694: Single-handedly fight Nezha

Thunderclouds surged over the battlefield in the sky.

Countless divine lights collided with a deafening roar.

In the air, Li Jing clutched the linglong pagoda in his hand, frantically fleeing from the descent of the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade.

He and Yang Jian had only clashed for two or three rounds before the victor was essentially decided.

At this moment, Li Jing's sky-shrouding cloak was torn to shreds by the Howling Celestial Dog's bites.

Above his head, a hundred-zhang-tall Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade was descending, poised to strike him like swatting a fly.

Li Jing was completely numb.

Why was his opponent Yang Jian?

Did you choose him, Nezha?

Yang Jian had him rolling on the ground without even activating his Avatar; if he did activate his Avatar, would he even survive?

According to the original plan, Nezha should have stopped Yang Jian, and he would have used the linglong pagoda to suppress Qin Yang, bringing him back to the Heavenly Court to Face punishment.

Because of Nezha's willfulness, the situation was now reversed!

“Has Nezha not decided the victor with Qin Yang yet?”

As he fled in a panic, Li Jing felt a strange sense of unease.

The Marshal of the Central Altar was considered one of the best generals in the Heavenly Court.

Even with the Human Emperor's Qi protecting him, Qin Yang was still a Mortal who had Cultivated for less than three years.

How could he last so long against Nezha?

Thinking this, Li Jing couldn't help but look towards Qin Yang, and immediately froze.

Under the shattered sky, two colossal figures continuously intertwined and collided, with Samadhi True Fire erupting repeatedly, transforming into blossoming fire lotuses.

At this moment, Nezha had manifested his Three Heads and Six Arms, his Physical Body reaching up to the sky and standing firm on the ground.

Qin Yang also activated his Six Paths Spirit Eyes, using his Human Emperor Avatar, which contained the image of the Great Void, to directly withstand the myriad fire lotuses.

In the boundless sea of fire, the two exchanged thrusts and slashes, one with a spear, the other with a sword.

There was no technique, only pure power.

Amidst the waves of aftershocks, the heaven-shaking clash of Immortals and Gods became a mere backdrop.

“Is it that evenly matched?”

“Nezha activated his Three Heads and Six Arms, yet he still can't take him down?”

Li Jing, holding the linglong pagoda, stood frozen in place, once again feeling terrified by the Human Emperor's growth.

Not long ago, Qin Yang was beaten to a pulp by Yang Jian, who was only at 50% of his strength; even with Lord of War Chi You, he barely managed a draw.

And now, he was facing a full-powered Nezha, yet it was still a 50/50 fight???

Although both were 50/50, these were completely different situations!

“Is Nezha holding back?”

Li Jing was somewhat suspicious.

But upon closer inspection of their battle, it didn't seem like it.

Nezha's Fire-tipped Spear, Universe Sash, and Golden Bracelet had all been unleashed, with no reservations whatsoever.

And Qin Yang's illusory Human Emperor Avatar had also manifested ten arms, each holding an ancient Divine Artifact.

One with Three Heads and Six Arms, the other with ten arms and eight Divine Artifacts, they clashed like spinning tops; even the slightest mistake could decide the victor.

“No, Nezha has no room to hold back!”

“Qin Yang's Cultivation has increased by at least several thousand years!”

“Give him a little more time, and we won't need to capture him for the Heavenly Court, he'll just fight his way up there himself!”

Li Jing was inwardly horrified.

He desperately wanted to assist Nezha to end the battle quickly, but Yang Jian wouldn't give him the chance.

The Howling Celestial Dog transformed into a black whirlwind, sweeping over and opening its massive maw to bite at his left hand.

“Still trying to get my linglong pagoda!”

Li Jing's eyes flashed with cold light, and he instantly shook his right hand, summoning his Divine Artifact, the Three-Pronged Halberd, and thrust it directly at the Howling Celestial Dog.

However, the Howling Celestial Dog simply turned its head and bit down fiercely on the halberd's shaft.

