Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Yu De gnashed his teeth with hatred: "If I spare even one of you, I am no man of principle!"

That evening, Yu De spoke to his four brothers: "Tonight, bathe and cleanse yourselves. I will use a technique to ensure that, within seven days, not a single trace of the Zhou army remains."

The four brothers followed his instructions, each bathing and changing into clean clothes. At the first watch of the night, Yu De took out five cloths in colors of blue, yellow, red, white, and black, laying them on the ground.

Yu De then brought out five small bowls, handing one to each man: "When I tell you to scatter, you scatter. When I tell you to pour, you pour. There's no need to draw bows or shoot arrows—they will all perish cleanly within seven days."

The five brothers stood atop the cloths. Yu De began walking in mystical patterns, performing his spellcraft with Innate Qi, swiftly activating his talismans. What a wicked wind it was!

Soughing and howling, leaving no trace, uprooting trees and shattering mountains with unrestrained ferocity. Do not claim the barren lands are useless; they hide sinister shadows that lead the charge.

Yu De summoned the Five Directions Cloud above the Zhou Camp, standing in midair, and poured the contents of the five bowls—filled with the poison of the pox—in all directions. Only at the fourth watch did he return.

Now, the soldiers of the Zhou camp—mere mortal bodies—how could they withstand it? The entire army suffered from fever, and every general was restless.

Even Jiang Ziya was feverish in the central command tent, while King Wu in his rear quarters felt his body aching. All 600,000 troops were affected likewise. Three days later, all lieutenants and soldiers were covered from head to toe with pustules, unable to move or stand. The campfires had gone out entirely.

Only Yang Jian, knowing that Yu De practiced left-hand magic, had stayed away from the camp that night, meditating and refining his internal energy; thus, he remained unscathed.

Five or six days later, Jiang Ziya was covered entirely in black lesions. The pox manifested in the five colors: blue, yellow, red, white, and black.

Jin Zha said to Yang Jian, "This is like the time of Lv Yue's plague years ago."

Yang Jian replied, "When Lv Yue attacked West Qi, at least there were cities for refuge. Now we have only a makeshift camp—how can we resist? Should Yu Hualong and the Yu family forces rush in from Tongguan, how will we cope?" The two were deeply troubled.

Meanwhile, Yu Hualong and his five sons on the walls of Tongguan watched as smoke ceased entirely from the Zhou Camp. All they saw were barren tents and flags, and Yu Da laughed, "While the Zhou generals are afflicted, why don't we lead troops down to annihilate them in one strike? Wouldn't that be a splendid victory?"

Yu De stroked his beard and said, "Elder brother, there's no need to mobilize our forces. They will perish naturally, and it will demonstrate the boundless power of our mystical arts. Quietly and without a sound, let 600,000 Zhou soldiers die out naturally."

The five brothers cried out in unison, "Marvelous! Truly marvelous!"

Now Yang Jian, seeing Jiang Ziya's condition grow dire, became increasingly anxious. He discussed with Jin Zha: "Our martial uncle is in such a wretched state, even struggling to breathe—what can we do now?"

Before they could finish speaking, they saw Yu Ding Zhenren descending from midair, riding a crane. Yang Jian and Jin Zha rushed forward to escort Yu Ding Zhenren to the central command tent.

Yu Ding Zhenren stood and entered the inner quarters to observe Jiang Ziya's condition. Seeing his state, the immortal sighed and said, "Even as the mentor of an emperor, the burden is not easy! Indeed, this fits:

The seven deaths and three calamities now complete, your name shall linger in immortal writings."

Yu Ding Zhenren sighed and instructed Yang Jian: "You must make another journey to Fire Cloud Cave."

Yang Jian accepted the order, employing Earth Escape to rush toward Fire Cloud Cave, moving as swiftly as wind and clouds. Reaching the foot of the mountain, he beheld a stunning vista, an unending array of wonders—lush exotic flowers and intoxicating fragrances suffused the air.

Awed though he was by the scenery, Yang Jian dared not enter without permission. After some time, a young servant attending fire and water emerged. Yang Jian stepped forward, bowing respectfully: "May I trouble you, senior brother, to convey a message? Yang Jian humbly requests an audience."

Recognizing Yang Jian, the child quickly returned the bow: "Please wait briefly, senior brother."

The boy returned to the cave and reported: "Master, Yang Jian awaits outside, seeking an audience."

Sage Fu Xi smiled and said, "Let him come in."

The boy returned to the entrance: "Yang Jian, you may enter."

Yang Jian stepped to the prayer mat and bowed low: "Disciple Yang Jian wishes master boundless longevity!" Rising, he presented a letter.

