Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

Unable to make sense of it, Li Mingzhu decided to stop thinking about it altogether. Matters of such complexity should be left to those Saints to concern themselves with—he, a mere Taiyi Profound Immortal, needn't trouble himself over such trifles.

What required his attention now was determining whom Hao Tian would send to assassinate him. As long as the opponent's cultivation did not reach that of a Quasi-Sect Leader, Li Mingzhu believed they couldn't possibly harm him—not out of arrogance, but because the facts simply pointed to that conclusion.

Given Lady Xi's cunning methods, Li Mingzhu understood that unless he uncovered the means by which they were tracking him, evasion would be impossible. His sole advantage now lay in choosing the battlefield.

Focusing on recovering from his injuries, Li Mingzhu decided to abandon all other concerns. Whatever happens, let it happen—after all, soldiers repel armies, water blocks floods.

Meanwhile, the celestial crane that Lady Xi had dispatched flew up to the Heavenly Court and arrived before the Jade Emperor Hao Tian.

"Summon the ministers to the hall!"

Having reviewed the message the crane had brought, Hao Tian's mighty voice echoed, his mood clearly elated.

The Thirty-Three Layered Heaven Palace exuded an ethereal air of misty spiritual energy. To some, its prosperity and abundance were deeply alluring, while others loathed its silence and solitude.

Such feelings had been shared by figures like Yao Ji of the past, and later by the Seven Immortal Maidens. The truth behind these sentiments remained an enigma, though there was always a faction committed to ensuring the Heavenly Court's strength, steadfastly upholding its dignity.

Perhaps proximity to the inner circle obscures one's vision of the wider picture. After all, for all its majesty and might, the Heavenly Court's power could still be overturned by a single word from a Saint.

A Saint tolerates the Heavenly Court's existence only to honor the Daoist Ancestor's face!

Or, perhaps, some have seen through the illusion and wish to shatter the cycle.

Who can say for sure?

The Lingxiao Palace has remained unchanged for eternity. Since the era of the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court, it has always radiated solemnity and grandeur.

The grand hall itself stood unchanged, but its occupants had long been replaced.

Elder figures from the Ancient Heavenly Court's Demon Clan often found themselves wistful at the sight of such scenes.

"Where is the Barefoot Immortal?"

Seated on his golden throne, Hao Tian called out softly yet commandingly, his voice full of authority.

"I am here!"

Hearing Hao Tian's summons, the Barefoot Immortal immediately stood out among the crowd.

"Last time, you failed to capture Luo Xuan, and Princess Long Ji also failed to return to the Heavenly Court. I understand your difficulties and do not wish to punish you. But should you fail again this time, do not blame heavenly law for being ruthless."

Though Hao Tian's voice sounded gentle, in the Barefoot Immortal's ears it was as sharp as piercing cold winds, leaving no room for defiance.

The Barefoot Immortal, having served in the Heavenly Court for many years, knew Emperor Hao Tian's temperament well. Despite his outward benevolence, he was a figure of ruthless resolve—someone not to provoke lightly.

"I accept the decree!"

Kneeling swiftly, the Barefoot Immortal complied without hesitation. Last time's battlefield retreat had already placed him on Hao Tian's blacklist. Were it not for the Court's lack of manpower, he would likely already be a corpse—he dared not exhibit the slightest negligence.

"Good! Rest assured, this time your task is solely to deal with Luo Xuan—you won't need to face Li Mingzhu."

Hao Tian, clearly pleased with the Barefoot Immortal's stance, smiled as he spoke.

"I will capture Luo Xuan and bring the princess back to the palace, without fail!"

The Barefoot Immortal exhaled a deep sigh of relief, his resolve evident as he continued kneeling.

Though the Heavenly Court's prestige appeared insufficient across the Primordial Three Realms, internally Hao Tian wielded immense authority.

"Very well! Where is the Immortal of Colossal Spirit?"

Hao Tian called out once more, and from the left side of the ministers, a towering figure emerged carrying twin axes.

"The Immortal of Colossal Spirit is present. Greetings to His Majesty."

The burly man bellowed, his voice gravelly yet full of heroism.

"You are tasked with assisting Panshan Daoist in capturing Li Mingzhu. All actions must follow Panshan Daoist's orders. Can you fulfill this task?"

