The Prelude to "Baolian Lamp"

The Jade Emperor's sister, Yaoji, secretly married a mortal scholar named Yang Tianyou, and they had three children: Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, and Yang Chan. When the Jade Emperor found out, he sent celestial soldiers to the mortal realm, killing Yang Tianyou and Yang Jiao, and imprisoning Yaoji under Mount Peach. Yang Jian and Yang Chan narrowly escaped with the help of Nezha and General Tianpeng. From then on, Nezha and Yang Jian's siblings became wanted fugitives across the three realms.

Celestial troops besieged Chen Tang Pass, leading Nezha to commit suicide in anger, repaying his parents for raising him. Grandmaster Taiyi used a lotus petal from the Precious Lotus Lantern to recreate Nezha's body. To keep control over Nezha, Grandmaster Taiyi entrusted the Precious Lotus Lantern to Yang Chan for safekeeping.

Yang Jian apprenticed under Master Yuding, learning great skills, even transforming his faithful companion, Xiangtian Dog, into human form. Yang Jian split Mount Peach to rescue his mother, only to find that the Jade Emperor had sent his ten sons—ten suns—to burn Yaoji to death. Filled with grief and rage, Yang Jian killed nine of the suns, sparing the last one only after being stopped by the Princess of the Western Sea. Yang Jian ascended to heaven to seek revenge, destroying the South Heaven Gate. The Jade Emperor ordered the天河 (Celestial River) to flood Yang Jian, which not only failed to kill him but caused its waters to flow downward, creating floods in the mortal realm.

Yang Jian was confined by Queen Mother Wangmu in the fourth heaven, beginning to doubt his mother’s choice of marrying a mortal. This doubt left him powerless. Yang Chan and Nezha arrived in time, rescuing Yang Jian. Persuaded by Chang'e, Yang Jian abandoned his vendetta against the Celestial Court and decided, together with Yang Chan, to descend to the mortal realm to manage the floods.