The Twenty-Fifth Chapter

Ao Run replied, "Mo Ang has gone east to cultivate under Lord Mengzhang and cannot return for the time being."

"So that's how it is," Nezha nodded, then had Ao Run and the three dragon princes board the thundercloud formation. He urged the thunderclouds straight towards the West Sea Dragon Palace.

At this time, within the West Sea Dragon Palace, the Great Black Yaksha was hosting a banquet for the Four Great Demon Sages and Asura Prince Jie Hanli, who had come to pledge their allegiance.

The Four Great Demon Sages were: Crimson Horned Black Dragon Great Sage, Radiant Light Sea-Illuminating Great Sage, Purple Fang Spirit Poison Great Sage, and Mountain-Driving Sea-Overturning Great Sage.

During the feast, the Yaksha ghost generals clinked cups and exchanged toasts, creating a boisterous atmosphere. Only Jie Hanli remained silent, reluctantly taking a sip whenever someone offered him a drink, his face perpetually cold.

Seeing this, the Great Black Yaksha chuckled, "Second brother, since you've left the Asura Tribe, follow your elder brother with peace of mind. In the future, you'll have a share in this West Sea."

As he spoke, he took out the Heavenly Sin Blade and handed it to Jie Hanli. "We agreed that I'd return it to you after taking the Dragon Palace. Now, the blade returns to its owner."

Jie Hanli shook his head and sighed, "It's useless to take it back now. Elder brother, please keep it."

The Great Black Yaksha paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Alright, then your elder brother will continue to use it."

He raised his cup and declared loudly, "If it weren't for my second brother lending me the Heavenly Sin Blade, this great undertaking would have been difficult to achieve. Come, everyone, toast him!"

Everyone rose and toasted Jie Hanli. Seeing all eyes on him, he had no choice but to lift his wine cup.

Just as the Great Black Yaksha was about to speak, a Yaksha ghost rushed in frantically, reporting, "My King, bad news! The Heavenly Court has sent Nezha with eighty thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to attack. They are already outside the Dragon Palace, issuing challenges!" "Crack!"

The wine cup in Jie Hanli's hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Everyone was startled, their gazes snapping towards him.

The Great Black Yaksha laughed heartily, "Second brother, your tolerance for alcohol is truly poor. You're so drunk after just a few cups that you can't even hold a wine cup steady."

He turned to the crowd and said, "Everyone, the Heavenly Court has sent troops to invade. There will surely be a fierce battle. Fortunately, we are well-prepared. Why should we fear those Heavenly Soldiers and Generals?"

The demons present eagerly volunteered to fight. The Four Great Demon Sages were particularly eager. They already held grudges against the Dragon King of the West Sea, and their allegiance to the Great Black Yaksha was precisely to fight against the Heavenly Court.

"We are willing to be the vanguard and help Your Majesty repel the Heavenly Soldiers!" the Four Great Demon Sages shouted in unison.

Seeing the high morale of his troops, the Great Black Yaksha immediately cleared the banquet and began dispatching troops and generals, leading a demon army of tens of thousands out of the Dragon Palace.

The West Sea was instantly engulfed by monstrous waves. The Great Black Yaksha, leading the Four Great Demon Sages, Jie Hanli, and numerous Rakshasa Ghost Generals and Asura Warriors, emerged from the sea.

Above the clouds, the Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Run, roared sternly, "Great Black Yaksha! You act against the natural order, sow chaos in the West Sea, and harm Immortal Officials. Now that the Heavenly Court's forces are pressing in, your end has come!"

He then shouted to the demons, "You who follow this traitor bear grave sins. If you repent in time, your lives may yet be spared. Otherwise, when the Heavenly Might descends, you will be utterly annihilated!"

The Great Black Yaksha sneered, "Ao Run, you pathetic, homeless dragon! Since I have expelled you from the Dragon Palace, you should be hiding and clinging to life. How dare you return to seek death?"

Ao Run rebuked, "Stop your arrogance! Today, the Third Prince Nezha leads the charge, commanding the Giant Spirit God, the Four Heavenly Kings, and eighty thousand Heavenly Soldiers, with the assistance of the Eighteen Arhats from the Buddhist Sect. We will surely exterminate you all!"

Within the thunderclouds, war drums boomed, and banners fluttered. The Giant Spirit God, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Eighteen Arhats revealed their solemn divine forms, their divine might vast and their Buddhist light illuminating the surroundings.

The demon army, witnessing this display of power, couldn't help but stir.

The Great Black Yaksha shouted loudly, "Ao Run! You have governed the West Sea for many years, have you ever benefited the region? My taking over is the will of Heaven. I spared you that day; how dare you bark here today? Don't speak of eighty thousand Heavenly Soldiers; even eight hundred thousand would be nothing to fear! Today, I will seek justice for the beings of the West Sea!"

These words immediately stabilized the morale of the troops.

Nezha, treading on his Wind Fire Wheels, stepped forward and said, "Old Dragon King, why waste so many words? If victory could be achieved through mere talk, what use would there be for us Heavenly Generals?"

