Immortal of the Ages

"The star barrier has disappeared…?"

Back in the Great Dao Celestial Realm, Yun Xiao simultaneously learned this information from both his body double and the War Princess. He quickly shared the news with Yue Yin and Gu Suwan.

"The star barrier is jointly controlled by the White Emperor and Crown Prince. Without either, it can't be deactivated. How could Sovereign Lu possibly achieve this?"

“True or not, we’ll see for ourselves if we go up there,” Gu Suwan suggested, pointing to the skies of the Thunder Department.

Without further ado, Yun Xiao soared into the heavens on his Sovereign Sword, with Yue Yin and Gu Suwan following suit. Yue Yin rode her own sword, while Gu Suwan navigated the Azure Rain Sword Vessel, ready to support Yun Xiao's swift travels across the skies.

Due to the repeated uses of the Thunder Immortal Formation, the chromosphere above the Thunder Department had thinned considerably, allowing Yun Xiao to easily break through the clouds and flames of the Celestial Sourcecore, and venture out into the starry expanse!

The Great Dao Myriad Extremes Five Infernos Star Barrier was ranked as the most powerful formation in the Great Dao Celestial Realm! It absorbed the power of the entire realm to envelop and protect all within it!

By its name alone, its might was evident, surpassing even the Thunder Immortal Formation in lethality.

Among the grand formations of the Celestial Court, the Five Infernos Star Barrier ranked first; the Thunder Immortal Formation, third; and the barrier that protected the Divine Gateway ranked second..

Yun Xiao extended a finger forward, and upon reaching a critical point, five vortexes of gold, green, blue, red, and brown spiraled around his fingertip, binding it like the layers of hell.

“It’s still there,” Yun Xiao declared in a deep tone.

Hearing this, Gu Suwan maneuvered the Azure Rain Sword Vessel closer and remarked dryly, “So did Sovereign Lu trick the forces of Naraka?"

“Weren’t they allies? What good does deception do?” Yue Yin expressed her disbelief.

“Perhaps Sovereign Lu has reconciled with the Celestial Court, planning to dispose of the demons and devils first,” Gu Suwan speculated, then shook her head, “It doesn’t make sense.”

“Right. Naraka isn’t foolish. They’ll realize the star barrier is intact the moment they arrive,” Yue Yin reasoned.

“There’s only one possibility,” Yun Xiao said, gazing into the vast expanse ahead.

Yue Yin and Gu Suwan looked at him intently.

“The star barrier remains unbroken for now, but Lu Fan must have a way to shatter it before the forces of Naraka arrive. That way, the Celestial Court will be completely caught off-guard,” Yun Xiao concluded.

"Can he truly accomplish it?" Yue Yin furrowed her delicate brows.

"As a Rank 2 True Immortal of the Celestial Court, given your centuries of experience, it's impossible, right?" Yun Xiao said.

"Indeed." Yue Yin nodded.

"Once Naraka's army arrives, most at the Celestial Court will likely think as you do. Overconfidence leads to a lax defense, making it easy to suffer a great defeat," Yun Xiao remarked calmly.

"What should we do? Inform the Celestial Court?" Gu Suwan hastily asked, then quickly clarified, "Don't get me wrong; I'm not concerned about the White Emperor or Crown Prince. However, once the Great Dao Celestial Realm goes to war with Naraka, the first ones to be called up to defend the realm will be the ordinary Immortals, like those in the Thunder Department."

"Right." Yun Xiao nodded. "The issue is that no one will believe you."

Everyone knew that Gu Suwan was now under Yun Xiao's influence; her reporting might even be perceived as having ulterior motives.

"Lu Fan is colluding with Naraka, but we're also at odds with the Celestial Court. Honestly, it's unlikely we'll be able to coexist with any side in this conflict…" Yun Xiao analyzed, as Yue Yin struggled to see a way out.

However, Yun Xiao's gaze was firm as he declared, "Even if the star barrier is taken down, the martial might of the Great Dao Celestial Realm is strong; we don't need to worry too much. There's only two things I have to do."

"What two?" Both women asked in unison.

"Cultivate. And then, find Divine Dawn," Yun Xiao replied.

The first was to strengthen himself and maintain the initiative.

The second was to foil the trap set by Lu Fan, who aimed not only to defeat the Celestial Court but eliminate Yun Xiao and Divine Dawn.

"Indeed, the outcome of the top powerhouses will be the key to victory or defeat," Yue Yin agreed.

"Go and investigate the movements of the Great Dao Celestial Army, find out where they're holding the ascenders to lure out Divine Dawn," Yun Xiao instructed.

"Understood."

