Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha

When Nezha arrived at Lizhu Village, it was already noon. Due to their haste, the two elderly had fallen behind, leaving only Li Cunxin by his side.

No, there was also the big black dog, wagging its tail and panting, nearly rolling its eyes from exhaustion.

Through Li Cunxin's explanations along the way, Nezha had grasped the general idea of the situation.

In the region around Chentang Pass, the practice of sacrificing young boys and girls to the Sea Dragon King had continued for at least three to four hundred years, claiming thousands of lives. The origins of this practice were beyond tracing.

As for which household's children were chosen, it was determined through a lottery among the village families. If unlucky, the selected family had to hand their children over to the village's Great Witch.

The Divine Enthronement world is filled with countless demons and deities. In the ten-mile radius around Chentang Pass, countless ghosts and spirits were worshipped by various villages and tribes, and the Great Witch was the person responsible for conducting rituals in each village, even holding a higher status and prestige than a village head.

Lizhu Village was two miles from the rocky seaside. It was famous for two things: the pearls from the sea and the Pearl Gatherers who dove deep to collect them.

The pearls were so precious they could be offered to Zhaoge for the Emperor, yet Lizhu Village was most renowned for its Pearl Gatherers. Unlike the sheltered noble ladies from affluent households, these women were known for their health and grace. It was said the nobility of Zhaoge preferred the Pearl Gatherers even more than the pearls themselves.

From afar, Lizhu Village looked like a cluster of small brick courtyards. As one approached, the salty sea breeze made it clear that apart from a two-story building on the east side of the village, every household's courtyard was in ruins.

Pearls are precious, Pearl Gatherers are famous, yet regardless of how much filth is involved, Lizhu Village remains poor.

At this moment in Lizhu Village, over a hundred people gathered noisily, as if celebrating the New Year. Yet, the tense atmosphere in the air suggested a fight could break out at any moment.

At the center of the crowd, a man wearing a black silk robe and a horned hat, with a face painted in elaborate oil colors to resemble a blue Yaksha, suddenly raised the iron axe in his hand. His muscled arm jutting out from under the black robe caused an immediate silence.

The man was very satisfied with the reaction of those around him. He indulged in this prestige and power, tilting his head, looking almost disdainfully at the woman glaring at him in front.

This woman had messy hair, a dirty face, and tattered clothes, yet her occasionally revealed figure was shapely. The more he looked at her, the more ridiculous it seemed. When had such a person dared to oppose him?

No, it wasn't even a person—it was like a beast.

He said, "Madam Liu, Li Cunxin's family took their child and ran away. Naturally, a different child must be offered to the Sea Dragon King. You drew the lots yourself. Instead of settling accounts with Li Cunxin's family, why come to me?"

"Give me back my child!"

"Give me back my child!"

His words nearly drove the woman mad. She lunged at him to fight but was fortunately restrained by two people holding her shoulders from behind, while the villagers around muttered amongst themselves.

"Madam Liu, you've gone mad! What kind of madness is this! Your son is to be offered to the Sea Dragon King. If the Sea Dragon King remains calm, everyone can live good lives, and the village will thank you!"

The man's tone shifted as he added, "You've been through this for so many years and you know it's useless. No one will help you. If your child doesn't go, it'll have to be someone else's. Who's willing to take your place?"

"Great Witch, I beg you, return my child to me."

The woman called Madam Liu by the Great Witch was a mother. Her voice was heart-wrenching as she trembled and knelt on the ground, crying desperately as if all her strength had been drained.

The Great Witch sneered inwardly, raising his tone suddenly, as if speaking to Madam Liu, yet also addressing the villagers: "Sacrificing to the Sea Dragon King is a major event for the whole village. Madam Liu, your husband died early, and I do not wish to trouble you as a widow. If you are unwilling, then go reason with the Sea Patrol Yaksa yourself. If he agrees to give the child back, your child will naturally be fine. Otherwise, do not come to blame me in the future!"

After these words, the surrounding area gradually quieted down, showing only apathy, without disappointment on people's faces.

Beyond Lizhu Village, for anyone who grew up in a fishing village, such scenes were common. From a young age, throughout their lives, this place had always been this way. It was the same before Li Jing came, and it remained the same afterward, seeming as if it would never change.

Perhaps someone had resisted before, but the outcomes were all the same.

Madam Liu despaired, lying on the dusty stone path, her clothes dirtier and more tattered, with no indication of her thoughts. Amidst the dense crowd, only the sound of her sobbing could be heard.

"Madam Liu, the villagers' matters are paramount. We live off the sea, we must, of course, honor the Sea Dragon King. You had best stop this commotion or else face village punishment. I'll see who dares to stand up for you then!"

"I will stand up for her!!!"

The Great Witch of Lizhu Village, with a stern and enigmatic expression, had secretly begun to feel smug. Then suddenly hearing this voice, he almost thought he misheard.

Not only him, but the surrounding villagers and the prone Madam Liu all suddenly heard the sound of this immature voice.

Everyone thought they were hallucinating, as otherwise, how could they hear this long-buried, much-anticipated statement?

"I will stand up for her!"

The voice came again, this time clearly heard by everyone as they turned their heads toward the direction of the voice, making way.

The Great Witch also looked over, seeing one tall and one short figure standing there. He focused his gaze and laughed, "I wondered who it was. Li Cunxin, you still have the guts to come back. Do you even know that by running away, you almost caused the death of Liu Widow's boy?"

"You!" Li Cunxin was incited by the comment, about to retort, but only managed to utter a single word before facing Liu Widow's resentful gaze.

Indeed, it was resentment.

He thought, if I hadn't run, Liu Widow's boy wouldn't be in trouble.

That boy's father had been his childhood friend, injured at sea, and before dying, he had asked Li Cunxin to look after his family. Yet I... and Lv Zhu'er.

Li Cunxin, a man seven feet tall, clenched his fists tight, with tears in his eyes and teeth clamped shut, unable to say another word.

Seeing this scene, the Great Witch grew even more complacent.

Lizhu Village only had a few dozen households, barely over a hundred people. Everyone knew each other's roots, and the Great Witch understood Li Cunxin thoroughly. The only question now was who had given him the foolish idea to flee with his daughter.

"Are you the Great Witch?"

The Great Witch finally cast his gaze at the half-grown child beside Li Cunxin. The child's appearance and demeanor were entirely unlike those of a fisher's child, which startled him.

Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "And who might you be, boy, daring to boast about disrupting the Sea Dragon King's sacrifices?"

Nezha gave him a cold look, the tone frigid enough to make the sweltering July day feel like a snowy, icy night. He said, "Answer my question. Are you the Great Witch of Lizhu Village?"