Chapter 273: Heavenly Soldiers and Generals Block Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan

At this moment.

the Heavenly Court.

After his morning audience, Haotian arrived before the Immortal Pool, his gaze piercing the lingering clouds, watching the situation at Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan below; seeing that the Giant Spirit Deity and others made no move, he slightly furrowed his brow.

"Is it because the orders given to the Giant Spirit Deity were too lenient?"

"Looking at Li Jing, they really intend to kill Nezha."

"Had we known, we would have issued harsher orders, as domineering as the Chan Sect; even if Nezha repays with his life, Li Jing cannot escape involvement, leaving no chicken or dog of the Li family. If the Chan Sect then troubles the Heavenly Court, I could once again go to the the the Zixiao Palace to lament to the Dao Ancestor."

Haotian said with a look of regret, continuing to monitor the situation below.

"The Chan Sect hasn't acted yet; could they truly be waiting to see Nezha repay with his life? That doesn't fit the Chan Sect's style!"

Haotian was at a loss, puzzling over it.

Suddenly, he saw Nezha ignoring Li Jing, completely unthreatened, stepping on his wind‑fire wheels, brandishing the Qian Kun Ring, and charging toward the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in the sky.

Haotian nodded in satisfaction.

"Now that's right; the more chaos, the larger the stake I can demand at the the the Zixiao Palace."

Above Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan, Nezha ignored Li Jing and rushed toward the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in the sky.

The Giant Spirit Deity saw this, anger flashing in his eyes; it was a challenge to the Heavenly Court's authority.

Stepping forward, he shouted loudly, "Nezha, cease your arrogance! You show no remorse; today I will slay you here!"

"Hmph, you think you can kill me?"

Nezha grinned and charged forward.

The Giant Spirit Deity swung his ornate battle axe, cleaving fiercely toward Nezha.

"Is that all your skill?" Facing the oncoming attack, Nezha was unfazed, mocking aloud.

He flicked the Qian Kun Ring, colliding with the Giant Spirit Deity's axe, sparking brilliant flashes.

The two Divine Generals and Ao Guang, seeing this, could no longer restrain themselves and joined the fight to aid the Giant Spirit Deity.

Gu Xiu watched from the clouds; under the combined assault of the Giant Spirit Deity, the two Divine Generals, and Ao Guang, Nezha was quickly overwhelmed and knocked down from the sky.

Seeing Nezha fall so easily, Gu Xiu smiled, "It seems Nezha was wounded by a water qilin, his combat power has waned."

At that moment, the system sounded.

"Ding!"

"Detection: Heavenly Soldiers and Generals are blockading Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan, triggering event options. Host, please make a choice."

"Option One: Aid the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, capture Nezha, reward: one superior Pre‑Heaven Spiritual Treasure!"

"Option Two: Strike from the shadows to kill Nezha as a warning, reward: one Heavenly Dao Relic!"

"Option Three: After Nezha's death, seal his soul, have Ao Guang carry Nezha to the heavens for the Heavenly Court's judgment, reward: a superior Pre‑Heaven Spiritual Treasure and a Yin‑Yang Union Stab! (It consists of two parts: the Yin stab is cold and bone‑piercing; the Yang stab burns like fire; when combined, Yin and Yang forces intertwine, yielding limitless power.)"

Glancing at the three options, Gu Xiu pondered briefly; the rewards for the first and third were similar.

The second offered a Heavenly Dao Relic, and he truly wished to avoid any connection with the Primordial Heavenly Dao.

After a moment's thought, he made his choice.

"System, I choose option three."

"Ding!"

"Selection successful. Mission time: three hours. Host, please complete it promptly."

Observing the current state, Nezha was gravely wounded—not by the combined forces of the Giant Spirit Deity, the two Divine Generals, and Ao Guang—but his many magical artifacts made him hard for them to subdue at once.

Realizing his disadvantage, Nezha thought staying would be too dangerous and attempted to flee.

"Father and mother, I will go find Master Taiyi to rescue you now."

