Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

"Uncle Sea Covering, what do you intend to do?"

Fu Yao stood alone, facing over ten individuals, calmly asking, as though since Li Mingzhu's appearance, all turbulence had subsided.

"For him!"

Spotting Li Mingzhu suddenly emerging, the Great Demon in green iron armor pointed decisively and said.

The gesture was quite imposing, though the Sea Covering Demon King harbored some unease. Initially, everything along the North Sea's periphery had been within his expectations; logically, this young man ought to have already perished.

But something seemed amiss. He clearly knew that the damned Heavenly Silkworm was lurking here to ambush Li Mingzhu. If Li Mingzhu was unharmed, it meant the Heavenly Silkworm must have failed.

In truth, the Sea Covering Great Saint had already secretly submitted to Hao Tian, and should have cooperated with the Heavenly Silkworm. However, his own selfish calculations intervened, compounded by the Silkworm's unwillingness to collaborate.

Thus, he remained in ambush nearby.

Originally intending to scavenge for petty gains, the prospect of an inevitable fight introduced a stark change in dynamics.

This left the Sea Covering Great Saint, Jiao Demon King, feeling somewhat vulnerable. Otherwise, his demeanor wouldn't have been so uncertain. Reflecting on the earlier tense standoff, one could sense how much the atmosphere had shifted toward tranquility.

"Me?"

Li Mingzhu asked curiously, pointing at himself.

"Naturally!"

The Jiao Demon King replied solemnly. Though lacking his initial confidence, he believed that as long as the individual's presence remained, everything would proceed as expected.

"Great Saint, what business do you have with this humble Daoist?" Li Mingzhu narrowed his eyes slightly, speaking with a faint smile as if he had already seen through everything.

"I ask the esteemed Daoist to return the Demon Clan's sacred artifact, the Hun Tian Ling!"

The Jiao Demon King declared loudly. Behind him, over ten Golden Immortal-level Great Demons quickly placed themselves at his back, radiating an aura suggesting they wouldn't hesitate to draw their weapons.

"Hun Tian Ling? The Hun Tian Ling was bestowed upon me by Nuwa for self-defense. When did it become a sacred artifact of the Demon Clan?" Li Mingzhu sneered coldly. Truly audacious to offer such a flimsy excuse.

Besides, assuming it was indeed a Demon Clan sacred relic, once it had fallen into his hands, was there any reason to hand it over?

"The Hun Tian Ling was originally used in ancient times to suspend Donghuang Bell. Now that the Donghuang Bell has vanished, the Hun Tian Ling naturally deserves recognition as a sacred relic!" The Jiao Demon King explained with a grin, showcasing an uncommon talent for sophistry.

Clearly, his intention matched Hao Tian's line of thinking: using the Hun Tian Ling to search for the Donghuang Bell. Unfortunately for him, Li Mingzhu hadn't yet considered this angle.

The Jiao Demon King even planned to offer the Hun Tian Ling to Primordial or one of the Western Saints once acquired, figuring that serving under a Saint far surpassed following Hao Tian.

Of course, this depended on securing the Hun Tian Ling and subsequently locating the Donghuang Bell. Without achieving those, what would he have to offer?

That was no ordinary treasure—an Innate Treasure used by Donghuang back then to deter even Saints.

Before such a treasure, the Jiao Demon King's greed magnified infinitely.

If Kunpeng had been privy to this secret, even he likely wouldn't have held back from acting.

"What nonsense!"

Li Mingzhu snorted coldly. A joke—it was laughable to think anyone could demand treasures from his hands. He had two words for such audacity: not possible!

"What's so nonsensical about it?" The Jiao Demon King continued to maintain a smiling demeanor, as though everything was under control. Li Mingzhu found such arrogance detestable.

Just a short while ago, Kunpeng had exhibited similar arrogance but ended up slinking away after surrendering the River Map and Luo Book.

"Whether the Hun Tian Ling qualifies as a Demon Clan sacred artifact matters not. Now that it is in my possession, it belongs to me, Li Mingzhu. And who are you exactly to dare to demand anything from me?"

Li Mingzhu rebuked him vehemently. Already in a foul mood, the Jiao Demon King's posturing only soured his temper further. Naturally, Li Mingzhu had no intention of being courteous.

Moments earlier, he had narrowly escaped death in a Void Cage. How could his mood possibly be bright?

"Impudence!"

"Our King was personally the bodyguard of the Ancient Demon Emperor. Why wouldn't he have the right to retrieve a sacred relic of the Demon Clan?"

Before the Jiao Demon King could respond, a Great Demon stepped forward to reprimand Li Mingzhu, displaying staunch loyalty.

"Oh? A bodyguard to the Demon Emperor? I recall hearing the Demon Emperor had no bodyguards—only an old hound to pull his cart. Could that be you?"

Li Mingzhu retorted while suppressing laughter. It was an intentional jab at the Jiao Demon King. Although the Jiao Demon King had indeed served as the Demon Emperor's charioteer, his position had been comparable to that of a chamberlain.

"I'll ask you one last time: Will you surrender the Hun Tian Ling or not?"

