Chapter 752 Something Happened

“The Star Soul Refining Array? I heard that this Array is a secret technique of the Star Lineage, one that can help people ascend to the True Divine Realm. The Star Emperor actually passed it on to them. It looks like he holds this group in high regard. Hmm? But watching them, they seem a bit unpracticed, as if something is missing.”

Nan the First and his men had found a place rich in Spiritual Qi, where they immediately formed an Array and began drawing the world’s Spiritual Qi into their bodies.

The resulting stir was quite significant.

It immediately caught the attention of Yang Tian and Yang Xiao.

This was especially true for Yang Tian.

He had recognized the formation they were using with a single glance.

“Something is missing. It seems they’re short one person,” Yang Xiao said calmly.

Although he had never studied the Star Soul Refining Array, his understanding of Arrays and the Star Dao allowed him to see through the current formation’s flaw more easily than Yang Tian.

“Short one person? I see.”

Yang Tian was taken aback for a moment, but then he began to laugh.

He shot a meaningful glance at Yang Xiao.

“It looks like you’re quite the Star Emperor’s favorite.”

In response, Yang Xiao just smiled faintly.

He didn’t acknowledge the comment.

His eyes remained fixed on Nan the First and the others.

The Nangong Family had sent a total of nine people this time. With one person missing, it was obviously Nangong Miexian.

In other words, Nangong Miexian was supposed to be part of the group using the Star Soul Refining Array. Only with him included would the Star Soul Refining Array have been perfectly complete.

This also meant…

…Nangong Miexian had been abandoned by the Star Emperor.

After all, while using external force for a breakthrough was a blessing for the untalented, it held no benefits whatsoever for someone with exceptional gifts.

On the contrary, it came with significant drawbacks.

Normally, a genius like Nangong Miexian—a Quasi-Demon Level talent—should not have been so rash. In fact, it was likely that not a single genius on the entire Hidden Dragon List would be willing to use such a method to ascend to the True Divine Realm.

Yet now, judging by the Star Emperor’s intentions, he had actually wanted Nangong Miexian to ascend using this method.

Clearly…

…it was because of Yang Xiao.

That was why Yang Tian had made such a remark.

Yang Xiao, however, was not surprised by this.

He just felt he now understood, to some extent, why Nangong Miexian had wanted to kill him.

Of course, even if he understood, the outcome wouldn’t change.

After all, given Nangong Miexian’s personality, he would have tried to kill him even if this had never happened.

He had seen it clearly back at the Star God Academy.

The killing intent had already taken root in Miexian’s heart back then.

So now, he naturally wasn’t going to get worked up over such a small thing.

Yang Tian didn’t seem to mind much either.

His gaze, too, was fixed on Nan the First and the others.

Soon, the two of them watched as the auras of Nan the First and his men surged.

All eight of them ascended one after another, becoming True God Level beings.

After their ascension, they did not stop. Instead, they took out and consumed a vast amount of resources and Pills suitable for their cultivation.

Soon, the auras of Nan the First and the others began to skyrocket.

In less than ten minutes, some had already broken through to the Tier Two True God level.

An hour later, all eight of them had broken through to the Tier Three True God level.

However, some had stronger cultivation than others. For example, Nan the First and the most talented of the group, Nan the Seventh, had reached the Peak of Tier Three True God.

As for the other six, the weakest was at the Early Stage Tier Three True God, with the rest somewhere in the Middle to Late Stages.

“Incredible. In just a single hour, these eight Demigod Peak cultivators have been raised to the Tier Three True God level. That’s a jump of three whole tiers at once. I wonder what level their combat power has reached?”

The interest in Yang Tian’s eyes grew more and more intense.

He knew, of course.

These resources and Pills had all been prepared by the Star Emperor.

The purpose was to cultivate a group of powerful experts to assist Yang Xiao.

For those who participated in this plan, future breakthroughs would now be an impossibility.

And in truth, for them to be able to use resources to advance to this level in such a short time, their innate talent couldn’t have been low to begin with.

If Nangong Miexian had been added to the mix…

…what a grand plan it would have been.

Tsk, tsk.

Truly a grand one.

But now, Nangong Miexian was dead.

And so, the plan seemed rather run-of-the-mill.

Yang Tian knew. At least half of the top fifty prodigies on the Hidden Dragon List would likely have their families use similar methods to enhance their combat strength.

If Nangong Miexian were still alive… then with these people at his back, Yang Xiao could have become the most powerful contender in a single stroke.

But now, he was dead.

Yang Xiao could only be considered to be on the same starting line as those other geniuses.

At best,

he was only slightly ahead.

“Nan the First, what level of combat power can you all exert now?” Yang Xiao spoke up.

‘Previously, when Nan the First and the others formed the Array, they could display the power of a Third or Fourth Tier True God. Now, their combat power has increased by about three tiers, but I don’t know just how powerful they truly are when combined. If they can reach the level of a Tier Seven Divine Marquis, then they might be of some use to me. But if they can’t, then they would be practically useless to me. After all, I already possess the strength of a Tier Six True God, which is Divine Sect Level. And with my abilities, one more or one less fighter at that level wouldn’t make much of a difference. If anything, having so many people around would just hinder me. Like I’m saddled with a group of liabilities.’

“Reporting to the Young Master, because we are missing Young Master Nangong Miexian, our true combined strength can only reach the Divine Sect Peak. But please rest assured, Young Master. We swear to protect you with our lives and will absolutely not let anyone harm you.”

Nan the First looked ashamed.

They had been chosen for this, just as Yang Tian had surmised.

Their entire purpose was to serve as Yang Xiao’s escort and protector.

For this purpose…

…even Nangong Miexian had been abandoned by the Star Emperor.

Of course, had they succeeded, both they and Nangong Miexian would have been handsomely rewarded by the Star Emperor upon their return.

He would have ensured that their talents were not wasted in vain.

But…

…now Nangong Miexian was dead.

Their combat power clearly fell short of the original expectations.

One must understand…

…that the Star Emperor had originally anticipated their combined strength to reach the Divine Venerable Peak.

But without Nangong Miexian…

…that was clearly no longer achievable.

As a servant, Nan the First, even though Yang Xiao himself was the one who had killed Nangong Miexian, still wore a look of self-reproach.

Upon hearing this…

…Yang Xiao was also somewhat disappointed.

But then his gaze fell upon Yang Tian and the others…

…and an idea came to him.

‘Although Nan the First and his men are of little use to me, they would be a huge help to Yun’Er and the others. Moreover, I came here this time to seize the Small World Origin. It’s an absolutely perilous mission. Neither Yun’Er, Bing Xin, Yang Ziling, nor even Yang Tian can be of much help to me. I can’t possibly bring them with me. Before, I was worried they would be in danger if left here alone. But now… I’ll have Nan the First and his men protect Yun’Er and the others. Their talents aren’t bad, especially Yun’Er, Huang Tianling, and the Ye Family Sisters—they all possess Dao Bodies. With Nan the First and his group protecting them, they should be able to find plenty of opportunities this time. Their strength will surely see a significant boost.’

As soon as the thought occurred to him, Yang Xiao decided to summon Yun’Er and the others to explain the situation.

But just as his Divine Thought swept out…

…a piercing scream…

…rang out.

Yang Xiao’s expression…

…changed in an instant.