He couldn't help glancing at Deng Jiugong, suspicion stirring in his heart.
He had a feeling that he'd revealed too much of his strength, and that Deng Jiugong had noticed something.
Defeating Yang Jian was one thing, but taking Juliusun's magic treasure was bound to arouse suspicion.
He looked up and saw that Deng Jiugong seemed perfectly normal. Only then did he quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
That made sense. Deng Jiugong couldn't tell what level Juliusun was at, and probably thought his cultivation wasn't very high.
Kong Xuan eyed Deng Jiugong suspiciously for a moment, then spoke.
"Kong Xuan is willing to do the Marshal this favor!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he forcibly erased the primordial spirit imprint Juliusun had left on the Immortal Binding Rope.
"Kong Xuan, you're excellent!"
"You've rendered great service this time. From today on, you're my deputy marshal!"
Deng Jiugong clapped Kong Xuan on the shoulder and burst out laughing.
What a little schemer. You think I don't know what you're up to? If I could erase the imprint, would I have asked you to do it?
Deng Jiugong kept the thought to himself.
Still, Kong Xuan pretended he wasn't powerful, and Deng Jiugong didn't call him out.
He'd made Kong Xuan his deputy marshal so he could keep him firmly under his thumb!
"Then Kong Xuan thanks the Marshal!"
Kong Xuan smiled faintly as he spoke.
He didn't care about the title of deputy marshal at all, but he still had to put on a show.
"Congratulations, Marshal Kong!"
Tailuan and the other generals all offered their congratulations.
Just as Kong Xuan forcibly erased the primordial spirit imprint Juliusun had left on the Immortal Binding Rope, Juliusun, who had already escaped, felt an excruciating pain in his primordial spirit, as if it were being sliced apart.
Pfft!
Juliusun couldn't stop himself from spitting out a mouthful of blood, then began cursing furiously.
"Damn you, Kong Xuan! You stole my magic treasure. I, Juliusun, will never rest until I've settled this with you!"
The last time the Three Cloud Maidens had stripped away the three flowers atop his head and the five energies in his chest, Juliusun's injuries had recovered enough for him to reach the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, but he still hadn't fully recovered.
He'd been forced to descend the mountain this time because Tu Xingsun had been incited by Shen Gongbao to join the Cheng Tang ranks and had even planned to take King Wu Ji Fa's head, bringing disaster upon himself.
But Juliusun hadn't expected that this trip down the mountain would cost him so dearly. Now that the primordial spirit imprint on the Immortal Binding Rope had been erased, he'd suffered a severe backlash.
As for Tu Xingsun, he was merely a disciple who would take Juliusun's place in a calamity. Juliusun didn't really care whether he lived or died.
It was best if he survived. If he fell during the calamity, that was simply his fate. At worst, he'd end up on the Investiture of the Gods Scroll, serving the Jade Emperor. That would make it less likely for Juliusun himself to end up on the scroll.
"Senior Brother, who exactly is that Kong Xuan?"
Just then, Jiang Ziya arrived.
Jiang Ziya was also upset after losing to Deng Jiugong this time.
Not only had Deng Jiugong killed his second disciple, Dragon Beard Tiger, but most of the several thousand elite soldiers Xiqi had painstakingly trained had also been lost.
Seeing Juliusun now, the two of them were in the same boat, and their hearts were heavy with misery.
"I don't know who Kong Xuan is either!"
Juliusun sighed.
"Kong Xuan is so powerful. Could he be a disciple of the Interception Sect?"
Jiang Ziya asked.
At this, Juliusun furrowed his brows.
"As far as I know, there's no one like him in the Interception Sect. Even if he were deliberately concealing his identity, he couldn't possess such incredible powers!"
There were disciples of the Interception Sect stronger than him, but not many.
And Juliusun knew very well which of the Interception Sect's disciples were stronger than him.
Yet Kong Xuan seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, which was baffling.
That was true!
Kong Xuan had survived from the time of the Dragon-Han Great Tribulation, but during the Witch-Demon Calamity, he seemed to have vanished for an entire calamity.
It was no wonder Juliusun didn't recognize him, since he'd only emerged during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
Still, there were many reclusive experts in the primordial world, and Juliusun couldn't know every powerful figure.
After pondering for a moment, Juliusun spoke slowly.
"If Kong Xuan truly has such profound cultivation, I'm afraid I won't escape disaster this time!"
"He didn't pursue me, so he can't be much stronger than I am. Once I've fully recovered, I'll be able to take back the Immortal Binding Rope!"
Juliusun said this with confidence.
Clearly, he thought that once he'd fully recovered, he could defeat Kong Xuan.
He had no idea that Kong Xuan had let him escape because he had no intention of killing him.
In the Cheng Tang camp!
"Marshal, Deputy Marshal Kong has rendered great service this time. I've already ordered a banquet to be prepared to celebrate his achievement!"
Tailuan said.
"Ahem!" Deng Jiugong coughed.
One had to know how to be tactful!
"From now on, call him Marshal Kong."
Kong Xuan was only a deputy marshal, but adding "deputy" in front of his title sounded rather unpleasant.
Even if someone held a subordinate position, they might not appreciate being addressed that way.
At this, Kong Xuan smiled faintly, indicating that he didn't mind.
Tailuan also realized what was going on and looked enlightened.
"Mm. Let all the generals in camp celebrate Marshal Kong's achievement at the banquet. As for me, I won't be going."
Deng Jiugong said slowly.
At this, Tailuan froze.
He'd thought the Marshal valued Kong Xuan greatly, but in the next moment, the Marshal said he wouldn't even attend Kong Xuan's celebration banquet.
"This...!"
For a moment, Tailuan didn't know what to say.
"Kong Xuan, I know you don't care about this, and besides, I've given up drinking!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Deng Jiugong walked out on his own.
Clearly, he really wasn't attending Kong Xuan's celebration banquet. It wasn't just talk.
"Right, the Marshal's drunken words the other day nearly...!"
Tailuan didn't finish what he was saying.
The meaning was obvious: the Marshal had nearly married his daughter off to that little runt, Tu Xingsun.
The Marshal really ought to give up drinking!
Kong Xuan merely smiled and said nothing.
In truth, he didn't want to attend any celebration banquet either. But since he was the guest of honor, it wouldn't look right if he didn't show up.
He knew Deng Jiugong wasn't looking down on him. On the contrary, the Marshal thought highly of him; otherwise, he wouldn't have made him deputy marshal.
However, Kong Xuan had no interest in holding office. He only wanted to protect the Shang Dynasty and preserve the fortune of the Phoenix Clan.
He truly didn't care about anything else.
After leaving, Deng Jiugong returned to the Marshal's Mansion.
Deng Jiugong knew he'd managed to keep Kong Xuan on his side, at least for now.
After all, Kong Xuan had profound cultivation and immense strength. Only by keeping him firmly under his thumb could Deng Jiugong carry out the many plans he'd never dared pursue before.
At the very least, before the Saints appeared, Kong Xuan could keep Deng Jiugong and his two children safe.
Still, Kong Xuan only captured enemy generals and never killed them. Sooner or later, he'd become a bleeding-heart do-gooder.
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