Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

His gaze, sharp as lightning, pierced through the chaotic energy currents, fixing on the colossal, earth-shaking iron rod. After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a few words through clenched teeth:

"The Sea-Stabilizing Needle... it was personally crafted by the Supreme Dao Ancestor, the Sea-Stabilizing Needle that helped Yu the Great quell the floods! No wonder..."

He recognized the origin of the object and felt somewhat relieved, as it was not an unnamed item after all.

But then, a deeper thought surfaced in his mind. According to his knowledge of the workings of the heavens, this object should eventually belong to the naturally born stone monkey. How could it have appeared in the East Sea ahead of time and been used against him?

Could it be... that the stone monkey has already been born, and even has a connection with the dragon race?

This thought cast a shadow over his mind.

Seeing that the divine light of the Heavenly Origin Cauldron was firmly blocked by the Sea-Stabilizing Needle and could not advance an inch, the wishful thinking of refining the East Sea Dragon Palace along with hundreds of millions of aquatic creatures and leaving no evidence to prove their deaths completely failed.

A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the Boundless Immortal, and his killing intent intensified.

"Since we can't refine them all at once, then we'll do it ourselves and wipe them out!" He flicked his whisk, suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind, and sternly ordered, "Nezha! The Dragon Clan has harmed your parents and fellow villagers in Chentang Pass, their crimes are unforgivable! I hereby appoint you as the vanguard to kill the ringleader Ao Guang and appease the spirits of the dead!"

He specifically pointed out Nezha's hatred, knowing that Nezha, blinded by hatred, would never listen to any explanation from the Dragon Clan at this moment, making him the sharpest and most controllable blade.

"Crane Boy, Deer Boy! You two lead the elite demon-hunting team to support Nezha from the side. You must not let any of the dragon scoundrels escape!"

He secretly transmitted his voice to his two disciples, his true intention being to have them keep a close watch on Nezha, this important pawn, and guard against any possible accidents.

"I will obey the decree!"

Nezha's eyes turned bloodshot, and without any hesitation, the flames of his Wind Fire Wheels surged, transforming into a streak of light that hurtled downwards! His hatred for the Dragon Clan had reached its peak.

However, just as Nezha set off—

"Boom!!!"

An even more powerful and terrifying demonic aura, like an ancient beast awakening from its slumber, erupted from the depths of the East Sea!

Led by Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea who had just broken through to the Taiyi realm, the Dragon Kings of the West Sea, Ao Run, the Dragon King of the South Sea, and Ao Shun, the Dragon King of the North Sea, revealed parts of their true dragon forms.

With overwhelming dragon might, carrying the billions of elite demons who had broken free from their restraints and accumulated resentment and fighting spirit over countless years in the underwater purgatory, they leaped out of the sea like a black tsunami!

In an instant, demonic clouds obscured the sun, and the roar of a dragon shook the heavens!

Countless strange and ferocious sea monsters and dragon warriors covered the entire sea and sky. Their overwhelming power actually suppressed the momentum of the demon-catching team brought by the Boundless Immortal!

"Taiyi Realm?! You... Ao Guang, you actually cultivated to the Taiyi Immortal realm?!"

The Immortal's pupils suddenly contracted as he stared intently at the harmonious and surging Taiyi Dao aura emanating from Ao Guang. An indescribable sense of jealousy and resentment welled up in his heart.

As the eldest disciple of the Chan Sect, he cultivated diligently for countless eons to reach the Taiyi realm today. What virtue or ability do these mere Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, lackeys of the Heavenly Court, possess?!

Then, something even more humiliating happened.

Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea, a prisoner who had been captured and imprisoned by the Heavenly Court, suddenly unleashed a Taiyi Immortal aura that was no less powerful than that of Ao Guang!

His cultivation level had actually caught up with his!

"Impossible! You wicked dragons, with mediocre talent and imprisoned by the Heavenly Court, how could you possibly break through one after another?!"

The Boundless Immortal was nearly thrown off balance. He hadn't even considered Qin Chuan's existence, and instinctively found a "reasonable" explanation, immediately using it as a weapon of attack. He roared shrilly:

"I understand! It must be you who colluded with Shen Gongbao, using the blood sacrifice of all the people in Chentang Pass as a wicked and heretical method to forcibly enhance your cultivation! Such acts are intolerable to Heaven! Nezha, Crane Boy, Deer Boy! Exterminate these wicked creatures for me, leave no one alive!"

At this moment, Nezha had already fiercely attacked Ao Guang, his Fire-Tipped Spear carrying the blazing flames that could burn the eight wastelands and boundless hatred, piercing straight for Ao Guang's face!

"You old mudfish! Give me back the lives of my parents and fellow villagers in Chentang Pass!"

