Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

'Just now, that was clearly a real body. How could it…'

Yuan Haowen couldn't figure it out.

But he knew he was finished.

The thought that he, who had always prided himself on his superior cunning, had been so utterly defeated by a mere youth made his old face flush with shame.

But now, regret was useless.

"I just want to know one thing," Yuan Haowen said suddenly.

"About the body suddenly disappearing?"

Yang Xiao's voice sounded again.

But Yuan Haowen shook his head. "No. I want to know if you'll give me one of those fruits if I'm willing to tell you a few things."

"Er, you're saying you want to make a deal with me?"

This time, Yang Xiao was genuinely surprised.

However, when he saw the look of desperate yearning on Yuan Haowen's face, it didn't seem feigned in the slightest.

Yang Xiao understood.

'As expected. Only when facing death does one realize how precious life truly is.'

'This old fellow was probably genuinely ready to face death at first.'

'But when death truly looms, how many can ignore the terror of their life fading away?'

"You lied to me just moments ago, and now you want to talk about a deal? You think I'll believe you? Besides, from where I'm standing, you have nothing worth a Desolate Divine Fruit."

In his heart, Yang Xiao already believed this man didn't want to die.

But not wanting to die didn't mean he would trade valuable secrets for it. It was entirely possible this was just another string of lies and nonsense.

'Besides, a Desolate Divine Fruit might not be a big deal to me, but to the outside world, it's comparable to a Divine Medicine. Why would I give it to him so easily?'

"Then what will it take for you to believe me?"

Yuan Haowen was starting to feel some regret.

Just as Yang Xiao suspected, he no longer wanted to die.

The reason he gave himself was that he wanted to live to see the day the Immortal Dao was unified. That was why he wanted to make a deal with Yang Xiao.

But when Yang Xiao refused, he was struck by the realization of just how unwilling he was to accept his fate. He didn't want to die, even if his cultivation was completely destroyed.

As long as he didn't have to die, he was willing to do anything.

"You can start by talking," Yang Xiao said coolly. "If I find what you say valuable, perhaps I'll give you a Desolate Divine Fruit."

Yuan Haowen froze, and his expression turned grim.

But as he felt his cultivation continue to drain away, already down to thirty percent of its original level, he finally opened his mouth.

"Do you know that an Immortal Envoy has descended upon my Vast Heaven Immortal Sect?"

Yang Xiao laughed.

"I imagine every living being on the Profound Sun Continent knows about that. An aura that arrogant and domineering suppressed everyone on the continent. How could I not know? If that's what you're trying to trade, then I'm sorry to say it's not going to work."

Yuan Haowen's face darkened.

He had known all along that getting a Desolate Divine Fruit from this youth wouldn't be easy. After a moment of thought, he spoke again.

"Although you know an Immortal Envoy has descended, you definitely don't know what he's here for, do you?"

"That's true. But what does that have to do with me? Do you really think a magnificent Immortal Envoy would personally come looking for trouble with a minor True Intent Stage Martial Artist like myself? And if he doesn't make a move, how many people on the entire Profound Sun Continent can touch me? Come on, show some real sincerity. If you keep feeding me this worthless fluff, we can just forget the whole thing. My time is precious."

After a cool finish, a faint smile touched Yang Xiao's lips.

'While this information isn't enough to trade for a Desolate Divine Fruit, it's not entirely useless.'

'After all, isn't my greatest enemy right now that True Immortal Level expert?'

'Before, I couldn't tell if the Vast Heaven Immortal Lord had broken through or if an outside True Immortal had descended. Now I know.'

'And this piece of information will be crucial for my plans against this True Immortal.'

Yang Xiao was also very curious about the True Immortal's purpose for coming here.

'I'm only saying all this to bait him into revealing more valuable information.'

'In any case, now that he's started talking, he won't shut up so easily.'

'He's like a gambler at a table. Even knowing the odds are stacked against him, he'll keep betting everything he has for that one slim chance to win.'

'Until he's completely wiped out.'

And right now, that was Yuan Haowen.

Hearing Yang Xiao's words, Yuan Haowen's expression changed once more. After a moment of silence, he continued.

