Immortal of the Ages

"Enter." The voice of the Nine Thunders Sovereign echoed through the halls of the Nine Thunders Origin Palace.

The reverberations made it clear that following the death of the 10,000 officials of the Thunder Department, this core area was nearly deserted.

The Nine Thunders Sovereign had lost not only his daughter but also more than 130 of his clan members and family officials.

The entire clan, save for the old and weak, was decimated, leaving him the sole survivor!

Even many prodigies from the Grand Firmament Academy, who were studying there, had vanished without a trace!

This was undoubtedly the most tragic moment in the life of the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Thunder Voice Universalizing Sovereign—no one could comprehend his grief.

Even the promise by the White Emperor to help rebuild the Thunder Department could not restore the foundations and enterprises built by countless generations of his ancestors!

The newly assigned officials from the frontier, with their complex backgrounds, were unlikely to seamlessly integrate into the Thunder Department.

Put simply, those who volunteered to come were merely after the money and positions now vacant in the Thunder Department, which enticed many.

Crossing a corridor flanked by violet thunder pillars, he entered a courtyard enveloped by celestial mist.

In the courtyard, a young man with violet hair stood with his hands behind his back in front of a rockery, his back to Yun Xiao, hiding his expression.

But one could faintly sense that the Nine Thunders Sovereign's mood was exceedingly somber.

There was none of the thunderous fury Yun Xiao had expected.

"Sovereign, I have returned," Yun Xiao stated calmly at the entrance of the courtyard.

The Nine Thunders Sovereign did not turn around but asked, "What news from the Longevity Immortal?"

Yun Xiao answered honestly, "On my way to the mortal realm, passing by the Ascension Pool, the Longevity Immortal found someone causing trouble and asked me to stay on his vessel."

"And then?" The Nine Thunders Sovereign still did not turn, his tone relatively calm.

After all, the Longevity Immortal wasn't one of his own.

"You must have heard by now. The Longevity Immortal was slain by the Seventh Princess, and the Ascension Pool was destroyed."

Yun Xiao added with a hint of helplessness, "The Seventh Princess' strength might match that of a Rank 1 Heavenly Officer. I admit I am no match for her and could not save the Longevity Immortal. I abandoned the vessel to escape, to avoid further complications."

"You turned deserter?" The tone of the Nine Thunders Sovereign rose slightly, seemingly displeased.

Yun Xiao responded, "I have a greater destiny to fulfill, and there was no need to perish in that moment. Besides, I am an Arbiter of the Thunder Department; I need not die alongside the Longevity Immortal."

"Very well!" The Nine Thunders Sovereign, upon hearing this, did not get angry but turned around, his eyes softening as he regarded Yun Xiao. "I will report to the Celestial Court exactly as you have told me."

"Thank you," Yun Xiao replied.

"You, the Immortal Tournament Champion, to retreat without a fight in the face of a high criminal of the Celestial Court… naturally, it will stain your reputation," the Nine Thunders Sovereign said sternly.

"Life is more important than reputation," Yun Xiao stated.

"That's true." The Nine Thunders Sovereign actually smiled. "A true man must indeed know when to bend and when to stand."

With that, he seemed to let the matter go and said, "Regarding the matter of the incense offerings, the Emperor will likely send someone to assist you. For the next few days, wait here in the Thunder Department for further notice."

"Understood!" Yun Xiao nodded.

"Go then," the Nine Thunders Sovereign gestured dismissively.

"This humble Immortal takes his leave." Yun Xiao retreated. As he left, his demeanor was somewhat peculiar.

"I thought I was headed into a storm of blades and flames, but to slip through so easily?" Yun Xiao mused.

"Yeah, how convenient. The Thunder Immortal Formation malfunctions for the first time in history and wipes out almost all 10,000 Rank 6 and above officials of the Thunder Department. But somehow you survive. And just as you're about to go down to the mortal realm to receive incense offerings, a calamity strikes the Ascension Pool. The Longevity Immortal and all his subordinates are all wiped out. But yet again, you somehow survived." Blue Star rolled his eyes with a sarcastic click of his tongue.

"You're mistaken," Yun Xiao said quietly, his brow low. "His apparent trust in me only shows he's got his eyes on me. But when even the Chaos Sovereign lacked the power to kill me, he'd only waste his last chance by acting rashly alone."

Active conflict often meant the danger was actually lower.

But no conflict and smooth agreement meant there was a trap being set in the background!

"What will they try next?" Blue Star wondered aloud.

"I don't know. I need to think over where there might be a flaw."

The trust of the Nine Thunders Sovereign was a sure sign something was amiss!

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Back in the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Palace.

After Yun Xiao had departed, the Nine Thunders Sovereign walked towards the inner sanctum with a frosty demeanor.

Deep within, a young man in a golden robe and a golden dragon crown sat; it was the Celestial Court's Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince's gaze followed Yun Xiao through the crack of the door, his voice a quiet murmur, "He didn't react, which means he overlooked Gu Sutao."

"Gu Sutao barely revealed his secrets before Yun Yin dealt with her. Of all the Immortals who know about his true origins, only Gu Suwan remains," the Nine Thunders Sovereign declared.

"Have you sent someone to investigate?" the Crown Prince asked coldly.

"Of course, the two belong to the mortal realm where the Immortal Asylum was found. A young man named Yun Xiao and a girl named Lian Xi… these two eliminated the three Incense Immortals assigned to that mortal realm. Then, they borrowed the sword vessel of a Rank 9 Arbiter called Lu An and snuck into the Great Dao Celestial Realm. The young man took on the identity of Lu Yao, and the girl took on the identity of the recently deceased Seventh Princess," the Nine Thunders Sovereign explained.

