Li Rong’s brow furrowed slightly as she asked, “What kind of Demon characters were they?”
“Something like this…” Great Senior said as he moved his power to his fingertip and portrayed the characters on the table in front of him.
A moment later, a few profound and complicated lines of text were written on the table, shining brightly.
Yang Kai studied these characters for a moment and discovered that they had a kind of unique rhythm and pattern to them but were unlike anything he had ever seen before. Helpless, he could only turn to Li Rong.
Li Rong stared at these words for a moment before speaking in a dignified tone, “These are indeed Demon characters, a very ancient script at that.”
“What do they mean?” Great Senior saw that she recognized this language and couldn’t help asking enthusiastically.
“It’s similar to a sign a Sect would put up in front of one of its restricted areas, it literally means ‘warning, those who enter will die!’”
Great Senior gently nodded, seemingly agreeing with this explanation.
“Since these are ancient Demon characters, shouldn’t they only exist in a place where the Demon Race lives? Why could they appear in the Monster Domain?” Yang Kai frowned, not quite understanding.
Great Senior chuckled, “In the past, the Demon Land was much larger than it is today. Much of the current Monster Domain and your Human Territory used to belong to the Demon Race, but after the Great Demon God left, the Demon Race was gradually forced to surrender a lot of their territory and retreat until all that was left is the current Demon Land.”
“So it’s like that…” Yang Kai nodded.
“Although I don’t know which Demon Race force the ruins inside that Void Corridor belong to, without a doubt it was an extremely powerful one. The one who wrote these words was a top-class master, even Old Ox and I could feel a thick murderous intent from them when we read them. That was a murderous intent that had not faded even after thousands of years!”
Yang Kai paled, “Since it is so dangerous, why do you insist on exploring it?”
“If such a strange phenomenon appeared inside your Nine Heavens Holy Land’s territory, wouldn’t you investigate it?” Great Senior replied.
Yang Kai thought about it for a moment before nodding, “Yes!”
Even if he didn’t explore the mysteries inside it, at the very least, he would have to make sure it wouldn’t bring harm to his Sect or his disciples.
“Exactly, the Monster Domain isn’t that large, and that Void Corridor actually appeared right between Old Ox and my territories. If some kind of accident occurred because of it, we might have to give up the Beast Sea Jungle and retreat to other places, shrinking our already small living space,” Great Senior explained before turning his eyes towards Li Rong, “Therefore, This King wished to ask this Lady to join our next expedition. Would you be willing?”
“You’ll have to ask Master,” Li Rong smiled, “I don’t have the authority to accept your request.”
Great Senior immediately turned his attention to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai chuckled, “Even two Monster Race Great Senior’s feel that place is dangerous, obviously it’s not somewhere to be stepped into lightly! This Junior is weak, I’m afraid if I went I would only end up dead.”
Great Senior couldn’t help rolling his eyes, “I never asked you to come along, I only want the lady behind you to come with us. You can stay here in Thunder Tree Palace, I’ll make sure my clan entertains you well. If you don’t want to remain, you can always return to Nine Heavens Holy Land now, no one will stop you.”
“What are you talking about?” Yang Kai grinned, “Li Rong came out with me, naturally we have to go back together.”
“Why you little brat…” Great Senior grumbled, helplessly sighing, “Speak, what are your conditions? You’re really not willing to let off even the slightest bit of opportunity!”
Yang Kai shook his head, “Your Monster Race’s territory is quite barren. Besides some rare spirit grasses and spirit medicines, there’s nothing worth talking about, and right now I don’t even lack spirit herbs.”
Seeing Yang Kai look like he was getting ready to shave off the biggest piece of meat he could, Great Senior felt both frustrated and helpless as he sat on edge, wondering just what kind of excessive demand this greedy human boy would propose. Turning towards Li Rong, he half desperately made an appeal, “Do you not want to go in?”
Li Rong pursed her lips and softly declared, “I’ll follow Master’s decision.”
Yang Kai gave her a deep look before nodding lightly, “Then you can go.”
He could tell that Li Rong was quite concerned about these ancient Demon characters and wanted to explore whatever mysteries were hidden beyond them.
Naturally, he had no intention to stop her.
“What are your conditions?” Great Senior asked anxiously.
“If I said there are no conditions, would you believe me?”
Great Senior shook his head decisively.
“Alright then,” Yang Kai frowned and thought for a moment before suddenly wearing a big smile and glancing towards Cai Die who was standing behind Great Senior and said, “Then I want a smile from her.”
Cai Die was stunned for an instant but soon a bone-chilling light flashed across her beautiful eyes as she directed a piercing glare towards Yang Kai.
“Why you…” Great Senior was speechless, not sure what he should do next.
“Hahaha, just a little joke. Ms Cai Die doesn’t have to take it so seriously,” Yang Kai stood up, “Since we’re going, hurry up and lead the way. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can settle things.”
Seeing that he really didn’t want to ask for more, Great Senior seemed quite surprised and his evaluation of Yang Kai rose a few points.
“Good, then let’s go!” Great Senior also stood up, releasing his Monster Qi to wrap up Yang Kai before flying off with him, Li Rong hurried to keep up while Cai Die stood there for a moment directing her frigid glare towards Yang Kai’s back before also reluctantly following.
“Boy, don’t tease Cai Die so much, or she’ll really snap at you,” As he was speeding along, Great Senior whispered.
Yang Kai grinned helplessly as he nodded, “I get that, the murderous intent behind me is hard to ignore.”
“Serves you right,” Great Senior grinned, taking pleasure in his misfortune for a moment before sighing, “There are sometimes even this King has no way to handle her. In this King’s impression, it’s difficult to recall if she has ever smiled.”
“How can you stand being around such an ice woman?”
“It’s you who are too weird, receiving such loyalty from your subordinates,” Great Senior spoke, intentionally or unconsciously glancing towards Li Rong.
A Second-Order Saint Realm master docilely taking orders from a Third Order Transcendent Realm boy, Great Senior really couldn’t figure out how it was possible.
“Hmph, what do you know? Naturally, I conquered them with my own charisma,” Yang Kai spat disdainfully.
“Shameless boasting!” Great Senior laughed.
As he interacted more with Yang Kai, Great Senior found that this little brat was essentially the exact opposite of the old Holy Master’s in terms of personality, and although he was always somewhat unreasonable and difficult to handle, when he was around Yang Kai, Great Senior couldn’t help feeling a bit younger.
Time passed slowly. Yang Kai allowed Great Senior to carry him along, as if he was too lazy to use his own strength to fly.
However, as they approached their destination, the strange aura flowing through the air became more and more obvious.
It was the aura of The Void!
The Void Energy that was leaking out seemed to be affecting the entire Beast Sea Jungle, causing Yang Kai to wonder just how massive this Void Corridor was to be able to cause such a pervasive change.
There was nothing of note along the way, but after three days, a small, narrow crack on the horizon appeared in Yang Kai’s field of vision.
When he saw this dark crack, Yang Kai’s face changed suddenly as he shouted, “Is that the entrance to the Void Corridor?”
“Yes, that’s the entrance!”
“So big?” Yang Kai exclaimed.
Although he couldn’t judge its size precisely from his current position, Yang Kai estimated that the thin crack in the distance was actually at least a thousand metres in length. Rather than an entrance to the Void, it looked more like someone had torn the entire sky apart.
Moreover, this crack was clearly unstable, twisting and distorting as it spewed out random Void Energy fluctuations, folding in on itself repeatedly as if one moment it would collapse only to rapidly expand in the next.
There was a group of Monster Race masters standing by about ten kilometres from the void crack.
Great Senior flew straight over with Yang Kai.
Noticing the aura of Great Senior, a particularly burly man opened his closed eyes and turned to stare at him.
A moment later, the burly man shouted, “Thunder Dragon, why did you take so long? This Old Ox was growing impatient.”
Great Senior smiled lightly, “It took some time to find someone who can help us. On top of that, it’s only been seven or eight days, what’s there to be so anxious about?”
As the two spoke, the group of four landed.
Yang Kai looked at the man who had just been yelling and couldn’t help feeling his heart clench slightly, realizing this man was another Great Senior of the Monster Race, Earth Splitting Divine Ox!
Like most Monster Race masters, even in human form, he still retained some of his Beast Form’s features, the two dark red horns extending from the sides of his head exuding a faint energy fluctuation.
Yang Kai had no doubt that these two horns were no less sturdy or sharp than a top-grade artifact.
Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s dress was much rougher than Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon’s, a few pieces of animal skins covering his body with his thick legs and arms almost completely exposed to the air.
“Are these the helpers you went to look for?” Old Ox squinted his eyes as he stared back and forth between Yang Kai and Li Rong, faintly nodding, “This woman is alright, but what is this kid doing here?”
Pointing one of his thick fingers towards Yang Kai, he couldn’t help saying, “A brat that hasn’t even reached the Saint Realm yet, did you bring him here just to die?”
It was clear he was looking down on Yang Kai, as if he was some fly he could swat with a single slap, causing Li Rong’s expression to become cold as she directed an unfriendly glare towards Earth Splitting Divine Ox.
Anyone who dares say such words to Yang Kai, Li Rong would not give any face to, if not for her having scruples about Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon being here, Li Rong would have already attacked.
Yang Kai just smiled lightly, his expression remaining unchanged.
Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon didn’t show any intention to mediate the situation, simply smiling as he said, “He really hasn’t reached the Saint Realm yet, but if you look carefully, perhaps you’ll discover something interesting.”
“Something interesting?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox frowned, stroking his chin as he swept his eyes over Yang Kai unceremoniously, soon releasing his Divine Sense to probe the Human boy in front of him.
Suddenly, his face changed as he stepped back unconsciously, his eyes overflowing with shock, seemingly unable to believe what he was seeing.
“Did you notice it?” Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon chuckled.
“Who is he? Why does he possess such pure Monster Qi?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox muttered.
The Monster Qi coming from Yang Kai was faint, almost imperceptible, but it had an incomparable purity, surpassing even his and Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon’s!
The presence of such pure Monster Qi indicated an incredibly noble bloodline from a peak lineage.
But there was no doubt Yang Kai was human, greatly confusing Earth Splitting Divine Ox.
“I don’t understand as well.” Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon shrugged his shoulders, “It might be related to the Beast Soul Skill he cultivated.”
