Immortal Paladin

507 Art of Trolling… er… War…

[POV: Heavenly Flame]

In the dimly lit chamber of the War camp, the woman known as the Heavenly Flame sat motionless with her eyes closed for over two hundred years. Fiery red hair cascaded around her like living flames, casting a warm glow across the ancient stone walls as she channeled her power to heal the deep injuries she had sustained. Those wounds had come from the brutal clash against the invaders, particularly the devastating strike delivered by the entity called the Supreme Fallen.

The forces of the War camp had long viewed the Underworld as their rightful territory, and they had reacted with fury when outsiders dared to encroach upon it.

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she dropped immediately to one knee in a fluid motion of respect. “Greetings, Your Valiant Majesty,” she said, her voice steady despite the lingering pain. “How fares your diplomatic mission?”

The blond man before her, handsome and radiating an aura of unyielding command, broke into a broad grin. “It went well,” he replied smoothly. “Anything new?”

The Heavenly Flame grimaced slightly as she rose, her expression darkening with the memory of recent battles. “I fought an incredible expert. Despite being one major realm beneath me, he managed to injure me severely. Though I inflicted what should have been a fatal blow, his allies recovered him in time, and I could not ensure his end. I fear we are not facing one Supreme Being, but two.”

It had always been difficult to identify a Supreme Being among ordinary crowds, for they often appeared no different from anyone else. Only subtle signs, such as distinctive personalities and unique powers, betrayed their true nature. “We are only certain of the Supreme Bearer known as Da Wei,” she continued. “However, I believe there is a second one—the Supreme Fallen—an existence that our spies uncovered only after years of painstaking effort.”

War raised an eyebrow, his interest clearly piqued. “That’s rather concerning. How about their base of operations? Have you identified it?”

The Heavenly Flame nodded thoughtfully before answering. “Word among the ranks suggests the enemy maintains a single primary base, while their soldiers use the neighboring cities as secondary outposts in a system of mutual benefit. They have pushed their advance all the way to the Eighth Layer, which now serves as the current front line. If you grant us permission to raze the little cities in between and force them to reveal the location of their true headquarters, we will secure the information we need.”

War leaned closer to her, his strong hand gently caressing the side of her face at first. Then, with a sudden and harsh motion, he pulled her face toward his own, squeezing her lips and cheek in a firm grip. “I need you to work hard for me,” he said, his voice low and intense. “Can you do that?”

“Yes, Your Valiant Majesty,” she replied without hesitation, her eyes meeting his with unwavering loyalty.

In one violent surge of power, the Heavenly Flame ignited into brilliant flames and transformed herself into a gleaming sword. War grasped the weapon firmly as he strode out of the chamber, his steps purposeful and filled with anticipation.

Just as they emerged, Famine appeared before them without warning. The man presented a bizarre sight, his torso entirely absent and replaced by a swirling black hole that contained a delicate set of scales within its depths.

“I am glad you made it, brother,” War said with genuine warmth. “Ready to end your pacifistic ways?”

Behind Famine stretched an enormous armada composed of diverse forces drawn from across the Greater Universe. Countless warriors floated in the cold vacuum of space, some mounted on strange beasts, others aboard grand ships, towering pagodas, or all manner of mystical artifacts. Many of these groups were familiar to the Heavenly Flame, as they were the very same factions her own forces often competed against for mercenary contracts in smaller engagements throughout the cosmos.

War felt a thrill of excitement coursing through him, for this marked the first time he would participate in a conflict of such immense scale. The Heavenly Flame could sense his rising eagerness through the deep intimate connection they shared.

Despite bearing the name of War, the greatest battles he had ever fought were the internal struggles among his own brothers. No one else in the Greater Universe had dared challenge his overwhelming might. To satisfy his restless nature, he had turned to the hobby of raising powerful warriors and dispatching them across the realms for contract work. Now, at last, he could indulge fully in the war he had always craved.

“LET’S. DEPART,” Famine declared in a voice that echoed with finality.

War chuckled softly, his grip tightening on the sword that was the Heavenly Flame. “Don’t be impatient, brother,” he remarked. “Let me gather my army too.”

…

..

.

[POV: Hei Mao]

In the quiet sanctuary of Luminary’s Rest, a dark-haired young man wearing a red scarf sat busily at his desk within the spacious office. Hei Mao had observed a troubling uptick in recent days as various outposts of the Celestial Circle were quietly dissolved, abandoned, or simply withdrawn from the Underworld entirely.

