Chapter 1: The Spiritual Pearl of Temporal Creation, Self-proclaimed Mingzhu as Taiyi Descends
"Where is this?"
Li Ming struggled to open his eyes but was met with complete darkness. He tried to move his arms but found himself utterly immobilized.
The more he struggled, the more he realized he couldn't break free, as though trapped inside a mysterious spherical object of unknown origin.
"Could it be I've been ambushed by an enemy and sealed inside a sinister magic artifact?" Li Ming speculated to himself.
As a Great Cultivator in the Transcendance Tribulation Stage during Earth's Age of Declining Dharma, Li Ming's knowledge was extensive, and his first assumption naturally leaned towards a malevolent artifact.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, a warm current surged through his body. Before Li Ming could think further, a flood of vast information overwhelmed his senses, like an unstoppable divine thought emanating from a peerless being.
"Spiritual Pearl, born with defiant nature, it is fitting amidst this Divine Enthronement Tribulation to send you to the mortal realm for reincarnation. This will be both your calamity and your fortune. The Taoist under Taiyi Zhenren wishes to take you as his disciple, a decision I have approved. However, if it does not please you, there's no need to force it. Just remember, do not disgrace the name of Nuwa."
A voice rich and noble, like a celestial melody, softly spoke beside Li Ming's ear. At the same time, a vivid scene replayed incessantly in his mind: a white-robbed female sage, surrounded by blooming waves of Golden Lotus.
Memories flooded his mind naturally as if unlocked from a hidden trove. From his lips came reverent words of gratitude: "Thank you, Lady Nuwa. I humbly obey your divine decree."
Empowered by the Saint's Divine Thought, Li Ming instantly comprehended everything, yet he found it nearly unbelievable.
"Spiritual Pearl?"
He muttered under his breath—he hadn't been ambushed by an enemy but rather had somehow reincarnated as an unborn Nezha still in the womb.
What on earth is this? I've transmigrated? And into Nezha, no less?
Though incredulous, the fact was undeniable. Whether Li Ming accepted it or not, he had now become Nezha—or rather, the Spiritual Pearl.
More importantly, he had received something that Nezha in his previous life never had the chance to obtain: Nuwa's Divine Thought, which his father, Li Jing, had severed before Nezha could inherit her legacy.
Nuwa, one of the earliest Saints to achieve sanctity through merit, possessed a heritage far from ordinary. Her words, though seemingly restrictive, hinted at deeper meanings. While they appeared to bind him to uphold her name, they also carried a sense of protective indulgence.
In simpler terms, it meant: "Our reputation is paramount. If trouble arises, I'll handle it. That's the kind of liberty I grant you."
Feeling the ongoing stream of warm divine energy, Li Ming began to relish it. He knew this Qi of Creation, immeasurably rare across the realms, only Nuwa could bestow.
Understanding this, Li Ming calmed down and stopped squirming. Seizing the precious time in the womb, he resolved to focus solely on cultivating.
Naturally, he practiced Nuwa's heritage, the "Chaos Creation Skill", hailed as the foremost Foundation Establishment Skill of the Primordial World. In his previous life, he had only vaguely heard of it, never imagining he'd personally cultivate it in this one.
Of course, there was another pressing task—reshaping his appearance. Leveraging the Qi of Creation in the womb, reshaping one's form became a simple task. This Qi was, after all, a fundamental component for creating life.
Otherwise, the thought of emerging with an androgynous form, a topknot hairstyle, and a scarlet bellyband was enough to mortify an old monster like Li Ming, who had lived for centuries.
Using his childhood appearance from his previous life as a template, he casually molded a new form. In his Divine Sense emerged a finely-crafted porcelain-like child Daoist figure, which left Li Ming quite satisfied.
After all, though he had been a Sword Immortal in his past life, at his core, he still embraced Taoist traditions. A Daoist Child's image struck a chord with him.
Next, he needed only to focus wholeheartedly on cultivation. Li Ming calculated that the stronger foundation he built in the womb, the easier his future cultivation would be after birth.
"Time flows unnoticed in the mountains, where years pass like fleeting moments."
Though not to such extremes, Li Ming remained in deep meditative absorption for a full three months until an external force disrupted his serenity.
He immediately realized—birth was imminent.
Not daring to delay, Li Ming hurriedly absorbed as much of the Qi of Creation as possible, even packing away what he couldn't absorb for future use. However, he didn't forget to leave a share for his mother, Lady Yin.
