Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

”The Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion! It’s opening!”

Several cries of shock erupted from the crowd.

But soon, they fell silent, staring blankly at the sky.

There.

Nine rays of brilliant light.

Danced erratically.

Like dragons and serpents.

Outlining the phantom image of a palace.

Which gradually solidified.

They represented the nine Northern Wilderness Sword Orders.

Of them, five had flown out from Yang Xiao. Of the remaining four, one came from the Pure Yang Ancestor, one from Bing Wuying, and two from Xuan Shangqing.

This sudden turn of events.

Caught everyone present completely by surprise.

Even Yang Xiao.

Was somewhat astonished.

After all, a Storage Ring was a personal item. The space within could not be opened by anyone but its owner, yet now, these Northern Wilderness Sword Orders had actually flown out on their own.

’It seems the master of this Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion was truly no simple character. I fear they weren’t just an ordinary Divine King powerhouse.’

Yang Xiao raised an eyebrow.

Divine King Powerhouses, too, had their own hierarchy of strength.

Take his first life, for example.

He was known as the Eraless Divine King. Beneath the Great Emperors, apart from Chang Xi—with whom he shared the title of Ancient Twin Pride—there was no one who could contend with him.

On the other hand, someone like Elder Long, despite having existed for a potentially longer time, was merely an ordinary Divine King Level powerhouse.

Yang Xiao was confident that at his peak.

It would likely take but a single move.

To defeat him.

Originally, when he heard from Lu Fangliang that this Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion was the legacy of a Divine King, Yang Xiao had been rather dismissive, assuming it was just an ordinary Divine King.

But now, it seemed.

This fellow.

’Even if he wasn’t as good as I was back then, I doubt he was much weaker.’

A glint shone in his eyes.

His anticipation for the soon-to-open Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion grew even stronger.

Soon.

The palace in the void took shape. Though it was still just a phantom of light and shadow, Yang Xiao knew that the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion had now opened.

It just wasn’t physically here. The palace before them was likely a projection of the real Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion.

And to enter.

They would probably have to rely on those nine Northern Wilderness Sword Orders.

’Now that the Sword Mansion’s projection is formed, the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders should be returning.’

Yang Xiao’s thoughts stirred.

And just as he predicted.

Everyone saw the nine rays of brilliant light in the sky, which had formed the palace’s phantom image, transform back into the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders and shoot back toward the crowd.

But to everyone’s surprise.

Eight of the nine rays of light, transformed from the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders, actually flew toward Xuan Tianxin.

Only one.

Flew toward the Pure Yang Ancestor.

The expressions on the faces of Yang Xiao and Bing Wuying instantly turned grim.

Only Xuan Tianxin.

Burst into triumphant laughter.

”Yang Xiao, you didn’t expect this, did you?”

Having remained silent all this time, Xuan Tianxin—who hadn’t uttered a word in the face of Yang Xiao’s ruthless methods—finally erupted.

”All eight of these Northern Wilderness Sword Orders have passed through my, Xuan Tianxin’s, hands. Did you really think just snatching them away would be enough?”

His laughter was wild and arrogant.

Back then, when Xuan Shangqing had come to him because Yang Xiao had taken a Northern Wilderness Sword Order, Xuan Tianxin had been displeased but hadn’t gone looking for trouble with Yang Xiao.

Because.

There was no need.

He had used a special method to tamper with all eight of those Northern Wilderness Sword Orders.

Even if they were given away, no one else could truly claim them.

That was why he, Xuan Tianxin, had been so ”generous,” allowing Xuan Shangqing to give five of the Northern Wilderness Sword Orders away.

Now, the dust had settled, and the eight Northern Wilderness Sword Orders had returned to his hands.

And almost everyone had fallen for his scheme.

How could Xuan Tianxin not be smug?

The Sword and Saber Alliance.

The Ice Profound Sect.

Snow Moon Manor.

The Sword Casting Sect.

The Six Yang Sect.

