Nezha flew into the Taoist Palace and shouted, "Master, Master, are you home?"
"See me in the main hall." A voice responded.
Nezha immediately turned and flew through pavilions and terraces to enter the main hall, where he saw Taiyi True Man meditating.
Nezha performed a salute and said cheerfully, "Master, I’ve come to seek help again on uncle’s request."
The expression on Taiyi True Man’s face changed twice as he spoke solemnly, "Nezha, how has your master treated you?"
"Should be pretty good, I guess!"
The corners of Master Taiyi’s mouth twitched, and after coughing, he said, "Nezha, you are my only disciple. I have devoted all my efforts to you and treated you extremely well, haven’t I?"
Nezha thought for a moment; besides not teaching him how to conduct oneself in society, he seemed to have not lacked any magical treasures or divine skills, and nodded, "Master has indeed treated his disciple very well."
Taiyi True Man revealed a smile and said, "Nezha, go back and tell Jiang Ziya that I am in seclusion and cannot go, and ask him to seek help elsewhere."
Nezha nonchalantly said, "It’s fine if Master is in seclusion! Uncle Jiang just wants to borrow your Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield. You can just give it to me."
Taiyi True Man’s eyes immediately flared with fire, and he was furiously thinking, I knew it, I knew this day would come. Jiang Ziya, you finally set your sights on my Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield, and even had my own disciple come for it, what a malicious heart.
Seeing Taiyi True Man’s complexion changing continuously, now gloomy, now angry, Nezha carefully asked, "Master, Master, what’s wrong?"
Taiyi True Man snapped back to reality and said fiercely, "Nezha, tell your master the truth, has the Jie Sect Law Enforcement Team appeared again? Does Jiang Ziya want to exchange my Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield with the Lord of Gods and Demons?"
Nezha was startled, what is all this about! He quickly explained, "Master, you’ve misunderstood, the Law Enforcement Team hasn’t appeared, and Uncle Jiang has no intention of making a deal with the Lord of Gods and Demons."
He then repeated the news of the Fire Spirit Saint Mother’s appearance, as well as the Western Sect’s Mahasthamaprapta’s suggestion to fight fire with fire, using the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield against the Fire Spirit Saint Mother.
Taiyi True Man asked skeptically, "Is it really just that? The Law Enforcement Team didn’t come?"
Nezha nodded and said, "Yes, that’s it! Although that woman’s cultivation is not weak, she’s not to be feared. It’s just because of her hair crown that emits golden light, providing Golden Light Protection against any weapon, so Uncle Jiang asked me to borrow the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield to incinerate her with fierce flames."
Taiyi True Man rose floatingly and said, "So be it! Since you’ve encountered difficulties, I will accompany you on this journey."
Nezha said with a smile, "Master, just give me the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield, and I can suppress her myself. You can continue your seclusion."
Taiyi True Man coughed and said, "The Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield is of extraordinary power. You cannot control its might if you wield it, for fear of harming the innocent. It’s better that I go myself!" Giving the magic treasure to Jiang Ziya? Is it even possible to get it back?!
"Master, weren’t you going into seclusion?"
"The matter of Divine Enthronement is of importance; seclusion and cultivation can be postponed to another day."
With the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield, Taiyi True Man went to the Sealing God Battlefield and met Jiang Ziya and others within the West Qi Camp.
Jiang Ziya issued a challenge to battle, and upon the great river, Taiyi True Man wielded the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield to battle the Fire Spirit Saint Mother, but unexpectedly, the Fire Spirit Saint Mother raised a colossal wave of Netherworld River Water, extinguishing the Nine Dragon Divine Fire. Under the deluge of Netherworld Water, even Taiyi True Man could not resist and was forced to flee in disarray.
Mahasthamaprapta, Yang Jian, Nezha, Lei Zhenzi, and the others also suffered defeat and scrambled to escape.
