Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

'Although I don't know what this is, Human Emperor Xuanyuan hasn't made a move in so long. It seems he won't be interfering again. If that's the case...'

Lu Changsheng sneered.

Although the Emperor Golden Dragons surrounding Yang Xiao were unnerving, he could also sense something else. The essence of that power was formidable, comparable to his Devouring Power in its strongest state, but the actual amount of power seemed weak.

'If I just keep attacking, I refuse to believe I can't finish you off!'

With a cold laugh, Lu Changsheng struck out at Yang Xiao with another palm strike.

A dense, pitch-black Devouring Power instantly rushed toward Yang Xiao once again.

BANG!

But once again, it was blocked by the Emperor Golden Dragons.

However, this latest attack caused a few of the Emperor Golden Dragons to vanish, a change Yang Xiao noticed instantly.

'This is bad. The Power of the Emperor is ultimately finite. If I keep getting attacked like this, it will eventually be completely depleted. What's more, once the Dharma Transmission of the Power of the Emperor is complete, these Protective Golden Dragons will disappear. I won't be able to stop this guy then either. No, I, Yang Xiao, can't just sit here and wait to die!'

Yang Xiao was already seething with indignation at how this guy had nearly killed him just moments before.

Now, the Dharma Transmission of the Power of the Emperor was granting him more power.

'But if I'm still doomed to die after this, then what's the point of everything I've done?'

'So be it! Even if I don't get this Power of the Emperor, I'm still going to kill you! Celestial Moon! Bloodthirsty Divine Sword—absorb!'

Yang Xiao gave a cold laugh.

Instead of absorbing the ambient Power of the Emperor himself, he raised the Bloodthirsty Divine Sword. Using his Celestial Moon technique, he began to draw the external Power of the Emperor into the blade.

This active absorption even stirred the protective Emperor Golden Dragons.

Instantly, one Emperor Golden Dragon after another began to surge into the Bloodthirsty Divine Sword.

A radiance like the full moon suddenly flashed across the surface of the Bloodthirsty Divine Sword, which was black and etched with endless blood-red patterns.

And it grew brighter and brighter.

"What is Yang Xiao doing?"

Far away, Human Emperor Xuanyuan was stunned to see this.

Originally, according to his plan, Yang Xiao only needed to hold out for three breaths. Then, his flesh-and-blood Clone would descend. At that point, killing this man wouldn't be difficult at all.

With the Power of the Emperor infusing his body and the Emperor Golden Dragons for protection, Yang Xiao should have been able to last three breaths.

But now, he was absorbing the Power of the Emperor himself, and it was even affecting the Emperor Golden Dragons.

This was a disaster.

At the same time, Lu Changsheng was taken aback when he saw this, but he quickly broke into laughter.

"Still trying to resist at a time like this? You really are an arrogant fool. But this move of yours is utterly stupid. Did you really think you could use that Swordsmanship of yours from before to absorb this power and kill me with a single strike? Ridiculous! Truly ridiculous!"

Lu Changsheng roared with laughter.

But he didn't pause his assault.

He shot out another palm strike.

Instantly, a few more of the Emperor Golden Dragons around Yang Xiao vanished.

Only, this time was different. Although the Emperor Golden Dragons vanished, the Devouring Power Lu Changsheng had unleashed seemed to have vanished as well.

Lu Changsheng's expression changed instantly.

However, he quickly started laughing again. "You can even absorb my Devouring Power? Good, very good! You really are a genius with the Talent of the Human Emperor. But I wonder... can you absorb what's coming next?"

As he spoke, Lu Changsheng extended his palm.

Instantly, a ball of pitch-black flame materialized in his palm. The moment it appeared, the entire world seemed to dim. Yang Xiao felt a chill that originated from the flame seep into his very Soul.

He couldn't help but shudder.

"Who would have thought that by combining Supreme Yang Power with Devouring Power, one could cultivate the most terrifying, most evil, and coldest flame in the world? Care to give it a try?"

Lu Changsheng smiled sinisterly.

Yang Xiao, however, fell silent.

He lowered his head, his entire body seemingly trembling.

"Afraid? You don't want to try it? That won't do. I've already summoned it, so how can you refuse?"

Seeing Yang Xiao's reaction, Lu Changsheng assumed he was afraid and burst into laughter.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed the ball of pitch-black flame toward him.

However, Lu Changsheng never expected what happened next.

Seeing the approaching flame, Yang Xiao instantly lifted his head. His expression was peculiar.

He wasn't trembling from fear, but from... excitement!

That's right. Excitement.

Just as Lu Changsheng was trying to figure out the reason for his expression, Yang Xiao made his move.

However, he neither dodged nor used the power of the Protective Golden Dragons to defend. Instead, he simply extended his hand and reached for the flame.

'What's happening? Has this kid lost his mind?'

Lu Changsheng froze for a second, stunned by the sight.

He knew just how terrifying his Devouring Demon Flame was. It was brimming with fearsome Flame Power and was both Supreme Yin and Cold—far more dreadful than any ordinary Innate Divine Flame. It even contained his Devouring Power.

An ordinary True God, or even a Divine Marquis a full tier stronger than him, wouldn't dare to receive it directly. A mere Mortal boy, even one with the Talent of the Human Emperor, would undoubtedly die.

'But why is he doing this?'

However, what happened next made everything instantly clear to Lu Changsheng.

It even made his heart tremble.

Because Yang Xiao had, without a shred of hesitation, caught the terrifying Devouring Demon Flame in his bare hand.

The terrifying Devouring Demon Flame, which could reduce a Tier Seven Divine Marquis to cinders, was now as docile as a lamb in his grasp, seemingly devoid of all its power.

It rested obediently in Yang Xiao's palm.

With a gentle squeeze of his hand, it vanished without a trace.

Lu Changsheng was utterly astonished.

Then, something even more terrifying occurred.

Yang Xiao didn't retract his hand. Instead, he made a grasping motion through the air toward Lu Changsheng.

With that single motion, Lu Changsheng felt all the Devouring Demon Flame inside his body being seized, as if an invisible, massive hand had taken hold of it.

And, as Yang Xiao pulled his hand back, it was being dragged out of him.

"Th-this... what is happening?"

Lu Changsheng was filled with an indescribable terror.

"How laughable! To think you'd play with fire in front of me, Yang Xiao. You've made a grave mistake. Now, I'll drain every last bit of your Demon Flame! It's the perfect catalyst to help me break through to the True Intent Ninth Layer!"

Yang Xiao roared with laughter.

He extended his hand and clenched his fist, pulling back with all his might.

In that instant.

All of the Devouring Demon Flame within Lu Changsheng's body was ripped out by him.

It landed in his palm, where it was consumed by the Heaven and Earth Origin Fire within his body.

Immediately after.

The bottleneck of the Green Flame Fourth Revolution vanished.

Yang Xiao's aura surged once again.

This time, however, it wasn't due to his Physical Strength, but his cultivation.

He had advanced.

Green Flame Fifth Revolution.

True Intent Ninth Layer.

An instantaneous breakthrough.

And, after absorbing a large amount of the Celestial Devouring Demon Flame, Yang Xiao's aura continued to rise.

It continued to rise until he reached the Middle Stage of the Green Flame Fifth Revolution.

In other words, the Peak of the True Intent Ninth Layer, before it finally stopped.

'Just perfect. Any more and I would have broken through to the next major realm, any less and it wouldn't have been enough. Haha, this guy really is my lucky star.'

Lu Changsheng, however, had a dazed expression, still unable to process what had happened.

And at this moment.

A figure appeared swiftly behind him and threw a punch!