He first refined the Creation Jade Disk Fragment, along with the Heavenly Origin Divine Blade and the Destruction Divine Blade.
With Deng Jiugong's current cultivation, he couldn't fully refine even a mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure. He could only refine some of its Innate Restrictions.
Whether it was the Creation Jade Disk Fragment or the two divine blades, Deng Jiugong had only refined some of their Innate Restrictions.
Even so, he could now unleash considerable power when wielding the two divine blades, and the Creation Jade Disk Fragment also enhanced his comprehension of the Dao.
"Next, I'll cultivate the Mortal Scroll of the Vast Void Divine Blade Technique!"
With a thought, Deng Jiugong took out the scroll and began studying it.
A short while later, Deng Jiugong was struck by how powerful the divine blade technique was—and how difficult it was to comprehend.
"Time Dao Disk!"
He immediately activated the Time Dao Disk, boosting the flow of time a hundredfold.
Hum!
With a thought, Deng Jiugong summoned the Creation Jade Disk Fragment.
Boundless creation light surged forth, cascading with endless divine light imbued with the Dao. Deng Jiugong immediately felt his comprehension speed increase by what seemed like a hundredfold.
With the Time Dao Disk alone, the hundredfold time acceleration meant that Deng Jiugong already comprehended the Dao a hundred times faster.
Now, with the Creation Jade Disk Fragment also providing a hundredfold boost to his comprehension, the increase wasn't two hundredfold, but ten thousandfold.
This was an utterly terrifying boost, one that was surely close to the limit.
The Vast Void Divine Blade Technique was incredibly difficult to master. Fortunately, Deng Jiugong already had a foundation in blade techniques. Only by studying it gradually and building on each insight did he finally achieve some success.
One day, Deng Jiugong felt that his blade techniques had undergone a transformation.
Every swing of his blade seemed to carry the power of a divine ability.
Most notably, wielding both blades suited the Vast Void Divine Blade Technique perfectly, making its power unimaginably formidable.
Deng Jiugong even felt that he could instantly kill a powerful foe on the level of that four-clawed evil flood dragon.
Although his cultivation hadn't improved, his strength had increased tremendously.
Hum!
When he came back to himself, Deng Jiugong discovered that the Crimson Blood Dragon Fruit had finally ripened completely. Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth thrummed around it, and it was ready to be picked.
With a wave of his hand, the nine fruits appeared before Deng Jiugong.
"I'll eat one first!"
Deng Jiugong murmured.
After eating one Crimson Blood Dragon Fruit, an energy so terrifying it seemed to reach the extreme erupted inside Deng Jiugong's body.
Deng Jiugong's expression changed dramatically!
For him, the energy contained in a single fruit from a mid-grade Innate Spiritual Root was far too immense.
He hurriedly circulated his cultivation art, rapidly refining the energy in his body before it could run rampant.
Deng Jiugong's cultivation rose at incredible speed.
Early True Immortal Realm!
Mid True Immortal Realm!
Late True Immortal Realm!
Peak True Immortal Realm!
Before long, the fruit had raised both his physical cultivation and his Primordial Spirit cultivation by three minor stages, bringing them to the peak of the True Immortal Realm.
Whew!
After his cultivation advanced, Deng Jiugong let out a long breath.
The energy contained in the fruit was far too immense. Fortunately, his cultivation art was of a high grade, and he cultivated both his physical body and Primordial Spirit, allowing him to refine it safely.
Otherwise, just that one fruit would probably have burst him apart.
Deng Jiugong reckoned that a single Crimson Blood Dragon Fruit could help a cultivator at the peak of the Mystic Immortal Realm break through to the Golden Immortal Realm.
That showed just how powerful the energy in the Crimson Blood Dragon Fruit was.
It was no wonder that even one fruit had raised Deng Jiugong's overall cultivation by three stages.
However, after reaching the peak of the True Immortal Realm, Deng Jiugong could tell that his cultivation couldn't advance any further in the short term.
He felt as though he'd eaten too much and needed time to digest it all.
He could only continue advancing once his cultivation had stabilized.
Finally, Deng Jiugong stored the Crimson Blood Dragon Fruit plant in his system space. Then he moved and left the island.
Chaoge City, the royal palace!
In Nine Chambers Hall, Emperor Xin sat upon his throne, frowning as he looked at the military report in his hands.
The report contained nothing new. It merely stated that the troops were being drilled every day.
Military reports arrived from the front lines at regular intervals.
Recently, Xiqi and Great Shang had been in a near-constant state of ceasefire.
After Xiqi's elite forces had been severely weakened last time, Jiang Ziya didn't dare launch an attack recklessly.
As for Deng Jiugong, he had his generals drill the troops every day and stand ready for battle, but he simply wouldn't attack.
Emperor Xin knew, however, that the reason Deng Jiugong still hadn't launched an attack was his wariness of the Chan Sect immortals.
Just then, Imperial Preceptor Shen Gongbao arrived.
"Perfect timing, Imperial Preceptor. How are things progressing with the matter I discussed with you last time?"
Emperor Xin asked.
At that, Shen Gongbao laughed heartily and immediately replied,
"Your Majesty, rest assured. I've secured the help of immortals from Nine Dragon Island. They'll surely be able to take Xiqi, and I expect Deng Jiugong will send troops to attack it soon."
Emperor Xin nodded and asked,
"How capable are these immortals?"
"This time, it's my senior brother Lu Yue of the Interception Sect. He's an expert in plague spells and possesses great divine abilities!"
Shen Gongbao replied.
"Excellent!"
Emperor Xin nodded.
Deng Jiugong ought to send troops to attack Xiqi this time.
As long as the rebels in Xiqi remained, the realm of Great Shang would never know peace.
Three Mountains Pass, in Deng Jiugong's military camp.
A Daoist stood there, dressed in a bright red robe. His face was blue, his hair vermilion, and his mouth was huge, with fangs bared. His three eyes were wide open, and he looked thoroughly unpleasant.
This man was the Interception Sect immortal Lu Yue.
"Where is Deng Jiugong? Why hasn't he come to see me?"
Lu Yue spoke in a stern voice, his expression filled with displeasure.
He had come at Shen Gongbao's invitation to help Deng Jiugong attack Xiqi, but he had already been there for several days without even catching sight of Deng Jiugong.
"Please be patient for a few more days, Immortal. The Marshal had urgent business to attend to outside and still hasn't returned!"
Tailuan said. His expression remained calm, but inside, he was growing anxious.
Lu Yue had arrived, yet the Marshal still hadn't come back.
Kong Xuan wasn't taking the initiative to send troops against Xiqi either, leaving Lu Yue with nothing to do but wait.
After placating him for several days, Tailuan was gradually finding it harder to keep Lu Yue calm.
In particular, Lu Yue looked thoroughly unpleasant, like no good could come of him. The soldiers in the camp were all frightened and kept as far away from him as possible.
If Tailuan hadn't known that the man had come to help them, he would have thought he was an enemy.
After all, Tailuan was Deng Jiugong's vanguard commander. Though Kong Xuan was the deputy marshal, he didn't handle any affairs, so Tailuan had no choice but to step in and keep Lu Yue calm.
"As marshal, he's not in camp, not leading troops into battle. What could possibly be more important than taking Xiqi?"
"Could Deng Jiugong have been scared off?"
Just then, four men walked in and spoke.
It turned out that all four were Lu Yue's disciples. They had arrived a few days after Lu Yue.
They had been in the camp for two days now, and had noticed that the troops were merely drilling. There was no sign of an impending attack.
Before you continue