“Stone… Stone Giant?”
After a long while, Hua Qing Si finally managed to utter those few words with great difficulty.
This sight was too incredulous. It was a giant silhouette with a height rivalling a dozen storey building, yet he was endowed with a good figure of clearly defined muscles, and his simple-looking head had a pair of bright and intelligent-looking eyes, unbefitting his rough look.
His every move and action seemed able to shake the whole world!
He seemed like one of the Giant Mountain Domain foretold in ancient legends, and his presence alone had shaken up Hua Qing Si.
“A Stone Giant? Hehe, you can call me so,” The Embodiment let out a chuckle, a deafening chuckle despite trying his best to lower his voice.
“Are you alive? Are you self-conscious?” Hua Qing Si asked in surprise. She was no ordinary woman and was from the Divine Star palace. She had come in touch with many secrets unbeknown to people, thus she quickly got over her shock and came back to her senses. But despite this, she couldn’t associate this being with any creature in existence after racking her brains for so long.
“Did you assume I was dead?” the Embodiment looked in mockery at Hua Qing Si.
Hua Qing Si’s pretty face got flushed and she laughed out of delight. She asked back, “Then this means I’m alive, too… By the way, you said that he has brought me here. Where are we?”
The Embodiment quietened for a while, then squinted his eyes and asked, “Are you sure you want to know?”
Hua Qing Si furrowed her brows and unease welled up in her heart, as if she was already aware she wouldn’t end up anywhere good for her, but she still couldn’t curb her curiosity and she revealed a longing look.
“Fine, there is no harm in telling you. In any case, since he has already brought you here rather than killing you, you won’t ever get to leave again.”
Upon hearing him, Hua Qing Si’s pretty face darkened and she realized that her worries turned out to be true.
“This is a Small Sealed World, the Emperor Artifact Sealed World Bead’s Sealed World.”
“An Emperor Artifact? The Sealed World Bead?” Hua Qing Si cried out in alarm and she said in surprise, “Are you implying that it has formed a world, and it’s a treasure equal to our Star Soul Palace’s Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda?
“More or less,” the Embodiment nodded. Seeming tired from speaking so much, it sat down on the ground cross-legged, and said while looking at Hua Qing Si, “But, comparatively speaking, each of them has its pros and cons. The Star Soul Palace’s disciples can enter the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda for practice, and it also has many marvellous functions, while the Sealed World Bead is quite different. First, it was refined from an almighty being’s body and it’s pretty small, which makes it easy to carry around. Is that understandable?”
Hua Qing Si nodded numbly. As a member of the Star Soul Palace, she had obviously discerned and understood the Embodiment’s unspoken implication.
The Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda was the Star Soul Palace’s best treasure, and it was its foundation, mainly because numerous disciples could train in it, make advancements, study World Principles, and absorb remnant World Principles’ power.
This was the best Emperor Artifact in the whole Star Boundary!
As for the Sealed World Bead, it was obviously equal to the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda, and even though people couldn’t train and get various benefits in it, it was still more practical than the latter.
This was a priceless treasure, yet it was in the hand of a First-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator.
It wouldn’t be easy even for an Emperor Realm Master to get an Emperor Artifact, and even such experts couldn’t easily craft an Emperor Artifact. Every Emperor Artifact’s birth was preceded by innumerable years gathering of resources, as well as many experts’ blood and sweat.
An Emperor Artifact was a lot more precious than a Dao Source Grade artifact, yet this said treasure was in the hand of a First-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator, and it wasn’t even an ordinary Emperor Artifact, but rather one equal to the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda.
If news spread out, then the whole Star Boundary’s experts would go into an uproar and hunt down Yang Kai to snatch his treasure.
“Can you just forget I heard this secret…” The corners of Hua Qing Si’s mouth twitched.
She had already been placed by Yang Kai into the Sealed World Bead, and after learning such a secret, it was impossible for anyone to let her leave. In other words, she would be imprisoned by Yang Kai for a lifetime!
She had been still rejoicing over her survival, yet she got upset by this news.
“Hehehe…” The Embodiment laughed heartily, “Your fate was doomed from the moment you got sent here.”
Having said this much, the Embodiment’s voice turned gloomy. He said, “He hasn’t killed you only because you saved his life once, but his current state is far from good and he can’t control his murderous impulses, this is why he was forced to opt for this solution.”
“Is that true?”
“Actually, you still have a chance to leave this land.”
“What’s it?” Hua Qing Si rejoiced and questioned him right away.
“Die… Or vow loyalty to my main body and offer him your Soul Imprint.”
Hua Qing Si’s pretty face fell and she shouted, “That is out of the question!”
“Nothing in the world is out of the question. Young girl, you don’t have to be so dead-set against it! Do you really want to spend the rest of your life here?” The Embodiment questioned her.
Hua Qing Si got lost in her thoughts and her inner struggle was apparent on her face, but she suddenly got over it and said, “That little bastard can’t even protect himself now, let’s leave this until he overcomes his crisis.”
The Embodiment nodded and said, “You’re right, you should discuss it with him, I have only offered a suggestion.”
Hua Qing Si’s expression suddenly changed and she said, “By the way, why are you here?” As she spoke, she suddenly thought of something and said excitedly, “Were you thrown here by him, too? Did he force you to offer him your Soul Imprint?”
Hua Qing Si seemed excited, as if she had suddenly found a fellow sufferer.
The Embodiment wore a strange look on his face and mumbled, “I have already been imprisoned by him for more than a million years…”
“He’s really scum,” Hua Qing Si said through gnashed teeth, but she suddenly noticed a weird detail and looked at the Embodiment suspiciously. She said, “How old is he? How come it’s a million years?”
The Embodiment scratched his face with his large and thick finger and said, “Don’t pay heed to those insignificant details. He’s already in trouble. Have a look at those people, do you know them?”
As the Embodiment spoke, he waved his hand.
In the empty space between him and Hua Qing Si, ripples visible to the naked eye appeared and were followed by a strange screen, which appeared out of nowhere.
Hua Qing Si gazed over there and said in wonder, “This is…”
Hua Qing Si had noticed that the scene displayed in the sky was Yang Kai’s current location. He had been engulfed by thick black Qi, and only his eyes still shone with a golden, yet evil radiance.
In his vicinity, three people were surrounding him in a triangular formation.
Those three people were all composed and had outstanding bearings.
The middle-aged man in the left was clad in plain hemp clothing, which despite not looking bright and new, was tidy and neat, while he was also endowed with a pair of bright and shining eyes.
The one on the right side was a short old man with white hair and a beard, yet still rosy face. He observed Yang Kai with furrowed brows and his apprehension was apparent on his face.
As for the one in the middle, it was a dignified and cold-looking pretty woman with an icy expression plastered on her pretty face. She was clad in a white dress, which gave her a special mature charm.
After Hua Qing Si had been thrown into the Sealed World Bead by Yang Kai, those three people appeared suddenly out of nowhere and surrounded him.
Everyone was a famous Emperor Realm Master of the Southern Territory and Yang Kai had seen all of them once.
“Those are several Great Forces’ big shots.” Hua Qing Si cast a glance at them and recognized them right away.
“Can you elaborate further?” The Embodiment next to her said.
“The one on the left is the Heavenly Martial Holy Land’s Senior Chen, Chen Wen Hao. As for the one on the right side, it’s the Orthodoxy Temple’s Elder Feng, Feng Ming, and the last one is the Azure Sun Temple Senior Gao, Gao Xue Ting.”
“It’s unexpectedly those people.” The Embodiment came to a realization.
More than a year ago, those three people had once dropped by Maplewood City to pursue a Luan Feng’s trails in Clear Jade Mountain. Later on, the Star Soul Palace’s Xiao Yu Yang had also come and cast a magical art to create a long-distance portal to the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda to take the city’s cultivators into it.
At that time, Yang Kai had also seen those outstanding people, and since Yang Kai knew them, then the Embodiment had also heard about them.
Upon hearing their status from Hua Qing Si, a worried look appeared on the Embodiment’s face.
Even though in his current state, Yang Kai was endowed with great and unstoppable power, he was facing three Emperor Realm Masters from outstanding backgrounds, and he might not be a match for them.
Moreover, the more Yang Kai maintained his current state, the worse his situation. If he got held up by those people, then his mind might end up corrupted by the Demon Spirit, and he would then turn into a real demon.
“There is still hope left!” Hua Qing Si didn’t notice the Embodiment’s worries and shouted in delight. She still didn’t forget to shout at the Embodiment. She said, “Big Stone, once that little bastard gets subdued by those three seniors, we’ll get to leave.”
The Embodiment nodded repeatedly, wearing the same indifferent look as usual.
In the outside world, Chen Wen Hao and others stood in silence and didn’t make a move.
They came here because someone had used Maplewood City’s Teleportation Array to leave and notify them.
The three Great Forces had heard that an Ancient Great Demon’s seal got damaged and pure Demon Qi leaked out, which didn’t leave a single living soul in Maplewood City’s vicinity. Thus they didn’t take it lightly and dispatched Emperor Realm Masters to investigate its ins and outs.
Chen Wen Hao and the others, who had once visited Maplewood City a year ago, were obviously their best choice, and they had also undertaken this task willingly.
They had all hurried up from their sects and used countless Space Arrays on the way to reach Maplewood City in the shortest time possible.
When they had reached Maplewood City, the Demon Qi had already started dispersing and the Demonic Beings were coming back to their senses.
They were all bewildered and they followed the trails to get into this event’s source, and they ended up intercepting Yang Kai’s way here.
At this moment, they were all confused and puzzled!
A Luan Feng had first emerged in the little Maplewood City only to be followed by an Ancient Great Demon’s seal a year later, as if any major event was bound to happen in this little city, and they all found it incredulous.
Opposite them, Yang Kai’s facial features were indistinct and they couldn’t discern his identity prior to his transformation, while the pure Demon Qi engulfing him gave them a stifling feeling, as if this Demon Qi could pose a deadly threat to Emperor Realm Masters.
All demonic beings the three people saw in their flight had already come back to their senses, yet the one in front of them was still plagued by Demon Qi as before and he emitted an astounding vicious aura.
“Who are you?” Chen Wen Hao broke the silence and raised a question.
He really wanted to know why this demon didn’t come back to his senses like the other demonic beings, and how he turned out to be so powerful.
The person opposite him didn’t respond, and he could only hear muffled beastly roars from the mass of Demon Qi.
“Brother Chen, he has already lost his mind, so why are you still wasting your breath with him?” Feng Ming said impatiently and his treacherous-looking eyes glared at Yang Kai.
Gao Xue Ting didn’t utter a single word, but her pretty eyes shone brightly, as if she wanted to penetrate the thick Demon Qi and have a look at Yang Kai’s face.
But, it seemed as if Yang Kai had detected her actions and he turned his head suddenly to look at her. Their gazes ended up meeting and an invisible collision broke out between their gazes mid-air
“Ahh!” Gao Xue Ting’s pretty face turned pale and her body staggered, as if she had suffered the brunt of a ferocious attack.
“Let…” A muffled, indistinct, and pained roar transmitted from the Demon Qi, but they all heard it clearly and understood what the demonic being wanted to express.
An eerie glow flashed past Chen Wen Hao’s eyes and he strode forward. As he moved, a cyan sword appeared in his hand and he said calmly, “I’ll test the water and try his means. Sirs, please support me from the rear.”
As he spoke, a soft whistle echoed out. Chen Wen Hao had already turned into an illusory silhouette and appeared before Yang Kai.
*Shhing! Shhing!*
The Sword light shot out, the Sword Qi emitted a humming noise, while the torrential Sword Force left behind it a whistling noise.
*Clang!*
Sparks flew around and energy pulses ran amok in the void. The sword strike was so swift and torrential!
After a short while, Chen Wen Hao sheathed his sword and stood on his former position motionless, as if he had never moved in the first place.
On the other side, numerous web-like fissures appeared on the Demon Qi surrounding Yang Kai’s body, and one could faintly see some parts of his body through the cracks. The flesh exposed to the air was covered with dense Demon Crests. But, those cracks were instantly mended by the billowing Demon Qi.
Chen Wen Hao furrowed his brows, while Gao Xue Ting and Feng Ming were very surprised. Yang Kai was more thorny than they expected.
“Die!” It seemed like Yang Kai had been enraged by Chen Wen Hao’s attack, and he let out a roar, while the churning Demon Qi enveloping him let out jarring wails, as if the Nether King had just blown the war horn and ordered them to advance.
*Swoosh!*
He suddenly disappeared!
“What?” Chen Wen Hao was finally surprised for real. Even his strong Divine Sense wasn’t able to follow Yang Kai’s trail. His speed had already surpassed anything he knew.
He tried as hard as he could to manoeuvre his Spiritual Energy’s power and he surveyed tightly a perimeter of a hundred feet around him, trying to peer into Yang Kai’s movements.
“Be careful!” Gao Xue Ting’s expression changed drastically and she cried out aloud.
“Brother Chen, he’s behind you!” Feng Ming also let out a strange cry.
But, did he really need their warning? When Yang Kai had just appeared behind him, Chen Wen Hao had also detected him, and he instantly manoeuvred the power of the Unfettered Worldly Principle. His sword let out a dazzling radiance and he instantly thrust it behind.