At the same time, numerous factions, powers, and organizations originating from the Eighth Layer had begun retreating steadily toward the Ninth Layer. Although he had not paid much attention to these movements at first, their frequency had increased noticeably of late.

The most alarming development came when he lost all contact with Liang Na just recently. Her final missive had spoken only of strange movements stirring within War’s camp.

A Guardian’s voice rang out clearly across the chamber, carrying formal announcement. “Lady Zhu Chin of the Eternal Undeath Cult and Lord Wei Bao of the Heavenly Demonic Sect have arrived and request an audience.”

Hei Mao granted permission without delay, his tone calm and measured. “Let them enter.”

These two cultivators had returned their respective cults to the Hollowed World as Hei Mao’s master had suggested. Yet both had chosen to remain behind in service to the cause unfolding here. Not long ago, he had tasked them with investigating the growing unrest.

Lady Zhu Chin stepped forward first, her pale features composed and her voice steady as she began the report. “Young Master Hei Mao, according to the connections we have cultivated among the people of the Eighth Layer, a massive upheaval has taken place in recent weeks. Entire cities are emptying, supply lines are being severed, and many independent sects have begun fleeing toward safer territories.”

Lord Wei Bao continued seamlessly beside her, his demonic aura restrained but unmistakable. “More concerning is the alliance that has formed at the heart of this chaos. Famine and War have decided to join forces. They are mobilizing their combined armies with the explicit goal of repelling what they call the invaders from the Hollowed World. Their movements suggest they intend to strike soon and with overwhelming strength.”

Hei Mao scoffed audibly at the news, his expression hardening with irritation. “They started it first, damn it…”

If War had not acted so aggressively by sending an army straight into the Hollowed World, as newcomers, they would have begun with something far more peaceful, such as building an embassy or establishing an organization like a guild or even a church. Instead, the situation had escalated rapidly into open war, falling just short of a full crusade.

Moreover, the label of “invaders” felt misplaced in his view. The land had been free for the taking as far as everyone was concerned. It was not as though the Supreme Death had ever staked any formal claim upon these territories. He had simply left them to fall into ruin, allowing factions from other realms to fight over the scraps. If any true landowner existed at all, then there Holy Ascension Empire should have been paying tributes to them rather than to War.

Hei Mao was well aware that War’s camp had long been extorting bribes under the guise of taxes across the Eighth and Ninth Layers, despite holding no legitimate sovereign authority in those regions. His master had viewed the territory as free for the taking, so Da Wei had happily dispatched his players into the Ninth Layer, where they had quickly begun to establish ownership.

It helped that the local denizens of the Ninth Layer had soon come to rely heavily upon the players for support and stability. This reliance was probably one of the main reasons War had grown so aggressive, even going so far as to forge an alliance with Famine. The development could prove very troublesome indeed, since it meant the possibility of facing two Rulers of Laws at once, or perhaps even more. Hei Mao recalled the recent reports about the fiery-haired woman who had clashed directly with Ru Qiu.

Their own camp did not possess even a single Ruler of Law. While they counted a couple of Supreme Beings among their ranks, those individuals operated only at the Ascended Soul level. At best, they could hope to achieve some form of stalemate in any direct confrontation.

Hei Mao dismissed the two cultivators standing before him with a brief wave of his hand. “Thank you for the report. You may both take your leave and continue monitoring the situation.”

Just as the pair turned to depart, a powerful presence suddenly manifested itself just outside the city, announcing its arrival with unmistakable force.

When Hei Mao rose and peered through the window, he saw a vast gathering of ships hovering in the distance. At the forefront stood a naked woman wreathed in living flames, her fiery red hair blazing brightly as she exerted her overwhelming aura across the entire area.

The voice of the Heavenly Flame boomed forth, clear and commanding, as she declared the arrival of the great army of War. “The forces of His Valiant Majesty have come. Prepare yourselves, for the war you ignited now returns to your doorstep.”

Seriously?

In the tense atmosphere of his office within Luminary’s Rest, a holy skeleton named Ezekiel suddenly burst through the door with urgent haste. The skeletal figure came to an abrupt stop before the desk and delivered his message without delay. “Ru Qiu is unavailable. Your orders.”

