Immortal of the Ages

"You!" Duanmu Yao was livid. Yet he held his temper in check. Such audacity could only come from a place of confidence. His aged face bore a red imprint, but he dutifully set to work.

"He can tolerate that?" Yun Xiao mused with a disdainful chuckle.

Suddenly, he rose, nonchalantly picking up a square iron plate from the table. With a swift motion, he smashed it over Yan Ding's head.

"Ahh!" Yan Ding shrieked. His head split open, blood gushing out. Yun Xiao, with one swift kick to Yan Ding's face, sent him flying out into the guest hall, blood pooling beneath him.

Hearing his grandson's agonized cries, Yan Guo gritted his teeth. "Young Sword Lord, we've treated you with respect. Why this unprovoked violence?"

"I don't like baldies," Yun Xiao stated plainly.

Yan Guo was taken aback. He himself was bald.

Seeing Yun Xiao's gaze shift to Duanmu Ling, Duanmu Yao quickly grabbed his grandson by the collar and threw him out of the way. He then smiled at Yun Xiao, saying, "Young Sword Lord, perhaps just us two old bones should keep you company."

"Young Sword Lord, you must stay tonight. We'll drink with you at a leisurely pace," Yan Guo's expression suddenly twisted menacingly.

"Growing a backbone all of a sudden?" Yun Xiao glanced outside. "Expecting company?"

No sooner had he spoken than three figures entered—a man in violet robes, an elder in gray, and an old woman.

"Xiao Yuan! Chen Xiao! Sun Lingyu!" Upon seeing them, the murderous intent in Yan Guo's eyes flared uncontrollably. Five Great Elders from the Forbidden Tower, all of whom were in the Sovereign Dragon Realm.

They had arrived swiftly. They nodded and bowed, managing to restrain Yun Xiao and preventing further casualties.

Among them, the man named Xiao Yuan in the violet robes was famous In his youth, he was a strong contender for the tower's leadership. Before Ye Guying emerged from seclusion, he was the second strongest in the Forbidden Tower and the third in the Sea of Swords.

As they entered, their icy glares locked onto Yun Xiao.

Along the way, word of Yun Xiao's audacious behavior had reached them. And seeing Yan Ding's bloodied and bruised, they became even more outraged by how far Yun Xiao was taking things.

"Let's get him now!" Duanmu Yao declared, his voice dripping with malevolence.

Though he was the calmest among them, he was, paradoxically, also the most enraged.

KLANG KLANG! Five Great Elders of the Sovereign Dragon Realm abruptly drew their Sword Souls! Each of their Sword Auras was at least forty-five layers thick, and they each wielded two Sword Rings!

Each one was enveloped by a dragon-shaped magic aura, their presence heavy and powerful, as if true dragons had descended upon the world. For a moment, the weight of their combined might seemed to overshadow the entire guest hall.

BOOM! With a swift move, Duanmu Yao and Yan Guo slammed the guest hall doors shut. Those doors, crafted from thick steel, shut out the world beyond.

BANG BANG BANG! From every direction, all the window shutters fell into place, emphasizing that this guest hall had been turned into a veritable trap!

"He's trapped inside! He's as good as dead!" Duanmu Ling, picking himself up, felt all his pent-up frustrations transform into murderous intent.

"Kill him!" Yan Ding, despite being in extreme pain, managed to growl out his directive.

"Kill!" All of Duanmu's household, none willing to depart, congregated outside the guest hall, eagerly awaiting the news of Yun Xiao's demise so they could erupt into jubilation.

"Even if he doesn't die today, he'll be crippled!"

"Cut off everything on him that doesn't concern his life!"

How dare someone threaten everyone in the Forbidden Tower? How dare someone surround the elder's residence? How could they possibly tolerate this?

Never before had the Great Elders of the Forbidden Tower encountered such brazen provocation. And they wouldn't stand for it now.

Inside the guest hall, they spread out swiftly, encircling Yun Xiao.

