With a thought, he activated the Time Dao Disk, granting himself a hundredfold increase in time flow. Then he brought out the Creation Jade Disk Fragment to boost his speed of comprehending the Dao.
Immediately afterward, Deng Jiugong swallowed an Innate Spirit Fruit!
Then he circulated the Pangu Divine Art and began refining it.
As Deng Jiugong refined the Innate Spirit Fruit, the magical power within his body rapidly increased.
By the time he had fully refined the fruit, his primordial spirit cultivation had advanced to the late stage of the Mystic Immortal Realm.
"Crimson Blood Dragon Fruits!"
At that moment, Deng Jiugong took out the Crimson Blood Dragon Fruits he had obtained earlier.
There had been nine in total. He had refined two before, leaving seven, which Deng Jiugong swallowed and refined one after another.
After an unknown amount of time, Deng Jiugong had finished refining all seven Crimson Blood Dragon Fruits. His primordial spirit cultivation had now reached the early stage of the Golden Immortal Realm.
"So this is the magical power of the Golden Immortal Realm!"
He raised a hand, and boundless magical power surged forth—countless times stronger than before.
Since Deng Jiugong cultivated the Pangu Divine Art, the amount of magical power within his body was far greater than that of other cultivators at the same realm.
Now, with his Vast Void Divine Blade Art, he could surely defeat Yang Jian with ease.
Golden Immortals embodied the meaning of immortality. Lifespan no longer mattered to him!
Having reached the Golden Immortal Realm, Deng Jiugong only needed to consider how to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
Moreover, Golden Immortals could begin to explore the laws. Those with a profound foundation might even comprehend the mysteries of the laws.
Once Deng Jiugong grasped even a little of those mysteries, his strength would increase tremendously.
Thus, Deng Jiugong began studying the Creation Jade Disk Fragment, hoping to comprehend the mysteries of the laws recorded within it.
Xiqi!
After Deng Jiugong withdrew his troops, Jiang Ziya's expression turned frighteningly grim.
The Great Shang army's assault on Xiqi had inflicted heavy losses.
They had lost not only tens of thousands of soldiers, but also three battle-hardened generals.
Xiqi had been badly weakened by this battle. Even among the soldiers who survived, most were wounded.
After retreating into Xiqi City, Jiang Ziya had planned to hold the city at all costs and wait for reinforcements.
He hadn't expected that, despite holding an overwhelming advantage, the Tang army would withdraw under Deng Jiugong's command instead of launching a full assault.
"What is Deng Jiugong up to?"
Jiang Ziya ground his teeth.
It seemed Deng Jiugong never pursued a victory!
If Deng Jiugong had pressed his attack on Xiqi City, then once Xiqi's reinforcements arrived, they might have been able to wipe out his army completely. If they swallowed up the forces under Deng Jiugong's command, they could then consider marching on Chaoge!
Yet Deng Jiugong hadn't only refrained from attacking. He had even withdrawn his troops!
"Deng Jiugong has Lu Yue at his side. It's a pity we failed to kill him this time!"
Manjushri Guangfa Heavenly Venerate spoke with a gloomy expression.
"Deng Jiugong killed our disciples and seized our treasures. Unless we kill him, our hatred will never be assuaged!"
Samantabhadra gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear Deng Jiugong to pieces.
Xiqi had suffered terrible losses in this battle. Tens of thousands of soldiers had died. Ji Fa's face was grim, and grief weighed on his heart as he said, "Deng Jiugong is a great scourge to Xiqi, and he has Interception Sect immortals helping him. How can we bring him down?"
Given the situation, there was no way to march on Chaoge without first defeating Deng Jiugong.
"King Wu, please don't worry. The Great Shang's destiny is nearly spent, and Deng Jiugong is bound to lose. In our next battle, we need only find a way to capture Lu Yue. Then Deng Jiugong will surely be defeated!"
Jiang Ziya spoke up.
Hearing this, Ji Fa nodded.
They would have to rely on the immortals of the Chan Sect to deal with the Interception Sect immortals!
Chaoge!
The royal palace, Nine Chambers Hall.
Emperor Xin sat on his throne, reading the military report from the front lines with delight.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Emperor Xin repeated the word three times.
Deng Jiugong had led his army against Xiqi, slain three enemy generals, and killed tens of thousands of soldiers. It was a great victory.
"Deng Jiugong has done so well. I must reward him."
Emperor Xin laughed heartily, then recited the report's contents in full.
After Grand Tutor Wen's death, Emperor Xin had been somewhat disheartened. Deng Jiugong had rekindled hope in his heart.
At this, the many ministers below all looked pleased.
It truly was good news!
To be honest, the Great Shang realm was in grave danger. The ministers lived in constant fear, dreading bad news from the front lines.
Deng Jiugong had won a great victory last time, and now he had triumphed again. This was indeed wonderful news.
"What do you think, my ministers? How should I reward Deng Jiugong?"
Emperor Xin looked at the ministers below and asked.
At this, the ministers exchanged whispers and murmured among themselves.
After a moment, they had reached a decision, and one minister spoke up.
"Your Majesty, you once said that if Marshal Deng captured Xiqi, you would appoint him Grand Tutor!"
"Since Grand Tutor Wen's death, the office of Grand Tutor of Great Shang has remained vacant. Why not appoint Deng Jiugong as our Grand Tutor?"
A minister below proposed.
"I'm afraid that would be unwise!"
Fei Zhong spoke up.
"Fei Zhong, what do you think is unwise about it?"
Emperor Xin asked.
"Your Majesty did indeed say that if Deng Jiugong captured Xiqi and took Ji Fa's head, you would appoint him Grand Tutor."
"If you appoint him Grand Tutor now, Deng Jiugong might grow too proud. What if he suffers a defeat? What then?"
After Fei Zhong finished speaking, the ministers looked at one another.
"Your Majesty, Minister Fei is right!"
"Though Deng Jiugong has won for now, as long as Xiqi remains unconquered and the rebels remain alive, Great Shang will never know peace. It's too soon to appoint Deng Jiugong Grand Tutor!"
You Hun echoed Fei Zhong.
Hearing this, Emperor Xin nodded. He felt the two men had a point.
"You two are mistaken!"
"Great Shang has won battle after battle, and our army's morale is at its peak. Appointing Deng Jiugong Grand Tutor will only raise our army's morale further. The rebels of Xiqi will soon be defeated!"
A minister below spoke up.
Hearing this, Emperor Xin nodded. That argument also seemed reasonable.
"Your Majesty, Great Shang and Xiqi are currently in a lull in the fighting. Since the ministers below are divided, why not summon Deng Jiugong to Chaoge to meet with you?"
"If he has grown proud by then, you can withhold the appointment!"
"If he is still as he was before, there will be no harm in appointing him Grand Tutor!"
Just then, the Fox Spirit Daji slowly stepped forward and spoke.
"The Queen is right. We'll do as she suggests!"
Emperor Xin said.
At the Marshal's Mansion in Three Mountains Pass!
Deng Jiugong was still in seclusion.
He had the Time Dao Disk and the Creation Jade Disk Fragment to boost his speed of comprehending the Dao, and he had thought that if he put in a little effort, he could grasp at least a few laws.
However, only after truly studying the laws within the Creation Jade Disk Fragment did Deng Jiugong realize just how difficult they were to master.
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