Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"You certainly look confident. But is it really wise for a mere True Intent Stage cultivator like you to be so cocky in front of an expert from the Great Divine Power Realm?"

Liu Shangwu remarked coolly, assessing the situation.

Yang Xiao simply smiled.

He didn't reply.

'It's true I'm at the True Intent Stage, but so what?'

'Not to mention the special aura within my body—my Eighth Layer True Intent Stage cultivation is equivalent to the Eighth Layer Peak of the Small Divine Power Realm. And if you factor in the power of my True Greater Yang Fire, even ordinary cultivators at the Peak of the Small Divine Power Realm are no match for me.'

'Then there's my physical strength.'

'The power of seventy-one Flood Dragons, amplified by the Emperor Secret Technique, unleashes enough destructive force to contend with an expert at the Peak of the Great Divine Power Seventh Layer.'

'And that's not even counting the Golden Roc True Body at the Peak of the Great Divine Power Realm within me.'

'Below the Demigod level, who could possibly be my opponent?'

'A head-on clash?'

'Absolutely ridiculous.'

'So many days have passed, and the Immortal Dao Aura in the Mysterious Furnace Cauldron is still refining. It looks like it will take some more time. Still, just my current physical strength is more than enough to deal with this guy.'

Yang Xiao's expression shifted.

He raised his hand and sent a fist hurtling toward Liu Shangwu.

It was direct and straightforward.

This was his fighting style from his first life—incredibly fierce, incredibly wild.

The spectating souls' eyes lit up as they watched.

Even Liu Shangwu was intrigued now.

"Good! Let me see what you're made of!"

As he spoke, Liu Shangwu also threw a punch at Yang Xiao.

It was an honorable and direct blow, without any flourish—an attack of pure, overwhelming force.

But Yang Xiao smiled.

'This guy is kind of interesting.'

'Before, when Liu Shangwu stepped forward, I thought he was some cunning schemer. But now, it seems that's not the case at all.'

'Otherwise, he would never act like this.'

'Anyone with the slightest bit of cunning would have latched onto the matter with Ye Wanyu to constantly slander me. They certainly wouldn't show such disrespect to their elders in front of everyone.'

'This behavior is clearly that of a rash, naive young hothead.'

'Paired with this straightforward fighting style...'

'How could I not see it? This guy might just be a simple-minded fellow.'

'Perhaps that's precisely how he managed to survive Lu Dingyuan's schemes.'

Yang Xiao mused.

His fist had already collided with Liu Shangwu's.

BANG!

A terrifying force surged directly into Yang Xiao's body.

Yang Xiao staggered back three steps.

But Liu Shangwu hadn't retreated a single step.

His expression, however, changed.

"Unbelievable! To think there's someone else in this world besides me, Liu Shangwu, who has tempered their physical body to such a degree! Good! For that alone, I, Liu Shangwu, will give you my respect. However, if you want me to submit, if you want the Liu Family to submit, then bring out your full strength and defeat me!"

As he finished speaking, Liu Shangwu's eyes blazed with an incomparable intensity.

Clearly, he too was eager.

He was filled with anticipation for the coming fight with Yang Xiao.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiao shook out his arm and glanced at Liu Shangwu.

This guy was also something of a surprise.

'I didn't expect the physical strength of a Martial Cultivator at the Peak of the Great Divine Power Seventh Layer to be this incredible. It seems it will be difficult for me to win on physical strength alone. But... so what?'

Yang Xiao gave a slight smile.

He lunged forward again.

He chose not to use his other powers. His opponent's strength was far greater than his own, but just as he had thought—so what?

Besides, fighting was something he enjoyed.

And the greatest joy in battle...

...was encountering a powerful opponent, one even stronger than himself.

Otherwise, what was the point of bullying the weak?

"Good! You've got guts! I, Liu Shangwu, am starting to admire you more and more."

Liu Shangwu, for his part, was also visibly excited.

He too lunged toward Yang Xiao.

The two began a savage and direct battle.

Fist against fist.

Every punch landed with bone-jarring impact.

Both were relying entirely on their physical strength to attack the other. In this regard, Liu Shangwu was clearly a cut above Yang Xiao, but he was inferior when it came to various Secret Techniques.

As a result, they appeared to be evenly matched in combat.

As for Yang Xiao, he grew more and more excited as the fight went on.

Because he could feel it. During his battle with Liu Shangwu, his Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique—which had already been nearing a breakthrough thanks to the convergence of conviction—was, at this very moment, truly ascending to a new level.

He felt...

...that if he just fought a little longer, he could push his Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique to the next stage.

When that happened, not only would his Physical Strength rise to an even more terrifying level, but he could also fuse the True Greater Yang Fire within him into his physical power, transforming the Visible Flood Dragon into a terrifying Fire Element Flood Dragon imbued with True Greater Yang Fire.

In that case, the combined effect would be far greater than the sum of its parts.

"Haha! Exhilarating! Kid, you really are something. To have such strength at your age, your talent and the Secret Techniques you cultivate are clearly superior to mine. A pity you're still a bit too green. Come back after training for a few more years, and you might be able to beat me. But right now, you're not there yet!"

Liu Shangwu roared with laughter.

His fighting style grew even more ferocious.

His attacks became more relentless.

Compared to Yang Xiao, although he didn't have the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique, he had achieved a perfect fusion in his application of physical strength and internal energy.

Although it was merely a simple additive effect.

But once it was unleashed...

...Yang Xiao, who was already at a disadvantage, was suddenly pushed into an even more precarious position.

But under this pressure, his comprehension of the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique deepened.

Finally.

Just as Liu Shangwu's punch, gathering his most terrifying power, came hurtling forward...

...at the very moment it was about to send Yang Xiao flying...

...a feeling of sudden enlightenment washed over him.

Yang Xiao suddenly had an epiphany.

The True Greater Yang Fire within him fused directly into the Visible Flood Dragon formed from his physical strength. As the crystalline flame merged with the power of his flesh and blood, it felt as if his very physical being had begun to boil and burn.

Yang Xiao felt his power instantly increase tenfold.

Immediately after.

He threw a punch.

Flame Emperor Divine Fist.

He blasted it out without a moment's hesitation.

It struck squarely against Liu Shangwu's most terrifying punch.

With a deafening BANG!

The very air began to tremble violently.

Immediately after, a figure was sent flying.

And crashed heavily to the ground.

It was a miserable sight.

But when everyone, including Ye Tianqiu and Ye Wanqing, saw clearly who that person was...

...their expressions, at that moment, were completely stunned.

Because the one sent flying was not Yang Xiao, who had been at a complete disadvantage just moments before.

It was Liu Shangwu.

Yang Xiao... he had actually, in this head-on clash—a battle that was both exhilarating enough to make anyone's blood boil and yet marked by a huge disparity in power...

...won!

This... was simply unbelievable.