The violent movements subsided as everyone’s warped perception slowly returned to normal.
All of them were horrified when they looked up as Golden Rainbow Province had literally exploded. The Spirit Province had shattered into countless pieces which now drifted about randomly in the void, together with broken corpses which were scattered about here and there.
Golden Rainbow Province was thoroughly destroyed!
Without the protection of the Grand Array, the Spirit Province with several tens of thousands of years of inheritance was unable to withstand the fierce battle. Innumerable disciples from Golden Rainbow Province were either killed or injured. Only a small number of people survived the brutality of the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel’s impact, not because they were stronger than the rest, but simply because they were luckier.
On one of the broken pieces stood Li Luo Shui as she fell into a dazed state. At this moment, this Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was battered, and her hair was a mess.
Although she had successfully parried the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, she wasn’t unharmed. She found it extremely difficult to deal with the eerie Space-Time Strength that was now corroding her physique and Small Universe.
On the other hand, Yang Kai was panting heavily. He felt as though all his energy had been sucked out of him, and his Small Universe had never been emptier. Although the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel was powerful, he hadn’t fully mastered this new Space-Time Strength which was why he wasn’t able to control how much force he wanted to exert. The consumption of energy just to use the Divine Ability was terrifying.
However, even though he had used his most powerful Divine Ability, he was still unable to kill Li Luo Shui, which went to show that the gap between the Sixth-Order and Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm was indeed too wide to close.
Still, holding his spear in one hand, he pointed at Li Luo Shui and drew a deep breath. As his chest bulged, he bellowed, “Come!”
Her hair flapped in the air as she looked in Yang Kai’s direction with a gaze filled with murderous intent. Before she could even make a move though, her expression changed. Following that, her aura became extremely unstable as her face alternated between pale and livid.
Li Luo Shui sprayed out a mouthful of blood, and as if struck by lightning, she staggered backwards as a chaotic World Force started exuding from her petite figure.
With a vicious-looking gaze, she shot a glare at Yang Kai as though she was trying to imprint the man’s face in the deepest part of her mind before she snarled through blood-soaked clenched teeth, “This Queen will never forget what you’ve done to her today, and swears she will seek revenge!”
Right after she finished speaking, more blood streamed out of her mouth. Then, she moved and dashed into the distance.
“Where do you think you’re going!?” Yang Kai bellowed and attempted to chase after her. He certainly knew that he had to kill this enemy to avoid future calamity. Li Luo Shui was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so if she wasn’t killed today, she would become a huge threat in the future.
However, after taking a few steps forward, he staggered and almost lost his balance. He felt a burning sensation in his chest which made it hard for him to breathe. His Small Universe was in turmoil, making it impossible for him to focus.
Stabbing his spear into the ground, Yang Kai looked up, but quickly realised that Li Luo Shui was nowhere to be found. Unresigned, he pounded his fist on the ground.
The Proprietress dashed towards him and supported his weight before asking worriedly, “How are you?”
Yang Kai’s aura was extremely unstable. Unable to speak, he just shook his head to indicate that he was fine. Then, he quickly sat down with his legs crossed and emptied his mind in an attempt to stabilise his Small Universe.
Mao Zhe and the others took a glance at him before letting out a breath of relief.
The battle today had been extremely dangerous. They had never expected that they would have to directly face a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master and even engage in a life-and-death battle with her one day.
More amazingly, all of the participants had survived even though they were severely injured.
With that said, all this was thanks to Yang Kai. If he hadn’t borne most of the attacks from Li Luo Shui, a number of them would have been critically injured or even died.
The outcome was acceptable. It had to be noted that the person they faced wasn’t an ordinary Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; she was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who had used the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law inside her Sect’s Headquarters. It was more difficult to deal with such a person than an average Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters as the power she was able to unleash was simply horrifying.
In the end, Li Luo Shui fled from the scene. It wasn’t because she was wary of Yang Kai’s strength, but rather because something had gone wrong with her Small Universe.
The Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law had a very serious backlash. Although she was able to increase her power significantly for a short time following the infusion of an immense force, she would also be left with an unimaginable potential danger as this was a heterogeneous force.
While they were in an intense battle, the mixed World Force continuously assaulted her Small Universe, which eventually made her lose the power to fight. If she forcefully kept exerting her strength, her Small Universe would completely destabilize. By then, without the need for anyone else to make a move, she would lose her life following the explosion of her Small Universe.
At the thought of this, Mao Zhe felt extremely fortunate.
If Li Luo Shui hadn’t suffered from the backlash of the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law at that moment, all of them at the scene would have been killed except for Yang Kai, who might have been able to escape since he was a Master of the Dao of Space.
Li Luo Shui probably wouldn’t be able to get her revenge anytime soon either since she had to deal with the backlash of the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law. Unless she could completely get rid of the impurities left in her Small Universe due to using this Forbidden Technique, she wouldn’t appear again.
Such a process might take her a few years, several dozen years, or even a few hundred years to complete depending on the extent of the damage.
These seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters sat down in different places and focused on recuperation. Yang Kai was the most severely wounded in the battle, and after he used his Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, he was on his last legs as his Small Universe descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, Chef and Accountant led the others to clean up the battlefield.
The Spirit Province where Golden Rainbow Province was located was shattered, and all enemy Open Heaven Realm Masters were killed. As for the remaining disciples, they were either dead or injured, with the survivors having no idea where they should go.
Chef and the others didn’t make things difficult for them as these people were merely disciples with weak cultivations, so there wasn’t a need to kill them. They simply allowed these people to flee.
Time went by pretty quickly as Yang Kai remained seated for an entire year.
It took him half a year before he managed to stabilize his Small Universe this time. It was only now that he realised just how critical the Small Universe was to an Open Heaven Realm Master. The Small Universe was the source of power and the foundation of an Open Heaven Realm Master. Everything about the Small Universe was closely related to the cultivator’s Grand Dao.
It took him another half a year to recover to his peak.
One year after Yang Kai sat down to recuperate, he finally opened his eyes.
He remained seated on one of the broken pieces of Spirit Province and looked around to see the Proprietress and the others were seated nearby, cultivating in silence.
Noticing some movement, the Proprietress opened her eyes and took a glance over at him. As their eyes met, she put on a faint smile, “You’re finally awake.”
Yang Kai nodded and got to his feet. After looking around, he realised that the people who had left the Shadowless Cave Heaven with him were still around, and the ship was anchored a short distance away.
Mao Zhe and the others opened their eyes as well. Their injuries were less severe than Yang Kai’s, so it only took them a few months to fully recover, then they just waited for Yang Kai to awaken.
Yang Kai briefly asked about the battle that took place a year ago and learned that some of the Low-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters on his side were killed by the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province when they were stuck in the mist.
Life could be fragile at times, and there was nothing he could do except pay a silent tribute to them.
Although some of the Low-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were killed, Yang Kai had gained tremendous benefits after the battle.
While Yang Kai was recuperating back then, Chef and the others were responsible for cleaning up the battlefield. The entire Golden Rainbow Province was destroyed in the struggle, but besides Li Luo Shui, the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, and some other weaker Open Heaven Realm Masters who had fled early on, the rest were all killed.
Only the inheritance of Golden Rainbow Province that had been accumulated over a long time was left behind.
It could be said that they had obtained the entire inheritance of Golden Rainbow Province.
Although Golden Rainbow Province was just a Second Class great force, they were pretty wealthy as they had been in existence for a long time. Chef and the others collected all the items and sorted them out before putting them into different Space Rings, which were then given to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn’t intend to keep all these items for himself of course, so after the ship departed from the Spirit Province, he distributed rewards to everyone based on the contributions they had made. Naturally, all these Open Heaven Realm Masters were elated.
They were used to a life of destitution in the Shadowless Cave Heaven where they had to be extremely frugal with each and every Open Heaven Pill, not to mention cultivation resources of different Orders. Everything was scarce in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
Now, all of them became rich after just one battle, which was why they were ecstatic.
Their admiration and respect for Yang Kai had grown significantly since he was generous enough to distribute such rewards to them.
The ship moved forward in silence as it passed through different Territory Gates.
Yang Kai didn’t step out of his room as he focused on cultivating in retreat. One day though, upon receiving a message from the Proprietress, he dashed towards the deck.
On the deck, the Proprietress was leaning against the railing while Chef and Accountant were standing behind her in a respectful manner.
Sensing Yang Kai’s arrival, she turned her head and flashed a smile at him.
“Are you leaving, Proprietress?” Yang Kai was reluctant to part ways with her, but she had just sent him a message to tell him that she was going to depart.
The Proprietress replied, “I’m heading to Thousand Birds Star City. I have to put an end to some issues.”
“Do you need my help?” Yang Kai asked. Although he had no idea what she was going to do, he reckoned that he could lend her a hand as he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
The Proprietress shook her head, “I’m not going to fight with anyone. What’s the point of you tagging along? Just go back to Void Land.”
Yang Kai asked, “This place is not far away from Void Land. Why don’t you pay a visit there? Old Bai must be waiting for you there.”
“There’s no need for that. I believe we’ll meet again soon. As for Old Bai… just tell him to stay there when you see him.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai started chuckling, “Old Bai and I will be waiting for you in Void Land, then.”
The Proprietress raised her hand and poked the young man’s forehead, “You’re now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Will you stop laughing like a fool?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Kai quickly straightened his face.
“Good, we shall part ways here. Thousand Birds Star City and Void Land are in different directions.” Following that, she nonchalantly waved her hand, “See you soon!”
Then, she took a step forward and leaped into the void. Chef and Accountant grinned at Yang Kai before leaving with her.
Standing on the deck, Yang Kai watched as the three of them disappeared into the distance, then he let out a breath. When he headed to the Shadowless Cave Heaven back then, he had never expected that he would return as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Although he was rushed to achieve an ascension, he didn’t regret his decision. As a man, he was faced with all sorts of choices in life. He didn’t strive to make his life perfect, he simply strove to never have any regrets.
Although Li Luo Shui had fled, the battle wasn’t unfruitful. At the very least, through the battle with her, Yang Kai had identified his current limits.
He was still significantly weaker than a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, even a newly promoted one. When he was faced with Li Luo Shui, he had to join forces with all the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in order to be able to simply match her. Every move she made contained a terrifying power, and each strike that landed on him caused his vitality to welter and Soul to tremble.
Furthermore, after Li Luo Shui used the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law, her strength increased tremendously, to the point that she was completely capable of killing all of them off if she was given enough time.
However, she was forced to flee in the end due to the backlash of that Forbidden Technique; otherwise, all of them would have died on that day.
At the thought of this, Yang Kai couldn’t help but be gripped by a lingering fear. If things were just like what the Proprietress had said, even Second Class great forces like Golden Rainbow Province, which had declined over many years, might have some unimaginable hidden hands.
It was true for both Boundless Altar and Golden Rainbow Province, so what about the other great forces? Although it was impossible to find out, these great forces certainly had some top cultivators who had been cultivating in seclusion for a long time.
Yang Kai realized that he had to be more careful in the future when it came to matters like these lest he suffered a setback instead.
…..
On the highest Spirit Peak in Void Land, several dozen disciples were seated with their legs crossed inside a palace. There was a galaxy mirror in front of every one of them, and through the reflection on the mirrors they could see the view around Void Land.
The Void Spying Technique wasn’t an abstruse Secret Technique, so it was a good method to monitor the surroundings of a great force.
Previously, those from Golden Rainbow Province had used this technique to detect Yang Kai’s approach, which was why they could get prepared in advance.
The development of Void Land had now stabilised following a rapid expansion phase. After the incident where the Hundred Sects Alliance invaded Void Land, Bian Yu Qing decided to build this Heavens Observatory in order to monitor the surroundings of the Sect so that they could detect any approaching enemies in advance.
There were always several dozen disciples in the Heavens Observatory at any given time to watch the movements around Void Territory and detect any potential threats. If there was any emergency, they could immediately contact the Elder Hall which would then take appropriate action.
Presently, besides several dozen disciples, Yue He, a Sixth-Order cultivator, was also in the Heavens Observatory.
Back then, Yang Kai was forced to ascend to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm in the Shattered Heaven, then he dove into the Shadowless Cave Heaven on his own. Following the closure of the Shadowless Cave Heaven’s entrance, Yue He and Bai Qi were unable to go in regardless of how hard they tried.
Left with no choice, they could only return to Void Land.
Since her return, Yue He had been staying in the Heavens Observatory. She didn’t want to leave so that she would find out about Yang Kai’s return as soon as it happened.