Within the West Qi Camp, All Immortals of Chan Sect and All Buddhas of Western Sect gathered, the air heavy with tension—they’d been defeated again. How could they be defeated if not facing the Jie Sect Law Enforcement Team?
Li Jing spoke with grave concern, "What kind of water did she unleash? Even Taoyi Immortal Master couldn’t withstand it."
Nezha also exclaimed, "Master, that water is formidable! It’s best to summon the other Masters and Uncles too!"
Mahasthamaprapta hurriedly said, "There’s no need for that, for I possess a method to deal with the Fire Spirit Saint Mother!"
Jiang Ziya said, "Please do impart this knowledge, Fellow Daoist."
Mahasthamaprapta raised his head and puffed out his chest, speaking solemnly, "I possess a treasure named Illusion Dream Pearl. With this treasure, one can construct a dream realm over reality, where everything is illusory, and yin and yang are reversed, turning the impossible into the possible, allowing one to easily slay the Fire Spirit Saint Mother."
Jiang Ziya said joyfully, "With such a magical treasure in hand, why did Fellow Daoist not reveal it sooner?" He reached out, anticipating, "Please, lend me the treasure for a while."
Mahasthamaprapta extended his hand, and within his palm, a Round Pearl emerged, with ethereal rainbow light wafting out, dreamlike and illusory.
Mahasthamaprapta passed the Round Pearl over, smiling, "Please, Fellow Daoist!"
Jiang Ziya took the Round Pearl and examined it, then coughed and stood up, saying, "Fellow Daoist, please sit for a moment. I’ve suddenly come upon an urgent matter and must excuse myself."
Mahasthamaprapta said with a smile, "Please, feel free, Fellow Daoist!"
Jiang Ziya flashed an apologetic smile and quickly stepped out of the tent, his figure vanishing from sight.
Jin Naluo urgently transmitted his voice on the side, "Bodhisattva, why did you hand over such a treasure to Jiang Ziya? Aren’t you worried it won’t be returned?"
Mahasthamaprapta extended his hand and said with a smile, "Isn’t the Treasure Bead right here?"
A glorious Treasure Bead appeared in the palm of Mahasthamaprapta, identical to the one handed over earlier.
Beside him, Nezha and Yang Jian turned their eyes in amazement. Eh—didn’t Master just take the Treasure Bead away? Has he already used some skill to retrieve it?
Moments later, Jiang Ziya walked back in and immediately noticed the Treasure Bead in Mahasthamaprapta’s hand, speaking discontentedly, "Fellow Daoist, what is this about? You agreed to let me use it, so why reclaim it by trickery?"
Mahasthamaprapta chuckled, "Prime Minister is mistaken. This bead is the Illusion Dream Pearl, lacking physical form and existing within a dream. It will be wherever I think it should be."
Jiang Ziya exclaimed, "That’s incredible! Such a wondrous treasure can truly be considered a Supreme Treasure!"
Mahasthamaprapta continued to smile, "In fact, this is merely a condensed illusion of a dream, no different from the dreams of mortals. Hence, it holds no value and cannot be traded."
Master Taiyi suddenly interjected from the side, "I’ve heard that the Heavenly teachings of the Western practice involve enlightenment through dreams."
"The Daoist is correct; this is derived from the path of enlightenment through dreams."
Master Taiyi nodded and said, "Ziya junior brother, you manipulate the Illusion Dream Pearl."
"Yes!" Jiang Ziya stepped forward and took the Illusion Dream Pearl again, glancing at Mahasthamaprapta—you’re not going to take this pearl back again, are you?!
Mahasthamaprapta stood up, bringing his hands together in salute, "Now, it’s all up to Fellow Daoist."
Holding the Illusion Dream Pearl, Jiang Ziya walked out of the Xi Qi Camp, followed by Taoyi Immortal Master, Yang Jian, Nezha, Mahasthamaprapta, and others.
Jiang Ziya stood before the surging river, clenching his fist, a thrill in his heart. It was time to shake the Primordial World, for a Prime Minister who avoids battle is not a good Marshal.