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Chapter 511: The Shroud of Night!

It swept across the realm like a vast hemispherical drapery, pivoting from east to west over the Great Dao Celestial Realm, with the north-south axis as its spindle. A full rotation marked the passing of a day.

Folk often remarked that the realm by day and by night wore vastly different faces. By light, it blazed with brilliance, flames roared, and celestial mists wove around joyous dances of the Celestial Court. Smiles lit the faces of the Immortals.

By night, it was pitch black, the celestial fires stained with darkness, brimming with brutality and malevolence. Specters roamed, and folk huddled within their home\'s protective formations, fearing to tread outside.

Where the dark canopy passed, blood often followed. However, Yun Xiao, newly arrived, was yet to grasp these complexities. When he first witnessed the descent of the dark canopy, all he felt was awe and grandeur.

It did not sweep from above but rather enveloped from beneath, as if the very ground of Sky Soaring City was swallowed by darkness, plunging the world momentarily into night.

The overflow of the Celestial Sourcecore was severed! Fortunately, it wasn’t long before lights twinkled in Sky Soaring City, restoring warmth to this celestial city within the Celestial Court.

“Lian Xi, eat, eat.” In the night, Lu Yao’s mother prepared a feast.

The three gathered around a humble table, at its center a wild fire with a delightful celestial pig roasting above it, sizzling and dripping with fat, tempting even the most disciplined.

Beside it were a few dishes steeped in celestial essence.

“Even though Arbiter Lu’s family holds no high status in Sky Soaring City, this quality of life is beyond what the mortal realm can offer,” Yun Xiao mused.

Such a simple meal could extend the lives of mortals. But this was a difference of worlds, understandable through the hierarchy of the celestial ladder.

“Delicious…” Lian Xi\'s bowl was brimming with meat, her lips glossy with grease under the glow of the wild fire, her cheeks shimmering, endearingly radiant.

When they slaughtered the little celestial pig, Lian Xi was nearly moved to tears, her heart aching so much that she almost cried. Yet now, she reveled in her meal with unbridled joy.

“You aren’t exactly a saint, are you?” Yun Xiao teased.

“I’m human, and I only care about human survival. Who cares if it’s a pig?” Lian Xi retorted with a huff.

Hearing this exchange, the woman in plain clothes, sensing the warmth between them, couldn’t help but beam with happiness, hurrying to serve more dishes to Lian Xi. Despite her blindness, her movements were swift and sure.

Earlier that day, other members of the Lu household had visited. They affectionately called Lu Yao’s mother Miss Yu, who was well-liked within the household, not least because of her son, Arbiter Lu.

Since Yun Xiao\'s arrival, he had often heard, “Child, don’t cause trouble when you return. Work hard and try for the Arbiter exam. You still have a chance!”

“Your father, Lu Bufan, was a hero who dedicated his life to his career. You mustn\'t disgrace him.”

At these words, Miss Yu would quickly interject, “No more exams, no more. What matters most is that my Lil Yao is happy!”

After a busy day, Yun Xiao had fully stepped into Lu Yao\'s shoes. No one suspected him of being a stowaway anymore! He planned, after this dinner, to start leveraging the resources of the Great Dao Celestial Realm to rapidly enhance his skills.

Just as they were eating, a voice outside bellowed, “The Madame and Young Master have arrived!”

Hearing this, Miss Yu\'s body trembled slightly. She quickly put down her chopsticks and called out to Yun Xiao and Lian Xi, “Quick, quick, let\'s go greet them.”

Lian Xi and Yun Xiao exchanged a glance, with the former quickly putting on the white tiger mask.

As soon as Miss Yu finished speaking, a woman of regal bearing, clad in a fox fur Immortal robe, stepped in. Beside her walked a young man in platinum armor, his features noble and smile bright.

Several maids trailed behind them, their beauty and grace ethereal, as if descended from the heavens.

“Miss Yu\'s family greets the Madame and Young Master,” the plainly dressed woman hastily pulled Yun Xiao and Lian Xi, preparing to kneel.

“Cousin, please don’t,” the elegant woman stepped forward, her movements seemingly slow but reaching Miss Yu in an instant. She gently lifted Miss Yu with a tender smile, “Today is a day of joy for your family reunion. Let\'s dispense with these formalities.”

“Yes, yes,” Miss Yu quickly nodded, then tugged at Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao then said, “Lu Yao greets the Madame and Young Master.”

The woman and Lu Changfeng had already been observing Yun Xiao from the corners of their eyes.

“Lil Yao, after ten years, you still look distinguished,” the woman said softly with a gentle smile.

Yun Xiao shook his head. “Appearances are superficial, not worthy of mention. These ten years without any achievement in the celestial path, I truly have no face to meet with the Lu Immortal Manor…”

“It’s okay!” The woman patted his shoulder lightly/ “Your courage to return shows your desire to start anew. We all believe in you, right, Changfeng?”