"Disciple Yu Ding Zhenren, washing in incense, bows in respect to the Revered Supreme Emperor of Creation. Though disciplined in spiritual cultivation and shouldering the mandate to meditate in silence, disciple takes the liberty of submitting this urgent dispatch. Presently, we support the destined emperor to overthrow a tyrant. Upon reaching Tongguan, we encountered Yu De's left-hand magic, unleashing a plague upon the living. Now, the Grand Marshal Jiang Shang, along with 600,000 troops, suffers from pustules, poised to succumb imminently. Water and sustenance are ineffective. With no recourse, I humbly entreat your benevolence to save the emperor destined to restore order and the countless innocent lives in peril. I await your divine mercy."

Fu Xi read the letter and then addressed Shennong: "The troubles faced by King Wu are tribulations decreed by fate, but as the destined sovereign, he deserves our assistance."

Shennong replied, "Your wisdom is correct, elder brother."

Thereupon Shennong fetched three elixir pills, handing them to Yang Jian. Yang Jian received the pills and knelt to ask: "How should these be administered?"

Fu Xi did not conceal the instructions: "One pill will save King Wu; one pill will save Jiang Shang. The last pill, dissolved in water and sprayed around the army, will eradicate the poison instantly."

Yang Jian asked further, "What is the name of this disease?"

Fu Xi replied, "It is called smallpox, a highly contagious ailment. If not treated swiftly, it is fatal."

Yang Jian inquired again: "Should this disease spread to the mortal realm in the future, what can be used to cure it? I beg your guidance."

As the matter concerned saving future generations of the human clan, Shennong responded: "Follow me out of the cave to Purple Cloud Cliff."

Yang Jian followed Shennong to the cliff. After searching, Shennong plucked a herb and handed it to Yang Jian: "Spread this among mortals—it can cure smallpox."

Kneeling once again, Yang Jian reverently asked: "What is the name of this herb?"

Shennong replied: "Listen carefully: 'Purple stalk, yellow root, eight-petaled bloom; ascends spirit and expels plague—it is Sheng Ma. Let not its virtue be understated, nor its fame exaggerated among humankind.'

Having secured the elixir pills and Sheng Ma, Yang Jian departed Fire Cloud Cave straight toward the Zhou Camp. There, he relayed: "I have obtained the divine pills and Sheng Ma herb to cure the plague."

Yu Ding Zhenren immediately dissolved the first pill to save King Wu; he then used the second to treat Jiang Shang. Yang Jian and Jin Zha dissolved the third pill in water and used willow branches to sprinkle it across the camp. In an instant, the pox poison vanished completely. Though the poison was neutralized, history would record smallpox as both a deadly and recurring threat to the world.

Within the Zhou Camp, Yang Jian and Jin Zha sprinkled the antidote across all corners.

Only disciples of the Three Mountains and Five Mountains sects, possessing inner Samadhi True Fire and mastery of the Five Elements Technique, recovered more swiftly. Their anger burned fiercely, their teeth gritted in resentment.

The next day, when Jiang Ziya observed the scarred faces of his disciples, he was enraged and convened the generals to discuss attacking Tongguan for vengeance. Together, they shouted in unison: "Today, we will not cease until we have conquered Tongguan!"

Meanwhile, Yu Hualong and Yu Da paid no mind to the Zhou army, relying on Yu De's words that the soldiers would succumb on their own. They spent their days drinking, awaiting the army's demise.

By the eighth day, Yu Hualong remarked to his sons: "It is now the eighth day, yet our scout has reported nothing. Let us ascend the fortress walls to see for ourselves."

The five brothers agreed: "Climbing the walls to check is prudent."

Leaving the Commander Mansion, they ascended the walls, only to find the Zhou Camp transformed. Where once no smoke rose, now it brimmed with an air of martial vigor. Everywhere, troops stood alert, their spirits unyielding. Standards flew sharply, drums and gongs resounded powerfully, spears and pikes gleamed in dense recessions.

Yu Hualong hurriedly asked Yu De: "How has the Zhou Camp restored itself over these past days?"

Yu Da scolded from the side: "Brother, you ignored my warnings, and now look at today! Did you think all would simply die on their own?"

Yu De remained silent, deep in thought, musing to himself: "My master granted me this art with the guarantee of efficacy—how could it fail? There must be an external cause."

He then addressed his father and brothers: "Now that events have reached this point, hesitation is futile. Someone must have secretly undone my spell. Yet they will still be weakened—for now, let us seize the opportunity to strike swiftly and achieve victory before any changes occur."

Hearing this, Yu Hualong had no choice but to lead his five sons in a charge from Tongguan, aiming directly at the Zhou Camp. Believing the Zhou generals to still be frail, Yu De marched at the forefront, clad in a daoist robe and wielding a sword, advancing like a storm.

But as Jiang Ziya and his generals prepared to emerge from the camp, Yang Jian raced ahead single-handedly: "This scoundrel dares exploit weakness—he's courting death!"

Though the Yu family was skilled in abnormal arts, their cultivation levels paled in comparison to Yang Jian and the others. Within moments, they fell under his blade.

At the same time, on Golden Turtle Island, the Heavenly Flower Falling Banner ascended into the heavens, summoning the myriad immortals!