Chapter 1

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, thunder rolled, and amid flashes of lightning and crashing thunder, war drums shook heaven and earth.

A brilliant divine light pierced the heavy clouds and enveloped all of Spirit Platform Mountain. Banners fluttered among the clouds, golden-armored heavenly generals stood solemnly, and thirty thousand Heavenly Soldiers formed ranks behind them, ready to advance.

With a wave of the command flag, eight heavenly generals led the Heavenly Soldiers down on clouds. Shouts of battle immediately erupted throughout the mountain, earth-shaking tremors shook the land, and divine light collided with Demonic Energy.

Demons and monsters fled in terror. Lesser Demons curled up inside their caves, trembling.

Suddenly, an earth-shattering blast erupted from the depths of Spirit Platform Mountain, and azure divine light shot into the sky. The eight heavenly generals and thirty thousand Heavenly Soldiers were instantly swept away by towering waves and retreated miserably to the clouds.

The heavenly generals were soaked through and weak with exhaustion. They clasped their fists and reported, "Marshal Deng, that fiend is wielding the Azure Sea Pearl and has raised monstrous waves. We are no match for him."

Deng Hua, foremost among the Five Marshals of the Thunder Department, wore golden armor and a thunder robe, his gaze sharp as lightning. He said in a deep voice, "Beat the drums and bolster our might. I will capture him myself."

War drums thundered and banners surged. Marshal Deng rode a cloud into the mountain, his voice like rolling thunder. "Ao Qu! You neglected your duties in drunkenness and fled in fear of punishment. Your crimes are unforgivable! Submit at once, and your life may yet be spared!"

Before his words had faded, his right palm pressed down through the air. A streak of Purple Lightning tore through the sky and crashed down!

A thunderbolt split the heavens and struck the underwater palace directly. In an instant, the palace collapsed. Amid the sudden burst of immortal light appeared Ao Qu, dragon horns upon his brow and immortal robes draped over his body. He clasped his hands toward Marshal Deng. "It was indeed my fault that I drunkenly failed to carry out the decree. But before descending to the mortal realm, I submitted my resignation to the Rain Master. I did not flee in fear of punishment."

Marshal Deng said coldly, "You abandoned your post before your resignation was approved, and you still dare to argue?"

"I can do without the position of Dragon God." Ao Qu looked calm. "I only wish to be an unfettered lesser demon in the mortal world."

"How can the Heavenly Rules be treated as a joke?" Marshal Deng unleashed thunder from his palm, and twelve bolts of heavenly lightning crashed down. Yet lightning flowed around Ao Qu's body, and he absorbed every bolt. How could the body of a true dragon fear thunder? With a turn of his hand, he brought forth the Azure Sea Pearl, and monstrous waves instantly swept toward the clouds.

Marshal Deng circulated his power to resist, but within ten breaths, the waves blasted him back a thousand zhang. Ao Qu put away the pearl and advised, "This pearl contains the power of the four seas. Why not withdraw your troops and return to the Heavenly Court, Marshal?"

Above the clouds, the Eight Directions Thunder Generals frowned in distress. Chen Langran, the Blazing Fire General of the southeast, suggested, "Why not summon the Mountain God of Lingtai and ask for advice? He was recommended by Laojun. There may be something extraordinary about him."

Xian Yongqing, the Lightning General of the south, questioned, "What could a mere mountain god possibly do?"

Chen Langran said seriously, "Since he has earned the favor of the Dao Ancestor, he must be remarkable. Hearing this, Marshal Deng nodded and immediately ordered the Mountain God of Lingtai summoned."

After hearing the order, Chen Langran immediately turned and flew down before Spirit Platform Mountain. Waving his command flag, he shouted, "By the order of Marshal Deng of the Thunder Department, Mountain God of Lingtai, come forth and pay your respects at once!"

Divine light suddenly appeared in the mountain. A handsome divine being in a cloud-patterned robe embroidered with gold and jade, a jade belt around his waist and a jade hairpin binding his hair, rode the wind over. He respectfully saluted Chen Langran. "Zhuang Yan, Mountain God of Lingtai, greets the heavenly general."

Chen Langran examined Zhuang Yan and discovered that he was merely at the Refining Essence into Qi realm. His brows furrowed slightly. This cultivation was even lower than he had expected. Still, since he had already been summoned, Chen Langran said, "Come with me to see Marshal Deng."

"Yes." Zhuang Yan leaped onto the clouds and followed Chen Langran straight up into the thunderclouds.

At the sight of Zhuang Yan, Marshal Deng and the seven heavenly generals all looked doubtful. Marshal Deng said in a deep voice, "Ao Qu, Dragon God of the Rain Department, missed his duty while drunk and fled to the mortal realm to become a demon, fearing punishment. By the order of the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion, I led troops to capture him. Yet that fiend possesses the Azure Sea Pearl, containing the vast power of the seas, making it difficult for us to approach him. I summoned you, Mountain Lord, to ask whether you have a solution."

