The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha
Chapter 340 - 339: Why Won’t You Kneel?

Chapter 340: Chapter 339: Why Won’t You Kneel?

The three of them didn’t doubt the truth of Nezha’s words. Although this demon god might not actually be named Feces Demon God, his abilities were likely close to how Nezha described them.

In the past, Chaos creatures seemed distant and unrelated to them. But now, the remains of a Chaos Origin-level Chaos Demon God were lying just outside the Primordial world, and it was anyone’s guess when they might directly confront such creatures.

Hao Tian understood this the most profoundly, as he had spent nearly ten thousand years near the remnants of the Chaos Demon God.

The upper ranks had fallen silent in contemplation, and as a result, the lower tiers could no longer maintain their lively atmosphere.

Just as the grand ceremony grew quiet, a female immortal suddenly came forward to report.

"Reporting to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother: there’s an immortal outside claiming to be the East King who has come to attend the banquet."

The East King—such a long-forgotten title.

The moment this name was mentioned, the expressions of figures like Zhen Yuanzi in the crowd subtly shifted. How could someone who had supposedly been dead for countless generations suddenly appear here?

"Did he... did he say anything else?"

Hao Tian narrowed his eyes and asked, "What else did he claim?"

The Little Fairy lowered her head fearfully and answered, "He said he was the male immortal leader personally appointed by the Daoist Ancestor. Could he not attend the Daoist Ancestor’s disciple’s banquet?"

Hao Tian’s expression darkened, but he had no choice but to allow the East King to enter. If this East King was an impostor, then it would be a perfect excuse to eliminate him outright.

But if he turned out to be genuine, then Hao Tian could not afford to block his entrance. After all, his authority over the Three Realms stemmed from the Daoist Ancestor. Denying the East King, who had once been acknowledged by the Daoist Ancestor as the leader of male immortals, would be tantamount to undermining his own legitimacy.

"Summon the East King for an audience."

"Summon the East King for an audience!"

Ah, the old trick—start with an intimidation tactic. Hao Tian intended to make it clear: the current ruler was him, Hao Tian, and not some East King who had been missing for countless Yuan Hui.

Before long, an elder walking with a cane paced leisurely into the hall. Nezha stole a quick glance; he didn’t recognize anyone resembling the East King, but something about this man felt off.

The East King, having entered, neither bowed nor spoke, instead locking eyes with Hao Tian. Hao Tian, for his part, didn’t back down and returned the gaze. Neither of them saluted, each believing their stature to be higher than the other’s.

The other immortals looked on with an air of entertainment. Without needing further analysis, one could already tell that the East King had come to stir up trouble.

Hao Tian wasn’t merely engaging in a standoff; he was also trying to probe the East King’s origins. Yet after a prolonged observation, he couldn’t detect anything unusual. For all intents and purposes, it seemed as though the true East King had genuinely returned.

The East King also knew that asserting dominance over Hao Tian would mean asserting dominance over eighty percent of the immortals present.

"I am the male immortal leader conferred by the Daoist Ancestor in the past. Why does Your Majesty not bow upon seeing me?"

It was impossible for Hao Tian to bow to an East King of uncertain authenticity in front of everyone—it would utterly tarnish his dignity and render the Heavenly Court unmanageable.

Their standoff continued awkwardly. However, the East King wasn’t here unprepared. With a casual shake of his cane, a layer of grime instantly fell off, revealing the Dragon Head Cane underneath.

Raising the Dragon Head Cane high, the East King directed his voice at Hao Tian, "Hao Tian, upon seeing this cane, do you not prostrate yourself?"

Hao Tian clenched his fists tightly. He absolutely recognized this object; it was the Dragon Head Cane, the very token granted to the East King by the Daoist Ancestor in ages past. Even Taiyi and his brother wouldn’t acknowledge this item, but Hao Tian had no choice but to.

After repeatedly confirming its authenticity, he knew this token was undeniably genuine. Yet to kneel in front of the assembly would be too humiliating. Though technically bowing to the cane, who was holding the cane? The East King.

