Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

'The Heavenly Gifted Treasure Pattern! It's finally appeared. Only a Treasure Body that gives rise to a Treasure Skill is a true Treasure Body. Next, it's time to add some ingredients to this nascent Heaven-Gifted Treasure Technique.'

Seeing the crimson Treasure Patterns emerge, Yang Xiao's expression immediately turned solemn.

Whether he succeeded or failed...

...all came down to this.

'If I succeed, this first Treasure Skill—infused with all the Secret Patterns I've comprehended—will be incredibly powerful. In the future, it might even evolve into an Emperor Skill.'

'But if I fail, these Heavenly Gifted Treasure Patterns will be destroyed. It's very likely this first Treasure Skill will never even be born.'

Even if it did manage to form...

...a damaged Treasure Skill would be drastically weaker.

The loss would outweigh the gain.

However, that wasn't how Yang Xiao saw it.

As someone who had once reached the Realm of the Unparalleled Divine King, he looked down on ordinary Treasure Skills. To him, if a Treasure Skill didn't have the potential to grow into an Emperor Skill, what was the point of having it at all?

So, while others might see his current actions as a case where the loss outweighs the gain...

...for Yang Xiao himself, it was something he had to do.

There was no need for hesitation.

'Pure Yang, Nine Yang, Greater Yang... these three Yang Power Secret Patterns can be fused first. They're the most compatible with the Fire Element Treasure Pattern. And my Fire Element Treasure Pattern... hmm? It actually possesses a trace of Yin Power, just like the True Greater Yang Fire.'

Yang Xiao's eyes lit up.

Fire was inherently a thing of Yang Power, but there were also Yin-attribute fires.

For instance, there was the Cold Yin Spirit Fire he had absorbed in the Earth Evil Flame Cave and the Taiyin Fire that Yue Lingxi condensed within her body.

Both were Yin-attribute fires.

He could even tell that the two sisters from the Ye Family he'd met before also had Yin Attribute flames. One seemed to be a Pure Yin Fire, while the other's was strange, seemingly carrying a trace of the aura of death.

It was remarkably similar to the Netherworld Fire.

'But can a normal person really produce the Netherworld Fire, which should only exist in Hell?'

Yang Xiao wasn't sure.

But he did know that the appearance of Yin Power within his Heavenly Gifted Treasure Pattern was a good thing.

'Only when Yin and Yang merge can all things be born.'

'Only then can it accommodate even more power.'

It would increase Yang Xiao's chances of success.

As a result, he instantly became even more confident.

He stripped all the Secret Patterns from his Triple Great Achievement Mystical Technique and began to gather them.

Sure enough, just as Yang Xiao had expected, the Pure Yang, Nine Yang, and Greater Yang Secret Patterns fused first, transforming into an exceptionally powerful Supreme Yang Treasure Pattern. Then, it easily merged into the Heavenly Gifted Treasure Pattern.

Next was the Star Secret Pattern.

Given the connection between the Star and Fire Elements, it too was quickly integrated.

The most difficult parts came next: the Void and Time, and the Golden Roc Secret Pattern, which was formed from the combination of the Gold Element and the Void.

'The creation of life from Yin and Yang is the foundation of the world. If I treat the Star as the Yang carrier—as matter—then the Void is the all-encompassing womb. Time transcends both, yet is an eternally existing point of record. As for the Gold Element, it represents sharpness, the power to slice through the Void, which aligns with the Sword Dao.'

Suddenly, Yang Xiao's eyes flashed with understanding.

He had figured it out.

In that instant, he used the Void to encompass everything.

Originally, this would have been impossible without the Yin Power in his Fire Element. But now, with his fire divided into Yin and Yang, it could give birth to all things.

It was in perfect harmony with the world.

Therefore, Yang Xiao used the Void as a container and the Stars as the carrier for these Heavenly Gifted Treasure Patterns. He then used fire to represent the three Yang Powers—Pure Yang, Nine Yang, and Greater Yang—and smelted them into one. Finally, he took the Golden Roc Secret Pattern, formed from the fusion of the Void and Gold Secret Patterns, and evolved it into a space akin to the Void Sword Manual.

