Xiqi and Great Shang were now actually in a state of truce.
I'd come out of the goodness of my heart to help you attack Xiqi, and yet you lot wouldn't send out your troops. Instead, you'd been resting and recuperating here.
Though Lu Yue had an unkind look about him, he at least carried himself like a lofty cultivator. He didn't say what he was thinking, but his expression showed some displeasure.
His disciples, however, were all arrogant and condescending.
After all, they were all immortals of the Interception Sect, with great strength and noble status. Deep down, they looked down on the generals in Deng Jiugong's army.
As soon as Lu Yue's disciples finished speaking, Tailuan's face darkened.
Tailuan was grateful that you'd come to help, and he'd provided you with good food and drink every day.
But insulting his lord was unacceptable.
"Who ran away in fear?"
Just then, Deng Jiugong appeared.
"Marshal!"
Seeing Deng Jiugong return, Tailuan was overjoyed.
The marshal had been away for over a year. At last, he'd returned today.
"Who is in the camp?"
Deng Jiugong asked.
He'd already sensed that there were five people in the camp. Four of them had profound cultivation, even higher than his own.
As for the fifth, Deng Jiugong couldn't discern his cultivation at all.
"Marshal, these are the immortals from Nine Dragon Island whom State Preceptor Shen Gongbao invited to help us!"
Tailuan reminded him in a low voice.
He knew these immortals weren't kind souls. They were arrogant and looked down on everyone, and he was afraid his marshal might offend them.
After all, they'd come to help them.
"This seat is an alchemist from Nine Dragon Island. My surname is Lu, and my name is Yue. Shen Gongbao invited me to help Marshal Deng defeat Xiqi and capture the rebels. I didn't expect Marshal Deng to keep avoiding me."
Lu Yue snorted as he spoke.
Hearing this, Deng Jiugong's expression froze.
He now knew who the other man was.
Deng Jiugong had guessed earlier that the powerful presence who'd suddenly appeared in the camp was probably a disciple of the Interception Sect.
He hadn't expected that the Plague Immortal Lu Yue would be the one coming to help him this time.
It was said that when Tongtian Sect Master accepted disciples, he took in all kinds without discrimination. Many of his disciples were beings covered in fur, sporting horns, born of dampness, or hatched from eggs.
Deng Jiugong couldn't see Lu Yue's true form, but he knew the man was powerful, likely a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Every one of Lu Yue's disciples had higher cultivation than him.
Still, Deng Jiugong knew that Primordial Heavenly Venerate looked down on Tongtian Sect Master's disciples because the Interception Sect had a mixed bag of disciples who behaved recklessly and had turned the sect into a den of chaos.
It was even said that more than a few disciples of the Interception Sect secretly ate people.
No matter what the Interception Sect's disciples were like, they'd come to help him this time. Deng Jiugong still had to show them proper courtesy.
"So you're the immortal from Nine Dragon Island. I was away from the camp before, and I beg your pardon for my lack of hospitality!"
Deng Jiugong said.
"Now that Marshal Deng has returned, we should discuss how to take Xiqi."
Lu Yue's expression softened as he spoke.
Deng Jiugong nodded.
Originally, Deng Jiugong hadn't wanted to send out troops so soon.
After all, Xiqi didn't dare attack, so they only needed to defend.
As long as Xiqi couldn't break through his defenses, they'd never reach Chaoge.
But as the commander of an army, now that reinforcements had arrived, he had little choice.
Deng Jiugong's cultivation wasn't high, and his generals were even weaker. To resist the Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, he still needed the Interception Sect's help.
Even so, although the Interception Sect's disciples had come to help, Deng Jiugong didn't want them dictating the pace of the campaign.
Everything still had to follow the will of him, the marshal.
Otherwise, if the Interception Sect's disciples did whatever they wanted and died in battle too soon, Deng Jiugong would be no match for the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect.
As for Kong Xuan, it was better not to reveal his true strength too soon.
Otherwise, if a Sage came and subdued Kong Xuan, Deng Jiugong would have to rely on himself.
"Jiang Ziya has many generals under his command, including Yang Jian, Nezha, Lei Zhenzi, and other disciples of the Chan Sect. Are you confident you can deal with them?"
Deng Jiugong asked.
"Rest assured, Marshal Deng. Leave those few to us!"
Before Lu Yue could speak, several of his disciples answered confidently.
Just then, Tailuan spoke up.
"There's also Tu Xingsun!"
"Marshal, Yang Jian infiltrated the camp earlier and worked with Jiang Ziya from the inside to rescue Tu Xingsun!"
Hearing this, Deng Jiugong's expression froze.
With a thought, he confirmed that Tu Xingsun was no longer in the dungeon.
"This!"
Deng Jiugong was stunned.
"What were our casualties?"
Deng Jiugong asked.
"There were none. Fortunately, Marshal Kong acted in time!"
Tailuan said.
Deng Jiugong furrowed his brows.
All right!
Deng Jiugong was helpless.
Before he left, Kong Xuan had promised to keep the camp safe.
The soldiers in the camp had indeed remained safe, but Tu Xingsun had been rescued.
If Kong Xuan had truly intervened, Jiang Ziya and the others couldn't have rescued Tu Xingsun.
Kong Xuan was being a bit too saintly!
He'd let the tiger return to the mountain!
Still, if Tu Xingsun dared to fight now, Deng Jiugong could kill him without any qualms.
"In that case, we'll set out at once and attack Xiqi!"
As soon as Deng Jiugong finished speaking, he summoned all the generals under his command.
Kong Xuan, Tailuan, Deng Xiu, Deng Chanyu, Sun Yanhong, Zhao Sheng, and the other generals all came before Deng Jiugong.
Looking at them, Deng Jiugong nodded.
At last, they'd all reached the Earth Immortal Realm!
Though their cultivation had improved and they'd truly entered the ranks of immortals, they were still only at the lowest level, the Earth Immortal Realm.
They'd have to rely on Lu Yue's disciples in this battle!
After mustering the troops, Deng Jiugong led thirty thousand soldiers in a mighty march toward Xiqi.
Kong Xuan was naturally the strongest among them, followed by Lu Yue.
However, Kong Xuan rode a warhorse and kept an extremely low profile, holding his cultivation at the peak of the True Immortal Realm.
Seeing that Deng Jiugong had the same cultivation, Kong Xuan gave everyone the impression that he was at the same level.
"Marshal Deng, your deputy marshal has pretty good strength!"
On the way, Lu Yue glanced at Kong Xuan and spoke.
The others had only just reached the Earth Immortal Realm, while Kong Xuan had already reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm, the same cultivation as Deng Jiugong.
And he looked so young!
"Not bad."
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