Immortal Paladin

[POV: Anna]

Among the champions His Holy Majesty had chosen stood Ding Cai, Fan Shi, Zhu Shin, Mai Duyi, Tian Mei, and lastly, Holy Speaker Anna.

Unlike the others, Anna was an elf born and raised in Radiant Losten, a daughter of the Holy Ascension Empire who had devoted every breath of her life to spreading the teachings of the Holy Emperor.

The Ninth City, Fate, had become one of her favorite destinations over the centuries. Its streets never lacked travelers, merchants, wandering spirits, cultivators, or souls seeking purpose. Whenever she arrived, she would always choose the busiest square, settle beneath the open sky, and allow her gentle voice to carry farther than any proclamation ever could.

Her fingers brushed across the strings of her lute, producing a tranquil melody that slowly drowned the noise of the bustling streets. One by one, pedestrians slowed their pace until they eventually stopped altogether. Some recognized the beautiful elf clad in a nun's habit, while others remained simply captivated by the serenity surrounding her.

"My brothers and sisters," Anna began softly, her voice carrying warmth that reached every corner of the square. "Long ago, our people believed the gods would always stand above us. We believed they would forever shelter us from every calamity and answer every prayer we uttered. Yet when darkness descended upon our homeland, those very gods faltered. They proved that even divinity could stumble beneath burdens too great to bear."

The concept of gods was not foreign to Radiant Losten as far and wide, there were many people like her who'd worshipped the sky, earth, ocean, trees, animals, and all manner of things not limited to those that could be seen represented either by idols or certain people in a society. Ancestor-worship was also a prevalent idea that spread everywhere in the Hollowed World.

The melody shifted into something quieter.

"I stood among those who questioned heaven. I mourned beside those who cursed fate. Then His Holy Majesty came before us, not as a distant deity demanding worship, but as a ruler who looked directly into our hearts. He rebuked us, not because he despised us, but because he refused to let us remain weak. He taught us that salvation did not descend from the heavens. It had to be nurtured within ourselves."

Her smile remained gentle.

"He spoke of the Great Guard. It was not merely a blessing bestowed by another. It was the courage to protect those behind you, the resolve to stand after every defeat, and the conviction that no darkness could extinguish a heart determined to shine. His Holy Majesty did not give us strength. He taught us how to awaken the strength that had always slept within our own souls."

The crowd listened in complete silence. Even those merely passing through found themselves lingering to hear the rest of her sermon.

Anna's hands never ceased moving across the lute strings, weaving every word into music.

"So do not wait for another miracle," she continued. "Become one yourselves. Guard your families. Guard your neighbors. Guard your convictions. Let the Great Guard flourish within your hearts until your courage becomes a beacon others may follow. If even one soul leaves here carrying that light today, then this humble sermon shall have fulfilled its purpose."

She lowered her head slightly before offering her closing words.

"May hope never abandon your steps, may courage never leave your hearts, and may the Great Guard forever watch over your journey."

A peaceful silence settled over the square.

Anna truly believed every word she spoke. More than a believer, she was a preacher whose faith had become inseparable from her very existence. None of this belonged to the trials His Holy Majesty had assigned her. No one had instructed her to travel from city to city preaching hope. She simply wished to do so. If her songs could strengthen even a single soul, then every mile she had walked across the Underworld had been worthwhile.

The soft rhythm of her lute continued, inviting the gathering audience to remain.

A nun dressed in white robes playing a lute already attracted curious gazes. Had she merely spoken, the performance would have ended there. Instead, Anna drew a deep breath.

She began to sing.

This part of her journey carried the greatest importance.

Unlike the other champions, whose trials centered around cultivation, craftsmanship, or combat, Anna's task seemed almost impossible. His Holy Majesty had given her only one command.

Let your voice be heard throughout every corner of the Underworld.

Even the Holy Emperor himself could not claim to know where the horizons of the Underworld ended. Not even Yama knew every forgotten land hidden beneath its eternal skies. How could one bard possibly allow her song to reach places even gods had yet to discover?

