Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha
Chapter 145 Fire Burns Down Luanyi City

Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Fire Burns Down Luanyi City

The official found Yang Ren, and Yang Ren inquired about Jiang Shang’s incident of jumping into the river in the morning.

The official said, "The Emperor ordered Jiang Shang to build the Deer Platform. Jiang Shang was unwilling, which angered the Emperor, so he jumped into the river to his death. Now, the Emperor and the Empress plan to order Chong Houhu to oversee the construction of the Deer Platform."

"What is this Deer Platform?"

"Lady Su presented the design. It is four zhang and nine chi high... Today, Chong Houhu is commanded to oversee its construction. I have seen the Emperor’s actions resemble those of King Jie, and I cannot bear to see the empire become ruins. I have come to see you because you are loyal to the country and have served three dynasties with distinction. If you can persuade His Majesty to stop building the Deer Platform, you would relieve the suffering of the masses laboring in mud and hauling soil, and spare merchants from ruinous losses. This is an act of compassion that would be remembered for centuries."

Yang Ren listened, hesitated for a moment, and said, "First, withhold the decree and let me enter the palace to meet the Emperor; then we can decide."

Not long after, at the Star Pick Building, King Zhou, who was indulging in pleasures, summoned Yang Ren upstairs.

"What do you have to report?"

Yang Ren eloquently delivered a passionate speech, his words resounding and filled with righteous indignation, moving heaven and earth.

But listening to yet another plea to cease the Deer Platform’s construction, King Zhou grew irritated and simply tuned out Yang Ren’s words.

Frowning, King Zhou coldly remarked after Yang Ren finished, "You fool, a mere commoner; what do you know of the benefits of the Deer Platform? Because of your service to three generations of emperors, I will spare your life! Guards, gouge out this man’s eyes!"

At the mention of losing his eyes, Yang Ren shuddered, stepped forward bravely, and said, "Even if I lose my eyes, I dare not whimper. I fear, however, the vassals of this land will not bear to see me suffer such agony!"

With that, the guards escorted Yang Ren downstairs. Soon after, they brought up a blood-soaked iron tray with his gouged-out eyes.

Far away, hundreds of miles away.

In the Purple Sun Cave of Qingfeng Mountain.

There was a true personage, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, the Qingxu Daoist.

Feeling a stirring of destiny, he calculated with his fingers and slightly smiled, saying to the boy attending him, "Yang Ren’s name is on the Investiture of the Gods. According to Hong Jun’s Secret Scripture, he and I are destined to have a master-disciple relationship. Very well, I will save him today."

Then, the True Monarch commanded the Golden Warriors, "Go to Zhaoge and bring Yang Ren back to the mountain!"

The Golden Warrior accepted the order, rode a whirlwind to Zhaoge, appearing in a flash beneath the Star Pick Building, where he saw Mo Lishou presiding over the building. Cautious, he secretly used spells, conjuring three divine winds.

The wind swept up, filling the air with a strange fragrance, lifting sand and dust, overturning people and horses.

When the wind died down, Yang Ren’s mortal body had vanished as if blown away.

The Warrior brought Yang Ren’s body back to the Purple Sun Cave, laid it on the ground, and reported back to the True Monarch.

The Daoist emerged, had the Cloud Boy under his command take two precious Immortal Pills from a gourd, and placed them in Yang Ren’s blood-stained eye sockets.

Then, the True Monarch exercised his Innate True Qi, blowing on Yang Ren’s face while performing a spell, commanding, "Yang Ren, awaken now or never!"

Behold the wondrous art of immortals, bringing the dead back to life.

Yang Ren’s eye sockets squirmed with blood and flesh, swiftly growing two layers of skin, which opened to reveal alabaster white hands with open fingers, each palm holding an eye.

These eyes were not of mortal birth but gifts from heaven, known as the Heavenly Eyes, with which one could see the heavens above, the earth below, and discern all matters of the human world in between.

Upon awakening, under the Daoist’s persuasion, Yang Ren accepted the Qingxu Daoist as his master and began his cultivation in Qingfeng Mountain.

"Taken away by the wind yet again, truly a marvel."

