Why Could a Mortal Like Li Jing Endure Longer Than Demons in the Tianyuan Cauldron?
I
To avoid dragging out the story, we’ll skip the detailed plot and jump straight to the part where the Dragon Clan, the Demon Clan, Nezha, Ao Bing, and Li Jing and his wife were thrown into the Tianyuan Cauldron by the Immortal Lord Wuliang.
The Tianyuan Cauldron is the treasured artifact of Yuxu Palace and the most powerful weapon of mass destruction in the entire film. It’s no exaggeration to say that Yuxu Palace’s dominance owes much to this cauldron.
✨ Recommended Taoist Talismans
Discover powerful talismans for your spiritual journey
On the surface, the cauldron is just for refining elixirs, but that’s far from the whole story. A cauldron three kilometers in diameter—imagine the sheer amount of materials it could hold and the number of elixirs it could produce! If you tossed in a nest of marmots, finding the resulting elixirs in such a massive cauldron would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
More importantly, despite having a feeding port at the top, when the Immortal Lord Wuliang used it, he didn’t toss the Dragon and Demon Clans through that port. Instead, the cauldron opened itself, forming massive scoops that, with a single sweep, could scoop up everything—land, creatures, and all—regardless of where you hid.
In other words, no matter how powerful your forces, once Yuxu Palace deploys this artifact and hovers it above your home, one scoop and not even the ants in your soil can escape.
This shows that the Tianyuan Cauldron isn’t just for refining elixirs—it’s an offensive weapon, a true game-changer. Its power is comparable to a nuclear weapon in modern warfare, capable of wiping out everything within dozens or hundreds of miles. This is why Wuliang dared to frame the Dragon Clan and confidently claimed he could lead his demon-hunting team to wipe out both the dragons and the sea monsters in one fell swoop.
II
Of course, scooping materials into the Tianyuan Cauldron is only the first step—lighting the furnace is the key. The cauldron’s walls are lined with vengeful skeletal souls that spew Samadhi True Fire, capable of refining any living being—gods, demons, or mortals—into elixirs.
Under normal circumstances, the Tianyuan Cauldron isn’t deployed lightly. But when it is, it signals a large-scale war. Activating the cauldron is a complex process, requiring, as shown in the film, the Immortal Lord Wuliang to cast spells while Deer Boy and Crane Boy guard him. That’s why, during the Twelve Golden Immortals Conference, when Wuliang presented nine thousand immortal elixirs, everyone was shocked at the quantity. Crane Boy explained:
“For nearly a century, our master has been tirelessly refining elixirs in the Tianyuan Cauldron, day and night, even neglecting his own cultivation.”
The other Golden Immortals didn’t question this, confirming that refining elixirs in the cauldron is indeed time-consuming and labor-intensive. Wuliang’s focus on refining meant he had to put his own cultivation on hold.
That said, activating the massive cauldron is cumbersome. I suspect that, in everyday operations, the demon-hunting team likely uses the smaller Eight Trigrams Furnace attached to the top of the Tianyuan Cauldron for refining demons. Since the two are connected, Crane Boy’s claim that Wuliang used the Tianyuan Cauldron isn’t entirely wrong.
Some argue that this small Eight Trigrams Furnace is the same one used by the Primordial Lord of Heaven to refine the Chaos Beast in Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child. However, after close comparison, I noticed distinct differences between the two.
Take a look at these two images: the first shows the small furnace atop the Tianyuan Cauldron, and the second shows the furnace the Primordial Lord of Heaven tossed out.
III
That said, it’s not surprising for a place as grand as Yuxu Palace to have multiple furnaces for refining elixirs.
In short, the Tianyuan Cauldron was created by the Chan Sect to subdue powerful demons and refine them into immortal elixirs, boosting the sect’s immortals’ cultivation for the upcoming War of Investiture.
So why were Li Jing and his wife, mere mortals, thrown into the Tianyuan Cauldron by Wuliang, and why was Lady Yin even refined into an elixir? What was Wuliang’s motive?
It’s simple: he went on a killing spree!
In fact, Wuliang wasn’t alone. Earlier, Shen Gongbao also planned to use Ao Bing to eliminate Li Jing and his wife to cover up the Spirit Pearl swap. When Ao Bing’s soft-heartedness exposed the truth to the people of Chentang Pass, Shen Gongbao gave a wry smile and declared the need to wipe out everyone:
“Look at this mess. Originally, killing four people would’ve solved it. Now that everyone knows, not a single one can… can live…”
Similarly, for Wuliang to frame the Dragon Clan for rebellion, he had to silence Li Jing and his wife. Only by eliminating them could he minimize the risk of being held accountable.
Remember the post-credits scene in Nezha: Chaos in the Sea of Devils? After Wuliang retreated to Yuxu Palace, the first thing he did was summon Jinzha and Muzha. Why?
Because Li Jing, Nezha, and the Dragon Clan weren’t silenced. Fearing they’d join forces with Jinzha and Muzha to hold him accountable, Wuliang acted first, taking control of the brothers to use as leverage against Li Jing and Nezha.
