Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

After Yang Jian was injured, although Jiang Ziya was startled, he was, after all, the Grand Marshal of the three armies, and naturally could not retreat at such a moment.

Should he retreat now, where would his authority lie?

Jiang Ziya could not retreat at this time, so he had to make a move. He threw the God-beating Whip in his hand, its strokes weaving like dragon and serpent, heading straight toward Kong Xuan.

But the problem was, who was Kong Xuan? How could such an attack possibly affect him?

With a casual wave of his hand, Kong Xuan released a green light that instantly captured Jiang Ziya alive.

"Who else dares to fight?"

Kong Xuan, without retreating a step, bellowed at the hundreds of thousands of troops from West Qi.

To someone like him, numbers were already irrelevant. What difference did millions of soldiers make?

It was merely a matter of one breath. Unless a Saint appeared, truthfully in this Primordial World, none could subdue Kong Xuan.

Now, it so happened that Jin Zha and Mu Zha, upon seeing Kong Xuan's arrogance, also cursed, "Kong Xuan, you traitorous villain! We brothers will confront you!"

The two brothers raised their swords to strike, but Kong Xuan casually blocked the attack. After just three exchanges, Jin Zha released the Dragon Escape Stake, and Mu Zha unleashed the Wu Hook Sword, both flying into the air, attacking Kong Xuan together. Yet all were absorbed by the Five-Colored Divine Light.

The power of the Five-Colored Divine Light was evident.

Seeing the unfavorable turn, Jin Zha and Mu Zha attempted to flee, but Kong Xuan swept his divine light again, capturing them instantly.

With Jiang Ziya captured, Ji Fa was left leaderless, leaving him no choice but to retreat the troops temporarily back to camp.

Originally, Ji Fa's intent was that, since Jiang Ziya had been captured, and there were no capable masters in the camp to contend with Kong Xuan, it would be better to withdraw for now.

However, at this moment, Randeng arrived to dissuade him, informing Ji Fa that if they retreated, those captured by Kong Xuan would certainly die.

Upon hearing this, Ji Fa naturally did not dare to retreat but was at a loss as to what to do.

The next day, Kong Xuan arrived at the camp gate, issuing a challenge. A scout reported the matter to the central command.

Randeng stepped forward and said, "This humble Daoist will go out to meet Kong Xuan and see what happens." Randeng stepped out to face Kong Xuan, who was fully clad in armor.

Randeng asked, "Are you General Kong Xuan?"

Kong Xuan replied, "Indeed."

Randeng said, "As a great general, do you not understand the will of the heavens and human affairs? Today, King Zhou is without virtue, the world is fractured; why not join forces to overthrow the tyrant? With your lone strength, do you seek to reverse the will of heaven? The end of this cycle is the destined day for Zhou's destruction—how can you possibly stop it? Should a formidable figure emerge, and you falter, then regret will come too late."

Kong Xuan laughed and said, "You're nothing more than a naive fool of the Chan Sect. What knowledge of the heavens and human affairs can you possibly have?"

Kong Xuan mocked and scoffed at Randeng, calling him merely a Quasi-Saint of the Chan Sect.

Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light surged and intertwined. He did not strike Randeng harshly but merely caught and toyed with him!

Randeng, who had recently lost his Heaven Measuring Ruler, was already weakened. Encountering Kong Xuan now, he was entirely no match for him.

Trapped within the Five-Colored Divine Light, Randeng cursed loudly, but Kong Xuan ignored him, as Randeng's life or death was a matter of a mere flick to Kong Xuan.

"I remain here. If anyone is capable of fighting me, come forth. I will wait three days. If in three days no one shows up to face me, then do not blame me for being ruthless!"

After subduing Randeng, Kong Xuan stood aloft in the air, spreading his message without leaving. He only sought to break through his own boundaries, not to crush the army. Otherwise, the army of West Qi would have long since been annihilated.

Kong Xuan waited in the sky for three days. Ji Fa grew increasingly anxious but found himself utterly without a solution.

Unable to devise a plan, Ji Fa gathered everyone, hoping to come up with an answer.

Just then, a Daoist arrived at the camp gate, seeking an audience. Ji Fa personally went to greet him, as, for Ji Fa, anyone who could help was a lifesaver.

The visitor wore twin coiled buns, was thin and sallow-faced, and adorned with two flowering ornaments in his hair, holding a tree branch in hand.

When Ji Fa arrived, the Daoist smiled and said, "Greetings, King Wu," without offering a formal bow.

This person was none other than a Saint of the Western Sect, Zhunti. As a Saint, he naturally would not bow to a mere mortal king.

If it had not been that Kong Xuan indeed shared a karmic connection with him and that the Western Sect was truly short of people, why would he descend into the mortal world?

But Ji Fa did not think this way. All the past masters who came to assist him, no matter how haughty, treated him with utmost respect. How could anyone behave like this!

Ji Fa asked, "Where has the Daoist come from?"

