"Hmm? Is that killing intent?"
The Taoyan God King, who had been speaking nonstop, suddenly fell silent.
He looked toward Yang Xiao.
He had felt a killing intent so potent it seemed to radiate from Yang Xiao's very being.
"Lord Inheritor…"
"Trying to fool me with a single Mid-Grade Divine Essence Stone. Do you take me for an idiot?"
Yang Xiao said coldly.
A golden light flashed between his eyebrows, and the Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace activated instantly.
The Taoyan God King's expression changed.
His figure flickered.
But he failed to dodge.
He had lost the Fire God's Heart within him and, with it, his Origin. At the same time, Yang Xiao was attacking in a fury, holding nothing back from the very start.
Not only did he have Hanx Ziye unleash the full power of the Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace...
...he also pushed the power of the Time Secret Pattern to its absolute limit.
With one party weakened and the other strengthened...
Although the Taoyan God King was a Demigod, and a top-tier one at that as a Divine King Reincarnation, he was helpless in this moment. Yang Xiao was erupting with his full strength, primarily because Hanx Ziye was unleashing the full might of the Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace.
At least thirty percent of the True Divine Artifact's power was unleashed.
Even though it was only thirty percent...
...it was more than enough to deal with a Demigod-Level existence.
Instantly, the Taoyan God King was suppressed.
"Old Ghost Hanx's Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace? You actually obtained his inheritance?"
The Taoyan God King's face was filled with astonishment.
Although he and Hanx Zhantian were both Divine King Level experts under the Northern Wilderness Divine King, they had never been close. He had always secretly looked down on this man who was his equal in strength, considering him petty and not ruthless enough—willing to do anything for a mere son.
He lacked the bearing and magnanimity a Divine King ought to possess.
But contempt was one thing; he never dared to underestimate Hanx Zhantian's power.
Now, with the appearance of the Heaven-Fighting Divine Palace, he had been instantly suppressed.
The Taoyan God King's expression turned grim and fraught with worry.
"Uh, Lord Inheritor, this Divine King... no, I know I was wrong. How about... you give me another chance?"
Seeing that Yang Xiao had no intention of even acknowledging him, the Taoyan God King's heart skipped a beat, and his posture became even more subservient.
Unfortunately, Yang Xiao had already decided to kill him.
Having already struck, how could he let the tiger return to the mountain?
However, just as he was walking over step by step, preparing to use the True Greater Yang Fire to refine the Taoyan God King into nothingness, something in his Qi Sea trembled slightly.
Yang Xiao's expression flickered.
He slowed his pace.
Seeing this, the Taoyan God King thought his show of weakness was working.
He immediately cried out again, "Lord Inheritor, I truly know I was wrong! How about this? I swear, if you return the Fire God's Heart to me, I will submit to you. How does that sound?"
Yang Xiao pursed his lips.
He didn't speak.
Seeing his expression, the Taoyan God King finally understood that he had run into a ruthless one.
He knew that if he didn't offer some tangible benefits, he would probably fall at this boy's hands today.
'Hmph. I'll feign weakness for now. Once I'm free, this Divine King would like to see what he can do to me with his pathetic strength, without the help of a Divine Artifact!'
Although he had already decided to surrender in his heart, the Taoyan God King was actually extremely unwilling.
It was just like when he had submitted to the Northern Wilderness Divine King; it was only because the Northern Wilderness Divine King was powerful and he could gain benefits from it. But this little brat before him...
...was clearly a mortal, one who hadn't even reached the Divine Power Realm.
How could he be worthy of his submission?
But if he didn't submit, he would die.
No matter how unwilling the Taoyan God King felt, he still planned to submit for the time being.
And it would be an unconditional surrender.
"Lord Inheritor, I don't want the Fire God's Heart anymore! Also, I have some things on me... they aren't exceptionally precious, but if you spare me this once, I'll hand them all over to you. Furthermore, I am willing to submit to you unconditionally."
