Mound, and you'll reach the main road to Azure Dragon Pass."

The soldiers thanked the woodcutter and relayed this information to Wen Zhong, who ordered them to proceed westward. Slowly, they marched forward.

Unbeknownst to them, the woodcutter was actually Yang Jian in disguise, deliberately directing Wen Zhong toward Juelong Ridge.

As Wen Zhong marched twenty miles forward, he saw the treacherous terrain of Juelong Ridge ahead, causing him to grow suspicious. Glancing up, he spotted a Daoist dressed in robes blended with flowing water—it was Yun Zhongzi of Jade Pillar Cave on Zhongnan Mountain.

Alarmed, Wen Zhong stepped forward and asked, "Daoist brother, what brings you here?"

Yun Zhongzi replied, "Under Randeng's command, I have been waiting for you for a long time. This place is Juelong Ridge—a dead-end for you. Why not surrender?"

Wen Zhong laughed mockingly, "Yun Zhongzi, do you take me, Wen Zhong, for an ignorant child? How dare you claim that I stand at a dead-end—a ploy to deceive me! Are we not both masters of Five Elements Technique, skilled in Daoist arts? You wish to challenge me—show me what skills you possess!"

Yun Zhongzi responded, "You dare set foot here? We shall see."

As Wen Zhong advanced, Yun Zhongzi raised his hand, summoning thunder and lightning. From the ground emerged eight towering Divine Fire Pillars, each over ten feet in height and matching the Eight Diagrams formation: Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, and Dui. Wen Zhong stood in the center and shouted, "Are these mere columns enough to trap me?"

Yun Zhongzi invoked bolts of lightning that struck the pillars, cracking them open. From each column emerged forty-nine fire dragons, their flames roaring fiercely.

Wen Zhong laughed boldly, "The Earth Escape power is a common skill; mastery of Fire Techniques is widespread. These tricks cannot deceive me!" He chanted the Fire Avoiding Technique, standing defiantly amidst the blazing inferno.

But this fire was no ordinary flame, consisting of three elemental combinations. Heroes attempt to dominate Earth Escape, but it mingles freely with the spinning Nine-Revolutions Tornado. The fire pillars, infused with celestial refinement, birthed celestial dragons spewing smoke and flames. Their claws scorched the earth red, boiling oceans dry, vaporizing mountains into ash, burning wood to cinders, and transforming metal into rainbows. Those initial flames of Suiren were calibrated to perfection, hiding within rocks as rare treasures. The Sanmei Golden Light pierced nine layers of heaven. It ruled divine virtue in the skies, ignited as life's breath on Earth, and governed humanity's hearts. Its mysteries set it apart from mere mortal flames. Even immortals could not escape its all-consuming wrath.

Wen Zhong, standing amidst the inferno chanting the Fire Avoiding Technique, bellowed, "Yun Zhongzi! Is this the extent of your Daoist skills? I shall leave now!"

He attempted to ascend, wielding light for escape, but Yun Zhongzi had already prepared Randeng's Purple Golden Bowl, sealing Wen Zhong beneath it as though covered by a lid.

Caught unaware, Wen Zhong crashed upward and collided with the Nine Heavens Fiery Flame Crown, sending it hurtling to the ground. His hair fell loose and scattered as he cried aloud, falling once again into the flames.

Yun Zhongzi summoned bolts of thunder, the dreadful sounds echoing all around as the fire intensified. That night, the prime minister of Cheng Tang gave his life for the kingdom.

Wen Zhong's soul ascended to the Sealing God Platform, where divine officials summoned him using the Hundred Spirit Banner.

Through his unwavering loyalty, Wen Zhong's True Spirit guided him to Chaoge on the winds, appearing before King Zhou to plead his case.

At that time, King Zhou was drinking wine with Lady Xi at Lu Platform. Unexpectedly, he dozed off while leaning over the table.

