Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"It's useless. The Mystic Sect's Heaven-Destroying Array is my Xuan Family's strongest Array. Its Array Patterns can be carved into the physical body, taking form upon activation. A mere True God like you can't possibly shake its foundation—not even the descent of a Divine King could! Everyone, form the Array with me!"

Elder Xuan's tone was flat, his expression unreadable.

But when he struck, it was without the slightest mercy.

With a wave of his hand, the twenty Mid-Late-stage Void Immortal cultivators from the Vast Heaven Immortal Sect transformed into twenty azure Light Gates.

Then, one by one, the Light Gates entered Elder Xuan's body. In an instant, his aura began to grow stronger.

And more powerful.

By the time the twenty Light Gates had completely merged into his body,

his aura was shockingly no weaker than Ye Lio's.

'The Mystic Sect's Heaven-Destroying Array... It truly is one of the supreme Secret Array Techniques passed down from the Immortal Realm. In the end, I was too careless.'

Ye Lio halted her charge and sighed softly.

The Array was complete. She was powerless to stop it.

'Although Elder Xuan's aura only seems to be on par with mine right now... how could I not know my own condition?'

'Burning my Divine Soul Brand can bring out my greatest potential, but it doesn't last long.'

'There's no way I can hold on for much longer.'

"If you surrender now, I can give you a chance—a chance to switch your cultivation to the Immortal Dao. How about it?"

Seeing her condition, an idea struck Elder Xuan, and he spoke.

Hearing this, Ye Lio laughed.

It was a wild laugh.

"Do you really think I, Ye Lio, am some coward who fears death?"

Her eyes were filled with scorn and derision.

Elder Xuan, however, remained silent.

"I know you're considering our old ties. But it's too late. Your Immortal Dao has annihilated my Ye Family Main Lineage, using schemes, assassinations, and every dirty trick imaginable. The friendship you shared with my father years ago was utterly erased by this blood feud. I, Ye Lio, could never call you Uncle Xuan again. And I would certainly never become a lapdog for the Immortal Dao! We Martial Cultivators fight the heavens, we fight the earth, and we do not shrink from death! All we ask for is a good, clean fight!"

"So, come and fight! If I am to die, let it be a satisfying death!"

Ye Lio burst into laughter.

"Excellent! You are truly Ye Longteng's daughter, with the spirit of a warrior that rivals any man. Very well. Since you wish to die in a blaze of glory, I will grant your wish. A battle to the death it is!"

He looked at the woman before him—once a sweet and innocent child, now a figure of such unbending integrity.

Even though they were enemies,

Elder Xuan couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration, a flicker of heroic sentiment.

Without another word,

he raised his hand and threw a punch, blasting it toward Ye Lio.

Showing no weakness, Ye Lio met it with a palm strike of her own.

BANG!

Fist and palm met.

The heavens and the earth trembled.

The entire Profound Sun Secret Realm seemed to shake.

It was as if a tornado had swept through.

Everything was thrown into disarray.

Chaos reigned in every direction.

Meanwhile, Ye Wanyu, who stood guard before the Light Gate, could only struggle with all her might to remain standing.

She was in a sorry state.

Ye Lio noticed and, in a flash, dodged Elder Xuan's attack and appeared by her side.

Elder Xuan, who had been about to attack again, raised his hand slightly, only to lower it.

He could feel her aura weakening. She was likely on her last legs.

'Let her say her last words. She can die in peace.'

Elder Xuan sighed to himself.

But he had already made his decision: after Ye Lio died, he would enter the Inner Realm within the Profound Sun Secret Realm and slaughter everyone inside.

That included the seemingly innocent-looking girl before him.

He had old ties to Ye Lio's father and had even received his grace in the past. He also valued her exceptional talent—she had reached the True Divine Realm in a mere six thousand-some years.

That was why he felt a twinge of pity for Ye Lio.

As for the others?

'What did they have to do with him?'

'Once Ye Lio is dead, my debt to the Ye Family will be severed. The greatest obstacle in my heart will finally dissipate. The True Immortal Realm... perhaps I'll reach it even faster than that whelp, the Vast Heaven Immortal Lord.'

So Elder Xuan thought.

He couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation.

He knew full well that in terms of talent and status, he was inferior to the Vast Heaven Immortal Lord.

Even if he broke through to the True Immortal Realm, he still wouldn't be his equal.