All this while, she had been apprehensive; after all, the Shadowless Cave Heaven was an infamous Universe Cave Heaven as no one had managed to leave that place prior to Yang Kai’s entry. Although Yang Kai was a Master of the Dao of Space, no one could say for certain if he would be able to escape from that place.
However, she stopped feeling anxious half a year ago because a piece of news reached Void Land which made her believe that Yang Kai had returned safely.
Other than Yue He, Bai Qi had also been staying in the Heavens Observatory.
Suddenly, one of the disciples who was responsible for watching a particular direction suddenly rubbed his eyes and looked intently at the galaxy mirror for a moment before he exclaimed, “A ship is coming!”
Yue He and Bai Qi instantly appeared behind the disciple as they looked at the galaxy mirror. Through the reflection, they could indeed see a ship moving towards Void Land.
Void Land wasn’t far away from the Star City. Usually, outsiders would directly head to the Star City and only their own people would head towards the Headquarters.
Recently, no one from Void Land had left, so it was highly probable that Yang Kai was aboard this approaching ship.
Yue He performed a hand seal and shot a ray of light into the galaxy mirror. Soon, the image magnified and allowed them to see the deck clearly.
A familiar figure on the deck came into her sight as she exclaimed and covered her lips with her hands.
An excited Bai Qi called out, “He’s really back!”
Following that, Yue He dashed out of the palace, followed by Bai Qi. Soon, two beams of light shot into the sky as a gap appeared in the Grand Array.
The opening of the Grand Array shocked Bian Yu Qing, who was handling her official duties. She immediately left her palace and looked up, only to see Yue He and Bai Qi flying towards the sky. Realising something, she quickly contacted those from the Heavens Observatory.
Soon, she was told that the Sect Master had returned!
She let out a long breath as her chest heaved. The worries in her mind could finally be set down. Void Land was founded by Yang Kai, and the backgrounds of the members were pretty simple. They mainly came from two places. First of all, there were about 600,000 disciples who came from the Star Boundary.
Although there were a lot of them, all of them were weak as there wasn’t even one Open Heaven Realm Master among their ranks yet.
Second, there were a few thousand people from Abundance City from the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. Although the number of people on their side paled compared to those from the Star Boundary, almost all the Open Heaven Realm Masters in Void Land were from Abundance City.
Regardless of which place they were from, Yang Kai was essential to the Sect. If anything happened to him, Bian Yu Qing wouldn’t know how Void Land could continue on.
Fortunately, the Sect Master had returned safely.
After giving it a thought, she decided to send a message to everyone. Soon, both Void Land and the Star City became bustling.
On the deck, Mao Zhe gazed at the magnificent Spirit Province ahead and asked with surprise, “Is this Void Land?”
“Indeed.” Yang Kai nodded his head, “This is Void Land. Does it meet your expectations, Head Mountain Lord?”
Mao Zhe replied impassively, “Since I’ve submitted to you, please don’t mention that Head Mountain Lord title again. The three of us ask for nothing else other than to be treated fairly.”
“Good.” Yang Kai put on a faint smile. Mao Zhe and the others were forced to submit to him, and it was apparent that they were unresigned. Certainly, Yang Kai was aware of that.
Regardless, as long as the Loyalty List was in his hands, Mao Zhe and the others wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble; therefore, he didn’t have to be wary of them. They were Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters after all, so they could play vital roles at critical moments.
Moreover, Yang Kai had always been an easy-going and fair-minded man. Chen Tian Fei was the first one to leave his name on the Loyalty List, and he was never mistreated. On top of that, he was also given the important duty of taking care of the Gourd Vine.
Yang Kai believed that Mao Zhe and the others would change their impression of him as time passed.
“This Spirit Province has an extraordinary heritage, and its scenery is splendid. Void Land is indeed amazing, Sect Master.” Hua Yong was ecstatic. Before coming to this place, he was worried that the heritage of Void Land might be weak; however, now, he realised that this place was truly exceptional. He and his Wife had made the right decision to join Void Land. This place was already wonderful to begin with, and with so many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters joining, its future would be bright.
Shu Mu Dan said in a small voice, “This Grand Array seems to be a little special as well.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “This Grand Array is called the Nine Heavenly Layers. Not only is it powerful, but it also has many different and unpredictable functions. In the past, a Hundred Sects Alliance led by Heavenly Sword Union invaded us, but they were all trapped in this Grand Array and most of them were either killed or critically wounded.”
“Nine Heavenly Layers…” Mao Zhe muttered under his breath. He wasn’t an expert in the Array Dao, but just like Shu Mu Dan, he could see that this Grand Array was extraordinary, though he couldn’t figure out its true power just from observing it. Upon hearing Yang Kai’s words, he couldn’t help but start having some expectations towards the Nine Heavenly Layers.
Since the Grand Array was able to fend off the Hundred Sects Alliance, it was surely quite powerful.
“What is that? It seems so lively,” Shu Mu Dao turned to look in a different direction with a curious gaze.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “That is Void Star City.”
“It’s a Star City?” Everyone aboard the ship was shocked as they gazed at the Star City. They could see that the place was crammed with people, and countless flight-type artifacts could be seen leaving and entering through the Void Dock.
The sight before their eyes suggested that it was a flourishing Star City. Furthermore, the place was much larger than an average Star City, clearly marking it as First Class.
They found it inconceivable that there was a First Class Star City belonging to Void Land.
They exchanged glances in disbelief as they couldn’t figure out why the Star City of Void Land was so attractive to foreign cultivators and merchants. It had to be noted that every First Class Star City had their own unique characteristics and products that could attract merchants from all over the 3,000 Worlds.
Void Land must possess an incredible heritage to control such a grand Star City. If they were not powerful enough, this kind of profit-making place would’ve been snatched from them long ago.
With such a Star City as their support, those from Void Land wouldn’t ever have to worry about resources.
A glint flashed through Mao Zhe’s eyes as he realised that he had always underestimated Void Land. He initially thought that Void Land was just an average Second Class great force, but the sight before his eyes proved him wrong.
Void Land was clearly a peak-level Second Class great force!
As they were speaking, the fog around Void Land suddenly roiled as though a gigantic creature was about to emerge.
The people on the ship became flustered as they secretly circulated their powers to prepare themselves.
When they looked up, they saw a gargantuan head appearing from the fog, its eyes as big as stars and its mouth full of enormous fangs, looking like they were capable of swallowing the entire void in one fell swoop.
The gigantic head appeared to be moving slowly, but it soon arrived in front of the ship. Compared to the head, the tiny ship looked like a blade of grass before a towering tree.
Mao Zhe and the others stiffened in horror as though they had been struck by lightning. They did not doubt that if the mouth parted, they would be immediately swallowed.
“Oh, it’s Yang Boy.” The mouth parted and spoke in the common Human language.
On the deck, Yang Kai saluted him and replied, “Many thanks for your concern, Senior.”
“Oh? You ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm?” The voice sounded again.
Yang Kai replied, “I was left with no other choice in that situation.”
“Good, it’s good that you’ve achieved an ascension so that others will stop bothering you. En, enough chatting for now. Come visit me when you’re free. The two little ones miss you too.”
Yang Kai replied respectfully, “I’ll pay you a visit when I’m done with everything.”
The head then retracted as the fog swelled up and covered up any traces of it. Mao Zhe and the others felt as though they had just escaped from death’s door and their backs were all drenched in cold sweat.
“H-Husband, what was that?” Shu Mu Dan was pale as she leaned close to Hua Yong, as though she was trying to seek a sense of security.
Hua Yong gulped and said hesitantly, “Perhaps it was a turtle’s head?”
Shu Mu Dan was torn between laughter and tears, “Is there such a huge turtle in the world?” How gargantuan must his body be since his head was already so big?
“Bi Xi!” Mao Zhe said in a bitter voice as he looked at Yang Kai, “The Divine Dragon has nine sons, and Bi Xi bears a heavy load. I can’t believe that Bi Xi belongs to Void Land.”
Upon hearing that, all of them were flabbergasted.
Yang Kai said with a smile, “You’re indeed a knowledgeable man, Brother Mao. However, Senior Bi Xi doesn’t belong to Void Land per se. Instead, he’s carrying Void Land on his back. He had been asleep for countless years, and as time passed, a Spirit Province formed on his back, which was occupied by the predecessor of Void Land. Fortunately, Senior is a kind and benevolent man who doesn’t have the heart to kill, so he has allowed us to remain.”
The corners of Mao Zhe’s brow twitched while Hua Yong gulped and asked in a raucous voice, “Senior Bi Xi carries Void Land on his back?”
This piece of news was shocking to him. Divine Spirits were famous and powerful creatures. Every mature Divine Spirit was as formidable as a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master. For an ancient Divine Spirit like Bi Xi, he was probably stronger than the average Eight-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Since Void Land rested on his back, there was no way Bi Xi would sit back and do nothing should an existential crisis come to the Spirit Province. In other words, the presence of such a Divine Spirit was the greatest protection Void Land could have.
What puzzled Hua Yong was why Bi Xi was so cordial to Yang Kai. For such a formidable presence like him, he probably had no regard for anyone in the entire 3,000 Worlds.
On the other hand, a glint flashed through Mao Zhe’s eyes as he fell into his thoughts. Previously, Yang Kai had used his Dragon Transformation to destroy Profound Yang Mountain, which made Mao Zhe believe that he was a member of the Dragon Clan.
Now, it was obvious to him that Bi Xi’s attitude might have something to do with this. After all, Bi Xi had a Dragon Clan bloodline.
Void Land was a magnificent place with an extraordinary heritage, and it was close to a flourishing Star City, which ensured that they would never run out of resources. It was also protected by Bi Xi. It was probably the only Second Class great force in the entire 3,000 Worlds to have all these advantages.
Before coming to Void Land, all of them were wondering about what kind of place Void Land was and whether it could accommodate powerful people like them. If the heritage of Void Land was too shallow, it would only hinder the development of their potential as Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
However, upon their arrival, they realised that Void Land’s heritage was truly spectacular. They no longer dared to underestimate this place and instead felt honoured because they were now part of Void Land, at least in name.
The next moment, a gap appeared in the fog as two figures shot out through it and landed on the deck.
A pleasantly surprised Yue He stared fixedly at Yang Kai as she tried her hardest to suppress her excitement and elegantly saluted the man, “Young Master!”
“Enough of that.” Yang Kai went over to hold her up and patted the back of her hand, “You must have been worried.”
Yue He shook her head, “I’m glad that you’ve returned safely.”
Behind her, Bai Qi looked around, but as the people he was yearning to see were nowhere to be found, he felt his heart sinking and asked anxiously, “Where are Proprietress and the others?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Don’t worry, Proprietress and the others have returned as well. We parted ways halfway through because she had to head to Thousand Birds Star City.”
“Thousand Birds Star City…” Bai Qi’s expression turned milder when he heard that. He no longer felt apprehensive upon learning that the Proprietress and the others had returned safely. They were not around merely because they had parted ways with Yang Kai on the road here. Then, he quickly said, “I’ll go there now.”
“Proprietress told me to tell you to wait for her here. I’m guessing she’ll be coming over soon,” Yang Kai shouted at his back.
“I can’t wait that long!” Without turning his head, Bai Qi turned into a beam of light and shot into the distance. He could never set his mind at ease before seeing with his own eyes that the Proprietress was safe.
Seeing that Bai Qi was determined to leave, a helpless Yang Kai decided not to stop him and just watched him go.
On the deck, Mao Zhe and the others curiously examined Yue He. They had heard the woman call Yang Kai ‘Young Master’ just now but they were unable to discern her cultivation since her aura was fully withdrawn. However, they had a feeling that she was in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm at the very least. Perhaps she was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master just like them.
It was inconceivable that a woman with such cultivation would call Yang Kai ‘Young Master’. They couldn’t help but grow curious about Yang Kai’s background and suspected that he might have a powerful backer.
“Let’s go in for now,” Yang Kai ordered, then the ship continued moving towards Void Land.
The Grand Array had been opened as the disciples were fully aware of what was going on. No one would dare to stop the Sect Master from returning.
Before the ship even landed, Yang Kai, who was on the deck, saw a lot of people gathering together below. The person at the front was none other than the Second Manager of Void Land, Bian Yu Qing.
Soon, the ship landed and Yang Kai led the others to leap off the vessel.
The people who had gathered and had been waiting for quite some time, bowed in unison and shouted, “Welcome back, Sect Master!”
