In the Wa Huang Palace, Nuwa glanced at Kunlun. Yuanshi Tianzun was playing far too recklessly. The Dragon Clan, after all, were rulers of a main plane. With Azure Dragon breaking free from the Four Sacred Beasts and Candle Dragon creating the world, these two alone were not to be lightly insulted.
In the North Sea, Nezha caused chaos in the water, the Hun Tian Ling churning the vast expanse of the ocean, disturbing fish and shrimp and terrifying sea creatures. Da Feng Novel Network.
The guardian of this sea area was precisely the Third Prince of the North Sea Dragon Palace, Ao Rui.
Ao Rui sent the Patrol Sea Yaksha to investigate, but he was killed by Nezha.
Ao Rui hurriedly went out to sea to question Nezha, but unexpectedly, he too was killed by Nezha. His skin was peeled and his tendons were pulled out, his corpse left to lie on the sea.
Inside the North Sea Dragon Palace, Ao Shun's heart suddenly ached. He quickly performed a divination, but could only see a dense fog of black clouds, unable to discern the truth. Filled with worry, he beat the dragon drum to summon all the dragon princes and princesses of the North Sea.
Seeing that the Third Dragon Prince was missing, he asked, "Why has Ao Rui not come to see me? Could it be that he is so lazy from sleeping that even the Dragon Drum cannot wake him?"
As soon as he spoke, a voice came from outside the palace: "Dragon King, the Third Prince's dragon lamp has been extinguished!"
This news shocked everyone.
Ao Shun exclaimed, "So, someone has dared to scheme against my Dragon Clan!"
Ao Shun tore through space and traveled to the sea area where Ao Rui was. He suddenly saw a crowd of sea creatures gathered around a dragon corpse.
He roared, "Who has harmed my son?"
A timid whale demon among the sea creatures replied weakly, "Reporting to the Dragon King, it was the son of Li Jing, the foremost Sword God of the Great Shang, Nezha."
Ao Shun's dragon eyes widened, and he said coldly, "Who told you that?"
The whale demon shivered and quickly said, "I saw Nezha holding the Third Prince's dragon tendons."
Ao Shun let out a roar of rage, "Good! Good! Good! You three sects fight amongst yourselves, and yet you scheme against my Dragon Clan!"
He suddenly transformed into a giant dragon tens of thousands of feet long, gathering wind and clouds, changing the heavens and earth. He arrived before Chentang Pass.
"Li Jing! Come out and see me!"
In the mansion, Li Jing's heart trembled. The last time Shi Ji Niangniang had called him like this.
"Where is Nezha? Where has he run off to?"
Madam Chen replied, "It seems he ran out of the pass to play."
Li Jing's face turned pale. He was furious, "Nezha must have caused trouble again."
He hurried out of the mansion, his face a smile, "So it is Brother Ao. May I ask why you have come today?"
"Good for you, Li Jing! You killed my dragon son, stripped my son of his tendons, and you can still smile!" Ao Shun roared.
Li Jing's heart trembled, and he quickly said, "Brother Ao, please do not be angry. I fear there must be some misunderstanding."
At this moment, Nezha happened to return to the pass, laughing, "Father, I made you a set of armor. Do you think it's suitable?"
The Dragon King looked at it and spat out a mouthful of blood, enraged, "Li Jing! This is an irreconcilable hatred!"
With that, the Dragon King turned and left Chentang Pass. Although Ao Shun was furious, he also knew that this was a crucial border area of the human race, protected by the luck of humanity. There was nothing he could do.
Li Jing looked at Nezha, also furious, "Nezha! Are you deliberately trying to anger your father to death? You caused trouble today, and you cause trouble again tomorrow.
Guards, throw Nezha into prison! He is not to leave his cell without my command."
Immediately, someone escorted Nezha to the prison.
Nezha was confused, "Father! What did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?"
Li Jing did not answer, but his clenched fists represented his true feelings.
Madam Chen stood beside him, also silent, but she quietly accompanied him, holding Li Jing's hand.
Ten days later, as the morning sun began to rise, the people of Chentang Pass began their daily routines.
Suddenly, they saw a black line in the distance slowly approaching from the west. At the same time, there was a black line from the north. From the east, south, west, and north, black lines gradually advanced towards Chentang Pass.
The four lines encircled the pass. As the sun rose, such a spectacle made the people curious and they discussed it endlessly.
However, as time passed, behind the four black lines came an endless expanse of black clouds, obscuring the sky and shrouding the surroundings.
The people began to panic.