*Ding!*
A crisp metallic collision sound echoed out, and Chen Wen Hao felt like he had struck something, but his attack was blocked. It wasn’t limited to just this, as his sword let out a sad cry and its light flickered intensely. He was so startled he broke into a cold sweat, and he ended up taking the wrong step out of fluster and stumbled forward.
The torrential force that erupted out behind him didn’t manage to harm him, but it still scared him greatly.
Yang Kai didn’t wait for him to regain his balance and he followed him closely like his shadow. He appeared on his right side, and he thrust his fist, which was covered by Demon Qi, into him. His fist contained indomitable destructive power!
It was a simple, yet very ferocious move, and it could be said that it was a natural move.
It was unavoidable!
Chen Wen Hao’s mind was in turmoil. He was just a First-Order Emperor Realm Master, but he had already come in touch with the real essence of the world’s Martial Dao, and even if he faced a Second-Order Emperor Realm Master, he wouldn’t be so thoroughly suppressed, he would still be able to exchange some moves against him.
Yet, this peculiar demonic being suppressed him. He depended upon his brilliant Movement Skill and ridiculously high speed to suppress him, and he wasn’t even able to fight back.
At this critical juncture, he let out a shout: “Water Source Transformation!”
As his voice echoed out, he turned semi-transparent, as if his body was made of water.
Yang Kai’s fist fell on him directly and penetrated his chest. He left a large hole in his body!
Chen Wen Hao let out a groan, and it seemed like he suffered serious injuries, but he still didn’t move back. Instead, he circulated his Source Qi and the Water Source Embodiment to condense his body and stranded Yang Kai’s arm within him.
At this moment, Feng Ming and Gao Xue Ting, who had been watching the battle, finally made a move at the same time.
A long spear with a shape resembling a flying goose appeared in Feng Ming’s hand, and arcs of lightning were dancing around it. This was obviously the fruit of his hard labor, the Emperor Artifact, Lightning Goose Spear. It was one of the Southern Territory’s famous weapons!
“Relentless Lightning!” Feng Ming let out a shout and seized the opportunity created by Chen Wen Hao to make an attack. He swung his long spear and thrust it at Yang Kai.
On the other side, a little mirror appeared in Gao Xue Ting’s palm. After she infused her Source Qi into it, it let out a dazzling radiance, and it looked like a mini sun hung in the air. The mirror fired a dazzling light beam, which enveloped Yang Kai’s body.
Gao Xue Ting wore a cold and stern look as usual, and as her white dress fluttered in the air, she looked like a goddess that had descended from heaven.
A scorching air started pervading this region, and it seemed able to burn all myriad matters.
The Demon Qi around Yang Kai’s body started wiggling, as if it had just run into its nemesis, and many of its wisps evaporated and turned into drifting smoke.
…
“Emperor Artifact: Radiant Sun Mirror!”
In the Small Sealed World, Hua Qing Si had seen everything that had occurred thanks to the projection created by the Embodiment.
The girl’s face was filled with excitement, and she shouted aloud and cheered for them.
She knew those people, and she had also heard of the artifacts used by them, and even if she didn’t hear of them, she would get an understanding of them upon observing them.
The sword in Chen Wen Hao’s hand was also no ordinary artifact, it was the Emperor Artifact, Flowing Water Sword.
Three great Emperor Realm Masters launched a joint attack with three great Emperor Artifacts in their hands. She felt like she could already foresee the Demon King, Yang Kai’s fall.
She felt like she would shortly get to take in a fresh breath of freedom…
…
In the twinkling of an eye, Yang Kai was engulfed by the Radiant Sun Barrier, and as if he had detected a deadly threat, he suddenly let out a roar and a hot yet dignified aura, completely different from his other evil and vicious aura, erupted out of his body.
In the next moment, his hand which had been stuck in Chen Wen Hao’s Water Source Embodiment started expanding and draconic scales emerged on it. His whole hand turned into a dragon claw, and he drew support from its transformation to pull it back.
Chen Wen Hao let out a soft groan, and it seemed like he wasn’t able to maintain his Water Source Embodiment any longer. Thus when Yang Kai’s hand finally broke free, it brought with it some of his blood.
Shortly after, Yang Kai turned around and stretched his hand toward the ferocious lightning.
*Sizz!*
Yang Kai’s body shook violently, but he still managed to block Feng Ming’s Secret Technique with his dragon claw. However, his body had been paralyzed by the electric current.
Gao Xue Ting’s pretty eyes turned cold and she took avail of this chance to raise the Radiant Sun Mirror’s might.
The Demon Qi on Yang Kai’s body started evaporating at a higher speed, and this brought him a great deal of pain. It wasn’t any different than inhuman torture.
“Die, all of you!” Yang Kai let out a roar and the space within a dozen kilometres suddenly changed drastically.
A World Principle power suddenly fell upon Gao Xue Ting’s body and her movement came to a sudden stop.
While on the other side, after Yang Kai had broken free and escaped, Chen Wen Hao had just raised his sword to launch another attack, yet his body suddenly turned heavy.
“Space Principle?” Gao Xue Ting let out a sharp cry and her pretty eyes trembled.
The Emperor Realm Master present here had all high attainment in cultivation, and they obviously had a unique understanding of the World Principles. They had all practised a Secret Technique or a Cultivation Method to comprehend a World Principle and advance into the Emperor Realm.
Every Emperor Realm Master had a different understanding of the World Principles and they were all specialized in different domains.
Only geniuses blessed by Heaven could comprehend the deepest and most primitive Principle of his domain.
Five Elements’ Principles, various Forces’ essences, and Divine Abilities’ mysteries. Those were all cornerstones crucial for an Emperor Realm Master’s growth into a real expert.
Among them, there were several Principle powers considered the most difficult to comprehend, and the Space Principle was one of them. It was nearly impossible to comprehend it!
In the Star Boundary’s long history, many Great Emperors depended upon their comprehension of Principle power to reach the apex, yet they never heard about anyone who could manoeuvre Space Principle power to this point.
The Space Principle was too mysterious, and even an Emperor Realm Master could only stare at it from afar.
Yet, a demonic being, which had been forcefully converted into a demon, could manipulate the Space Principle and seal this region.
Gao Xue Ting couldn’t help but hold her breath for a moment out of shock and she got into a trance, but it was precisely at this moment that Yang Kai, who bore the might of the Radiant Sun Mirror, went after her. He was as swift as lightning and his speed was already beyond comprehension.
In the twinkling of an eye, Yang Kai reached Gao Xue Ting, but he turned a blind eye to the enemy after his life and thrust his fist at the Radiant Sun Mirror.
*Roar! Roar!*
Dragons’ roars resounded out and a dozen demonic dragons’ phantom images emerged out of his fist and danced in the sky.
Even though Gao Xue Ting reacted quickly and moved away in time, she still didn’t get out of harm’s way.
*Rumble!*
As the black demonic dragons collided against the Radiant Sun Mirror, its light flickered repeatedly.
By the time Gao Xue Ting rushed to Chen Wen Hao’s side, her expression turned unsightly and she looked in pain at the fruit of her sweat and blood, her Emperor Artifact.
The Radiant Sun Mirror had been covered by a layer of faint Black Qi and its spirituality had already been damaged.
In the Sealed World Bead, Hua Qing Si observed everything in a daze with her mouth wide open. She couldn’t help but say in a low voice, “How come he’s so strong?”
Three Emperor Realm Masters joined hands and they had even used their Emperor Artifacts. She assumed that they would quickly take down Yang Kai, yet once the confrontation started, it was them who suffered one setback after another, and Yang Kai was as unstoppable as ever.
Hua Qing Si couldn’t accept this outcome!
“This is tricky, his Demon Qi can corrode even our Emperor Artifacts.” Chen Wen Hao took a look at his Flowing Water Sword and the Radiant Sun Mirror in Gao Xue Ting’s hand with a grave look on his face.
The Flowing Water Sword had also been covered by a layer of Black Qi like the Radiant Sun Mirror, and it had obviously been corroded.
Corrosion of this level wouldn’t damage an Emperor Artifact’s spirituality unless they didn’t get rid of it in time.
It wasn’t easy to craft an Emperor Artifact, and every Emperor Realm Master treasured them. So, how could they allow this?
“What a troublesome guy, it seems like we have to get serious.” Feng Ming sneered coldly.
Chen Wen Hao glared at Yang Kai, while speaking with Gao Xue Ting, “Junior Sister Gao, we’ll have to draw support from your power.”
Gao Xue Ting gnashed her teeth, as if she had just made a hard decision. She said, “If the Radiant Sun Mirror gets ruined, you’ll have to compensate me.”
Feng Ming laughed and said, “It’s still an Emperor Artifact and it won’t be destroyed so easily. Let’s not waste our breath. Hurry up and make a move. If we delay it any further, we may face some unforeseen circumstances.”
Gao Xue Ting raised her hands and the Radiant Sun Mirror flew into the air as if it wanted to break into the firmament and quickly overlapped with the sun in the sky. At this moment, she raised her hands upwards and started weaving hand seals.
The Radiant Sun Mirror let out a humming noise and a mysterious power started spreading from it, while the blazing sun in the sky suddenly let out a dazzling sunbeam and struck the mirror. That said sunbeam penetrated the mirror and its radiance spread to the surroundings.
“Radiant Sun Heavenly Territory, Nine Suns’ Radiant Shine!” Gao Xue Ting put her arms against her chest and pushed them forward slowly.
As the blazing radiance spread out, the region sealed by Yang Kai’s Space Principle power let out a crisp snapping noise, as if some force broke through its confines.
Soon after, an unusual phenomenon appeared. Nine radiant suns appeared in the sky and their light was nearly blinding. Those suns emitted scorching rays, which burned the earth and left it charred.
Yang Kai let out a loud shriek, as if he couldn’t stand the numerous blazing suns surrounding him, and he made a move right away.
He rushed toward a sun and thrust his fist at it.
*Rumble!*
The radiant sun up in the sky was shattered apart, but another sun emerged out in a different location right away.
But, Yang Kai still went in and destroyed another sun, as if he had already lost his reason, yet the same scene unfolded again, and all of his efforts turned out pointless.
…
“It’s useless, such attacks wouldn’t be of any use against Senior Gao’s Radiant Sun Heavenly Territory.”
In the Small Sealed World, it seemed like Hua Qing Si had already heard of the Radiant Sun Heavenly Territory, and upon seeing Yang Kai running around aimlessly, she shook her head slowly and took pleasure in his misfortune.
The Embodiment rolled his eyes around and asked, “What kinds of attacks would be useful against it?”
“It’s obviously attacking Senior Gao,” Hua Qing Si replied quickly and chuckled. “But, in the Radiant Sun Heavenly Territory, Senior Gao is omnipotent and the body shown by her is only a phantom image, while her true body is hiding somewhere else.”
“Is it?” The Embodiment curled the corners of his mouth and let out a meaningful laugh. “You really know a lot, as expected of a member of the Star Soul Palace.”
In response, Hua Qing Si laughed complacently.
If she wasn’t from a supreme faction of the Southern Territory, the Star Soul Palace, then how could a Third-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator get any info about the mysteries of Gao Xue Ting’s Secret Technique?
…
While Yang Kai was crazily attacking the loathsome suns, a silhouette appeared suddenly next to him and condensed the power of his Sword Principle within his sword and thrust it slowly, yet carefully toward Yang Kai.
“Myriad Swords Dao!” Gao Xue Ting shouted in a low voice.
When he thrust his sword, even the nine suns in the sky lost their radiance, and only Chen Wen Hao’s sword was left here, a sword that was the fruit of his whole life’s cultivation.
As the sword’s light flickered, fresh blood spluttered and Demon Qi billowed, while Yang Kai let out a miserable shriek.
This sword strike had achieved its aim. It had penetrated Yang Kai’s belly and brought with it his golden blood.
Yang Kai stretched his dragon claw out of pain and held the Flowing Water Sword without any regard for the harm inflicted upon his palm by its sharp edge. As for his other hand, it turned into a giant palm that went after Chen Wen Hao to swat him down.
Chen Wen Hao’s pupils contracted and he was about to move back, yet he discovered in surprise that a peculiar Space Principle power descended upon him, and stranded him for a moment.
Yet this short moment was enough for Yang Kai’s palm to reach him.
“Location Swap!” Gao Xue Ting’s voice resounded out, as she folded her palms and pushed them forward. One of the suns in the sky replaced Chen Wen Hao’s and got shattered by the giant palm.
As for Chen Wen Hao, his body appeared somewhere else in the vicinity. His face had already turned pale and he nodded at Gao Xue Ting to express his gratitude.
If Gao Xue Ting didn’t cast a Secret Technique to move him away, he would have been gravely injured.
“Didn’t you forget someone?” A voice suddenly resounded behind Yang Kai. While he was dealing with Chen Wen Hao, Feng Ming took advantage of this chance to close in on him with the Lightning Goose Spear in his hand. He condensed his Source Qi in his spear and thrust it forward.
“Flying Thunder Explosion!”
A large lighting ball appeared on the spearhead. This ball contained berserk lightning with great destructive power and it had suddenly exploded near Yang Kai.
Lightning ran amok, and silver serpentine lightning danced around, while the ground had been turned into a lightning field.
At this moment, the Demon Qi on Yang Kai’s back got thinned out and his white bones were exposed.
It seemed like this strike had inflicted great harm upon him!
But, Feng Ming still couldn’t rejoice over this, as Yang Kai had already turned around and thrust his palm at him.