Zhuang Yan pondered for a moment before Marshal Deng added, "If you can help me capture Ao Qu, I will record this as your foremost merit."

Hearing this, Zhuang Yan immediately clasped his hands. "Please allow this little god to try, Marshal."

A sharp glint flashed in Marshal Deng's eyes. He nodded. "Good! I will send the Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals to protect you. Even if you cannot defeat him, they will ensure your life remains safe."

"Thank you, Marshal." Zhuang Yan bowed in gratitude.

The Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals received their orders and escorted Zhuang Yan into Spirit Platform Mountain. Zhuang Yan stood amid the clouds as Chen Langran stepped forward to issue a challenge.

Ao Qu appeared and glanced at the Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals. He sneered, "Defeated generals, and you still dare challenge me?"

The generals did not answer. Their gazes turned toward Zhuang Yan. Zhuang Yan stepped forward and said, "Ao Qu, I am the Mountain God of Lingtai. Submit at once!"

"Hahaha!" Ao Qu laughed loudly. "Even the marshal of the Thunder Department is no match for me. What can a petty mountain god like you do? Behold the power of my Azure Sea Pearl!"

With that, he brought forth the pearl. The Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals immediately cast their spells to protect Zhuang Yan. At the instant Ao Qu activated the Azure Sea Pearl, a clear divine voice rang out in Zhuang Yan's mind: Instantaneous Restraint had been activated.

Divine light flashed, and both the Azure Sea Pearl and the towering waves vanished into thin air. Ao Qu was horrified. He hurriedly formed hand seals, yet he could no longer sense the pearl's whereabouts.

Zhuang Yan spread open his palm, revealing the azure pearl resting upon it. "Are you looking for this?"

Ao Qu's eyes nearly split with rage. He transformed into immortal light and lunged at him. "Return my magic treasure!"

Though the Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals were shocked by Zhuang Yan's methods, they did not forget their duty. They immediately drew their weapons and surrounded Ao Qu.

Without the Azure Sea Pearl's support, Ao Qu was forced to reveal his weapon and fight the Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals. Before long, thirty thousand Heavenly Soldiers arrived to encircle him, laying down the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net.

Ao Qu had exchanged fewer than a hundred moves with the Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals before he was exhausted and defeated. The swarming Heavenly Soldiers subdued him. The Eight Directions Cloud Thunder Generals personally stepped forward, tying him up tightly with the Immortal Binding Rope before escorting him on thunderclouds to report back to Marshal Deng.

Marshal Deng glanced at Ao Qu's ashen face and casually waved for the Heavenly Soldiers to take him away. He then clasped his hands toward Zhuang Yan below. "We owe this success to Mountain Lord's full assistance. Please await good news. The Heavenly Court's reward will arrive soon. I must return to report, so farewell."

With that, Marshal Deng flicked his sleeve and waved his command flag, shouting, "Sound the gong and withdraw the troops!"

Three thunderous drumbeats resounded through the clouds. Fifty thousand Heavenly Soldiers put away their banners, restrained their pressure, and rode thunderclouds straight into the Ninth Heaven.

The Spirit Platform Mountain Range of the Western Ox Continent stretched for more than three hundred li. Its three main peaks—Danchi Ridge, Mount Fangcun, and Liu Zhen Peak—rose majestically. The Mountain God Temple of Lingtai stood atop Danchi Ridge, overlooking the entire mountain range. This was where Earth Veins from thousands of li converged, making its spiritual energy especially abundant.

Zhuang Yan returned to the temple and transformed into divine light, entering the sanctuary within the brow of the mountain god statue. He sat cross-legged before the table, turning the newly acquired Azure Sea Pearl over in his hand.

Suddenly, a clear divine voice rang out within his consciousness: Cave Heaven True Sight had been activated. True light flowed through his eyes, and the Azure Sea Pearl's secrets were instantly laid bare—it was a Spirit Treasure.

Magic treasures in this world were divided into five grades: True Treasures, Spirit Treasures, Immortal Treasures, Postnatal Supreme Treasures, and Prenatal Supreme Treasures. Weapons were likewise divided into five grades: True Artifacts, Spirit Artifacts, Immortal Artifacts, Postnatal Precious Artifacts, and Prenatal Precious Artifacts. The Azure Sea Pearl contained the immense power of the seas. No wonder even Marshal Deng and the Thunder Generals, who had reached the Profound Immortal realm, had been helpless against it. Heavenly Soldiers and Generals mostly relied on weapons for close combat, so magic treasures were indeed their weakness.

Zhuang Yan happened to lack a suitable magic treasure. Since it had fallen into his hands, he naturally accepted it gladly. With a slight thought, he activated Instantaneous Refinement. Golden light burst from the Azure Sea Pearl, and Ao Qu's lingering divine sense vanished in an instant, replaced by Zhuang Yan's mark. Once refinement was complete, the pearl was stored within the Infinite Space in his sleeve.

