Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

After Li Mingzhu saved Luo Xuan, hearing the two explain the twists and turns of the matter, she couldn't help but feel it was somewhat laughable. As it turned out, all this fuss Luo Xuan caused was actually him taking the blame for her!

Of course, Li Mingzhu wouldn't put it this way to Luo Xuan. Besides, if not for him, how could Luo Xuan possibly secure the beauty?

"Uncle Luo, are you planning to return to Fire Dragon Island next?"

Li Mingzhu didn't continue speaking about the earlier matter but instead asked about Luo Xuan's future plans.

"Fire Dragon Island is naturally not an option anymore. Although we managed to scare off the Barefoot Immortal for now, who knows if he'll come back again? I plan to take Long Ji to avoid trouble for a while at Senior Brother Zhao Gongming's Luo Fu Cave."

Luo Xuan pondered for a while before answering. It seemed unclear whether he missed the subtle invitation in Li Mingzhu's words or deliberately avoided the subject, but Li Mingzhu didn't mind.

"Then take care, Uncle Luo. If you have time, feel free to visit me at Chentang Pass," Li Mingzhu said with a smile. Despite being junior to Luo Xuan in generation, they actually interacted as equals.

The disciples of the Jie Sect were numerous, and many relationships were like this. For example, Wen Zhong was a disciple of the Saint Mother Jin Ling, yet he referred to many Jie Sect disciples as Fellow Daoists, far less formal than Li Mingzhu, although no one minded.

"Definitely!"

Luo Xuan laughed heartily, then left with Long Ji, floating away with incredible grace!

Indeed, he was just a flame of Daoist essence formed through Transformation; how could he be inclined to stay under someone's roof? It seemed heading to Luo Fu Mountain was merely an excuse.

Since Luo Xuan didn't accept her goodwill, there was nothing Li Mingzhu could do. He may be carefree now, but let's see if he can remain that way once he ends up on the Investiture of the Gods later.

Li Mingzhu wasn't a Saint, and her sense of pity wasn't overwhelming. She helped when she could, but if assistance was beyond her capacity, she wouldn't insist. She continued her journey toward Chentang Pass with the Nine-tailed Fox in tow.

As they flew toward Yan Mountain, they spotted a splendid caravan guarded by a thousand armored cavalry.

Li Mingzhu felt a peculiar premonition in her heart, sensing that something significant might happen. Thus, she decided not to rush forward, instead shadowing the caravan along with the Nine-tailed Fox.

"Boom!"

What had just been miles of clear skies suddenly turned into dense, dark clouds, with thunder roaring intermittently. Li Mingzhu gazed at this sudden change in the weather with confusion.

At the center of the caravan, a wagon slowly came to a halt. From inside emerged a dignified old man radiating elegance, with partially white hair and sharp eyes.

Drizzles began falling as heavy rain arrived right on cue. The old man declined a proffered umbrella, instead taking out a turtle shell and several copper coins. He started divining without consulting anyone.

"Heaven delivers the Thunder; the General Star is born!"

As soon as the old man spoke, the sound of thunder boomed through the air, intertwined with lightning, shaking mountains and rivers alike. The bursts of thunder even extended all the way to Mount Hua.

Even Li Mingzhu, who was tailing the caravan, was shaken slightly by the thunderous shockwave.

At this moment, Li Mingzhu realized who this caravan was escorting—it was none other than Ji Chang, the Western Marquis, who would later be known as King Wen.

Considering the location of Yan Mountain, Li Mingzhu knew that this must be the moment Lei Zhenzi would be born.

In a fleeting haze, as she regained consciousness, Li Mingzhu, along with the Nine-tailed Fox, found themselves positioned among the clouds.

"Who's there?"

Li Mingzhu shouted in alarm. To move her so subtly and imperceptibly, the intruder's cultivation must be incredibly fearsome.

"Why search far and wide, Nephew Li? Here I am,"

Li Mingzhu followed the voice and spotted a middle-aged Taoist holding a horsetail whisk. His hair was snowy white, and his demeanor was ethereal, transcending mortality.

"Greetings, Uncle Yun Zhongzi!"

Li Mingzhu bowed to the Taoist. She had seen Yun Zhongzi in her past life, so she naturally recognized him now.

"Nephew Li, where are you headed?" Yun Zhongzi asked with a smile, showing no hostility toward Li Mingzhu.

"I'm just heading back to Chentang Pass. I merely paused because I sensed something momentous might be about to occur, hence my decision to stop and observe," Li Mingzhu replied truthfully. With a gesture, she gathered Qi to form a table and chairs, inviting Yun Zhongzi to sit.

