Immortal of the Ages

The atmosphere in the outer courtyard grew peculiar once conflict arose.

Zhao Yuanbao, the Empress Dowager's nephew, remained unaffected, wandering the feast and conversing jovially.

Yun Xiao and Jian Chi, however, became the icy poles of the outer courtyard, approached by no one.

An hour later, the Divine Peach Banquet concluded.

For Yun Xiao, the latter half was spent in cultivation. While Blue Star and Red Moon indulged in the feast, he sustained himself on the Tri Heaven Sariras. Practically speaking, this banquet was a bounty for him.

The other guests, concerned with appearances, merely nibbled.

Given their noble lineages, they scarcely needed such celestial delicacies and fruits, consuming but a little.

Yun Xiao was different. Like always, he took as much as was offered, unbothered by appearances.

As the gathering dispersed, Yun Xiao asked the rotund Red Moon, “How much did you eat?”

With eight glowing peaches still in his mouth, Red Moon couldn’t reply. So, Blue Star answered for him. “At least 8,000,000 True Immortal Jades’ worth!”

“That much?” Yun Xiao exclaimed.

“Nonsense, it’s the highest class of banquet. Any divine peach here would be fiercely contested outside,” Blue Star scoffed.

“Truly, the extravagance of the Celestial Court is unmatched,” Yun Xiao mused.

“We should attend these banquets more often,” Blue Star advised.

“To think, committing a massacre in Sky Soaring City garnered only 1,000,000 True Immortal Jades, yet here, one can consume the equivalent of 8,000,000 just by eating and drinking…”

Such was the true upper crust of the Celestial Court!

For those like Zhao Yuanbao and Jian Chi, born into such circles, how could an ordinary Arbiter hope to compare?

“To think of my annual allowance as a Rank 9 Arbiter... These royals could dine for centuries on what would take me hundreds of thousands of years to earn.”

Comparison was the thief of joy, and this was the best example.

Lu An struggled and ran about, never earning the respect of Lord Liu, and instead invited deadly peril.

In the Celestial Court, the hierarchy of power wasn't something that could be overcome by effort.

Ironically, an unplanned Divine Peach Banquet resolved Yun Xiao’s urgent need for resources.

Before the banquet ended, Yun Xiao even advanced to the Mid Celestial Expanse Realm.

“The princes and generals of the Celestial Court, the common Immortals of the cities, and the beings of the mortal realm... The disparity between these tiers is vast.”

Princes enjoyed everything, lowly Immortals exhausted themselves, and mortals lived like livestock.

Who could say the splendor of this Celestial Court wasn’t built on countless lives?

Yun Xiao had journeyed from the Nine Hells to the Celestial Court, witnessing all with his own eyes, the righteous anger within him roiling more fiercely than ever.

It was this very fury that had driven him here!

“The Immortal Tournament is about to begin. Proceed immediately to the Divine Gateway's fighting platform.”

No sooner had the assembly dispersed than Yun Yin summoned everyone from the outer court.

Of course, apart from the group who came from the Thunder Department, this also included the honorary Arbiters such as Zhao Yuanbo and Jian Chi.

The moment of tension had arrived!

The young prodigies got up and headed towards the fighting platform under the Divine Gateway. None of them spoke along the way, the atmosphere solemn and strained.

The champion of Immortal Tournament! This was the highest honor for any newcomer in the Celestial Court!

On the way, Yun Xiao soared on clouds, when suddenly, a cold fragrance wafted behind him.

Turning, he saw it was the Moon Sword Goddess approaching.

“Thank you for earlier,” she said

“It was nothing,” Yun Xiao replied.

She didn't offer pleasantries but instead stared at him with a grave expression and slowly declared, “Lu Yao, our paths as master and disciple end here. From this moment, we go our separate ways. I wish you grand success.”

“You dismiss me before we even fight?” Yun Xiao chuckled.

He knew the reason. Logically, with the son having arrived and battles about to commence, how could his father not appear? Moreover, the Chaos Sovereign’s direct disciple was also participating!

