Chapter Summaries

Shang Rong decided to remain in hiding until Great Shang needed him, while years later Nezha’s play in Jiuwan River shook the East Sea Dragon Palace. When the Sea-Patrolling Yaksha Li Gen confronted him, Nezha killed him with the Universe Ring and returned to playing.

• Shang Rong chose to recover at his estate and wait for a turning point before returning to serve Great Shang.
• Years passed, and the seven- or eight-year-old Nezha went to Jiuwan River to escape the summer heat.
• Nezha’s Heaven-Mixing Silk stirred the river’s spiritual energy and sent tremors through the East Sea Dragon Palace.
• Dragon King Ao Guang recognized Nezha as Lingzhuzi and ordered the Sea-Patrolling Yaksha to investigate the disturbance.
• Li Gen confronted Nezha and called him a demon child, so Nezha struck him with the Universe Ring and killed him.

Nezha killed Ao Bing and took his dragon sinew, prompting Ao Guang to lead the East Sea forces to Chentang Pass and demand Li Jing hand over his son. Li Jing faced Ao Guang’s threat to flood the city, while Nezha’s fate remained unresolved.

• Nezha killed Ao Bing with the Universe Ring, pulled out his dragon sinew, and took it to make a belt for his father.
• Nezha feared the consequences, fled to Jinguang Cave, and told True Man Taiyi what had happened; Taiyi urged him to hide the sinew and deny killing Ao Bing.
• Nezha returned toward Chentang Pass as Ao Guang arrived with the Water Clan army and demanded Li Jing’s presence.
• Li Jing asked why Ao Guang had come, and Ao Guang accused Nezha of killing Ao Bing and the Sea-Patrolling Yaksha.
• Ao Guang threatened to flood Chentang Pass and kill its people unless Li Jing handed Nezha over.

After Ao Guang failed to find evidence against Nezha, he left to petition the Heavenly Court, while Nezha secretly raced there to stop him. Nezha ambushed Ao Guang outside South Heaven Gate, but Ao Guang remained alive and demanded to know who had attacked him.

• Nezha denied killing Ao Bing, and Li Jing defended him as Ao Guang found no evidence on the boy.
• Ao Guang announced that he would petition the Heavenly Court, then flew toward it as Yin Shiniang comforted Nezha and Li Jing grew suspicious of his son.
• Nezha slipped away to see True Man Taiyi, who taught him concealment and escape spells and warned him to stop Ao Guang from lodging his complaint.
• Nezha reached the Heavenly Court ahead of Ao Guang and hid behind Baode Gate with his Universe Ring ready.
• Nezha struck Ao Guang on the head with the Universe Ring as the Dragon King approached South Heaven Gate, knocking him to the ground.

Nezha beat Ao Guang into retreat and later accidentally killed Biyun Boy with a Heaven-Shaking Arrow. Shi Ji arrived at Chentang Pass to demand that Li Jing answer for the death, leaving him to realize Nezha had caused another disaster.

• Nezha bound and beat Ao Guang, threatened him against seeking revenge, and sent him fleeing back to the East Sea.
• Ao Guang secretly gathered the Four Seas Dragon Kings, who agreed to wait for the God Conferment war to kill Nezha.
• Nezha drew the Universe Bow and fired a Heaven-Shaking Arrow, unknowingly killing Biyun Boy at White Bone Cave on Skull Mountain.
• Shi Ji recognized the arrow, carried Biyun Boy’s body to Chentang Pass, and demanded that Li Jing pay for his death.
• Li Jing recognized the Heaven-Shaking Arrow and recalled Nezha playing with the bow, realizing Nezha might have fired it.

Shi Ji confronted Nezha over the death of her attendant, and Nezha proved he had fired the Heaven-Shaking Arrow before attacking her and being sent fleeing toward his master, True Man Taiyi. At Chentang Pass, Li Jing chose the city’s safety over defending his son, while Yin Shiniang grieved for Nezha.

• Li Jing ordered the soldiers to bring Nezha to Shi Ji after she demanded an answer for her attendant’s death.
• Nezha admitted shooting the attendant and drew the Universe Bow in front of Shi Ji, proving his responsibility.
• Nezha attacked Shi Ji, but she struck him into the sea, and he fled toward Qianyuan Mountain to seek True Man Taiyi.
• Shi Ji followed Nezha toward Jinguang Cave while Yin Shiniang wept and Li Jing said he would put Chentang Pass’s people before his family.

After Yin Shiniang left Li Jing in anger, Nezha fled to Qianyuan Mountain and sought help from True Man Taiyi, who learned that Nezha had killed Shi Ji’s attendant. Taiyi refused to hand Nezha over, so Shi Ji challenged him, and their fight began with Taiyi unleashing the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover.

