Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Oh? It looks like you do have a shred of humanity. Does this mean you're going to trust me and let us go?"

Yang Xiao said, feigning an expectant look.

Lu Dingyuan glanced at him and said, "If this fruit of yours can truly cure my grandson Qianfan's poison, I can let you go."

'These two kids are still far too green,' he sneered inwardly. 'Threatening me, and they actually think they can get out of this alive? Pathetic.'

Upon hearing this, however, Yang Xiao's expression lit up with joy.

"Really? Of course I can guarantee this thing will cure your grandson's poison. But how can you guarantee you'll let us go?"

"I can't just take your word for it. Bring the fruit here and let me examine it."

Yang Xiao frowned.

But he quickly relented. "Fine. I'll give it to you!"

With that, he started walking toward Lu Dingyuan to hand over the fruit.

But when he saw Yang Xiao approaching so casually, Lu Dingyuan's heart skipped a beat. He especially remembered that this young man was an Alchemist.

'If I actually let him get close, what hope would I have?'

He still remembered the poison afflicting his grandson, Lu Qianfan. If that same poison were used on him…

Lu Dingyuan couldn't help but shudder.

He shouted to Yang Xiao, "Wait! I don't trust you. Give the fruit to her. Let her bring it to me!"

At these words, Yang Xiao stopped in his tracks.

He glanced at Lu Dingyuan and muttered under his breath, "This old guy is really cautious. But isn't he a little too afraid of dying?"

Though Yang Xiao had muttered, Lu Dingyuan was a Demigod Peak Level expert. How could he possibly not have heard?

He was instantly so enraged he was practically fuming.

'I should just kill him with a single palm strike.'

Meanwhile, Yang Xiao walked over to Ye Wanqing.

"Wanqing, give this fruit to that old geezer. Oh, and by the way, old geezer, since you don't trust me, why don't you try a bite yourself? Otherwise, how can you be sure it's safe for your grandson?"

Yang Xiao said this loudly, and the repeated insult of "old geezer" made Lu Dingyuan so angry he almost jumped out of his skin.

Despite being six or seven thousand years old, he absolutely loathed being called an old geezer. You could tell just by looking at him; though his hair and beard were white as snow, his face was still remarkably handsome. This man clearly cared a great deal about his image.

It was one thing for the young man before him to mutter "old geezer" under his breath.

But now he had the audacity to shout it at him twice.

In his mind, Lu Dingyuan's hatred for Yang Xiao had reached its peak. He had already sentenced the boy to death.

But he didn't have the antidote yet.

Nor did he have Ye Wanqing in his grasp. So no matter how furious Lu Dingyuan felt, he couldn't unleash his rage.

He was a man who knew how to bide his time.

And at this moment, he was doing just that—enduring.

Lu Dingyuan felt a wave of relief when he saw Yang Xiao place the fruit in Ye Wanqing's hand.

But then he immediately recalled Yang Xiao's earlier words.

'He's so eager for me to taste it myself... Does that mean the fruit is really tainted? He's an Alchemist who also uses poison; I can't be too careful. Yes, that's what I'll do.'

An idea sparked in Lu Dingyuan's mind.

As he watched Ye Wanqing walk toward him,

He suddenly said, "There's nothing wrong with this fruit, is there?"

"Of course not. Why would there be? If you don't believe me, I can take a bite to show you—as long as your grandson doesn't mind my spit. Then again, you probably wouldn't believe me even if I ate some. So why don't you just try a bite yourself?"

Yang Xiao said with a smirk.

Lu Dingyuan's frown deepened.

'This kid keeps pushing me to taste it. It looks like he really did tamper with it.'

An idea struck him.

He completely dismissed Yang Xiao's offer to take a bite himself.

'Even if the fruit were poisonous, he's the one who made it. Of course he'd have the antidote for himself.'

'It's completely meaningless whether he eats it or not.'

'But if I…'

'If I really take a bite, I'd probably be done for.'

However, he had already thought of a solution.

He wouldn't let Yang Xiao test it, nor would he test it himself. After all, there was a third person present.

Ye Wanqing.

"Miss Ye, didn't you say you'd do anything if I agreed to spare this brat? Well, now I want you to taste this fruit for me. See if it's the antidote for my grandson. What do you say?"

Lu Dingyuan stated his demand bluntly, without any pretense.

Ye Wanqing was stunned.

The color drained from Yang Xiao's face. "Wanqing, don't!"

"What's wrong? Is there really a problem with your fruit?"

Lu Dingyuan snorted coldly.

Yang Xiao fell silent.

But Ye Wanqing asked again, "Are you absolutely sure you want me to eat this fruit?"

Lu Dingyuan smiled slightly, deliberately glanced at the nervous-looking Yang Xiao, then continued, "That's right. If nothing happens, my previous promises still stand. But if…"

But before he could finish,

He saw Ye Wanqing swallow the fruit in a single gulp.

She swallowed the whole thing.

Lu Dingyuan was dumbfounded.

But Yang Xiao smiled.

"Now we have nothing to fear. You old fossil, you could never have guessed, could you? When I took out this fruit, I intended for Wanqing to eat it all along, not your wretched grandson. I never thought you'd be so cooperative. Everything went off without a hitch, absolutely perfectly. I really must thank you."

Yang Xiao burst out laughing.

The fruit he had offered was, of course, the Desolate Divine Fruit.

How could he possibly give something this good to Lu Dingyuan and his grandson?

It was just that, if he had suddenly taken it out and had Ye Wanqing swallow it, no matter how fast they were, they would have been stopped by Lu Dingyuan. That's why Yang Xiao went to such great lengths to put on this elaborate show.

As for Ye Wanqing, she knew perfectly well what the fruit did.

After Yang Xiao's repeated hints, she'd have to be as dense as a rock not to understand his plan.

But as it turned out,

Luckily, while this girl was a bit naive and lacked experience dealing with old foxes like Lu Dingyuan, she wasn't a complete idiot. She understood what he meant.

Now, both of them had consumed the Desolate Divine Fruit.

If Lu Dingyuan wanted to harm them now,

it wouldn't be so easy.

With this, they were in an inherently invincible position. So what if their opponent was at the Demigod Peak?

Even a True God probably couldn't do anything to them now.

"You… you schemed against me?"

Lu Dingyuan's face darkened instantly.

"Of course. Otherwise, did you think I would hand over the antidote so easily? But now, you're welcome to try and see if I'll hand over the antidote willingly."

A smile played on Yang Xiao's lips.

He no longer had a single worry.

Ye Wanqing returned to his side, a smile on her face as well.

The sight of them made Lu Dingyuan's blood boil. He felt like he was about to go insane.

"Good. Good. Truly good. In all my years, I, Lu Dingyuan, have never suffered such a huge loss at the hands of one person. Since you want to test it, fine! I will test it and see if your body is really as amazing as you claim!"

With that, Lu Dingyuan attacked.

He shot out a palm.

A palm strike, both ferocious and masculine yet laced with a soft, insidious energy, slammed squarely into Yang Xiao.

Immediately after,

Yang Xiao felt a massive force strike his body.

And yet…

It had no effect.

Lu Dingyuan's expression turned impossibly grim.

"How… how is that possible?"