Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Ancestor, Taixuan urgently requests an audience!"

Ye Taixuan, the City Lord of Immortal Dao City, arrived before a secret chamber in the city's deepest reaches and called out for an audience.

A moment later, the door to the secret chamber opened.

A dignified man in a pale gold robe walked out.

Had Yang Xiao been present, he would have realized this was the very same man who had descended upon the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion—the so-called Immortal Lord, Ye Donghuang, Domain Lord of the Eastern Domain.

"What could be so urgent? You're rushing around, unmindful of your status."

Ye Donghuang chided, his expression cold.

Although this was his most favored descendant, as the family's Ancestor, Ye Donghuang had never known warmth and was equally strict with all his juniors.

Ye Taixuan had long grown used to it.

He paid it no mind, instead saying urgently, "Ancestor, you recently instructed me to keep an eye on that barbaric land called Celestial Cloud, did you not?"

"Oh? Has something happened?"

Ye Donghuang's eyes lit up.

He had descended upon the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion before, so he knew full well that the place had likely been occupied by that damn brat, who must have obtained the inheritance.

'Those Xuan Family descendants inside are utterly useless.'

However, because of Nangong Tianling, Ye Donghuang still held out some hope.

After all, Nangong Tianling had entered by borrowing the Xuan Family's aura. If the Xuan Family had known how to use her, a True God Level expert, it would have surely created an opportunity to turn the tables.

'Could Ye Taixuan's visit now mean that, just as I'd hoped, the Xuan Family has turned the tables?'

"Ancestor, there has been some activity, and it's quite significant. Xuantian, you're more familiar with the details. You should be the one to tell the Ancestor."

Ye Taixuan's expression was excited as he motioned for Ye Xuantian, who had been standing silently behind him, to speak.

"Xuantian? So it's you, little one. Speak. What exactly is going on?"

Ye Donghuang glanced at Ye Xuantian, and as if remembering something, he felt a flicker of emotion.

His tone softened slightly.

This subtle shift in attitude alone was enough to make Ye Xuantian feel overwhelmingly flattered, and he began to recount the events.

When Ye Donghuang heard that the brat who had taken the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion had actually emerged, his expression shifted.

That brat was the one who had humiliated him.

"You're saying that brat came out from inside? Do you have an image of his aura?" Ye Donghuang asked.

"Yes, yes, I do, Ancestor."

Ye Xuantian was already prepared. With a wave of his hand, an image materialized in the air. It was that of a dashing youth, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with an exceptionally resolute expression. Dressed in a green robe, he was remarkably handsome—who could it be but Yang Xiao?

"That's him. That's the brat. Taixuan, issue the Immortal Order! I want every Immortal Cultivator in the Eastern Domain mobilized to capture him!"

Ye Donghuang laughed.

He laughed, a hearty, unrestrained sound.

Not for a single moment these past days had he forgotten how that brat from the Barbaric Land had destroyed the clone of his will.

Had the brat remained hidden inside, he might have let the matter rest.

But he never imagined the boy would be so audacious. To offend him and then dare to appear in his territory so soon after—he was simply courting death.

"Yes, Ancestor. By the way, Ancestor, our cousin Xuantian mentioned that another cousin, Xuanfeng, died at this brat's hands. What's more, all of Xuanfeng's disciples were killed, leaving only one survivor, a disciple named Ye Dongge. Should we... perhaps start with him?"

"We might be able to find some clues from him," Ye Taixuan added suddenly.

"Ye Dongge? Ye Xuanfeng? Are they both disciples of our Ye Family?"

"Yes, Ancestor. Ye Xuanfeng and I are from the same branch."

This time, it was Ye Xuantian who spoke.

"Hm, now I remember. That young fellow, Ye Xuanfeng, should have had a cultivation at the Peak of the Dao Tier. To think even he died... It seems this brat has quite a few good things in his possession. Taixuan, go issue the order. I will oversee this matter myself."

At these words from Ye Donghuang, both Ye Taixuan and Ye Xuantian were stunned.