• Yin Shiniang angrily left Li Jing, who ordered soldiers to look after her and sent for Jinzha and Muzha.
• Nezha reached Jinguang Cave on Qianyuan Mountain and begged True Man Taiyi to save him from Shi Ji.
• Shi Ji told True Man Taiyi that Nezha had killed her attendant and demanded justice.
• True Man Taiyi offered Shi Ji Golden Elixirs as compensation, but she knocked them to the ground and demanded Nezha’s life in return.
• True Man Taiyi sent Nezha into Jinguang Cave and attacked Shi Ji with the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover.

True Man Taiyi killed Shi Ji with the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover, causing her True Spirit to enter the Investiture of the Gods and confirming the tribulation had begun. Nezha was sent back to Chentang Pass, while a stray Heaven-Shaking Arrow reached King Zhou’s palace, prompting him to order an investigation of Li Jing.

• True Man Taiyi trapped Shi Ji in the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover and burned her body and Primordial Spirit away, leaving her True Spirit to fly into the Investiture of the Gods.
• Jiang Ziya saw Shi Ji’s name appear on the Investiture of the Gods and realized the killing tribulation had begun.
• True Man Taiyi worried that Shi Ji’s death would provoke the Jie Sect, so he sent Nezha away to Chentang Pass.
• A Heaven-Shaking Arrow pierced the royal palace in Zhaoge and narrowly missed King Zhou.
• King Zhou identified Nezha as the likely archer and ordered his men to investigate Li Jing at Chentang Pass.

Shi Ji confirmed that entering the Investiture of the Gods with only her physical body left her True Spirit and Primordial Spirit free, while Nezha returned to Chentang Pass and was soon accused of nearly killing King Zhou with the Heaven-Shaking Arrow. As Zhaoge’s guards came to arrest him, Ao Guang arrived with the other Dragon Kings to demand vengeance for Ao Bing’s death and Nezha’s attack on him.

• Shi Ji told Yunxiao and the Jie Sect disciples that her True Spirit and Primordial Spirit were not restrained after her body entered the Investiture of the Gods, and Yunxiao told her to remain hidden in Biyou Palace.
• Nezha returned to Li Mansion, where Li Jing and Yin Shiniang welcomed him, and Li Jing warned him not to cause trouble again.
• Zhaoge’s Imperial Guards confronted Li Jing and accused Nezha of firing the Heaven-Shaking Arrow toward the palace and nearly killing King Zhou.
• Li Jing explained that Shi Ji had forced Nezha to draw the bow, but the guards insisted on taking Nezha to Zhaoge.
• Ao Guang summoned the other three Dragon Kings and their armies to Chentang Pass, then accused Nezha of killing Ao Bing and injuring him.

Nezha took responsibility for his crimes and tore away his flesh and bones to sever his ties to the Li Family, then his spirit faded as Yin Shiniang and Li Jing watched. His death left Ao Guang and the Zhaoge officials facing the consequences of failing to deliver him alive to King Zhou, and Li Jing finally erupted in anguish.

• Ao Guang agreed to spare Nezha’s life and return him unharmed to the Zhaoge officials, while Li Jing had Nezha brought out.
• Yin Shiniang pleaded with Nezha to stop causing disasters, and Li Jing condemned him for endangering the Li Family and Chentang Pass.
• Nezha demanded that Ao Guang spare his parents and the people of Chentang Pass, then tore away his flesh and bones to return them to his parents.
• Nezha’s spirit faded as Yin Shiniang tried to hold him, while Li Jing was prevented from approaching by the Dragon Kings and Zhaoge officials.
• Ao Guang and the officials realized Nezha’s death had ruined their plans to deliver him to King Zhou, and the officials blamed Li Jing.
• Li Jing roared at the officials, demanding to know what more they wanted from him.

Li Jing agreed to go to Zhaoge after being reminded that Chentang Pass needed him, while Yin Shiniang took charge and restored order there. True Man Taiyi saved Nezha’s fading soul and went to Kunlun Mountain to ask Primordial Heavenly Venerate to restore his disciple.

• Li Jing suppressed his anger and agreed to go to Zhaoge, asking the officials to protect Chentang Pass.
• Yin Shiniang reorganized the army, comforted the people, and restored Chentang Pass’s defenses.
• True Man Taiyi sensed Nezha’s life force fading and found his soul near dispersal beside his remains.
• True Man Taiyi gathered Nezha’s soul into a Spiritual Treasure and flew to Kunlun Mountain for help.
• True Man Taiyi pleaded with Primordial Heavenly Venerate, whose expression changed after examining Nezha’s soul.

After Nezha was left with only a fading remnant soul, Yuanshi recognized that he was Lingzhuzi reincarnated and sought Nuwa’s help to save him. Nuwa grew furious at the Chan Sect’s failure to protect him, but Yuanshi pleaded for her to restore Nezha and avert disruption to the God Conferment tribulation.

