Yun Xiao had never heard of the Sword Court before, but he surmised it to be a sacred place of swordsmanship within the Great Dao Celestial Realm.

The sudden mention of this place by Cao Shuo clearly had a purpose—to protect Yun Xiao. And she was doing so under the heavy scrutiny of the 100 high officials of the Thunder Department!

By bringing the Sword Court into the fray, the decision over Yun Xiao's fate would involve more parties. As long as it wasn’t left to one sole arbiter, he would have a chance to survive, threading his way through threats from all sides.

Since arriving at the Celestial Court, Yun Xiao had always exploited the greed of its high officials to rise through the ranks. This unexpected move by her left him quite astonished.

"Has this woman gone mad with desire to possess me?" Yun Xiao wondered, aware of the courage it took to oppose the Supreme General at such a time.

Suddenly, Yun Xiao recalled how Cao Shuo was using him as a human shield against someone pressuring her.

"Could it be the Supreme General himself?" His gaze shifted, and there he saw the Nine Heavens Supreme Thunder General, aged yet still surrounded by a tempest of lightning and thunder, brimming with the ferocity of a dragon and the vigor of a tiger—it was indeed possible!

With this, Yun Xiao sorted out the web of relationships. Undoubtedly, once forced to reveal his own appealing flesh, he had attracted a slew of gaping maws, putting him in dire straits. Now, it was merely a question of who would bite first.

The most likely were the ranks of the Grand Firmament Academy. Characters like Bo Hong, Bai Duo, and numerous other high ranking Immortals stood cold as ice, their eyes filled with hatred and intent to kill.

Clearly, they sought nothing but Yun Xiao's demise.

He was certain that if these talents from the academy encountered him during the Thunder Department selection, they would fight him mercilessly to the death.

The situation with the Supreme General, Cao Sheng, and Gu Suwan was far more complex... And complexity allowed for maneuvering, for often within great danger hid great opportunity!

Yun Xiao was eager to see how the Supreme General and Cao Sheng would deal with him. Would they swallow him whole in one gulp, or would they leave themselves an out and play it up a bit?

The answer would soon be revealed!

Upon hearing mention of the Sword Court, Cao Sheng's heart roared with a storm of fury. However, he quickly regained his composure and offered Yun Xiao a smile. “Your achievements today truly shake the heavens and earth. As your father, I am immensely proud.”

“It’s all thanks to your guidance, father,” Yun Xiao replied.

No longer merely a disciple, Yun Xiao embraced his elevated status openly. The term

father

alone drew them closer, changing their relationship dramatically.

This wasn't quite what Cao Sheng had hoped for. The word

father

was now a trial he had to endure. Yet, for the sake of another, Cao Sheng accepted this title.

Their apparent father-son harmony was enough to make others envious.

Ignoring the murmurs, Cao Sheng continued with a smile, “To celebrate the formation of your Sword Prison, I intend to give you a gift. Tell me what you desire.”

“Really?” Yun Xiao asked without a moment's hesitation, “My Sword Prison has just formed. I need more Sword Rings and demon bones, as many as you can provide.”

“Agreed!” Cao Sheng declared grandly. “Come, let us return to my estate. In the Treasure Hall, you can choose any Sword Rings and demon bones you like.”

His generosity only deepened the frowns around them.

“Is Cao Sheng really going to protect this boy at all costs?”

“Such audacity!”

“Watch, this decision will bring him trouble sooner or later.”

“Lu Yao will surely be the death of this general.”

“They deserve whatever comes their way!”

Whispers of disapproval filled the air, painting Cao Sheng as a deviant in their eyes.

“The Cao estate?” Only when Yun Xiao heard these words did a chill run through him, and the realization surfaced.

The Supreme General was not a man who liked to wait. His hunger was immense! This was not a place where one could hastily swallow troubles whole, so he surely planned to shift the scene to his estate, where he could consume at leisure.

And so, Cao Sheng was merely facilitating the move, luring Yun Xiao into the secluded chambers of the Cao Immortal Manor.

“It seems like the Supreme General is in a rush.”

The hundreds of thousands of onlookers watched Yun Xiao coldly, each eager for his demise, though their methods varied.

"Let's go home," Gu Suwan beckoned with a charming wave.

"Alright!" Yun Xiao nodded with a smile.

"Haha, that's it, disperse," the Supreme General said with a satisfied grin.

Cao Shuo frowned deeply.

