Immortal of the Ages

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"Yun Xiao, your actions are inexcusable!" A furious roar swept through the imperial city, shaking the walls of the imperial palace. "As the Lord of this nation, how can you collude with demons to harm your people?!"

The owner of the voice was a young man in a sword robe. Beneath his feet, a sword wrapped in an immortal aura cut through the air as he flew over the capital's expanse. "Fear not, citizens! An Immortal has arrived! I will save you and exact justice on your behalf!"

At that, countless citizens wept and knelt, their lamentations filling the air. For the imperial capital had been completely overrun with serpents. They bit and attacked the common folk, inflicting their venom on countless unfortunate souls. Many died on the spot, the ground flowing with their blood and their corpses littering the streets.

"A Sword Immortal?" Amidst the writhing mass of snakes was a youth in a white robe adorned with dragons, battling a particularly fearsome serpent demon. He was none other than the young monarch of Cloud Nation, Yun Xiao. On this very day, he was to crown his Empress.

But the day that should have been filled with joy and celebration started off with a series of strange events. First, the Prime Minister's daughter Jiang Yue mysteriously disappeared. Then, millions of venomous snakes surged out from the waterways throughout the imperial capital and started attacking the common folk, including a particularly malevolent century-old snake demon.

Yun Xiao immediately led his imperial guards into battle against the snake demon and its brood. But just as victory seemed certain, the arrival of this so-called Sword Immortal complicated matters.

"He's wrong," Yun Xiao cried out. "Did he seriously just say that I'm behind this mess? That I've been working together with this demon to harm my own people!?" Feeling deeply wronged, his eyes flashed with a mixture of confusion and defiance.

A sudden flash of sword rays streaked down from the heavens. The cold, biting gleam pierced directly into the snake demon's forehead, instantly obliterating it into a mist of blood and gore. The splatter coated Yun Xiao in a shower of the creature's ichor.

"Damn, that was intense!" Yun Xiao muttered, awed by the sheer power he'd just witnessed. And he wasn't alone in his astonishment. The officials and citizens of Cloud Nation looked on with a mixture of fear and reverence.

"The snake demon's gone! W-we're saved! We're saved!" "The Immortal's power is amazing!"

"Long live our saviour!

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A ripple of gratitude spread among the saved citizens, many of whom dropped to their knees in fervent thanks.

Suddenly, a booming voice echoed. "Yun Xiao!"

Before Yun Xiao could register what was happening, the Sword Immortal appeared right above him. The Sword Immortal's brow was furrowed in cold disdain, and the aura from his sword swirled domineeringly. Just the gust from his blade left bloody gashes on Yun Xiao.

"You rule this nation and yet harbor monsters that harm your own people. You will answer for this!" The Sword Immortal's piercing gaze was unwavering as he addressed Yun Xiao.

"What the...?" Yun Xiao started, but was quickly interrupted by a chorus of voices.

"He raised that snake demon? Our Emperor?"

"If the Sword Immortal saw it, it must be true!"

"I can't believe it... How can he betray us like this...!?"

...

Shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd.

From the depths of the palace, Cloud Nation's Prime Minister Jiang Shang emerged, fury evident on his face. Pointing at Yun Xiao, he roared, "Yun Xiao, you absolute fool! The people look up to you as their Lord, yet you're so blind and reckless, endangering countless lives!"

He collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "My former Emperor! My guidance has failed, allowing the Young Lord to stray and commit such grave mistakes. This mess is my sin as well!"

At once, all the blame appeared to be pinned on Yun Xiao. Each accusation struck at his heart one after the other like heavy blows. "Sword Immortal!" He gritted his teeth and shouted. "Grant me a moment to defend my honor! I've had nothing to do with this snake demon..."

Before he could finish, the Sword Immortal interrupted him with a cold sneer. "Silence! My perception spans the heavens. Your sins are laid bare for all to see. No more excuses. Today, I shall serve justice in the name of the heavens and send you to hell!"

Yun Xiao staggered back, disbelief and fury evident in his bloodshot eyes. "Perception spans the heavens? That might fool the common folk, but you're just another Sword Cultivator! I bet this whole mess with the snake demon was your doing all along! We've never even met before, so why the hell are you setting me up!? Your sect would have you locked up if they found out!"

The common folk saw these sword wielding cultivators as Immortals, blindly trusting and worshiping them. But Yun Xiao wasn't easily fooled. He knew these Immortals were nothing more than wannabes playing god.

"Yun Xiao, shut it!" an official bellowed.

"You've gone mad! Speaking like that about the Immortal?" another shouted.

