Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

The origin lies deep in the mud, brilliance emerges beneath the water, displaying unmatched might. A being hidden from the world understands the nature of heaven and earth; a spiritual entity perceives the mechanisms of ghosts and gods. When tucked away, the body reveals neither head nor tail; when its limbs extend, it walks and flies freely. When Cang Jie created characters, he needed complete forms; during divination, he foresaw events alongside Fu Xi. Skimming over duckweed and weaving through water reeds, so elegant. Frolicking in the waters, stirring waves and blowing ripples. Layer upon layer of golden threads formed into armor, dot upon dot crafted into patterns like tortoise shells, harmonious and neat. The Nine Palaces and Eight Diagrams were destined to take form, scattered and spread as if to veil the feathered robe. Born with warrior spirit, this pleases the Dragon King; after death, this creature bears the stele of the Three Teachings. To know who or what this entity is, seek the divine wisdom of Emperor Yan's famed turtle.

Primordial insulted the Jie Sect disciples; how could Tongtian endure this? Nevertheless, since Ju Liusun had already engaged Gui Ling Saint Mother, halting them would now be inappropriate.

"This time, Fellow Daoist, you must not make a move again!"

Laozi remarked with a chuckle, yet covertly mocked Tongtian for intervening earlier to save the Golden Light Immortal and his peers.

Tongtian snorted coldly, ignoring Laozi's words entirely. Laozi, receiving no response from Tongtian, was left embarrassed and secretly held a grudge against Tongtian for his perceived lack of etiquette.

Now, Gui Ling Saint Mother, wielding her sword, stepped forward to confront Ju Liusun. Within just three or five exchanges, she swiftly summoned the Sun and Moon Pearl to strike.

Ju Liusun, unfamiliar with this treasure, dared not resist and promptly turned westward in defeat.

Tongtian, finally venting his frustrations, shouted loudly, "Capture Ju Liusun immediately!"

Gui Ling Saint Mother flew after him, giving chase. Ju Liusun—destined to be an allied soul of the Western teachings—would one day join the Western Sect, greatly promoting Buddhist law during the Western Han era.

As Ju Liusun fled westward, someone appeared before him, hair styled into double knots, clad in robes blending with the water and Daoist patterns, walking slowly. This figure allowed Ju Liusun to pass but blocked Gui Ling Saint Mother, calling out resolutely: "Do not pursue my Fellow Daoist. Since you have attained a human form, you ought to respect your boundaries and dwell in peace. Why engage in reckless acts, creating such karmic debts? Should you ignore my words, regret may be too late! Return at once. I am the Hierarch of the Western Sect, a great advocate of the monastic path, and our meeting here is no accident but a fateful encounter. Those bound by destiny are sure to reunite in the Western Paradise of Supreme Bliss."

It was none other than the Daoist Receiving Guide who had vanished earlier, now waiting here unexpectedly. Upon seeing Receiving Guide, Tongtian erupted in fury.

Even Gui Ling Saint Mother hadn't anticipated Receiving Guide's presence here but showed no fear at all: "You, a guest from the West, should confine yourself to your den. How dare you spout deceptive nonsense here, disrupting my clarity!"

Without further exchange, she promptly unleashed the Sun and Moon Pearl, aiming it at Receiving Guide directly.

Receiving Guide pointed outward, releasing a bright and pure white light. Within this radiance, a Green Lotus blossomed, catching the pearl effortlessly. The Western Sect Hierarch remarked, "This Green Lotus bears the artifact; how could the myriad beings fathom its nature?"

Gui Ling Saint Mother, not having profound cultivation nor a firm grasp of wisdom, acted with reckless abandon, continuing to attack with the pearl. Receiving Guide sighed, "Since you've come to this place, there's no avoiding these worldly entanglements. My lack of restraint stems not from a lack of compassion but from the dictate of fate, for which I am powerless. Let me offer a countermeasure for this jewel; we shall see how it fares."

The Western Sect Hierarch raised and summoned his Prayer Beads. Gui Ling Saint Mother, spotting the prayer beads too late to evade, was struck upon the back. Laid flat onto the ground, she reverted to her true form—a giant turtle, sprawled with limbs and head exposed.

Ju Liusun was about to draw his sword to slay her when the Hierarch urgently intervened, exclaiming, "Fellow Daoist, you must not kill her! The thought alone would entangle you in countless cycles of karmic retribution that may never be resolved."

Receiving Guide called out, "Where is the young guardian?" Before the Western Sect Hierarch could finish speaking, a youth approached him. The Hierarch spoke: "I will go with this Fellow Daoist to meet a destined soul. You are to collect this beast immediately."

The youth raised Receiving Guide's Twelve-Petal Merit Golden Lotus, intending to capture Gui Ling Saint Mother. Yet, unexpectedly, a sudden bolt of lightning descended from the skies.

Alas, the young guardian, possessing merely the cultivation of a Heavenly Immortal, was utterly unable to withstand such a strike of lightning. He perished in both body and spirit, losing even the faint chance of being enshrined on the Investiture of the Gods.

At the same time, a flash of white rainbow raced by, rescuing Gui Ling Saint Mother directly.

Receiving Guide was enraged at the audacity of someone daring to save her from his grasp. His fury swelled as he prepared to strike.