Before, Great Senior really had no clue as to why Yang Kai possessed Monster Qi, but a few days ago, when he saw him display his Beast Soul Skill, he finally found a reasonable explanation.
However, whether this was the actual reason or not, Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon wasn’t sure.
“Beast Soul Skill? What kind of Beast Soul Skill?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox asked, “Let this Old Ox take a look.”
He completely didn’t treat Yang Kai like an outsider; apparently, his character was quite open-minded. Yang Kai smiled lightly and didn’t decline, immediately executing his White Tiger Seal and Divine Ox Seal.
After seeing the mighty White Tiger and Divine Ox phantoms, this Monster Race Great Senior’s eyes bulged as a look of excitement filled his face.
Now that the Divine Ox Seal had appeared, Old Ox could clearly feel the aura of his ancestor from Yang Kai’s Beast Soul Skill. Naturally, he was very excited.
Wrapping his hand around Yang Kai’s shoulder, Earth Splitting Divine Ox patted his back firmly in a friendly manner, “Little friend, when you have time, you must come to visit this Old Ox’s territory so we chat.”
Yang Kai almost spat blood from how hard his back was patted.
Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon grinned deeply as he said, “His Beast Soul Skill truly contains the remnant will of your ancestor, so if you carefully observe and emulate it, you indeed might gain some unexpected harvest; however, this little brat is always concerned about profits so Old Ox, you best be ready to lose a pound of flesh, hahaha!”
Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s face immediately went black as he muttered a few curses under his breath before releasing Yang Kai.
Listening to Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon’s words, Yang Kai finally understood why this other Great Senior’s attitude had suddenly changed so dramatically, even wanting to become friends with a human was a ploy to dig up his ancestral inheritance from Yang Kai’s Beast Soul Skill.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior deliberately speaking out like that was obviously to remind Yang Kai not to be taken advantage of.
“Alright, enough idle chit-chat. Whatever deal you want to strike can be worked out after we finish this matter,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior said, putting on a serious expression as he continued, “Old Ox, let me introduce you, this kid is the one I told you about before, the new Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land, Yang Kai!”
“Oh? So you’re the new Holy Master,” Hearing this, Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s expression also became a little more serious as he took another look at Yang Kai.
“The lady next to him is his subordinate, Demon Race’s Li Rong. This time we’ll have to rely on her strength to resolve the mysteries of this place. Old Ox, when we enter this time don’t act recklessly.”
“I know,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox nodded firmly.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior then turned to look at Yang Kai again and solemnly asked, “Kid, are you sure you want to enter along with us? There’s no way of knowing what is waiting inside and there may very well be life-threatening dangers and crisis. If you find yourself in mortal danger, neither I nor Old Ox may not be able to save you, at that time, you’ll only drag this lady beside you down with you, possibly dooming you both.”
“Please feel relieved, Great Senior. I will take care of myself, there’s no need to concern yourselves with me.”
Thunder Dragon frowned upon seeing Yang Kai still insist on tagging along, but after a moment of thought he simply sighed and no longer tried to persuade him, “So be it.”
Closing his mouth, Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox both turned to stare at the void crack ten kilometres away, their eyes narrowing as they searched for a suitable opportunity to enter it.
This thousand-meter long void crack was like a great beast’s open mouth, twisting and turning while sending out unstable energy fluctuations, if they didn’t choose the right time to enter it, they would only be bringing harm to themselves.
Yang Kai quietly released his Divine Sense towards the void crack, attempting to probe what was inside it.
Unlike the two Monster Race Great Seniors, Yang Kai had a deep understanding of the mysteries of space, was able to tear space himself, and had even spent a long time immersed in the turbulent Void.
Soon, Yang Kai was surprised to discover that just inside the void crack, there were traces of void turbulence; it was because of these turbulences that the Void Corridor’s entrance had become so unstable.
Using his Divine Sense like a giant hand, Yang Kai gently smoothed out these turbulences, gradually allowing the fluctuating void cracks to stabilize.
Seeing this, Thunder Dragon’s eyes lit up and he immediately shouted, “Go!”
As he shouted, his figure flew towards the void crack.
The others hurriedly followed.
A few breaths later, the group of six dove into the void crack.
Of these six, besides Yang Kai who was a Third Order Transcendent, the remaining five were all Saints.
The two Monster Race Great Seniors each brought a Second-Order Saint Realm subordinate and Yang Kai brought Li Rong.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior was followed by Cai Die while Earth Splitting Divine Ox was followed by a Monster Race master named Jin Ni. Yang Kai guessed that Jin Ni’s Beast Form was that of a Nine Nether Golden Beast, a Monster Beast known for its ability to pierce even the toughest of defences with its claws.
This lineup was incredibly strong, so it was obvious at a glance just how much importance the two Great Seniors placed on this matter.
After leaping into the Void Corridor, the group immediately found themselves surrounded by darkness. Sending out their Divine Senses, everyone felt like they had fallen into a muddy swamp, greatly hindering their forward momentum as if they were constantly being sucked down into a mire.
Chaotic energy fluctuations surrounded them, pressing down on them like a mountain.
After entering this place, all the Saints began circulating their strength to withstand the external pressure.
Only Yang Kai appeared carefree as he strolled about, as if he wasn’t affected by this environment in the slightest.
This was because he discovered that this place was exactly the same as the Void he would enter every time he tore space.
Yang Kai had spent a great deal of time in this environment so he was far more familiar with how to handle it than anyone else in this group.
“Old Ox, do you remember which direction we went after we entered last time?” Standing still, Thunder Dragon Great Senior didn’t dare act rashly and asked.
“Even if you ask me, how the hell am I suppose to know? There’s nothing here to use as a reference, even this Old Ox is completely helpless,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox flatly declared.
“Cai Die, Jin Ni, what about you two? Can you remember anything?” Thunder Dragon asked the other two.
Both of them quickly shook their heads, indicating they were also lost.
“Space here is quite chaotic. Even if you remember what direction you went last time, it isn’t necessarily the correct direction now,” As everyone was worried about what to do, Yang Kai suddenly spoke.
Hearing this, Thunder Dragon’s heart sank. The last time they had come here, there was a bright light in the distance which they had been able to move towards, entering a strange space after they arrived at it.
He had thought that this time would be the same, but the reality was completely different from his expectations.
Just after entering this void crack, they had already encountered a problem, causing the faces of Thunder Dragon and Divine Ox to twist, thinking to themselves that this exploration would be fraught with even more crises than they imagined.
“Follow me!” Yang Kai suddenly stepped forward and beckoned to everyone while walking in a certain direction.
Li Rong said nothing and immediately followed, using her Demonic Qi to shield Yang Kai in order to guarantee his safety.
The four Monster Race masters were dumbstruck as the stood in place, not sure whether they could believe and follow Yang Kai or not.
“What should we do?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox turned to Thunder Dragon and asked, “You brought him, so whether we follow or not I’ll leave up to you. If not, we should still be able to leave this place.”
Thunder Dragon Great Senior’s expression hardened as he hesitated to make a decision.
He didn’t know where Yang Kai was getting all his confidence from, picking a direction and walking off like that. Just like Yang Kai had said, space here was very chaotic, so if they couldn’t find an exit, they may find themselves trapped here, unable to escape for the rest of their lives.
“Say something!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox apparently didn’t have much patience, so seeing Thunder Dragon unable to make a decision, he couldn’t help shouting.
“Follow him!” Thunder Dragon Great Senior grit his teeth and said, “That kid seems quite confident about this so he must have discovered something.”
Saying so, he and Cai Die chased after Yang Kai.
Earth Splitting Divine Ox snorted, hesitated for a moment, and then followed after them while shouting, “Damn it, if I die this time, it’s all your fault Thunder Dragon you bastard!”
Yang Kai and Li Rong, who were leading the way, had deliberately slowed their pace so it only took a moment for the two Monster Race Great Seniors and their subordinates to catch up.
“Kid, what kind of confidence do you have here? You’re not leading us into a dead-end are you?” Thunder Dragon asked without hesitation.
“Haha, I’m just trying my luck,” Yang Kai replied with a smile.
Thunder Dragon’s face went black, feeling like he had just been swindled, his guts turning green from regret.
However, now that things had gotten to this point, it was impossible to return the way they came as space here was too twisted and difficult to navigate.
His spirit slumping, he had no choice but to follow after Yang Kai while preparing for the worst.
But soon, he discovered something odd. Space here was very chaotic as if it had been shattered and was now overlapping and folding in on itself as strange turbulence swirled about.
However, wherever Yang Kai passed, all the chaotic energy in the surroundings would become calm, allowing the group of six to advance as if they were walking on flat ground, no longer feeling like they were stepping through a swamp.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior’s eyes couldn’t help glowing, thinking that Yang Kai wasn’t just trying his luck but instead was truly confident about which direction to go.
How did he understand this though? Inside this chaotic space, even the five Saints were completely helpless. What kind of mysterious skill did this Third Order Transcendent kid posses that allowed him to navigate it?
Behind Yang Kai, through the faint light Li Rong was generating, the more Thunder Dragon observed him and more assured in his conclusion he became.
After half an hour, Yang Kai suddenly came to a stop and turned towards a certain spot.
“What happened?” Thunder Dragon’s heart tightened once more as he asked.
“Is he one of your Monster Race’s people?” Yang Kai pointed to the side.
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed and saw a broken corpse with a great deal of flesh and blood, as if it had been chopped into a million pieces, scattered about inside one of the turbulent flows.
A faint bloody smell reached each of their noses.
“It’s one of my subordinates!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox said gloomily, “The last time we came here, both Thunder Dragon and I brought a number of our subordinates with us, but some of them got swept away in the strange turbulence and disappeared.”
“But how come their bodies appeared here?” Thunder Dragon looked puzzled.
“As I said before, space here is very chaotic. Even the entrance is constantly shifting. It may seem like we entered from the same place, but that’s wrong,” Yang Kai faintly explained, “The position you all entered last time is probably somewhere around here.”
Hearing this, Earth Splitting Divine Ox couldn’t help but ask, “Does that mean the exit is also nearby?”
“It should be.” Yang Kai nodded.
Everyone looked around but couldn’t find anything that resembled the bright entrance from last time, yet just as they began to suspect the authenticity of Yang Kai’s claims, the latter called out, “It’s this way!”
Saying so, he changed his direction once more and walked off.
