Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

”What a shame. A mighty Tier Seven Peak Martial Saint, dead just like that.”

Yang Xiao wore an expression of pity.

”And whose fault do you think that is?”

Lu Fangliang shot him a glare. ’What’s with this guy? Ever since he came into contact with that old bastard, he’s been acting so strange.’

”Haha, that’s true.”

Scratching his head, Yang Xiao let out an exaggerated laugh.

Lu Fangliang was speechless.

However, his expression turned nervous when he saw the Jade Scroll in Yang Xiao’s hand. ”What do you want with that old bastard’s Immortal Dao Technique? Don’t tell me you plan to cultivate it?”

”Why so nervous? Don’t you know that the so-called Mystic Skills and Spirit Skills of the Immortal Dao are all derived from Divine Techniques? In essence, there’s no real difference.”

Yang Xiao laughed.

He knew what Lu Fangliang was worried about.

’What he doesn’t know, however, is that I probably have a great enmity with the Immortal Dao as well.’

’The one who plotted against me!’

Every time Yang Xiao thought of it, it felt like a thorn stabbing his heart, a pain he could never release.

A million years ago, he could have clearly attained the Dao and become a Great Emperor, perhaps even something greater.

Instead, he was betrayed. He almost had his body and soul obliterated, and on top of that, he was forced to wander the void for a million years, missing out on far, far too much.

How could Yang Xiao ever forget such a deep-seated hatred?

”Oh, I see. I thought…”

”That I was going to cultivate an Immortal Dao Technique and become an Immortal Cultivator?”

Yang Xiao offered a wry smile.

Lu Fangliang looked a little embarrassed.

”Relax, I know what I’m doing. And believe me, my hatred for the Immortal Dao is no less than yours.”

With a faint smile, Yang Xiao opened the Jade Scroll.

The moment he did, streams of starlight flew out from inside.

The starlight converged, forming a stellar hand seal that looked far more complete than the one Star Sword Venerable had previously conjured.

However, after flickering in the air for a moment, the hand seal of converged starlight transformed into a beam of light and shot toward Yang Xiao.

Lu Fangliang, watching from the side, had a slight change of expression.

Yang Xiao, however, simply shook his head.

He made no move to defend himself, allowing the beam of light from the hand seal to pour into his body.

The moment it entered.

Yang Xiao sensed that if he simply fused with the hand seal, he would be able to cast the Star Hand Seal with ease. However, he did not do so.

For he wasn’t after the Star Hand Seal, the so-called Immortal Dao Profound Technique.

He wanted the Star Secret Pattern it contained.

Thus, instead of fusing with it, Yang Xiao immersed his consciousness into the beam of light.

And then, he saw.

A world composed entirely of stars.

Vast, boundless, magnificent, illusory...

An ordinary person would likely lose their very soul to this starry expanse with but a single glance.

But Yang Xiao was clearly no ordinary person.

In his first life, he had stood in the Void Celestial Heaven and witnessed the full panorama of the world. The sights he had beheld there were far more mesmerizing and easy to get lost in than this mere starscape.

So even though Yang Xiao had now lost his former power, his resolve was unshakable. He would not lose his way.

Instead, he frantically absorbed all the Star Secret Patterns contained within.

’One star is a node, and myriads of stars form the Secret Patterns. Though incomplete, this contains over eighty percent of the profundities of the Star Secret Pattern’s Second Layer.’

’Eighty percent is more than enough.’

Yang Xiao sat down cross-legged.

His aura became restrained, but pinpricks of starlight began to dot the space between his eyebrows.

It was a truly mystical sight.

When Lu Fangliang saw this, he knew at once that Yang Xiao was in a state of comprehension.

Although he wanted nothing to do with the Immortal Dao, he trusted Yang Xiao. He believed his friend would not stray onto the Immortal Dao’s path.

That being the case.

He would naturally stand guard for his friend.

’This might be for the best. If we go to the Northern Wilderness Forest a little later, maybe those people will lower their guard and think we’re not daring enough to come.’

Lu Fangliang smiled faintly.

He stood guard beside Yang Xiao, extending his Perception Power to its maximum and widest range.

