Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 640: Triple Murder Shakes the Celestial Court!

"Home at last!" When the Nine Thunders Divine Ark sliced through the skyline of the Thunder Department, a deafening roar of cheers thundered across the heavens and earth.

The whole Thunder Department was like a stormy sea of thunder.

Yun Xiao stood at the prow of the ship, his gaze sweeping across the land aglow with lightning, where figures thronged every inch.

Their eyes burned with fervor as they raised their arms in shouts of triumph.

It was indeed the vessel of the Nine Thunders Sovereign, yet now, the name Lu Yao boomed like thunder, exploding again and again!

In those faces, there was a frenzy of devotion for Yun Xiao!

The Thunder Department was a group of hot-headed, prideful people, oppressed and humiliated, desperate for a genius like Yun Xiao to breathe fire for their vengeance.

"Welcome back, the Champion of the Immortal Tournament! Welcome, Rank 4 Thunder Emissary, Lu Yao!"

A title of honor and position of authority rallied millions of Immortals of the Thunder Department to embrace Yun Xiao as one of their own!

Yun Xiao had once infuriated many in the Thunder Department upon his arrival.

Now, those who had once sought to crush Yun Xiao, including the younger generation elites like Gu Zhenshi, Man Huo, and the others, were all subdued!

Yun Xiao's stature in their hearts soared.

The tale of his estrangement from his father, the Chaos Sovereign, also became a hot topic in the Thunder Department!

Undoubtedly, this was Yun Xiao's most exalted moment in the Thunder Department!

"How I wish my master could see this," Yun Xiao mused inwardly.

Liu Mumu was a Rank 8 Arbiter Commander, and she had once aspired to the Thunder Department.

"Perhaps in a few days, I might be able to bring my master and Miss Yu back to the Great Dao Celestial Realm," Yun Xiao thought.

After his victory in the Immortal Tournament, his status had risen to such heights that everything seemed to flow smoothly.

It felt like reaching the pinnacle of the world!

From stepping back onto the sacred land of the Thunder Department to soaring towards the Nine Thunders Arena, his journey was a triumphant return, a procession of homage from the multitudes.

The Nine Thunders Divine Ark deliberately slowed, allowing many Immortals of the Thunder Department to witness Yun Xiao at the prow.

Truly, it was a sight of limitless grandeur!

"We've arrived."

Only when the ship reached the Nine Thunders Arena did it finally decelerate and come to a halt.

Ahead of the divine ark, tens of thousands of officials eagerly awaited!

Rank 2 Heavenly Officers, like Gu Zhenxiao and Man Zhan, Rank 3 Heavenly Officers including Thunder Dukes and Lightning Duchess, over 60 Rank 4 Thunder Emissaries, and thousands of Rank 5 Heavenly Officers, and over 8,000 Rank 6 Heavenly Officers, all were present in full array!

"Congratulations to the Nine Thunders Sovereign! Congratulations to the Champion of the Immortal Tournament!"

These high-ranking officials, glowing with radiant smiles, represented the entire Thunder Department, welcoming back a hero!

Each face sparkled with vitality!

With the Nine Thunders Sovereign himself present, this was undoubtedly the most complete gathering of the Thunder Department personnel ever.

"Follow me." The Nine Thunders Sovereign himself, smiling, spoke to Yun Xiao before leading the way off the ship.

Even Yun Yin dared not step forward to usurp Yun Xiao's place!

Yun Xiao's position, just behind the Nine Thunders Sovereign, signified his supreme standing within the Thunder Department!

Below one, above millions!

"Your Majesty!"

Tens of thousands of top celestial officials saluted in unison.

"Is the Thunder Feast ready?" the Nine Thunders Sovereign asked.

This was the highest standard celebration feast in the Thunder Department, open only to Heavenly Officers of Rank 6 and above. In a frontier city like Sky Soaring City, fewer than ten had the privilege to attend.

"It's ready! However, due to the urgency, about 1,200 from 80 cities have yet to arrive. They are expected within three hours, and then all officials of the Rank 6 and above in our jurisdiction should be present. Do we wait for them?" Man Zhan asked. He was the Five Directions Barbaric Supreme Thunder General, the third highest Rank 2 Heavenly Officer of the Thunder Department.

"No rush. We can wait three hours. Our Champion has been through a great battle and needs some rest," the Nine Thunders Sovereign replied with a smile.

The inclusion of celestial officials from all around the jurisdiction in this celebration feast highlighted its high importance.

Everyone understood, this was the Thunder Department's way of affirming their stance to Lu Yao!

The Nine Thunders Sovereign said with a smile to Yun Xiao, "From now on, the Thunder Department is your home! We are all your family!"

The message was clear; even if the Chaos Sovereign disowned Yun Xiao and looked down on him, the Thunder Department would not!

"Thank you, and thanks to all my colleagues," Yun Xiao replied.

"Shall we return to the Cao Immortal Manor to rest first?" Gu Suwan asked softly, standing beside him

Yun Xiao pressed his lips together and glanced at the tens of thousands of celestial officials before him. "I'm going to visit the Soaring Thunder Hall first."

The Nine Thunders Sovereign, anticipating this, chuckled lightly. "I just heard that Lil Cao has descended to the mortal realm."

At these words, Yun Xiao's calm demeanor tightened, and a sharpness flickered in his eyes. He stared at the Nine Thunders Sovereign and asked slowly, "What would she be doing in the mortal realm at this time?"

"She's been stagnant in her cultivation for too long; she must have gone to gather incense offerings," the Nine Thunders Sovereign replied softly.

