Immortal of the Ages

THUD! THUD! Yun Xiao's footsteps were heavy as he descended the steps into the depths. With his approach, the sounds that had filled the underground palace gradually subsided.

BOOM! Yun Xiao pushed open a massive stone door, its surface carved with magical inscriptions, revealing a room where lightning flickered menacingly.

At the far end of the chamber, a tall, striking woman with curly violet hair knelt on the ground, her slender body bound tightly by chains of lightning. These chains, embedded deep into her flesh, carved trails of blood across her skin, leaving her paralyzed and unable to move.

Such restraints had drained the color from her skin and left her looking frail. Her once luscious, wavy hair was now disheveled, and her glass-like dress was crumpled and stained with blood.

It was hard to imagine that this once radiant Thunder Emissary Cao, now a pitiful prisoner trapped in this dungeon, had lost all her former glory and seemed barely alive.

With a sudden movement, she lifted her head, her dull eyes sparking with resilient flashes of lightning.

Outside the stone door, the celestial-faced young man, dressed in a majestic outfit with a platinum crown, glowing white robe, and formidable boots, stood unmatched in appearance.

On opposite sides of the door, their fates could not have been more different.

Thunder Emissary Cao had fallen to hell, while the young man had ascended to the clouds above, leaving her to only gaze up at him.

The violet-haired beauty stared at him blankly, biting her red lips, and said, "I heard the conversation you had outside."

"And?" Yun Xiao stood at the doorway, not entering, calmly observing her disheveled state.

"I didn't realize your life was so complicated, nor did I expect you to achieve such great deeds for the Thunder Department. Congratulations, you've gotten your revenge in just a few days, and now, in the Great Dao Celestial Realm, it seems no one can threaten you anymore," Thunder Emissary Cao remarked, a slow smile spreading across her lips, genuinely pleased for Yun Xiao.

"Indeed." Yun Xiao nodded, then casually added, "So, you also heard my response to the three Supreme Generals regarding your situation?"

"I heard, all too clearly," the violet-haired woman struggled to shift into a more comfortable position, but the Thunder Duke Chains were too tight, and she could only kneel in front of Yun Xiao.

"What are you thinking?" Yun Xiao asked.

Thunder Emissary Cao shot him a glance and said, "Enough with the act. I know you're hurting inside, still trying to find a way to save me."

Yun Xiao paused, surprised. "Do you really believe that?"

"Get out!" She breathed deeply, her gaze intent upon him. "Kid, you finally have such a future ahead of you, and I am but a freak cast out by the world. My plight is of my own making, not yours. You don't need to ruin your prospects for someone like me. To have shared a fleeting bond with you, I am content; it feels like a life well-lived. Let this be the end of us! You can leave now."

"No, that's not it." Yun Xiao looked at her, bewildered yet amused. "Have you always been this confident?"

His tone was dismissive, as cold as one from a frozen cave. This caught her off guard, and she asked confusedly, "What do you mean?"

"If you don't understand, I'll make it plain." Yun Xiao adjusted his robe, glancing at her lightly. "From the beginning, it was all just using you, as a stepping stone. Any joy was just about conquering you as if you were prey. Now that you're of no use to me, not a single hair of mine would I sacrifice for you."

"Lu Yao!" Thunder Emissary Cao's anger surged, her eyes swiftly reddening. She stared at him fiercely, biting her lip. "Even if you have other motives, must you speak so cruelly?"

"Why not? Don't be so fragile, Thunder Emissary Cao. Did you really think you were worthy of me?" After saying this, his gaze drifted from her face to her bound form, and he smirked, "Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"

She watched him with bloodshot eyes, silent.

"You're quite striking, such a fine body to be destroyed by thunder soon. It's a pity. How about one last taste before the Nine Thunders Sovereign responds, while you're still warm?"

Hearing this, her eyes filled with blood, and she screamed at him, "Get out!!"

"If you won't give in, why the fuss?" Yun Xiao looked bored, turned around, and closed the stone door behind him.

"You!" Her face framed by fallen hair, she stared blankly at the cold stone door, then slowly collapsed to the ground, curling up and beginning to cry.

Tears streamed down copiously, more than she had ever shed in her lifetime.

"Scoundrel! All of them, scoundrels!"

She was resentful, defiant.

"Lu Yao, you won't die a good death!"

She continued to struggle, pounding the ground and cursing, screaming over and over.

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BANG! Yun Xiao emerged from the underground palace, his face clouded with frustration. Looking up, he found the Thunder Department's high officials staring at him, all wearing expressions of astonishment.

The palace behind him shook violently, accompanied by the hysterical curses of Thunder Emissary Cao aimed at him.

"What's going on?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all," Yun Yin replied.

Despite his words, the others still looked at Yun Xiao rather oddly.

"What did you do to her?" Cao Sheng asked casually.

"Nothing much. She committed a treason against the heavens; that's her own doing. I said I couldn't help, but she insisted on blaming me," Yun Xiao responded nonchalantly.

"That woman has lost her mind, her brain's diseased. Lu Yao, you really shouldn't bother with her," Gu Suwan quickly said.

"I thought she was quite clever before, but turns out she's just foolish," Yun Xiao remarked, then turned to the Moon Sword Goddess. "Master, you were her senior sister. Did you never notice her madness before?"

The Moon Sword Goddess replied, "Thunder Emissary Cao was always undisciplined and reckless. This time, getting caught red-handed by the Crown Prince was indeed her own fault."

"As a Heavenly Officer of the Celestial Court, especially those Rank 6 and above, if one's thoughts are not righteous, nobody can save them. Nobody is allowed to cross the lines set by the Celestial Court, not even a princess," Yun Yin stated plainly.

His last statement was laden with meaning.