"Perhaps you think the Immortal Envoy won't bother with you, but you're wrong. He will. This time, he came on the orders of the Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch to investigate a certain matter. And this matter seems to be related to the Preachers on the Profound Sun Continent. I came here to bring a Preacher from the Purple Flame Sect back for inspection. But now, you've annihilated the Purple Flame Sect. That Preacher most likely died by your hand. Tell me, if the Immortal Envoy finds out, do you think he won't come after you?"

'Finally, some key information.'

'Preacher.'

'Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch?'

His eyes flickered. "The Purple Flame Sect had many members. That so-called Preacher didn't necessarily die by my hand. How about this: conjure her aura and an image of her. I'll see if I have any impression of her."

"Alright."

With that, Yuan Haowen pointed a finger, and the residual power in his body coalesced into a figure.

The aura was unmistakably Huang Tianling's.

The image, however, was of a much younger person. It seemed to be Huang Tianling's appearance in her youth.

"This is how the Preacher looked as a child. She should be much older now, but her aura wouldn't have changed. See if you've killed this person."

At this, Yuan Haowen grew a little nervous.

If Yang Xiao had really killed the girl, the Immortal Envoy would be furious.

Then they wouldn't be able to complete the Immortal Envoy's mission, which would be disastrous.

At the same time, however, a part of him hoped Yang Xiao had killed her.

If that were the case, his information would be far more valuable, and Yang Xiao might be willing to make a deal. Yuan Haowen was instantly torn.

"I don't remember. Do you have any other information? For example, the strength of your Vast Heaven Immortal Lord, or what Cultivation Technique he practices. If you have any information about the Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch, you can tell me all of it. As long as you answer these questions, I can give you the Desolate Divine Fruit. Of course, don't even think about lying to me. It won't do you any good."

Yang Xiao fell silent for a moment before finally taking the initiative.

Yuan Haowen knew.

'This is probably my last chance to prove my worth.'

So, even though Yang Xiao's questions touched upon his own grandson, he still answered.

"The Vast Heaven Immortal Lord is powerful, far more powerful than I am. He is said to be practicing an Ancient Strange Technique, the Three Thousand Great Dao Split Body Immortal Technique. It allows him to create three thousand Clones to cultivate simultaneously. In the end, they will all merge back into one, and his power will be terrifying. Once he succeeds, he is guaranteed to break through to the True Immortal Realm. He is just one final step away. As for the Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch, he is the most outstanding disciple the Yuan Family, a major power in the Immortal Realm, has produced in ages. It only took him three thousand years to reach the Immortal Monarch Realm, which is equivalent to the Martial Arts God King Realm. He is said to be one of the Immortal Monarchs most qualified to contend for the title of Lord of the Immortal World."

"This is all I know. If you're still not satisfied, I can only resign myself to my fate."

Yuan Haowen fell silent after speaking.

'I've decided. No matter what else he asks, I won't say another word.'

But just then, a glistening golden fruit was tossed in, landing right in front of him.

Yuan Haowen was stunned.

He had already braced himself for being tricked. He never imagined that Yang Xiao would actually give him the fruit.

'Wait. Maybe this fruit is useless, or even poison.'

With that thought, Yuan Haowen picked up the Desolate Divine Fruit. He carefully used the last of his strength to probe it. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he finally swallowed it in one gulp.

Instantly, a mystical power surged from the fruit. He then discovered that the decay of his body, his very flesh and blood, seemed to have halted.

"It really works!"

Yuan Haowen wept with joy.

He had gotten his life back.

Outside, Yang Xiao also smiled.

'I really hit the jackpot on this deal.'

'Not only did I get so much information, but Yuan Haowen is still alive.'

'That makes him even more useful for my plans.'

'For example... I could disguise myself as him and infiltrate the Vast Heaven Immortal Sect!'

'Hmm, a bold plan. But I like it.'

Yang Xiao smiled slightly.

With a wave of his hand, the God Suppression and Immortal Slaying Array disappeared.

Yuan Haowen appeared before him, with twenty percent of his cultivation remaining, still possessing the combat power of a Void Immortal.