The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 32 Leaving Chaoge

Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Leaving Chaoge

The day after Wen Zhong’s return to the court, he hosted a feast for his senior apprentice-brother. Yu Yuan wanted to take Nezha along, but Nezha outright refused.

Yu Yuan did not meddle in the affairs between the two and, after the gathering, returned to bid farewell to Nezha. "My junior has returned, so it’s time for me to leave. Remember, you must come visit me at Penglai Island when you have time. I’ll introduce you to many friends."

Nezha nodded repeatedly, saying, "Definitely next time, definitely next time."

But deep down, he was utterly unwilling. "There are hardly any decent people in your Jie Sect. If I go, I fear I won’t be able to control my Primordial fury."

Yu Yuan rode off on his Five Clouds Camel.

With outsiders gone, Daji and Deng Chanyu completely let themselves loose. Nezha, however, paid them no heed, grabbing one in each hand and sending them to secluded cultivation. "Don’t come out until you’ve achieved Human Immortal status. All of you only slow down my cultivation progress."

Wen Zhong, having grown accustomed to being domineering in Great Shang, was furious the next day when Yin Shou and Nezha failed to attend court. In front of all the civil and military officials, he berated them harshly. Finally, he grabbed his Golden Whip and went straight to find Yin Shou, almost disrupting Yin Shou’s meditation in the process.

With no choice, Yin Shou had to give Wen Zhong face and attend court. There, Wen Zhong mercilessly reprimanded Nezha in front of Yin Shou, and then turned his wrath on Fei Zhong and You Hun, calling out everything he found objectionable.

Though relatively young by Immortal standards, Wen Zhong was already considered extremely old as a court minister. His thinking was rigid and outdated, and he was stubborn to a fault. Having spent years on the battlefield, he was somewhat uninformed about court affairs. Now that he was back, nothing seemed to please him.

And he immediately recognized the consequences of Nezha’s actions, though he wasn’t sure if Nezha had done it all deliberately.

"How could you act like this? This is against all rules. That so-called ’Taiping Heavenly Book’ is nothing but heretical blasphemy."

"You skip court every day—is this something a minister is supposed to do?"

"And Yin Shou, it’s one thing for you to pursue cultivation, but your two sons are cultivating as well. Who will inherit your position in the future?"

Neither Yin Hong nor Yin Jiao had any choice. Without cultivation, they might not even outlive their father. Where in the world could you find a Crown Prince who lives to be eighty?

At this moment, Wen Zhong’s power in Great Shang overshadowed even Yin Shou’s.

"Fine, fine, fine! I thought Great Shang had promising prospects, but it turns out it’s merely a facade. Today, I will exterminate this demon and protect Shang." The "demon" he referred to was none other than Nezha.

While Nezha was in secluded cultivation, oblivious to everything, Wen Zhong first declared the Taiping Heavenly Book a forbidden text. A bonfire was lit in front of the Royal Palace, and endless copies of the book were thrown into the flames and burned.

Next, he designated the Taiping Heavenly Sect as a heretical cult, revoked Nezha’s title as Great Sage Master of Yin Shang, and severely cracked down on a group of fanatical Taiping Sect followers, executing them.

Yin Shou originally intended to turn a blind eye, but Wen Zhong’s actions grew increasingly excessive, forcing him to intervene. Though further arrests were stopped, the ban on the Taiping Sect remained intact.

The once-prosperous Taiping Heavenly Sect proved to be no match for official suppression. However, a mixture of resentment and hope left behind seeds waiting to sprout one day.

After dealing with Chaoge and its surroundings, Wen Zhong set his sights on Xiqi. Over the years, if it weren’t for the Great Sage Master stationed in Chaoge, it could be said that Xiqi was the true heart of the Yellow Turbans.

Wen Zhong issued multiple edicts ordering Xiqi not to propagate the teachings of the Taiping Sect and to burn all related texts. However, how could Ji Chang comply?

To be frank, no one now understood the Taiping Heavenly Book better than Ji Chang.

Combining its teachings with his governance experience, Ji Chang authored twenty separate commentaries. The more he practiced, the more he realized how profound the Heavenly Book’s wisdom was.

Under his leadership, Xiqi had achieved exponential growth in power and influence. How could he possibly give it up?

