Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"You're pretty capable, aren't you? Crippling every last one of those wastes."

Yuan Haotian stared at Yang Xiao and said coldly.

He was no longer in a hurry to collect the Divine Fire from Chi Yanfeng's body. Yuan San was dead, the nine Preachers were crippled, and now, only Yang Xiao remained.

The man was strange and full of tricks, but his cultivation was far too low.

In a direct confrontation, the man would be no match for him.

Yuan Haotian was confident of that.

"That's right, now it's just you. If I cripple you, too, I suppose the Immortal Dao on this continent will be finished. Then, I'll pass down the Martial Dao. You're welcome to learn it if you'd like."

Yang Xiao said nonchalantly.

Yuan Haotian was arrogant.

He looked down on Yang Xiao.

But Yang Xiao felt he had more reason to be arrogant. 'An Ultimate Grade Dao Body? So what?'

'What's that count for? I've slain those with Sacred Bodies before.'

"Hmph! How dare you act so arrogantly when death is at your door! Do you really think I'm still at your mercy?"

Yuan Haotian's expression tightened, growing even colder.

"It seems you really don't care if your grandfather lives or dies."

Yang Xiao sighed and shook his head.

Yuan Haotian merely sneered.

'How ridiculous,' he thought. 'I've already made foolproof preparations, and this fool still thinks he can use my grandfather to control me.'

As for the possibility that Yang Xiao had some way to foil his plans...

The thought had never even crossed Yuan Haotian's mind.

'Even I don't have that kind of ability. How could a mere True Intent Stage Martial Artist possibly manage it?'

Evidently, Yang Xiao's low cultivation had once again caused him to be underestimated.

If Yang Xiao had known what Yuan Haotian was thinking, he probably would have remarked on how terrifying ignorance could be. When he decided to kill someone, would he really not consider the possibility of them having other Split Souls?

Forget Split Souls; Yang Xiao was well aware that even so-called indestructible True Immortals and True Gods could be reborn after death through a Divine Soul Brand.

Whenever he acted against such beings, he always made sure to obliterate their Divine Soul Brand.

Ensuring their complete and utter demise.

Let alone a mere mortal.

Yang Xiao had plenty of Secret Techniques that could instantly annihilate all Divine Souls and consciousnesses originating from the same source.

Of course, he didn't currently know what Yuan Haotian was thinking or what trump card he held.

He just had a vague feeling.

'This guy must have some trick up his sleeve, something that ensures I can't kill Yuan Haowen.'

"In that case, I'll just have to test it. We'll see whose methods are more impressive—yours or mine!"

Yang Xiao smiled faintly.

With a wave of his hand,

a rip suddenly tore open in the void.

Before Yuan Haotian could probe the disturbance, Yang Xiao reached in and grabbed.

He pulled Yuan Haowen out.

"Grandfather!"

Yuan Haotian's expression changed instantly as he cried out.

"Haotian!"

Yuan Haowen, however, was somewhat surprised.

But then, seeing the concerned look on Yuan Haotian's face, he couldn't help but feel a pang of shame.

To save his own life, he had previously sold out his own grandson.

He had withheld crucial information, but a betrayal was still a betrayal. Seeing him now, it was naturally awkward.

Especially since he could vaguely guess what was coming.

Yang Xiao was likely going to use him to threaten his grandson.

This made him feel even more ashamed.

"Grandfather, don't worry. I have made thorough preparations. No matter how cunning he is, that man can't kill you."

Yuan Haotian, however, didn't notice his grandfather's shame and instead tried to reassure him.

Before seeing his grandfather, Yuan Haowen, he had been a little worried.

He had worried that his grandfather hadn't actually consumed the miraculous fruit. If he were to act rashly or reveal his methods, it might force Yang Xiao's hand, compelling him to destroy his grandfather's physical body.

In that scenario, while he was still somewhat confident he could keep Yuan Haowen alive,

the difficulty would have increased by hundreds of times.

He would have to at least become a True Immortal to accomplish it.

But now, the moment he saw Yuan Haowen, he could sense it. His grandfather's cultivation had vanished, and his body, like his own, carried a mysterious aura. He had clearly consumed the miraculous fruit as well.

'In that case, what was there to fear?'

'If you hadn't brought my grandfather out, fine. This Immortal Lord might have had to hold back. But now...!'

Yuan Haotian's mind was at ease.

Killing intent flooded his face.

He looked at Yang Xiao as if he were already a dead man.

'So he does have a way to ensure Yuan Haowen won't die,' Yang Xiao thought. 'But isn't he underestimating me a little too much?'

Yang Xiao sneered inwardly.

He didn't call him out on it.

Instead, he said to Yuan Haotian, "I'll give you one last chance. Cooperate, and let me cripple your Immortal Cultivation. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what? You'll kill my grandfather? Can't you see by now that I'm fully prepared? If you want to kill him, go on, give it a try."

"Fully prepared? In that case, I'll just have to give it a try."

Yang Xiao chuckled.

That chuckle

sent a sudden, inexplicable jolt through Yuan Haotian's heart.

But then he remembered the Divine Soul already forming in the Immortal Soul Hall, and he relaxed.

'I'd like to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve.'

At the same time, he transmitted a message to Yuan Haowen: "Grandfather, don't worry. Even if he kills you, I can resurrect you."

"Resurrect me?"

Yuan Haowen's heart stirred.

He understood.

His anxious heart immediately relaxed, and he gave Yuan Haotian a slight nod.

Just then,

Yang Xiao made his move.

He raised his hand and gently tapped.

His finger landed right between Yuan Haowen's brows.

A mysterious power instantly surged forth.

The Silent Extinction Finger!

It contained the power to bring silent extinction to all things.

'I can't believe I'm using this Finger Technique again after all these years,' Yang Xiao sighed inwardly. 'But it can't be helped. My cultivation is just too low right now.'

The Silent Extinction Finger.

It was not his own Technique.

It was created by Chang Xi.

Its destructive power was astonishing, capable of annihilating the Soul.

Furthermore, it had a unique property: it could obliterate all related Soul Bodies. With a single touch, any Soul Body from the same source would perish.

It was simple to use, with very few restrictions.

The only requirement was that the user's Spiritual Power had to be greater than the target's.

Yang Xiao's current Spiritual Power wasn't much stronger than Yuan Haowen's. After all, the man was a Void Immortal Peak expert, and his Spiritual Power had reached the level of a High-Tier Void Observation Realm cultivator.

However, he still had Ye Tianjue's Spiritual Power within him. Drawing out a mere sliver—less than one percent—was more than enough for Yang Xiao to execute this Finger Technique that stirred such complex feelings within him.

And in the time it took for Yang Xiao's brief reflection,

the Silent Extinction Finger had already taken effect.

The finger struck.

The Divine Soul was extinguished.

Yuan Haowen's life force was instantly obliterated.

THUD.

He collapsed to the ground.

Devoid of any life.

Seeing this, Yuan Haotian wasn't angry. Instead, his eyes lit up.

With a flick of his hand,

he pulled Yuan Haowen's corpse toward him.

"Haha! I thought you would destroy my grandfather's body, but you didn't even do that! The heavens are truly on my side... Today, you're a dead man!"

Yuan Haotian roared with laughter.

But his laughter had yet to reach its peak

when it died in his throat.

Because his Clone, which was standing guard in the Immortal Soul Hall, watched in an instant as the Immortal Soul Lamp—originally vibrant and brimming with limitless life—

went out!