Chapter 321 - 313: Finale
A hundred years.
This number is but a flick of the fingers in the Heavenly Realm, yet in the Human World, it’s the passing of three full generations.
Nezha stood on the cloud platform outside the South Heavenly Gate, with the sea of clouds billowing beneath his feet. In his hand, he held a Copper Coin that had dimmed over time—given to him as change by an old man selling pancakes a hundred years ago when he left Chentang Pass. The old man said the Copper Coin was minted the year King Wu campaigned against the rebels and would ensure safety.
The Copper Coin remained, yet the grass on the old man’s grave had likely recurred over many cycles.
The Human World had passed a full hundred years.
During that century, Nezha descended to the Lower Realm thrice. The first time was the tenth year after Xiqi City’s fall, when he descended as a wandering Taoist into the city. The walls were rebuilt, the streets widened, and the blood-soaked bluestone slabs had all been replaced. He stood for a while at the old site of the hall where Ji Fa met his end, now a temple dedicated to the God of Wealth.
The second time was in the thirtieth year. Yin Jiao revived the Shang Tang, established the capital in Bo Zhou, and renamed the country "Xin Shang." That year, the weather was favorable, and harvests bountiful. Yin Jiao performs a fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, offering sacrifices to heaven and earth. Nezha mingled among the spectators and saw Yin Jiao, wearing a black ceremonial robe, step by step ascend the heavenly stairs. At that moment, Yin Jiao looked up towards the sky, his gaze penetrating the clouds, meeting Nezha’s for an instant.
The two did not speak.
A week after the fengshan ceremony, Yin Jiao announced to the world, saying he had dreamed of an Immortal who told him his heavenly mandate had ended, and he should abdicate and seek the Way. The court was in an uproar, but no one dared to stop him. He passed the throne to his eight-year-old nephew and left with only three old servants, sailing east, disappearing into the vast sea.
Folktales say Yin Jiao went to Penglai Immortal Island and attained immortality.