Chapter 569: A Clear Night Before a Downpour

General Cao paused for a moment, his gaze drifting to the woman in a blue gown beside him, Gu Suwan.

Gu Suwan pursed her lips and said, “I gave it to him, but he didn’t hang it up.”

Hearing this, the crowd exchanged strange looks. Was this young man so eager to show off now that he had climbed so high? Such an attitude was not commendable in the world of Immortals.

Meanwhile, Thunder Emissary Mo watched the scene with modesty on his face but laughter in his heart.

"The Supreme General wants to quickly elevate Cao Sheng's position. But he can’t push things too far, or else he might irritate the Nine Thunders Sovereign. Then, both him and Cao Sheng will suffer the consequences.”

Whether Yun Xiao was a mule or a horse still remained uncertain. The defeat of Dongfang Yong meant absolutely nothing in the scope of the whole selection. He still had to contend against the Thunder Department's core talent!

And Mo Ruoyu happened to be the perfect candidate.

Thinking this, Lightning Lord Bo Hong chuckled softly at Thunder Emissary Mo.

Thunder Emissary Mo simply smiled back.

“The show begins now.”

The Supreme General appeared particularly joyful tonight. His words shifted almost the entire focus of the Nine Thunders Arena to Thundercloud 103.

All eyes were on Yun Xiao, clad in his simple Arbiter armor.

Facing him was Mo Ruoyu, in white garments dazzling with golden brilliance, each thread spun from precious gold used in crafting celestial weapons, creating a protective armor of stunning efficacy!

In contrast, the Rank 9 Arbiter armor, though heroic, was materially inferior.

In this fight, the Arbiter armor provided no protection at all.

Such was the gap between the two!

Mo Ruoyu was already a Rank 7 Sky Protector. His cultivation was similar to that of Liu Mumu, and he was just shy of 30 years old. His profound background clearly distinguished him.

Yet, in terms of transcendental and outstanding appearance, this well-known handsome scion of the Thunder Department was utterly overshadowed.

The only discomfort Mo Ruoyu felt was in this ironic comparison, where this backwater prairie dog that had popped out of nowhere appeared more handsome than him.

Amid the focused gaze of the crowd, Mo Ruoyu raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at the jade pendants at Yun Xiao's waist, murmuring, "Congratulations, Brother Lu. I see you couldn't wait to tell the whole world the favor bestowed upon you."

Yun Xiao, unfamiliar with the man, simply replied, "Let's begin."

"No rush, no rush. Let me introduce myself first," Mo Ruoyu said, a smile playing on his lips as if he was holding back laughter. With a somewhat insincere bow, he continued, "I am Mo Ruoyu, son of Mo Yun, merely a Chief Military Thunder Emissary, and a direct subordinate of your foster father."

"One of our own?" Yun Xiao asked.

Mo Ruoyu couldn't help but laugh softly, "Yes, one of your own. So, please be gentle with me, and spare me some dignity."

"Fair enough." Yun Xiao nodded.

"Eh?" Mo Ruoyu hadn't expected his joke to be taken seriously. He chuckled, adding, "You know, I'm also currently studying at the Grand Firmament Academy."

"Oh? You must be quite the genius." Yun Xiao's lips curled slightly.

"My talents are modest, not worth mentioning," Mo Ruoyu replied humbly.

His smile turned peculiar as he looked at Yun Xiao. Then, he suddenly remarked, "I heard you hail from Sky Soaring City. You have a brother who's also a Rank 9 Arbiter, and you two are taking care of your frail, old mother. I'd like to pay my respects to her one day, and I bet many others here would too."

Yun Xiao replied with a smile, "What, are you digging up my ancestry over a mere fight?"

"Not at all." Mo Ruoyu laughed, shaking his head. "Don't misunderstand. In the Thunder Department, everyone's background and experiences are open secrets; no need for me to investigate anything, everyone knows. I hear when your mother cries, her tears are black. That's quite the curiosity."

"..." The smile slowly faded from Yun Xiao's face. He felt it was getting a bit dull.

"Oh, please don't be upset, I didn't mean to threaten you..." Mo Ruoyu quickly feigned nervousness. Then, with a grin, he added, "I just wanted to say, no matter how many jade pendants a mole drags out of the mud, it can't wash away the stench of dirt clinging to it."

"You have a way with words, quite the talent." Yun Xiao shook his head and laughed.

"..." Mo Ruoyu paused, impressed. This young man's composure was remarkable; even such teasing didn't rile him? Then it was no fun!

He wanted to say more, but then he saw Yun Xiao suddenly look up in the direction of the Celestial Thunder Platform.

"It seems like the Cao couple has been living too comfortably. As their new foster son, shouldn't I stir things up a bit?"