After centuries of contemplation, Anna found her own answer.

If her own voice could not travel that far, then her music would.

Across each of the nine great cities, she established a Bard's College dedicated to preserving and teaching her compositions. Her students copied every lyric by hand, carried them to distant settlements, taught them to wandering minstrels, and entrusted them to future generations. For the past thousand years, she had wandered wherever roads existed, spreading her songs through parchment, memory, performance, and the voices of others.

Whether she had succeeded remained unknown.

Still, she continued.

The first verse rose gently.

"Raise your banners high with honor,

Though the heavens veil the dawn.

Hope endures where hearts remember,

Even when all light seems gone.

"From Yellow Dragon City's ashes,

Walked a stranger none could name.

Bearing neither crown nor glory,

Only purpose wrapped in flame.

"Step by step he faced the darkness,

Friend by friend his family grew.

Every trial became a promise,

Every promise carried through.

"Stand together, never falter.

Lift the fallen from despair.

For the one who guards another,

Finds the heavens waiting there."

As Anna sang, brilliant motes of light gathered around her.

Tiny wind spirits danced above the crowd.

Flames flickered into crimson birds.

Water elementals wove flowing rivers through the air.

Earth spirits sculpted mountains from floating dust.

Together they painted living scenes from the Holy Emperor's earliest adventures. The audience witnessed Yellow Dragon City rising from shimmering light. They saw a young Da Wei beginning his journey, forging friendships, overcoming impossible challenges, standing against enemies far stronger than himself, and leading others through unwavering determination. Every image shifted seamlessly into the next as though countless living paintings floated above the square.

Anna had performed this piece hundreds of times before, yet today something had changed. The visions no longer resembled mere illusions. Every landscape now possessed astonishing depth, every face seemed vibrantly alive, and every battlefield thundered with invisible echoes. Even the wind surrounding the square responded to her melody, as if the world itself had awakened to her music.

Far beyond the Ninth City, the song continued to travel. It swept across ruined plains, rivers of souls, and forgotten kingdoms buried beneath endless darkness. Unhindered, the melody spread throughout the Underworld, slipping through unseen passages that connected the realms. It crossed into the Mortal Plane, drifted beyond the skies, and, for one fleeting moment, brushed against the distant stars themselves before continuing onward into the endless sea of creation.

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The final note lingered in the air. A profound silence followed, and then thunderous applause erupted throughout the square. Cheers echoed from every direction as countless listeners rose to their feet. Anna smiled warmly before lowering her lute.

A familiar presence suddenly appeared beside her. The Holy Emperor stood there quietly, his expression carrying unmistakable pride.

Strangely, no one else reacted.

Only Anna could perceive him.

"You've done well," he said with a smile.

Anna immediately bowed her head.

"My thanks, Your Holy Majesty."

His figure gradually dissolved into countless motes of golden light.

Before disappearing completely, he spoke once more.

"I peered through the Ophanim and witnessed your song for myself. It crossed the breadth of the Underworld, reached the Mortal Plane, and even brushed the distant stars. Your voice has become mighty, Anna, and your song is truly free."

The final mote vanished.

Anna remained standing silently for a moment before turning back toward the waiting audience.

She bowed deeply.

"Thank you all for lending your ears. May hope accompany every step of your journey."

The crowd answered with another wave of applause before slowly dispersing.

Just as Anna prepared to leave, the Holy Emperor's voice echoed gently within her mind.

"Find your fellow champions and return to the ruins of the Heavenly Divine Cult at once. The battle against the Supreme Heart's champions draws near. Only four hundred years remain before fate demands your presence."

Anna wasted no time.

With a quiet prayer, she summoned her faithful elementals once more.

The tiny spirits scattered across the city like birds searching for familiar faces.

It did not take long.

Mai Duyi had just finished another exhausting day at the forge, wiping soot from his face while examining a newly completed bullet.

Together they headed toward the city's main gate.