Li Jing was stunned, and before he could react, the massive Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade swept in from the left.

“How ruthless!”

Li Jing felt resentment in his heart.

This man and dog, one illusory and one real, every move aimed at his “vitals.”

You two, do you really want me to be stabbed to death by Nezha!!!

Due to his apprehension about the Hun Yuan Umbrella, Li Jing dared not rashly unleash the linglong pagoda to counter Yang Jian's offensive.

If he lost this battle, it would merely mean the Human Emperor's ascension, and both the Heavenly Court and the Chan School would suffer together.

But if he lost the linglong pagoda... Nezha would take his life!

At worst, he would just take a blow and then lie on the ground playing dead.

If the Heavenly Emperor were to blame him... No, the Heavenly Emperor wouldn't blame him.

Wasn't it to be expected that he couldn't defeat Yang Jian?

If anyone was to blame, it could only be Nezha for disregarding the bigger picture.

Li Jing was just thinking about how to gracefully fall and play dead after taking a hit from Yang Jian, but the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade that was coming down suddenly paused, its power instantly diminishing greatly.

Li Jing's eyes lit up, and he immediately looked at Yang Jian, seeing his solemn and grim expression.

“The investiture of the gods has activated!”

Li Jing's heart rejoiced, and he looked up.

He saw a scroll faintly appearing in the sky, slowly unfolding.

The profound inscriptions on the scroll slowly dispersed, like strands of rope sweeping over, entangling Yang Jian and the Howling Celestial Dog.

Instantly, Yang Jian's Aura rapidly diminished at a visible rate.

Even the fierce Howling Celestial Dog became weak and powerless, as if it had contracted dog plague.

Clearly, this man and dog who betrayed the Heavenly Court had been suppressed by the investiture of the gods.

At the same time, even better news arrived.

In the Grand Heavenly Star-Dou Array, Giant Spirit God had already smashed Mo Lihong into the magma with a hammer, and the Hun Yuan Umbrella in his hand instantly flew out, immediately being collectively restrained in mid-air by the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

“The tide has turned.”

“Yang Jian, though you achieved Immortal Ascension with your Physical Body, you are still within the Law of these Three Realms.”

“Even if the Heavenly Emperor doesn't punish you, someone will!”

“Quickly disarm and return to the Heavenly Court with me; for the sake of our past shared service, I will not make things difficult for you.”

Li Jing patiently advised Yang Jian; after all, the other party was the Heavenly Emperor's nephew, so he still needed to save him some Face.

However, Yang Jian scoffed and said, “Who worked with you? I always work from home or on external assignments.”

“Then don't blame this King for being merciless.”

Li Jing sneered and boldly unleashed the linglong pagoda.

The Hun Yuan Umbrella was no longer in Mo Lihong's hands; he had no weaknesses now.

The seventh layer of the linglong pagoda burst open, and three hundred sixty chains of lightning, emanating from Li Jing's fingertips, swept towards Yang Jian.

Yang Jian immediately retreated, attempting to dodge.

However, with his greatly reduced strength, his speed in this Grand Heavenly Star-Dou Array was more than ten times slower.

Screech, screech—

The lightning chains, like silver serpents, tightly bound Yang Jian.

“Break!”

The vertical eye on his forehead suddenly erupted with Divine Power, shooting out a beam of annihilation light imbued with Karma and calamity, instantly severing the lightning chains.

“What a Divine Ability!”

Li Jing bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of vital blood onto the tip of the pagoda, and roared into the sky:

“As expected of Divine Lord Erlang!”

“To still possess such Divine Power under the suppression of the investiture of the gods!”

“But, you cannot break my linglong pagoda!”

The gates of the linglong pagoda opened layer by layer, and the pagoda itself rapidly expanded and grew, descending forcefully upon Yang Jian without a word.

Just as Yang Jian was about to be suppressed by the linglong pagoda.

Yang Jian, however, smirked and raised the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade in his hand.