Facing this furious attack, Ao Guang's eyes were cold. He neither dodged nor avoided it. Instead, he simply raised his hand and grabbed at the air. Instantly, the endless seawater condensed in his hand into a long, cold, mysterious ice blade with flowing runes!

"clang--!"

The expected stalemate did not occur. Nezha felt an overwhelming force coming from the Fire-Tipped Spear, his tiger's mouth split open, and the spear flew out of his hand, turning into a streak of light and falling to an unknown destination!

Nezha staggered backward, his face filled with disbelief. He knew Ao Guang had broken through, but he hadn't expected the difference in skill to be so vast!

"Your power... has been sealed."

Ao Guang succinctly revealed the secret, his gaze falling on the gleaming Qiankun Ring on Nezha's wrist:

"Taiyi set up this circle for you to prevent you from becoming a demon, but it also sealed most of the divine power of your demonic orb."

Nezha looked down at the Universe Ring, a struggle flashing in his eyes, but the image of his parents and fellow villagers' tragic deaths instantly overwhelmed all reason. He abruptly looked up, his gaze becoming crazed and resolute:

"What does it matter if I become a demon, as long as I can get revenge?!"

Without further hesitation, he formed a hand seal and began chanting the incantation that Taiyi Zhenren had strictly forbidden him from using to break the seal on the Qiankun Circle!

In order to gain power comparable to that of the Taiyi Immortal, he was willing to expose his identity as the reincarnation of the Demon Orb and release the sealed dark power that was capable of destroying everything!

"The sun and moon are born together, a thousand spirits renew their origins, the boundless universe is formed..."

The spell had barely begun when a strange thing happened!

"Nah! Stop!"

"My son, no!"

Two familiar voices, so familiar they made Nezha's soul tremble, suddenly rang out, filled with immense anxiety and heartache!

Nezha, who was about to be unsealed, trembled violently, and his incantation came to an abrupt halt.

He turned his head sharply and looked in the direction of the sound. In the distance, he saw his father, Li Jing, and mother, Lady Yin, who should have died in the tragedy at Chentang Pass, standing there unharmed, looking at him with worried expressions!

"Father! Mother?!"

Nezha could hardly believe his eyes. Tears streamed down his face. He no longer cared about the dragon clan or his hatred. Like a lost child who had found his way home, he cried out and ran towards his parents.

Behind Li Jing and his wife followed Ao Bing, and Taiyi Zhenren, whose face was solemn and whose eyes were filled with pain and anger!

"Immeasurable Immortal! You are the true culprit who slaughtered the people of Chentang Pass and framed my Dragon Clan!"

Before Ao Bing could even stand still, he pointed at the Boundless Immortal in the air, his voice clear and angry, revealing a shocking secret!

It turned out that before fleeing, Shen Gongbao carefully examined his younger brother Shen Xiaobao's wounds and discovered a hidden mark that could only be caused by the core techniques of the Chan Sect. He immediately realized that it was Wuliang Xianweng's conspiracy.

He acted decisively, using his profound Taoist magic to create lifelike doubles of Li Jing and his wife to attract attention, thus helping their real bodies escape through a secret passage in the city.

On their way out, Li Jing and his wife encountered Taiyi Zhenren, who had sensed something was wrong and came to investigate, and Ao Bing, who had been subdued. The four of them met up and immediately rushed to the East Sea to uncover the truth!

Li Jing stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder, directly tearing away the last veil of pretense from the Chan Sect:

"Immeasurable Immortal! Your Chan Sect's demon-hunting team captures demons from all over the world, not because they are reformed by the righteous path in the Jade Void Palace as you claim, but because you secretly throw them into this Heavenly Origin Cauldron and refine them alive into 'Heavenly Origin Pills' to enhance their cultivation! Is this to strengthen your Chan Sect's power and cope with the Investiture of the Gods calamity?!"

These words were like a thunderbolt from the blue!

However, faced with this resounding accusation, apart from Taiyi Zhenren showing a pained and incredulous expression, most of the demon-catching team members behind Wuliang Xianweng, including Crane Boy and Deer Boy, remained expressionless, even with a hint of indifference in their eyes, as if they already knew the inside story!

"Senior Brother! How could you... how could you do this! Indiscriminately killing living beings and refining evil pills, this is the behavior of the demonic path! You have failed our Master's teachings!"

Taiyi Zhenren was so angry that he trembled all over and pointed at Wuliang Xianweng, rebuking him angrily.

Faced with all the accusations and Taiyi's rebuke, the panic on Wuliang Immortal's face was only fleeting, before he regained his indifferent composure and even a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Junior Brother Taiyi, you are still so naive."

