Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 577: The Mole Pops Out!

As Yun Xiao stepped out of the Sword Suppression Hall, he was immediately met with hundreds of glares filled with disgust, contempt, and odd curiosity.

"He's done already?" someone muttered.

"Nonsense, do you think any man in the Thunder Department could last more than a minute with Thunder Emissary Cao? She's the succubus of the Thunder Department!"

"Guess he got sucked dry real quick!"

The prodigies of the Grand Firmament Academy were somewhat displeased by the lack of drama. Their irritation was sharply directed at Yun Xiao.

To the girls, Yun Xiao was nothing short of revolting.

Like Bai Ling'er, they couldn't fathom how such a fine exterior could cloak such a contemptible spirit.

And the boys? Their looks were a mix of disdain tinged with envy.

After all, to be favored by a woman of such devilish allure was not something easily dismissed.

"The biggest difference between humans and beasts," Bai Zijun proclaimed, shaking his head as he looked down upon Yun Xiao with a gaze reserved for swine, "is that humans possess humanity and do not consort with their kin, while beasts mingle indiscriminately."

"A person's birth determines their essence and scope. You cannot expect a mole to understand the manners of men."

They stood in the distance, hundreds gathered, their collective gaze cold and disdainful toward Yun Xiao.

First Yun Xiao caused a stir with his declaration. Now, he had entered an indecent relationship with his aunt. Without exception, all these young prodigies were disgusted.

The first act challenged their spiritual cultivation; the latter, their cultivated interests.

Yun Xiao had committed the first deed himself. But the second deed was all Cao Shuo's doing.

Together, these two scandals meant Yun Xiao could no longer blend into high society. Not that he intended to.

Amidst the hundreds of cold stares, Yun Xiao recalled only one thing—the Sword Suppression Gate! With a single sweeping glance at the group of geniuses, he soared away, heading straight for the gate.

"Lu Yao, you're not a disciple of the Grand Firmament Academy. What are you trying to do?" Bai Ling'er demanded coldly.

"Oh? Look who's back after running away. And speaking to me so aggressively too. Are you trying to get my attention?" Yun Xiao retorted as he flew.

"..." Bai Ling'er was taken aback.

Yun Xiao's demeanor towards her provoked a chorus of curses.

"You know well you're despised, yet you act even more brazenly?" Blue Star rolled his eyes.

Yun Xiao cracked a wry smile, saying, “Humans are social creatures, and life, well, it’s plagued with rumors and whispers. Since there’s no escaping it, why not stride alone with ease? I’ll just enjoy myself; why bother about how the dust on my journey to immortality sees me?”

Even if people belittled him, talked about him, and hated him, Yun Xiao truly didn’t care. From the beginning, he knew none here could ever be his friends.

By now, Yun Xiao had already reached the gates of the Sword Cultivator’s stronghold!

“Sister, it’s Thunder Emissary Cao's turn to be on duty today, and the 30,000 True Immortal Jades have been paid. We can’t stop him,” Bai Zijun said helplessly.

Bai Ling'er's face darkened. “To let such a man tarnish the Sword Suppression Gate... Thunder Emissary Cao is utterly despicable.”

“It's fine. A mole striving for a halo only shames itself further,” Bai Zijun remarked coldly.

His words found many nods of agreement.

“The original form of the Sword Suppression Gate is a double loop; if his Sword Soul isn’t of the Vast Heaven grade, he can’t condense a Sword Prison.”

The Vast Heaven grade was ranked second among the Nine Heavens Celestial Grades.

As news of Yun Xiao and Thunder Emissary Cao's illicit relationship spread, other students and elders of the Grand Firmament Academy were stirred, converging towards the Sword Suppression Gate.

In a blink, thousands of eyes coldly watched the young man in platinum armor.

At that moment, Yun Xiao achieved true detachment. He completely ignored the skepticism and slander, his eyes fixed only on the celestial path that stretched before him like a vibrant rainbow.

The Sword Suppression Gate was indeed a gateway on the Immortal path!

Crossing it meant stepping into a new stage!

Before him, the round symbol was indeed two loops!

Bursting electrical serpents swirled around these loops, forming dual circuits of thunder, slashing the sky, and unleashing deafening roars!

“It is said, the higher the quality of the Sword Soul, the more the Sword Suppression Gate needs to be stimulated to its limit, generating more loops to suppress the Sword Aura and form a Sword Prison!”

Above the Yang grade, the Sword Souls of True Immortals were undoubtedly stronger and categorized by the Nine Heavens Celestial Grades!

“The Sword Soul needs to reach the second rank, Vast Heaven grade, to utilize this double loop of the Sword Suppression Gate to forge a Sword Prison. That’s the threshold. Among the geniuses under 30 years old in the Thunder Department, not many have a Vast Heaven grade Sword Soul. Usually, the children of Rank 4 Heavenly Officers can reach it steadily.”