“Get up!” Yang Kai lifted his hand, “We’re all one family here, so there’s no need for such formalities.”
He swept a glance over them and realised that all the cultivators in the Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm and above from Void Land had gathered behind Bian Yu Qing. Even Mo Mei, who was stationed in the Star City, had returned.
All of them straightened up while Bian Yu Qing kept a faint smile on her face. Just when she was about to say something, a phantom-like figure abruptly appeared in front of Yang Kai. With her hands on her enchanting hips, she stared calmly at the man.
A shocked Yang Kai almost pushed out his fist, but upon realising who the person was, he took a few steps back with a helpless smile, “Senior Zhu!”
The person was none other than Zhu Jiu Yin.
Seeing that she was still in Void Land, Yang Kai was elated. Supposedly, the agreement between them had become invalid since she had escorted him all the way to the Shattered Heaven right before he entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven. In other words, she was no longer Yang Kai’s Protector and was now free to go wherever she wanted.
Some time ago, Yang Kai was still worried that this woman had really left.
It wouldn’t have mattered if she were to leave alone, but the problem was that Shan Qing Luo was cultivating under her now. If Zhu Jiu Yin really left, she would probably take Shan Qing Luo with her. By then, Shan Qing Luo wouldn’t be able to disobey her.
Seeing that she had stayed in Void Land, Yang Kai set his mind at ease. After giving it a thought though, he realised that even though she was a powerful Divine Spirit, she didn’t have anywhere else to go other than Void Land in the entire 3,000 Worlds; after all, she came from Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary, and there was nowhere in the outside world that she was familiar with. Rather than wandering around aimlessly, she was better off just staying here.
Zhu Jiu Yin snorted, “It’s said that good people don’t live long while a scourge lasts a thousand years. I told you all that this brat wouldn’t die, but you wouldn’t believe me. Isn’t he back now?”
Bian Yu Qing replied with a fawning smile, “Yes, yes, yes. You’re absolutely right, Senior. We’ve been worried for no reason.”
“Hmph!” Zhu Jiu Yin snorted and shot a disdainful glance at Yang Kai. Then, after sweeping a casual glance over the people behind him, she vanished into thin air.
Yang Kai sported a helpless smile and bowed, “Good to see you too, Senior.”
Mao Zhe and the others were all stiff as boards as they were soaked in cold sweat once again.
They were unable to detect any signs before Zhu Jiu Yin’s appearance, and although the woman never released her aura, just a glance from her seemed capable of killing any one of them if she wanted. It was as though they had lost control over their own lives when she stood before them and they did not doubt that if she wanted one of them dead, they would be.
After a gulp, Mao Zhe asked in a hoarse voice, “Sir, who was that?”
Yang Kai placed his palm beside his mouth and said in a small voice, “She’s a Heavenly Moon Demon Spider, Zhu Jiu Yin. That woman is pretty foul-tempered, so you should watch your words when you see her in the future.”
Audible gasps were instantly heard as they gazed at Yang Kai in disbelief, as though they were trying to figure out if he was joking with them. It was horrifying enough that Bi Xi was in Void Land, and now a Heavenly Moon Demon Spider was also around.
Although Bi Xi was undoubtedly more famous, he was known to be mild-tempered and amiable; therefore, when they saw Bi Xi earlier, other than being a little shocked, they weren’t too frightened. However, unlike Bi Xi, the Heavenly Moon Demon Spider was known to be a ferocious Divine Spirit that had no qualms about slaughtering people.
All of them felt like crying. When they thought about having to live alongside such a fierce Divine Spirit, they felt a crawling sensation on their scalps. The consequences would be dreadful if they accidentally offended her in the future.
“Ho? You dare badmouth this Queen behind her back, you smelly brat?! Don’t even dream about seeing Luo’er for the next ten years!” A voice boomed beside Yang Kai’s ears and shocked Mao Zhe and the others.
Yang Kai instantly sported a dejected expression, “It’s a misunderstanding, Senior! Please be magnanimous and forgive me!”
Naturally, Zhu Jiu Yin flat-out ignored him.
Mao Zhe and the others looked sympathetically at him. Although they had no idea who this ‘Luo’er’ was, she should be someone important to him.
A crestfallen Yang Kai sighed, “I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. I was too foolish!”
Bian Yu Qing suppressed her laughter as she tried to change the subject, “Who are these people behind you, Sect Master?”
Yang Kai took a deep breath to cast away his dejectedness, then introduced them to her, “They have left the Shadowless Cave Heaven with me. Since they’re willing to join Void Land, we’re one family now.”
The eyes of Bian Yu Qing and the others lit up when they heard that. Bian Yu Qing was still too weak, so she was unable to determine these people’s exact strength; however, Mo Mei and the others could sense that the people behind Yang Kai were all strong.
Yang Kai briefly introduced them to each other. On Void Land’s side, there was Bian Yu Qing, Mo Mei, Yue He, Lu Xue, Pang Duo, Gong Yang Xi, Jin Yuan Lang, Mu Qian Xuan, and the other high-ranking members.
On the Shadowless Cave Heaven’s side, there was Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, Zhou Ya, Hua Yong, and Shu Mu Dan.
They saluted one another, and although they wouldn’t immediately become friendly with each other, it was only a matter of time before they became familiar. For now, they just needed to introduce themselves.
Upon learning that the Emperor Realm cultivator before their eyes was the person who was in charge of managing all the affairs in Void Land, Mao Zhe and the others were astonished. This would never happen in other great forces. Usually, a person would only be given an important duty only if they were strong enough. Emperor Realm cultivators were the strongest in Universe Worlds, but they were nobodies in the 3,000 Worlds.
In the Outer Universe, only when a person ascended to the Open Heaven Realm would they gain a footing, but even that depended on their Order.
However, since the Second Manager was highly regarded by Yang Kai, she must be a trustworthy person, so they naturally wouldn’t dare to be impolite to her.
After telling Bian Yu Qing to help those from the Shadowless Cave Heaven to settle down, Yang Kai was ready to get some rest.
Although he had escaped from the Shadowless Cave Heaven unscathed, there had been quite a number of challenges along the way. He had gained some benefits from there, but he hadn’t had time to digest them. Now that he had returned to Void Land, he decided to cultivate in seclusion to fortify the things he had grasped.
Before he could leave though, Bian Yu Qing reported, “There’s one matter that awaits your decision, Sect Master.”
Yang Kai gazed at her and asked, “What matter?”
He usually wouldn’t manage the affairs in Void Land and just left everything up to Bian Yu Qing’s judgement. She would only report the matter to him if there was something she couldn’t decide on herself.
Bian Yu Qing continued, “Many representatives from various great forces are now staying in the Star City, waiting for you to meet with them.”
“What great forces?” Yang Kai frowned.
Bian Yu Qing then listed about forty great forces.
Upon hearing these names, Yang Kai was puzzled and asked, “Do we have any cooperation with those great forces? Why do they want to meet me?”
Bian Yu Qing replied with a smile, “Just so you know, Sect Master, those great forces were the ones that joined forces with Heavenly Sword Union to invade us in the past.”
Yang Kai became startled for a moment, but upon understanding what was going on, he sneered, “They’re pretty good at gathering information.”
Those great forces had joined Kong Feng’s Heavenly Sword Union to invade Void Land previously.
Regardless of whether they did so voluntarily or were forced, the grudges between them and Void Land had been formed.
The alliance suffered immense losses in that battle and the two Divine Spirits of Void Land subsequently revealed themselves, sending shockwaves out across the 3,000 Worlds. After that battle, only a small number of people managed to flee while most of the invaders were killed in Void Land.
Upon experiencing the power and heritage of Void Land, those great forces were horrified, and since even Heavenly Sword Union suffered an immense loss, the others naturally wouldn’t dare to think about getting revenge.
After all, they were the invaders while those from Void Land were forced to defend themselves against them.
It wouldn’t have mattered if that was all that had happened, however. They could just not come to Void Land again. The 3,000 Worlds were expansive, so they could just set the issue aside and ignore it.
However, after Yang Kai returned from the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he brought a group of people to destroy Boundless Altar, forcing its thousands of disciples to abandon their foundation and become homeless. Then, he demolished Golden Rainbow Province and wiped out almost all of its members.
Now, Golden Rainbow Province ceased to exist in the 3,000 Worlds.
Those great forces, which were once part of the alliance, were now quite alarmed.
Both Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were great forces that had invaded Void Land, but they were now destroyed by Yang Kai. It was apparent that he was trying to settle accounts with them, and his methods shocked these people to their core.
Among the 100 great forces, Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were some of the strongest in the alliance, with barely any of the others being comparable to them. There were a small number of great forces that were more powerful, but only by a slim margin.
Since Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were not even able to ward off those from Void Land, how were the other great forces supposed to do that? If they couldn’t appease Void Land as soon as possible, the same fate would most likely befall them.
Therefore, half a year ago, after the news of the demise of Golden Rainbow Province spread, many great forces sent representatives to Void Land with valuable gifts in the hope that the other party would forgive them.
It was because of their arrival that those from Void Land learned that Yang Kai had left the Shadowless Cave Heaven and had made some shocking moves.
These great forces were not aware that the reason Yang Kai targeted Boundless Altar and Golden Rainbow Province was that the Proprietress had made a heart demon oath in the past. They believed it was because of the fact that the alliance had invaded Void Land, which was why they were apprehensive.
While waiting in the Star City, they felt like they were sitting on pins and needles all the time and they practically visited the Governor’s Mansion every two to three days, which frustrated Mo Mei to no end.
“Are you going to meet them, Sect Master?” Bian Yu Qing asked cautiously.
“No, I’m not going to meet them.” Yang Kai waved his hand. He had just returned from outside, so he wasn’t in the mood to handle this issue, “Just let them stew for now.”
“Yes,” Bian Yu Qing replied. Although she was sympathetic towards those great forces, they only had themselves to blame. After seeing Yang Kai off, she turned around and helped Mao Zhe and the others settle in. Upon some probing, she found out that among the people that had come here with the Sect Master, there were five Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. At that instant, she was both shocked and pleasantly surprised.
When Yang Kai introduced them just now, he had only mentioned their names without talking about their cultivation.
It wasn’t until this moment that Bian Yu Qing realised these people were truly powerful.
It had to be noted that there were only two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Void Land now. By joining Void Land, these five people would greatly boost their overall strength.
She couldn’t help but admire the Sect Master’s capabilities. After a trip to the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, be brought back a group of people from Abundance City. Now, upon his return from the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he came home with Mao Zhe and the other top Masters.
There was no doubt that the heritage of Void Land was on the rise.
Even though there were a lot of people in Void Land, the Sect was pretty expansive. Since Mao Zhe and the others were powerful, they naturally had to be treated with respect. Everything was settled after they chose Spirit Peaks they liked to live on. As for their duties in the Sect, Yang Kai would have to make the decision. It was not up to Bian Yu Qing to make a decision on his behalf. As the Second Manager, she was fully aware of her boundaries.
The news that the Sect Master of Void Land had returned instantly spread out, which caused a commotion in the Star City. The representatives of the great forces, who had come to this place with gifts, visited the Governor’s Mansion even more frequently. Unfortunately, Mo Mei refused to meet them, which made them anxious as they wondered about the attitude of Void Land towards them.
With Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar as examples, they felt anxious to appease Void Land as soon as possible so their Sects wouldn’t be destroyed.
Time went by slowly as Yang Kai remained seated with his legs crossed in his room. While refining various resources to strengthen the heritage in his Small Universe, he reviewed all the battles he fought since his ascension to the Open Heaven Realm in his mind.
After he ascended to the Fifth Order, he entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven and immediately engaged in an intense battle with Ma Tian Yuan. Then, he barged into Profound Yang Mountain and attacked the Second Mountain Lord Yun Fei Bai. As a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he had the guts to battle against a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master head-on. This was rarely seen in the entire 3,000 Worlds, and it was also a precious experience for Yang Kai.
Then, he broke through to the Sixth Order and fought with the three Mountain Lords just outside Twin Spirit Island.
Next, he intercepted the Mountain Lords outside Profound Yang Mountain and comprehended the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, which used an entirely new Space-Time Strength. He then went on to destroy Profound Yang Mountain.
Upon leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven, Yang Kai got into trouble in the giant tornado while dealing with the Wind Spirits. Following that, he barged into Golden Rainbow Province and fought against Li Luo Shui, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, with the help of several Sixth-Order allies.
The epic battles went through his mind as though they had just happened the day before. Yang Kai tried to grasp the experiences he had obtained while reflecting on his failures in order to strengthen himself.
