The Investiture: Unlimited Blade Works Nezha

Because of a certain Daoist Ancestor, the color purple in the Primordial world is associated with majesty and nobility. Even I didn't dare use that title in my own Ziwei Star palace, so there's no way the Sanxiao siblings would dare either.

Arriving here, Nezha acted as casually as if he were strolling around his own home. As he was heading toward the Inner Hall, he saw Old Zhao sneaking around a corner, peering inside.

"Brother Zhao."

Zhao Gongming quickly pulled Nezha to his side, then gestured inside with his hand. Following the direction of Zhao Gongming's gaze, Nezha looked in and saw six female immortals seated in the main hall.

Hmm, most of them were familiar faces.

The Sanxiao sisters occupied the main seats, while No Brainer and Unhappy were dozing off nearby. At the head of the table was Wusheng Laomu, whom Nezha had briefly encountered at the Water and Land Dharma Meeting at Lingshan. Beside her were two female immortals whom Nezha hadn't met before.

Old Zhao dragged Nezha to a side hall. Before Nezha could even ask, Old Zhao activated an Array and began pouring out his grievances.

"Younger brother, let me tell you, that wicked woman is here to sow discord between me and my sisters!"

Seeing the distress on Zhao Gongming's face, Nezha hurriedly consoled him, "Brother Zhao, you and your sisters have supported each other since your transformations; your sibling bond is known by everyone in the Primordial world. Besides, Sister Yun is exceptionally clever, and Sisters Bixiao and Qiongxiao… well, those two have always followed Sister Yun's lead. How could they be swayed by that woman's petty words?"

Zhao Gongming was indeed anxious and overthinking things. In truth, all he wanted was to vent his frustrations to Nezha and be comforted in return.

Nezha's words hit just the right note for Old Zhao. Feeling much better after hearing them, Zhao Gongming went on to explain the three visitors' purpose for coming.

Leading the group was none other than Wusheng Laomu, who needed no introduction. The two immortals in tow, however, were names from Nezha's previous life—Fairy Caiyun and Han Zhi Immortal.

These two could be considered lackeys of Qiongxiao and Bixiao, tagging along as junior sisters. In the original timeline, Fairy Caiyun had the guts to use the Eye-poking Pearl to strike Yuanshi Tianzun—a bold move that dragged the Sanxiao sisters into ruin. Consider her a textbook example of a lively little fairy in the Primordial world.

But in this timeline, possibly due to Nezha's constant meddling creating too much chaos, the Sanxiao sisters gained some reflected glory, and the Heavenly Dao couldn't be bothered to target Caiyun or Han Zhi. Thus, they managed to avoid the Sealing God Tribulation entirely.

No Brainer and Unhappy, while not particularly respected among the higher-ups, were at least regarded as goddesses outside the inner circles. Fairy Caiyun, whose true form is a rainbow cloud, and Han Zhi Immortal, who wields a magical treasure known as the Wind Sack, naturally gravitated toward the Sanxiao sisters. This closeness made their relationship seem entirely reasonable.

Somehow, these two oddballs inexplicably ended up joining the White Lotus Sect, becoming Wusheng Laomu's maids. Zhao Gongming spent ages explaining that Wusheng Laomu's visit was to persuade the Sanxiao sisters to join the White Lotus Sect, with Caiyun and Han Zhi acting as intermediaries.

Wusheng Laomu left an excellent impression on others, her aura exuding Pure Qi without a hint of sinister intent. Add to that the Sanxiao sisters' preexisting acquaintances with her; Yunxiao couldn't very well turn her away at the door.

Initially, Zhao Gongming had been helping receive the guests, but the more he listened, the more he felt there was something off about Wusheng Laomu's words. At first, her statements about the universal suffering of living beings and the idea that salvation could only come from within seemed compassionate, albeit a bit extreme. While not fully understanding it, they could respect the sentiment.

But then, the conversation took a turn. Wusheng Laomu began expounding on concepts like the innate greatness of women, how creation originates from the Yin essence, and how women deserve universal respect for their motherly roles. She swiftly pulled all the female immortals into a paradigm of motherhood.

Old Zhao: …

My three sisters turned into mothers?! I can't accept this!

He had originally intended to boot them out but refrained after receiving a subtle warning glance from Yunxiao. Even so, he wasn't reassured, so he stayed by the door, keeping a close watch. The very idea of his perfectly fine sisters turning into someone else's metaphysical mothers was unacceptable.