IV
This outcome, however, was something Wuliang hadn’t anticipated, forcing him to resort to desperate measures to protect himself.
If Li Jing, his wife, Nezha, Ao Bing, and all the dragons and sea monsters had been refined into elixirs, it would’ve been a clean sweep—no evidence, no witnesses. Wuliang could then easily deal with Jinzha and Muzha, telling them:
“The Dragon Clan, driven by selfish desires, led the sea monsters to wipe out Chentang Pass, including your parents and little brother. But don’t be too heartbroken. I’ve avenged your family, leading the demon-hunting team to eradicate the dragons and sea monsters entirely. Your parents despised evil all their lives. I hope you’ll mourn and carry on their legacy. Let me chant the ‘Ascension Spell’ for you, and together we’ll prepare for the next phase of the War of Investiture!”
This mirrors what Wuliang said to Nezha, touching his head before the Tianyuan Cauldron, after the three evil dragons massacred Chentang Pass:
“Your parents despised evil all their lives. From now on, you must carry on their legacy and slay all the demons in the world!”
Of course, for Wuliang, sparing Li Jing and his wife would’ve been preferable. That’s why, after throwing them into the cauldron, he gave them one last chance, urging Nezha to swallow the Soul-Devouring Elixir to save his parents. This way, he could justify to the Heavenly Lord that the Dragon Clan destroyed Chentang Pass and that Nezha, being the Demon Pearl, deserved elimination.
After all, Jinzha and Muzha’s mentors—Manjusri and Samantabhadra, both among the Twelve Golden Immortals—were not to be trifled with. Angering them would spell trouble even for Wuliang.
V
That said, I can’t rule out the possibility that Wuliang sent for Jinzha and Muzha before setting out.
When two Boundary Beasts reported that the Dragon Clan had mercilessly slaughtered Chentang Pass, including Li Jing, his wife, and all its residents, Wuliang made a snap decision. Without consulting the Twelve Golden Immortals Conference, he led the demon-hunting team to exterminate the dragons.
At that moment, he likely sent word that Li Jing and his wife were dead, urging Jinzha and Muzha to return to Yuxu Palace immediately. He probably also advised Manjusri and Samantabhadra not to tell the brothers the truth, fearing they couldn’t handle the grief, and to wait until they returned.
So, when Wuliang arrived back at Yuxu Palace, the brothers were already there, unaware of Chentang Pass’s fate based on their casual demeanor.
This worked out perfectly for Wuliang, who adjusted his plan to use Jinzha and Muzha as leverage against Li Jing and Nezha.
I’ve rambled a bit, so let’s get back on track. Regardless, Li Jing, his wife, and Nezha had become Wuliang’s enemies, and they were all thrown into the Tianyuan Cauldron.
At first, the Dragon Clan, Demon Clan, and Li Jing’s family inside the cauldron were fine, even with rolling magma. But as Wuliang cast his spell to ignite the furnace, the cauldron’s walls began spewing Samadhi True Fire from vengeful skeletal souls. Soon, no one could withstand it. Low-level demons quickly turned into elixirs, losing their lives.
As Wuliang intensified the flames, even Lady Yin couldn’t hold on. With her last strength, she embraced Nezha and was ultimately refined into an elixir.
VI
So, here’s the question: how could Li Jing, a mere mortal, endure so long in the Tianyuan Cauldron?
In The Investiture of the Gods, Li Jing had a mentor, Master Du’e, a Kunlun immortal. However, Du’e believed Li Jing lacked the potential for immortality and could only live a prosperous mortal life, so he sent him to guard Chentang Pass. Later, the Taoist Randeng gifted him a golden pagoda, aiding his physical sanctification.
But at the stage of guarding Chentang Pass, despite learning some skills, Li Jing remained a mortal, as the Dragon King of the East Sea rightly noted.
Setting aside the characterizations in Journey to the West and The Investiture of the Gods, and focusing solely on the information from Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child and Nezha: Chaos in the Sea of Devils, why could Li Jing endure so long?
First, Li Jing’s status is unique—he has a significant connection to the Primordial Lord of Heaven.
Recall in the first film, after the Primordial Lord subdued the Chaos Beast and refined it into the Demon and Spirit Pearls, what did he say to Master Taiyi?
“Li Jing is a man of destiny. The Spirit Pearl can be reincarnated as his third son. This task is yours.”
Why was Li Jing deemed a man of destiny?
For one, his first two sons, Jinzha and Muzha, successfully became immortals at Yuxu Palace, mentored by Manjusri and Samantabhadra, respectively. This proves the strength of their family’s lineage, suggesting their third son would also have the foundation for cultivation.
Additionally, Lady Yin carried Nezha for three years, a fact the Heavenly Lord likely knew. Her prolonged pregnancy might have been to await the Spirit Pearl’s reincarnation.
VII
Remember the Dragon King of the East Sea’s scorn at the start, mocking Li Jing as a mere mortal who dared lecture someone thousands of years old?
Here’s why!
Li Jing insisted on reporting the truth to the Heavenly Lord:
“This is not the righteous path! We must act with integrity and report to the Heavenly Lord, hoping for his discernment. My wife and I will plead earnestly to ensure the sins of the elders don’t harm two innocent children.”
