The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 166 - 165: Truly Worthy of Being the Man I Admire

Chapter 166: Chapter 165: Truly Worthy of Being the Man I Admire

Not long after, Li Jing suddenly rushed out, *puchi!*

...

Nezha’s expression remained cold and emotionless, killing one who came, killing a pair who dared approach, until an eerie laughter echoed in the sky.

"Hahahahaha, Hong Jun, how could you have such a disciple corrupted by demonic tendencies? For the sake of the Great Dao, you kill your father, kill your mother, kill your wife, kill your child, kill your friends?

You are more demonic than the Demon Dao itself!"

Nezha, no matter how Luo Hou tried to provoke him, remained resolute: "Just because I killed them doesn’t mean I don’t care for them. Only by journeying further will they have a better life."

"So long as I am strong enough, they will eventually return to my side."

...

While Nezha was undergoing his tribulations, the mundane world wasn’t idle either. The Immortals from both sides on the Shang Zhou battlefield all withdrew, but the Third Generation Disciples of the Chan Sect remained.

Although Zhou Army soldiers suffered heavy casualties, their high-level combat forces won decisively, taking Chuanyun Pass effortlessly. They then pushed through and seized Tong Pass in one swift momentum, with Chen Tong, defender of Tong Pass, killed by Huang Tianhua’s Fire Dragon Spear.

The army reached the gates of Lingtong Pass.

When news arrived at the rear, Ji Fa was greatly inspired by the updates. If they could capture Mianchi, Jia Meng Pass, and Mengjin, they would stand at the gates of Chaoge City.

The grand enterprise of overthrowing Great Shang finally glimpsed its dawn!

Back at Chaoge, Wen Zhong could no longer sit still. Personally leading an army of two hundred thousand, he also dispatched Dou Rong and his wife, along with Zhang Kui and his wife, to confront Jiang Ziya.

Defending Lingtong Pass was Zhang Feng. This man was skilled in wielding dual hammers and was proficient in martial arts but utterly ignorant of spells.

Zhang Shan and Zhang Feng guarded Lingtong Pass together. Zhang Feng, disobeying Zhang Shan’s advice, went out to duel with Lei Zhenzi.

Lei Zhenzi, tempered by countless hardships, had learned restraint. But when Zhang Feng opened his mouth calling him a bird man, and closed it calling him a monster, who could tolerate such insults?

Especially since Lei Zhenzi was quite satisfied with the body forged for him by his master-uncle Nezha. You dare criticize it? It seems you have chosen the path to death!

With a flap of his wings, a violent gust blew Zhang Feng off his horse. Lei Zhenzi simultaneously flew in front of Zhang Feng and thrust his Fire-tipped Spear at Zhang Feng’s head.

As the gatekeeper of Lingtong Pass, Zhang Feng’s martial arts were decent. He quickly reacted by striking away the spear with his hammer and attempted to get back on his feet.

Seeing Zhang Feng unsteady, his personal soldiers tried approaching, only to be swept away by Lei Zhenzi’s wind. Lei Zhenzi then wielded a treasure sword designed to subdue demons and took aim at Zhang Feng.

Unable to rise, Zhang Feng could only roll away to avoid the sword. Lei Zhenzi, mocking him, continued to keep Zhang Feng rolling like a tumbling gourd.

Anyone who tried to come to the rescue was simply blown away by another gust of wind.

Growing bored after a while, Lei Zhenzi suddenly brought out the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Shield, engulfing Zhang Feng in its blaze. Channeling mana to its maximum, nine fire dragons coiled around him instantly.

Though his name carried the character "Feng" (phoenix), Zhang Feng was no phoenix and could not withstand the intense flames of the shield, nor undergo nirvana. He turned to ash, with only a faint trace of his soul ascending to the rankings.

Only Zhang Shan remained trembling behind a ceasefire token within the pass. As for Shen Gongbao, he had already gone out seeking reinforcements!

Roaming around, Shen Gongbao arrived at Wuyi Mountain. Wuyi Mountain was a renowned peak, with Spiritual Energy levels ranking third or fourth among Primordial lands.