"This is the last straw. He's gonna get us all cursed," a woman cried from the crowd.

...

The collective anger from the onlookers grew louder, their disdain for Yun Xiao palpable.

The Sword Cultivator saw the turmoil and landed right in front of Yun Xiao, his eyes filled with mockery. "Hear that?" he said with a chuckle. "For bugs like you, I might as well be an Immortal! Ye Guying, that's my name! Remember it or don't. Doesn't matter. For today you'll be dying at my hands!" Without another word, his eyes narrowed and he jabbed a sword-like finger at Yun Xiao, aiming straight for his forehead. He was really going to kill Yun Xiao.

"Wait!" A woman's voice pierced the tension. The crowd's gaze shifted to a stunning woman with fair skin, moving elegantly toward them. It was Jiang Yue, the prime minister's daughter. She was supposed to be crowned Empress this day, but she had disappeared at dawn.

"Lil Yue! Stay back!" Yun Xiao's voice wavered, concern evident. They had grown up together. Studied and trained together. The last thing he wanted was for her to be entangled in this mess. Today, a cultivator intended to end his life. What could a mere mortal like Jiang Yue possibly do?

But to Yun Xiao's shock, Jiang Yue breezed past him and stood by Ye Guying's side. They obviously knew each other.

"Y-you two?" Yun Xiao's voice faltered.

"Yun Xiao, I didn't come here for you," Jiang Yue's voice held an icy detachment. "In fact, today's little assassination attempt? That was my idea."

"You want me dead?" Yun Xiao felt like he had been struck by lightning.

"Yes."

"But why?" His eyes blazed, a mix of anger and disbelief. He had always been kind to the Jiang family and especially to her.

"Because of this." Jiang Yue raised her hand, showcasing a shimmering silver sword, about three inches long, formed of pure energy. As the sword hovered above her palm, it emitted a chilling aura. Its presence caused the temperature around the imperial palace to plummet and the onlookers to shiver.

"Sword Soul!" Yun Xiao's eyes widened.

Jiang Yue smirked, "Impressive. You know of it. Yes, I've awakened the Ice Moon Sword Soul in the Comet grade!"

Yun Xiao had heard of this innate Sword Soul before, even yearned for it. Cultivators not only cultivated the magic power within their Dantians but also their Sword Souls, creating a dual-power structure. The Dantian was the source of power, and the Sword Soul was the weapon to channel it through!

A common saying in this world was that the awakening of a Sword Soul would open up a myriad of roads! Naturally, this meant Jiang Yue's future prospects were boundless!

Entranced by her own Ice Moon Sword Soul, Jiang Yue said, "Soon, Brother Ye will introduce me to the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. I'll rise above as an Immortal, while you'll remain a mere mortal. It's only natural that our paths will diverge. That includes our engagement.

"In the future, commoners like you shall prostrate themselves before me with reverence!" she added with a hint of arrogance. Her gaze at Ye Guying held dreams of a grand future.

"Are you out of your mind?" Yun Xiao spat, his anger palpable. "Fine, you have the talent, go cultivate. I don’t need you. But why drag so many innocent people into your scheme?"

A tragedy had befallen the people of Cloud Nation. Countless lives had been claimed by the treacherous snakes, and Yun Xiao, as their ruler, felt each death as an arrow through his own heart.

"There was a reason for it," Jiang Yue began, pointing towards a distant figure, Prime Minister Jiang Shang. "Brother Ye here tells me that those born into imperial families receive preferential treatment when they enter the sects. So, I thought it’d be a good idea to have my father be the ruler of the Cloud Nation. That way, not only would I have you out of my way, but I'll also have your name and legacy dragged through the mud!

"Out with the old, and in with the new! What better excuse for a change in dynasties?" she added with a cold smirk. Her father Jiang Shang would seize the throne to become Emperor. And she? She would be the princess. A princess would be quite popular in a sect. But a married Empress? That would not be the case. Another reason why Yun Xiao had to go.

She wasn't concerned about her exchange with Yun Xiao being overheard by others. After all, Ye Guying was a disciple from a powerful sect and had his ways of ensuring their conversation remained private.

"To bring down a mere mortal Emperor like you? Child's play for a cultivator," Jiang Yue said, her voice dripping with arrogance. She continued, "From this day forth, the land under your feet will be known as the Jiang Nation, protected by the Azure Spirit Sword Sect. Your Yun family’s 500-year reign ends here. Now, our land will thrive under my protection. Just accept your fate."

Jiang Yue folded her arms, her demeanor even colder. "Even before I awakened this Sword Soul, ever since we were children, I already knew I was destined for greater! Now that I've stepped onto the path of becoming an Immortal, I’m far above and beyond the likes of you!"