The Jiao Demon King snickered. He was well aware that Li Mingzhu was not only a disciple of the Jie Sect but also Nuwa's attendant. However, as long as he obtained the Hun Tian Ling, none of this mattered.

After all, he wasn't planning to harm Li Mingzhu; he doubted any Saint would lower themselves to deal with him personally for such trivial matters.

For Saints to act like that, the world would utterly descend into chaos.

Although Saints were known to protect their disciples, there was no precedent for them endlessly shielding their disciples from harm. In truth, Saints often remained indifferent toward their disciples unless circumstances coincidentally brought them into awareness. Even then, their occasional interventions were considered incredibly rare.

To his credit, the Jiao Demon King was remarkably accurate in predicting Saints' mentalities. Li Mingzhu, while receiving brief aid every now and then, could not expect constant surveillance from such exalted beings.

"Recently, I exchanged the Demon Clan Twelve Techniques with the Demon Master in the Demon Master Palace for the River Map and Luo Book. Tell me, was this deal profitable or not?"

It seemed Li Mingzhu intentionally wished to provoke the Jiao Demon King's greed further. He openly revealed both the precious items he possessed and the Demon Clan's legacy, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.

"The Demon Clan Twelve Techniques? The River Map and Luo Book?"

The Jiao Demon King exclaimed in shock before being overcome with joy—today was his lucky day.

"Indeed. And now, what would you do?"

Li Mingzhu smirked knowingly. He understood perfectly what the Jiao Demon King was plotting but remained utterly unperturbed, exuding unwavering confidence.

The Jiao Demon King's confidence came from his Daluo Golden Immortal Perfect cultivation, combined with his belief that the Great Demons behind him could mobilize the Demon Clan's formidable formations to steal the treasures.

But greed blinded him to reality. If the Heavenly Silkworm had already failed against Li Mingzhu, what could his group possibly hope to achieve? Not to mention Kunpeng had succumbed as well.

And there was so much more beneath the surface—insights one could easily make from appearances alone. Li Mingzhu's footing was incomparably strong, but alas, greed drives beasts and men alike to their demise.

If Zhu Xiong were present, he would have immediately recognized Li Mingzhu was setting a trap, especially when Li Mingzhu mentioned the River Map and Luo Book along with the Demon Clan legacy. Zhu Xiong would know mischief when he saw that peculiar expression of Li Mingzhu's.

"Hand over the Demon Clan Twelve Techniques, the sacred artifact Hun Tian Ling, and the River Map and Luo Book together. Then, this King may overlook your intrusion upon the North Sea!"

The Jiao Demon King didn't bother with subtlety, immediately slapping an arbitrary crime on Li Mingzhu.

"Jiao Demon King, when did the North Sea become your territory? Did you ask me first?"

Fu Yao's demeanor shifted from scholarly to domineering, speaking with bold contempt.

When did the North Sea become your land? Did you consult us, Kunpeng and son?

"That old fellow Kunpeng gave up his treasured River Map and Luo Book, even sent his son to serve this kid. What use does he have for the North Sea anymore? Haha!"

The Jiao Demon King burst into laughter, mocking Kunpeng without restraint. It was astonishing how he overlooked the consequences—Saints might spare him, but Kunpeng certainly wouldn't.

Perhaps greed had inflated his confidence far beyond reason. As the saying goes: when Heaven desires one's demise, it drives them mad.

"You're courting death! Do you even know—"

"Wait, hold on!"

Fu Yao intended to mention Li Mingzhu's favor with Nuwa, and that such arrogance was an affront to her. However, Li Mingzhu interrupted, swiftly taking the reins.

"During the ancient battles between Sorcerers and Demons, you fled without fighting, looting countless treasures—clearly disloyal!

Now you use deceit to plunder from a junior like me—plainly unfilial!

You sully Kunpeng, a former comrade under the same roof—outright dishonorable!"

Li Mingzhu fired accusations in rapid succession at the Jiao Demon King, leaving him entirely stunned. He hadn't expected Li Mingzhu to resort to such uncouth tactics.

"Senior Mingzhu, I understand betrayal and dishonor, but why unfilial?" Fu Yao earnestly asked. He genuinely didn't comprehend.

"Unfilial? Simple. Look at him—my grandson! No, wait, I refuse to acknowledge such a disgraceful grandson!"

Li Mingzhu couldn't suppress his grin, leaving Fu Yao struggling to reconcile his image of Li Mingzhu with what he witnessed. Something didn't seem right about this!

Had Li Mingzhu known Fu Yao's thoughts, he would surely have lectured him first. Faced with the Jiao Demon King's shamelessness, the only solution was to respond in kind. Although the verbal exchange brought no tangible advantage...

...that was precisely his goal: mere rhetorical victory. After all, he wouldn't need to lift a finger soon anyway.

"Such cheap wordplay achieves nothing. Bring forth Wen Zhong!"

The Jiao Demon King sneered, temporarily suppressing his flames of anger.

As his voice echoed, small demons promptly ushered forth the bedraggled figure of Wen Zhong. The former Grandmaster of Yin Shang now appeared as nothing more than a pitiful vagrant.