• Yuanshi ordered True Man Taiyi to take Nezha to Jinguang Cave and protect his last wisp of soul.
• Yuanshi went to Empress Wa’s Palace to seek an audience with Nuwa.
• Nuwa saw Nezha’s condition through her immortal sense and became angry that Lingzhuzi was near death.
• Yuanshi showed Nuwa the scene of Nezha’s death and admitted the Chan Sect had failed to protect him.
• Yuanshi asked Nuwa to use her mastery of creation to save Lingzhuzi and prevent trouble for the God Conferment tribulation.

Nuwa accepted Yuanshi’s apology and used a Twelve-Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus to rebuild Nezha’s body. Nezha returned to life as a Golden Immortal, while Yuanshi departed after witnessing the successful Lotus Incarnation.

• Yuanshi offered Nuwa Phoenix Thunder Immortal Apricots and pleaded for her to save Lingzhuzi.
• Nuwa agreed to intervene once, then borrowed a Twelve-Grade Red Lotus from Xuan Qing on Azure Nether Island.
• Nuwa went to Qianyuan Mountain and used Creation Immortal Qi and the Red Lotus to restore Nezha’s soul and form a new body.
• Nezha awakened in True Man Taiyi’s cave, discovered he had returned from the dead and reached the Golden Immortal realm, and paid respects to Nuwa and Yuanshi.
• Yuanshi left Jinguang Cave after Nezha’s Lotus Incarnation succeeded.

Nuwa examined Nezha after remaking his body with the Twelve-Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus, then forged him two powerful Innate Spiritual Treasures and warned him not to cause trouble again. Nezha regretted the harm he had caused and asked how he could face his parents, so Nuwa agreed to accompany him to Chentang Pass.

• Nuwa examined Nezha's transformed Lotus Platform True Body, and True Man Taiyi reminded him to thank her for saving his life.
• Nezha thanked Nuwa, who forged the Fire-Tipped Spear and Wind-Fire Wheels from the remaining lotus materials and gave them to him with a warning.
• Nezha promised to restrain himself and regretted how his past actions had endangered his parents and Chentang Pass.
• Nezha admitted he did not know how to face his parents, and Nuwa offered to accompany him to Chentang Pass to resolve his worldly bond.
• True Man Taiyi hoped Nezha had truly changed and would no longer bring trouble upon himself or the Chan Sect.

Nuwa, True Man Taiyi, and Nezha returned to Chentang Pass, where Nezha reunited with his mother. Nuwa revealed that Li Jing was traveling toward Zhaoge with a Buddhist follower behind him, but she left his fate untouched and offered to resolve the East Sea Dragon Clan’s karmic calamity.

• Nuwa, True Man Taiyi, and Nezha arrived at Li Mansion and found Yin Shiniang mourning Nezha’s absence.
• Nuwa saw Li Jing riding toward Zhaoge with a Buddhist figure secretly following him, but she decided not to interfere with his destined path.
• Yin Shiniang recognized Nezha by his familiar aura, and Nezha rushed into her arms to apologize and reunite with her.
• Yin Shiniang paid respects to Nuwa, who lifted her up and explained that Nezha’s ordeal had taught him reverence.
• Nuwa told Yin Shiniang that she had come to bring Nezha home and resolve the karmic calamity between her family and the East Sea Dragon Clan.

Empress Nuwa traveled to the East Sea to resolve the conflict between the Human Race and the Dragon Clan by restoring Ao Bing to life. After rebuilding his body and retrieving his soul from the Netherworld, she asked whether he still resented Nezha, and Ao Bing answered with gratitude.

• Nezha learned from Yin Shiniang that his actions had endangered Chentang Pass, but Empress Nuwa promised to settle the Dragon Clan dispute.
• Empress Nuwa arrived at the East Sea Dragon Palace and told Ao Guang she would restore Ao Bing and mend the friendship between the races.
• Empress Nuwa used the Power of Creation to rebuild Ao Bing's body from his scattered remains, and her vitality renewed the East Sea region and Chentang Pass.
• Empress Nuwa retrieved Ao Bing's soul from the Netherworld, while Houtu ordered its powerful beings not to interfere.
• Ao Bing returned to his restored body, thanked Empress Nuwa, and said he held no resentment toward Nezha.

Nezha and Ao Bing reconciled above Chentang Pass, ending the conflict between the Dragon Clan and the Human Race. Nuwa then isolated Nezha and began explaining the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, leaving him to learn the fate awaiting the Three Realms.

