Chapter 677: The First Conflict with Ao Gongzi

In the reception hall of the Li Fu front courtyard, several figures sat quietly, their faces showing a mix of anticipation.

From the back of the hall came a light laugh, as a group of maidservants escorted Li Jing and his wife forward. Yin Shi, who had taken the spiritual elixir given by Li Changshou, had left her bed and was now holding the sleeping child as she approached.

Li Jing followed closely beside her, his expression one of constant worry, as if afraid his wife might suddenly faint.

The prominent figures in the reception hall stood up to greet them. Taiyi Zhenren stood with his hands behind his back, smiling broadly, his eyes practically darting around as he raised his eyebrows repeatedly at Yuding Zhenren and Li Changshou, as if to say...

“Look, this is my—wait, no—this is my disciple’s reincarnation!”

Nearby, Quan Tong narrowed his eyes in a smile and stepped forward to examine the future great general of the Heavenly Court. The more he looked, the more he liked what he saw, giving Li Changshou a knowing glance that only the two of them understood.

“This little one must be watched closely. Don’t let the Western forces scheme against him. You go ahead and protect him—I’ll handle the explanations with the Dao Ancestor.”

Li Changshou nodded with a smile.

The main purpose of inviting His Majesty the Jade Emperor here was precisely for this matter.

“Cough,” Taiyi Zhenren cleared his throat, “perhaps I should take him as a disciple right now...”

Li Changshou laughed. “Why the rush, senior brother? Are you afraid someone will snatch your disciple away? How can this little one even offer tea yet?”

Quan Tong teased from the side, “Tsk, even I, as the marshal, am getting a bit eager at the sight.”

Taiyi Zhenren glared at Li Changshou.

When had this great master of the Yin-Yang ever endured such grievance?

He was about to retort, but before the words left his mouth, Yuding Zhenren nearby shook the magical artifact in his hand.

Taiyi Zhenren could only chuckle awkwardly and mutter half-heartedly, “I’m truly afraid that my master might become his grandmaster, and I’d lose out on a good disciple for nothing.”

Li Changshou shook his head with a bitter smile, feeling as though he’d been subtly mocked.

Yuding Zhenren calmly changed the subject: “General Li, have you decided on a name for your son?”

Li Jing replied quickly, “Shui Zha, since it’s the water cycle.”

“ Hmm... ”

Taiyi Zhenren pondered carefully, then calculated with his fingers, shaking his head. “This child has a fire destiny by nature, so Shui Zha doesn’t quite fit. And General Li, why do you always pair names with the character ‘Zha’?”

Li Jing explained, “His two older brothers are named Jin Zha and Mu Zha. The character ‘Zha’ comes from the sound Pangu made when suppressing evil spirits between heaven and earth, symbolizing the vanquishing of demons and protection of the Dao.

If not Shui Zha, then perhaps Huo Zha.”

“ Huo Zha doesn’t sound quite right either—it’s a bit harsh.”

Li Jing persisted, “What about Tu Zha?”

Taiyi Zhenren replied, “That sounds even worse, like it’s falling apart.”

“ Zhenren, what do you suggest then?” Li Jing frowned at Taiyi Zhenren and asked in a low voice.

“ Hmm, how about Ling Zha?”

“ That’s a bit too elegant,” Li Jing said with a mix of amusement and exasperation. “There are millions of names in the Honghuang world, and half of them use the character ‘Ling’—it’s just too common.”

Somewhere by the lake at Xiao Qiong Peak, a certain young woman felt offended.

Quan Tong suddenly suggested, “Since we’re using ‘Zha’, let’s stick with the theme of warding off evil.

This child still has a persistent aura of malice in his body, originating from the Demon Ancestor and quite troublesome. Why not pair it with the character ‘Nezha’? It could help suppress evil and drive out demons.

In the future, whenever someone calls his name, it will aid in containing the malice within him.

Nezha—how does that sound?”

Li Jing furrowed his brow at Quan Tong. Who is this? Is the name any good? Has he even studied? Nezha—sounds like nonsense.

“Good!”

Li Changshou exclaimed lightly, giving a thumbs-up and praising, “Marshal Quan Tong truly lives up to his reputation for knowing it all. Li Jing, why don’t you quickly thank Marshal Quan Tong for the name?”

Li Jing’s throat bobbed a few times before he said firmly, “Th-thank you, Marshal!”

Quan Tong narrowed his eyes and chuckled, continuing to admire the sleeping face of little Nezha with a light laugh.

Yin Shi said gently, “May I ask the esteemed ones here to offer some blessings for my child?”

“I’ll go first,” Quan Tong cleared his throat and thought seriously for a moment. “Handsome and heroic, a world-shaking figure.”

