Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Senior Brother, when I prove the Dao and become a Great Emperor, I'll definitely create a place in my Small World that's exactly the same as this. Then, when you and Senior Sister come to my Small World, you'll have a place to stay."

"Senior Brother, why do you think the True Greater Yang Fire I cultivate is different from Senior Sister's? Hers doesn't even burn her hair, so why did I burn off even my eyebrows…?"

"Senior Brother, you're still the most amazing. You're so powerful even without cultivating the Nine Yang Celestial Skill. Those arrogant guys ran off with their tails between their legs after just one look from you, not daring to even make a peep. When can I be as amazing as you?"

Yang Xiao vaguely remembered.

The words that little bald kid—the one without even a pair of eyebrows—had said to him.

At the time, he had thought it was all so childish.

He hadn't thought much of him.

But he never expected that the little guy would remember all this time.

That he would remember his promise.

And in the end, he had held on until the very last moment of the Nine Yang Celestial Palace.

'I'm afraid even Master wouldn't have expected this, would he?'

Yang Xiao sighed inwardly.

"What do you think? They might not look magnificent, but they possess a certain antiquated charm. The architecture and layout, in particular, perfectly blend two styles: the rough and the delicate. It's completely different from what's common today, yet it's refreshingly brilliant. A single glance is enough to etch it into your heart, making it unforgettable. It makes one marvel—how could someone in this world have such bold ideas? It's as if their work was divinely inspired."

Seeing Yang Xiao's dazed expression, Grandma Lio assumed he was stunned by the unconventional architecture before them.

And so, she began to explain.

Little did she know.

A large part of the layout and design had originally come from Yang Xiao himself.

The rough aspects represented him.

The Venerable Flame Emperor.

And the delicate parts were the work of Chang Xi.

However, upon hearing Grandma Lio's words, Yang Xiao suppressed the memories welling up inside him. He simply nodded, saying nothing more.

"These ancient buildings are said to be what Profound Sun cherished most. If you obtain all of this one day, I hope you will treasure it and not cause it any harm!"

"Mm."

Yang Xiao nodded again.

He didn't need Grandma Lio to tell him; he would never destroy this place.

Because this was what Profound Sun cherished.

And it was what he cherished, too.

"Let's go over. That tower is the Profound Sun Tower, built by our ancestor. We also call it the Great Emperor Tower. It has nine layers. If you can make it to the ninth layer, you'll be able to meet the Emperor's Weapon Spirit. After that, whether or not you can become the Master of the Emperor's Weapon will all depend on your destiny."

Grandma Lio sighed softly.

A hint of nervousness was on her face.

Though she had been reluctant to see Yang Xiao obtain the Emperor's Weapon, now she couldn't help but worry about him.

She was afraid he wouldn't succeed.

In their short time together, she had grown quite impressed with Yang Xiao.

This was the reason for her contradictory and conflicted feelings.

"Please rest assured, Grandma Lio. I will do my best. By the way, a friend of mine is waiting for me outside. If it's convenient, could you please let her know not to worry? I'll be out soon."

"You have a friend with you?"

Grandma Lio's heart jolted at Yang Xiao's words.

She immediately recalled something.

But she kept her expression impassive.

"Rest assured. Any friend of yours is a friend of the Ye Family. Focus on the trials inside. I will go and inform her."

Only then did Yang Xiao nod.

His mind was put at ease.

'With a True God Level expert like Grandma Lio here, Yue Lingxi wouldn't gain any advantage even if she came inside. That's why I didn't ask Grandma Lio to let her in.'

'As for the mission…'

'I'll deal with that after I become the Master of the Emperor's Weapon.'

With that thought,

he walked toward the Great Emperor Tower.

'Huh? This layout... it's so familiar... Right, the Rising Dragon Tower! This is clearly the same layout!'

Yang Xiao's heart stirred as he walked into the Great Emperor Tower.

Sure enough, inside he saw a Light Gate identical to the one in the Rising Dragon Tower. Inscribed upon it was not the Greater Yang Secret Pattern, but the Pure Yang Secret Pattern.

Yang Xiao knew at once. Inside, there was probably a Light and Shadow Body that cultivated the Pure Yang Secret Pattern. If he defeated it, he could obtain the Seed of the Pure Yang Secret Pattern.

'The Lu Family's Rising Dragon Tower, the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion's Inheritance Sword Tower, and this Great Emperor Tower left behind by Junior Brother Xuan Yang... All three are towers. The Profound Sun Tower and Rising Dragon Tower are so similar, too. Could there be some hidden connection between them?'

Yang Xiao's mind filled with even more questions.

He felt he had been drawn into an incredibly complex web.

'Before, my goal was to grow stronger and go against the Immortal Dao.'

'That was because the Lord of Immortal Dao had schemed against me.'

'So, I wanted revenge.'

'But now, I've met so many people and encountered so many things. All these people clearly have a vendetta against the Immortal Dao. What's more terrifying is that there's also a shadowy faction and many lurking figures whose loyalties are unclear.'

'These people are pulling strings in the background,'

'uniting those of us who have a grudge against the Immortal Dao.'

'What is their intention?'

'It seems the Lord of Immortal Dao is far more complex than I imagined. But with my current strength, I'm not qualified to know any of this. Judging from the ones who set all this in motion—be it the deceased Great Emperor of the Lu Family, the Northern Wilderness Divine King, or Junior Brother Xuan Yang—I must at least regain the peak power of my first life to have any right to get involved. For now, I'll see what Junior Brother Xuan Yang left behind... and find out where that mysterious Furnace Cauldron is.'

Yang Xiao pushed the thoughts aside.

He stepped into the Light Gate.

Just as he expected, inside the Light Gate was a figure of light and shadow that cultivated the Pure Yang Secret Pattern. Its cultivation was identical to his own: the Sixth Tier of Mortal, True Intent Stage (Celestial Cloud Martial Saint), at the Peak of the Fourth Layer.

Just as Yang Xiao stepped into the Light Gate

and began the challenge...

Outside the Great Emperor Tower,

the aged Grandma Lio stood in silence for a long time,

gazing blankly at the layers of the Great Emperor Tower.

'That mysterious person once told me, "If the boy comes alone, you can entrust everything to him. But if he has a companion..."'

'...then that companion is sure to be a pawn of the Immortal Dao!'

'And must be eliminated!'

'But if I really kill the boy's companion and he finds out, he will surely blame me. Then, even if I were to atone with my life, I doubt I could ever appease him.'

'But if I don't kill her, and things are really as that person said…'

Grandma Lio hesitated for a long time.

Suddenly,

she finally moved,

as if having made a decision.

She headed for the exit of the Inner Realm.

There,

Yue Lingxi was staring nervously at the gate in the center of the lake.

Inside was the person she cared for more than anyone.

'I wonder how he's doing…'

And just then, a figure suddenly appeared from within the gate.

Their eyes met.

Killing intent flared!