" Deng Jiugong! Why have you only appeared now! Have you moved away those traitors and rebels?!"
Liu Xun Shou's eyes were icy as he stared at Deng Jiugong, who had just dismissed Daoist Jin Shi and was hurriedly changing his clothes and tidying his appearance.
Deng Jiugong gave Liu Xun Shou a cold look and sneered, "Xun Shou, you're the one who's plotting a rebellion! Leading a large army to launch a surprise attack on my Three Mountains Pass and besieging my residence, are you the general or am I the general?"
"Hmph! We've received a secret report! By order of Grand Preceptor Wen, we're conducting a thorough investigation of you, Deng Jiugong! If you're truly innocent, then let my men search your residence!"
"I'm not afraid of you!" Deng Jiugong sneered.
"Search!"
Deng Jiugong realized that Daoist Jin Shi had secretly left the mansion using an invisibility technique, and that no matter how hard Liu Xunshou's men searched, they wouldn't be able to find him.
Fifteen minutes later, several groups of people came out to search the area.
"Reporting to your Excellency! Nothing was found in the front yard!"
"Nothing was found in the backyard either!"
"Report! This small box was found in the backyard wing!"
Deng Jiugong frowned, feeling a little uneasy.
"Open it and take a look!"
When Deng Jiugong saw the box clearly, cold sweat poured down his forehead. He then remembered that the box contained something that could lead to the execution of his entire Deng family.
" Deng Jiugong! Who is this portrait? And what are these words and marks?! How dare you! You actually dare to curse His King Zhou! As expected! You have been plotting something all along! Arrest him! Take him to Zhaoge!"
At this moment, Deng Jiugong was truly speechless. The portrait was painted by a folk artist a few years ago, and his daughter Deng Chanyu bought it for her collection. Deng Jiugong was resentful because King Zhou had reduced his salary and punished him by making him write a 10,000-word repentance letter. So he secretly took the portrait of King Zhou that Deng Chanyu had bought and used it to practice throwing darts to vent his resentment for half a month.
This was done in private, extremely secret, and only he knew about it! I never expected it!
" Deng Jiugong! You dare to resist?" Liu Xunshou's words were fierce on the surface but weak on the inside.
"I have nothing to say!" Deng Jiugong closed his eyes and raised his arms.
The Three Mountains Pass was thrown into chaos. The people condemned Deng Jiugong with words and writings, accusing him of plotting a rebellion and even insulting the portrait of King Zhou.
On the transport vehicle, Deng Jiugong was covered in rotten eggs and vegetable leaves, thrown by the angry people.
" Deng Jiugong! You have disgraced our love and respect! You traitorous scoundrel! You will not have a good end!"
Late at night, on the way to Zhaoge City, at an unnamed mountain road, the brigade set up a tent, lit a fire, cooked, and rested.
"What are you looking at! Do you, Deng Jiugong, still want to eat? Just stick out your mouth and eat the egg liquid on your beard, shell and all! You traitorous scoundrel, trying to overthrow our Great Shang, humph!" a soldier said irritably.
Deng Jiugong had no way to express his bitterness. At this moment, he was filled with resentment and anger, and a thought arose in his mind to escape and betray the Great Shang.
Midnight (11 PM - 1 AM)
"Old Deng, it's me, Jin Shi. Don't speak, I'll get you out of here."
Deng Jiugong shook his head.
"Old Deng, what time is it! Once you're escorted to Zhaoge, even if Chanyu becomes a concubine, it won't save you. You have no way back now. Come with me to Western Qi and consult with Lord Ji Fa. With your skills, Lord Ji Fa will definitely not treat you unfairly."
"Who is it!" someone suddenly shouted angrily.
"A robbery has occurred!"
In an instant, the clang of swords rang out, and sparks flew.
"Who goes there, daring to kidnap the traitorous minister Deng Jiugong! Do you not want to live in the Great Shang anymore!" Patrol Officer Liu roared angrily.
"I am Grand Preceptor Wen!"
In the sky, a Ink Kirin appeared, with Grand Preceptor Wen's Heavenly Eye opening between his brows.
