Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 701: Worst Villain Under Heaven!

“Ah…” The Golden Guard Supreme General sighed in resignation, addressing Divine Dawn, "Seventh Princess, their feelings are understandable. But what they don’t know is that the root of the Celestial Court's evil isn't us—it's the White Emperor. Having suffered under his oppression, many like us are willing to lend their strength to help you overthrow him. Please, grant us sinners a chance at redemption!”

"Yun Xiao." Divine Dawn suddenly turned, facing the youth holding his sword against the wind, and asked, "What do you think?"

Seeing her face, a beacon of salvation for all, Yun Xiao said, “I follow your lead.”

“Good!” Divine Dawn bit her lip, “Then help me—kill them!”

Yun Xiao paused, taken aback. He gazed into her eyes. She could empathize with the most ordinary of folks, which was why her emotions were far more intense than Yun Xiao’s.

And she needed someone to support and affirm her thoughts.

"Alright." Without making her wait, Yun Xiao uttered just that one word and moved past her, grasping the Heaven Burial Sword Soul, and advanced towards the group of celestial officials.

“Seventh Princess!”

The celestial officials, including the Golden Guard Supreme General, could hardly believe their ears.

“You're making a mistake! By acting like this, you sever all paths of surrender for all the high officials of the Celestial Court!”

“Just you two and a band of ragtag rebels, how could you possibly overthrow the Celestial Court?!”

“Please, grant us a chance at redemption!”

“Seventh Princess!”

Their cries, still laden with grief, turned to shouts of anger.

“Are you mad? What rashness is this?”

“Playing the saint? Did you, Seventh Princess, never receive incense offerings since your youth?”

“If receiving incense offerings means death, shouldn't all the high echelons of the Celestial Court deserve death?”

Of course, these were but furious mutters under their breath.

“Seventh Princess, you can deal with us after the battle, just spare us this once!” Seeing Yun Xiao approach, the Golden Guard Supreme General's heart quivered, and he pleaded.

Hearing this, the ascenders panicked. They feared too many might need dealing with afterwards, and what if it all just faded into oblivion?

In a flash of lightning, a streak of azure light pierced through the crowd.

"Uh..."

The Golden Guard Supreme General touched the bloody hole at his brow and slowly collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Enough talk, be on your way," Yun Xiao caught the Flying Sword and addressed the gathered thousands.

The Supreme General was dead!

The celestial officials looked down, their hearts turning to ice. But the ascenders and the people of Sky Soaring City cheered and applauded.

Divine Dawn and Lu Yao had not let down those simple, honest folk at the bottom.

"Kill him, flee!"

The Rank 6 and higher officials stood, their faces twisted in rage. Some fled, some charged at Yun Xiao, and some turned their wrath on the ascenders!

Chaos erupted anew!

Amid this turmoil, the figure in white with an azure sword and violet umbrella charged into the fray, leaving a trail of corpses and blood in his wake.

Swords flashed, lightning struck, souls shimmered, and demonic magic and blood magic swept across the field.

In mere moments, the white shadow crossed the sky, and thousands of heads were neatly arrayed before the ascenders, not one missed.

"Uh..."

The Great Dao Celestial Army, ascenders, Free Immortals, and the demons and devils of the Celestial Court were speechless, their throats too dry to speak.

With a flick of his wrist, Yun Xiao let the heads fall in a rush.

"All that self-praise, and you all fall in mere moments. Still, you boast of your importance."

Shrugging, Yun Xiao stepped back beside Divine Dawn.

"Continue," he said.

"Mhm..."

After witnessing this, her gaze softened considerably as she looked at Yun Xiao.

From this moment forth, the truth was revealed! Those deserving of death had died!

A mortal star snuffed out, countless billions of lives cut short and harvested as incense offerings… some of the slain had engaged in this act more than several times!

Divine Dawn swept her gaze across the assembly, her voice ringing out, "Today, by beheading these officials, I declare to the heavens and the earth that those who've harmed others with incense offerings have but one fate—death!"

The crowd erupted!

The ascenders, the people of Sky Soaring City, and many from the Great Dao Celestial Army and Free Immortals, were shaken by her words.

"The Seventh Princess is fierce and decisive!"

"Of course, she has the qualities of an Empress!"

"Too bad she's already taken…"

"I must admit, I respect her partner!"

"Respect!"

In an instant, her popularity soared.

Seizing this momentum, she surveyed the crowd, proclaiming, "From now on, I ask all present to join me in battle. Together, let's oust the Celestial Court, expel the invaders from Naraka, rebuild the Immortal lands, and establish clear celestial laws to protect all living beings!"

"Yes!"

Countless Immortals roared with fervor.

In that moment, there were no distinctions of class or clan; everyone was united by a common ideal.

Divine Dawn effectively took over the forces abandoned by Lu Fan, especially notable were the Great Dao Celestial Army and Free Immortals!

Soon, several strong individuals, who weren't associated with the incense offerings, came forward to pledge their allegiance to Divine Dawn.