Five Great Sects, all for the sake of a Northern Wilderness Sword Order that was never theirs to begin with.

All of them had sided with the Profound Celestial Sect.

This deal.

Was truly a bargain.

So, after understanding this point,

the Sect Leader of the Ice Profound Sect, Bing Wuying, felt her entire body begin to tremble.

Her expression was incredibly ugly.

At this moment, Xuan Shangqing also reacted.

This matter.

He hadn’t known about it either.

But seeing Bing Wuying’s state, he gave a slight smile. ”Sect Leader Bing, rest assured. Your alliance is still in effect. We might even be able to give you some of the spots to enter the mansion.”

”Really?”

Bing Wuying had been on the verge of despair, but her eyes lit up at his words. She asked eagerly.

Xuan Shangqing smiled faintly, his greedy gaze sweeping over her from head to toe. He then pointed to the distant Bing Xin, who had been taken away by Yang Xiao. ”As long as you make your disciple, Bing Xin, become my son’s Dao companion, then I, as Zhan’Er’s father, will naturally give your Ice Profound Sect three spots as a betrothal gift. However, one of those spots must go to Bing Xin.”

”This... Fine. It’s a deal.”

Bing Wuying hesitated at first. As the leader of a sect, she naturally knew what Xuan Shangqing meant. He wanted to use her.

To call back Bing Xin, to make Bing Xin betray Yang Xiao.

Not only would it be a blow to Yang Xiao, but it would also make that kid wary.

’But so what?’

’That brat Yang Xiao rejected my proposal earlier.’

’Now, what does it matter if he lives or dies?’

So, Bing Wuying agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Her gaze turned cold as she looked at the visibly uneasy Bing Xin. ”Xin’Er, are you not coming back? Do you really intend to betray the Sect?”

”That’s right, Senior Sister Bing Xin, come back quickly.”

That woman, Bing Ling, also spoke up.

It wasn’t just her.

The vast majority of Bing Xin’s martial sisters,

all who were qualified to contend for a spot, began to persuade her.

The elders and teachers did the same.

These people, every single one of them, hadn’t cared if Bing Xin lived or died before.

They had let Bing Wuying sell her to Yang Xiao, and then again to Xuan Tianzhan.

But now, they acted as if they were deeply concerned for her.

Using familial bonds.

Using debts of gratitude.

Using the Sect.

To bind Bing Xin.

Wanting her to return.

In reality,

it was all for the sake of those two spots to enter the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion.

Bing Xin was exceptionally intelligent. How could she not see this?

But on one side was her Sect.

And on the other was Yang Xiao.

How should she choose?

At this moment, Bing Xin hesitated.

Yang Xiao, however, did not speak.

He also wanted to see.

What kind of choice this woman would make.

If she chose to leave,

Yang Xiao would not stop her.

He had already given her a chance.

The next time they met, they would be enemies.

He would show no mercy when he struck.

But if she stayed,

Yang Xiao would treat her as one of his own.

He would naturally look out for her in the future.

Even now,

the spots for the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion,

it wasn’t a given that he couldn’t snatch them back.

”What? Are you not satisfied being my, Xuan Tianzhan’s, Dao companion? Bing Xin, if you don’t come back, you’ll be disrespecting my Profound Celestial Sect. When that time comes... your master, your senior sisters, and all those others... I imagine their lives will be anything but pleasant.”

And just as Bing Xin was hesitating,

Xuan Tianzhan, who had been lingering in the back, unable to get a word in,

finally found his chance.

He swaggered out,

and spoke with a threatening tone.

The moment these words were spoken,

Bing Xin’s entire body trembled.

The people from the Ice Profound Sect were also stunned.

But immediately after, they began persuading her with even more vigor.

Some even began to beg and plead bitterly.

At this,

Bing Xin wavered even more.

She glanced at Yang Xiao.

Then at her sect in the distance.

Her heart.

Felt as if it had been plunged into an ice cellar.