“Are you looking down on me?” Upon seeing Yang Kai attacking him head-on, Feng Ming flew into a rage and thrust his spear. He launched another attack, yet he hit thin air this time.
The person in front of him had already disappeared!
Feng Ming’s heart tightened, and he pulled back his spear to retreat. His wariness was apparent on his face.
After all, he was fighting against a fearful being able to use Space Principle to manoeuvre and he didn’t dare to take him lightly.
Meanwhile, Feng Ming had also enveloped this region with his Divine Sense to seek Yang Kai’s trail.
Yet, at this moment, a delicate shout reverberated out.
In an empty region with no soul in sight, Gao Xue Ting’s body stumbled out, closely followed by the murderous-looking Yang Kai.
“How is this possible?” Astonishment was apparent on Gao Xue Ting’s face. She couldn’t believe that Yang Kai was able to accurately find her real body’s hiding spot within the Radiant Sun Heavenly Territory, and he still got to launch a sneak attack on her.
Upon looking at the black silhouette closing in on her, she felt death looming over, and she felt like she heard the Death God’s whispers.
“Boundless Sword Dao!” At this critical juncture, Chen Wen Hao rushed over with his Flowing Water Sword in hand. Boundless Sword Qi emanated from the sword and swept Yang Kai like a hurricane.
Yang Kai roared and the Demon Qi on his body surface billowed and formed numerous ethereal serpents, which collided against the Sword Qi.
*Sizzle!*
The Sword Qi was extinguished, while the ethereal serpents had also dispersed.
By the time Yang Kai’s body was revealed again, Gao Xue Ting had already moved back to Chen Wen Hao’s side. Her face was deathly pale and her clothes had already been soaked by sweat.
“Did this person retain his mind and wisdom?” Feng Ming’s eyes widened up and he asked in surprise.
A while ago, Yang Kai had used himself as bait to attract the crowd’s attention, while he closed in on Gao Xue Ting in silence to launch a sneak attack. A demon who had lost his mind couldn’t achieve this endeavour, and this was obviously a pretty intelligent battle tactic.
Even if he possessed the same power, he wouldn’t be able to do better.
“Perhaps.” Chen Wen Hao pulled back his sword and stood motionless with his hands behind his back. He looked like an unsheathed sword and he emitted an astonishing Sword Intent. He said, “Demon, I’ll let you have a taste of my sword.”
As his voice reverberated, he revealed his murderous intent and his Sword Qi ran amok. Chen Wen Hao used up his Source Qi without any restraints and displayed his exquisite sword technique. He condensed his power and Principle power in his sword and launched an attack.
When he had just made a move, Gao Xue Ting’s body disappeared once again from the Radiant Sun Heavenly Territory. But, the nine suns in the sky emitted intense radiance. They shot nine light pillars, which fell upon Yang Kai and sealed this region.
As for Feng Ming, he launched his best skill with the Lightning Gose Spear and targeted Yang Kai’s vital regions.
The three great Emperor Realm Masters attacked jointly to slay the demon and protect the human world!
Yang Kai could only roar loudly as usual and he dealt with them in the same way as before. As the Demon Qi on his body billowed, he launched various crude and simple moves. He was obviously in a disadvantageous position, but his enemies still weren’t able to slay him in a short while.
The Demon Crests on the surface of his body possessed extremely strong defensive power and even the three great Emperor Realm Masters’ various Secret Techniques and Emperor Artifacts’ attacks couldn’t break through his defence.
The region was wrecked apart and even the celestial bodies had lost their radiance here!
…
In the Small Sealed World, Hua Qing Si was left speechful for so long and her pretty eyes shivered lightly.
Getting to watch Emperor Realm Masters’ fight was a great opportunity for a Third-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivator, yet usually, closing in on Emperor Realm Masters’ battlefield was pretty dangerous and ordinary cultivators wouldn’t get a chance to watch and observe it.
Yet, due to a series of coincidences, she got the chance to watch one from beginning to end.
She already didn’t wish for Yang Kai to die quickly, and she had gotten lost in her thoughts while watching the battle and a pensive look was apparent on her face
The Embodiment cast a glance at her and curled up his mouth. He didn’t disturb her, and turned his head again toward the battlefield and revealed a worried look.
Even though it looked like the main body had just gotten into a deadlock, he was only a First-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivator, and even if he drew help from the Demon Qi, he still couldn’t deal with three Emperor Realm Masters.
As time passed, the main body was only accumulating more injuries and this was clear proof of its terrible situation.
Actually, he didn’t really care about his injuries, the crux was that the main body didn’t escape despite knowing fully he wasn’t a match for them, and this was the source of the Embodiment’s worries.
The Embodiment wasn’t sure whether the main body retained his mind. He had tried to contact him, yet he didn’t get any response. But, when he told him stealthily the weakness of Gao Xue Ting’s Radiant Sun Heavenly Territory, the main body took notice of his advice.
If this wasn’t the case, the main body wouldn’t have sought and uncovered Gao Xue Ting’s hiding spot, then almost inflict heavy injuries upon her.
He had suddenly gotten great power, and it was still the evil and vicious power of an Ancient Great Demon. It wasn’t good news for the main body, if he kept using it for so long, then some unforeseen problems might befall him.
Several thousand miles away, in Maplewood City.
The few hundred thousand cultivators in the city didn’t get to rejoice over surviving the calamity, and they all looked in fear in a certain direction.
Intense energy ripples and deafening explosion sounds were reverberating from there.
Duan Yuan Shan, the Drunkard, Qin Zhao Yang, as well as various great families’ Dao Source Realm Old Ancestors were all standing atop the city wall. Those people’s gazes penetrated the void, seemingly trying to see and get some clues about this affair.
“City Lord, who is fighting over there?” The Liang Family’s Old Ancestor Liang Peng Le asked in surprise.
Duan Yuan Shan mulled it over for a moment and said, “On the way back, I ran into the Heavenly Martial Holy Land’s Senior Chen and another two seniors, and they are likely behind this disturbance.”
“Is it Senior Chen, Chen Wen Hao, who had once visited our City?” The pupils of the Xin family’s Old Ancestor Xin Gao Jie contracted.
“It’s precisely him!”
“Then who is their enemy?” An astonished look was apparent on Xin Gao Jie’s face.
Chen Wen Hao and his two companions were all Emperor Realm Masters, and they had even joined hands, yet they still ended up fighting so intensely against that said enemy and couldn’t take victory in a short time.
The enemy’s great power could be discerned through this!
“I have no idea,” Duan Yuan Shan shook his head.
But at this moment, Yang Kai’s image suddenly ran across his mind.
At that time, seven Great Dao Source Realm Masters brought Qin Yu with them to repair the seal, yet they slipped up. Zhuang Pan had escaped before the battle, while the Black Tortoise Seven Sections Array collapsed by itself, Du Li Shen suffered a miserable death on the spot and Qin Zhao Yang sustained heavy injuries and lost consciousness.
When Yang Kai had been corrupted by Demon Qi, he stood in his place motionless, and it looked like he was on the verge of turning into a demon…
If Yang Kai had lost his mind, then he could really become a demon.
But, even if he became a demon, could someone at his level contend against three Emperor Realm Masters?
Duan Yuan Shan shook his head and threw this ridiculous thought to the back of his mind.
Moreover, the strange Ancient Demon Qi had already disappeared, and the demonic beings, who had been corrupted and lost their minds, had also recovered, so Yang Kai had obviously also recovered.
Rumble!
A loud thunderclap reverberated in the sky, and it was shortly followed by an unusual phenomenon. The world’s Yuan Qi was attracted by something and it converged toward a certain direction.
“What happened?” Xin Gao Jie responded ahead of others and looked in surprise at a certain place in Maplewood City.
Duan Yuan Shan turned his head around and observed that said location for a while, then said out of delight, “Someone in the city is advancing into the Dao Source Realm, whose family’s disciple is it?”
The various Old Ancestors looked at each other in dismay, then shook their heads. They all expressed that it wasn’t their families’ disciple.
“Let’s go over there and have a look, our Maplewood City has just gone through a great calamity, and this is a good omen,” Duan Yuan Shan shouted loudly and he conveyed his voice with the help of his Source Qi, and it was so loud that all cultivators in the city could hear him clearly.
He was the City Lord and he obviously had to pacify people, and the breakthrough’s phenomenon gave him more assets to use.
It didn’t matter who was advancing, as he had managed to prompt the world’s Yuan Qi’s change, and this was good news for Maplewood City’s cultivators who had just gotten a new lease of life.
After a short while, the crowd landed in front of a top-notch cave mansion.
An elderly woman, a pretty middle-aged woman, and a young girl were standing in front of the cave mansion, guarding it.
“Miss Xiao Qi?” Duan Yuan Shan cast a glance at the young girl with a surprised look plastered on his face.
It wasn’t so strange for him to recognize Mo Xiao Qi. After all, they had fought together against the demonic beings and Demon Qi who enveloped the city, and even though Mo Xiao Qi was only a Third-Order Origin King, he didn’t belittle her or look down upon her.
After all, Duan Yuan Shan had discovered through his short contact with the young girl that her origins were quite mysterious and all techniques studied and employed by her were all so profound.
The crux was that Mo Xiao Qi was seemingly only sixteen or seventeen years old.
A sixteen or seventeen years old Third-Order Origin King, even a Great Force like the Heavenly Martial Holy Land couldn’t raise such outstanding talent, and it was a feat possible only by the Star Soul Palace.
Duan Yuan Shan had even taken Mo Xiao Qi for a secret disciple of the Star Soul Palace for a moment.
He didn’t dare to belittle her!
“City Lord Duan, seniors!” Mo Xiao Qi revealed a smile and greeted them.
“Miss Xiao Qi, the person making a breakthrough is…” Duan Yuan Shan didn’t beat around the bush and got right to the point. He questioned her directly!
“It’s the Spirit Pill Plaza’s Shopkeeper Kang.” Mo Xiao Qi didn’t plan to hide anything from him.
“Kang Si Ran?” Duan Yuan Shan revealed a surprised look and the various families’ Old Ancestors had also widened their eyes in shock, as if they had just heard some implausible news.
The Spirit Pill Plaza was an industry of the Violet Source Chamber of Commerce, and Maplewood City’s masters obviously knew it, and they also knew Kang Si Ran, yet they were confused mainly because they knew him.
How could Kang Si Ran make a breakthrough to the Dao Source Realm?
His martial path had already reached its end, and his aptitude wouldn’t allow him to go farther than the Third-Order Origin King Realm. They didn’t dare to claim that he would never reach the Dao Source Realm, but that said the probability wouldn’t be any higher than one in ten thousand.
Yet, they had just heard a disturbance made by Kang Si Ran’s breakthrough into the Dao Source Realm, and they were all astounded.
A peculiar light flashed past Duan Yuan Shan’s eyes and he said with a smile, “Turns out it’s Shopkeeper Kang. We must congratulate him.”
His disappointment was apparent through his words.
Even though Kang Si Ran resided in Maplewood City, he didn’t belong to it due to his origin and status. Furthermore, his advancement wouldn’t be of any help to Maplewood City. That’s why Duan Yuan Shan’s feelings about this affair changed so drastically.
“Shopkeeper Kang probably had some outstanding fortuitous encounter.” Xin Gao Jie wore a pensive look.
If he didn’t get a fortuitous encounter, then Kang Si Ran wouldn’t be able to advance to the Dao Source Realm just through his efforts due to his poor aptitude, and timewise, it looked like he had gone into seclusion when the city got enveloped by Demon Qi.
Since he dared to go into seclusion and make a breakthrough at this critical juncture, then he was obviously fully confident in his success.
“Seniors, after Shopkeeper Kang leaves seclusion, you can question him yourself,” Mo Xiao Qi replied with a smile.
Duan Yuan Shan nodded and said, “That’s a matter of course.”
As they exchanged several words, the phenomenon in the sky became fully visible and its heavenly might erupted. The World Energy’s baptism started and lightning descended from the dark clouds in the sky. The lightning cleaved open the void and struck Kang Si Ran’s body.
Inside the cave mansion, Kang Si Ran’s miserable cries reverberated out, as if he was bearing excruciating pain and any person’s scalp would turn numb upon hearing those shrill cries
…
Sword Qi ran amok, nine suns enveloped the land and a flood dragon phantom image formed by spear light danced around.
In the face of three Great Emperor Realm Masters’ joint attack, Yang Kai’s Demon Qi billowed ceaselessly, and he fought desperately without retreat even though his body had been thoroughly covered by wounds, as if he couldn’t feel even an ounce of pain.
Those were wounds inflicted by Emperor Realm Masters and Emperor Artifacts, so even the Demon Qi and Golden Blood’s great recovery ability couldn’t heal them in a short while. Those wounds contained World Principle power and it was gnawing at Yang Kai’s life force, and his injury state was only turning for the worse.
As his blood spluttered around, the blood-soaked Yang Kai only fought more bravely.
The three Emperor Realm Masters had joined hands and managed to suppress and inflict wounds upon him, yet they were getting more surprised the more they fought.
It was fortunate that three of them had arrived here, if only one of them faced this demon, none had any confidence that they could contend against him.
This was the most vicious and bloodthirsty demon they had seen in their lives!
As the battle reached its climax, a resonant cry resounded from a distant land.
