Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 607: Chaos Sovereign's Flying Talisman!

The Moon Sword Goddess, a formidable pillar of the Immortal Sword Court, had not even been relied upon before she retreated a vast distance away.

Yun Xiao's next campaign in the Divine Gateway necessitated a pretext, some semblance of public support.

Moreover, before setting out, he wanted to drain the Thunder Department of its vitality once more. Seeing the masses swayed and transformed, he was thoroughly pleased!

The Immortals of the Thunder Department were no fools. If they couldn’t outshout or kill him, why not switch to flattering? Cursing him was suffocating, nearly deadly. But flattery proved far more soothing!

In life, adaptability was key. Otherwise, the vexations and helplessness of life would eventually be the death of one.

In that moment, Yun Xiao, standing triumphant atop the corpses stirred by the wind, became the Thunder Department’s most radiant new star, the greatest justice under the thunderous skies!

No one even whispered of the demise of Stellar Margrave Feng Xuan.

“Life on the path of immortality, a step towards heaven, a step into hell, truly fascinating,” Yun Xiao mused inwardly.

His gaze was serene as he locked eyes with General Cao for a good while.

Cao Sheng's expression was wonderfully animated for quite some time. Eventually, he chuckled sheepishly, "Considering issues from the perspective of the Thunder Department is your fortune, and ours as well!"

“It’s all thanks to my foster father’s teachings,” Yun Xiao replied. His tranquil demeanor almost made people forget his ferocity and brutality when taking lives.

After speaking, Yun Xiao bowed and continued, “There are eight other luminous talents who need to present themselves on the Thunder Rankings. So, I shall withdraw for now and not take more of everyone’s time.”

With that, Yun Xiao tactfully excused himself, shifting the focus of the Nine Thunders Arena to the more somber-faced high officials and their descendants.

Among them were several whose strength rivaled or even surpassed that of Bai Ling'er and Feng Qi!

From their perspective, of course, they didn’t believe a word of Yun Xiao’s nonsense.

“Don’t celebrate too soon.”

“The Divine Gateway is no place for reckless behavior.”

“Rest assured, the Divine Gateway has 16 spots, and our Thunder Department holds nine. There will be infighting in the early stages, and there’s still a chance to defeat him and avenge Feng Qi.”

Whispers filled the air, undercurrents roiling.

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On the Celestial Thunder Platform, the atmosphere was somber.

The ninth round was carrying on, and the battles were far from boring. However, none of the high officials were paying attention. Only when their own descendants were fighting would they take a more attentive look.

The body of Feng Xuan had been sent away, but they remained disturbed for a long time.

Confusion, shock, and caution were all present!

The two Supreme Generals sat still in their honored seats, motionless, eyes closed, meditating as if waiting for something.

Finally, a flying talisman reached the hands of Yun Yin.

All eyes turned to him.

Upon reading the message, Yun Yin's expression revealed no surprise.

“What did she say?” Gu Zhenxiao asked with a cold voice.

“After learning about the Immortal Asylum, she has given up on Lu Yao,” Yun Yin replied calmly.

“Cao Shuo has quite the gall!” Gu Zhenxiao's eyes darkened. A mere plaything in his view, not only was she uncooperative, but she also dared to offend on both sides?

“She has ruined her own prospects for a mere man, now she’s despised by everyone.” Cao Sheng shook his head.

“How shall we deal with her?” Gu Suwan asked softly.

“Let’s start by arresting her under the false pretense of passing orders from the Moon Sword Goddess,” Gu Zhenxiao said coldly.

Cao Sheng and Gu Suwan nodded, no objections whatsoever.

And Gu Suwan seemed even eager to execute the plan.

“Let’s strip her of her position and detain her, and let the Moon Sword Goddess handle it herself, since this is a conflict between two martial sisters,” Yun Yin added.

“I’ll issue the arrest warrant right now,” Cao Sheng volunteered.

The two Supreme Generals gave him the chance.

“No matter how long Lu Yao can still eke it out, at least Cao Shuo’s path in the Celestial Court has come to an end,” Gu Suwan thought to herself.

As long as Cao Shuo lived, as her sister-in-law, Gu Suwan was always at risk of being implicated.

“Supreme Generals…” Bo Hong stepped forward and asked softly, “Since Lu Yao has no real backing and has committed the crime of killing Stellar Margrave Feng, shouldn’t we detain him first? If he escapes before the Chaos Sovereign and Nine Thunders Sovereign reply, we would have failed in our duty.”

“Sure, you do it yourself then,” Gu Zhenxiao said evenly.

“Uh…” Bo Hong hesitated, then awkwardly added, “He probably won't try and leave. So, maybe it's best if we just continue to keep an eye on him for now.”

The facts were clear. Feng Xuan had been slain. Even without protection, who would dare make a move on Lu Yao now?

Just then, both Yun Yin and Gu Zhenxiao received a flying talisman!

The one Yun Yin held came directly from the highest authority of the Thunder Department, the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Thunder Voice Universalizing Sovereign.

After reading the message, Yun Yin’s already somber face grew even more overcast. He looked up, his voice a chilling whisper, “One of the Chaos Sovereign's subordinates died on our territory, and the Nine Thunders Sovereign has no way of giving an explanation. He orders us to capture Lu Yao at all costs, regardless of any losses.”

Bo Hong was taken aback by the intensity of the Nine Thunders Sovereign's reaction. This response clearly showed how much the Nine Thunders Sovereign respected the Chaos Sovereign.

“Does that mean we're going to disqualify Lu Yao from the Nine Thunders Rankings? He has a spot now,” Bo Hong asked.