"Sounds like a great plan?" Blue Star chimed in.

"So, what sort of trouble do you want to stir for them?" Mo Ruoyu asked, slightly stunned.

Suddenly, Yun Xiao suddenly soared into the air!

With all eyes on him, a violet dragon roared at the center of his brow, violet dragon patterns swiftly swirling around his body, condensing into dense shadows of violet dragon scales on his face and neck!

This was a form of the Prison Warden Sigil—Dao Dragon!

In that instant, storms gathered and thunder raced across his frame.

"Still too green. Guess that composed act earlier was all for nothing." Mo Ruoyu smirked, a laugh escaping him once more.

Yun Xiao's thunder-filled eyes fixed on him! Amid the storm, the youth murmured, "Misty Rebirth, Clear Night."

As the chant resonated in the air, Yun Xiao raised his hands high in the sky. His long raven-black hair burst outward, and his body became enveloped in countless azure-violet currents which swirled like thunder dragons.

Thunder roared, heralding his descent like a god of thunder!

BOOM!

From his body, violet lightning spread widely in all directions.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Centered around him, in the sky above the Thundercloud 103, with the violet dragon as its spine, in an instant, tens of thousands of fist-sized azure-violet orbs of lightning condensed!

Each orb, like a drop of rain, trembled not with thunder but with the roar of dragons!

Lightning stormed down like rain!

Within this storm, Yun Xiao’s hands moved like vast nets, controlling all the orbs of lightning!

All the orbs, treating him as their deity, whirled and howled, unleashing billions of lightning serpents that blanketed the sky!

"That's Misty Rebirth!"

The name of the celestial technique, completely mismatching the divine prowess displayed, was shouted in awe by countless Thunder Department celestial officials.

Yun Xiao, having been mocked earlier for wearing those two jade pendants, now stood, not even an hour since acquiring them, unleashing Misty Rebirth. He became the sole, blindingly brilliant focus of the entire Nine Thunders Arena.

"What in the world?" Mo Ruoyu was stunned. His bewildered gaze met Yun Xiao's indifferent, god-like thunderous eyes.

In the next instant, the most ferocious thunderstorm with the roar of a heavenly dragon, unleashed its wrath upon Mo Ruoyu like a pinpoint deluge!

Rather than saying the droplets of lightning sprinkled down, it was more like the rain smashed down; no, thundered down!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

This was a true thunderstorm, a relentless barrage of flashing and crashing that swallowed Mo Ruoyu in an instant!

"NO! NO! NOOO…!" Mo Ruoyu screamed in terror, frantically deploying all his techniques and Life Sigil, but under Yun Xiao’s devastating thunderstorm, his efforts were utterly dim and ineffective, like a petty and sharp-tongued jester!

This moment truly declared the superior from the inferior!

"GAHHH!"

This graceful and esteemed son of a Rank 4 Thunder Emissary, a prodigy of the Grand Firmament Academy, was reduced to nothing more than dust! He met a desperate and dismal end under the unrelenting thunder.

BUZZ!!

Mo Rouyu was annihilated in both body and soul, leaving nothing but a scorch mark on the floor of the thundercloud stage.

BOOM!

The aftershocks of Misty Rebirth continued to bombard the area where Mo Ruoyu had stood, blasting a hole in the stage below, as if unleashing a torrent of pent-up fury!

When all the orbs of lightning had exploded, the thunderous power around Yun Xiao finally calmed. His long hair fell around his shoulders, and his eyes cleared.

Yet, the entire Nine Thunders Arena fell into a deathly silence, many participants were even distracted, faces frozen in astonishment.

In this utter silence, Yun Xiao raised his head, calmly surveying the tens of thousands of stunned onlookers.

He took a deep breath and slowly said, "I wonder if everyone heard, just now this person mocked me as a mole, belittled my origins, threatened my mother, and trampled my dignity.

"Yes, it's true, I come from humble beginnings, my family is poor, and I have nothing to rely on but myself. I’ve come this far on my own!

"Now, thanks to the generous love of General Cao and his wife, I have the privilege to step onto the stage, to fight for my identity and my dreams. I am profoundly grateful to them and hold immense respect for them!

"We cannot choose our origins, but we can decide what kind of person we want to be! Beyond talent and background, what I most desire is to be an Arbiter who guards justice, who strives for true fairness and integrity, upholding the celestial laws!

"I am willing to be such an upright Arbiter, not one who sits high, privileged, looking down on others, or even threatening, demeaning, and trampling others for a sense of petty satisfaction. I detest such people and will never associate with them!

"Finally, my name is Lu Yao! I came to the Thunder Department to right all wrongs!"