Yang Jian's Submission, Eight-Nine Arcane Arts

"Do you have karma with the Heavenly Court?"

Yang Jian's refusal was not unexpected by Di Xin; on the contrary, it was precisely the opening Di Xin was preparing to break through Yang Jian's inner defenses.

Yang Jian was a smart man, both intelligent and courageous. Having experienced great upheaval in his youth made him more sensitive. If Di Xin had immediately offered to save his mother, Yang Jian would have guessed Di Xin had come specifically for him, not that he had "accidentally" encountered him due to the giant waves of the East Sea.

"That's right, Yang Jian has an irreconcilable hatred for the Jade Emperor. If I were to join your ranks now, Great King, I'm afraid I would implicate you. The East Coast has suffered for a hundred miles because of me, and Yang Jian already feels guilty. I cannot do something that would make things even worse," Yang Jian said righteously.

"In that case, Yang Jian, you should join my Yin Shang even more."

Di Xin laughed heartily, took out a table and chairs from his Human Seed Bag, along with several jars of fine wine, and invited Yang Jian to sit down.

"Yang Jian, do you consider yourself part of the Human Race?"

"Yang Jian is naturally part of the Human Race."

Yang Jian's expression tensed. Under the concealment of his Heavenly Eye, his true nature had been seen through. How could this Human King possess such divine abilities?

"Great King, although Yang Jian is part of the Human Race, joining Yin Shang will only bring disaster to Yin Shang. Moreover, Yang Jian has a deep-seated blood feud and cannot serve you, Great King. I can only disappoint your good intentions."

"Yang Jian, if this is all you can see, then I am truly disappointed."

Di Xin took a sip of wine, looking at Yang Jian with a hint of amusement.

Yang Jian also possessed a Heavenly Eye. He couldn't carelessly use the Kongtong Seal's ability to amplify his emotions, so he could only proceed step by step.

"What do you mean, Great King?"

Yang Jian repeatedly pondered his words, unable to find any flaws in his reasoning.

"Do you know the power of the Heavenly Court?"

Di Xin spoke lightly, but his words were no less than an inner storm for Yang Jian.

"Even a Saint cannot overthrow the Heavenly Court, let alone you? I don't know who your Master is, but you should be a third-generation disciple of a Saint's sect. Even your Master would have to bow his head and call Haotian 'Uncle-Master.' So, with only a few decades of hard cultivation, you intend to risk your life for revenge? Yang Jian, should I praise your courage, or call you an idiot!"

"This... this, why has my Master never told me this?"

All his illusions were ruthlessly shattered by Di Xin. Yang Jian's entire heart trembled. If what he said was true, then what was the point of all his preparations? Was he just a laughingstock?

"I've only said this much, and your mind is already in chaos, Yang Jian. You disappoint me more and more. In this state, you have no value that I can appreciate."

"Woof! Woof woof!"

Yang Jian trembled all over. The Howling Celestial Dog barked furiously at Di Xin. As it prepared to rush forward and bite this bastard who was hurting its master, Yang Jian held it back firmly.

"Master?"

"Don't attack."

Yang Jian suddenly raised his head, a cold glint in his eyes. He looked at Di Xin, who was casually swirling his wine cup, and spoke slowly, as if each word carried immense weight:

"Thank you for your guidance, Great King! However, what else do you have to tell Yang Jian?"

"My true form is only at the strength of a Golden Immortal, but with the blessing of the Cheng Tang dynasty and the luck of the Human Race, I can fight a Da Luo. Yang Jian, tell me, can an Emperor above Da Luo, possessing thirty-three heavens and the luck of the entire Heavenly Court, contend with those supreme beings?"

Di Xin's eyes were filled with fervor, as if the current Haotian was his future self. And like Haotian, he was not content with being below a Saint. Since he had transmigrated without being discovered by a Saint, it meant that a power above the Saint existed. Why couldn't he use that power to bring down the Saints?

"Is this his true strength?"

Yang Jian's Dao heart, which had just begun to mend, shattered once more. He lowered his head, looking at his hands covered in calluses, and recalled his past path of cultivation, mixed with blood and sweat... If he couldn't save his mother, what was the point of everything he had done?

With his Dao heart shattered, Yang Jian fell into deep self-doubt. The spiritual power he had painstakingly cultivated was dissipating bit by bit. If he couldn't regain his senses, he would simply sit here and perish. This was the cruelty of cultivation...

"Master, what's wrong, Master?"

The Howling Celestial Dog was extremely anxious. It pawed frantically around Yang Jian, trying to catch the dissipating spiritual power, but in the end, it was all in vain.

"Woof woof! What did you do to my Master! Villain, you're a villain too! I'll beat you to death!"

Tears welled up in the Howling Celestial Dog's eyes as it ferociously charged at Di Xin, biting down.

"What a fierce dog, let me help you."

Di Xin laughed heartily, flicked his sleeve, and pinned the charging Howling Celestial Dog beneath him. Spiritual power surged through his hands, covering them entirely as he pried open the dog's gaping maw: "Eat quickly, eat quickly, it's a waste if it dissipates."

"Woof woof woof, whimper..."

The Howling Celestial Dog struggled with all its might, but the gap in strength was too great. Di Xin took complete control of its body, even activating its innate divine ability and aiming it at Yang Jian. With a whimper, the dissipating spiritual power from Yang Jian was captured by the Howling Celestial Dog's innate divine ability, swallowed into its belly, and transformed into sustenance for its own cultivation. This was: Heavenly Dog Swallows Moon.

Yang Jian's flesh was withering bit by bit, the flow of his magic power draining his essence and lifespan, turning his hair gray strand by strand.

If this continued, it would truly damage his origin.

Di Xin frowned, contemplating how he would train Yang Jian in the future, but for now:

"Yang Jian, are you willing to accept this? Do you still have no one to protect? Are you truly falling so low?"

Di Xin's voice thundered, startling Yang Jian's state of mind, like raging thunder rolling and exploding across the heavens and earth.

"Willing? Haotian killed my father and brother, and oppressed my mother, how could I be willing?

Protect? I still have my third sister, and the Howling Celestial Dog. I still have people to protect!

Falling? How could I, Yang Jian, fall?

How dare I, Yang Jian, fall!"

Yang Jian's voice grew louder and louder until his eyes turned bloodshot, and he roared with all his might!

As he roared, the Heavenly Eye between his brows instantly opened. Pure spiritual energy from all directions surged towards him, pouring into his body ceaselessly. It circulated through his meridians and finally transformed into magic power, condensing in his dantian.

He who survives a great calamity will surely receive great fortune. After this breakthrough, the Heavenly Eye between Yang Jian's brows fully unleashed its power, mobilizing the divine blood within him and erupting his full potential!

As his form shifted, the third and fourth stages of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts were broken in the blink of an eye, halting at the fifth stage.

"Yang Jian, I hereby appoint you Guardian General of the Human Race. Are you willing?"

Di Xin activated the Kongtong Seal, and a surge of majestic human destiny instantly swirled above Yang Jian's head. All he had to do was nod, and it would help him advance further.

Yang Jian stood in mid-air, his gaze shifting from hesitation to resolve. He knelt on one knee and said word by word:

"Your subject, Guardian General of the Human Race Yang Jian, thanks the Great King for his bestowal!"

--Boom!

The human destiny entered his body, and the fifth stage of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts was broken!