Though disregarded by Saint Disciples and other large factions, it was a rare haven for Independent Immortals.

Moreover, Independent Immortals generally had low cultivation levels, fragmented cultivation techniques, and limited resources. They banded together as a means of survival.

Wuyi Mountain also hosted an Innate Spirit Root—the Big Red Tea Tree. Though its grade was low, having one was still better than having none.

Life for Wuyi Mountain’s Independent Immortals, with boundless freedom and abundant Spiritual Energy, was carefree and indulgent.

When Shen Gongbao arrived, he saw two Daoists leisurely playing chess.

Independent Immortals envy many things, but above all, they envy the Mystic Sect’s orthodoxy.

Without proper techniques, their cultivation journey was filled with relentless struggles and mistakes, often unaware of where they went astray.

Though Shen Gongbao wasn’t exceptional, he had cultivated Yuxu Immortal Techniques. The pure aura emanating from his Yuxu mana was a hundred times superior to that of Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao.

The two couldn’t help but feel like grassroots encountering an aristocratic scion. With faint self-consciousness, they began currying favor with Shen Gongbao.

Shen Gongbao, adept in reading people’s emotions, immediately pretended to be modest while also appearing approachable. After a brief conversation, the three became thick as thieves.

Then, Shen Gongbao suddenly sighed deeply: "Ah, what a pity, truly a pity!"

"Though you live freely on this Immortal Mountain, playing chess and sipping tea, you remain ignorant of the Heavenly Number and are doomed to fail in achieving the Great Dao!"

Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao immediately pleaded, "Immortal Master, we long for the Great Dao. Alas, we have always been without fortune. Today, encountering an Upper Immortal, we implore you to teach us!"

"We implore the Upper Immortal to teach us!"

Guile flickered across Shen Gongbao’s gaze, though he feigned a troubled expression on his face before reluctantly saying: "I’ll share this secret with you, but you mustn’t tell anyone else..."

Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, thinking they’d stumbled upon a tremendous opportunity, gullibly followed Shen Gongbao, spilling their secrets clean.

Though skeptical of the Treasure Money’s mystical attributes, Shen Gongbao couldn’t help but think, "This treasure is truly extraordinary? Then how could it possibly end up in the hands of two lowly peasants?"

Regardless, he opted to test its power—urgent times at Great Shang called for immediate solutions, even pawns would do.

Recalling past failures, Shen Gongbao attributed them to bad luck and incompetent allies.

The Golden Cicada and Hundred-eyed Golden Centipede he had recruited radiated overwhelming power, rampaging freely within the Blood Sea without restraint.

Yet as soon as he returned with them to challenge Jiang Ziya, Wen Zhong’s recruits acted recklessly, diverting all aggro.

The Golden Cicada immediately pursued Fire Spirit and disappeared for who knows where, likely never to return. The Hundred-eyed Golden Centipede simply fled outright and vanished.

Even if the latter stayed, Shen Gongbao wouldn’t dare use it—without the Golden Cicada to restrain it, the creature’s unpredictability worried him. Who knew whom it might attack?

The experience underground deeply scarred Shen Gongbao.

...

Meanwhile, atop Lingshan.

Jieyin and Zhunti sat by the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, and within the Purple Gold Alms Bowl placed between them, lay Emperor Jin Can.

Once arrogant beyond measure, in the hands of two Saints, he was reduced to nothing more than a small insect.

The Jieyin Saint wore a troubled look—not because of Nezha seizing power, but due to concerns over the promised flourishing of the Western Sect.

Years ago, during Daoist Ancestor’s clash with Luo Hou, the earth veins of the Western Land were shattered. Within Zixiao Palace, not only were two Saint Positions granted, but even the rise of the Western Sect was assured.

Recently, the two Saints discerned the matter to be connected to Jin Can, prompting them to dispatch disciples, offering favors and resources to safely retrieve him intact.

Yet now, upon further calculation, they found an enigmatic connection between the event and Li Tang.

Surprised and pleased, Jieyin Saint exclaimed inwardly, "As expected of the man I favor."

"Brother, Li Jing seems destined for association with our Western Sect. Why don’t I make the journey to bring him back?"