A retinue escorted Su Daji, daughter of Su Hu, to Chaoge under the recommendation of Fei Zhong. There's not much to say about this group.
The other party was Duke Xibo, Ji Chang. On this day, Ji Chang and his entourage were traveling toward Purple Mountain when suddenly, under a clear sky, thunder cracked, and a torrential downpour ensued.
The attendants quickly set up tents to shelter from the rain. Just before entering the tent, a flash of white light streaked across the sky. An inexplicable unease settled in, as if something was lost.
The white light was none other than Taiyi, who had vanished for a long time. At this moment, he held an adorable, chubby white baby in his arms. As for the idea of making this baby recognize another adoptive father? What if more chaos ensues? Should he plead with his master to find another disciple for him? Unthinkable.
Without hesitation, Taiyi adhered to the Chan Sect's tradition of taking in disciples and carried the baby back to his Golden Light Cave.
Meanwhile, Yun Zhongzi, who was wandering far away, sensed something off. Yet, after calculating for a long while and being unable to discern the situation, he let it go.
Even Yuanshi Tianzun couldn't do much about this matter. After all, flesh on the palm and back is equally cherished, but Taiyi's role leading the Qingwei Sect bound him to greater tribulations, rendering him more crucial to the Chan Sect. Yun Zhongzi, as a Fude True Immortal, could handle switching disciples and enduring some hardships to survive the great calamity.
...
Nezha had pried all the information he needed about Chaoge from Fei Zhong's mouth. As long as you paid him, this old scoundrel even knew how many concubines a newlywed family had taken in.
Having nearly finalized his plans to destabilize the Yin Shang dynasty, he discarded the original idea of a beauty trap—though the essence of such a scheme remained: to make King Zhou deluded and neglectful. This would be easy! There were countless examples from his past life to draw upon.
He would directly coax King Zhou into cultivating immortality instead. If the king failed, it would mean he fell for his ploy. If he succeeded, he would lose his Human King role. A small-time Human Immortal daring to insult his teacher? Let's see if he wouldn't deal with him then.
One of the Five Emperors, Zhuang Xu, had decreed: a Human King cannot ascend to immortality!
Plan approved (√).
However, Nezha had no intention of circulating his master's texts far and wide, so he had to devise something himself.
Nezha, at least, was an Immortal. In the kind of mortal cultivation novels with seven to eight hundred chapters, his current cultivation level would not be this easily attainable. If an Immortal were to craft a manual for mortals to cultivate into immortality, wouldn't it become a legendary scripture sought after across tales?
Thanks to a certain novice writer's circle, Nezha decided to invent a whole system of Spirit Root cultivation. These methods had been perfected by a group of authors and, except for the fact they didn't work in his past life, they were so airtight that no flaws could be found.
In the Chaos Wai Nuwa Palace, Nuwa watched alongside Qingluan as Nezha feverishly wrote away. Curious, Nuwa remarked, "Oh! This thing called Qi Cultivation and Golden Core, transforming the Nascent Soul into Divinity—sounds much better than just listing four stages of Qi cultivation. Should I suggest to Senior Taiqing to make some changes?"
Qingluan couldn't help but sigh secretly: truly like master, like disciple. Nezha now looked exactly as Nuwa did back when crafting the Lishan Old Mother's True Scripture!
Indeed, the treasured scripture Nezha valued so highly was something Nuwa had cobbled together a few days earlier by flipping through countless Daoist Scriptures. Having never taken in a disciple before and being born as a Daluo Golden Immortal, Nuwa couldn't fathom what it was like to struggle through weaker stages of cultivation.
It was just like how the wealthy can never truly imagine the depths of poverty.
Nezha casually conjured a magical treasure in the form of a carriage, where he huddled inside, scribbling manuscripts throughout the journey. Halfway along the road, he encountered another group heading for Chaoge—it was Su Daji and her entourage.
As both groups had Fei Zhong's recommendation, they naturally merged into one caravan.
Su Daji had not yet been possessed by a fox spirit, so she was still a proper lady from a prominent family. In fact, she had a slight literary air about her, constantly melancholic over being offered to King Zhou. Upon meeting the other caravan, she couldn't help but wonder if the person in the carriage was also another beauty being sent to the king.
Involuntarily, she wondered whether she would be deemed more beautiful.
It wasn't until Nezha occasionally stepped out for fresh air and sent someone to inquire that Daji realized the occupant was but an immortal child. Women, when faced with a man who doesn't feel threatening, tend to become assertive.