Gu Xiu was slightly stunned; the plot seemed off.

Next, shouldn't he commit suicide to atone? How does he plan to seek Taiyi Immortal?

"Nezha still wants to escape?" Ao Guang shouted, pursuing.

"Don't surrender yet!" The Giant Spirit Deity swung his axe forward.

But Nezha dodged.

His wind‑fire wheels spun at extreme speed, spewing fierce flames, shaking off the pursuit of the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

Gu Xiu thought for a moment; the plot had shifted.

He paused briefly in contemplation.

"Even if Nezha goes to find Taiyi Immortal, given Taiyi Immortal's temperament and the need to sever Nezha's karmic tie with Nuwa, he certainly won't intervene; instead he'll seize the chance to demand Nezha repay with his life, borrowing lotus roots for rebirth."

Regaining his thoughts, he glanced at the situation ahead; Nezha, on his wind‑fire wheels, moved so swiftly that the Giant Spirit Deity and the others could not catch up.

Seeing Nezha flee alone, Li Jing raged and shouted profanities.

"Accursed wretch! Accursed wretch! You run off like this, what are we to do? The crimes you committed, why do they implicate the Li family!"

Seeing Nezha's escape, Ao Guang said, "Nezha is heading to Qian Yuan Mountain to find Taiyi Immortal; Taiyi Immortal is one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Jade Void, which makes matters difficult."

"Since His Majesty's decree is for Nezha to repay with his life, if Nezha refuses, the Li family will be punished. In that case, we can vent our anger on the Li family; I doubt Nezha will stay hidden," the Giant Spirit Deity suggested. He had carried out many such orders under Haotian's imperial edict, so he was well‑versed.

"..." The two Divine Generals began to ponder.

While the few were pondering, Gu Xiu's figure appeared without warning, tall and proud, standing with an air of transcendent elegance.

"Gentlemen, perhaps you would lend me an ear."

Seeing Gu Xiu appear, the Giant Spirit Deity was momentarily stunned, then quickly put on a flattering mask, flattering him.

"Immortal Elder, why is it you? The High Immortal's sudden appearance—what orders do you have?"

Nezha has been causing a ruckus at sea; according to his original destiny, in a few days he will be the youth who shoots the boy of Shi Ji, assisting Taiyi Immortal in scheming against Shi Ji. This marks the Chan Sect's formal strike against the Jie Sect, so Gu Xiu no longer needs to hide himself.

The two Divine Generals, seeing Gu Xiu, wore embarrassed expressions; last time they followed the Giant Spirit Deity to capture Hong Jin in the mortal realm, which ended in a blunder.

Together they bowed and clasped their hands, "We pay our respects, Immortal Elder."

Although Ao Guang had never met Gu Xiu, the turtle prime minister returned and had someone paint Gu Xiu's portrait, so Ao Guang had seen it.

"Could it be that you, Immortal, are Gu the Upper Immortal?" Ao Guang was a bit excited; Gu Xiu had saved the Dragon Palace several times, counting as a lifesaver for the Dragon Palace.

Gu Xiu nodded: "I learned from the turtle prime minister that the Dragon King came to Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan to preach; I told the Dragon King that this journey would face a calamity, but fortunately with noble assistance we could turn danger into safety, so I let the turtle prime minister return reassured."

Upon hearing this, Ao Guang stared: "Immortal, you are truly divine; I was afflicted by Nezha's Dao, and without noble aid I could not have reached the Heavenly Court nor faced the Heavenly Emperor; Immortal, do you have business here?"

Gu Xiu smiled lightly and said: "I happened to pass by here, saw you capturing Nezha, and I already understand the relevant circumstances."

"This matter is due to the laxity of Taiyi Zhenren's disciples, who incite their apprentice to commit violence; let Nezha pay with his life, and do not involve outsiders or the people of Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan."

Upon hearing this, Ao Guang said: "Immortal, since you speak, we will naturally give you face, but Nezha has already fled; we cannot make him pay with his life."