Forced into a corner, he braced himself and declared, "I was crowned the Lord of the Three Realms by the Daoist Ancestor; are you here merely to avoid paying your respects at this banquet?"

The East King paused for a moment before replying, "Fair enough."

And so, as if by mutual understanding, the two began a ritual bowing contest.

"Child Hao Tian greets the Elder."

"The East King greets the Great Venerable."

The scene was so surreal that the immortals present couldn’t quite believe what they were witnessing. But seeing Hao Tian bow, the others quickly followed suit in succession.

Behind Maitreya, one of his newly accepted disciples wore a face of utter astonishment, as if he could remain in shock for a century. This was the peak of the Primordial hierarchy? Truly, he had seen it all!

The hall briefly descended into chaos. In the end, only the Queen Mother, Xuan Du, Duobao, and Nezha remained calmly seated.

After the farcical grand ceremony concluded, the East King raised the Dragon Head Cane and turned to the Queen Mother. "Why do you refuse to bow?"

The Queen Mother replied with perfect composure, "This is the token of the male immortal leader. Why should a female immortal such as myself bow?"

The East King: ...

That... seemed to make a lot of sense.

After questioning the Queen Mother, he turned his gaze to Xuan Du. "And why don’t you bow? Are you also claiming to be a female immortal?"

Hao Tian, perhaps feeling that his authority was being challenged or simply curious, made no move to stop him.

Xuan Du, unflinching, answered, "I bow only to my master, my senior uncles, and my grandmaster."

Duobao Daoist added in agreement, "As disciples of the Mystic Sect, how could we kneel lightly or without reason?"

The East King: ...

What on earth had the Primordial world turned into with such complex power dynamics?

Finally, his eyes landed on Nezha. Among those he scanned, a mere Taiyi Golden Immortal was no different from an ant.

"And why do you, a mere Taiyi Golden Immortal, refuse to kneel?"

"Bang!" Nezha slammed the table and stood up. "I am of the Mystic Sect, the future successor of the Primordial world—why should I kneel to a Chaos Demon God like you?"

Hao Tian’s expression instantly darkened. As a mere servant-turned-Lord of the Three Realms, he could bow to the Daoist Ancestor, to the Ancestor’s token—but to kneel to a Chaos Demon God? Never.

Yet he couldn’t immediately act without proof to expose the East King. But deep inside, he already trusted Nezha’s judgment—Nezha was not one to fail in these matters.

"How dare you slander me, you insolent whelp? If I am so unwelcome, I shall take my leave!"

Furious, the East King struck the Dragon Head Cane against the ground with a resounding "bang" and stormed away, looking humiliated.

Nezha sneered inwardly. Did he think changing his disguise would fool anyone after all their time chasing him in the Chaos?

Leaping into the air, Nezha summoned the Sun-shooting Bow and God Slaying Spear. Without a shred of hesitation, he bent the bow and nocked an arrow, aiming straight at the East King’s head, then unleashed it with full force.

The terrifying killing intent turned the faces of the assembled gods pale as death.

The God Slaying Spear transformed into a brown beam of light and pierced through the East King’s body, but what erupted from the wound wasn’t flesh or blood. Instead, putrid, foul-smelling sludge spilled forth in endless streams.

The "East King" had underestimated the current rules of the world, or perhaps he hadn’t expected Nezha to abandon all pretense and strike first. Maybe he simply couldn’t fathom that an "ant" would dare attack him. Whatever the reason, despite suffering only minor injuries, the blow utterly shattered his disguise.

The Queen Mother’s face darkened at the sight. Who would’ve thought her grand birthday celebration would draw out a Chaos Demon God? Hao Tian’s face was even darker, his fury reaching an unbearable peak as he attacked without hesitation.

Nezha, having exposed the East King’s pretense, unfurled the Mountain and River Map, sweeping all those nearby into its confines. No matter how weakened this creature might have been, its mere infiltration into the Primordial world meant it was far beyond Nezha’s league.

Having been exposed, the East King dropped all pretense. From beneath his robes, his skin writhed as it oozed putrid sludge, which splattered onto the Turquoise Pool with disgusting wet smacks.