Rebirth of Nezha in the Investiture of the Gods

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment while my brothers and I discuss this. Is that alright?" Mo Lishou said with a smile, forcibly keeping his other three brothers from speaking prematurely.

"Naturally!"

Li Mingzhu was unperturbed. Initially, he thought Mo Liqing and his brothers would immediately flip the table. However, since Li Mingzhu had come here, it was clear he intended to seal the deal. He wasn't afraid of their rejection.

Though Li Mingzhu had said he'd do his best, would his pride allow him to fail?

In the inner hall—

"Fourth Brother, why did you stop me? That brat is utterly ignorant of the heavens above and the earth below! We have treated him with such courtesy, yet he dares utter insolent words. Who cares if he's Wudang Martial Sister's disciple? Later, I'm going to humiliate him thoroughly!"

Hot-tempered Mo Lihong began ranting the moment they entered the hall.

"Third Brother, don't be so quick to lose your temper. Listen to me first."

Mo Lishou sighed helplessly. Thankfully, the hall was soundproofed by magic; otherwise, if Li Mingzhu overheard, things could truly spiral out of control.

"Fine, speak!"

Mo Lihong snorted coldly, glancing at the other two burly men, barely suppressing a laugh.

"This Li Mingzhu is Wudang Martial Sister's disciple and, by rumor, highly regarded by Senior Brother Duobao and many other senior disciples. Most importantly, he is the son of our benefactor. We cannot afford to slight him!"

Mo Lishou paused to gather his thoughts and continued, "First, that. Second, this Li Mingzhu is said to be extraordinarily powerful. If we really fought, we might not be his match.

Third, and most crucially, he revealed four Acquired Spirit Treasures the moment he made a move. Such extravagance suggests he genuinely wishes to win our allegiance!"

"You're suggesting we submit just because of four Acquired Spirit Treasures?"

Mo Lihong replied indignantly, though he couldn't deny the logic in Mo Lishou's words. Still, he felt stifled.

After all, the four brothers had been living large at Jiameng Pass, enjoying prestige and power. Now, to serve someone else—it was a hard pill to swallow.

"Of course not. While the boy's conditions are impressive, outright submission would be inappropriate. At the very least, we need to first test his abilities. Later, Third Brother, you'll spar with him. If he's truly as formidable as the rumors suggest, what harm is there in pledging our loyalty?"

Mo Lishou smiled, indicating that his mind was already made up.

As outer disciples of the Jie Sect, effectively loose cultivators, their survival was often beyond their control without a major backer.

While they might appear impressive now as Generals of Jiameng Pass, that was only significant in the context of mortals.

Without strength or backing, surviving in the Primordial World was a monumental challenge.

If they had no ambition and only wanted to lord over "monkeys," they could remain unchecked. But the moment they embarked on the path of immortality, who wouldn't want to go further?

"It's settled then. This position as General of Jiameng Pass isn't all that enviable!"

Eldest Brother Mo Liqing made the final decision, waiting to see how Li Mingzhu would showcase his strength.

"Good!"

The demon generals exited the inner hall and returned to their seats.

"How did the four of you senior uncles resolve the matter?"

Li Mingzhu asked with a smile. Though unaware of their exact discussion, he was confident the matter was settled.

After all, with the straightforward nature of Jie Sect disciples, if they were going to refuse, they'd have done so outright. There was little they'd need to discuss.

"Fellow Daoist, your proposal is acceptable. After all, Li Jing is our benefactor, and you share such a deep connection with us. However, our Third Brother has been itching for a fight. Would Fellow Daoist be willing to spar with him?"

Mo Lishou delicately expressed their stance. Li Mingzhu understood—they wanted to test the strength of their prospective leader.

"Of course!"

Li Mingzhu had no reason to refuse. In fact, it was an opportunity to demonstrate his strength and secure their loyalty thoroughly.

"If you would, please!"

Mo Liqing gestured for Li Mingzhu to follow. Naturally, a sparring match would take place on the training grounds.

In no time, the five men and one beast arrived at the expansive training ground, built appropriately for the demon generals' martial prowess.

"Issue the order: no matter what happens, no one is allowed to intrude!"

"Understood!"

Once the guards were dismissed, Li Mingzhu and Mo Lihong stepped onto the field.

"Fellow Daoist, please!"

Mo Lihong, a straightforward and blunt man, would not exploit the advantage of striking first, especially since Li Mingzhu had addressed him as senior uncle.

"Attack together!" Li Mingzhu shook his head, revealing the Spirit Communication Nine Formation as a sphere of glowing light in his hand that slithered like a serpent.

"Very well!"

Mo Lihong stopped hesitating. The Mixed-Yuan Umbrella appeared in his hand. Though it was a lower-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, it still bore considerable power.

As the umbrella opened, the sky darkened, blocking out the Taiyang Star. Wind swirled, sand flew, and an overwhelming atmosphere descended.

Yet, Li Mingzhu remained unfazed. Who was he, after all? Having witnessed battles between Quasi-Saints and even the might of Saints, such theatrics didn't concern him.

Seeing Li Mingzhu's calm demeanor, the three watching Mo brothers nodded in approval. Truly, he was the son of a great figure; his composure was unmatched.

The Mixed-Yuan Umbrella's display was more intimidating than effective. To common opponents, its sheer presence would incite terror and disorder.

But Li Mingzhu maintained his focus, seeking openings in Mo Lihong's defenses.

With a bellow, Mo Lihong expanded the Mixed-Yuan Umbrella further, unleashing a massive suction force.

"I've been waiting for this moment!"

Li Mingzhu exclaimed sharply. He summoned the Fire-tipped Spear, radiant flames erupting to counter the suction force.

The Fire-tipped Spear, a supreme offensive treasure, carried unparalleled killing intent. Li Mingzhu refrained from striking at full power; injuring Mo Lihong would complicate matters unnecessarily.

It wasn't arrogance on Li Mingzhu's part—merely the truth of the disparity between them.

Neutralizing the umbrella's suction, Li Mingzhu seized the moment, hurling the glowing orb of the Spirit Communication Nine Formation toward Mo Lihong's feet.

Despite Mo Lihong's rapid reflexes, stepping back immediately upon sensing danger, the formation—imbued with spiritual intelligence—was faster.

In an instant, the Three Talents Formation materialized, trapping Mo Lihong. Though a lower-level formation, it normally shouldn't hold Mo Lihong for long.

Yet, the Spirit Communication Nine Formation began evolving: Three Talents gave way to Four Symbols, then to Five Elements, Seven Stars, Eight Diagrams, Twelve Mountains...

Formation after formation unfolded, a seemingly endless cascade of complexity!

Mo Lihong's defeat was sealed!