Immortal of the Ages

Yun Xiao had sent the flying talisman urging Cao Shuo to hasten back to the Heavenly Palace, to seek out Gu Suwan and Yue Yin. He was to recount the situation with the Divine Imperial Son, advising them to disband the Immortal armies and clear the Heavenly Palace, thus averting the risk of exposing the truth should the Divine Son venture there.

The ideal scenario now would see the Divine Imperial Son annihilate Lu Fan and then return to the imperial family's ancestral land. If he chose not to return but to survey the current state of the Great Dao Celestial Realm, it was crucial he avoided any casual interactions with ordinary Immortals.

Such a high-ranking figure was unlikely to question just anyone. Yet, Yun Xiao remained vigilant to prevent any unforeseen incidents.

"Is the Divine Imperial Son wary he might alert that wicked being?" Divine Dawn inquired with her keen mind.

The young man in white showed a somewhat warmer attitude towards Divine Dawn, replying nonchalantly, "Trust in your people if you believe they are trustworthy."

Divine Dawn nodded gently, glancing at Yun Xiao, "This is Yun Xiao, my husband. We've shared life and death together for many years, and he is a sworn enemy of that wicked being."

"Your husband?" The Divine Imperial Son pursed his lips, looking at Yun Xiao and then chuckled, "To be favored by the princess, you must indeed be a rare talent in this realm."

"You flatter me, sire. I am but a humble soul," Yun Xiao said.

"You three are quite young, yet you embody the hope of a realm. That is commendable," the Divine Imperial Son remarked, then glanced at the War Princess, asking, "And her?"

Divine Dawn responded casually, "A Yin Devil servant, quite exceptional, very attentive."

Inside, the War Princess cursed her a thousand times, but her face showed a gentle smile as she greeted, "Greetings to the Divine Imperial Son."

The Divine Imperial Son nodded but said no more, instead closely following behind Divine Dawn, his expression solemn as they broke through the expanse.

His gaze lingered, unsure if it rested more on Divine Dawn's slender waist and pert figure or the dark clouds obscuring the horizon ahead.

Suddenly, he asked Divine Dawn, "Little princess, how old are you, and what is your cultivation?"

Divine Dawn turned and responded, "I'm 15 years old in the Late Night God Realm."

"Night God Realm? That sounds more like the Death Realm," the Divine Imperial Son teased the term but appeared genuinely impressed by Divine Dawn's talents.

"At the tender age of 15, nearing the transition from death to life, roaming the vast cosmos, in our ancestors' view, you too would be considered a remarkable presence."

As he spoke, the Divine Imperial Son casually added, "By the way, I have an aunt who is hailed as a supreme Immortal sovereign of our age, blessed by a thousand stars, revered by countless Immortals, far more exalted than I..."

Speaking of his aunt, his eyes shone with respect, and he seemed quite moved. Then, looking at Divine Dawn, he chuckled lightly, "At the last family gathering, I heard my aunt express a desire to find a disciple of pure heart and exceptional kindness to pass on her legacy."

Divine Dawn asked softly, “What the Divine Imperial Son suggests is...”

The Divine Imperial Son smiled, saying, “I find you quite suitable. Should you be willing, once we have dealt with that wicked being, you could accompany me to our forebears. However, my aunt is exceedingly strict; I can't guarantee she'll accept you.”

“The Divine Imperial Son’s aunt, her expectations for a successor... I dare not even contemplate them... Perhaps...” Divine Dawn murmured, looking down.

“You shouldn’t think so little of yourself; trust my judgment. If she doesn’t accept you, I’ll simply bring you back,” the Divine Imperial Son paused, “I merely see a certain radiance in you that shouldn't be buried in this gloomy place.”

He cast out this dream, knowing full well that no seeker of immortality could refuse such a pivotal opportunity to ascend the celestial ladder.

After speaking, the Divine Imperial Son smiled at Divine Dawn as if he had already foreseen her answer.

At that moment, Divine Dawn glanced at Yun Xiao and asked softly, “Divine Imperial Son, if I go to our forebears, may I bring my family?”

The Divine Imperial Son hesitated, then shook his head. “That won’t do. Our ancestral home is a gathering place for the elite of the Immortal path, consisting solely of the most pure and exalted seekers. With your foundation still unsteady, you cannot let worldly affairs disturb your pursuit of immortality.”

Divine Dawn bit her lip, falling silent.

The Divine Imperial Son sighed softly. “The affections of youth are understandable, but the path of cultivation is destined to be lonely. Only by severing mundane ties can one become a true Immortal.”

His words, indeed, laid out a stark doctrine, a direction. But to speak like this in front of Yun Xiao, it was clear his words were well-intended but utterly disregarded Yun Xiao's feelings.

Any man hearing this might feel utterly diminished, for who would want their personal affections to hinder their loved one's prospects?

Such words were a crushing blow to any commoner.

Yun Xiao took it with a grain of salt, his heart laughing off the absurdity.

“Indeed…” Lian Xi bit her lip, visibly struggling.

“Think it over! At your prime, you should let your brilliance shine on the path to immortality. If he is a sensible man, he will surely manage your homeland well and wait for you peacefully.” The Divine Imperial Son clapped Divine Dawn’s shoulder, his words also intended for Yun Xiao.

“Mhm.” Divine Dawn nodded, her face a mask of struggle, while Yun Xiao, having thoughts of his own, came to her side.

The Divine Imperial Son, knowing they needed to speak, stepped back to join the War Princess, heading towards the Stellar Spring of Life while eyeing the War Princess occasionally.

Ahead, Yun Xiao and Divine Dawn broke through the winds together.

The Devil Eye directed them towards the Stellar Spring of Life, an easy landmark to find.