Yue Yin nodded, and seeing no further commands from Yun Xiao, she vanished into the wind on her Sovereign Sword, her departure as graceful as it was swift.

"And what about us? What are we going to do?" Gu Suwan asked.

Yun Xiao stepped onto the Azure Rain Sword Vessel and settled into a meditative posture, "Just circle above the Thunder Department. Be ready to take me wherever needed once we receive news."

"Alright," Gu Suwan entered the Azure Rain Sword Vessel and closed the door.

Pale Revenant was also inside, quietly curled up in a corner, hugging her knees and blinking at Yun Xiao, waiting for food.

Then she noticed Yun Xiao consuming the Heavenly Dao Sariras one by one, their rich aroma filling the air.

"Immortal Yun, may I have one?" Pale Revenant asked, a hint of longing in her voice.

Yun Xiao smiled slightly and tossed one to her.

Gu Suwan looked on curiously.

"Thank you, Immortal Yun," Pale Revenant said as she took it, popping it into her mouth to savor it gently. But she immediately spat it out, her mouth blackened and smoking, a look of aggrieved disappointment on her face. "It tastes awful, and it burns."

Yun Xiao couldn't help but laugh, seeing her soot-covered face, which lightened his mood considerably.

"Speaking of which, your body double is alright, right?" Blue Star asked with a wry smile.

"This is, what, the third time it's been eaten now? No big deal. Just a corpse demon, it won't be digested that easily," Yun Xiao said nonchalantly.

"So, what you're saying is that Naraka will be delivering two of your biggest trump cards right to your doorstep…" Blue Star chuckled.

"Too bad that Great Mother is too timid. If only she were a bit greedier, it would have given me a chance to grow stronger," Yun Xiao mused, then gazed down at the Thunder Department from the Azure Rain Sword Vessel.

After surviving two calamities, the Arbiters finally breathed a sigh of relief, returning to their daily routines. However, what might follow could truly be a war involving everyone.

The most irksome part about the Celestial Court was that Yun Xiao had been promoted to a Rank 2 Nine Heavens Supreme Thunder General. Yet, no one in the Thunder Department knew—he had to announce it himself.

"Whatever, it's time to cultivate!" Yun Xiao declared.

The forces of Naraka would take time to gather and reach the Great Dao Celestial Realm, and for Yun Xiao, every moment was precious.

"Lu Fan is desperate to kill me. But no matter how anxious he is, it'll still take time. As long as there's time..." Yun Xiao calmed himself, his spirit returning to the Dantian, immersing deeply into it.

Blue Star and Red Moon had just produced a massive amount of Heavenly Dao Sarira, and he didn’t spare any. After consuming the Buddha's Treasures of thousands of Immortals, demons, and devils, along with the Origin Orbs, his spirit and soul were already incredibly powerful!

It was only his cultivation that needed to catch up!

In that moment of meditation, Gu Suwan watched as Yun Xiao broke through three stages in rapid succession, soaring from Mid Golden Immortal directly to an Establishment Golden Immortal.

"My god… Breakthroughs really do come as easy as breathing for this kid," Gu Suwan muttered.

She was still somewhat envious of Cao Shu, who'd ascended rapidly to the Late Anima Tribulation Realm. However, the true freak was this young man before her.

With a series of cracks, Yun Xiao stood, stretching his limbs.

"With only the power of my true self, I should be unbeatable within the Anima Tribulation Realm. But the Rank 1 Heavenly Officers of the Celestial Court are above even that."

Those were the apex predators of the food chain in both the Great Dao Celestial Realm and Naraka, including figures like Lu Fan, the Northstar Sword Devil, White Emperor, and Crown Prince...

However, Yun Xiao had his reinforcements drawing near.

Just then, he received a flying talisman from Yue Yin.

「From what I've gathered, the ascenders are likely being held in Sky Soaring City.」

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The divine land of the Celestial Court… A realm of perpetual daylight surrounded by wisps of clouds and mist, where celestial cranes and creatures roamed, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers and the architecture of palatial splendor—this was the quintessence of heaven as mortals might imagine it!

Its sanctity and majesty shone like a slab of white jade in the cosmos.

Here, the years passed serenely and the inhabitants thrived in peace.

But this tranquility was shattered the day the news of Naraka's forces heading towards the Great Dao Celestial Realm broke!

DONG! DONG! DONG! The sound of bells reverberated across the divine land, echoing across the entire Great Dao Celestial Realm.

A summoning order shook the world.

Hearing the call, Immortals from all dwellings converged towards the Divine Gateway.

Countless Immortals soared across the sky, displaying their celestial might!