What was Ao Bing up to?

Inside the city gate tower, Li Changshou held his purple clay teapot, slightly frowning.

The guard fanning behind him immediately adjusted his motions to maximum amplitude upon seeing this, causing Li Changshou’s long hair to dance wildly in the breeze.

Through his divine consciousness, Li Changshou observed Ao Bing with seven or eight dragon palace guards, setting up a formation in the shallow sea, secretly plotting something…

Something wasn’t right.

The Heavenly Dao’s script had suddenly gone off track.

Had he interfered too much in Nezha’s affairs? According to the Heavenly Dao’s script, Nezha killing Ao Bing shouldn’t have happened this early.

Li Changshou reviewed his entire arrangement surrounding Chen Tang Pass and quickly concluded—

Someone was interfering with his arrangements.

Long ago, Li Changshou had designated the conflict between Nezha and the East Sea Dragon Palace as the key event for exploring Heavenly Dao’s bottom line in script convergence.

Now, though the situation had changed to some degree, the fundamental tone remained the same, just with some added maneuvering against the Heavenly Dao.

From this, he deduced that Ao Bing’s current actions were very likely being driven by the tribulation’s karmic force.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, his fingertip twitching. Deep beneath Chen Tang Pass, paper avatars performed earth-traversing techniques, heading toward the East Sea in great numbers.

He needed to secure things, at a minimum ensuring Nezha’s safety—this was the basic bottom line.

Li Changshou had long considered that if the Heavenly Dao had the power to converge the script, it also had the power to tear up this script at any time.

Setting aside the Heavenly Dao’s willful desires, what it wanted was to reduce the power of living beings and maintain the stability of heaven and earth.

Complete trust in books is worse than no books—the same principle applied here.

Li Changshou carefully analyzed the formation Ao Bing had arranged…

A killing formation?

Where did Ao Bing get such hatred from?

Li Changshou’s gaze shifted to nearby, near where a clear river flowed into the sea, and he couldn’t help but smile.

This little Nezha…

Where was the holy light? Quick, cover him up.

…

“I have a fire-tipped spear, it grows big and small and glows~”

Humming the song Uncle Chang’an had taught him while continuously splashing the cool river water with his little hands, Little Nezha stood by the pool’s edge, bare-bottomed, his feet constantly kicking up water sprays, letting out bursts of giggling laughter.

After playing in the water for half an hour, he jumped back to shore, evaporated the water from his body, and deftly put on his undershirt, short jacket, and shorts. He jumped onto a nearby tree branch to lie down, letting out a comfortable sigh.

Life was pleasant.

As the sun slanted westward, dappled tree shadows fell on his little face. The hazy warmth of the sun star, combined with the cool water vapor in the riverside breeze, immediately made Nezha a bit sleepy.

“Uncle Chang’an…”

In his drowsy state, he muttered softly: “Being kind to others, winning people over with virtue—does that mean just beating bad guys half to death is enough?”

“Mother, if Father bullies you I’ll put laxatives in his horse’s feed…”

“Master, your spear technique is so inferior… why haven’t you learned anything new…”

The paper avatar in the ground below the tree couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Li Changshou’s smile hadn’t yet faded when he frowned, looking toward the river mouth.

There, a white line slowly opened as a huge wave surged backward from the sea.

Atop the white waves stood a ten-foot-tall figure holding a trident, with a green face, protruding fangs, and a blood-red fish mouth. He wore armor that looked like fine black-green scales, and his pea-sized little eyes surged with bright light, having long since locked onto the sleeping child in the tree.

Asleep?

The Yaksha raised his eyebrows—thunder crashed in the sky, and waves pounded the shore!

Nezha: …

Silence.

Seeing Nezha completely motionless, the sea tribe Yaksha’s eyes bulged, feeling deliberately slighted.

True, he was a minor character in the Dragon Palace, but he was still a properly appointed patrol officer of the Heavenly Court!

He raised his long trident toward Nezha from afar, and a stream of water condensed into an arrow, shooting toward Nezha!

The sleeping Little Nezha’s eyes suddenly opened, his gaze not yet clearly focused, but his form had already shot toward the water arrow.

Clenching his fist, concentrating power!

Streams of light red radiance gathered at Nezha’s fist!

Nezha threw a punch, and from hundreds of zhang away, the water arrow directly exploded, causing the river to stop flowing and waves to surge backward. The Yaksha’s expression changed drastically atop the waves!

This…

“Who!”

Little Nezha’s form wrapped in faint red light stood on the churning river surface, his eyes fixed on the now somewhat panicked Yaksha, light gradually gathering in his gaze.

Ugh, what an ugly fishhead monster.

