Immortal of the Ages

Outside of the battle of the Heavenly Palace, the Azure Sword Rain Vessel hovered in a shroud of fiery mist.

Yun Xiao, accompanied by the War Princess towering over him by a foot, returned through the drifting clouds.

As they approached, the hatch of the Azure Rain Sword Vessel immediately swung open.

"Is someone inside?"

The War Princess stooped to enter the narrow cabin of the sword vessel, her dark crimson eyes swiftly scanning everything within. Inside, a seemingly young girl in a blue dress managed the vessel's helm. A silver-haired woman stood motionless beside her, and a twin pony-tailed demon maid squatted in the corner, her eyes hauntingly fixed on Yun Xiao and the War Princess as they entered.

The War Princess had met two of these women before. Yet upon entering, she couldn't help but tease, "Playboy Yun, you've been really getting around, huh? What’s this, a complete set of ages and types?”

Yun Xiao shot her a glare and said, “Watch your words. These two are my master and foster mother.”

“Foster mother…”

Truth be told, it wasn't until the War Princess heard these words that she realized Gu Suwan wasn't truly a young girl but rather a youthful exterior with a matron’s core—far more intriguing!

With that thought, the War Princess scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I’m older than you too. Why don’t you call me mommy?”

Yun Xiao found her increasingly tsundere. With no time to deal with her antics, he hurried Gu Suwan to set course for Sky Soaring City as swiftly as possible, while introducing the War Princess, “This is my little servant. Pay her no mind.”

“Greetings, Miss Yao Yao,” Yue Yin said, who had met her before and knew her name.

Gu Suwan greeted her too, then pondered, “Little servant?”

Sharp in discerning subtleties, Gu Suwan noticed the War Princess’ ease around Yun Xiao and understood their deep connection.

The term little servant, as she saw it, signified a profoundly intimate relationship.

With this realization, Gu Suwan felt a surge of satisfaction.

“You see, Cao Shuo, you’re not the only one in his heart.”

Gu Suwan had long harbored disdain for Cao Shuo. And seeing Cao Shuo recently so pleased with herself only irked her further.

Stealing another glance at the War Princess, Gu Suwan silently admired, “This devil woman’s natural grace surpasses even the famed seductresses of the Thunder Department. She bears the exotic charm of foreign lands, youthful yet immensely gifted... indeed, she is the rightful primary consort.”

With this realization, Gu Suwan’s understanding of Yun Xiao’s preferences solidified.

“He prefers them ethereal and untainted, purely wild at heart…”

Such was the storm of thoughts among the four women in the confined space of the Azure Rain Sword Vessel, all swirling around one man in mere moments.

The War Princess naturally positioned herself at the center of the sword vessel, assuming the air of a mistress.

Yue Yin and Gu Suwan observed quietly. In front of the War Princess, even the normally unyielding Pale Revenant seemed to cower, instinctively understanding the pecking order.

Yun Xiao, however, remained oblivious to these inner tempests, his mind preoccupied with urgent matters concerning Sky Soaring City, his eyes smoldering with the intensity of molten lava.

As the Azure Rain Sword Vessel swiftly distanced itself from the battlefield of the Heavenly Palace, he had no choice but to wait.

“You…” Yun Xiao addressed the War Princess, who stood arms crossed, idly swinging her long legs, looking for all the world unengaged. “You're a true handful every day.”

“What now?” the War Princess retorted, biting her lip.

“Outside,” Yun Xiao said, and then to Gu Suwan, “Open the hatch.”

Gu Suwan paused, hesitant.

“Why send me away now?”

“I’m not sending you away,” Yun Xiao pointed upwards, “Sit atop the sword vessel. It’s time to confront your tribulation.”

“The Five Thunders Spirit Tribulation is approaching?” the War Princess asked. Though she was the owner of her body, her understanding of spiritual matters was not as clear as Yun Xiao’s.

“I’ve drawn it close. Hurry,” Yun Xiao urged.

“Seriously?” Gu Suwan was taken aback. “You want her to face her tribulation sitting on top of the sword vessel? It’s dangerous. Shouldn’t we stop somewhere?”

“No need,” Yun Xiao said curtly.

With both Yun Xiao and the War Princess in agreement, Gu Suwan reluctantly complied and opened the door.

Outside, the storm raged; wind howled and lightning crackled.