“Thunder Dragon, this kid looks quite relaxed. Has he been here before?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox quietly asked.
“I don’t know,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior slowly shook his head, “In any case, we should follow him for now. Originally I thought bringing him along would be a burden, but now we’re actually having to rely on his strength. It’s really quite interesting…”
“Could it just be a blind cat hitting a dead mouse?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox wondered out loud.
Thunder Dragon glanced over at him but didn’t say anything, instead turning to quickly follow after Yang Kai.
He had noticed that while the places Yang Kai stepped became smooth and free of turbulence, if he waited too long that sense of smoothness would collapse. If they didn’t follow closely after Yang Kai, they would have to use their own strength to resist the strange pressure around them instead.
Feeling the turbulent flow that seemed like it was just waiting for a chance to tear them apart, none of them dared take it lightly.
Half an hour later, a faint ray of light suddenly appeared in front of the group.
“It’s the exit!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox cheered, hurriedly sprinting ahead past Yang Kai and leaping into the light, disappearing in the next instant.
After him, Thunder Dragon Great Senior and Cai Die also rapidly moved towards the exit.
Yang Kai still maintained his original pace together with Li Rong. After arriving at the exit, he quickly confirmed the other side didn’t have any danger before stepping through.
A blinding light stole his vision for a moment but after his eyes adjusted, Yang Kai saw a strange space spread out before him.
There were no sun, moon, or stars up above, just a thick, chaotic swirl of energy with the occasional black clouds drifting back and forth erratically. Every now and then a bolt of black energy would flicker across the sky.
This was actually quite standard for a Mysterious Small World.
However, Yang Kai couldn’t help knitting his brow as he felt that this Mysterious Small World was somehow subtly different from any of the others he had encountered before.
The four Monster Race masters who had entered slightly earlier were waiting for Yang Kai and Li Rong to arrive safely before they took back their gazes from the entrance to The Void.
Standing inside this Mysterious Small World, Yang Kai swept his eyes around, his brow furrowing even deeper as he did so.
He quickly discovered that this place was extremely barren, without the slightest trace of vitality, as if this entire Mysterious Small World was a desolate wasteland.
Looking around, all Yang Kai could see was a grey desert, while his Divine Sense seemed to be restricted by some invisible force, unable to spread out too far.
“Be careful, this place is quite strange. The last time Old Ox and I arrived here we only managed to explore about ten kilometres before we were forced to withdraw,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior warned.
Yang Kai nodded. There was no need to remind him, in such a strange environment there was no way he wouldn’t remain vigilant.
“Over there was where the Demon characters were engraved,” Thunder Dragon pointed to the road ahead, his expression showing a trace of dread, “But I advise you to only glance at it, don’t stare for too long otherwise you might die!”
Yang Kai was shocked, turning his head in the direction that was pointed out only to see a large stone pillar. This stone pillar seemed to have been placed here for many years, its surface worn down by time as it seemed a bit fail and rickety.
This stone pillar was made of ordinary stone that could be found anywhere.
But the few Demon characters engraved on it revealed a thick murderous intent.
When Yang Kai looked at these words, he clearly felt that cold murderous intent, causing a chill to grip his heart.
These Demon characters appeared vigorous and powerful; at first glance it was obvious they were left behind by a powerful master.
However, the faint aura that appeared around was what truly caught Yang Kai’s attention, causing him to stare at it for a while.
After only a few breaths of time, the profound Demon characters, as if coming to live, began to transform into a sharp blade that leapt off the stone pillar and flew towards Yang Kai’s eyes.
“Kid, you court death!” Thunder Dragon Great Senior shouted as he hurriedly pulled Yang Kai away, stepping forward to take his place as he rapidly pushed his Spiritual Energy. At that instant, a huge yet silent explosion took place, forcing Great Senior back several steps, his expression extremely solemn.
“Kid, didn’t I just tell you not to stare for too long?” Thunder Dragon scolded strongly.
Yang Kai knew that just now was his mistake so he didn’t say anything back, simply letting out a hollow laugh before turning to face Li Rong, the two of them both seeing the look of surprise in each other’s eyes.
Although these Demon characters had obviously been written countless years ago, there was still a faint aura remaining around them, and that faint aura belonged to Great Demon God!
Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox obviously would not recognize this, but there was no way Yang Kai and Li Rong didn’t.
Moreover, a mere set of words left behind countless years ago being able to make two Monster Race Great Seniors act so cautiously, in this world, besides Great Demon God, it was likely no one else could accomplish such a feat.
These words were definitely left behind by Great Demon God! Yang Kai was instantly able to affirm this point.
Being able to see the original writings of Great Demon God in this lifetime came as a great surprise to Yang Kai, but what concerned him more was why Great Demon God had left such a warning here?
Yang Kai suddenly thought that his insisting on coming along this time was truly the right choice.
Perhaps he would be able to harvest some unexpected gains.
Li Rong’s expression also filled with anticipation; obviously she too had become interested in the mysteries of this place.
“Don’t stare at it again,” Thunder Dragon said solemnly. Seeing Yang Kai’s somewhat reserved behaviour and thinking he had learned his lesson he quickly added, “The murderous intent contained in those words is something even Old Ox and I don’t dare to disregard. With your Third-Order Transcendent cultivation, if you get hit by it, you’ll definitely die!”
“En, I know,” Yang Kai nodded.
“I really wonder which profound master left these writings here. His methods are simply astonishing,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox spoke fervently.
“Although this King can’t say for certain, he is no doubt a Demon Race master of the highest order, quite possibly the legendary Great Demon God himself,” Thunder Dragon frowned and boldly guessed.
Though a casual remark, he was unaware that his guess was absolutely correct.
“Let’s move on and see what mysteries are hidden up ahead,” Thunder Dragon waved his hand as he volunteered to lead the way.
The last time he and Earth Splitting Divine Ox came to this place, after passing this stone pillar, they only advanced about ten kilometres before they encountered some profound dangers and decided to temporarily withdraw.
Remembering that there were a number of powerful Demon Race masters around Yang Kai, Thunder Dragon Great Senior had sent Cai Die to invite him.
One more Saint Realm master may not completely eliminate the danger in this place, but if they were to encounter any other Demon writings they could at least have Li Rong translate them for them.
Along the way, as Thunder Dragon was explaining what had occurred the last time he and Earth Splitting Divine Ox came here, he suddenly asked, “Kid, what do you think of this place?”
“I don’t know,” Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders.
“If you notice anything or have something to say, don’t hesitate to speak up,” It seemed that because of Yang Kai’s strange performance back in the void crack, Thunder Dragon became much more interested in Yang Kai’s thoughts and opinions.
Thunder Dragon even secretly thought this Human kid might have been here before.
About that, Thunder Dragon was obviously wrong; Yang Kai’s ability to navigate and smooth the Void was only because it was something he was already used to doing. He really knew nothing about this Mysterious Small World.
“If I notice anything, I’ll tell you,” Yang Kai nodded.
After walking forward for about ten kilometers, Thunder Dragon suddenly paused and pointed to the front, “This is where Old Ox and I drew back last time.”
“There’s something strange about this place, an unusual energy flowing about that I can’t identify,” Old Ox shook his head and said.
Looking towards the front, Yang Kai’s expression also couldn’t help distorting.
The path their group of six had been following was suddenly cut off by a deep canyon.
Inside this canyon, there was a strange green liquid that was pulsing with a strange energy. This green sea was thick so it was impossible to see to the bottom of the canyon and every now and then a cry or a howl would echo from down below, making this place seem extremely eerie.
Standing at the edge of the cliff and looking down, all that could be seen was a green viscous sea, as well as a few twisted faces that would float up and down, struggling against the flow but seemingly unable to escape.
Every now and then, something would bubble to the surface and burst, sending out a loud yet gloomy cry.
Cai Die and Li Rong’s faces both paled.
The expressions of Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox were not much better, both of them circulating their strength to resist the seething resentment that was seemingly overflowing from this green sea.
The distorted faces were constantly sending out invisible waves of resentment which impacted the minds of the six people.
“Remember, you’d best not use your Divine Sense to probe what’s beneath this place,” Thunder Dragon warned solemnly, “If I am not mistaken, the floating faces here are all Soul Spirit Bodies.”
“Soul-Spirit Bodies?” Yang Kai parroted.
“Indeed!” Thunder Dragon nodded repeatedly, “Each face is the Soul of a deceased master that was somehow exiled here. Last time we arrived here, I carelessly used my Divine Sense to investigate this place and almost had my consciousness pulled under by them.”
As he spoke about this experience, Thunder Dragon’s face flashed with a lingering fear, “When they were alive, the masters of these Soul-Spirit Bodies were not inferior to me. Although their physical forms had been destroyed, their Souls have actually been imprisoned here, so once you are contaminated by them, it is almost impossible to escape and you will eventually become one of them.”
“You said that the masters these Souls belonged to were not inferior to you when they were alive?” Yang Kai was shocked.
“There’s so many of them!”
“Just where did so many masters come from? Across the entire world today, how many Third Order Saint are there? Fifty? Fewer? If the present age is so, it should be like that for previous ages too.”
However, even a quick glance at the green sea revealed over a thousand disembodied faces; even if only a small part of them were masters on par with Thunder Dragon, it would still be an astonishing number.
According to what Yang Kai knew, no previous age had seen such prosperity in the Martial Dao.
Yet he did not doubt the strength of these Soul-Spirit Bodies down below either. Many of them were incredibly powerful.
“I don’t know either, perhaps a very, very long time ago masters of this level were common throughout the world,” Thunder Dragon shook his head, unable to offer a proper explanation.
“If we want to move on, we can only use those stone platforms,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior shifted his gaze and said.
There was no path leading left or right along the canyon, but suspended a short distance above the strange green sea there was a stone platform roughly three metres wide and three metres long.
After the first platform there was a second, then a third, then a fourth, and so on, each one floating slightly higher than the last, almost like a staircase that stretched on without end.
Above the green sea, a strange, fierce wind blew, containing an ominous energy, causing everyone present to not dare try to fly.
“Do we go on?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox asked, somewhat uncertain if they should continue this exploration.
Although there was a way forward consisting of these stone platforms, no one could guarantee that there wouldn’t be more dangers ahead.
“This is already our second time here. Before this King can make clear what this place is, I won’t go back,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior said firmly before stepping onto the first stone platform.
