Chapter 549: A Face Appears Over the Sky of the Thunder Department!

Ahead, the procession was filled with the young and passionate children of high ranking Immortals. Not a single one wore the plain armor of an Arbiter; their adornments were lavish, and even those who feigned modesty betrayed their opulence upon closer inspection, their belongings alarmingly expensive.

Yun Xiao followed silently behind Jiang Heqing, waiting.

"By the way," Zhao Danming suddenly turned, raising an eyebrow at Yun Xiao, "Lu Yao, did you bring money?"

"Money?" Yun Xiao paused. "It costs money to ride on the Sky Thunder Leap?"

Zhao Danming couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head silently.

"Commander Jiang, how much for one jump?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Not much, just 1,000 True Immortal Jades," Jiang Heqing casually replied.

"Good heavens, one jump costs me ten years of my yearly stipend," Yun Xiao remarked, a hint of awe in his tone.

It was merely an observation. Born to high-ranking parents, unlike common Arbiters like Lu An, they were not of the same world.

Hearing him, Zhao Danming’s face soured. "You were born low, accept your fate. Keep it to yourself, no need to stir trouble. If you can't afford the 1,000 True Immortal Jades, just admit it. No shame in that."

"Enough," Jiang Haiyan interjected softly, turning back, "Lu Yao is here to represent the glory of Sky Soaring City in the selections. I'll cover his expenses."

"..." Zhao Danming was taken aback.

Yun Xiao gratefully said, "Thank you, Commander Jiang, for your generosity."

"You accept a woman's money so easily..." Zhao Danming’s expression chilled.

"You look down on women?" Yun Xiao cut him off.

"Don't spout nonsense!" Zhao Danming flared up but was restrained by Dongfang Yong from behind, who shook his head at him.

A rift seemed to form.

Zhao Danming shot Yun Xiao a cold glance and turned back to the line.

Dongfang Yong looked at Jiang Haiyan with a strange expression but said nothing.

"Hey, my sister is paying for you and you accept just like that? Doesn’t it seem like you lack spine?" Jiang Heqing whispered to Yun Xiao.

"It’s okay. When it comes to fighting, I have all the spine I need," Yun Xiao responded.

"Whatever!" Jiang Heqing glared at him and then sighed at the sight of the long queue ahead. "So long, painfully long!"

……?ι══????????══ι?

In the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office, a discreet inn for the wayfarers of the heavenly path, a middle-aged man in a robe checked in quietly, slipping into his room without a stir.

He stood by the window, gazing out into the distance where, about 100 miles away, a pillar of thunder stretched skyward.

"They move fast, already here," Lord Lu muttered with a chilling smirk.

As he spoke, his eyes turned icy, his finger lifted slightly, summoning a green glimmer in his hand—a Sword Soul that could collapse the very fabric of space!

With a breath, Lord Lu exhaled, his breath forming a tortoise-shaped spirit that merged into the green light.

"Go!" With a flick of his wrist, the green light slipped silently out the window, disappearing into the bustling life of the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office.

"A spirit-controlled Flying Sword that kills from a hundred miles away—now that's a true Sword Cultivator!" Lord Lu leaned on the railing, eyes closed, his spirit wandering between heaven and earth, a slight smirk on his lips.

"In the Celestial Court, you think talent alone can raise you high? Sorry, but cross the wrong Immortal, and you won’t make a step, let alone shine!"

?ι══????????══ι?

After about an hour and a half in line, it was nearly the turn of Yun Xiao and his group.

Jiang Heqing’s patience was nearly spent, twisting about in front of Yun Xiao, pouting and sticking out her tongue in a display of adorable charm.

Yun Xiao stood upright beside her like a guardian.

"If I can manage to manifest my spirit through this Soaring Thunder Leap and achieve a decent showing in the selection this afternoon, my position should be secure," Yun Xiao thought.

He knew that the Jiang sisters approached him with an agenda. And he, too, had approached them, for their father possessed the Boundary Defining Divine Needle! It was a match made on convenience.

"Everything's going smoothly... The Boundary Defining Divine Needle might just be within reach." Yun Xiao's gaze intensified with determination.

For the sake of countless lives across myriad worlds, there was no harm in playing along!

As Yun Xiao observed Jiang Heqing, lively and teasing, displaying her youthful zest, his eyes grew even more fervent.

Everything was going too smoothly! For some reason, the smoother things went, the greater the sense of impending crisis he felt.

"This Heavenly Palace is more brutal than I imagined." The thought sprang into Yun Xiao's mind, and suddenly, it was as if he were trapped in an ice cave, his heart frozen solid!

"Danger!" Blue Star and Red Moon were startled.

In an instant, they emerged from Yun Xiao's embrace, transforming into an upright coffin that swallowed him whole!

BOOM!

The next moment, Yun Xiao felt himself being flung away!

"A Flying Sword assassination from afar!"

Only a top-tier Sword Immortal could strike with such precision!

The sword had hit Red Moon's coffin form, which grimaced and howled in pain.

CRASH!

Yun Xiao collided against the nearby wall.

The coffin vanished as quickly as it had appeared, returning to his embrace!

Yun Xiao had narrowly escaped death, his forehead slick with sweat.