Hei Mao responded swiftly, his voice carrying clear authority as he issued precise instructions. “Send word immediately to the Asura Eye on the moon to begin evacuation procedures. Prepare Luminary’s Rest for evacuation as well if the situation demands it. I will personally take care of our intruders.”

He could only raise his layers of immortality so far after the demanding centuries he had endured. The steady accumulation of faith, combined with occasional public appearances to battle threats, had helped strengthen those layers, yet the progress remained far from sufficient to confront a true Ruler of Laws. This Heavenly Flame clearly stood at that exalted level. He could not determine exactly how many laws she commanded, but her presence felt overwhelmingly tough and unyielding.

With a single powerful bound, Hei Mao positioned himself directly before the woman. “Can you put something on, lady?” he remarked dryly. “We get it, you’re hot. But being naked is not fashion.”

She stood barely covered by her volatile flames, which concealed only her most intimate areas while flickering wildly as though barely under control. Her eyes burned with intense brightness. “Ever seen a dying star, boy?” the woman replied, her tone laced with dangerous confidence. She brought her hands close together in a deliberate gesture.

The Heavenly Flame began reciting ancient sutras in a low, resonant chant that caused the surrounding air to tremble with accumulated power.

Hei Mao sensed a dangerous spike in quintessence that reminded him strongly of the Hollow Star and the Heaven Path associated with the God of Creation. He raised his palm closer to his face and declared firmly, “Mark of the Hollow.”

A black diamond immediately manifested upon his forehead while his bloody red scarf transformed into shimmering silver. From its folds, numerous skeletons and skulls struggled to crawl outward as if eager to join the fray.

He continued without pause, adding another invocation. “Immortal Art: Nether Gate Summoning Chant.” A red arc appeared within his eyes, forming a towering gate accompanied by the ethereal sound of a zither being plucked. “Divine Word: Re—”

He never managed to complete the phrase. A powerful hand clamped firmly over his mouth, cutting off the words. A blond man with striking crimson eyes materialized beside him, clad in armor of dark crimson, gold, and black. “Now, now, that’s just mighty rude,” the stranger said with mocking calm. “Where’s the introduction? The gravitas?”

Hei Mao could not see through the man’s cultivation level, raising the unsettling possibility that he too was a Ruler of Laws. “Let’s try again,” the man continued smoothly. “My name is War, and I’ve come to bloody pave the way for greatness!”

His grip tightened dangerously around Hei Mao’s mouth, causing bones to shatter under the pressure. Hei Mao activated Shadow Swap in an instant, exchanging their positions. Yet as if anticipating the movement perfectly, War’s hand drove straight through his chest and punctured his lung. Had he been even a fraction slower, the strike might have claimed his heart instead.

Hei Mao forced his silver scarf to wrap around War and hold him in place. With a swift hand gesture, he commanded, “Thousand Ezekiel Formation.”

The apparitions of bones emerging from his scarf animated and transformed into a surging wave of holy skeletons that rushed toward War. Each one unleashed its own Divine Smite with full force. However, instead of striking their intended target, every skeleton turned upon itself in a chaotic display of self-destruction.

War clenched his free fist with evident amusement. “Cool trick. I have something similar.”

He bit his lip sharply and spat a spray of blood directly onto Hei Mao’s face. The blood separated and manifested into three distinct versions of War. One landed a brutal knee strike to his face, another delivered a powerful kick to his abdomen, and the third unleashed a wild punch that sent him flying backward through the air.

Hei Mao reoriented himself mid-flight and skidded to a controlled halt. These War clones appeared far more fragile, each operating at roughly the Ascended Soul level. Wrapped around his scarf were two severed legs and one arm from the brief clash. The War clones soon dispersed into swirling bloody mist along the severed appendages.

He stared in growing horror as the Heavenly Flame hovered above the scene. She released her prayer beads as her skin began to crack audibly with building pressure.

The Heavenly Flame declared the name of her world-ending fire spell with solemn finality. “Behold, the Cataclysmic Ember of the Dying Star—Nova Requiem!”

In that critical moment, one of Hei Mao’s familiars named Yang spoke urgently into his ear, scolding him with clear frustration. “If there is something you cannot handle by yourself, you should not shy away from calling your master.”

When Hei Mao blinked once more, he suddenly found himself standing safely inside the Mighty Duck.

…

..

.

