Afterwards, Yun Xiao and Liu Mumu simply gazed in silence at the approaching grandeur of the Thunder Immortal Formation, admiring the majestic beauty of the path of immortality without further words.
On the other side of The Serenity, Jiang Haiyan and Jiang Heqing entered an elegant secret chamber.
Their father was seated on the floor, engaged in a serene ritual of tea making and drinking.
"Come, have a couple of cups, to cool down," Governor Jiang invited with a smile, motioning for his daughters to sit as he poured the tea himself.
"Father." Jiang Haiyan knelt before him and said, "I have some doubts."
"Speak, we’re family here; there are no secrets among us," Governor Jiang replied.
"Lu Yao is obviously the culprit behind the murders in Sangju City. Once Lord Lu and Liu Zhongyu resolve their misunderstanding, they’ll surely want to eliminate this fugitive. Why do we not deal with him and instead give him a chance?" Jiang Haiyan asked.
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"Yeah, daddy! Weren’t you just putting on a show back in Sky Soaring City because it wasn’t convenient to deal with him in public. I thought once we were aboard The Serenity, you’d kill him and throw him overboard," Jiang Heqing added with a pout.
Her comment was natural, revealing this wasn’t the first time for such deeds.
Governor Jiang laughed again and said, "Well, killing is actually quite a simple affair."
"Why spare him then?" Jiang Haiyan asked.
After sipping his tea and savoring it, Governor Jiang said, "It’s just a doubt I have. How does a lowly-born child, missing for ten years, return with such immense talent? Usually, what does that indicate?"
Jiang Haiyan raised her eyebrows. "A fortuitous encounter? A transformation?"
"Exactly. This child must possess something valuable," Governor Jiang said with a knowing smile.
"Then why not just seize it directly!" Jiang Heqing exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"Haiyan," Governor Jiang said, not looking at his younger daughter but addressing the elder, "haven’t I taught you? When we deal with someone in our pursuit of immortality, what’s the first thing we do?"
Jiang Haiyan thought for a moment and replied, "We thoroughly investigate their background, to avoid colliding with a force we cannot contend with."
"Exactly." Governor Jiang nodded, his gaze far-reaching as he spoke, "I’m a Rank 5 Heavenly Officer in the Celestial Court, soon to be Rank 4. But even so, above me are those who are Rank 3, Rank 2, and Rank 1, along with a host of royal lineages and some hidden masters. Admittedly, there aren’t many stronger than me, but they do exist, and often those with extraordinary talent are linked to them."
Jiang Heqing had a sudden realization and asked, "Father, are you worried that Lu Yao has powerful backing?"
Governor Jiang shook his head with a smile. "Actually, it’s unlikely, but the lesson I want to teach you is this: in the path of cultivation, if we do not strike, we must not act at all. But when we do, it must be with the force of thunder. The path of Immortals is long, filled with countless strong adversaries. We are like tightrope walkers, gauging the timing and situation carefully. If there’s a risk that could lead to total loss, we must eliminate that risk before acting."
Jiang Haiyan nodded and asked, "Father, we understand. How shall we handle Lu Yao?"
"What do you think?" Governor Jiang asked with a smile.
Jiang Haiyan glanced at Jiang Heqing and said, "Heqing has a charm that’s impossible to resist; they share a connection now. We could get closer to him, win his favor, and use that to probe his secrets. If he has had a fortuitous encounter, there are two possibilities: either the person who bestowed it upon him is dead or still alive."
"Ah, so I’m basically a honey pot?" Jiang Heqing clicked her tongue, astonished at the effort required.
Governor Jiang continued, "What does it matter if they are dead or alive?"
"If dead, we can kill him and seize his fortune. If alive, we must determine this person’s strength and status before making a decision," Jiang Haiyan responded.
"So complicated," Jiang Heqing pouted.
"Qingqing, this is the path of cultivation, not a street brawl. There are too many in this world who play dumb to devour the tiger. You can be domineering in Sky Soaring City, but in the sacred land of the Thunder Department, you must endure. If you provoke someone formidable, you could not only destroy yourself but our whole family," Jiang Haiyan said seriously.
Governor Jiang sighed deeply, reflecting, "All these years, my competitors, who offended the wrong people, have either died or been ruined. Why have I survived and continued to rise? Because I’ve been cautious and decisive. When we do not strike, we’re amiable and prosperous with everyone. But once we strike, we do so without restraint, determined to crush our opponent completely."
"This is the wisdom of father’s dealings," Jiang Haiyan said with reverence.
Governor Jiang waved his hand with a smile. "Go on, my girls, to secure a fortuitous encounter and its rewards safely, you must use your wits. You were born beautiful, with the advantage of your gender. As long as you grasp the essence of how your father handles affairs, your achievements will surely surpass mine."
He was confident; his daughters were the radiant jewels of Sky Soaring City.
"Yes, father." Jiang Haiyan rose to her feet and looked in the direction of Yun Xiao, her gaze icy.
"A honey trap... how annoying!" Jiang Heqing pouted. But recalling their father’s belief in the young man’s potential, she resigned herself to the task.
"Remember, the shift in attitude must be gradual; don’t let the acting be too clumsy," Governor Jiang advised with a laugh.
