Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Young Master, what's wrong?"

Seeing Yang Xiao frozen in place with a grim expression, Ye Dongge couldn't help but ask softly.

Yang Xiao, who had been watching the images sent from the Thousand Mechanism Eye, was jolted back to his senses.

He didn't answer.

Instead, he continued to communicate with the Thousand Mechanism Eye.

"Thousand Mechanism Eye, how long until the people outside arrive? How much farther ahead before we run into those Evil Spirits?"

Yang Xiao asked.

The Thousand Mechanism Eye silently calculated for a moment before replying, "They're about ten kilometers ahead. The people outside should arrive in about half an hour."

"Half an hour?"

A flash of light crossed Yang Xiao's eyes.

He glanced at Ye Dongge, then considered his own strength.

He began to weigh his options.

Right now, there were two paths before him.

One was to continue forward, get the Cold Yin Spirit Fire ahead, and break through as soon as possible.

The other was to retreat, take Yue Lingxi, and leave this place, avoiding both crises.

'Since I've confirmed the Cold Yin Spirit Fire is actually in there, I can come back for it anytime. I should go back and get Lingxi out of here first. And Ye Dongge, too, so I don't expose his identity.'

Yang Xiao didn't hesitate for long.

He decisively gave up on the Cold Yin Spirit Fire for now, planning to return quickly. After all, the people outside were clearly more dangerous. If he didn't do anything, Yue Lingxi would likely be doomed.

But just as he was planning this, a dense wave of Evil Qi took advantage of his distraction, erupting from within and lunging straight for Yang Xiao.

Ye Dongge's reaction this time was remarkably fast.

Seeing that Yang Xiao didn't seem to have noticed, an idea struck him. His aura flared as he raised his hand and unleashed a fierce palm strike.

In an instant, he forcefully suppressed that wave of Evil Qi.

"Young Master, this place is extremely dangerous. You can't just lose focus like that. Otherwise, it's easy to be invaded by the Evil Qi."

Ye Dongge said cautiously after he was done.

Though he was smug inside, his face showed only reverence.

He really looked the part of a loyal servant.

"Thanks."

Yang Xiao nodded slightly.

It was true he hadn't noticed this time. Although he wasn't afraid at all, thanks to the Ten Thousand Poison Source Pearl, Ye Dongge's actions were indeed well-intentioned.

Yang Xiao wasn't so stingy as to not even offer a word of thanks.

"ROAR!"

But at that moment, the roar of an Evil Spirit came from within.

Yang Xiao's expression changed instantly.

Ye Dongge's expression also changed drastically.

Because he knew he had caused trouble.

"The Evil Spirits have been alerted."

Yang Xiao's expression wasn't good, but he knew Ye Dongge hadn't done it on purpose.

"Young Master, let's go, quickly."

Ye Dongge also knew the Evil Spirits inside were formidable. Just from their roars and auras, he could feel terrifying presences, each comparable to his own, surging toward them.

He had clearly stirred up a hornet's nest.

More than just one or two Evil Spirits had been disturbed.

So, without hesitation, he stepped forward, grabbed Yang Xiao, and prepared to leave.

But at that very moment, a crazy idea flashed through Yang Xiao's mind.

'Perhaps… I can do this.'

A thought struck him, and his eyes grew resolute. He shook his head at Ye Dongge. "Wait here for me. I'll be right back."

After speaking, he gently tore with both hands.

He actually tore open the void before him.

His figure stepped inside and vanished from Ye Dongge's sight.

This time, Ye Dongge was truly stunned.

Although he was at Daoist Tier Seven, a technique like Yang Xiao's Void Shifting was something only a master at the Peak of Dao Tier could possibly comprehend.

Normally, it was a technique of Void Immortal Level experts.

For example, his master, Ye Xuanfeng, had comprehended such an ability at the Peak of Dao Tier and was hailed throughout the entire Profound Celestial Sect as the genius most likely to step into the Void Immortal Realm.

His status was extremely high.

And Ye Dongge considered himself a genius, but he had never been able to grasp the knack of Void Shifting.

He was unable to comprehend it.

But Yang Xiao…

His aura was only at the Peak of Profound Tier, not even reaching the True Tier, yet he had already comprehended such a technique. Even though Ye Dongge knew Yang Xiao's background was extraordinary and had already witnessed his varied and terrifying methods, he was still shaken beyond belief.

And amidst his shock, the void before him instantly split open again.

Yang Xiao walked out from within.

In his hand, however, was a ball of ghastly green flame, struggling constantly but unable to escape his palm.

"Go!"

He shouted lightly.

Yang Xiao absorbed the ghastly green flame in his hand into his body and, taking the lead, dashed forward.

Only this time,

he didn't use Void Shifting again.

And the auras behind them…

...grew increasingly wild.

It seemed that even more Evil Spirits had been provoked by Yang Xiao.

'This Young Master Yang is completely insane! Originally, only three to five Evil Spirits were stirred up at most. After a stunt like that, hasn't he provoked at least twenty of them?'

Ye Dongge was dumbfounded.

But he quickly came to his senses and started running, following Yang Xiao.

Their speed was fast.

But what puzzled him was, since Yang Xiao had the Void Shifting technique, why didn't he just escape in an instant? Why was he fleeing forward so slowly?

That speed...

...seemed much slower than his own.

And much slower than the Evil Spirits behind them.

What he didn't know was…

…this time, Yang Xiao hadn't just lured out twenty Evil Spirits. He had alerted all of them—a full forty to fifty Evil Spirits.

Because he had stolen that ghastly green Cold Yin Spirit Fire, all of them had gone berserk.

They were all chasing after Yang Xiao.

As for why he wasn't using Void Shifting?

That was, of course, to bring a generous gift to those scoundrels who were trying to ambush Yue Lingxi.

If he escaped in an instant,

would these Evil Spirits still chase him out?

Besides, they were deep underground, in a winding, sprawling cave system. If he didn't use his Spiritual Power to carefully scout ahead, rashly using a Small Void Shift could get him stuck inside the rock.

In that case,

he would be in big trouble.

And constantly scouting with his Spiritual Power would be too time-consuming and draining.

His speed wouldn't necessarily be that much faster.

Therefore, Yang Xiao naturally intended to lead these Evil Spirits out of the underground cavern.

However, his actions made things miserable for Ye Dongge.

He wanted to run faster.

But after catching up to Yang Xiao, he didn't dare to move ahead.

As if afraid of angering Yang Xiao.

He also had to worry about the Evil Spirits behind them.

Afraid that one careless misstep would get him caught.

His heart was in his throat.

It was pure torture.

Fortunately,

the cavern wasn't very long.

With the two of them sprinting madly,

after about twenty minutes, they saw the light from the outside.

At this point, the first of the alerted Evil Spirits had already reached Ye Dongge's back—it was a giant, blood-red tiger Evil Spirit.

Yang Xiao suddenly turned back and yanked Ye Dongge.

With a flash of movement,

they were out of the cave.

At that very moment,

a dozen or so terrifying and powerful auras,

at almost the exact same time Yang Xiao emerged,

descended from all directions.

A sweep of his Spiritual Power was all it took for Yang Xiao to discover…

…that these were the very same people he had seen earlier through the Thousand Mechanism Eye.

The pursuers from the Profound Celestial Sect.

Ye Dongge's face changed as well, because these people were, shockingly, all his junior martial brothers from the same sect.