Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

The female spirit drought demoness, seeing the Treasure Lotus Lamp's formidable power, suddenly abandoned Li Mingzhu and launched her attack toward Ao Yu and the Nine-tailed Fox. Witnessing this scene, even with Li Mingzhu's usual composure, he could not help but curse angrily.

Who said she's completely lost her sanity?

This is what you call completely lost her sanity?

Such a move, strategically avoiding the strong and targeting the weak, could hardly come from someone who has completely lost their mind. Of course, Li Mingzhu was merely venting his frustration, knowing deep down it was just the female spirit's instinctual reaction.

"Watch out!"

"Heads up!"

Li Mingzhu immediately warned Ao Yu and the Nine-tailed Fox, tossing the Immortal Slaying Sword toward Ao Yu.

Ao Yu had already anticipated danger when the female spirit let out her piercing howl, thus easily evading her attack. Taking hold of the Immortal Slaying Sword, Ao Yu and Li Mingzhu quickly formed a flanking position, trapping the female spirit at the center.

The Nine-tailed Fox, proving to be even smarter, hid directly behind Li Mingzhu. She understood that as long as Li Mingzhu protected her, she would remain unharmed.

"Ah!"

The drought demoness let out another piercing howl, her speed akin to a thunderbolt, and her iron-hook-like claws lunging straight at Ao Yu.

Though she seemed devoid of sanity, she could still discern strength and weakness. Clearly, Ao Yu was much weaker than Li Mingzhu. Moreover, she could faintly sense a lingering threat emanating from Li Mingzhu's body.

"Do you really think I'm a pushover?"

Ao Yu snorted coldly. Holding the Immortal Slaying Sword, she exuded an aura of majesty, akin to a Sword Immortal of unmatched prowess.

Although Ao Yu had not been under Yu Ding's tutelage for long, she had received true instruction in swordsmanship. Otherwise, why would Yu Ding have bestowed the Immortal Slaying Sword upon her?

"Immortal's Guidance!"

Gripping the Immortal Slaying Sword in reverse, her Sword Intent lashed out toward the drought demoness!

Pure white sword brilliance, bright as the belly of a fish at dawn, pierced through the ominous darkness of the tomb with breathtaking elegance!

Even Li Mingzhu was dazzled in that moment. Such a simple strike, yet imbued with immeasurable grandeur. Fortunately, he had resorted to ambushing her earlier; otherwise, there would have been a grueling battle in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.

The female spirit, however, cared nothing for the magnificence of the Sword Intent or the sharpness of the sword technique. Her eerie claws collided directly with Ao Yu's Sword Intent.

The female spirit was left unscathed, while Ao Yu's Sword Intent was shattered instantly.

This was not due to Ao Yu's Sword Intent being weak but rather because the female spirit was overwhelmingly powerful, obliterating the Sword Intent through pure physical force.

With her Sword Intent damaged, Ao Yu, being its originator, couldn't help but stagger back dozens of meters. Unlike Li Mingzhu, who had the Treasure Lotus Lamp protecting him, Ao Yu coughed up fresh blood as a result.

Li Mingzhu flashed forward to catch Ao Yu. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.

"I'm fine, but I didn't expect the female spirit to be so formidable. It seems she has grown stronger over the years," Ao Yu replied weakly. Though she said she was fine, she had suffered internal injuries. Li Mingzhu quickly fed her the Spiritual Medicine he had looted from the Dragon Palace.

"Stand behind me. This is my battle; I'll protect you!"

Li Mingzhu saw through the real situation but chose not to expose it. He pulled Ao Yu behind him and stepped forward, activating his Physical Body Divine Domain to its fullest extent!

"Here!"

Ao Yu gave a gentle smile, handing the Immortal Slaying Sword back to Li Mingzhu. Being protected by the man she admired indeed felt comforting.

Li Mingzhu held the Treasure Lotus Lamp in his left hand and the Immortal Slaying Sword in his right, moving toward the female spirit drought demoness like an unstoppable Demon God.

Although your story is tragic and pitiful, since you've harmed Ao Yu, I cannot spare you!

"Take this!"

Li Mingzhu shouted as the Treasure Lotus Lamp soared into the air. Its radiant, seven-colored light bathed the female spirit, not only constraining her movements but exerting tremendous pressure upon her, striving to crush her impenetrable body.

It must be said that Li Mingzhu's approach hit the mark. The strength of the female spirit drought demoness lay entirely in her physical body; neutralizing it was akin to pulling the teeth out of a tiger.

