227: Chapter 226 Breakthrough to Immortal King

In the heart of the Xiao Realm, within an inconspicuous secret chamber inside a mountainside, Xiao Ye had been sitting cross-legged for nine full days.

During these nine days, he did not move, nor did he eat. The Immortal Qi within his body surged like tidal waves, repeatedly crashing against the invisible barrier standing before the threshold of the Immortal King Realm. Outside, the celestial phenomena of the Xiao Realm also shifted several times—first clear skies for thousands of miles, then dark clouds pressing down, and subsequently, the sky filled with rosy clouds, as if the heavens were indecisively jumping back and forth, unable to decide what expression to show.

At dusk on the ninth day, the Immortal Qi within Xiao Ye finally accumulated to its limit. The Great Dao of Strength surged into his limbs and bones like a torrent. He seemed to hear an extremely faint yet incomparably clear crisp sound in his ears—like a chain snapping, or perhaps an eggshell shattering. Immediately, a vast, sea-like power gushed forth from the depths of his Dantian, instantly filling his entire body. Even the world of the Xiao Realm resonated with it, and the density of Immortal Qi throughout the entire Small World visibly increased by a significant margin.

Xiao Ye slowly opened his eyes. He looked down at his hands and gently clenched his fists, feeling that completely different power flowing through his meridians. After a long while, he finally uttered, "This feeling is indeed quite good."

He stretched his stiff neck, stood up from the prayer mat, and pushed open the stone door of the secret chamber to walk out. The mountain breeze outside, wrapped in fresh Immortal Qi, rushed towards him. The sunset at the horizon was just right, dyeing the entire mountain ridge a warm orange-gold. Xiao Ye stood at the mountain pass for a while. He was not in a hurry to announce anything, nor did he go looking for anyone; instead, he returned to the backyard first. On the stone steps of the backyard, A-Zhu was crouching, wiping the faces of several children. Seeing him return, she merely looked up and glanced at him: "Finished your seclusion? You smell a bit different."

"I had a Breakthrough." Xiao Ye crouched down beside her and casually took a toddler who had just learned to walk, picking it up and weighing it in his arms, "I am an Immortal King now."

A-Zhu's movements paused for an instant, then she continued wiping faces as if nothing had happened: "Then do you need to add a dish tonight? I'll tell the kitchen."

"Add it, add plenty, and call everyone in the courtyard over." Xiao Ye stood up holding the toddler and walked towards the main courtyard.

The news spread quickly. By the time Xiao Ye reached the main courtyard, Li Dan was already waiting at the entrance, holding an account book, his eyes revealing irrepressible joy: "Master, shall we hold a banquet? I have already prepared the menu. If you nod, we can start the feast tomorrow."

"Hold it." Xiao Ye handed the toddler to a maid nearby and took the account book Li Dan handed over, flipping through it, "It doesn't need to be too grand. Start with ten tables and call our own people. We will hold a bigger one after things are settled."

Li Dan jotted it down quickly and turned to make arrangements. Palace Master Mosha walked over from the other end of the courtyard, her hands still stained with the juice of Immortal medicine, and examined him: "Did you succeed?"

Xiao Ye nodded, his tone light: "It is done."

Palace Master Mosha looked at him for a while, not saying much else: "Then drink a little less tonight; there are important matters tomorrow."

"Rest assured, don't you know me yet?" Xiao Ye patted her shoulder, "I never delay when it comes to important matters." Palace Master Mosha did not retort, only curled the corners of her mouth slightly, and turned back to continue kneading her Immortal medicine.

By the time the news reached Wangyue City, it was the next morning. The Zuo Family head could not hold the teacup in his hand, spilling it all over the table. He was stunned for a few moments before he could steady the cup: "This speed of Emperor Xiao... is it a bit too fast?" The butler beside him whispered: "Family head, should we prepare a congratulatory gift?"

"...Prepare it, prepare it now. Don't wait until others have finished sending theirs before we act." The Zuo Family head put down his tea, stood up, and walked towards the storehouse, muttering under his breath: "How many years has it been since his Ascension... and he is already an Immortal King..." The other families in Wangyue City were no better off, and some were even inquiring about the menu for the Xiao Realm's feast.

