The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 92: The Three Great Dog Lovers of the Primordial Era

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Three Great Dog Lovers of the Primordial Era

With Hao Tian backing him up, Nezha had no fear. If things didn’t work out, he’d just head back to Zixiao Palace and cry again!

Might as well take this opportunity to investigate the Western Sect’s influence in the underworld.

He brought Yang Jian and Yang Chan along to the region controlled by the Western Sect.

As for when Ksitigarbha came to the underworld, Nezha wasn’t sure. It was definitely long before his time. Ksitigarbha’s initial intent wasn’t bad—life is full of regrets, compounded by various bizarre death methods.

Each dead soul carried some degree of resentment, and Ksitigarbha preached Buddhist Scriptures and transcended those overly resentful souls unwilling to reincarnate along the Six Daos of reincarnation.

For those who refused to enter reincarnation, they often ended up joining the Western Sect.

Ksitigarbha was quite capable, reminiscent of Liu Biao charging solo into Jingzhou.

Although he never became the leader of the underworld, he started his own operation there solo. Now, his followers were innumerable, including souls he had transcended, Asuras from the Blood Sea—true to the traditions of the Western Sect.

When the three arrived, an Asura referring to himself as "Little Monk" led them into the grand hall where Ksitigarbha preached.

Ksitigarbha was in the midst of delivering a sermon. Below, the listeners sat neatly in rows, listening with pious expressions.

The Asura who had received them chanted a Buddha’s name and then found a seat of his own, resuming his attentive listening.

The three didn’t interrupt. As distinguished disciples of great sects, being discourteous would reflect poorly on their upbringing.

Nezha had no interest in Buddhist Scriptures. Transcendence? He only knew physical transcendence!

Yang Jian, having just overcome his Heart Demon, felt inexplicably drawn in as he listened to the sermon. A sense of release stirred within him, though he couldn’t quite articulate what he was letting go of. One could only say the Western Sect had a unique expertise in spiritual matters.

Watching her elder brother so enraptured, Yang Chan couldn’t help but worry. After barely rescuing him from his descent into a Heart Demon, what would she do if he fell again?

Brothers in this vast Primordial world truly never let their sisters rest easy!

She called out to her second brother a few times softly, but Yang Jian was too engrossed to respond. Left with no choice, she leaned over to tug at Nezha, who was playing with a large white dog—none other than Di Ting.

Indeed, Nezha was amusing himself with the big white dog. Fate worked in mysterious ways—this little Buddhist temple had somehow gathered the Three Realms’ top canine enthusiasts.

It was a pity her own dog, Huang Long, had been sent out to work. Otherwise, she might’ve brought it here for a stroll too.

"Shake!"

The big white dog glanced at Nezha, initially too lazy to pay him any mind. Suddenly, as if sensing something, it jolted upright and placed its paw in Nezha’s hand.

Nezha smiled in satisfaction, patting the dog’s head. "Good dog, so clever."

Just as he was about to give another command, Yang Chan tugged at his sleeve.

Thinking the temple was too quiet for loud voices but too solemn for whispering to be polite, Yang Chan leaned close to Nezha’s ear and said, "I... I think my second brother is falling into a demon state again."

Nezha glanced at Yang Jian, who was deeply absorbed, and reassured her, "No worries. At worst, he’ll just become a monk."

Yang Chan immediately panicked. The Yang family only had this one male left. If Yang Jian became a monk, who would carry on the family lineage?

Forgetting the impropriety of touching, she grabbed Nezha’s arm and shook it insistently, as if refusing to let go unless he helped her.

Nezha skillfully slipped out of her grasp, unwilling to let someone take advantage of him so easily.

He walked up to Yang Jian and said, "Yang Jian, your Howling Celestial Dog’s been captured by a Demon!"

Yang Jian shuddered and instantly snapped out of it, reaching for his Spiritual Beast Bag to check on his dog. Just as he extended his hand, realization struck, and he stopped himself.

