Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 484: Lu Yao

"Yun Xiao, Master!!"

Yun Xiao had regrouped with Dean Yu and the others before returning to the city.

As soon as the group touched down, Lian Xi hurried to greet them, finally letting out a sigh of relief as she saw all of them safe.

"What about the Sky Source Immortal..." Lian Xi was about to inquire when Yun Xiao, with a slight smile, said, "He's dead."

"Oh, oh." Hearing this splendid news, her face lit up with joy. "That's wonderful, truly wonderful."

"Master, you're all hurt..." Seeing their blood-stained robes, her heart ached.

"Compared to a life of suffering, these wounds are nothing," Dean Yu comforted her, then asked, "How is the Arbiter Immortal?"

"He's awake!" Lian Xi quickly responded.

"Awake?" Yun Xiao and the others exchanged glances, then asked, "How is he?"

"He's still dealing with the Gu infection, but his mind is clear. I've spoken to him briefly about the matter of the Three Immortals," Lian Xi explained.

"What did you tell him?" Dean Yu asked.

Lian Xi recounted the details.

"So, this Arbiter Lu, he wants to see me?" Yun Xiao asked.

"He's in the room, waiting for you," Lian Xi said, pointing to a distant chamber behind her.

"Let’s go meet the Arbiter Immortal together," Yun Xiao suggested, turning back to the others. "I'll do the talking; just listen for now and hold your tongues."

"Understood!" They nodded in agreement.

It was still uncertain what the Arbiter Immortal would bring, so having one speak and keep the message unified was crucial.

After agreeing on this, Yun Xiao and the group approached the door, where the others waited outside while he knocked and announced, "Arbiter Immortal, I seek an audience."

"Enter," a robust and resonant voice called from inside.

Yun Xiao pushed the door open and approached the wooden bed.

The man in the platinum Immortal armor was propped against the bedpost, sizing him up.

Arbiter Lu chuckled, admiringly remarking, "A youth as radiant as jade, with a countenance divine by nature. You possess a beauty I've never seen, even in the heavens."

"The path to Immortality is vast; all beauty turns to dust. External appearances are insignificant," Yun Xiao replied.

"That sounds well and good, but if your delicate wife were as ugly as a ghoul, would you still have married her?" Arbiter Lu teased, comfortable and unpretentious in his manner.

"Delicate wife?" Yun Xiao knew exactly whom he referred to. Had the girl been introducing herself so forwardly in front of others?

As they spoke, Arbiter Lu gradually sobered up, his expression turning quizzical. "It's odd, though. You are young and true, yet lacking the power of a True Immortal. How did you manage to slay one?"

"It was with the aid of many seniors," Yun Xiao said.

"And prying open the Skysruler Sword Vessel?" Arbiter Lu asked.

"That vessel was nearly shattered. It took no great effort," Yun Xiao earnestly explained.

"It seems I was mistaken then, thinking a prodigious Immortal talent had emerged in this mortal realm," Arbiter Lu said with a shake of his head and a smile.

Yun Xiao nodded and smiled briefly, choosing not to elaborate.

"Don't mind it. Both you and Lian Xi have commendable talents," Arbiter Lu comforted.

"We are but dull in understanding; outstanding in the mortal dust yet negligible against the heavens," Yun Xiao said.

"Don't be too modest," Arbiter Lu shifted his position for comfort and then asked, "It looks like you're faring well. Did you win this battle? That Sky Source Immortal..."

"Is dead," Yun Xiao nodded.

"Who killed him?" Lu asked.

"Together with the Dreamsea Abalones, we struck him down," Yun Xiao said.

Arbiter Lu pursed his lips, speaking seriously, "In the heavenly laws, conspiring with demons is a sin."

"When all worlds suffer and the common folk are tormented, this was the only path left," Yun Xiao declared.

"I understand." Arbiter Lu nodded, "I won't pursue this matter. But if the Dreamsea Abalones commit harmful deeds in the future, you must distance yourself from them, lest you also face annihilation."

"Arbiter Lu, the Dreamsea Abalones can no longer harm anyone," Yun Xiao looked up and said.

"Why?"

"During the battle against the Sky Source Immortal, the entire Dreamsea Abalone clan perished valiantly," Yun Xiao revealed.

Arbiter Lu was stunned, staring at Yun Xiao for a long time before asking, "You came through unscathed, and they all perished?"

Yun Xiao touched his head and said, "I wouldn't say we came out unscathed; everyone got some injuries."

Arbiter Lu looked at Yun Xiao with an odd expression.

After a while, he pursed his lips and said, "Remember, when demons die, say they died well, not perished valiantly."

"Understood!" Yun Xiao nodded.

"So, with the chaos in the myriad worlds, only the Human Zenith Immortal and the weakened Celestial Sourcecore remain?" Arbiter Lu inquired.

"Yes."

"Leave those two to me. You all rest." Arbiter Lu patted his chest with a grand gesture.

Yun Xiao was about to speak when Arbiter Lu gave him a stern look and said, "Don't think about taking the credit; I'm counting on this to atone and regain my honor in the Celestial Court."

Through this exchange, Yun Xiao gained a deeper understanding of Arbiter Lu.

"What I wanted to say is, you still have Gu wreaking havoc in your body. To resolve the worries of the human realm, you'll need a healthy body," Yun Xiao said.

"I'm counting on you then. Yun Xiao, you are my lifesaver, and I, Lu An, will repay you. But first, tell me, do you have any wishes?" Arbiter Lu asked.

"Besides ascending by breaking through the barrier, can I visit the Great Dao Celestial Realm early?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Ah!" Arbiter Lu gave a wry smile and shook his head, "Taking a mortal to the Celestial Court privately is also a violation of the heavenly laws."