Without a word, the five, in their years of camaraderie, made their move. They couldn't afford any delay, for if the Sword Lord Lin Qingfeng arrived, all their efforts would be in vain.

ROAR! Five swords flew, like five mighty dragons, from different directions, lunging directly at Yun Xiao, as if aiming to bite his head off.

"Even Lin Qingfeng wouldn't dare to provoke us in our own house. How could you?" Duanmu Yao thought, a sinister expression on his face, leading the charge.

From his hand, a deep-yellow Sword Soul unfurled, causing the ground to shake. Massive rocks and swirling sands gathered, aiming to engulf Yun Xiao!

This was a combination of the Sword Soul's property and demon magic!

Surrounded by a palpable intent to kill, Yun Xiao's eyes turned icy cold. His raven-black hair danced wildly, and his white robe fluttered. An azure sword shot forth from his grip. Red and blue Sword Rings, each with a history of five thousand years, adorned the sword. They channeled two overpowering enchantments—the Thousand Waters Lure and the Ghostly Inferno—both fearsome and eye-catching.

Coupled with a hundred layers of Sword Aura, the sword in Yun Xiao's grasp utterly overshadowed the Great Elders. The oldest among them only boasted Sword Rings around three thousand years old.

"You slew the Sword Lord's son, yet the Sword Lord gifted you his son's Sword Rings?" Xiao Yuan, the middle-aged man in violet robes, nearly choked on his disbelief. "Are you sure you're not Lin Qingfeng's illegitimate son?"

He found the situation completely absurd!

"Are the Sword Rings the reason you dare run rampant in my domain?" Duanmu Yao thought, a plan forming. Good thing he'd been suspicious! Now that he'd seen Yun Xiao's full hand, he felt a strange certainty. He attacked with renewed ferocity. With a tumultuous roar, a sword stirred up a sandstorm, its tip piercing straight for Yun Xiao's heart.

But as the sword neared, Yun Xiao, with a glint of murderous intent, locked eyes on Duanmu Yao. He roared, "Duanmu Yao, by the Sword Lord's decree, I'm here for your treacherous life!"

His shout resonated, making the entire hall quake. Those outside heard every word.

The moment Yun Xiao spoke, his Heaven Burial Sword Soul morphed into a Flying Sword. A Flying Sword with two five-thousand-year-old rings!

With a resonant twang, the intertwined red and blue of the verdant Flying Sword burst forth from his hand, becoming a radiant streak of light, hurtling at Duanmu Yao with terrifying speed.

Sun Moon Divine Light, Rainbow Through The Heavens!

Sun and moon in its wake, the sword's brilliance could pierce the heavens—the swiftest, fiercest strike of the Sea of Swords, bathed in the attribute of light.

A flash of the blade, piercing the night!

With a shrill scream, the sword was upon Duanmu Yao in the blink of an eye.

"So fast!" Duanmu Yao's face drained of color as he frantically altered his sword stance, slashing in defense.

His Palm Sword was swift, striking the beam of light in a split second.

"I've blocked it!" Relief washed over Duanmu Yao. But in the next heartbeat, his face contorted in horror, his eyes spasming.

BOOM! The moment his Palm Sword met Yun Xiao's Flying Sword, it shattered. Unrelenting, Yun Xiao's sword continued its deadly trajectory, impaling Duanmu Yao and slamming him against the barred window.

A deafening clang echoed through the room. In an instant, the iron bars glowed crimson with blood.

"Ugh..." Duanmu Yao's eyes bulged as he slid down the bloody bars, drawing his final breath. Wisps of blue fog encircled his chest where signs of burning flames, icy frost, and rotting flesh coexisted—the devastating combined effects of the Sword Soul and Sword Rings.

Duanmu Yao was dead. Just like that.

The swiftness of the heaven piercing rainbow startled everyone, sending the remaining four Great Elders' hearts into an erratic flutter.

"Duanmu!" Yan Guo cried out at the sight of Duanmu Yao's lifeless body, rage clouding his vision.

Xiao Yuan, on the other hand, glanced nervously at the iron door. "Did we lock it too soon?"

