Chapter 611: Five Hundred Thousand True Immortal Jades For Your Life!

Gu Suwan said little as she led Yun Xiao along the long corridor of the Myriad Divine Thunder Bureau.

Soon, a vast square emerged at the end of their sight, over which hovered a round colossal mountain.

Yun Xiao peered closely. The mountain, shaped like a millstone, was wrapped in chains of lightning that snaked around its surface. It spun rapidly, emitting a deafening roar. The lightning that splattered from it wove into a vast net, ensnaring the sky above.

This was the Sigil Suppression Gate!

"This Sigil Suppression Gate is tangible, unlike the ethereal Sword Suppression Gate we saw before. There's a clear difference," Yun Xiao thought to himself.

Simply put, it was a gigantic thunder millstone!

The Inscription Immortals of the Thunder Department used this thunder millstone to grind the Runes on their Life Sigils into the form of a prison!

Compared to the Sword Suppression Gate, the Sigil Suppression Gate was undoubtedly heavier.

"The Sigil Suppression Gate of the Myriad Divine Thunder Bureau is no lesser than the Sword Suppression Gate of the Grand Firmament Academy. It can form up to seven layers of thunder rings at its limit," Gu Suwan mentioned, a hint of melancholy in her gaze towards Yun Xiao. "You're not planning to blast this gate to pieces too, are you?"

"It's quite possible that my Life Sigil is no less than any Sword Soul," Yun Xiao replied with a smile.

"Then you might want to step back and leave some leeway for others," Gu Suwan advised helplessly.

"That won't do. As a Rank 6 Heavenly Officer of the Celestial Court, it's only right and proper for me to use the Sigil Suppression Gate. If it can't withstand it, that’s its own problem." Yun Xiao stated this with all seriousness, leaving no room for doubt, and headed straight for the Sigil Suppression Gate.

"Oh, dear."

Since the gate was not under Gu Suwan's control, she did not attempt to stop him forcibly. She could only watch silently.

"This young man… He popped out of nowhere displaying unprecedented talent. On top of that, he's always so relaxed and carefree. You can tell that domineering air around him runs through his bones."

She glanced around. Fortunately, there weren't many people near the Sigil Suppression Gate at the time.

Yun Xiao was indeed decisive! Even though only a few were present, remembering what had happened with the Sword Suppression Gate at the Grand Firmament Academy, they couldn't help but be terrified.

The crowd scattered, seeking others, spreading the word far and wide in an attempt to halt Yun Xiao.

Alas, it was too late! Like a storm of lightning, Yun Xiao stepped forward and in an instant stood directly beneath the Sigil Suppression Gate!

Thunder roared above his head!

Once locked onto its target, the Sigil Suppression Gate awoke like a fierce beast roused from slumber.

It began to whirl, countless serpents of thunder descending upon Yun Xiao, the entire thunder millstone pressing down lower and lower, like a hundred thousand mountains bearing down upon his head!

"The pressure is tremendous!" Without a second word, Yun Xiao brought forth the Prison Warden Sigil from his brow!

The Prison Warden Sigil, as if challenged, transformed into a nine-headed dragon that soared into the sky!

ROAR!

The almost 10,000,000 Runes on the dragon, each a small violet dragon itself, coiled around its body!

With a thunderous clash, the Prison Warden Sigil collided with the Sigil Suppression Gate!

"This Sigil Suppression Gate's days are numbered." Yun Xiao felt that the grandeur of the Prison Warden Sigil was no less than that of the Heaven Burial Sword Soul.

Both were terrifying entities!

However, to Yun Xiao's surprise, the Sigil Suppression Gate didn't even manage to unleash the first layer of thunder rings before those rune dragons, under immense pressure, quickly converged to form a small world!

This was the Rune Prison!

Yun Xiao observed the Rune Prison formed from the assembly of countless rune dragons, seeing the dense dragon shadows within, constantly emitting earth-shaking roars.

The divine deterrence exuded by it was in no way inferior to the lethal force of the Azure Lotus Sword Prison.

This was the Sacred Dragon Rune Prison!

The Sacred Dragon Rune Prison, swirling around the Prison Warden Sigil, enhanced all attributes of the sigil.

And this was just the beginning!

"Forming a Rune Prison with the Prison Warden Sigil seemed so effortless; I wonder if the Sigil Suppression Gate will even be necessary in the future?" Yun Xiao pondered.

After all, the Heaven Burial Sword Soul no longer needed a Sword Suppression Gate!

Though this time there had been no disturbance to stir the hearts of the Thunder Department Immortals, Yun Xiao was quite pleased with the smooth execution.

Once the Rune Prison formed, the Sigil Suppression Gate ceased operation and no longer targeted Yun Xiao, floating upwards instead!

The Prison Warden Sigil, now endowed with a Rune Prison, descended like a colossal violet dragon, spiraling around Yun Xiao.

The youth, surrounded by dragons, radiated a holy brilliance!

Unlike the sheer deathly force of the Heaven Burial Sword Soul, the Prison Warden Sigil endowed him with a noble and domineering aura, awe-inspiring to all who beheld it.

It was only then that more Immortals from the Thunder Department arrived from various places!

They had intended to stop Yun Xiao and preserve the Sigil Suppression Gate, only to find everything had already concluded upon their arrival!

No disturbance had occurred?

Those divine beings of the Thunder Department, seeing Yun Xiao walking away from the Sigil Suppression Gate, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was close, very close."

"Luckily, his Life Sigil isn’t as defiant as his Sword Soul."

"That kid’s Life Sigil must be just for show."

Yun Xiao's swordsmanship had already shaken the Celestial Court; if his Life Sigil were of the same caliber, the others felt they might as well not even try!