Even Nezha was somewhat dumbfounded.

"She came to your Jie Sect territory to recruit your three top Outer Disciples into the White Lotus Sect? Uncle Tongtian didn't just cleave her in two with his sword?"

Ever since achieving a roughly even standing with Saint Tongtian, Nezha had gained some insight into his temperament, enabling him to talk more freely about him without fear.

To Old Zhao, this "favorite nephew" of the Tongtian Sect Master seemed to think along the same lines as he did.

"Our Master showed no reaction. I suspect this Wusheng Laomu must have some profound connection to the Daoist Sect."

Nezha grew even more cautious of Wusheng Laomu. Not only was her cultivation level high, but her background was clearly deep and tangled. As he contemplated this, he subconsciously performed the Mystic Sect Disciple's signature move: counting on his fingers.

He didn't recklessly attempt to divine anything about Wusheng Laomu or the White Lotus Sect, knowing their notoriety. Instead, he decided to examine the Taiping Sect, which he had whimsically founded in the past.

Truth be told, he hadn't paid much attention to this sect for quite some time. Mortals' incense offerings and Qi Fortune meant very little to him these days—helpful, but not necessary.

But as soon as he started divining, an unexpected clue emerged.

At present, the Great Tang Dynasty maintained a constitutional monarchy. The Li Tang Royal Family, being full of talents, had adopted a somewhat chaotic mix of devotional practices.

First, there was the Taiping Sect. They had to honor it, as the dynasty was originally built upon it. The highest object of veneration in the Taiping Sect was their Heavenly King, the Third Prince.

Then came the Daoist Sect, which they also had to revere. The Li Tang clan claimed to be descendants of a Saint's avatar, while their dynasty's founder was a grand-disciple of a Saint. How could they not pay homage to the sect their esteemed ancestor belonged to?

The Buddhist Sect couldn't be ignored, either. Presently, its leader, the Tuo Ta Treasure Light Tathagata, happened to be one of their own forebears.

Lastly, there was the Human Clan's Saint Mother, Lady Nuwa of the Taiping Sect. She couldn't be overlooked either.

In the early Tang period, the Taiping Sect, having played a pivotal founding role, was the dynasty's most influential sect. However, after Daji and Deng Chanyu ascended to the heavens, it lost its principal figures and was subsequently surpassed by the Daoist Sect, now at its peak with the backing of a Saint.

Close behind came the rising Buddhist Sect, which, while comparatively weaker, managed a tenacious foothold.

As for Nuwa and Nezha, who had both largely disengaged, they were relaxedly in third and fourth place.

Nevertheless, there was a core group of elites within the Taiping Sect. Instead of clashing head-on against the might of the Daoist and Buddhist Sects, they adopted a strategy of integration.

Nezha, as the Central Xuanqing Ziwei Emperor in the Daoist Sect and the Great Power Venerate King Buddha in the Buddhist Sect, became the unifying symbol. Taiping Sect followers clapped their hands in satisfaction, saying, "Look, we're all part of one big family!"

Incidentally, the term "Xuanqing" in Nezha's Daoist title was added during his tenure as Acting Heavenly Emperor.

The followers concealed the internal doctrines of the Taiping Sect while outwardly adopting Daoist and Buddhist teachings, seamlessly blending into both sects.

Daoist Sect: The Heavenly Dao is constant; all things should follow their natural course.

Taiping Sect: Look at our version: everything has its patterns of development, and we should actively study and adapt to better align with these patterns.

Daoist Sect: Seems fine to us!

Buddhist Sect: All things are bound by cause and effect. Good actions yield good results; bad actions yield bad results.

Taiping Sect: Look at our version: every phenomenon is caused by another, and any phenomenon produces subsequent ones. A cause triggers an effect, and an effect becomes the cause of another outcome.

Buddhist Sect: No objections here!

Taiping Sect followers leaned back smugly and said, "Now that's what I call a win-win scenario!"

Taiping Sect adherents declared, "Whether it's worshiping the Daoist Central Xuanqing Ziwei Emperor or the Buddhist Great Power Venerate King Buddha, it's all the same. Our sect leader wouldn't mind, no matter which form you choose."

They were right—Nezha didn't really care. As for Lady Nuwa, she cared even less.

These eccentric devotees, cloaked in the guise of others, kept advancing their own agenda and even elevated Nezha's status subtly. In some Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, Nezha's statues were approaching the level of Lingbao Tianzun himself!