Hao Tian asked solemnly, his gaze shifting to the Daoist dressed in blue robes, with hair neatly coiled atop his head, standing at his side.

"Your Majesty, I can execute the task, but what if this Daoist acts against the Heavenly Court's interests?"

The Immortal of Colossal Spirit voiced his concerns. Though blunt and somewhat disrespectful, his inquiry struck at the matter's heart—a delicate and sharp question.

"You need remember only one thing: in the Lower Realm, treating the Panshan Daoist as though seeing me is sufficient!"

Hao Tian, rather than taking offense, responded with laughter. The difference in tone compared to his dealings with the Barefoot Immortal was as stark as night and day—as expected, the Immortal of Colossal Spirit was one of Hao Tian's trusted confidants.

Though his martial prowess might be middling, his unwavering loyalty to Hao Tian was his utmost strength.

"Understood, Your Majesty!"

On hearing Hao Tian's words, the Immortal of Colossal Spirit raised no further objections.

"I must express my gratitude for Your Majesty's favor; a humble Daoist like me cannot hope to bear such honor!"

Next, Panshan Patriarch hurriedly waved his hands in refusal, repeatedly claiming he was unworthy, though his demeanor lacked the humility his words would suggest.

Hao Tian, despite disliking the man's attitude internally, maintained a warm and pleasant smile—after all, inviting the Daoist to act necessitated patience. Yet inwardly, Hao Tian resolved that the moment Panshan Daoist became redundant, his fate would be sealed in misfortune.

As Hao Tian prepared troops in the Heavenly Court, Lady Xi in the royal palace of the Lower Realm abruptly sent word to King Zhou, claiming she had severe chest pains.

King Zhou, utterly smitten with Lady Xi, dared not delay for a moment. He immediately abandoned affairs of state and summoned an entire retinue of imperial physicians to examine her.

However, medicine in this era was rudimentary at best. While Shennong may have sought remedies through countless experiments with herbs, the legacy of his "herbal canon" had not been passed down.

Because of this, healing methods were rooted entirely in empirical guesswork. The likelihood of success in treating any patient was less than ten percent—survival hinged on fate.

Even under such conditions, achieving success in one case out of ten earned a doctor recognition as a miracle-worker.

Given the ineptitude of medical science, understanding Lady Xi's condition was impossible—especially since Lady Xi wasn't actually ill to begin with.

"Useless wretches!"

Seeing the imperial physicians utterly stumped, King Zhou roared furiously, unleashing a torrent of accusations.

In truth, the imperial physicians might have had ideas on how to treat the queen, but with King Zhou's volatile wrath looming, no one dared to speak up. If their treatments failed, ten thousand heads wouldn't suffice to pay the price!

"My king, am I about to die? My chest hurts so much—so terribly!"

Feigning frailty, Lady Xi sobbed pitifully as she spoke to King Zhou in a soft, tender voice.

"Impossible! Beloved consort, you are destined to live a hundred years—how could you be threatened by death now?"

Holding Lady Xi in his arms, King Zhou cried out with visible anguish.

"My king, it's useless. This affliction stems from childhood—it's incurable. A Daoist once said long ago I would not live past eighteen years, unless..."

"Unless what? Speak quickly, my love!"

King Zhou, beside himself with anxiety, demanded her answer while Lady Xi still had the poise to be coy.

"Unless... unless a broth made with the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart could be prepared for me to drink—only then might this chest pain be alleviated."

Hesitating and stumbling over her delivery, Lady Xi finally spoke the crucial words.

"Send the decree: The entire kingdom will search for the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart with all efforts. Any volunteer who offers one will be richly rewarded!"

Upon hearing her words, King Zhou immediately issued orders—his devotion to Lady Xi knew no limits.

"My king, there's no need for such trouble; Vice Minister Bi Gan himself possesses the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart. Only..." Lady Xi leaned closer against King Zhou's chest, whispering her calculated suggestion.

"There's no place for 'only'! Summon Bi Gan to the palace. Prepare the executioners—if that old fool refuses to offer his heart willingly, seize it by force!"

King Zhou, upon hearing her words, discarded familial loyalty and any respect for his venerable courtier—none of it outweighed his love for Lady Xi.

"Understood!"

Watching King Zhou's decisive reaction, Lady Xi was clearly satisfied. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips, though it remained subtle and nearly imperceptible.