Before long, they encountered Tian Mei waiting beside the road.

The three had become familiar companions during their journey through the ancient ruins and had relied upon one another countless times while escaping its dangers. Fate had reunited them once again.

Unfortunately, peace lasted only a few moments.

"You stole my prey the last time!" Mai Duyi complained. "I had spent three days tracking that spirit beast before you appeared and scared it straight into your trap."

Tian Mei folded her arms with an unrepentant snort.

"Your prey? It attacked me first. If you were faster with that metal tube of yours, maybe it wouldn't have reached me."

"It reached you because you lured it away!"

"I lured nothing. You're just slow."

"I was setting up the perfect strike!"

"You've been setting up that perfect strike for half an hour."

Anna sighed quietly as the two continued bickering all the way toward the city gates.

A gentle smile nevertheless appeared upon her lips.

Some things, she supposed, never changed.

…

..

.

[POV: Da Wei]

I yawned as I turned another skewer over the grill, listening to the satisfying hiss of premium meat dripping fat onto glowing charcoal. The aroma alone could have made emperors abandon their thrones.

The beach party was still going strong, although the guests had changed considerably. The only ones left were the Ezekiels. Some played volleyball near the shoreline while others floated lazily atop crystal-clear waters. A handful of women laughed as the waves chased them across the white sand, their colorful swimsuits contrasting beautifully against the azure sea. Others rested beneath large parasols, sipping fruit juice while chatting amongst themselves, their carefree smiles making the entire island feel far removed from the burdens waiting beyond its shores.

Hei Mao had already returned to his duties in the Underworld, and Gu Jie had done the same to oversee matters within the Hollowed World during my absence. In Gu Jie's case, she only left after cussing me out in every colorful way imaginable. She called me an irresponsible father, accused me of slacking off while everyone else worked themselves to the bone, and somehow managed to insult my ancestors. The impressive part was that she somehow invented entirely new insults halfway through the tirade. I couldn't even be angry. I was almost proud.

She had gotten the wrong idea, though.

I wasn't fooling around.

I just happened to have a break.

I picked up one of the freshly grilled skewers and took a bite.

"...Mm."

It tasted incredible.

That was hardly surprising. When every ingredient came from carefully managed spirit ranches, immortal orchards, and oceans that ordinary cultivators could never dream of reaching, even mediocre cooking produced extraordinary food. Fortunately, I wasn't mediocre. I couldn't even be 'mediocre' if I wanted to.

Another yawn escaped me as I looked toward the horizon.

Far beyond the beach, Zhu Shin and Fan Shi were exchanging blows above the ocean. Every collision split apart the sea beneath them, sending walls of water soaring into the heavens before gravity reclaimed them. Sharp spear intent intertwined with ghostly energy while spiritual pressure rolled outward in waves.

On the opposite side of the island, Ding Cai sparred against one of the Ezekiels directly under my control. Brilliant explosions bloomed across the sky every few seconds as formations collided against holy arts, neither side giving an inch.

Watching them train made me smile.

I genuinely felt proud.

None of them treated the upcoming contest lightly.

They understood what was at stake.

So did I.

Because if I lost, I'd end up bearing Supreme Heart's baby.

...

I was a dude.

Just imagining it gave me the heebie-jeebies.

That was saying a lot considering I had challenged the Great Beast itself, the literal incarnation of the apocalypse. Sometimes I honestly scared myself with the things I was willing to do. Somehow, that possibility still ranked higher on my list of nightmares.

Supreme Heart's scheme was disturbing enough that I couldn't allow myself even the slightest complacency.

The frustrating part was that I still couldn't understand his true objective.

No matter how much intelligence flowed into my hands, no matter how many future possibilities my precognition revealed, every path surrounding him dissolved into uncertainty. Even with countless people sharing information through my network, the central mystery remained untouched.

Shouquan had recently uncovered an interesting lead involving an incomplete prophecy.

I'd already glimpsed fragments of it myself through the Ophanim.

