Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"That is the Daoist Ring I spoke of. Take it, and use it to store these God-Suppressing Coffins so they may rest undisturbed by the world. Everything I have is yours."

Ye Tianjue pointed to a simple, unadorned black ring inside and smiled faintly.

Yang Xiao's heart stirred.

He stepped forward and picked it up.

"An Ultimate Grade Dao Artifact?"

After a moment of sensing its aura, Yang Xiao determined the grade of this Daoist Ring.

Ye Tianjue nodded. "That's right, it is indeed an Ultimate Daoist Ring. I must say, for someone born in Celestial Cloud, your insight is extraordinary. Come, I will pass on the Secret Technique to refine it. You'll be able to open this Daoist Ring then. There are some things inside as well, prepared long ago for your grandmaster."

As he spoke, Ye Tianjue's voice was tinged with melancholy.

Back then, he had put a great deal of effort into preparing for that disciple from Celestial Cloud. Unfortunately, the matter with the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow had caused a delay.

He had always felt a little guilty about it.

But now, things were better. Though over six thousand years had passed, his disciple's descendant had miraculously appeared before him. He could give these things to him.

It would, to some extent, make up for it.

Yang Xiao didn't bother to correct Ye Tianjue's misunderstanding.

Truth be told, he did have a connection to the Ye Family, but it was too complicated to explain. Since the misunderstanding had already occurred, it was best to let it be and avoid unnecessary complications.

It was better this way.

So, upon hearing this, Yang Xiao stepped forward without hesitation.

Ye Tianjue raised a hand and tapped lightly. Instantly, a Secret Technique was transmitted, completely and without reservation, into Yang Xiao's consciousness.

'This is a pretty good Secret Technique.'

Yang Xiao praised it internally.

In truth, even without this Secret Technique, he could have refined the Daoist Ring with his own knowledge and abilities; it just would have been somewhat more difficult.

Now, with this Secret Technique, it would be much easier.

It didn't take long.

Yang Xiao refined the Ultimate Daoist Ring. A scan with his Heart Spirit revealed its contents.

The quantity wasn't large, but there were many fine items. While they couldn't compare to the treasures within the Divine Coffin, they were a considerable fortune for any Martial Cultivator below the True God level.

Three items, in particular, made Yang Xiao's eyes light up.

They were Top Grade.

"The most valuable items in here are a Low-grade Daoist Weapon Level Red Flame Dragon-slaying Sword, a Nine Revolutions Divine Essence Pill, and a piece of Black Patterned Divine Stone containing a Yunsheng Dao Pattern. These will serve you well until you reach the Demigod Realm. Once you break through to Demigod, the things in this coffin will help you advance even further."

Ye Tianjue said with a faint smile.

This made Yang Xiao feel quite grateful.

After all, Ye Tianjue was giving him everything he owned—the entire treasure trove of a True God, and likely not an ordinary True God at that—all without any risk to himself.

This haul was far greater than anything he had gained at the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion.

For someone who was just lamenting his own weakness, this was truly a godsend. And considering the connection between them...

Yang Xiao felt he had no reason not to honor his promise.

"Thank you, Senior."

Yang Xiao said respectfully.

"As long as you're satisfied. The stronger you become with these things, the more at ease I'll be. Unfortunately, you are still too weak, and there's too little time. Otherwise, with my guidance, you might have been able to stop those people and restore the prestige of my Ye Family."

Ye Tianjue sighed.

Although he didn't know what was happening outside the Profound Sun Secret Realm, he could guess some of it. If the entire Ye Family had really become running dogs for the Immortal Dao, just as Yang Xiao had said...

...then how many people on the Profound Sun Continent were still practicing the Martial Dao?

Before Yang Xiao appeared, he might have clung to the hope that the Celestial Cloud Region was still under the control of the Martial Dao. But now, with Yang Xiao standing right before him...

...the invasion of the Immortal Dao was likely just a matter of time.

As a True God Level Powerhouse, Ye Tianjue was well aware that the Immortal Dao on the Profound Sun Continent was not to be underestimated. It had close ties to a major figure in the Immortal Realm. Otherwise, how could the Ye Family have tolerated their presence back in its heyday?

And once this final forbidden land of the Martial Dao was occupied...

...the Profound Sun Continent would no longer be the Profound Sun Continent, but merely a part of the so-called Immortal Realm.

At that point, no matter how difficult the Profound Sun Secret Realm was to open, it would likely be forced open, and all its contents would fall into the hands of the Immortal Dao.

Ye Tianjue was filled with indignation.

"Rest assured, Senior. This junior will do his utmost to halt the Immortal Dao's advance and not let them succeed easily."

Even so, Yang Xiao couldn't make any guarantees.

He could only do his best.

"Good, good. With those words, I can rest easy. Go on, collect these God-Suppressing Coffins."

Although he felt it was impossible, Ye Tianjue was still gratified.

His impression of Yang Xiao had also changed.

"Yes."

After his respectful reply, Yang Xiao walked up to one of the coffins. He first bowed, then stated his intentions, showing the master of the coffin the same respect that the True Divine Heroic Spirit had shown him.

Only after performing all the proper courtesies did he place the coffin into the Daoist Ring.

Then the second.

And the third.

Seeing Yang Xiao act with such decorum, Ye Tianjue felt increasingly at ease.

He felt that he had truly done the right thing.

He had chosen a good successor.

Soon, Yang Xiao had collected all one hundred and three God-Suppressing Coffins into his Daoist Ring and walked back over to Ye Tianjue.

"You have done well. I am very pleased. Now, these things are all yours. I hope you will treat them well."

Ye Tianjue smiled, gratified.

But just as he thought Yang Xiao would be overjoyed, perhaps even rush forward to inspect his new treasures...

...he saw him shake his head.

"Aside from this Daoist Ring, I will not touch a single thing here. These are your worldly possessions from when you were alive. Since you see me as a junior, I must naturally treat you as my senior. Therefore, please close this Divine Coffin. I will place it within the Daoist Ring along with the others. No matter what, I will not allow you all to fall into the hands of the Immortal Dao."

Yang Xiao's words were resolute and decisive.

Originally, he had indeed been tempted by these items. In fact, no one, not even a True God, could see such treasures and remain unmoved.

However, in the process of collecting the one hundred and three God-Suppressing Coffins, he suddenly realized that the contents of this coffin were not merely the possessions of a True God.

They were the sum of his life.

And it was precisely for this reason that Ye Tianjue had been willing to trade everything he had for a single promise from him.

A promise not to touch the items within these coffins.

If Yang Xiao hadn't come to respect Ye Tianjue, he could have, without hesitation, erased all traces of him and simply used these items as treasures.

After all, it was a fair trade.

He could even have the Bloodthirsty Sword devour everything and convert it into sustenance.

If that happened, the Bloodthirsty Sword might just ascend to the heavens in a single step, perhaps even becoming a Divine Soldier.

But now, in his heart, Yang Xiao truly respected Ye Tianjue.

He saw him as an elder in this life.

How could Yang Xiao possibly do such a thing?

"You! You... *Sigh*. You are truly a good child. But if you don't accept these things, how will you become a true powerhouse in the future? I am already dead. These things are useless sitting here, but they can help you grow strong quickly. Listen to your grandmaster, won't you?"

This was the first time Ye Tianjue had referred to himself as "grandmaster" in front of Yang Xiao.

Clearly, in that moment, he, like Yang Xiao, had come to truly accept the other.

But Yang Xiao still shook his head.

How could he so easily go back on a decision he had made?

At this, Ye Tianjue finally grew angry.

"My things are yours once I've given them to you! You have to take them, whether you want to or not!"