In the sky, there were roars and bellows of immense beasts. Lightning flashed, and a sudden gust of wind arose. A giant white dragon emerged from the clouds and shouted, "Li Jing of Chentang Pass! Your son Nezha killed my Third Prince of the North Sea, stripped him of his tendons, insulted him, and his corpse was blown apart in the North Sea. If you do not hand over Nezha today, with all four Dragon Kings of the seas present, we will flood Chentang Pass and unleash the millions of demons of the northern lands!"
As the voice fell, lightning flashed wildly. Four giant dragons circled the heavens, and countless demons in the north stirred restlessly, hoping the Dragon Clan would indeed flood Chentang Pass, allowing them to feast on human flesh.
Above Chentang Pass, Li Jing rose and looked at the Four Dragon Kings and the vast ocean. He sighed, "Fellow Daoists, is it truly necessary for it to come to this? Li Jing is willing to personally guard the spirit tablet for the Third Prince of the North Sea in place of Nezha, and is willing to find the Dragon Soul for the Third Prince so that he may return to reincarnation!"
The North Sea Dragon King sneered, "My son had little fortune and could not bear the blessings of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal like you. As for finding his Dragon Soul, heh heh, I fear my son's Dragon Soul has already entered the Investiture of the Gods. Besides the Sages, no one under heaven can find it!"
The East Sea Dragon King also spoke, "Today it is you, and tomorrow it will be that Taiyi old Daoist of Mount Qian Yuan. Anyone who dares to scheme against the direct bloodline of my Dragon Clan must pay the price!"
The South Sea Dragon King said coldly, "Li Jing, are you handing him over or not?"
Li Jing fell silent, closed his eyes, his brow furrowed with pain. He slowly drew the sword sheathed at his side.
The millions of demons in the north instantly felt a chill in their hearts and fled far away.
Behind him, Madam Chen stepped forward and said coldly, "Even if my son has made a mistake, Nezha is my offspring. My husband and I are willing to bear the punishment in his stead. But if you wish us to hand over our child to die, unless Chentang Pass is broken and I am already dead."
The North Sea Dragon King said coldly, "A good pair indeed, husband and wife in harmony. Today, we, the wronged parties, are made to be the villains? You are eager to protect your child, but I too love my son and am filled with sorrow.
The matters of the world are hard to distinguish, and in the end, there must be a battle! But you two must also consider the lives of the millions of mortals in Chentang Pass.
Eldest brothers, strike!"
The Four Dragon Kings attacked simultaneously. In an instant, the heavens and earth turned into a sea of lightning, and endless rain did not cease. The waters of the North Sea surged with waves tens of thousands of feet high, and demons took the opportunity to stir up trouble, charging towards the eight-thousand-foot-high majestic pass of Chentang Pass!
"Rumble~"
It was as if mountains and rivers were crumbling, rivers overflowing, and vast lands turned into a waterlogged country.
Madam Chen flipped her hand and pointed. A treasure mirror rose, and at the same time, countless immortal patterns and talismans lit up on Chentang Pass, forming a defensive formation.
The treasure mirror was the Three Yang Mirror, the treasure of the pass. It was held by a descendant of the Human Emperor and contained the immense radiance of the sun, like the scorching sun in the nine heavens, capable of burning the waters of the Three Rivers, Five Lakes, and Four Seas. It was an ancient divine artifact of the human race.
The torrent of water surged forward, but as soon as it approached Chentang Pass, it was incinerated. The Three Yang Mirror pushed back the wind and rain like a great sun, protecting the mountains, rivers, and people within Chentang Pass.
In the Cloud Heaven Cave of Mount Taihua, Chi Youzi looked at the black clouds and golden light battling in the sky and sighed. However, he still rose and set off for Chentang Pass. Whether as a human or a disciple of the Chan Sect, he should go to offer assistance.
On the way, Taiyi Zhenren also set off for Chentang Pass and traveled together with Chi Youzi.
Kong Xuan, who was meditating above Chaoge, glanced north and sent a telepathic message to Mount Fuyu.
As the two great powers of the Chan Sect were about to arrive at the northern part of the Great Shang, a majestic mountain suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
Chi Youzi's brow furrowed. "May I ask who the distinguished senior is? My junior brother and I are disciples of the Chan Sect. We hope you will act with consideration."
Before the mountain, a hunched old man, leaning on a cane, slowly emerged. He coughed twice and said, "This old man merely requests the two of you to temporarily halt your journey. As for the matter of Chentang Pass, I hope you will not interfere."
Taiyi Zhenren asked, "Why do you say that, sir?"
The old man, leaning on his cane, slowly turned around and pointed to the north, "The flow of mountains and rivers is changing, the earth's energy is surging. The Qian position will be extinguished, and the rest will become a marsh. The Kan position will be in front, and Wutu will be behind. The terrain of Chentang Pass is also about to change. This is the evolution of the Earthly Dao, and it should be met with tribulation. You cannot disrupt it."
