Immortal of the Ages

On the fringes of the Thunder Department, deep within the mountains…

Because of the recent disaster and ensuing shortage of manpower, this region was left unguarded, allowing all sorts of shadows and ghastly beings to infiltrate the Thunder Department, hiding out in the wilderness.

Suddenly, two figures clad in splendid armor appeared in the ravine. They were none other than the Flame Virtue General and Aqua Admiral, Zhu Shenlu and Yu Shiling.

"Wind Fiend, Greenchild," Yu Shiling called softly into the breeze. Her voice carried on the wind, and soon the canyon's air swirled into a frenzy, twisting into a tornado that howled with the cries of countless aggrieved spirits.

What seemed merely a gust bore the weight of a sinful world, a vortex of vindictive spirits that draped the sprawling mountains in a veil of mortal sorrow.

Out of this relentless whirlwind materialized a woman in red, her long hair trailing on the ground, her skin ghostly pale, her eyes seemingly blinded by tears. She appeared so frail as if a mere breath of air might scatter her into oblivion.

Zhu Shenlu and Yu Shiling, witnessing the pain that clung to her form, hesitated to draw near.

Before a word could pass between them, the earth of the deep mountain valley trembled, splitting open into an abyss from which a colossal green leech writhed.

Though obscured by a thick mist, its body was covered in suckers, each tipped with barbs that threatened to latch onto flesh and never let go.

Amidst swirling smoke, the leech transformed into a young man in green, debonair with a folding fan in his hand.

"Have reinforcements arrived?" Zhu Shenlu asked the two transformed demons.

"It was a bit on short notice, but I managed 1,000 troops. Now we're about 3,000 strong," Greenchild replied.

"Three thousand?" Zhu Shenlu pursed his lips.

"You think that's not enough? It's already more than your Chaos Sovereign planned," Greenchild responded coolly.

"He aims to settle things in one fell swoop," Yu Shiling added.

"Then let's wait a bit longer. Xiu seems to have arrived, bringing several top devils with him," Greenchild mentioned.

"Him?" At this, Zhu Shenlu nodded with satisfaction. "If so, once you all convene, give the signal, and we'll strike immediately. No more waiting," he commanded.

"Agreed." Greenchild nodded.

"And Wind Fiend, what are your thoughts?" Yu Shiling turned to the red-robed woman.

Lifting her head, her vacant eyes met theirs, and she whispered tremulously, "I can't wait any longer..."

"The Chaos Sovereign has agreed. You may unleash your sorrowful winds across the Thunder Department. All the celestial demons of Naraka are watching you! Revel in this feast of carnage!" Zhu Shenlu said with a satisfied smile on his face.

Afterwards, he and Yu Shiling disappeared into the wind.

Left behind, the two demons stood in the mountain depths, their gazes fixed on the bustling expanse of the Thunder Department ahead.

"What a marvelous trinket," Greenchild murmured with a ghost of a smile.

"Life is but a fleeting confusion, mere fodder in the end. After the battle, corpses and blood will stream like rivers..." Wind Fiend's hollow eyes widened, a glint of greed flickering within them.

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Above the clouds, a golden palace floated amidst the Celestial Sourcecore, its glazed golden tiles gleaming under the heavenly light.

On the roof stood three figures. At the center was the Crown Prince dressed in golden robes. He was the most handsome and youngest out of all of them. If not for Yun Xiao, he would be heralded as the most divine figure in the Celestial Court.

Beside him, to the left, a shadowy figure who appeared as sharp as a sword, and to the right, a robust and commanding middle-aged man. They were none other than the Northstar Sword Devil and Dragon Tiger Sovereign.

The Dragon Tiger Sovereign peered into the distance, where the sky seemed to morph into a dark maw stretching wide to devour the Thunder Department.

"They're likely to strike at nightfall," the Dragon Tiger Sovereign observed.

"Mhm," the Crown Prince replied, sitting on the ridge, his long hair fluttering in the breeze.

"Your Highness, Lu Fan must know you want them to fight among themselves first," the Northstar Sword Devil whispered.

"How could he have not?" the Crown Prince said with a smile.

"Yet, he's still come regardless, and he's thrown a lot of resources into this operation," the Dragon Tiger Sovereign added.

"It shows he's even more eager than us for Yun Xiao's demise. Besides, I've given him the chance to wreak havoc on the Thunder Department," the Crown Prince said with a cold laugh.

