Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Heh heh. He dared to be disrespectful to my master, Lord Yang Xiao. Did he not deserve to die?"

The purple-haired giant grinned widely at Zou Wuji's follower.

The man's aura was overwhelming.

It frightened Zou Wuji's follower so much that he instinctively took a step back.

He was speechless for a long moment.

In fact, it wasn't just him.

Even the aloof Demigods felt a jolt in their spirits when they saw the purple-haired giant.

For the scene they witnessed was completely different from what everyone else saw.

To the common person, and even to the guards at the Great Divine Power Realm, the purple-haired giant was just a particularly tall and sturdy man. His aura was similar to theirs—that of the Great Divine Power Realm, though his cultivation might have been a bit higher at most.

But in the eyes of the five Demigods, this purple-haired giant was no man at all.

He was a Flood Dragon.

A terrifying Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon.

This was one of the reasons they hadn't moved against Yang Xiao.

Normally, a Tier Seven Demon Beast capable of taking human form was nothing to Demigods like them. It wasn't a Tier Eight Great Demon, let alone a Tier Nine Demon King of their own rank.

But this was a Flood Dragon.

A true Flood Dragon.

Even though it was only at Tier Seven, its terrifying power was such that not even the five Demigods could guarantee they could slay this Purple-scaled Blood Horned Flood Dragon.

Of course, the ancestor of the Qin Family might have been confident enough to do so.

But he wouldn't make a move.

After all, in his eyes, Yang Xiao was as good as confirmed to be Human Emperor Xuanyuan's disciple.

But what no one knew at that moment was this:

When Yang Xiao activated the Ascension Platform, it wasn't just them who were stunned. Even the will of Emperor Xuanyuan, residing within the Xuanyuan Sword Wall, was shocked beyond measure.

'Others might not know what it means to be able to activate the Ascension Platform, but how could I not?'

'Only the Human Emperor can communicate with the Ascension Platform. But him... why?'

Emperor Xuanyuan was completely dumbfounded.

At that moment, the Ascension Platform finally completed its initial startup. At Yang Xiao's touch, the already incomparably tall structure instantly grew even larger.

Simultaneously, a boundless radiance shot out from it, enveloping everyone within a hundred-mile radius. A single thought flashed through the mind of every person bathed in the Ascension Platform's light.

It seemed that if they wished, they could directly step onto the first tier of the Ascension Platform.

Anyone could do it.

"The Ascension Platform is one of the Human Emperor's trials, and it is the only one open to all of humanity. Anyone can participate. If you can achieve a certain level of success, you'll have the chance to become a candidate for Human Emperor. Ever since Celestial Emperor Yuan Shi established the destiny of the Human Race and the first Human Emperor forged the Ascension Platform, no one has been able to interfere with this rule. No one!"

"If any of you still wish to restrict others, then don't blame me for being discourteous. When the time comes, even if you manage to catch the eye of Human Emperor Xuanyuan, this act alone will likely prevent you from becoming a Human Emperor Disciple. Otherwise, even the Human Emperor himself would face impeachment by the Elder Council! If you don't believe me, feel free to try!"

"As for those who wish to enter the Ascension Platform, I have now activated its Guiding Light. If you want to try, you can enter through the Guiding Light. However, I advise those below the Peak of the Small Divine Power Realm not to overestimate themselves. Of course, if you still wish to try, you may—but you do so at your own risk. You should think it over carefully."

Yang Xiao's indifferent voice carried across the land.

Everyone within the hundred-mile radius blanketed by the light heard his voice.

At that moment, the image of Yang Xiao was deeply seared into the minds of everyone present. This youth appeared to have no cultivation, yet he could control the Ascension Platform brought forth by the Human Emperor to test the masses.

His origins.

His identity.

Both were shrouded in mystery.

It made some who had only come to watch the spectacle, with no intention of participating, feel a sense of awe.

Meanwhile, those who had wanted to enter but couldn't now felt a surge of gratitude.

Because of Yang Xiao, they had been given the chance to take the Ascension Platform's trial.

As for the members of the Qin Family, the Mo Family, and the Tianyi Sect, their expressions turned grim.

They had joined forces to presumptuously seal off the entire Ascension Platform, preventing others from entering. They had even inflicted cruel punishments on some mortals.

They had originally seen it as a mark of their prestige.

But now, a chill ran down their spines. Those who had been most adamant about it, in particular, vaguely sensed an air of danger.

They would likely be made the scapegoats for this incident.

Even the ancestor of the Qin Family, a being at the Demigod Peak, wore a somber expression.

Although he hadn't participated in sealing the platform, he had known about it and simply hadn't thought it a big deal. But now, Yang Xiao had publicly declared it a rule that not even the Human Emperor could defy.

He naturally felt a flicker of panic.

If the Human Emperor truly decided to pursue the matter...

They would likely find it difficult to shirk responsibility.

'He naturally blamed his subordinates for acting on their own authority, for thinking they were being clever.'

Of course, aside from these emotions, others had more complex feelings, even regret.

Take, for instance, those who had previously left Yang Xiao's camp.

Most of them were present, but they had been completely unable to get inside to participate in the Ascension Platform's trial. Now, thanks to Yang Xiao, they could.

However, almost none of them had reached the Peak of the Small Divine Power Realm.

In other words, entering the Ascension Platform would be completely useless for them.

They stood no chance of winning the Human Emperor's favor.

Yang Xiao was different. His influence had already spread throughout the entire Profound Sun Continent, and from what just happened, it was clear he had an extremely close relationship with the Human Emperor.

Otherwise, he could never have communicated with the Ascension Platform.

'To pursue a trial they could never pass, they had given up the chance to be among the first to follow a Human Emperor Disciple—or even the next Human Emperor.'

'How foolish was that?'

This was especially true for Huu the Third and the others.

Now, having experienced the outside world, they realized that leaving the Fire Cloud Mine had been the most foolish decision of their lives.

The outside world was no easier to survive in than the Fire Cloud Mine; it was a world where the strong devoured the weak, full of treachery and deceit. With their meager skills, survival in such an environment was impossible.

'But now, there was no going back.'

But Yang Xiao, after making his speech, paid no mind to their thoughts.

After he spoke, he could clearly feel the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique within him improve slightly. Apparently, his actions had won him the hearts of many.

However, what he wanted to do most right now...

...wasn't to win over the people before him.

It was to slap the Human Emperor in the face.

So, after activating the Ascension Platform, he looked up toward the distant sky.

As if he were looking at something specific.

But soon,

his figure flashed

and vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already inside the Ascension Platform.

Moreover, the aura around him began to surge without restraint.

Seeing this, Human Emperor Xuanyuan, who had been so shocked that he was only just now processing what had happened,

found his expression turning incredibly bitter.