"Who else but a mother endures the silent suffering of three years' pregnancy?"
"Parental love—tender, selfless, unmatched—touches the deepest chords of the heart."
"Boom!"
Born of a three-year gestation, the Saintly Child's arrival was as radiant as it was earthshaking. Li Ming stumbled out before he could even gather his thoughts.
Perhaps because of the Spiritual Pearl's innate traits, Li Ming's previously mature composure vanished without a trace. He bounded about joyfully, calling "Mother! Mother!" at the top of his lungs.
He soon overlooked an obvious fact—he was still a mere fleshy sphere. His antics terrified the attendants in the delivery chamber, who screamed "Demon!" in unison, with some rushing off to notify Li Jing.
Only Lady Yin looked upon Li Ming, now a fleshy sphere, with a gaze full of maternal affection. No matter what form her child took, he was still her child.
Despite his weak cultivation, Li Ming's years of honing his Divine Sense enabled him to perceive Lady Yin's gaze. Truly, only a mother's love could be so tender.
In his past life, he had been an orphan, raised in an orphanage and exposed to the harshness of the world. Yet never had he experienced true familial warmth—until now. Lady Yin's gaze moved him deeply.
"Demon! Take this sword!"
Amidst this moment of rare affection, a furious bellow pierced the air, accompanied by the sound of a blade slicing through the void, swift and merciless.
Had Li Ming retained his past life's cultivation, evading such a strike would've been a simple matter. But as a newly-reincarnated child with nascent cultivation, escape was impossible.
With a ripping sound, the blade cleaved through Li Ming's sphere-like form. Golden light radiated momentarily before fading swiftly. Instead of flesh and blood, the blade unveiled a porcelain-skinned youth, standing boldly against the wind.
Though freshly born, the child already donned a pure white Daoist robe. Appearing as if five or six years old, he exuded an impressive aura, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
"Is this truly my son?"
Li Jing stood frozen, lost in thought, while Lady Yin rushed off the bed without hesitation, hastening to Li Ming's side.
"This child, Li Mingzhu, greets his mother."
Before Lady Yin could reach out to touch him, Li Ming had already stepped forward to support her hands and bowed formally.
"Li Mingzhu? Did you choose this name yourself?" Lady Yin asked with a beaming smile. She wasn't the least surprised by her son's precociousness; on the contrary, she brimmed with pride. Her child, conceived after three years, was naturally extraordinary.
"Yes, it carries the meaning of 'pearls shedding tears beneath the moonlight.'" Li Ming replied. If his mother wasn't concerned about him being a supposed "demon," why should he shy away from revealing more?
Of course, he had his personal reasons for selecting the name—it combined his past life name, Li Ming, with the "Spiritual Pearl." It symbolized the fusion of his former and current identities.
"Nonsense! Since when do you have the right to decide your own name? The naming of children in the Li family has always been the privilege of the patriarch! Such insolence!"
Li Jing interrupted angrily, his discontent with this third son evident despite confirming he wasn't a demon.
"Mother…"
Li Mingzhu clung to Lady Yin's sleeve, feigning innocence and acting endearingly, like a living porcelain doll.
He didn't bother arguing with Li Jing. After all, Li Jing was the father and head of the household. But if appealing to his mother worked, why waste energy picking a fight? Irking Li Jing might even be enjoyable!
Li Jing disliked him, and the feeling was mutual.
"My son's name shall be Li Mingzhu. What of it? I carried him for three years! Do I not even have this much authority?" Lady Yin's temper flared as she unyieldingly cemented the matter without giving Li Jing any room to refute.
Perhaps her words struck a nerve in Li Jing, for he chose not to press further, though he shot Li Mingzhu a resentful glare.
"General, there's no need for anger. A brilliant son should be a source of joy."
Out of nowhere, a voice both aged and ethereal echoed from overhead. Descending on a flying crane was an elder clad in a white robe, holding a horsetail whisk. His hair and beard were snow-white, his demeanor exuding profound serenity and celestial grace.
"General of Chentang Pass, Li Jing, greets the Daoist Master. May I ask your purpose in coming?" Li Jing inquired with a respectful bow, demonstrating the propriety of a junior in Taoism.
"This humble Daoist is Taiyi Zhenren of Golden Light Cave in Qianyuan Mountain. I've come today for him."
After returning the salute, Taiyi Zhenren smiled and gestured toward Li Mingzhu.