This trip had been truly eventful. Not only had he gone from the Emperor Realm to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but the refinement of the World Forces within the Wind Spirits had also saved him at least a hundred years of cultivation, which greatly helped stabilise his Sixth-Order strength.
The experience of dealing with a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was valuable as well. The battle allowed Yang Kai to clearly identify his own limits. If he came across a formidable enemy in the future, he would have a better judgement of the gap in strength between them.
Three months later, Yang Kai finally left his room. Compared to three months ago, his aura was now much more reserved. Unlike in the past, no one would be able to tell his true strength by just looking at his aura.
Then, he sent a message to Bian Yu Qing to assign some work to her before leaving his palace.
When Yang Kai calmly arrived at the Main Conference Hall of Earth Spirit Land in Void Land, which was already filled with people. These people were all in the Fourth Order and above who were the most important members of Void Land.
Upon seeing Yang Kai, they rose from the chairs and cupped their fists, “Greetings, Sect Master!”
Yang Kai raised his hand and brought it down to motion for them to be at ease. Then, he moved and instantly appeared in front of the head seat. After adjusting his clothes, he sat down in a dignified manner.
He swept a glance over the crowd and soon his gaze fell upon Mao Zhe and the others from the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Smiling, he asked, “Have you all gotten used to living in Void Land?”
Mao Zhe replied, “Everything in Void Land is wonderful. Many thanks for your concern, Sir.” They had slowly learned about the various heritage of Void Land in the past months, so they thought that it wasn’t a bad idea to have joined. The abundant resources here would be beneficial to their Martial Dao.
Furthermore, since two Divine Spirits lived in Void Land, this place certainly could accommodate Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like them.
A grateful Hua Yong continued, “We had stayed in the Shadowless Cave Heaven for thousands of years, and were extremely lucky to finally leave that place. Second Manager also takes good care of us. We feel fortunate that we were able to join Void Land.”
Compared to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, the environment in Void Land was essentially paradise.
Yang Kai nodded gently, “I’m glad that you’ve gotten used to living here.”
Then, he gazed at Bian Yu Qing, “Second Manager, can you tell me everything that has happened in the Sect while I wasn’t around?”
“Everything has been proceeding smoothly, Sir.” Bian Yu Qing was fully prepared. Upon hearing Yang Kai’s question, she immediately reported to him about the important issues that had occurred over the past two years in detail. During that period of time, Void Land didn’t go through any drastic changes. The only thing that was different was that there were more Open Heaven Realm Masters now.
Many of those from Abundance City were already on the brink of achieving an ascension to begin with; however, due to the various restrictions in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, they were unable to do so.
Upon leaving the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, Mo Mei and the others were the first batch of people who made it to the Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, more cultivators from Abundance City awaited an ascension.
Over the past two years, about 300 people had attempted to break through. Most of them had succeeded, but a small number of people lost their lives due to their failure to make it to the Open Heaven Realm.
A cultivator had to refine Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements, then split Heaven and Earth apart within their body to form a Small Universe in order to break through to the Open Heaven Realm.
The process could be said to be extremely dangerous, and regardless of how well prepared one was, one might still lose their life in the attempt.
That was what happened to some of the cultivators from Abundance City.
The people from Abundance City had been stuck in the Emperor Realm for centuries, if not millennia, giving them a long time to solidify their foundations and accumulate strength. The Orders of the materials they had refined were definitely within their limits as they wouldn’t refine materials that they wouldn’t be able to bear.
However, some of them still lost their lives while attempting to achieve ascension.
The first batch of people from Abundance City, about 300 of them, all successfully broke through because they each had the assistance of a Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill. However, over the past two years since Yang Kai left, more and more people from Abundance City had attempted to reach the Open Heaven Realm. Although Yang Kai had left behind some Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills before heading to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, the supply wasn’t sufficient to satisfy the demand. That was the reason some of them ended up falling.
With that said, the percentage of those from Abundance City who lost their lives due to their attempts to achieve an ascension was comparatively lower than average; after all, due to the limitations of the environment they used to live in, they had more time for accumulation and preparation.
Now, excluding the people brought back by Yang Kai this time, there were about 500 Open Heaven Realm Masters in Void Land. If Mao Zhe and the others were included, the number would be about 600.
That was a terrifying figure.
In terms of the quantity and quality of the Open Heaven Realm Masters, Void Land had surpassed 99% of all Second Class great forces, though it still wasn’t comparable to the Cave Heavens and Paradises. After all, it had only been a short time since Void Land was founded. More time was needed for its heritage to be accumulated.
After Bian Yu Qing was done with her report, she took her seat, then Mo Mei rose from the chair and briefly talked about the current situation in the Star City.
It could be said that the Star City was thriving. That was because they would put one Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill up for auction every three months, so the city could attract more and more cultivators from the 3,000 Worlds.
Even the Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would appear in the auction house when the time was right.
With more traffic came more commerce, causing many resources to flow into the Star City each day, allowing it to grow and develop further. It was a virtuous cycle.
The shops in the Star City were all rented out by now, and their businesses were booming. Even the private cave mansions had all been snatched up by the cultivators who now lived or worked in the Star City.
Void Land now earned about 100 million Open Heaven Pills every month from the Star City, and the amount was still increasing even now.
Mao Zhe and the other newcomers were dumbfounded upon hearing that.
There was no doubt that the Star City could be considered First Class since it could help Void Land earn 100 million Open Heaven Pills per month. The Star City alone could provide all the resources that those from Void Land would need.
It had to be noted that one could buy a lot of things with a hundred million Open Heaven Pills. Although it wasn’t enough to buy a Seventh-Order material, they could get their hands on several Sixth-Order materials if they were lucky.
As time passed, Void Land’s wealth would continue to increase. The Star City could be said to be Void Land’s cornucopia.
With the rise in fame, more cultivators could be seen entering and leaving the Star City. This didn’t pose a problem initially as those from the Governor’s Mansion were still able to keep on top of everything.
The merchants who did business in the Star City had to pay rent and taxes. Void Land, as the overseer of the Star City, was responsible for making sure that the city and the people were safe. They had to ensure that no fights would take place, and when they did, they had to immediately settle the problems.
Only by doing so could they give the cultivators a sense of security and showcase the heritage and competency of Void Land.
However, following two years of rapid development, the Governor’s Mansion was finding it increasingly hard to manage the city.
This couldn’t be helped, as the rise in popularity and development of the Star City meant that more and more powerful cultivators would come to visit. The person who could directly sense the changes was Jin Yuan Lang, who was responsible for guarding the Void Dock.
Since the re-opening of the Void Land Star City, Jin Yuan Lang had been appointed by Yang Kai to guard the Void Dock and inspect the people who entered and left the city.
Since he was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he could usually handle most situations that arose; however, Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were now more commonly seen in the city. As a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, it was difficult for him to deter Sixth-Order Masters if they chose to be unruly.
If two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters got into a scuffle in the Star City, Mo Mei, who was responsible for managing the city, wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.
Once such a scenario happened, not only would the city suffer losses, but it would also have a huge impact on Void Land’s reputation. This was the issue that had to be settled immediately.
Fortunately, Yang Kai had brought back some powerful Open Heaven Realm Masters, including several in the Sixth Order.
Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan had already requested to join Void Land back on Twin Spirit Island, and Yang Kai had appointed them to be the Elders right away. Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, and Zhou Ya were Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters as well, so they couldn’t be undervalued. Following Yang Kai’s order, the three of them also joined the Elder Hall.
Mao Zhe and the others gladly accepted the appointment. They were restricted by the Loyalty List, so their lives were under Yang Kai’s control. Strictly speaking, they were just Yang Kai’s servants; however, during the time they were together, he had never mistreated them, nor had he exposed the nature of their relationship to anyone, which saved them from any embarrassment.
Although they had never said it out loud, they were grateful towards Yang Kai for his discretion. Even if he really wanted to make things difficult for them, they would have no choice but to bear it.
Now that they were asked to join the Elder Hall, they were certainly pleased. By becoming the Elders in Void Land, they would be on an equal footing with the others apart from Yang Kai and the two Divine Spirits.
More orders were swiftly given, with Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan being assigned to secure the Void Dock. Jin Yuan Lang was still responsible for managing the dock’s day-to-day business, and unless he was faced with cultivators that were too difficult to deal with, the couple usually wouldn’t have to show up.
Mao Zhe and the other former Mountain Lords would take turns staying in the Governor’s Mansion to assist Mo Mei in managing the Star City.
The other Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Shadowless Cave Heaven were also assigned various jobs in different departments.
All of them received the orders one by one.
“Sect Master, the people who have come to apologise are still waiting. How do you want to deal with them?” Bian Yu Qing asked.
Those people only knew that the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai, had returned. If they found out that more top Masters had joined Void Land as well, they would be terrified.
Yang Kai would’ve forgotten about the matter if Bian Yu Qing hadn’t mentioned it, as he had no reason to remember those nobodies.
As a glint flashed through his eyes as he asked, “Has anyone from Heavenly Sword Union arrived?”
Bian Yu Qing was startled for a moment, then shook her head, “I don’t believe so.”
Yang Kai snorted. The Hundred Sects Alliance that invaded Void Land was nearly wiped out by him in the end. Other than Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar, which he would never let off, Yang Kai didn’t really care about the other great forces, nor did he have the intention to retaliate against them. It would be time-wasting if he really did that, so he reckoned it would be better to just spend his time on cultivation.
Furthermore, those great forces were mostly Third Class, and didn’t even have a single Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master overseeing them. It would do more damage to Void Land’s reputation and face if they were to oppress such weaklings now.
With that said, Yang Kai would never forgive Heavenly Sword Union, which was the mastermind behind the incident.
Besides the fact that Heavenly Sword Union led the alliance, they had once again ambushed him while he was heading to the Shattered Heaven to look for the Proprietress after he left Void Territory.
Since those from Heavenly Sword Union had repeatedly provoked Yang Kai, he couldn’t be blamed for seeking revenge against them.
“Make them cough up everything they can before kicking them out, and let them know if they dare to appear in Void Land again, I won’t be so forgiving!” Yang Kai directly decided the fate of those great forces.
Bian Yu Qing nodded in agreement. It was apparent that Yang Kai wasn’t in the mood to meet those people, so he let her settle the matter.
Now, Yang Kai was now a powerful Master, and the leader of a peak Second Class great force, so it wasn’t like just anyone could meet him. It was expected that those great forces would accept the outcome, and they would also have to thank Yang Kai for not destroying them.
“Also, there was a Senior from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven who requested to meet you a few days ago; however, since Sect Master was cultivating in seclusion, I turned her down so that you wouldn’t be disturbed.”
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened when he heard that and asked, “Was it Qu Hua Shang?”
Presently, there were two establishments directly owned by Cave Heavens in Void Star City. One of them was the Asura Arena, which was set up by Asura Heaven. This facility was also one of the trademarks of Asura Heaven. The business of the Asura Arena was booming because many young cultivators liked to engage in all-out fights to both train and make a name for themselves.
In fact, the Asura Arena was established following a discussion between Yang Kai and a representative from Asura Heaven. Void Land held a large stake in the Asura Arena, which generated an equivalent revenue share from this profitable business.
Meanwhile, a Dao Temple belonging to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was also established. Qu Hua Shang used to be stationed there in the past as its supervisor.
Yang Kai met that seductress in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary; then, they went through many life-and-death moments there and in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, eventually growing quite close.
After that, she tagged along when Yang Kai headed to the Shattered Heaven. Although she didn’t manage to help much, Yang Kai was still grateful for the solidarity she had shown.
This was no small matter; after all, Qu Hua Shang’s identity was a little special as she was a Core Disciple from one of the 36 Cave Heavens, so everything she did represented Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. As such, she wasn’t able to do whatever she pleased most of the time. However, she still steadfastly followed Yang Kai to oppose Ti Zheng and the others who had laid a trap for Yang Kai.
There were two reasons why Asura Heaven had set up an Asura Arena in every major Star City. First of all, it was to train the disciples of their own Sect, and secondly, it was to amass wealth. The disciples of Asura Heaven had to go through life-and-death battles in order to grow rapidly. Nevertheless, in the 3,000 Worlds, there were rarely any places that would allow them to engage in such fierce battles. Therefore, the Asura Arenas were their best option. Moreover, these Asura Arenas were like a treasure trove for them. The Asura Arenas from different Star Cities each generated massive amounts of revenue for Asura Heaven every year.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had also set up a Dao Temple in every major Star City; however, they didn’t intend to amass wealth or train their disciples in these places. Instead, the existence of these Dao Temples was to attract more talented people.
The disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were all beautiful women or handsome men, and their core Secret Arts revolved around forming intimate relationships with the opposite sex. In those Dao Temples, their disciples could engage in discourse with talented young people from different parts of the 3,000 Worlds and even find suitable life partners, which would then strengthen the Sect’s power.
The Dao Temple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven in Void Star City was built under the supervision of Qu Hua Shang; therefore, when Yang Kai heard Bian Yu Qing mention a Senior from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, the first person that came into his mind was that seductress.
However, Bian Yu Qing shook her head and replied, “It’s not Senior Sister Qu. The Master of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Dao Temple is now a different person.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai couldn’t help but feel disappointed. If Qu Hua Shang was still in the Star City, he would’ve personally thanked her for what she had done for him.
Bian Yu Qing asked, “Are you going to meet her, Sect Master?”
Yang Kai came to his senses and nodded, “Of course, I have to meet her. Please tell her to come in.” If it was someone else, he would’ve decided whether he wanted to meet her depending on his mood; however, since she was from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, he naturally couldn’t turn her down. He could also ask this person about how Qu Hua Shang was doing.
Upon receiving the order, Bian Yu Qing immediately sent out a message.
Since the meeting was over, everyone in the Main Hall rose from their seats and left while Yang Kai remained sitting on his own.
An incense stick later, Bian Yu Qing led someone to enter the hall from outside.
Yang Kai looked up and saw that the person behind Bian Yu Qing was an alluring woman with an enchanting figure. Her innocent-looking face and clear eyes gave off an ethereal feeling, as though she was unstained by the mortal world.
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened. He had met many beautiful women before, but he had never seen one such as this lady. His first impression of the woman was that she was clean. It wasn’t the cleanliness of her clothes but an indescribable feeling, as though the existence of everything in the world was a blasphemy to her existence. Anyone who saw her would have the urge to protect and care for her.
At the same time, his chest tightened as he had a feeling that this woman was more complicated than she seemed.
Since the guest had arrived, Yang Kai had to rise from his chair to greet her.
Bian Yu Qing saluted him, “She’s here, Sect Master.”
Yang Kai nodded gently, upon which Bian Yu Qing withdrew.
The woman across from him elegantly greeted him, then said softly, “Greetings, Sect Master Yang. This Mistress is Su Ying Xue.” Her pleasant voice tickled his senses.
Yang Kai lifted his hand, “There’s no need to be too formal with me, Senior Sister Su. Please have a seat.”
Su Ying Xue thanked him with a lowered gaze. Her cheeks were painted with a tinge of redness, and her skin seemed extremely delicate.
Yang Kai was unable to sense this woman’s cultivation, but that wasn’t too surprising seeing how she had no need to release her aura here. Nevertheless, he had a feeling that this woman wasn’t any weaker than he was, so she was probably a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master as well.
After the two of them were seated, a servant came over and served them tea.
Following a bit of small talk, Yang Kai asked, “Senior Sister Su, what’s the nature of your relationship with Senior Sister Qu?”
Su Ying Xue replied with a smile, “Qu’er is considered my Junior Sister on paper.”
Yang Kai arched his brow, “On paper? What is she to you in reality?”
Su Ying Xue said with a light smile, “I was the one who raised Qu’er.”
Yang Kai was shocked, thinking that the woman before his eyes was like a Sister as well as a Mother to Qu Hua Shang. After giving it a thought, he realised that it wasn’t so surprising. It had clearly been a long time since Su Ying Xue broke through to the Open Heaven Realm, and although Qu Hua Shang was now a Sixth-Order Master as well, she had only recently become one. When it came to their age, Qu Hua Shang was probably much younger than Su Ying Xue, so it wasn’t surprising that she was raised by her.
This was pretty common in the 3,000 Worlds. Although many fellow Brothers and Sisters in the same Sect were on the same level of seniority, there could be huge gaps in their actual ages. Therefore, some of the Senior Brothers and Sisters were like foster parents to their Juniors.
“Qu’er always talked about and praised you. Now, I can confirm that you’re indeed both handsome and talented.” Su Ying Xue lifted her alluring eyes and batted her lashes shyly.
A reserved Yang Kai replied, “Many thanks for your compliment, Senior Sister Su. May I know where Senior Sister Qu is now?”
Su Ying Xue sighed and replied, “After making such a huge mistake, she returned to the Sect to apologize to the Sect Master. She’s confined now, and she won’t be able to leave seclusion for the next 100 years.”
“100 years!” Yang Kai’s face fell, “Is her punishment related to me?”
Su Ying Xue gazed into his eyes and said, “You seem quite concerned about Qu’er, Sect Master Yang.”
Yang Kai replied, “I owe Senior Sister Qu a great favour. Since she’s in trouble, I naturally can’t turn a blind eye to it.”
“How are you going to interfere, then?” Su Ying Xue looked curiously at him.
Yang Kai became startled, [She’s right. How am I supposed to interfere? She’s confined in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and she’s Su Ying Xue’s Junior Sister. This is their internal affair. What right do I have to butt into their business as an outsider?]
Su Ying Xue went on to say, “Since time immemorial, the 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises have always been close allies, and internal disputes that go against our collective interests are strictly forbidden. Since she has made a mistake, she naturally has to be punished.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai finally figured out what had happened. As expected, Qu Hua Shang’s confinement was a result of her helping him. She fought with those from Myriad Demons Heaven and the other great forces outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven, which had tarnished Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s reputation.
That was the reason she was given such a harsh punishment.
As a Core Disciple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Qu Hua Shang was fully aware of these rules and also that once she made a move, she would invite trouble to herself, but she did it anyway.
Yang Kai had never expected that Qu Hua Shang’s help would land her in such trouble. If he knew it in advance, he wouldn’t have let her tag along. Now that she had to be confined for 100 years, he certainly felt guilty.
“It’s just 100 years, so there’s nothing to worry about. Qu’er is now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so 100 years will pass by in a blink of an eye for her,” Su Ying Xue said gently.
Yang Kai frowned and stared intently at her in silence.
100 years of confinement was indeed not a long time for a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; furthermore, Qu Hua Shang had just ascended to the Sixth-Order, so she needed time to consolidate her cultivation. The confinement might not actually be a bad thing to her as, after she was set free, she would’ve completely solidified her new cultivation.
With that said, it was still a punishment, and Yang Kai was the reason behind it, which was why he felt responsible.
However, Su Ying Xue didn’t seem to take the matter seriously.
“Sect Master Yang,” she called out gently.
Yang Kai came to his senses and gazed at her, “What’s wrong, Senior Sister?”
Su Ying Xue replied, “To be frank with you, other than meeting you, this Mistress is also here to seek your help.”
Yang Kai extended his hand, “Please speak freely, Senior Sister. I’ll not turn you down as long as I am able to assist.”
Before Su Ying Xue spoke again, she appeared bashful as her cheeks became a shade redder. She lowered her head as her hair hung loose over her chest. Her posture, coupled with her innocent demeanour, could make any man lust after her and have the urge to embrace and become intimate.
Yang Kai couldn’t move his eyes away from her as he thought that the disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were all truly attractive. Unlike how flirtatious and enchanting Qu Hua Shang was, Su Ying Xue’s innocence and charm were rarely found in the world.
“Sect Master Yang, since you’re close to Qu’er, I suppose you’re familiar with some of our Sect’s traditions,” Su Ying Xue said gently. Her face was all red by the time she finished speaking.
Yang Kai had no idea about the reason behind her bashfulness as he asked curiously, “What traditions are you speaking of?”
Su Ying Xue appeared to be embarrassed as she fell silent for a moment, then replied, “When the female disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven reach a certain age and cultivation, we have to look for a suitable partner. That is the reason our Dao Temples were built across the 3,000 Worlds. The disciples who are stationed at these Dao Temples can engage in discourse with talented people from all over to increase their knowledge and cultivation, but it is also a way to seek out appropriate partners.”
“I’m aware of that.” Yang Kai nodded as an idea flashed through his mind, “Do you have your eyes on someone, Senior Sister?”
Su Ying Xue nodded her head.
Yang Kai said with a smile, “Congratulations are in order, then. I wonder who the young man is that is lucky enough to gain your favour. If you need my help to pass on your word, just tell me right away. I’ll invite the man over. If he doesn’t want to come, I’ll tie him up and bring him here.”
“There’s no need for any invitation.” Su Ying Xue shook her head.
A puzzled Yang Kai asked, “Why is that?”
Su Ying Xue appeared anxious as she subconsciously played with her hair with her slender finger. Her face had become redder as she said hesitantly, “That is…. because the man is right before my eyes!”
The smile on Yang Kai’s face froze, and then his lips pressed into a line as he examined her seriously.
A moment later, he said with a faint smile, “That joke isn’t funny, Senior Sister Su.”
Su Ying Xue looked down at her feet and spoke in a voice that was as soft as a whisper, “I’m not making a joke, Sect Master Yang. You’re now the Lord of Void Land as well as a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. You are completely qualified to be my partner.”
Yang Kai gazed at her with narrowed eyes, “Since you’re so close to Qu Hua Shang, you should have heard something about me from her.”
Su Ying Xue nodded, “En. Qu’er told me that she repeatedly wanted you to be her partner, but you had turned her down.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I value my friendship with Senior Sister Qu, so I’m not willing to tie her down with false hope. That was the reason I didn’t agree to her request; however, Senior Sister Su, this is the first time we have met, so how could you say such a thing to embarrass both of us?”
Su Ying Xue looked up at him with a pair of alluring eyes, which looked like two clear springs, and said in an enchanting manner, “Are you not willing to be my partner, Sect Master Yang?”
“What do you think?” Yang Kai questioned her instead.
Su Ying Xue pressed her lips together, then asked, “What if I say that if you agree to it, both Qu’er and I will become your partners?”
A startled Yang Kai asked, “Is this your idea, or Senior Sister Qu’s?”
Since Qu Hua Shang was in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, Su Ying Xue was probably in the same Order. Both of them were strikingly beautiful and any man would have to consider himself extremely lucky to obtain the favour of just one of them, not to mention both. Rarely would any man in the world be capable of resisting such a temptation.
Su Ying Xue replied, “I had a discussion with Qu’er before I came to Void Star City. She said that the Lord of Void Land Yang Kai was a righteous man she could entrust her life to. However, since she didn’t manage to gain your favour, she told me to come here and give it a try. Therefore, even though this Mistress is not familiar with you as it’s the first time we have met, I believe Qu’er’s words. Of course, she will agree to the decision I’ve made. As long as you agree, Qu’er and I will become your partners.”
Yang Kai couldn’t believe that Su Ying Xue wanted to be his partner just because of what Qu Hua Shang had said, so he said after a sigh, “I suppose you do have trust in her, Senior Sister Su.”
“Qu’er… has a keen eye for people. Although I’m older than her, I’m not comparable to her in this regard.” Su Ying Xue lifted her head as she summoned her courage to look at the man, “Are you really going to turn me down, Sect Master Yang?”
Her bashful expression could arouse any man’s pity.
Yang Kai took a deep breath and replied with a straight face, “It’s this Yang’s luck to gain the favour of the two of you, but I already have a few Wives, so I don’t intend to marry more women. Although I thank you for your intentions, I cannot accept them. There are many great men out there, and I’m just one of the countless men in the world. I’m sure the two of you will find your loved ones sooner or later.”
Su Ying Xue stared fixedly at him with her dark gaze, as though she was able to look deeply into his mind and soul to uncover his thoughts.
A moment later, she suddenly started convulsing with laughter, which was in stark contrast to her innocent demeanour earlier. She now looked so charming that it was hard for any man in the world to resist her attractiveness.
“Senior Sister Su?” Yang Kai scowled as he couldn’t adapt to this sudden transformation. He was secretly shocked that the woman’s demeanour could change in such a drastic manner.
“The Lord of Void Land… I suppose Qu’er hasn’t fallen in love with the wrong guy.” Su Ying Xue covered her lips and looked smilingly at him.
“What do you mean, Senior Sister Su?”
Su Ying Xue replied with a faint smile, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven is one of the 36 Cave Heavens. Regardless of how immoral we’re thought to be, no two female disciples would ever serve the same Husband. Outsiders always say that we’re lascivious people, but they have no idea how loyal we are to our partners.”
Yang Kai’s face fell, “So, what were you trying to achieve?”