"Who is that perfect, anyway?"

"This is actually normal!"

With the Sigil Suppression Gate safe, everyone relaxed and left with smiles.

Yun Xiao was well aware of their psychological shifts.

"Wait until I arrive at the Divine Gateway; then you'll know if my Life Sigil is really just for show."

All this time, Yun Xiao had been using the Heaven Burial Sword Soul, and he was eager to use his Life Sigil to enrich his arsenal.

"The Buddha's Treasure Art and Prison Warden Sigil should synchronize better with the Rune Prison," Yun Xiao mused.

All the while, he reflected on the insights he gained from observing the Ten Great Dao Heaven Arts in the Myriad Divine Thunder Bureau.

"Just need a little time to integrate everything." Yun Xiao smiled. He was looking forward to the fighting styles he'd adopt in the coming days.

At dawn, the Thunder Department would gather the nine finalists of the selection to set out, and the time tonight and on the way to the Divine Gateway was critical for him.

"You've observed some celestial techniques, and you've condensed a Rune Prison. It's time for you to head back and get some rest now, isn't it?" Gu Suwan stepped forward and asked softly.

Yun Xiao, ever the wildcard, made Gu Suwan feel she had done enough favors for now. It was time to draw the line.

“Too many in the Thunder Department are jealous of me; escort me back to the Hall of Soaring Thunder,” Yun Xiao requested of Gu Suwan.

In her thoughts, Gu Suwan mused, “If you were that easy to kill, you’d be dead already!”

Yet, how could she refuse a request from her foster son? Under the watchful gazes of countless people, Gu Suwan escorted Yun Xiao back to the protective confines of the Hall of Soaring Thunder.

Then, after reaching his destination, Yun Xiao turned to her and said, “Mother, I find myself embarrassingly short on resources, which severely hampers my cultivation. Representing the Thunder Department in the upcoming tournament, I’d hate to embarrass our faction. Might I boldly ask to borrow some funds?”

"..." Gu Suwan knew it; he had no good reason for asking her to escort him back. With a resigned look, she asked bluntly, "How much do you need?"

"Five hundred thousand True Immortal Jades,” Yun Xiao replied without hesitation.

“F-five hundred thousand?” Gu Suwan was stunned. It was a significant sum, not because she couldn’t afford it, but because it pained her to part with so much money.

She might be inclined to agree if it were her own children. But for a foster son who could betray her at any moment? She'd be a complete fool.

Gu Suwan was hesitating, trying to think of a way to politely decline the young man.

But then, Yun Xiao's expression suddenly hardened, his voice turning cold, "500,000 True Immortal Jades to buy back your life. Given all the things you've tried to pull behind my back, consider it a bargain."

With those words, any pretense of a mother-son bond evaporated, leaving only a threat.

A young man, seemingly insignificant, was threatening a powerful Lightning Duchess of the Thunder Department—and he was winning the psychological battle.

“Are you trying to bluff?” Gu Suwan’s brow furrowed, her displeasure growing.

“You could gamble and see if your life’s as sturdy as you think,” Yun Xiao suggested.

His words sounded almost like an outright robbery.

The two had enjoyed their time together until now, but Yun Xiao choosing this moment to make such a demand indeed soured the mood. Not bowing now meant all their prior bonding was for naught.

"You're already taking a gamble anyway, either with your money or your life!"

Yun Xiao's true nature and potential would soon be revealed at the Divine Gateway's Immortal Tournament.

Normally, someone as brash as him wouldn’t likely have a substantial background. But here was Gu Suwan, gambling with her life. What if he wasn't bluffing? Did she need to risk her life over 500,000 True Immortal Jades?

Yun Xiao’s talents were no facade.

At that moment, Gu Suwan's mind was in turmoil.

“You scoundrel,” she suddenly chided, glancing at Yun Xiao as she straightened his collar. Her hand rested on his chest as she reproached, “Is this how you scare your elders? It's impolite.”

“I'm sorry,” Yun Xiao said with a light laugh.

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.” Gu Suwan fumbled inside her robe, eventually producing a Grand Bag of Holding. She placed it in Yun Xiao’s hand, whispering, “Here are 800,000 True Immortal Jades, my personal savings, as a reward for your ascent to the Nine Heavens Thunder Rankings. Spend it as you wish.”

“Thank you, mother!” Yun Xiao took the Bag of Holding, feeling its heft. With a smile, he waved her off, “Take care, no need to see me out.”

Inside, Gu Suwan cursed the greedy, domineering youth 1,000 times over, her heart bleeding, yet her face bore a tender, maternal smile as she admonished him repeatedly before leaving.

“I wonder if she’ll tell your foster father how his foster son took advantage of her, and even forced her to hand over 800,000 True Immortal Jades,” Blue Star said, peeking out from Yun Xiao's embrace.

“A wife’s secrets should not trouble her husband,” Red Moon stated earnestly.

“You seem to know a lot,” Blue Star looked at his chest disdainfully.

“If you disagree, bite me.” Red Moon chuckled.

The Ten Great Dao Heaven Arts, the Sacred Dragon Rune Prison, and 800,000 True Immortal Jades, Yun Xiao’s gains for the day might have even surpassed those of the massacre in Sky Soaring City.

“You have my thanks, Chaos Sovereign.” Yun Xiao chuckled.

It was unlikely that even the Chaos Sovereign could have imagined that his simple congratulatory message would allow Yun Xiao, on the eve before the end of the Immortal Tournament, to amass yet another significant advancement in his cultivation!

Gu Suwan was dragged into Yun Xiao’s schemes once more, leaving her and Cao Sheng no choice but to bet on the fact that he was the son of the Chaos Sovereign.

Those not yet ensnared watched and waited!