The Daoist replied, "I come from the West, seeking those with karmic connection in the southeastern lands. Now, knowing Kong Xuan obstructs the army, I have come to deliver him."

Seeing the mortal world's turmoil, the rising murderous aura, the Daoist chanted, "Amitabha! Amitabha!" as he approached the command tent, paid respects, and took a seat.

"May I dare to ask the esteemed Daoist's name?" Ji Fa inquired.

The Daoist said, "This humble Daoist is Zhunti of the Western Sect. Previously, Fellow Daoist Guang Chengzi visited the West to borrow the Green Lotus Treasure Banner and met with me as well. Today, knowing Kong Xuan's karmic bond with our Western Sect, I have come to invite him to the Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Ji Fa found nothing amiss, but the name Zhunti caused the Chan Sect disciples present to tremble. They hurriedly knelt down.

"We humbly welcome the Saint! May the Saint live ten thousand years!"

Seeing the behavior of Yang Jian and the others, Ji Fa finally realized that the person before him was a Saint!

He too immediately knelt in worship. Even if he were a fool, he understood what a Saint represented.

Why had King Zhou faced today's calamity?

Was it not because he had offended Nuwa, the Saint? Though it was merely one cause or a trigger, without this provocation, how could Yin Shang have fallen so?

"No need for such courtesy. Today, I have come for Kong Xuan. Let us go together," Zhunti said with a smile, and with a sweep of the Golden Bridge, he appeared before Kong Xuan!

Zhunti had just arrived when Kong Xuan sensed his presence. He had been waiting for this day long enough.

In the Primordial World, the only individuals worthy of challenging him were Saints. Only by challenging a Saint could he hope to take another step forward.

"I find myself connected to you by fate. Come with me to enjoy the Western Paradise, where I shall expound the three vehicles of enlightenment, freeing all attachments, achieving ultimate truth, and perfecting the immortal and indestructible body. Would this not be wonderful? Why suffer in these murderous calamities?"

Before Kong Xuan could speak, Zhunti preempted him, his words as persuasive as an endless cascade of lotus blossoms.

Kong Xuan laughed loudly, "What utter nonsense, attempting to deceive me again!"

The Daoist said, "Listen to me. I have prepared a verse for you as proof. The song goes:

'Once deeds are done and paths completed, cleanse yourself to reunite with the heavens. When time opens at the appointed hour, the nine precepts and three refuges will reveal your renewal. Shed your feathers and return to the pure land, escape the worldly cage to nurture the hundred spirits. Wash away dust and filth to remain untainted, return to your origin and become indestructible once more.'"

Kong Xuan, infuriated, had not intended to confront a Saint earlier but could no longer tolerate Zhunti's shamelessness, devoid of any dignity befitting a Saint.

Releasing all of his Five-Colored Divine Light, Kong Xuan swept it toward Zhunti. Zhunti, caught slightly off guard, was enveloped in the Five-Colored Divine Light.

But Zhunti, being Zhunti, one of the six Saints, soon revealed his divine form amid a thunderous roar within the Five-Colored Light. Eighteen arms and twenty-four heads emerged, adorned with spiritual ornaments and treasures: flower pots, fish intestines, divine mallets, treasure chisels, golden bells, golden bows, silver halberds, fan banners, and more. In this form, Zhunti chanted a verse:

'Golden brilliance, sacred flames shine bright, Western wondrous Dharma surpasses all insight. Infinite jeweled garlands of boundless grace, unending auspicious lights progress apace. The divine mallet's blessing is rarely shown, Seven Treasures' goblet serves among lives unknown. Thus, together to the lotus platform we'll ascend, Thus shall we witness the great Dao transcend.'

Subduing Kong Xuan with a silk cord around his neck and pressing the Divine Mallet against his body, Zhunti chanted, "Fellow Daoist, show your true form!" In an instant, Kong Xuan reverted to his original form—a red-crowned peacock with piercing eyes.

Seated upon the peacock, Zhunti descended step by step into the camp of West Qi.

Though he had subdued Kong Xuan, Zhunti felt something amiss. It should not have been so easy.

Although the peacock before him was real, and the Five-Colored Divine Light emanated from it, something seemed off.

Calculating with his fingers, Zhunti realized it was Kong Xuan's Gold Cicada Shell strategy. Using the pressure from a Saint, Kong Xuan had severed the last of his Three Corpses.

The "Kong Xuan" now subdued by Zhunti was merely his third corpse. Though he had lost his incarnation and his Five-Colored Divine Light, he had gained the understanding of the path to slaying the Three Corpses and improving his cultivation.

Whether this was a gain or a loss was unclear. Unless Kong Xuan truly became a Saint, cutting off the Three Corpses had little impact on his strength.

Yet, within the entire Primordial World, who else possessed such audacity? Perhaps, in the distant future, another might emerge like Qianqiu Wuhen, a peerless figure!

But before Kong Xuan, none had dared to go to such extremes.

Indeed, to ascend to sainthood, one must embrace madness!