Chapter 616: Reappearance of Divine Dawn!

How could there be such towering figures?

Yun Xiao peered closer, discovering a hidden mystery. These two robust giants clad in precious armor had somewhat grotesque faces, each crowned with a horn resembling that of a rhinoceros, their skin adorned with thick, black scales!

They were not beasts, yet bore a resemblance to half-human, half-devil creatures!

This reminded Yun Xiao of the red-robed woman who had descended from the Celestial Court; she too had a devilish bloodline.

Yet, even she wasn't as beast-like in stature.

Though bulky, size did not necessarily equate to strength. But these two divine gatekeepers guarding the Divine Gateway of the Celestial Court exuded an oppressive aura, like mountains of gold and silver, more terrifying even than General Yun Yin.

Moreover, these two were tinged with devil blood, hinting at a dual cultivation of man and devil, their malevolent aura was intense, making Yun Xiao feel uneasy.

"Those two are Great Horned Immortals, stationed year-round at the Divine Gateway. They're ill-tempered. So, it's best to comply during the inspection and avoid any missteps," Gu Suwan advised.

Yun Xiao was still her adopted son; any trouble at the hands of the Great Horned Immortals would be a headache for her too.

"Understood." Yun Xiao nodded.

Next, the group of high officials and young talents from the Thunder Department underwent a security check under the brusque guidance of the two stern Great Horned Immortals.

The process seemed perfunctory; they did not truly open the Bag of Holdings but merely sniffed their presence, verifying identities and such.

The noses of the Great Horned Immortals were particularly large, likely quite capable of discerning much.

"Turn into a coffin," Yun Xiao instructed Blue Star and Red Moon.

"Okay."

Once ready, it was soon Yun Xiao's turn.

One of the Great Horned Immortals, adorned with silver horns, did not even glance at Yun Xiao’s credentials but directly grasped his arm, pulling him forward to sniff mightily at his presence.

"Ugh, how foul! Haven’t bathed in days, huh?" the Great Horned Immortal said with a look of disgust, tossing Yun Xiao aside.

"Foul?" Yun Xiao paused, surprised. A young man of celestial grace and cleanliness like him was being scorned by a creature that looked more beast than man.

Yun Xiao knew the giant was merely trying to harass him, seeking a petty sense of superiority. How pointless!

"If we're talking about scents, these two Great Horned Immortals carry the strongest whiff, similar to that of the Three Immortals," Blue Star suddenly spoke in a low tone.

"Incense offerings?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Yes." Blue Star nodded.

"It means their sins weigh heavier than others." Yun Xiao understood. There was no need for a closer examination. Even the gatekeepers were of this character; what more was there to verify?

The Divine Gateway—this was the facade of the Celestial Court.

"You can discern even smells like this?" Yun Xiao was only now catching on.

"If it's light, I hardly notice, but if it's heavy, or they've been somewhere significant recently, it's quite pronounced." Blue Star had transformed back into a small black beast, sniffing the air.

Having been inspected, Yun Xiao waited briefly before Gu Suwan informed him they would soon head to a nearby place called Divine Heaven Pavilion to rest, and afterward, the final stage of the Immortal Tournament would commence.

As the group prepared to depart, a thunderous noise suddenly filled the sky!

Yun Xiao looked up to see, above the clouds, nine golden, five-clawed divine dragons pulling a grand chariot, adorned with blossoming golden lotuses on its wheels, soaring above their heads and swiftly crossing the Divine Gateway!

"Greetings to the Chaos Sovereign!"

Before Yun Xiao and his group could react, the two Great Horned Immortals, as if seeing someone they deeply admired, excitedly knelt down, their eyes shining as they watched the nine-dragon chariot enter the divine land of the Celestial Court.

In a blink, the chariot vanished!

"Um?" Yun Xiao turned to Gu Suwan, asking with a faint smile, "Didn’t you say everyone but the imperial family must tread the celestial steps?"

Gu Suwan appeared momentarily dazed, then said, "Perhaps the Chaos Sovereign is the sole exception."

Yun Xiao said no more.

"To the Divine Heaven Pavilion." Yun Yin led the group once again, walking towards a palace amidst the celestial mist.

The palace seemed near yet was quite far!

They walked in silence until from behind, towards the direction of the Divine Gateway, noises erupted once more!

This time it was more dramatic; sounds of battle reached them!

Yun Yin was the first to react, turning back in shock, exclaiming, "Who dares to forcefully breach the Divine Gateway?!"