"Nephew, stopping this little demon from committing evil was truly a great deed of merit!" Yun Zhongzi commented with a chuckle, pointing at the Nine-tailed Fox.

"Just a trivial matter. In truth, it was most appropriate for me to handle it—anyone else would risk incurring the displeasure of the Empress. Haha, come, Uncle, have some wine,"

Li Mingzhu took out her homemade Spiritual Wine and poured a drink for Yun Zhongzi, setting both the elder and younger foxes into contemplation.

Yun Zhongzi pondered how to coax this troublemaker Li Mingzhu out of the way so he could proceed with receiving Lei Zhenzi as a disciple. Due to his identity, he couldn't act openly, so he had to resort to persuasion.

Meanwhile, Li Mingzhu schemed to buy time. Yun Zhongzi intended to take Lei Zhenzi as a disciple, but Li Mingzhu wanted him as a loyal follower instead.

Secretly transmitting instructions to the Nine-tailed Fox, Li Mingzhu handed her the Qiankun Ring and urged her to find a way to sneak down and take Lei Zhenzi.

"No matter what, you've done admirably, Nephew. Come, drink!"

Yun Zhongzi suppressed his impatience and worry, clinking his cup with Li Mingzhu. He only wished this obstinate troublemaker would leave soon.

"You overpraise me, Uncle!"

Li Mingzhu feigned modesty as she downed her drink. Her demeanor made Yun Zhongzi want to strike her; his compliments were meant to urge her to depart quickly.

Though frustrated, Yun Zhongzi couldn't deny the potency of Li Mingzhu's Spiritual Wine. Even someone of his cultivation level started feeling slightly intoxicated from it.

Elsewhere, the Nine-tailed Fox seized the moment. Catching Yun Zhongzi off guard, she used the Qiankun Ring to create a hole in the barrier Yun Zhongzi had prepared, discreetly making her way below.

At this moment, Yun Zhongzi hadn't noticed her actions. Even if he had, he wouldn't have suspected Li Mingzhu of instructing the Nine-tailed Fox to steal his future disciple. After all, Lei Zhenzi's birth was a celestial secret; ordinary people couldn't possibly predict it.

Little did Yun Zhongzi know that Li Mingzhu was an anomaly, armed with memories of the future!

Yun Zhongzi came prepared to persuade Li Mingzhu, and it might have been the right decision. Otherwise, if Li Mingzhu had had time to devise a plan, she might've resorted to brazenly snatching Lei Zhenzi instead of the comparatively polite approach she took now!

Back at the caravan, Ji Chang instructed after deducing the General Star's birth, "Go fetch the General Star!"

The crowd grumbled, unsure where to begin looking for the General Star. But unwilling to defy Ji Chang's orders, they scattered in search.

As they searched, a faint sound of a child crying was heard near an ancient tomb.

The group approached, and indeed, there was a child. Someone said: "An ancient tomb—how can there be a child here? This must be strange. It might be the General Star. Let's take the child to Marquis Ji—what say you?"

The group agreed and brought the child to Ji Chang.

Upon seeing it was a child, Ji Chang burst into laughter.

This child's face resembled a blossoming peach, and his eyes sparkled with brilliance.

Ji Chang was elated, thinking: "I am meant to have a hundred sons, yet so far I have ninety-nine. This newborn completes the number perfectly, symbolizing the fulfillment of my destiny. What splendid fortune!"

He ordered his aides: "Take this child to the nearby village for temporary care. When I return in seven years, I will bring him to West Qi. This child will enjoy immense fortune in the future."

Just as preparations were made to send Lei Zhenzi down to the village, a sudden demonic wind swept through—the Nine-tailed Fox had tracked them down.

Despite the sinister wind, nobody was disturbed, and during the transport, the Nine-tailed Fox stealthily whisked the baby away.

Ordinarily, the Nine-tailed Fox's demonic body should've rendered her incapable of touching Lei Zhenzi, whose form comprised pure righteousness and condensed lightning. But with Li Mingzhu's Qiankun Ring, she succeeded effortlessly.

Li Mingzhu's fateful intuition wasn't entirely baseless. Lei Zhenzi was not only destined for Yun Zhongzi but also had karmic ties to her.

Theoretically, Lei Zhenzi should've been born before Nezha, as per the original timeline. However, due to the narrative requirements, the author of the story, Ziyi, arranged things differently—please bear with this adjustment!