Chapter 567: Offerings

"No…!" Whimpering softly, Jiang Haiyan's tears flowed like rain, her eyes bright red, too frightened to move.

At that moment, a violet glow bathed her vision, and she found herself collapsing into Yun Xiao's arms, where she remained for a considerable time. When she finally lifted her head, her gaze was vacant as she looked at Yun Xiao.

Her mind was clear, yet something had irrevocably changed—she found she could no longer harbor hatred towards Yun Xiao, and her instinct was to not defy him in any way.

"Really, apart from obeying me, your life will be unaffected. Why the tears?" Yun Xiao asked, his mouth twisted in a slight smirk, observing her earlier despair.

"What do you want from me?" Jiang Haiyan asked, her voice trembling.

"Nothing much," Yun Xiao replied calmly. "I just need to secure something from your father. It’s an added layer of insurance for when I must show my true intentions and he’ll have no choice but to comply."

Jiang Haiyan wiped her tears and nodded silently.

"Call your sister in, let's wait a bit before we head out," Yun Xiao instructed.

"Okay." She nodded again.

Her sister, Jiang Heqing, had been just outside, and Jiang Haiyan had initially intended to bring her along to seek release from Yun Xiao.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

When the sisters entered, Yun Xiao didn’t spare them a glance, his thoughts still on the mysteries of the two celestial techniques he'd just learned.

After a lengthy pause, he suddenly spoke to Jiang Haiyan, "When we go out, quietly inform your father that I have lifted the soul control from your sister. From now on, act as you did before in his presence."

"Okay." The two nodded obediently, Jiang Heqing returning to her usual lively demeanor.

"And one more thing," Yun Xiao said seriously, looking at them. "Tell him that during this time, you sisters have been... compromised by me."

They paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.

They understood Yun Xiao's purpose. By making their father believe that Yun Xiao was now tied to their family, it would inevitably bring them closer, making it difficult for their father to guard against him.

Whatever it took, Yun Xiao was determined to obtain the Boundary Defining Divine Needle.

"Let's go."

With a satisfied smile, Yun Xiao, flanked by a beauty on each arm, kicked open the stone door and strode out, his spirits high as he went off to join the battle.

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Located just beyond the Summer Thunder Duke Palace was the estate of the Cao Family. The Cao Immortal Manor was a mighty family with numerous branches, among them Cao Sheng and Cao Shuo stood as pillars.

The madame of the Cao Immortal Manor was Gu Suwan. She was revered as the Summer Lightning Duchess and commanded respect from everyone within.

As night just began to fall, Gu Suwan returned home. At the entrance, a guard informed her, "Madame, a relative from your maternal side is waiting in the courtyard."

"Who is it?" Gu Suwan inquired.

"It appears to be Gu Sutao."

The guards, familiar with all the high-profile visitors, identified her easily.

"Tao'er?" Gu Suwan pursed her lips, gave it little thought, and returned to her private quarters in the garden.

In the pavilion sat a young girl in a peach blossom dress.

"Auntie."

Upon seeing Gu Suwan, the girl in the peach dress stood, bowed respectfully, and then, with a twinkle in her eye, peered behind Gu Suwan and asked, "Where's my little cousin? Didn't he come back with you?"

"Do you mean Lu Yao? He's gone to the Nine Thunders Arena." Gu Suwan frowned slightly at her niece’s inquiry. "Tao'er, aren't you supposed to be in the selection too? The second round has already started, and here you are, wandering about."

Hearing that Lu Yao was at the arena, the girl's expression turned curious, a tinge of disappointment in her voice. "That’s a shame. I missed seeing this famously handsome man. All the noble girls across the Thunder Department are abuzz—apparently, he’s breathtakingly handsome, stirring the hearts of many Immortals."

Gu Suwan, slightly displeased, waved her off. "Enough with your wild friends—don’t you dare set your sights on my precious son."

"Really? Auntie, such a handsome and talented foster son, surely you intend to introduce him to the high ranks of the Divine Gateway? Who knows, he might even connect with royalty," the girl teased.

"You little brat, you know nothing. Off with you to the selection," Gu Suwan replied sharply.

"Alright, alright, I'll watch over your darling," the girl in the peach dress said with a soft laugh, then added slowly, "You know, when the Thunder Immortal Formation revealed that face, I was quite startled. Actually, I saw him up close during his fight with Dongfang Yong—over and over."

