Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

The Twelve Heavenly Palaces of the Demon Clan, preserved for the generations to come!

Those who can overcome the trials of the Heavenly Palaces shall be rewarded, for this is the foundation of our Demon Clan's revival.

Remember, each layer of the Twelve Heavenly Palaces becomes increasingly perilous. Future generations of the Demon Clan, take heed and proceed within your limits!

These Twelve Heavenly Palaces were originally left by Donghuang as a trial ground for the Demon Clan, while also storing countless treasures for the revival of the Demon Clan.

However, to claim these treasures depends entirely on one's strength. It seems Donghuang deeply understood the principle of survival in the Primordial World: strength determines everything!

Without strength, even if the best treasures were left behind, they would be impossible to protect.

Conversely, with sufficient strength, even if no treasures were left behind, the Demon Clan could still rise once more.

Thus, the true purpose of the Twelve Heavenly Palaces is actually to strengthen the younger generation of the Demon Clan; the rewards might even be secondary.

By right, this is a trial ground specifically for the Demon Clan, and Li Mingzhu, being of Human Clan lineage, shouldn't have been transported here. However, due to the aura of the Hun Tian Ling, she was brought here.

The aura of the Hun Tian Ling caused the Artifact Spirit of the Twelve Heavenly Palaces to mistakenly identify Li Mingzhu as part of the Demon Clan—an entirely understandable error.

In essence, this is also a fortuitous encounter for Li Mingzhu. Otherwise, even if she slaughtered countless demon spirits on the outside island, the chances of substantial rewards would have been slim.

Li Mingzhu pushed open the grand doors of the Great Sun Palace and stepped inside.

The opportunity lay before her—was there any reason to retreat?

Within the palace, there was nothing but emptiness. But as soon as Li Mingzhu entered, the scene underwent a dramatic change.

The previously lifeless and barren hall now featured a blazing sun hanging high, amidst white clouds and a blue sky.

The hall transformed into an endless expanse of desert, filled with yellow sand as far as the eye could see, with not the slightest trace of greenery.

Such feats of apparent creation from nothingness—if this wasn't an Illusion Realm, then it must surely represent incomprehensibly Tongtian-level strength.

Meanwhile, Li Mingzhu realized that she herself had been reduced to a mere mortal without a shred of Mana. Her previously cultivated Five Revolutions Profound Skill body had vanished, her Taiyi Profound Immortal Mana was gone, and her supreme Innate Spiritual Treasure had become unusable.

Within mere breaths, Li Mingzhu already began to feel unbearably hot, sweat pouring continuously from her body. It was sweltering!

Without her abilities, she was nothing more than an ordinary person. Even the soles of her feet burned as they were steamed by the ground's searing heat.

If she had retained her strength, none of this would have been a challenge. But alas, at this moment, she was just another mortal!

There was no choice but to endure—there was no other solution!

Even though Li Mingzhu possessed various survival techniques from her previous lives in the desert, none of them were of use here. This place contained only two elements: yellow sand beneath her feet and the blazing sun above her head.

Regardless of extraordinary Divine Skills, when there's nothing else to rely upon, what could you possibly accomplish?

Not even a single desert dweller or plant could be found here. There wasn't even the division of night and day. All Li Mingzhu could do was continuously endure and persevere.

Li Mingzhu didn't know how long this trial would last, but one thing was certain: all trials come to an end. She firmly believed that as long as she persisted, success would be inevitable.

No movement, no sleep, no rest!

Li Mingzhu maintained a single posture, sitting on the scorching sand. No matter how fierce the sun blazed overhead, how hot the sand burned below, how hungry or thirsty she became—she remained unmoving.

On Earth, materialism might have prevailed, but in the Primordial World, the principle was idealism—strength of heart determined endurance.

With a strong heart, one could even create something from nothing. Enduring such tribulations was naturally achievable, provided the mind's strength was sufficient.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed—perhaps a year, perhaps two. With no division between night and day, the measurement of time was a mystery.

Li Mingzhu still held firm, even as her clothing had long turned to tatters and her face had lost its former handsomeness and charm. Yet, she remained steadfast.

"Congratulations, trial-goer. You have successfully overcome this stage. You may choose whether to continue—your reward will be calculated upon exiting."

A voice emerged out of nowhere, and everything before Li Mingzhu's eyes vanished, returning to the state it had been when she first entered. Her form reverted back as well, with no trace of her prior disheveled appearance.

It turned out this was merely an Illusion Realm—a highly authentic one at that. Even Li Mingzhu had no choice but to adhere to the rules within the Illusion Realm.

Donghuang's meticulous planning was undeniable, even down to the details surrounding the rewards. If rewards were disclosed immediately, the younger generation of Demon Clan trial-goers might lose their drive to advance.

"Continue!"

Li Mingzhu's decision was unwavering. The First Layer Heavenly Palace merely tested the strength of one's heart. Without encountering true danger, she wouldn't consider stepping back.

The doors to the Second Layer Palace opened!

Upon entering, she found it, too, initially empty, much like the First Layer. However, this time, it was populated by a hundred battle-hardened witches from the Witch Clan, each comparable in strength to a Golden Immortal.

Li Mingzhu bore no animosity toward the Witch Clan, but her goal of advancing left no room for sentimentality.

Regardless of whether these witches were part of an Illusion Realm, Li Mingzhu ultimately defeated and killed them all. With the overwhelming power of the Five Revolutions Profound Skill, how could these witches, merely at the Golden Immortal Realm, pose any match?

As it turned out, these witches were not part of an Illusion Realm. They had been reared by Donghuang long ago, now repurposed as tools for the trials.

Though seemingly cruel, the reality of interspecies conflict was precisely this: either you die, or I perish.

In a battle of life and death, what difference does cruelty make?

The Second Layer Palace was conquered!

From then onward, Li Mingzhu proceeded to break through nine consecutive layers of palace gates, each trial presenting unique challenges.

There were trials testing humanity, trials testing Divine Skills, trials testing Mana, and even trials testing physical endurance—anything and everything, vastly different from one another.

Yet, these trials shared one common feature: failure meant death.

While the weight of this realization didn't hit her during the first or second trial, the further she advanced, the clearer it became.

Failure equated to death!

Still, Li Mingzhu forged ahead through nine layers of palace gates, leaving only the twelfth remaining.

"Continue!"

Li Mingzhu understood that the dangers posed by the Twelfth Layer were bound to increase exponentially. Yet, she did not falter.

As the danger multiplied, so too would the rewards. Li Mingzhu could sense the richness of the rewards awaiting her.

Most importantly, an inexplicable force seemed to beckon her toward the Twelfth Layer's trial.

The name of the Twelfth Layer itself—Sun and Moon Palace—carried an air of majesty far surpassing the simple grandeur of the previous eleven layers.

Li Mingzhu stepped in slowly. Mist swirled all around, revealing pavilions and terraces adorned with extraordinary splendor. Fairy maidens wove clouds while strongmen brewed wine, creating a scene that even the current Heavenly Court couldn't rival in luxury and grace.