Many of the young geniuses had twisted expressions.

Bo Hong and others also wore inscrutable faces, clearly too familiar with the Supreme General's ways.

Something was amiss!

From a distance, Jiang Taiping watched everything unfold, his hand on his forehead as he sighed. "This young man's greed has led him into a trap! There's no returning from the Cao Immortal Manor!"

Even Cao Sheng had given up decisively, let alone a recently promoted Rank 4 Thunder Emissary like him. If his daughters were disgraced, he'd have to sever ties with a heavy heart.

Jiang Taiping turned to his daughters, his heart heavy.

"Dad, Lu Yao has truly soared to great heights!" Jiang Heqing said excitedly, gripping her father's hand.

"His life is even shorter now; he might not survive the night," Jiang Taiping murmured, shaking his head.

"What did you say?" Jiang Haiyan asked, puzzled.

"Nothing," Jiang Taiping shushed softly, forcing a smile. "Let's go celebrate too."

And so, under the darkened sky, a grand display of talent concluded.

The name Lu Yao echoed once more through the Thunder Department!

Who could have predicted that a youth, missing for ten years, would cause such a stir in the Thunder Department in just a few days?

Tonight's performance was earth-shattering and soul-stirring!

Only after the Supreme General departed did people dare to disperse.

Members of the Grand Firmament Academy stayed, unable to vent their frustration.

Many talented geniuses vowed to make Yun Xiao pay dearly in the remaining four rounds of the Thunder Department selections.

Under their threatening gazes, Cao Sheng and Gu Suwan escorted Yun Xiao safely away from the perilous academy, heading toward the Cao Immortal Manor.

As they flew over the market streets of the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office, the entire city buzzed with talk of Yun Xiao's regal immortal presence.

"Congratulations, General Cao! Blessed with a divine gifted son!"

Along the way, the Immortals of Thunder Department praised Lu Yao. This was precisely why the Supreme General couldn’t deal with Yun Xiao publicly.

The shattering of the Sword Suppression Gate and the ordinary immortals of the Thunder Department had little connection; those of lower status and origin were the ones who supported the rise of commoner talents.

That was also why the Chaos Sovereign enjoyed such popularity!

When Yun Xiao stepped out of the Grand Firmament Academy, he was astounded to find himself the center of an immense rally of support from the Thunder Department—a startling surge in his popularity.

"It appears that while the roots of the Thunder Department might have rotted through, at least for now, its myriad branches seem healthy," Yun Xiao mused.

Previously, the mid-level Immortals of the Thunder Department couldn't tolerate his brashness. But now, there was only one phrase on their lips.

"Why shouldn't the regal bearing of an Emperor rule supremely and quell all dissent?"

This revelation left Yun Xiao somewhat pensive. "Outside the Celestial Court, anywhere I display this unimaginable peak talent, I am nearly worshipped as divine. Only here do I need to tread carefully!"

The Grand Firmament Academy sought his demise. Figures like the Supreme General, Cao Sheng, and Jiang Taiping, they all wanted a piece of him!

Now, the

eating faction

was gaining the upper hand, ready to whisk Yun Xiao off to the Cao Immortal Manor for their own ends.

Did the shock of the Thunder Department’s billion souls at his talents matter? His death would silence their cheers; could they advocate for him then?

And so, from start to finish, the Great Dao Celestial Realm was a place of cruel pragmatism.

Ahead, Cao Sheng and Gu Suwan beamed, glowing with the joy of someone carrying a fat pig to market, all too eager to present it to the Supreme General of the Thunder Department.

They weren't hiding their intentions any longer!

"It seems like anyone above Rank 6 in the Celestial Court is completely rotten to the core," Yun Xiao reflected bitterly. What now? Turning back, he saw Cao Shuo’s violet silhouette still following behind.

Even the mention of the Sword Court hadn’t been enough to quell the Supreme General’s greed... She must have been feeling helpless. They had already left the academy.

The Supreme General was not around.

On this street, it was just the Cao Family and Yun Xiao.

Suddenly, Yun Xiao stopped in his tracks.

"Auntie," he called out to Cao Shuo.

Cao Shuo paused, her face a mask of frost, composed.

Cao Sheng and Gu Suwan halted as well, smiling as they looked at Yun Xiao.

Gu Suwan asked, "Lu Yao, what’s the matter?"

"There is something I need to clarify with you both," Yun Xiao said earnestly.