“Heavenly King Li, what do you see here?”

Hearing Yang Jian's voice, Li Jing was suddenly stunned and looked at what he held in his hand.

He saw that, at some unknown point, the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade had transformed into the Hun Yuan Umbrella!

...“Hahahaha!”

“Qin Yang said you weren't stupid, but I beg to differ!”

“Did you think I didn't know the Chan School would use the investiture of the gods to suppress me?”

“I was just waiting for this moment! To make you drop your guard! To use the linglong pagoda to capture me!”

Under the linglong pagoda, Yang Jian laughed wildly.

Li Jing, on the other hand, felt his hands and feet turn cold, and blood rushed to his head.

He had been careless after all!

He should have realized long ago that Yang Jian was the Heavenly Court's top enforcer not just because of his combat prowess, but also his cunning!

This fellow, in the Battle of the investiture of the gods, was a shrewd and unscrupulous individual.

No wonder he never activated his Avatar; he was afraid that the “Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade” in his hand would reveal its true form in his Avatar!

Damn it!

He should have thought of it earlier!

Yang Jian's use of his Heavenly Eye's golden light to directly target the linglong pagoda before the battle was a deliberate move to tell him he intended to seize the pagoda, causing him to focus all his attention on the linglong pagoda and overlook the anomaly of the “Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade”!

Then, when the investiture of the gods activated, he felt that the overall situation was decided and that he could suppress the weakened Yang Jian with the linglong pagoda, but it turned out he had fallen into his trap!

Such cunning... you truly take after your uncle!

“Collect!”

Just as Li Jing was filled with regret, Yang Jian had already opened the Hun Yuan Umbrella.

The expanded and enlarged linglong pagoda immediately rapidly shrunk, flying into the Hun Yuan Umbrella.

“Yang Jian! No!”

Li Jing screamed in horror, throwing himself at Yang Jian regardless of the consequences.

At this moment, an eagle's cry echoed through the sky.

A pair of golden wings suddenly unfurled behind Li Jing.

He felt a sharp pain in his shoulders, and when he looked sideways, he saw a pair of eagle claws gripping his shoulders tightly.

The sharp eagle claws had already dug into his Physical Body, releasing strands of golden lightning, rendering him immobile.

“Golden-Winged Great Peng!!!”

Li Jing cried out in alarm, raising his Three-Pronged Halberd with all his might to stab at the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

However, his Three-Pronged Halberd felt incredibly heavy.

Looking down, he saw a Howling Celestial Dog still fiercely biting his Three-Pronged Halberd.

“Howling Celestial Dog, weren't you suppressed? How do you still possess such immense strength?”

Li Jing's heart skipped a beat, thinking, “No way”... Before Li Jing could voice his thoughts.

The Howling Celestial Dog transformed into a Green Lion Demon!

“Ah ah ah ah ah!”

Li Jing was so furious he almost cried, but could only curse himself.

During the battle on Mount Huaguo back then, Yang Jian and the Monkey King also engaged in such a magical contest, not only competing with Divine Ability but also displaying various transformations to deceive each other.

He could only blame himself for being too focused on the linglong pagoda and failing to see through the transformation before his eyes.

The Hun Yuan Umbrella slowly rotated.

Li Jing watched helplessly as the linglong pagoda was absorbed into it.

His pupils became increasingly unfocused, thinking that all was lost now... Without the linglong pagoda, he would have no means to restrain Nezha.

What awaited him was only being stabbed to death by Nezha... Thinking this, Li Jing's eyes darted around: “If not now, when will I run?”

Taking advantage of Nezha and Qin Yang's fierce battle, Li Jing decided to employ the thirty-six stratagems, with running being the best!

Staying here, he would either be killed by Yang Jian and Qin Yang, or by Nezha, Yang Jian, and Qin Yang.

Since death was inevitable either way, it was better to proactively return to the Heavenly Court and accept the crime of dereliction of duty.

