Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Which sect are you from? Don't you know this is Purple Flame Sect territory?"

Ma Liu's expression turned sullen, his face grim as he glared at Yang Xiao.

Especially since, in his eyes, Yang Xiao's aura was merely that of the True Tier Fourth Level—far weaker than his own. Yet, this man actually dared to stand in his way.

The man was simply courting death.

However, seeing Yang Xiao's extraordinary bearing, Ma Liu worried he might be an elite disciple from another powerful faction. After all, plenty of factions had come to besiege the Profound Celestial Sect.

Some of these factions were barely weaker than the Purple Flame Sect, and one of them, Chixue Palace, was even a fair bit stronger.

If he ran into someone he couldn't afford to offend, he'd be in for a world of hurt.

So, Ma Liu immediately invoked the name of the Purple Flame Sect. That way, even if a fight broke out, he would hold the moral high ground, and the Purple Flame Sect would back him up.

'I've already invoked the name of the Purple Flame Sect. If he dares to make a move, it doesn't matter who he is—he'll be offending the dignity of my sect. I don't believe he has the gall! And even if he does, as if I'd be afraid of him?'

Ma Liu chuckled smugly.

Admittedly.

Although the man was a shameless, ass-kissing sycophant, he was undeniably cunning.

Unfortunately.

He was wrong.

Dead wrong.

Yang Xiao had dared to charge into a lion's den like the Vast Heaven Immortal Sect. Would he really be afraid of the Purple Flame Sect, which didn't even have a single Void Immortal Realm expert?

Obviously not.

However, he didn't immediately flare up. Instead, he gave Ma Liu a cold look and asked, "Were you just about to whip this family of three to death?"

But as soon as he spoke...

Ma Liu and the other Purple Flame Sect disciples were all taken aback.

Then, one after another, they burst into laughter.

"He's actually sticking his neck out for this mortal scum?"

"How many years has it been? I can't believe there's still a bleeding-heart cultivator willing to stand up for this mortal scum. It's absolutely laughable! What on earth did his master teach him to produce such an oddball?"

"That's right. Seeing his bearing, I thought he was an elite disciple from a major power, or at the very least, the son of some dignitary. But now it's clear I was wrong. He must be a Loose Cultivator. Why else would he be mixing with these filthy commoners?"

"Well said. Only those Loose Cultivators with no backing would ever associate with these commoners. Because they're all just as base."

The Purple Flame Sect disciples chimed in one after another, mocking him without restraint.

But what surprised Yang Xiao even more...

...a quiet voice spoke up from behind him.

"Honorable Immortal Master, thank you so much for stepping in to help. But we are just lowly commoners. You are a high and mighty Immortal Cultivator; there is no need for you to create conflict with these other Immortal Masters for our sake. If they truly want us dead, then let them kill us. We're just lowly commoners, not even qualified for a Guiding Spirit Seed. There's not much joy in living in this world anyway. Thank you, Immortal Master."

These words came from the man who had shielded his wife and child from the whip.

As Yang Xiao looked at him.

He wasn't putting on an act; his expression was completely natural.

As if this was simply how a lowly commoner should be.

But Yang Xiao could see a deep sadness in the depths of his eyes. And when he mentioned being unable to receive a Guiding Spirit Seed, his composure faltered significantly.

Yang Xiao couldn't understand it.

'Have things gotten so bad that in their eyes, Immortal Cultivators are no longer the same race as them?'

"See that, you pathetic Loose Cultivator? Even the commoners themselves know that by living, they're just wasting the world's Primordial Power. You still want to help them?"

Ma Liu's triumphant, mocking voice rang in Yang Xiao's ears.

This scene...

...caught Yang Xiao completely off guard.

But he did not change his mind.

"I once heard a Human Emperor say that no living being is born inherently noble or base. Even if they cannot become one of you, they are still part of the Human Race, still living beings. By scorning them, are you not scorning yourselves? I have only ever seen the Demon Race and Alien Races scorn the Human Race. Back then, the Human Race was weak, yet we were able to unite and fight back against those powerful races. But now, looking at you... I find you're not even on par with the Demon and Alien Races."

Yang Xiao looked at them.

And spoke calmly.

In his second life, he had been the Flame Emperor's son. And the Human Emperor he had just mentioned...

...was none other than the Flame Emperor himself.

His father from that second life.

His feelings for his father in that life were faint, not nearly as strong as his feelings for Yang Zhentian.

But his respect for him was immense.

For in the era of the Flame Emperor, the Human Race, while powerful, was far from its current position of dominance over the entire world.

At that time, the Human Race was merely an emerging power among the All Heavens and Myriad Races. In fact, if Celestial Emperor Yuan Shi hadn't established the Human Sect and secured the destiny of the Human Race...

...the entire Human Race would likely still be struggling in some remote corner of the world, reduced to being food for the Demon Race.

The reason the Human Race achieved its current prosperity was because, compared to other races, they were exceptionally united. Moreover, they produced one generation after another of heroes.

Among them, the most outstanding were the Five Human Emperors.

The Flame Emperor was one of them.

It was fair to say that the Flame Emperor's influence was entirely responsible for Yang Xiao's strong identification with the Human Race.

In the era when Yang Xiao lived as the Flame Emperor's son...

...despite his revered status, as a youth he had befriended the common children of the Human Race. When he came of age, he hunted alongside them and participated in the same rites of passage.

He could even have chosen an Imperial Consort of common birth if he wished; there was no requirement for a marriage between social equals.

Of course, as the Human Race grew more powerful...

...differences in strength began to create social strata.

Some were noble, some were humble; some were ambitious, some were lazy. Yang Xiao could accept all of this.

After all, achieving a higher status required personal effort.

And if some were born noble, it was only because of the efforts of their parents and ancestors.

But that kind of nobility was limited.

It was the result of competition and mutual development within the same race.

One could even call it a sign of prosperity.

But the people before him now...

...operated on a completely different principle.

They viewed anyone who couldn't cultivate Immortal Dao Techniques as scum.

As if they were not of the same race, but were livestock they raised, to be killed or humiliated as they pleased.

They had clearly forgotten that before they began to cultivate, they were no different from the people here—the very "filthy commoners" they now derided.

This was what Yang Xiao found most difficult to accept.

But his words...

...only drew more ridicule.

"You heard that from a Human Emperor? HAHA, that's hilarious! So this Loose Cultivator isn't just a bleeding-heart, he's a complete idiot! Don't you know that we Immortal Cultivators are long past being part of a lowly race like the humans? Human Emperor? Ptooey! I only know of the Vast Heaven Immortal Lord and the Supreme Immortal Realm. What the hell is this 'Human Emperor' of yours?"

Ma Liu sneered.

But those words enraged Yang Xiao.

"You rootless bastards! I knew it. You're all just a pack of ungrateful Immortal Dao dogs. In that case, you can all just die!"

Even after being reborn, Yang Xiao still could not stomach anyone insulting the Flame Emperor.

Especially not a member of the Human Race.

So, he no longer hesitated.

He made his move.

"Just a measly True Tier Fourth Level? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Ma Liu sneered.

But a moment later, he wasn't sneering anymore.

It wasn't just him.

The other Purple Flame Sect Members couldn't laugh anymore, either.

Yang Xiao had been holding back, but now that he attacked, he used a technique of utter annihilation.

A light sweep of his hand.

Instantly, countless streams of Sword Qi shot out.

All the Immortal Cultivators present.

Died!

Because they deserved it!

And this was only the beginning. If all Immortal Daoists held such views, then as far as Yang Xiao was concerned, not a single one deserved to live!

They would all have to die!