Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 570: Justice, Sin, and Society

This temperament was in stark contrast to his otherworldly, carefree appearance!

And in this moment, amid the dazzling lightning, his form and spirit merged perfectly.

First came righteousness, then defiance. His last, arrogant remark caught everyone off guard. That very statement still echoed over the arena, etching itself into many hearts.

At first, the tens of thousands of onlookers fell silent. Then, the reactions varied—some remained quiet, others laughed, some shook their heads, and some sighed.

Clearly, in the sacred Thunder Department, such bravado was not seen as intelligent, but rather as a foolish, childish way to make enemies. It sounded spirited, but utterly pointless.

The Celestial Court was a network of relationships; making enemies everywhere meant losing the society’s tacit understanding and trust. So much so, that anyone considering befriending Yun Xiao had to weigh how many they might offend by association.

In short, being an enemy of the social order was the greatest mistake of anyone’s life!

And when Yun Xiao disappointed everyone, suddenly, a thunderous laughter rang down from the Celestial Thunder Platform.

It was a familiar voice. The voice of the Nine Heavens Supreme Thunder General, the Archduke of Thunder Dukes, the Supreme Overseer of All Thunder, charged with maintaining the stability of the mortal realms.

Simply put, he was the head of the mortal affairs of the Thunder Department.

"Excellent!" The Supreme General exclaimed, shifting the atmosphere to one of odd fascination.

"Well said!" He clapped the armrest, his gaze settling on Yun Xiao, and declared, "Your words should make those who still slander and doubt you feel ashamed."

Hearing this, the crowd fell silent again. Many exchanged looks, their expressions now even more peculiar.

"Now, get off the stage!" The Supreme General waved his hand with a chuckle. With that, his appraisal of Yun Xiao halted abruptly at that.

"Thank you, Supreme General." Yun Xiao bowed respectfully, then descended from the thunder pool battlefield under the gaze of tens of thousands, all wearing peculiar expressions.

The atmosphere in the Nine Thunders Arena turned even stranger.

Many silently glanced at Thunder Emissary Mo Yun.

"Supreme General, I must return home to manage affairs and take my leave now," Mo Yun said, his expression calm. He stood, bowed, and without waiting for a response, turned and departed.

Throughout this, he did not once look at General Cao or Gu Suwan.

"Supreme General, the academy calls me on urgent matters; I too must take my leave," Thunder Lord Bo Hong announced, rising promptly with an unfazed expression.

"Go if you wish; no need for formalities." The Supreme General gestured dismissively.

"Yes." Bo Hong nodded, then transformed into a tri-colored lightning bolt and vanished into the daylight.

Following this, numerous high officials of the Thunder Department began to leave.

At least 30 departed first, those who remained were mostly silent, their faces seemingly veiled in a layer of lightning, inscrutable.

"This is pointless, I'm leaving too," the Supreme General said, rising from his seat.

"Farewell, Supreme General," the high officials on the Celestial Thunder Platform stood and said in unison.

With a crackle of thunder, the Supreme General vanished instantly. After his departure, the atmosphere on the Celestial Thunder Platform turned utterly cold.

"What a display," some high officials murmured as they left, each with a sardonic chuckle.

"Frightening."

"He hasn't even reached Rank 2, and he's already covering the sky with one hand?"

"Right all wrongs? What wrongs does he intend to right, those of the Nine Thunders Sovereign?"

"Pfft!"

With the Supreme General gone, the officials spoke more freely—almost all were high-ranking officials from noble families.

Their departing glances at General Cao made clear their disdain.

Soon, the Celestial Thunder Platform was nearly empty, with just over thirty high officials remaining, scattered about, silently watching the continuation of the Thunder Department selection, barely speaking at all.

General Cao clutched the armrests, veins bulging on his neck, his eyes fixated on Yun Xiao as he walked away.

"In a friendly sparring match, to kill and threaten, creating a blood feud..." His eyes shifted to Gu Suwan at his side. "Tell me, is he deliberately provoking me, or is it just youthful folly?"

Gu Suwan's eyes sparkled coldly with the fury of a storm. "The former is his primary motive, with youthful folly adding fuel in the heat of the moment."

"He's not just an ungrateful wretch; he's a viper." General Cao shook his head, his gaze chilling. "He didn't even play the part of a good son for me."

At least a thankless wretch would need nurturing. But he'd become a farmer who saved a snake, only for it to bite him in return.

"I can't understand it. I've been good to him. Why didn't he play along? He could have gained something." Gu Suwan frowned, perplexed.

Their interactions had seemed natural and harmonious.

"Could this boy really be a foolish boar, driven by adolescent passion?" Gu Suwan shook her head in disbelief.

"Enough," General Cao's voice deepened, his tone icy. "Since this disaster fell into my lap, I've reaped no benefits, only been pushed into opposition with many. If he's trouble, let's rid ourselves of him sooner rather than later."

