Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

'Damn it! The kid almost discovered me!'

Sensing Yang Xiao's gaze, Lu Changsheng reacted in an instant. He immediately reined in his aura and killing intent, becoming like an ordinary person.

He even appeared more devout than many who had genuinely submitted.

This struck Yang Xiao as a little strange.

'What's going on? Why did I just sense killing intent from him?'

A thought flickered through Yang Xiao's mind.

But no matter how he sensed or observed him after that, he couldn't find anything amiss with Lu Changsheng.

Besides, he had things to do right now.

Yang Xiao gave him one last deep look before averting his gaze.

'Now that I've comprehended the Power of the Emperor and become the Human Race's Common Lord, my strength has soared. Next is to reach the summit. I'd like to see if that fellow Xuanyuan still thinks I'm not qualified to be a Saint Prince after I reach the top of the Ascension Platform.'

Saint Prince was an honorific for anyone who had walked a portion of the Path of the Human Emperor, signifying they had a chance to inherit the Human Emperor Position.

It was an even more noble status than Yang Xiao's identity as the Flame Emperor's son in his second life.

Once established, not even the current Human Emperor had the authority to revoke it. He could only let the many Saint Princes compete, and even fight to the death, to select the next Human Emperor.

Therefore, when Yang Xiao thought about how reaching the top of the Ascension Platform would alarm the entire Elder Council of the Human Race, he gave a cold smile.

He had no more reservations.

With a flash of movement,

he appeared on the 199th floor.

Although the pressure suddenly intensified to a level that even an ordinary Demigod would likely be unable to bear, Yang Xiao remained as steady as a mountain.

Fueled by the convergence of the people's hearts, his power had already surpassed that of ordinary Demigod Level powerhouses.

Coupled with the effect of the Power of the Emperor, even though Yang Xiao was still at Green Flame Fourth Revolution Peak—equivalent to a cultivation of True Intent Eighth Layer Peak—his strength was now comparable to his Fire God Clone. Both possessed Demigod Level power, though, of course, this was only temporary.

The majority of this power came from the convergence of the people's hearts. If Yang Xiao were to leave the Profound Sun Continent, or perhaps be driven from his position as the Human Race's Common Lord,

most of this power would dissipate.

For now, however, it was a great aid in reaching the summit.

Yang Xiao resumed his pace of one floor per step.

Effortlessly,

he ascended Ninety-nine Floors.

He reached the 297th floor.

Only then did he pause briefly.

At this point, those who truly knew what was going on were already stunned.

For instance, the Lu Family's True God Level powerhouse, Lu Changhe.

And the Lu Family traitor, Silver Moon Envoy of the Blood Robe Tower, Lu Changsheng, who was planning to kill Yang Xiao at the right moment.

This even included the will clone of Human Emperor Xuanyuan.

At this moment, they all wore expressions of shock.

Their eyes were glued to the scene.

Because the next thirty-six floors would be the final obstacle.

If Yang Xiao set foot upon them,

it would mean...

Reaching the summit!

The Talent of the Human Emperor!

The absolute Talent of the Human Emperor!

'The Mortal Ascension Platform... if a Mortal Tier Martial Artist can reach its summit, it means they have the potential to become a Human Emperor! This boy may seem to be using clever tricks, but which Saint Prince hasn't used them when climbing the Ascension Platform? Even I relied on the heart power of hundreds of millions of living beings to help me reach the top of the Divine Ascension Platform! Yang Xiao... does he truly possess the Talent of the Human Emperor?'

Human Emperor Xuanyuan couldn't help but feel a stir of excitement in his heart.

One must understand that even Gongsun Xuan, his most favored candidate—whom he considered his successor and believed would do an even better job than himself upon taking the Human Emperor Position—had never truly reached the top.

Of course, even without reaching the summit, Human Emperor Xuanyuan still fully supported him because, aside from the Ascension Platform, he was flawless in terms of talent and character.

But now, if another person with the Talent of the Human Emperor were to appear, Human Emperor Xuanyuan would absolutely give them a fair chance.

Because this was far too rare.

