Chapter 600: Flip the Table? Let's Flip the Table!

On the Celestial Thunder Platform, not a single one of the 100 high officials of the Thunder Department moved to save Yun Xiao.

As Bai Duo prepared to strike again, Yun Xiao suddenly sneered, "You're too weak; you can't even save your own daughter."

"..." Bai Duo was taken aback.

Just then, a scream echoed from below.

Bai Duo's heart shuddered, and he looked down!

There, in spirit form, Yun Xiao wielded a long white sword and drove the blade into the top of Bai Ling'er's head!

Bai Ling'er shed no blood, her eyes wide open, froth on her lips, her scream piercing the air!

"Daddy, daddy..." Her body stiffened, her eyes dim with despair and confusion, and just like that, she lost her radiance, her body falling like a kite whose string had snapped.

This scene plunged the entire battlefield into a deathly silence.

It was only now that people remembered the first time Yun Xiao manifested his spirit; he had used a sinister method to kill.

His spirit shadowed his physical form, duplicating his attacks.

Even Bai Duo saw only the physical strike amid the thunder, missing the phantom spirit's deadly hit on Bai Ling'er!

After merging his will and spirit, Yun Xiao's astral killing power soared, deadly enough to take lives.

"Even with a Rank 3 Heavenly Officer protecting you, I still struck you down." Yun Xiao's voice was like the boom of death's thunder, merciless and cold.

The onlookers were stunned. Not only did Yun Xiao survive the attack, but he also bypassed Bai Duo to slay his daughter?

It wasn't just the spectators; even Bai Duo himself felt as if he'd been struck by lightning!

This was not just a loss of face, but of his children's lives as well!

When Bai Duo once more saw Yun Xiao's defiant gaze, rage and hatred erupted from within him like a volcanic blast.

His eyes, blazing with the intent to kill, intensified tenfold.

"What now? General Bai, openly breaking the rules during the Thunder Department selection, attacking me was one thing, but to seek vengeance in public after the contest?"

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

Endless storms gathered behind Bai Duo. His eyes surged with electric fury. No one stepped out to try and stop him.

"This is pointless now," Bai Duo muttered.

Yun Xiao had his sights set on ascending the Nine Heavens Thunder Ranking. But he was just two battles short!

It was clear there was trouble from the Moon Sword Goddess' side, which gave Bai Duo the audacity to intercept and attempt to slay him.

Yun Xiao was a man who wore his freedom lightly.

"Since I've already got the Boundary Defining Divine Needle and saved who I wanted to save, if this Thunder Department selection doesn't go as planned, then so be it. Might as well make a clean sweep of it and take all the treasures!"

Yun Xiao had hoped to progress step by step. But these people wouldn't allow it! So, he decided to go all out and deliver a fierce blow, especially now that the Nine Thunders Arena was crowded—it was a good time to turn the world upside down.

"Two Supreme Generals and all you Thunder Dukes, don't even think about escaping." Yun Xiao's eyes were fiercely cold! He had a backup plan, the Thunder Immortal Formation, he was fearless!

If he could be promoted, he would take it; if not, they could all go to hell!

Just like his violent take-over of Sky Soaring City, Yun Xiao was content to remain peaceful unless pushed to the brink. And if pushed, he would strike!

Before Bai Duo, Yun Xiao spread his arms, his spirit reaching towards the heavens, ready to give the Great Dao Celestial Realm a piece of sensational news!

Even though this would make him a true fugitive of the Celestial Court, it couldn't be helped.

From the moment Yun Xiao stepped into the Thunder Department, Cao Sheng and the Supreme General wanted to exploit his talents and swordsmanship, not even granting him the short span of two days for the Thunder Department selection!

What could he do?

This Celestial Court's Thunder Department, a place of judgment, was rotten to the core!

Without status or backing, just talent made one like cabbage in the market, everyone wanting a bite.

In that moment, the angry and indifferent gazes of the high officials on the Celestial Thunder Platform spoke volumes!

