Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

'I wonder if that foolish kid believed me.'

After stepping onto the 109th step, Yang Xiao waited for a moment.

He hadn't been boasting just now.

As the former Human Race Medicine Ancestor, let alone Human Emperor Xuanyuan, even if you combined the pharmacological knowledge of the five generations of Human Emperors, they probably still wouldn't measure up to him.

But if Li Mubai didn't believe him...

...Yang Xiao wouldn't go out of his way to beg to treat his illness.

Even though he quite admired Li Mubai and intended to befriend him, if the man lacked even this small bit of trust and still insisted on climbing at the risk of his life...

...Yang Xiao wouldn't give him another chance.

If he missed this opportunity, it could only be said that they were not fated to be.

However, after waiting for a short while and seeing that Li Mubai's figure did not appear on the 109th step, Yang Xiao smiled faintly.

'Looks like the guy believed me after all.'

With that matter off his mind, Yang Xiao continued upward.

And with Li Mubai gone, the entire Ascension Platform became Yang Xiao's personal stage.

For a hundred miles in every direction, the gazes of all the gathered Martial Artists instantly focused on him.

Especially the scene from moments ago, when Yang Xiao slew the Qin Family Patriarch, Qin Tianjun, in three strikes. It was simply too stunning.

So much so that even now, a long time later, many people still hadn't processed it. Of course, some were also sneaking glances at the Qin Family's reaction.

After all, that was the Qin Family Patriarch.

But when they saw that the Qin Family showed no reaction whatsoever, they immediately understood.

This family, which claimed to be the most powerful in the world, was afraid of Yang Xiao.

Otherwise, how could they remain so silent when even their Patriarch was dead?

Of course, the members of the Qin Family didn't see it that way.

He had secretly given the Black Dragon Armor to his son Qin Qian, leading to its damage. Moreover, he had disregarded the family's safety, acted on his own, and attacked a genius valued by the Human Emperor.

A scourge like that deserved to die. Why would they step forward to deal with Yang Xiao on his behalf?

Only the upper echelons of the other Three Hidden World Powers might have perceived the truth. The vast majority of ordinary people, or those from ordinary factions, could not see it.

They all believed that the Qin Family was afraid of Yang Xiao.

As a result, the admiration they already felt for Yang Xiao—for having communed with the Ascension Platform and accomplished so many earth-shattering feats with only a True Intent Stage cultivation—grew even more intense.

In an instant, nearly eighty percent of the people within a hundred-mile radius began to hold expectations for Yang Xiao, their hearts filled with respect.

The Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique within Yang Xiao's body naturally became even more active.

After all, the ones gathered here were the elites among the Martial Cultivators of the Profound Sun Continent. Gaining their acknowledgment was far more useful than gaining the approval of tens of thousands of commoners, or even the waning Immortal Cultivators.

In other words, if Yang Xiao couldn't gain their approval, he still wouldn't be considered the Human Race's Common Lord, even if he subjugated all the Immortal Cultivators and commoners on the entire Profound Sun Continent.

But if he could win over all of these people, he could still become the Human Race's Common Lord of the Profound Sun Continent, even without the commoners and Immortal Cultivators.

This was also why Human Emperor Xuanyuan had used the Ascension Platform to stop Yang Xiao.

Once these Martial Artists gathered at the Ascension Platform, with their intricate connections and their shared goal of becoming a Human Emperor Disciple, they would not submit even if defeated by Yang Xiao.

The only way it was possible was a situation like the present one, where Yang Xiao's appearance had driven them all to despair.

However, back then, his seal had not been broken, and Human Emperor Xuanyuan simply didn't believe Yang Xiao had the ability to drive these people to despair. Naturally, he never would have imagined the current situation.

As for why Martial Artists were more beneficial to the growth of the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique than Immortal Cultivators or commoners...

...it was because the Human Race established its Dao and its destiny through martial arts.

Therefore, Martial Artists were the focal points of destiny, which was why they had such a powerful effect.