Chi Youzi hesitated, "Are you a person of the Earthly Dao?"
The old man stroked his beard and chuckled, "Yes and no."
While these two were being blocked, the Four Dragon Kings finally made their move.
The four dragon claws descended simultaneously, forming the four elemental symbols, sealing the void, and directly aiming to shatter the Four Symbols Formation.
It was at this moment that Li Jing finally drew his sword.
A dazzling white light flashed across the sky, and the sword intent soared to the heavens, so sharp that ghosts and demons lost their courage, and spirits fled. This sword light tore through the void, breaking through the seal of the four Dragon Kings with one strike. The four illusory dragon claws cracked and scattered in the wind.
The North Sea Dragon King was naturally familiar with this neighbor. He shouted, "Everyone, be careful of his sword intent. Use your full strength to protect yourselves."
The four Dragon Kings attacked again simultaneously. The East Sea's Glazed Seal, the North Sea's Profound Ice Pearl, the West Sea's Ultimate Sky Blade, and the South Sea's Scorching Banner. The four innate spiritual treasures were wielded by the four Grand Unity Golden Immortal Dragon Kings. The heavens and earth changed color as the four treasures were hurled at Li Jing.
Madam Chen quickly touched the Three Yang Mirror, and a scorching Sun True Fire shot towards the Profound Ice Pearl, holding it in the air and preventing it from falling.
Li Jing, however, instantly swung his sword ten thousand times. Ten thousand sword energies spread across the heavens, differentiating into countless variations. The immeasurable sword energy transformed into a sea of swords, sharp and full of power. The sword struck three thousand miles, cutting through the nine heavens, and striking down to break the earth palace. He actually managed to withstand the supreme treasures of the three Dragon Kings.
Li Jing's usual expressions of joy and anger were now transformed into sharp sword intent, killing and taking lives without mercy. He was like his sword, usually hiding its edge in its sheath, but when battle was required, he was fearless and his sword intent reached the heavens.
The East Sea Dragon King exclaimed, "Truly worthy of being the foremost Sword God of the Great Shang!"
The West Sea Dragon King said coldly, "Even so, how long can he hold on?"
The Four Dragon Kings did not retreat, nor did they use their clan's and sea's supreme treasures. They simply continued to suppress Li Jing and Madam Chen. No matter how strong the formation of Chentang Pass was, its spiritual energy would eventually be depleted.
Time flowed by. In the blink of an eye, the rain had not stopped for three days and three nights. Chentang Pass had transformed into an underwater city. Once the formation's spiritual power was depleted, it would be swallowed by the endless seawater and sink to the bottom of the sea.
Within the pass, Nezha saw his parents bravely standing alone in the sky and the cultivators in the city sacrificing themselves to protect it. His heart was filled with sorrow. All of this was because of him.
Nezha broke free from the prison's confinement and leaped onto the city wall, shouting, "Old Dragon! Don't you just want me to pay for your dragon son's life? Today, I will cast aside this body, bone and flesh alike, and end this karma, also to repay my parents for giving me life!"
With that, Nezha took out a knife and cruelly carved into his own flesh and bones, his life ending on his own.
The North Sea Dragon King, seeing this, felt his anger subside considerably. He withdrew his hand, and the Four Dragon Kings dispersed the clouds and rain, returning to their respective seas.
Only Madam Chen, holding Nezha's body, wept bitterly.
Li Jing suppressed his internal injuries, looked at Nezha's corpse, and remained silent for a long time.
On the other side, Taiyi and Chi Youzi, who had been blocked, were both furious at this scene, while the old man simply said, "You can go now."
Taiyi Zhenren was furious and swung his sword. The old man merely glanced at it, and the Tai'a treasured sword suddenly fell, losing its spiritual essence.
Chi Youzi was shocked. This mysterious old man was clearly a powerful being. He quickly said, "Please forgive our rudeness, senior."
Only then did the old man slowly turn and leave. At the same time, the majestic mountain blocking their path also disappeared.
Above Chaoge, Kong Xuan sent a telepathic message, "Thank you, senior brother."
Returning to Mount Fuyu, Du Guang waved his hand and said, "Before the Dao Master departed, he entrusted us with the task of assisting you in achieving Dao with all our might. Such small matters are not worth mentioning."
Kong Xuan felt a warmth in his heart and smiled knowingly in the direction of the World Tree.
Meanwhile, the North Sea Third Prince, whose skin and tendons had long been stripped by Nezha, had his soul return to the Investiture of the Gods. He did not know how long he had been asleep before he slowly awoke. The first thing he saw was a blood-red world. A strange shore flower bloomed beneath him like a lotus, supporting him in the divine ruins.
"Where is this?"
"The Rosary Realm."
A majestic voice echoed from an extremely distant direction.