Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

COUGH! COUGH!

Covered from head to toe in dust, his clothes bearing scorch marks, Liu Shangwu stood up.

Like Ye Wanqing and the others, a hint of disbelief filled his eyes.

Just a moment ago, he had been so sure he was about to win.

'Why did it turn out like this?'

Liu Shangwu felt that even if he had to face that last punch again, he would still be unable to block it.

That punch...

It was too ferocious.

It contained a terrifying heat—a truly dreadful Flame Power.

"Do you wish to continue?"

Yang Xiao smiled faintly.

He, too, felt a surge of excitement.

The advancement of his Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique had greatly increased his strength. Now, even relying solely on his own power—without any external aid like the Golden Roc True Body, the Bloodthirsty Divine Sword, or the Fire God Clone—he was strong enough to contend with any expert at the Eighth to Ninth Layers of Great Divine Techniques.

Moreover, this was only the beginning.

'Once the Immortal Dao Aura in the Mysterious Furnace Cauldron is fully refined, my Physical Strength will likely grow even stronger. As my cultivation rises, my True Greater Yang Fire will also become more powerful. The two are intertwined; improving either one will cause my strength to advance by leaps and bounds. This makes the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique, the bridge between them, all the more indispensable.'

'I must continue down this Path of the Human Emperor.'

The more Yang Xiao thought about it, the more excited he became.

At the same time, his appreciation for the Path of the Human Emperor reached an unprecedented level. For him, at this moment, the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique had become utterly vital and irreplaceable.

Therefore, for some reason, Yang Xiao placed even more importance on whether Liu Shangwu, the man before him, would honor the wager and admit defeat.

If he conceded and submitted, then the task of subjugating Lu Dingyuan's forces would become much easier.

But if Liu Shangwu refused to submit...

Even with the help of so many senior souls, many would likely follow his example and refuse to submit to him.

'If he refuses to submit, then I might have to kill him, even if it requires some maneuvering.'

A thought crossed Yang Xiao's mind.

His gaze, however, remained fixed on Liu Shangwu, awaiting his answer.

"I, Liu Shangwu, may be a crude man, but I know the meaning of keeping one's word. I lost this battle. And I am willing to submit to you!"

As he spoke, Liu Shangwu knelt directly before Yang Xiao.

He performed a grand salute.

And called out, "Master!"

This scene left the souls and Ye Wanqing completely stunned once again.

After all, there were many kinds of submission.

Liu Shangwu's was the most absolute form.

He had practically reduced himself to the status of a slave.

But just moments before, this was the same man who had stepped forward to accuse, doubt, and question Yang Xiao.

They never expected it.

That a single battle could change him so drastically.

It was something Ye Wanqing and the souls present could have wracked their brains over and never figured out.

It seemed too incredible to believe.

Yang Xiao, too, was quite surprised by Liu Shangwu's actions.

He had only expected the man to pledge nominal allegiance, never imagining he would submit so completely, treating himself as a slave and acknowledging Yang Xiao as his master.

This act put Yang Xiao much more at ease regarding the man.

"Since you acknowledge me as your master, then from this day forward, as long as you do not betray me, Yang Xiao, I, Yang Xiao, will never betray you!"

"Thank you, Master."

Liu Shangwu was the very picture of reverence.

Yang Xiao grew even more satisfied.

"Senior Tianqiu, how about we let Liu Shangwu take you all back to persuade the others to accept me as the Common Lord of the Profound Sun Continent?" Yang Xiao suggested after a moment's thought.

Ye Tianqiu considered it, then nodded.

"Very well. However, it would be best if you sent a few more people along. It would be a better display of your strength."

Hearing this, Yang Xiao knew that Ye Tianqiu was clearly still not entirely at ease with Liu Shangwu and wanted him to send a few more people to keep him in check.

Yang Xiao did not object to this.

'But who can I send right now?'

And at that very moment...

Yang Xiao suddenly sensed something.

In the distance, several powerful auras were surging toward them.

He looked up.

And smiled.

"Talk about perfect timing."

The words had barely left his lips when several figures landed, all of them looking over with concerned expressions.

"Brother Yang, we finally found you! Where is that traitor Lu Dingyuan? Where is he?"

The newcomers were none other than several members of the Lu Family.

The one who spoke was Lu Fangliang. Seeing Yang Xiao safe and sound, he let out a genuine sigh of relief. A moment ago, Lu Fangliang had been frantic, unable to find any trace of him for so long.

Had they not sensed the fluctuations of battle in this direction, Lu Fangliang would have likely returned to the Secret Realm to ask Elder Long to personally intervene.

"Brother Lu, you've all come at the perfect time…"

Yang Xiao just smiled, not dwelling on the matter of Lu Dingyuan. Instead, he explained the situation with Liu Shangwu and how Ye Tianqiu had asked him to send people to subjugate Lu Dingyuan's forces.

Hearing this, one of Lu Fangliang's uncles stepped forward.

"Leave this matter to me."

"That's right. Sixth Uncle has been busy investigating Lu Dingyuan recently. He has some knowledge of the situation over there, so he's the most suitable person to go," Lu Fangliang added.

Naturally, Yang Xiao wasn't going to refuse.

He nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble Uncle Yijun."

Lu Yijun nodded without another word.

Yang Xiao then called over Liu Shangwu, made the introductions, and had the two of them take the souls and depart to subjugate Lu Dingyuan's forces.

Soon, only Yang Xiao, Ye Wanqing, Lu Fangliang, and his three uncles remained.

Looking at them, Yang Xiao thought for a moment before finally speaking.

"Brother Lu, Lu Dingyuan has been killed by my Divine Sword. However, after killing him, I discovered some secrets about him that might be of use to you."

Yang Xiao then explained in detail his speculation that Lu Dingyuan might have been a Clone of Lu Changsheng to the members of the Lu Family.

Upon hearing this...

The Lu Family members were all slightly taken aback.

However, after a moment of contemplation, Lu Fangliang's eldest uncle, Lu Yixuan, nodded. "When I heard from Niece Ye earlier that the Longevity Demon had descendants, I found it a bit strange. And just now, seeing Lu Dingyuan was even stranger. His constitution wasn't pure; it didn't seem like the bloodline of my Lu Family. Now that you've said this, it truly seems highly possible."

"In that case, Eldest Uncle, doesn't that mean Brother Yang is in great danger?" Lu Fangliang suddenly asked.

Lu Yixuan nodded.

He paced back and forth a few steps before finally making a decision. "Fang Liang, you, Yitian, and Yijie will stay by Young Master Yang Xiao's side and protect him. I will return to the ancestral lands to see what the clan intends to do. Given the importance our clan places on the Longevity Demon, they might send more True Divine Powerhouses. That way, Young Master Yang Xiao's safety will be assured."

"Then I must thank you, Uncle Lu."

Seeing Lu Yixuan and the others so concerned about his affairs, Yang Xiao was quite touched.

After seeing Lu Yixuan off, Yang Xiao didn't linger. He took the remaining Lu Family members and Ye Wanqing and returned to the Fire Cloud Mine.

He had discovered that Lu Dingyuan's Storage Daoist Ring actually contained a Secret Technique that recorded the Devouring Power, and he naturally felt a sense of urgency.

He wanted to comprehend this Secret Technique and master more of the Devouring Secret Patterns.

What he didn't know, however, was that...

At that very moment, on a small continent not far from the Divine Land Continent, a man dressed in black entered a small, blood-red building.

If the members of the Lu Family were to see this man in black, they would have surely recognized him.

He was none other than the traitor who had fled their Lu Family thousands of years ago.

The Longevity Demon, Lu Changsheng!