Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

The story goes that during Laozi's great battle at the Entrapping Immortal Gate, his Linglong Treasure Tower appeared above him, impervious to the roaring thunder and howling winds.

The Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Linglong Tower, a supreme treasure of Acquired Merit, was as renowned for its defense as the Chaos Bell. As long as it stood above one's head, it was akin to standing in the Innate Invincible Land, Uninvadable by all forms.

The Slaying Immortal Sword Formation was indeed formidable, yet it was also challenging to bring down Laozi's Linglong Tower at once.

Laozi thought to himself, "He only knows to rely on his Daoist Skills, unaware of self-cultivation. Let me show off the techniques from the Xuandu Purple Palace to his disciples!" Grabbing his green ox, he leaped out of the circle; pushed his Fish Tail Crown, and three streams of air emerged from his head, transforming into the Three Pure Ones.

Laozi resumed his battle with Sect Hierarch Tongtian. From the east, a bell rang, and a Daoist arrived, wearing the Nine Cloud Crown, clad in a Big Red White Crane Red Silk Robe, riding a white steed; wielding a Treasure Sword, he shouted, "Brother Li Dao! I come to lend you a hand!"

Tongtian could not recognize him, and asked, "Who is this Daoist?"

The Daoist replied, "I have a poem to bear witness:

The Dao first judged the Primordials, always existing, gaining the natural peace. Purple Qi comes from the east, thirty thousand miles, crossing Hangu Pass after five thousand years."

The Daoist, finishing his poem, said, "I am the Daoist of the Upper Purity."

He brandished the sword in his hand to attack. Tongtian did not know where this Daoist of the Upper Purity had come from and hurriedly defended himself. From the south, another bell rang, and another Daoist appeared, wearing a Ruyi Crown, dressed in a light yellow Eight Diagrams Robe, riding a heavenly horse; holding a Lingzhi Ruyi, shouted, "Brother Li Dao! I come to aid you in subduing Daoist Tongtian!"

Accompanied by the heavenly horse, he wielded the Ruyi to strike. Tongtian asked, "Who are you?"

The Daoist replied, "I do not recognize you, yet you call yourself the Master of the Jie Sect? Listen to my words. The poem goes:

Emerging from Hangu Pass to Kunlun, unifying Hua Yi under the Taoist path. My nature is akin to the universe, though Sumeru Mountain falls, my essence remains."

"I am the Daoist of the Jade Purity." Tongtian did not understand the reason: "From ancient times, Hong Jun's path was passed down to three friends; how did the Upper Purity and Jade Purity emerge from the same teachings?"

Though defending himself, his mind was full of doubt. Still pondering, a Jade Chime sounded from the north, and another Daoist appeared, wearing the Nine Heavens Crown, dressed in the Eight Treasures Longevity Purple Cloud Robe; holding a Dragon Whisker Fan in one hand and the Three Jade Ruyi in the other, riding the Earth Roar, he shouted, "Brother Li Dao! I come to support you in breaking the Entrapping Immortal Gate!"

Tongtian saw yet another Daoist with a white beard and gray hair, feeling uneasy, quickly asked, "Who are you?"

The Daoist replied, "Listen to my words. The poem goes:

Chaos never counted the years, I emerged first when Hong Meng was cleaved. Comprehending the principles of Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang, no matter how outsiders desire to see, they can't."

"I am the Daoist of the Taiqing." The four Heavenly Venerates surrounded Sect Hierarch Tongtian, sometimes above, sometimes below, sometimes left, sometimes right, leaving Tongtian only to defend.

One Qi transforms into the Three Pure Ones!

Laozi, as the leader of the Three Pure Ones, received the most Pangu inheritance, and often discussed the Dao with the Primordial, gaining deep insights into the Jade Purity source, thus creating the One Qi Transforming into the Three Pure Ones was not unexpected.

Though Tongtian was initially shocked and caught off guard by Laozi, he quickly stabilized himself.

After all, this was in the Slaying Immortal Formation, Tongtian's main battlefield; if Laozi's few avatars alone could break through, it would be quite unreasonable.

Laozi's three manifestations of the Three Pure Ones attacked together, though they couldn't break the Slaying Immortal Formation, making it difficult for Tongtian to retaliate, which agitated him.

If he couldn't overcome Laozi's true body due to the Xuanhuang Linglong Tower, that might be understandable, but not being able to handle even these mere avatars was a blow to his prestige.

"Sword, come!"

Tongtian let out a cold snort, as the Four Slaying Immortal Swords did not fly to his side, yet four Sword Qi appeared simultaneously.

What made the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation fearsome throughout the Primordial World?

It relied on two things: the sharp Sword Qi of the Four Slaying Immortal Swords, and the endless murderous aura and evil thoughts, which were the roots of its Array.

Now Tongtian was utilizing the first point, the Sword Qi of the Four Slaying Immortal Swords. Any single Sword Qi from the Four Slaying Immortal Swords was top-notch, and together transformed into Chaos Sword Qi.

Faced with the gray Chaos Sword Qi, Laozi's eyes inevitably grew serious, no longer daring to flaunt the Three Pure Ones avatars and directly retracted them.

The technique of transforming One Qi into Three Pure Ones might look powerful, but in essence, since Laozi was essentially only of the Taiqing, he could not truly comprehend the Jade Purity and Upper Purity sources, thus its power was quite limited.

It could even be said that, comparing techniques at the same level, it was inferior to the method of avatars from Eternal No Trace.

After all, Eternal No Trace was the true trinity, with three avatars of equal standing, and fighting power infinitely compounding.

Laozi retracted his Three Pure Ones avatars, defended Tongtian's Chaos Sword Qi with the Linglong Tower atop his head.

Having blocked the Chaos Sword Qi, Laozi did not linger, bypassed the Entrapping Immortal Gate, inspected other Sword Sects, and directly exited the Slaying Immortal Formation.

Laozi returned to the Lutong Pavilion after leaving the great formation, and the Primordial also inquired, "Did you see how it looked inside the array today, Elder Brother?"

Laozi smiled and said, "Though he set up this vicious array, it is difficult to break it quickly."

The Primordial replied, "This formation has four gates, which require four saints to break."

Laozi replied, "You and I can manage two places, but the other two, no ordinary disciples dare to break those arrays. This sword might not trouble us, but how can others endure it?"

The two had long had a plan in their hearts, yet neither wanted to bear the stigma of colluding with the West, so they were speaking in riddles, knowing help was coming.