Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

Surrounded by golden, blazing energy, Xu Yang's body trembled, as strands of flame-like golden brilliance carrying an ancient and searing aura surged into his body and dispersed through all his bones.

Even with his flawless pure body, he could still feel waves of burning pain brewing within him.

And this was tempering his Immortal Essence and Immortal Foundation.

Of course, even the energy overflow from an ancient star rendered nearly no effect in that refinement.

It was only somewhat effective at enhancing his physical body.

Xu Yang stood still and unshakable, eyelids half-closed, drawing a crystal toward himself.

After swallowing the crystal, a surge of energy shot straight to his Immortal Foundation, merging into his Immortal Essence.

It was somewhat stronger than pure energy alone.

At the same time, Yang Hua, standing mid-air, glanced at Xu Yang without a trace of emotion.

"This youth's foundation is truly terrifying."

"Yuan'Er's guess that he's already forged a Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation might not be wrong."

At this thought, a grave look washed over Yang Hua's face.

Ninth Grade Immortal Foundations are rarely seen in the Black and White Star Heavens.

Even if Yang Yuan had transformed through the ancient star to reach the Eighth Grade Immortal Foundation, he still couldn't compare.

"I must seize the initiative, continuously raise our strength, and completely suppress him—give him no time to grow."

"Best to kill him!"

Killing intent flashed in Yang Hua's eyes, but all he could do was sigh.

Want to kill Xu Yang?

No matter what, he couldn't make a move in the Northern Continent, and certainly not with anyone from the Yang Family.

Otherwise, the Yang Family would be annihilated.

After all, if Xu Yang truly possessed a Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation, he'd be far too precious to Black Fire Immortal Mountain.

Even a Golden Immortal might not be able to succeed if they tried.

Such a powerful immortal sect couldn't be without defenses.

"Liou Xueyan has already gone to the Eastern Continent, and it seems there's a contract between him and the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace."

"And with his talent, he likely won't be able to resist heading to the Eastern Continent himself before long."

The Eastern Continent is, no doubt, the perfect opportunity.

Though a Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation is astonishing, there is no shortage of mighty experts.

To kill a monster from the Northern Continent?

Few would care.

Some might even welcome it.

Thinking of this, Yang Hua smiled faintly, then turned his gaze to Yang Yuan: "Yuan'Er, this opportunity was left for you by the Old Ancestor. Whether you can break through the shackles in your heart after your transformation depends on your own means."

With that, he slowly closed his eyes, remaining alert to the surroundings.

Below, as time passed, Yang Yuan was wholly enveloped by the ancient star, his figure no longer clear.

His vague silhouette seemed to be embraced by holy flames, those fires mingling with golden brilliance—like a gorgeous mantle of clouds—his aura surging and ever rising.

Inside, his Immortal Foundation continued to transform.

Not far off.

The power of the energy and crystals gradually faded, and finally, Xu Yang simply fed them all to the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod, turning them into accumulated Purest Essence Qi.

Half a day later.

Xu Yang finished cultivating, the surrounding energy and crystals all devoured clean.

He turned his gaze to Yang Yuan.

The ancient star had shrunk by a third, but the process was not yet done.

Xu Yang was in no hurry, sitting down and adjusting his state while he waited.

As for the Ancient Shadow Gold Mine, he wasn't worried.

With Ji Mengshan connected to Ji Hong, it could be trusted.

If the other side was wise, they wouldn't try anything treacherous.

On that point, Xu Yang was confident.

A Peak of Celestial Immortal powerhouse was enough to handle almost any accident.

Moreover, he'd left a warning method there; if anything happened, he'd know the moment trouble arose and could rush back in no time.

He could even ask Yang Hua for help and be sent back in an instant.

Two days later.

The ancient star had vanished completely.

Only Yang Yuan remained seated, bathed in ancient holy light.

A dreadful aura steadily spread out, filling the area.

Xu Yang stared intently, deeply unsettled within.

Yang Yuan's cultivation was at the Late Stage of Celestial Immortal, and this aura had already surpassed Ji Mengshan's.

And it was still growing.

If they really fought, Xu Yang couldn't say for sure he'd win.

About an hour passed.

The holy light around Yang Yuan's body suddenly converged inward. His figure shook, then shot into the sky, his surging aura swelling in an instant, raging like an ocean, battering the heavens and earth.