Cai Die followed without hesitation.
“Kid, you follow Thunder Dragon closely, this Old Ox will bring up the rear!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox nodded to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai nodded back and stepped onto the stone platforms with Li Rong.
Each stone platform was not too far apart from the next, easily reachable by simply lifting one’s foot, forming a path that seemed to lead straight up into the endless sky.
Thunder Dragon walked very slowly as he vigilantly observed his surroundings in case any unexpected danger suddenly appeared, acting extremely cautiously.
Initially, as they ascended the stone platforms, nothing happened, so the group couldn’t help relaxing somewhat.
However, after advancing forward a fair distance, the green sea down below suddenly seemed to boil and numerous floating faces rushed to the surface and began letting out terrifying howls
A moment later, the innumerable Soul-Spirit Bodies broke free from the shackles binding them to the green sea, and like predators smelling their prey, they surged towards Yang Kai’s group.
The disembodied howls and piercing cries mixed together with the whipping winds as the transparent Soul-Spirit Bodies flew towards the group of six from all directions.
Everyone instantly went pale, not understanding how this had suddenly happened.
In the blink of an eye, the stone platforms the group of six were standing on were surrounded by the Soul-Spirit Bodies and wave after wave of potent Spiritual Energy attacks rained down on them.
Even Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox couldn’t help feeling like their very will to live had been crushed, almost completely disabling them.
A great roar rang out and a blue arc of lightning flew out from Thunder Dragon Great Senior, quickly forming into a thin light curtain.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
This lightning curtain flashed brilliantly as the torrent of Spiritual Energy blasts continued pelting it from the outside, a few moments later showing signs of cracking.
Earth Splitting Divine Ox quickly followed up, forming a second light barrier around them, cooperating with Thunder Dragon Great Senior to shield the group from this omni-directional attack.
Cai Die’s seven coloured wings fluttered, releasing numerous rays of light that shot through and pushed back the closest Soul Spirit Bodies.
Li Rong and Jin Ni also acted, both of them displaying their own powerful means.
However, the attacks released by the surrounding Soul Spirit Bodies did not decrease in the slightest, creating a tight encirclement that allowed for no escape.
“Run!” Thunder Dragon shouted, immediately increasing his pace, the other five following right behind him, each of them leaping up the stone platforms as fast as possible.
*Pu…*
Even though the light curtain created by the two Great Seniors was incredibly powerful, facing so many attacks, it still only lasted a few breaths before shattering, barely long enough for the group to advance three hundred meters.
The Soul Spirit Bodies that were flitting about became even more violent seeing this, swarming over like locusts descending upon a field.
These warped Souls, even though they had degenerated into mere beasts, seemed to understand the concept of bullying the weak while fearing the strong. Instinctually understanding that Thunder Dragon and the other Saints possessed tyrannical methods, they all began aiming their attacks towards Yang Kai who seemed the weakest and had yet to even fight back.
The transparent Soul-Spirit Bodies flew about randomly, and although most of them were blocked by the five Saints, a few of them still slipped through and rushed towards Yang Kai.
Not even slowing down, the Soul Spirit bodies plunged into Yang Kai’s body and disappeared.
“Master!” Li Rong’s beautiful face went pale as she desperately rushed towards Yang Kai, even forgetting about the Soul Spirit Bodies that were charging towards her.
A flash of lightning shot over from nearby, resolving Li Rong’s crisis, but failing to change the fate of Yang Kai who had been invaded by multiple Soul Spirit Bodies.
In an instant, Yang Kai’s expression became pained, his eyes turning bloodshot as he trembled uncontrollably.
Everyone present felt a cold chill grip their hearts, understanding he was being influenced by the thick resentment contained inside these Soul-Spirit Bodies. Each of these Soul-Spirit Bodies was formerly a master that had at least reached the Saint Realm. After spending countless years trapped inside the green sea, even though they had not been destroyed, their accumulated hatred and resentment was not something a cultivator of Yang Kai’s strength could resist.
Perhaps his Soul was already being obliterated while his body was being taken over.
Thunder Dragon was temporarily thrown into a state of shock, not knowing how to handle this situation.
A moment later though, Yang Kai’s eyes flashed brilliantly and then became tranquil once more, as if he had received some kind of extrication, his breathing becoming steady as he let out a sigh of relief, “What are you all gawking at, we need to keep moving!”
“You… are you alright?” Thunder Dragon asked in astonishment.
From the time the Soul Spirit Bodies crashed into Yang Kai’s body until he seemingly recovered, only a single breath had passed. Everything had happened so fast that no one was able to react. Most importantly though, Thunder Dragon couldn’t understand how Yang Kai was able to emerge from this crisis unscathed.
There had been multiple Soul Spirit Bodies that drilled into Yang Kai’s body just now, each one containing the full strength of a Saint Realm cultivator’s Soul.
“If we don’t get moving, none of us will be alright!” Yang Kai said solemnly.
Thunder Dragon also understood that now was not the time for questions and immediately focused, pushing his strength to its limits to open up a path ahead. With arcs of lightning swirling around his body, the Soul-Spirit Bodies did not dare approach rashly, allowing the group of six to continue rushing up the stone platforms.
Li Rong came up beside Yang Kai to assist him in resisting the attacks of the Soul-Spirit Bodies while quietly observing him, a moment later her beautiful eyes lit up, understanding why even after he had been invaded by so many resentful Souls he was safe and sound.
Inside his Knowledge Sea, there was Great Demon God’s Demon Eye of Annihilation!
The Demon Eye of Annihilation’s golden light was able to absolutely restrain all forms of Spiritual Energy, the Soul Spirit Bodies that had crashed into Yang Kai’s body might as well have been leaping to their deaths.
After this incident, the remaining Soul-Spirit Bodies seemed instinctually feel some kind of threat and didn’t dare to approach the group of six again, only surrounding them and wailing as if to vent their unwillingness.
Thunder Dragon and the other Monster Race masters were puzzled by this but weren’t about to complain about being able to easily pass through the stone platforms.
After roughly the time it would take a stick of incense to burn, the group of six finally saw the end of the stone platforms.
Stepping off the final stone platform, everyone couldn’t help showing a confused look.
Because the place they had arrived at was not the chaotic sky, but instead another field.
It was almost as if they had returned to where they had entered from, a barren land stretched out before them, but instead of a grey swirling sky above them, a myriad of strangely coloured lights flickered about.
These lights seemed to almost be within reach, yet they were impossible to grasp.
“This place is really strange!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox shook his head.
Thunder Dragon carefully released his Divine Sense, and upon not discovering any danger in their immediate surroundings he proposed, “Let’s take a break for a while.”
In order to pass the stone platforms, all of them had expended a great deal of power. In this crisis-ridden place, they could not afford to miss any chance to restore themselves to their peak.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior didn’t dare to act rashly here.
Of course, no one objected to this suggestion and all of them immediately sat down cross-legged to restore their physical and spiritual strength.
The two Great Seniors sat next to each other and began discussing something in whispered voices, occasionally glancing over towards Yang Kai as they spoke.
Although he was meditating with his eyes closed, their actions did not escape Yang Kai’s perception.
Opening his eyes and smiling wryly, Yang Kai took the initiative to ask, “Do two Great Seniors suspect that I’ve been taken over?”
Thunder Dragon frowned for a moment but decided to not hold back and nodded, “En, both Old Ox and I had such thoughts, but from the tone of your voice, it doesn’t seem like you’ve been supplanted by one of those Soul-Spirit Bodies.”
“Of course I haven’t,” Yang Kai nodded.
“What evidence can you show us to prove that?” Thunder Dragon asked solemnly, “Kid, this King really can’t figure out what method you could possibly possess to withstand the invasion of so many Soul Spirit Bodies, if you can’t prove to us somehow that you are who you say you are, then This King will have no choice but to seal your strength, I hope you can understand.”
“How does Great Senior propose I prove myself?” Yang Kai frowned, thinking that Thunder Dragon and the other’s concerns were reasonable so not taking any offence.
“Just show us something that can prove you are that body’s original owner.”
“There’s no need for that, I can guarantee that he is still who he claims to be! I won’t mistake the person I serve for an impersonator,” Li Rong suddenly declared.
Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox exchanged a glance with one another before turning their eyes to Yang Kai then to Li Rong, a moment later the two of them nodding, “Good, we will believe in the lady’s vision for now. To be honest, we also do not hope your body was seized by another.”
“Two Great Seniors are well-intentioned, I understand,” Yang Kai gently nodded.
With the matter temporarily resolved, everyone continued to restore themselves.
After half a day, the group began exploring again.
After passing over the green sea, it seemed as if they had arrived in a completely different world.
From time to time, high up in the sky, a meteor-like ray of light would fly by quickly, appearing and disappearing before anyone could actually capture its image.
However, what surprised everyone was that even after a long time, forget about dangers, nothing even worth noting occurred.
Everyone slowly began to feel like they were walking on a never ending path, a loop that had no beginning or end.
This strange sensation caused everyone’s heart to sink.
Soon, the group of six lost track of time in this truly desolate wasteland where the scenery seemed to never change.
The one with the shortest temper, Earth Splitting Divine Ox, had long ago become impatient and spent all day grumbling.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior was also feeling some regret. If he had known that it would end up like this, he wouldn’t have insisted on exploring this place. However, even if he wanted to turn back, he couldn’t, so all he could do was move forward and hope they would eventually discovering something of interest.
While the Monster Race masters’ moods had dampened, Yang Kai and Li Rong were actually filled with expectations.
When they first entered this strange Mysterious Small World, they had already confirmed that this place was somehow related to Great Demon God. Just knowing this they were not going to become discouraged halfway.
Even if they hadn’t discovered anything of note yet, perhaps that just meant they hadn’t arrived at their destination yet, so the two of them never stopped looking for clues.
Both Yang Kai and Li Rong were filled with confidence.
One day, as they were continuing to walk through this seemingly boundless world, Yang Kai suddenly noticed an unusual aura behind him.
Astonished, he quickly turned back only to see Li Rong gazing up at the sky with a thoughtful look upon her beautiful face. A kind of strength circulated through her body, fluctuating every now and then.
When one of the strange meteor-like lights soared across the sky and disappeared beyond the horizon, Li Rong tender body shivered, her beautiful eyes shining as the energy fluctuations coming from her body became more and more powerful.