*Shriek!*
This clear cry travelled across the void and fell upon their ears. It sounded like an Ancient Phoenix Divine Spirit’s cry and its voice betrayed its great anxiety and anger.
When the voice reached them, Yang Kai who was fighting toe-to-toe against the three great Emperor Realm Masters came to a stop, as if he had been struck by lightning, and the Demon Qi enveloping his body turned unstable.
Upon seeing this, Chen Wen Hao and the others moved back anxiously and got on the alert. They didn’t know whether Yang Kai was only putting on an act and they didn’t dare to rashly advance.
When experts exchanged blows, any careless move might cost them their lives.
“What’s that noise?” Feng Ming asked.
Chen Wen Hao and Gao Xue Ting shook their heads slowly.
The three people looked ahead and witnessed Yang Kai looking in a certain direction. They all followed his gaze and looked at the horizon. A scarlet dot was quickly closing in on them!
“She has come!”
In the Small Sealed World, the Embodiment had also seen everything clearly through the projection and he was overjoyed by the turn of events.
“What’s that?” Hua Qing Si had good eyesight, yet still couldn’t see through that scarlet light’s nature. She could only feel that it contained unimaginable power!
“It’s his Artifact Spirit,” the Embodiment replied
“Artifact Spirit?” Hua Qing Si furrowed her brows and said in surprise, “Did his Artifact Spirit take on a physical form?”
Artifact Spirits were intangible beings and their life and death depended upon their artifact.
But, this Artifact Spirit had surprisingly taken a physical form, and it was obviously no ordinary Artifact Spirit.
Hua Qing Si suddenly recalled that according to the intel she got in her investigation, an Artifact Spirit with a physical form had been auctioned off in Maplewood City a year ago.
[Could it be this one?]
But, it was only a trifling Artifact Spirit, how could it reverse this deadlocked situation?
Hua Qing Si couldn’t understand why this huge rock was so overjoyed.
“I hope that your… Emergence can awaken my main body’s consciousness,” the Embodiment prayed inwardly.
Yang Kai had fallen into a disadvantageous position in his fight against the three Emperor Realm Masters, yet he still fought them stubbornly. This was anything but good news, and the Embodiment had been trying all along to awaken his main body and make him leave and escape, yet he couldn’t awaken him despite exhausting all his means.
Liu Yan had now arrived suddenly, and she probably might be able to help him cause she had a mental link with the main body.
As a matter of fact, this matter unfolded as the Embodiment had expected. When Liu Yan emerged in the distance, Yang Kai’s Divine Sense’s fluctuations descended into chaos, and he stood quietly in his place, gazing upon the closing scarlet light in the distance. His eyes were first engulfed by confusion, then his inner struggle quickly showed up in them.
Shriek!
The resonant cry wasn’t any different than a sharp sword stabbing at Yang Kai’s heart, and that scarlet light wasn’t any different than a spark setting a prairie afire, setting Yang Kai’s consciousness afire. At this moment, the close mental link between him and the Artifact Spirit played a crucial role.
Yang Kai’s mind got sober for a moment!
In the next moment, he realized his current dire straits and he couldn’t help but furrow his brows.
“The situation has changed, let’s end this battle.” Chen Wen Hao had realized that something was amiss with Yang Kai and he immediately let out a shout and got ready to use his ultimate move and end this battle as soon as possible.
Upon hearing Chen Wen Hao’s statement, Feng Ming and Gao Xue Ting both started fully manoeuvring their Source Qi.
“Seniors, do you have to go so far and take my life?” Yang Kai suddenly spoke.
The three Emperor Realm Masters were taken aback.
Since the beginning of the fight, Yang Kai had only uttered several words and they weren’t any different than a madman’s yells, yet at this moment, his voice was pretty calm and he was obviously lucid.
“Demon, don’t waste your breath, we won’t rest today until one of us is dead,” Chen Wen Hao shouted and waved his sword. The Myriad Sword Principle power went after Yang Kai!
Feng Ming and Gao Xue Ting had also attacked at the same time.
Yang Kai held his breath. After he came back to his senses, he realized and understood the Emperor Realm Masters’ terrifying power.
He wasn’t able to contend against those three people!
Previously, he was able to exchange blows with them for so long only thanks to the Demon Sense, which had aroused his instinct for survival and slaughter.
But now, upon facing the Emperor Realm Masters’ shocking joint attack, Yang Kai detected a deadly threat looming over him.
He quickly tapped the ground several times with his foot and moved back gracefully, while he gnashed his teeth and shouted: “Black Eye Prison: Infinite Darkness!”
As his voice echoed out, his right eye’s pitch-black Demonic Pupil shot a dark ray.
When the three Emperor Realm Masters faced said black pupil, their movement came to a stop for a moment. It looked to them like that pupil contained a whole ever-changing world and a universe full of revolving celestial bodies.
A desolate and ancient aura started spreading out, while the sky fell into darkness, a darkness so deep that one couldn’t see his fingers.
The region enveloped by absolute darkness turned into a prison, a large prison with a perimeter of a hundred miles.
Even the radiance of the dazzling sword light, the spear phantom image, and the Nine Suns’ Radiant Shine in the sky couldn’t penetrate the darkness’s seal and disperse it.
The Emperor Realm Masters got nervous, as they couldn’t see even their nearby companions, and when they released their Divine Sense, its detection power was disturbed by the boundless darkness and it descended into a mess.
It looked like this said darkness spread out to the ends of the world, engulfing it whole.
After the Emperor Realm Masters had gone through some short-lived fluster, they quickly regained their calm and started weaving hand seals.
Myriad sword light flew around, while the Lightning Goose Spear turned into a Flood Dragon of Thunder and danced in the sky. As for the nine radiant suns, they had all exploded.
A wisp of light was sparked in the boundless darkness, and it quickly expanded until it dispersed and scattered the darkness.
The three people stood in the air and looked around. They were the sole people left here, while the demon had already disappeared. Who knew where he ran away to?
They all couldn’t help but exchange a glance. Their expressions were quite unsightly as they all released their Divine Sense to cover the land, yet they still couldn’t discern in which direction the demon ran.
“What kind of Divine Ability was that?” Feng Ming shouted with a gloomy look plastered on his face.
Chen Wen Hao shook his head, “No idea!”
“We must quickly report this affair to our sect, and… We should also take a trip to the Star Soul Palace. An Ancient Great Demon’s Demon Sense has emerged, and they probably have some inklings about it,” Gao Xue Ting collected the Radiant Sun Mirror and stroked it lightly with a pained look appeared on her face. A wisp of Dark Power was left in the mirror, and it wasn’t any different than a maggot gnawing at it, yet she couldn’t get rid of it.
“Junior Sister Gao, you’re right. There’s no time to lose, we must quickly set off toward the Star Soul Palace. Let’s hope that the Great Emperor has already detected it,” Chen Wen Hao said and took out a Jade Token. He quickly imbued his Divine Sense into it then shattered it.
A complex and strange pattern emerged in front of him, yet shortly disappeared and left with the wind.
Feng Ming and Gao Xue Ting had also cast various Secret Techniques and reported what they had seen and experienced to their sects’ headquarters.
Soon after, they set off toward the Star Soul Palace to visit the Bright Moon Great Emperor and demand an answer out of him.
As for whether the fugitive demon would scourge the nearby Maplewood City, that wasn’t something they had to deal with. That demon acted so strangely, and its means were all-powerful. They weren’t able to slay it even after joining hands, and they still had some apprehension about the Barrier Divine Ability cast by the demon at the end.
If the demon seized that chance to mount a surprise attack on them, then they would end up either dead or injured.
They all didn’t care about the little Maplewood City, and if they hadn’t learned of the damaged Ancient Great Demon’s seal here, then people of their status would never drop by this place.
After a short while, the plane recovered its calm.
…
Meanwhile, a pretty woman with a cold look plastered on her face sneaked into Maplewood City. The woman was clad in an outfit as red as sunset clouds.
The numerous cultivators had just survived a calamity, yet after seeing this pretty woman, they all couldn’t help but gaze at her.
Some people had detected faintly that this said woman possessed an unusual spiritual nature, which was both ethereal yet berserk. It was pretty bewildering!
Soon after, the woman took out a Sound Bead and infused her Divine Sense into it, and it looked like she was communicating with someone.
After a short while, she put away the Sound Bead and made her way toward a secluded alley.
She waited in silence for half an hour until a pretty silhouette emerged strangely.
The young woman detected her presence and turned her head to gaze at her. Upon seeing the young girl, she smiled and said, “You are Sister Xiao Qi, aren’t you?”
Mo Xiao Qi furrowed her brows and cast a glance behind the woman, yet didn’t see that familiar silhouette. She couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Who are you? Did Brother Yang send you to seek me?”
“That’s right!” The young woman nodded and a Sound Bead appeared on her palm with a flip of a hand.
“This is what I have given Brother Yang,” Mo Xiao Qi nodded and asked, “Where is Brother Yang? I heard from City Lord Duan that he got corrupted by the Demon Qi outside the city, is he alright?”
She looked very nervous, as if she was very worried over Yang Kai’s safety.
“My master isn’t in danger for now, he’s only suffering from some minor issues and can’t meet you in person. He sent me over to pass some words to you,” the young woman replied.
“It’s fine as long as he’s alright,” Mo Xiao Qi set her mind at ease and cast a glance at the young woman. She asked with a smile, “Big sis, what’s your name?”
“My master has given me the name Liu Yan,” the woman replied.
An odd look appeared on Mo Xiao Qi’s face and she said, “It looks like Brother Yang is only a First-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivator, and you are also a First-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivator, aren’t you? So, why do you call him master?”
Liu Yan replied with a smile, “If it wasn’t for my master’s help, I wouldn’t be here. My master has given me a new lease of life.”
Mo Xiao Qi pouted and said, “Fine! In any case, it isn’t my business. Big sis, what do you plan to do later?”
“I’ll follow my master’s orders and reside for now in the Zhang family’s old house outside the city. My master has also instructed me to bring the Zhang family’s members with me,” Liu Yan said.
“Since it’s Brother Yang’s instruction, then please come with me,” Mo Xiao Qi called her over.
Liu Yan shook her head and said, “Isn’t Shopkeeper Kang making a breakthrough now? Isn’t the City Lord in front of your Cave Mansion now?”
“That’s right,” Mo Xiao Qi nodded.
Liu Yan revealed a smile and said, “I can’t see City Lord Duan and the others for now. Miss Xiao Qi, please escort the Zhang family’s members to the outside of the city. I’ll be waiting for you there.”
After she spoke, Liu Yan turned into a ray of light and flew toward the outside of the city.
Meanwhile, Duan Yuan Shan who had been waiting in front of the Cave Mansion detected something and cast a glance toward Liu Yan’s direction. He said in confusion, “What a foreign aura! Is it another Dao Source Ream Cultivator?”
On the other hand, after Liu Yan disappeared, Mo Xiao Qi rolled her eyes and said sceptically, “She doesn’t look human at all, this sister is really strange.”
She was quite curious about Liu Yan’s true form, but since the woman was related to Yang Kai, she just acted like she didn’t notice anything. However, she was also aware of why Liu Yan stated that she couldn’t see and meet City Lord Duan and the others.
Duan Yuan Shan was a Second-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivator and he probably could see through her real nature.
Mo Xiao Qi just shook her head and walked toward her Cave Mansion.
…
After an hour, outside the city.
Mo Xiao Qi brought the Zhang family’s members to Liu Yan.
The Zhang family members had gotten some information about this from Mo Xiao Qi and didn’t reject Liu Yan, rather they all treated her respectfully after they detected her profound cultivation base.
They all couldn’t disregard even Liu Yan’s First-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivation, let alone her master-servant relationship with Yang Kai.
“Are you Miss Ruo Xi? As I thought, you are so pure-looking and cute,” Liu Yan’s gaze surveyed the Zhang family’s members before it fell upon Zhang Ruo Xi. She spoke with a smile, while confusion flashed past her pretty eyes.
She couldn’t understand why Yang Kai was so fond of Zhang Ruo Xi.
Even though the young girl was quite pretty, her young body hadn’t fully matured yet, and if Yang Kai wanted a woman, he didn’t have to seek such a young girl. Someone with his cultivation base could get any woman he wanted.
Moreover, she also had a good understanding of Yang Kai and he wasn’t a lecherous man.
As for Zhang Ruo Xi’s cultivation? She was only a Second-Order Saint King and she couldn’t provide any help to Yang Kai. Thus, Liu Yan couldn’t see through this no matter how hard she racked her brains.
“Senior Liu Yan, hi,” Upon hearing Liu calling her out, Zhang Ruo Xi’s face got flushed and she greeted her in fluster.
Liu Yan responded with a smile.
“Senior Liu, how is mister…” Zhang Ruo Xi bit her rosy lips and summoned her courage to raise a question.
The Zhang family’s grandma and mistress had also looked over at her nervously. They all wanted to inquire about Yang Kai’s well-being and whereabouts.
“My master is safe and sound, you don’t have to worry about him. But, his body has been corroded by Demon Qi and he’s feeble for now. He’s now recuperating and he’ll come back within the next few days,” Liu Yan explained.
“I can set my mind at ease then,” the Zhang family’s mistress heaved a sigh of relief, relieved looks were also apparent on the faces of Zhang Ruo Xi and the others.
“Sister Xiao Qi, I’ll take them back,” Liu Yan spoke with Mo Xiao Qi.