• Ao Bing asked Nezha to put aside their past grudges, and Nezha bowed and apologized for killing him and causing disaster.
• Ao Bing helped Nezha up, and the two became friends, bringing an end to the hostility between the East Sea Dragon Clan and the Human Race.
• Nuwa, Yin Shiniang, and Ao Guang welcomed Nezha's change, while Ao Guang resolved to seek treasures from the Immortal Realm to strengthen the new friendship.
• True Man Taiyi reconsidered his plan to use Nezha to avoid the Investiture Tribulation and resolved to find a way for both master and disciple to escape it.
• Nuwa created a separate space around Nezha and told him the Prehistoric Era faced a Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.
• Nezha asked Nuwa to explain the tribulation, and she began describing its history and its effects on the destinies of immortals and mortals.

Nuwa persuaded Nezha to accept being entered on the Investiture of the Gods by promising him a chance to become a Saint, then secretly forbade him from telling True Man Taiyi. Ao Guang arranged for Ao Bing to live with the Li Family under Yin Shiniang’s guidance, while Li Jing encountered Ran Deng on the road to Zhaoge.

• Nuwa convinced Nezha that being entered on the Investiture of the Gods could lead to sainthood, and Nezha agreed while promising to keep the secret from everyone, including True Man Taiyi.
• Nuwa vanished after finishing her instructions, and Ao Guang ordered the Dragon Clan to restore the damaged lands around Chentang Pass, where Nuwa’s life force had caused spiritual treasures and lush growth to appear.
• Ao Guang asked Yin Shiniang to take Ao Bing into Li Mansion and promised the East Sea Dragon Clan would protect the Li Family; Nezha urged his mother to agree.
• Yin Shiniang accepted Ao Bing as her ward, and Ao Bing and Nezha began living together as close companions in Li Mansion.
• Li Jing rode toward Zhaoge and was stopped by Ran Deng, who introduced himself as a Chan Sect immortal and True Man Taiyi’s martial uncle.

Li Jing encountered Daoist Ran Deng on his way to Zhaoge, where he was going to answer for Nezha’s actions. Ran Deng persuaded Li Jing to accept a pagoda meant to suppress Nezha’s violent nature, leaving Li Jing trusting the gift despite its Western Buddhist origin.

• Li Jing dismounted and respectfully greeted Daoist Ran Deng, who revealed that he knew about Nezha’s troubles and Li Jing’s journey to court.
• Ran Deng offered a supreme treasure to restrain Nezha, but Li Jing suspected a hidden scheme and declined to trouble him.
• Ran Deng claimed Nezha’s conduct threatened the Chan Sect’s plans for the Investiture of the Gods, convincing Li Jing that the offer served the greater good.
• Ran Deng conjured a golden Exquisite Pagoda and placed it in Li Jing’s hands, explaining that its Western Lands origin accounted for its traces of Buddha Rhyme.
• Li Jing accepted the pagoda and felt its warm, weighty power seep into his body.

Li Jing received Ran Deng’s Exquisite Pagoda and its activation incantation before riding to Zhaoge, unaware that Fei Zhong, You Hun, and Daji had prepared a scheme against him. After soldiers tried to arrest him at the city gates, King Zhou’s guards took him to the palace to answer for Nezha’s crimes, while Golden Phoenix sensed that Heaven and Earth’s rules constrained her from changing Li Jing’s fate.

• Ran Deng gave Li Jing the Exquisite Pagoda and taught him an incantation that let him activate it without spending his own Magic Power.
• Li Jing promised to restrain Nezha, kept Ran Deng’s gift secret, and hurried toward Zhaoge as Fei Zhong, You Hun, and Daji prepared a plot against him.
• King Zhou summoned Golden Phoenix and ordered her to protect Li Jing, but Heaven and Earth’s rules prevented her from altering his Destiny; she saw no sign that he would die.
• Soldiers attempted to arrest Li Jing as soon as he entered Zhaoge, but the king’s guards arrived and announced that he must answer before King Zhou for failing to discipline Nezha.
• Li Jing submitted to the guards’ shackles and was escorted to the palace, leaving Fei Zhong and You Hun’s men unable to carry out their orders.

Li Jing met King Zhou in Zhaoge and learned that the king did not blame him for Nezha’s actions. King Zhou asked Li Jing to help stabilize Great Shang, then began revealing the truth about the coming turmoil and the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

• Li Jing was escorted to King Zhou’s bedchamber and waited in fear while the king finished his work.
• King Zhou reassured Li Jing that he would not punish him over Nezha and described the child as a divine being and a potential blessing to the Human Race.
• Li Jing questioned King Zhou’s praise of Nezha, and King Zhou laughed before asking him to help stabilize Great Shang amid approaching turmoil.
• King Zhou placed a secrecy measure in Li Jing’s consciousness and began explaining the Three Realms, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, and the mortal world’s role as a chessboard.