Wisdom Saves Nezha, Karma Reshaped

The golden Buddha palm crashed down, carrying immense Buddhist power capable of suppressing evil and seizing all things. Beneath the gale of its palm, even space seemed to freeze solid!

"Western Religion!" Shiji's expression changed. With hatred in her heart, she struck out, and the Eight-Trigram Cloudlight Sash transformed into a spread of earthy-yellow clouds and radiance, meeting the Buddha palm in an attempt to block it.

However, the demon-subduing power contained within that Buddha palm happened to restrain cultivators like Shiji, who had attained the Dao from earth and stone and leaned toward yin-cold energies!

The instant the clouds met the Buddha palm, they shuddered violently. Their light dimmed, already showing signs of failing!

"Junior Sister Shiji, fall back! This palm is not something you can withstand!" Xuan Chuan barked coldly. Rather than retreating, he advanced, the Fate-Cutting Sword already in hand!

He did not choose to clash head-on with that immense Buddhist power. Instead, purple-gold light flashed in his eyes as he pushed The One That Escaped to its limit.

In an instant, he caught a "node" within the circulation of power in the Buddha palm's divine art—a point where, in its haste to seize them, the Buddhist power's connection had become slightly rushed and discordant!

"Break!"

The Fate-Cutting Sword became an incomparably condensed thread of purple-gold light. Following that mysterious trajectory, it struck later yet arrived first, stabbing the "node" with flawless precision!

Hiss—!

A soft sound rang out, like a needle piercing a balloon!

That golden Buddha palm, vast and imposing, was actually pierced through at its center by that single point. The immense Buddhist power immediately spun out of control and scattered in all directions!

Though it did not completely dissolve the Buddha palm, it reduced its power by thirty percent, and its descending momentum abruptly stalled!

The pressure on Shiji lessened greatly, and she seized the chance to withdraw the Eight-Trigram Cloudlight Sash.

"Eh? What a strange sword that breaks techniques!" A surprised exclamation came from within the clouds.

The Buddhist light receded, revealing a middle-aged monk clad in a kasaya and holding a demon-subduing vajra. His stern face carried a trace of compassion. He was a disciple of the Western Religion who had once secretly watched Wuyi Mountain—Venerable Ananda!

"Amitabha." Venerable Ananda stood atop the clouds with his demon-subduing vajra in hand. His gaze swept over the Fate-Cutting Sword in Xuan Chuan's grasp, and a flicker of wariness passed through his eyes before he resumed a mournful expression.

"Fellow Daoists Xuan Chuan and Shiji, Chentang Pass is an important place in the mortal world. Tribulation Qi breeds there, and karma is tangled beyond measure.

"You two are people beyond the secular world. Why involve yourselves in such disputes? Why not accompany this poor monk to Western Paradise, listen to the Buddha expound the scriptures, and dissolve your hostile qi? Would that not be wonderful?"

"Western Paradise?" Xuan Chuan sneered. "Why has Your Venerable not remained on Vulture Peak to cultivate in peace, instead coming outside Chentang Pass to block our path?

"Could it be that the affairs of the mortal world are also the affairs of your Western Paradise? Or perhaps Li Jing's destruction of the shrine includes a share of 'Merit' from your Western Religion?"

Venerable Ananda's expression did not change. "Fellow Daoist, your words are mistaken.

"General Li Jing is the commander of the mortal realm. His son Nezha committed murderous sins and is steeped in hostile qi. General Li put righteousness before family, destroyed his illicit shrine, and severed the root of the demon's evil. This accords with the way of mankind and upholds its moral order.

"This poor monk is here to prevent anyone from interfering with this 'righteous law of mankind' and causing an even greater calamity."

Lofty-sounding nonsense, turning black into white!

Xuan Chuan no longer wasted words on him. Time was pressing! "Junior Sister Shiji, stop him!"

Before his words had faded, Xuan Chuan had already become a streak of purple lightning, bypassing Venerable Ananda and shooting toward a stretch of forest outside Chentang Pass—

Through his perception of The One That Escaped, he had already locked onto the approximate location of the Nezha Shrine!