In an instant, the Daoist Jin Shi, who was hiding beside Deng Jiugong, was covered by the light of the Heavenly Eye and forced to reveal himself!
"Don't let him kidnap the prisoner!" A soldier saw the Daoist Jin Shi appear and swung his knife to strike.
Daoist Jin Shi's heart skipped a beat. Why was Wen Zhong, the Grand Preceptor Wen of the Shang Dynasty, here?
The next moment, an overwhelming pressure swept over them, making Liu Xunshou and his men dare not breathe, their legs went weak, and an overwhelming urge to kneel and fear welled up in their hearts.
The sun seemed to rise ahead of schedule, its light shining brightly, and many powerful beings with an air of otherworldly grace appeared in the sky.
Deng Jiugong squinted and looked up at the sky, only to see his daughter Deng Chanyu among them, and another person who was none other than the familiar King Zhou Di Xin!
"Has the little brat from Western Qi become so shameless? Using such a scheme to abduct my people?!" King Zhou sneered, and the First Phoenix eye between his brows opened, its light directly imprisoning the Daoist Jin Shi.
"Father! Are you alright!" Deng Chanyu descended from the low sky and quickly arrived at the prison cart, her face full of heartache.
" Chanyu, you..."
"Father, I don't know who harmed me. I woke up in His Majesty's palace. Father, this is a trick by Western Qi!"
Deng Jiugong's face darkened; he now fully understood everything. He glared angrily at his friend, Daoist Jin Shi, and demanded, " Jin Shi! Why did you scheme against me like this!"
Daoist Jin Shi was speechless, completely captivated by King Zhou's gaze, and filled with despair.
Seeing that Jin Shi remained silent, Deng Jiugong was extremely disappointed, thinking that Jin Shi was too guilty to speak. He couldn't help but analyze that after Jin Shi's visit, he had been persuading him to go to Western Qi for many days. Later, Liu Xunshou arrived with his troops, and the secret inside the sealed box was discovered.
Deng Jiugong was freed from the prison cart after Deng Chanyu removed his handcuffs.
Deng Jiugong stepped off the prison cart and knelt down immediately. Looking up at King Zhou, who was hovering low in the sky, his old face ashen, he said, "This sinful subject Deng Jiugong, pays his respects to Your King Zhou!"
" Deng Jiugong, please stand up."
At this moment, Liu Xunshou spoke up, " Your King Zhou, Deng Jiugong has insulted your portrait, and I have evidence!"
"Oh?" King Zhou was surprised.
Seeing her father, Deng Chanyu, with his head bowed and body trembling, Deng Jiugong's delicate body trembled, her heart in turmoil, her mind filled with. "How could this be!"
The sky has fallen!
King Zhou glanced at the portrait and couldn't help but chuckle. Xuandu, who was standing beside him, " Xuandu, do you think this person looks like me?"
Xuandu smiled and said, "If someone says that the person whose name is on a portrait is His Majesty, then there would be countless demonized versions of him."
"The Immortal Master is right. Although I may not be the most handsome man in the world, I am not so ugly. Deng Jiugong, you have been framed by villains. Get up."
At this moment, Deng Jiugong's admiration for King Zhou was like a surging river, and his reverence for King Zhou was like a celestial river overflowing its banks.
His impression of King Zhou completely changed!
At this moment, Deng Jiugong recalled the time when he was punished by King Zhou and realized that he had indeed gone too far. As the general guarding Three Mountains Pass, he had left his post without authorization. If demons and bandits were to attack Three Mountains Pass one day, it would be a disaster.
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty! Deng Jiugong swears to serve the Great Shang with his life and to serve Your Majesty!"
"Father." Deng Chanyu breathed a sigh of relief and looked at King Zhou, her beautiful eyes filled with stars.
" Grand Preceptor Wen, deal with these people, and this fellow too." King Zhou pointed at Inspector Liu.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Afterwards, King Zhou and his entourage descended and interrogated the Daoist Jin Shi.
In despair, Daoist Jin Shi could not withstand questioning and confessed everything.
