Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 477: You're Asking For It Now!

"Then, I'll dive to its deepest core," the War Princess declared. She drew a deep breath, her resolve steeling her for the descent.

She longed to gauge the extent of her newfound might, a power so formidable it felt exhilarating. Like a crimson dragon, she cleaved through the molten rivers, parting the fiery waves in her descent, a spectacle of sheer force and beauty.

After a quarter of an hour, she found herself amidst a heat so intense it threatened to consume all.

"How can such scorching depths exist in the mortal realm? What lies below?" she wondered aloud, her gaze piercing the depths.

"All traces have been incinerated... no wonder there's nothing left," Yun Xiao mused, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"What traces?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Without hesitation, Yun Xiao shared, "The remnants of the Devil Ark. Had it been as vast as the Primordial Ruins, there would have been mountains, lands, structures, and legacies of countless generations. But beneath the Blood Devil Ruins lies nothing but lava... a testament to their obliteration."

Wiped clean, the existence of the True Devils had been erased from the world as if they had never been.

"What could possibly obliterate the Devil Ark so thoroughly?" she asked, peering into the abyss.

"If I'm right, it was probably the Celestial Sourcecore," Yun Xiao explained, offering insight into the phenomenon before suggesting, "Look further down."

Acknowledging with a nod, the War Princess dove like a majestic dragon, the light growing increasingly brilliant in her path, as though she wasn't descending into the earth but soaring towards the stars.

"Is that it?" The War Princess gasped, struggling to endure the scorching hot temperature. She pointed ahead where a radiant orb hung in the void, its fierce glow emitting waves of heat. This sphere, enveloped in dense torrents of Immortal energy, contained the pure essence of heaven and earth.

"Yes, that's it! The only remnant of the Devil Ark..." Yun Xiao answered.

In that moment, as the two beheld the orb, he found a moment of reprieve. At last, the greatest crisis of the myriad world had found its resolution.

"If we could replace the one in the Primordial Ruins with this one, the decline of the myriad worlds might be reversed!" the War Princess exclaimed, her voice laced with joy.

"This could be deemed the final contribution of your ancestors to the myriad worlds," Yun Xiao remarked in a light tone.

"Your words lack any semblance of conscience!" she retorted, her ire rising.

Yun Xiao allowed himself a brief chuckle before suggesting they depart.

"Aren't we going to try and take it with us?" she asked.

"You'd be lucky getting close to it without being burnt to a crisp. Besides, with the issue of the Three Immortals still unresolved, taking it with us serves no purpose other than to complicate things," Yun Xiao explained.

"Still, at least we've solved the toughest problem," the War Princess mused. Her gaze lingered on the Celestial Sourcecore, as she continued in a wistful tone, "Without you, no one would have discovered it, and the people of the myriad worlds would remain subjugated unto death by the Three Immortals... You, despite your flaws, are the savior of the common folk."

"Enough with the praise. Both you and I know that title doesn't suit me," Yun Xiao said.

"Tsk, still trying to act all cool. How childish," the War Princess scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Less talk now. The three-day mark is near; group back up with me quickly," Yun Xiao instructed.

"Is it time to besiege the Sky Source Immortal with the Dreamsea Abalones?" she asked.

"Indeed."

"And your true self? What level of cultivation have you reached?" she continued.

"These three days have been spent exterminating the parasites and rescuing the Arbiter Immortal. I'm still at the Early Five Decays Realm, with the second decay still taking its sweet time. This time, it falls to you," Yun Xiao admitted, a note of frustration in his voice.

He had hoped to balance rescuing the Arbiter Immortal with breaking through, but the Five Decays seemed to harbor its own will.

Matters like these simply couldn't be rushed. Three days without a breakthrough left Yun Xiao feeling as if centuries had passed.

"Even you're stalled at the Five Decays Realm?" the War Princess teased, sticking out her extraordinarily long tongue. Humming softly, she departed, her exit swifter than her arrival.

"Previously, you mentioned saving the Arbiter Immortal was to deal with the issue of finding a replacement Celestial Sourcecore. Now that that's resolved, are you going to continue?" she asked.

"I've stopped for now," Yun Xiao replied.

"So pragmatic?" she laughed, caught between amusement and dismay.

"For now, I hold the initiative. Until the Three Immortals are dealt with, introducing new variables is unnecessary," Yun Xiao stated.

"You make sense. Quite rational," the War Princess acknowledged.

"It's merely caution born of witnessing the complexity of the world, a skepticism towards strangers," Yun Xiao replied, his tone even and untroubled.

"And how is he doing now?" she pressed further.

"Four-fifths of the infestation is cleared. Another half day, and he should recover. For now, let's delay further action. I've already saved him from the brink of death; my conscience is clear," Yun Xiao declared, choosing to prioritize the world over an individual's final plight.

As the War Princess made her exit from underground, she burst through the last of the blood pools, emerging above the Blood Devil Ruins.

"Who's that?"

"A devil! A True Devil!"

Many cultivators of the myriad worlds fled in terror.

With one last glance at the Blood Devil Ruins, she prepared to leave.

"Oi, deep down, do you really care about the True Devils of the Devil Ark?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Not in the slightest," she replied.

