Mian Yu Deng pretended to think, waiting for a while. Seeing that Taiyi Zhenren didn't show up soon and the Nvwa side had no response either, as the niece-in-law of Li Jing, it was reasonable for her to give her nephew a name and could not be avoided.
"Brother, when my third son was born, he was contaminated with a touch of the yiehua fire. He is naturally a fire-type person, and water brings him suffering. Therefore, he cannot continue to be named according to the five elements."
Li Jing's eldest son was Jinzha, and his second son was Mutcha. According to the order of the five elements, his third son should be called Shizha. However, Nezha's destiny indeed clashed with water, calling him Shizha would be like looking for trouble.
Deng Chanyu's voice dropped by two notches: "And it seems that sister-in-law will probably..."
Although Li Jing was not accomplished in Daoism, he had learned a bit of medicine in his cultivation. After examining the body of Mrs. Yan, he nodded with a slightly solemn expression: "I know."
Mrs. Yan suffered greatly when giving birth to Nezha. She was pregnant for three years and provided continuous nutrition for the child in her belly, using a human body to nurture a celestial fetus. Her body was completely ruined, and even if she took some divine medicines to regulate her body in the future, the foundation was lost, and she would never be able to have children again.
Li Jing's original plan of having five children, each belonging to one of the five elements, was cut short. It was no longer necessary to dwell on the circle of Shizha and Huochaha.
Deng Chanyu stuck to the original: "Let's call him Nezha."
There is no meaning of expelling evil in it. "Zha" means to dissuade evil, and the name itself naturally carries a sense of fighting against heaven and earth.
Li Jing's face lit up with joy. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "Brother's little sister just arrived in Chentang Pass, and this child was born right behind him. I'm sure we are destined to be related. Since we are all one family, let this child become your disciple and listen to your instructions, both day and night."
Deng Chanyu felt her head was splitting, she really feared what would come.
Nezha's character was actually not good. He innocently killed the Night Demon, the Dragon King's third son, and then beat up the Dragon King. He shot dead the child of Princess Shiji, and he didn't even think about apologizing. His mindset was more of a 'strike first and ask questions later' approach—kill another one before I apologize! This would be considered a bad deed in any era.
The evil in this situation, both inborn and acquired, has different causes.
Taiyi Zhenren said it was to take a disciple, but in reality, from Nezha's birth until he turned seven and killed the Dragon King's third son, Taiyi Zhenren didn't teach him much. As a mortal parent, they didn't know how to teach him either. In the end, Nezha developed a personality of a little bully.
Taiyi Zhenren bears a great responsibility here. Killing the Stone Mother Queen has already created a karmic debt, according to the logic of the Western Two Sages and certain Chanyu. It was unnecessary to make Nezha repay his father with his bones and his mother with his flesh. The only explanation for Taiyi Zhenren's actions was to sever Nezha's bloodline connection with his biological parents, making him a disciple completely belonging to him alone.
There are so many demons who have to spend a lot of brainpower to take on human forms, and even celestials reincarnating have to be reborn among humans. Why don't they choose to take on the form of lotus roots? Are they really that foolish? Why only Taiyi Zhenren, who is a wise person?
Lotus roots appear strong, but the strength comes from Nezha himself, not the lotus roots. He would be equally strong whether he reincarnates into a stone or wood.
Abandoning the human body is a huge loss for Nezha himself. Not only does it mean that the hardships his mother endured through three years of pregnancy are wasted, but it also means he will be forever unable to pursue the Great Path.
The lotus root body has its limits.
Taiyi Zhenren's explanation was that he would use the lotus root body to neutralize the kill aura Nezha was born with, and at the same time, give an account to the Dragon Palace and the Stone Mother Queen who was killed. This explanation has some merit, but are there no other solutions? Nezha carving himself into pieces in front of his biological parents, causing them great pain and making them weep bitterly, is not something that can be justified from any angle.
Deng Chanyu felt a complex mix of emotions and modestly replied, "My cultivation is shallow, and I'm afraid I am not qualified to be a teacher of others."
Li Jing happily agreed, "Brother, I believe you."
With the conversation at this point, Deng Chanyu couldn't refuse.
She lowered her voice, "It's not that the younger sister is dodging, but Brother, please wait a moment. I need to consult with my teacher."
Li Jing knew that Deng Chanyu was a disciple of Nuwa. His eldest son was under the tutelage of Wen Shu Guangfa Tianzun, and his second son was under the guidance of Pu Xian Zhenren. Both of them were disciples of the saint, understanding the procedures involved. Now, Deng Chanyu wanted to take his third son as a disciple, and she needed approval from the Saint, which posed no problem for Li Jing.
"Alright."
Deng Chanyu took out the Heaven and Earth Society Map and reported to Nuwa about the matter of adopting Nezha as a disciple.
What do you think, Teacher? Would this interfere with your and the Hsun Tiao's planning?
Nuwa quickly got up from her cloud bed, sat calmly and motionlessly, a joyous cloud floating above her head, the essence of teaching filling her entire body, adopting an appearance of being engaged in cultivation. After waiting for a full half incense stick's time, she replied to Deng Chanyu with a single character: "Can."
Teacher's agreement makes it easier for Deng Chanyu.
"Alright, Li Nezha, the Daoist and your father have eight times of respect and bond, which also makes me your elder. Will you be willing to take me as your master?"
In the original text, Taiyi Zhenren did not ask Nezha directly; the parents' consent was sufficient, and there was no need for Nezha's agreement. Deng Chanyu felt that it was still respectful to ask Nezha's opinion. If you don't want to, then I can take the opportunity to step down.
"Student, I have seen the teacher."
"Alright, you also count as my third generation disciple in the Mystic School. My teacher is the human race's Mother of All Nations and a heavenly saint, Nüwa. Your previous life has nothing to do with this life, and your fate is bound to death. Today, I will teach you your first lesson as your master—filial piety towards your parents. Your mother endured great hardships for three years and six months while carrying you in her womb. Do you know how much suffering she went through? Let's go first and pay a visit to your mother."
Deng Chanyu is not Taiyi Zhenren, and she herself is just beginning her path of cultivation. She really doesn't have much to teach at this point. Fortunately, Nezha did not start causing trouble in the Dragon Palace right after birth; there's a span of seven years between them. In those seven years, she feels she can advance two or three levels, reaching the rank of a celestial or archaic immortal. Then, when teaching a disciple, she will have more confidence.
When Deng Chanyu adopted Nezha as her disciple, Taiyi Zhenren sensed something and realized that their teacher-student relationship was severed.
He was very angry. For the sudden intrusion of the Ten Heavenly Palaces, he was eager to hate. With his higher cultivation, he first wounded the Golden Light Saint Mother with his sword and then raised the Dragon King Fire Screen, burning to death Zhao Jiang, the second-ranked Ten Heavenly Palaces.
This Zhao Jiang seemed like a nutcase to him.
When other immortals duel, they have their divine robes, divine talismans, and protective magical items. Whether they are of high rank or not, you should at least prepare two items, right?
Zhao Jiang and Zhao Tianjun had no protective measures, almost shirtless, as they fought Taiyi Zhenren.
Taiyi Zhenren was not a soft-hearted Daoist, as in the original timeline when he burned the Stone Mother Queen to death, he didn't hesitate. At that moment, he also showed no hesitation. As soon as he raised the Dragon King Fire Screen, Zhao Jiang was turned into charcoal.