What does this show?
It shows Li Jing had the privilege to meet the Heavenly Lord directly. Rather than Jinzha and Muzha’s success at Yuxu Palace elevating Li Jing, it’s more accurate to say Li Jing enabled his sons’ ascent to immortality. In Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, when Li Jing wanted to see the Heavenly Lord, he rode a flying pig with Master Taiyi to the heavens.
In other words, though a mortal, Li Jing wasn’t ordinary. As the commander of Chentang Pass, on the front lines against demons, he and his wife frequently battled evil.
While Li Jing sought the Heavenly Lord’s help with Master Taiyi, the one-year-old Nezha, confined in a barrier, was bored. When Lady Yin visited, seeing his boredom, she offered to play. Nezha scoffed:
“Forget it. You’re always busy slaying demons or exorcising evil. Seeing you today is a rare treat—where do you find time to entertain a kid?”
Indeed, right after kicking a shuttlecock with Nezha, a subordinate reported a demon attack—a man-eating eel injuring over a dozen people. Lady Yin donned her armor and rushed to battle.
VIII
Beyond his ties to Yuxu Palace, Li Jing’s own strength was formidable.
In Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, when Lady Yin was about to give birth, Master Taiyi was passed out drunk, unresponsive despite being shaken or struck. With time running out, Li Jing took matters into his own hands.
We then saw Li Jing pummel Taiyi, his final punch snapping a tree. Luckily, Taiyi was an immortal; a mortal would’ve been done for.
When a puppet-charmed mortal placed the Demon Pearl on the reincarnation stone disk, Li Jing shattered it with one punch.
Even against an enraged Nezha, Li Jing held his own. He kicked away a fireball and, during Nezha’s third birthday, when Shen Gongbao revealed Nezha’s true identity and possibly taught him to unlock the Universe Ring, Nezha went berserk.
At this point, Nezha was at full power, yet Li Jing saved civilians, fought him toe-to-toe, and caught the tip of Nezha’s Fire-Tipped Spear barehanded as he thrust with all his might. Though Master Taiyi’s whisk softened some of the force, the impact cracked the stone floor beneath Li Jing’s knees. Still, he emerged unscathed, holding on until Nezha regained his senses.
IX
In other words, unless Nezha removed the Universe Ring and went all out, he couldn’t defeat Li Jing.
In the second film, even without removing the ring, three-year-old Nezha easily handled marmots, Shen Zhengdao, and Empress Shiji.
While not a direct comparison, this suggests Li Jing’s strength rivals that of a typical Demon King. Otherwise, how could he, as the commander of Chentang Pass on the demon-fighting front line, defend the city without matching their power?
Indeed, this holds true!
Remember the Sea Yaksha that nearly wiped out Nezha, Ao Bing, and a little girl? Li Jing identified it instantly from the mucus on Nezha’s hand:
“Sea Yaksha, strong and skilled in water escape, its spit can petrify people—truly troublesome!”
Yet, this “troublesome” Sea Yaksha was quickly captured by Li Jing. He then made it willingly stay in a barrier guarded by Boundary Beasts, ready to confess publicly during Nezha’s birthday.
In the opening battle of Nezha: Chaos in the Sea of Devils, defending Chentang Pass, Li Jing slew lesser demons with single sword strikes and held the upper hand against a mid-tier Demon King, an octopus monster, pinning it to the ground with a giant crossbow.
From Li Jing and his wife’s demeanor, they clearly felt confident against the octopus and shark demons. Without the three Dragon Kings’ intervention, the Demon Clan wouldn’t have breached Chentang Pass’s front line.
X
More importantly, in the second film, Li Jing could fly!
What does this mean?
It means Li Jing was no longer a mortal in the traditional sense—he had become an immortal!
In the first film, after riding a flying pig to the heavens, he floated in midair. When bound by Nezha’s Binding Rope and cut free by Ao Bing, he remained suspended. In the second film, he flew from the city wall to Nezha’s newly restored body and, after escaping the Tianyuan Cauldron, fought immortals in midair.
Li Jing even battled Deer Boy and Crane Boy, top third-generation Chan Sect disciples, going toe-to-toe. Deer Boy’s arrows, which felled Shen Zhengdao, were effortlessly blocked by Li Jing.
Of course, Li Jing couldn’t defeat Wuliang, who used wood-based spells to bind and throw him into the cauldron.
Lady Yin, weakened by Deer Boy’s arrow, struggled in the cauldron. Shen Zhengdao and Shen Xiaobao, also struck by the arrow, lost their strength—Zhengdao collapsed, and Xiaobao died after reporting to Shen Gongbao. So, Lady Yin held on briefly but, overwhelmed by maternal love and grief as Wuliang tempted Nezha with the Soul-Devouring Elixir, knocked it away. Pierced by the Heart-Piercing Spell and hugging Nezha despite the pain, she lost her will to live and was refined into an elixir.
Lesser demons couldn’t withstand the cauldron and turned into elixirs, but Li Jing, stronger than the octopus demon, naturally endured longer.
After all, he and Nezha are destined for physical sanctification in the future!