Over the next few days, Daji transitioned from sending him meals to directly squeezing into his carriage. Nezha, faced with this overwhelming beauty, couldn't help but feel exasperated. While she was undoubtedly stunning, she hadn't a shred of resilience in her charm.
Well, since she was here, she might as well serve as a tool.
Thus, under Nezha's dictation, Daji wrote diligently. Seeing the beauty meticulously grinding ink and copying scrolls before him, Nezha almost felt the romantic charm of red sleeves accompanying literature.
Fei Zhong thought nothing of Daji running over to Nezha's carriage, either. What could a seven-year-old brat possibly do?
After over a month, they finally arrived at Chaoge, the first city of the Human Clan.
From a distance, it didn't seem particularly majestic, but the immense Human Dao Qi Fortune enveloped it, and the giant Xuan Niao soaring overhead left Nezha slightly awestruck.
The cultivation techniques Nezha devised had become a comprehensive system, but the peripheral arts of immortal cultivation would take time to refine. A small surprise was that Daji was nearing Foundation Establishment.
Nezha swapped his mana flow into a cultivation-inscribed, white Daoist robe adorned with golden lettering. It was low-profile yet sophisticated—the first step in deceiving others was always presentation.
Seeing Nezha's transformed appearance, Daji's eyes sparkled. Handsome yet adorable—she had an irresistible urge to ruffle him!
Nezha cleared his throat and maintained his aloof demeanor, rejecting Daji's eager attempts to come closer. He lightly stepped onto his horse, retracting the carriage frame with a wave of his hand.
Annoyed, Daji returned to her own carriage, pouting.
Fei Zhong led the two directly to the Imperial Palace. Though their arrival caused a small stir along the way, Fei Zhong's infamous reputation prevented any disturbances.
Nezha and Daji waited outside the hall for a moment before being summoned into the Court by King Zhou.
At this time, King Zhou had yet to be physically consumed by indulgence, remaining a robust and commanding figure. His aura exuded power, his black robes embroidered with a golden Xuan Niao.
"How dare you, Nezha! In the presence of His Majesty, why do you not kneel immediately?"
Besides King Zhou, Fei Zhong, and another individual were present in the grand hall. The one who spoke was none other.
From his camaraderie with Fei Zhong, Nezha didn't even need to guess his identity, nor did he feel remotely intimidated. On the contrary, he was determined to further awe King Zhou.
With the Xuanyuan Sword's protection, the Human Dao Qi barely affected Nezha. With a mere thought, he levitated in a cross-legged position, sitting mid-air, channeling Dao Qi and mimicking the ancient and boundless aura of Lishan Old Mother. He spoke evenly: "I wonder why the Great King has summoned this humble Daoist here?"
King Zhou was startled but quickly composed himself. As the Human King, there were few who could openly perform spells in his presence save for truly top-tier experts. Most immortals avoided appearing before him, leaving him with only hearsay about their existence. He knew of immortals and gods but had never witnessed one.
But today, he had encountered a genuine Immortal!
Rather than fearing him, King Zhou felt exhilarated!
"What Immortal Master holds court before me?"
Nezha remained expressionless. "I am the Great Sage Master under Lady Nuwa's command, and I preside over the Taiping Heavenly Sect, striving for peace across the world."
Of course, Nezha didn't dare utter anything like "The Azure Heaven is dead; the Yellow Heaven shall rise." Not even in his wildest dreams, fearing a bolt of Zixiao Divine Thunder would reduce him to cinders. But founding a Taiping Sect in the name of pursuing peace? Was that not feasible?
Little did Nezha realize, as he bluffed and wooed his audience, the Qi Fortune of Taisu Heaven rippled into towering waves. Nuwa tossed out a red embroidered ball to suppress it; her expression a little grave as she thought to herself, "This Hong Jun old fox really knows how to turn situations to his advantage, but whatever."
In the void, countless brilliant lights gathered over Chaoge. An ocean of karmic merit poured forth and concentrated on Nezha. While maintaining a calm facade, Nezha's heart began to race in panic. How could a casual boast cause such a ruckus?
In the West, Zhunti was startled. After observing more closely and being repelled by the red light, he muttered to himself, "This child has a destiny intertwined with mine."
As nervous as Nezha was, he suddenly heard Nuwa's voice in his ear: "Do not worry. Your teacher has your back."
Nezha instantly calmed down.
Under the watchful eyes of countless Great Experts across heavens and earth, the Saint Nuwa officially gained a Taiping Sect led by her pupil. A cause for celebration indeed.