Chapter 613: Nine Thunders Divine Ark

Chapter 613: Nine Thunders Divine Ark

In the quiet hours past midnight, the Hall of Soaring Thunder was dead silent

The Thunder Department selection had drawn to a close. The names of nine freshly minted Rank 6 Heavenly Officers shone brilliantly on the Thunder Rankings, drawing the envy and aspiration from the young talents of this vast land.

To belong to the Thunder Department, regardless of rank, meant being an Arbiter.

Although the nine finalists possessed no real power just yet, it wouldn't be long before they did. Among them, the name Lu Yao caught the most attention.

Yun Xiao had relayed this news through Moon Fairy to Liu Mumu and Miss Yu, which immediately caused the two to burst into tears of joy. He cared about these two deeply, and knowing that this news brought them such joy and pride filled him with satisfaction.

He had fulfilled a dream of Lu Yao. Now, every Immortal across the Thunder Department remembered the name of that unremarkable Rank 9 Arbiter Initiate from Sky Soaring City.

But even in this moment of solace, the disappearance of Cao Shuo stirred unease in Yun Xiao. The fact that she still hadn't returned so late into the night likely meant whoever had taken her away was unwilling to let her go.

"Is he waiting for me to meet my downfall at the Divine Gateway?" Yun Xiao mused to himself. He'd gained a thorough understanding of all the high officials of the Thunder Department. Apart from Cao Shuo, all of them were self-righteous and self-serving.

"Well, let's see..." Yun Xiao closed his eyes and focused.

Within the darkness, his Buddha's Treasure Spirit wrapped in dense azure spiritual lightning, manifested the appearance of the Creator Immortal. It was an elegant and righteous presence, subtly aligned with the Prison Warden Sigil, radiating a sense of sacred solemnity and profound compassion.

After practicing the Buddha's Treasure Art, Yun Xiao's spirit contained the expanse of the cosmos, becoming vivid and lifelike. Viewing the world through this enlightened perspective, his emotions—joy, wrath, greed, and foolishness—seemed purified, his desires washed away, leaving him serene and desireless.

Within Yun Xiao's body was the Primordial Void, and within his soul and spirit, the cosmos itself.

"Spirit and will as one, soar through the celestial expanse!" Yun Xiao muttered.

From the Divine Self Realm to the Celestial Expanse Realm required one critical process. The spirit had to detach from the fleshly body and travel a far enough distance; it was a feat that demanded a leap in the quality of the spirit, both in power and resilience.

Now, after reaching the Establishment Divine Self Realm and learning the Buddha's Treasure Art, Yun Xiao was qualified to step into the next realm.

"Lord Lu was at this level too. He tried to use his spirit to assassinate me from a distance; now, it's my turn for my spirit to ascend the celestial expanse too..." Yun Xiao murmured. The Heaven Burial Sword Soul in his hand transformed into a three-inch Flying Sword and circled his fingertip.

His spirit, not even an inch tall, held the tiny Flying Sword. His spirit and Sword Soul unified; his thoughts and intentions became one.

"Go!" Yun Xiao commanded. His spirit, aboard the Flying Sword, soared out of the Hall of Soaring Thunder and flew into the distance!

Viewing the world through the perspective of his spirit was profoundly different. He could more clearly see the Celestial Sourcecore, the flow of celestial power, and magic formations. Meanwhile, the people, buildings, and streets appeared to fade to clouds and smoke.

The world became a vast tapestry of energy—only power and perception mattered.

From this vantage point, the essence of the world seemed clearer, offering Yun Xiao a revelation that shook him to the core.

"The dao realm consists of energy and consciousness; all else is irrelevant."

Beings were merely parts of consciousness.

The Buddha's Treasure Art represented the most fundamental form of consciousness.

The Celestial Sourcecore and spiritual essence of heaven and earth were the fundamental energies.

"All things under heaven are born of energy and consciousness!" Yun Xiao remarked.

As dawn's light crept over the Thunder Department, another night had passed.

"Cao Shuo still hasn't returned." Yun Xiao was not perturbed; after all, with his origins undisclosed, none would dare harm her.

"If I use the Thunder Immortal Formation to blast Cao Shuo out now, then I can't go to the Divine Gateway."

With this thought, only one path lay before him.

As the blazing divine light of the earth and sky shone into the cultivation chamber of the Hall of Soaring Thunder, Yun Xiao looked up towards the direction of the Divine Gateway and murmured, "Chaos Sovereign Lu, you owe the Lu Family mother and sons so much. It's about time you pay them back."

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At dawn, Gu Suwan came looking for Yun Xiao. She had stayed away the previous night when Yun Xiao had gone to seek out Cao Sheng, and now she pretended to be unaware of Cao Shuo's circumstances. She knocked softly at the door, her voice gentle, "Yao'er, your mother is here to take you to the Nine Thunders Arena. Everyone is gathering there to head to the Divine Gateway together."

Releasing anyone wasn't really within Gu Suwan's power. So, Yun Xiao saw no point in holding her accountable, especially right after receiving 800,000 True Immortal Jades from her household.

Yun Xiao straightened his clothes and donned his Rank 9 Arbiter armor before stepping outside.

"Why not change into something else? I've prepared something for you," Gu Suwan suggested, pulling a splendidly ornate, protective robe of gold thread and jade from her Bag of Holding.

"No need. For the Immortal Tournament, it's fitting to wear the uniform," Yun Xiao said, pushing her hand away and striding out.

"This child..." Gu Suwan muttered, taking his mood to be a tantrum over Cao Shuo's situation, and let him be.

Catching up to him, she added, "The Thunder Department rules state that of the nine distinguished Arbiters going to the Divine Gateway, only one family member can accompany each. Your foster father is busy with Thunder Department duties, so it'll just be your mother cheering you on."

Yun Xiao didn't reply and simply rode his Flying Sword to the Nine Thunders Arena.

With a resigned smile, Gu Suwan followed, cooing and cajoling as if dealing with a child's mood.

Upon reaching the Nine Thunders Arena, everyone seemed ready to depart.

Yun Xiao looked up to see a massive violet thunder ship beside the Thunder Rankings, resembling a deep-sea leviathan with nine thunderous eyes on its crown. These eyes shot out endless lightning snakes that wrapped around the ship, bursting and flashing with thunderous light.

These nine thunderous eyes were Celestial Sourcecores driving the giant ship.

"Quick, get on the Nine Thunders Divine Ark. They're all up there," Gu Suwan urged gently.

Yun Xiao glanced at her and asked, "Has the Nine Thunders Sovereign returned?"

"Not yet," Gu Suwan smiled. "With such a large group of us heading to the Divine Gateway for the Immortal Tournament, it must be done with grandeur. So, the Nine Thunders Sovereign personally lent us his vessel."

"Okay."

Without further questions, Yun Xiao and Gu Suwan ascended through the dense lightning net of the Nine Thunders Divine Ark and landed on the opulent deck of the luxurious ship.

Around thirty people were gathered!

The head of the group, whom Yun Xiao had just met the previous night, was the Eight Paths Cloud and Thunder General Yun Yin. He held a necklace strung with nine thunder beads, likely the control core of the Nine Thunders Divine Ark.

After seeing Yun Xiao, Yun Yin softly smiled. "Good. Everyone's gathered. Now, my dear young talents of the Thunder Department, let us depart!"