Immortal of the Ages

In Cao Shuo's private courtyard, Yun Xiao sat cross-legged amidst a sea of flowers, immersed in meditation.

"The spirit awakens, thoughts arise from the heart, and when mind and spirit unite, the divine self is achieved."

This was the profound truth of the Divine Self.

Spirit Projection, Essence Manifestation, and Divine Self… these were the first three realms of the Third Dao Tribulation, the foundational paths of spiritual growth. After reaching the Divine Self Realm, the will and spirit merged, thoughts became clearer, and the power of the soul intensified.

Both the duration of the projection and the power of their manifested spirit significantly increased. Most Arbiter Commanders were at this level.

"The assault on Sky Soaring City was somewhat rushed, under pressing time constraints," Yun Xiao mused. "Yet, Master had still managed to scavenge over 500,000 True Immortal Jades."

Apart from this, the various celestial pills, herbs, and treasures also approximate 500,000 True Immortal Jades in value.

This meant Yun Xiao had plundered over 1,000,000 True Immortal Jades from Sky Soaring City.

"Compared to the 50,000 True Immortal Jades that Gu Suwan gave me, taking lives and seizing treasures truly surpasses ordinary human interactions," Yun Xiao reflected, acknowledging the greater risks involved.

Yun Xiao's immediate financial woes were solved, and he'd secured the Boundary Defining Divine Needle.

"Having just survived a tribulation with the help of the Moon Sword Goddess, I can now blaze through this perilous Celestial Path once again."

Before the selection of the Thunder Department, Yun Xiao continuously absorbed the Origin Orbs and Tri Heaven Sariras, instantly reaching the Divine Self Realm.

Yun Xiao didn't stop there; he grew further in his Worldly Dao Heart, advancing to the Mid Divine Self Realm, breaking through two stages in succession.

"At the very least, in terms of combat prowess, I am now equivalent to a Rank 7 Sky Protector."

With his power enhanced but his official position unchanged, Yun Xiao stood up, his eyes fiercely set towards the direction of the Nine Thunders Arena.

"The Moon Sword Goddess is enigmatic and unpredictable, with unclear intentions. In this Celestial Court, the only things that can truly save me are my rank and status!"

For Yun Xiao, his new master’s role was simply to shield him from a crisis once. He never expected to fully rely on anyone. Every step in the Great Dao Celestial Realm was like walking a tightrope, yet he had his resolutions.

And so, Yun Xiao disregarded the affairs of the Immortal Sword Court, his mind focused solely on one thing—to win the Thunder Department selection and ascend the Nine Heavens Thunder Rankings.

Reaching Rank 6 before the age of 30 years old would place Yun Xiao among the upper echelons of the Celestial Court!

"It's time to depart," Yun Xiao murmured as he turned to leave.

Behind him, Cao Shuo was deep in slumber on a bed in another chamber. Her slightly curled long hair sprawled across the pillow, her slender legs a dazzling sight, her cheeks still flushed with a rosy hue, and her lips curved into a trace of sweetness.

"The desire to leave a legacy is the greatest joy in the human realm, so potent that even Immortals cannot escape its vulgar pleasures," Yun Xiao mused softly.

"Put it simply," Blue Star interjected with a smirk.

"In one word, thrilling." Yun Xiao did not deny the exhilaration of his midnight escapades—murder and love seemed to him as similar outlets of release.

After each, there lingered a sense of emptiness, yet the process was undeniably exhilarating, thoroughly invigorating. Of course, the opponent mattered significantly. His previous adversaries were those he had long despised, while his recent companion was a woman of explosive talent.

"The road to the heavens should be this thrilling," Yun Xiao said, a slight smile playing on his handsome face, which bore a mix of cool indifference, a devilish charm, and a carefree attitude.

He grasped a flask of wine, gulping it down with abandon. The celestial wine burned down his throat like life itself. After drinking, he let out a long laugh, his mind clear, without a trace of regret. His eyes blazed with an intense will that no one could obstruct.

"Life should be enjoyed to the fullest!" Yun Xiao proclaimed. And how was one supposed to enjoy life to the fullest? Simply by doing whatever brought joy! There was no need to hold back!

With his spirits soaring, Yun Xiao rose on his Sovereign Sword.

"With wine in hand, sword beneath my feet, and clouds around me... this is all I need!" Yun Xiao soared across the sky, wild and unrestrained, dashing and carefree, heading toward the fiery pinnacle of the Thunder Department as the selection approached its last few rounds!

Yun Xiao glanced down at the Heaven Burial Sword Soul beneath his feat. "The fourth lotus Sword Prison has taken shape."