Ao Run retreated upon hearing this. Golden light surged around Nezha, his form rapidly expanding to dozens of feet, revealing his Three Heads Six Arms divine form. He wielded various magic treasures, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

The Great Black Yaksha and the others' expressions turned grave as their gazes focused on Nezha.

He said solemnly, "Third Prince Nezha, I meant no harm. I replaced the Dragon King of the West Sea only to benefit the common people. If the Heavenly Court is willing to appoint me as the Lord of the West Sea, I am willing to lead my followers to surrender and be your vassals for eternity."

Nezha stood proudly in the clouds, red silk swirling around him, his eyes flashing with a cold glint.

He raised his command flag and coldly shouted, "All soldiers, receive my order."

Instantly, thunder roared, dark clouds churned, and the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals arrayed themselves, awaiting orders.

As the flag fell, the Giant Spirit God and the Four Heavenly Kings attacked first. The Thirty-six Heavenly Generals and Seventy-two Earthly Fiends led eighty thousand naval troops in a full-scale assault.

The Great Black Yaksha roared fiercely, "The conquest of the West Sea is today! Follow me and kill!"

He transformed into a hundred-foot-tall demonic form, wielding the Heavenly Sin Blade and charging directly at Nezha. Heavenly Soldiers scattered in his wake, and in moments, he was before Nezha.

Nezha sneered and met the attack, unleashing the full power of his Three Heads Six Arms divine ability.

The Yaksha forces, seeing this, had their morale soar. The Four Great Demon Sages led their troops into the fray. As the two armies clashed, immortal light and demonic energy intertwined, and the sea waves surged.

The West Sea Dragon Clan members joined the battle, some engaging in close combat with weapons, others attacking from afar with spells, and some even transforming into dragons and churning the seas.

The Eighteen Arhats led the Vajra Monks into the thick of the fight. As their Buddhist light shone, demons perished.

Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Lie, drew his Supreme Treasure Golden Rake and shouted to Zhuang Yan, "I'm going first!" He then led his personal guards into the enemy formation.

Zhuang Yan watched from a high vantage point. He saw the Giant Spirit God sweep away thousands of enemy soldiers with his axe, only to be ambushed by Asura Prince Jie Hanli. After ten bouts, the Giant Spirit God shattered him with an axe strike.

Zhu Lie moved through the enemy ranks as if no one were there, annihilating three thousand Asura warriors in an instant.

The Four Great Demon Sages were surrounded by the Arhats, battered by the Buddhist Sect's magic tools, and in a sorry state.

The Four Heavenly Kings each displayed their divine abilities: the Precious Umbrella shook the thunder, the Pipa bewitched the soul, the Precious Sword drank blood, and the Dragon Snake swallowed the heavens. The Heavenly Generals and Earthly Fiends led the navy in setting up a Heavenly Net and Earthly Net, slaughtering demons until the ground was littered with corpses.

As the fierce battle raged, the Great Black Yaksha and Nezha had already exchanged over two hundred blows, neither able to gain the upper hand. The Heavenly Sin Blade danced like the wind in his hands, capable of blocking the numerous immortal treasures wielded by Nezha's Three Heads Six Arms.

What was even more shocking was that the great black demonic light surrounding him prevented the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals from getting close. Anyone who dared to approach would either die or be injured. Seeing this, Zhu Lie swung his Supreme Treasure Golden Rake and charged forward, only to be wounded by the black light and sent flying backward, spitting blood. The Thirty-six Heavenly Generals also attempted to surround and attack him, but they too were forced to retreat.

"Don't get close! This demonic light is dangerous, and those with weak Dharma bodies will surely be harmed!" Nezha shouted a reminder.

The Great Black Yaksha let out a wild laugh. "I cultivate the Great Black Sin Sutra, refining the world's sinful karma! Even gods and immortals cannot withstand it! Even if you have many people, what can you do? When I behead your three heads and six arms, the Four Seas will sing my praises!" Before his voice even faded, he had absorbed the sinful karma from the battlefield, his power soaring, and his Dharma manifestation grew by over thirty feet.

Nezha's brow furrowed. Although the Great Black Yaksha's power had increased by absorbing sinful karma, that wasn't the most troublesome part. The Heavenly Sin Blade and his demonic power were mutually reinforcing, making its power far beyond that of ordinary Immortal Treasures. It could easily block all of Nezha's attacks.

If I can't break this blade, I can't defeat this demon, Nezha thought to himself. But the Heavenly Generals and Arhats were all afraid of the black light and could offer no assistance, leaving the situation precarious.

While he was contemplating, the Great Black Yaksha swung his blade and attacked. Nezha met the assault, immediately feeling that the opponent's strength had increased severalfold.

At this moment, Zhuang Yan, who had been observing from the clouds for a long time, arrived on a cloud and said loudly, "Marshal Who Subdues Demons, Zhuang Yan is here to assist!"

"Me." The Great Black Yaksha grinned and swung the Heavenly Sin Blade, its light cascading down like a waterfall. Nezha's three heads and six arms unleashed brilliant divine radiance, and his Fire-Tipped Spear and Qian Kun Quan shot out countless sparks. In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows.