But becoming a True Immortal...

...meant eternal life. Even in the Immortal Realm, he would be among the elite. Perhaps he would even have the chance to be brought back to the Xuan Family by his father and formally acknowledged by the clan.

Instead of being a mere, disposable pawn, as he was now.

Inconsequential.

Naturally, Elder Xuan was filled with anticipation.

However, just as his mind was filled with these grand fantasies, Ye Lio, standing before the Light Gate, gave a strange smile. She raised a hand and pointed. Instantly, a streak of light shot into the space between Ye Wanyu's brows.

"Quick, go back! Tell your older sister and that child to leave the Profound Sun Continent immediately. The sooner, the better."

Without waiting for Ye Wanyu to reply,

she shoved her through the Light Gate.

Simultaneously, she waved her hand.

The Profound Sun Order lying in the lake suddenly flew up

and into her hand.

Seeing the Token appear so suddenly, Elder Xuan's expression flickered.

He watched as Ye Lio casually crushed it in her hand.

The Profound Sun Order, made of an unknown material that had previously seemed indestructible, crumbled into dust as if it were made of tofu.

And at that very moment, the Light Gate leading to the Inner Realm vanished.

"You... What have you done?"

Elder Xuan roared in fury.

He had felt a sliver of pity for Ye Lio, planning to let her say her last words and die in peace. Once she was dead, his entanglement with the Ye Family would be resolved.

Then, he would storm the Inner Realm and exterminate the Ye Family completely.

At that point, his state of mind would surely achieve a breakthrough,

and he would have a chance to step into the True Immortal Realm.

But now...

She had actually closed the Light Gate to the Inner Realm.

The Ye Family was not yet extinct.

How could his heart ever be at peace?

How could he possibly break through to the True Immortal Realm?

"You old bastard, did you think I couldn't read your mind? My father saw through you from the very moment you first approached him all those years ago. You want to use the destruction of my Ye Family to complete your breakthrough to the True Immortal Realm? In your dreams! Hahaha, how satisfying! Now, I, Ye Lio, can die without any regrets!"

Ye Lio burst into laughter.

Elder Xuan's face twisted with fury.

He had never, ever imagined that his scheme, which he had plotted for nearly ten thousand years, had been seen through from the very beginning.

Staring at Ye Lio, killing intent surged within him.

"Can't keep up the act any longer?"

But Ye Lio showed no fear, only unbridled mockery.

This enraged Elder Xuan even further.

He dropped all pretense.

He said coldly, "I've been played by you and your father. Do you really think I'll let you die so easily?"

"Oh? What do you plan to do?"

Ye Lio laughed and deliberately licked her red lips. She looked utterly enchanting, and for a moment, Elder Xuan's Heart Spirit wavered. An evil thought surfaced in his mind.

"I will make you regret this beyond measure!"

Elder Xuan roared as lust surged through him. He lunged, wanting to pin the beautiful woman who had once called him "Uncle" beneath him.

Only by ravaging her could he vent the hatred in his heart.

But to his utter surprise, Ye Lio didn't resist in the slightest, allowing him to embrace her.

At this moment,

Elder Xuan's brow twitched violently.

His Heart Spirit instantly cleared.

'This is bad, I've fallen into another trap! Damn it! That woman... she used a Charm Skill on me!'

"Figured it out? Too bad, it's too late. Now, you can die with me! You should feel proud to have the entire Profound Sun Secret Realm as our shared tomb! Hahaha! Profound Yin Annihilation Secret Skill... detonate!"

Ye Lio cackled with laughter.

Embracing Elder Xuan, her body instantly erupted in a blazing white light.

There was a deafening BOOM.

The entire Profound Sun Secret Realm, aside from the sealed Inner Realm,

was torn apart by the explosion.

At the epicenter of the blast,

were Ye Lio and Elder Xuan.

One was a True God. The other, after activating the Mystic Sect's Heaven-Destroying Array, possessed power comparable to a True Immortal.

Yet, in the blast that consumed the entire Profound Sun Secret Realm,

not even ash remained of them.

They were killed in an instant.

Meanwhile, Ye Wanyu, who had been pushed into the Inner Realm,

felt a sudden, wrenching pang in her heart.

She collapsed weakly to the ground.

Tears streamed down her face.

Because she knew.

Grandma Lio.

Was gone!