Uncle Chang’an said to be kind to others and not point out their flaws, so he wouldn’t be forthright about it.

Using three idioms—Mother would surely praise him for that!

Little Nezha immediately became proud, stepping forward half a pace, his feet emanating a shockwave that swept forward, the thin band holding his hair bun constantly fluttering, the red light gradually returning to his body.

He extended his little hand with a light shout:

“Why did you sneak attack me!”

The Yaksha’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down several times as he thought of his Third Prince’s instructions, unable to advance or retreat.

This?

The Third Prince had told him to capture a child, and he’d thought it would be an easy task, but now it felt incredibly thorny.

[If you mess this up, you know the consequences.]

The Yaksha gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, thinking ‘This is just a child,’ immediately puffing up his chest and raising his head, pointing at Nezha and shouting:

“You human child, how dare you act wickedly here, proclaiming yourself king!

I am the East Sea Patrol Yaksha General, my name is carved in the Heavenly Court’s Hall of Clarity, and I hold a position among the four seas’ water deities!

You previously ambushed our Third Prince, and now I shall take you to the Crystal Palace for judgment!”

Little Nezha blinked: “Crystal Palace? Are there crystals inside?”

“Of course there are, it’s all crystal… Pah!”

The Yaksha cursed loudly: “No more of your nonsensical chatter! Come with me now! Lest this general be forced to use violence against a child, which would truly damage my reputation!”

Nezha tilted his head: “Then use violence.”

The Yaksha’s little eyes immediately widened.

“Come on.”

Little Nezha beckoned, and seeing the Yaksha not daring to advance, he snickered:

“Uncle Chang’an talked about borrowing a tiger’s might and only knowing how to make noise—I guess he meant someone like you!

I’ve heard people say you manage the sea while we humans manage the land, clearly separated and not interfering with each other. Yet your Third Prince keeps coming to our Chen Tang Pass to steal other people’s wives—how come no princesses have been sent to marry here?”

The Yaksha cursed loudly: “Hey! You little brat!

What do you know of heaven and earth’s principles, talking about divisions between water and land?

We see folk submit to the dragon race, and the dragons are important ministers of the Heavenly Court, managing the waters of the three realms. If you knew anything about proper conduct, you’d know that our Dragon Palace is something that you, a mere general’s son, absolutely cannot provoke!

Truly speaking nonsense! Quickly come admit your guilt!

Otherwise, I’ll…!”

“You’ll what?” Nezha’s mouth curled. “You can’t even out-talk a child—if you’ve got the ability, come get me!”

The Yaksha cursed: “If you’ve got the ability, come down here!”

“Oh, alright.”

With a splash, Nezha descended casually onto the water’s surface, his two bare feet walking on it as if on solid ground, taking two steps toward the Yaksha and blinking.

His bearing was supremely confident and vivid;

His expression carried anticipation while secretly rubbing his palms.

By now, the Yaksha was consumed by rage—retreating made him angrier, and advancing made him unable to fight. Acid sprayed from his rear gills, and the hand gripping his steel spear trembled constantly.

“You…!”

Nezha lifted his chin.

“You! You!”

The Yaksha’s fish mouth kept trembling, rage surging and liver fire rising, until he ground out a great roar:

“Take care of my seventh aunt’s mother!”

Good Yaksha!

Holding his spear, he charged forward across the waves, his form truly incredibly swift, causing the already churning river surface to surge again!

Little Nezha’s eyes brightened. His left hand shook slightly, and one of the three nodes on his bracelet lit up. The bracelet beside it shone with golden light, transforming into a golden ring a foot in diameter, which he threw directly at the Yaksha.

As soon as the Universe Ring left his hand, Nezha charged forward in pursuit, his little feet leaving after images on the water’s surface. Left fist, right palm—techniques surged into his mind, and his eyes showed faint flames.

He had it all planned out!

When the opponent knocked away the Universe Ring, he would leap up, taking advantage of his nimble form to attack the enemy’s vital points head-on, then mentally control the Universe Ring to attack from the side, use the Sky Mixing Silk to sneak attack from underwater, turn back for a counterattack, throw the Gold Brick to strike the vital point on his back, and then be kind and merciful by sparing his life…

Crack, snap, boom!

Eh?

Little Nezha’s steps halted, his little feet creating waves on the water’s surface as he held his breath and looked at the scene before him.

The Yaksha held two broken spears in his hands, his forehead shattered, already a corpse with his soul fleeing toward the deep sea.

“He was that fragile?”

Little Nezha tilted his head, not particularly concerned, retrieving his treasures back into his bracelet as the red light returned to his body.

Never mind, time to go back for a nap.

