Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"No! You already have two Human Emperor Secret Techniques, and you've even learned my Void Sword Manual… That's right, you've learned my Void Sword Manual. You can't be so greedy!"

Human Emperor Xuanyuan firmly refused.

'What a joke. No matter how much of a genius a person is, their energy is finite. He already has two Human Emperor Secret Techniques—one of which is the exceedingly difficult, almost impossible-to-cultivate Emperor Dao Celestial Venerable Map—and he still wants another Human Emperor's Ultimate Skill? Impossible.'

He especially recalled that this kid also knew the Void Sword Manual.

Although he hadn't been the one to teach him, and his style was a bit different—it seemed to be the original version from his cousin Jiang Yan—it was more than enough.

So, regardless of his reasoning, Human Emperor Xuanyuan was resolute.

He was absolutely determined not to teach Yang Xiao another Human Emperor's Ultimate Skill.

But when he saw the young man lower his head, looking utterly dejected, Human Emperor Xuanyuan couldn't help but wonder if his tone had been a bit too harsh.

He couldn't help but try to persuade him. "Actually, with so many Secret Patterns in your body, the Void Sword Manual is the most suitable technique for you. That's because the Void Sword Manual follows a path that encompasses the Ten Thousand Dao. And that's not even mentioning that you've comprehended the Power of the Emperor and Gold Element Origin Power. Both of these forces are powerful enough to serve as your foundational Dao, so you really don't need to learn any other Techniques."

Yang Xiao still kept his head down.

Human Emperor Xuanyuan grew a little anxious. 'Has this kid not thought it through?'

But just as he was about to continue persuading him, Yang Xiao raised his head with a smile and said, "Alright then. Is there any compensation? If you were to give me, say, eight or ten Immortal Divine Fruits, I'd be willing to let it go. After all, one shouldn't bite off more than one can chew."

"Eight or ten Immortal Divine Fruits? This is extortion!"

Human Emperor Xuanyuan was furious.

He had thought Yang Xiao was genuinely struggling with the idea.

But damn it, from the look on his face now, it was clear he wasn't struggling at all—he was just trying to extort him.

However, when he thought about this kid's potential… there was nothing he could do.

He finally took out a glittering golden fruit and tossed it over.

"You get one Divine Fruit, and that's it. Alright, you seem to be fine now, so I'm leaving. As for the Emperor Dao Celestial Venerable Map, just go to the Ascension Platform; you'll find it inside."

With that, his figure flickered and vanished.

It was as if he were fleeing.

Yang Xiao watched him go, his mouth agape, before he started to laugh.

'That guy is finally gone.'

In truth, Yang Xiao also breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, the man had the power of a Supreme Divine King. And while his personality was a bit clownish, if he were to inspect Yang Xiao too closely, he might uncover some traces of his secrets.

That was why Yang Xiao didn't want to spend too much time with him. If his secrets were discovered, many things would become very complicated.

What he didn't know was…

…at that moment, Human Emperor Xuanyuan had no intention of probing too deeply either.

A genius who could Break the Nine Prohibitions was too important to the Human Race.

He instinctively held back from prying, fearing that discovering certain secrets would do more harm than good.

Secrets like the relationship between the Golden Emperor, the Flame Emperor, and Yang Xiao.

These matters were just minor disputes within the Inner Sect, not worthy of being brought into the open. As the reigning Human Emperor, Emperor Xuanyuan possessed at least that much magnanimity.

In fact, he had only one requirement of Yang Xiao now: that he was a member of the Human Race.

And that he identified as one.

As long as this basic principle was met, Emperor Xuanyuan had no desire to investigate anything about him.

But Yang Xiao was unaware of this.

After driving away Human Emperor Xuanyuan—who genuinely wanted to support him—he felt a small sense of triumph. He stepped forward and put away the glittering golden Divine Fruit.

He didn't even need to inspect it to know it was a genuine, high-grade Immortal Divine Fruit. Unfortunately, it was of the Gold Attribute.

He even knew its name: the Golden Spirit Divine Fruit.

Among all Gold Element Divine Fruits, it was the one most attuned to the Gold Element Origin. It was incredibly precious to Gold Attribute Cultivators; if a True God were to obtain one, they could instantly raise their cultivation by a full rank.

'Looks like that fellow Xuanyuan wants me to use Gold Element Origin Power as my core foundation. A pity. My true Origin Power is the Heaven and Earth Origin Fire. Although its current rank is still a bit low—only at the Green Flame Fifth Revolution—its quality is a whole tier higher than the Golden Emperor Saint Mother's Gold Element Origin Power. I'm afraid he's going to be disappointed.'

While the Gold Attribute Golden Spirit Divine Fruit was good, it wasn't as useful to Yang Xiao as a Fire Attribute one would be. In his eyes, even a common Fire Attribute Divine Fruit would be better than this Golden Spirit Divine Fruit.

Because Gold and Fire were conflicting elements, reversing its attribute would waste far too much energy. Besides, with his current power, Yang Xiao didn't even have the ability to perform such a reversal.

If he acted rashly, he would likely be annihilated by the Gold Attribute aura within.

So, for now, Yang Xiao could only store it away.

He'd figure out what to do with it later.

'Now then, it's time to reap the rewards.'

Yang Xiao smiled faintly.

Reaching the top of the Ascension Platform wasn't just about obtaining the glory of being a Saint Prince; there were other rewards as well.

After all, one didn't necessarily need to reach the top of the Ascension Platform to become a Saint Prince.

Whenever a new Human Emperor was to be chosen, numerous geniuses were selected from across the entire Human Race. Each of them had a chance to become a Saint Prince.

Take the Path of the Human Emperor that Yang Xiao had walked, for instance.

As long as one obtained Human Emperor Xuanyuan's recognition and completed the Path of the Human Emperor, they could become a Saint Prince.

There was no need to climb this Ascension Platform at all.

The only reason he had come to climb the Ascension Platform was to spite Human Emperor Xuanyuan.

'Weren't you going to pick someone else, just to show that these other geniuses wouldn't submit to me?'

'So I'll just climb straight to the top and show everyone who the real chosen one is. I'll shatter their delusions and see who still dares to defy me.'

And it must be said, Yang Xiao had succeeded. Perfectly.

Of course, there was more to it.

The Dharma Transmission of the Power of the Emperor from the Ascension Platform and the rewards that followed were also reasons for Yang Xiao's visit.

For example, this Ascension Platform right in front of him.

After reaching the summit…

…it now belonged to Yang Xiao.

And, from what Human Emperor Xuanyuan had said, the inheritance of the Emperor Dao Celestial Venerable Map was inside this Ascension Platform.

This naturally made Yang Xiao even more excited.

'I've heard that every Ascension Platform, regardless of its grade, is actually a special Magical Treasure refined by the Golden Emperor Saint Mother. Only the one who reaches the summit can claim it, and once they do, they can wield its power as if it were their Lifebound Artifact. I wonder… what is the true form of this particular Ascension Platform?'

With a thought, Yang Xiao acted.

He first gave an order, telling Lu Changhe to leave the Ascension Platform and assist his Fire God Clone in establishing a true Human Race empire on the Profound Sun Continent.

This would solidify his identity as the Saint Prince.

Then, his figure vanished in an instant.

When he reappeared, he was within a vast and boundless space.

This was none other than the interior of the Ascension Platform.

It was also the Ascension Platform's very core.

Once he controlled this place, he could completely control the treasure that transformed into the Ascension Platform, and at the same time, he could also obtain the inheritance of the Emperor Dao Celestial Venerable Map.

Yang Xiao couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.