Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"You still dare to resist? You're simply courting death."

Ye Donghuang, who had only intended to capture Yang Xiao, felt a chill run through him when he saw the boy dare to fight back.

He increased the force of his blow.

BOOM.

The fist and palm collided.

The immense force sent Yang Xiao flying.

Excruciating pain wracked his entire body.

It felt as if his very flesh and blood were being ground to dust.

If not for Yang Xiao's formidable physique and his Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique—and the fact that he'd gathered all his strength at the last second to block most of the attack's power—

he would have been instantly pulverized into a bloody mist.

'So strong! Just as I thought, all my power comes from external sources. My true strength is nothing compared to these Void Immortals, who are practically Demigods. The gap is just too vast.'

Power.

Strength.

In this moment, Yang Xiao craved it more than anything.

But ultimately, not enough time had passed since his rebirth.

Meanwhile, his enemies were far too strong.

He had no way of winning on his own merits. He could only rely on his various treasures: the Ten Thousand Poison Source Pearl, his Lifebound Artifact the Bloodthirsty Sword, the Golden Roc True Body, and the hastily cultivated Heart of Time.

But when even the sum of these powers was not enough...

...the frailty of his own cultivation...

...the insignificance of his true strength...

...was laid bare for all to see.

Too weak.

Compared to a Void Immortal, he was far too weak. His own power was only equivalent to a cultivator at the True Tier Second Peak, what they called a Tier Two Martial Saint in the Celestial Cloud Region.

Even with powers like the True Greater Yang Fire and the Vajra Indestructible Divine Technique...

...it was still far from enough.

The opponent.

It seemed they could crush him with a single finger.

This feeling.

Was infuriating to Yang Xiao.

He refused to accept it.

He even considered summoning his Fire God Clone from the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion.

But he knew very well.

'Even if I call my Fire God Clone, it's only at the Great Divine Power Realm Sixth Stage Peak. That's nowhere near enough to handle Ye Donghuang, who has clearly advanced quite a ways into the Void Immortal Realm. At best, my clone could barely manage a brand-new Void Immortal. Besides, even if my Fire God Clone flew here on the Golden-winged Roc, it would take far too much time. I'd probably be dead long before it arrived.'

'Do I really have to use the Protective Talisman that Yue Lingxi gave me?'

A flicker of indignation showed in Yang Xiao's eyes.

Although he hadn't refused when Yue Lingxi gave him the Protective Talisman, that didn't mean Yang Xiao ever actually intended to use it.

It was just a precaution.

In fact, Yang Xiao had secretly planned to save the Protective Talisman for his fight against the Vast Heaven Immortal Lord.

After all, that was his greatest enemy at present.

But now...

'Is there really no other way?'

For the first time, Yang Xiao hesitated.

"To think you'd be knocked down so easily. Weren't you acting all high and mighty before? How is it that you can't even take one percent of my power? Oh, I get it now. Your strength is built entirely on external objects. Now that those things are useless, you're nothing but a worthless piece of shit."

Just as Yang Xiao was considering whether or not to use the Protective Talisman,

Ye Donghuang burst out in arrogant laughter.

True, he had seen Yang Xiao easily slay even Daoist Fourth Tier Immortal Cultivators. And while he'd sensed Yang Xiao's aura was weak,

only at the level of True Tier Second Peak,

Ye Donghuang hadn't underestimated him.

In order to teach him a lesson,

his blow had been powerful enough to injure even a Daoist Fifth Level cultivator.

He had thought the blow would injure Yang Xiao, but not critically. He never expected the guy...

...to be such a paper tiger.

...to be beaten into such a sorry state with just one hit.

Instantly, Ye Donghuang's disdain for Yang Xiao reached its absolute peak.

He was scornful not only in his words, but in his heart as well.

'He's just some punk who relies on treasures. To think I took trapping and killing him so seriously, even sacrificing nearly three hundred men for him to slaughter. It really wasn't worth it.'