"A true miracle..." The Crown Prince squinted his eyes, his gaze filled with jealousy, murderous intent, and deep wariness.

"The extraordinary emergence of these two mortals must be linked to the Immortal Asylum, underscoring that the Asylum is a pinnacle treasure capable of altering the Great Dao Celestial Realm," the Nine Thunders Sovereign said deeply.

"Indeed." The Crown Prince glanced at the Nine Thunders Sovereign. "Your people didn’t stir up trouble in that mortal realm, did they? This boy and that fake princess still don't realize we've uncovered their true identities and motives."

"He just returned from the mortal realm without any odd occurrences, indicating we haven’t startled the serpent," the Nine Thunders Sovereign said.

"I’m aware of the world that birthed the Immortal Asylum. I thought it was merely an empty shell, insignificant. Yet unexpectedly, it spawned two pests that dare to open their greedy maws at my Celestial Court!"

The Crown Prince’s smile was cold and venomous. He then looked at the Nine Thunders Sovereign, asking, "How important, do you think, is their homeland to him?"

"Surprisingly important, from what I know. In that world, he’s quite the legend—a mere mortal, yes, but likely with family, wives, and children all residing there," the Nine Thunders Sovereign replied.

"What a fortuitous discovery!" The Crown Prince laughed heartily. "Two make-believe heroes, stumbling upon fortune, come to my Celestial Court to avenge other lesser beings. The boy really is talented. His discourse on the theory of monkeys and Immortals almost had me fooled yesterday."

"His acting is commendable; even the Chaos Sovereign might have been deceived by him," the Nine Thunders Sovereign said flatly.

"But this individual, his weaknesses and flaws are too significant to be of any concern." The Crown Prince shook his head, his eyes showing disdain and greed.

"Indeed. That mortal realm is his greatest weakness. By grasping this, no matter how high he jumps here, we can always seize control of his fate," the Nine Thunders Sovereign said coldly, his eyes flickering with rage.

"Not just that. Since he and the fake princess insist on setting their lives for the commoners and seeking justice for the vermin, all the vermin of the lower are his weakness. Their so-called great endeavor is doomed to be a moth's flight into the flame, a death trap. The moment he involves himself with that swarm, even if he were a reincarnated immortal emperor, he'd still be on a path to certain death," the Crown Prince said with a chilling, cold laugh.

He was born looking like a saintly prince, usually radiant as the sun. But in the moments of his sinister laughter, he appeared ghastly, as if his face were smeared with white powder.

The Nine Thunders Sovereign grasped the meaning of the Crown Prince's words.

The Celestial Court's husbandry in the mortal realm had long become unshakable. Compared to the True Immortals, the cultivators in the First and Second Dao Tribulations were far too fragile.

Avenging the tofu?

As long as Yun Xiao was afraid of the tofu being smashed, he’d never win.

If threatening one life didn't work, they'd just threaten a hundred casually, and several lives wouldn't be enough!

"Simply crushing a few mortal realms was enough to lure my defiant seventh sister to her death. These two impostors, having tasted a bit of the Immortal Asylum's power, dare to play the clown?"

The Crown Prince laughed continuously from his throne.

"Crown Prince, I suspect the Thunder Immortal Formation's malfunction is related to this kid. He once took over the formation with his spirit. You should leave the Thunder Department soon to prevent this kid from a desperate final act," the Nine Thunders Sovereign said earnestly.

"Hmm," the Crown Prince nodded and then looked at the Nine Thunders Sovereign, "What will the Thunder Department do if he pushes us to the brink with his death?"

The Nine Thunders Sovereign's gaze was solemn, "The eternal rule of the Celestial Court, under the threat of Lu Fan and these two pests, has entered an era of unprecedented change. I and the Thunder Department are willing to die to maintain the Emperor and the Prince's reign for thousands of generations!"

"Well!" The Crown Prince looked deeply at the Nine Thunders Sovereign.

In these trying times, he needed men like the Nine Thunders Sovereign, who gambled on a chance for revenge and a more glorious future.

"However..." the Crown Prince stood up, gently patted the Nine Thunders Sovereign's shoulder, and smiled, "I don't plan to show my hand to this kid directly."

"What do you mean?" the Nine Thunders Sovereign asked.

The Crown Prince furrowed his brow, "The Celestial Court currently faces two major challenges. These two pests are merely talented but not significant in scale; their threat is future-oriented. The real challenge is Lu Fan. He's not like those two soft-hearted kids. He doesn’t discriminate between good and evil, uses any means necessary, acts ruthlessly, selfishly, and for his ends, would sacrifice not just all beings but even his family. He even seized the Great Dao Celestial Army and truly poses a threat to the Heavenly Palace."

"Indeed." The Nine Thunders Sovereign also frowned, his expression very somber.

"If we deal with these two saintly martyrs first, there is still some risk. For example, the calamity of your Thunder Department was a significant loss, and I am to blame. I only thought to use Cao Shuo to intimidate others, not anticipating this twist... What I mean is, in a three-way power struggle, even if the third party is weaker and easier to handle, if we attack them first, we might end up facing a two-against-one situation. This is a grave error!" the Crown Prince stated solemnly.

"So you mean, since we already have a grip on the weaknesses of those two kids, there's no rush. We might as well let them and Lu Fan fight, possibly revealing more of their cards. Being prepared, we might reap the benefits as the fishermen?" the Nine Thunders Sovereign asked.

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