After the Divine Peach Banquet, no one believed Yun Xiao was really the son of the Chaos Sovereign any longer.

“Take care of yourself!” The Moon Sword Goddess shook her head, her eyes filled with indifference.

Yet, Yun Xiao laughed. “A day as master, a lifetime as a parent, you can’t escape that.”

“Nonsense,” she said, no longer engaging with him.

Though she had been slapped by Jian Chi, she now returned to his side as if nothing had happened, even tending to him as they walked. Her demeanor was not sycophantic, but it was submissive.

Jian Chi slightly lifted his chin, giving Yun Xiao a cold glance. He was quite pleased with the Moon Sword Goddess's decision to sever their master-disciple ties.

“Hah…” Yun Xiao sighed, turning to Gu Suwan, “In adversity, true colors show. Now, it seems only you are willing to nurture me, my dear mother.”

Gu Suwan managed a sheepish smile, saying little. In her mind, she mused, “No one is a fool. After the Divine Peach Banquet, who doesn’t see you're only leveraging the identity of the Chaos Sovereign?”

Before the start of the Immortal Tournament, Yun Xiao had become an outsider, a fraud. He was out of place among the majestic palaces and the proud scions of the heavens.

Before long, the group arrived in front of the fighting platform.

It was a grand white jade platform, a thousand meters in both length and width, located not far from the Divine Gateway!

Each Champion Arbiter had been decided here.

Contestants from the various factions arrived beneath the platform, their expressions solemn.

“Are there no spectators?” Yun Xiao glanced around, noting the emptiness surrounding the platform.

“Look above,” Gu Suwan instructed.

As her words fell, celestial beings appeared amidst the clouds above, riding the mists, enveloped in divine light. Soon, perhaps 1,000 Immortals had gathered, likely coming straight from the Divine Peach Banquet.

Enshrouded in celestial fog and radiant haloes, they shone like the sun and moon, casting vast beams of light.

From within the misty clouds, they looked more lofty and imposing, putting even greater pressure on the gifted Arbiters below!

Yun Xiao knew these were the true rulers of the Great Dao Celestial Realm, beings at the pinnacle of existence. He recognized few among them, but he was aware that any one of them could easily crush him as he was now!

This overwhelming pressure descended; even Zhao Yuanbao and his peers lacked the courage to look up.

After all, they were the ones under scrutiny!

The celestial fog above coalesced into seats of honor, and various officials of the Celestial Court took their places. The sounds of their laughter and conversation from above undoubtedly intensified the contestants' tension.

“One last time, the honor of the Thunder Department rests on you nine!” Yun Yin, as a Rank 2 Heavenly Officer, also had a seat among the clouds. After his stern proclamation, he ascended.

“The honor of the Thunder Department?” Yun Xiao knew this was what the Nine Thunders Sovereign and his peers cherished most.

Yet today, the Nine Thunders Sovereign, the rightful head of the Thunder Department, seemed conspicuously absent.

“Is this a sign of displeasure over the inclusion of seven outsiders in the Thunder Department's Immortal Tournament?”

For now, led by Nine Kites, the gifted Arbiters of the Thunder Department appeared full of resolve, evidently ready to fight to the death for their department's dignity.

The disgrace of the top Champion Arbiter not being from the Thunder Department was palpable.

“I just hope you can defend it, lest it falls to me to do so,” Yun Xiao thought with a cold smirk.

“The Empress Dowager arrives!”

Today's loftiest figure appeared once more!

Yun Xiao hadn’t expected that even this Arbiter's martial battle would be overseen by Empress Zhao herself.

Amidst a host of flowers and reverent gazes, the Empress Dowager, clad in a black and gold phoenix robe, descended with a retinue of celestial maidens to her highest seat of honor atop the clouds.

“The Emperor himself will attend the final battle,” Gu Suwan whispered softly.

"Mhm,” Yun Xiao nodded.

The rules of the tournament were straightforward. Sixteen contestants would be paired off for each elimination each round.