Gu Xiu said meaningfully: "Rest assured, after returning to Qian Yuan Mountain, Jin Guang Cave, and meeting Taiyi Zhenren, Nezha will return on his own."

"Is what you say true, Immortal?" Ao Guang and Ji Ling Shen thought they had misheard; Nezha had finally escaped, how could he walk into the net himself?

"Naturally, when Nezha returns later, I will secretly assist you; you will then take the opportunity to kill Nezha, and after you have killed him, I will seal his soul within your bodies, and you will bring his corpse to heaven to hand over to the Heavenly Emperor for disposal."

"Why is this, Immortal?" Gu Xiu's words left Ao Guang, Ji Ling Shen, and the two great generals looking puzzled.

Gu Xiu said calmly: "Taiyi Zhenren intends to use lotus root to reshape Nezha's body and revive him; taking him to heaven is to prevent this, for Nezha can only be reborn if he goes to the Heavenly Court and asks the Heavenly Emperor for a person."

Upon hearing this, Ao Guang's expression turned angry: "They still want to use lotus root to revive him? Absolutely impossible!"

After learning such momentous news, Ao Guang no longer cared to pursue Li Jing's responsibility or vent his anger on the people of Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan; he looked at Li Jing in the Li residence.

"Li Jing, since Immortal Gu is pleading for your Li family, we will only kill Nezha and not cause trouble for your Li family."

Seeing Ao Guang no longer venting his anger on Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan, Li Jing breathed a sigh of relief, felt grateful to Gu Xiu with tears, and clasped his hands: "Thank you, Immortal; I, Li Jing, owe you a favor."

Gu Xiu glanced at Li Jing; at this time Li Jing was still the Shang dynasty's commander-in-chief, and something could be done with him.

He spoke slowly: "Li Jing, now the feudal lords rebel everywhere and the people cannot make a living; this is due to demonic mischief, specifically because the Jiao Sect seeks to use the Investiture of the Gods to eliminate the killing calamity on the Twelve Golden Immortals, thus intending to wreak havoc in the mortal world, letting demons everywhere stir the lords to revolt."

"As a subject, you ought to share the ruler's worries, yet the Jiao Sect has long set its sights on your three sons; they have all been taken into the Jiao Sect to substitute for the Twelve Golden Immortals in their tribulation, and soon, following the Jiao Sect's demand, they will enter the world to rebel as traitors."

After a pause, Gu Xiu continued: "Nezha's violent wrongdoing is closely related to Taiyi Zhenren; this is also why I intervened to save you—everything stems from the Jiao Sect, and you are merely caught up."

"What!" Li Jing exclaimed in shock: "Damned Jiao Sect, why do you harm my Li family so?"

Not only Li Jing was startled; Ji Ling Shen and the others were also greatly surprised.

I never expected the Jiao Sect's Investiture of the Gods to have such hidden details.

After speaking with Ao Guang and the others, Gu Xiu returned to where Long Ji Princess was.

Long Ji Princess eagerly asked: "What did you say to them just now?"

"Nothing much; I just said that Nezha's rampant wrongdoing everywhere, his inability to discern right from wrong, is inseparable from Taiyi Zhenren's deliberate cultivation."

While speaking, Gu Xiu pondered: if he had not intervened, Nezha would soon pull the Qiankun Bow and fire a heaven-shaking arrow.

Now that he has intervened, Nezha likely has no chance to draw the Qiankun Bow.

But it is unknown how the Jiao Sect will make amends.

……

Qian Yuan Mountain.

Jin Guang Cave.

Taiyi Zhenren was meditating when Nezha rushed in hurriedly.

"Master, master! Taiyi Master!"

Taiyi Zhenren slightly opened his eyes: "Nezha, I've told you before, when facing matters don't be hasty and flustered."

"Master, disciple has encountered trouble; can't I not be anxious?"

Hearing Nezha's anxious tone, Taiyi Zhenren lifted his gaze and glanced; seeing Nezha dusty and wounded all over, he was slightly taken aback.