Boom, boom, boom~~

Amidst violent muffled rumbles, waves of fury rippled out from Yang Yuan's center, twisting the space around him like a formless storm, exploding outward.

Boom!

Yang Yuan soared without warning, the ground beneath him caving in a dozen feet deep.

He slowly opened his eyes, golden brilliance tumbling within, right on the verge of bursting forth.

Waves of energy raged about him, making it feel as if one had been tossed into a tempest, the soul shaken in terror.

Yang Yuan slowly stretched out his arms, lifted his head.

Whoosh!

Immortal light blazed forth.

An immortal lotus manifested: three tiers, seventy-two petals—Eighth Grade.

Yang Hua gazed at the sight, joy blooming thick upon his face.

The Immortal Foundation transformed, advancing to the Eighth Grade.

A good fortune never before seen.

In the future, Yang Yuan's breakthrough to Golden Immortal was all but certain. Beyond Golden Immortal, he too could ascend without effort.

Yang Yuan himself was utterly exhilarated.

Feeling the strength of his Eighth Grade Immortal Foundation, the unprecedented transformation, he couldn't help but breathe deep, then suddenly throw his head back and roar into the sky.

For a long while.

He suddenly met Yang Hua's gaze, something stirring inside him, as he whirled around to look.

"Xu Yang!"

Yang Yuan's eyes flared with dazzling divine light, his fighting spirit ignited, instantly burning like fire and roaring skyward, flooding the land with its might.

"Xu Yang, dare you fight me?"

Yang Yuan's robes billowed, immortal radiance shone all around, his might pierced the heavens—an earth-shattering shout unleashed a storm sweeping over all.

That momentum, it was simply not of the Celestial Immortal Realm.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Xu Yang showed not a trace of fear, stepping up to face Yang Yuan across the void.

He was serene and unmoved, yet unmoved also by Yang Yuan's overwhelming oppression.

Yang Yuan's eyes churned with waves, then filled with confidence; in a flash, he vanished from sight.

"Mr. Xu, in our past bouts there were always restrictions."

"Today, let us hold nothing back—fight our fill, not to the death, but for victory!"

"Agreed!"

Boom!

Xu Yang slashed a blade toward the space ahead, empty and waiting.

Bang!

A massive hand seemed to shift instantly through a thousand feet of space to seize the saber edge with pinpoint accuracy.

Their eyes met, both overflowing with boundless fighting spirit.

Xu Yang was first to shudder the blade, summoning layers of saber waves howling upward.

Yang Yuan grinned, cupped his hand and swept sideways, a thousand troops' might shredding all the saber waves to dust.

In the next instant, his speed soared. The moment Xu Yang raised his saber, he darted out like an arrow, his aura condensed to the utmost, and with a casual punch he struck the Daluo Saber.

Clang!

Punch light blazed, the force heavy as a mountain, forcing the Daluo Saber to dip downward in a flash.

Xu Yang's wrist cracked, yet instantly twisted and stabilized; using the downward force, he flipped backward explosively.

Yang Yuan ghosted above him, a tilt to his lips, his feet suddenly pooling ten thousand immortal runes, forming a vast golden immortal tide—here, immortal runes interlaced, exuding tyrannical, explosive power that surged like a sea.

As he stomped down, the immortal tide surged forth with a thunderous roar.

A strike to astound the world.

Xu Yang's whole body tensed; this blow from Yang Yuan was overwhelming, yet he felt no fear, and with a skyward shout, his Immortal Essence erupted powerfully as he raised his saber to meet the attack.

Rain poured down about him, man and blade as one.

The secrets of the Rain Division stirred, surging outward irresistibly.

Clang—clang—clang~~

Amid a storm of shattering blasts, the heavens and earth seemed to collide and collapse as wave upon wave of chaos crashed outward.

At the epicenter, everything was annihilated, leaving behind a crater hundreds of feet wide.

The immortal tide too shattered right after.

Yet a figure fell wretchedly amid the wreckage, saber ki erupting all about, his state most dire.

It was Xu Yang, now at a disadvantage.

"Mr. Xu, this is only the beginning—be careful."

Yang Yuan's confidence only surged, a flash of arrogance passing his face as his aura grew still stronger.