“Do you really want to go?” Yun Xiao asked with a smirk.

“What else? Didn’t you hear him? To become a supreme Immortal, one must first sever worldly ties,” Divine Dawn said, pouting slightly as she looked ahead.

“Sever what? It’s just a cliched plot where you ditch the poor boy to join the ranks of the exalted Immortal elite,” Yun Xiao retorted.

Divine Dawn spoke, a note of boredom laced with realization in her voice. "It's dreadfully dull, but it's indeed an opportunity."

"Alright, then I'm happy for you," Yun Xiao responded deeply, truly pleased for her.

Why was he pleased? Because she, as the incarnation of transcending calamity, had not taken her own life! It was against all reason, bordering on the impossible.

Her journey to her ancestral land was predicated on the complete annihilation of Lu Fan.

In addition to the annihilation of the White Emperor and his dynasty, that meant there were no more threats to humanity.

Normally, this would be the point an incarnation of transcending calamity would convince herself that she needed to die. Yet, here she was, not only surviving but thriving!

Back in the Heavenly Realm, Chen Xi had been muttering like a madwoman about ascending to the heavens in full virtue after defeating the Demon Continent… And now, she was contemplating her future path!

Did this mean she might have escaped her fate as the incarnation of transcending calamity?

Could she have become a more genuine, more independent, more lovable girl? If so, no matter where she wished to spread her wings and soar, Yun Xiao would rejoice for her.

"You're not going to stop me?" Divine Dawn eyed him with a touch of annoyance.

"I respect you," Yun Xiao said simply.

"Is it because you have so many women, you won’t miss one more?" Divine Dawn bit her lip, her small canines showing.

"How could that be? I’m missing just your type of pure desire, and now you want to leave," Yun Xiao retorted.

"Go to hell!" Divine Dawn snapped, angered by his words and unwilling to engage further.

Though she wished to break through the illusions before her and see greater worlds, deep down, she hoped he would persuade her to stay, or find a way to go with her. Not with the kind of persuasion that belittled her to one of his preferences.

"Don't be angry." Yun Xiao suddenly took her hand gently. "Lu Fan isn’t dead yet. We shouldn't underestimate him; overlooking his capabilities could lead to dire consequences."

"Right." Divine Dawn suppressed her swirling emotions and nodded, calming down.

But she was a straightforward person, troubled by the current ambiguities, so she looked at Yun Xiao with grave seriousness and demanded, "Tell me honestly, what am I to you? A plaything, a conquest, or just another mess?"

Yun Xiao paused for a moment, then quickly wiped the smile off his face and whispered earnestly, "You want my honest answer?"

"From the heart, just like your Dao Heart—no deceit, no disguise. Speak with your heart," Divine Dawn said, her eyes slightly red as she looked at him.

The tension between them was palpable, and from behind, it appeared as though they were quarreling.

Yun Xiao took a deep breath, his gaze becoming serious and resolute.

"In this life, the only people who have truly touched my heart are my Senior Sister Zhao and you," he said.

Hearing no mention of the War Princess or Cao Shuo, she snorted, seemingly satisfied.

But still, she pouted and asked, "What's so special about your Senior Sister Zhao that you can't forget?"

Yun Xiao didn’t need to think, he blurted out, "I don’t know. It’s just engraved in my heart, unforgettable even in death, and there’s no reason for it."

"Oh…"

His words left Divine Dawn silent. Because such a description spoke of a love, an obsession, truly carved deep into the bones.

"Anything else?" Divine Dawn asked.

"Uh... also, she’s pregnant," Yun Xiao said, scratching his head.

"Damn it..." Divine Dawn's vision blurred as if struck by a heavy blow, cursing in frustration, "Truly fertile, I admit, such women never lack for luck."

Despite her reaction, hearing this seemed to dissolve the barriers in her heart.

Honesty and sincerity, at times, were virtues in themselves. Though she only occupied half of his heart, she accepted it.

"Anything else you need to say?" Yun Xiao asked.

"With a formidable enemy before us, let's drop this subject; it’s inappropriate," Divine Dawn responded.

"It was you who started it," Yun Xiao said.

"Not me!" Divine Dawn hinted at the Divine Imperial Son behind them.

"Does he think he can handle Lu Fan?" Yun Xiao asked quietly.

"Let's see!" Divine Dawn replied.

"Alright."

After speaking, Yun Xiao stepped back, his face souring into an expression of deep frustration.

All of this seemed to be within the Divine Imperial Son's expectations.

He smiled, speaking earnestly to Yun Xiao, "You are both still young, and time is on your side; there will be opportunities."

"Thank you, Divine Imperial Son," Yun Xiao responded.

"Mhm, oh right."

The Divine Imperial Son moved forward, addressing Divine Dawn, "Though the path to immortality does not allow family, a servant can accompany you to tend to your daily needs, care for beasts, and cultivate celestial herbs."

Divine Dawn paused, then shook her head, "You misunderstand. This Yin Devil is my husband's, not my servant."

"Oh?" The Divine Imperial Son was genuinely surprised. He glanced at the War Princess, pursed his lips for a moment, then said to Yun Xiao, "This servant has remarkable talent, could indeed ease your wife’s burdens on her celestial journey. If you truly love her, perhaps you could bear to part with her..."

"Divine Imperial Son!" Yun Xiao suddenly called out solemnly.

"Hm?" The Divine Imperial Son frowned, not pleased with the interruption.

Yun Xiao pointed ahead, his voice grave, "Look! The Stellar Spring of Life! There, Lu Fan, that wicked being, is casting a spell that threatens all beings..."

After saying this, he turned to the Divine Imperial Son, his tone resonating with deep significance.

"The fate of all beings under heaven now rests in your hands!"