"Are there no mortals in the Celestial Court?" Yun Xiao pressed.

"Yes, but you have to imagine what sort of backgrounds they have." Arbiter Lu replied with a laugh.

"Understood," Yun Xiao paused, "I'll start by removing the Gu."

"Go ahead! Let me see how you manage it," Arbiter Lu said, curious about his methods.

Yun Xiao gave a tight-lipped smile and pulled out the Prison Warden Sigil, placing it directly on Arbiter Lu's chest.

"Your Runes..." Lu stared.

"What about them?" Yun Xiao asked.

"They're too damn many!" Arbiter Lu exclaimed.

"It's all thanks to the generosity and training of my seniors," Yun Xiao gestured towards Dean Yu and the others outside.

"They are a group of loyal and brave souls. It's because of people like you that there is hope for this world," Arbiter Lu remarked.

He spoke these words, then suddenly his eyes widened again.

Arbiter Lu looked down at his chest as Yun Xiao worked with the Prison Warden Sigil, pulling out bloodied and grotesque flesh worms one by one.

"Viscera Devouring Gu!" Arbiter Lu gritted his teeth.

"What is it?"

"A type of venomous insect forbidden by the heavenly laws for its malevolence," Arbiter Lu's expression shifted darkly.

"Do you know who harmed you?" Yun Xiao asked while focusing on the sigil.

Arbiter Lu shook his head. "I was on a mission, passing through the barrier of this mortal realm when I was ambushed. I have no idea who attacked, and to use such a vile creature!"

He didn't even know who had harmed him?

Yun Xiao was slightly taken aback.

"Could it have been the Human Zenith Immortal?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Him? Impossible," Arbiter Lu dismissed the idea.

"Why?"

"From your description, he sounds like a nefarious Immortal wreaking havoc in the mortal realm, not one to make an appearance in serious matters. He wouldn't even be able to breach the Skyruler Sword Vessel," Arbiter Lu explained.

"Then it must have been an enemy of yours from the Celestial Court," Yun Xiao suggested.

"Possibly," Arbiter Lu's gaze turned frosty. "Over the years, I've investigated many cases, making enemies of numerous Immortals. It's quite normal for me to be targeted for revenge."

"Truly you fit our image of a merciful celestial being," Yun Xiao smiled.

"Too kind! I'm but a toiling lesser Immortal." Arbiter Lu shook his head and chuckled.

Yun Xiao and he exchanged a look, and after a moment of contemplation, Yun Xiao suddenly said, "We need to deal with the Human Zenith Immortal next, please be cautious."

"Why do you say that?" Lu asked.

"According to what the Sky Source Immortal revealed, those three might have connections in the Celestial Court," Yun Xiao explained.

"That's unlikely. The heavenly laws are clear—poisoning the mortal realm is a grave sin for an Immortal. Even serving as a protector for evildoers would obliterate one's Immortal foundation, relegating their next life to that of a pig or a dog. The risk is too great for such little gain; no Immortal would do it," Arbiter Lu clarified.

"What if there is something in the mortal realm they desire?" Yun Xiao probed.

"What could possibly be in the mortal realm that would be of use to an Immortal?" Arbiter Lu laughed incredulously.

Arbiter Lu was not particularly sensitive to the topic of the Immortal Asylum, so Yun Xiao chose not to dwell on it further.

Moreover, with the Three Immortals poisoning the common folk before the exposure of the Immortal Asylum, it was clear that if they had any backing, it initially had nothing to do with the Asylum.

Nonetheless, he felt a reminder was due.

About half a day later, Yun Xiao had completely extracted the Viscera Devouring Gu from Arbiter Lu’s body.

Only then did Arbiter Lu's complexion begin to return to normal, and his spirit seemed to rejuvenate.

"I will need to recuperate for a day; please wait," Arbiter Lu stated.

Given such severe injuries, his confidence in recovering within a day was a testament to his status as a True Immortal.

"Alright." Yun Xiao nodded.

"Thank you. You've essentially saved me twice. I will find a way to help you reach the Great Dao Celestial Realm," Arbiter Lu said earnestly.

"No, I should be thanking you for saving our myriad worlds," Yun Xiao responded with a smile.

Arbiter Lu studied him more intently, then suddenly remarked with a touch of emotion, "Honestly, my brother might not be as handsome as you, but you do bear some resemblance to him."

"To resemble an Immortal is my fortune," Yun Xiao said.

"Ah." Arbiter Lu shook his head, his eyes dimming, "An Immortal? He dreamed of becoming an Arbiter Immortal, but alas..."

"What happened?" Yun Xiao looked at him.

Arbiter Lu clenched his teeth, "After years of arduous training, just as he was about to achieve his dream, he disappeared during the examination period. It has been ten years with no word."

"Oh..." Yun Xiao quickly added, "He must still be alive."

Arbiter Lu gave a wry smile and shook his head.

His expression conveyed to Yun Xiao that the likelihood of his brother being alive was incredibly slim.

"Wait." Arbiter Lu suddenly pulled out a cosmos bag and from it, he retrieved a thick sketchbook, saying, "My brother loved to paint. This is his self-portrait; see if you think it looks like you?"

Yun Xiao took the sketchbook, and at first glance, he saw the bold, flowing script of two large characters—Lu Yao.

The elegant brushwork suggested its owner was also a person of free spirit.

Looking closely at the self-portrait, it depicted a smiling young man in white, standing amidst flowers, holding an azure sword, like a Sword Immortal descended to earth.

"It does resemble me quite a bit," Yun Xiao remarked.

"Doesn't it?" Arbiter Lu said with a hint of wistfulness.

"Hey, who knows? Maybe I am your long-lost brother," Yun Xiao cracked a joke.

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