Stretching lazily and yawning, Nezha turned around casually, about to walk back to his original sleeping tree.

Just then!

Waves appeared over the East Sea as several azure dragons emerged from the surface, circling in the air before charging toward this location!

“Audacious Nezha, you dare kill our Dragon Palace Yaksha!”

The speaker was none other than Ao Bing.

Having fully experienced Nezha’s prowess before and secretly witnessing Yaksha’s death, Ao Bing naturally didn’t dare approach, only shouting from afar.

“Come with this prince to the Dragon Palace to face punishment!”

Nezha snorted, his left-hand opening as the Universe Ring rapidly circled him;

His right hand formed an empty grip, and a ball of fire light flashed as the Fire-Tipped Spear materialized in his palm, igniting with a hiss.

Nezha shouted: “He attacked first, what’s it to me?”

“You kill a Yaksha and still claim to be right? This Yaksha was a deity registered in the Hall of Clarity!”

Ao Bing cursed: “You’re merely a mortal, relying on your father’s protection to act so recklessly, not knowing what disaster you’ve brought upon yourself!

Don’t make this prince say it twice—come with me to the Dragon Palace!”

Nezha thrust his Fire-Tipped Spear forward slightly and cursed: “Less talk, fight if you want to fight!”

Ao Bing also grew angry, shouting: “Where are my guards!”

The seven or eight azure dragons roared and howled!

Ao Bing’s dragon claw pointed forward: “Seize him!”

The dragons immediately pounced forward, joining forces to press down on Nezha!

Behold the scene:

Flying sand and stones, water waves dancing wild.

Azure dragons roaring, all creatures retreating in fear.

Nezha leaped upward, jumping into the air, holding the Fire-Tipped Spear and riding the Wind Fire Wheels, his nimble form containing immense power as streams of True Samadhi Fire surged from the Fire-Tipped Spear!

In the blink of an eye, three azure dragons had their scales smashed, two had their scale armor pierced.

Some dragons summoned wind, rain, and lightning, but Nezha’s form didn’t dodge at all, taking everything head-on without showing the slightest injury.

Some dragons transformed into human form to fight directly, but couldn’t withstand the force behind Nezha’s spear strikes, being sent flying backward with blood trickling from their mouths!

In the heat of battle, a red light flickered in Nezha’s eyes as the second of three nodes lit up on the bracelet on his left wrist!

Killing energy protecting his body, exterminating evil and demons;

His dao heart held firm, knowing neither fear nor trepidation!

Li Changshou, watching with concealed form, looked up at this scene and nodded with satisfaction, recording the entire process with the image-capturing pearl in his hand.

From Chen Tang Pass’s city tower, rolling azure dragons could be faintly seen in the clouds. Those with good enough eyesight could surely spot that small figure riding Wind Fire Wheels, chasing the dragons up and down among their forms.

Third child?!

In the Li Manor’s tower, Li Jing stood up, his eyes showing shock as he turned and rushed toward the window, his form transforming into a stream of light shooting northeast.

Just then!

Li Jing’s vision blurred as he suddenly saw a golden light sweep toward him, his dao heart trembling and face turning pale.

A powerful being?!

His form barely managed to dodge sideways, but his shoulder still sprayed out an arc of bright red blood.

Whoosh whoosh—

More sounds of air being cut exploded beside his ears as Li Jing’s form dodged left and right, already gripping a spiritual treasure sword.

The surrounding heaven and earth suddenly darkened, giving Li Jing no chance to display his abilities as a great formation had already trapped him within.

This formation transformed into a mass of dark clouds, floating above Chen Tang Pass.

Above the dark clouds, that somewhat faint figure gave a disdainful cold laugh, turning to fly toward the East Sea.

But this figure’s movements suddenly stiffened.

The air froze without warning as the universe filled with a faint killing intent.

This phantom frowned and looked to the left, showing a somewhat composed expression as it clasped its hands behind its back.

Within the formation, Li Jing was protected by a force of immortal power, barely able to cope with the surrounding attacks.

A figure stepped forth from beside the dark clouds—none other than Li Manor’s high-ranking servant, Wang Chang’an, Li Changshou’s ‘Golden Core’ paper avatar.

Li Changshou said: “Fellow Daoist, have you now willingly become a hunting dog?”

Maitreya smiled faintly and said: “Aren’t you also a hunting dog, Fellow Daoist? We’re both in the same boat.”

“Your words have some truth,” Li Changshou’s smile faded, “But ultimately, I follow the Heavenly Dao’s will to establish order, while you, Fellow Daoist, now follow the Heavenly Dao’s darkness.”

