Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Jizhou, south of the city.

Flags fluttered, the convoy wound like a serpent, stretching endlessly.

Below the city tower stood elderly, frail soldiers. Two generals, one old and one young, fixed their gazes upon the advancing convoy, their expressions heavy with sorrow.

Anger, resentment, worry—all kinds of emotions mingled in the air, creating a solemn atmosphere.

"Father Marquis, are we truly letting Sister go to Chaoge? This is sending a lamb into a tiger's mouth!"

The young general in white spoke in bitter anguish, staring intently at his father.

"Quanzhong, do you think I want this?"

The old general sighed helplessly, gesturing at the soldiers nearby with a look of grief. "What could I have done? We resisted, didn't we? But look at the outcome! Jizhou City was nearly completely depleted. Look at these old, weakened troops! You almost lost your life yourself!"

The old man's tone was filled with anguish, pointing at the troops with visible despair. Yes, what could he have done? What man would willingly watch his own daughter plunge into a pit of fire?

This pair of men turned out to be Su Hu, the Jizhou Marquis, and his eldest son, Su Quanzhong.

"Alas!"

Su Quanzhong let out a long sigh and said no more.

The cause of all this trouble stemmed from King Zhou's sacrificial ceremony to heaven, where he encountered Nuwa's statue. He inscribed verses upon it, and ever since, his divine strength waned, leading him to search far and wide for concubines.

Following the advice of Fei Zhong and You Hun, King Zhou issued an edict to take Daji as his concubine. Su Hu rebelled against Chaoge but was ultimately defeated by Chong Houhu and Ji Chang.

In the end, he had no choice but to send Daji to Chaoge, leaving behind nothing but sorrowful sighs.

Meanwhile, Li Mingzhu had left the East Sea and traveled westward, refraining from using her Daoist Skill too much, merely walking at a leisurely pace.

During this journey, Li Mingzhu had released Ao Yu, though nothing unfolded as she'd imagined—no violent storms, no quarrels, no dramatic departures. Ao Yu simply came out, calm and unyielding, which frustrated Li Mingzhu even more.

They say fathoming a woman's heart is as hard as finding a needle at the bottom of the sea. Li Mingzhu felt pure bewilderment, unsure of what to do.

When Ao Yu emerged, she initially intended to leave, and Li Mingzhu didn't restrict her at all. If Ao Yu truly wanted to go, she could have left freely.

But, inescapably, Ao Yu couldn't bear to depart entirely. Perhaps that's why Li Mingzhu hadn't returned promptly to Chentang Pass; maybe she wanted to let Ao Yu roam freely and untangle her thoughts.

While they walked, they encountered the convoy delivering Daji to Chaoge. At first, Li Mingzhu didn't know the purpose of this convoy and paid it no mind.

But Ao Yu expressed an interest in discovering the convoy's purpose, and naturally, Li Mingzhu agreed. Ao Yu's rare curiosity was something Li Mingzhu wouldn't deny; otherwise, her usual melancholy would weigh on him as well.

Following the convoy from a distance, Li Mingzhu didn't immediately interfere. Gradually, they deduced it was a convoy belonging to the Yin Shang royal family, as the colossal black bird totem was unmistakable.

When night fell, the convoy stopped at an inn to rest. Li Mingzhu, accompanied by Ao Yu, infiltrated the location unnoticed.

With their impressive Daoist skills, sneaking into a convoy composed of mere mortals was effortless. Eavesdropping briefly, they learned the convoy was escorting Daji to Chaoge.

Initially, Li Mingzhu didn't plan to intervene, but Ao Yu expressed a desire to see Daji in person, forcing Li Mingzhu to comply.

Of course, Li Mingzhu harbored his own private thoughts: seeing her might not be a bad thing. Rumor had it Daji was overtaken by the Nine-Tailed Fox, who replaced her and brought calamity to Yin Shang's reign. Li Mingzhu wished to see for himself.

