The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 23: Filling the Gap

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Filling the Gap

Taking Shi Ji around to inspect the large cave inside and out, Shi Ji looked at Nezha as if he were a monster. In the Primordial era, the higher an immortal’s cultivation, the harsher the restrictions. As a Profound Immortal, Shi Ji couldn’t possibly unleash such a terrifying strike.

Nezha didn’t bother to explain. That strike was largely due to the Magical Treasure. The resources he had scraped off Yin Shou had almost entirely been used to forge that banner, but now the materials were completely ruined, beyond repair.

What’s more, the technique he mimicked was the Heavenly Creation Strike, a special attack targeting the Primordial Heaven and Earth—completely normal for it to be devastating.

After sizing up the surroundings, he told Shi Ji to refine suitable stones for repairs. Shi Ji readily agreed. After all, as a Stubborn Stone who had gained sentience, this task was no harder than eating a meal.

As for Nezha? He went off to seek "adhesive."

Nezha traveled toward the West Sea, surveying the area first and confirming no one was around. Seeing the vast stretch of reed marshes, he drew out the Bright Silver Spear.

He adopted a heroic stance, wielding the spear as if he were harvesting ten thousand rapeseed flowers bowing in submission under his blade, and began his wild reaping spree.

Combat—what a rush!

This was far more fun than sitting in meditation for cultivation.

He gathered all the chopped reeds into the Mountain and River Map. When he felt he’d collected enough, Nezha searched around a bit more before uprooting another large patch and planting it in Taihuangtian.

Nezha convinced himself that he wasn’t just exploiting the Primordial world—he was simply avoiding the hassle of running back and forth next time he needed it!

Surely, even the Daoist Ancestor wouldn’t mind this tiny bit of reeds.

After harvesting the reeds, Nezha returned to the outskirts of Chentang Pass. Shi Ji was straightforward and diligent—she hadn’t stopped working from the moment Nezha left. By now, the pile of stones outside the city could have been used to build two outer walls for Chentang Pass!

Nezha didn’t ask her to stop, signaling her to continue, while he fashioned a crude crusher and began grinding down the reeds into ash. The people of Chentang Pass were already grateful to Nezha.

Now, seeing the once-ethereal immortal child working so hard and dusty like a mud-covered monkey, they were even more moved. Many sturdy men began voluntarily putting on Yellow Turbans and joining in to help. Nezha didn’t turn them away—after all, many hands make light work, and who couldn’t use a skill or two for future benefit?

Nezha delegated the task of grinding reed ash to them and flew off to the White Bone Cave to select suitable bones for making a frame.

"Ooh, this bone is nicely shaped—taking it."

"Hmm, what’s this one? So straight—taking it."

"Huh? This bone’s forked—taking it too."

...

After a frenzy of scavenging, Nezha returned to the outskirts of Chaoge City and began calcining the collected bones.

Three months of hard work later, the preparations were finally complete. Nezha didn’t let the helping citizens labor for nothing either—he prepared three large vats of talismanic water for them to take and share freely!

He then brought Shi Ji underground, where they started erecting the bone scaffolding, filling gaps with stone, and using a mixture of reed ash paste to seal the spaces. Layer by layer, they methodically built upwards. The two toiled for another two-plus months before the project was finally completed.

Shi Ji watched as Nezha put the last few gray bone frames in place, her head full of question marks—why did this thing seem so familiar? But since she was working under someone else, she didn’t dare ask too much.

Dusting off his hands with satisfaction, Nezha placed the final stone and grinned while pulling out a fist-sized Five-Colored Stone. "Thanks a bunch, Senior Sister. I’d feel bad if I offered anything less after all your help!"

Shi Ji, naturally introverted and simple-minded, had only really interacted with her two attendants since her transformation. She didn’t think she had done much to help, but seeing Nezha’s sincere gaze, she lowered her head shyly, her face partly hidden: "It was my duty."

Without delaying further, Nezha handed over the Five-Colored Stone, bade farewell, and flew off to Chaoge.

