Amidst a chorus of immortal warning bells, the Immortal Dynasty's procession descended majestically at the foot of Panlong Mountain.
They numbered in the thousands.
In addition to the over two thousand Immortal Court officials who had arrived in recent days, nearly all the officials from the Yanluo Immortal Mansion had also come.
Thirty-six True Immortals.
Nearly eighty-plus nine-tribulation loose immortals.
Over five hundred other loose immortals.
Several thousand ancient Earth Immortals.
Six Purple-Gold Immortal Nobles.
Over a dozen Purple Cloud Immortal Nobles.
More than two hundred ordinary Immortal Nobles.
Such a lineup was truly terrifying.
Since the opening of the current era a century ago, this was the first time the Immortal Dynasty had descended upon the Yanluo Kingdom with such grandeur.
When the Immortal Dynasty officials descended, all the cultivators gathered at the foot of Panlong Mountain rose without exception to respectfully welcome them, none daring to show the slightest discourtesy.
The sect masters and elders of the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects hurried over to personally receive them. As the hosts, the Yanluo Royal Family, despite a hundred internal reluctances, had no choice but to go forward and respectfully welcome and receive them. After all, the relationship between the Yanluo Kingdom and the Immortal Dynasty had not yet deteriorated beyond repair, and there was still room for reconciliation. Superficial formalities still had to be observed.
For this descent upon Yanluo, the Immortal Dynasty sent one Envoy and three Chief Administrators.
The Immortal Dynasty Envoy both represented the Immortal Dynasty and held the highest authority, possessing the greatest status and power.
The one serving as the Immortal Dynasty Envoy was a True Immortal whose Daoist title was Yun Bao.
He was a reincarnated great power. It was said that before his reincarnation, he was already an immortal of this world's Immortal Dynasty, and moreover, a High Immortal—specifically, the Mighty High Immortal conferred by the Nine Heavens. His status and identity were extremely noble, and his reputation was awe-inspiring even in the ancient era.
Back when the Chixiao Sect clashed with the Immortal Dynasty, although they slew many immortals, many Chixiao brothers also fell to the Immortal Dynasty's hands.
This Yun Bao, the Mighty High Immortal, led a host of immortals back then and slaughtered no small number of Chixiao people. He was a formidable foe and a mortal enemy during the Chixiao Sect's initial rise.
Precisely because he had slain many Chixiao brothers back then and severely wounded the Black Buddha Lord Dong Laohu, it was said that when the Chixiao Monarch later learned of this, he was furious. Setting aside all matters, he specifically went searching for Yun Bao, searching for a full eight days and nights before finally finding him in an ancient cave abode. Upon finding Yun Bao, the Chixiao Monarch immediately beat him half to death on the spot, dragged him back to the Chixiao Sect, and subjected him to another ten to fifteen days of brutal beating, forcing him to kneel and kowtow before the fallen Chixiao brothers.
Later, the Immortal Dynasty intervened, warning and threatening the Chixiao Monarch, stating that if Yun Bao was not handed over, they would report to the Nine Heavens and exterminate the Chixiao Sect.
And the Chixiao Sect, right in front of the Immortal Dynasty's assembled immortals, tore Yun Bao apart alive!
That's right!
Torn apart alive!
Leaving not a single scrap behind!
His physical body utterly annihilated!
The legendary tales of the Chixiao Monarch from back then were known to all, having long spread throughout the world.
Regarding this matter of Yun Bao, everyone was also well aware.
But they were only aware. No one dared to mention this incident in front of Yun Bao, after all. Yun Bao's previous life was the Mighty High Immortal conferred by the Nine Heavens. After reincarnation, he cultivated back to True Immortal, and was still conferred as a Purple-Gold True Immortal by the Nine Heavens. His status and position were far higher than that of an ordinary True Immortal.
Apart from Yun Bao as the Immortal Dynasty Envoy,
the other three Immortal Dynasty Chief Administrators were also famous True Immortals of the current era.
One was Xun Nian of the Haoran Xun Clan.
The Haoran Xun Clan was an ancient immortal clan of this world, with a lineage passed down since antiquity, a long history, and an exceptionally good reputation, always enjoying great prestige. The Haoran Xun Clan took guarding the Immortal Dynasty as their duty, but they acted with light and righteousness, embodying the Haoran Righteous Qi (upright spirit). In the ancient era, while all other immortal clans followed the Immortal Dynasty's lead, becoming corrupt, oppressing the common people, and monopolizing resources, only the Haoran Xun Clan not only refrained from oppressing the people but even shared their own cultivation resources with others.