"What are you trying to say?" Gu Suwan asked.

The girl blushed slightly. "It felt familiar, as if I had seen him in a dream."

"Nonsense," Gu Suwan rolled her eyes.

"Hehe, never mind, Auntie, I'll meet him another day!" With that, the girl walked away.

As she turned her back to Gu Suwan, the corners of her mouth curled up in a sly smile, and she murmured, "To think I'd see him like this again. Almost scared me to death."

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Meanwhile, within the Summer Thunder Duke Palace.

General Cao, seated in his chair of honor, suddenly looked up, his eyes crackling with lightning, and gazed down the long corridor. "Cao Shuo, come here!"

"What now?" At the doorway, a tall beauty in a violet dress leaned casually against the frame, glancing at General Cao with a hint of impatience.

"Where have you been?" General Cao asked sternly.

"Where?" Cao Shuo smiled coquettishly, a mock bashfulness in her voice. "I've just become an aunt, naturally, I had to show some affection to my new nephew."

"And?" The General frowned.

"We sparked a fierce passion." Cao Shuo looked back, reminiscing, "I must say, the vigor of a young and handsome body is quite something."

Hearing this, General Cao nearly fell off his chair.

"Did you really?" he asked incredulously.

"The men I fancy, can they ever escape my grasp?" Cao Shuo laughed.

General Cao fell silent, his gaze turning icy. "Just this once!"

"You care quite a bit?" Cao Shuo's tone also turned cold.

"Heh, if you really liked him, you wouldn’t flaunt it and get him killed. You'd be happy then," General Cao said coldly.

"Hmph." Cao Shuo scoffed and turned to leave.

"The Supreme General just sent me a message," General Cao suddenly said.

At the mention of the Supreme General, Cao Shuo's expression chilled, and she turned back to glare at General Cao fiercely. "Go keep that decrepit old dog company yourself. Cao Sheng, I warn you, don't entertain the thought. I am not a tool for you to trade for political gains!"

"Cao Shuo!" General Cao stood, his eyes crackling with thunder as he advanced towards her. "How old are you, still so na?ve? In the Great Dao Celestial Realm, when a superior demands something from a subordinate like you, what right do you have to refuse? His interest in you is the greatest fortune and asset you could have in this lifetime! To refuse is to defy the unspoken rules of the Celestial Court. You’d be sealing your own dismal fate. This world never gave you the option to say no!"

"Get away!" Cao Shuo stepped back, clenching her teeth.

"Calm down," General Cao urged as he placed his hands on her shoulders, his tone serious. "Listen to me, little sister. On this Immortal path, there’s always someone above us, pressing down. Don't be too headstrong; that’s a deadly poison for yourself! This is an opportunity, not a curse. Do you know how many women in the Thunder Department yearn for a chance to be favored by the Supreme General? He’s about to retire. His wife has passed, and do you know how vast his inheritance is? It could all be yours!"

"Yes, and your promotion to Rank 2 would be guaranteed! You’d prefer I go now and grovel at that old man’s feet!" Cao Shuo scoffed coldly.

"What's wrong with that?" General Cao shook her slightly. "With the support of two generations of Nine Heavens Supreme Thunder Generals, after me, you'll be the next Rank 2 divine being of the Celestial Court! Then, you can command the winds and storms in the Celestial Court and the Thunder Department!"

"Shut up. I don't crave these things like you do; they even sicken me," Cao Shuo said, her face filled with scorn.

"Sicken you..." General Cao looked at her meaningfully. "Cao Shuo, are you implying something?"

"Don't overthink it." Cao Shuo pushed his hands away and said no more, walking out.

"Do you know why your cultivation always stalls at this stage? Because you refuse to accept the offerings! An Immortal without the worship of a mortal realm is like a castle in the air. Every Immortal above Rank 6 has gone to a mortal realm to preach and receive the baptism of eternal offerings. If you keep delaying, forget about Rank 2—you won't make it past Rank 3 in your lifetime!" General Cao's voice boomed like thunder, resonating continuously.

Cao Shuo turned back, her silence enduring as she stared at General Cao for a long time.

"Offerings... that word sounds quite pleasant, as if it's voluntary. But, I’ve been to the Ascension Pool. The stench of the dead there is quite pure."

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