Taiyi Zhenren laughed. “That’s a tall order. I’ll offer this: Peace and joy, carefree and happy.”

Yuding Zhenren thought for a long time before saying, “Step by step to greater heights, with lotus flowers blooming everywhere.”

All eyes then turned to Li Changshou. He gazed at the sleeping little Nezha and said softly:

“Nezha is born as a child of the human race, with the physique of humanity and the soul of humanity. I hope he will read more of the human sages’ teachings and understand the principles of being a person.

Since he is born with divine abilities, he must always reflect on himself and stay on the righteous path.

The world may change, but the human way endures.

May you become someone who can live up to others’ expectations and remain true to your own heart.”

With that, Li Changshou took out a strangely shaped bracelet from his sleeve. He lightly tapped it with his finger, dividing it evenly into three parts, and slipped it onto Nezha’s left wrist.

The bracelet was a dark gold color, with three small dots on it, containing subtle Dao rhythms that marked it as anything but ordinary.

Li Changshou explained, “This is a little gadget I refined earlier. It contains three beads that can absorb malice on demand and serve as a warning.

If one bead lights up, it means malice is starting to stir in Nezha.

If two beads light up, it means he’s about to lose control of the malice.

If all three beads light up...”

“What then?” Li Jing asked with some worry.

“Run.”

Li Changshou said in a low voice, “To counter the malice, Nezha has already integrated the powers from his previous life. Over the years, I’ve used great arrays to cleanse him of malice and provided him with abundant spiritual energy.

While in the womb, he was in a state of innate purity, close to the Dao and playful with it. Though his powers are dormant now, if they erupt...

Li Jing, you wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

If the malice runs wild, you must evacuate all living beings around him as quickly as possible.”

Li Jing was speechless, and Yin Shi frowned, holding her child tighter.

Li Jing asked quietly, “Will this child... hurt the innocent?”

“No need to worry,” Li Changshou said with a smile. “That’s the worst-case scenario. I’ll be watching over him until he learns to control the malice.

Li Jing, do you remember the books I gave you?”

Li Jing paused, then nodded quickly.

“Exactly for this,” Li Changshou said. “From now on, handle half your military duties—go to the camp in the morning and return home in the afternoon.

If you can’t even teach your own son properly, you’re not fit to be a parent official.”

“Yes!”

Li Jing bowed with his hands clasped. “Li Jing will remember your teachings, foster father!”

Quan Tong asked, “Can merit help suppress the malice?”

“Just relax, Marshal,” Li Changshou said, looking at Nezha’s already quite handsome little face. “He’s originally quite a gentle little immortal lad.”

Taiyi Zhenren couldn’t help but worry again.

At the same time, on the eastern wall of Chen Tang Guan, a few figures stood watching the scene at the Li Fu.

Xiong Lingli chuckled and teased, “What’s an immortal second-generation? This is the legendary immortal second-generation—born with such a grand setup.”

Yang Jian laughed. “Junior brother Ling—wait, Nezha—deserves it.”

Jin Peng, with his hands behind his back, adopted a sage-like demeanor and said in an elder tone, “Teacher has put in so much effort because he has high hopes for Nezha.

May Nezha not disappoint and soon become a man who upholds heaven and earth.”

Xiong Lingli said, “I think we shouldn’t put too much pressure on the kid—that’s a lot of burden... Oh, right, True Monarch Qingyuan Miaodao!”

Xiong Lingli threw her two copper hammers onto the city wall, cracking it in several places. “Let’s have a fight! I still remember you kicking my ankles!”

Yang Jian chuckled awkwardly. “I have no desire for pointless brawls. With that energy, we should fight demons instead.”

Jin Peng said, “How about we spar? For every bit of your spiritual power spent, I’ll give you ten times the merit from slaying demons.”

Yang Jian thought to himself: ...

What’s going on?

Why are all of Master Uncle Changgeng’s subordinates so fond of fighting?

“To the outer edges of the Five Parts Continent?” Yang Jian’s eyes lit up as he looked at Jin Peng.

Jin Peng nodded with a smile and soared into the sky, vanishing in a flash.

“Beyond the horizon and seas.”

Yang Jian leaped up, transforming directly into Jin Peng’s true form, his mystical arts flowing as he streaked away like a golden line, chasing after Jin Peng.

“Ah, seriously!”

Xiong Lingli stared at the departing figures, then sighed in defeat, feeling a sense of rejection.

Was it because she wasn’t strong enough or big enough? They always picked their opponents for fights!