On the surface, he feigned obedience to Chaoge, but in reality, he continued his covert development, knowing his time was running out.

When Nezha emerged from seclusion, his Eight-Nine Profound Skills had reached the forty-fifth layer. He could now boldly proclaim, "Xuan Gong Four Transitions—untouched by reincarnation."

Calming his unsettled mind, he instantly became aware of what had transpired. Anger surged within him. Though the Taiping Sect had been created as an elaborate joke of his, indifference did not mean others could mess with it.

He stepped out, knocking on Daji and Deng Chanyu’s doors in turn, placing the two into the Mountain and River Map, and directly transported himself to Yin Shou’s chamber.

Yin Shou, seeing Nezha’s thunderous expression, felt embarrassed and awkwardly pulled out a large chest of treasures. "Great Sage Master, Grandmaster has indeed gone too far this time. Consider this compensation, perhaps?"

Without even glancing at it, Nezha replied, "Our connection has ended. From now on, there shall no longer be a Great Sage Master of Yin Shang."

With that, he vanished, reappearing in the skies above Chaoge. "Wen Zhong, you little brat, come out and face me!"

The people of Chaoge looked up at Nezha in the sky, a mysterious spark igniting in many of their eyes.

Wen Zhong knew Nezha had come with hostile intent. Riding his Mo Qilin and donning full battle armor, he appeared. "Nezha, you brat! Your Li family has been favored by the Great King for generations, guarding Chentang. Yet you’ve bewitched the Great King into cultivation and incited rebellion among the people. You are truly a demon of Great Shang!"

Nezha sneered, "Right and wrong will be judged by future generations. But today, I will give you a thorough lesson and vent my frustration."

With that, he summoned his spear and lunged at Wen Zhong.

Wen Zhong’s cultivation wasn’t particularly high, but having served three generations of Human Kings, he was deeply entwined with Human Dao Qi Fortune. Additionally, as a third-generation disciple of the Jie Sect, his status among Immortals was quite notable. However, with Nezha wielding the Xuanyuan Sword, it would make no difference if Wen Zhong fell on the spot.

As spear and double whips clashed, Wen Zhong—though a talented fighter as a third-generation disciple—was outmatched by Nezha’s superior magical treasures.

After a brief skirmish, Nezha’s spear shattered the whip reputedly made from a Flood Dragon, and with a sweeping blow, he sent Wen Zhong tumbling to the ground. The Mo Qilin lunged to protect its master but was struck on its head by a Five-Colored Stone, collapsing unconscious with a thud. Young beasts had resilient bodies—knocked down, they simply fell asleep.

Nezha then raised his spear to strike Wen Zhong, but Wen Zhong opened his third eye, releasing a beam of white light. Nezha blocked it with his spear, spun it with a flourish, and hurled it forward. The white light dissipated, and Wen Zhong was pinned to the ground, spewing blood.

As Nezha, the handsome young man, approached step by step, Wen Zhong’s mindset completely collapsed—yet he showed no fear of death. "Hahaha, you cannot kill me."

Nezha withdrew his spear and lightly thrust three times: *thwack, thwack, thwack*. "Your heart is hidden at Jue Long Ridge, isn’t it?"

Wen Zhong’s face was filled with shock. "You!"

Nezha retracted his spear, a look of disdain on his face. "On account of Nephew Yu, I’ll spare your life."

He then turned and flew away on a cloud. There was no longer any purpose for him to stay in Chaoge. The spiritual materials Yin Shou had amassed were of little use to the higher layers of the Eight-Nine Profound Skills, and with the Shang-Zhou war about to erupt, he had no desire to remain and entangle himself in karmic ties.

As to why he didn’t kill Wen Zhong?

Letting Wen Zhong witness the gradual collapse of the Yin Shang he dedicated his life to was far more painful than death.

Before leaving, he conveniently retrieved the treasures he had ’stored’ with Fei Zhong and You Hun.

Next, he planned to return Daji and Deng Chanyu to their homes. As for himself, he would wander the world, cultivating and living without roots. With their master looking out for them, there was no need to worry about their safety.

If anyone dared to have designs on them, well, they’d have to contend with the Red Embroidered Ball first.

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