The reason Interception Sect disciples helped Great Shang was ultimately that Chan Sect disciples had killed their fellow disciples, and they wanted revenge.
In truth, they didn't care what became of Great Shang in the end.
And Deng Jiugong was wary of the Interception Sect, too. He wouldn't tell them everything.
Hearing this, Emperor Xin nodded, clearly understanding what Deng Jiugong meant.
The Heavenly Dao suppressed humanity, and the Interception Sect ultimately served the Heavenly Dao, so they couldn't be trusted completely.
Still, they were more than happy to have the Interception Sect deal with the Chan Sect.
"I'm returning to camp. These elixirs will be enough to help you reach the Golden Immortal Realm!"
Deng Jiugong handed Emperor Xin the elixirs he had prepared in advance.
Emperor Xin looked delighted and said,
"Thank you, Master!"
"I'll have to trouble you with the front lines, Master!"
Emperor Xin said solemnly.
"Leave everything to me."
Deng Jiugong replied.
Even if Great Shang continued to decay, it could still hold out for a long time—especially now that its fortune had begun to recover.
But once Emperor Xin had started down the right path, the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation had been prolonged without anyone realizing it.
As long as Great Shang didn't fall, the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation wouldn't end so easily.
Deng Jiugong needed time, and so did Emperor Xin. He would do his best to slow the tribulation's progression and give Emperor Xin time to grow.
By then, Great Shang's fortune would gradually flourish, and the dynasty would not fall!
"Reporting!"
Just then, a soldier rushed in with a report.
"What's the hurry?"
Emperor Xin asked with a frown.
Ever since Deng Jiugong had been sent to lead the army against Xiqi, no one had come in this frantic.
"Your Majesty, urgent news from the front! Marquis of Jizhou Su Hu has defected to Xiqi, and the Xiqi army is already marching against us!"
The soldier reported.
"Outrageous!"
Emperor Xin flew into a rage.
Deng Jiugong was taken aback as well.
If the Fox Spirit Daji hadn't been slain by him, Marquis of Jizhou Su Hu would still have been Emperor Xin's father-in-law!
However, Su Hu had long harbored rebellious intentions. He had once resented Emperor Xin's tyranny and raised an army in revolt, only to be defeated by King Zhou.
Later, in order to rescue his captured son, he had no choice but to offer his daughter, Su Daji, to Emperor Xin as a concubine.
But on the way to Chaoge, the Fox Spirit had devoured Daji's soul, taken over her body, and impersonated her. The real Su Daji had died long ago, though no one else knew it.
Deng Jiugong had slain the Fox Spirit, and word must have reached Jizhou.
Though Su Hu had been a royal relative, he had resented Emperor Xin and had long harbored discontent toward Daji as well. He had always wanted to join Zhou.
Now that Su Daji was no longer in the palace at Chaoge, Su Hu had nothing left to hold him back and had truly defected to Xiqi.
"Your Majesty, there's no need to worry!"
"Su Hu may have defected to Xiqi and taken a hundred thousand troops with him, but he's no threat!"
"Before I came to Chaoge, I subdued the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei. One of them is a match for Su Hu's hundred thousand troops!"
Deng Jiugong said.
Emperor Xin looked pleased.
He finally understood why his master had taken so long to arrive in Chaoge.
"It seems Su Hu's defection has made Jiang Ziya eager to send out his troops. I'll return to camp at once!"
As soon as Deng Jiugong finished speaking, he shot into the sky and vanished.
Watching Deng Jiugong leave, Emperor Xin said,
"The front lines are dangerous. Please be careful, Master!"
"I won't meet the same fate as Grand Tutor Wen!"
Deng Jiugong's voice came back to him.
Emperor Xin was stunned, but felt much more at ease.
After leaving Chaoge, Deng Jiugong did not make it to Three Mountains Pass without incident.
On the way, a Daoist blocked his path.
"Deng Jiugong, I knew you'd gone to Chaoge. I've been waiting for you here!"
At the sound of the voice, Deng Jiugong's expression changed.
The newcomer was none other than Juliusun, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect.
Deng Jiugong had killed his disciple, Tu Xingsun, and had also taken Juliusun's Immortal Binding Rope.
Juliusun had stopped him for two reasons: to avenge his disciple and to reclaim his magic treasure, the Immortal Binding Rope.
Juliusun blocked the road and locked onto Deng Jiugong with his divine sense.
Deng Jiugong felt an overwhelming sense of danger.
It was more intense than anything he had ever felt before.
Juliusun was a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, while Deng Jiugong had only reached the peak of the Golden Immortal Realm. There was no way he could match a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
"Juliusun, you've gone to quite a lot of trouble to deal with me!"
Though Deng Jiugong was wary, he showed no sign of panic, feigning composure.
Juliusun meant to ambush him and kill him on the road!
"You killed my disciple and took my magic treasure. Naturally, I'm going to kill you!"
"Your death will also rid Xiqi of a great threat."
Juliusun said calmly.
Deng Jiugong had killed not only Juliusun's disciple, but also the disciples of his fellow senior brothers, Manjushri and Samantabhadra!
If they didn't eliminate Deng Jiugong, Great Shang would be difficult to defeat!
"As an immortal of the Chan Sect, you came all this way just to ambush me. Doesn't that lower your standing?"
Deng Jiugong said calmly.
Though he seemed composed, he was already thinking of a way to escape.
After all, the power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal was far too great for him.
He absolutely couldn't fight head-on. One wrong move, and Juliusun might kill him in an instant.
"Hmph! You killed my disciple and took my magic treasure, creating a great karmic debt between us!"
"I can only settle that debt by killing you!"
As Juliusun finished speaking, he raised a palm and struck at Deng Jiugong.
"I'm not so easy to kill!"
Juliusun's attack made Deng Jiugong feel an overwhelming sense of danger. He moved at once, using the Five Elements Great Escape.
BOOM!
The next moment, the rocks burst apart where Deng Jiugong had been standing, leaving a massive crater.
If Deng Jiugong hadn't been so fast, he would have been hit.
"What speed!"
Watching Deng Jiugong vanish in an instant, Juliusun was startled.
Even an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal probably couldn't catch up to that speed.
He had long heard that Deng Jiugong knew the Five Elements Great Escape divine art. It seemed the rumors were true.
The Five Elements Great Escape was a supreme divine art, exceedingly difficult to master, but incredibly fast.
Because it was so difficult to learn, Juliusun had chosen the much easier Earth Escape technique instead.
But though Deng Jiugong was fast, the gap in their cultivation was enormous. He couldn't escape Juliusun's grasp.
Before you continue