Thunder Dragon, who was leading the way, also noticed this abnormality and turned back to see what was happening, a look of shock soon appearing on his face.
Yang Kai’s expression also greatly changed at that moment. In the beginning, he wasn’t sure what was happening with Li Rong, but after seeing to look of bliss and clarity on her face, he suddenly understood, muttering under his breath, “An epiphany?”
Not daring to disturb her, Yang Kai quickly rushed back, beckoning to Earth Splitting Divine Ox and Jin Ni who were bringing up the rear.
The two Monster Race masters also understood what was happening and carefully kept their distance from Li Rong.
“She’s showing signs of a breakthrough,” Thunder Dragon stared fixedly at Li Rong, quietly confirming Yang Kai’s observations and speculations.
Li Rong had reached the Second Order Saint Realm many years ago.
On top of that, when Yang Kai brought the Ancient Demon Clan out from their Mysterious Small World, the moment they had set foot on Tong Xuan Realm, as if they were liberated from some kind of shackle restraining them, they had all received a great boost in strength.
Han Fei and Hua Mo had even directly broken through to the next Minor Realm.
At the time, Li Rong’s strength also increased but it was not enough for her to break through.
Today though, she had obviously realized something and was now finally going to take another step forward in her cultivation.
Once she broke through, she would be a Third Order Saint! That was the highest level a cultivator could reach in this world.
Realizing this, Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox both couldn’t help having their attention glued to her.
Yang Kai smiled broadly as he waited silently.
The stronger Li Rong was, the more help she could provide him. Now, if they were to meet Xue Li again, Yang Kai estimated that she would only be able to escape from them.
When Li Rong was a Second-Order Saint, after using her Demon God Transformation, she was able to fight evenly with Xue Li. After breaking through to the Third Order, she would no doubt be able to defeat her with ease.
“I’ll have to ask all of you to wait here for a while,” Yang Kai turned and bowed his head slightly to the two Monster Race Great Seniors.
“No problem, in any case, we’re lost and have no idea which way to go, there’s no harm in taking a break here for a while,” Thunder Dragon smiled, thinking for a moment before asking, “Why did she suddenly break through at this time? Could it be she discovered something that helped her strength growth here?”
Earth Splitting Divine Ox thought for a while before mumbling, “Over the past few days, I’ve seen her frequently staring up at the sky. Perhaps there is some mystery contained within those strange lights that occasionally flash by?”
“The sky?” Thunder Dragon mumbled, turning his eyes towards the Heavens just in time to see one of the strange meteor-like lights streak across, nodding a moment later, “It’s possible. At her level of strength, often even an inadvertent discovery can lead to a huge improvement in strength.”
“Then this Old Ox must also take a look, perhaps I’ll discover something to improve my strength too. When that happens, Old Thunder Dragon will have to bow down before me!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox declared happily before immediately sitting down and staring upwards.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior simply smirked, not making any attempt to dissuade him but rather choosing to follow Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s example, sitting down cross-legged and peering towards the sky, hoping to uncover the mysteries of the strange lights.
Since Li Rong was able to discover something from it, and there was nothing else for them to do while they waited, there was no reason for them not to try.
Cai Die and Jin Ni also sat down and began observing.
Yang Kai shook his head and ignored them, closing his eyes and entering a meditative state.
Li Rong’s epiphany lasted quite some time, and although there was no way to calculate the exact passage of time, Yang Kai estimated that at least ten days had passed. During this time, Li Rong did not move a muscle, only her beautiful eyes grew brighter and brighter as they observed the strange lights high up in the sky.
Finally, her tender body shivered and a violent force erupted from her body, forming a great torrent of wind that rapidly spread out around her.
The aura belonging to a Third Order Saint overflowed from Li Rong.
High up in the sky, a massive amount of World Energy began to gather and a moment later crashed down onto Li Rong’s head.
Besides letting out a low grunt, Li Rong showed no other reaction, simply standing there while enduring the World Energy baptism.
The look on Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s faces quickly became serious.
Both of them had experienced this step and knew well just how terrifying the force of Heaven and Earth was and how difficult it was to endure.
When they had broken through in the past, both of them had been forced to return to their Beast Forms in order to resist this devastating power, but even taking advantage of their original physique’s superior toughness, they had suffered great trauma and took a long time to recover afterwards.
However, Li Rong, a woman who should have possessed a weaker physique than either of them, was actually taking an even crazier approach to this baptism than they had, causing the eyes of both Great Seniors to bulge in shock.
The storm of World Energy continued to fall and it was not long before blood began leaking from the side of Li Rong’s mouth, her tender body shuddering, seemingly somewhat unable to bear this pressure but still gritting her teeth and steadfastly enduring in order to allow her flesh and blood to absorb as much of this baptism as possible and convert it into her own strength.
As time passed, the four Monster Race masters were all on the edge, Cai Die biting her thin lip as her jade hands clenched, secretly worried for Li Rong.
“Kid, this isn’t good…” Thunder Dragon suddenly came over and whispered into Yang Kai’s ear, “If she continues to resist head-on like this, there’s a good chance she’ll be destroyed by the World Energy storm.”
“En,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox nodded, “My Monster Race’s physiques are the strongest in the world, but even Thunder Dragon and I wouldn’t dare absorb all of that World Energy like this. What she’s doing right now is nothing short of digging her own grave.”
Li Rong, from the beginning, had made no attempt to shield herself with her Demonic Qi from the World Energy baptism and instead completely opened her mind and body to it. Naturally, this caused both Great Seniors great concern.
“Heh heh, don’t worry, she can withstand it,” Yang Kai smiled lightly, not showing the slightest sign of worry.
Thunder Dragon couldn’t help but look at him strangely, not understanding what gave him such great confidence in Li Rong.
“If such a good subordinate were to fall here, you’ll really have no place to cry,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox reminded him.
“She has a sense of discretion,” Yang Kai shook his head and stopped explaining.
Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox exchanged a glance and no longer said anything, turning their attention back to Li Rong, a look of suspicion and curiosity flashing across their faces, wanting to see just how she was going to endure this baptism.
As time went by, the strength of the World Energy storm only grew, even causing the surrounding space to tremble, seemingly pushing Li Rong to the very edge, as if she could die at any moment.
But still, she insisted, motionless.
The four Monster Race masters all had solemn expressions upon their faces. Regardless of anything else, the courage and will Li Rong displayed enduring all of this with only her flesh was a great shock to them.
The swirling of the World Energy gathered high up in the sky suddenly calmed down but became even more concentrated, as if it was preparing to strike one final blow.
Li Rong’s expression finally became dignified, her beautiful eyes filling with an indomitable will as they stared up at the sky.
*Hong…*
The world roared and a destructive power that made everyone present go pale suddenly crashed down through the air and enveloped Li Rong.
At that moment, everyone else present felt as if their heart had stopped beating as all of their attention focused towards the spot where Li Rong was standing.
Inside the raging blast of World Energy, the only thing they could see was a blurry shadow that, despite trembling greatly, was still standing tall.
Gradually, the violent downpour of World Energy converged, as if it was being absorbed into Li Rong’s tender body. The winds that were whipping about slowly died out and a pair of bright eyes flashed as they shot open inside the fading storm.
A moment later, Li Rong slowly stepped out towards the five spectators, gasping for breath, her chest heaving up and down.
“This…” Earth Splitting Divine Ox couldn’t speak properly as he stared dumbfounded at the woman in front of them.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior also narrowed his eyes as he fixed his gaze on Li Rong’s face.
At this moment, numerous strange dark tattoos had appeared all over her pretty face, painting a fierce yet profound picture. As Li Rong approached though, these lines seemingly receded, the dreadful momentum pulsing from her body disappearing along with them.
Seemingly thinking of something, Thunder Dragon Great Senior’s expression changed slightly as he directed an extremely dignified look towards Li Rong.
Arriving in front of everyone, Li Rong stood firmly and smiled towards Yang Kai.
Her aura was now as vast as the sea and her eyes were filled with a kind of divine light. Her skin looked like the finest white jade as it gave off a radiant lustre yet simultaneously appeared as soft and tender as newborns. Her strength had obviously undergone earth-shaking changes.
“Master, I’ve become a Third-Order Saint,” Li Rong looked calm and she reported to Yang Kai.
“Good,” Yang Kai nodded firmly, “It seems we didn’t come here in vain!”
“Many thanks for patiently waiting for me,” Li Rong turned to the Monster Race masters and nodded lightly.
“A minor matter, nothing worth mentioning,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior waved his hand, “Rather, it is we who should congratulate Madame for arriving at this plane.”
Li Rong smiled and modestly said, “In the future, I must trouble two Great Seniors to provide me with some guidance.”
“No need to be so polite, if Madame has free time in the future, you are always welcome to visit my Thunder Tree Palace so we may exchange pointers,” Thunder Dragon nodded lightly. Li Rong had just broken through to the Third Order Saint Realm, the same realm as him. Naturally, she was qualified to communicate with him so they could share their cultivation experiences.
“Haa, unfortunately even after sitting here for so long, this Old Ox hasn’t been able to discover anything special, let alone reach an epiphany,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox shook his head, looking a little dissatisfied before suddenly asking, “However, though you’re a woman your physique is quite tyrannical, you even fully accepted that World Energy baptism with only your flesh. It is the first time I’ve seen anything like that. What were those black patterns that appeared on your face just now? Why did feel like your momentum and vitality soared when those things appear?”
Hearing him ask these questions, Li Rong turned her gaze towards Yang Kai first, not certain whether she should answer or not.
Yang Kai was also somewhat unsure what to do and hesitated for a moment, but before he could answer, Thunder Dragon cut in, “What are you doing trying to pry into other’s secrets? That’s going too far Old Ox.”
Earth Splitting Divine Ox laughed awkwardly, “I was just curious and asked thoughtlessly. If you don’t want to answer then that’s fine.”
“I think we’re lost,” Thunder Dragon suddenly came to a stop and said bitterly.
Amidst this endless grey world, where the range of both their sight and Divine Sense was limited, the group of six couldn’t help coming to a stop and slumping over.
It had already been a long time since Li Rong broke through to the Third-Order Saint Realm. How long exactly, none of them knew, but it had been at least long enough for Li Rong to completely consolidate her cultivation.