For a moment, all four Great Elders set their sights on Yun Xiao, their guard up.

HUM! Yun Xiao retrieved his Flying Sword and looked at Duanmu Yao's corpse. He couldn't help but chuckle, "You thought you could predict my strength. Unfortunately, I'm always a step ahead."

Thinking that just five of them could trap him? Yun Xiao fixed his burning gaze on the remaining four and bellowed, "You Forbidden Tower vermin! For years you've oppressed the Sea of Swords, exploiting our Sword Heaven disciples and stealing our resources. Today, I stand firm, inheriting my ancestors' will and the essence of Sword Heaven. We can no longer share the same sky!"

Xiao Yuan and his crew were taken aback.

"Dear Sword Lord, I regret mistakenly killing your son. Tonight, I'll take up the mantle of his sword's spirit and in his stead, use the heads of the Forbidden Tower Great Elders to repay the kindness you've shown me!"

Yun Xiao's passion surged like boiling blood, his eyes blazing with fury. Without hesitation, he charged at his four adversaries.

"Yun Xiao!" Yan Guo growled, but the young man's speed was astonishing. Despite not having reached the Sovereign Dragon Realm, his overwhelming magic power was nearly incomprehensible.

"Together!" Another Great Elder, the grey-robed Chen Xiao, lunged from the side, joining forces with Yan Guo to corner Yun Xiao.

KLANG KLANG! Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan and the old woman unleashed their Flying Swords from behind. They weren't taking any chances. Even so, Yun Xiao's speed was nothing short of terrifying. But even quicker than him was his sword.

With one swift stroke, the young man in white’s Palm Sword transformed into a crescent moon, sweeping across the battlefield.

“Sun Moon Divine Light, Gentle Breeze Bright Moon!”

Yan Guo was utterly taken aback.

Sun Moon Divine Light consisted of three sword techniques—one Flying Sword, and two Palm Swords. The Flying Sword represented the sun; the Palm Sword, the moon. Gentle Breeze Bright Moon was one of the Palm Sword techniques.

A blend of light and wind, this Star grade technique was once showcased by the Sword Lord over the Sea of Swords...

Now, Yun Xiao, a mere sixteen-year-old, had mastered a sword technique that usually required over a decade to perfect. Yan Guo's mind screamed, "If he isn’t Lin Qingfeng’s secret offspring, then who is?"

No wonder he was brought back by Ning Yan. No wonder she was so protective of him. Maybe he was even sired by Ning Yan herself!

Such thoughts rapidly fluttered through the minds of the Forbidden Tower’s four Great Elders. But just as swiftly, Yun Xiao’s prowess yanked them back to the grim reality.

The Gentle Breeze Bright Moon was as swift as lightning. Amidst the storm, Yun Xiao lunged at Yan Guo and Chen Xiao. His sword, luminous as the moon, slashed horizontally.

KLANG KLANG! Two resounding Sword Rings echoed. Yan Guo and Chen Xiao felt a stinging pain in their hands, their swordplay suppressed, their eyes widened in terror.

“So powerful!” By the time they realized this, Yun Xiao's sword had already swept past their necks.

THUD THUD! Two heads, eyes still wide in shock, crashed against the iron door, causing another powerful tremor.

“How's the battle going?” The people outside the hall were utterly baffled, unable to see the outcome. All they sensed was the fierce combat within.

"Can a young man like Yun Xiao really stand up to five Sovereign Dragon Realm Great Elders?" The crowd felt a chill run down their spines.

“It should be over soon! Once the door opens, Yun Xiao is doomed!” Duanmu Ling proclaimed fiercely.

At this moment, Yun Xiao, having just slain two, spun around with a sword swift as a tempest, pinpointing a Sword Soul heading straight for him and delivering a decisive slash.

With a resounding crash, the Flying Sword shattered instantly!

Such was the awe-inspiring might of five-thousand-year-old Sword Rings, coupled with a hundred-layer Sword Aura!

