Zhuang Yan smiled. "Naturally, I told them the truth. Marshal Tianpeng is immune to the erosion of the Ruoshui River, making him the best candidate to cross it. That is why His Majesty sent him here to assist."
Nezha looked at Zhu Lie. "Can the Marshal truly cross the Ruoshui River?"
Zhu Lie said confidently, "Rest assured, Third Prince. The commander of the Heavenly River does not bear that title in vain."
Nezha was overjoyed. "Then I will have to trouble the Marshal to display his divine powers and help the army cross the river."
But Zhu Lie said, "I can only cross the river alone. I cannot bring anyone or anything else with me."
Nezha frowned. "If the army cannot cross, how can you alone defeat the two Immortals?"
Zhu Lie took out a clay jar. "With this item's help, I will certainly capture the two Immortals."
Seeing this, Nezha said no more. "Then please set out at once, Marshal."
Zhu Lie refined the clay jar and stored it within his Spirit Platform. Under the gaze of the assembled soldiers and generals, he walked onto the dock platform. He removed his armor and clothes, leaving only a pair of shorts as he prepared to cross the river.
Only then did Zhuang Yan notice Zhu Lie's burly build—broad-backed, thick-waisted, with sturdy bones and an imposing bearing.
She had always seen him clad in armor before, where he looked like no more than an ordinary strong man. Now that he had shed his battle robes, his knotted muscles and towering frame were fully revealed.
Paired with his sharply defined features, he looked all the more heroic and spirited.
The Twelve Earthly Branches, Thirty-six Heavenly Generals, Seventy-two Earthly Fiend Generals, and more than ten thousand Heavenly Soldiers shouted in unison, "Marshal Tianpeng!