Yun Xiao had no more expectations! If it was to be a fight, then a fight it would be—he had no regrets! After all, he had nothing to lose!

His spirit connected with the Supreme Everlasting Nine Heavens Sovereign Thunder Immortal Formation! Anger surging, that colossal face was soon to reappear in the sky!

This time, he would let them see clearly who he was...

Yun Xiao was fully prepared in his heart.

As Bai Duo charged forward with his sword poised to strike, a woman dressed in a violet gown with curly hair suddenly appeared in front of him!

She stood there with authority and a chilling indifference, pointing at Bai Duo’s nose, she challenged, "General Bai, are you trying to start a war with the Immortal Sword Court?"

The woman was Cao Shuo.

Yun Xiao's eyes were drawn to the striking curves of her figure against the backdrop, and he was momentarily stunned, "Wasn’t the Moon Sword Goddess' support supposed to have crumbled?"

He was frozen, and so was Bai Duo.

Driven by a fierce rage, Bai Duo gritted his teeth and glared at Cao Shuo, "Stop spouting nonsense, the Moon Sword Goddess already knows..."

"You underestimate the Immortal Sword Court and the Western Kunlun Palace. They have spoken, and they want Lu Yao," Cao Shuo retorted with a cold laugh.

Bai Duo felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.

On the Celestial Thunder Platform, the high officials of the Thunder Department stood up, some in disbelief, including the two Supreme Generals.

"Stand down!"

Although Cao Shuo's rank was lower than Bai Duo’s, at this moment, she represented more than just herself.

Bai Duo’s face twisted! He breathed heavily, staring furiously at Yun Xiao, his anger nearly tearing him apart.

"General Bai, better hurry to make arrangements for your children’s affairs; delay longer, and their bodies might decay," Yun Xiao said calmly, standing behind Cao Shuo.

"You!" Bai Duo was overcome with fury, spitting blood from the corner of his mouth.

"I defeated them fair and square. They were no match for me, and that’s not my fault. As for your attempt to ambush me just now, considering you're a father, I might show mercy and not hold it against you," Yun Xiao added.

"Bai Duo!" Yun Yin, the Eight Paths Cloud and Thunder General, called out softly.

"Yes...!" Bai Duo, nearly biting through his tongue in rage, glared murderously at Yun Xiao. Then, trembling with fury, he took his children's bodies and left.

With his departure, the Nine Thunders Arena fell into silence once more!

A million Immortals of the Thunder Department gritted their teeth in rage, their eyes bloodshot as they watched Yun Xiao, their minds filled with murderous intent, yet again impotent with fury.

"How could there be such a despicable person!"

"Moon Sword Goddess!"

"Ah!"

They were nearly mad with anger.

As they glared almost to the point of spitting blood, Cao Shuo turned, wrapping her arms around Yun Xiao’s waist in an intimate gesture.

"There are two rounds left. I’ll be there on time," Yun Xiao said, and together with Cao Shuo, they walked away with long strides.

"Death!"

"Who can kill him in the Nine Thunders Arena?"

A million immortals boiled with fury.

?ι══????????══ι?

No sooner had the two left the Nine Thunders Arena than Yun Xiao turned to the seductress of the Thunder Department beside him. "Thanks for the timely rescue. A moment later, and I might not have made it."

Cao Shuo looked at him quizzically and smirked, "Why do I not see even a hint of fear of death in you?"

"It’s all an act, I’m actually terrified inside," Yun Xiao confessed.

"Nobody believes that." Cao Shuo rolled her eyes. After speaking, she suddenly grabbed Yun Xiao's arms, looked deeply into his eyes, and asked, "Lu Yao darling, tell me, who stands behind you?"

"Behind me?" Yun Xiao laughed. "No one. What are you imagining?"

"Stop playing dumb!" Cao Shuo glared at him, biting her lip. "I mean those who oppose the incense offerings with you, including the Sky Soaring City Sword Devil! You must have a big organization planning all this resistance!"

