Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Saint Prince, it has been a long time."

In the Eastern Domain Holy Emperor City, a man in white robes with an extraordinary air was in the Saint Emperor Hall, bowing slightly to Yang Xiao.

The man's aura was profound, and within it, one could vaguely sense a boundless sharpness.

He was like a sheathed Divine Sword, its edge hidden but still remarkably impressive.

"Brother Li, you're being too formal. We are peers; there's no need for such ceremony. To be honest, I'm a bit ashamed. I've been focused on my secluded cultivation and neglected the matter I promised you. However, looking at you, Brother Li, it seems you've had some fortuitous encounters yourself recently, haven't you?"

Yang Xiao smiled faintly.

The visitor was none other than Li Mubai, who had once competed with him on the Ascension Platform.

Hearing his words, Li Mubai's face flushed red.

He then said with some annoyance, "I was indeed pestered by a rogue-ish old man who insisted on teaching me some swordsmanship. I apologize for making you wait, Saint Prince."

"A rogue-ish old man?"

Li Mubai nodded. "A fellow claiming to be from the Gongsun Clan insisted on taking me as his disciple. He set up a Sword Array that trapped me for several months. However, his attainments in Sword Arrays are truly extraordinary, and I benefited greatly from it. But the man is just too much of a scoundrel; he doesn't seem like a good person, so I didn't dare get too close."

"I see."

Yang Xiao smiled faintly.

Inwardly, however, he was gloating.

'The Gongsun Clan?'

'If I recall correctly, Cousin Xuanyuan's maternal clan is the Gongsun Clan.'

'A rogue-ish old man?'

'And the aura on Li Mubai...'

'How could Yang Xiao not know who that fellow was?'

'Cousin Xuanyuan, it looks like you want to take this Li Mubai as your disciple. It makes sense, though. With an Innate Sword Heart, his future accomplishments in the Sword Dao are bound to be extraordinary. But while you want to recruit him, he thinks you're a person of poor character. How amusing. Serves you right for opposing me before and even wanting me to call you master.'

Yang Xiao thought to himself.

He felt incredibly satisfied.

This just went to show that he really wasn't a magnanimous person.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be this delighted to see Human Emperor Xuanyuan get rebuffed by Li Mubai.

However, he wouldn't say any of this out loud.

He was happy to let Li Mubai continue his misunderstanding. It would be even more satisfying to watch Human Emperor Xuanyuan suffer another setback.

"Saint Prince, I was wondering if it's possible now..."

The moment Li Mubai spoke, Yang Xiao knew what he meant.

'Looks like this guy really is a devoted lover. Oh well, since he's so sincere, and I did promise him, I might as well help him out.'

A thought crossed Yang Xiao's mind.

But he just smiled faintly and said, "You've already come all this way to find me. How could I refuse? Otherwise, wouldn't I become a dishonest and disloyal person, just like that rogue-ish old man you mentioned, someone of poor character?"

Even now, Yang Xiao was taking a subtle jab at Human Emperor Xuanyuan.

He believed that.

Since Cousin Xuanyuan wanted to take this man as his disciple, he must have placed some kind of measure on him. Therefore, he was sure his words were being heard.

And in fact, that was exactly the case.

The will-clone, which had never dissipated and remained at the Xuanyuan Sword Wall, had an incredibly awkward expression at this moment.

Being called a person of poor character and a rogue-ish old man, one after another, by two juniors.

Even if he had a magnanimous and carefree nature, he couldn't help but feel a little indignant.

But what could he do?

March over there and tell those two kids that the rogue-ish old man in their eyes was him?

'If I had known, I wouldn't have hidden my identity. This Little Li is indeed intelligent when it comes to cultivating the Sword Dao, but his judgment of character is just terrible. And Little Yangzi, that kid is also... wait, there's no way he's doing this on purpose, is there?'

With this thought, Human Emperor Xuanyuan's expression became as foul as if he'd swallowed a cockroach.

He suddenly realized: that little brat had always been unmatched in cleverness and had also cultivated the Void Sword Manual. How could he possibly fail to notice that the aura on Li Mubai had already changed slightly, sharing the same root as the Void Sword Manual?

'That kid... he's doing it on purpose!'