He had a feeling that he had been made a fool of. If he really agreed to it on an impulse just now, he would’ve been humiliated.
However, why was this woman trying to trick him? There were no grudges between them to speak of. Although Qu Hua Shang had to be confined for 100 years because she helped him, that wasn’t enough of a reason for this farce.
“Qu’er has made a mistake, and she is being punished with 100 years of imprisonment, but that doesn’t really matter. What does matter, however, is that in half a year, there will be a Dao Theory Assembly in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven where many talented young men will come together. The winner will be able to marry Qu’er after she is discharged from confinement.”
Yang Kai initially felt vexed because he had been tricked, but all his fury vanished into thin air when he heard these words. Then, he asked in shock, “Dao Theory Assembly? The winner will be able to marry Senior Sister Qu? Was that her idea?”
Su Ying Xue snorted, “Since Qu’er has fallen in love with you, why would she come up with such an absurd idea? It was a decision by the Sect Master, and she can’t disobey.”
Yang Kai sported a dark expression, “Since she is reluctant, why would those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven hold such a Dao Theory Assembly?”
Su Ying Xue glared at him, “Since she has crossed the line, we have to make it up to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises, and this Dao Theory Assembly is the result. Do you think she can refuse? Who do you think has caused all this?”
Yang Kai became startled upon hearing that.
“We’ve been sending out invitations since a year ago; however, due to the fact that the 3,000 Worlds is expansive, we and the others who will participate need time to prepare. The Dao Theory Assembly will take place half a year from now, and regardless of who the winner is, Qu’er must marry him no matter what!”
Yang Kai frowned, “I thought Core Disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would never marry outsiders.”
It was difficult to raise a disciple like Qu Hua Shang. If she was married to an outsider, another Sect would reap all the benefits. Hence, for a Core Disciple like Qu Hua Shang, the man had to get married into her Sect, not the other way round.
Su Ying Xue replied, “She’s not going to leave the Sect. The man will have to get married into our great force.”
Upon hearing her clarification, Yang Kai said, “I see.”
Su Ying Xue stared at him and said, “If you didn’t pass my test, I wouldn’t have informed you about it. Since you’re a righteous man, however, I suppose Qu’er’s eyes haven’t failed her, so you have the right to know about it.”
Yang Kai rose from the chair and cupped his fist with a solemn expression, “Many thanks for informing me about this matter, Senior Sister.”
After staring fixedly at him for a moment, Su Ying Xue also got up, “That’s all I have to say. Farewell!”
“I’ll see you off,” Yang Kai hurriedly followed her.
Su Ying Xue didn’t turn him down as she continued moving forward. It wasn’t until Yang Kai left Void Land with her and saw her heading towards the Star City that he returned.
It surprised him that those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly to look for a Husband for Qu Hua Shang; however, Su Ying Xue had said that the assembly was being held to make it up to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises. After all, Qu Hua Shang had violated their rules, so her confinement was probably not enough to appease the various Cave Heavens and Paradises.
It wouldn’t have mattered if Yang Kai wasn’t aware of it, but now that he had found out about it, he naturally couldn’t turn a blind eye.
Nevertheless, he was in a dilemma as he wasn’t sure what to do. If he took part in the Dao Theory Assembly, he definitely had to become the winner, which would then mean that he would have to marry Qu Hua Shang.
Qu Hua Shang’s appearance and aptitude undoubtedly stood at the apex of the 3,000 Worlds, and hardly any women could surpass her. Certainly, no man could resist such a talented beauty.
If Yang Kai had still been single, he would’ve leapt at the opportunity to marry her.
However, he already had several Wives, so he wasn’t willing to become emotionally entangled with Qu Hua Shang. Moreover, she was a Core Disciple of her great force, so those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven wouldn’t allow her to live with Yang Kai without him joining their force.
With that said, he wouldn’t be able to set his mind at ease if he didn’t at least see her. At that moment, he was unable to make a decision.
A moment later, he sent a message to Mo Mei to tell her to ask around in the Star City in order to find out whether things were just like what Su Ying Xue had said.
If those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were really going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly, there was no way no one was aware of it. The fame of the 36 Cave Heavens dictated that every move they made would cause a stir in the 3,000 Worlds.
Half a day later, Mo Mei replied to him from the Governor’s Mansion and informed him that there was really such an event on the horizon.
Just like what Su Ying Xue had said, those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had been sending out invitations since a year ago as they were going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly in order to look for a partner for Qu Hua Shang. Any cultivator in the 3,000 Worlds could take part in it regardless of their cultivation or age as long as they were below the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm.
As a result, countless cultivators from different Great Territories started heading to Yin-Yang Territory. Those who were powerful hoped to become the winner and marry a beautiful lady while those who were weak were going to watch a good show and gain some life experience. After all, it wasn’t every day that one could freely enter Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
Yang Kai clenched the jade slip, which contained the message, with a frown.
The Dao Theory Assembly would be held in half a year, but he still couldn’t decide whether he should go or not.
Then, he fished out his Universe Chart and realised that it would take him half a month to travel from Void Land to Yin-Yang Territory, which wasn’t too long a distance. If he decided to go, he would have a few months to prepare.
After pondering on it for a moment, he finally made a decision. He had to go to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Qu Hua Shang was being punished because of him, so there was no way he could just sit back and do nothing.
By then, he could look for Qu Hua Shang and find out about her stance before coming up with any solution.
…..
The Star City was the major income source for Void Land, and the popularity of the Star City hinged on its auction house. A Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill would be put up for auction once every three months, which was why countless cultivators from different great forces were attracted to this place.
There were not many Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills left as they couldn’t even satisfy the needs of their own disciples, which caused some of them to lose their lives while trying to make it to the Open Heaven Realm.
Therefore, Yang Kai would have to refine more since he was going to leave again.
He still had a lot of the main ingredient required to make these pills, which was World Source Liquid. He just needed some supplementary ingredients and, since the Star City was now flourishing, he could easily get his hands on them.
Therefore, after he gave an order, some people from the Star City immediately started preparing the materials he needed before delivering them to him. It was then he started refining Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills.
Three months later, all the adjuvants were used up as he was surrounded by many bottles, which were all filled with Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills.
Countless cultivators were eager to snatch up the one available Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill whenever it came up for auction, but such pills were now everywhere in Yang Kai’s room. It would be interesting to know what others thought if they found out about this.
With that said, even though there were a lot of Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills here, there would come a time when they were used up. To Yang Kai and Void Land, every Open Heaven Realm Master was a precious treasure, so every disciple who was going to attempt an ascension had to be given a Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill so that no tragedy would happen again.
In other great forces, only the best disciples that the Sects had high hopes for could get their hands on a Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill. But in Void Land, anyone who had the right to ascend to the Open Heaven Realm could get such a pill from Bian Yu Qing. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, only Void Land provided such a benefit.
After getting some rest, Yang Kai told Bian Yu Qing to come over and store these pills.
At the same time, she informed him about a piece of good news, “Madam Lan has arrived.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was elated, “She’s here? When did she arrive?”
Bian Yu Qing replied with a smile, “A few days after you started refining pills. She’s been here for about two months now.”
Yang Kai quickly asked her about the Proprietress’ location, and then headed over to meet her.
After leaving Golden Rainbow Province back then, the Proprietress said that she was going to Thousand Birds Star City to put an end to some issues. Yang Kai didn’t ask her what she was going to do, but she had said that she would pay a visit to Void Land soon.
It never crossed his mind that she would come here so quickly.
A moment later, he met the Proprietress on a certain Spirit Peak. Yue He was also around as she was having a chat with her.
Bai Qi, Chef, and Accountant, as well as some of the shop hands from First Inn, had also come. Yang Kai could also see that Luo Hai Yi was here.
An idea flashed through his mind as the speculation he had made him feel excited.
Upon detecting the man’s presence, the Proprietress shot him a glance with a smile, “Smelly brat, you’re finally here.”
“Proprietress!” Yang Kai walked over and saluted her, “Are you all ready to relocate to Void Star City?”
The Proprietress asked with a smile, “What do you mean, relocate?”
“Then…” Yang Kai was puzzled.
Bai Qi said with a smile, “Proprietress has left First Inn, so she’s a free person now.”
Yang Kai became startled upon hearing that. Initially, when he saw that the Proprietress had brought all her usual shop hands with her, he thought that she was going to open a First Inn branch in Void Star City, so it came as a great surprise to hear she had actually left First Inn.
“We’d like to join Void Land. Will you welcome us?” The Proprietress looked smilingly at Yang Kai.
Of course, Yang Kai hurriedly nodded, “Of course I welcome you all. Why wouldn’t I? You can even be the Lord of Void Land if you want, Proprietress.”
“No thanks.” The Proprietress rolled her eyes, “I’ve finally relieved myself of old burdens, so why would I take on even heavier responsibilities? Don’t even think about it.”
Yang Kai grinned, “What kind of position do you want, then? Just name it.”
The Proprietress shook her head, “I’m not going to take up any official position right now. Just prepare a serene place for me as I’m going to enter seclusion soon.”
Yang Kai turned solemn, “Are you going to attempt to break through to the Seventh Order?”
Since Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were destroyed, her heart demon oath had been resolved as well; hence, there were no more obstacles in her way to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. However, she had lost some of her heritage in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so if she wanted to make it to the Seventh Order, she would have to spend some time recovering from those losses.
The Proprietress nodded with a serious expression, “I’ve been stuck in the Sixth Order for a long time now. It’s about time to ascend to the Seventh Order.”
A worried Yang Kai asked, “Do you have the confidence to achieve it?”
Ascending to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm was no laughing matter. Although there was only a difference of one Order between the Sixth Order and the Seventh Order, she was trying to cross the gulf between the Mid-Rank and High-Rank. This was a process of sublimation in the Open Heaven Realm and the risk an Open Heaven Realm Master had to bear when attempting this was as great as when he or she was first attempting to reach the Open Heaven Realm from the Emperor Realm.
The consequences were deadly if they failed.
Many Open Heaven Realm Masters had lost their lives during this ascension over the years. For cultivators in this realm, every ascension was a perilous trial. Once they succeeded, they would transform into even more powerful beings; however, once they failed, death was all but certain.
“I do have some confidence, but when it comes to a matter like this… It is ultimately up to the Heavens to decide my fate.” The Proprietress replied calmly.
Yang Kai nodded, “Since you’ve made a decision, I’ll say no more. If you need any resources, just tell us right away. Yue He will prepare everything for you.”
The Proprietress replied with a smile, “I have all the resources I require prepared already. I’ve been a shopkeeper of First Inn for centuries, so I’ve collected some good stuff along the way.”
“That’s great.” After giving it a thought, Yang Kai fished out a jade bottle and passed it to her, “Take this as it might be useful in case of an emergency.”
The Proprietress took a glance at it and realised that the jade bottle looked familiar. Soon, she recalled what it was.
After Yang Kai left the Blood Monster Cave Heaven back then, he passed her this jade bottle, which contained an Innate Open Heaven Pill born in the Universe Furnace. Blood Monster Divine Monarch should have obtained this pill at some point far in the past.
This Open Heaven Pill was totally different from the ones refined by Alchemists and was innumerable times more valuable. Although one Open Heaven Pill seemed like nothing compared to the millions that flowed through Void Star City each day, many people would start wars just to try to snatch this single pill if word of its existence got out.
At that time, Yang Kai thought that this pill could help the Proprietress break through to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, but she turned him down. As long as her heart demon oath wasn’t resolved, even an Innate Open Heaven Pill would be useless to her.
Now that she was ready to ascend to the Seventh Order, however, this pill was the only thing Yang Kai could offer that could be of some possible help.
After giving it a thought, the Proprietress took the jade bottle and said with a smile, “I’ll give it back to you if I don’t need it.”
Yang Kai replied with a straight face, “I’ll await your good news.”
Back then, the Proprietress directly ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so her aptitude was truly exceptional. Supposedly, given her aptitude, there shouldn’t be a problem when she attempted to rise to the Seventh Order. However, she reckoned that she’d better be careful.
The Proprietress then suddenly asked, “Have you heard that there’ll be a Dao Theory Assembly in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven in a few months?”
“You’re aware of it?” Upon finishing his words, Yang Kai smiled helplessly. First Inn was in the business of gathering information. Basically, everyone was aware of it now, so why would the Proprietress not know it?
“I’m not deaf, so why would I not be aware of such a major event?” The Proprietress shot him a glare, “Qu Hua Shang is one of the Core Disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and she has the right to succeed the Sect Master in the future. However, since she has made a mistake, she has to make it up to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises. The Dao Theory Assembly is the punishment for her.”
