Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Yang Xiao, has he lost his mind?"

After a long moment, a confused Ye Wanqing looked at Yan Chixiao and turned to Yang Xiao.

In fact, it wasn't just her.

Even Yang Xiao hadn't quite expected this.

'Just what reason could this guy have for doing something so baffling? Could it be that I'm just too handsome and extraordinary? Was he awed by my domineering aura?'

"Ahem. How did you know I was an Alchemist?"

With this thought, Yang Xiao gave a light cough and asked.

In that short period, he had actually considered many things.

'If this guy in front of me is truly surrendering, it might not be a bad idea to take him in. After all, my current power base is too weak.'

'With only Ye Wanqing by my side, I'm severely short-handed if I want to get anything done.'

Of course, this time, Yang Xiao wouldn't be as trusting as he had been with Yuan Haotian.

'Just handing over a Desolate Divine Fruit.'

'Even though that stuff isn't that precious to me and I have plenty more, it's still a Divine Fruit. How could I casually waste one on this guy?'

Besides, even if this guy truly wanted to submit, he wouldn't trust him the way he had trusted Yuan Haotian.

'In any case, I have plenty of poisons on hand right now.'

'As long as he dares to take it, I won't have to worry about him rebelling.'

That was why Yang Xiao was even bothering to speak with him. Otherwise, he would have just tossed a Demon Stream pill at him; in Yan Chixiao's current state, he likely wouldn't have been able to dodge it.

Hearing Yang Xiao's question, however, Yan Chixiao grew worried. He asked cautiously, "Could it be that you are not a Lord Alchemist?"

"Uh, of course I am. In fact, I'm a Divine Pharmacist. Given enough time, I can even refine Divine Pills. But how did you figure it out?"

Yang Xiao sang his own praises without the slightest hint of modesty.

Of course, as the Human Race Medicine Ancestor, he wasn't wrong in saying so.

To anyone else's ears, however, it sounded like pure bragging.

One only had to look at Ye Wanqing to know that.

Yan Chixiao, on the other hand, though he didn't believe it deep down, put on a fawning smile. "My Lord, your aura is truly extraordinary. So you are a Divine Pharmacist! A moment ago, I only guessed because I saw you take out so many miraculous Pills. But my feelings for you are sincere. Please, My Lord, take me in."

Hearing Yang Xiao confirm he was an Alchemist, Yan Chixiao became even more respectful.

The reason was actually quite simple.

Earlier, Yan Chixiao had told Yan Chixuan that he had overlooked one thing.

And that thing was this:

'With this Lord Alchemist's power, since he could produce a miraculous pill that instantly obliterated Yan Chifeng, does he not have other methods to kill us? To think you still wanted to oppose someone like that... if I didn't kill you as a pledge of loyalty, wouldn't I be dragged to my death by you?'

This was the reason for Yan Chixiao's actions.

When all was said and done, it was because he had been terrified by Yang Xiao.

First, there was the miraculous Pill that drastically increased Ye Wanqing's strength. Then, there was the terrifying Poison Pill that killed Yan Chifeng in a single blow. Heaven only knew if that was all Yang Xiao had.

'What if he pulls out another Pill that could kill me instantly?'

Yan Chixiao did not want to die.

Therefore, there was only one path left for him.

Surrender.

He had deliberately questioned Yan Chixuan earlier to test his intentions. If that guy had advocated for surrender, just like him, then everything would have been fine.

The two of them could have just surrendered together.

He wouldn't have needed to kill Yan Chixuan.

Unfortunately, Yan Chixuan had been too foolish.

Even at a time like this, he was still thinking about fighting the mysterious Alchemist. Yan Chixiao felt that even if Yan Chixuan had suggested they escape together, he wouldn't have killed him.

But if he insisted on fighting, there was only one option left.

Kill him.

As a pledge of loyalty.

That was what led to Yan Chixiao's earlier peculiar actions.

It had to be said that while his actions were peculiar, they were indeed effective.

At that moment, Yang Xiao glanced at him.

In the end, he decided to give this guy a chance.

After a moment of thought, he retrieved a light purple pill from his Daoist Ring and tossed it at Yan Chixiao's feet. "You are an Immortal Cultivator. I originally had no intention of taking you in, but since you seem so sincere, I'll give you a chance. This is a Poison Pill. It's extremely toxic. Even a Void Immortal Peak expert would die after swallowing it without my custom antidote. Think it over. If you're willing to take it, I'll accept you. If you're not..."

Yang Xiao didn't finish his sentence.

There was no need to.

At this, Yan Chixiao hesitated.

Although he had already made up his mind to follow Yang Xiao, this was a Poison Pill.

Who would willingly take poison?

'But if I don't take it...'

'He definitely won't let me walk away alive. Besides, I killed Yan Chixuan, so I can't return to the Yan Family. Even if I could stay, the problem with my body probably can't be solved there. Almost everyone saw what happened that day. We Immortal Cultivators... we're finished.'

He thought back to that day, to the Origin Power inside him draining away.

Yan Chixiao knew.

From now on, it would be impossible for him to advance any further in his Immortal Dao cultivation. Moreover, he knew this problem wasn't unique to him.

It was likely that all Immortal Cultivators—no, at least eighty percent of them—were experiencing issues.

And in the Yan Family, there were no Alchemists at all.

If a problem arose, there was no way they could solve it for him there.

Even an ordinary Alchemist wouldn't be able to.

But this one before him...

...perhaps he could.

"Well? Have you made up your mind?"

Yang Xiao waited a moment longer, growing impatient.

At that same moment, Yan Chixiao finally came to a decision.

'If I refuse, only death awaits. If I take it, I might not survive, but there's at least a sliver of hope. I, Yan Chixiao, began cultivating at the age of six and am now sixteen hundred years old. If I lose my cultivation, death is certain. And even if I were to live, what would be the point? I might as well take this gamble!'

His mind made up, he picked up the light purple pill from the ground.

He shoved it directly into his mouth.

"Good. Not bad. From now on, you are my subordinate. This is a Strengthening Foundation and Nourishing Essence Pill. It should have some effect on your current condition. Go ahead and take it."

Yang Xiao smiled.

He casually took out a light green Pill and tossed it over.

This so-called Strengthening Foundation and Nourishing Essence Pill was actually a failed Solid Essence Pill that Yang Xiao had refined earlier. As skilled as he was, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. However, with his abilities, even a failed Solid Essence Pill retained thirty percent of the original's medicinal effects.

As soon as Yan Chixiao took the pill, he instantly felt the cultivation that had been continuously draining from his body come to an abrupt halt. It was no longer leaking away.

His face immediately lit up with joy.

He knew that this time, his gamble had paid off!