He looked down at the crowd, his voice carrying a chilling confidence:

"We have served our master for countless years. Do you not know what kind of creatures our master despises most? It is these 'furry, horned, wet-born, egg-laying demon beasts'!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the billions of demons below, as if looking at livestock to be slaughtered, his tone becoming meaningful:

"I use demons to refine pills, strengthen my sect, and cleanse the world. Do you really think I can hide this from my master?"

One sentence, like ice from the heavens, froze everyone's minds.

The Boundless Immortal Elder revealed a knowing, cruel smile:

"Master's tacit approval is an attitude in itself. It is precisely because I am well aware of this that I dare to do this, and dare to scheme against the Dragon Clan! Do you all understand?"

His confidence did not come from his own strength, but from the unspoken tacit approval of his saintly master who was high above the nine heavens and regarded all living beings as pawns!

That's his greatest asset!

Chapter 10 My Fate is in My Own Hands, Not in the Heavens

The Boundless Immortal Elder ceased dwelling on the cryptic acquiescence of the Primordial Heavenly Lord, instead casting his gaze upon the menacing demon-hunting team behind him, his voice carrying both allure and the chilling reality:

"Do you all know that since the establishment of the Demon-Catching Team, from the Crane Boys and Deer Boys down to every disciple, every month we receive 'Heavenly Origin Pills' made from the blood, flesh, and souls of demons to aid our cultivation! This is a real benefit! Let alone these furry and horned beasts, even humans, if it benefits the sect, what harm is there in refining them?!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples of the demon-hunting team showed no pity or remorse whatsoever. Instead, they all revealed an even more determined and even fanatical expression, and their gazes toward the dragons and sea monsters were filled with condescending disdain.

They were already beneficiaries of this cultivation path paved with the corpses of demons, enjoying the rapid advancement brought by the elixirs. Naturally, they were completely obedient to the Boundless Immortal who bestowed all of this upon them, and their loyalty was as firm as a rock.

On the other side, Nezha stared blankly at his parents who had escaped death, then looked at the overwhelming dragons and sea monsters that were not as ferocious as the Immortal Wuliang had described, and then recalled his behavior of indiscriminately killing them.

A burning sense of shame suddenly surged into his heart, making his internal organs feel hot.

As the reincarnation of a demon, he was born to bear the greatest prejudice and rejection in the world. He should have been the one to understand this feeling the most, but he almost became a weapon in the hands of others to slaughter the innocent. This realization made him extremely uncomfortable.

Nezha turned to look at Ao Bing, who was restrained and looked grief-stricken. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse, "Ao Bing, I..."

Ao Bing abruptly turned his head away, unwilling to look at him.

The misunderstanding at Chentang Pass and Nezha's distrust were like ice spikes piercing his heart, and the fragile friendship that had just been established developed irreparable cracks at this moment.

Seeing that Ao Bing ignored him, Nezha's guilt was instantly replaced by even stronger anger!

Although his parents escaped by sheer luck, countless familiar villagers and neighbors in Chentangguan were indeed dead!

This blood debt must be repaid with blood!

"You shameless old thief! Prepare to die—"

Nezha roared and, without hesitation, poured all his complex emotions into the Fire-Tipped Spear in his hand. The spear trembled and spewed out raging flames that could burn the heavens and destroy the earth. Carrying boundless hatred, it tore through the sky and pointed directly at the culprit in the air!

Almost simultaneously, Ao Bing also let out a clear whistle, his Panlong Ice Hammer condensing extremely cold freezing energy, his reason being quite plausible:

"Settle the blood debt you owe for framing my dragon clan!"

However, the hint of worry that flashed deep in his icy blue eyes was not entirely for the sake of his clan, but rather a glance at the red figure charging alone towards the powerful enemy. He kept this true thought to himself.

For the first time, the reincarnations of the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Orb truly joined forces. One was ice, the other fire. Two completely opposite yet equally vast and powerful forces intertwined and entwined, with ice dragons and fire phoenixes dancing together. Their power was earth-shattering, as if they would completely tear this sky apart and return it to chaos!

However, faced with this combined attack that would make even the Taiyi Immortal take it seriously, the Boundless Immortal merely chuckled, extended his withered finger, and gently tapped the void.

An invisible wave, yet containing a strange power of law, instantly spread out.

Nezha and Ao Bing, who were charging forward, suddenly froze, as if they were entangled in an invisible spider web, frozen in mid-air, unable to even blink, their eyes filled with shock, anger and disbelief!

"The Heart-Piercing Curse?!" Master Taiyi's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock, "That's it! At the end of the Ascension Trial, you personally recited the Ascension Curse for Nezha, and it took so much longer than usual! So you secretly tampered with it then, smuggling this evil curse into their souls!"