Yang Kai sighed, “It’s all because of me that Senior Sister Qu is being punished.”
On the side, Yue He asked, “Young Master, was it because…”
Yang Kai nodded solemnly, “All 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises have always been united, so internal divisions are not permitted. Senior Sister Qu broke that taboo.”
Yue He exclaimed, “What should we do then?”
Yang Kai said, “I’m going to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven soon.” Then, he gazed at the Proprietress in puzzlement, “Are there really no grudges between the 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises? Why is there even such a taboo?”
The Proprietress explained, “There are definitely grudges between them, but they have their own ways of settling such problems. If some of them are killed without anyone knowing about it, no one can say anything; however, since the other Cave Heavens and Paradises know the details of this incident, those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven have to make it up to them. That is the rule.”
“What rubbish rule is that?” Yang Kai was incensed.
“Since you’re the cause of it, I suppose you should head to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Given your current strength, there shouldn’t be anyone below the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm who is your opponent. However, you’d still better be careful. Although the disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would frequently look for suitable partners, a disciple like Qu Hua Shang is very rare. Many talented people will gather together in this Dao Theory Assembly, so the people from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would naturally take part as well.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was startled for a moment, “Those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would join as well? I heard that the partners of the Core Disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would have to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Are those Cave Heavens and Paradises willing to let their disciples join another Sect?”
The Proprietress replied with a smile, “The Core Disciples are definitely not going to join this Dao Theory Assembly; however, the heritages of the Cave Heavens and Paradises are ample. Besides the Core Disciples, they still have other disciples that could join another Sect. The effort will be worthwhile if they can become closer allies with Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.”
Yang Kai nodded. Although a disciple would have to get married into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, he would not sever ties with his Master Sect entirely. If his Master Sect fell into trouble in the future, that disciple, and the connection he made, would be of some help.
“There’s one thing I’m worried about, Proprietress,” Yang Kai appeared anxious.
“What is it?” she asked.
Yang Kai replied, “The Cave Heavens and Paradises were already trying to suppress me before I even ascended to the Open Heaven Realm. Now that I’m an Open Heaven Realm Master, would some of them try to kill me if I show up in the outside world?”
He was already targeted by four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and he was just an Emperor Realm cultivator at that time. Now that he was an Open Heaven Realm Master, it was probable that some of them would still want to kill him ruthlessly. Given the heritages of those Cave Heavens and Paradises, it would be easy for them to kill him unless he stayed in Void Land forever.
With two Divine Spirits residing in Void Land, the effort to kill him would simply be too great for the reward.
To his concerns, the Proprietress just said with a smile, “The reason they targeted you before your ascension was that they were worried you’d directly make it to the Seventh Order, and their suppression has yielded some results. In their eyes, you’re just a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so you’re no longer a threat to them. They have already nipped a potential threat in the bud, and a Fifth-Order Master is nothing to them.”
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened, “In that case, I’m now safer since I’ve ascended to the Open Heaven Realm.”
“That’s right.”
“There won’t be any problems then,” Yang Kai nodded.
After he chatted with the Proprietress for a while longer, he bid her farewell.
She was going to attempt to break through to the Seventh Order soon, and no one else could help her with that. The only thing Yang Kai could give her was that Innate Open Heaven Pill.
This breakthrough would probably take her a long time; after all, she had to make up for the losses she had suffered in the Shadowless Cave Heaven first before she could attempt to reach the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
The Dao Theory Assembly was just two months away now, so Yang Kai had to set off immediately.
A few days later, he shot into the sky, and as a crack appeared in the Grand Array, he moved past it and dashed into the void.
He was on his own this time. Yue He initially wanted to tag along, but he had turned her down.
After all, he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master that was significantly stronger than others in the same Order. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, only High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters would be a threat to him now.
Even if he really came across any danger, he could easily flee since he was on his own.
Furthermore, the Dao Theory Assembly was an event to help get Qu Hua Shang a Husband. Yang Kai wasn’t even sure how he would handle the issue, so it would be inappropriate if he brought Yue He with him.
The journey was long and the void was dead silent, so Yang Kai just moved forward at lightning speed.
On a shattered Spirit Province just outside the Territory Gate of Void Territory stood an alluring lady. It seemed that she had been waiting there for a long time. When she finally saw Yang Kai moving past the Territory Gate, she snorted, “I suppose he can still be considered a responsible man.”
The person was Su Ying Xue, who had previously met up with Yang Kai.
Since Yang Kai had left Void Territory at this point, he should be heading to join the Dao Theory Assembly. That was the reason she sported a milder expression now. Then, she dashed towards the Territory Gate and tailed Yang Kai. After leaving the Territory Gate, she immediately sent a message to someone.
Looking up, she could only see a small dot in the distance as Yang Kai was already far away from her. She curved her lips into a smile and muttered, “I’ll give you one last test; after all, you have no right to marry Qu’er if you’re too weak.”
Meanwhile, Yang Kai was looking at the route in his Universe Chart and heading to the next Territory Gate.
Half a day later, he suddenly lifted his head as he could see a ray of light charging towards him rapidly.
A figure could faintly be seen in the ray of light.
Yang Kai looked up, but before he could make out the person’s face, the other party bellowed, “Where do you think you’re going, boy!?”
Right after the person finished speaking, he pushed out his fist with an immense force. World Force undulated, even the void trembled slightly.
A puzzled Yang Kai had a feeling that the person must have mistaken him for someone else; however, since the other party was about to strike, he was unable to explain himself as he quickly extended his palm to meet the attack.
Booming sounds were heard, as the other party acted violently while Yang Kai responded in kind. They exchanged more than ten moves in just several breaths of time.
“Huh?” The person exclaimed, as though he had discovered something strange. Following that, he exerted more force with his hands.
If the power he showcased earlier was on par with the Fifth-Order, he was now using Sixth-Order strength.
Yang Kai had never expected that he would randomly come across a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master as soon as he left Void Territory, and for some reason, the other party initially hid his true strength. It wasn’t until he sensed Yang Kai’s power that he stopped holding back.
As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master himself, Yang Kai certainly wasn’t afraid of this stranger, so he surged the power of his Small Universe as the battle intensified.
A moment later, the attacker used a feint before widening the gap between them before raising his hand, “Wait!”
Yang Kai abruptly stopped in his tracks and stared coldly at him.
It wasn’t until this moment that he was able to make out the person’s appearance. The other party was a burly man with long dreadlocks, which made him look a bit eccentric. However, judging from the fluctuations of his energy just now, Yang Kai confirmed that he was indeed a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
As their eyes met, the burly man examined Yang Kai and asked, “Are you Liu Pei Yuan?”
“No, and I don’t know him either.” Yang Kai shook his head.
“Ah…” The man landed a slap on his own forehead, then looked apologetically at Yang Kai and cupped his fist, “I’m so sorry for mistaking you for someone else. This is all a big misunderstanding. Please forgive me!”
Yang Kai furrowed his brow with displeasure as the other party directly attacked him without verifying his identity first. Although the man didn’t have any murderous intent, Yang Kai was still upset. Fortunately, both of them had only made some probing moves, so no one was hurt; otherwise, the misunderstanding would have turned into something serious.
Since Yang Kai was in a rush, he wasn’t willing to waste any more time on this man, so he simply nodded and declared, “Since it’s a misunderstanding, let’s forget it. Farewell.”
Then, he turned around and left.
The man shouted from behind, “Farewell, friend!”
It wasn’t until Yang Kai was out of his sight that the man stroked his chin with an amused look, “Interesting.”
While remaining on the same spot, he fished out a Communication Bead and sent a message. A moment later, a ray of light came over from afar and stopped beside him. The person was none other than Su Ying Xue.
“Did you test him?” She asked.
The man nodded, “En.”
“How was it?”
“Your information is wrong, Junior Sister.” The man scratched his head and looked in the direction Yang Kai had left, “You said that guy ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm.”
“Is he not in the Fifth Order?” Su Ying Xue frowned. Qu Hua Shang had seen Yang Kai break through in person, and the fact was verified by the Elders from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. After all, besides Qu Hua Shang, there were also four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who had witnessed the incident, so there was no way the information was wrong.
“Heh, he’s not in the Fifth Order.” The man grinned, “That guy is in the Sixth Order!”
“No way!” Su Ying Xue shot him a glare, “Did you intercept the wrong guy?”
The man shook his head, “You sent his image to me, so there was no way I was mistaken. I was shocked when I traded moves with him just now. I almost suffered a loss at his hands. The power he had showcased was definitely not in the Fifth Order. Although I didn’t use my full strength, he was still able to force a draw. That could only mean that he’s in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.”
“How is that possible?” Su Ying Xue was astounded.
According to the information she had obtained, Yang Kai was supposed to be in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. It had only been two years since he achieved his ascension, so there was no way he could go from the Fifth Order to the Sixth Order in such a short time. No one in the world could achieve that.
The only possibility was that he had ascended to the Sixth Order instead of the Fifth Order at that time.
However, that was also impossible. Qu Hua Shang might conceal the truth for Yang Kai, but there was no way the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene were mistaken.
“Isn’t this for the best?” The man grinned, “Although there’s only a difference of one Order, the gap in real strength is enormous. I was initially worried that he would suffer a setback in the Dao Theory Assembly, but now it seems that he has a chance to come out the winner. Although a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master is fairly powerful, such a person is too weak compared to the people who are going to join the Dao Theory Assembly.”
After giving it a thought, Su Ying Xue realised that he was right and nodded gently, “It’s indeed a pleasant surprise.”
“Since we’ve given him a test, we should return to the Sect now. Let’s go,” the man said and charged forward, followed by Su Ying Xue.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly to select a Husband for the Core Disciple Qu Hua Shang, and they had sent out invitations to many great forces across the 3,000 Worlds. Since the event was just around the corner, many flight-type artifacts could be seen heading to Yin-Yang Territory from different Great Territories.
As Yang Kai flew forward, he could see flight-type artifacts of different shapes and sizes rushing towards Yin-Yang Territory.
It was the first time Yang Kai was visiting the Headquarters of a Cave Heaven, and he was extremely curious about it. He wanted to see the heritage of one of the top great forces in the 3,000 Worlds for himself, so he could understand the difference between Void Land and them.
One month later, he arrived at a place that was two Great Territories away from Yin-Yang Territory. He could also see more flight-type artifacts as he continued moving forward.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was one of the 36 Cave Heavens, which was why it was famous. Since the disciples from those Second Class great forces wanted to marry a beautiful lady and form a relationship with Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, it would be worthwhile even if there were some sacrifices. Therefore, many of the people on the ships were in the Fourth Order, the Fifth Order, and even the Sixth Order.
After all, weaker cultivators had no right to take part in the Assembly.
Two figures had been tailing Yang Kai. They were Su Ying Xue and the burly man, who were both from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
At this moment, Su Ying Xue finally believed her partner’s words. Yang Kai must have been in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm; after all, given their cultivation, they still hadn’t managed to close the gap with Yang Kai despite chasing him at full speed for an entire month. A Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could never fly as fast as he did.
Both of them attempted to surpass Yang Kai, but rather than getting ahead of him, he actually got further away from them instead. They initially could see his figure from afar, but now he was already out of their sight.
Just when they were about to enter Yin-Yang Territory, Su Ying Xue’s expression changed as she fished out a Communication Bead and had a look. Then, she stopped in her tracks and said through clenched teeth, “Despicable!”
“What happened?” The man was perplexed as he stopped and looked at her.
“See for yourself.” Su Ying Xue passed the Communication Bead to the man, who took it and had a look.
Soon, he sported a dark expression as he said, “They dare do such a thing?”
Su Ying Xue snorted, “They’re not willing to let any of their Sixth-Order disciples marry into our Sect, so they’re using dirty tricks to filter out any potential opponents. Shameless!”
“Has the Sect Master said anything?” The man asked in a grim voice.
“I have no idea. Let’s find out more details first,” Su Ying Xue shook her head, then took back the Communication Bead and sent out a message before the pair waited on the spot for a response.
A while later, two figures rushed towards them from afar and landed in front of them. As they cupped their fists, they saluted, “Greetings, Martial Uncle, Martial Aunt!”
There were one man and one woman who were both in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm. They appeared intimate, so they were obviously a couple. It was the norm in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Once they found suitable partners and got married, they would go everywhere together.
“How’s the situation now?” Su Ying Xue cut to the chase and asked.
The Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm man replied, “All the Territory Gates leading to Yin-Yang Territory have been cordoned off, and all the ships have to be inspected before they’re allowed to pass. Whenever they discover a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, they immediately challenge him.”
“What great forces are participating in this blockade?” Su Ying Xue asked.
The man then listed more than ten Cave Heavens and Paradises, after which he said, “Those are the great forces that have sent their disciples to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.”
Su Ying Xue snorted, “Seems they’ve thoroughly thought this out.”
The Dao Theory Assembly was meant to select a Husband for Qu Hua Shang, with its winner being able to marry her. No High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master would take part in such an assembly, and the Fourth Order was just the threshold. Supposedly, only a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would stand a chance to be the winner.
Regardless of who the person was, he wouldn’t have a right to fight for the first place if he wasn’t in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, even Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were valuable to those Cave Heavens and Paradises, so they were not willing to let a disciple marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. They would only allow Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to do that.
As such, in order to prevent their own disciples from confronting any Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Dao Theory Assembly, these dozen or so Cave Heavens and Paradises joined forces and cordoned off the Territory Gates around Yin-Yang Territory. Once they discovered any foreign Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, they would chase them away.
By doing so, they could ensure that the most powerful cultivators who could participate in the Dao Theory Assembly were only in the Fifth Order, which would ease the burden of their own disciples when they joined the competition. Regardless of who the winner would be, their great force would only lose one Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
“Has the Sect Master said anything?” Su Ying Xue asked with a solemn expression.
The disciple replied, “Sect Master has had a discussion with the representatives of those great forces; however, they haven’t really crossed any line as they never killed anyone or forced any participants away. Instead, they’d send Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to exchange moves with the other party so that those people would admit defeat and leave. Since that is the case, Sect Master can’t really say anything.”
Su Ying Xue said through clenched teeth, “Exchange moves? How could outside Sixth-Order Masters be comparable to their own? Why don’t they chase the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters away as well? By then, only Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters will take part in the assembly, which is even better for them!”
The disciple remarked meekly, “Perhaps they want to protect their reputations?”
“They have already humiliated themselves, so why bother!” Su Ying Xue was infuriated.
The burly man hunched his back as the situation was giving him a headache. If only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, it would turn into one big joke. Would they really have to allow Qu Hua Shang to marry a mere Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master?
Qu Hua Shang was a Core Disciple from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so she was one of the candidates that might succeed the Sect Master’s position. They were holding a Dao Theory Assembly to select a Husband for her because they were under pressure, and it was already against her will. If they couldn’t even find her a Husband that would somewhat match her capabilities, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would be humiliated.
However, now, a dozen or so Cave Heavens and Paradises had joined forces to cordon off the Territory Gates around Yin-Yang Territory, and no outside Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were allowed to enter to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly. If this went on, only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be able to participate, which was what those great forces were trying to achieve.
Su Ying Xue ground her teeth with fury, but there was nothing she could do. Just like what the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had said, those great forces hadn’t really crossed any lines as they never forcefully chased the participants away. Instead, they sent powerful disciples to exchange pointers with them and make them back down. How were those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven supposed to interfere?
The man with dreadlocks darted his gaze around before his eyes brightened, he looked in a particular direction and said, “Isn’t there a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who can enter, Junior Sister?”
Su Ying Xue’s expression changed when she heard that, “Senior Brother, you mean…”
The man grinned, “If he can safely enter the Sect and take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, the efforts of those great forces will all go down the drain.”
Su Ying Xue’s eyes lit up, “You have a point, Senior Brother!”
If Yang Kai, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, showed up in the Dao Theory Assembly, he would be able to turn the entire situation upside down. According to the plan of those Cave Heavens and Paradises, only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be allowed to join the Dao Theory Assembly, and eventually only a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would fight for first place.
The heritages of the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from those Cave Heavens and Paradises were naturally superior to outsiders. If nothing unexpected happened, the winner would be from one of their forces, and he would marry Qu Hua Shang. Regardless of who the winner would be, it was an agreement between those Cave Heavens and Paradises.
However, if a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master suddenly showed up, their plan would be ruined.
Although those Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were from the Cave Heavens and Paradises, they still didn’t have a right to fight with a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. By then, in order to protect their reputation or for some other reasons, those Cave Heavens and Paradises would have to send stronger disciples to participate in the assembly. Those Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be too weak, and only Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters could hope to fight for first place.
Therefore, the most important task for them now was to ensure that Yang Kai could enter Yin-Yang Territory to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.
Considering all this, Su Ying Xue suddenly exclaimed with a changed expression, “Oh, no! That guy is not aware of what’s going on. If he reveals his cultivation in advance, he will be barred from entry. It will be terrible when that happens.”
The man realised the severity of the matter as well, so he quickly looked in the Territory Gate’s direction and yelled, “Let’s go!”
After he finished speaking, he turned into a ray of light and shot towards the Territory Gate, followed by Su Ying Xue.
Meanwhile, on a deserted Spirit Province that was several hundred kilometres away from the Territory Gate stood Yang Kai as he placed his palm over his brow and gazed forward, tutting as he muttered, “What’s going on?”
He initially intended to enter Yin-Yang Cave Heaven directly to look for Qu Hua Shang and find out about her intentions before coming up with any solution; however, before he even entered Yin-Yang Territory, he saw a ship belonging to Myriad Demons Heaven anchored just outside the Territory Gate. The ship looked huge and magnificent, so there should be many powerful cultivators onboard.
Among the 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises, Yang Kai was the wariest of Myriad Demons Heaven. This couldn’t be helped, as his Demon Eye of Annihilation and Black Purgatory Eye came from the aforementioned great force. Ti Zheng had said that those were the two Core Secret Techniques from Myriad Demons Heaven that were never taught to outsiders. Only the disciples with the best aptitude from Myriad Demons Heaven were allowed to cultivate these two techniques.
When they were in the Shattered Heaven Star City back then, Ti Zheng could easily find out that Yang Kai had learned these two Eye Secret Techniques. However, Zhu Jiu Yin was around at that time, so Ti Zheng couldn’t make a move. After that, Yang Kai headed to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and this matter was put down.
Ti Zheng probably believed that Yang Kai would never be able to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so he stopped pursuing this matter.
However, Yang Kai managed to escape in the end. If he came across Ti Zheng now, the latter might want to snatch his eyes from him. That man was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so Yang Kai didn’t think he could defeat him.
After all, the Demon Eye of Annihilation and Black Purgatory Eye were the best-kept Secret Techniques of Myriad Demons Heaven. If word got out that Yang Kai had learned both these techniques, they would definitely have a reason to kill him.
Furthermore, those from Myriad Demons Heaven had repeatedly attempted to suppress him previously; therefore, as soon as Yang Kai saw their ship, he stopped in his tracks. He had no idea who was aboard the ship, but it would be terrible if Ti Zheng was present.
After having a look at the Universe Chart, Yang Kai, unfortunately, realised that if he headed to another Great Territory now, it would take him at least a month to arrive at Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. There wasn’t enough time for him to do that.
This was giving him a headache.
While he wasn’t sure what to do, he saw two rays of light charging forward from the corner of his eye. As he turned and looked intently at them, his expression soon changed and he waved his hand and called out, “Senior Sister Su!”
The rays of light paused for a moment, then changed their direction and headed to the shattered Spirit Province. A moment later, they landed before him and revealed their figures.
Yang Kai wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he saw Su Ying Xue heaving a sigh of relief upon seeing him again.
When he saw the man with dreadlocks beside her though, he exclaimed, “It’s you!”
“Oh, Little Brother, we meet again.” The man put on a frank smile, “What a coincidence!”
Su Ying Xue pretended to know nothing as she asked, “You two know each other?”
The man replied, “There was a misunderstanding between this Little Brother and me some time ago, leading to a brief exchange of fists. You know this Little Brother, Junior Sister Su?”
With a dispassionate expression, Su Ying Xue said, “He’s the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai.”
The man instantly appeared surprised, “You’re the person who helped Junior Sister Qu ascend to the Open Heaven Realm?”
“Junior Sister Qu?” Yang Kai was shocked, “What’s your name, Senior Brother?”
The man grinned proudly, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Qing Kui.”
Yang Kai was astounded, “Since you’re from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, why did you…” He was curious about why Qing Kui appeared outside of Void Territory some time ago as the latter seemed to be chasing after someone.
Qing Kui immediately cut him off by patting his shoulder, like they were close friends, “I suppose we can be considered friends after a fight. I had heard about you before, but I never expected that I couldn’t recognise you when I finally met you. Hahaha!”
A moment later, he stopped laughing and asked, “Are you here to join the Dao Theory Assembly, Junior Brother?”
After a bit of hesitation, Yang Kai bowed his head, “Well, I think so.”
“What do you mean you think so?” Qing Kui shot him a glare, “Since you’re going to take part in the assembly, why are you staying here instead of going in directly?”
Yang Kai didn’t know what to say, so he told a small lie, “I was tired from rushing all the way here, so I decided to get some rest before heading inside. It never crossed my mind that I’d bump into you two here.”
Su Ying Xue took a glance at the Territory Gate, and despite knowing what was going on, she wouldn’t expose Yang Kai so she just nodded, “Since we’re heading in the same direction, let’s go together.”
Yang Kai frowned upon hearing that. Just when he was about to speak, Qing Kui directly took his arm and cut him off, “Let’s go. The Dao Theory Assembly is just around the corner. We should go back and get prepared.”
The man was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with immense strength, so Yang Kai could only allow himself to be lugged away with a wry smile on his face.
However, he secretly decided that if anything went wrong later, he would immediately flee.
While they were moving forward, Su Ying Xue suddenly spoke to him via Divine Sense, “Junior Brother Yang, regardless of what happens later, don’t make a move. I’ll handle everything.”
Yang Kai looked up at her as he wondered why she was telling him this.
Soon, they arrived at the Territory Gate.
There were some figures standing on the deck of the nearby ship as they looked at the three of them in silence.
Yang Kai focused and gazed back intently at them. Fortunately, he didn’t see Ti Zheng or detected any dangerous auras.
Since he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, only High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters could make him feel threatened; however, High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were noble beings, and they would rarely leave their Sects. Therefore, there were probably no High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters on this vessel.
“It’s you, Elder Su, Elder Qing.” An elderly man on the deck cupped his fist with a smile. In the Cave Heavens and Paradises, Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were already able to take up the position of Outer Elders while the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be Inner Elders. Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui were undoubtedly the Outer Elders of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
The two of them wore obviously displeased expressions. Since the Territory Gate leading to their own Sect was being blocked, they were naturally upset. They could be considered polite since they were not openly cursing the people on this ship, so there was no need for them to show any further respect.
The elderly man was aware that they were resentful, so he wasn’t mad at them as he replied with a smile, “Where were the two of you?”
While Qing Kui was warm and friendly with Yang Kai, he was impassive to the elderly man and snorted, “We belong to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, why should we tell you where we were?”
The elderly man chuckled as he didn’t mind it. Then, his gaze fell upon Yang Kai as he said hesitantly, “This Little Brother looks familiar. What’s your name?”
Yang Kai gazed dispassionately at the man without intending to reply. Since Qing Kui was so impolite, it meant that the elderly man was only a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master at most. Therefore, there was nothing to worry about.
“Yang Kai? It’s you!” A young man beside the elderly man suddenly stepped forward and glared at Yang Kai.
The fact that someone from the ship knew him surprised Yang Kai. As he looked over, he couldn’t help muttering, “Pei Wen Xuan?”
He came across this guy when they were in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. At that time, he and Qu Hua Shang were trying to comprehend the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture together, and Pei Wen Xuan was one step ahead of them. After that, Black Crow Divine Monarch seized Zhou Yi’s body and was reborn, after which he attempted to silence all the witnesses. While fleeing, Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang pulled a little trick on Pei Wen Xuan that almost killed him.
The grudges between them were formed during that time.
“You ascended to the Open Heaven Realm?” Yang Kai’s gaze flashed. Pei Wen Xuan was only in the Half-Step Open Heaven Realm when they were in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, but now, just like Yang Kai, he was also an Open Heaven Realm Master.
Although it was hard to tell what Order he was, given his heritage and the fact that he was from Myriad Demons Heaven, he should have reached the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm directly.
“Haven’t you ascended to the Open Heaven Realm as well?” Pei Wen Xuan sneered as he looked at Yang Kai in a condescending manner, “A puny Fifth-Order trash. Your strength doesn’t match your sky-high ambitions at all. What a joke!”