Mo Xiao Qi nodded. “Fine, I’ll look for Brother Yang again once he comes back.”
Thus, both sides bid farewell to each other and separated.
Liu Yan and the Zhang family’s members departed toward a residence outside the city and they quickly reached it.
After they arrived back home, they all treated Liu Yan as an honoured guest and provided her with the best room.
Soon after, Liu Yan told them she would carry out secluded cultivation, and she just shut the windows, set up a barrier, and isolated the room thoroughly.
Inside the room, Liu Yan opened her rosy mouth, spat out a fruit-sized bead, and held it carefully in her palm. She gazed at the bead with worry apparent in her pretty eyes, while her former relaxed and easy-going air had disappeared completely!
This bead was none other than the Sealed World Bead!
At that time, after Liu Yan emerged and awakened Yang Kai’s mind, he forcefully cast an Ancient Great Demon’s Secret Technique and stranded the three Emperor Realm Masters with Dark Power. Soon after, he cast a Spatial Secret Technique and converged with her, then left the Sealed World Bead in her care, before he went into hiding within the bead.
Yang Kai had handed over some instructions to Liu Yan then hid in the Sealed World Bead…
Liu Yan’s identity was quite special and she couldn’t travel around. That’s why he just asked her to stay in the Zhang family’s residence outside the city. He had no better choice!
In Yang Kai’s short moment of sobriety, he considered many matters.
His situation was very precarious. He might have lost his mind and turned into a real demon, and if he hadn’t hidden in the Sealed World Bead and stayed outside and ran amok, then Chen Wen Hao and his companions would have caught his trail and slew him.
Moreover, he lusted for the slaughter of all living beings in that bloodthirsty state, and if he ended up venturing into Maplewood City, he would have slaughtered everyone in the city; that’s why he had to stay in the Small Sealed World.
…
Inside the Sealed World Bead, Yang Kai’s consciousness was currently quite muddled. If the Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus in his Knowledge Sea didn’t protect the last strand of his consciousness, he would have already been engulfed by that great power and would have lost any sense of self.
At this moment, the Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus was fighting ceaselessly against the Ancient Great Demon’s Demon Sense, and they were evenly matched, while Yang Kai didn’t have any solution to reverse this situation.
If it was just an issue within his Knowledge Sea’s, then it would have been fine, as he wouldn’t end up losing his sense of self thanks to the potent Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus. Unfortunately, an unimaginable amount of pure Demon Qi had accumulated in his body. His body had absorbed the Demon Qi which engulfed tens of thousand miles, and it had even absorbed the Demonic Beings’ Demon Qi!
The Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus was quite potent, but its effects were limited to his soul and it couldn’t provide any help to his fleshly body.
If he couldn’t solve his body’s issue, then he would sooner or later fall into the Ancient Great Demon Dao.
Repressed and muffled roars were echoing ceaselessly, and even the Small Sealed World was affected by Yang Kai’s emotions, its World Energy descended into chaos.
…
Hua Qing Si’s face was pale, and she was hiding next to the Embodiment’s foot, as its thick and large thigh served as a natural shelter, while her pretty eyes were staring at the source of the noise.
She had a powerful cultivation base at the Third-Order Dao Source Realm, yet in the face of the Energy Ripples created by Yang Kai, she felt like a little boat among giant waves, which would be toppled at any moment.
The Embodiment’s expression was grave, and his worry was apparent in his bright eyes, but it didn’t have any countermeasure.
Gradually, the roars turned louder, and it seemed like Yang Kai started obeying his instinct and he started destroying everything in sight in the Small Sealed World.
A storm of sand and rubble arose, while the land cracked open, the mountains quacked ceaselessly and broken rocks tumbled around.
At a certain moment, the ceaseless roars suddenly came to a stop and the havoc in the land had also come to an end.
Hua Qing Si observed him with her senses for a moment then asked with great difficulty, “What… happened over there?”
The Embodiment squinted his eyes, as if his gaze was able to penetrate the void, then said in a deep voice, “It looks like he came back to his senses for now.”
“If I seek him now and ask him to let me out… What’ll be the outcome?” Hua Qing Si couldn’t bear spending her days in fear here and a ridiculous idea sprang to her mind.
“You can give it a try,” The Embodiment cast a glance at her then looked back at a distant location and exclaimed in surprise.
Soon after, his eyes lit up and he said, “That’s right, that thing may be effective against him.”
“What thing?” Hua Qing Si asked in surprise.
The Embodiment didn’t pay heed to her, and she could only pout in response.
…
On the other side, Yang Kai drew help from his Knowledge Sea’s power to recover his sobriety for a moment and he rushed toward the medicine garden.
In his last moment of clarity, he had already realized where the issue lied, and it was precisely the abundant Demon Qi in his body. If he couldn’t solve the Demon Qi’s issue, then he would never get rid of the Ancient Great Demon’s Demon Sense plaguing him.
He had suddenly recalled the Immortal Tree planted in the medicine garden.
That Immortal Tree was indestructible as everlasting as the world itself. It had lived from ancient times to the present.
If he could find a way to fuse it with his body, then he wouldn’t just get the legendary Undying Body, he would also get the Immortal Tree’s power and would be able to contend against the Demon Qi in his body and quell it.
Yang Kai had already refined the Sealed World Bead and he could control the Small Sealed World with his thoughts.
With a mere thought, he arrived into the medicine garden and sat cross-legged in front of the Immortal Tree. He started circulating his Secret Art and tried to absorb the Immortal Tree’s power.
When he had just gotten the Immortal Tree, he had once tried to refine it, yet couldn’t find any way to achieve this feat and had to give up in the end.
At that time, he was a First-Order Origin King, and the reason behind his failure might have been his low cultivation base.
At this moment, he had already reached the First-Order Dao Source Realm, and his cultivation base was higher than last time by a whole Great Realm, so he should give it another try.
But, he quickly discovered that despite his First-Order Dao Source Realm’s cultivation base, he still wasn’t able to absorb the Immortal Tree’s power. The Immortal Tree had taken root in the medicine garden, and it wasn’t really tall, but the astonishing Life Force emitted by it filled the whole Small Sealed World with abundant vitality. Sadly, he still couldn’t absorb and use even a strand of its Life Force.
Yang Kai’s gaze turned gloomy and a wisp of despair welled up in his heart.
Usually, such a weak emotion wouldn’t have been anything serious, but he was now plagued by an Ancient Demon Sense. His despair had been spread out by the Ancient Demon Sense and the whole Small Sealed World’s ambience turned heavy. Even Hua Qing Si, who was in a distant region, was engulfed by despair and a heartbroken expression appeared on her pretty face. She looked quite pitiful!
She had been affected by his emotions and she felt like she saw herself stranded in this strange dimension for life and she stayed here until she grew old then died.
Even on her deathbed, only this huge rock was accompanying her.
She quickly stretched her hand to wipe the corner of her eye and she found out that her finger ended up moist.
“Alas!” The Embodiment let out a heavy sigh.
“Why am I suddenly so heartbroken?” Hua Qing Si raised her head to look at the Embodiment while wiping her eyes ceaselessly. Her tears were flowing out none stop and she could only wipe them one time after the other fruitlessly.
The Embodiment stretched his large hand which wasn’t any smaller than a large door and patted Hua Qing Si’s head.
The beauty’s body was pushed down, and she said in an adorable voice, “I’m so sad! Why did I end up crying so much… Huh? It’s so annoying, my tears won’t stop…”
As she spoke, her eyes had already turned red and swollen like a peach.
“Huh…” The Embodiment exclaimed in surprise once again and he suddenly stood up. His eyes gazed at a distant region, and his eyes trembled intensely as if he had just seen an inconceivable matter. He couldn’t help but cry out, “This is…”
In the medicine garden, Yang Kai was still sitting down cross-legged in front of the Immortal Tree and trying to absorb its power to no avail, yet he ended up absorbing a different power.
The Golden-Silver Tree near the Immortal Tree shook lightly and shone with two different radiances: Extremely pure gold and silver radiance.
The golden and silver radiances weren’t any different than spirits dancing in the wind and they turned into innumerable specks of light, butterfly-like specks of light that revolved around Yang Kai.
Yang Kai was taken aback!
After he had killed the Wood Spirit, he got a seed and planted it, and it had grown into the Golden-Silver Tree.
At that time, the seed had also been both golden and silver and each colour occupied half of the seed surface, but Yang Kai had no idea what kind of seed it was.
However, the Wood Spirit had lived for a long time, and it should have been an Ancient Exotic Ancient Tree that had gained sentience. In other words, that said seed was an Exotic Ancient Tree’s seed.
Originally, he planned to study it slowly, but at this moment, the Golden-Silver Tree released a mysterious power and he was taken aback by it.
While Yang Kai was still in a trance, the golden and silver light specks flew into his body and disappeared.
Yang Kai was surprised and he revealed a bitter smile.
He had no idea about the effect of the golden and silver light specks and he didn’t know whether they would pose any threat to him, but his body had already been engulfed by the abundant Demon Qi and he didn’t mind getting something else. In any case, he was already in trouble.
So, Yang Kai just lowered his guard and allowed them to enter his body.
In the next moment, his body shook and his eyes widened up and shone with bright light.
It looked like the Demon Qi billowing on the surface of his body was restrained by something and it let out a roar, then drilled into his body through his pores.
In a short while, Yang Kai’s body was revealed again.
Meanwhile, the Demon Qi inside his body had been compressed by an unknown force and it gathered in a certain region of his body.
Even though the Demon Qi was pretty terrifying, that mysterious force wasn’t a pushover and it was very powerful. It had driven out the Demon Qi like it was herding sheep and pushed it into his belly.
Soon after, a burning pain transmitted from his belly and he let out a pained cry in spite of himself, but that burning pain quickly turned into a bone-chilling cold.
He couldn’t refrain from shivering, and he felt like even his bloodstream was frozen.
But, before he could get used to this change, it changed back into a burning pain, then cold, and so on.
He didn’t know how long this cycle lasted, and it was only after he had been tormented for so long that a golden and silver light suddenly emanated from his belly.
Yang Kai’s body shook and he faintly realized something. He pulled open his clothes and took a look. He could see two golden and silver lights moving around in his belly like little fish.
Moreover, as they moved around, a mysterious and abstruse pattern was gradually formed, as if it had been imprinted there.
After a moment, the golden and silver light flickered brightly then disappeared. As for Yang Kai, he let out a miserable scream then dropped down unconscious.
A light breeze blew over, and the Small Sealed World regained its calm.
…
In a distant region, the Embodiment was mumbling, “What’s that?”
“What’s what?” Hua Qing Si had already gotten over that boundless sadness and she rubbed her eyes, as she said coyly, “Did that guy die?”
The Embodiment cast a glance at her and said with a smile, “I’ll have to disappoint you, he’s still living well.”
“Damn!” Hua Qing Si gnashed her teeth, “He has made me cry like a little girl.” Her shame was apparent on her face and she said resentfully, “I’ll surely avenge this humiliation.”
After she spoke, she turned into the Embodiment and said, “Big Stone, you’ll help me, won’t you?”
“Huh? Do you have any feasible plan for carrying out your revenge?” The Embodiment gazed at her with great interest.
Hua Qing Si revealed a smile, and as her beautiful hair fluttered in the wind, she looked like the quintessence of beauty, and this said beauty said, “A hero can’t escape a beauty’s honey trap.”
Upon hearing this, the Embodiment nodded and commended her.
In the Small Sealed World.
After an unknown amount of time, Yang Kai slowly woke up.
When his eyes snapped open, the previous scene ran across his mind and he promptly sat up in surprise, then furrowed his brow and started observing the state of his body.
He discovered in surprise that the source of his trouble, the Demon Qi, had disappeared completely and there wasn’t even a wisp of it left in his body.
But, an indescribable pain was spreading from his belly, it was a scorching, yet bone-chilling pain, and it was very strange.
He quickly lowered his head to observe his belly and he discovered a strange golden-silver pattern there, as if it had been branded on his flesh.
“What the hell is this?” Yang Kai observed that mark in bewilderment.
When his consciousness fell upon the mark, his vision went black, as if the whole world had suddenly descended into darkness. Frantic roars were reverberating among the boundless darkness, as if something confined there was attempting to break out.
Yang Kai was astounded and he bit on his tongue. He made use of pain to recover his sobriety.
As he took another look ahead of him, there wasn’t any boundless darkness left, and everything he had just seen was a mere illusion.
“Is it a seal?” He raised his brows and revealed a surprised expression.
At this moment, he finally understood what had happened.
The golden-silver mark branded on his belly was obviously a profound seal, which had sealed the Demon Qi in his body and the strand of Demon Sense in his Knowledge Sea.
“Does such a thing exist in this world?” He let out a muffled shout and his expression changed dramatically.
He had already experienced that Demon Qi and Demon Sense, and was clearly aware of the density of the former and the ferocity of the latter.
Even with his current power, after he had been engulfed by Demon Qi and controlled by Demon Sense, he became able to contend against three First-Order Emperor Realm Masters. Its great power could be discerned from this.
But at this moment, a naturally formed seal suppressed them, and if he didn’t pry into it closely, he wouldn’t have even noticed that his body still contained Demon Qi and Demon Sense. [How strong is this seal?]
Upon thinking of this, Yang Kai turned his head around to gaze at the Golden-Silver Tree, and a stupefied look appeared on his face.