The moment the spear tip thrust forward, the Heavenly Sin Blade blocked it, and the clang of metal against metal was deafening. Nezha used the force to leap back, a cold smile appearing on all three of his faces. "Killing you will suffice."

"Hahaha!" The Great Black Yaksha stared at the bulging blue veins on Nezha's forehead, the tip of his blade pointing at Zhuang Yan, who was watching from behind. "If you truly have such ability, why would you let this insignificant god assist you?"

Nezha's six arms suddenly erupted with dazzling auspicious light, and the Hun Tian Ling rolled up a thousand layers of fire waves, rushing towards his opponent. The Great Black Yaksha's body was enveloped in foul black energy, and the Heavenly Sin Blade transformed into a hundred-foot-long demonic light, slashing down at them. The instant the two forces collided, a visible shockwave exploded in the space between heaven and earth.

The sea surface was torn open into a bottomless chasm, and the soldiers and generals on both sides were blown away like falling leaves. Heavenly Soldiers, Arhats, and elite Demons and Monsters were sent flying back for a thousand miles, and even the heavy thunderclouds were torn to shreds. When the smoke and dust cleared, the two figures confronting each other had each retreated a hundred paces. Nezha's chest heaved violently; seventy percent of his magical power had been depleted. The Great Black Yaksha licked his fangs and panted, the hand holding the blade trembling slightly—this Third Prince was indeed troublesome. If not for the divine might of the Heavenly Sin Blade, he would likely have been defeated by now.

The surrounding hundred miles fell into sudden silence, with only the two figures standing amidst the ruins.

Suddenly, the sound of clothing tearing through the air swept across the sky.

Nezha and the Great Black Yaksha looked up sharply. Amidst flashing afterimages, a figure in a blue shirt had already appeared at the edge of the demonic light. Zhuang Yan stood with his hands behind his back, raising an eyebrow at the Great Black Yaksha and smiling, "Old demon, do you dare to touch me at all?"

"How dare an ant be so presumptuous!" The Great Black Yaksha roared in fury and swung his blade, the demonic light pouring down like a galaxy. Zhuang Yan, however, remained motionless. As the blade neared his head, he softly uttered, "Return."

The fierce blade that shook the three realms vanished into thin air.

The Great Black Yaksha froze in place, grasping at the air in vain. "Where is my blade?!" His divine sense swept across the eight directions, but he couldn't find the slightest trace of it. The moment the earthen jar in Zhuang Yan's sleeve appeared, Nezha had already flashed before him. His six arms formed a hand seal, forcefully blocking the direction the jar was pointing.

"Marshal Who Subdues Demons, what is the meaning of this?" Zhuang Yan hurriedly put away the jar, then immediately smiled and cupped his hands. "This humble immortal was impolite."

Nezha ignored Zhuang Yan's tone and spoke directly: "The Heavenly Sin Blade belongs to you, and I will deal with the Great Black Yaksha."

Zhuang Yan immediately understood and responded with a cupped fist: "As you command." He had come for the Heavenly Sin Blade in the first place; the Great Black Yaksha's fate was irrelevant to him.

In an instant, Nezha revealed his Three Heads Six Arms Dharma manifestation, golden light radiating from his body, his magic treasures shining. He wore a ferocious expression, and all three of his heads let out roars simultaneously as he lunged directly at the Great Black Yaksha.

Although the Great Black Yaksha possessed the cultivation of a Golden Immortal, he was far inferior to Nezha. He could only contend with Nezha by relying entirely on the Heavenly Sin Blade. Now that the treasured blade had changed hands, his strength was greatly reduced. Seeing Nezha charging at him with murderous intent, his face turned ashen, and he transformed into a black light, attempting to escape.

Nezha let out a cold laugh, and the Embroidered Ball flew from his hand. With a sound of breaking air, the black light plummeted. His Dharma manifestation arrived in an instant, and the Fire-Tipped Spear pierced directly into the Great Black Yaksha's chest. The Demon Slaying Sword sliced his Dharma manifestation into three pieces, and with a flash of the blade, his head fell. His sixth arm held a wooden box, steadily catching the severed head. The Demon Subduing Pestle then descended, crushing the primordial spirit into oblivion.

Looking around, all of the Great Black Yaksha's subordinate ghost soldiers and water generals had been annihilated, and the Four Great Demon Sages had also been captured by the Eighteen Arhats, bound above the thunderclouds. From the time the Heavenly Army entered the West Sea until this moment, it had only been an hour. After losing the Heavenly Sin Blade, the Great Black Yaksha was no match for them.

Nezha retracted his Dharma manifestation and handed the wooden box containing the head to the Giant Spirit God, then proceeded to take stock of the casualties. The Four Heavenly Kings reported: "The Heavenly River Navy suffered 107 deaths and 3,451 injuries."

"What about the Heavenly Generals?" Nezha asked. Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Lie and the Thirty-six Heavenly Generals were carried forward. King Dhritarashtra said, "They were severely wounded by the great black demonic light."