At that moment, these eight powers in total fused completely with the Heavenly Gifted Treasure Pattern.

It transformed into a Treasure Skill.

A Sword-shaped Treasure Skill.

"The Void Sword Manual! HAHA! As I thought, this Treasure Skill is remarkably similar to Xuanyuan's Void Sword Manual. However, I bet even Xuanyuan himself never managed to transform the Void Sword Manual into his own personal Treasure Skill, did he?"

Yang Xiao broke into a smile.

His version of the Void Sword Manual had finally forged its own path.

Moreover, now that it was integrated with the power of a Heaven-Gifted Treasure Technique, it was likely stronger and had more potential for growth than the versions cultivated by others.

It even had the chance...

...to surpass the realm of Emperor Skills.

"Cousin Xuanyuan was known as the Human Race Sword Emperor because he had the qualifications to attain the Saint Emperor Realm. And now, although I'm still far from the Saint Emperor Realm, with just this first Treasure Skill, I probably have the potential to reach it as well."

With just a single Treasure Skill.

And one born from a mere Low-grade Treasure Body at that. To have the potential to attain the Saint Emperor Realm from this... if word of this got out, probably no one would believe it.

But Yang Xiao's experience told him just how terrifying this Treasure Skill was.

Using the Void to give birth to all matter and transform it into Sword Intent.

This was a path of transcending everything and integrating everything.

Back then, Yang Xiao had taught this to Xuanyuan.

And created a Human Race Sword Emperor.

Now, Yang Xiao was cultivating it himself.

How could he possibly be any worse than him?

'It's time to challenge the Ninth Layer. This is a perfect chance to test the power of this Treasure Skill.'

Standing up, Yang Xiao stepped through the Light Gate.

He saw a figure of light and shadow.

It was the same as on the previous eight layers, but the aura it exuded was exceptionally strong.

It was actually...

...a Demigod.

That's right, a Demigod.

The opponents on the first eight layers each corresponded to a layer of Secret Patterns, and the Eighth Layer was no exception. But now, the opponent on the Ninth Layer wasn't someone who had comprehended the Ninth Layer Pure Yang Secret Pattern. Instead, it was a Demigod—a Demigod who possessed a Pure Yang Heart.

"Are you prepared? Defeat me, and you will get to see the Emperor's Weapon Spirit. Also, I want to tell you that the battle on this layer is not a simulation. If I injure you, you will be truly injured. If you can't hold on and die, you will be truly dead. Now, let me ask you: do you still wish to challenge me?"

What shocked Yang Xiao even more was that the figure of light and shadow spoke. Not only did it speak, but it delivered such astonishing news.

At that moment, he suddenly understood why only three women from the Ye Family were left after entering this Inner Realm.

There wasn't a single man among them.

'They must have all died trying to pass this Ninth Layer, haven't they?'

"Have you thought it through? If you give up now, I can send you back down. I can even give you the Seed of Pure Yang Secret Pattern for the Ninth Layer. However, you will never have another chance at this Emperor's Weapon."

Hearing this, Yang Xiao took a deep breath.

In truth, he wasn't very interested in this Great Emperor Tower that had belonged to his Junior Brother Xuan Yang. Even if he obtained it, he wouldn't be able to draw out much of its power.

It would be less helpful to him than the Bloodthirsty Divine Sword.

However, Yang Xiao had to see the Emperor's Weapon Spirit to learn about what happened back then.

So, without any hesitation, he spoke.

"Make your move. I will fight you."

"Good. You have courage. Very well, since you wish to fight, then try to take one finger strike from me. As long as you can withstand it, you win."

The figure of light and shadow smiled faintly, and its form instantly vanished.

When it reappeared, it was already right in front of Yang Xiao, a single finger jabbing forward.

Pure Yang Power pierced through his body's defenses.

Aiming straight for the spot between Yang Xiao's eyebrows.

The aura's pull caused even his Sea of Consciousness to tremble instantly.

The color drained from Yang Xiao's face.