Among them was the Free Immortal known as the Red Cloud Monarch, the Ancient Darkmoon Demon, and a half-devil called the Galewing King.

These were notable figures in their respective groups, second only to the likes of the Penglai Sage, Lunar Demon Mistress, and Great Horned King.

As for the Great Dao Celestial Army, Yun Xiao had all but wiped out their high-ranking officials.

"Are you taking over?" Divine Dawn asked the youth in white standing behind her.

"Sure," Yun Xiao replied. "I'll take them all back to the Thunder Department and command them alongside the Arbiter Legion, ready to strike at the Heavenly Palace at any time."

The combined forces of the Great Dao Celestial Army and Thunder Department's Arbiter Legion were larger than the Constellation Army, becoming a major force of the Celestial Court.

The forces once commanded by Lu Fan paled in comparison to what Yun Xiao now wielded!

"Then we'll make your Thunder Department the foundation," Divine Dawn declared.

"Mhm." Yun Xiao nodded with a smile.

With her around, he suddenly felt the ease of a hands-off manager.

It was quite refreshing!

Yun Xiao never liked being the center of attention as a savior; it was too exhausting and didn't suit his temperament.

"What's our next move?" Divine Dawn asked.

"Return to the Thunder Department first, watch those fighting at the Heavenly Palace tear each other apart?" Yun Xiao suggested.

"Exactly my thought," Divine Dawn paused, "You keep an eye on the battle situation in the Heavenly Palace."

"And you?" Yun Xiao asked.

"I want to keep tabs on Lu Fan; he's not dead, and that could spell trouble." Divine Dawn furrowed her brows.

"Mhm." Yun Xiao nodded.

They had indeed won the battle today. It seemed they had beaten Lu Fan into the dust! But Yun Xiao knew that as long as that Chaos Soul survived, it would rise again.

"I should go now," Divine Dawn said.

"Wait." Yun Xiao watched her in the wind, then extended his hand.

"For what?" she asked.

"A flying talisman," Yun Xiao paused, "So I can find you whenever I want."

Divine Dawn bit her lip, looking at him. After a moment, she huffed softly, tossing some flying talismans into his hand, and murmured with a flushed face, "Sooner or later, I'll have to deal with you too!"

Having spoken, she turned into a streak of white light, blending into the wind and vanishing from sight.

"To the Thunder Department, all of you!" Yun Xiao commanded the army.

He himself stepped into the Azure Rain Sword Vessel.

Inside the boat, Gu Suwan and Yue Yin wore grave expressions, tinged with sorrow.

"What's the matter?" Yun Xiao inquired.

Gu Suwan sighed softly, "We're done for."

"How so?" Yun Xiao pressed.

"You heard what your woman said, didn't you? Those who partook in the incense offerings are doomed," Yue Yin interjected with a glance.

Gu Suwan seemed distant, murmuring, "Never mind, don’t trouble yourself... We've accepted our fate long ago, don't let us ruin your relationship. The Seventh Princess is a good girl."

Yun Xiao chuckled at this. "What are you thinking? Don’t overestimate yourselves; you two can’t possibly jeopardize my relationship with her."

Gu Suwan looked at him, speechless. Despite his words, her heart sank a little.

Yet, as they wallowed in their disappointment, Yun Xiao suddenly added, "However, I won't let you die."

"Why?" Both women asked simultaneously, barely believing their ears.

Yun Xiao looked in the direction Divine Dawn had departed.

"I'm not her. I don’t bear her moral shackles. I’m more selfish and whimsical. My actions are guided by my heart. In her world, black and white are indisputable. But in mine, there are exceptions! You are my people; I decide your fate.

"It's not that I don't understand where she's coming from. It's only natural for the oppressed to want to overthrow the oppressors. But I can also see an argument for forgiving those who are truly repentant. After all, you all grew up indoctrinated into believing this was normal.

"And who's to say death will wash away your sins anyway? If anything, death is a mercy. So, continue living, and continue dedicating your existence to repenting, no matter how insurmountable."

Afterward, Yun Xiao turned to Gu Suwan, "Especially you. You’ve already bought your life from me with True Immortal Jades."

Both women were stunned by his declaration.

Yue Yin pursed her lips, finally saying, "Put simply, you're just a selfish scoundrel. if your nature is good, then all is well. But if you were vile at heart, that would be truly problematic. Acting on whims without any rules, you’d be the worst villain under heaven."

"That makes sense... If I had to choose a ruler, I'd choose the Seventh Princess. She's clear with her rules, unlike your whims," Gu Suwan pondered.

"Enough from both of you," Yun Xiao said, exasperated. "I spare your lives, and here you are, biting the hand that feeds. Be careful, or I might just act on a whim and end you right here."

"What betrayal?" Gu Suwan chuckled softly. "I see it now; you and the Seventh Princess, you're not cut from the same cloth, not meant to share the same door. You are perfect for each other in your opposition."