“If the Sword Soul surpasses the Vast Heaven grade, then this gate needs to trigger a third electrical loop. Under 30 years old, those who can provoke three loops are the absolute prodigies of the Thunder Department. Their parents are usually Rank 3 Heavenly Officers, like Bai Ling'er’s.”

Of course, during this selection in the Thunder Department, there were also some peak talents of the Celestial Court who managed to trigger four loops while condensing their Sword Prison.

Their parents were generally Rank 2 Heavenly Officers, at the level of the Supreme General.

And within the entire Celestial Court, those who could trigger five loops were countable on one hand, their parents certainly titans of the Great Dao Celestial Realm!

And so, the number of loops the Sword Suppression Gate triggered was also a testament to a Sword Cultivator's talent.

Each Arbiters' first time condensing a Sword Prison was akin to a test of innate ability, quite a spectacle indeed.

Undoubtedly,this was Lu Yao's first time testing his Sword Soul.

It also happened to be the same moment his reputation plummeted to rock bottom in the Thunder Department.

"Begin!"

At that moment, over 10,000 gazes seared into Yun Xiao's back. A sea of mockery engulfed him completely! A single act of defiance had shattered the egos of the entire Thunder Department.

Now, Yun Xiao's eyes blazed like torches, and the three-foot azure Sword Soul in his hand emitted a spectral light.

Before him, at the very heart of the Sword Suppression Gate, a rift appeared amidst the dense thunder and lightning—the very spot for entering the sword!

Without another word, Yun Xiao thrust the Heaven Burial Sword Soul into the Sword Suppression Gate!

BOOM! Instantly, countless thunderous serpents entwined around the Heaven Burial Sword Soul, enveloping it several times over, while the gate’s dual rings began to spin, activating the celestial formations atop them and unleashing a deafening roar.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The Sword Suppression Gate began to contract as if to embed the Heaven Burial Sword Soul within it entirely.

This was the process of the gate becoming acquainted with the Sword Soul.

All eyes were inevitably drawn to the circular gate!

Soon, Bai Zijun shook his head with a chuckle. "The outer ring of the gate dims, showing that the double loop is unnecessary—his Sword Soul doesn’t reach the Vast Heaven grade, and can’t form a Sword Prison!"

This judgment, voiced by many, quickly spread.

They all laughed.

Their laughter was mocking, savoring.

The only thing they had feared was Yun Xiao’s talent, for indeed he had once stirred the Thunder Immortal Formation.

But for a Sword Cultivator, if the grade of his Sword Soul was so poor, his potential was surely capped!

"He really is a man without any surprises..." Bai Ling'er sighed in resignation. Before today, she had held some hope for this divinely handsome youth. But now, everything about him only disgusted her!

As time passed, the outer ring of the Sword Suppression Gate grew dimmer, and the laughter of the crowd became unrestrained, wild.

Inside the Sword Suppression Hall, Cao Shuo's expression also turned grave. "Even now, why is he acting so calm?"

But just then, the outer ring of the double loop suddenly trembled as if startled, the thunder atop it surged, entering a state of full charge.

"Huh?" The crowd froze, their faces still twisted in smirks.

POP! The third ring of the Sword Suppression Gate, without any warning, suddenly appeared in the outermost circle.

As soon as it appeared, it shone brilliantly, and electric serpents surged.

"Ah?" Including Bai Ling'er and Bai Zijun, everyone was a bit annoyed.

This meant Yun Xiao's Sword Soul was on par with theirs. He was now considered a top-tier prodigy, worthy of being acknowledged as a foster son of a Rank 3 Heavenly Officer.

"He's somewhat capable," Bai Zijun remarked, just as the Sword Suppression Gate popped again, and more electric serpents exploded in the sky.

The fourth ring coalesced—fully charged!

"What?" Bai Ling'er's face soured at this development.

Everyone exchanged looks, their expressions filled with displeasure.

"This boy's Sword Soul is at the Vast Heaven grade!" A middle-aged man with white hair appeared, his tone cold and his gaze deep.

"Dad." Bai Ling'er and Bai Zijun hurried over. The two had been outclassed in talent!

"It's alright. In a few years, you two can also reach the Vast Heaven grade," the white-haired man said calmly.

Despite this, the outcome with the four rings turned the earlier mockery into a stinging rebuke.

All the onlookers were visibly displeased!

"Even at the Vast Heaven grade, it won’t change his fate of being used as a pawn," the middle-aged man remarked meaningfully as he saw his children fall silent.

"Indeed!" Bai Zijun's expression eased somewhat.

Just as his words fell, the sky popped thrice more.

People's necks trembled, and their eyes, like in an earthquake, shakily turned upwards.

Above them, the Sword Suppression Gate had reached an unprecedented limit, stretching open seven rings, gathering the surrounding thunderous power for a fierce battle with Yun Xiao’s Sword Soul...

For a moment, everyone's tongues seemed nailed to the bottoms of their jaws.