While all the immortals and gods in the Lingxiao Palace were still shocked by Zhao Feng's strength, the scene inside the Haotian Mirror suddenly changed.
A fiery red spear light pierced through the sword formation.
At the same time, Zhao Feng swiftly collected all the scattered corpses of the heavenly soldiers and generals floating in the void.
"Damn it!"
"He took all of our heavenly soldiers' armor!"
"He's cutting off the very foundation of our Heavenly Court's army!"
Seeing this, the faces of many immortals in the Heavenly Court changed.
Zhao Feng's actions had completely severed any possibility of these heavenly soldiers and generals being resurrected.
Then, Nezha appeared.
"Your Majesty."
"My son Nezha possesses extraordinary strength. He will surely slay this fiend and capture his soul," Li Jing immediately declared, his tone filled with confidence and pride.
The immortals in the hall remained silent, their eyes fixed on the Haotian Mirror.
Nezha and Zhao Feng stood facing each other in mid-air, seemingly testing one another, as if engaging in some form of conversation.
However, the Haotian Mirror produced no sound.
After a short while, Nezha launched an attack on Zhao Feng.
Their figures clashed violently in the void.
The next moment
The Haotian Mirror lost track of their movements entirely.
At that moment
Wu De Xingjun walked into the grand hall, his expression full of frustration.
"Your Majesty."
"I was incompetent and failed to capture the fiend," Wu De Xingjun said, bowing respectfully.
"This matter is not your fault," Haotian said in a deep voice.
"In the end, we simply know too little about this fiend."
"Your Majesty."
"This fiend must have a great divine being backing him. He possesses three supreme-grade postnatal spiritual treasures, and the rope that bound me seemed to have already reached the level of an innate spiritual treasure."
"Treasures of this caliber could never have originated in the mortal realm," Wu De Xingjun hurriedly explained.
"If we capture him, we will surely be able to uncover the identity of his benefactor," Haotian said coldly, his heart filled with murderous intent.
"Pass down my decree."
"I order the Four Great Heavenly Kings and the Eighteen Constellations to lead a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers to descend to the mortal realm."
"The moment they discover the fiend's whereabouts, they are to coordinate with Nezha and eliminate him at once," Haotian commanded.
In the skies above Nanzhan Buzhou.
Two figures clashed rapidly in the void.
Each collision sent ripples through space, causing the heavens and earth to tremble.
From below, countless living beings watched the battle in terror, utterly bewildered.
Every impact sounded like thunder, as if capable of destroying the world itself.
For cultivators above the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, wiping out an entire mortal kingdom of tens of millions was an effortless feat that was the power of an immortal.
And now, the aftershocks of Zhao Feng and Nezha's battle had reached the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal.
However
A close inspection of their battle would reveal something amiss.
Though their fight appeared intense, they were making a great show of it, rather than truly fighting to the death.
As they clashed, they gradually moved away.
Eventually, they arrived at a mist-covered mountain forest within Nanzhan Buzhou.
Once they landed, they ceased their battle.
"Speak."
"Who is the one backing you?"
Nezha stood before Zhao Feng, his voice cold.
"Does it matter to you who I am?" Zhao Feng asked with a faint smile.
"You possess no celestial power, nor do you have a Great Luo Dao Fruit."
"So how did you manage to slay Wu De Xingjun?"
"The energy within you is not celestial power, yet it is no weaker than celestial power."
"I have lived for countless years, yet I have never seen a cultivation method like yours," Nezha scrutinized Zhao Feng with a look of curiosity.
"The Dao of Immortality is not the only path to power," Zhao Feng chuckled.
"You come from the mortal realm. How could the mortal realm withstand the power you wield?"
"Moreover, that sword formation of yours is a replica of the one once wielded by the Saint of the Jie Sect. This is not something a mortal could forge. The innate and postnatal spiritual treasures in your possession could never have come from the mortal realm either."
Nezha continued speaking as if lost in thought.
"Everyone has their secrets."
"And does the Third Prince not have his secrets?"
"To the mortals, you are a son who shares a deep bond with his father, but in truth, you dream of nothing more than killing Li Jing."
Zhao Feng smirked as he spoke.
As he said these words, he closely observed Nezha's expression.
He wanted to confirm if this world was truly like what he had imagined—if Nezha, the number one rebel of the Heavenly Court, was truly as he had expected.
And sure enough
The moment Zhao Feng's words fell, a murderous glint flashed through Nezha's eyes.
"Li Jing is the Heavenly Court's Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King. The pagoda he wields is an innate spiritual treasure infused with great divine power by the Buddha."
"He is one with the pagoda; it never leaves his side. How do you plan to help me kill him?"
"Moreover, what power do you have to oppose the Heavenly Court?"
"A mere Great Luo Golden Immortal? That is not enough."
"Forget me even many of the Heavenly Court's deities could kill you."