After hearing this, Deng Jiugong was filled with indignation at the many tricks that Ji Fa of the Western Zhou Dynasty had used to abduct talented Great Shang Dynasty.
"That treacherous traitor Ji Fa! Your Majesty! This old minister is willing to lead the army to punish Western Qi!"
King Zhou smiled and said, " Deng Jiugong, please calm down. It is certain that we will attack Western Qi, but not now. Ji Fa has rebelled, and the waters here are not simple. This is no longer a matter of conflict between mortal dynasties."
Xuandu, Guangchengzi, Duobao, and other powerful figures were shocked, secretly marveling at how quickly they grasped the situation, truly deserving of the title of Human Emperor.
Deng Jiugong felt a chill run down his spine. As the general of Three Passes Mountain, who served the Great Shang, he was also a highly accomplished Evolver and understood the vastness of the world.
"This old minister is at Your Majesty's ready at any time!"
King Zhou waved his hand and laughed, " Deng Jiugong, you and your daughter should return to Three Passes Mountain first."
" Grand Preceptor Wen, escort them."
Subsequently, Daoist Jin Shi, now useless, was pierced through the top of his head by a sword strike from King Zhou Di Xin, losing his Mystic Immortal in an instant.
Hongyun's Investiture of the Gods of gods now includes one more person.
"Esteemed immortals, would you mind accompanying me to the Three Passes Mountain to discuss the matter of attacking Western Qi?"
Guangchengzi and the others nodded.
"Then I'll take the lead..." Xiao Li, who inherited Xiao Tian's talent for causing trouble, couldn't help but shout. However, before he could finish speaking, Lingzhuzi covered his mouth.
Lingzhuzi remembered Nüwa's repeated reminders that when traveling through the Primordial, one should never interfere in the power struggles between dynasties.
Lingzhuzi was a very obedient and well-behaved child.
"Since Western Qi's methods are so despicable, I should be the first to strike and show them the power of this monstrous flood!" The Three Lights Divine Water Seal between Lingzhuzi's brows shone brightly.
Guangchengzi, Xuandu, Duobao, and the Barefoot Great Immortal should feel ashamed.
These two children, one a beloved child of the Sage Nüwa, and the other a close brother to the Sage Xiao Tian, indicate that Western Qi is in trouble.
At Spirit Mountain, Zhunti terrible headache. He had deduced Lingzhuzi's bold words and hurriedly contacted Xiao Tian.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao Deva Path, please keep an eye on young Xiao Li."
"The child is grown up. I'm not his parent, how can I watch him 24/7? If it really comes down to it, have your servant handle it, so that Xiao Li will know that there are always people more capable than him, and that there's always something beyond his reach."
Upon Zhunti Xiao Tian's response, Zhunti had an idea.
"That's right! Xiao Li, Lingzhuzi, and our two guardian spirit children from Spirit Mountain."
"Fellow Daoist Xiao Deva Path, if that's the case, then please don't be angry that our two future guardian spirit children of Spirit Mountain injured Xiao Li."
"Oh, don't worry, it's just a battle between peers. Why would I, as an elder, ask too many questions? As long as it's out in the open, that's fine," Xiao Tian replied.
"Good." Zhunti felt slightly relieved. To prevent Xiao Tian from going back on his word, he even used his supernatural powers to record the conversation.
If Xiao Tian reneges on his promise, Zhunti produce the recording to rebuke Xiao Tian's Sage dignity and let everyone in the Primordial know about it.
In the residence of General Li Jing at Chentang Pass Great Shang, Da Shang Dynasty.
"Madam, exhale! Push!"
"Ah!"
"Master! Madam has given birth!"
Li Jing was overjoyed. Ever since his wife was hit on the head by a mysterious object that fell from the sky while she was traveling three years ago, she had been pregnant for three years.
"Heavens above! You've finally opened your eyes! I haven't paid my taxes for three years!" Tears welled in Li Jing's eyes as he rushed into the room.
"How could this be! Why is it a black ball?!"
At the same time! All the sages sensed this, Dao Ancestor Hongjun of the Purple Cloud Palace frowned deeply.
What exactly do you want to do?