As Nezha's reputation spread far and wide, the East Sea Dragon King became certain of one thing: it was Nezha who killed his son.
The Immortal of Colossal Spirit wandered aimlessly around the East Sea, claiming to look for the culprit but in truth treating it as a paid vacation. The Old Dragon King had long given up hope on him. And as it turned out that Nezha was a child under Nuwa's tutelage, born in Chentang Pass, and that Sea Patrol Yaksha Li Gen encountered calamity in the same area—it all added up!
In reality, ever since the Dragon and Phoenix Tribulation, the Ancestor Dragon suppressed the Sea Eye while the Azure Dragon took up the Eastern post as one of the Heaven and Earth Four Spirits, working off ancient karmic debts. Although the Dragon Clan's sins were yet unresolved, their days were at least tolerable. Just look at their old foe, the Phoenix Clan, barely a few remain traversing the Primordial world, and as for the Qilin Clan? Even less to speak of.
The arrogance inherited from ancient times still lingered in the Dragon Clan's bones. Most dragons indulged in fantasies of reviving their bygone era of glory, and the Human Clan? Mere ants, that's all.
Now driven by burning vengeance, the Old Dragon King, his brain warped from centuries soaked in water, concocted a mad plan: If I can't harm you directly, then I'll harm your family!
Aoguang rallied the other three foolhardy dragons to flood Chentang Pass!
Nezha, while quiet in his cultivation, simultaneously refining his mana and comprehending the spatial Dao Qi on the Chaos Bell Fragment, felt a sudden and inexplicable foreboding that disrupted all his thoughts.
As perhaps one of the most versatile Immortals, proficient in artifact refining, alchemy, and divination without any weaknesses, Nezha—despite the chaotic flow of destiny concerning himself—calculated Chentang Pass was in peril. He couldn't figure out the exact calamity but had a hunch of its nature.
Nezha grew somewhat annoyed. How come every twist and turn somehow leads back to this again?
He first reviewed his actions, making sure he left no evidence of killing Ao Bing. Then, he began seeking assistance. While confronting a few karma-entangled Dragon Kings was easy for him, safeguarding Chentang Pass was another matter—his cultivation level was too low, and his mana far from sufficient.
Upon hearing Nezha's plea for help, Yu Yuan immediately slapped his chest and declared, "Those old loaches in the East Sea? I'll teach them a lesson for you, right now!"
Cloud Dweller Yun Zhongzi likewise stated, "The Dragon Clan harms innocent lives; we Immortals must rise and act without hesitation."
Seeing Yu Yuan and Yun Zhongzi willing to assist, Nezha felt a bit relieved.
The three of them transformed into beams of radiance and raced toward Chentang Pass.
When Nezha and the group arrived at Chentang Pass, they found massive tidal waves enveloping the city. Several giant dragons churned amidst the roaring waters, while Li Jing and others stood atop the city wall, confronting them.
"Li Jing! Your son Nezha murdered my son Ao Bing. Today, I shall flood Chentang Pass to avenge my child!"
Li Jing's expression darkened: "Dragon King, how could a mere twelve-year-old child kill the Dragon King's Third Prince? What evidence do you have?"
Aoguang, in truth, had no evidence; his deductions couldn't be spoken aloud. Ultimately, he could only stubbornly bluster, "Enough with the nonsense. Today, I'll drown you all!"
Nezha stared at the frenzied Aoguang and thought, "Has this lunatic been completely consumed by tribulation energy? No evidence, yet you're bold enough to make trouble for me—a disciple of a Saint? Didn't this fellow act clever in those online tales of my past life?"
Nonetheless, the absence of evidence made things simpler. He signaled Yu Yuan and Yun Zhongzi to remain hidden, then revealed himself: "Aoguang, I have arrived. You claim I killed your son—do you have any proof?
If you're merely making false accusations, the karmic retribution is already at hand. Today, if I beat you to death, no one could fault me."
Aoguang and the others retained a shred of sanity. Lacking evidence, they dared not act directly against a Saint's disciple. Though plagued by karmic debts and incapable of breaching the Profound Immortal realm, they still refused to believe a child with bone age merely in his teens could harm them: "Li Nezha, your words are pointless. If you end yourself today, we'll spare the citizens of Chentang Pass."