"Nezha, I didn't send you to intercept Ao Guang; how did you come back wounded? With the invisibility talisman I gave you, if you had secretly struck Ao Guang beforehand, he could do nothing to you."

Nezha calmed a bit and recounted the matter of blocking Ao Guang.

After listening, Taiyi Zhenren slightly frowned: "You say Ao Guang was saved by a qilin, and you were injured by the qilin?"

"Yes, Taiyi Master, it was that qilin that helped; I was beaten down to the mortal realm."

"Thinking that I was beaten and fell to the mortal world, Ao Guang that old loach must have smoothly gone to the Heavenly Court to file a complaint; thus I hurried back to Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan, and indeed Ao Guang had already summoned heavenly troops and generals; had I not been wounded, I would surely have slaughtered them to the last man."

Upon hearing Nezha's report, Taiyi Zhenren slightly frowned: "You say Ao Guang successfully filed his complaint? The heavenly troops and generals have already arrived at Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan?"

"Yes, Master; if not for that qilin, I would have long ago flayed and tendon-pulled that old loach."

Nezha said this boastfully, yet failed to notice Taiyi Zhenren's face turning grim.

"You haven't divulged this to anyone, have you?"

"Master, disciple has always kept your words in mind; how could I possibly reveal you?"

Taiyi Zhenren's expression eased considerably.

Although the Jiao Sect does not fear the Heavenly Court, the Heavenly Court was established by the Dao Ancestor, and Haotian is the appointed sovereign.

Previously, when they attacked the Heavenly Court, Yuanshi was questioned by Hongjun, causing Yuanshi Tianzun to return and vent his anger on them.

Having already offended the Heavenly Court, if the Heavenly Court learned that I had incited Nezha to obstruct Ao Guang's heavenly complaint, Taiyi Zhenren could not guarantee whether Haotian would make a big fuss and escalate the matter to Kunlun Mountain.

Although he would not do anything, he would certainly not be summoned by Yuanshi Tianzun for questioning.

"Nezha, this affair could have been seamless, but because of you, Ao Guang has now successfully filed his complaint, which will surely implicate the Li family and the people of Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan."

"Master, what should I do?"

"You are the reincarnation of the Lingzhu Pearl, born with a heavenly mandate, not casually reborn into the Li family; yet since the matter arose because of you, we must not involve the innocent, and we ought to repay the Li family's kindness and save the people of Thus line: Chen Tang Guan Guan."

Taiyi Zhenren's words left Nezha very doubtful.

"Then Master, what do you intend for me to do?"

Taiyi Zhenren's face turned cold, and he said in a deep voice: "Cut flesh to repay your mother, carve bone to repay your father; from now on you shall have no ties with the Li family, then commit suicide to atone, and Ao Guang's anger will be appeased, while the people of Qian Tang Guan will be free of worry."

"What, Master, you want me to commit suicide to atone?" Nezha thought he had misheard.

"Master, you didn't say that even if I killed the Four Sea Dragon Kings it wouldn't matter, did you?"

Taiyi Zhenren said: 'Indeed so, but now Ao Guang has successfully filed an imperial complaint; although the Heavenly Court, as your master, does not take it to heart, after all it was appointed by the Dao Ancestor. If Haotian makes a fuss to the Dao Ancestor, alarming your grandmaster, as your master it would also be hard to explain. But rest assured, as your master I will revive you afterward; then you will be yourself, and you will not owe your parents anything.'

Although there was a slight mishap, it does not affect the original plan; by using lotus root to revive Nezha and severing Nuwa's karma, Taiyi Zhenren is not at all worried.

Seeing Nezha not responding for a long time, his expression was uncertain,

Taiyi Zhenren frowned tightly, and asked: 'Could it be that you are unwilling?'

Nezha said: 'Disciple is indeed unwilling, but since the master has made this request, the disciple will naturally comply.'

Taiyi Zhenren smiled with relief: 'Good, go.'