But, more importantly, Li Mingzhu hoped to prevent Daji from reaching Chaoge if possible. As a Jie Sect disciple, anything that could preserve additional fortune for Yin Shang was something worth striving for.

As for the Divine Enthronement crisis looming ahead, Li Mingzhu honestly hadn't decided how to face it. Though he belonged to the Jie Sect, its prospects were grim. If he were to accompany Wen Zhong at Chaoge, Li Mingzhu wasn't genuinely willing.

Yet he couldn't simply defect to West Qi either—that would make him a traitor to the sect. So, for now, he would do what little he could.

"Father, Brother, Daji is sorry to you both. I can't see you one last time. I hope you won't hold it against me!

If I fail to safely reach Chaoge, King Zhou may send troops to conquer Jizhou. But I truly, truly cannot bring myself to go on!"

In a brightly lit room, a young maiden donned in a flowing blue water gown appeared, breathtakingly beautiful yet grief-stricken. As she wept, her fragmented words slipped out between sobs. Her haggard visage evoked endless sympathy.

Outside the room, Li Mingzhu and Ao Yu concealed their presence and stood quietly, observing. Ao Yu wanted to step outside but was stopped by Li Mingzhu, who gestured to keep listening.

"Bo Yikao, we shall meet again in the next life!"

With a resolute tone, Daji seemed to have made up her mind. She tossed a three-foot-long silk ribbon over the beam, intent on ending her life.

Ao Yu once more tried to intervene, revealing her form, but Li Mingzhu restrained her again. The Nine-Tailed Fox hadn't surfaced yet.

"There's demonic energy!"

Ao Yu whispered to Li Mingzhu. Li Mingzhu nodded; this was what they were waiting for.

Li Mingzhu flicked his finger, sending a faint blue glow from outside into Daji's body. Daji followed through with the act, kicking the stool beneath her to hang herself.

The faint blue glow settled upon Daji without her noticing, nor did the hidden Nine-Tailed Fox perceive it.

Daji appeared lifeless, but Li Mingzhu's spell had protected her. She seemed genuinely dead at a glance.

A sly chuckle echoed within the room as an alluring, outrageously revealing figure entered Li Mingzhu and Ao Yu's line of sight.

Her seductive laugh carried an almost devastating charm, causing even Li Mingzhu—a man whose Daoist heart had been fortified by the overwhelming stimuli of modern times—to falter momentarily in his trance.

Indeed, she was worthy of the title Nine-Tailed Fox. Li Mingzhu could only marvel at how King Zhou had fallen prey to this enchanting siren.

Such allure—how many men in this world could resist it?

"Still ogling! I see your heart's already been stolen by this demonic creature!"

Ao Yu pouted beside Li Mingzhu, displeased, as she reached out to tug his ear. Yet she hesitated at the intimacy of the gesture, eventually holding back.

"No matter how beautiful the fox, how can it compare to your radiance?"

Li Mingzhu chuckled mischievously, noticing Ao Yu's hint of jealousy from her earlier expression.

He secretly congratulated himself—if nothing else, Ao Yu likely had feelings for him.

"Hmph!"

Ao Yu reverted to her usual aloof demeanor but couldn't entirely conceal the faint joy sparking in her eyes. After all, humans have feelings; Ao Yu was no exception.

Inside the room, the Nine-Tailed Fox lowered Daji's 'corpse.' Holding respect for the dead, she hadn't planned to target Daji's soul further but prepared to send it for reincarnation. At that moment, the blue glow surrounding Daji's body erupted like a Light Sword—precisely the wisp Li Mingzhu had imbued earlier.

The Light Sword sped toward the Nine-Tailed Fox.

"Who's there!"

The Nine-Tailed Fox shouted in alarm, revealing her true form as nine tails whipped out furiously.

Although she blocked the Light Sword, Li Mingzhu and Ao Yu were already standing inside the room.