Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

’This old man... He’s likely not a true Immortal Dao cultivator, but someone who switched paths.’

Yang Xiao saw through Yan Liben’s true nature with a single glance.

His aura was powerful and incredibly terrifying.

However, the aura unique to the Immortal Dao was very faint. Yang Xiao loathed this aura to his very core, as its presence always stirred his most painful memories. If not for this deep-seated hatred, he likely would never have detected that faint trace of an Immortal Dao aura hidden beneath the man’s terrifying might.

As for Immortal Cultivators, Yang Xiao felt a revulsion that came from the very depths of his soul.

This loathing stemmed from a betrayal he had suffered in his past life.

Because of this, he would leave Immortal Cultivators alone, so long as they didn’t provoke him—despite their clear connection to the one who had betrayed him in his past life.

Yang Xiao wasn’t a bloodthirsty person by nature.

But if they dared to provoke him, Yang Xiao would show no mercy.

Just like Xuan Tianzhan.

And just like the old man before him now.

’To think you were a perfectly fine Martial Cultivator. You abandoned the orthodox Great Dao of heaven and earth, choosing instead to walk this heretical path. Today, I’ll enjoy watching you die!’

Killing intent radiated from Yang Xiao.

But he knew this old bastard before him was incredibly powerful.

Originally, he was at the Peak of Martial Grandmaster Seventh Layer, a level of strength that already placed him at the apex of the Celestial Cloud Region. But after that recent amplification, it seemed he had used some sort of Immortal Dao Secret Technique. Yan Liben’s power had surged by nearly tenfold, bringing him almost to the level of a Martial Saint.

This would make him extremely difficult for Yang Xiao to defeat.

Furthermore, Yang Xiao had a nagging suspicion that someone else was watching him from the shadows.

So, for the time being, Yang Xiao didn’t make a reckless move.

’Powerful! So powerful! This is the feeling! I, Yan Liben, was stuck for more than a decade without a single bit of progress. But after cultivating this Secret Technique, my power has surged this much! If I convert all the Martial Dao True Qi in my body into the power of this technique, I’ll become even stronger.’

In contrast to Yang Xiao’s silence, Yan Liben was ecstatic, thoroughly pleased with his transformation.

Normally, someone of his strength would have no need to leave and establish their own sect.

His power was great enough to secure a high-ranking position in any of the Upper Three Sects.

Wasn’t that far better than being the mere Sect Leader of one of the Lower Six Sects?

After all, as a member of the Medicine King Valley’s Elder Council, even the Supreme Elder of the Ice Profound Sect—the most powerful of the Lower Six Sects—was merely his equal.

Why go to the trouble of building a faction that served him no real purpose?

But after obtaining this Secret Technique, something called ambition began to stir within him.

He was no longer content with his position on the Elder Council.

He wanted more.

However, Yan Liben did not want the higher-ups in Medicine King Valley to discover what he was doing.

He was especially wary of the Martial Saint Level experts, who seemed capable of seeing through his secret.

Therefore, Yan Liben left Medicine King Valley.

He set his sights on the territory of the Purple Sun Sect.

He planned to use this land to complete the transformation of his Innate Gang Qi, push his cultivation further, and, in a single stroke, become an existence even more powerful than a Martial Saint.

To become the Dominator of the Celestial Cloud Region.

But the arrival of Yang Xiao and his companions had resulted in the utter annihilation of all his Direct Disciples—his entire retinue.

Naturally, Yan Liben was incandescent with rage.

’These people must all die! That beast must die too! After I kill them, I’ll storm the Purple Sun Sect. Those who submit will live; those who resist will die!’

So Yan Liben thought, his killing intent spilling forth, completely unconcealed.

’I’ll start with this junior. His gaze is infuriating.’

The first person Yan Liben wanted to kill was, naturally, Yang Xiao.

Of the three, Yang Xiao was the only one who had dared to meet his gaze.

His eyes held not a single trace of fear.

This vexed Yan Liben greatly.

Moreover, the boy looked to be only sixteen or seventeen, yet his aura had already reached the Innate Realm Third Layer.

He was, without a doubt, a true genius.

Even in an Upper Three Sect like Medicine King Valley, talents like him were rare.

Naturally, Yan Liben had no intention of letting such a potential threat live.

So, with a low roar, he raised his hand. The aura behind him instantly condensed, taking form.

It transformed into a pillar of black mist that shot toward the heavens.

The black mist coalesced into a terrifying giant python, which opened its cavernous maw and lunged abruptly at Yang Xiao.

The sight terrified Cheng Boxuan.

”Junior Sect Leader, be careful!”

Cheng Boxuan blurted out.

He moved to block it.

But as he moved, he remembered that he was no match for Yang Xiao.

If even Yang Xiao couldn’t handle the black python, then jumping in would be nothing more than suicide.

When one’s life was on the line, who wouldn’t feel fear?

Cheng Boxuan hesitated.

In that brief moment of hesitation, the giant python, its maw wide open, was already upon Yang Xiao.

It looked as if it would swallow him whole.

But just then,

a pillar of orange light flared to life.

It struck and instantly dispersed the lunging python.

The black mist hanging in the air was swept away without a trace.

It was Yang Xiao’s Gathering Essence Finger.

A single finger.

An Immortal Secret Technique, broken.

”Oh? So you do have a few tricks up your sleeve. It seems you’re the strongest one here. No wonder you dared to show this old man such disrespect. Still, you must die!”

The greater the genius, the more certain his death.

Now that Yang Xiao had revealed such strength, Yan Liben had no intention of letting him live.

’As for recruiting him?’

Yan Liben would never accept a subordinate who could one day threaten him.

’Kill!’

He roared in his mind.

Once again, endless black mist surged from behind him.

Ever since he started cultivating the Secret Technique known as the Black Python Devouring Heaven Skill, Yan Liben had become reluctant to use any other methods. The skill was simply that powerful.

It was comparable to Saint Grade Martial Arts.

Beyond that, it could even devour an opponent’s Essence Blood and aura, making them his own.

This was how Yan Liben had shattered his previous limits to attain his current level of power.

Of course he was going to use it frequently.

Especially against a genius like Yang Xiao.

It was practically made for them.

’Devour his Essence Blood. Attain an even more terrifying evolution.’

’With the Black Python Devouring Heaven Skill, any genius is merely nourishment for me, Yan Liben. The greater the talent, the more this old man likes them... and the more I must kill and devour them!’

Behind Yan Liben, a giant python even larger than the last one took shape.

It stared at Yang Xiao.

It seemed to possess a will of its own, just like a true, living python.

’It’s that loathsome aura... and it seems stronger now.’

Yang Xiao’s expression changed.

The Qilin True Body within him was already prepared.

He could release it with a single thought.

Yang Xiao was confident...

...that he could kill this old bastard who’d turned to the Immortal Dao.

But just then...

A piercing aura appeared without warning.

The aura felt like a sharp arrow, locking onto Yang Xiao.

No, not just him. It seemed to have locked onto everyone present.

The instant this aura appeared,

everyone felt their bodies freeze.

Including Yan Liben.

Even Yang Xiao.

Their expressions changed.

None of them dared to move.

Because he, for the first time, sensed the aura of death.

’The one watching from the shadows... Have they finally appeared?’

Yang Xiao’s expression turned incredibly grim.