Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

That was a killer at the Peak of Mid-stage Celestial Immortal.

And just like that, he was killed?

Lin Lang had already given up hope, convinced that both he and Xu Yang were going to die here.

But unexpectedly, after despair came light; Xu Yang’s strength turned out to be this overwhelming.

The Yang Yuan who climbed onto the Immortal Pride List?

Compared to a record like this, he was nothing but trash.

Xu Yang landed slowly next to the black-clad corpse, his body trembling as he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"A cultivator at the Peak of Mid-stage Celestial Immortal is much harder to deal with than an immortal beast, after all."

Still, relying on countless means, he managed to slay him. Needless to say, he could be proud.

But Xu Yang wasn’t satisfied with this result.

To trouble him this much even before Late Stage of Celestial Immortal—it was still a bit weak.

He swallowed a pill, then reached out to remove the mask from the black-clad man’s face, revealing a pale, lifeless visage. He looked about thirty, his eyes wide open, frozen in lingering disbelief and resentment at the moment of death.

"Most likely a killer, but who exactly?"

Xu Yang frowned deeply; a killer with such power wasn’t someone ordinary could hire.

Besides, the other party knew his identity and still dared to take the job—clearly not just anybody.

The Yang Family?

Ice and Snow Immortal Palace?

Logically, those two shouldn’t be so foolish, but right now, they seemed to be the most suspicious.

Just then, Lin Lang staggered over to them.

Xu Yang rushed over to support him: "How are you?"

"I can hold on."

Lin Lang replied weakly.

Xu Yang quickly took out a Healing Elixir and handed it to him.

After Lin Lang consumed it, his complexion improved a little. Looking at the corpse on the ground, his pupils contracted: "Ice Blade."

"Ice Blade?"

Xu Yang’s brow twitched; he immediately remembered.

Ji Hong’s gift at the beginning had contained a brief description of Ice Blade.

Ice Blade was a killer’s title.

Originally a disciple of Ice and Snow Immortal Palace, he later became an exile for some unknown reason and started hunting Palace disciples, never getting caught.

After years of silence, he reappeared—already at Peak of Celestial Immortal.

And he had two companions by his side.

Since then, Ice Blade referred to all three of them.

This trio of killers, Ice Blade, was notorious in North State.

Almost every accomplished cultivator knew of them. After all, they’re exiles from Ice and Snow Immortal Palace, with peak Celestial Immortal power—truly impressive.

With such cultivation, they could get abundant resources doing almost anything.

Among killers, they were rare.

"This should be the weakest of the three Ice Blade members. There’s still two—one at Late Stage of Celestial Immortal, one at Peak of Celestial Immortal. But the real Ice Blade hasn’t shown up for years. No one knows how strong he is now."

With lingering dread, Lin Lang said, "Even now, Ice and Snow Immortal Palace still has bounties on Ice Blade."

"So it’s probably not Ice and Snow Immortal Palace then." Xu Yang murmured.

"Huh?"

Lin Lang looked at Xu Yang suspiciously.

The real target was clearly Xu Yang.

Even if it was Ice Blade, he thought the client had guts.

Xu Yang didn’t explain. If it were Ice and Snow Immortal Palace, how could they hire Ice Blade?

Besides, all three of Ice Blade cultivate the Dao of Ice.

Even if Ice and Snow Immortal Palace and Liou Xueyan wanted him dead, only a fool would hire such obviously recognizable killers.

And besides, he and Liou Xueyan had a contract. Given the talent he’d shown, he might be beneficial to her future.

Hiring killers for his life made no sense at all.

That left just one target.

The Yang Family!

Thinking of this, Xu Yang flicked his sleeve and put away the killer’s corpse, grabbed Lin Lang, and shot toward Four Spirits Immortal Mountain.

Back inside the mountain, Xu Yang immediately activated the array, telling all guards to retreat inside.

This array—below Golden Immortal, none can breach it. It was safe enough.

After settling everything, Xu Yang returned to his room, a grave look on his face.

"No matter if it’s the Yang Family, right now they’re the only ones I suspect."

"Ice Blade made a move, and it was the weakest member. But since they dared attack, the other two could also strike at any time."

"Such nerve—I really want to see whether you dare make another move."

A cold gleam flickered in Xu Yang’s eyes, but at the moment, he didn’t seem too worried.

In fact, as long as he stayed hidden within the Immortal Mountain, his enemies could do nothing.

Let things be for now.

Thinking back to that previous battle, Xu Yang felt his own weakness.

Fortunately, the vital energy he’d stored was enough for his cultivation.

So, he entered cultivation immediately, devouring vital energy in great quantities.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

This day.

Five grave-looking figures sped toward Four Spirits Immortal Mountain.

They were the envoys from the five major forces, including the Ye Family.

They had come to collect their pills.

"So, something really did happen."

Arriving outside the mountain, they saw the array barrier, with no guards in sight, and exchanged glances.

"Who could it be? Such daring?"

"Yeah, abusing their power right here in Four Spirits Town."

"We should see Xu Yang first."

...

The group quickly advanced.

Soon.

Lin Lang opened the array to greet them; his injuries had fully healed.

"Please wait a moment, the protector will be here shortly."

Lin Lang led the five to sit at a stone table on one side of the mountain.

A moment later, Xu Yang stepped out from his room.

His cultivation had reached Middle Stage of True Immortal.

After seven days of feverish cultivation, exhausting all his stored vital energy, and using a good amount of mountain resources, he finally broke through.

"Fortunately I didn’t fail. Here are the pills for each of you."

Xu Yang produced five Storage Rings and handed them over.

The five checked and looked overjoyed.

For those five forces, the herbs they’d provided could yield fifty at the lowest, and more than a hundred at the highest.

Every single one was a Nine-Turn True Immortal Elixir.

For a major sect or clan’s new blood, this would greatly boost them in a short time.

"Mr. Xu, your strength is astonishing, and your Alchemy Dao skills are unmatched."

"No wonder you’re Dan Qi’s disciple."

The five couldn’t help but praise him.

Xu Yang smiled slightly, casually asking, "Any news in town these days?"

At these words, Ye Yize straightened his face: "Mr. Xu, we’ve come to talk about that too."

"Recently, someone has attacked the town guard squads, even harmed innocents—nearly twenty dead so far."

"What?"

Xu Yang’s face darkened, icy light flashing in his eyes.

He could guess easily—it was certainly intentional.

Probably killers.

Could be Ice Blade, could be other killers.

The Yang Family—is it really you?

"We’ve been investigating and guarding, but haven’t found anything; the culprits are sly and experienced, not leaving a single trace behind."

"And there’s more than one; at least Middle or Late Stage of Celestial Immortal Realm."

"Now the whole town is in panic."

"Also, the transaction event is about to begin—at this rate, it could cause huge problems."

"Mr. Xu, we saw the Immortal Mountain array activated when we arrived. Is there something wrong?"

Xu Yang squinted: "Lin Lang and I were attacked. The killer was a member of Ice Blade."

"What? Ice Blade? They’ve resurfaced?"

"Hiss—even for Ice Blade, their courage is outrageous."

"To dare attack Mr. Xu is openly provoking Black Fire Immortal Mountain itself."