'The Ancestor is an expert at the Void Immortal Realm. If he makes a move himself, that brat...'

"What are you gawking at? Go. That brat..."

Ye Donghuang sneered inwardly.

Ye Taixuan and Ye Xuantian, however, dared not hesitate any longer.

They began to make the arrangements.

「Meanwhile.」

In Yue Lingxi's small white jade palace, Yang Xiao had also reached a critical juncture.

The Spirit Medicines in his hands had all been condensed into a Fire Spirit Pill. It was a Mid-grade Fire Spirit Pill, no less, comparable to a 300,000-year-old Medicine King. Even in the Ancient Era, it would have been considered a fine Pill.

Even Yue Lingxi was completely astonished to see Yang Xiao refine such a Pill with such ease.

Her astonishment quickly turned into boundless admiration.

In truth, she already held Yang Xiao in high regard.

Everything he did had forced her to see him in a new light.

But now, seeing his brilliant skill in the Medicine Dao, she suddenly realized she had still underestimated him.

'A Dao companion like him... No matter what, I, Yue Lingxi, must have him...'

At this thought, Yue Lingxi couldn't help but touch her cheek.

A thought rose in her heart. 'Should I reveal my true face? Looking at the way Lord Xiao acts, he doesn't seem to be very close to me at all.'

Just as Yue Lingxi was growing worried, Yang Xiao tossed back the Mid-grade Fire Spirit Pill—a pill refined using countless precious Medicine Kings and even ingredients of the Ancient Spirit Medicine Level—and swallowed it in one gulp.

At the same time, he also directly absorbed the Cold Yin Spirit Fire he had taken from the Earth Evil Flame Cave—that mass of eerie green flame—into his Qi Sea.

It began to fuse with his Heaven and Earth Origin Flame.

His advancement began at that very moment.

By sheer coincidence, Yang Xiao's Bloodthirsty Sword had also just about completed its tempering.

It began its ascension to the Upper-Grade Treasure Artifact rank.

And so.

Man and sword.

At this moment, both reached their most critical point.

Both were advancing.

This actually saved Yang Xiao some effort. He began to use the Heart of Time on himself, simultaneously accelerating both his own metamorphosis and the Bloodthirsty Sword's advancement.

After what was only half a day in the outside world, a sharp *CRACK* was heard.

The Bloodthirsty Sword shot out from his body of its own accord.

From the world outside, a powerful, profound energy of Heaven and Earth descended from the sky, pouring into the White Jade Palace and landing upon the Bloodthirsty Sword.

Another Treasure Pattern appeared.

It then fused with the two previous Treasure Patterns.

Instantly.

All three Treasure Patterns grew stronger.

Faintly, one could see that the Bloodthirsty Sword Spirit, which had looked like a seven- or eight-year-old, had grown much taller in that instant, now appearing to be about eleven or twelve.

As for Yang Xiao.

He too had reached the most crucial moment.

The Heaven and Earth Origin Fire within him entered its fourth stage.

The Green Flame Realm.

An eerie green flame ignited on his body, and instantly, Yang Xiao's entire being began to transform. At that moment, it wasn't just the Heaven and Earth Origin Fire.

He himself was also undergoing a fundamental change.

His aura instantly broke through to the Martial Saint First Tier and continued to rise, not stopping until it reached the Peak of Tier Two.

He had directly reached the Peak of Green Flame Realm One.

This produced an infinite amount of Essence Qi.

Without hesitation, Yang Xiao began to use the Essence Qi to refine his body and spirit.

Under the tempering of the Essence Qi from the Green Flame Realm's First Revolution, his physique and spirit both began to strengthen continuously.

Soon.

Yang Xiao's entire aura underwent a world-shaking transformation.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Only then did the transformation cease.

'Finally, I've succeeded!'

Yang Xiao's eyes snapped open.

But before he could savor his newfound strength, the Thousand Mechanism Eye within him suddenly went wild.

It began to throb violently.

Danger!

Limitless danger!

It was about to descend!

Yang Xiao's expression changed in an instant.