Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Qin Family Head! You are an elder. Have you no shame, attacking one of the younger generation?"

Seeing the Qin Family Head make his move, Yang Xiao remained perfectly still, but Li Mubai could no longer stand by. His longsword reappeared in his hand. With a flash, he appeared in front of Yang Xiao, his blade pointed directly at the Qin Family Head, Qin Tianjun.

Though he was a Loose Cultivator, he had previously been a candidate to become a Human Emperor Disciple. The Three Hidden World Powers had all extended olive branches to him.

Naturally, he recognized the Qin Family Head, Qin Tianjun—a man of a hundred schemes, outwardly profound but inwardly venomous.

However, Li Mubai never imagined he would attack Yang Xiao.

"Li Mubai? It's you! You were a candidate for Human Emperor Disciple alongside my son, yet you didn't stand with him. You just watched him die! Fine! Today, I'll kill you first, so my son has some company on his journey!"

The already crazed Qin Family Head, Qin Tianjun, saw Li Mubai charge out, and the killing intent in his eyes flared.

This man had originally been his son's greatest rival.

Qin Tianjun's impression of him was naturally not a good one.

'Now he's charged out here... then he can just die.'

'Perfect. He can be buried with my son. Killing one is the same as killing two. It makes no difference.'

Instantly, Qin Tianjun's aura surged. A lifelike Black Dragon Divine Aspect—far more terrifying than the one from Qin Qian and the others before—suddenly materialized and lunged at Li Mubai.

Such an aura, such power.

Even Li Mubai, who could fight Qin Qian without being outmatched in the slightest, felt the chilling touch of death at this moment.

He knew that even if he used his trump cards, he would likely be no match for the Qin Family Head.

But he did not retreat.

He still held his sword, ready to risk it all against Qin Tianjun.

And just then, a hand gently landed on his shoulder.

"This started because of me. I should be the one to kill this shameless old bastard!"

As he spoke, Yang Xiao's figure flickered, appearing in front of Qin Tianjun.

He shielded Li Mubai.

This stunned Li Mubai for a moment. He subconsciously wanted to step forward but then stopped in his tracks.

He remembered Yang Xiao's incredible feat of slaying seven men with a single sword strike. Such power was definitely beyond his own.

He hadn't stepped forward just now because he thought Yang Xiao was weaker than Qin Tianjun. He had done it simply because the man was just too shameless.

To speak out for justice.

But he never expected the old bastard to have abandoned all pretense of dignity.

Seeing him step up, the man wanted to kill him too.

'And what was that about being a fellow candidate for Human Emperor Disciple with his son, so we should advance and retreat together? What the hell?' Li Mubai wasn't an idiot.

How could he not know? If Yang Xiao hadn't appeared, Qin Qian's move would have been aimed at him.

Now, Yang Xiao had stepped forward on his own accord.

And took the blame for the previous conspiracy.

He was a little moved, but more than that, he was curious.

Curious about just how powerful this young man truly was.

'Could it be? Could he actually defeat the Qin Family Head, a man at the Peak of the Great Divine Power Realm and one of the most powerful Martial Artists beneath the Demigods?'

If that were truly the case...

Li Mubai felt he would be truly and utterly impressed.

'This young man... he's too strong.'

As for Qin Tianjun, when he saw Yang Xiao step in front of him...

...it was a different story entirely.

The one he hated most was Yang Xiao to begin with.

Now, seeing him step forward, he instantly forgot about killing Li Mubai.

A sinister smile spread across his face as he said, "You little beast, you really are arrogant! You didn't run or hide, but dared to step forward and openly challenge me. What a laughable, ignorant fool. Don't tell me you actually think you can fight me?"

"We'll know if I'm your match after we fight."

Yang Xiao had no patience for exchanging useless words with this man.

He raised the longsword in his hand.

He pointed it directly at the Qin Family Head... or rather, the former Patriarch, Qin Tianjun.