“Order, darkness—Fellow Daoist truly knows how to build a reputation.”

“Reputation isn’t built,” killing intent surged in Li Changshou’s eyes, “Since Fellow Daoist has shown yourself, stay here.”

“Surely Star-Lord can see this is merely an avatar of mine.”

“Avatar?” A faint blue light appeared around Li Changshou. “I don’t want to let even your avatar escape.”

Hum—

The universe gently shook as several figures appeared in various directions around the dark clouds, completely sealing off the local space.

Maitreya coldly snorted, Li Changshou’s expression solemn as several figures flickered slightly, instantly transforming into countless afterimages pressing down toward Maitreya’s avatar.

Over the East Sea!

An azure dragon raised its head in an agonized cry as Nezha, holding the Fire-Tipped Spear with both hands, thrust down from above into the broken dragon scales. The Sky Mixing Silk behind him pointed toward the heavens, the Universe Ring circling him like a golden light shield.

Behind Nezha appeared a faint silhouette of a youth, surrounded by shallow black light, eyes tightly closed.

The remnant soul of his past life, the true self of killing energy.

“Ha!”

With Nezha’s light shout, that azure dragon’s form couldn’t hold on, instantly falling beneath the clouds, its form suddenly shrinking to avoid the following attack.

“Retreat! We are no match for this human child!”

An azure dragon spoke in human tongue, and the more or less injured dragons immediately turned tail and fled.

Nezha’s state was somewhat off, his eyes now invaded by blood light, speechlessly pursuing his Wind Fire Wheels!

In the seawater, Li Changshou silently watched this scene.

His main body’s mind had already opened forty-nine ‘windows’, controlling numerous paper avatars performing water-traversing techniques to closely follow behind Nezha.

Several paper avatars also carried miniature teleportation formations, ready to bring his main body from Little Qiong Peak at any moment.

Today…

Nezha killing Ao Bing, according to the Heavenly Dao’s script, should have happened years later.

Was the great tribulation accelerating?

Was the Heavenly Dao already so impatient?

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, fully observing every location.

Beside his main body, Ling E watched the scene in the bronze mirror, having stopped her advantage-taking behavior, holding her breath in concentration.

In the Dragon Palace, the Dragon King on his throne narrowed his eyes, sighing slightly at this moment, remaining motionless as he reclined.

In the dark clouds above Chen Tang Pass, Li Jing wielded his sword against the attacking phantoms, his eyes growing more anxious as he continuously brandished his magical treasures.

At the edge of the East Sea, where shallow and deep waters met, Ao Bing had somehow already coiled at the seafloor, those eyes carrying traces of black flame staring at the direction from which Nezha approached.

Here he comes, here he comes!

This is the killing formation!

Once he enters this place, I’ll use the charge of killing the sea-patrolling Yaksha to suppress him with the killing formation!

No one can stop this, no one can hold me accountable!

What the dragon race truly lacks is only luck—we are the ancient overlords, the truly strong ones!

Today, Father, you will surely watch me!

I, Ao Bing!

The East Sea Dragon King’s Third Son!

Boom!

Several azure dragons crashed into the sea surface, attracting Nezha’s attention according to the previous plan, rapidly sinking toward the seafloor.

Flames surged around Nezha’s body, keeping the seawater at bay as he charged into the water without hesitation, his eyes now almost pure black, his body emanating a pure and intense killing intent!

Ao Bing’s dragon claws trembled slightly as he suddenly had a bad premonition, but Nezha’s form had already crashed directly into the formation, instantly disappearing.

Success.

Ao Bing’s heart gave a long sigh of relief, followed by an immense sense of achievement as his form slowly swam toward the formation, feeling the already surging deadly power of the formation.

Nezha?

Enlightenment School disciple? Venus Star’s godson?

“Haha, hahaha!”

The azure dragon roared and laughed in the water, his hundred-zhang-long slender form slowly swaying as those few guards swam toward this location.

Suddenly!

The great formation in the sea revealed its outer appearance—a pitch-black millstone, and in its center, a flame like a candle’s flickered gently.

True Samadhi Fire!

Fire Lotus erupting!

The sea surface rose high for hundreds of miles around, with pillars of water shooting straight toward the sky!

In the sea, that hundred-li-diameter lotus was blooming in fury—it was the True Fire of living beings, mocking the destructive power of ordinary seawater!

Under the fire lotus, several azure dragons fled for their lives. Ao Bing was stunned for half a moment—being too close to the fire lotus’s initial explosion point, he now had no time to escape, directly swallowed by the flames and boiling seawater…

And that life-taking figure came through the flames!

“Nezha! You—!”

The final word “dare” could no longer be voiced.