This was surely among the most incredible events in the Celestial Court!

The whole party turned around, stunned, looking toward the direction of the Divine Gateway.

BOOM!

Beneath the coiling dragon columns, the two Great Horned Immortals screamed like wild beasts, their scales bursting apart as blood gushed from their wounds, striking the ground with force.

In panic, the two cried out, "Princess! Stop your assault!"

The word

princess

sent a shiver through Yun Xiao.

Looking up, at the heart of the Divine Gateway, thousands of thunderbolts converged, and mighty flames split the sky in two!

Amidst the thunder and fire, a peerless maiden in a white dress floated against the sky, stirring the heavens, commanding the divine, her presence unmatched!

In her grasp was a chain, each end attached to spiked meteor hammers—one large, one small. These hammers, like stars, radiated brilliant light; one swirling with thunder, the other engulfed in flames!

The smaller of the hammers had a diameter of about ten feet, but the larger, a fiery one, was a massive fifty feet across—bigger than the Great Horned Immortals themselves!

Against her petite frame, it was like an ant swinging two massive hammers, creating a striking visual impact!

Clearly, these were the Primordial Doom Stars that had appeared over Sky Soaring City!

A terrifying pair of mother-son meteor hammers!

"Lian Xi…" Yun Xiao watched her in awe.

Amidst the spray of thunder and fire, her hair billowed, her skin dreamlike. Her blazing eyes radiated endless fury, as if the heavens themselves were enraged. Her flowing white dress was intertwined with lightning and fire, giving her an unmatched air!

The explosive and rugged beauty she emanated, a tragic compassion, was unlike anything else. Even the nine-bodied Nine Kites couldn't compare. They might be of similar age, but they were not of the same kind.

Was she Lian Xi whom Yun Xiao had brought up, or was she the Seventh Princess Divine Dawn, or perhaps Chen Xi, whom he could not stop thinking about?

Yun Xiao was momentarily confused.

All he knew was that at this moment, his longing for these three identities converged into one person!

It was her!

"Seventh Princess!!!"

The entirety of Yun Yin's group was struck breathless, their minds a blank slate.

Had Divine Dawn returned, resurfacing at the Divine Gateway after being missing for several days?

But her return, why did it seem tinged with a towering rage?

Before anyone could react, the maiden in white swung her massive meteor hammers, each many times larger than her body, striking down from the heavens!

The twin hammers fell like meteors, carrying with them fierce flames and thunder, aimed directly at the two Great Horned Immortals!

"Princess, stop, noooo…!" The two Great Horned Immortals, in utter panic, scrambled to their feet, mustering every bit of their energy and blood force, roaring as they braced to meet the assault head-on!

Yet, they underestimated the sheer violent force of the white-clad girl.

The meteor hammers, glittering with dazzling starlight, blazed so brightly that everything else was obscured. Thunder and flames swept out, creating a sea of fire and lightning that covered the entire Divine Gateway!

Two agonized screams burst forth.

As the brilliance faded, the onlookers, including Yun Xiao, were shocked to see the head of one of the Great Horned Immortals had been smashed open, his body tumbling down the celestial steps, while the other was pulverized into a mash!

BOOM!

The aftershocks of the Primordial Doom Stars reverberated over the divine land of the Celestial Court, causing an earthquake across this vast continent. Such was the magnitude of her power!

"Divine Dawn...!"

Those who witnessed the scene were left gasping for breath!

The Seventh Princess had returned, unimaginably powerful, and had first slain her own gatekeepers. What was she planning to do?

All eyes were on her, stunned.

With a casual flick, she shrank the Primordial Doom Stars into two earrings, one large and one small, and hung them on her ears.

Then, with a cold gaze and her white gown billowing, she spoke no further. Her body flashed like lightning, and she plunged deeper into the Celestial Court, vanishing in an instant!

Clearly, she hadn't seen Yun Xiao… Or perhaps she had but chose to ignore him.

After this spectacle, Yun Xiao felt a lump in his throat. He knew the moment he had pierced Lian Xi's heart, he had angered her. This relationship was unlikely to be reconciled.

"Her killing the two incense-rich Great Horned Immortals and her return to the Celestial Court likely means she does not wish to appear openly but rather to remain a hidden assassin..."

Thinking this, Yun Xiao's thoughts intensified.

"So be it, let me attract the storm in the open to aid her actions."

Perhaps only then, might she forgive him...

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