The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 104 - 103: Understanding Applause!

Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Understanding Applause!

Shi Ji saw Nezha approaching and immediately put down the stone she was holding and rushed forward. Her thick, flowing hair obscured most of her face, but the corners of her mouth were irresistibly curved upward, leaving no room for restraint.

Nezha, who had a high level of appreciation for Shi Ji, the honest, dutiful, and exceedingly obedient worker, greeted her with proper decorum, especially given the presence of many Mystic Sect disciples: "Greetings, Senior Sister Shi Ji."

Shi Ji, flattered and caught off guard, quickly bent over to return the salute. This act caused her chest to visibly rise and fall, leading Nezha to unintentionally give her an admiring glance.

"Ahem, the cracks are quite extensive this time. Senior Sister Shi Ji, I’ll need your help," Nezha said tactfully.

Shi Ji puffed up her chest confidently and replied, "Junior Brother, feel free to give instructions. I will definitely follow your arrangements."

Nezha: "..."

Senior Sister, such words are truly inappropriate.

After teasing Shi Ji a little to lighten the mood and shake off the tense atmosphere, Nezha got busy refining the Heavenly Repair Stone. The workload of this task was immense; relying on Nezha’s mana alone, it would take countless years to gather enough materials. Fortunately, there was no shortage of helpful workers on-site.

Everyone methodically followed Nezha’s orders and got to work. Shi Ji began condensing stubborn stones, which were then refined in the Qiankun Cauldron to create usable Heavenly Repair Stones.

The massive labor undertaking lasted a full three months before the required materials were ready.

Nezha’s cultivation level was too low to withstand the chaotic energy at the bottom of the pit. This time, Duobao and Xuan Du handled it, while Nezha directed the operation from the side.

Duobao first wielded the Slaying Immortal Sword to shape one side of the Five-Colored Stone into comb-like teeth according to the dimensions specified by Nezha. Using his immense mana, he hauled the stone into the bottom of the pit. Then, working alongside Nezha and Yang Jian, who activated their Heaven and Earth Dharma forms, he embedded the stone into one side.

Once the installation was stabilized, everyone smeared a layer of meticulously prepared reed ash over the surface. That side was completed. On the other end, they used pre-processed beast bones for reinforcement, patched smaller pieces of Five-Colored Stone together, and applied additional layers of reed ash.

Finally, the materials were dried using precisely controlled temperatures of Samadhi Fire, marking the completion of the most challenging portion of the project.

Xuan Du also put away the Tai Chi Diagram, which had been suppressing chaotic energies.

Nezha cast a glance at the Tai Chi Diagram and couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy—it was such a convenient tool for the ash-preparation task compared to his previous efforts of physically pushing through the chaotic currents.

Taking his role seriously, Nezha carefully inspected both sides to ensure there were no tiny cracks left untreated. With this being his first large-scale project, he even sought out his teacher Yunxiao to set up a simple reinforcing formation to ensure quality.

Afterward, they began filling in the gaps with various types of mud and the stubborn stones refined by Shi Ji. Finally, the previously stored "lid"—held within the Mountain and River Map—was placed on top, and the construction project was officially complete.

Nezha emerged covered in dust and mud. His long, jet-black hair was matted with gray cement and other debris, but as an old hand in construction, he didn’t mind.

What amused him most was the sight of the surrounding immortals. Let me ask you this: Have you ever seen Guanyin working with ash? Ci Hang, the Chan Sect’s sole female disciple, was famously meticulous, clean, and refined in manner and appearance.

But now, her once elegant Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe was covered in dust and dirt, and her carefully tied white silk ribbon had turned gray and stiff.

Even though she had done her best to stay clean, her inexperience with ash preparation left her looking thoroughly disheveled.

If Ci Hang, the fastidious female immortal, ended up like this, the others were naturally in even worse shape.