"What do you think, My Lord?"
The Taoyan God King's face was filled with desperate hope.
Yang Xiao glanced at him.
He still didn't speak.
This was because the little thing in his Qi Sea had not yet fully awakened.
So, Yang Xiao could only stall for time.
'This little guy is really greedy. It just finished merging with the Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan and already wants to devour a wisp of a Divine King's remnant soul. But, this is a good thing for me. If it really succeeds, this little fellow might just level up directly to a Treasure Artifact.'
That's right. What had stopped Yang Xiao from delivering the killing blow just now was not something else, but his Lifebound Magical Artifact: the Bloodthirsty Sword. It had merged with the Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan and was on the verge of a successful transformation, having already advanced to an Upper-Grade Peak Spirit Weapon.
And because it had advanced to an Upper-Grade Peak Spirit Weapon by fusing with the Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan, it had gained a new characteristic.
Its third characteristic: Illusion.
Furthermore, both its first characteristic, Devour, and its second, Vibration...
...were greatly enhanced at this moment.
Especially the first characteristic, Devour.
It had improved the most.
Previously, for the Bloodthirsty Sword to devour a living being's Essence Blood and soul, it needed to make direct contact, absorbing them only after killing the target to use as nourishment.
But after merging with the Bloodthirsty Celestial Cyan, the Bloodthirsty Sword's Devour characteristic was greatly strengthened. Now, as long as Yang Xiao willed it, the sword could unconsciously devour the flesh and blood of almost any living creature.
Even living ones were no exception.
Beyond that, its ability to devour Spirit Bodies and souls had also improved.
While not as terrifying as its ability to devour the flesh of the living, as long as it made contact, even a Demigod-Level existence...
...might not be able to resist it.
Just like the Taoyan God King before him.
"Lord Inheritor? What is your decision?"
Seeing that Yang Xiao remained silent, the Taoyan God King's heart surged with boundless fury, but his face showed only endless humility.
He asked ingratiatingly.
Not daring to let even a hint of forcefulness enter his tone.
After all, his life was in someone else's hands.
Seeing the man's demeanor, Yang Xiao finally spoke.
"I really don't know how you managed to cultivate to the Divine King Realm. Looking at you, could it be that you're a naturally born Fire Deity?"
Yang Xiao asked casually.
The Fire God's Heart. And the Taoyan God King's current form. Both seemed very familiar to Yang Xiao.
That was why he asked.
What he hadn't expected was that Taiyan actually was.
"Lord Inheritor is truly discerning. I was indeed born a natural Fire Deity, a Divine Spirit born from the Yin Yang Origin Divine Fire. That is how I was able to cultivate all the way to the Divine King Realm."
"Yin Yang Origin Divine Fire?"
This time, Yang Xiao was even more surprised.
He glanced again at the Fire God's Heart in his hand.
An ecstatic expression couldn't help but appear on his face.
'I can't believe it, it really is from a Yin Yang Origin Divine Fire. Though, only the Supreme Yin Cold Nether Fire is left now! But this... this seems even better. It can perfectly complement the True Greater Yang Fire in my body.'
Yang Xiao thought to himself.
"Lord Inheritor, does this mean you agree to my conditions?"
Just then, the Taoyan God King asked again.
Yang Xiao was getting impatient.
He was now eager to cultivate his own Fire God Clone.
And at that very moment, the little fellow in his Qi Sea... finally completed its advancement.
"In that case, you can go die!"
Without the slightest pause, Yang Xiao waved his hand. The Bloodthirsty Sword, having advanced to an Upper-Grade Peak Spirit Weapon, flew out in an instant and plunged straight into the Taoyan God King's body.
The Devour characteristic activated instantly.
The Taoyan God King wanted to scream in terror, but in just a few moments, he was reduced to pure consciousness and energy, completely absorbed by the Bloodthirsty Sword.
BUZZ!
A profound and mysterious power descended from the heavens and the earth.
The Bloodthirsty Sword... advanced once more!