"This is the path of Immortals! Those with power killed on a whim. There was no fooling around." His heart trembled, but he slowly rose to his feet.

Blue Star and Red Moon retreated, indicating that the assassin's Flying Sword had failed and fled.

In such a public setting, the attacker had only one chance to strike!

"Thank goodness I was prepared!" At times like this, Yun Xiao could forgive Blue Star and Red Moon for skimming off the True Immortal Jades for their own use—they had their roles.

They were a team! Yun Xiao earned the money, and they converted it into power, ensuring his safety.

"Who?" Blue Star asked irritably.

"Lord Lu," Yun Xiao replied without hesitation, "Liu Zongyu must have gone to him by now."

"Brutal, daring to kill you here in the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office," Blue Star clicked his tongue.

When Yun Xiao committed murder, he also needed a proxy.

The scene had unfolded so suddenly, shocking the surrounding queue of young onlookers. By the time they grasped what had happened, the green light had already fled.

"What's the situation?"

"A powerful assassin targeted this handsome man."

"Who is he?"

"Did a black shield appear around him just now?"

"Wow, he must be the scion of a great figure!"

"The assassin must be out of their mind."

Seeing Yun Xiao alive, many revered him, treating him as if he were the son of a high ranking Immortal.

Such an assassination would have likely killed a

regular

prodigy.

"Lu Yao?" Jiang Haiyan and Jiang Heqing hurried forward.

"It's nothing, I can't be killed that easily." Yun Xiao's gaze was icy as he glanced into the distance.

"Who would do such a thing?" Jiang Heqing bit her lip.

"Your father would probably know," Yun Xiao said.

"Humph! Someone dares to attack a young talent from Sky Soaring City during the Immortal Tournament selection in public. They're challenging our city. Don't worry, I'll tell my father about this, and he will definitely root out the assassin," Jiang Heqing said indignantly.

Zhao Danming muttered under his breath, "How did they not kill him? Who is so incompetent that they can't even take down a low life?"

As more and more people took interest, Yun Xiao glanced ahead and said, "It's finally our turn. Let's make use of the time."

"Right," Jiang Heqing said.

"Let's ride the Soaring Thunder Leap." Jiang Haiyan nodded.

It was their turn now, and if they didn't go up, the people behind them would.

"Off we go!" Jiang Heqing instantly forgot about the assassination, thrilled with excitement.

"There are six Thunder Ascension Fields open, perfect for the six of you," the elderly organizer said, giving Yun Xiao a knowing smile, "These days, there are too many reckless people who don't know whether they're alive or dead. Rest assured, the assassin left traces and will be hunted down by the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office."

Clearly, even the old man regarded Yun Xiao as a person of importance.

"Thank you." And seeing that Jiang Haiyan personally handed over the 1,000 True Immortal Jades for Yun Xiao, which prompted the old man to treat the sisters almost like Yun Xiao’s attendants.

"This way, please." The elder led Yun Xiao to the largest of the seats, advising, "Circulate your celestial power, stabilize your form. Once the gravitational wave hits, it will rapidly pull your spirit out of your body towards the Thunder Immortal Formation above. Stay steady throughout the process."

"Thank you, senior." Yun Xiao nodded.

The so-called Thunder Ascension Fields were but small-scale lightning arrays.

Yun Xiao stood upon one, flanked by Jiang Haiyan and Jiang Heqing. He could already feel the pulling force of the Thunder Immortal Array descending upon him, compelling him to take a deep breath.

"Get ready, we're about to take off!" Jiang Heqing exclaimed, her face alight with excitement.

Yun Xiao looked up to see the sky transformed into a tempestuous sea of thunder. As if drawn by some unseen force, the Thunder Immortal Array seemed to extend a colossal arm of lightning that suddenly smashed down onto the Thunder Ascension Field, grasping at Yun Xiao's spirit.

BOOM!

The thrilling moment arrived!

Yun Xiao felt as if his mind had exploded. His entire will was concentrated in his spirit, which was pulled by the devouring force of the lightning, instantly erupting out of his body, soaring into the clouds, and hurtling toward the ocean of thunder at a terrifying speed.

"Aaaaah!"

Beside him, he could faintly hear Jiang Heqing's screams—mixed with fear and excitement, she was thoroughly exhilarated.

Yun Xiao, caught between chaos and astonishment, felt his spirit suddenly break through a dimension. In that moment, he saw the Thunder Immortal Array as if it were an enormous vortex magnifier!

BUZZ!

While the spirits of the other riders were falling, his spirit smashed into the Thunder Immortal Array!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

At that moment, the sea of thunder erupted in an earth-shattering tremor, billions of bolts of lightning began to twist and shake as if the sea itself was boiling!

Such colossal commotion shook all the Immortals of the sacred land of the Thunder Department!

Everyone looked up, their faces filled with awe, witnessing the ancient tumult within the sea of thunder!

Between the thunderbolts racing and the serpents of electricity surging, the sea of lightning that covered the entire land of the Thunder Department took on a face that blotted out the sky!

The face in the thunder, vivid as life itself, was like a real person peering out from the storm, gazing upon the vast expanse of the Thunder Department!

And this face, both youthful and handsome, was unmistakable...