"Among the immortals, even those whose true spirits are not bound to the Investiture of the Gods could easily take your life."
"The Heavenly Court, which governs the Three Realms, is not as simple as you think," Nezha spoke coldly, his gaze filled with doubt.
"There are two choices before you now."
"First, the Third Prince can continue this battle and see if he can capture me."
"Second, trust me. One day, I will help you take your revenge."
Zhao Feng smiled faintly.
The Heavenly Court
It has existed since ancient times.
Haotian, once the personal attendant of the legendary Dao Ancestor, ruled over it. While a Great Luo Golden Immortal might be considered powerful within the Mortal Realm, in the face of the Heavenly Court, which had stood since ancient times, such strength was far from being at the pinnacle.
Upon hearing this
Nezha scrutinized Zhao Feng and asked, "How can I trust you?"
Zhao Feng smiled. "Whether you trust me or not is up to you, Third Prince."
"However, the Heavenly Court is already decaying. My Great Qin will eventually take its place."
"The Heavenly Court cannot forever reign above all living beings."
"Heaven's mandate will not always rest with the Heavenly Court."
"Why not wait and see for yourself?"
At this moment, Zhao Feng was certain
This Nezha was just as he had known from legend.
A deep-seated hatred for Li Jing, a resentment so intense that he wished to tear him to pieces.
Nezha stared at Zhao Feng intently.
Finally
A flicker of consideration crossed his brow.
"One hundred years."
"I'll give you only one hundred years. If you fail to achieve significant results, I will personally kill you." Nezha raised a single finger.
Then
He tossed a jade slip toward Zhao Feng.
Immediately afterward
He swung his Fire-Tipped Spear.
A thousand miles of land was instantly scorched into a barren wasteland. The once-thriving forest was reduced to a vast crater of charred earth.
After doing this
Nezha turned and flew away.
Watching Nezha's retreating figure
Zhao Feng chuckled.
"The number one rebel of the Heavenly Court... Interesting."
"Looks like I'll have to visit the legendary Erlang Shen as well." Zhao Feng smirked.
Rebels of the Heavenly Court
Nezha was certainly one, but Yang Jian? Yang Jian was an unquestionable one.
And compared to Nezha, Yang Jian was even more powerful.
Perhaps he had already stepped into the Quasi-Saint Realm.
"However..."
"This encounter was quite rewarding."
"All attributes have surpassed ten billion."
"With my true combat power, I can rival a Great Luo Golden Immortal."
A trace of anticipation appeared on Zhao Feng's face.
With a glance
He took a step forward and vanished, traveling tens of thousands of miles in an instant, far from the battlefield.
With his speed, unless one was a Quasi-Saint, even Nezha with his Wind Fire Wheels wouldn't be able to catch up.
This was the power of maxed-out attributes.
Light-speed flight
Even without tearing through the void, a single step was as fast as light.
In the Sky Above
Four towering figures, along with numerous celestial deities, stood amidst the clouds.
These four beings exuded an aura no weaker than the previously defeated Martial Virtue Star-Lord. Their colossal bodies resembled divine titans, each step capable of crushing an entire city. Their faces were fierce and menacing, resembling wrathful gods.
Behind them, an army of one hundred thousand celestial soldiers and generals stood like mere ants in comparison.
Below
A streak of divine light ascended into the heavens.
"What happened?"
Li Jing stepped forward, gripping his pagoda, and questioned Nezha.
"He escaped."
Nezha gave Li Jing a cold stare and replied indifferently.
"Escaped?"
Li Jing's brows furrowed, anger surging within him. "How could you let that monster escape?"
"With your strength, how could he have possibly gotten away?"
"Did your Wind Fire Wheels fail to keep up?"
His furious interrogation made it clear.
Li Jing was livid.
He had already made a firm promise to Haotian, even claiming full credit for this mission. Yet, Zhao Feng had managed to escape?
"If you're so capable, why don't you chase him yourself?"
Nezha raised his head, giving Li Jing a sideways glance, and replied coldly.
"Insolent child! Is this how you speak to me?"
Li Jing's expression darkened as he roared in anger.
Gripping the pagoda in his hand, he seemed ready to trap Nezha inside.
"Hmph."
Nezha, despite his defiance, still harbored some fear of Li Jing's pagoda.
With a cold snort, he turned on his Wind Fire Wheels and sped away.
"Heavenly King..."
"What should we do now?"
Several celestial officials turned their gazes toward Li Jing.
"Conduct a thorough search."
"We must find that demon!" Li Jing declared coldly.
"Yes, sir!"
The celestial deities responded in unison.
They then scattered across the realm.
Guanjiangkou
Located in the Southern Continent (Nanzhan Buzhou), this was a region governed by a small kingdom with a population of tens of millions.
Within this kingdom
If there was one deity whose temples were most numerous, it was undoubtedly Erlang Shen, the True Lord of Divine Might.