Without any clear direction or goal, the group could only move about randomly, which obviously led them nowhere at all.
Listening to Thunder Dragon, Earth Splitting Divine Ox asked suspiciously, “The scenery here is all the same, how can you be sure we’re lost?”
“Look over there,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior pointed towards a spot not far away. When everyone looked in the direction he pointed, they all noticed a set of bleached bones lying in the wasteland.
“We passed through here some time ago, but somehow, we’ve actually returned to this place, those broken bones are the best proof.”
Yang Kai’s brow rose slightly as he thought back.
The last time they had passed by, he hadn’t paid much attention to this pile of bones, but if Thunder Dragon’s observation wasn’t wrong then their group might have actually walked in a giant circle and returned to their original position.
“Seriously? What should we do then?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox was dumbstruck, “How could we have gotten lost in the first place?”
“I don’t know. Do any of you have any bright ideas about how we should find the exit to this place? Rather than trying to uncover this place’s mysteries, we should first concern ourselves about being able to leave. The time we’ve spent here already isn’t short.”
“You’re the one who has been leading us, if you don’t know where we are or how to get out, how are we supposed to know?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox all but shouted.
“It wasn’t until just now that this King noticed that something was wrong! What? Are you trying to push all the blame for this onto me?” Thunder Dragon Great Senior snapped back.
It had truly been quite a long time since they entered this place and besides Li Rong who managed to grasp some kind of opportunity and break through to the Third Order Saint Realm, no one else had gained anything; obviously even the two Great Seniors weren’t in a good mood.
Seeing that they were on the verge of quarrelling, Yang Kai quickly interjected, “We need to remain calm, before we entered this place, we had already anticipated it would be this strange, but now that we’re stuck in this, rather than blaming one another, we should focus on finding a way out.”
“How do you propose we do that? Have you noticed something about this place kid?” Thunder Dragon asked Yang Kai.
Yang Kai could only shake his head.
“If my guess is correct, someone has set up a very profound Bewildering Array here…” Li Rong thoughtfully said, “Those bones we’ve encountered so far are probably from cultivators who inadvertently entered this place and became trapped, eventually perishing as a result.”
“Agreed,” Thunder Dragon nodded.
During this time, every now and then their group would encounter a skeleton or two which were obviously left behind by cultivators who accidentally entered this place.
“A Bewildering Array?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s eyes widened, “Who could possibly set up a Bewildering Array that could completely mislead three Third-Order Saints?”
Even if they hadn’t purposefully studied Spirit Arrays, with their Third Order Saint Realm cultivations there shouldn’t be any kind of Spirit Array they couldn’t at least detect, but the three top-level powerhouses among their group of six had actually not discovered anything out of the ordinary from beginning to end. From this alone, it was obvious whoever arranged this Spirit Array possessed incredible methods.
“This King is becoming more and more convinced that this place is somehow related to the legendary Great Demon God,” Thunder Dragon snorted and said, “No one else but him could have created such an arrangement.”
Yang Kai and Li Rong exchanged a glance but chose to remain silent.
“Should we split up and try to find a way out?” Cai Die suggested hesitantly.
Both Thunder Dragon and Yang Kai shook their heads, the former declaring, “This place is too strange, if we split up, we may never find each other again.”
“There’s been nothing but bad luck since the start of this little trip. This Old Ox will never haphazardly enter any Mysterious Small World again,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox grumbled.
Yang Kai smiled wryly and shook his head, but while he was contemplating what to do next, he suddenly realized that the Divine Tree was sending him a Divine Sense Message.
His brow furrowing slightly, Yang Kai quietly informed Li Rong before sending his consciousness into the Black Book space.
“What is it?” Yang Kai asked, wondering why the Divine Tree would suddenly call out to him at this time.
“Something strange happened,” Divine Tree replied.
“Did something happen with those two black stones?” Yang Kai asked, quickly taking a look towards the two pitch-black round stones only to discover that they were the same as always, steadily absorbing the essence of the rare ores he had placed nearby, glowing slightly brighter but nothing worth noting.
“Not them, something else. Wait a moment, you’ll understand when you see it!” The Divine Tree replied.
Yang Kai no longer asked anything and quietly waited.
After a while, somewhere in the Black Book space, a glimmer of light flashed.
“Hm?” Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling confused, quickly sending his Soul Avatar towards the source of the flash. The moment he identified what was flashing though, he found himself somewhat dumbstruck.
Of the things Yang Kai had stored in the Black Book space, the most precious were the Myriad Drug Liquid series, the Divine Tree, and the Shimmering Moon Grass.
There were also a lot of artifacts and scrolls he had picked up from here and there along his travels but none of them was particularly valuable so Yang Kai never concerned himself with them much.
In addition to those, there was really only the two strange pitch-black round stones left, as well as the various ores he had obtained from the Starry Sky.
But at this moment, the thing intermittently flickering was something Yang Kai had all but forgotten about.
The Heavenly Palace!
This was the mysterious artifact which belonged to Meng Wu Ya.
Many years ago, during the final moments of the Yang Family’s Inheritance War, the Ash Grey Cloud Evil Land led by the Devil Lord Yang Bai and the Six Great Evil Kings had invaded War City en mass on their way to the Central Capital.
In an instant, War City had been razed to the ground and transformed into a wasteland.
However, among the ruins, only Yang Kai’s Mansion survived, and completely unscathed at that.
This was all thanks to the artifact that Meng Wu Ya had summoned.
The Heavenly Palace transformed into a great barrier that enveloped the entire periphery of Yang Kai’s Mansion, rendering all attacks by Yang Bai and the Evil Kings useless.
After the decisive battle in the Central Capital, at the end of his rope, Yang Bai had chosen to self-destruct, causing the Earth Vein below the city to explode. At that critical moment, Meng Wu Ya had sheltered Xia Ning Chang and Su Yan while bringing them through the Void Corridor to Tong Xuan Realm.
The Heavenly Palace had been left behind at Yang Kai’s mansion and was eventually collected by him and placed inside the Black Book space.
Because this was Meng Wu Ya’s artifact, Yang Kai had never planned to refine it or even erase the Soul brand and aura imprint from it. He was simply holding on to it until he met Meng Wu Ya again.
It had been collecting dust in the Black Book space since then and if not for the Divine Tree’s reminder just now, Yang Kai would never have given it a second thought.
But now, why was the Heavenly Palace shining? Although it was flickering at a very slow pace, it was indeed flashing, as if it had detected something a great distance away.
After thinking about it for a moment, Yang Kai thought of a possibility and couldn’t help feeling shocked.
There was a chance that Meng Wu Ya was also in this Mysterious Small world. Even if he wasn’t, he might have at least come here before!
The Heavenly Palace was his artifact and it still had his Soul brand on it. If it detected Meng Wu Ya’s aura, it would certainly explain its current reaction.
According to Yang Kai’s investigations, he could infer that Meng Wu Ya had gone to Ice Sect with Xia Ning Chang and Su Yan, entrusted Su Yan to Ice Sect’s Sect Master Qing Ya, and then left.
Afterwards, the master and apprentice pair had stopped in Nine Heavens Holy Land for a time.
Nine Heavens Holy Land was not far from here. If Meng Wu Ya’s destination had actually been this place and had simply stopped by Nine Heavens Holy Land along the way rather than intentionally going there to meet with the old Holy Master, everything would line up.
The more Yang Kai thought about it, the more he thought his guess was correct, causing him to feel very excited.
If Meng Wu Ya was here, that means Little Senior Sister was too…
Li Rong’s softly called out to him at that moment, so Yang Kai quickly returned his consciousness to his body, his eyes now filled with a bright light.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior did not miss this sudden change and asked, “Kid, did you discover something?”
“I’m not sure,” Yang Kai grinned and quickly took the Heavenly Palace out of the Black Book space and placed it in the palm of his hand, “It’s just that this thing suddenly started acting up.”
“An Artifact?” Thunder Dragon frowned as he observed the Heavenly Palace. “The shape of this artifact is rather unusual, it actually resembles a palace. In fact, it’s quite similar to another artifact I’ve seen before.”
This time it was Yang Kai’s turn to be curious as he asked, “Which artifact?”
“One that was owned by one of your Human Race’s masters, but unfortunately that man was killed a few hundred years ago. Forget about it,” Thunder Dragon waved his hand, seemingly dismissing the thought, but as he continued to inspect the artifact on Yang Kai’s palm, he couldn’t help narrowing his eyes, eventually mumbling under his breath, “This artifact, could it be…”
The artifact was of a very high grade, most likely Saint Grade Top-Rank, and the remaining aura on it did not belong to Yang Kai, but rather to another person.
The aura, while a little faint, was quite profound, so Thunder Dragon was easily able to conclude that its owner was a top master.
“Is this the Heavenly Palace?” Thunder Dragon wore a solemn expression as he asked hesitantly.
Artifacts shaped like palaces were extremely uncommon, accompanied by its grade, it was difficult for Thunder Dragon to not think of such a possibility.
Was it really possible? The expression of Thunder Dragon Great Senior became dignified as it seemed to silently say as such.
Yang Kai raised his brow, “Is Great Senior familiar with it?”
“This really is the Heavenly Palace?” Thunder Dragon’s body shook as he stared at Yang Kai in amazement, “Kid, where did you obtain it?”
“Thunder Dragon, is this artifact so shocking?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox stared at it curiously.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior took a breath before explaining, “This artifact is impressive, but what is more impressive is who its original owner was.”
“And who would that be?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox was apparently less informed about worldly matters than Thunder Dragon so he had never heard anything about the Heavenly Palace.
“Its original owner was the Human Race’s former first expert, Meng Wu Ya!” Thunder Dragon smirked, turning an inquisitive gaze towards Yang Kai, wondering if he was somehow related to Meng Wu Ya.
Earth Splitting Divine Ox scratched his head, “This Old Ox seems to recall hearing that name somewhere before.”
“Of course you’ve heard it before,” Thunder Dragon snorted, “Do you remember Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior?”
“Of course I remember,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox nodded repeatedly, “Before this Old Ox had even achieved human form, Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior was a renowned master of our Monster Race, but at some point, he died. Right, Thunder Dragon, you were once Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior’s subordinate weren’t you?”
“Yes,” Thunder Dragon nodded, “I was one of Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior’s subordinates. Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior’s death is actually related to the original owner of this artifact.”
