Chapter 423: Wind Sleeve's Essence

Xu Yang spoke, his gaze fixed on Feng Xiu with an icy intensity that left no doubt he was serious.

When Xu Yang had first clashed with Feng Xiu in the Burial Mound, he hadn't realized the extent of Feng Xiu's ambition. Feng Xiu's cunning and ruthlessness even surpassed Tuoba Yun's. Now, Xu Yang viewed Feng Xiu as an opponent on par with himself.

As the saying goes, "raising a tiger invites disaster." Feng Xiu, once a mere 'pet', had grown into a tiger capable of threatening its master. It was time to consider the necessity of his continued existence. Originally, Xu Yang had kept him around simply to add to his interest in conquering the continent. There was no doubt that Feng Xiu, having mastered the Heaven-Defying Demonic Art, had reached the pinnacle of his own power. Allowing him to continue unchecked would be counterproductive. After all, Xu Yang didn't want any of the 3000 Dao Continents' legacies connected to him to suffer irreparable harm because of this individual.

As expected, Feng Xiu did not choose to evade this time. He ascended into the air, hovering alongside Xu Yang, their gazes meeting calmly.

"It's hard to imagine," Feng Xiu began, "but every time I stand before you, I feel an urge to delve into your mind. I truly want to see what kind of soul resides within you. No matter how hard I try, I always seem to be outmatched by you."

Xu Yang gave a cold smile. "Often, a person's strength isn't solely defined by ruthless tactics. If you treated everyone you met with a sincere heart, perhaps your achievements today would be far greater."

Feng Xiu's expression instantly turned several shades colder. "Enough. I don't like listening to lectures. If you want to fight, then let's begin."

Xu Yang's expression became serious. The next moment, the familiar Yin-Yang Dao Diagram once again materialized above his head! A formidable aura enveloped him, making him appear as sacred as a deity descending from the Nine Heavens. Simultaneously, the hundreds of thousands of demon realm citizens below instinctively cried out as they felt Xu Yang's powerful aura spread. They cheered in unison for the name of their savior: "Xu Yang! Xu Yang!"

The thunderous cheers, like a tsunami, instantly boosted the morale and fighting spirit of the demon realm inhabitants to their peak. At the same time, Xu Yang preemptively unleashed his suppressive technique. The formidable Yin-Yang Dao Diagram completely locked onto Feng Xiu's aura, leaving him no room to evade. He had to directly confront the incredibly powerful law that Xu Yang had unleashed. It was crucial to note that this Yin-Yang Dao Diagram was Xu Yang's first self-created law, personally developed by him. It contained unique insights into the Dao that Xu Yang had pioneered, which others could not replicate.

The closer the Dao Diagram got to Feng Xiu, the more pronounced its suppressive effect became. At this moment, Feng Xiu suddenly realized that his ability to move freely in the void had been completely stripped away.

"Damn it, what kind of technique is this? What terrifying suppression!"

Xu Yang simply smiled faintly, shaking a finger at Feng Xiu. "Only after you're injured will you truly experience the power of this enhanced version of my law."

*Rumble!*

The next moment, Feng Xiu did not wait passively. He extended a hand, and behind him, an intensely pure, ice-blue giant sword materialized. This sword, amplified by condensed sword energy, expanded to over ten meters in height, then cleaved through the air towards the surface of the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram, which was pressing forward, suppressing the entire void! A terrifying sonic boom vibrated and roared, spreading to every surrounding area. However, the closer this sound wave got, the more pronounced the suppressive effect became.

"What? It's completely unharmed!"

Feng Xiu was instinctively shocked. He had never imagined that right from the start of the battle, he would be thoroughly suppressed by Xu Yang in terms of Dao cultivation.

"If you can't even shatter my Dao Diagram, Feng Xiu, then you are simply unworthy of being my opponent. You've already lost the right to stand before me."

Xu Yang's words sounded like mockery, but in reality, they were merely the most direct expression of his inner feelings. This was truly one of Xu Yang's more nascent techniques among his many creations. Few would unleash their strongest ultimate technique at the very beginning of a fight between opponents of similar caliber. The Yin-Yang Dao Diagram was by no means Xu Yang's ultimate trump card; it merely held special significance for him. Yet, at this moment, it was indeed bringing devastating disaster upon Feng Xiu.

"My heavens, what kind of power is this? It's terrifying! To casually conjure a totem that can cause the laws of the void to tremble in resonance... has he grown to such an extent?" Alisha also witnessed this scene in the void and was utterly shaken by Xu Yang's formidable technique. She truly hadn't expected Xu Yang to have become so impossibly powerful.

Feng Xiu was not to be underestimated; the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram alone could not completely suppress him. However, this diagram did force Feng Xiu to reveal his true hidden skill.

"Heaven-Defying Demonic Art, First Stage: Void Assimilation!"

Feng Xiu roared in mid-air. The next moment, he completely merged with the section of void he occupied, using this method to conceal his presence within the void. This successfully shielded him from the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram's further lock-on.

"Heh, I didn't expect you to use the power of the void to evade. It seems I underestimated you somewhat after all."

"Enough talk. Today, I will tear you to shreds."

Emotionally, Feng Xiu was clearly far more agitated than Xu Yang. As key figures directly influencing the battle today, being severely suppressed right from the start put Feng Xiu in a very foul mood. Xu Yang, meanwhile, seemed to have gained some control and understanding of the Heaven-Defying Demonic Art. From the looks of it, the Heaven-Defying Demonic Art had a total of seven stages. Each breakthrough seemed to unlock a corresponding new and enhanced ability!

The reason Feng Xiu was able to merge his body with the void just now was not by directly connecting with the origin of void energy, as Xu Yang and Dao Monarch Xiaoyao could. Feng Xiu's method was actually based on his physical body, forcibly absorbing and integrating void molecules to temporarily obscure his own aura.

As the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram disappeared from the air, Feng Xiu's outline quickly solidified once more, and a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of his lips.

"How do you feel now, Lord Xu Yang?"

"I feel nothing. I just think you're far weaker than I imagined."

Feng Xiu had originally intended to use this opportunity to show off and assert his presence.