Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"Insolence!"

Yang Xiao, who had been watching the Lu Family's reactions closely, spotted the Eighth Elder's move the very instant he made it.

The man's power was immense, at the level of a Tier Seven Divine Marquis.

Once he moved, Yang Xiao would be completely unable to resist.

But he still roared in fury.

At the same time, a long sword materialized in his hand—the Void Divine Sword, formed from his Heaven-Gifted Treasure Technique.

More importantly, the moment the sword appeared, Yang Xiao slashed directly at Lu Fangcheng.

The ferocity of his strike made everyone's expression change.

"If you dare to touch a single hair on Brother Lu, I'll kill him."

Yang Xiao's voice rang out, cold as ice.

The hand of the Lu Family's Eighth Elder, which had been striking toward Lu Fangliang, froze in midair before being instantly withdrawn.

"You dare!"

He spun around and roared.

Yang Xiao gave a cold smile. "You can try me. This person showed me disrespect. Even if I kill him, what can you do? But you attacked your own junior for no reason—and a junior associated with me, at that. I imagine that even for a Tier Seven Divine Marquis, that won't end well for you, will it?"

Hearing this, the expression on the Lu Family's Eighth Elder changed.

But he recovered in an instant and said, "It seems the Saint Prince truly sees my Lu Family as nothing but livestock, to be killed as you please…"

"Don't twist right and wrong. This man insulted my friend and publicly tried to steal the Venerable True Dragon Nest that the Great Elder prepared for us. He is blatantly challenging my authority. No matter how you try to spin this, I am in the right. Brother Lu, go to the Earth Position Venerable True Dragon Nest now. I'd like to see who dares to stop you!"

Yang Xiao barked.

Upon hearing this, Lu Fangliang's eyes lit up.

But he didn't move.

He had genuinely felt that he wasn't qualified to enter a Venerable True Dragon Nest, which was why he had immediately refused when the Seventh Elder first offered it.

But now…

Seeing the Eighth Elder brazenly demand the Earth Position Venerable True Dragon Nest for Lu Fangcheng, and then suffering Lu Fangcheng's insults…

His mind was instantly changed.

'I thought that a Venerable True Dragon Nest was reserved for high-ranking clan members, at least at the Divine General Level. It would have been a waste for me to enter. But now, some punk at the Peak of the Great Divine Power Realm, who insults me just because he's a lot older, gets to go in? Why can't I, Lu Fangliang, go in too?'

With that thought, Lu Fangliang realized how naive he had been.

Seeing that Lu Fangliang seemed swayed…

The Lu Family's Eighth Elder became frantic.

He knew that if Lu Fangliang really went in, the best of the two remaining Venerable True Dragon Nests would still belong to Saint Prince Yang Xiao.

His grandson, Lu Fangcheng, would be left with only the worst one: the Human Position Venerable True Dragon Nest.

This left him feeling incredibly resentful.

'I swallowed my pride to get this Venerable True Dragon Nest for my grandson. How could it possibly be the worst one, the Human Position?'

'No, I can't let this brat get everything he wants.'

Sneering inwardly, the Lu Family's Eighth Elder shot a cold look at Lu Fangliang.

He threatened, "If you dare go in, I swear I will make you regret it!"

To his great humiliation, however, the moment the words left his mouth, Lu Fangliang burst out laughing.

It was an exaggerated laugh.

This made the Lu Family's Eighth Elder's face twitch.

"To be honest, I was hesitating about whether to enter this Venerable True Dragon Nest. After all, with my status and qualifications, it does feel a bit improper. But then I thought, if even that good-for-nothing grandson of yours, who only knows how to bully people with his backing, can get in, then why can't I, a genius of the Lu Family? And look at you! Attacking me for no reason, threatening Brother Yang, and now threatening me. I am truly ashamed to have an elder like you!"

Lu Fangliang didn't hold back in the slightest.

His words stunned everyone present.

No one had ever expected Lu Fangliang would dare to speak to the Eighth Elder like that.

As for the Lu Family's Eighth Elder, his expression turned utterly grim.

He raised his hand.

Wanting to slap him.

But then a cry of pain rang out. He saw that the sword in Yang Xiao's hand had now cut into Lu Fangcheng's shoulder. At the same time, Yang Xiao shot him a provocative look, making the Elder's face tremble.

The raised hand could no longer strike.

He could only pull it back.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

Another cry of pain echoed.

The Eighth Elder saw Yang Xiao's sword sink even deeper.

This time, his lips couldn't help but tremble.

He was furious beyond measure.

But there was nothing he could do.

In the end, he could only shut his mouth.

Seeing him like this, Lu Fangliang felt even more strongly that this man was unworthy of being his elder.

He felt no satisfaction, only a deep sense of sorrow.

'If all the elders of the Lu Family are like him,' he thought, 'I fear that even with Elder Long watching over us, the family is doomed to decline.'

'No wonder. Even with Elder Long and the Rising Dragon Tower, the Lu Family hasn't produced a single Great Emperor in all these years. Their character… it's just too poor.'

In that moment, Lu Fangliang had a sudden epiphany.

At the same time, he was filled with a sense of mission.

He had to become a Great Emperor.

To become the hope of the Lu Family.

He would show these arrogant elders—who lacked self-awareness and the resolute will that is most crucial for a Martial Artist—what the Martial Dao truly was, and what the path of a Martial Artist truly meant!

'And it's not just for the Lu Family. To keep up with Brother Yang, to be his friend for a lifetime, I must become a Great Emperor. Otherwise, how could I ever have the right to call him Brother Yang in the future?'

Lu Fangliang thought to himself.

He could call Yang Xiao "Brother Yang" now because the gap between them wasn't yet too large.

He could just about manage to keep pace with him.

But if one day the gap between them grew too vast, even if Yang Xiao still considered him a friend, Lu Fangliang wouldn't have the audacity to claim that friendship.

Therefore…

'So I must seize this rare opportunity.'

With this thought in mind,

he no longer hesitated in the slightest.

He strode toward the Venerable True Dragon Nest.

Seeing this,

the Eighth Elder's eye twitched violently, his heart filled with resentment.

But in the end, he said nothing.

He remained silent.

The Seventh Elder didn't speak either.

As for the others, they were even less likely to voice any objections.

After all, to many of them, it made no difference whether it was Lu Fangcheng or Lu Fangliang. They would be envious and jealous regardless of who went in.

There was no difference.

Seeing Lu Fangliang act this way, Yang Xiao smiled.

Just then,

Lu Fangliang reached the Light Gate of the Earth Position Venerable True Dragon Nest, but he turned back to face Yang Xiao.

He said, "Brother Yang, I owe you for this. But next time, I believe I will be able to enter this place on my own merit."

Hearing this, Yang Xiao was surprised for a moment, but then he broke into a smile. "Of course. You are, after all, a friend of mine, Yang Xiao."

Lu Fangliang smiled.

Without another word, he turned and stepped into the Venerable True Dragon Nest. The Light Gate vanished.

And once again, everyone's gaze fell upon Yang Xiao.