Chapter 722: Xuyang Immortal Monarch

The Ten Thousand Mile Desert.

Not far from Red Flame Mountain.

Several figures materialized.

One of them possessed a tremendously powerful aura. If Yang Xiao had been here, he would have instantly recognized it—this aura had definitely reached the level of a Divine King.

No.

It was the level of an Immortal Monarch.

Though it was only the lowest level of an Immortal Monarch.

Equivalent to only a Tier One Divine King.

But even so,

he was definitely an Overlord Level figure in his own right.

“So Long Yi and the others died here?”

The man’s gaze swept the area. Then, standing over the very spot where Yang Xiao had killed Qin Tianlong, he spoke faintly.

“Lord Xuyang Immortal Monarch, their auras did indeed vanish here. At the time, it seems a pawn under Long Yi’s watch summoned them. According to our investigation, that pawn was named Qin Tianlong, the illegitimate son of a man called Qin Celestial Divine King, who serves under the Star Emperor of the Martial Dao.”

“Qin Celestial Divine King? I see. That fellow is only a Peak Divine King, but I’ve heard he’s on the verge of a breakthrough. And for the past few centuries, he’s been trying to get closer to the Star Emperor, killing many of our Immortal Realm’s Immortal Venerables. He even slew an Immortal Monarch. If it was because of him, then sending Long Yi and the others would have been reasonable. But who killed them? Have you found out?”

Xuyang Immortal Monarch’s expression suddenly turned cold and sharp.

The person who had answered him immediately bowed his head.

This displeased Xuyang Immortal Monarch greatly.

In the Immortal Realm, ordinary Immortal Venerables like Long Yi were a dime a dozen.

However, he, Xuyang Immortal Monarch, didn’t have many under his command.

As one of the most ordinary Immortal Monarchs, he had only about a hundred Immortal Venerables in total.

Now he was one short.

Naturally, it pained him.

Not to mention, the last mission had been a failure, and his superiors were already voicing their displeasure. If he couldn’t handle things properly this time, then even though he was an Immortal Monarch, he would likely face severe punishment.

Therefore, this mission had to succeed.

“Forget it. Have someone else investigate the matter of Long Yi and his men. But there can be no more mistakes regarding the task assigned by Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch, understand?”

Xuyang Immortal Monarch waved his hand dismissively.

The man beside him finally let out a sigh of relief.

Although this man’s own aura wasn’t weak, having nearly reached the level of an Immortal Venerable Peak, he knew very well that if he were to cross Xuyang Immortal Monarch, he would likely be dead within a few moves. After all, a single tier difference represented a tenfold gap in power.

To a genius, perhaps it was nothing.

But for an ordinary Cultivator, it was an insurmountable obstacle.

Especially the further one progressed.

This became truer and truer.

As one’s level continuously rose, fighting above one’s tier became increasingly difficult.

Because anyone who could cultivate to this level had their own unique opportunities and extraordinary qualities.

Even many geniuses who could fight three or four tiers above their level before reaching the True God stage could end up as mediocre talents only able to contend with those of the same tier.

As for existences at or above the True God level, while the chances of a genius falling from grace were much smaller than before, it wasn’t impossible.

In fact,

almost every day, a genius became a mediocrity.

On the path of cultivation, a single misstep…

…could lead to the collapse of one’s foundation.

And to maintain an advantage and continuously press forward…

how difficult was that?

Even Yang Xiao, who had lived three lives, probably couldn’t guarantee that he, who could currently fight across nine tiers, would still possess such potential and talent after ascending to the Divine King Realm.

This was even more true for the people before him.

And so,

a difference of a single tier…

…was often the difference between heaven and earth in their minds.

Naturally, the man didn’t dare to disobey.

After acknowledging the order, he began to dispatch his men. The vast majority headed toward the target of this mission: Star God Academy.

Only a small group remained behind to investigate the deaths of Long Yi and the others around Red Flame Mountain.

As for Xuyang Immortal Monarch,

he remained to oversee things from the Ten Thousand Mile Desert.

This mission…

Although it was very important,

the target was not particularly strong.

He saw no need to go personally.

His subordinates would handle it.

‘It is strange, though. Considering Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch’s status, why would a mere Tier One True God—a woman, no less—interest him? She’s part of the Nangong Family, but only from a side branch. Why would he go so far as to issue a mission for me to come and capture her?’

Xuyang Immortal Monarch was quite puzzled.

But he didn’t dwell on it.

Just like his Immortal Venerable Peak subordinate who had just obeyed his command, he held Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch—who had ranked among the Immortal Realm’s Ten Great Immortal Monarchs the moment he broke through to the Immortal Monarch Realm—in great awe.

His reverence was even deeper than the reverence his subordinate showed him.

Like the Divine King Realm,

the Immortal Monarch Realm also held infinite possibilities for power.

To say nothing of the First Immortal Monarch of the Immortal World, Profound Mother Immortal Monarch, who had once slain a top-tier Emperor.

Just look at the Ten Great Immortal Monarchs.

Even the lowest-ranking among them, Yuan Yang Immortal Monarch,

was absolutely not a being to be trifled with.

In fact,

any one of the Immortal Realm’s Ten Great Immortal Monarchs could contend with a top-tier Emperor.

The top three among them…

…were comparable to the very best of the Great Emperors.

It was just that, for some unknown reason,

the Immortal Realm had yet to produce an Immortal Emperor who could match a Great Emperor in terms of cultivation realm.

‘But perhaps it’s precisely because of this that those Martial Arts Influences don’t take our Immortal Realm seriously. They let us develop without interfering. Maybe this is all part of Lord Immortal Master’s plan. Otherwise, how could there not be a single Immortal Emperor in our entire Immortal Realm?’

Xuyang Immortal Monarch thought to himself.

And just as his thoughts were drifting,

spawning wild ideas about this strange mission…

…in the distance, a squad led by a fairly strong Immortal Venerable expert, which was on its way to Star God Academy, encountered a suspicious person on the road ahead.

This person was dressed in green robes and looked to be not even twenty years old.

But his aura was by no means weak.

Moreover,

more importantly,

when he saw their squad of eight—a squad of True Immortals composed of one Immortal Venerable and seven Immortal Marquises, an incredibly formidable lineup that could definitely be considered a luxury configuration on the Star God Continent—the expression he revealed was not fear, not dread, and not avoidance.

Instead, he showed a trace of anticipation.

And along with it, a growing excitement.

It was as if he had laid eyes on something that thrilled him to the core.

That burning gaze…

…was simply startling.

It immediately made Serpent the Sixth, the Immortal Marquis Level expert sent ahead to scout the path for this squad of True Immortals, feel a sense of bewilderment.

‘This guy… he sees us coming and he’s not afraid? He even looks excited. Is he a madman or something?’