“No choice, the Nine Thunders Sovereign has commanded, and in this time's Immortal Tournament, the Thunder Department can only send eight participants,” Yun Yin declared, standing up.

He swept his gaze around the gathering of high officials and commanded, “This capture is critical; everyone moves out together, and we must complete the mission.”

“Yes!” The high officials stood, their expressions solemn.

It was rare for the Thunder Department to mobilize at this scale, a mission demanding the action of the 100 high officials.

The stakes were indeed high.

“Lu Yao underestimated our Thunder Department’s resolve to enforce against wickedness,” Bo Hong thought with a cold smirk.

Just a moment ago, that boy had been trying to salvage his reputation within the Thunder Department? Now, it was a waste of effort, utterly unnecessary!

As Bo Hong stood amidst the crowd, it was justice over kinship. His thoughts were clear, devoid of any sympathy, in fact, he felt an added measure of disdain.

“Wait.” Gu Zhenxiao suddenly spoke up in a quiet, deep tone, calling out.

Everyone turned to look, seeing him holding a flying talisman, his expression deeply puzzled.

Yun Yin narrowed his eyes and asked, "What does the Chaos Sovereign say?"

"See for yourself." Gu Zhenxiao tossed the flying talisman to him.

After examining it, Yun Yin's face also fell into confusion. Shaking his head, he said, "Feng Xuan was highly valued by the Chaos Sovereign, and he lost his life in our Thunder Department... What does the Chaos Sovereign mean by this?"

"I don't know!" Gu Zhenxiao furrowed his brow deeply.

Everyone was in the dark about the contents of the Chaos Sovereign's talisman, and naturally, their confusion deepened.

Thus, Bo Hong asked, "Supreme Generals, are we still going to capture Lu Yao?"

Gu Zhenxiao and Yun Yin looked at each other, and unexpectedly, they said in unison, "Do not capture him."

"..." Hearing this, everyone was utterly speechless.

Gu Suwan lowered her head and stuck her tongue out at Cao Sheng beside her, whispering, "Have to say, that little guy really has a huge stroke of luck…"

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In the Hall of Soaring Thunder, Yun Xiao had nowhere else to go but here for now.

He did send a message to Cao Shuo, telling her to keep hiding and wait for his return from the Divine Gateway.

But she hadn't responded to his flying talisman yet.

Yun Xiao then returned to the Eight Symbols Guard Pavilion with Jiang Haiyan and Jiang Heqing.

Seeing the charming and distinct sisters, Yun Xiao knew they would comply with whatever he asked. But he wasn't in the mood to oppress.

He had a conflict with Jiang Taiping, but with them, it was resolved. So he told them, "Go back to Sky Soaring City and live well."

"We want to stay with you," Jiang Heqing said softly, clutching at his sleeve.

"This is where we say our goodbyes. We were not meant to walk the same path," Yun Xiao said calmly.

"Is there anything else you need to tell us?" Jiang Haiyan pulled her sister back, maintaining their dignity.

"I still owe Sun Xiaoqi a meal. Help me invite her to the Drunken Immortal Tavern in Sky Soaring City," Yun Xiao said.

"Okay." Jiang Haiyan looked at him with a sad gaze and nodded gently.

"You should thank me for keeping you from a path of folly. The karmic burden of such a path is unbearable for anyone. You will have a righteous cultivation journey," Yun Xiao said.

The sisters nodded silently, then walked away hand in hand.

Jiang Haiyan walked steadily, her eyes moist, while Jiang Heqing kept looking back, sobbing softly, "Can't I follow you…"

The answer, of course, was no.

Yun Xiao didn’t resent them, but he couldn’t protect them either.

His path to immortality was thorny.

After the two sisters had left, Yun Xiao entered his cultivation chamber and pushed the stone door shut, then he pulled out the small black beast from his robes.

The little black creature looked utterly dejected, stars swirling in its eyes, one tongue lolling to the left, the other to the right...

“How are you doing?” Yun Xiao asked.

“Hungry! Hungry... milk…” Red Moon howled miserably, clearly famished, its belly visibly sunken.

“Better latch onto a wealthy lady fast, I can’t hold on! I’m fading!” Blue Star said with a trembling voice.

“Get lost.” Yun Xiao knew they were nagging him for debts. Out of sight, out of mind, so he stuffed them back into his bosom.

However, with his resources depleted once again, the problem of poverty loomed large.

“Before I head to the Divine Gateway, I must find a way to strengthen myself, or I won’t hold up.”

The question was, where to find the way?

Though the high officials of the Thunder Department now held him in fear and awe, Yun Xiao felt it was tougher than scaling the heavens to get resources from them.

“Killing for treasure won’t work either, and making use of the Thunder Immortal Formation means I can’t go to the Divine Gateway. The Sword Devil Form is exhausted, and both the Divine Desolation Physique and Mortal Dust Devil Blood are inaccessible. Right now, my combat power can hardly increase further, and even my fallbacks are at risk.”

It could be said that this was Yun Xiao at his most unencumbered.

“The only way left to sudden wealth, to attach to a rich lady?” Yun Xiao thought and chuckled dryly.

While his Creator Immortal appearance and temperament would indeed give him an edge on that path, the problem was that there were no wealthier ladies in the Thunder Department than Cao Shuo now.

“I’ll have to find wealth not from money but through skills and techniques, filling in my other weaknesses.

“The problem is, the truly top-tier celestial techniques of the Thunder Department aren’t easy to acquire either…”

It seemed every path he considered led to an impasse!

Just then, Yun Xiao's significantly strengthened spirit first detected someone approaching.