Poor Dragon Clan—they had so painstakingly built up their wealth, only to have it fooled away like this. Did they think that with four Dragon Kings dead, the matter was settled?

The feud was already etched in stone—right and wrong no longer mattered. From now on, it would all be settled with strength.

This was the Primordial.

Shi Ji held the Five-Colored Stone in her pale, slender hands, her eyes glowing. She had been cultivating for a very long time. Though she had joined the Jie Sect, her root bone and comprehension were far too deficient, leaving her cultivation stagnated at Profound Immortal.

If she could refine this Five-Colored Stone, her root bone would improve slightly. With a few more, reaching Golden Immortal wouldn’t just be a dream. She soared on her cloud towards the Skull Cave, pondering how to build better relations with Nezha.

Next time she helped, she resolved to work even harder!

As soon as she entered her lair, her two attendants ran to her teary-eyed, crying out, "Goddess! Our White Bone Cave—it’s been dismantled!"

Even the mildest-tempered person has limits. Shi Ji’s face darkened in an instant, her rage frighteningly palpable: "Who’s the bastard responsible?"

Completely unaware of their near-death experience, Bi Yun replied, "It was... it was the Immortal who was with you, Goddess."

Shi Ji’s boiling anger extinguished immediately as Nezha’s departing words replayed in her mind: "Thanks for your help, Senior Sister."

Shi Ji: "!!!"

Bi Yun watched Shi Ji walk away with her head bowed and turned to Caiyun. Then, raising her voice, she asked, "Goddess, shouldn’t we go and demand the bones back? Skull Mountain is about to collapse!"

Without slowing her steps or turning her head, Shi Ji replied, "I’ll go collect more bones!"

Meanwhile, Nezha tidied himself up and flew to Chaoge, heading straight for the royal palace upon arrival. Yin Shou solemnly inquired about what had transpired.

Nezha didn’t hold back, recounting everything: starting from the Sea Patrol Yaksha Li Gen, followed by killing Li Gen, killing Ao Bing, and finally killing the Four Sea Dragon Kings. Frankly, the hatred between them and the Dragon Clan had already been cemented. Losing a Yaksha and an Ao Bing was a small matter.

Yin Shou listened eagerly, unable to sit still, exclaiming how thrilling it all sounded. He wished he could go find a dragon to slay right now—what monkey demon could compare to taking down the majestic Four Sea Dragon Kings?

Nezha was slightly embarrassed by his enthusiasm. "This guy... he always chooses opponents way out of his league. You might take down ordinary immortals like pigs, but dragons? That’s another story."

Dragons specialized in physical cultivation; even under the suppression of Human Dao’s Qi Fortune, they weren’t enemies Yin Shou could easily defeat.

In simpler terms, Human Dao Qi Fortune drains mana and magic power. Yin Shou could deal with squishy mages but had no chance against tanks and warriors.

However, there were alternative ways to handle the Dragon Clan. If you couldn’t fight their bodies, you could target their Qi Fortune.

Nezha solemnly asked Yin Shou—was he truly determined to become enemies with the Dragon Clan?

The descent of Xuan Niao had blessed the Yin Shang dynasty, signaling the Phoenix Clan’s final flourish of Qi Fortune. Consider the original story: Xiqi’s "Phoenix Calling Qishan." Were there any phoenixes left in the world? No, their power had been sacrificed to suppress the backlash of Shang’s fall, and even then, King Wu Ji Fa died less than three years after conquering Shang.

The Dragon and Phoenix Clans were well-known for their contentious natures.

Though Yin Shou didn’t understand all of this, when Nezha questioned him, he instinctively felt—yes, targeting the Dragon Clan felt exhilarating!

Without hesitation, he agreed.

Nezha observed how fired up Yin Shou was. Over time, he had developed a fairly decent opinion of him.

Unfortunately, while some things could be changed, others could not. Nezha could only do what was within his power to help him in the future.