Thus, ripples appeared in the calm surface of Human Emperor Xuanyuan's Heart Lake, and he began to watch Yang Xiao closely.

Lu Changsheng sensed this change instantly.

His expression turned incredibly ugly.

'He actually has a chance to reach the summit... damn it! Now, it'll be impossible for Human Emperor Xuanyuan not to pay attention to him. I should have killed him just now instead of dragging it out... However, do you think this will stop me from striking a fatal blow? It's just a mere will clone. With the element of surprise on my side, you'll die all the same!'

At this thought, a strange smile suddenly appeared on Lu Changsheng's face.

'If I can kill a future Human Emperor and report it to Lord Demon Venerable, he will probably give me an incredible reward. Who knows, my Devouring Dao might even reach Great Success!'

Thinking this,

Lu Changsheng also grew excited.

Originally, he had only come here to complete a mission. It just so happened that the target of this mission had destroyed one of his clones and had some history with him, which made him pay a bit more attention.

But now, as events unfolded, he had actually spotted a huge opportunity.

An opportunity to curry favor with Lord Demon Venerable.

The thought of the potential reward from Lord Demon Venerable...

Lu Changsheng felt that even if Human Emperor Xuanyuan discovered him because of this, so what?

And so, Lu Changsheng, who had been feeling somewhat frustrated, suddenly found himself looking forward to Yang Xiao reaching the summit.

Besides him, Lu Changhe was also eagerly awaiting Yang Xiao's ascent to the top.

He also knew that if Yang Xiao reached the summit, it would prove he had the Talent of the Human Emperor, making him an outstanding figure even among the Saint Princes. The Lu Family had decided to fully support Yang Xiao ever since they learned he was walking the Path of the Human Emperor.

Not only had they dispatched four Demigod Level beings, but now, even he, a Tier Three True God, had personally come to support Yang Xiao. With such a heavy investment, there had originally been some discontent within the Lu Family.

It was a decision made and enforced solely by Elder Long.

But if Yang Xiao reached the summit...

...all those dissenting voices would likely vanish.

Then, the entire Lu Family would unanimously agree to support Yang Xiao.

'If he can become the Human Emperor, then our Lu Family will no longer have to hide away in this small place. The Secret Realm is safe, but because it's too safe, our Lu Family hasn't produced a new Divine King in a very long time, let alone a peerless Great Emperor Level existence. As for a Saint Emperor...'

...that was simply a dream.

Lu Changhe, who understood this deeply, naturally also looked forward to Yang Xiao reaching the summit with great anticipation.

As for the others, while they didn't know what reaching the summit signified, they knew it was an immense honor.

They too watched Yang Xiao without blinking.

Expectantly.

Under such intense scrutiny,

Yang Xiao finally moved again.

He ascended to the 298th floor.

Suddenly.

The pressure instantly increased to its absolute limit.

Yang Xiao almost fell to his knees.

However.

he still stood firm.

Then, with a burst of energy, he ascended to the 299th floor.

The pressure intensified.

Yet Yang Xiao's expression only grew more resolute.

He continued forward.

One step, one floor.

At this point, Yang Xiao was no longer advancing by strength alone, but by sheer grit and his unyielding will, one floor at a time.

He crossed thirty-five floors.

Reaching the 332nd floor.

'Only one last floor to go!'

Yang Xiao took a deep breath.

Right now, he could barely remain on his feet.

All his strength and will were focused together. If not for that, he would have collapsed to the ground long ago like Li Mubai, unable to even lift a finger.

Even so, his condition wasn't much better than Li Mubai's had been.

Even the Thousand Mechanism Eye within his body was throbbing wildly.

He didn't need to look to know that danger awaited him if he took that last step.

But he had come this far.

'Should I stop?'

No.

How could a man stop now?

With a single thought,

Yang Xiao took the final step.

In that instant,

everyone's heart was in their throat.

Human Emperor Xuanyuan, Lu Changsheng, Lu Changhe, and the others.

Almost simultaneously, they focused all their attention on Yang Xiao.

They wanted to see if this boy truly possessed the Talent of the Human Emperor!