"Whether Yun Xiao survives or not, the Thunder Department will suffer tonight. Is it worth it?" the Northstar Sword Devil asked softly.

"One cannot catch a wolf without risking the flock," the Crown Prince mused.

"And the Nine Thunders Sovereign..."

Before he could finish, the Crown Prince looked at him and smiled, "Didn't we reassign him far away? Remember, you are my true confidants. As for the Nine Thunders Sovereign, he's the one who chose to marry off his daughter to my sixth brother."

"Understood!" Both the Northstar Sword Devil and Dragon Tiger Sovereign nodded in agreement, dark currents surging in their eyes.

"Let's enjoy the show!" The Crown Prince shifted to a more comfortable position, his laugh sharp and dismissive.

"The Thunder Department is already a ruin; using it as a battlefield couldn't be more fitting. The Arbiters, with all their old-fashioned dogma, will have no place in the Celestial Court once I'm in charge."

The Northstar Sword Devil and the Dragon Tiger Sovereign exchanged a look, their expressions deepening with unspoken understanding.

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At the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office...

As the dark canopy swallowed the Thunder Department, shadows crept over the entire Cao Immortal Manor, as if the heavens themselves were obscured.

In the distant streets, chaos reigned—cries of despair mingled with screams of agony signaled the rampage of the Great Horned Immortals. Previously, such unbridled action by these 100 Great Horned Immortals would have been unthinkable. But now, who was there to restrain them?

The anguished cries came from the low ranking Arbiters, who, like Lu An, had done nothing but uphold the laws of the Heavenly Palace. Now, they had been betrayed.

Meanwhile, the Great Dao Celestial Army's generals conducted raids in the residences of the Thunder Department's high officials. Acts not even Yun Xiao could have carried out were executed with precision, stripping the upper echelons of the Thunder Department almost bare.

Countless messages were sent for help, but it seemed the Celestial Court had forgotten the Thunder Department; no one came to their aid.

Now, with night falling, the Thunder Department's Arbiters who had suffered greatly received a small respite. The Great Dao Celestial Army and Great Horned Immortals had finally withdrawn.

The low ranking Arbiters headed straight for the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office.

Panic and fear gripped the numerous Arbiters, as they all knew who resided there—their last hope for the Thunder Department's future.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The Thunder Immortal Formation above, weakened from its previous tempestuous unleashing, no longer glimmered. The entire Thunder Department was shrouded in an unprecedented gloom.

And then, a chilling sensation spread.

Demonic miasma began to breed in the northern mountains, creeping southwards, slowly blotting out the sky, promising an eclipse of doom.

"Demons!"

"It's coming from the north!"

The brazen, rampant demonic miasma, filled with the sneers and roars of countless demons, was unbelievable to the Arbiters of the Thunder Department.

"We're the Thunder Department of the Celestial Court! How can we allow demons to rampage here!?"

"It's a disgrace for the ages!"

The cloud of miasma, which blotted out the Celestial Sourcecore and obscured half the sky, nearly covered the Thunder Immortal Formation. This was the darkest night the Thunder Department had ever seen.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The endless demon fog formed a storm, pressing towards the center of the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office.

"That's the Cao Immortal Manor"

Countless Arbiters stepped out from their homes, eyes bloodshot as they gazed at the site where the towering demon fog descended.

"Lu Yao..."

Why? Why was the enemy so brazen, and did no one higher up really care? Where was the Nine Thunders Sovereign? What was the Heavenly Palace doing? What was the White Emperor doing?

A wave of endless sorrow began to surge through the hearts of every Arbiter!

They were the representatives of the power and authority, the upholders of law and order in the Celestial Court. If even here demons could tread, where was the dignity of the Great Dao Celestial Realm?

Everyone was angry, everyone felt powerless!

In the end, they could only silently weep, praying for Yun Xiao.

Meanwhile, the brewing storm was growing fiercer!

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Within the courtyard of the Cao Immortal Manor, Yue Yin stood at the doorway, watching the roiling dark clouds overhead, her brows slightly furrowed.

In a pavilion, Yun Xiao sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating with his eyes closed, like bamboo, unmoved by the chaos outside or the demonic invading, his spirit clear and still.

And on the steps below him, a little girl lay on her stomach, resting her chin in her hands, staring longingly at the young man she so greatly admired...