Indeed, his Sword Soul now contained four small worlds of Sword Aura.

In a single night, it had grown threefold—three Azure Lotus Sword Prisons, each spawned from the sword bones of the dead in Sky Soaring City, devoured in the same manner Yun Xiao had consumed Sword Aura in the past.

Yet, all Sword Immortals in the Celestial Court were required to compress and condense their Sword Prison through the Sword Suppression Gate—a process repeated more frequently by the elite Sword Immortals.

So, when Yun Xiao found his Sword Soul automatically chewing and digesting another's Sword Prison, directly replicating his first Azure Lotus Sword Prison and creating a new one, he was genuinely surprised.

But then, considering that the Heaven Burial Sword Soul was formed from a Dao Source and Primordial Coffin, any marvel seemed plausible.

"That's handy, it saves me the trips to the Sword Suppression Gate." With that thought, Yun Xiao smiled.

"It might even make them think I possess my own private Sword Suppression Gate, leading them to concoct backgrounds for me like they do for Jiang Taiping, too wary to act rashly."

His Sword Soul continued to grow stronger, now firmly on the right track.

"As for the Life Sigil, it hasn't formed its first Rune Prison yet; it might need a Sigil Suppression Gate."

The Thunder Department, of course, had its own Sigil Suppression Gate, functioning much like the Sword Suppression Gate.

But now, Yun Xiao felt it was unlikely he would be allowed to use it.

"Then I'll stick with the sword!"

At this moment, Yun Xiao was approaching the Nine Thunders Arena. The distant thunder roared, and the thunderclouds solidified. With each round being a combination of two, they had now reached the sixth round, and these thunderclouds had grown considerably.

Yun Xiao arrived just a tad late, and by the time he got there, the sixth round had already begun!

Since there weren't many geniuses left, the Thunder Rankings took much longer to announce the battle pairings, often waiting for a focal duel to finish before introducing new fighters.

The number of competitors had dwindled, but the audience had grown!

In the latter rounds, the Thunder Department allowed more spectators to witness the geniuses in action. So, from the sixth round onward, millions had already gathered and fervently watched the battles!

With more people, the noise grew, the atmosphere thickened, undoubtedly heightening the excitement and tension.

The entire Nine Thunders Arena was ablaze with energy!

"Lu Yao has arrived!"

As Yun Xiao entered the arena, it was as if thunderclaps resounded among the crowd.

Many from the Thunder Department turned their heads, looking at the youth with peculiar expressions. Hostility sprouted in their gazes. Compared to the day before, the crowd's animosity had increased manifold.

Yun Xiao remembered that he'd reached the pinnacle of fame last night, his display of talent on the Sword Suppression Gate shaking the Thunder Department to its core.

Now, he seemed to have become an object of everyone's disdain. Why? He overheard numerous whispers.

"They're all talking about it. He's taken the Moon Sword Goddess as his master, and he's severed ties with General Cao. He's no longer one of us from the Thunder Department."

"That's right. From now on, he represents the Immortal Sword Court."

"Having just climbed to a higher branch, he ruthlessly kicks away his benefactor. How is he any different from an ungrateful cur?"

"With such a disposition, no matter how talented, he can never become a true personage."

"I certainly don't see a bright future for him!"

"Why align with the Immortal Sword Court, the Thunder Department's greatest adversary? Purely to disgust us! I praised him just yesterday, and now I'm utterly speechless."

"You're right! Now that he's one of the Immortal Sword Court's, why does he still bother competing in the Thunder Department's selection?"

With the change of allegiance, the Immortals of the Thunder Department naturally harbored animosity towards him, wishing he would vanish from sight right then and there.

However, Yun Xiao's apprenticeship was not official; by the laws of the heavens, he remained a Rank 9 Arbiter, eligible to continue in the competition.

Yet, the pressure from all of the Thunder Department weighed heavily upon him now.

Above Yun Xiao were the aloof and frosty 100 high officials of the Thunder Department!

Around him were over 1,000,000 common Immortals.

And among the crowd, there were hundreds of geniuses from the Grand Firmament Academy.

Amidst the disdain, slander, and mockery, streaks of grim murderous intent were hidden!

"People of the Immortal Sword Court, get out of the Thunder Department!"

"Go back to your Immortal Sword Court and suckle!"

"You opportunistic bastard! The Thunder Department raised you! As an Arbiter, you even abandon your identity, do you have a shred of decency left?"

A barrage of angry shouts filled the air.

With no one to intervene, the uproar grew louder and wilder.

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