Yang Xiao hadn't known this at first. But as he continuously subjugated commoners and converted Immortal Cultivators, he discovered that simply subjugating an Immortal Cultivator, no matter how powerful, only elicited a reaction from the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique that was a tiny bit better than that from an ordinary commoner.

But if he converted them into a Martial Cultivator, the golden radiance representing the Emperor Dao would suddenly surge by tens, or even hundreds, of times.

And just now...

...because he was the center of attention and revered by all the Martial Cultivators, the Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique within Yang Xiao became incredibly active. The radiance of the Emperor Dao on the Visible Flood Dragon surged several times over.

One had to understand that, at this moment, Yang Xiao had already subjugated most of the commoners and Immortal Cultivators on the Profound Sun Continent and had amassed a vast amount of Emperor Dao radiance. Yet, this still had such a great effect.

Evidently, Martial Artists who converted from being Immortal Cultivators were still no match for pure Martial Artists.

Therefore, after realizing this, Yang Xiao became even more determined to ascend to the top of the Ascension Platform and accept the worship of all the Martial Cultivators within this hundred-mile radius.

He had to capture their hearts.

And as Yang Xiao climbed step by step, the Emperor Dao radiance from his Emperor Golden Dragon Secret Technique grew denser, he received more and more attention, and his strength grew accordingly.

So much so that even though the pressure on him increased significantly with each new step, he still had strength to spare when he reached the major threshold of the 198th step.

But to go any higher...

'...is getting a little unbearable. Looks like I'll have to use some of my tricks.'

Standing on the 198th step, an idea came to Yang Xiao.

He sat down cross-legged.

He sent out his consciousness.

Instantly, his Fire God Clone, not far away, sensed his thoughts.

A smile appeared on his face.

"At noon tomorrow, in a ceremony honoring heaven and earth, I, Yang Xiao, will ascend to the position of the Profound Sun Continent's Human Race Common Lord!"

As soon as these words fell, the people following the Fire God Clone grew excited one by one.

Many among them were beings who had followed Yang Xiao since his time in the Celestial Cloud Region. They had been with him for a long time—for example, the Carefree Sect's current Chief Steward, Cheng Boxuan; Yang Lin, the reborn Earth Fire Qilin Beast; and Lu Fangliang and other members of the Lu Family. All of them looked forward to the day Yang Xiao would become the Human Race's Common Lord.

Because once Yang Xiao became the Human Race's Common Lord, it would mean he had completed the first leg of the Path of the Human Emperor.

Not only could he consolidate the resources of an entire continent, benefiting them, but Yang Xiao would also have a chance to vie for the Human Emperor Position in the future.

The Human Emperor.

This position represented the supreme existence of the Human Race.

Once obtained, one would be blessed with the destiny of the entire Human Race—an extraordinary boon. Even someone who had just entered the Realm of Great Emperor could probably slay a Peak Emperor.

It was incredibly beneficial for one's cultivation.

An event that would benefit them and also lead to greater development for Yang Xiao was something they naturally supported.

Therefore, under the Fire God Clone's orders, these people began to make the final preparations.

First, they gathered all the subjugated Immortal Cultivators and commoners and began to prepare for the heaven-worshipping ceremony.

Next, their elite forces—including the Fire God Clone, four Demigods from the Lu Family, and a Tier Three True God from the Lu Family who had hurried over with the goal of killing Lu Changsheng—began to rush toward the Ascension Platform.

With such a lineup making its appearance...

...the Martial Artists at the Ascension Platform, who were already filled with admiration for Yang Xiao...

...would probably find it difficult not to submit.

'Tomorrow at noon is when I, Yang Xiao, will soar to the heavens! With the destiny of everyone upon me, I will ascend to the top of the Ascension Platform in one fell swoop and receive the Dharma Transmission of the Emperor's Qi. At that time, I will surely be able to condense the Power of the Emperor! This will lay the foundation for the true Talent of the Human Emperor!'

A glint flashed in Yang Xiao's eyes.

He, too, was filled with anticipation.

And just then, Lu Changsheng seemed to sense something, and his gaze flickered.

Looking at Yang Xiao on the platform, his eyes filled with uncertainty.