The Golden-Silver Tree had been growing well, yet at this moment, its leaves were yellow and drooping, as if they lacked enough nutriment, while its golden and silver radiance had disappeared completely.
It looked like it had lost most of its vitality!
The seal had obviously been formed by the mysterious power of the Golden-Silver Tree, and it had ended up in this state after its power was extracted.
The Golden-Silver Tree had been in the medicine garden for only a year, but the Small Sealed World’s medicine garden contained innumerable plots of Heavy Earth and five Earth Vein Crystals, which was excellent for spirit grasses’ growth.
A year in the medicine garden was equivalent to a hundred years in the outside world!
The Golden-Silver Tree’s hundred years essence had been extracted by Yang Kai, and it wouldn’t be strange for the natural seal formed by such a thick essence to suppress Ancient Demon Qi.
Upon thinking of this, Yang Kai was shaken up at first, then delight welled up in his heart.
If he wasn’t wrong, then he wouldn’t have to worry about the Demon Sense’s corruption in the future.
He didn’t know how long the seal on his belly would last, but as long as the Golden-Silver Tree had another year here, then it would again form that mysterious power, and even if the seal weakened, he could draw help from the Golden-Silver Tree’s power to continue suppressing the Demon Sense.
He was very curious about what kind of Exotic Ancient Tree possessed such great power!
As such a thought ran across his mind, he stretched his hand and flickered to the Embodiment and Hua Qing Si to where he was.
“Have you resolved it?” The Embodiment observed Yang Kai and didn’t detect any Demon Qi on him. He was quite baffled!
Yang Kai nodded and used his Divine Sense to transmit relevant info to his Embodiment.
After he mulled it over, the Embodiment understood everything. He nodded and said, “So, that’s how it’s!”
The Embodiment also looked toward the Golden-Silver Tree with a flickering gaze.
“Little brother, hi,” Hua Qing Si revealed a faint, yet weird-looking smile with great difficulty. Yang Kai’s former might had traumatized her. Fu Si Tong’s power wasn’t any lower than hers, yet he had been easily swatted to death by Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn’t kill her immediately, but she had been imprisoned by him and didn’t have any sense of security, that’s why, as she spoke, she deliberately revealed her charm. She said, “I was quite worried about you because of your previous dire state.”
Yang Kai cast an indifferent glance at her and didn’t comment over her statement. He said, “I’ll ask you a question.”
“Little brother, go ahead and ask,” Hua Qing Si said sheepishly.
“Can you recognize this tree?” Yang Kai pointed at the Golden-Silver Tree and spoke.
In his eyes, Hua Qing Si was a member of the Star Soul Palace with pretty good power, and she must be quite knowledgeable. That’s why she might know something about it.
But, he quickly noticed that once Hua Qing Si cast a glance at the exotic tree, only confusion appeared in her pretty eyes. She obviously couldn’t recognize it!
But, the Immortal Tree next to it emitted an astounding Life Force, and Hua Qing Si couldn’t help but cast several glances at her and an unusual light flashed past her pretty eyes.
“This is the Immortal Tree,” Yang Kai explained.
Hua Qing Si’s body shook and an astounded look appeared on her at first, then her face immediately fell, and she covered her ears and shook her head. She started mumbling morbidly, “I don’t want to hear anything, I don’t want to hear anything…”
Yang Kai was taken aback and he cast a glance at the Embodiment. He asked, “Did this woman go crazy?”
The Embodiment chuckled in response, “The more she knows, the more precarious her situation will become. She’s quite clever.”
“So, that’s why…” Yang Kai nodded and looked mockingly at Hua Qing Si. He said, “It doesn’t matter whether you heard it or not, in any case, you won’t get back your freedom.”
“Smelly brat!” Anger appeared on Hua Qing Si’s face and she looked at Yang Kai with gnashed teeth. She said, “Did I ever offend you? Why do you have to torment me? Did you forget that I have once saved your life when you were in danger? It’s me who saved you, and if I didn’t intervene in time, you would have been killed by that useless Fu Si Tong, yet you didn’t show any gratitude. Rather, you repaid kindness with malice. I must have been blind to save you. If I had known that it’ll end here, I would have left you to die. At least, I wouldn’t have to suffer in this prison.”
She revealed an infuriated look, and she stood at the moral high ground, as she criticized and denounced Yang Kai with forceful and resounding words, and she only got more worked up the more she spoke and her pretty face got flushed out of fury, while her chest heaved up and down.
Yang Kai didn’t utter a word and only looked at her with great interest. He waited for her to finish her speech before he shook his head and said, “Even if you didn’t intervene, Fu Si Tong wouldn’t have been able to harm me, and if he really dared to attack me, it’s only him who would suffer.”
Yang Kai was very confident about this!
At that time, Yang Kai wasn’t able to control his body, but it wouldn’t be easy for anyone to break through the Demon Qi engulfing his body. If Fu Si Tong dared to assault him, he would have faced the backlash and counterattack of the Demon Qi.
“Despite this, you can’t deny that I intended to save you, and I’m your benefactor. You can’t treat me like this and imprison me there,” Hua Qing Si said through gnashed teeth.
“Didn’t you have your own selfish reasons for saving me?” Yang Kai looked with a smile at her.
Hua Qing Si said angrily, “I have no enmity with you and I didn’t even know you prior to this ordeal, so what selfish reason would I harbour? Don’t tell me you think I have taken a liking to your handsome face?”
“Aren’t you from the Star Soul Palace?” Yang Kai asked this question out of the blue.
“That’s right,” Hua Qing Si said proudly and threatened him. “I’m from the Star Soul Palace. If you’re sensible, then hurry up and let go of me, or you’ll end up facing great trouble.”
“I didn’t kill Han Leng, but I was at the scene when he got killed,” Yang Kai squinted his eyes and spoke.
“What are you talking about?” Hua Qing Si looked around diffidently.
Yang Kai chuckled, “Fu Si Tong came to Maplewood City to investigate Han Leng’s cause of death. So, didn’t you also come here for the same reason?” He said confidently and calmly, “Besides this, I can’t think of any other reasons for masters of your calibre to visit the little and insignificant Maplewood City.”
“Can’t I just say that I have passed by here on the way?” Hua Qing Si said obstinately.
“You really came because of Han Leng’s death, didn’t you?” Yang Kai looked in surprise at her.
This had been only his own conjunction, but now, he was completely sure of it. When he spoke a while ago, Hua Qing Si’s emotions fluctuated a little, but she had hidden it well.
If they were outside, Yang Kai wouldn’t have been able to detect it, but they were now in the Small Sealed World and nothing could escape his Divine Sense.
“Did you just trick me?” Hua Qing Si was taken back and she spoke out of exasperation.
“You have come to investigate a banished disciple. It looks like Han Leng either has an outstanding familial background or carried an important secret.” Yang Kai wore a pensive look and stroked his chin. It looked like he was only talking to himself, but his Divine Sense didn’t leave Hua Qing Si even for a moment. “The former possibility is quite unlikely, as it’s said that the Star Soul Palace has hunted him down many times, and if he has any outstanding familial background, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a miserable state. Then it’s likely the other possibility, isn’t it?”
“I’ll kill you!” Hua Qing Si let out a sharp shout and used her body’s Source Qi to launch an attack against Yang Kai.
She was quite wary of Yang Kai due to his former prowess, but he was now only a First-Order Dao Source Realm and she probably could deal with him.
Yang Kai had only stretched and clenched his hand, and the power of the Principles suddenly moved and stranded Hua Qing Si’s mid-air and she couldn’t break free no matter how hard she struggled. She was quite helpless and she could only cast a meaningful glance at the Embodiment.
A weird expression appeared on Yang Kai’s face and he cast a glance at the Embodiment, he said, “Didn’t you tell her that everything in this world is within my control?”
“Well, she didn’t ask.” The Embodiment laughed in response.
“Then why is she giving you a meaningful glance?”
“She’s probably asking me to charge forward with her.” The Embodiment wore an innocent look.
“Hey, why are you chatting so merrily?” Hua Qing Si turned pale with fright and she yelled at the Embodiment, “Big Stone, don’t you want to regain your freedom? This is your best chance, so why aren’t you making a move, yet?”
The Embodiment spread out his arms and said, “I can’t provide any help, I’m sorry, but you’re by yourself.”
Hua Qing Si was left without a choice and she could only size up her situation, then bite her rosy lips and look at Yang Kai pitifully with her watery eyes. She said softly, “Little Brother, I’ve made a mistake, please let me down.”
The Embodiment said in surprise, “Where did your integrity go?”
“If you shut up, none will take you for a mute,” Hua Qing Si looked at him angrily then said through gnashed teeth, “Traitor!’
An embarrassed look appeared on the Embodiment’s face.
“I have never agreed to join hands with you, why are you calling me a traitor?” The Embodiment looked innocently at Hua Qing Si.
“I don’t care!” Hua Qing Si turned her head sideways and didn’t spare him a glance. She said disdainfully, “Traitor, traitor, traitor…”
“Don’t make a scene here!” Yang Kai snorted coldly and said, “Tell me, what’s Han Leng’s secret?”
“I don’t know,” Hua Qing Si replied bluntly.
“Hehe…” Yang Kai chuckled and said calmly, “It looks like you still don’t understand your current situation… I’ll have to postpone this discussion until you come back to your senses.”
Upon speaking, he waved his hand, and Hua Qing Si who had been stranded mid-air disappeared suddenly. It was unknown where in the Small Sealed World she had been thrown!
Soon after, Yang Kai started weaving hand seals with both hands and sent several seals into the air. It looked like he cast some Secret Technique against Hua Qing Si!
“Even though this woman is pretty dull-witted, she’s not a vile person,” the Embodiment said suddenly.
“I know,” Yang Kai nodded. “If she didn’t want to save me, I wouldn’t have brought her here, and I would have killed her long ago to silence her.”
“It’s fine as long as you don’t go overboard,” the Embodiment said and cast a glance at Yang Kai’s body, then spoke again, “You should quickly treat your injuries.”
Yang Kai nodded and sat down cross-legged next to the medicine garden.
In the previous battle, he had been possessed by the Demon Sense and he fought bravely with no fear of death against three Emperor Realm Masters, and he ended up sustaining a lot of injuries, injuries that contained those said Emperor Realm Masters’ Principle Power. It wasn’t easy to heal those injuries.
If an ordinary Dao Source Realm Master sustained similar injuries, then he could only consume elixirs to stop his injuries from worsening, and he wouldn’t have any means to treat them.
But Yang Kai was within the Small Sealed World, and he could draw help from this dimension’s World Principles to erase the remnant Principle Power in his injuries.
Three days quickly elapsed, and Yang Kai finished treating his injuries. He had drawn help from the Life Force emitted by the Immortal Tree in the medicine garden to speed up his body’s recovery power, and that’s why he completely recovered from his injuries in such a short time, there weren’t even any scars left.
However, he had just gone through a great battle and his body was still pretty feeble. He had to recuperate for several days to recover to his peak state.
Thereafter, he left the Small Sealed World and appeared within a guest room in the Zhang family’s manor.
Liu Yan had been keeping guard near the Sealed World Bead all along, and her pretty eyes immediately lit up upon seeing Yang Kai, and she said out of delight, “Master…”
As she spoke, she observed Yang Kai thoroughly, and she heaved a sigh of relief upon ascertaining his well-being
“You’ve gone through a lot.” Yang Kai nodded at her then collected the Sealed World Bead.
Liu Yan said, “That’s my duty.”
“Seems like you have advanced into the Dao Source Realm. Congratulations!”
Liu Yan had been sleeping all along within the magma beneath the Yuan Furnace Mountain and she absorbed the magma’s fire power. Yang Kai had detected that she would shortly make an advancement, yet she hadn’t achieved it even after a whole month, and that’s why he set off toward Maplewood City alone.
However, she had fortunately returned at the most crucial juncture and helped Yang Kai recover his sobriety by making use of the close mental bond between them. If she hadn’t shown up there, the consequences would have been too horrible to imagine.
“I’m already at the Dao Source Realm, but I’m still too lacking in comparison to you,” Liu Yan said with a faint smile.
“You don’t have to disparage yourself. You aren’t like ordinary beings and don’t have any outstanding advantage. But since Heaven has allowed you to reach your current realm, then it’ll surely allow you to walk further down your road.”
“I hope so…” Liu Yan revealed a longing look.
“By the way, have a look at this, is it useful to you?” Yang Kai suddenly recalled something and took it out of his Space Ring.
When this object appeared, the whole room’s temperature rose and a scorching aura pervaded it.
“This is…” Liu Yan’s pretty eyes contracted and she looked in shock at the object in Yang Kai’s hands.
It was a feather, a one-meter-long golden feather with a black and lively flame burning on it, a flame seemingly able to burn even souls.
“It’s a Luan Feng’s feather,” Yang Kai explained.
He had gotten the feather of Luan Feng in Clear Jade Mountain. It wasn’t a fallen feather of a young Luan Feng, but rather the Divine Feather of a fully grown Divine Spirit.
Upon hearing Yang Kai’s statement, Liu Yan’s body shook as he expected and she stared in a daze at Luan Feng’s feather with her shivering pretty eyes. She said, “Can I refine it?”
“That’s what I hope,” Yang Kai handed over the feather to her with a smile.
Liu Yan took it and stroked it fondly.
Upon seeing this, Yang Kai sent her into the Sealed World Bead and left her there to refine it.