Xiao Ye was not in a hurry to go to the White-Clad Immortal Realm to submit any visiting cards, nor was he in a hurry to declare independence. He simply walked around the Xiao Realm, looking at the spirit fields, the Formations, and the seedlings that were slowly growing. He chose an open hilltop in the Xiao Realm, intending to build a formal main hall there in the future. Upon learning this, Li Dan immediately arranged for craftsmen and even said the foundation could be completed before the end of the year. Xiao Ye nodded after hearing this: "No rush, build it slowly."

At dusk, he returned to the main courtyard, where the banquet was already set. A-Zhu, Palace Master Mosha, Zhang Waner, and others were seated at one table, while Li Dan was verifying the last few dishes nearby. Xiao Ye took his seat at the head of the table and raised his wine cup. Looking at the familiar and new faces throughout the courtyard, he said softly: "The road is still long, but we are walking steadily. Let's eat tonight; as for future matters, we will take them one by one."

The night wind passed through the ridges of the Xiao Realm, lanterns lit up, and the distant spirit fields shimmered with a soft glow under the moonlight. This newly born Immortal King-level Small World finally had an aura of its own.

After the news of the Immortal King Breakthrough spread in Wangyue City, Xiao Ye did not rush to announce anything to the outside world, nor did he hold any grand Immortal King ceremony with great fanfare. He simply went to the backyard to play with the children, visited the spirit fields to check on the medicine, and went to the main courtyard to eat, just as he did every day; his life was no different from before the Breakthrough. Li Dan, however, privately prepared two extra sets of invitations, one labeled "Xiao Realm Celebration" and the other "Annual Banquet"—he said this was called being prepared for any contingency.

Xiao Ye did not object to this, only instructing him: "Don't be in a hurry to send them out yet; wait until I make a trip to the White-Clad Immortal Realm first."

"You are going yourself?" Li Dan was stunned for a moment.

"Yes. Some things are better said clearly in person than having others pass on the message."

Xiao Ye's tone was calm when he said this, and he was still holding his teacup and taking a sip, as if he were just chatting about what to eat tomorrow.

He brought no attendants and displayed no pomp; he went to the White-Clad Immortal Realm alone. The Immortal King in White seemed to have already anticipated his arrival; the palace doors were not closed, and even the tea had been prepared—it was the same Immortal tea with a faint floral fragrance that Xiao Ye had praised last time.

The Immortal King in White sat in the main seat, holding a scroll of books. Seeing him enter, he did not stand up, only raised his eyelids, his gaze lingering on him for a moment: "Immortal King?"

"Immortal King." Xiao Ye sat down opposite him, picked up the cup of tea and took a sip, then put it down, "I came to tell you something."

"Speak." The Immortal King in White put down the book.

"I want the Xiao Realm to become independent." Xiao Ye did not beat around the bush; his tone was straightforward, "This land was conquered by me, and now I have established a firm foothold, so I do not want to be under anyone's name anymore. You have treated me well over these years, and I am aware of that. That is why I came in person today; I am not here to fall out with you, but to make it clear to you—I do not intend to leave quietly, nor do I intend to leave you with any hidden troubles."

After hearing this, the Immortal King in White did not answer immediately. The palace was quiet for a moment, with only the faint rustling sound of wind blowing through bamboo leaves outside the window. He looked at Xiao Ye for a long while before speaking: "If you want to leave, I will not stop you. But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"Fight a battle with me." The Immortal King in White's tone was calm, "If you win, the Xiao Realm will have no further connection with the White-Clad Immortal Realm from now on, and we will each go our own way. If you lose, the Xiao Realm will remain under my command, but I can grant you nominal independence."

Xiao Ye was silent for an instant, then laughed: "Very well. You set the time and place."

"The ancient arena in the Tianxu Realm." The Immortal King in White stood up, "Three days from now."

Xiao Ye also stood up and cupped his hands in salute: "Then three days from now, I will see you in the Tianxu Realm."

When he walked out of the palace, the weather outside was just right, and the clouds of the White-Clad Immortal Realm were exceptionally bright. He flew back, calculating the confrontation in three days. The Immortal King in White was a long-renowned Immortal King who had stepped into this Realm countless years before him; naturally, he had many methods. However, he was not too worried—whether he could win or not was another matter; he first had to make his stance clear. Meals can be eaten slowly, but the path must be cleared first.

When he returned to the Xiao Realm, Li Dan was in the courtyard checking the menu. Seeing him return, he asked: "Master, what was the result?"

"We will fight in three days, and we will talk about the result after the fight."