Yun Xiao's laugh was bitter, tinged with rage. "Under your protection? You, an Immortal? You lot, with all your petty lies and evil schemes, dare to call yourselves that? Hahahaha!"

Ye Guying scoffed. "Why are we even entertaining the thoughts of a mere mortal on the subject of Immortals?"

"Fine, enough talk. Brother Ye, end him." Jiang Yue said, her patience wearing thin.

Yun Xiao's eyes blazed with defiance. "Even if I never become Immortal in this life, you two are nothing more than scum who abuse their power and harm innocent lives. You might have your ways now, but the path you're on? It’ll be your undoing. Mark my words. You'll meet your own miserable deaths one day! My only regret is not being the one to bring you both down in honor of the Cloud Nation's people."

"Silence!" Ye Guying snapped, his face twisting in anger. "You're but a speck in the grand scheme of things, yet you speak of the path of Immortals? A mortal like you knows nothing about cultivation or the taboos!"

"Even a fleeting insect can traverse vast oceans and skies. Why can't I, a man, understand the ways of the Immortal?" Yun Xiao smirked boldly in defiance.

Ye Guying laughed scornfully, "Then enlighten me. What does it mean to be Immortal?"

Holding his sword, Yun Xiao stood firm atop the remains of the snake demon, his gaze fiery, and his spirit unyielding. "To give life for the people, to have a heart aligned with the world. That is what it means to be an Immortal!"

Yun Xiao knew he was no match for Ye Guying. But in that moment, with sword in hand and determination in his heart, he stepped over the corpses of the serpents and lunged toward Ye Guying, shouting, "To vanquish demons, to bless humanity, to protect the ways of Heaven, that is the essence of Immortality!"

The atmosphere grew tense as Yun Xiao’s sword rays billowed forth like roaring waves, drawing gasps from onlookers.

Ye Guying, amused by the audacity of this mortal before him, retorted, "Let me show you what it truly means to be Immortal. With one strike, I'll end you. That's what it means to be an Immortal." With but a flick of his finger, his Sword Soul pierced through Yun Xiao's forehead. The once fiery and defiant ruler came to an abrupt halt, his stance frozen in the final act of defiance. Even as the lifeblood drained from his wound, Yun Xiao's eyes remained fixed on the duo, an eternal testament to his undying spirit. The fury in his eyes burned like a curse that wouldn't fade with time.

"Did you fancy yourself the hero? Thinking you'd always come out on top? Thinking the world didn't see your worth 'cause you were young?" Ye Guying chuckled. Yet after death, there was something in Yun Xiao's gaze that Ye Guying couldn't face. After the confrontation, he and Jiang Yue departed the scene.

?ι══????????══ι?

Times changed in the Cloud Nation. Jiang Shang ascended to the throne, leaving Yun Xiao's name and legacy tarnished in the annals of history.

What's an Immortal anyway? And what's this so-called path to it? After that fatal thrust through his head, Yun Xiao grappled with these questions over and over. They say when you die, the soul sticks around. And Yun Xiao wasn't about to just let go. He began the martial path at six, opened his meridians by eight. And by twelve, everyone was calling him the Cloud Nation's prodigy. At fifteen, nobody could touch him. But his world was so small, limited. Because Ye Guying hailed from a higher realm, Yun Xiao's hard work and dreams were all rendered insignificant.

"If I got another shot at this, I'd go all in, trying to reach that Immortal level." Yun Xiao mused. When death took him, weirdly, his determination amped up, whisking his soul through the cosmos. "Where the heck am I going?"

His fragmented soul seemed to drift in a void, the world shrinking in his view. Suddenly, he saw an astonishing sight. The land where he lived for sixteen years looked from afar like an endless graveyard. There, a massive tombstone, surrounded by an Immortal mist, stood like a pillar holding up the sky and grounding the earth. And beneath this gigantic cemetery was an ancient, colossal bronze coffin. As it floated in empty space, it appeared to be propping up the land above, casting a malevolent aura which overflowed into the void like a shimmering green sea.

"Is this what happens when you die? Some sort of trippy dream?" Yun Xiao thought, feeling more than a little freaked out. Caught up in his thoughts, he almost missed that he was being yanked underground, a terrifying force pulling him into that very ancient bronze coffin.

A deafening roar filled his ears, and as he entered the coffin, a majestic voice from eons past resonated, "This coffin holds the sky and grounds the underworld, refining countless souls throughout the ages. It swallows the highest realms and gives birth to a myriad of worlds, where only one path to the Creator Immortal is cultivated!"