Of course, they were just fragments, and nothing more. There simply wasn't enough to piece together. I sighed and decided to stop thinking about it before I gave myself another headache. Instead, I focused on feeding the hungry line of Ezekiels waiting patiently beside the grill.

Several reclined comfortably beneath beach umbrellas. Some lay on their stomachs while another Ezekiel rubbed fragrant oil across their backs before giving leisurely massages. Others chatted happily while waiting for their next serving of barbecue.

I swore I had absolutely nothing to do with this arrangement.

"Yo, my man!"

I looked up.

Jue Bu strolled toward me wearing beachwear that somehow looked even more ridiculous on him than I thought possible. He'd already been here for nearly ten hours.

There was no way he'd discovered this place by accident.

...

Gu Jie.

She definitely snitched.

Beside him stood two Ezekiels in their original Holy Skeleton forms. One rested an arm around each of his shoulders in an oddly affectionate half-embrace while he grinned like he'd achieved enlightenment.

"What do you want?" I asked flatly. "And what's with them?"

He struck a thoughtful pose.

"I've been trying new things. Remember when I was just bones? The complete skeleton package."

"I unfortunately do."

"Lately I've been wondering what actually makes a skeleton handsome." He gestured proudly toward the two skeletal Ezekiels. "Don't get me wrong. Your body's handsome and all, but I want to prove to my peers that I was handsome before I borrowed this body."

"Stole."

Without waiting for permission, he reached over, stole one of my skewers, and took a huge bite.

"Oh... this is good."

I stared at him.

"You are so shameless that I'm genuinely tempted to stab you with this grill."

He swallowed happily.

"Worth it."

I sighed.

"So... what do you actually want?"

His carefree smile vanished.

Without warning, he dropped to both knees, and then he kowtowed.

"Please don't let me bear Supreme Heart's babies."

I blinked.

"Huh?"

Then realization struck me.

...

"Oh."

...

"Oh!" I pointed at him excitedly. “I didn’t even think of that. You’re a genius, Jue Bu!”

His face instantly turned pale. “Hey,” he said, slowly backing away on his knees. “Don’t do this.” A nervous laugh escaped him. “I came here voluntarily to beg you face-to-face. Come on, man. You’re not actually thinking about throwing me under the bus, right?”

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. It made perfect sense. “The Supreme Heart wouldn’t even know the difference. You inherited all my memories. This is perfect, Jue Bu. Thanks for volunteering.”

“No!” His expression collapsed into utter despair. He pointed at me accusingly. “Fuck you! I can’t! Please, man…”

I shrugged. “What happened to you? Weren’t you the one who always joked about changing genders? And literally can do it, too?”

“I’m a changed man!” He slammed both fists against the sand dramatically. “Okay? Being cursed by the Supreme Void, trapped in an endless cycle of painful reincarnation, spending ages as a miserable ghost while the curse kept grinding away at my sanity… that kind of thing really messes with a person’s head!” He took a deep breath. “I only joked about bending genders because it was funny! I’ve always been a straight guy.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve always been… what?”

“I think.”

“You think?”

“Yes!” He immediately straightened his back. “I’m straight!”

I looked down at him the same way one might inspect garbage someone forgot to throw away. This guy truly had no shame.

“I suppose…” I pretended to think for a moment. “How about I unban you from visiting courtesan houses?”

His eyes lit up so brightly they nearly glowed. “Really?”

I nodded. “You just have to be my fall guy if I lose.” I waved dismissively. “Don’t worry. I won’t lose.”

He actually considered it for nearly ten full seconds, and then realization dawned across his face.

His expression darkened.

"You fucker."

He pointed furiously at me.

"You literally passed a bill not long ago encouraging courtesan houses and every adjacent business to gradually transition into entertainment media once the Workshop finishes its first cost-efficient colored television!"

He continued pointing.

"By the time your contest with Supreme Heart is over, there'll hardly be any courtesan houses left!"

I clicked my tongue.

"Tch."

I genuinely thought he'd fall for it.