"What do you suggest?" Gu Suwan asked seriously.

"Have someone kill him and deliver his soul to Mo Yun's estate," General Cao said.

"We must act quickly," Gu Suwan responded.

"Make the arrangements," General Cao commanded. He wasn't afraid of Mo Yun, but rather of the repercussions from the departure of over 60 high officials of the Thunder Department that day.

"Those who left before the Supreme General were giving me a stern warning. They're against me, not even sparing the Supreme General's dignity. And those who left after the Supreme General are disappointed in us as well."

In General Cao's eyes, a murderous intent brewed, amidst the swirling thunder snakes.

This was the consequence of killing during the selection of the Thunder Department.

Killing a lowly commoner would go unnoticed. But openly slaughtering the progeny of one of the 100 high-officials of the Thunder Department broke the unspoken agreement of their bureaucratic solidarity, outwardly banning infighting.

This was especially true when it came to harming each other's offspring. Such deeds were done by none. Doing so would result in a death feud and social suicide.

The Nine Thunders Sovereign considered this the greatest taboo!

Breaking this rule meant that not even the Supreme General's intervention could redeem the offender.

And so, even if it were his own blood-related son who created such a mess, General Cao might have considered the unthinkable—justice over kinship.

At this moment, the strange atmosphere enveloping the Nine Thunders Arena was a silent protest against General Cao.

People weren't targeting Yun Xiao, for despite his talents, he was but a minor character with no backing, his life hanging by a thread at all times.

Their protest aimed to see General Cao make amends, show repentance; if he continued in his ways, he himself would have to pay the price.

Take Jiang Taiping, for example, sweating profusely at this very moment.

He had followed Yun Xiao back to the Eight Symbols Guard Pavilion.

"Lu Yao, we need to talk!" Jiang Taiping called out sternly.

Yun Xiao turned, noting his ashen face, and asked, "Governor Jiang, what's the matter?"

Jiang Taiping strode up, grasped his hand, and said slowly, emphasizing every word, "Do you truly not realize how foolish your actions are?"

Yun Xiao chuckled. "You exaggerate, rest assured, it's nothing."

"Eh..." Jiang Taiping looked at Yun Xiao, whose face was nonchalant, and felt as though a boulder blocked his throat, rendering him speechless.

He had wanted to speak harshly, but recalling his daughter's troubling news just before he left, his heart sank, nearly making him sick with frustration.

He and Yun Xiao were inextricably linked now!

If General Cao were angered by this, Jiang Taiping would be the first to fall.

Jiang Taiping, in a plea, advised, "Every official of the Thunder Department Rank 4 or higher is backed by generations of Heavenly Officers. The connections and support behind each one extends far beyond your imagination.

"The Celestial Court is not just an assembly of individuals; it's a vast network of power that covers the heavens. By breaking the rules, killing indiscriminately, and brazenly threatening the entire Thunder Department, you're not just endangering yourself; you’re endangering everyone connected to you—including your mother, Liu Mumu, your brother, and even all the citizens of Sky Soaring City!"

"Is it really that extreme?" Yun Xiao asked with a face full of apology. "Sorry, I lost my head in the heat of the moment and didn’t consider all this."

Hearing this, Jiang Taiping looked at Yun Xiao as if struck by lightning, stunned by his foolishness. How can someone be so foolish?

"But you’re just trying to scare me, right? Where did I challenge the entire Thunder Department? I merely said I aim to be an upright and just Arbiter. Does that constitute a challenge to the entire Thunder Department?" Yun Xiao shook his head in disbelief.

"..." Jiang Taiping found himself speechless.

"Relax." Yun Xiao clapped him on the shoulder with a laugh. "Who is my foster father? The Summer Thunder Duke! He's Mo Ruoyu's direct superior. Killing that kid was like slaughtering a chicken for me. You're so tense. Would my foster father fear a minor Rank 4 Heavenly Officer? You're also Rank 4; I mean, if I killed your daughter, it wouldn't be a big deal, right?"

"Enough, don’t say any more." Jiang Taiping sighed deeply. By this point, he realized that he and Cao Sheng were in deep trouble. He turned to leave and said, "Lu Yao, take a rest."

"Wait," Yun Xiao suddenly called out.

"What is it?" Jiang Taiping turned back, asking flatly.

"Could you send your daughters to my cultivation chamber?" Yun Xiao paused, then looked at Jiang Taiping with a slow, subtle smile. "They are quite refreshing."

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The second round of selections continued in the Nine Thunders Arena.

As the selection progressed, the number of contenders dwindled, each round grew shorter, and the pace of the entire selection quickened.

With Yun Xiao and the Supreme General gone, few of the 100 high-officials of the Thunder Department remained, yet the atmosphere on the battlefield still thrummed with peculiarity.

Many whispered among themselves.

"I heard many showed their disapproval to General Cao this time."

"No matter how talented, if one lacks sense, that stinks too..."

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