[POV: Da Wei]

It hadn’t been that long since I left to accumulate my layers of immortality, yet nearly a thousand years had slipped by in the blink of an eye. I guessed I was starting to develop the same distorted sense of time that cultivators possessed after centuries of seclusion. Anyway, I had only a microsecond before that flashy fire spell detonated and reduced Luminary’s Rest to cosmic dust.

I created dozens of rapid simulations within the Ophanim, sifting through every possible outcome until I found a viable solution. Without hesitation, I applied it.

“Starshroud, awaken,” I commanded.

My robes instantly transformed into gleaming starlit armor that hugged my body with protective warmth. I let my cape, the Dark Veil, detach itself completely, expanding outward until it formed a vast protective sphere that enveloped the entire city.

It was finally time to show the fruits of my long training. Right now, I stood at Level 99 Ascended Soul, with Starshroud itself having reached Level 100. I summoned every ounce of my Divine Qi through the Divine Zone, letting it surge across the city like a protective tide, and then waved my hand decisively.

“Egress.”

The entire city vanished from the surface in an instant, safely relocated just as the flames of annihilation erupted and scorched the world below into a barren wasteland. Losing the Dark Veil in the process stung deeply, but at least everyone inside the city remained alive. Still, the searing heat from those flames burned even through my defenses, forcing me to escape into the cold vacuum of space.

Bob the cyclops remained stationed on the moon, staring at me with his single unblinking eye. I blinked back at him using their shared language and communicated a single urgent message for him to leave immediately. He obeyed without question and departed.

A helm formed around my head as Starshroud’s voice echoed inside my mind, complaining loudly. “It hurts! It hurts! Agh! I’m gonna kill that bitch!”

Starshroud had clearly picked up some rather colorful language from Gu Jie during her rebellious phase. I recalled how often that girl had been cussing back then with unrestrained energy.

I looked down at the burning barren planet that had once served as our base of operations. A blond man suddenly appeared before me in the emptiness of space. I believed he was the one they called War. Behind him, the massive fleet of ships shifted into precise battle formation, and I could see heavy artillery weapons being aimed directly at my position.

War regarded me with a proud, confident grin as he spoke. “So you’re the one they call the Supreme Bearer, Da Wei. I’ve heard much about your little games in the Ninth Layer. It seems the rumors were not exaggerated.”

I tried to peer into his true nature using the Ophanim, but every attempt failed completely. The gap between Ascended Soul and Ruler of Laws was far greater than I had anticipated. That damn Conquest was definitely playing me, now that I’m looking back on it.

I summoned Silver Steel into my grasp and pointed the blade straight at him. “I challenge you to a duel!”

War threw his head back and laughed heartily, his crimson eyes sparkling with genuine amusement. “Hah! I like your gusto! Very well, I accept your challenge. Let us settle this with personal skill and power alone.”

I met his gaze firmly and added my condition without hesitation. “But you must not touch anyone else until our duel is concluded. Stake your word on it with a Binding Vow.”

War laughed again, clearly entertained by the demand. “Sure, but you must do the same.”

I had only recently learned the technique of Binding Vow from Aixin and had been experimenting with its applications in secret. War raised his hand and made his sacred oath with solemn weight. “I, War, Ruler of Laws, swear upon this sacred duel that I shall engage only the Supreme Bearer, Da Wei, using my personal skill and powers alone until one of us yields or falls. This I vow as a war promised to me.”

I mirrored the gesture and recited my own oath with equal resolve. “I, Da Wei, the Supreme Bearer, swear that I shall engage only War in this duel using my personal skill and powers alone until one of us yields or falls. This I vow.”

A burning sensation ignited on my right wrist as the vow took hold. I did not know exactly what the mark would look like, but it seemed the Binding Vow had successfully bound us both.

“Prepare yourself,” War said, his voice now edged with anticipation.

I nodded once. “But first, you have to catch me.”

With a swift activation of Egress, I vanished from the vacuum of space and reappeared inside the Mighty Duck. Alice stood steady at the wheel, guiding the ship with calm precision, while Gu Jie perched high on the crow’s nest, scanning the surroundings. Hei Mao turned toward me immediately, his expression filled with concern. “Master! How did it go? Did you beat him?”

I shrugged lightly, trying to sound more casual than I felt. “Not really, but I must say, War is not really that smart, huh?”

A heavy silence fell over the deck as everyone processed my words.

“…”