Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

”Brother Yang, forget about me! Run! These people are powerful! Avenge me later!”

When he saw who it was, Lu Fangliang’s eyes lit up. But his expression immediately shifted to one of extreme tension, and he began to shout urgently.

The newcomer’s figure flickered.

He arrived in front of him. It was none other than Yang Xiao.

”You’ve expended your Bloodline Essence Qi?”

Yang Xiao frowned.

Bloodline Essence Qi was the very foundation of a person’s life. The previous owner of Yang Xiao’s body had been unable to cultivate precisely because his Essence Qi had withered away.

It wasn’t until he was reborn and replenished it with the Heaven and Earth Origin Flame that all of that changed.

Now, Lu Fangliang had not only expended seventy percent of his Essence Qi, but had also lost seventy to eighty percent of his Blood Qi. If he wasn’t treated immediately, his chances of survival were slim.

”I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. You have to be careful of them. They’re really powerful…”

Seeing the worry in Yang Xiao’s eyes, Lu Fangliang forced a smile. But his brief moment of levity gave way to renewed tension as he began to worry about Yang Xiao.

”They can’t touch me.”

Yang Xiao shook his head.

’I know I’m the one who dragged Lu Fangliang into this.’

’I knew the Profound Celestial Sect wouldn’t let things slide after I had Lu Fangliang kill Star Sword Venerable. I just never expected to be sucked into the world of the Star Secret Pattern when I casually opened the Jade Scroll for the Star Hand Seal to take a quick look. I was trapped, completely unable to escape.’

’Because of that, Lu Fangliang had to face all this danger and endure it alone.’

’Now, he’s nearly exhausted his Bloodline Essence Qi, and even so, the guy is still worried about me, hoping I’ll run away and avenge him later. A friend like this... a brother like this... How could I not cherish him?’

”This is a Blood Essence Pill. Take it. It should replenish some of your Blood Qi. As long as your Blood Qi doesn’t scatter, your life won’t be in danger. After I get rid of these old geezers, I’ll refine an Essence Pill for you.”

He retrieved a blood-red Pill from his Storage Ring. After handing it to Lu Fangliang, Yang Xiao’s gaze fell upon Yun Aotian and the others, filled with undisguised killing intent.

’These are the bastards who nearly made Brother Lu exhaust his Bloodline Essence Qi.’

’It’s a good thing I prepared some Blood Essence Pills to replenish Blood Qi just in case before coming here. Otherwise, Brother Lu might have really died here today.’

’How could I possibly let them go?’

However, before Yang Xiao could make a move, one of the men from the Profound Celestial Sect spoke up arrogantly. ”Kid, it looks like you have quite a few good Pills on you. Hand them over, and this Venerable will give you a chance to pledge your loyalty. How about it?”

The one who spoke was none other than Qinghan Venerable.

Only he would dare to overstep Elder Yun’s authority and make such a decision on his own.

The others wouldn’t dare make such a promise, even if the thought had crossed their minds.

After all, Elder Yun had already declared his intention to kill Lu Fangliang. This kid had openly challenged them—an offense punishable by death. Who would dare take him on as a follower?

”So? This is your only path to survival. Think it over carefully.”

Hearing this, Yang Xiao laughed. ”Where did this stray dog come from? So arrogant, thinking it can just walk all over people and become their master. You? Worthy?”

”You!”

Qinghan Venerable was enraged. This little brat had actually called him a stray dog in front of everyone.

It was more than he could bear.

He had always prided himself on his aloofness and superior talent. He didn’t even hold Elder Yun in high regard.

And now, to be insulted so publicly...

Adding to that, Lu Fangliang had managed to injure him earlier, an act he considered a deep humiliation.

The two grievances converged, and Qinghan Venerable dropped his carefully constructed facade of cold detachment. His face became as savage as Elder Yun’s had been, and he vowed to kill Yang Xiao at all costs.

”Elder Yun, let me handle this little brat. What do you say?”

”Fine. I heard that Lu Family brat call him Brother Yang. He must be the one the Sect Leader ordered Star Sword to kill. Finish him, and you’ll have something to report when you get back.”

Elder Yun’s expression was grim.

He had been about to kill Lu Fangliang, only to be interrupted by Yang Xiao’s arrival.

He was already furious.

The only reason he had restrained himself was that he was unsure of Yang Xiao’s actual strength. Lu Fangliang’s last attack had sent a genuine chill down his spine; he had nearly died.

Now that Qinghan Venerable was offering to deal with Yang Xiao for him, how could he refuse?

”Did you hear that, brat? Now, death is your only way out!”

Qinghan Venerable let out a cold laugh.

He strode toward Yang Xiao.

”Are all of you from the Profound Celestial Sect this full of yourselves? So high and mighty. What will you think, I wonder, when you find you can’t even withstand a single one of my strikes? Oh, right. You won’t be thinking anything, because you’ll be as dead as can be.”

”You’re courting death!”

Provoked and insulted by Yang Xiao time and time again, Qinghan Venerable could no longer hold back.

Casting aside all pretense of composure, he lunged at Yang Xiao like a madman.

At that moment, however, a strange smile touched Yang Xiao’s lips.

A longsword instantly materialized in his hand.

A blood-red longsword.

It was the very Lifebound Magical Artifact he had previously refined.

However, now...

This sword was no longer a Magical Artifact.

It was a Spirit Weapon.

A Peak Low Grade Spirit Weapon.

”Bloodthirsty, today, you will drink your fill! We’ll call it a celebration…”

As Yang Xiao murmured, the longsword in his hand flashed with a bloody light.

In the next instant.

He disappeared.

Just like that, he vanished from before Qinghan Venerable’s eyes, causing the man’s furious lunge to hit nothing but air.

”AAAAH!”

At the same time, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from another direction.

Qinghan Venerable whipped his head around to look.

Only to see a flash of bloody light.

One of his Tier Eight Martial Saint Level companions was clutching his own throat as he collapsed to the ground.

What was strange was that not a single drop of blood flowed from the wound on his neck.

Instead, his corpse began to rapidly desiccate.

It was as if something was sucking away his Essence Blood and soul.

It was a terrifying sight.

”AAAAH!”

While he stood there, stunned, another scream rang out.

He looked again.

The scene was identical.

Only this time, the victim was a Tier Seven Martial Saint Level companion.

Again, no blood flowed from the wound. Again, the body was withering away.

And again, that fleeting flash of bloody light.

”AAAAH!”

”AAAAH!”

”AAAAH!”

Three more screams followed in quick succession.

Three more men fell.

In the blink of an eye, five people were dead.

Their group, which had numbered eight when Yang Xiao appeared, was now reduced to just three.

Yun Aotian, Qinghan.

And a single Tier Seven Martial Saint, who was now trembling in terror.

The scene was utterly bizarre.

A chill crept into the hearts of the three survivors.

Even Elder Yun Aotian himself.

At this very moment, felt his heart pound with terror.

Because he had remembered something.

Remembered someone.

And a certain sword.

「Three hundred years ago.」

That person and that sword had nearly slaughtered every master in the entire Celestial Cloud Region, across all Nine Sects.

And everyone who died by that sword...

...had turned into desiccated corpses, just like this.