Under the radiance of the seven-colored light, the female spirit was immobilized, and Li Mingzhu seized the opportunity. With the Immortal Slaying Sword in hand, he moved closer.

Unlike Ao Yu's elegant sword techniques, Li Mingzhu's strikes were simple yet highly effective—slashes, thrusts, and sweeps, all guided by practical efficiency. It was no surprise, given his Nine Revolution Profound Skill had reached the fifth stage, imbuing his physical body with power comparable to that of a Daluo.

Li Mingzhu attacked relentlessly, cutting at the female spirit drought demoness with abandon. Though each strike landed solidly, he failed to inflict meaningful damage upon her.

Her physical body was even more resilient than Ao Guang's Daluo Perfected Form. Though it hadn't yet reached the level of a Quasi-Sect Leader, it wasn't far off.

This resilience might have been partially due to her innate talent, but it owed even more to the nurturing influence of Spiritual Energy over tens of thousands of years.

Reflecting on this, Li Mingzhu couldn't help but curse Ying Long. If Ying Long had found a way to make the female spirit slumber, why set up a Spirit Gathering Array as well? Without the array concentrating Spiritual Energy, this female spirit might have already perished from a lack of sustenance.

Now, thanks to that, he was left with a monumental problem!

Just as Li Mingzhu was lost in thought, an unforeseen turn of events occurred. The female spirit drought demoness, who had been restricted by the Treasure Lotus Lamp, suddenly broke free from its confinement.

Her body emanated alternating blue and red light, a fusion of extreme yin and icy cold with extreme yang and scorching heat. The two forces combined to strike the Treasure Lotus Lamp, knocking it down from midair and back into Li Mingzhu's hand.

Freed from the confines of the Treasure Lotus Lamp, the female spirit resembled an unshackled tiger, her presence filled with the oppressive aura of malevolence and violence, carrying both blazing heat and piercing chill as she charged at Li Mingzhu.

"Clang!"

With one swipe, her claw aimed directly for Li Mingzhu's forehead. Though lacking refinement, the strike was both forceful and deadly, carrying the dual effects of burning and freezing. Li Mingzhu managed to block it with the Immortal Slaying Sword, but the impact sent him staggering backward, coughing up fresh blood.

Such a strike—its sheer force was terrifying!

The Nine-tailed Fox and Ao Yu, watching from the sidelines, were stunned into silence. Ao Yu wanted to step in to assist, but Li Mingzhu stopped her.

Wiping the blood from his mouth, Li Mingzhu hastily swallowed several Healing Pills, stood up, and locked his gaze on the female spirit. The drought demoness seemed to sense his gaze and glared back with ferocity, charging at him again, her figure obscured in the chaos.

"Dharma Manifestation!"

Li Mingzhu roared, invoking the Divine Skill he had never used before—despite his mastery of the fifth stage of the Nine Revolution Profound Skill.

The manifestation took on his own appearance, for he had not borrowed any form of a deity or demon. His Dharma Form was simply himself!

This approach might lack certain Divine Skills, but it offered unparalleled control over every ounce of his power. Typically, those who practiced the Nine Revolution Profound Skill to such a degree chose a suitable Dharma Form, yet Li Mingzhu refused.

He himself was the Dharma Manifestation!

The Immortal Slaying Sword enlarged as well, sweeping forth and raising a storm of dust.

"Boom!"

The immense Immortal Slaying Sword collided with the drought demoness's silver claws. Though it forced her back, Li Mingzhu once again coughed up blood.

A clash of physical might—trading injuries for injuries. While the Nine Revolution Profound Skill's recovery was exceptional, this path was clearly unsustainable for Li Mingzhu.

The gap in physical strength was too vast, akin to a child and an adult exchanging blows. Both might sustain injuries simultaneously, but the final outcome was evident.

Though fully aware of this inevitable truth, Li Mingzhu refused to retreat. Behind him stood Ao Yu.

He could not retreat, for if he did, what about Ao Yu?

The battle raged on. Li Mingzhu had lost count of the exchanges he had endured with the drought demoness, yet he had not retreated even once.

On the sidelines, Ao Yu had long since burst into tears, her face a mess of sorrow, but she dared not make a single sound, fearful of distracting Li Mingzhu.

"Why go to such lengths?"

A long sigh echoed around them, accompanied by the sound of falling rocks. Faintly, there seemed to be visions of celestial dragons dancing and Divine Dragons roaring.