Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"It's you? You're one of Lu Dingyuan's men?"

Yang Xiao's expression flickered when he saw the man.

He recognized the middle-aged man, who had once appeared alongside Ye Wanyu. Though a man of few words, his aura was quite profound, and his strength was impressive.

However, the Yang Xiao of today was not the same man whose cultivation had been sealed. Back then, he might have been somewhat wary of this fellow.

But now? Even though his opponent was quite powerful, and even though he'd just exhausted the last wisp of Elder Tianjue's Spiritual Power—making this arguably his weakest moment—he still felt not the slightest bit of fear toward an expert of the Great Divine Power Realm.

If nothing else, his Spiritual Level, which was at the Divinity Communication Realm, was more than enough for him to toy with this man in the palm of his hand.

However, the middle-aged man opposite him clearly didn't see it that way.

He looked at Yang Xiao.

He spoke in an indifferent tone, "There's no need to be in such a hurry to label me. My name is Liu Shangwu, from the Liu Family of the Eastern Domain. I'm sure someone here knows that I am not one of Lu Dingyuan's men."

"Shangwu? You're Tian Jie's son?"

Sure enough, the moment he finished speaking, a soul that looked like an old man spoke up.

Liu Shangwu nodded slightly.

"Since you're a disciple of our Liu Family, you certainly wouldn't be a lackey for that beast Lu Dingyuan. But Shangwu, why do you claim Young Master Yang is deceiving us?"

The old man first affirmed Liu Shangwu's identity, but then immediately began his inquiry.

Clearly, even though Yang Xiao had rescued them, deep down, the old man trusted his own clansman more.

"Earlier, I saw Miss Wanyu of the Ye Family Main Lineage enter this man's room, but she later vanished. Just a moment ago, Lu Dingyuan took him away, and now Lu Dingyuan has also vanished—he's dead. Therefore, I believe Miss Wanyu has likely been murdered."

Liu Shangwu stated.

He had been following Ye Wanyu the entire time. From the moment she entered Yang Xiao's room, never to emerge, her aura vanishing completely, Liu Shangwu had grown suspicious of Yang Xiao.

However, the appearance of Lu Dingyuan had prevented him from stepping out to investigate.

Instead, he had followed Lu Dingyuan the whole way, watching to see what he would do to Yang Xiao and the other Miss Ye.

But he never expected that not long after, Lu Dingyuan would also disappear.

'Although from the looks of it now, Lu Dingyuan was a beast who betrayed his master and ancestors.'

'But did that make Yang Xiao a good person?'

'If he were a good person, then what about Miss Wanyu?'

And so, Liu Shangwu stepped forward.

"Is what you're saying true?"

The elderly Liu clansman's expression changed instantly.

It wasn't just him; the others reacted the same way.

Even Ye Tianqiu turned to look at Yang Xiao, clearly wanting to hear his explanation.

"Yang Xiao, don't pay him any mind. I may not know where my sister is right now, but I would know if she were dead or alive. This man is slandering you!"

Just as Yang Xiao's brows knitted in thought, wondering if he should reveal what had happened, Ye Wanqing suddenly spoke out.

She stepped forward, taking a clear and unequivocal stand by Yang Xiao's side.

Liu Shangwu's expression changed at once.

"It seems what Miss Wanyu said about you being bewitched by this man, Yang, was true after all. Fine. If you, her own sister, don't even care, why should an outsider like me get involved?"

With that, Liu Shangwu shook his head and turned to leave.

"You think you can just leave after making false accusations?"

Ye Wanqing called out sharply.

Liu Shangwu stopped in his tracks, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh? And what do you plan to do about it? Don't tell me you actually think you can make me stay?"

"Shangwu, that is a lady of the Ye Family Main Lineage! You shouldn't be so disrespectful!"

The elderly soul who had supported him earlier spoke up once more.

Unfortunately, Liu Shangwu had no interest in his words whatsoever.