Yun Xiao was speechless for a while, then looked at Cao Shuo oddly and asked, "Why do you want to know?"

"Nonsense, I want to join your organization!" Cao Shuo said anxiously.

"Have you never taken part in the incense offerings?" Yun Xiao was taken aback.

Cao Shuo shook her head. "It’s all a lie, I can’t stand it. No matter how nicely they put it, it's just about going to the mortal realm to suck human blood and eat human flesh. I can’t stand it!"

"That’s indeed rare." Yun Xiao couldn’t help but see her in a new light. "Your kind isn’t common in the Thunder Department, are they?"

"Rare? There are hardly any. It’s been driving me mad. For a long time, I’ve been wondering if I'm sick—my brother always says I am.” Cao Shuo sighed.

"Actually, if you're brave enough to try, you'll find it’s quite simple. It doesn’t harm your moral essence," Yun Xiao said.

Cao Shuo shot him a look. "Save it, don't pretend. I'm good at reading people. You act mercilessly, yet you guard something deep inside, you can’t hide it from me."

"..." Yun Xiao fell silent.

Cao Shuo released his arms, her voice a soft sigh, "You have no idea how hard it is for me! Sometimes I wonder if it's all too exaggerated. How can so many people accept the incense offerings so indifferently? Even if they initially resist, why do they all soon embrace it?

"Eventually, I understood. This is a world of competition, where others

cheat

to make rapid progress. If you don’t cheat, you'll be left behind, your family will vanish, and you'll become an outsider, doomed to a miserable life.

"Once such people are completely eliminated, those who partake in the incense offerings will dominate the discourse. They'll establish the laws, claim righteousness, and help everyone overcome their psychological hurdles by constantly suggesting that their actions are in alignment with the heavenly way. Repeat a suggestion enough times, and it becomes seen as just, especially when it brings benefits."

Cao Shuo’s words perfectly reflected what had happened to Bai Ling'er.

Why had she become so distorted?

In the Celestial Court, she had never killed anyone. But in the mortal realm, she could slaughter at will. Because if a circle was tainted, the clean ones perished. It was gradual corruption!

In the end, people would be separated into mortal and Immortal!

"It’s been so hard for me; in the Thunder Department, I’m the fool. If it weren’t for my attractive figure drawing some unwanted attention, who knows where I’d be now!" Cao Shuo opened up, suddenly looking rather foolish.

She was indeed naive and peculiar, sometimes even blunt. This was different from Yun Xiao's initial impression of her.

Initially, this Thunder Emissary Cao seemed like a venomous snake, cunning and deceitful, and too forward, which greatly annoyed Yun Xiao.

"Lu Yao darling," Cao Shuo grabbed his collar again, her tone earnest, "Introduce me to the organization, please. I can’t stand it anymore; I want to go somewhere I can be normal. I can’t stand another day in this cursed Thunder Department!"

"..." Yun Xiao was at a loss for words. After a moment, he said, "Don’t rush, just keep up your performance, and the organization will seriously consider you based on that."

"Really? That's wonderful." Cao Shuo sighed with relief, then suggested, "Shall we elope first?"

"Elope? Why? I still need to continue in the Thunder Department selection," Yun Xiao said, puzzled.

Cao Shuo covered her face. "Sorry, you can’t continue."

"Why not?" Yun Xiao was confused. "With the Moon Sword Goddess, at least I could hold out in the Thunder Department for another half day."

Cao Shuo chuckled sheepishly. "But there is no Moon Sword Goddess."

"Weren’t you just saying in public that the Moon Sword Goddess and the Western Kunlun Palace would protect me?" Yun Xiao exclaimed in shock.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"I made that up. My senior sister heard you had ties with the Immortal Asylum and Divine Dawn, and she took the opportunity to flee, instructing me to find a way to sever ties with you gracefully." Cao Shuo sighed deeply. "In trying to save you, I've burned my bridges with her. Now, my only way out is to elope with you, to join the organization."

Yun Xiao exclaimed in exasperation, "Damn it all."

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