As he thought this, Ye Donghuang's gaze toward Yang Xiao filled with utter contempt.

It wasn't just him.

Every one of the surrounding Immortal Cultivators at the Daoist Fifth Level and above felt the same way.

This was especially true for those who had never actually fought Yang Xiao; they felt his reputation was completely overblown.

Some who were on bad terms with Ye Tianguo and Ye Chengzai even began to mock them.

"This little brat can't even block an attack from a Daoist Fifth Level, yet he nearly wiped out your entire force? Elder Tian Guo, you must be truly capable."

An old man in a green robe, who looked to be about Ye Tianguo's age, said sarcastically.

Ye Tianguo's face immediately flushed with shame.

As he spoke, the other powerhouses at the Immortal Realm Ninth Layer all shot disdainful looks at the two of them.

Ye Chengzai's expression soured as well.

The two were too ashamed to argue back.

They could only glare at Yang Xiao with hatred,

feeling it was all his fault they were being so thoroughly humiliated.

And as for Yang Xiao,

a bitter feeling welled up in his heart.

He knew this was only happening because his cultivation was too low,

but being looked down on by so many people...

...was truly hard to bear.

'If I survive this, I swear I'll do everything in my power to polish my own cultivation and strength. External items are just that—external. If I over-rely on them, I'll just end up being humiliated like this again whenever I face a truly powerful enemy! Yang Xiao, can you accept that?'

'I can't.'

'But can I even survive this time?'

Yang Xiao didn't know.

Because he was now in a truly desperate situation.

"Surrender. With your level of strength, you have no hope of blocking any one of us without relying on those treasures of yours. Any resistance is futile. If you obediently hand over the legacy of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion and help our Immortal Dao achieve its goals, perhaps the Old Ancestor, in a good mood, will not only spare your life but also welcome you into our ranks. What do you say?"

Ye Taixuan suddenly spoke up.

As the City Lord of Immortal Dao City, although he wasn't the second strongest person present, his status was second only to Ye Donghuang.

The moment he spoke, everyone else fell silent.

They looked at him, somewhat puzzled.

But Ye Taixuan didn't explain.

'Should he tell these people that the boy before them was incredibly young—likely not even twenty? A youth not yet twenty years old who could slaughter droves of Daoist Fourth Tier experts?'

'He relied on external items, yes, but even so, he could only be described as a Demon Level genius.'

'Besides, treasures aren't something just anyone can wield.'

'And not to mention... unlike these men, who only knew that Yang Xiao had killed a host of experts at the Peak of Daoist Tier Four, he was well aware that Yang Xiao had even successfully plotted against a Daoist Tier Nine expert—the Great Elder of the Profound Celestial Sect, Ye Xuanfeng.'

'On that point alone...'

'...this youth was highly capable.'

'If he were willing to surrender...'

'...he was truly willing to vouch for his life.'

'Surrender?'

Yang Xiao shook his head without hesitation.

He and the Immortal Dao.

Could never coexist.

He would rather die.

It was impossible.

"In that case, there is nothing more to be said. Old Ancestor, allow Taixuan to capture this boy."

Ye Taixuan sighed.

He was asking Ye Donghuang for permission.

"Very well. A mere junior is not worthy of my attention. However, he is the successor of the Northern Wilderness Divine King, so having you make the move won't be an insult to his status. But remember, keep him alive. He still has a great use to us."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

Ye Taixuan responded.

He strode forward.

And reached for Yang Xiao.

It looked like a casual grab,

but Yang Xiao,

couldn't even dodge this simple motion.

Besides, even if he used the Protective Talisman now, it wouldn't solve his underlying predicament.

Yang Xiao's heart,

instantly sank.

Just as despair bloomed in his heart,

suddenly, a terrifying beam of Sword Qi shot down from the heavens,

aiming straight for Ye Taixuan!