"Good, good, you certainly have guts. But even so, I won't show you any mercy, nor will I let you die easily. You killed my Qian'er. How could I possibly quell the hatred in my heart without torturing you properly? Black Dragon Divine Aspect, seize him for me!"

As soon as the words fell, the Black Dragon Divine Aspect that Qin Tianjun had summoned bared its fangs and claws, pouncing toward Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao, however, just flicked his longsword.

Then, he unleashed an incredibly explosive strike.

It was as if the sword in his hand was not a sword, but a club, which he brutally smashed toward the Black Dragon Divine Aspect.

"Hm? That's a Sword Technique? How ridiculous."

Seeing this strike, Qin Tianjun's grim smile deepened.

A trace of contempt for Yang Xiao rose in his heart.

At the same time, he saw that behind Yang Xiao, that fellow Li Mubai was actually staring with a fascinated expression at this completely artless swordsmanship.

And for some reason, he felt a surge of anger.

An anger that, once sparked, was uncontrollable.

'Why? Why did these two worthless pieces of trash get to live, while my son, who was so outstanding, died at their hands? It's hateful!'

With this thought, the power he poured into the Black Dragon Divine Aspect suddenly intensified many times over.

Originally, he had planned on torturing Yang Xiao properly.

But now, consumed by fury, what he wanted most was to obliterate him into dust with a single blow.

However, in the next moment, when that explosive sword strike collided with his Black Dragon Divine Aspect, Qin Tianjun's expression changed instantly.

Because he felt a terrifying destructive force—simultaneously from the inside out and the outside in—slam directly into his Black Dragon Divine Aspect.

Instantly.

This Divine Aspect, which he had cultivated for who knows how many years, let out a BOOM and actually burst apart.

Shattering into pieces.

And what no one expected was...

...the two had clearly already exchanged a move.

But the Ascension Platform hadn't activated to pull them into the Battle Space.

What was going on?

The onlookers were baffled.

Only Human Emperor Xuanyuan understood.

Because as the current Human Emperor, he could sense that Yang Xiao was controlling the Ascension Platform.

Preventing it from pulling them into the Battle Space.

Clearly, he was completely confident about this fight.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have performed a Divine Split to communicate with the Ascension Platform.

However, Qin Tianjun didn't seem to notice this.

After seeing his Black Dragon Divine Aspect destroyed, his expression was incredibly grim.

"Damn it! He actually has that much power! But do you think you can defeat me with brute force alone? Impossible! Black Dragon Divine Aspect, reform for me!"

The more Qin Tianjun thought, the angrier he became, and he let out a great roar.

He began to execute the True Black Dragon Transformation Technique to reform his shattered Divine Aspect.

But before his Divine Aspect could fully reform...

...Yang Xiao's sword moved again.

This time, it was just a simple opening Sword Stance, just an ordinary movement of raising a sword to face an opponent.

Yet, this simple action...

...caused the Divine Aspect that Qin Tianjun was trying to reform to instantly collapse.

All of the power began to surge toward his sword.

Flowing into it.

In that instant.

The blade of Yang Xiao's sword began to radiate a dazzling light.

Like the incomparably brilliant silver moon in the sky.

Even though it was broad daylight, it eclipsed the light of the blazing sun, drawing everyone's gaze.

The sight was so wondrous, it drew sighs of amazement from all who watched.

To think such a magnificent and beautiful Sword Technique existed in this world.

Especially when it followed the simple, crude, club-like strike from before, yet without the slightest sense of disharmony. It was astounding.

Among them, Li Mubai stood right behind Yang Xiao.

As someone with an Innate Sword Heart, he specialized in and adored swordsmanship above all else, so his understanding was naturally deeper.

At this moment, he was completely mesmerized by Yang Xiao's two unique Sword Techniques.

Unable to tear himself away.

'This sword technique... it's too beautiful.'