Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Grandpa, let's go! This Array is strange—it can actually absorb one's cultivation. We can't stay here long!"

Just as Yang Xiao was growing tense, wondering how Yuan Haotian would deal with him, he instead heard Yuan Haotian's anxious words.

He looked as if he was about to grab him and drag him away.

His heart stirred.

'Is he using this as a pretext to capture me?'

Yang Xiao hesitated for a moment.

He didn't dodge.

Yuan Haotian seized him.

Instantly, a terrifying aura surged into Yang Xiao's body.

The moment the aura made contact, Yang Xiao knew this was bad.

But he still didn't move.

"Just as I suspected. You're not my grandfather. Speak! Who are you? And where is he?"

Yuan Haotian roared.

His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at him.

He wanted to strike a crippling blow, but held back.

He still needed to confirm his grandfather's whereabouts.

"Don't worry, your grandfather is fine. If he were dead, would I dare impersonate him? Wouldn't that be a death wish? So, for the sake of the disguise alone, I wouldn't have killed him."

Yang Xiao chuckled.

Seeing the smile, Yuan Haotian was disoriented for a moment. But the thought that this man was an imposter made him snort coldly. "Change back. Otherwise, I have no problem beating you back into your original form!"

"Oh, really? I rather like the way I look right now."

Yang Xiao kept smiling.

Yuan Haotian found the smile incredibly grating.

But when it came to actually attacking Yang Xiao, he still hesitated.

His grandfather was the most important person to him—more important even than the Immortal Dao he pursued. If a moment of rashness on his part led to his grandfather's death, Yuan Haotian knew he would never be happy, even if he achieved the rank of True Immortal.

This display of emotion took Yang Xiao by surprise.

In his mind, the great master of the Vast Heaven Immortal Sect, the man on the entire Profound Sun Continent with the best chance of becoming a True Immortal, had to be a ruthless and heartless monster.

The Slaying Martial Order was proof enough of his cruelty. It was said that when the order was carried out, even seven- and eight-year-old children who had practiced basic techniques for just a few days were executed as Martial Artists.

'How could a man like that possibly be loyal or sentimental?'

What's more, Yang Xiao could sense through the Mysterious Furnace Cauldron just how terrifying and powerful the Immortal Dao Will was within Yuan Haotian.

His aura was incredibly pure, several times more so than that of anyone Yang Xiao had ever encountered, even surpassing Huang Tianling's.

The sensation was just like facing the Lord of Immortal Dao who had betrayed him long ago—except the current Yuan Haotian was still a pale imitation of that man.

'But, since he cares so much for his grandfather, this is something I can use.'

Yang Xiao smiled to himself. Just as he was plotting how to use Yuan Haotian, he felt another terrifying aura surge from within the God-Suppressing Coffin.

'Not good. It's that old fogey from the Qin Family. Looks like he finally got suspicious after all.'

Yang Xiao's expression changed instantly.

But he quickly turned his gaze to Yuan Haotian.

"You want me to deal with the Qin Family Ancestor?"

Yuan Haotian read Yang Xiao's intent from a single glance.

It made him swallow the words he had been about to speak.

"Since you've figured it out, I won't beat around the bush. Eliminating the Qin Family Ancestor should be easy for you, right?"

"Killing him wouldn't be difficult, it's true. But why should I listen to you?"

Yuan Haotian smirked coldly.

Although Yang Xiao had him in a bind, that didn't mean he would simply obey his commands.

But Yang Xiao's next words made him instantly cave.

Yang Xiao said, "You don't have to listen to me. But I can guarantee that by the time you see your grandfather again, he won't be in one piece. Besides, the moment that old geezer from the Qin Family gets out, he'll realize something is terribly wrong with him. When that happens, do you think he'll be friendly toward you and me?"

"If he orders all the Qin Clan Members out of the Array, you might escape unscathed, but I'll be done for. And when that happens, do you really think you'll ever see your grandfather again?"

Yuan Haotian was about to explode with rage at how brazenly this man was threatening him.

And yet, when the Qin Family Ancestor appeared and realized his cultivation was truly gone—with less than sixty percent remaining—Yuan Haotian made his move.

His figure flashed as he struck down with his palm.

He moved with incomparable speed, striking and killing the Qin Family Ancestor, who was still reeling in shock, his Heart Spirit unguarded.

Yang Xiao could tell he was using the same Palm Technique as Yuan Haowen had before. In Yuan Haotian's hands, however, its power was far more terrifying.

He utterly shattered the Qin Family Ancestor—a master at the Void Immortal Peak, just one step from the True Immortal Realm. A second palm strike annihilated the scattered flesh and spirit, blasting them into nothingness.

Not even a wisp of his aura remained.

Such power and such methods made even Yang Xiao's eye twitch.

'Holy shit... this guy's strength is probably on par with a newly ascended True God. And his control over that power... even some True Gods might not be his match. A genius, a true genius. What a pity he cultivates the Immortal Dao. Otherwise, he could have become another Martial Arts God King, maybe even taken the final step to become a Dao Attainment Emperor. An Ultimate Grade Dao Body, indeed!'

Yang Xiao was both shocked and filled with a sense of lament.

An idea even began to form in his mind.

'If I could bring this man to my side... even if refining away the Immortal Dao Aura in his body would reduce his power to nothing, with Yuan Haotian's aptitude, it probably wouldn't take him long to regain it.'

'He'd become even stronger.'

'Perhaps, after starting his cultivation over, he could even break through his current bottleneck and ascend to become a True God.'

With this in mind, Yang Xiao blurted out, "If I let your grandfather go on the condition that you abandon your Immortal Cultivation and start over with the Martial Dao, would you be willing?"

"The Martial Dao? So it's true. You're the last heir of the Ye Family, aren't you?"

Yuan Haotian's eyes instantly lit up.

"Whether I am or not makes no difference. I just want your answer."

Yang Xiao was unconcerned.

He was more interested in knowing what was more important to Yuan Haotian: his grandfather or the Immortal Dao. If it was the former, Yang Xiao believed the man could absolutely be won over.

He might even be trustworthy in the future.

Yuan Haotian, however, fell silent, his gaze fixed on Yang Xiao.

His gaze was arrow-sharp, as if trying to discern whether Yang Xiao was telling the truth.

He stared for a long moment.

Seemingly convinced that Yang Xiao was serious, he finally spoke slowly, enunciating each word. "If... you can truly deliver on your promise... I will... switch to the Martial Dao!"

"Excellent. Believe me, you will not regret the decision you've made today."

Yang Xiao smiled.

It was a joyous smile.

Then, he took something out from within his robes.

He handed it over.