Thinking this, Li Jing suddenly shook his cloak, obscuring the Golden-Winged Great Peng's vision.

He then threw down his Three-Pronged Halberd, and after forming hand seals, used the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell technique, disappearing within his own armor... “That damned old man!”

Sensing Li Jing's Aura disappear, the Three-Headed and Six-Armed Nezha cursed under his breath, gritting his teeth and saying, “To flee in the middle of battle! When I return from this battle, I will surely kill him!”

“If he doesn't flee, does he wait for death?”

At this moment, Qin Yang's voice came.

The illusory Human Emperor had already put away the xuanyuan sword in his hand and said, “The Golden linglong pagoda has been collected by the Hun Yuan Umbrella.”

“What!?”

Hearing that the linglong pagoda had been collected, Nezha's three heads all displayed different expressions.

Shock, excitement, ecstasy.

He asked Qin Yang with a trembling voice, “Can I have that linglong pagoda?”

“Of course, you can. That's your father,” Qin Yang nodded.

“Good! Good! Good!”

Nezha repeated “Good” three times, pointing his spear tip at the sky and declaring, “Li Jing! The matter of you forcing me to my death at Chen Tang Pass is not over! When I find you, I will surely strip your bones and flesh, and meticulously savor the pain and despair I felt back then!”

With that, he burst into laughter, his laughter shaking heaven and earth, and reverberating through the nine heavens.

In the Lingxiao Palace, the Immortals and Gods exchanged glances.

Celestial Worthy Puhua sighed and said, “The Monkey King can be appeased with Golden Core and Peaches of Immortality; Qin Yang can be appeased with the Seven Fairies. But this Nezha... how will we deal with him when he comes knocking?”

The Heavenly Emperor was stunned: “When did I ever say I would appease Qin Yang with the Seven Fairies?”

“I'm just giving an example...” Celestial Worthy Puhua avoided the Heavenly Emperor's gaze and pouted.

At this moment, Lao Jun smiled faintly and said, “Nezha is the easiest to appease; just give him Li Jing.”

At these words, all the Immortals and Gods looked at Lao Jun.

Their eyes seemed to say—Lao Jun, I remember you weren't an evil Cultivator?

“Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Lao Jun cleared his throat twice and said, “Li Jing is not a Mortal; he won't die that easily. After Nezha has vented his anger, I will nurse him back to health.”

The Heavenly Emperor nodded slightly, and the auspicious glow behind him radiated brightly, his mood joyful.

The plan he had laid out had initially taken shape.

Without the linglong pagoda to restrain him, Nezha would certainly not give the Heavenly Court any Face.

Joining Yang Jian's anti-Heavenly Court squad would be a simple matter of a word.

“The new Havoc in Heaven is only missing a monkey.”

The Heavenly Emperor leaned back tactically, secretly transmitting a message: “Maitreya, your piece has been placed.”

A moment later, a childish voice came: “It's done. I've placed the Golden Bowl in the Human Realm under the Human Emperor's jurisdiction. He can enter it when he returns. However...”

“However what?”

The Heavenly Emperor heard Maitreya's change in tone and felt a bad premonition.

Maitreya paused, then said, “People from the Chan School have also gone there. If the Human Realm's Foundation is destroyed, Qin Yang's ascension as Human Emperor will have some variables.”

“What variables?” the Heavenly Emperor asked.

“The Human Emperor must have subjects to successfully ascend.”

“But in the future I saw, Qin Yang's subjects were all refined into Immortal Pills.”

Maitreya said.

The Heavenly Emperor asked, “So, he failed to ascend?”

“If he failed to ascend, it wouldn't be a big deal.”

Maitreya sighed and said, “Qin Yang will ultimately ascend as Human Emperor using the human emperor banner, but such a Human Emperor will slaughter his way through the Three Realms, leaving no one behind.”

At these words, the Heavenly Emperor fell into contemplation, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long silence, Maitreya spoke again: “Even with things like this, are you still not planning to break ties with the Chan School?”