"Good, then save the sentimental stuff for later and get your ass the Nine Hells! Or do you miss getting punished by me so much?" Yun Xiao chided.

"Understood, you brute!"

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In the Nine Hells, within a deep courtyard in a remote city, lay the Arbiter Immortal in platinum armor upon a lotus platform, his complexion much improved but still ensnared in deep slumber.

"Why did you stop? He could help us against the Sky Source Immortal," Dean Yu asked as Yun Xiao abruptly rose, her confusion clear.

"And can you guarantee he'll help us when he wakes up?" Yun Xiao questioned, meeting her gaze.

Dean Yu pressed her lips together, her eyes flickering briefly before she sighed. "No… I can't."

"And if you don't have the same trump card that you did with the Mystic Earth Immortal, even with the help of the Dreamsea Abalones, slaying the Sky Source Immortal remains a fantasy," Shen Cang interjected solemnly.

Everyone had expected Yun Xiao's cultivation to soar by leaps and bounds in these three days. Yet, he was still stuck in the Early Five Decays Realm.

The only consolation was that Lian Xi had made astonishing progress in integrating with the Primordial Pagoda. Armed with the Martial Emperor's Armor, her combat power was nearing that of Dean Yu. In cultivation alone, she far surpassed Yun Xiao.

"I'm going to step out for a bit," Yun Xiao announced suddenly, setting a new course amidst their planning.

"Would you take a gamble on the Arbiter Immortal?" Dean Yu asked.

"If the decision were still mine to make, I would not," Yun Xiao responded calmly.

Dean Yu looked at him, then in the direction of Lian Xi. She didn't say much, but her eyes held a worry, perhaps sensing the uncontrollable and tyrannical nature in Yun Xiao that the little white tiger did.

"Dean Yu, trust in Yun Xiao," Shen Cang spoke up.

"Indeed," Dean Yu inhaled softly, nodding towards Yun Xiao in acknowledgment.

"Thank you both," Yun Xiao expressed, aware of their confusion over his sudden halt in the rescue of the Arbiter Immortal. Such a failure would carry dire consequences, and their caution was understandable.

He then advised, "When I return, my aura might have changed. I hope you all can accept that."

"A change in aura?" Dean Yu shook her head, "Regardless of the changes you undergo, if it's for the sake of humanity, we must respect them."

"Very well!" After these words, Yun Xiao glanced sideways. Lian Xi, her skin as pale as snow, emerged from the shadows, leaning against a column and gazing at him with a dazed look in her eyes.

He greeted her with a nod and a slight smile before disappearing.

Once he was gone, Dean Yu called over to Lian Xi, whispering, "Can you tell me why he suddenly stopped the rescue?"

"I don't know," Lian Xi took her slender jade hand, asserting confidently, "But Master, he must have his reasons for doing so. Perhaps he has difficulties he cannot disclose. We should just support him."

"Pfft, keeping silent just to seem more impressive," the little white tiger in Lian Xi's arms scoffed.

Dean Yu and Shen Cang could only nod in agreement, their eyes still filled with deep concern as they gazed upon the Arbiter Immortal.

At that moment, the sky outside shifted with changing lights.

"The Mirage Immortal has arrived."

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After leaving the courtyard, Yun Xiao mounted his Sovereign Sword, ascending into the clouds. Along the way, a youth with silver hair and a mysterious air collided with him, merging into his being.

Moon Fairy had arrived. Following the fusion, his true form burgeoned with vitality, and a demonic aura thrived within him.

BOOM! Yun Xiao's speed surged, propelling him towards the heavens. Between the clouds, a blood-hued silhouette flickered in and out of visibility.

Suddenly appearing before her, Yun Xiao gave the War Princess quite the scare.

Seeing Yun Xiao again, the War Princess's eyes trembled slightly, taking a moment before she managed a retort with a click of her tongue, "Each time you merge with your body double, you come out looking all the more demonic. Hmph, I prefer the charm of your true self more."

Yun Xiao took a moment to observe her, then commented, "Your breastplate's too small. Guess we need to change it out for a larger size."

"It's crafted by your humans; none fit me properly!" the War Princess exclaimed, arms crossed over her chest.

"Do you take pride in that?" Yun Xiao asked, eyeing her.

"Not at all," she bit her lip, annoyance flickering across her face. "I've seen that girl. So, you fancy the youthful type, no wonder your tastes are so twisted."

"Twisted? That's rich coming from you," Yun Xiao couldn't help but laugh. "And who said I fancy the youthful type?"

"So, what do you fancy then?"

"I fancy the full spectrum, the complete set, every category there is," Yun Xiao declared.

"..." The War Princess stared at him, feeling a touch dizzy from his proclamation.

"To articulate shamelessness with such righteousness, that's a first for me," she remarked.

"What do you know? I call it being open-minded," Yun Xiao retorted, casually wrapping an arm around her waist. "Enough dallying. Let's find a place to bury you first, and then I'll grant you rebirth."

"Ha!" the War Princess scoffed, clearly displeased at the prospect of dying again.

Facing the divine-faced youth barely reaching her chest, she couldn't help but blurt out, "Shorty!"

"Hmm?" Yun Xiao frowned, giving her a look that said, "You're really asking for it now!"

At those words, the War Princess felt her legs go numb, panic setting in...