“To undergo tribulation atop the Azure Rain Sword Vessel... I fear the lightning might not even catch us,” Gu Suwan half-joked, half-complained.

“That’s for the heavens to worry about. We just follow the process,” Yun Xiao replied.

Gu Suwan could only express her awe. “Terrifying, indeed.”

As her words fell, the War Princess swung her long legs in a graceful leap, landing atop the Azure Rain Sword Vessel and settling into a seated position.

Outside, a tempest of fire and wind raged fiercely, but she remained as fixed as a nail upon the sword vessel. Her long hair and skirt fluttered wildly, yet her delicate body was as unmoving as a mountain.

However, the top of the sword vessel was transparent, and her choice to sit there, coupled with her rather short battle skirt, certainly made for a striking scene.

"Uh."

Looking up, Yun Xiao and the others felt a tinge of embarrassment.

"I didn’t consider this," Yun Xiao admitted.

"No need to explain to us," Yue Yin said.

Gu Suwan glanced enviously at the spectacle, then teased Yun Xiao, "You lucky fellow, you’re surely destined for sons."

"..." Yun Xiao remained silent.

"Don’t worry, with your looks, even a half-devil child would be quite striking," Gu Suwan added.

Silence fell within the Azure Rain Sword Vessel.

After a while, Yue Yin broke the calm. She furrowed her brow lightly, looking at Yun Xiao, "May I speak? You seem a bit different today."

"The demon aura, right?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Yes." Yue Yin and Gu Suwan nodded, indicating they had noticed it earlier but had been reluctant to mention it.

Yun Xiao offered a wry smile.

In the next moment, he no longer concealed his Divine Desolation Physique. His overwhelming demonic aura instantly filled the Azure Rain Sword Vessel, and the force of his divine desolation power left the two women gasping for air!

This was the Late Anima Tribulation Realm's Divine Desolation Physique, still assimilating the bloodline of the Nian!

Now, Yun Xiao was a blend of human essence and demonic ferocity, his very being becoming more sinister and brutal.

With a rip, beneath each of his eyes, a narrow, sickly yellow orb split open, resembling vortices of impending doom, greedily and savagely gazing at Gu Suwan and Yue Yin!

"Uh..."

Both Gu Suwan and Yue Yin recoiled a few steps in fear.

Their hearts raced, their beautiful eyes widened, unable to utter a single word.

A perfectly normal man had suddenly transformed into a hybrid of human and demon, shattering their notions of the possible.

With a whoosh, Yun Xiao reined in some of his demonic aura, yet the air of a supreme demon still clung to him.

"How can this be..." Yue Yin said, her voice trembling.

"Are you a human or a demon?" Gu Suwan murmured.

"Now is too early to ask such things."

Yun Xiao pushed back the ghastly eyes of the Nian into his skull, then ceased his idle chatter with the two. His focus shifted upwards to the impending tribulation facing the War Princess.

The Five Thunders Spirit Tribulation was here!

Aboard the Azure Rain Sword Vessel, the War Princess lay back, relaxed as if merely sleeping.

After all, she had no part in this.

Yun Xiao, however, was utterly absorbed, surrounding the Mortal Dust Devil Spirit with a vast sea of Mortal Dust Devil Blood, ready to face the divine tribulation!

"Having already absorbed much Mortal Dust Devil Blood, transcending this tribulation will catapult my realm to new heights."

With the experience gained from Moon Fairy's ordeal, the situation here seemed quite similar.

As the Azure Rain Sword Vessel sped through the skies, the Earth Pulse Thunder demonstrated unprecedented power, catching up and striking the Mortal Dust Devil Spirit with precision!

"This proves that the trials of the celestial ladder can never be evaded, no matter the method!" Yun Xiao realized this truth.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The War Princess transcended the tribulation repeatedly.

"The Divine Desolation and Mortal Dust progress quickly, even advancing beyond my true self."

Of course, in terms of combat power, Yun Xiao's true self, endowed with the Buddha's Treasure Spirit and Primordial Void Technique, remained his primary foundation.

"With the return of the Divine Desolation Physique and Mortal Dust Devil Blood, I am now worthy to face the Greatest War God of the Celestial Court..."

The Celestial Court was plunged into its most chaotic moment!

A beam of azure light pierced the heavens and earth!

From one battlefield, it sped furiously to another!

JustLivingJL's Thoughts

With that thought, the War Princess scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I’m older than you too. Why don’t you call me mommy?”