Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Let me see just what kind of sacred being you are!"

Yang Xiao sneered.

This sapling possessed the purest aura of the Lord of Immortal Dao, yet it didn't appear to be particularly strong.

This was Yang Xiao's best chance to understand the Lord of Immortal Dao.

If he could succeed.

He might even be able to glean some clues about the Lord of Immortal Dao.

For Yang Xiao, who longed for revenge but knew nothing about his enemy—not even who they were or what they were capable of—this was an irresistible temptation.

Moreover, since he had already promised Huang Chengde to help save his daughter, Yang Xiao would not go back on his word.

Besides, this matter was deeply personal to him.

How could he sit by and do nothing?

But just as Yang Xiao lunged toward the black sapling to strike, he saw it suddenly seem to sense something. In an instant, it grew impossibly tall and emanated an immense evil. Before it, Yang Xiao felt utterly feeble.

He was like a Mortal facing a poisonous creature like the Life-taking Thousand-leaf Willow.

The sensation was like a sheep transforming into a massive Tiger in the blink of an eye. Even Yang Xiao was caught off guard, but he didn't retreat.

Instead, he pounced forward even more fiercely.

"I refuse to believe a mere wisp of an aura can kill me!"

Yang Xiao roared.

Fury from the betrayals of his past life surged through him. He threw caution to the wind, instantly increasing the one-tenth of his Spiritual Power he had committed and pouring in at least ninety percent.

He left only a sliver behind as a precaution.

It was an all-or-nothing gamble.

Instantly, his own aura surged in power.

It caused Huang Tianling's Sea of Consciousness to churn violently.

In response, the white world—which had been weakened and suppressed to its very limit—seemed to awaken. It shifted from its purely defensive posture and began to counterattack.

It reclaimed lost ground while the black sapling was occupied with Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao, however, didn't notice this. Right now, his Spiritual Power had coalesced into a solid, humanoid phantom, locked in a fierce battle with the black sapling.

In this spiritual world, many of Yang Xiao's techniques were no longer restricted.

The Great Success Realm Flame Emperor Divine Fist.

He unleashed it to its fullest potential.

Even though this black sapling was incredibly powerful, its aura far surpassing Yang Xiao's.

Yet, he still managed to force it back step by step.

Yang Xiao's expression, however, showed no joy.

Because he felt that every time he made contact with the black sapling's branches and leaves, a blackness would surge into his Heart Spirit, stirring up the negative emotions within him.

Fortunately, Yang Xiao's will was quite firm.

This allowed him to maintain his fierce offensive.

But if this continued.

He would most likely perish.

'Am I not even a match for a wisp of this thing's aura?'

Yang Xiao refused to accept it.

Just then, he inadvertently noticed the white world, which was desperately fighting back.

What Yang Xiao didn't expect was that within the white world, the once-chaotic memories suddenly began to coalesce.

They formed a phantom.

It was Huang Tianling.

But the Huang Tianling of this moment was completely different from the Huang Tianling Yang Xiao had first seen.

Resolute.

Brave.

She looked so pure, a stark contrast to the Huang Tianling who had wanted to kill her brother and mother. Her entire bearing was untainted.

Even though she was just a phantom.

She was a hundred times more beautiful than the Huang Tianling Yang Xiao had previously considered a beauty.

No, a thousand times.

'This must be the real Huang Tianling. No wonder Huang Chengde refuses to give up on her, even now. It's not just because of his love for his daughter, but more likely his faith in her. He believes his daughter would never become so evil!'

Yang Xiao suddenly understood.

Although he still couldn't be certain if the twisted nature all Immortal Cultivators displayed toward Mortals was due to accepting an Immortal Dao Spirit Seed.

But it was clearly the case for the girl before him.

Since that's the case.

'I promised your father that as long as you hadn't truly turned evil, I would return his original daughter to him. Since I gave my word, I will see it through. I will not break my promise!'

Originally, Yang Xiao had wanted to retreat.

After all, this black sapling was too terrifying. If things went wrong, Yang Xiao would likely fall here.

But seeing this girl struggling desperately.

Wanting to break free from its control.

Yang Xiao's expression instantly firmed with resolve.

Because of his promise to Huang Chengde.

Because of the deep-seated defiance in his heart.

So, at this very moment, Yang Xiao decided that no matter what, he had to defeat the sapling before him.

'The Flame Emperor Divine Fist isn't working... what about the True Greater Yang Fire? If I'm not mistaken, all demonic powers fear the Supreme Yang of the True Greater Yang Fire above all else!'

With a sharp cry.

He raised his hand, and instantly, countless terrifying streams of True Greater Yang Fire surged forth.

The black sapling shuddered at the sight.

But it quickly extended its branches again, trying to whip Yang Xiao.

Because the aura of this True Greater Yang Fire was not yet strong enough.

"I didn't use this before because my Spiritual Power is, ultimately, too weak. Its essence, in particular, is probably far inferior to the Demon you've manifested from a mere wisp of aura. But now..."

Yang Xiao sneered.

He began to mobilize the last of his power.

It was the Spiritual Power left behind by Ye Tianjue, the power that allowed Yang Xiao to activate his Lifebound Divine Weapon, the Bloodthirsty Sword. It was the entire reserve of Spiritual Power left by a mighty True God.

Extremely powerful.

Instantly, the True Greater Yang Fire in Yang Xiao's hand blazed with intensity.

WHOOSH! It bathed the once-pitch-black world in brilliant light.

The dark aspects of Huang Tianling's memories, illuminated by this light, melted away like snow in a scorching sun.

As these dark aspects disappeared.

The entire black world began to shrink, while the white world grew larger and larger.

The black sapling, which had seemed so incredibly powerful, also began to slowly shrink.

Its power came entirely from Huang Tianling's inner world.

The darker her heart, the stronger it became.

The purer her heart, the weaker it grew.

With the help of Yang Xiao's True Greater Yang Fire, Huang Tianling's mind was freed from control. It returned to a state as pristine as if unstained by a single speck of dust—even purer than it had been before.

It was like a crystal polished to perfect transparency.

Incomparably pure.

Untainted.

And that black sapling had turned into a seed.

A black seed.

"This is the Spirit Seed. Benefactor, can you help me take it away?"

Huang Tianling's gentle voice echoed in Yang Xiao's consciousness.

It was far more pleasant than the sharp, harsh voice filled with endless arrogance he'd heard before.

"Alright!"

Yang Xiao did not hesitate.

He reached out, grabbed the seed, and held it within the True Greater Yang Fire, attempting to burn it away.

But no matter how he burned it, he couldn't destroy it.

This so-called Spirit Seed seemed to have completely sealed its aura. The power of the True Greater Yang Fire couldn't touch it, much to Yang Xiao's frustration.

'Whatever. I'll take it out of here first and deal with it later.'

Carrying this unresolvable Spirit Seed, Yang Xiao returned to his own Sea of Consciousness.

To his surprise, the moment he returned to his Sea of Consciousness, the Spirit Seed suddenly seemed to come alive.

In an instant.

It released a massive amount of black qi.

Even Yang Xiao was caught completely off guard.

His entire aura began to change.

It grew dark and wicked.

His face grew ferocious and vile, his eyes turned blood-red, his Heart Spirit churned in turmoil, and his mind was flooded with twisted, dark images!

Yang Xiao's sanity was lost in an instant.