Soon after, he left the room and went to meet the Zhang family’s members.
When the Zhang family’s members saw Yang Kai, they all inquired about his well-being, and it was especially so for Zhang Ruo Xi. She was so bashful that she couldn’t utter a single word, but Yang Kai could feel her concern and relief through her frequent glances at him.
After Yang Kai had a chat with the Zhang family members, he went back to his room, then took out the Sound Bead and told Mo Xiao Qi that he was already out of harm’s way.
Mo Xiao Qi got pretty excited and promptly said that she was coming to see him, then hung up on him before he could stop her. He could only let out a bitter laugh in response!
After a short while, Yang Kai detected several powerful auras closing in from the distance and a person’s voice reached him before their arrival. “Hahaha, brother Yang, we’ve come to pay you a visit!”
A voice full of vigour reverberated!
Upon discerning who had just spoken, the Zhang family descended into chaos and they all lined up outside to welcome him under the lead of the Zhang family’s matriarch.
After a short while, there was a bright flash and several silhouettes appeared.
The Zhang family’s old madam bowed and shouted, “City Lord, you’ve honoured our humble abode with your presence, and we’re sorry for failing to welcome you properly.”
The other people had also greeted Duan Yuan Shan.
Duan Yuan Shan waved his hand and said with a smile, “Old Madam, you don’t have to be so polite, I’ve come uninvited and it’s me who should ask for your forgiveness. I’ve come here to see brother Yang and I wonder if he’s…”
“Senior Yang is resting in our guest room. Sirs, please come with me,” The old madam had been speaking calmly, yet anyone could discern her repressed excitement.
Usually, the little Zhang family wouldn’t get into the City Lord’s eyes, and it was even impossible for him to leave Maplewood City to visit them, yet at this moment, this impossible matter had occurred.
They knew well it was all because of Yang Kai, but this was still a great honour for the Zhang family.
Only a bunch of orphans and widows were left in the Zhang family and other families might set their eyes on them, but if what happened on this day spread out, then those families eyeing them wouldn’t dare to make a move against them, and their survival might even depend on the Zhang family’s attitude.
The old madam had finally seen hope for the Zhang family’s rise and she was quite grateful to Yang Kai.
“Sorry for bothering you,” Duan Yuan Shan said with a faint smile and was about to land with his companions, yet one of them couldn’t wait any longer and turned into a light beam that ventured into the Zhang family’s manor and disappeared in one of its rooms.
“Why is he so anxious and impatient?” Upon seeing this, Duan Yuan Shan could only laugh bitterly, and he didn’t reprimand him.
In the guest room, Kang Si Ran pushed open the door and entered, and he found Yang Kai gazing at him with a smile.
“Brother Yang, are you… alright?” Kang Si Ran observed Yang Kai’s state nervously, and he heaved a sigh of relief only after assessing his well-being. “I heard from the City Lord that you got corrupted by the Demon Qi outside the city and you had almost turned into a demon. It really gave me a scare!”
“Something like that happened, but fortunately, I have crossed that crisis without suffering a mishap,” Yang Kai nodded with a smile.
Kang Si Ran felt ashamed of himself and said, “At that time, I had been trying to break through my bottleneck in secluded cultivation and had no idea about what’s happening outside and didn’t get any information about it until I left seclusion two days ago. But, you had already disappeared then and I couldn’t find you despite searching for you with the City Lord. I really have no face to stand before you.”
Kang Si Ran’s expression was sincere and those were heartfelt words.
After all, he had become a Dao Source Realm Cultivator thanks to the Dao Source Pill given to him by Yang Kai.
Moreover, Kang Si Ran detected faintly that the Dao Source Pill with Pill Veins didn’t just help him advance into the next Great Realm and it had also altered something within him.
He couldn’t describe with words what it had altered, but he could still feel that the First-Order Dao Source Realm wasn’t the end of his Martial Path and he still had hope to advance further and peer into the Emperor Realm’s mysteries.
This wasn’t any different than giving him a new lease of life, and he felt like he would never be able to repay this great favour.
Yang Kai’s favour wasn’t any different than a mountain weighing on his shoulders, yet when Yang Kai was facing grave danger, he was in the dark, and he felt very ashamed of himself.
However, upon seeing that Yang Kai was safe and sound, he finally felt a lot better.
Yang Kai said earnestly, “Brother Kang, thanks for your concern!”
“Please don’t thank me…” Kang Si Ran scratched his face.
“Shopkeeper Kang, you’ve got a good relationship with Brother Yang,” Duan Yuan Shan’s voice reached them, as he entered the room, followed closely by Mo Xiao Qi.
Upon seeing Yang Kai, Mo Xiao Qi’s eyes lit up and she stuck out her tongue sheepishly. She said, “I wanted to come alone, but when City Lord Duan and Shopkeeper Kang heard that you had come back, they insisted on following me here…”
“Miss Mo Xiao Qi, that isn’t your fault, I’m the one to blame for coming uninvited. Brother Yang, I hope that I didn’t disturb your rest.” Duan Yuan Shan chuckled and spoke.
“City Lord Duan, you don’t have to treat me as a stranger,” Yang Kai smiled and nodded at Mo Xiao Qi. “Our room is simple and crude, and you can sit wherever you see fit.”
Duan Yuan Shan didn’t act with reservation and he just picked a chair and sat down, while Mo Xiao Qi and Kang Si Ran had also done the same.
After they all took their seats, Duan Yuan Shan said with a solemn expression, “Brother Yang, I have to apologize to you.”
“City Lord, what do you mean?” Yang Kai acted dumb and asked in confusion.
Duan Yuan Shan said, “At that time, Zhuang Pan escaped and the Black Tortoise Seven Sections Array collapsed by itself, while you got corrupted by Demon Qi, and I couldn’t save you in time. I really couldn’t get over it and I feel ashamed of myself every time I recall it.”
Yang Kai shook his head and said, “City Lord Duan, it isn’t as grave as you said. I was well aware of the situation then, and it wasn’t your fault.”
Upon hearing Yang Kai’s statement, Duan Yuan Shan said with a smile, “Brother Yang, you’re a sensible and just man.”
“Humph, you’re only a spineless coward,” Kang Si Ran next to them spoke indignantly.
“Shopkeeper Kang, when did I ever offend you?” Duan Yuan Shan looked in confusion at Kang Si Ran.
Honestly speaking, he wasn’t on friendly terms with Kang Si Ran, but he had known him for a long time. After all, Kang Si Ran was from the Violet Source Chamber of Commerce and had an outstanding background. He didn’t dare to belittle him despite his low power.
But, after Kang Si Ran advanced into the Dao Source Realm, he discovered that the former’s attitude toward him turned quite impertinent, and it had even turned for the worse upon learning of Yang Kai’s incident.
Duan Yuan Shan had been both confused and irritated by this, and he felt like Kang Si Ran got conceited after gaining great power.
At this moment, he got mocked in front of Yang Kai and he couldn’t stand this any longer. His anger was apparent through his words.
“City Lord Duan, you really know how to joke, how can a great City Lord offend an insignificant person like me?” Kang Si Ran said in a strange tone.
“You…” Duan Yuan Shan’s fury was apparent on his face.
After all, he was still a City Lord, and Kang Si Ran didn’t just treat me disrespectfully, he still mocked him brazenly, and anyone would be displeased by this.
“Sirs, please let me say a few words,” Yang Kai mulled this over. He was aware of why Kang Si Ran couldn’t stand Duan Yuan Shan, and he looked at him and said with a smile, “At that time, City Lord Duan wasn’t able to provide any help and didn’t have any other alternative. He could only protect himself and retreat, and he can’t be blamed for his actions.”
“Brother Yang, you’re the sensible one here,” Duan Yuan Shan snorted coldly and his expression turned for the better.
“Is that true?” Kang Si Ran furrowed his brows and cast a glance at Yang Kai, then cupped his fist at Duan Yuan Shan and apologized, “Brother Yang has already explained what happened and I have to apologize to you. I was too impulsive, and I hope that you won’t take offence.”
Duan Yuan Shan’s expression changed and he said, “Brother Kang, never mind!”
Even though he said so calmly, he was quite shocked inwardly. Kang Si Ran’s attitude had changed so drastically due to a mere word from Yang Kai, and it looked like Kang Si Ran obeyed every word of Yang Kai.
If this wasn’t the case, a Dao Source Realm Master from the Violet Source Chamber of Commerce wouldn’t have given in to him and apologized.
[These two’s relationship isn’t as simple as it looks!] Duan Yuan Shan started making guesses inwardly. He really couldn’t understand how Yang Kai could make a cultivator of the same realm obey and serve him.
“City Lord Duan, what about Zhuang Pan?” Yang Kai’s expression suddenly turned gloomy and he raised a question.
Zhuang Pan might not be the main cause of all the issues, but he still played a part in making the whole situation worse. If this cowardly rat hadn’t escaped ahead of others, then the Black Tortoise Seven Sections Array wouldn’t collapse in a short while, and they would have been able to keep going for a while.
Moreover, Qin Zhao Yang wouldn’t have sustained injuries and Du Li Shen wouldn’t die on the spot… As for Yang Kai, he wasn’t really sure whether this would have been enough to save him from the Demon Sense and Demon Qi.
Yang Kai already had some issues with Zhuang Pan and he abhorred his cowardly actions.
“He has gone missing,” Duan Yuan Shan said with a composed look. “I wasn’t able to pick good people, and it’s my fault. If I had known earlier that Zhuang Pan was so cowardly, I wouldn’t have allowed him to take part in setting up the array and almost harm everyone.”
Duan Yuan Shan stopped for a moment then said, “After Zhuang Pan escaped, he didn’t go back to Maplewood City. A person with his cultivation base would likely end up corrupted by Demon Qi. However, from how things played out, I doubt he’s dead. It’s just that we don’t know where he is currently hiding.”
“Don’t let me run into him, or else I’ll make him regret being born into this world,” Kang Si Ran snorted coldly and murderously.
Duan Yuan Shan cast a glance at him then said to Yang Kai, “By the way, Brother Yang… What happened later on that day?”
Upon hearing his question, Mo Xiao Qi and Kang Si Ran also looked at Yang Kai curiously.
Yang Kai said with a bitter smile, “I’m not sure, I had been corrupted by Demon Qi and my Knowledge Sea was a mess. I could only feel that I was engulfed by darkness, and by the time I woke up, everything had already come to an end.”
He had already expected that they would inquire about this affair’s ins and outs, and he prepared an appropriate excuse ahead of time.
After he spoke, he then said in confusion, “But I detected several astonishing energy ripples and I wonder whether this really occurred.”
Duan Yuan Shan replied, “Brother Yang, your senses aren’t deceiving you, the Heavenly Martial Holy Land’s Senior Chen and two other masters of great sects arrived and it looked like they carried out a great battle against someone outside the city.”
“Huh?” Yang Kai revealed a surprised look, “Where are they now and did they tell you anything?”
An embarrassed look appeared on Duan Yuan Shan’s face and he said, “They didn’t drop by Maplewood City and I don’t know where they went after the battle.”
He was Maplewood City’s Lord and it was quite embarrassing for him to admit this. After all, those people dropped into his territory, yet they didn’t bother to greet him, and they didn’t even notify him. They obviously didn’t take him seriously!
He was only a Second-Order Dao Source Realm Cultivator and he didn’t dare to denounce those Emperor Realm Masters.
“Then, does this mean it’s those seniors that have extinguished the Demon Qi?” Yang Kai said solemnly, “As expected. Those seniors’ means are impressive and their power is astounding. They made a great contribution then retreated and left right away. Admirable!”
Duan Yuan Shan’s expression turned stern and he said, “Our Maplewood City’s crisis has already come to an end and we must express our thanks to those seniors.”
Even Kang Si Ran and Mo Xiao Qi approved of his opinion and they obviously assumed that the Demon Qi disappeared suddenly thanks to the Emperor Realm Masters.
Yang Kai was glad to see this and he wouldn’t need to divulge the truth.
“Huh, Brother Yang, I have come here to visit you and… Ask something of you: Are you willing to reside in Maplewood City?”
“Long-term residence?” Yang Kai raised his brows.
“That’s right.” Duan Yuan Shan nodded. “According to the intel in our hands, you aren’t from any sect and faction and you also don’t belong to any family. If you stay in Maplewood City, then I’m willing to give you the Vice City Lord’s position. You also know that Zhuang Pan was the Vice City Lord, but he has already escaped and his position is vacant, while you are also endowed with enough power to take over this position.”
After he spoke, he looked expectantly at Yang Kai, as if he really wished for him to agree.
“Well…”An embarrassed look appeared on Yang Kai’s face. When they had been defending Maplewood City together, he had already heard similar news from Qin Zhao Yang and knew that Duan Yuan Shan wanted him to take over Maplewood City’s third Vice City Lord’s position.
At that time, Yang Kai’s reply had been vague and ambiguous, and he didn’t expect that Duan Yuan Shan would drop in personally to question him.
“Brother Yang is a man with outstanding talent and will sooner or later soar into the sky. How can the little Maplewood City keep him?” Kang Si Ran next to them spoke.
Duan Yuan Shan cast a glance at him then looked at Yang Kai. He said, “I understand!”
Yang Kai said with a bitter smile, “City Lord Duan, I’m really sorry, but I’m used to travelling alone and I don’t stay in the same place for long, but I still appreciate your kindness.”
