Chapter 388: Seventy-Two Transformations

Qianyuan Mountain, Golden Light Cave.

Master Taiyi Zhenren appeared to be reciting scriptures, but in truth he was observing Gu Qing and Nezha's sparring; neither used true qi, only fists, feet, and weapon clashes, and despite Nezha exhausting every technique he knew, he could only lose before Gu Qing.

Whether it was the Universe Ring, Yin-Yang Twin Swords, the Heaven-Tying Silk, the Fire-Tip Spear, or even the Wind-Fire Wheels, Gu Qing handled them all with deep insight; during combat, Nezha even thought, "You can do that with it?"—seeing his own weapons used in such inventive ways by Gu Qing, Nezha felt uneasy.

"I'm done."

Nezha threw down his Fire-Tip Spear and approached Master Taiyi Zhenren, grabbing his beard, ready to demand answers from him.

"Master, I'm always flustered fighting him—I feel like my mind isn't enough!"

Nezha asked: "Do you have any solution?"

"I do, Nezha, I do."

Master Taiyi Zhenren immediately said: if your mind and hands aren't enough, just install two more—Gu Qing's combat experience and mastery of techniques are among the rarest in the Three Realms.

Yang Chan sat aside, quietly noting everything; she had spent increasing time in the Golden Light Cave, yet Master Taiyi Zhenren had never taught her anything—her breathing, qi regulation, all came from Gu Qing.

"Master Gu."

Master Taiyi Zhenren said: "Let's discuss the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Cover again."

The Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Cover was Master Taiyi Zhenren's most treasured artifact; yet Gu Qing, as the embodiment of the sun, was an expert in fire arts and had fully mastered the Mystery Fire Mirror and the Eight-Fierce Divine Fire Array from the Zhuxian world, providing Master Taiyi Zhenren with profound new insights during their discussions.

Gu Qing gladly stepped forward and began discussing with Master Taiyi Zhenren; in their exchange, Gu Qing quietly forged his own Sun-Smiting Bow using Master Taiyi Zhenren's materials.

…

"Why are you chasing me?"

Lu Ya was extremely irritable.

Without warning or clarity, the Heavenly Court suddenly sent fifty thousand troops to hunt him down, forcing Lu Ya to flee from Dongsheng Shenzhou to Nanzhan Nanzhan Bu Zhou, then to Xiniu Hezhou; he kept turning, the Heavenly Court relentlessly pursuing him—he had fought back several times, inflicting heavy losses, yet out of fear of the Jade Emperor, he mostly evaded.

"Don't you know why we're chasing you?"

Marshal Tianpeng Yuanshuai barked.

"I really don't!"

Lu Ya stiffened, turned his face, and faced Marshal Tianpeng Yuanshuai; their gazes met, and Marshal Tianpeng felt an eerie unfamiliarity—he recalled their earlier clash: Lu Ya, though the essence of Li Fire, was vastly different from the one who had blown apart the heavenly soldiers…

This gave Marshal Tianpeng Yuanshuai a bizarre suspicion.

"Is this you?"

Marshal Tianpeng Yuanshuai placed Gu Qing's portrait before Lu Ya.

Lu Ya glanced at the portrait and nodded: "It's me. Back then, I was still handsome."

…

Heavenly Court, Yaochi.

Lotus blossoms bloomed here; palaces nestled within. The Jade Emperor and Wangmu Wang Yuyan sat inside Yaochi, watching the scene outside; suddenly, the Jade Emperor reached out and said: "Bring Wu Ge!"

After arriving at the Heavenly Court, this fox spirit sought immortality; the Jade Emperor deemed her heart impure and detained her, planning to decide her fate after Lu Ya and Nezha were captured—but her false intelligence had turned the Heavenly Court into a laughingstock.

Wu Ge walked forward silently, face beaming with smiles, dreaming of his glorious immortal life ahead, nearly humming.

"Cast him into the Eighteen Layers of Hell!"

The Jade Emperor pointed at Wu Ge and roared.

"Your Majesty, I'm innocent!"

Wu Ge didn't know what went wrong, but crying foul was safe—yet the heavenly soldiers showed no mercy, dragging him away instantly, leaving him clueless as to his crime.

"Revoke Lu Ya's…"

The Jade Emperor prepared to issue an order.

"No!"

Wangmu Wang Yuyan said: "This concerns the Heavenly Court's dignity—it cannot be revoked. If we retract it, the Three Realms will know the Jade Emperor misjudged a demon and was deceived, severely damaging his authority."

"The deed is done. Whether right or wrong, it's right—because you are the Jade Emperor, everything you do is right."

Wangmu Wang Yuyan said: "The one who rescued that child amid the Heavenly Court's siege must be Lu Ya. As for the other man, we'll investigate carefully—when we find his traces, we'll charge him then!"

For the Jade Emperor's face, Lu Ya would bear the blame.

"But…"

"We start with that child!"

Wangmu Wang Yuyan said: "Dragon King Ao Guang has already submitted the child's name and origin. We'll dispatch heavenly soldiers to crush him directly…"

…

Qianyuan Mountain, Golden Light Cave.

Li An, servant of Li Jing, General of Chentang Pass, hurried here and knocked to pay his respects.

Master Taiyi Zhenren waved his fly whisk—the gate instantly opened. Li An stepped in, saw Nezha, and burst into tears: "Heavenly soldiers have surrounded Chentang Pass! They say if you don't appear, they'll leave not a single chicken or dog alive!"

Gu Qing paused slightly upon hearing this.

Massacring mortals was exactly the sort of thing the Heavenly Court would do—behind Erlang Shen's capture of San San Shengmu lay a village that had angered the Jade Emperor; to avert disaster, he chose the lives of hundreds of thousands over Yang Chan, capturing her to preserve his position, then negotiating to save her.

"This day finally came."

Master Taiyi Zhenren sighed.

Nezha seized his Fire-Tip Spear and Universe Ring, stepped onto his Wind-Fire Wheels, and left the Golden Light Cave without a word.

"Master, is he in danger?"

Yang Chan asked anxiously.

Though she had spent little time in the Golden Light Cave, she had come to regard Nezha as a close friend.

Master Taiyi Zhenren nodded helplessly: "Ten deaths, no chance of survival."

This was Nezha's death destiny.

"Then how do we save him?"

Yang Chan asked urgently.

Master Taiyi Zhenren shook his head.

Yang Chan refused to believe it, immediately asking for Chentang Pass's location—though her power was weak, she was willing to do whatever she could for Nezha.

"Sigh…"

Master Taiyi Zhenren pointed out the direction; after Yang Chan departed, he sealed the cave and turned to Gu Qing: "You didn't need to teach her so many secrets—she carries Yaoji's bloodline; with slight cultivation, she'll reach the peak of Heavenly Immortal—far surpassing you, who, even after eating the Pantao, remains a True Immortal…"

As a disciple of Yuanshi Yuanshi Tianzun, Master Taiyi Zhenren had recently established subtle contact with Yuanshi Yuanshi Tianzun through meditation under his guidance.

"Now they've all left…"

Master Taiyi Zhenren said: "It's time we truly discuss the Dao."

Gu Qing smiled upon hearing this—he had spent many days in the Golden Light Cave, and finally, he would discuss what he loved.

"I want to begin with the Seventy-Two Transformations."

Gu Qing said.

The value of the Seventy-Two Transformations—those who understand, understand.

"Good, good, good!"

Master Taiyi Zhenren nodded eagerly: "First, let's find the flaws in Heavenly Law…"

(End of Chapter)