This half-witch with twin tails waved her fist toward the direction Yang Jian and Jin Peng had gone, then rolled her eyes, slung her copper hammers over her shoulder, and headed toward the heavenly soldiers’ assembly point.

Next time I see you, I’ll stomp on your toes!

“Pin you down first, then grow bigger—wahaha!”

The next day, everyone in Chen Tang Guan was talking about how General Li had gained a third son, a spirit-filled and adorable child with the air of an immortal.

The cooks and drivers from the general’s household who went out for supplies praised this third young master to the skies—saying he was extraordinarily talented, innocent and lively, robust and clever, able to speak after just one hour of birth, walk after two, and even play shuttlecock after three!

It was as if they had seen it with their own eyes.

Lady Yin Shi had carried the child for nearly three and a half years, and with such a spiritual birth, the unusual signs were only natural.

Under the influence of a certain unnamed person’s disciple, Chen Tang Guan experienced a series of omens in quick succession.

First, a herd of lost deer wandered into the military camp, providing extra meals for the soldiers. Then, a light drizzle fell, healing many of the soldiers’ old wounds.

A massive lingzhi mushroom grew on the city gate’s beam, seen as an auspicious sign.

At sunset, a vast expanse of rosy clouds appeared in the western mountains, as if heralding good fortune.

Chen Tang Guan buzzed with rumors that this third young master of the Li family was truly a lucky star.

Before long, the Li Fu backyard became even more lively.

After little Nezha was born and slept soundly, he woke up full of energy and began his first exploration of the world.

First, Yin Shi held him as they walked around the courtyard. Nezha wriggled a bit and pointed at the ground with his little fingers, soon being supported by Yin Shi to take a few barefoot steps on the stone path.

Yin Shi was full of worry, but Nezha steadied himself after two or three steps and signaled for his mother to let go.

Yin Shi slowly released her hold, and Nezha wobbled, waving his little hands side to side, only to be caught quickly by Yin Shi.

After several tries, Nezha had already mastered toddling.

When Li Jing returned home at noon, he saw the little one in a bellyband running wild in the backyard—climbing fake mountains, darting along corridors, and jumping on rooftops—leaving him with a forehead full of black lines.

What innate talent, indeed.

Li Changshou sat on the wall, watching the scene, and couldn’t help but smile warmly.

For now, little Nezha was just a bit stronger and more agile, with his powers and abilities hidden within him—this was all Li Changshou’s doing.

Before Nezha turned three, activating his powers would require either strong emotions or specific incantations.

Once Nezha reached three years old, the immortal restrictions Li Changshou had placed would naturally fade.

These three years would be crucial for educating Nezha and teaching him to control his emotions and malice.

Li Changshou had already made his plans, dedicating most of his focus to this place. Aside from a later trip to San Xian Island to explain matters regarding Heng E, he had no intention of leaving.

He wasn’t in a hurry, giving Nezha and his family more time together.

But Taiyi Zhenren, hiding in the shadows, was getting impatient.

A month later, Taiyi Zhenren appeared again, this time arriving from the west on clouds, surrounded by beams of immortal light. He had changed out of his red robe into a more dignified cyan daoist robe, holding a whisk, and looking quite imposing.

By the time Taiyi Zhenren reached the front of the Li Fu, he had already drawn the gaze of many mortals, with some immortals kneeling and praying for blessings or begging for elixirs.

Li Jing hurried out, while little Nezha was held by Yin Shi, peeking from behind.

Taiyi Zhenren scattered a bit of immortal light and calmly floated into the residence, winking at little Nezha.

“General Li, I’m here as promised to take your son as my disciple.”

Li Jing blinked. What promise? When was that made? How did he not know?

This zhenren was truly overly eager—so eager that Li Jing couldn’t help but suspect Taiyi Zhenren was trying to compete for custody of little Nezha.

“Zhenren, the child is only a month old.”

“Oh, a month is already quite old,” Taiyi Zhenren said, pulling Li Jing’s arm and whispering, “Let’s formalize the master-disciple relationship first—delays bring trouble.”

Li Jing felt quite helpless but had no choice but to agree.

Little Nezha stared at Taiyi Zhenren for a while before reaching out his little hand, wanting to be held.

Taiyi Zhenren was delighted and moved forward, but Li Jing quickly stepped in and said, “Dear, why don’t you take Nezha to freshen up? I’ll go to the hall with the zhenren to make preparations.”

Yin Shi blinked, smiled gently, and carried Nezha away gracefully.

Taiyi Zhenren thought: ...

Li Jing gestured invitingly. “Please, zhenren, after you.”

Not far away, Li Changshou raised an eyebrow.

Why did it feel like these two grown men were just feeding each other jealousy?