After the destruction of her sword, the old woman's spirit dispersed. Froth oozed from her lips as she collapsed, spasming on the ground, practically on death's doorstep.

However, these Great Elders were far from defenseless. As Yun Xiao deftly took down three of them, a sudden flash of a violet Flying Sword struck him in the chest, slamming him into the iron bars.

BOOM! For a moment, stars shimmered before his eyes.

“The kid's toast!” Xiao Yuan exclaimed, sweat pouring from his brow, his heart racing.

At last, he's gone! He knew all too well that if that Flying Sword hadn't finished Yun Xiao, he'd be next on the hit list.

Sure, the Sword Lord and Forbidden Tower Lord might be more intimidating, but they wouldn't resort to such bloody measures.

With this strike, there was no turning back in this factional war.

And that's precisely why Xiao Yuan feared Yun Xiao. He was a young, impulsive force of nature, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. The real terror lay in these fierce, wild souls, devoid of any worldly considerations.

“Phew!” Xiao Yuan heaved a sigh, stretching out his hand to call back his Flying Sword.

Yet, the sword remained embedded!

“Stuck in the bone, perhaps?” Xiao Yuan murmured, peering closely.

The young man in white suddenly lifted his head, a smirk playing on his lips. “What a pity!”

Cold terror crept over Xiao Yuan. “It can't be!” By all accounts, a sword to the chest was a death sentence!

Trembling, Xiao Yuan's gaze fixed on Yun Xiao’s chest. There, a tiny black beast emerged, its mouth gaping wide and blood-red.

At that moment, the creature spat out Xiao Yuan's violet Sword Soul, followed by several of its sharp fangs!

“My teeth! Ahhh that really hurt. You better kill him for me!” Red Moon wailed.

"W-what!?" Xiao Yuan muttered in fear, a cold chill washing over him as he tried to retreat.

"See you in the next life!" Yun Xiao stepped closer, delivering another sword strike. Swift and as luminous as the moon. Xiao Yuan desperately pulled back his Sword Soul, transforming it into a Palm Sword to deflect the attack. Still, he couldn't withstand the second strike. Yun Xiao's Sword Ring's storm effortlessly severed his head.

"Ahh!" Xiao Yuan's agonizing scream resonated, casting an air of confusion over the onlookers outside.

Suddenly, the guest hall fell silent.

"Yun Xiao must have been executed!" Duanmu Ling declared with rising hope. Yet, just as his words settled, the doors were slashed open.

BOOM! Amidst the dancing dust, a young man in white emerged, holding five heads.

THUD! The scene stunned over a hundred bystanders, paralyzing them like lightning-struck trees.

"Grandpa..." Duanmu Ling and Yan Ding stood frozen, unable to move.

The entire Duanmu Manor was eerily silent.

With a cold glare, Yun Xiao surveyed his surroundings, causing the paralyzed crowd to scream, "Run!"

But with just a single step forward and a sweeping motion of his sword, rays of moonlight shot forth.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH! Heads soared, as if propelled by a single stroke.

"Time to collect!" Yun Xiao remarked, scooping up the loot. He amassed over 13,000,000 Spirit Stones, countless heavenly pills, armors, daoist spells, and sword techniques.

"These five Great Elders from the Forbidden Tower were wealthy beyond measure," Yun Xiao mused. "Today, they left in haste, bringing but a fraction of their fortune. Their real wealth lies in their holdings in the Sea of Swords."

Satisfied with his haul, Yun Xiao decided to forgo the labor-intensive task of claiming the properties. "Not a bad day," he grinned.

With his Sword Soul, he etched three lines on the door.

「Though alone, I, Yun Xiao, dare challenge the Forbidden Tower's mightiest.

Disagree? Come to Sword Heaven. Our ten thousand Sword Cultivators await you.」

P.S. Who's your Heavenly daddy?」

With that, Yun Xiao, holding five heads, eagerly rode his Sovereign Sword towards Sword Heaven, exclaiming, "Master, I've made a name for Sword Heaven!"

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