"Oh..." Yun Xiao's expression chilled. "Did she leave before or after sending the talisman?"

"Why does that matter?" the Nine Thunders Sovereign responded coolly.

"It matters greatly. I wouldn't want to think that you deceived me under the auspices of the Divine Gateway," Yun Xiao said, his gaze piercing.

Their exchange was not private; all the nearby grandees of the Thunder Department could hear them.

Yun Xiao's forthrightness in speaking to the Nine Thunders Sovereign sent a shock through them, silencing any thoughts of interjection.

"Lu Yao," the Nine Thunders Sovereign said gravely, looking intently at Yun Xiao. "Indeed, about the matter of incense offerings, because Cao Shuo was uncooperative for a long time, I had her brother enforce it. I did this for her benefit, as well as yours. If this displeases you, there's little more I can say."

After a pause, he continued earnestly, "I am truly trying to help you. Cao Shuo is a rebellious girl; if she continues this way, it could lead to disaster. I resolved her ideological issues to help her become a better person, someone worthy of you."

His explanation, however, only fueled the fire in Yun Xiao's heart, sending his temper flaring!

He knew he needed to restrain himself, or else he would reveal his hand to the entire Celestial Court too soon!

This was Yun Xiao's greatest moment of restraint!

After quelling his rage, Yun Xiao pursed his lips and nodded. "Fine, I understand. Just give me their location, and I'll find them."

"That's not easy to say; the stars of the mortal realms are vast, and a talisman can't reach that far. I don't know their whereabouts," the Nine Thunders Sovereign admitted.

"Don't worry, Lu Yao," Yun Yin reassured him. "Thunder Emissary Cao has her brother's protection, and he's strong. She's definitely safe."

"Right, and judging by the time, they should be back within an hour," Gu Zhenxiao added with a forced smile.

That is to say, what was meant to happen had already happened!

At that moment, Yun Xiao felt a scalding rage burning in his throat. He could bear it no longer! Just as his mind began to seethe, the Nine Thunders Sovereign abruptly received a talisman.

Upon reading it, his face turned ashen.

"Little Nine!" The Nine Thunders Sovereign let out a heart-wrenching roar and transformed into a bolt of lightning, leaping aboard the Nine Thunders Divine Ark.

With a thunderous roar, the ship blasted off towards the heart of the Celestial Court, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know!"

The tens of thousands of high-ranking officials of the Thunder Department exchanged puzzled looks.

Why had the Nine Thunders Sovereign suddenly lost composure?

As confusion reigned among the Immortals, Yun Yin, Gu Zhenxiao, and Man Zhan, among others, received talismans from the direction of the Divine Gateway.

The moment they saw the talismans, their faces changed dramatically.

"What happened, Supreme General?" the crowd asked anxiously.

With a voice filled with sorrow, Gu Zhenxiao responded, "The Sixth Prince, Nine Kites, and the Taisui Sage have been murdered within the Taisui Sigil Palace—spirit and body both destroyed!"

"What?!"

This revelation caused a sensation even greater than the death of the Seventh Princess!

The status of the Sixth Prince was no less significant than that of the Seventh Princess.

Crucially, Prince Zhen and Nine Kites were about to be married!

And to die in the Taisui Sigil Palace!

This incident had unfolded right after the Immortal Tournament!

"Is there news of the perpetrator?"

"Could it be the Chaos Sovereign trying to get revenge after being humiliated?" the Immortals urgently inquired.

Yun Yin's throat burned as he spoke with a trembling voice, "The murderer is the resurrected Seventh Princess, Divine Dawn!"

"Impossible…"

That name left everyone breathless.

Death, resurrection, fratricide...

What in the heavens had happened to the Seventh Princess?

In an instant, the jubilant cheers of the tens of thousands in the Thunder Department faded into a stunned silence. Everyone looked around, utterly bewildered.

Yun Yin took a deep breath and said, "Regardless, the entire Celestial Court will undoubtedly investigate this matter thoroughly. Our jewel of the Thunder Department has also perished because of it…"

The atmosphere had been one of celebration; now, with the death of Nine Kites, everything had changed.

Should the victory feast still proceed?

"Let's rest for now and wait for the Nine Thunder Sovereign's instructions," Yun Yin declared.

As for Gu Zhenxiao, Bo Hong, and the others, with the Nine Thunders Sovereign absent and no one to lead, they dared not speak further, fearful of drawing Yun Xiao's attention.

"Lu Yao, you…" Yun Yin turned back to look at him, his expression peculiar.

He knew from Gu Sutao that this young man had a close relationship with the resurrected Seventh Princess.

Many in the Thunder Department were aware of it, though it hadn't spread beyond.

"I will return to the Soaring Thunder Hall and wait for Thunder Emissary Cao's return. Inform me when she does," Yun Xiao said, then turned around and left.

He had been on the verge of an outburst of anger just moments before.

The sudden murder by Divine Dawn had interrupted his wrath, allowing him a moment of clarity.

Upon reflection, without knowing the full circumstances of Cao Shuo, acting rashly could jeopardize everything.

"The Chaos Sovereign probably won't concern himself with the matter of the incense offerings. It's just Lil Xi and me standing on the side of the mortal realms. It's best if one of us remains in the light and the other in the shadows to maintain a margin of error. She chose to stand in the light and bear the brunt; I should use this opportunity to do more..."

Rather than becoming a target like her—

"Let's wait and see!"

JustLivingJL's Thoughts