“Was he killed by that guy named Meng Wu Ya?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox exclaimed.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior slowly shook his head, “Not exactly. When the two of them fought, Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior was defeated after only a stick of incense worth of time and suffered serious wounds, wounds he eventually succumbed to. It was only after Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior died that This King was able to rise to the position of Great Senior and become a leader of the Monster Domain.”
Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s eyes bulged, as he shouted out in disbelief, “Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior’s strength should be comparable if not greater than yours or mine, yet someone was actually able to beat him half to death in the time it would take to burn a stick of incense?”
“En, it was really just a stick of incense worth of time. When the two of them fought, this King was present! The means of that Meng Wu Ya… they were truly earth-shattering. It was only later, when this King investigated about him that I learned he was actually the Human Race’s strongest master, an opponent no one dared offend.”
As Yang Kai listened to this glorious tale, all that came to mind was Treasurer Meng’s lazy old demeanour and perverted grin, causing his face to twitch unceasingly. His back shivered at the thought…
Did Treasurer Meng really have such a brilliant past?
Although Yang Kai had long guessed that Meng Wu Ya’s strength was not low, it appeared he was still underestimating his ability.
It wasn’t until today that Yang Kai finally had a clearer understanding of Treasurer Meng’s background.
“And this Heavenly Palace was one of Meng Wu Ya’s signature artifacts…” Thunder Dragon Great Senior stared at the artifacts in Yang Kai’s hand, a complex expression appearing on his face as he sighed slightly, “Because of the death of Blood Flood Dragon Great Senior, This King had been paying attention to that guy’s movements and whereabouts, but unfortunately I heard that he later ran to the Demon Land to challenge the current Demon Commander and ultimately died as a result…”
After a pause, he furrowed his brow and said, “That guy was also quite eccentric. He didn’t belong to any Sect and seemed to have been self-taught, there were no rumours at all about where he originated from or how he obtained his phenomenal strength. On top of that, he didn’t seem to have a legacy disciple, leaving This King no one to seek revenge from. Kid, where exactly did you get this artifact?”
“Heh heh, if I said that he left it with me, would you believe it or not?” Yang Kai let out a hollow laugh.
Thunder Dragon frowned and asked, “What do you mean? Are you trying to say he’s actually still?”
“En.”
“Impossible, there hasn’t been any news about him for at least a hundred years! If he was still alive, how could he have not made a single sound after so long?” Thunder Dragon seemed unable to believe his ears, staring somewhat suspiciously towards Yang Kai, “Why is this Heavenly Palace continuously flickering now?”
“Probably because it senses its owner’s aura!” Yang Kai also stared at Heavenly Palace. After taking it out of the Black Book space, the Heavenly Palace began flashing more frequently, which only increased Yang Kai’s suspicion that Meng Wu Ya was here.
“He’s really still alive?” Thunder Dragon Great Senior exclaimed.
“Do I look like someone who would lie about this?” Yang Kai looked at him with seriousness.
“No.”
“Exactly.”
Thunder Dragon’s expression fluctuated before suddenly realizing something, his eyes lighting up as he shouted, “So, as long as we follow the guidance of this Heavenly Palace, we’ll be able to find Meng Wu Ya and subsequently leave this Bewildering Array?”
“I think so,” Yang Kai nodded heavily, pouring his True Qi into the Heavenly Palace.
Back when Meng Wu Ya wrapped Yang Kai’s mansion with the Heavenly Palace, it had saved him and his allies from being destroyed by the Devil Lord and his minions. Later on, in order to facilitate Yang Kai entering and exiting the barrier, Meng Wu Ya had set it up so that the Heavenly Palace could be driven to a certain extent by Yang Kai.
This artifact ultimately did not belong to Yang Kai so it was impossible for him to display all of its power.
However, it was enough!
As he poured his True Qi into it, the Heavenly Palace began to tremble and Yang Kai immediately noticed some signs of it wanting to escape from his grasp and fly off.
Immediately, Yang Kai’s spirits rose as he shouted, “Follow me!”
Holding onto the Heavenly Palace and feeling the direction it wanted to fly, Yang Kai began rushing forward.
The crowd followed close behind.
As he was walking, Yang Kai’s mood fluctuated wildly.
He wasn’t sure if Meng Wu Ya was here or if he had simply left a trace of himself behind before leaving, if it turned out like that, then this time to he would be unable to find Treasurer Meng and Little Senior Sister.
However, this was without a doubt a clue in his search, so there was still hope.
Yang Kai had already found Su Yan, and he wasn’t worried about Old Demon, so as long as he could find Xia Ning Chang, he would have finally accomplished what he came to Tong Xuan Realm to do.
Since leaving the Central Capital and coming to this world, it had already been more than a decade. Over the past ten years, his strength had undergone earth-shaking changes, but this worry of his had never left heart, often causing him to sigh helplessly.
[When I finally find Meng Wu Ya, I swear I’ll pluck out every last hair from that old fart’s beard!] Yang Kai secretly grumbled to himself as he flew forward as quickly as he could.
After an unknown amount of time, the barren grey landscape actually began to change.
In front of Yang Kai, there seemed to be some kind of landmark sticking up from the ground.
After arriving here, the light from the Heavenly Palace also became much stronger.
Yang Kai couldn’t help getting his hopes up as he rushed towards this landmark but upon seeing what it was, his brow furrowed deeply.
The other five people also came to a stop, each of them staring forward with a solemn expression.
Twenty meters or so in front of their group of six stood a gigantic stone pillar at least five meters thick and was so tall that they were unable to see its top.
On the stone pillar, there were a few large Demon characters written by the same hand as the ones which they first saw upon entering this Mysterious Small World.
“Li Rong, what’s written on it?” Yang Kai hurriedly asked.
Li Rong quickly observed the characters before taking her gaze back, not daring to stare at it for too long, quickly replying, “Tong Xuan Pillar!”
“Tong Xuan Pillar?” Yang Kai frowned, not knowing what these words meant.
However, there was indeed an extraordinary force surrounding this stone pillar, one that caused everyone present to feel fearful and apprehensive.
Following the guidance of the Heavenly Palace, they had not found Meng Wu Ya but instead discovered this strange stone pillar, disappointing each of them somewhat.
But Yang Kai could still feel the Heavenly Palace pulling him in a certain direction so obviously this was not their last stop.
“Let’s keep moving, in any case, we’ve at least managed to leave the Bewildering Array,” Yang Kai said.
The other five nodded gently and continued to keep up.
The group began advancing more carefully now, each of them on high alert in case they encountered any unforeseen danger.
After half an hour, Yang Kai suddenly slowed down and sniffed the air before asking, “Have you all noticed as well?”
“En, it smells like blood!” Thunder Dragon replied immediately, his eyes glancing around vigilantly, “There’s a bloody scent coming from nearby.”
“En, it seems to be growing stronger too,” Yang Kai nodded.
“Wait, there’s movement up ahead,” Thunder Dragon declared.
Everyone came to a stop and perked up their ears.
Some subtle sounds came from afar, almost like the rolling sound of waves on the ocean.
The sound rapidly grew louder as whatever was causing it seemed to be closing in on them at great speed. A moment later, at the edge of their sight, a dark red light appeared in the originally grey world.
Gradually, the dark red light grew larger and the rhythmic sound of the tide resounded even clearer than before.
Before any of them could react, the entire world in front of them was dyed blood red.
“Not good!” Thunder Dragon Great Senior roared, instantly pushing his strength and throwing up a blue light curtain around their group.
At the same time, from right in front of them, a thick and boundless blood red sea crashed down on them, as if a dam somewhere up ahead had broken, turning this barren wasteland into a floodplain and in an instant. Completely enveloping the six of them.
A rich bloody smell filled all of their noses and all they could see now around them was a thick bloody red liquid. It was as if they had suddenly fallen into the middle of blood sea and lost all sense of direction, unable to find the way out.
The blood sea vaporized on contact with the light barrier and quickly began seeping inside. The Heavenly Palace in Yang Kai’s hand had only been slightly contaminated by this blood fog yet the glow it had been giving off had greatly diminished, as if it had almost lost all spirituality.
Without hesitation, Yang Kai threw the Heavenly Palace back into the Black Book space.
*Ci la la…*
A sizzling sound burst out from all around. It seemed like the blood fog that managed to infiltrate the light barrier was extremely corrosive, causing a painful burning sensation upon contact with everyone’s skin.
Yang Kai grit his teeth and began circulating his strength to resist the effects of this blood fog, rapidly consuming his True Qi in the process.
“What the hell is this stuff?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox cursed as he enveloped his body in a brown light. Unfortunately, under the erosion of the blood fog, even his light defence quickly became dim, forcing him to exert even more strength to compensate, draining his reserves at a rapid pace.
The blood sea and blood fog seemed to be able to even dissolve various kinds of energy.
“It should be some kind of trap we accidentally triggered, we need to find our way out of this blood sea first before figuring out what to do about it,” Thunder Dragon roared as he resisted the pressure from the surrounding blood sea, pushing his defenses to the limit.
“Great Senior, watch out!” Cai Die suddenly exclaimed, waving her seven coloured wings and shooting out a beam of light.
Looking towards the direction of her attack, Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed.
He found that amidst the vast blood sea, there were innumerable figures wandering about that seemed to be condensed entirely from blood. These blood people seemed to have no facial features or even solid figures; Cai Die’s attack passed right through a few of them and scattered them into blood fog.
In the blink of an eye though, several more of these blood people rushed threateningly towards Thunder Dragon Great Senior.
Thunder Dragon’s pupils shrank as he unleashed a bolt of purple lightning towards these figures, smashing a number of them into the bloody fog.
However, one of them managed to avoid getting hit, closed in, reached out, and grabbed the wrist of Thunder Dragon Great Senior.
As if he had molten metal poured onto his flesh, a scalding sound burst out and Thunder Dragon revealed a look of pain, quickly waving his arm to shake off the bloody hand.
On his wrist, a bright red handprint remained along with a deep bruising.
Seeing this, everyone’s face paled.
Thunder Dragon was a supreme master and a Monster Beast on top of that, his flesh was extremely strong yet after only being gripped by this blood man he had actually suffered a serious wound. It was clear from this just how terrifying the corrosive strength of the surrounding blood was.