Meanwhile, with Yang Ren’s demise, King Zhou no longer cared and ordered the official to ride quickly to Beibo Hou, commanding him to oversee the construction of the Deer Platform.

As it happens, Chong Houhu was also one of the four most feared and infamous vassals in the world.

Upon reaching Chong Houhu’s domain, the official rested his mount at an inn, planning to enter the city on foot, but from afar, he could hear the thunderous sounds of battle cries and see fires burning, the clanging of weapons piercing the ears.

"Could it be military exercises?"

The official noticed the inn was unmanned, which deepened his suspicion.

Standing on tiptoe to peer towards the city, he saw a dark cloud looming about twenty to thirty zhang above the city head. Despite no wind or rain, countless silver serpents danced and struck straight towards the city!

"Could this be... demonic activity?"

As a mere mortal, the official could not grasp what was truly unfolding before him.

Inside Luanyi City, giant iron stakes were driven into the ground, lightning flickered across the stakes, and any approaching armored soldier was struck dead by the thunder.

From overhead, lightning would occasionally fall, immediately attracted to the stakes, the powerful currents channelled into the ground.

Under the great city, Chong Houhu, clad in armor and holding a blade, was surrounded by his soldiers.

He looked up at the sky, seeing a handsome young figure standing amidst the dark clouds and lightning.

With eyes wide with anger, Chong Houhu shouted, "Who are you really?"

The youth’s red silk fluttered in the wind, exuding heroic grace, none other than Nezha.

A rain of arrows passed over him in the sky, but he did not dodge. The arrows broke on contact, unable to scratch his skin.

Another cultivator in the God Absorption Realm rose into the sky wielding a giant axe to strike him down, but only one pierce from Nezha’s spear, a cold flash, and it penetrated his chest.

A flick of the wrist, and that soldier shattered into pieces.

Flesh and blood rained down from the sky.

Seeing the soldiers protecting Chong Houhu at the center, Nezha sneered, "A nice turtle shell. But let’s see if this old turtle fears the fire!"

He spun the tip of the Fire-tipped Spear, and a sea of black-red fire with toxic smoke descended upon the city, sending soldiers scattering, dozens of military generals were consumed by flames, burning to ashes before they could even scream!

Chong Houhu activated a talisman seal on his armor, rolling and crawling out of the sea of fire, utterly terrified, yet seeing a sword light aiming at him.

He raised his steel blade to block, but it was cut in two immediately.

Then the sword light struck his armor, illuminating countless runes.

These runes entwined and encompassed profound principles of the universe, instantly nullifying the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi on Nezha’s sword.

The light on the Seven-star Treasure Sword dimmed, the fearsome turbulence comprised of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi vanished.

Yet the sword’s momentum did not cease, cutting through the intricate lines on Chong Houhu’s armor with pure force.

With a clang, Chong Houhu’s armor split in two, falling to the ground.

He staggered back several steps, leaning against the wall, gasping heavily.

Thanks to the Rune Armor’s protection, he was almost unharmed until now.

But the youth, seeming to command thunderclouds and wielding a fearsome sword, shattered his courage entirely,

"Who are you? We have no enmity, why do you kill me?"

Nezha’s voice, like thunder, echoed all around, shouting, "Chong Houhu, you meet your end yet remain unaware? Your wickedness knows no bounds, exploiting the people, collaborating with Fei Zhong and You Hun, supervising the construction of the Star Pick Building. I’ve heard you extort the people mercilessly, and under your watch, the masses suffer unbearably. Heaven cannot tolerate this! Not only do you fail to repent, but you also proceed to build the Deer Platform for a foolish king. Today, I shall act in accordance with heavenly justice!"

On hearing this, Chong Houhu was stunned.

Indeed, he supervised the construction of the Star Pick Building, exploiting the citizens of Zhaoge, with the wealthy buying their way out of labor, and the poor risking their lives at the construction site...

At that time, it certainly led to immense public outrage.

But as for the Deer Platform.

With an aggrieved tone, he shouted, "What is the Deer Platform? How could it be that the Great King instructed me to build the Deer Platform without my knowledge?"

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