The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 66: Senior, You Wouldn’t Want to Be Devoured Either, Right?

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Senior, You Wouldn’t Want to Be Devoured Either, Right?

"Why have you come here?"

Setting the tone with an immediate display of authority, the Nether River Mother finally addressed the main issue.

Nezha, having endured quite a bit, though he gained some advantages, was nevertheless peeved: "Senior, things have already escalated to this point. You wouldn’t want yourself to be devoured, would you?"

The Nether River Mother alongside a group of female Asuras: "??? "

The Nether River Mother found the remark odd, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what was strange about it.

Suppressing her inner disquiet, she retorted: "Hmph? What can that old scoundrel possibly do to me?"

"Then doesn’t the senior wish to reverse the devouring and consume the Ancestor of Nether River instead?"

While the Blood Sea had indeed split into two, at its roots it was still an integrated entity. The current trajectory leaned toward mutual integration, but the Nether River Mother, being the weaker one, would face considerably lower odds of success once the fusion began.

At that point, the fate of the Nether River Mother would differ little from death.

Clang!

A treasure sword instantly pointed at the space between Nezha’s brows, stunning everyone present.

Lady Rashamon, reacting swiftly, moved forward to intervene, only to be knocked aside by a casual wave of the Nether River Mother’s hand.

The keen edge of the sword—sharp enough that not even Nezha’s mortal body could withstand it—caused crimson blood to trickle down his pallid face from the wound.

"Do you really think I wouldn’t dare kill you?"

"If killing me could guarantee your survival, why would you have let me live until now, senior?"

The Nether River Mother lowered her Avici sword and threw her head back in wild laughter.

Nezha gazed at the madly laughing beauty that was the Nether River Mother and couldn’t help but ponder why, in a past life, so many people seemed to harbor affection for deranged personalities.

"You live up to being a Saint disciple—bold and resolute!"

"Speak, what are the conditions for gaining the underworld’s support?"

Nezha, unaffected by a few compliments and still mindful of the Nether River Mother’s earlier unhinged actions, replied impassively: "Three conditions."

"First, the Blood Sea will nominally fall under Six Daos’ management, and the Asura Clan will refrain from plundering wandering souls in the future."

"Second, Blood Sea’s forces must heed the underworld’s summons when necessary."

"Third, a significant amount of spiritual materials."

The Nether River Mother decisively agreed. These conditions imposed little restriction upon her, and as for her subordinates, she didn’t care to manage them anyway.

With her current combat strength, she might not even be able to contend with Ancestor Witch Xuanming—sometimes, one must bow before adversity.

"Senior, please take an oath."

"I, Nether River, hereby swear: Henceforth, the Blood Sea shall fall under the underworld’s management; henceforth, the Asura Clan shall not seize wandering souls at will, with the Heavenly Dao as witness!"

Whoosh. Heavenly Merit descended—sixty percent allocated to the Nether River Mother, thirty percent to Nezha, and ten percent distributed among the high-ranking female Asuras.

The recipients were overjoyed.

On the other side of the Blood Sea, the furious Ancestor of Nether River immediately sensed what had transpired and exploded in rage: "You spineless wretch of a wench!"

The Nether River Mother could currently only represent half of the Blood Sea, so her part began to pull away and lean closer toward the underworld.

At the same time, Lady Houtu also caught on. The Asura Dao, one of the Six Daos, directly shifted, aligning itself with this half of the Blood Sea.

The enraged Ancestor of Nether River knew that this was severing his foundation—yet he was helpless to resist.

Upon acquiring authority over half the Blood Sea, Lady Houtu issued her first order: Monitor the opposing Asuras, preventing them from pillaging wandering souls.

The female Asuras were thrilled at the directive, as they already harbored deep animosity toward those male Asuras.

"What marital bonds? As if we have any sentiments for those ugly brutes."

Living as a race within the primordial garbage dump, indeed there was no need to preserve relations through emotion.

The Nether River Mother, basking in her newly obtained merit, was evidently in good spirits. Watching Nezha linger, she inquired: "Do you have further business?"