He merely said coldly, "If I'm not mistaken, you must be one of my grand-uncles, right? However, I, Liu Shangwu, am the one running the Liu Family now, so you'd best save your breath. Of course, if these two can actually manage to keep me here, maybe I'd even be willing to submit to him. But what a pity. I don't know how they killed Lu Dingyuan, but for them to deal with me with their level of cultivation? Impossible!"

After speaking, Liu Shangwu paid the old man no further heed and turned to walk away.

His words, however, caused a great uproar among the assembled souls.

"Brother Shengxuan, to think your Liu Family would produce such a disrespectful descendant?"

One of the souls, who clearly recognized the elderly Liu, exclaimed.

And the elderly Liu clansman, Liu Shengxuan, had an extremely dark expression on his face.

Even though he was just a Soul Body, others could see that he was deeply displeased.

"It seems that after not having returned for so many years, the Liu Family has already forgotten me."

Liu Shengxuan sighed softly.

The others also felt a jolt in their hearts.

They couldn't help but think of their own situations.

'If this was the case for Liu Shengxuan, how would it be for them?'

'Would their descendants truly be willing to listen to them?'

For a moment, these souls began to have doubts about the promises they had made to Yang Xiao.

They began to doubt the influence they held over their own descendants.

And just then, Yang Xiao stepped forward.

"You said that if I can make you stay, you will submit to me?"

Liu Shangwu was stunned; he hadn't expected Yang Xiao to actually dare to step forward.

He didn't hesitate for long, however. An idea struck him, and he said, "As long as you defeat me using your own power, I, Liu Shangwu, will not go back on my word."

"My own power? Alright, I accept your terms."

Yang Xiao smiled.

'He didn't need to resort to any special tricks to deal with an expert of the Great Divine Power Realm.'

Upon hearing their exchange, the souls who had just begun to doubt themselves all turned to watch.

They already knew that Yang Xiao had rescued them, they had heard that Lu Dingyuan was dead, and they had even learned from Ye Wanqing that Yang Xiao was walking the Path of the Human Emperor and had earned Ye Tianqiu's approval.

However...

None of that was as direct, nor did it allow them to clearly see Yang Xiao's true potential, as a genuine display of his own power would.

After all, many among them could sense that Yang Xiao's aura wasn't particularly powerful.

'He's only at the True Intent Eighth Layer Peak. Could a young man who hasn't even stepped into the Small Divine Ability Realm truly have earned Emperor Xuanyuan's recognition?'

'Or was everything he said just an attempt to fool us?'

They hadn't voiced these concerns earlier, partly out of gratitude for Yang Xiao saving their lives, and partly because they hadn't been able to probe the aura within his body too deeply.

After all, Emperor Xuanyuan's seal had not yet completely disappeared.

But as time went on, their suspicion toward Yang Xiao only deepened.

That was why, when Liu Shangwu had stepped forward to question Yang Xiao just now, deep suspicion had taken root in the hearts of many, and they had felt a sense of agreement with him.

If Liu Shangwu hadn't been so arrogant, he might have managed to shatter the image Yang Xiao had built up in one fell swoop.

Now, with Yang Xiao about to fight Liu Shangwu—and having agreed to use only his own power—the souls were naturally paying close attention.

That included Ye Tianqiu.

However, unlike the others, he had a much deeper understanding of the Path of the Human Emperor. Thus, his confidence in Yang Xiao was far greater than that of any other soul—or indeed, any other person present.

'This little fellow from the Liu Family is in for a rude awakening. The Path of the Human Emperor requires one's cultivation to be sealed. The aura young friend Yang Xiao is emitting now clearly shows he has already embarked on the Path of Breaking Forbidden. Since the Ancient Era, anyone capable of breaking their seal while on the Path of the Human Emperor has been, without exception, a peerless, Demon-Level genius.'

'This Liu Shangwu is a mere Martial Cultivator of the Great Divine Power Realm. Could he possibly be a match for such an existence?'

Ye Tianqiu refused to believe it!