The tale of the Seventh Princess' demise, her rebirth, and subsequent bounty as a Divine Heaven grade criminal... details and reasons for which some had already guessed.

Yun Yin's words were also meant for Yun Xiao. He knew that Yun Xiao, a youth of fiery blood and noble spirit, kept inquiring about Thunder Emissary Cao, surely not out of disinterest.

Now that matters had escalated, whether he cared or not wasn't important; what mattered was making the right choices under pressure.

At least in Yun Yin's view, Yun Xiao's current choices were the correct ones.

Thunder Emissary Cao's anguished curses and resistance said it all.

Her cries and shouts at this moment were heartbreakingly tragic.

What would come of Thunder Emissary Cao's fate was now dependent on a decree from the Nine Thunders Sovereign!

The Thunder Department's high officials all knew that in matters of incense offerings, the Nine Thunders Sovereign would not contradict the Crown Prince. The confirmation was merely following due process, especially since the prince had ordered the use of the Thunder Immortal Execution this time!

The immortals waited silently at the Cao Immortal Manor.

Yun Xiao didn't leave either; he asked about the celebration feast, which Yun Yin said was also pending confirmation from the Nine Thunders Sovereign.

About half an hour passed before a flying talisman descended from the sky!

Yun Yin hurriedly caught it, glanced over the contents, and then announced to all present, "The celebration feast will proceed as planned. Additionally, Cao Shuo will be paraded through the streets for an hour before being executed at the feast itself."

Parading, execution, and celebration—all rolled into one, none overlooked.

"It seems the Nine Thunders Sovereign sees this as a sort of vengeance for Little Nine. Punishing Cao Shuo is also a stark warning to anyone harboring dissenting thoughts," Gu Zhenxiao commented.

"To parade Cao Shuo through the streets, we will not disclose the specifics of the incense offerings; merely a reminder to those with intentions will suffice. To the people of the Thunder Department, proclaim that Cao Shuo colluded with foreign Devil Immortals. The evidence was irrefutable, and she was convicted of treason by the Crown Prince!" Yun Yin instructed.

"Understood."

Yun Yin glanced at the sky, noting the time. "It's about time. Let the Rank 6 Heavenly Officers take their seats at the feast and prepare for a grand celebration. Meanwhile..."

He paused, looking towards the bald General Cao. "Cao Sheng, you will oversee the parading of Cao Shuo, declare her crimes, and ensure she is delivered to the Nine Thunders Arena on time."

"By your command!" Cao Sheng understood that by making him carry out this task, Yun Yin was helping him to sever all familial ties with the criminal through an act of righteous severance.

Compared to that, what was the mere fleeting connection that Yun Xiao shared with her?

Yun Yin was closely monitoring Yun Xiao's psyche, with everything he did serving as a continuous reminder.

He knew very well that if this young man stood against the Celestial Court, it would be a significant headache.

For now, regardless of what was said, Yun Xiao's expression remained calm.

By his side, Gu Suwan and the Moon Sword Goddess were also constantly disparaging Cao Shuo, subtly influencing Yun Xiao.

Meanwhile, Cao Sheng summoned a chariot and cage drawn by oxen of the Thunder Department. He personally went down to fetch Cao Shuo, throwing her into the cage and binding her tightly within.

"What are you doing?!" Cao Shuo's voice trembled as she asked.

"Parading you through the streets before your execution, letting all of the Thunder Department witness your crimes, to the disgrace of our ancestors!" Cao Sheng replied coldly.

"You, Blockhead Cao, may you die a horrible death!" Cao Shuo raged from within the cage, her eyes swirling with bloody tears, her body thrashing wildly, shaking the chariot with a thunderous clamor.

"The eternal stench of disgrace is yours," Cao Sheng responded coldly.

"It's you who stink! Every drop of blood in you is sinful! Every one of you is a sinner against the heavens, and you will all meet your retribution!" Cao Shuo cried out in despair.

"Shut her up," Yun Xiao suddenly said.

"Beast! A beast in human skin—that's what you are, Lu Yao!" Cao Shuo glared at him, overwhelmed with despair.

Yun Xiao waved his hand impatiently, saying to Cao Sheng, "Take her away."

Cao Sheng gave Yun Xiao a deep look, saying no more.

Inside the chariot, the violet-haired woman continued to glare at Yun Xiao. Even though she could no longer curse, everyone knew she had cursed Yun Xiao a thousand times over.

Once she had completely gone, the courtyard finally quieted down.

Gu Zhenxiao then turned to Yun Xiao, exhilarated, "Gentlemen, it's time to head to the Nine Thunders Arena. In front of our ancestors, we shall celebrate the divine ascension of our Thunder Department's young champion!"

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An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

At the Nine Thunders Arena, the originally vast cloud of thunder had divided into tens thousand smaller clouds!

Each cloud bore a seat and a table. On these tables, a feast and fine wine were already in place.

Indeed, this was the scene of the celebration banquet.

Nearly all the notable officials from the Thunder Department's jurisdiction had taken their seats.

The delicacies were laid before them, but they stood instead, all eyes turned towards the center of the arena, where the largest thundercloud hovered, and the triumphant champion had just arrived.

Gu Suwan and the Moon Sword Goddess were meant to sit on other clouds, but Yun Xiao had insisted they stay, claiming, "This is the proudest moment of your foster son and disciple’s life. You ought to be here to support him, right?"

After all, he had no other family in the Celestial Court.

Unable to refuse him, Gu Suwan and the Moon Sword Goddess stayed, even though it wasn't quite proper.

And the three Supreme Generals seated on the nearby clouds didn't mind at all!

As Yun Xiao took his seat, the 10,000 officials around him shouted in unison, "Congratulations to the Immortal Tournament Champion!"

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