From 16 to 8, 8 to 4, and the final 4 to be ranked as champion, runner-up, third, and fourth place!

All told, it was just a handful of battles, all resolved in a single day.

With the first round of 16, half were destined for immediate defeat.

Once all were gathered, the Longevity Immortal represented the Celestial Court with a grave speech. Afterward, he declared, “This session of the Immortal Tournament officially begins!”

With that, the Longevity Immortal carried a transparent bowl, bowed deeply, and presented it before the Empress Dowager.

Inside the bowl were 16 peach pearls!

“Please, Your Majesty, choose the brackets,” the Longevity Immortal said.

“Mhm.” The Empress Dowager nodded and smiled, dipping her hands into the bowl and stirring before casually picking two peach pearls.

She handed them to two exquisitely beautiful celestial maidens, one in azure, the other in blue. Each maiden bit gently into a peach, extracting a small jade slip from within.

The appearance of these jade slips tensed every Arbiter prodigy below.

Which two would first take the stage?

Who would face whom?

It all came down to luck!

“Longevity Immortal, please.”

The maidens each handed their jade slips to him. With a glance, his face lit up with a smile, and he proclaimed, “The Sword Emperor reveals his prowess; the Twin Celestial Sword Souls are unparalleled. Gentlemen, do you know which young hero stands peerless among a thousand blades?”

As his words faded, every gaze turned towards Jian Chi.

The young man in the white sword robe, his expression placid, stepped onto the fighting platform without a word.

His sword-like gaze, cold and sharp, fixed on another jade slip in the hands of the Longevity Immortal.

The Immortal held the slip, his expression slightly odd as he announced, "From a remote border city comes a youth unknown, who with a seven-fold ring of thunder shook the heavens. The world hails him as a sovereign of the sword path. Who among you might stand invincible between the clouds?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd's expressions turned notably animated.

In an instant, the scrutinizing eyes of 1,000 elite immortals fell upon Yun Xiao.

This suspected son of the Chaos Sovereign, under the gaze of many, stepped onto the fighting platform!

In the realm of swordsmanship, only one could reign supreme!

As these two, freshly at odds from the Divine Peach Banquet, took their places on the stage, the tension surged to its peak.

Above the clouds, the Moon Sword Goddess watched the scene unfold, a flicker of malice crossing her frosty demeanor.

"Is this your disciple?" A voice suddenly came from nearby.

The Moon Sword Goddess quickly bowed her head toward a dark sword shadow and replied, "We've severed ties. He's been living off my reputation, freeloading. If he shows no merit today, I shall deal with him myself."

"No rush, let's see how Sovereign Lu handles him," the dark sword shadow responded.

"Yes…" she bowed her head again, then murmured, "Perhaps Jian Chi should strike him down. If no one saves him, he's truly rootless."

"Let's watch."

With that, the shadowy figure seemed to drift away.

Below the fighting platform, other contestants also scrutinized these two swordsmen.

In the crowd, when Wuqing and the fierce, stunning Nine Kites stood together, they created a striking scene.

"Do you know this man?" Wuqing asked, her voice soft and sweet.

"Not really!" Nine Kites replied tersely.

"I heard there's an interesting story behind him?" Wuqing said curiously.

Nine Kites gave her a cool glance.

"Forget it, you have your engagement. Sorry." Wuqing smiled wistfully, then whispered, "I'm quite curious about him, though. Perhaps he holds some secrets."

"If you're drawn to him because he's handsome, you'll be disappointed," Nine Kites stated flatly.

"Why?"

Nine Kites pointed at Yun Xiao’s head, "He may look appealing on the outside, but inside, he's quite foul—very vulgar."

"Oh?" Wuqing bit her lip. "That’s a harsh judgment for a comrade of your Thunder Department, isn’t it?"

Nine Kites remained silent, saying no more. She knew, with Yun Xiao having offended so many in the Thunder Department and with no help from the Chaos Sovereign, he was on a path to ruin.

"Troubling Jian Chi, he better not perish in his first fight."

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