Lu Changfeng grinned. “Yes, yes, if you have any questions about cultivation in the future, come find your brother anytime.”

"Thank you, Young Master," Yun Xiao nodded.

"Just call me Brother Changfeng," Lu Changfeng said heartily.

"Yes, Brother Changfeng," Yun Xiao replied with another nod.

"By the way, your brother Changfeng is now an Arbiter too, making his own name at the Skyruler Immortal Manor. If you want to apply for the Arbiter position in the future, I can help you," the woman added.

Lu Changfeng nodded thoughtfully. "Lil Yao has a pure heart and detests evil. He\'s got the right stuff to be an Arbiter... Don\'t be discouraged, there are plenty of opportunities."

"Really?" Yun Xiao asked, his eyes alight with excitement.

"Of course, haha..." Lu Changfeng laughed.

"Yes, yes." Miss Yu, overhearing this, also breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly.

Just then, the woman pulled out a jade box and spoke earnestly to Yun Xiao, "My child, you\'ve probably endured much hardship these ten years, breaking your mother\'s heart. As your aunt, let me give you a little something. This peach from the Celestial Peach Empire, grown on the Kunlun Mountain of the Queen Dowager, was meant for your little cousin, but now I give it to you."

"No, no," Miss Yu hurriedly interjected. "That\'s too precious, it really shouldn\'t be... Lil Yao, you can\'t accept..."

"Hmm?" The woman\'s face tightened, her voice stern, "Cousin, when I decide to give something, you can\'t refuse it."

"I\'ll accept it, then!"

Before Miss Yu could protest again, Yun Xiao quickly grabbed the jade box.

This surprised both the woman and Lu Changfeng.

"This... this..." Miss Yu could only bow in thanks, her heart fluttering with nerves. The gift was too significant, too overwhelming.

After presenting the gift, the woman glanced around the room and smiled. "With that, I won’t disturb your family reunion any longer."

"Please stay a while longer, Madame."

"No need, no need. Changfeng has matters to attend to, what with the Arbiter exams tomorrow. He\'s very busy," the woman said, looking at her son with pride.

"Well then, we’ll see the Madame and Young Master out," Miss Yu said, bowing deeply.

The woman smiled and turned to leave. At the doorway, she paused and looked back at Lian Xi, inquiring, "Miss, why hide your true face?"

Following her gaze, one could see oil stains on Lian Xi’s chin and neck, indicating the mask was only recently put on.

"Madame, she\'s a bit ugly, a bit self-conscious," Yun Xiao explained.

"That won\'t do, not at all." The woman shook her head. "Miss, being married into the Lu family, you need to have confidence."

She didn’t dwell on the matter and walked on.

A few dozen steps later, the Madam flicked her wrist, and her maids quickly vanished into the darkness. Stopping, she turned to her son and said, "We have a conclusion."

"Oh?" Lu Changfeng raised an eyebrow.

"This fellow, from start to finish, bore you no ill will. He knows nothing of Lu Yao\'s affairs; he\'s just a freeloader," the woman said, somewhat exasperated.

"The nerve of him," Lu Changfeng remarked with a cold laugh.

"His existence is actually a boon for you. Just appease him with a peach, and he’ll be utterly loyal to you. From now on, you’re essentially untainted," the woman paused, "These years, Lu An has been probing into his brother’s case. If he ever finds a clue, it would be troublesome, given their family\'s status as martyrs with public sympathy."

"Alright, got it," Lu Changfeng muttered.

"You’re thinking, since this impostor doesn\'t know the truth, why not eliminate him and end it all, right?" The woman glared.

"Uh…" Lu Changfeng was taken aback.

"Have you ever been able to hide your thoughts from me as you grew up?" the woman said helplessly.

"Don\'t worry, I won\'t kill him!" Lu Changfeng smirked and then slinked away.

"That boy, always too hasty, can\'t keep calm in the face of anything," the woman sighed, shaking her head.

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It was a dinner that would be etched into Yun Xiao’s memory. It rivaled the night he and the disciples at the Sword Pavilion shared a spicy hotpot. The hotpot was fiery and tingling, blazing red like blood.

Now, the grease seeping from this roasted suckling pig was like the warmth of the Immortal path.

Together, they shaped Yun Xiao\'s understanding of cultivation.

After dinner, Yun Xiao and Lian Xi sat on the rooftop of the courtyard, watching the world under the dark canopy twinkling with lights.

"Lu Yao must have been killed by Lu Changfeng," Yun Xiao suddenly said.

"How do you know?" Lian Xi was startled.

"I understand people better than you do," Yun Xiao stated simply.

"Uh..." Lian Xi turned, looking at Miss Yu bustling in the yard, always with a smile on her face, and said somberly, "She\'s had it tough, losing both her children. Especially Lu Yao, who died ten years ago..."

"Heh." Yun Xiao took out the jade box, opening it to reveal a peach enveloped in celestial mist.