Chapter 623: You Deserve to Be Proud

Chapter 623: You Deserve to Be Proud

In a single move, the number one sword prodigy of the Celestial Court was determined!

The duel was brutally simple, swift and decisive!

It didn't matter if Jian Chi possessed twin Divine Heaven grade Sword Souls or that he dedicated 30 years of his life wholeheartedly to the sword... Before the ferocious Judgment of a Thousand Daos, the culmination of all his talents and efforts were instantly crushed by overwhelming power!

The thunderous sword of the Judgment of 10,000 Daos swept across, stirring a tumult among the highest-ranking Immortals, a disturbance hard to calm.

Born to commoners in a frontier city and not even 30 years old, Yun Xiao had crushed the young master nurtured for 30 years by the Immortal Sword Court using the Ten Great Dao Heaven Arts of the Thunder Department... Surely, there was a mystery there, something extraordinary.

"Yun Yin!"

Above, seated on a cloud, was a noblewoman in a golden gown, bearing a resemblance to the Moon Sword Goddess, though less aloof and more passionate, her eyes blazing like fire.

From her seat, she was likely also a Rank 2 Heavenly Officer. But she was shooting an accusatory glare at Yun Yin.

"Sun Sword Goddess."

Of all the onlookers, Yun Yin was the most shocked. As the Rank 2 Heavenly Officer who oversaw the Myriad Divine Thunder Bureau, he knew the complexity of the Thunder Department's Ten Great Dao Heaven Arts!

"Aren't your Thunder Department's Ten Great Dao Heaven Arts not supposed to be taught to those below Rank 2?" The Sun Sword Goddess raised her eyebrows, her tone pressing.

Yun Yin, facing her fiery anger, responded calmly, "The transmission of secret arts within the Thunder Department is our own affair."

"So, this boy isn’t the son of the Chaos Sovereign, but rather a secret weapon you’ve cultivated for vengeance?" the Sun Sword Goddess said coldly.

"..." Yun Yin was momentarily speechless. Before this battle, even he had thought that without the Chaos Sovereign's endorsement, this young man was doomed.

Yet, Yun Xiao's use of the Ten Great Dao Heaven Art's had led to another misunderstanding?

"Sun Sword Goddess, you're overthinking things too much. Lu Yao is merely a common Rank 6 Arbiter of the Thunder Department. He's neither our secret weapon, nor specially trained by us," Yun Yin quickly replied.

Unfortunately, the Sun Sword Goddess' mind was already made. So, Yun Yin's response only served to infuriate her further. She turned to an aloof silver-haired woman behind her and said, "Yue Yin, what an apprentice you've taken! You've let the Thunder Department make a fool of you!"

"Sister..." The Moon Sword Goddess, also veiled in mists, could only bow her head and say, "I have severed ties with him. Whatever he does is no longer my concern."

Though she said this, the young man she was convinced was doomed had once again unsettled her.

In that moment, the future of the Immortal Sword Court had been decisively turned on its head!

"Oh? But doesn't your disciple still recognize you as his master?"

A few people congratulated the Moon Sword Goddess on her newfound sword prodigy.

Such congratulations, though meant as a joke, lodged a bitter lump in the throat of the Moon Sword Goddess, increasingly uncomfortable as the voices of congratulations multiplied.

"Could this genius be a collaborative creation of the Great Dao Celestial Army, the Thunder Department, and the Immortal Sword Court?" one suggested, hinting at a possible alliance over this prodigious youth.

Most comments in this manner were made in jest, with little genuine belief behind them. After all, so far, the Great Dao Celestial Army had not publicly supported Yun Xiao.

Regardless, the first battle had concluded.

After effectively stepping over the head of the Immortal Sword Court's young master, Yun Xiao had brought the name Lu Yao to the forefront of the divine land of the Celestial Court.

"Mother," Jian Chi approached the Sun Sword Goddess. He appeared more a ghost than a man, his spirit dim and disoriented as if he'd lost his consciousness.

Seeing her son in such a state naturally cut the Sun Sword Goddess to the core.

"To be so easily shattered by a single defeat; what then was the point of your 30 years of arduous cultivation? Were they merely bubbles?" From afar, a lofty black sword shadow spoke, its voice piercing like a sword through Jian Chi's ears.

"Father!" Jian Chi gritted his teeth. "I never imagined being eliminated in the round of 16, nor did I foresee being so thoroughly bested by a peer in swordsmanship. You can't understand that feeling."

"Save it!" Nine Kites rolled her eyes, then whispered a reminder, "My future is likely to unfold right here in the heart of the Celestial Court. So as long as you maintain your integrity, you're bound to achieve great things in the Thunder Department."

"The real question is, does your father agree? Does the Nine Heavens Supreme Thunder General agree? Gu Zhenxiao is still after my Sword Soul," Yun Xiao said coolly.

"Would he dare?" Nine Kites's expression chilled. "Don't worry, I call the shots here, and my father listens to me!"

Yun Xiao could tell, this was her own wishful thinking.

Her motivation was simple: the pressure was immense. It was a tournament meant for Arbiters, and yet the Thunder Department had failed to place in the top three repeatedly, leaving its representatives without glory.

This lack of success even prevented the Nine Thunders Sovereign from holding his head high in the Celestial Court.

Competitors like Jian Chi, Zhao Yuanbao, and Wuqing had put immense pressure on her.

Yun Xiao's victory over Jian Chi had indeed stunned her.

"You're naive, yet not so naive." Yun Xiao suddenly laughed.

"What do you mean by that?" Nine Kites asked, displeased.

"Never mind, let's watch the match!" Yun Xiao gestured towards the fighting platform.

Indeed, following his match with Jian Chi, the second duel commenced.

The combatant was Zhao Yuanbao, facing Gu Zhenshi.

This match was predictable: Zhao Yuanbao, an Inscription Cultivator, simply unleashed a Life Sigil and a magic treasure that left Gu Zhenshi's face swollen.

The result was expected. A Golden Immortal could easily overpower someone in the Celestial Expanse Realm.

"If it weren't for your strong start, the chances of any of our nine from the Thunder Department making the quarterfinals would have been slim..." Nine Kites's words seemed prophetic as each subsequent match unfolded, with Thunder Department’s prodigies struggling to articulate their performances.

Most were simply crushed!

"Out of nine, only one match was an internal clash, the other seven faced honorary Arbiters."

Clearly, these so-called random duels were orchestrated by Empress Dowager Zhao herself. Her hands played with the fates of the youth whimsically.

Yun Xiao and Jian Chi's opening match had also been her doing, indicating her keen interest in Yun Xiao!

"The Thunder Department is still lacking!" The Longevity Immortal sighed as one conclusion after another was revealed.

After Yun Xiao's fight, in six bouts, the Thunder Department won only one.

That one was the internal clash where Yun Alter defeated another peer from the Thunder Department...

The rest were defeats!

So far, out of seven honorary Arbiters, five had made the quarterfinals, along with Yun Xiao and Yun Alter, filling seven of the eight spots.

Only one spot remained.

"You're closing the show," Yun Xiao said to Nine Kites.

He noticed that from the seventh match's draw, Nine Kites's expression had darkened.

"Yes..." Nine Kites looked into the distance, biting her lip, "But this An Yao, who is about to compete, hasn't even shown up yet. Such disrespect, much like the Chaos Sovereign himself..."

Yun Xiao's gaze grew cold as he asked, "You mean to say, this disciple of the Chaos Sovereign is named 'An Yao'?"