Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

If there weren't sufficient backing, how could one dare provoke an ancient being who had long since grasped the might of a Saint?

Gonggong clasped his hands into seals and summoned the Witch Clan's Extremely Cold True Water, empowered by his mana comparable to the Cutting Three Corpses realm. The True Water transformed into a massive dragon and surged toward the Female Swordsman.

This Water Dragon resembled Daoist Skill, yet it wasn't. Perhaps it should be called Witchcraft, a blend of the Witch Clan's Divine Skills and mana.

In ancient times, Chi You also achieved something similar. However, Chi You was a special case among the Witch Clan; his Primordial Spirit was one in ten thousand—utterly unique and impossible to replicate.

Now, Gonggong forged his Primordial Spirit using millions of souls. Naturally, he could achieve similar feats. From his ease and fluidity, it was evident that he had long mastered the integration of the Profound Sect's Daoist Skill with the Witch Clan's Divine Skills.

"Slash!"

The Female Swordsman struck with her sword without a hint of flourishes or embellishment. It was a straightforward slash—so mundane it seemed devoid of magic or smoke from the mortal world.

It appeared ordinary, yet Li Mingzhu didn't believe it could be so simple. After all, if the Female Swordsman could guide Ao Yu's sword techniques, how could she herself be unskilled in swordsmanship?

But truth proved otherwise. The Female Swordsman was struck back again by Gonggong and injured. While the disparity between their strengths was indeed vast, the result still felt unjustified.

"If you continue to hide your power, your next strike will be your last!"

Gonggong let out a cold snort. He never expected a mere human junior to confront him while withholding her true strength. Was she courting death?

"I started practicing swordsmanship at four, abandoned it at six, and it's been 36,000 years since then. Though I've been without a sword for 30,000 years, my heart is full of Sword Qi, and I've created a single form of Flying Immortal. Dare you face it?"

The usually silent Female Swordsman suddenly spoke at length, though her words were enigmatic. How could one retain Sword Qi after abandoning swordsmanship?

Moreover, for most of these 30,000 years, the Female Swordsman had been under suppression. Despite that, how could she have Sword Qi and even create a sword technique?

"What's there to fear? Show me what you've got, little girl. Right now, your Gonggong granddaddy is in a good mood having just re-emerged into the world. Otherwise, you'd already be dead. So what if you wield the Witch Slayer Sword?"

Gonggong chuckled dismissively, completely uninterested in the trump card the Female Swordsman was preparing.

Unfazed by Gonggong's mockery, the Female Swordsman solemnly raised the Xuanyuan Sword. With an austere expression, she swept the sword, and suddenly, an immeasurable wave of Sword Qi descended from the heavens.

Thirty millennia of suppressed Sword Qi—now was the time for its full release!

The reason behind the Female Swordsman's peculiar journey in swordsmanship traces back to her unique constitution. Everything was fine before she turned six; any sword she held could last several days. But after her sixth year, every sword in her hand would instantly melt into molten iron.

Yet she never abandoned the Sword Dao. Though she never touched another sword, her Sword Qi continued to condense, and a single form of swordsmanship gradually took shape in her mind.

The original intent of practicing swordsmanship was to one day wield the Xuanyuan Sword and defend her homeland. At last, that wish was realized!

"Flying Immortal!"

The immense Sword Qi coalesced into a storm, enveloping Gonggong. Heaven and earth appeared entirely consumed by this Storm of Sword Qi, leaving no room for anything else.

Li Mingzhu gasped in astonishment at the sight. He had always known the Female Swordsman wasn't as simple as she appeared on the surface, but he hadn't expected her to be this powerful.

Although this Sword Qi owed its terrifying momentum to 30 millennia of accumulation and refinement, it had nonetheless forced Gonggong to retreat!

The mighty Gonggong, already approaching the Saint realm, was driven back by a mere Quasi-Saint like the Female Swordsman. The gap in their power was clear; her Sword Qi's strength was undeniable.

In the wake of the Sword Qi storm, the sword technique known as "Flying Immortal" descended with the Female Swordsman's commanding shout.

Li Mingzhu's first impression upon witnessing this move was one word: breathtaking. It was the strongest and most beautiful sword technique he had ever seen.

With her eyes tightly shut, the Female Swordsman released the Xuanyuan Sword. In mid-air, an ethereal figure of a white-robed woman danced gracefully, wielding the Xuanyuan Sword.

To animate a sword technique was not unheard of, but to command it to dominate the Primordial World—who could achieve this?

Beside Li Mingzhu, Ao Yu watched in a trance, entirely captivated. Clearly, the Female Swordsman's realm of the Sword Dao was precisely what Ao Yu aspired to reach.

Once, even Li Mingzhu himself would have longed for this. But now, though he believed he might one day wield such a sword technique, he was no longer purely a Sword Cultivator.

The technique "Flying Immortal" carried the full might of the Female Swordsman's essence, spirit, and vitality as it charged toward Gonggong. Though she hovered mid-air, she had already spent all her strength and was running on empty.

"How dare a mere flicker of fire compete with the glow of the full moon?"

Gonggong dismissed the threat of the Xuanyuan Sword, raising his fist and striking down!

Millennia ago, he could clash head-on with the Chaos Bell using his body alone. Now, with his enhanced physical strength combined with his Daoist attainments, this punch carried the weight of heaven's wrath!

Though such defiance of natural order should have incurred heavenly retribution, Gonggong forced the very rules of this world to yield.

"Boom!"

Like a firework exploding, the Flying Immortal Sword shattered mid-air. The residual force of the impact surged toward the Female Swordsman without dissipating.

Danger!

Li Mingzhu saw this uncontested force closing in, and the Female Swordsman remained motionless. In an instant, he understood—she no longer had the strength to fight.

No matter how breathtaking her talent, how unmatched her elegance, crossing such an insurmountable gulf in power was impossible. Without a Saint, who could challenge Gonggong?

Li Mingzhu couldn't help but question. He refused to believe the Saints weren't aware of the ongoing battle, yet none intervened.

"Celestial Stars!"

Though his thoughts ran wild, Li Mingzhu's actions were swift. He flung the River Map and Luo Book, protecting the Female Swordsman, and soared forward. Ao Yu wanted to stop him but ultimately held back.

In a flash, Li Mingzhu reached the Female Swordsman's side, activating the Treasure Lotus Lamp. Seven-colored light descended, shielding both of them and replenishing her vitality.

Even before throwing the River Map and Luo Book, Li Mingzhu had already scattered 365 Jade Scrolls. These scrolls now glowed brightly, moving in a mysterious trajectory centered around the River Map and Luo Book.

A complete Celestial Star Battle Formation was beyond his capability. He lacked the materials to construct it, as it required 365 Star Flags forged from Star Essence.

Even with the River Map and Luo Book, a full formation was an impossibility. With his cultivation, even possessing the Star Flags, he couldn't deploy it.

Just setting up this simplified version of the Celestial Star Battle Formation demanded his utmost effort. One could only imagine the level of cultivation required for the full formation!

Fortunately, his swift response in setting up this simplified formation managed to preserve both their lives.

Watching from the Fire Cloud Cave, Xuanyuan Emperor let out a sigh of relief. Moments ago, they had truly been on the brink of death!