He sincerely said, "Thank you, Martial Uncle."

Nezha paid him no mind and continued playing with the big white dog.

"Come, Di Ting, sit!"

Then, he pulled out a golden ring inscribed with runes.

"Come, Di Ting, jump!"

As a fellow dog lover, Yang Jian couldn’t help but watch with interest as the obedient Di Ting performed the tricks.

He fetched some Howling Celestial Dog food, attempting to tease Di Ting as he would his own dog. But Di Ting ignored him completely, rolling its eyes in disdain instead.

Yang Jian: "..."

As a seasoned dog owner, he had accepted occasional losses in combat. But now even his dog-training skills appeared inferior—he couldn’t understand it.

Having matured significantly after his Heart Demon ordeal, Yang Jian didn’t stew in frustration and instead directly asked, "Martial Uncle, why does this dog only listen to you?"

Nezha pulled out three more gold rings and suspended them in mid-air with a spell.

Di Ting, as though trained from birth, adeptly leapt through each of the successive rings.

"This dog is called Di Ting and possesses the Divine Skill of hearing the sounds of the Three Realms. When teasing him, I imagine in my heart that if he doesn’t listen, I’ll make stew out of him. See? He immediately behaves."

Di Ting: "..."

I may not be human, but you, sir, truly are a dog!

Yang Jian fell silent once more.

Nezha stowed away the four innate-treasure-grade gold rings and retrieved a piece of dried meat crafted by the Witch Clan of the Pangu Realm.

Di Ting’s eyes lit up, and the dog rubbed its head fawningly against Nezha. Nezha generously fed the meat to Di Ting.

Don’t underestimate this dried meat—the primordial beasts nurtured in the Pangu Realm contained special substances that enhanced one’s physique. Such meat was virtually unavailable out in the world.

If Huang Long were to see it, he might behave no better than Di Ting (humor intended).

Though this single piece wouldn’t yield much immediate effect for Di Ting, its taste must have been exquisite!

When Ksitigarbha finished his sermon, he noticed his Di Ting practically fawning over Nezha, following orders to sit, shake, and more—ten times more obedient than with him.

Somehow, he felt a subtle "greenness" spreading on his bald head.

Yang Jian, having watched everything, resolved inwardly never to release his Howling Celestial Dog near Nezha.

Ksitigarbha, his face unassuming yet marked with a touch of compassion, chanted a Buddha’s name and asked, "Esteemed Daoist Friends, for what purpose have you come to my humble temple?"

Nezha led with his authority: "The Great Venerable has commanded me to investigate Yaoji’s illicit descent to the mortal realm years ago. Our inquiry has brought us here. Might any of your disciples, such as one Lin Si, who was a former Heavenly Soldier, be involved?"

Ksitigarbha remained silent for a moment before responding, "There is."

He pointed to a monk meditating below him.

The bald monk acknowledged being singled out, said nothing, chanted a Buddha’s name, and immediately self-destructed into dust.

Yang Jian rushed forward but found nothing left. Turning angrily to Ksitigarbha, it was clear the Western Sect couldn’t be absolved of blame.

Ksitigarbha said nothing, merely chanting another Buddha’s name.

Nezha couldn’t gauge Ksitigarbha’s cultivation level, but with his estimation, even the three of them combined couldn’t defeat him. No matter, though—Lin Si’s name had already been recorded. If his soul hadn’t entered the Six Daos of reincarnation, it didn’t take a genius to guess where it had gone.

This, perhaps, was Heaven’s Will.

Nezha stopped Yang Jian and led the group out of the underworld.

Yang Jian obstinately declared, "What happened to my mother—this has to be the Western Sect’s doing."

Nezha shook his head. "Your father and elder brother’s deaths? Certainly the Western Sect’s handiwork. But your mother’s descent to the mortal world? Not necessarily."

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over Yang Jian. If just the Western Sect was already beyond his capacity to handle, how much more so were the other hidden players? Why was his life so difficult?