Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"He's making his move!"

The moment Yang Xiao moved, all eyes turned to him—from the crowd below the platform to the others on Tier Nine.

Clearly, they were all eager to see what Yang Xiao's true strength was.

They wanted to know if it was true, as Ao Tianjue claimed, that he had only made it this far by relying on a treasure.

And as if to put this to the test...

...the events that followed left them completely astonished.

"Mutual attack condition met. Entering the Battle Space."

The moment Yang Xiao moved against Ao Tianjue, a thought instantly echoed in the minds of everyone nearby.

Immediately after, the figures of Yang Xiao and Ao Tianjue vanished from Tier Nine.

When they reappeared, they were in a world of hazy white.

The world seemed both illusory and real. More importantly, it was completely devoid of pressure.

Sensing this, Ao Tianjue, who had been slightly worried about being defeated by Yang Xiao, burst into laughter. "Haha! There's no pressure here at all! Kid, let's see what good that treasure of yours is now!"

As soon as he said this, the spectators outside were all stunned.

A wave of discussion immediately broke out.

"There's no pressure? In that case, even if that boy really has a treasure from the Human Emperor, it's probably useless now."

"Exactly. This is good. Now we can see if this boy really reached Tier Nine on his own. You have to remember, even Qin Qian and the others are only on Tier Eighteen. To reach Tier Nine, you need the strength of a Great Divine Power First Level Peak at the very least."

"A cultivator at the True Intent Eighth Layer Peak with the combat power of a Great Divine Power First Level Peak? That sounds like a fairy tale. I'm not buying it, anyway."

"I don't believe it either. Even for a genius favored by Lord Human Emperor, this level of performance is just too monstrous. From the True Intent Eighth Layer Peak to the Great Divine Power First Level Peak... that's a gap of two Great Realms! The difference in strength is more than ten-thousand-fold, isn't it? You could beat me to death, and I still wouldn't believe someone like that exists."

"Exactly."

"You're right."

Below the platform, the sentiment was overwhelmingly one-sided, with everyone questioning Yang Xiao's strength.

Even the Qin Family Ancestor, a Demigod Peak powerhouse who had initially held Yang Xiao in high regard and even felt wary of him, now had a grave expression in his eyes.

"Ancestor," the Qin Family Head suddenly asked, "do you think this Yang Xiao really made it this far just by relying on a treasure?"

"It's hard to say. I've seen peerless prodigies who could cross a Great Realm to slay their foes, but a genius at the True Intent Eighth Layer Peak who is a match for someone at the Great Divine Power First Level Peak... that I have never witnessed. Perhaps my perspective is simply too limited."

Clearly, the Qin Family Ancestor also had his doubts.

However, having seen a great deal in his time, he wasn't one to be so arbitrary or absolute in his judgments.

Just because he hadn't seen it didn't mean it didn't exist. The Qin Family Ancestor, in particular, knew of a place called the Divine Land Continent—the origin of the Martial Dao and the very Core of the world. It was home to countless True God Level powerhouses, a land as if inhabited by True Gods themselves. Perhaps such monstrously talented geniuses did exist there.

And it wouldn't make sense for Yang Xiao to have earned Lord Human Emperor's favor if he didn't possess talent far beyond the ordinary.

But that was his way of thinking. The Qin Family Head did not share the sentiment.

Hearing even the Ancestor express such doubts confirmed his suspicions. 'This Yang Xiao must be cheating.'

Indignation welled up within him.

He had always felt that Yang Xiao was no match for his son, Qin Qian. Yet, Lord Human Emperor Xuanyuan had chosen Yang Xiao, not his own son.

He was deeply displeased.

He even began to harbor a faint resentment toward Human Emperor Xuanyuan himself.

This feeling intensified as he watched Yang Xiao stand there with a dazed look, like a complete idiot, as if he were scared witless. The Qin Family Head felt this boy wasn't fit to be compared to even a single finger of his son, Qin Qian.

'I have no idea what Lord Human Emperor Xuanyuan saw in him. What a stroke of blind, shitty luck.'

What he didn't know, however, was that Yang Xiao was indeed shocked.

He wasn't scared witless, though. He was simply stunned with joy.

In his past life, he had also set foot on an Ascension Platform—a Divine Ascension Platform, no less. But back then, he had been a person of noble status with no cultivation. He had chosen to ascend at a time when no one was aware. As a result, he had never known that if people on the Ascension Platform developed hostility toward one another and began to fight, they would be transported into the platform's Battle Space.

And this space was actually formed from the power of the Ascension Platform itself—which meant it came from the Origin Power of the Golden Emperor Saint Mother.

'I can sense the Gold Element Origin Power much more clearly here than outside! If I could stay here for just one day, it would be more effective than a hundred—no, a thousand days on Tier Nine.'

Yang Xiao was overjoyed.

He knew that if he could spend some time comprehending here, he could not only perfect the flaws in his Golden Roc Secret Pattern but might even be able to grasp a wisp of Gold Element Origin Power.

If he could grasp a wisp of Gold Element Origin Power, Yang Xiao was confident it would be of immense help to his Sword Dao, his Attack Power, and even his future path to becoming a True God or a Dao Attainment Emperor.

After all, Gold Element Origin Power was said to be able to pierce through anything. Once grasped, it would grant a massive boost to his Attack Power.

It was an especially perfect match for his Sword Dao.

Naturally, Yang Xiao coveted this power immensely.

Just as Yang Xiao released his Spiritual Power and began to focus his entire being on comprehending the Gold Element Origin Power contained within the Battle Space... Ao Tianjue walked over.

"What? Scared now? Don't you think it's a bit late for that? Where was this fear when you were provoking me earlier? Hmph! A mere weakling at the True Intent Stage dares to act so insolently before me, a powerhouse at the Second Level of Great Divine Power Realm. Even if you're someone Lord Human Emperor favors, I'm going to teach you a harsh lesson today. I'll make you understand that the strong are to be revered, and the weak must submit. You are not to defy your betters!"

With a sneer, Ao Tianjue raised his hand, and a silver spear appeared. Judging by its aura, it was a Low Grade Treasure Weapon.

A Low Grade Treasure Weapon, combined with his cultivation at the Great Divine Power Realm Second Stage Peak... with a full-powered strike, even the very air of the Battle Space began to tremble slightly.

The spectators outside couldn't help but gasp when they saw this.

"With that kind of power, I doubt even someone at the Third Level of Great Divine Power Realm would dare to take that attack head-on."

"Exactly. With a Treasure Weapon, his strength has increased by at least a full layer. That boy is doomed."

But just as the words left their mouths...

...and just as Ao Tianjue's silver Treasure Weapon was about to pierce Yang Xiao...

...Yang Xiao moved.

He casually raised a hand and caught the spear, gripping it tightly. The terrifying power it contained instantly vanished.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent the majestic and impossibly arrogant Ao Tianjue flying.