Both choices were pretty good!
In the original history, the Great Shang soldiers almost always captured their opponents from Xiqi alive instead of killing them. Whenever they won and took prisoners, they would be thrilled for ages.
But in the end, the enemy generals they captured were always rescued by the other side, like tigers released back into the mountains.
By contrast, whenever their own generals lost, the enemy killed them without hesitation.
Of the two options the system had presented, Deng Jiugong leaned toward killing Dragon Beard Tiger. Still, he didn't want to miss out on that Innate Spirit Fruit.
I'll take both!
Deng Jiugong thought to himself.
"Ding! The host has made a choice. Rewards will be granted upon fulfillment!"
When the system's prompt sounded, Deng Jiugong couldn't help but feel delighted.
He'd only been giving it a try, but he hadn't expected that he could actually choose more than one option.
However, if the two options conflicted, he would have to pick just one.
"So you're Dragon Beard Tiger!"
"Since Jiang Shang sent you here to die, I won't hold back!"
As Deng Jiugong spoke, he drew his Crimson Copper Saber.
Deng Jiugong was renowned for his godlike blade technique because the saber in his hand had the power to threaten immortals.
The Crimson Copper Saber had been with Deng Jiugong for many years. In the past, he hadn't been able to unleash its full power.
That was because the Crimson Copper Saber was actually a Low-grade Acquired Spirit Treasure.
In the prehistoric world, magical treasures were classified as ordinary, ranked, Acquired Spirit Treasures, and Innate Spirit Treasures.
Ordinary treasures were little more than cold weapons. At most, they could be useful against mortals with some cultivation.
Ranked treasures, meanwhile, were mainly effective against mortals at the Refining Void and Merging with Dao level or below. They could inflict serious damage, and even pose some threat, to immortals with low cultivation.
But treasures of that sort could never injure an immortal with profound cultivation.
Deng Jiugong's Crimson Copper Saber, on the other hand, was a Low-grade Acquired Spirit Treasure. Even a mortal could use it to fight an immortal.
That was the main reason Deng Jiugong, though previously just a mortal, had been able to battle immortals with the Crimson Copper Saber in hand.
Hence his reputation for godlike blade technique.
Now, facing Dragon Beard Tiger, Deng Jiugong drew his Crimson Copper Saber, as if ready to settle things with him once and for all.
"Deng Jiugong, die!"
At that moment, Dragon Beard Tiger's eyes flashed with golden light. He sprang forward on his single leg and attacked Deng Jiugong.
Before he even reached Deng Jiugong, Dragon Beard Tiger thrust both hands forward like hooked spears. Mana surged around them, and a massive boulder as large as a millstone came hurtling toward Deng Jiugong.
Deng Jiugong raised his saber and brought it down.
Boom!
The moment the Crimson Copper Saber touched the millstone-sized boulder, it sliced straight through the middle. The cut was smooth, leaving Dragon Beard Tiger stunned.
But before Dragon Beard Tiger could react, Deng Jiugong's saber slashed into his arm.
Whoosh!
An arm fell to the ground, blood spraying everywhere. Dragon Beard Tiger stared in shock as Deng Jiugong sliced his hand clean off.
Pain surged through him, and Dragon Beard Tiger let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Knowing he was no match for Deng Jiugong, Dragon Beard Tiger tried to flee on his single leg.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Deng Jiugong brought his saber down and severed Dragon Beard Tiger's only leg. Blood sprayed as Dragon Beard Tiger writhed in agony, screaming in anguish.
With his only leg cut off without mercy, Dragon Beard Tiger was doomed.
"Deng Jiugong, you—!"
Seeing this, Jiang Ziya panicked and moved to save him.
The next moment!
Deng Jiugong's Crimson Copper Saber fell. The blade rose, and the head fell—Dragon Beard Tiger's head rolled across the ground.
Deng Jiugong had killed Dragon Beard Tiger in just three strikes.
Quick and decisive!
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained an Innate Spirit Fruit!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained a Five Elements Great Escape Divine Ability Jade Slip!"
At that moment, the system's prompts sounded in Deng Jiugong's mind.
Whoosh!
Seeing how ferocious Deng Jiugong was, everyone on both sides drew a sharp breath.
Deng Jiugong had grown stronger!
That was the first thought that crossed everyone's mind.
His reputation for godlike blade technique was well deserved.
"Father is so strong!"
Deng Chanyu couldn't help exclaiming.
She'd fought Dragon Beard Tiger before. He wasn't nearly as weak as he looked.
The only explanation was that her father had grown stronger.
"Long live the Marshal!"
Back at Tang Camp, the soldiers all came to their senses and cheered.
At that moment, the morale at Tang Camp surged once more.
Meanwhile, the momentum on Jiang Ziya's side plummeted.
Nezha and Lei Zhenzi both drew sharp breaths.
They knew Dragon Beard Tiger's strength. Even they couldn't have killed him so easily.
Earlier, when Deng Jiugong had taken command and Cheng Tang fought Western Zhou for the first time, Deng Jiugong had battled Huang Feihu. Nezha had ambushed Deng Jiugong with the Universe Ring, wounding him. Back then, Deng Jiugong hadn't been this strong.
Now, Deng Jiugong's strength had clearly improved.
Later, Deng Chanyu had sought revenge for Deng Jiugong and wounded Nezha.
After that, Yang Jian entered the battle. Using his Eight-Nine Arcane Art, he defeated Deng Chanyu and had his Heaven-Howling Dog bite and injure her.
Then, with no experts left on Tang Camp's side, Tu Xingsun stepped in and displayed his might. He even healed Deng Jiugong and Deng Chanyu.
But Tu Xingsun had since defected to Xiqi after Juliusun showed up, setting off this whole series of events.
But that was all in the past.
Now, seeing Deng Jiugong kill Dragon Beard Tiger, Jiang Ziya was so furious he looked ready to charge out and kill Deng Jiugong himself.
"Deng Jiugong, you actually killed my disciple, Dragon Beard Tiger!"
"You and I are on opposite sides. Did you really think I'd show mercy?"
Deng Jiugong replied coolly.
After fighting Dragon Beard Tiger, Deng Jiugong had gained a clearer understanding of his own strength.
Although he was only at Earth Immortal Realm Perfection, he could cut down a Heavenly Immortal as easily as chopping vegetables.
And he had done it without even using his cultivation technique, relying solely on his body's instinctive strength.
In other words, his physical strength far surpassed that of these so-called Heavenly Immortal experts.
Even though he was cultivating only the Mortal Scroll of the Pangu Divine Art, he had already seen how powerful it was in his battle with Dragon Beard Tiger.
Deng Jiugong guessed that if he unleashed his full strength, he might even be able to kill a True Immortal.
The Pangu Divine Art is far too powerful. And this is only the Mortal Scroll!
Deng Jiugong thought to himself.
It was hard to imagine how powerful the techniques above the Mortal Scroll must be.
"Ziya, don't be rash. There's something strange about Deng Jiugong."
Seeing that Jiang Ziya was about to attack, Juliusun spoke up.
"Senior Brother, I have the God-Beating Whip. How could I fail to take down Deng Jiugong?"
Jiang Ziya replied.
"There's something strange about Deng Jiugong!"
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