"Fellow Daoist, stop!" Venerable Ananda moved to intercept him, but Shiji had already let out an angry cry. The Eight-Trigram Cloudlight Sash and Eight-Treasure Dragon-Whisker Sash flew out together, and she even unleashed her petrification divine art, tangling him up tightly!

Though Shiji's cultivation art was restrained, she struck in rage and at any cost, managing to hold Venerable Ananda back for the moment.

Xuan Chuan was incredibly fast. Within several breaths, he had descended into that forest.

His divine sense swept out, and he immediately found a small shrine, recently built and thin in incense offerings, within a secluded mountain hollow.

The plaque above its doors bore the four words "Nezha Shrine." Inside stood a seven-foot clay statue with gilded features, holding a Fire-Tipped Spear,

and standing upon Wind-Fire Wheels. Though crudely made, it faintly gathered spiritual light. It was precisely the temporary dwelling place of Nezha's soul, nourished by incense offerings!

At that moment, dozens of soldiers carrying torches, blades, and axes had gathered outside the shrine. At their head stood a man in helmet and armor, his resolute face carrying pain and determination. It was Chentang Pass's commander, Li Jing!

Beside him stood a Daoist holding a whisk and wearing a Daoist crown. He possessed the immortal bearing of one who had transcended the world, yet his eyes glimmered with calculation as he spoke softly to Li Jing—

It was Xiao Zhen, who had previously secretly observed Xuan Chuan and Zhao Gongming's journey to Wuyi Mountain!

"General Li, if this shrine is not destroyed, the demon will not be eradicated! Not only will it endanger Chentang Pass, it may even implicate your entire household!

"Act swiftly. Burn the golden body and sever the incense offerings. Only then can you keep this region safe and preserve your name for loyalty and righteousness!" Xiao Zhen's voice carried a bewitching quality.

Li Jing's face twisted with conflict before finally hardening into ruthlessness. He raised the longsword in his hand. "For the people of Chentang Pass, for the Li family's good name! My son, do not blame your father for being cruel! Burn it!"

Upon receiving the command, the soldiers immediately hurled their torches toward the shrine!

"Stop!"

Xuan Chuan roared, his voice like thunder. At the same time, he swept his sleeve, releasing a gentle yet immense surge of mana that instantly froze those flying torches in midair before shattering them into dust!

With a flash, he appeared before the shrine gates, standing between Li Jing, Xiao Zhen, and the shrine.

"Who are you?!" Li Jing was greatly alarmed. Xiao Zhen's expression changed even more sharply. When he saw who had come, his pupils contracted. "Xuan Chuan?! It's you!"

"General Li, do not heed slander and commit an irreparable mistake!" Ignoring Xiao Zhen, Xuan Chuan looked straight at Li Jing, his voice carrying a force that calmed hearts.

"Nezha is your own flesh and blood. However unruly he may have been, his crime does not warrant the destruction of his soul! Destroying the shrine and burning his body, severing the incense offerings, means cutting off his final chance at life and condemning him to never enter reincarnation!

"This is neither the way between father and son nor the righteous law of mankind! Someone seeks to use your hand to carry out an act of extermination and fulfill an unspeakable purpose!"

Li Jing was cowed by Xuan Chuan's bearing, and his words shook Li Jing's heart. "You... who are you? How do you know of my son's affairs?"

"I am Xuan Chuan of Jiejiao," Xuan Chuan said gravely. "I already know the full cause and consequence of Nezha's matter.

"He is the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl, fated for slaughter. Yet his vicious nature was also born of others indulging and scheming against him! If the General truly cares for his son, he should seek to save him, not sever him!"

"Demonic Daoist of Jiejiao! Do not deceive General Li!"

Xiao Zhen cut in sharply. "General Li, do not listen to his nonsense! Jiejiao is full of furred beasts, horned creatures, wet-born things, and egg-born creatures. They act with treachery and excel at bewitching people's hearts!

"They surely wish to save this demon and bring disaster upon the mortal world! Give the order at once—kill this villain and burn the shrine to extinguish the soul!"

Li Jing hesitated once more.

But Xuan Chuan no longer paid them any heed. Turning toward Nezha's golden body within the shrine, he held two fingers together like a sword. Purple-gold light flickered from his fingertips as he began drawing in the air!