Within a hundred-mile radius, it was unlikely that even the slightest rustle of grass in the wind could escape his Spiritual Perception.

What he didn’t know, however, was this:

The very moment he had obliterated Star Sword Venerable with an arrow, Xuan Shangqing, the Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect, had already been alerted.

”Damn it! What fiend dares to make a move against someone from my Profound Celestial Sect? They’re courting death!”

Xuan Shangqing’s usually placid expression was now utterly dark and grim.

His fury soared to the heavens.

Star Sword Venerable.

A powerhouse at the True Tier Seventh Peak.

Even in his Profound Celestial Sect, there were only about thirty such experts.

The loss of even one was a monumental blow.

As the Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect, how could Xuan Shangqing not be deeply pained by this loss?

”Father, what happened?”

Xuan Tianzhan, who was also present, asked in confusion.

Xuan Shangqing glanced at him.

He shook his head. ”This doesn’t concern you. Your most important task right now is to prepare for the matter of the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion. As for this, I have my own way of handling it.”

”By the way, I heard that a few days ago, you wiped out one of the noble clans of the Qianyun Kingdom?”

Hearing this, Xuan Tianzhan nodded indifferently. ”Yes, that happened. They offended me, so I decided to teach them a lesson. I didn’t expect them to actually dare to fight back, so I had them wiped out. Why? Has Father started caring about such trivialities?”

”Trivialities? The Zhang Clan of the Southern King of Qianyun Kingdom was no small power, and they had always been respectful to our Profound Celestial Sect. Yet you wiped them out just like that… Ah, forget it. You’re a grown man now, and you know how to handle things. Just make sure you’ve tied up all the loose ends.”

Xuan Shangqing had been on the verge of anger, but then he remembered that if their plan succeeded, these Martial Cultivators were all going to die anyway.

So he just waved his hand, deciding not to pursue the matter further.

”They’re just lowly Martial Cultivators. If they’re dead, they’re dead. Father, I’ll go make some preparations. The Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion opens tomorrow. That old geezer from the Pure Yang Sword Sect should be making an appearance.”

”Good. Once he appears, he won’t be leaving. Be careful. Everything inside the Sword Mansion will depend on you. Don’t make any mistakes.”

”Yes.”

Xuan Tianzhan withdrew.

Xuan Shangqing’s expression darkened once more.

He was silent for a moment.

Soon, he issued an order.

Immediately after, over a dozen figures at the High-tier Martial Saint Level emerged from the Profound Celestial Sect’s encampment.

They gathered in the council hall.

”Star Sword Venerable is dead. This is his aura. Go quickly and kill the one responsible. After you’ve killed them, do not return immediately. I want you to split up and lie in ambush here, and here, to intercept that old bastard.”

Xuan Shangqing swiped his hand, and a map of the Northern Wilderness Forest appeared in the air before him.

He tapped two locations on it.

The dozen or so figures at the High-tier Martial Saint Level nodded in unison.

The leader of the group, a man with white hair but a youthful face and the ethereal air of a sage, smiled faintly. ”Sect Leader, rest assured. With me on the case, this will be an effortless victory.”

Hearing this, Xuan Shangqing nodded as well. ”Throughout the entire Celestial Cloud Region, only a handful of people can match Elder Yun’s strength. I naturally have faith in you. However, the person who killed Star Sword Venerable might be anything but ordinary. Elder Yun, do not be careless.”

”I will do my utmost. I will not allow some petty villain to tarnish the reputation of our Profound Celestial Sect.”

”In that case, I shall await your good news, Elder Yun.”

After speaking, Elder Yun cupped his fists in a salute, and in an instant, he and the dozen or so High-Tier Martial Saints vanished from the Profound Celestial Sect’s encampment.

Their departure.

Immediately drew the attention of many.

However, neither the Pure Yang Sword Sect nor any of the other Sects knew the reason for their mobilization.

And their target.

Yang Xiao.

Was still deep in his state of comprehension.

His mind was utterly immersed in the profundities of the Secret Patterns formed by the stars.

Lost to the world.

Only Lu Fangliang stood guard at his side.

Danger was approaching, silent and unseen.