"Understood," Jiang Haiyan nodded, pulling her sister from the secret chamber.
"Sister, must we really seduce him with beauty?" Jiang Heqing asked, somewhat downcast.
"Not we, you," Jiang Haiyan replied with a smile.
"Why me? Aren’t you capable? I find you most enticing," Jiang Heqing said, playfully grabbing at her sister, envious. "Such ample assets!"
"I’m not cute; he wouldn’t like me," Jiang Haiyan said softly.
"Alright then!" Jiang Heqing sulked, muttering, "If you ask me, you and father are too complicated. If it were me, knowing the other has something valuable, I’d just kill and destroy all evidence first, without worrying about the consequences."
"That’s not possible." Jiang Haiyan pinched her cheek, cautioning, "We had an uncle who, without fully understanding someone’s backing, rashly bullied them. The victim’s family descended directly upon Sky Soaring City and flayed and eviscerated him right before father."
"That terrifying?" Jiang Heqing stuck out her tongue, meekly adding, "The path of cultivation is indeed fearsome."
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"Do you need to ask? Don’t let the celestial rules and edicts that loom over us fool you; they are but bubbles in the clouds. This so-called Heavenly Palace is a world where the strong prey upon the weak. Before we bite into this peach, we must first test if it’s poisoned," Jiang Haiyan said thoughtfully.
"Fine, then I’ll swallow Lu Yao whole! Hehe."
?ι══????????══ι?
BOOM! The moment The Serenity ascended into the Thunder Department, it was like crashing into a dense web of lightning, and a thunderous roar filled the air.
Before the eyes of the passengers unfolded an endless, vast world of thunder.
The entire continent was built up with cities, skyscrapers, and palaces!
This was a sacred land, a sprawling, boundless megacity, where countless divisions governed the Celestial Court’s enforcement and punishments, a sacred place for Arbiters.
Looking around, the endless palaces stretched beyond sight.
Above, the Thunder Immortal Formation covered the sky, a sea of thunder that rained down lightning continuously, with the whole land alive with constant thunder and lightning... yet the Immortals residing here had long since grown accustomed to it!
This vast expanse was visibly thriving, majestic, and powerful!
The Serenity did not stop, but sailed between the land and the Thunder Immortal Formation, passing through countless thunder palaces towards the center, the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office!
Yun Xiao stood on the deck, his gaze sweeping over the scene below—the marketplaces, Immortal pedestrians, enforcement squads, and innumerable sword vessels... a ceaseless sight!
"Now, this is what I call a realm of Immortals!" Yun Xiao took a deep breath, his eyes burning with fervor.
Soon after, a city enveloped in billions of bolts of lightning appeared before them!
At the center of the Thunder Immortal Formation, countless pillars of lightning descended, a deluge of electricity engulfing the noble city.
The spectacle was so magnificent it sent shivers down one’s spine!
Any mortal arriving in such a world would likely be turned to ashes in an instant.
This thunderous megacity, bridging the land and the Thunder Immortal Formation, was none other than the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office!
Even Governor Jiang’s flying vessel could only stop before the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office, continuing on foot from there.
At the entrance, many officials of the Thunder Department were already lined up, awaiting the arrival of Governor Jiang.
This place was to be his battlefield from here on out.
"Liu Mumu, I have a noon banquet to attend. Take the children to the Hall of Thunder to settle in," Governor Jiang, amidst laughter with old friends, turned back to instruct.
"Yes," Liu Mumu nodded.
At the Divine Heaven Jade Purity Office, guides would specifically lead the young ones.
The Arbiter talents, coming from various cities, were all to be quartered at the Hall of Soaring Thunder.
It was a place where passion and dreams collided!
"The initial selection starts this afternoon, and you have only three hours. Don’t get distracted by the hustle and bustle of the Thunder Department and wander off," Governor Jiang kindly reminded.
"Got it, Daddy," Jiang Heqing responded sweetly.
"Are these two ladies Old Jiang’s daughters?"
"So beautiful, they don’t look like him at all. I’d say they aren’t his real daughters."
"Haha!"
A group of high-ranking officials openly shared jokes, laughing heartily together.
However, the fact that Governor Jiang could take the teasing without offense spoke volumes about the strength of their friendships.
He had risen in rank yet maintained such relations with these officials of the Thunder Department, showcasing his adeptness at networking.
This was a skill Yun Xiao lacked.
Yet, it must be said, it was precisely because of the prevalence of such individuals that the Celestial Court hardly resembled a sacred ground of cultivation and enlightenment but rather a fierce arena of fame and fortune!
Competition for resources and power dominated here.
This was nothing like the Celestial Court Yun Xiao had imagined, yet, on reflection, it seemed only logical.
Otherwise, how could a world of cultivation without desire or need have an Emperor, Empress Dowager, Princesses, the law-enforcing Thunder Department, military operations, various Immortal officials, and endless heavenly soldiers?
"Cultivation is not merely about being ethereal and free."
If it were so, why would the mortal realms suffer so?
Yun Xiao looked back at the trivial chatter of those officials and quietly stepped into the massive thunderous city.
Behind him, the two sisters, praised for their beauty, both watched him subtly.
"Qingqing," Jiang Haiyan whispered to her sister, "Once we settle in, we’ll go find him."
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