Ever since breaking free of destiny and transforming from a cheat into an Innate Being, most of Zhuang Yan's divine abilities had needed to absorb Heavenly Dao Power to gradually recover. Years ago, he had encountered Grand Supreme Elder Lao by chance and, through his recommendation, become the Mountain God of Lingtai. Only by relying on his position as an orthodox god of the Heavenly Court had he been able to absorb tiny amounts of Heavenly Dao Power. After years of accumulation, he had finally restored six divine abilities: Add Status, Infinite Space, Cave Heaven True Sight, Instantaneous Refinement, Instantaneous Restraint, and One Thought Seal.

Although the six divine abilities protected him and allowed him to travel freely through the Four Great Continents, Zhuang Yan still needed to improve his own cultivation realm.

To continue restoring his supreme power, he had to absorb more Heavenly Dao Power, and there were only two ways to obtain it:

First, serve as an immortal official of the Heavenly Court or obtain a rank within the Daoist Sect or Buddhist Sect. The higher the rank, the closer one's connection to the Heavenly Dao, and the more abundant the Heavenly Dao Power gained.

Second, raise one's cultivation. The higher one's cultivation, the deeper one's resonance with the Heavenly Dao, and the greater the Heavenly Dao Power one could naturally absorb.

Over the years, Zhuang Yan had focused only on gathering scattered Heavenly Dao Power to restore his functions, neglecting cultivation. Even now, he remained at the initial Refining Essence into Qi stage.

Now that the six fundamental functions had been restored and he possessed the means to secure his footing, it was time to pause the repairs and focus on improving his cultivation.

He was currently cultivating the Essence of Purity Meditation Method bestowed by Grand Supreme Elder Lao, yet he always felt that its progress was too slow.

The Edit All Things function had not yet recovered. Otherwise, he could casually create a supreme Daoist method. Zhuang Yan sighed inwardly.

Better than nothing. He immediately calmed his mind, sat in meditation, and began cultivating the Essence of Purity Meditation Method.

As the method circulated, immortal spiritual energy within a hundred li of Danchi Ridge gathered toward the Mountain God Temple, streaming endlessly into the brow of the divine statue.

After cultivating for four or five days, Zhuang Yan, meditating within the sanctuary, was suddenly awakened by the sound of an argument.

Looking up, he saw two Lesser Demons with tiger heads and human bodies, dressed in coarse cloth and grass circlets, shoving each other as they entered the main hall. The tiger demon who looked around ten years old and his eight-year-old-looking companion were arguing until their faces were red.

The lesser demon on the left shouted, "If you don't believe me, ask Mountain Lord Grandpa!"

The lesser demon on the right refused to yield. "Fine, let's ask him! I'm definitely right!"

The two little Tiger Demons stomped angrily up to the offering table. Each took out wild fruits from the mountain as offerings, then lit incense. After respectfully bowing three times, they inserted the burning incense into the burner.

After kowtowing three times, they chanted in unison, "Mountain God Grandpa, reveal yourself! Mountain God Grandpa, reveal yourself!"

Buzz—

The divine statue suddenly radiated light, revealing an immortal official with hair bound by a jade hairpin and divine light swirling around him. He wore an official robe patterned with golden clouds, a white jade belt at his waist, and his face was refined and otherworldly.

The Lesser Demons stared blankly for a moment before hurriedly kowtowing. "Hu Lailai and Hu Ququ greet Mountain God Grandpa."

Zhuang Yan drifted down to the ground and asked warmly, "Why have you two little fellows come here to burn incense and pray instead of cultivating in your cave?"

Hu Lailai rushed to answer, "Five days ago, Heavenly Soldiers and Generals searched the mountain for demons. All the spirits and monsters across the mountain were too frightened to show themselves. They were incredibly imposing."

Hu Ququ continued, "So we argued about which immortal of the Heavenly Court is the strongest."

Hu Lailai added, "We argued for five days and fought ten times, but we still couldn't decide who was right."

Hu Ququ said, "We asked Mountain God Grandpa to settle it. Which immortal of the Heavenly Court is the strongest?" He immediately emphasized, "I think it's Third Prince Nezha."

Hu Lailai immediately retorted, "Nonsense. True Lord Erlang is clearly stronger."

"Third Prince Nezha!"

"True Lord Erlang!"

The brothers argued until their faces turned red. Before long, they were tangled together right in front of Zhuang Yan, their four furry tiger paws swatting at each other while their round tiger heads repeatedly collided.

Zhuang Yan hurriedly stepped forward and pulled the two little fellows apart. "Let me tell you the answer."

The two brothers instantly stopped fighting and looked at Zhuang Yan in unison, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Zhuang Yan straightened his collar, pointed at himself with complete confidence, and said, "The strongest immortal in the Heavenly Court is naturally none other than me."

The main hall instantly fell silent. The two little Tiger Demons' eyes widened, their faces full of disbelief.

After a long silence, Hu Lailai tugged on his younger brother's sleeve. "Let's go. We're going home."

Hu Ququ nodded repeatedly. Hand in hand, the brothers walked out without looking back, completely leaving Zhuang Yan behind.

Just as they stepped out of the temple gates, Zhuang Yan heard the two little fellows whispering among themselves: