The once - clear sky above Chentangguan was now filled with a lingering, oppressive darkness. The aftermath of the Heavenly Tribulation had left the land in a state of desolation. The ground was scorched, and the air was thick with the smell of sulfur and charred earth. Amidst the ruins, the Li family's residence, which had once been a symbol of hope and stability in the town, now stood as a shattered reminder of the recent cataclysm.

Inside the dilapidated house, Taiyi Zhenren paced back and forth anxiously. His usually jovial face was now etched with worry, and his eyes were fixed on two semi - transparent figures floating in mid - air - Ne Zha and Ao Bing. Their souls, though still intact, were flickering weakly, like two candles on the verge of being extinguished. Their physical bodies, once strong and full of life, were now nothing but a wisp of dissipating energy.

"Come on, come on. There must be a way," Taiyi muttered to himself, his hands nervously fidgeting with the jade pendant around his neck. "I can't let you two down. Master Yuanshi trusted me with this task, and I will not fail."

Just then, a gust of wind blew through the broken window, causing the papers on the table to scatter. Taiyi looked up, his eyes narrowing. "Who's there?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty room.

There was a moment of silence, and then a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Shen Gongbao, his face hidden beneath a wide - brimmed hat. "Taiyi," he said, his voice cold and mocking. "You look like you're in quite a predicament."

Taiyi's eyes widened in anger. "Shen Gongbao! What are you doing here? You're the one who caused all this chaos in the first place!"

Shen Gongbao let out a cold laugh. "Oh, come now. You can't blame me for everything. I was just following my own path. But I must say, you've really gotten yourself into a tight spot this time. What are you going to do? Those two are on the verge of disappearing forever."

Taiyi gritted his teeth. "I will save them. I have the Seven - Colored Lotus. It has the power to reshape their bodies."

Shen Gongbao raised an eyebrow. "The Seven - Colored Lotus? Do you really think it's that easy? Even if you manage to use it, there will be consequences. And besides, I'm not going to let you do it so easily."

With that, Shen Gongbao waved his hand, and a dark cloud of energy swirled around him. "You see, I've made some arrangements of my own. The Four Dragon Kings, who have been imprisoned in the deep sea for far too long, are about to be released. And they're not going to be too happy about what happened to their kin. They'll be coming for revenge, and they'll stop at nothing to destroy everything in their path, especially Ne Zha and Ao Bing."

Taiyi's heart sank. He knew that the Four Dragon Kings were powerful beings, and if they were indeed released, it would be a disaster. "You're insane, Shen Gongbao! Releasing the Dragon Kings will only bring more chaos and destruction. Think about the innocent people in Chentangguan!"

Shen Gongbao sneered. "I don't care about the people of Chentangguan. All I care about is my own power and status. And with Ne Zha and Ao Bing out of the way, I'll be one step closer to achieving my goals."

As Shen Gongbao spoke, Ne Zha's soul seemed to stir. "What... what's going on?" he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I can feel... something dark approaching."

Ao Bing, who was floating beside him, also opened his eyes. "Yes, there's a great danger coming. And it's all because of us."

Taiyi rushed to their side. "Don't worry, you two. I won't let anything happen to you. I'll find a way to stop Shen Gongbao and save you."

Just then, a loud rumbling sound came from outside. The ground shook, and the remaining walls of the house trembled. "What's that?" Taiyi exclaimed, looking out of the window.

Shen Gongbao smiled wickedly. "It seems like the Dragon Kings are on their way. You'd better hurry up, Taiyi. Time is running out."

With that, Shen Gongbao disappeared into the shadows, leaving Taiyi, Ne Zha, and Ao Bing in a state of despair and urgency. Taiyi knew that he had to act quickly. He had to find a way to use the Seven - Colored Lotus to reshape Ne Zha and Ao Bing's bodies before the Dragon Kings arrived. But he also knew that it wouldn't be easy. He would have to face not only the powerful Dragon Kings but also Shen Gongbao's devious schemes.

As the rumbling sound grew louder, Taiyi took a deep breath. "I'll do it. I'll save you two, no matter what," he said, his voice filled with determination.

Ne Zha and Ao Bing looked at each other, then at Taiyi. "We trust you, Master," they said in unison.

And so, with the threat of the Dragon Kings looming overhead, Taiyi Zhenren began the arduous task of using the Seven - Colored Lotus to reshape the bodies of Ne Zha and Ao Bing, all while trying to outwit Shen Gongbao and prevent the impending disaster from befalling Chentangguan.