Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Chapter 367 Ji Lao Si, the Wise Man Who Protects Himself
The nine-headed lion galloped swiftly on the clouds, while Taiyi Zhenren held the unconscious Nezha in his arms, his heart filled with anxiety. Nezha's face had turned ashen, and three faint black wisps of energy, like venomous snakes, could be seen coiling around his chest.

Master Taiyi continuously channeled his immortal energy into his disciple's body, only to find that the black energy became even more active upon encountering the immortal energy.

"The Seven Arrows of Nailhead, the Demon Master Kunpeng, is indeed vicious. Jiang Ziya has only been a disciple for a few days, yet Nezha has fallen to such a state."

Taiyi Zhenren gritted his teeth and slammed his whisk heavily on the back of the nine-headed lion, "Faster!"

On Qinglian Island, the Three Pure Ones were sitting together, comprehending the Great Dao. Suddenly, they saw a golden light rushing towards them from the horizon, and they immediately knew what had happened.

Laozi raised a slight white eyebrow, sighed, and said, "It seems your grand-disciple is in trouble."

Tongtian calculated with his fingers and his expression changed drastically: "What a scoundrel Randeng, daring to use such insidious methods to deal with a junior."

Before he finished speaking, Taiyi Zhenren had already carried Nezha and landed on the stone steps in front of the palace, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

"Master, please save Nezha! That Jiang Ziya used the Seven Arrows of Nailhead..."

He and the immortal hurriedly recounted the events briefly, and then presented Nezha to the Three Pure Ones.

With a flick of his sleeve, Tongtian levitated Nezha into the air. Sensing the aura of the sage, the three streams of black energy emitted piercing shrieks.

Laozi let out a soft exclamation, took out the Tai Chi diagram, and unfurled it in the air. The Yin and Yang energies immediately suppressed the black energy.

"Fortunately, Nezha's primordial spirit has been completely integrated with his physical body. Otherwise, even if the curse could be broken after being hit by the Seven Arrows of Nailhead, it would still leave lasting consequences."

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded and said, "We have only suppressed the curse within Nezha's body. To break the Seven Arrows of Nailhead Book, we can only address the problem at its source."

Tongtian snorted coldly and said, "I will go to Xiqi and destroy the Seven Arrows of Nailhead. I will also teach the Xuanmen disciples a lesson so that they will not use such insidious techniques to harm people again."

Laozi pressed down on Tongtian's shoulder and shook his head, saying, "Have you forgotten what Master said? Now is not the time for us to make a move."

"First, send Nezha into Master's Three Lights Divine Water Altar. As for the source of the Seven Arrows Nailhead Book, let Taiyi go back and solve it himself."

"If Taiyi and the others still can't resolve this by the 21-day deadline, it won't be too late for us to make our move."

Although Tongtian was unwilling, he dared not disobey Chen Xuan's instructions. He immediately took Nezha to Chen Xuan's Spirit Fruit Garden.

At the same time, Lao Tzu also instructed Taiyi Zhenren on how to destroy the Seven Arrows Book of Nailhead and break the curse on Nezha.

Taiyi Zhenren kept everything firmly in mind and then bid farewell to his three masters. He once again mounted the nine-headed lion and returned to the Xiqi camp.

Meanwhile, Ji Fa returned to the secret chamber of the royal palace, where the candlelight cast a long, distorted shadow of him.

He took out a jade box containing two crystal-clear pills. Ji Fa had prepared these long ago, intending to use them to help his father and elder brother in a critical moment.

Ji Fa had been hesitant, but now he had made up his mind. He immediately placed the two pills into two jade boxes and then walked out of the secret room.

……

Early the next morning, devastating news arrived from the palace. Ji Chang, who had been unconscious, had passed away the previous night at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

Meanwhile, Bo Yikao, who was seriously injured, succumbed to his wounds due to the death of King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang.

Two key figures in Xiqi died suddenly. Yet, this caused no great stir, as if it were all perfectly natural. Only some began preparations for the funerals of King Wen (Ji Chang) and Boyi Kao. At the same time, they suggested that Ji Fa inherit the throne of Xiqi and honor him as King Wu.

But Ji Fa refused, saying that he would not be worthy to be the ruler of Xiqi if he did not avenge his father and brothers. He even wanted to pass the throne to his younger brother, Ji Shudan.

His younger brother, Ji Shudan, had already sensed something was amiss. He knew that the deaths of his father and elder brother were definitely not as simple as they appeared on the surface.

But Ji Shudan also knew that even if he spoke up now, no one would believe him. He might even lose his own life.

He simply pretended to know nothing about it and strongly supported Ji Fa's succession as King Wu of Zhou. He even went so far as to threaten to kill himself to force Ji Fa to succeed him.

Ji Fa was merely being polite; how could he possibly relinquish the throne to Ji Shudan?

Finally, under Ji Shudan's threat of suicide and the persuasion of a group of civil and military officials, Ji Fa finally ascended the throne he had longed for.

Ji Fa became the ruler of Xiqi, arranging the funerals of his father and brothers while also keeping an eye on the war outside the city.

Meanwhile, Taiyi Zhenren had returned to the Shang army camp and recounted Laozi's instructions to Yunxiao and the others.

Upon hearing this, Master Yuding said, "In that case, we can only send Yang Jian to make the trip."

"With Yang Jian's transformation skills, he can naturally deceive the people of Xiqi. At that time, all we need to do is steal back the Seven Swords of Nailhead and the Scarecrow, and everything will be solved."

Upon hearing this, Yunxiao shook his head. "This matter may not be so simple. After all, what we can think of, the disciples of the Chan and Jie sects could not possibly be unaware of."

"I even suspect that this is a blatant conspiracy. Unless we disregard Nezha's life or death, we will have no choice but to risk our lives to enter Xiqi and steal the book."

"And Xiqi City must have already laid a trap. As long as our people enter Xiqi City, they will surely face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death."

Everyone present nodded in agreement with Yunxiao's analysis. Zhang Guifang even spoke up, saying, "Since stealing the book won't work, let's break the Ten Deadly Formations and take over Xiqi City."

"In short, as long as we get the Seven Arrows of Nailhead before the 21st and destroy Nezha's straw man, everything will be solved."

However, Master Taiyi was not so optimistic. He directly said, "It is almost impossible to break through the city within twenty-one days."

"Don't forget, Junior Sister Yunxiao said that to break the Red Sand Formation, someone needs to undergo a hundred-day tribulation. Otherwise, the Red Sand Formation will be difficult to break."

Zhang Guifang was well aware that breaking through Xiqi City would not be an easy task. But what could she do now?

Just then, someone came to report that Zhang Kui, the general of Mianchi, had been ordered to come to the front lines to resolve the matter of Nezha being entangled in the Seven Nails and Seven Arrows Book.

Upon hearing that Zhang Kui had come about Nezha, a hint of joy appeared on everyone's faces. Although they didn't know how Zhang Kui would save Nezha, they still personally came out of the camp to welcome him.

Before long, the group invited Zhang Kui into the central command tent. After some polite greetings, they took their seats as host and guest.

Zhang Guifang then asked, "Since General Zhang Kui has come from afar, he must be fully confident in resolving the matter of the Seven Arrows Book on Nezha's head?"

Zhang Kui smiled and nodded, then said, "I don't think I have the ability to break through Xiqi City. But stealing books from Xiqi is not difficult."

(End of this chapter)