"Marshal Deng, although many of our soldiers are wounded, the enemy's morale has plummeted. If we spread a plague through Xiqi City, we can take Xiqi completely within days."
Lu Yue spoke up.
"Unacceptable!"
Deng Jiugong replied at once.
Lu Yue's plan seemed feasible, but it was actually inappropriate.
When two armies clashed, the people were innocent!
The people of Xiqi were also subjects of Great Shang. Those who had enlisted in Xiqi's army could be killed without qualms, but attacking ordinary civilians would only earn the wrath of both men and gods.
That would bring even more rogue cultivators and perhaps powerful factions to Xiqi's aid.
The situation would then turn against them!
Not to mention the other factions, Deng Jiugong knew that many Chan Sect disciples had yet to arrive for this battle.
Even setting aside the other members of the Twelve Golden Immortals, not all of the Chan Sect's third-generation disciples had come.
Moreover, he had killed Tu Xingsun. If Juliusun came to reinforce them, their side would be facing three Grand Unity Golden Immortals.
That would force Kong Xuan to reveal his strength too soon.
"Immortal Lu, I've heard that the Interception Sect excels at formations. Why haven't you used one today?"
Deng Jiugong asked.
"Uh, my Plague Formation isn't ready yet!"
Lu Yue replied, visibly embarrassed.
Since Deng Jiugong hadn't accepted his suggestion, Lu Yue had been looking somewhat displeased.
Clearly, his words didn't carry much weight with Deng Jiugong.
Now that Deng Jiugong had asked him this, Lu Yue wasn't sure what he was getting at.
"Though Xiqi's morale has plummeted, our army is hardly in good shape either!"
"Since Immortal Lu's Plague Formation isn't ready, why don't we wait until your strength has grown and the formation is complete before we take Xiqi once and for all?"
Deng Jiugong said.
Lu Yue was somewhat taken aback.
"Marshal Deng, what do you mean?"
"I plan to withdraw our troops for now and let the soldiers return to recover. We'll wait until Immortal Lu's Plague Formation is ready!"
Deng Jiugong replied.
With those words, Lu Yue's importance became clear.
Deng Jiugong's three hundred thousand troops would only be able to take Xiqi once Lu Yue arrived.
That made Lu Yue feel very pleased. So he really was quite important in this Shang-Zhou war!
"Besides, Chan Sect disciples could come to Xiqi's aid at any moment. We may not be able to take the city, even if we keep attacking!"
Deng Jiugong added.
"Marshal Deng is right. I didn't think it through!"
Lu Yue laughed heartily, realizing that every word Deng Jiugong had said made sense.
Deng Jiugong smiled and thought to himself,
I'm Deng Jiugong. How could I let you dictate the pace of my campaign?
Deng Jiugong chose to withdraw not only because he feared the arrival of the other Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect.
He knew that Xiqi would never be easy to take.
Taking Xiqi was like defying fate.
Without the strength to defy fate, a direct assault would only bring ruin upon them.
In this prehistoric world, there were six Saints in all. Nuwa had sent three demons to beguile Emperor Xin and throw the Shang Dynasty into chaos.
Grand Pure Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerate backed Ji Fa and opposed Great Shang, seeking to replace the dynasty.
The Two Sages of the West were always looking to take advantage and profit, and they would also support Ji Fa.
As for Tongtian Sect Master, he had only turned against Primordial Heavenly Venerate after too many Interception Sect disciples had been killed by the Chan Sect, leaving him with no choice but to fight back. Otherwise, Tongtian Sect Master wouldn't have supported either side.
No matter how he looked at it, not one Saint supported Emperor Xin.
In this battle, Deng Jiugong had killed three of Xiqi's generals and cost them tens of thousands of soldiers. They had already won a great victory.
He should know when to stop. As long as Xiqi couldn't get past him, Great Shang's fate would endure.
Thus, Deng Jiugong led his three hundred thousand troops back to Three Mountains Pass.
"Marshal Deng, I'll take my leave now!"
At that moment, Lu Yue said he was leaving.
Then he took his four disciples and departed on clouds.
"I'll await your return, Immortal Lu!" Deng Jiugong called out.
"Certainly!"
As soon as Lu Yue replied, he disappeared over the horizon.
Only Kong Xuan and Deng Jiugong's many generals remained by his side.
"Kong Xuan!"
"Our army has won a great victory this time, and you performed exceptionally well!"
Deng Jiugong patted Kong Xuan on the shoulder and said with a smile.
"Indeed! Marshal Kong single-handedly wounded Nezha and Lei Zhenzi, and even Yang Jian was no match for him. Marshal Kong is a mighty warrior and Great Shang's greatest general!"
Tailuan said at once.
"Ahem!" Deng Jiugong couldn't help coughing.
Kong Xuan was a powerful immortal. What did "greatest general" even mean?
Of course, Deng Jiugong couldn't say that out loud.
It didn't matter how much Kong Xuan played the fool. Deng Jiugong just had to keep him firmly in hand.
But Tailuan didn't catch Deng Jiugong's meaning, and could only offer an awkward smile.
"Of course, apart from the marshal, Marshal Kong is the mightiest warrior of all!"
Those words made even Kong Xuan laugh.
"Kong Xuan is certainly no match for the marshal!"
Kong Xuan replied modestly with a smile.
Deng Jiugong had just taken a sip of tea and nearly spat it out.
Kong Xuan was getting better and better at putting on an act!
"By the way, send this military report to Chaoge at once!"
Deng Jiugong took out a military report and handed it to Tailuan, then went to cultivate in seclusion.
At the Marshal's Mansion!
Deng Jiugong first opened the blind box reward he had received earlier.
"Ding-dong! Congratulations, host! You opened a blind box and received one Sign-in Card and one Treasure Map!"
When the system notification rang, Deng Jiugong froze.
This blind box hadn't yielded any tangible treasures, but it might contain a tremendous opportunity.
The Sign-in Card could be used to sign in at certain special locations and claim a reward.
After hesitating briefly, Deng Jiugong put it away for the time being.
As for the Treasure Map, following its directions might lead to an unexpected reward.
He put the map away, then took out the Time Dao Disk and prepared to cultivate.
His physical body had now reached the early Golden Immortal Realm. He could fight Yang Jian, whose physical body was at the early Taiyi Golden Immortal level, but he didn't have much of an advantage.
Even with his many magic treasures, he could only force Yang Jian back.
Meanwhile, Deng Jiugong's primordial spirit cultivation was only at the early Mystic Immortal Realm, a full major realm below his physical cultivation.
Low primordial spirit cultivation meant he could only bring out a limited amount of power from his magic treasures and divine abilities.
Therefore, Deng Jiugong decided to improve his primordial spirit cultivation.
Hum!
Before you continue