It could be said the Haoran Xun Clan had always been the most popular immortal clan in this world, bar none.
And Xun Nian was a highly respected True Immortal even in the ancient era, also a grandmaster of preaching, with many disciples and former subordinates. He could be said to be revered by all.
To speak of it, the relationship between the Haoran Xun Clan and the Yanluo Royal Family had always been quite good. At the very least, they had maintained contact. If one traced back a few generations, the Haoran Xun Clan and the Yanluo Royal Family could even be considered in-laws.
During Tang Yunhao's years of traveling abroad, he had specially visited the Haoran Xun Clan, naturally also paying his respects to the highly respected senior Xun Nian.
The reason he still held a sliver of hope regarding this Immortal Dynasty descent upon Yanluo was also because he knew Xun Nian was one of the Chief Administrators.
To this end, on the very first day of his return, he had secretly visited Xun Nian.
And Xun Nian had revealed to him the Immortal Dynasty's intent. This descent upon Yanluo was indeed merely to test the attitude of the Yanluo Royal Family, while also seizing the opportunity to test the attitudes of several other sect-states.
As for how exactly the Immortal Dynasty would test them, and to what extent they intended to probe,
that depended on the will of the Immortal Dynasty Envoy, Yun Bao. Although he was a Chief Administrator, he was only a Chief Administrator. The one truly making the decisions was the Immortal Dynasty Envoy, Yun Bao.
Regarding this,
Tang Yunhao was grateful, yet his heart was filled with extreme worry. Because even back in the ancient era, he had heard of Yun Bao's formidable reputation, knowing this was a figure who acted with swift decisiveness and ruthless methods. He truly had no idea how this Yun Bao intended to test the Yanluo Royal Family's attitude.
Of the three Chief Administrators, besides Xun Nian, there were two others.
One was Liu Guangtao from the Immortal Liu Guang Family.
The other was a woman whom few recognized, her name unknown. It was only heard that her Daoist title was Qian He (Thousand Cranes), also a reincarnated being. As for who she was in her previous life, no one knew.
Over here, the big shots of the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects were all fawning over the Immortal Dynasty's immortals.
Not far away,
at the Chixiao Branch,
the Black Buddha Lord Dong Laohu stared fixedly at Yun Bao among the Immortal Dynasty ranks, a strong killing intent flashing in his narrowed eyes. He said in a low voice, "So the Immortal Dynasty's Envoy is indeed that immortal dog Yun Bao." As the saying goes, enemies meeting see red.
Back when Dong Laohu led a group of Chixiao brothers to win several battles, riding high on success, they encountered an Immortal Dynasty encirclement. The leader of the Immortal Dynasty forces was none other than the Mighty High Immortal Yun Bao. Faced with Yun Bao's terrifying High Immortal strength, Dong Laohu's cunning schemes were utterly useless, his dazzling array of magical treasures ineffective. Not only were they beaten back repeatedly, but many Chixiao brothers also died in the end. Dong Laohu himself was severely wounded by this Yun Bao, nearly dying at his hands.
Upon returning from his travels, Dong Laohu had heard Yun Bao was the Immortal Dynasty Envoy for this occasion. He hadn't expected it to be true. Although Yun Bao's appearance differed after reincarnation, the moment Yun Bao descended, Dong Laohu recognized him at a glance.
"That bastard Yun Bao actually reincarnated for real. I thought it was just a rumor."
Although Heishui had never crossed hands with Yun Bao, he also knew that bastard had slain many Chixiao brothers back then. Staring at Yun Bao, he said with great displeasure, "Damn it all!
That bastard reincarnated at most a hundred years ago, right? And he's already cultivated back to True Immortal?
And looking at that bastard's cultivation, I'm afraid it won't be long before he's a High Immortal again!"
"As expected. It seems the Immortal Dynasty's objective this time is not merely the Yanluo Royal Family."
At this moment, Old Mei suddenly uttered a sigh of realization.
And whether it was Heishui or the Black Buddha, once they confirmed Yun Bao was indeed the Immortal Dynasty Envoy for this occasion, they both realized the Immortal Dynasty's target this time was not limited to the Yanluo Royal Family. They were probably also seizing this opportunity to annihilate the Chixiao forces within Yanluo territory in one fell swoop. If not for this, the Immortal Dynasty Envoy would not have been Yun Bao, a man with deep-seated hatred for the Chixiao Sect!