But even knowing that, what could he do?

Was he supposed to lower himself and go question him?

Human Emperor Xuanyuan was not the kind of person to do such a thing.

He just had to swallow his frustration.

Meanwhile, when Li Mubai heard Yang Xiao's words, he was overjoyed.

"Of course, the Saint Prince is nothing like that rogue-ish old man. Xiaodie... my friend... is currently in the Eastern Domain Holy Emperor City. However, she is very weak and I've settled her in the outer city. I must ask the Saint Prince to come with me."

Yang Xiao nodded.

He had Li Mubai lead the way.

The Eastern Domain Holy Emperor City was a newly constructed city, less than half a year old.

When the Immortal Dao ruled the Profound Sun Continent, they built thirty-three Immortal Dao Cities as strongholds to control all the various powers.

After Yang Xiao became the Human Race's Common Lord, he did not abolish these thirty-three Immortal Dao Cities. He kept them, merely renaming them to Divine Martial Cities.

Furthermore, he expanded upon them, building a total of ninety-nine Divine Martial Cities.

At the same time, he established one Saint Emperor City in each of the five major domains.

Each Saint Emperor City was the center of its domain, governing several dozen Divine Martial Cities.

Compared to the previous rule of the Immortal Dao, this system of governance was more centralized and more rational.

Although the five great Saint Emperor Cities, especially the one in the Eastern Domain, were newly built, they were constructed on the site of Yang Xiao's rise to power. As a result, powers from all over the Profound Sun Continent had sent many people to take up residence in the city.

It was clearly a bustling and extraordinary place.

In just a few months, it already showed signs of the prosperity of a city that could stand for a thousand ages, lacking only the weathered look and historical weight of an ancient capital.

Walking out from the Saint Emperor Hall, passing through the inner city, and then into the outer city,

The layout was clear and distinct.

At the same time, it revealed a strict and hierarchical system.

It highlighted the Saint Prince's majesty.

Yang Xiao was quite satisfied with this.

This layout tangibly defined his status and position, making it clearer to everyone.

'No wonder my Power of the Emperor has been growing richer these days. However, until I become a true Human Emperor, the Power of the Emperor is ultimately like a rootless duckweed. Once I leave the Profound Sun Continent, this power will weaken significantly. The farther I go, the more it will diminish. If I go too far, I fear I won't be able to replenish my Power of the Emperor at all after using it up. It's extremely limiting.'

'Therefore, the most important thing is to improve my own cultivation. That is the true foundation.'

A thought flashed through Yang Xiao's mind.

However, because he had to walk his own path,

His cultivation path, which he had originally expected would take him straight to the Peak of Small Divine Power Realm, would have to slow down again.

'At the very least, I should cultivate the Greater Yang Secret Pattern and the Star Secret Pattern to Perfection before I can break through to the next level. The Greater Yang Secret Pattern is manageable, but as for the Star Secret Pattern...'

He thought of Nangong Tianling, and he thought of Yun'er.

Yang Xiao suddenly remembered that he had promised Nangong Tianling he would go find her within a year, and the deadline was fast approaching.

A sense of longing began to stir in his heart.

'With my current strength, if I don't rely on the Power of the Emperor, I'm probably still no match for a True God, even a newly ascended one like Nangong Tianling. However, I at least stand a fighting chance now. It should be about time to take a trip to the Star God Continent.'

'And Yun'er... I wonder how she is doing now.'

At this thought, Yun'er's lovely face couldn't help but surface in Yang Xiao's mind.

The emotions he had been suppressing began to surge forth.

His heart ached with longing.

He wished he could fly to the Star God Continent at once to see how that girl was doing.

At the same time, there was also Xue Yi.

Yang Xiao was naturally worried about her sudden disappearance.

But even though he had unified the Profound Sun Continent and become the Human Race's Common Lord, and had sent out many people to search, there was still no news of her.

'I don't know where she is now, or how she's faring. And just who was that sacred being that took her away?'

Yang Xiao felt a sense of frustration in his heart.

He once again lamented his own weakness, because even now, he couldn't trace the source of that aura.

And just at that moment, Li Mubai came to a stop.

"Saint Prince, we've arrived."