Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 469: The State of the Nine Hells!

"Lil Xi!" Pomelo bared her teeth, her fury palpable, "Hey, are you mistaken? You're the savior! This is the very purpose of your existence!"

"He seems more suited..."

"Suited for what? Chickens?" Pomelo, grasping Lian Xi's collar with a severity that brooked no argument, declared, "Haven't you realized? He's fundamentally different from you; by nature, a capricious and untethered fiend, placing hope in him is perilous. Such a being could pose a greater danger to humanity. You, on the other hand, are the true chosen one! You are the most exalted, selected by the Primordial Heavenly Dao. You must adhere to your principles and true heart, not let love corrode your spiritual essence!"

"Untethered fiend..." Lian Xi echoed the term.

"Exactly!" Pomelo looked into her eyes intently, "Think carefully, Lil Xi. He's an unpredictable factor, outwardly ethereal, yet inwardly greedy, wrathful, foolish, and lustful. If you let him dominate, you're entrusting the fate of humanity to a fanatic. Should his rage lead to a massacre, you would be complicit!"

Those words pierced Lian Xi's heart like a sword. Her recent interactions with Yun Xiao flashed through her mind, bringing with them a surge of inexplicable fear, quickly followed by a sensation of suffocation.

"By subduing him, you assert your path," Pomelo passionately argued.

"Wait." Lian Xi, flushed with embarrassment, pleaded, "Please, no more talk of subduing."

Pomelo was puzzled. "Does that word have another meaning?"

Lian Xi was at a loss for words.

"So, what do you say? Just three times, and you'll fulfill your mission in the best way possible! It's a win-win, and he's not unattractive," Pomelo added.

"But, but I don't know how!" Lian Xi protested, her face aflame.

"Don't know how?!" Pomelo was exasperated, "You've wasted your womanhood."

"Do you know how?" Lian Xi challenged.

"I don't either," Pomelo admitted.

"Then you've wasted it too."

"I'm a tigress, not a woman."

The two, a woman and a cat, shared a moment of silent agreement.

Finally, gazing down at the cloud-enshrouded Nine Hells below, Pomelo sighed, "Once we reach the Nine Hells, I'll find some sage's writings to cram, alright?"

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A hum pierced the air as Yun Xiao descended, and the mountains and rivers of the Nine Hells unfolded before his eyes.

"Hmm?"

Something felt amiss. From his lofty vantage, the Nine Hells seemed to have transformed into the Primordial Ruins. The world was shrouded in thick, Immortal mist, akin to a realm of fantasy. Within the fog, radiant light bathed the land. Flora and fauna sparkled with an ethereal essence, and mythical beasts soared through the skies. Faint melodies of Immortal music drifted, offering a sense of serene emptiness and liberation to any who listened.

Farther in the distance, human settlements basked in dazzling light, their inhabitants engaged in joyous celebration, smiles on every face, as if they had found paradise.

"The atmosphere of the entire Nine Hells has shifted."

What was once a mere mortal realm had become a splendid heavenly palace.

Even the people seemed transformed.

"An illusion..." Yun Xiao activated the Prison Warden Sigil, turning it to its Soulfire Eye form, and opened the eye for a closer look below.

Now, the Nine Hells appeared dark and overcast, shrouded in gloom with withered vegetation!

In the cities, beings no longer pursued their cultivation but wandered the streets with deranged laughter, grasping at the air like zombies, some even stripping in public, drooling and groping at nothingness.

"This must be the work of the Dreamsea Abalones, affecting the entire Nine Hells," Dean Yu informed the assembly.

"These demons aren't targeting our world specifically; the mere spillover of their clash with the Sky Source Immortal has caused this. It demonstrates their formidable power," a solemn voice noted.

The philosophy of the Primordial Academy, and by extension Lian Xi's own beliefs, was challenged.

In truth, the Dreamsea Abalones likely harbored greater disdain for the Primordial Academy than for the Three Immortals, considering it beneath their notice due to the academy's small scale.

As they analyzed the situation, a pale girl in a tattered white dress, younger and smaller than Lian Xi, floated towards Yun Xiao.

"A corpse demon!" Dean Yu, along with the others, furrowed their brows, on high alert.

The reign of the Dreamsea Abalones over the Oblivion Demon Sea had outlasted even that of the Martial Emperor Clan, despite several breaks in succession, even coming close to extinction.

Each time, corpse demons were the cause!

For the Primordial Academy, the destruction wrought by corpse demons on humanity was far more terrifying than that of the Dreamsea Abalones.

Murderous intent arose among them.

However, they soon saw the corpse demon approach Yun Xiao with respect, addressing him as Immortal Yun. They could only exchange looks of disbelief, once again marveling at the incredulity that was Yun Xiao.

"How does it stand?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Three thousand Dreamsea Abalones have cornered the Sky Source Immortal into the Immortal Asylum, whittling away at his essence through attrition," Pale Revenant replied with a bow, eyes filled with reverence.

"Their aim is the Immortal Asylum as well?" Yun Xiao prodded.

"Yes." Pale Revenant nodded obediently.

"And the tide of battle?"

"It's a stalemate for now. Both sides are cautious, unlikely to gain any advantage," Pale Revenant said.

"Understood!" Yun Xiao turned to share a glance with Dean Yu and the others.

They all understood the age-old adage. When the snipe and the clam grappled, it was the fisherman who profited.

"Regardless, the Dreamsea Abalones have inadvertently aided us," Shen Cang said.

"They are world-ending fiends, whichever prevails brings calamity upon the innocent," Dean Yu responded, shaking her head.

"What's our next move?" Yun Dahe questioned.

Yun Xiao pondered briefly before responding, "The Dreamsea Abalones must know of our presence by now. Should they learn of the Mystic Earth Immortal's demise, they'll likely seek an alliance with us."

"And your decision?" Yu Ningxiang asked earnestly.

"I fear no illusions; so, my plan is to eliminate the Sky Source Immortal first. This aligns with rescuing the people of the Primordial Ruins," Yun Xiao decisively decided.

"To ally with demons?" Dean Yu and the others were taken aback, staring at Yun Xiao in disbelief.

"Is that not permissible?" Yun Xiao asked, puzzled.

Dean Yu lowered her head, solemnly stating, "It goes against the Academy's ancestral will."

"In times of life and death, adaptability is key," Yun Xiao softly countered.

They fell into a prolonged silence, eventually acquiescing without further words.

"See that?" Pomelo peered through the gaps in her clothing, glaring at Yun Xiao, "He harbors corpse demons, beings of resentment and slaughter, born from the dead! His predilections are too perverse!"

"I'm aware," Lian Xi replied, massaging her temples.

"And that corpse demon is female!"

"Enough."

"Since you've misplaced your affections, to spare future regret, grant him three soul-searing experiences!"

"Enough!"

Their banter was interrupted as the others turned their gaze downward.

Amidst the shifting clouds, silhouettes flickered in and out of visibility.

Yun Xiao smiled slightly, "The Dreamsea Abalones, they've arrived."