In his dream, Wen Zhong appeared beside him, admonishing, "Your loyal minister undertook imperial westward campaigns—repeated defeats have wasted efforts, leaving me now fallen in foreign lands. May Your Majesty diligently cultivate virtuous governance, seek wise counsel to aid the nation, abandon debauchery, end chaos within court affairs, and value the inheritance of ancestral shrines. Do not dismiss public opinion, nor disregard the divine mandate. Strive to repent past mistakes and perhaps redemption may yet come. This loyal servant wished to express more, yet fears I cannot ascend to the Sealing God Platform. Farewell!"

Wen Zhong's spirit vanished toward the Sealing God Platform, where Bai Jian guided his soul to its rightful place. Back in the palace, King Zhou awoke suddenly, exclaiming, "How strange! How bizarre!"

Lady Xi feigned ignorance and asked, "What has startled Your Majesty?"

King Zhou described his dream in detail to her.

Lady Xi replied, "Dreams arise from the heart. I often hear Your Majesty worry about Grandmaster Wen's westward campaigns, thus triggering such an omen. Surely Wen Zhong is not one to suffer mishap."

King Zhou exclaimed, "My royal wife's wisdom is correct." He then calmed himself and let go of his anxieties. Meanwhile, Jiang Ziya recalled his troops as his disciples and generals reported their achievements. Yun Zhongzi dismantled the Divine Fire Pillars and returned to the mountain with Randeng, leaving the tale for now.

Meanwhile, Shen Gongbao, upon hearing of Wen Zhong's demise at Juelong Ridge, grew bitter toward Jiang Ziya and resolved to find allies among the immortals within the Five Mountains and Three Mountains to avenge Wen Zhong.

One day, Shen Gongbao wandered to Jialong Mountain's Flying Dragon Cave, astride a tiger. He saw a small child leaping near the cliffs.

Shen Gongbao dismounted from the tiger to investigate. The child was a dwarf, only four feet tall, with a complexion like soil. Shen Gongbao asked, "Young man, where is your home?"

Tu Xingsun saw a Daoist and stepped forward to greet him politely, saying, "Teacher, where do you come from?"

Shen Gongbao replied, "I come from the islands."

Tu Xingsun asked, "Teacher, are you of the Jie Sect or the Chan Sect?"

Shen Gongbao answered, "I am from the Chan Sect."

Tu Xingsun said, "Then you are my uncle-master."

Shen Gongbao asked further, "Who is your master, and what is your name?"

Tu Xingsun replied, "My master is Ju Liusun, and I am called Tu Xingsun."

Shen Gongbao pressed on, "How many years have you studied your craft?"

Tu Xingsun answered, "I have studied for a century."

Shen Gongbao shook his head, saying, "I see you are far from becoming an immortal. You might as well seek wealth and status in the mortal world."

Tu Xingsun asked, "What do you mean by 'wealth and status in the mortal world'?"

Shen Gongbao replied, "Judging by my observation, you are suited to wear robes of silk, adorn yourself with jade, and gain the favor of kings."

Tu Xingsun asked, "How could that be possible?"

Shen Gongbao said, "If you descend from the mountain, I will write a recommendation for you, ensuring your success at once."

Tu Xingsun asked, "Teacher, where would you recommend me to go?"

Shen Gongbao replied, "I would recommend you to serve Deng Jiugong at Three Mountains Pass—you are certain to accomplish great things."

Tu Xingsun expressed his gratitude, saying, "If I am granted success, I shall remember your great kindness."

Shen Gongbao asked, "What skills do you possess?"

Tu Xingsun replied, "I am adept at traversing underground over distances of thousands of miles."

Shen Gongbao said, "Show me your ability." Tu Xingsun twisted his body and vanished instantly, delighting Shen Gongbao.

Moments later, Tu Xingsun emerged from the earth nearby. Shen Gongbao further instructed, "Your master possesses a Binding Immortal Rope. You must bring two of these ropes with you to ensure your success."

Tu Xingsun replied, "Understood." Tu Xingsun stole his master Ju Liusun's Binding Immortal Rope and five Elixir Pills before heading directly to Three Mountains Pass.