One rune after another, containing the Dao essence of Fate-Cutting and the power of Merit, swiftly merged into the clay statue, forming a temporary protective restriction that isolated inside from outside and stabilized the fragile soul within.

At the same time, he separated a wisp of divine sense, passed through the golden body, and directly communicated with that fragment of soul filled with violence, resentment, confusion, and pain.

"Nezha."

"...Who? Who are you?" A weak yet still proud child's voice answered, full of vigilance.

"I am Xuan Chuan of Jiejiao. Before Qianyuan Mountain, I once discussed the Dao with your master, Taiyi." Xuan Chuan transmitted through divine sense, striking directly at the heart of the matter.

"Have you ever considered why you are in your current predicament? From birth, you were regarded as a demon and feared by others; when you accidentally killed someone, your elders used 'fate' to brush it aside and evade responsibility;

"Now your soul is about to scatter, and your father has been bewitched into wanting to destroy your golden body and sever your final chance at life!

"Is this the 'Child of Destiny' your master spoke of? Is this the 'future' Yuxu Palace arranged for you?"

Nezha's soul fluctuated violently. "You... you are talking nonsense! My master has always treated me well! He bestowed magical treasures upon me and taught me divine arts! It was that old demon hag Shiji..."

"As for Shiji's matter, do you truly feel nothing in your heart about who was right and who was wrong?" Xuan Chuan interrupted, his voice icy. "Did that child beneath your Universe Ring truly deserve to die?

"You pursued Shiji to Qianyuan Mountain. Without asking the cause, your master sought to kill and refine her. Was it truly only to 'protect you'? Or did he wish to use Shiji's life to ward off your tribulation, while further inflaming the conflict between the two teachings?"

Every word pierced the heart, striking straight at the deepest confusion and unease within Nezha's soul.

His nature was not purely evil. He had merely been spoiled, indulged, and pushed onward in the name of "fate," never truly considering these things.

"Now your soul is about to scatter, and your golden body is about to be destroyed. Where is your master? Where is Yuxu Palace?"

Xuan Chuan's voice softened, yet it held a trace of temptation. "Will you continue being that prearranged 'Child of Destiny'?

"Walk one road into darkness, only to perhaps end up dying and ascending the Investiture, driven by others; or..."

He paused, then spoke clearly. "Return to Jiejiao with me. Jiejiao teaches without distinction and values a single thread of life above all else. I can stabilize your soul, seek opportunities for you, and reshape your Dharma body.

"Though the road ahead will remain difficult, at least your fate will rest in your own hands. Whether you become an immortal and attain the Dao or roam freely as you please, it will all be up to your own heart. What do you say?"

Nezha's soul fell silent. The enormous flood of information battered his simple understanding. His master's schemes? Yuxu Palace's exploitation? Jiejiao's chance at life? The freedom to choose?

"I... I..." He hesitated, the light of his soul flickering uncertainly.

At that moment, from the distant sky came an incomparably sharp Sword Qi and an angry roar at once:

"Which demonic Daoist dares bewitch my disciple?!"

The rolling sound waves contained the towering fury and pressure of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal! A streak of azure escaping light cut across the sky like a meteor and arrived above Chentang Pass in an instant!

The escaping light dispersed, revealing a Daoist with sharp, elegant features, a lotus crown upon his head, and a whisk in his hand. Phantom images of nine dragons coiled around him. It was Taiyi!

His face was ashen as he stared fixedly at Xuan Chuan and the Nezha Shrine.

Beside Taiyi stood another man, dressed in Eight-Trigram immortal robes and holding a longsword. His face was ancient and unadorned, his gaze deep, and his aura even steadier and more profound than Taiyi's—

It was one of Yuxu Palace's Twelve Golden Immortals, the Wenshu Guangfa Heavenly Venerable, renowned for his wisdom and sword Dao!

Xuan Chuan's heart sank.

Taiyi had indeed come! He had even brought reinforcements—and it was the Wenshu Guangfa Heavenly Venerable, one of the highest-ranked and most powerful among the Twelve Golden Immortals!

It seemed that this affair at Chentang Pass had indeed been meticulously arranged by Chanjiao. They were determined to win!