“It’s no bother, you have already given me an answer and that’s enough for me.”
Mo Xiao Qi next to them giggled and said, “Brother Yang, whenever you are about to leave Maplewood City, don’t forget to notify me. I want to accompany you and travel the world with you.”
Yang Kai cast a glance at her and teased her, “I won’t refuse a beauty’s company.”
“Pah!” Mo Xiao Qi’s face got flushed and she said coyly, “Brother Yang, you’re so wicked!”
Duan Yuan Shan and Kang Si Ran burst into laughter, but when they sighted upon the large birthmark on Mo Xiao Qi’s face, they couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. If she didn’t have this birthmark, she would have been a great beauty, even though this birthmark still couldn’t cover up her beauty, it had already ruined her overall look.
Soon after, the three people chatted for a while before Duan Yuan Shan and his companions stood up and bid farewell to Yang Kai.
“By the way, Brother Yang,” When he was about to leave, Duan Yuan Shan suddenly turned around and said. “I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?” Yang Kai looked in confusion at him.
“It’s about the guy which you asked our men to imprison, I don’t know what means he used, but he has already disappeared from the city jail.”
Yang Kai raised his brows and said, “Do you mean the old swindler?”
“That’s right!” Duan Yuan Shan revealed a strange look. “At that time, all of the city’s cultivators had been defending the city and none looked after him, but his power had already been restricted by your seal and someone with his cultivation base shouldn’t have been able to escape, yet, the jailer came to report that he had disappeared and didn’t leave any trails behind him. It’s just too strange!”
“Hehe…” Yang Kai let out a laugh and said, “I know.”
Duan Yuan Shan was taken aback and he said in surprise, “You have already expected this outcome?”
Yang Kai didn’t seem surprised at all, and Duan Yuan Shan could easily discern the reason behind this.
“It was merely a guess, but it looks like that old man is anything but simple,” The corners of Yang Kai’s mouth twitched.
The old swindler travelled alone from the Forest City to ask for reinforcement from Maplewood City and he depended upon his Third-Order Origin King’s power to venture among the Demon Qi without suffering any harm. He had obviously resorted to some unknown means to achieve this feat!
Later on, Yang Kai put a seal on him, yet, he suddenly disappeared from the jail cell.
Ordinary Origin Kings couldn’t achieve those feats, and it was a wonder what secrets he harboured and how came to possess such mysterious skills.
“Should we hunt him down?” Duan Yuan Shan asked. “If you want, I don’t mind providing help.”
“No need!” Yang Kai shook his head. “I imprisoned him only out of curiosity to see whether I could get my hands on the secret skill that helped him venture into areas with Demon Qi freely and see whether our city’s cultivators could make use of it. But, the crisis has already come to an end and we don’t need to carry out this plan any longer. It isn’t like he has done anything outrageous, he’s only fond of swindling people off their wealth.”
“Since you have given a word, then I’ll let him off the hook,” Duan Yuan Shan laughed and cupped his fists at him. He said, “Brother Yang, you should rest and recuperate in the next few days, we’ll now take our leave.”
Yang Kai nodded and saw them off with his gaze then went back to a side room and sat down.
After an hour, his eyes snapped open and he said calmly, “Since you have already arrived, then come in, what are you doing so stealthily outside?”
When Yang Kai’s voice had just echoed out, someone rushed inside swiftly, then waved his hand to close the door.
Upon seeing the person that had arrived, Yang Kai cupped his fists and broke into laughter. “Old Sir Qin!”
The person who had arrived was none other than the Qin family’s Old Ancestor, Qin Zhao Yang.
“Brother Yang!” Qin Zhao Yang returned his greeting with a slightly embarrassed look plastered on his face.
Yang Kai said, “Old Sir Qin, weren’t you recuperating at home? Why did you drop by?”
Qin Zhao Yang’s complexion was anything but good, and it was obviously because he still hadn’t recovered from the injuries he sustained last time, yet strangely enough, he didn’t visit Yang Kai along with Duan Yuan Shan, but rather sneaked here alone.
As Yang Kai mulled it over, he understood what he was up to.
“My injury is nothing serious!” Qin Zhao Yang waved his arms and looked for a seat, then sat down and said, “Brother Yang, after I heard that you came back safely, I rushed over here and didn’t expect that the City Lord would forestall me.”
“So, that’s why you hid outside?” Yang Kai chuckled.
“I have something to tell you and can’t do so in front of the City Lord,” Qin Zhao Yang said awkwardly.
“Sigh!” Yang Kai let out a sigh and looked at him earnestly then said, “I can more or less guess what you want, and I can only politely decline.”
Qin Zhao Yang said curiously, “I still didn’t say anything yet, how come you know what I want?”
Yang Kai let out a bitter laugh and said, “Mister Qin, aren’t you here to ask me to join your Qin family?”
“Is it so obvious?” Qin Zhao Yang was taken aback.
Yang Kai nodded. “Old Sir Qin, you have already made insinuations several times and only a fool won’t guess your intentions… Besides, I heard that the Qin family took over the Jiang family’s large industry, and if you don’t have enough power to rule over it, you won’t be able to deter the restless people eyeing it.”
“Brother Yang, you know me well.”
Upon hearing him, Qin Zhao Yang’s eyes lit up as he nodded, then said, “It’s as you said and that’s why I came to pay you a visit. I want to invite you to undertake our Qin family’s Supreme Elder position, whose status isn’t any lesser than mine. If we join hands, the other old geezers won’t dare to run amuck.”
Yang Kai sighed and said, “I have already refused the Vice City Lord’s position offered by City Lord Duan.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhao Yang’s expression turned gloomy and he said in disappointment, “Is that so…”
They were both astute people and Yang Kai didn’t have to provide a detailed explanation. Qin Zhao Yang had already understood that Yang Kai wouldn’t accept his offer.
Yang Kai had just refused Duan Yuan Shan’s invitation, so if he accepted Qin Zhao Yang’s invitation, Duan Yuan Shan would surely take offence and might assume that Yang Kai looked down upon him, and he might even harbour a grudge against him.
At that time, even the Qin family couldn’t stay out of this dispute.
He would get a Supreme Elder, but would end up offending the City Lord. This wasn’t a worthwhile deal and Qin Zhao Yang knew this clearly.
Yang Kai looked at Qin Zhao Yang and said ashamedly, “Actually, you have taught me the Black Tortoise Seven Sections Array’s arrangement method, and if you need any help, I won’t refuse you. But, in regards to this matter, I won’t be of any help to your Qin family, rather, I would only harm you. So, I’ll have to disappoint you.”
“I understand,” Qin Zhao Yang nodded and spoke.
“But…” Yang Kai changed the subject and said, “If the Qin family needs help, then I don’t mind making a move as your friend. When the time comes, you can go ahead and ask for my assistance.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhao Yang raised his brows and chuckled. “Since I already got your word, I can set my mind at ease.”
He looked pretty delighted, as even though he didn’t achieve his trip’s objective, he still got a promise from Yang Kai and didn’t come here in vain.
Qin Zhao Yang said meaningfully, “Perhaps, I’ll shortly need your help.”
Yang Kai nodded and said, “I’ll await news from you.”
At that time, Qin Zhao Yang taught Yang Kai the complete arrangement method of the Black Tortoise Seven Sections Array through a jade slip, and he asked only for a promise in exchange, a promise to ensure Qin Yu’s safety, and take her away with him in case of the city’s fall.
But, what had happened later was beyond everyone’s expectation. The Demon Crisis had been more daunting than dangerous and the former’s promise had turned useless.
However, Yang Kai had already gotten benefits from him, yet, he refused Qin Zhao Yang’s invitation. Feeling ashamed of himself, he wanted to look for an opportunity to repay this favour.
The two people chatted for a while before Qin Zhao Yang stood and took his leave.
He was still injured and needed to recuperate. Besides, the Qin family had just taken over the Jiang family’s large industry and was awfully busy. He really couldn’t spare the time to spend here and couldn’t afford to waste his precious time.
After Qin Zhao Yang left, Yang Kai finally got some time for himself and he started adjusting his breathing.
He had just gone through demonization and his body was quite feeble. The great power, which greatly surpassed his current cultivation base, didn’t come at no cost.
For the next few days, Yang Kai stayed in the guest room.
…
On a certain day, Yang Kai’s eyes snapped open. His eyes shone brightly and were full of vigour. He didn’t look tired and feeble any longer, and it could be said that he had already recovered to his peak.
Yang Kai first observed his body’s state and he felt quite relieved to discover that there weren’t any hidden injuries left in it.
He didn’t rush to leave at the first moment. He just took out the Sealed World Bead and, as his body flickered, he entered it.
The Small Sealed World was as serene as usual, but after Yang Kai observed it with his senses for a while, he couldn’t help but cry in surprise. He detected an unusually strong power at a certain corner of the Small Sealed World.
His body moved and he directly descended upon that location.
Liu Yan was sitting cross-legged in front of him with her hands crossed in front of her. She was circulating her Secret Technique!
She was engulfed by berserk lightning fire. Fire was running amok and serpentine lightning was dancing within a perimeter of dozens of miles around her.
There was still a giant phantom image behind Liu Yan, a phantom image of a bird with unfolded wings, as if it would soar into the sky at any moment.
“A Luan Feng!” Yang Kai looked in surprise at the phantom image.
It was the phantom image of the Ancient Divine Spirit, Luan Feng, which he had once seen at close distance, but it was still a mere projection and wasn’t alive.
Despite this, it still emitted a Divine Spirit’s aura and indomitable black flames with a great imposing manner were burning on the phantom image.
Liu Yan’s expression was quite tense, as if her Secret Technique had reached a critical juncture.
After Yang Kai observed her for a while, he realized that she was refining Luan Feng’s feather and her progress was good, but it still was an arduous task for her.
Even though he was the Small Sealed World’s master, he couldn’t provide her with any help and she could only depend upon her will and resolution.
If she could refine it successfully, her strength would rise further, but if she failed, she would suffer a grave backlash.
Fortunately, Liu Yan had been absorbing the Sun Essence and tempering her body for years, and she was already used to intense energy, or else, it wouldn’t have been possible for her to refine Luan Feng’s Divine Feather with her First-Order Dao Source Realm’s cultivation base. However, her success and failure still depended upon her luck.
The Embodiment was sitting solemnly in a distant region and observing Liu Yan’s situation closely.
Upon seeing the main body looking at him, the Embodiment nodded in response and his implication was clearly evident.
The Embodiment was keeping watch over Liu Yan, if she suffered any mishap, he would get notified immediately. So, he could set his mind at ease and leave.
His body moved again and he arrived in another region of the Small Sealed World.
It was vacant land, and a shivering silhouette was holding onto her knees and sitting down. It was as if she was trying to hide in a corner, far from people. Such a sight would make people wonder what kind of traumatizing experience and torment she had just gone through. The woman’s hair was a mess, her face pale and her pretty eyes were looking around warily, while fright and alarm were apparent on her face.
Yang Kai had appeared before her, yet she was oblivious to it, as if she couldn’t see him.
“This…” Yang Kai looked at her and mumbled, “This should be enough, right?”
Upon speaking, he snapped his fingers.
The snap’s noise wasn’t loud, yet when it fell upon Hua Qing Si’s ears, it wasn’t any different than a deafening bell noise. Her body suddenly shook and she raised her head. She suddenly discovered that the boundless darkness engulfing her had been scattered and replaced by dazzling light.
A person, which she had cursed ceaselessly and wished to hack into pieces, had appeared next to her and was observing her lazily.
Upon seeing that person’s face, the fright and suffering Hua Qing Si had gone through in the past few days turned into a raging desire for revenge and she shouted, “I’ll kill you!”
As she spoke, she shot toward Yang Kai swiftly. Her body turned into a hundred butterflies that covered the land and they quickly enveloped Yang Kai tightly.
Yang Kai raised his hand and hacked it toward an empty region, while completely ignoring the hundred butterflies.
As a collision sound echoed out, his palm hit something…
“Ouch…” Hua Qing Si’s body fell off the void and the hundred butterflies disappeared completely. She was holding onto her head and moving back ceaselessly. She was in so much pain that tears almost flowed out of her pretty eyes.
“It looks like…” Yang Kai observed her calmly and said, “You still don’t understand your current situation, I should give you more time to reflect on it before having another discussion.”
After he spoke, he was about to resort to the same old measure, but Hua Qing Si suddenly cried sharply, “No! Don’t! I’ve made a mistake, and I don’t dare to resort to mischief again, please… Forgive me!”
In the boundless darkness, she had been killed by some strange beings many times every day and she could clearly feel death looming over every time. None would be able to stand this torment for long!
When she had been killed for the first time, she assumed that she was dead for real. But, she quickly came back to life a short while later.
However, life had been worse for her than death, as every once in a while, she would be killed by some strange beings.
After a lot of deaths, she finally understood that she was stranded in a pretty advanced illusion; an illusory cycle of life and death.
Every day, she would die at least several hundred times, and she had almost gotten numb and used to it.
If she wasn’t endowed with decent strength, this torment would have been enough to drive her crazy.
When she had sighted upon the main culprit, Yang Kai, flames of anger raged in her heart and she got daring, but she had been subdued by him with one move.
She was thoroughly in despair!
“Pretty good, I’m gratified that you have become so sensible,” Yang Kai cast a glance at her and nodded, still standing calmly.