Must be an illusion—probably an illusion.

After some fuss, Nezha was initiated into discipleship in a daze, and Taiyi Zhenren finally got his wish, holding Nezha and chuckling triumphantly.

This zhenren was quite generous, casually pulling out a bracelet and slipping it onto Nezha, even borrowing a phrase from Li Changshou.

“A little gadget—the innate top-grade spiritual treasure, Qiankun Circle, for subduing demons and adjusting sizes.”

Li Jing quickly said from the side, “Zhenren, such a treasure...”

Taiyi Zhenren ignored him completely, then produced a red sash and wrapped it around Nezha’s arm. The sash fluttered gently, brushing against Nezha’s little body.

“A little gadget—the Huntian Ling, for binding strong enemies or stirring the cosmos. It’s an innate top-grade minor spiritual treasure, nothing special. Just let the child play with it!”

Li Jing thought: ...

Taiyi Zhenren smiled calmly, glanced triumphantly at Li Jing, and continued pulling items from his sleeve.

“Nezha, do you like this Purple Gold Hunyuan Brick?”

“Come on, this Yin-Yang Great Treasure Sword is one of my proudest works.”

“I’m also refining a spear for you lately, entrusted to the master refiner Yun Zhongzi. I’ve used materials from nearly a dozen innate spiritual treasures for it.”

Li Jing, Yin Shi, and Li Changshou, who was watching from the side, all thought: ...

Thus, a month later.

Little Nezha could say simple words, run and jump without hurting himself, and even leave the house. He loved wandering the streets and alleys, hopping around everywhere, always followed by the senior servant from the Li Fu, Wang Chang’an.

Normally, a mischievous child who climbed walls and trampled stalls would draw complaints about his naughtiness.

But whenever little Nezha accidentally flipped a vegetable stand, spilled fruit, or damaged roof tiles, a servant from the Li Fu would immediately toss out a handful of gold and silver, turning the situation around.

“Young Master Three, come this way!”

“Young Master Three is out again! Everyone, set up your stalls!”

“The freshly made sugar figures that Young Master Three loves—passersby, take a look!”

This greatly boosted commerce in Chen Tang Guan, spurred the common folk’s enthusiasm for business, and contributed significantly to the overall production value of the Honghuang mortal world.

In truth, Li Changshou was just preventing gossip to avoid affecting Nezha’s mindset.

After all, he was still basically an infant.

One day, little Nezha bounced out of the city. Seeing the clear sky and gentle breeze outside, he ran barefoot across the hills and fields, his figure carefree, his giggles echoing around.

Li Changshou suddenly raised an eyebrow and concealed his form.

Nezha hopped left and right, soon feeling tired. He sniffed the air, drawn by the aroma of food from a nearby village, and dashed over with his mouth watering.

“Huh?”

Nezha suddenly noticed something and curiously approached an open window, peering inside while clinging to the sill.

Inside, a handsome young man with a refined face was embracing a beautiful woman in simple coarse clothes, whispering tenderly.

“My beauty, do you know that my heart was set on you from the moment I saw you? I wish only to walk the same path with you, never to part.”

“Young Master Ao...”

“Huh?”

A noise came from the window, startling the couple. They turned to see the pair of bright eyes peeking in and sighed in relief.

Ao Gongzi asked, “My beauty, is this... your son?”

“Don’t be silly, young master,” the woman said quickly. “I’m not married yet—how could I have such a big son?

You little one from who-knows-where, run along!”

Little Nezha clung to the windowsill with his left hand and pointed with his right at Ao Gongzi’s back.

“Tail!”

Ao Gongzi was startled and looked behind him, but his transformation held firm.

He looked closely and saw the child’s extraordinary aura, which made him uneasy.

Thinking quickly, Ao Gongzi put on a gentle smile and pulled out a large pearl from his sleeve. Amid the woman’s amazed gaze, he walked to the window.

“Little brother, here’s something for you to play with. Now go somewhere else, okay?”

“Young Master Ao!”

The woman called softly, her heart melting from his tender words.

But a small hand unceremoniously swatted the pearl away. Little Nezha shouted in his childish voice, “Worm!”

Ao Gongzi’s eyes widened, anger rising as he scolded, “Hey! You little brat! How dare you insult me!”

“Worm!”

“You say that again!”

“Blue-and-white patterned worm, hee-hee, ha-ha-ha!”

“Hey!”

Ao Gongzi’s fury boiled over. He raised a finger to tap Nezha’s forehead, intending to teach this human child a lesson with a minor spell. But as soon as his finger extended, Nezha’s little hand left a blur of afterimages, grabbing it and bending it back gently.

Snap—it broke.