Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

Leaving the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace, the Fourth Elder immediately summoned the Black Cloud, carrying everyone away at lightning speed.

All the way, the Fourth Elder stood atop the cloud, his expression wary and vigilant, afraid that something unexpected might happen.

The Black Cloud’s speed was several times faster than when they’d arrived.

Everyone on the cloud was tense and solemn, barely speaking a word.

Xu Yang, on the other hand, was slowly stabilizing his cultivation and absorbing the Immortal Dragon Marrow.

The power of the Immortal Dragon Marrow was far too immense; he estimated it would probably take about half a month to fully absorb and digest it all.

Seeing Xu Yang closed-eyed in cultivation, Ji Hong and the others wanted to ask questions but held back.

Not until the Black Cloud entered the territory of Black Fire Immortal Mountain did everyone finally exhale in relief.

"We’re finally back."

The Fourth Elder turned around, smile spreading across his face.

Though there was still some distance to the mountain gate, within Black Fire Immortal Mountain’s domain, even if attacked, Immortal Sect experts could arrive in an instant, and with his strength, he could stall them.

"Xu Yang, just what grade of immortal foundation have you forged?"

Yang Yuan couldn’t suppress his curiosity any longer and asked directly.

At these words, everyone turned their eyes to Xu Yang, their faces filled with hope, longing to hear the number they’d guessed in their hearts.

Of course, Yang Yuan was an exception!

Xu Yang slowly opened his eyes and grinned at Yang Yuan: "Didn’t I already say? Just a simple first-grade immortal foundation!"

Ji Hong’s mouth instantly twitched.

Yang Yuan’s face darkened, forcibly suppressing his anger: "Xu Yang, if you want to keep it to yourself, you can just not answer."

"Mr. Yang, dare you fight me?"

Xu Yang smiled calmly and rose slowly to his feet.

"What?"

Yang Yuan was taken aback.

"You want to spar with me?"

"That’s right."

Xu Yang nodded slightly.

A gleam flashed in Yang Yuan’s eyes, and he suddenly burst out laughing: "Why would I not dare?"

It must be known that he’d already broken through to the Middle Stage of Celestial Immortal.

Zhou Tai was filled with bewilderment: "Mr. Ji, could it be that Xu Yang really succeeded?"

"Hard to say."

Ji Hong couldn’t be sure either.

Even with Immortal Dragon Marrow, which was remarkably rare and precious, a ninth-grade immortal foundation was simply too shocking—almost legendary.

Even someone as strong as Liou Xueyan was only seventh-grade!

No matter how Xu Yang dared to challenge Yang Yuan, Ji Hong simply couldn’t believe he was truly ninth-grade.

Besides, if he really was ninth-grade, why hide it?

There didn’t seem to be any need.

The Fourth Elder glanced at the two, flicked his sleeve, and conjured an isolated area.

He wanted to see Xu Yang’s true strength too.

At minimum, it had to be eighth-grade!

Xu Yang walked into the sealed-off area, smiling at Yang Yuan: "Mr. Yang, please."

This kind of posture made Yang Yuan’s expression turn grim, his smile forced: "Junior brother, you go first!"

"Well then, Mr. Yang, get ready."

As soon as the words fell, Xu Yang attacked without hesitation.

He summoned his pitch-black Immortal Saber, merging man and blade, streaking atop the Black Cloud like a black bolt of lightning—dominating and fierce—a single slash aimed straight at Yang Yuan!

The instant he struck, everyone was shocked!

"So strong!"

"Middle Stage Celestial Immortal, this kind of power, stronger than most at the same stage!"

"Unbelievable."

"Even with a ninth-grade immortal foundation, a newly advanced True Immortal shouldn’t be this terrifying!"

"Have you ever seen a ninth-grade immortal foundation?"

"No, I haven’t."

...

Clang!

Yang Yuan, at the forefront, instantly countered with a thunderous punch, his body shaking as he retreated several steps.

His eyes were filled with shock—utter disbelief!

The force Xu Yang unleashed made his heart race with dread.

He wants to beat me?

Yang Yuan instantly understood Xu Yang’s intent, a cold, fierce glint in his eyes—dream on!

Bang!

Yang Yuan held nothing back, unleashing his full power.

His aura soared, shaking the clouds above.

Clang!

Yang Yuan leapt up wielding his sword.

Xu Yang whirled, countering with his blade, the saber clashing with the Immortal Sword in a deafening explosion, immortal light scattering everywhere, waves surging violently and scourging the area—utterly shocking.

In just a few blinks, they’d traded hundreds of blows.

The onlookers’ eyes could barely keep up.