Nezha finally understood why mythologies love depicting people meddling with the sea so much—these decrepit Dragons truly are infuriating.
Meanwhile, he quietly instructed, "Fellow Taoist brothers, please protect Chentang Pass for me."
Nezha then cried loudly, "Aoguang, you are incorrigible!"
With the Mountain and River Map prepared, Nezha raised the Qiankun Bow and Sky-shattering Arrow in an instant. He stepped onto the bow, and—Bang! Bang! Bang!—released three explosive shots straight at Aoguang's head. Each arrow delivered increasing power. Caught unaware, Aoguang—a Dragon King—had half his jaw and one eye blasted away.
The anguished dragon roar echoed across the skies. Retreating underwater, Aoguang wailed, "Nezha, I will bury Chentang Pass with you!"
The giant waves surged higher. Li Jing drew his sword and hacked at the tide, yet it had no effect. It was then that an azure glow shone, enveloping all of Chentang Pass—Yun Zhongzi had activated thirty replicas of Water-Repelling Pearls with his mana.
With the citizens of Chentang secured, Nezha summoned his spear, unleashed Fatian Xiangdi, and charged directly into the fray. Should his fury not be vented, his Dao Heart would become clouded!
Fatian Xiangdi, a divine skill derived from practicing the Eight-Nine Profound Skills, was exceedingly powerful. Though enlarged, Nezha's size could only slightly compare to the four giant dragons. Yet his strength and defense had significantly scaled, making his attacks impossible to ignore.
Nezha swung his spear amidst the sea, while the four dragons coiled around, orchestrating torrents and surging waves to assault him. Nezha concealed the Mountain and River Map beneath the sea water at his feet, entirely unfazed by the ocean's force. Each sweep of his spear inflicted deep wounds on the dragons; however, their robust flesh quickly regenerated.
To deal true fatal blows, the dragons' teamwork combined with their home field advantage made basic attacks ineffective.
"Alright, alright—you're all slippery, huh?"
Grasping his spear in one hand, Nezha invoked the Creation Qiankun Tripod with the other, seizing an opportune moment to hurl it fiercely into one dragon's head. Dragon blood splattered; the agonized roar shook the heavens, the dragon's face caving inward. It took a long while for it to recover.
Within Chentang Pass, Yun Zhongzi's face twitched. "The Qiankun Tripod's not meant to be used like that!"
Watching from Chaos itself, Nuwa clapped excitedly. "Excellent, excellent! This move looks like me in my prime!"
Nezha's mana was weak for now; otherwise, crushing these decrepit dragons with magical treasures would've been a simple task.
After one strike, Nezha found the tripod outperforming his spear. He simply stowed the spear away and began frantically wielding the tripod against the four dragons. The dragons did not retreat; instead, their aggression surged. Initially controlling water in guerrilla-style tactics, they now lunged recklessly at him. Nezha's Eight-Nine Profound Skills were starting to falter.
Yu Yuan grew anxious observing this and prepared to join the fray, but Yun Zhongzi restrained him: "Little brother hasn't called for our help yet."
Nezha, aware his dharma body was nearing collapse, reckoned the tempering had reached its limit.
Releasing his tight grip on the Creation Tripod, he summoned an ancient silver long banner. Raising it high above his head, he fully activated the false Dao contained within the Creation Jade Scroll Fragment. Streams of chaotic energy surged along the banner.
In his mind, the majestic figure of Pangu during Heavenly Creation emerged again. The overwhelming Dao Qi froze the raging sea and the feral four dragons entirely.
Crack! Crack! Countless fissures spread across the replicated Pangu Banner, yet its aura grew ever more terrifying.
The four dragons, gripped by terror, attempted to struggle—but to no avail.
What shattered wasn't merely the fake Pangu Banner; it was also Nezha's Taoist Body breaking apart.
Nezha cared not, and under countless shocked and awed gazes, he swung down an enormous stream of Chaotic Sword Energy!