At the end of the Shang dynasty, the tyrannical King Zhou neglects state affairs, leaving the people in misery. Yin Shiniang (played by Yuen King-tan), wife of Li Jing (played by Yuen Wah), one of the Shang dynasty's Four Great Generals, gives birth to what appears to be a ball of flesh. Convinced that a monster has been born, Li Jing splits it open with his sword, revealing a two-year-old boy, Nezha (played by Benny Chan). Desperate to protect her child, Shiniang sends Nezha to be raised at the Nuwa Temple. Nezha later meets Yang Jian (played by Chin Ka-lok) and Lei Zhenzi (played by Lee Ka-sing), and the three venture into the martial world together. Yang Jian's younger sister, Yang Lianhua (played by Myolie Wu), falls in love with Nezha at first sight. Meanwhile, King Zhou is entirely consumed by pleasure and dotes on Su Daji (played by Irene Wan), bringing devastation to the people. Jiang Ziya leads Nezha, Lei Zhenzi, Yang Jian, and the others in persuading King Wen to help them support King Wu's campaign against King Zhou. Together, they rise up against the tyrant. The beloved classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods has been adapted for the screen many times by film and television industries across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. This 40-episode period drama, filmed by Hong Kong's TVB in late 2001, not only features a large cast of top Hong Kong stars, but also incorporates plenty of action and comedy, bringing a fresh take to the story. This adaptation revisits the classic tale and achieved excellent ratings when it first aired in 2001.
