At the critical moment, Li Jin Zha brought out his lifesaving treasure.
The Dragon-Binding Stake was a Seven Treasures Golden Lotus topped with a wooden pillar inset with three golden rings. When deployed, it could protect its user or trap an enemy against the pillar, the rings locking tight so they couldn't escape.
This treasure was the Cloud Firmament Cave's guardian treasure on Five Dragon Mountain. Manjushri Guangfa Heavenly Venerate had passed it down; it could capture dragons and subdue immortals, taking them prisoner before killing them!
Now Li Jin Zha had brought it out to save his life, and its defenses were formidable.
But Deng Jiugong wasn't a pushover either. He had cultivated the Vast Void Divine Blade Art, and the Heavenly Origin Divine Blade was a powerful mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure.
His strike landed squarely on the Seven Treasures Golden Lotus, sending ripples across its surface. For the moment, it hadn't been broken through.
Li Jin Zha had only been at the True Immortal Realm last time, yet now he had reached the peak of the Mystic Immortal Realm. He had barely managed to withstand Deng Jiugong's strike.
"Destruction Divine Blade!"
At that moment, Deng Jiugong brought out the Destruction Divine Blade once more. He unleashed the Vast Void Divine Blade Art and slashed straight at Li Jin Zha.
Shhk!
As everyone watched in shock, the blade cut through Li Jin Zha's defenses and killed him in an instant!
A True Spirit flew toward the Investiture of the Gods Scroll!
"This!!!"
Even Plague Immortal Lu Yue was stunned into silence at the sight.
Deng Jiugong was ferocious!
He had actually caught up and cut Li Jin Zha down in cold blood.
And although Deng Jiugong was only at the peak of the True Immortal Realm, the power he unleashed was astonishing.
He had actually crossed an entire major realm and killed his opponent by force.
"Jin Zha is dead?"
Jiang Ziya was dumbfounded.
"Big brother!"
Just then, Li Mutha charged over, clearly intent on avenging his elder brother.
Deng Jiugong had struck too swiftly, leaving no room for mercy.
"Deng Jiugong, you killed my big brother! Die!"
Consumed by boundless fury, Li Mutha charged at Deng Jiugong. Even Jiang Ziya couldn't stop him.
"Ding! The system has detected the host's current situation. God-Tier Options are now available!"
"Option One: Be content with your victory and retreat at once. No reward!"
"Option Two: Kill Li Mutha and receive five million points of Great Dao Merit!"
As the system's prompt faded, Deng Jiugong immediately chose the second option.
Someone had come along to offer up his head. There was no reason not to accept.
It seemed that, barring any surprises, he could kill Li Mutha too.
After the bloodshed Li Jin Zha had started, he could kill two of the Li brothers today.
"Die!"
At that moment, Li Mutha's Wugou Sword came slashing toward Deng Jiugong.
Li Mutha was also at the peak of the Mystic Immortal Realm, but he was no match for a single strike from Deng Jiugong.
Deng Jiugong circulated the Pangu Divine Art and unleashed the Vast Void Divine Blade Art, bringing both blades down.
It was as if he had unleashed some mighty divine ability. The two blades seemed to carry boundless force as they swept toward Li Mutha.
Pfft!
Li Mutha managed to block Deng Jiugong's attack with the Wugou Sword, but his body was sent flying against his will. He couldn't help spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Deng Jiugong's strength was simply too great. He could cross an entire major realm and still hit this hard.
"Immortal Binding Rope!"
The next moment, the Immortal Binding Rope turned into a streak of golden light and shot forward, binding Li Mutha.
Shhk!
Without the slightest hesitation, Deng Jiugong brought down his blade, and Li Mutha's head fell.
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You killed Li Mutha and received five million points of Great Dao Merit!"
At that moment, the system's prompt sounded.
Deng Jiugong was delighted.
As expected, fighting battles was the fastest way to earn rewards.
In just a short while, he had killed two of Xiqi's generals and gained ten million points of Great Dao Merit.
What a cause for celebration!
With both Li Jin Zha and Li Mutha slain by Deng Jiugong, Jiang Ziya was utterly dumbfounded.
He had originally hoped the two of them would buy him a few days until reinforcements arrived. He hadn't expected Deng Jiugong to be so ferocious that he would kill them both outright.
"Deng Jiugong, how dare you kill two disciples of Jade Void Palace!"
Jiang Ziya's expression changed drastically, his face turning grim.
With Jin Zha and Mu Zha slain, he had no idea how he would answer to his senior brothers Manjushri and Samantabhadra!
His two senior brothers had entrusted their disciples to him to help him overthrow the Shang. Who could have expected both of them to fall in this tribulation?
"Jiang Shang, if you've got the nerve, come out of the city and fight me!"
Deng Jiugong said coolly.
As he spoke, he collected all the treasures belonging to Li Jin Zha and Li Mutha.
Jiang Ziya's expression darkened at the sight. He was practically choking with rage.
Deng Jiugong was far too arrogant.
Jiang Ziya was on the verge of losing his temper. He hesitated again and again, but still didn't dare to fight.
When he saw the ill-intentioned look in Lu Yue's eyes, he lost his nerve.
"Jiang Ziya, if you're a coward with no guts to avenge your two nephews, then stop spouting all this nonsense!"
Deng Jiugong finished speaking and carried the treasures back with him.
Both men had been carrying plenty of treasures. Aside from the paired swords they had used in battle, the Dragon-Binding Stake, and the Wugou Sword, they also had several other magic treasures.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate was skilled at refining treasures, and quite a few of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect could craft them as well. Even the Chan Sect's third-generation disciples were fabulously wealthy.
Now, all of it had fallen into Deng Jiugong's hands.
Slaying two of Xiqi's generals this time was a promising start.
Seeing Deng Jiugong act so brazenly, Jiang Ziya was furious enough to explode!
But he simply didn't dare sneak into the enemy camp alone to avenge them.
Back at Tang Camp!
"Father is truly so mighty!"
Deng Chanyu gazed at Deng Jiugong's imposing figure, excitement filling her expression.
That was her father, as imposing as a god of war.
"When did Father get so powerful?"
Deng Xiu's eyes shone with disbelief.
"The marshal is truly mighty!"
Tailuan said excitedly.
"Glorious! Simply glorious!"
"Marshal Deng, just how much of your strength have you been hiding?"
Even Lu Yue couldn't help laughing with delight.
The Jade Void disciples had repeatedly killed disciples of the Interception Sect. It was infuriating.
Many of his fellow disciples in the Interception Sect—including Zhao Gongming, Qiong Xiao, and Bi Xiao—had already fallen. Yun Xiao had been pinned beneath Kirin Cliff, her fate unknown.
What's more, the Three Xiao Fairies had been attacked personally by a Sage. Jade Void Palace had gone too far.
Now, even though Deng Jiugong had only killed two third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect, it still felt immensely satisfying.
Just look at Jiang Ziya. He was beside himself with rage, yet he still didn't dare come out and fight.
Deng Jiugong was even stronger than his own disciples, wasn't he?
Before you continue