For this mortal nation was under the protection of Erlang Shen
Demons dared not invade.
Evil spirits did not dare trespass.
Because of this, his divine presence was revered, and his incense offerings flourished.
Yang Manor
In the center of the grand courtyard
Two individuals were engaged in a game of chess.
One was a handsome young man, exuding an aura of otherworldly grace. The other, with a faint demonic presence, was a Yao (demon).
After a long match
The handsome man emerged victorious.
This man was none other than Erlang Shen, Yang Jian
The legendary god who attained divinity with his mortal body and followed only the will of his own heart, answering to no celestial decree.
"Brother Kang, you still need to practice your chess skills," Yang Jian said with a smile.
"Second Lord, your chess game has become even more formidable," the man addressed as Brother Kang responded with a chuckle.
"Mortal life is dull, so one must master certain pastimes," Yang Jian replied with a faint smile.
At that moment
Yang Jian seemed to sense something.
He looked toward the sky.
"Today is a good day."
"My little brother has arrived," Yang Jian said, smiling.
As soon as he finished speaking
A fiery light descended from the heavens, landing right in front of Yang Jian.
Upon seeing Yang Jian
Even Nezha, who was known for his eternally icy demeanor, showed a rare, sincere smile.
"Second Brother," Nezha called warmly.
"Brother, what brings you to Guanjiangkou today?"
"I invite you all the time, but you never come."
Yang Jian asked with a smile.
"Second Brother,"
"Are you unaware of the current situation in the Heavenly Court?"
Nezha sat down beside Yang Jian, his face solemn.
"The Heavenly Court..."
"Nominally the ruler of heaven and earth, but in truth, nothing more than parasites feeding on it."
"This so-called plague spreading across the land is merely a lesson they needed to learn."
"Using mortal lives to refine spiritual energy, using human flesh and blood as fuel for cultivation"
"Is this what the celestial gods, who receive the worship of the mortal world, have become?"
Yang Jian spoke with a tone of mockery.
"Second Brother,"
"Today, I encountered the one responsible for releasing the plague," Nezha said seriously.
Yang Jian's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "So the plague was man-made?"
He was already aware of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma and had even sent people to collect samples for examination.
His findings were clear
This so-called miasma posed no harm to mortals.
Instead, it specifically targeted those immortals who slaughtered mortals and devoured their flesh and blood. After killing mortals, these so-called celestial beings would become infected with the plague, suffering immense losses.
To this
Yang Jian was naturally pleased.
For years
Yang Jian had lived in Guanjiangkou, protecting millions of mortals.
With him here, demons dared not invade.
With him here, so-called ascension ceremonies where mortals were sacrificed to fuel immortal cultivation never took place in his domain.
However, beyond his protection, Yang Jian could do little.
He could not openly defy the Heavenly Court, so his only option was to secretly aid mortals in surviving. Beyond that, his hands were tied.
After all, safeguarding the lives of these millions of people was already his limit.
If he openly turned against the Heavenly Court, even these mortals under his protection would not be safe.
After all, this was no longer the age of Saints.
His uncle was no longer bound by the constraints of the Saints.
"It was indeed man-made."
"And he admitted it himself," Nezha nodded.
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Then I must say, this plague was well-placed."
"If this plague spreads throughout the entire Immortal Realm, those so-called celestial beings will no longer be able to extend their lifespans by slaughtering mortals, nor use human flesh and blood to strengthen their cultivation."
"This poison... was placed perfectly."
"By the way, what kind of person is he?"
It was rare for Yang Jian to show curiosity, even more so to speak with a tone of admiration.
Clearly
He respected this individual for the sake of the countless mortals in the Immortal Realm.
"His methods are very strange."
"He possesses numerous mystical treasures and does not seem to follow the path of Daoist cultivation."
"But today, he was surrounded by the Heavenly Court's forces Wude Star Lord, dozens of Taiyi Golden Immortals, hundreds of Golden Immortals, and an army of one hundred thousand celestial soldiers and generals yet he slaughtered them all."
"Even when I faced him, he showed no fear, as if he held an ace up his sleeve," Nezha said gravely.
"No wonder I sensed the residual energy of such a great battle earlier it turns out the Heavenly Court was trying to deal with him," Yang Jian remarked, slightly surprised.
Clearly
He had not paid much attention to the Heavenly Court's affairs, and he was unaware that they had mobilized such forces.
After all, the Southern Continent (Nanzhan Buzhou) was vast, spanning billions of miles.
The battlefield where Zhao Feng had fought against the celestial army was unimaginably far from here.
"In any case, the Heavenly Court has suffered a major loss this time."
"And Second Brother..."
"This person ascended from the mortal world."
"Furthermore"
Nezha's expression grew even more serious.
"He seems to know a great deal about the Immortal Realm."
"And he knows me very well he even knew about my irreconcilable hatred toward Li Jing!"
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