No Brainer and Unhappy were up to their usual antics, transforming their tasks into a mud war—flinging cement at each other’s faces and smearing grime with reckless abandon. Poor Old Zhao, who worked earnestly, was besieged by his mischievous younger sisters.

The duo even attempted to involve their elder sister but were firmly deterred by Yunxiao’s ’gentle’ stare.

As for the male immortals, there’s not much to say. Who among them wasn’t cutting corners, hoping to cheat the Heavenly Dao into giving them their rewards?

Even Randeng, who usually loved to slack off, had set aside his pride to earnestly join the ash work.

The Western Sect were arguably the most pitiful; every single one of them resembled ’clay Bodhisattvas.’ These poverty-stricken immortals were desperate enough to put their lives into the effort, knowing that their work would earn them merit.

Nezha had already decided that upon returning, he’d paint a masterpiece titled *All Immortals Fight Dust Map* to inspire his own drive toward self-improvement.

I work with ash, and I take pride in it!

When the task was finally complete, the Mystic Sect disciples felt a sudden sense of connection. All simultaneously looked upward.

The once pitch-dark, sunless underground realm was suddenly bathed in an endless shower of golden light. Soon, countless streams of merit-infused golden light descended and seeped into the immortals’ bodies.

Xuan Du, Duobao, and Nezha each received two and a half shares, while the remainder of the immortals divided the other two and a half shares equally.

The personal allocations looked small, but the vast amount of merit meant that no one left unsatisfied. The endless streams of golden light fell for over an hour before dissipating, leaving even the Nether River spirits in the Blood Sea envious.

As usual, Nezha’s merit was stored within the lotus whiskers in his spine. Although he only received two and a half shares, the total amount of merit in his possession nearly doubled. The golden glow emitted by his Merit Golden Wheel visibly intensified and enveloped him in a soft, concentrated brilliance.

Nezha could feel his comprehension surging; concepts that had once baffled him now became clear, and techniques he thought he’d mastered revealed entirely new dimensions.

His body felt increasingly light and purified, as if aligning more closely with the Great Dao. In short, it was like having a premium Primordial VIP pass—and not a low-tier subscription either.

Nezha forcibly suppressed his many insights; he worried that even minor contemplation might trigger an uncontrollable breakthrough, which was not the ideal timing.

The merit had had a similarly profound effect on Xuan Du and Duobao. Duobao, who had been gravely injured, found his cultivation fully stabilized. With time and the right guidance, he might even take another step forward.

As for Xuan Du, these merit gains might not be enough to help him slay his third corpse, but it would certainly shave off decades or even centuries of painstaking cultivation. Whether he could become a Saint was unclear, but a true seeker of the Dao never stops moving forward.

The Chan Sect immortals, though few in number compared to others, boasted high cultivation levels and were all smiles despite their dusty appearance.

The Jie Sect members, who were infamous for scraping together their Magical Treasures from their teeth and scale armor, were even more ecstatic—they were grinning ear to ear. For them, fortune was something you schemed and seized, and merit was little more than a rumor from afar. To hold genuine merit now was like a dream come true.

As for their deceased comrades?

In the Primordial universe, tens of thousands of immortals perished daily. Having chosen the path of seeking the Dao, one naturally accepts the risks of inevitable demise.

Weak skills or bad luck—that’s simply fate.

As the leader of the operation, Nezha understood the importance of delivering a few words now that everything was concluded.

"Ahem."

Nezha cleared his throat twice, instantly drawing the attention of all the immortals around him.

"This time, our Mystic Sect disciples’ mission to root out the Demon has been completed, albeit with minor losses. Not only did we eliminate the Mosquito Daoist who sought to overturn the Primordial universe, but we also uncovered and destroyed Luo Hou’s avatar with the help of Senior Brothers Xuan Du and Duobao. This is truly a moment of triumph for our Mystic Sect!

As long as we adhere to the Daoist Ancestor’s will, follow his path, and pursue his vision, I firmly believe that we will construct a glorious and prosperous Primordial universe in the future!

Let’s hear your applause!"

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