But the most terrifying part was, Xu Yang had not fallen behind for even a moment.

Everyone was left speechless, minds blank.

If they hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, they would never believe it.

Even seeing it themselves, it felt like an illusion.

"Mr. Yang, careful!"

Xu Yang grinned, shouting out, his black saber humming furiously.

"Windfall Immortal Wilds!"

Whoosh whoosh!

Waves of wind and crashing tides, wild like a storm, giant billows descending from the sky, overwhelming, vast, and deadly—filling the entire confines of the arena with murderous intent and pressure.

Yang Yuan’s face changed dramatically.

"I can’t lose!"

He swept his sword in all directions, its radiance chilling the air around them.

Crack!

Where the saber struck, it cut through like thunder, smashing through the sword’s light with frightening speed.

Yang Yuan’s face went pale, eyes wide in horror, heart hammering in his chest.

"Damn it!"

"What grade is this bastard’s immortal foundation anyway?"

"I’ll have to use that treasure!"

Yang Yuan bit his lip until it bled—he would never accept defeat; his primordial spirit erupted, a streak of gold bursting from his body.

Pop!

The sky trembled and warped, layers folding, impossible to imagine what kind of force could cause it.

Xu Yang glimpsed a flash of gold out of the corner of his eye—so fast that even he could hardly follow it.

At the same instant, his mind was jolted, a sense of danger flooding his body, chilling him to the bone!

"He’s finally unleashed the sect’s gifted treasure."

Xu Yang didn’t dare underestimate it, exploding backward, his saber whipping up a dense storm of blade-light to shield himself.

Boom!

The blade-light was shattered instantly as if struck by lightning.

Xu Yang felt a stabbing pain ripple through his primordial spirit and immediately realized that Yang Yuan’s treasure attacked the primordial spirit directly.

Just then, a streak of gold flared explosively in his vision.

In a split second Xu Yang didn’t hesitate—his primordial spirit bursting madly, setting up layer after layer of defenses.

Bang!

Fire spread, gold surged in torrents, boiling and swirling, flooding the entire arena so nobody could see clearly.

A muffled grunt sounded suddenly.

Zhou Tai’s heart skipped a beat: "Was it Xu Yang—did he lose?"

Hua!

The gold and fire receded.

Xu Yang’s trembling figure was revealed, a trail of blood at the corner of his mouth, face pale.

Yang Yuan didn’t look great either, but showed far less damage.

Xu Yang’s primordial spirit twisted and shuddered, barely regaining composure, but the agony of tearing and fiery pain still lingered fiercely.

He licked the blood from his lips, smiling at Yang Yuan: "Mr. Yang, you sure are strong—no wonder you made it onto the Immortal Pride List. I lost."

To Yang Yuan’s ears, this sounded filled with endless sarcasm.

Only he knew, in this brief spar, the real loser should have been himself.

He’d relied on the long-prepared Fire Shadow Divine Saber to injure Xu Yang.

But Xu Yang, just newly advanced to True Immortal, was almost equal in strength.

Absolutely terrifying!

Immortal Pride List?

Yang Yuan’s face was like iron.

Liou Xueyan—like a huge mountain—had left him with no courage to even challenge her.

Now Xu Yang had already caught up!

Damn it!

Yang Yuan’s mind was in turmoil.

All around was dead silent; everyone present was utterly shaken.

Xu Yang conceded defeat.

Yet even an idiot could see Yang Yuan was in bad shape too; that last move had to have been his trump card to injure Xu Yang.

Key point was, their cultivation difference was stratospheric!

What did that mean?

An inconceivable, heaven-defying battle power.

"He’s still not on the Immortal Pride List?" Zhou Tai blurted out instinctively.

Everyone looked around at each other—right, with such power, how could he not be listed?

Is this some kind of joke?

"Maybe he’s waiting for destiny?"

"Xu Yang is far beyond the standard for the Immortal Pride List. In time, will he ascend to the Celestial Destiny List? Damn!"

"It’s possible."

"The Celestial Destiny List—can’t even imagine that level!"

...

Destiny?

Yang Yuan’s whole body trembled, staring dazedly at Xu Yang, his scalp prickling with numbness.

Immortal Pride and Destiny—worlds apart!

With such strength, but skipping the Immortal Pride List, what awaits Xu Yang must be Destiny!

As he watched everyone wildly speculate in stunned excitement, Xu Yang’s expression was odd.

Twelfth-grade immortal foundation—sure enough, I’m overqualified for the Immortal Pride List!

But Destiny—I’ve already turned it down twice.

It shouldn’t show up again, right?