Nezha, forthright, did not hold back: "I want to venture to the depths of the Blood Sea, to cultivate where the Heavenly Opening Muddied Qi resides."

The Nether River did not refuse, considering how closely Nezha aligned himself with the Witch Clan, whose Ancestor Witches were birthed by combining Pangu Essence Blood with the Heavenly Opening Muddied Qi. Now that Nezha sought the muddied Qi for cultivation, it seemed logical enough.

"Below the Blood Sea are numerous fierce beasts. I won’t be bothering myself with your safety."

"I only ask that you grant me passage, senior."

The Nether River Mother nodded, summoning a young girl formed from the Blood God’s son to lead Nezha, then disappeared to enter closed cultivation.

Nezha followed the Blood God’s daughter to the depths of the Blood Sea, seeking the muddied Qi to refine his divine skills.

Lady Rashamon wanted to tag along, but Nezha persuaded her otherwise; the fierce beasts below were no trifling matter. He himself only dared venture equipped with the Mountain and River Map—it made no sense to bring along a liability.

Following the Blood God’s daughter to a region where black and red colors intersected, she cheerfully remarked: "This is the bottom of the Blood Sea. Whether or not you find the muddied Qi you’re looking for depends on your fortune. When you need to leave, just shout my name, Yan Zhi."

"Also, don’t die down there—you’re quite handsome. It’d be a shame."

With that, she transformed into red light, dissolving into the Blood Sea.

Nezha didn’t hesitate and dove in headlong.

If the Blood Sea is the primordial garbage dump, then this was the garbage heap’s bottom layer—teeming with all sorts of bizarre fierce beasts: three-headed centipedes, spider-like creatures with thirty-two legs, and more.

Unfortunately for them, Nezha’s vast experiences rendered him indifferent. Among the fierce beasts were those of varying strength—a few barely at the Heavenly Immortal level, while others possessed auras comparable to figures like Lv Yue.

All along, Nezha remained steadfastly focused on his goal, navigating boundless darkness to search for the muddied Qi to refine his divine skills.

...

While Nezha was stirring up trouble here, things in Chaoge were far from peaceful.

The first notable event happened not long after Nezha had beaten Wen Zhong. Shen Gongbao arrived.

Wen Zhong, having suffered from Nezha’s merciless assault, was undoubtedly affected. It felt as if he, who spent thirteen to fourteen hours a day studying, was outperformed on exams by a carefree and partying deskmate.

The chaos at Yin Shang was unmistakable—an air of disarray and discomfort.

At this precise and opportune moment, Shen Gongbao showed up.

Ever since he’d learned that Jiang Ziya never returned empty-handed, Shen Gongbao grew increasingly disgruntled!

Here he was, working tirelessly on his cultivation, while Jiang Ziya basked in wealth and luxury at the foot of the mountain, occasionally dropping by to visit their master, who would bestow him with mounts and magical treasures. Shen Gongbao was consumed with jealousy!

The master is simply too biased—how am I any worse than Jiang Ziya?

Hearing that Jiang Ziya had defected to Zhou, Shen Gongbao descended the mountain straight for Yin Shang. As for Li Tang, he didn’t even consider it. A female great king? Surely that had to be a joke.

Had the Nether River Mother known his thoughts, Shen Gongbao would’ve surely earned himself a stab from her sword.

Shen Gongbao, ever persuasive, met Wen Zhong and immediately launched into a tirade against Jiang Ziya. Naturally, having been disciplined at the gate by Nezha, he dared not mention him.

He spent ages berating Jiang Ziya for betraying the king’s kindness and countless allegiances.

He then meandered into discussions of Xiqi, ultimately presenting Wen Zhong with a "ten victories and ten defeats" argument, which had Wen Zhong elated.

The very next day, Wen Zhong dragged the reluctant Yin Shou from his idle pastime.

Yin Shou, initially unwilling, relented upon hearing that this visitor was Jiang Ziya’s junior disciple, granting him significant respect and a warm reception.

Yin Shou held Jiang Ziya in extremely high regard, treating him as both mentor and confidant, full of admiration—even disregarding that Jiang Ziya had defected to Xiqi to stage a rebellion.