However, what made everyone truly feel desperate was that the blood people that were smashed apart by Thunder Dragon Great Senior a moment ago actually gathered together and stood up again, completely unharmed.
It was like they were immortal and indestructible.
Enveloped by the blood sea, the group of six fully displayed their skills to fight back against the blood people as they pushed their way forward, trying their best to escape from this dangerous place.
However, no matter how they fled, the blood sea remained as thick as ever.
It was as if this blood sea was endless, or perhaps was following them, denying them any chance of escape.
Gradually, Thunder Dragon Great Senior had to stop and exert his full strength to resist the attacks of the blood people.
In the surrounding thousand meters, streams of lightning flew about in an attempt to destroy the blockade of the blood sea and find a way out.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior’s true form was a Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon. He was proficient in both Fire Attribute and Thunder Attribute attacks and possessed phenomenal strength, but even he was beginning to feel helpless in this situation.
Brown light halos emerged one after another from Earth Splitting Divine Ox, but each of them only managed to expand for a short time before growing dull under the erosion of the blood sea and flickering out.
The piercing yellow Qi from Jin Ni’s body also gradually began to dim.
Cai Die’s seven coloured light and Li Rong’s pitch black Demonic Qi all surged into the blood sea, but as if it was a bottomless pit, the blood sea simply devoured all of their power, making them unable to see any hope of escape.
The blood people who were formed from the blood sea were not individually strong and their bodies were actually quite frail, each of the Saint Realm masters present only needed to use the most basic of attacks to reduce a number of them to puddles of blood.
However, even if they smashed these blood people apart, a few breaths later they would reconstitute, stand up, and continue to attack.
At the same time, the blood fog which had seeped past their defence barriers was constantly sapping their strength.
This barrier that was arranged here by Great Demon God possessed a terrifying resilience and destructive power.
Yang Kai’s strength was the lowest among this group of people and it was precisely because of this that he was currently being surrounded by the five Saints, temporarily allowing him to not have to worry about his safety.
As the five Saints were struggling to resist this onslaught, Yang Kai was carefully observing the energy fluctuations of the blood people and blood sea.
While using his Divine Sense to probe the surrounding, he suddenly pushed his Conflagrated Spiritual Energy towards a blood person who was approaching Li Rong.
A scalding hot burning energy erupted, creating a kind of domain that could incinerate everything it touched.
Everyone was currently feeling a cold chill gripping them, but after sensing this domain they all suddenly felt as if their skin had been lit on fire, causing the four Monster Race masters to freeze up for a moment and stare at Yang Kai with amazement.
At the same time the saw the blood person who had rushed Li Rong boil up.
The blood person was composed entirely of blood, it had no bones or flesh to speak of so as it boiled, bubbles of gas appeared all over its body and quickly evaporated, leaving nothing behind.
Seeing this, everyone’s eyes lit up.
“Nice one kid!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox shouted.
This was the first time any of them had managed to completely destroy one of the blood people since they became trapped in this blood sea.
“Great Senior, use fire!” Yang Kai quickly turned to Thunder Dragon.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior didn’t need Yang Kai’s reminder and had already begun to act, taking back all of his Thunder Attribute attacks and in their place unleashing a stream of hot flames from his body.
The blood men’s offensive instantly came to a halt, it seemed they were quite wary of the burning flames. Their figures continued to boil even at a distance and their fuzzy facial features seemed to almost reveal a look of pain.
Thunder Dragon let out a great roar and summoned forth a giant Fire Dragon-like attack that he smashed into the blood sea. Yang Kai immediately cooperated, pushing his Conflagrated Spiritual Energy to its limits, engulfing the nearby blood people, eliminating many while pushing the rest back, opening up some breathing room for their group of six.
“This isn’t a long-term strategy, we need to take this opportunity to think of a way out of this!” Thunder Dragon Great Senior shouted.
Even after sending out their Divine Senses, no one in their group could determine the extent of the blood sea; meanwhile, the blood fog that continued to linger around them was still draining their strength and it was obvious they were rapidly growing weaker. At this rate, they would all definitely die before they could evaporate the entire blood sea.
“Can you and the kid charge forward and burn a path out?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox suggested.
“Impossible, this blood sea is very strange, it seems to be following us as we move, we won’t be able to escape, or rather, it won’t let us escape,” Thunder Dragon slowly shook his head, pushing his Fire Attribute Qi to the extreme, evaporating a large amount of the blood sea together with Yang Kai.
Hearing him say this, everyone was also at a loss and began to feel desperate.
“That’s right!” Yang Kai suddenly thought of something and shouted excitedly.
Seeing his expression, Thunder Dragon immediately shouted, “Kid, did you find a way to escape? If you thought of something, don’t hesitate, doing anything right now is better than waiting here to die!”
“I do have an idea,” Yang Kai nodded, quickly turning to Li Rong and asking, “Do you still have that Blood Essence Stone?”
Li Rong was stunned but soon her beautiful eyes lit up, quickly understanding what Yang Kai was thinking.
Taking the Blood Essence Stone out, she quickly handed it over to him.
This piece of Blood Essence Stone was a product from the Starry Sky and had the power to extract fresh blood and transform it into Blood Qi that anyone was capable of using.
It had originally belonged to Shattering Mystical Palace’s Zhang Ao, but after the incident in the Snow Mountain Range, where Zhang Ao was killed, the Blood Essence Stone had ended up in Yang Kai’s hands.
Last time, Yang Kai had used the Blood Essence Stone to absorb a great deal of blood which he then used to treat the heavily injured Ancient Demon clansmen. Afterwards, he had left it with Li Rong.
It wasn’t until this moment that Yang Kai suddenly remember about it.
“Blood Essence Stone?” Thunder Dragon shouted, “You mean the Blood Essence Stone from the Starry Sky?”
Yang Kai grinned, “Great Senior is quite knowledgeable.”
“You even have one of those?” Thunder Dragon’s mood quickly lifted as he let out a great laugh, “It seems we can be saved then.”
“It’s worth a try at least,” Yang Kai didn’t delay and began pouring his True Qi into the Blood Essence Stone. The strange object from the Starry Sky immediately let out a brilliant light and began emitting a powerful suction force. The blood people who were caught up in this invisible force let out a terrified roar as they desperately tried to flee into the blood sea.
However, it was too late, the Blood Essence Stone’s ability to attract blood was not something these blood people could resist.
One blood man that was relatively close to the group melted into a stream of blood and shot towards the Blood Essence Stone.
The Blood Essence Stone drew in this stream of blood, not letting off a single drop.
Within a single breath, a ten meter radius around the group of six had been drained of all blood, all of it having been completely absorbed by the Blood Essence Stone.
But this was only the beginning as the huge attractive force was still drawing in both the blood people and surrounding blood sea.
Seeing this scene, all of them who had been on edge couldn’t help breathing a sigh of relief.
They knew that they had survived this crisis.
As time passed, the bloody glow coming from the Blood Essence Stone grew stronger and stronger as the stone only the size of a fist continued to suck up the surrounding blood, eventually turning a deep crimson colour that garner both awe and fear from the surrounding audience.
The amount of Blood Qi contained inside the Blood Essence Stone now was simply unimaginable.
Yang Kai, who was holding it in his hand, could even feel a rhythmic pulse coming from the Blood Essence Stone, like he was holding an actual beating heart!
After an hour, everyone’s field of vision gradually began to clear up as the blood sea that had engulfed them became noticeably thinner.
Another hour later the blood sea had completely disappeared.
At that moment, the Blood Qi emanating from the Blood Essence Stone was strong enough to shock even the two Monster Race Great Seniors.
Even if they were to burn through their blood essence, it was unlikely they would be able to display such strong Blood Qi.
“This is an amazing treasure, where did it get it from?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox inquired, seeming quite interested in the Blood Essence Stone.
Thunder Dragon laughed and shook his head, “Don’t even bother, this thing is a product of the Starry Sky, it can only be obtained through chance. This King had only heard of it before, today was my first time actually seeing it.”
Saying so, he directed a thoughtfully look towards Yang Kai, “Kid, your luck is really astonishing, you even managed to obtain this Blood Essence Stone.”
“It’s nothing much,” Yang Kai chuckled, playing with the Blood Essence Stone in his hand, thinking more and more that it resembled a real heart, even possessing its own powerful heartbeat.
“How about selling it to me? This King can offer you a satisfactory price,” Thunder Dragon asked.
Yang Kai quickly stored the Blood Essence Stone into the Black Book space as he shook his head decisively.
Thunder Dragon rolled his eyes at Yang Kai’s behaviour, “If you don’t want to sell it, just say so, what are you acting so wary for? You think This King will try to snatch it from you?”
“Thunder Dragon, why would you want to buy that thing?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox asked, not understanding the purpose of the Blood Essence Stone.
“What do you know?!” Thunder Dragon spat disdainfully, “This thing absorbs fresh blood and transforms it into the purest kind of Blood Qi. That Blood Qi can then be used to heal almost any kind of wound, cultivate any kind of Blood Qi technique, or eve to supplement your vitality in the middle of a fight to boost your strength. On top of that, it has absolutely no side effects or drawbacks.”
“Is it so amazing?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox couldn’t help but widen his eyes as he turned to stare at Yang Kai with some enthusiasm.
“Don’t look at me like that, no matter what kind of price you put up, this Blood Essence Stone isn’t for sale,” Yang Kai swung his head like a rattle, “The thing this Holy Master does not lack the most is money.”
Saying so, he promptly ignored the two Great Seniors and once again took out the Heavenly Palace from the Black Book space, feeling the direction it tried to fly before beckoning to the group, “This way.”
“This little brat…” Thunder Dragon was speechless, shaking his head wryly before taking out some Qi restoring pills and swallowing them down.
As time passed, the light pulsing from the Heavenly Palace grew even stronger.
Yang Kai was also growing more and more excited as he became convinced that Meng Wu Ya was here in person.
If Treasurer Meng had simply left behind some kind of aura mark here, the Heavenly Palace would not continue showing changes as it approached.
The Heavenly Palace’s current reaction was the best proof that Meng Wu Ya was really here!
Yang Kai’s heart filled with expectation and he couldn’t help increasing his pace as a result.
A few hours later, the glow from the Heavenly Palace became nearly blindingly bright and suddenly escaped from Yang Kai’s grasp, transforming into a stream of light and shooting off, disappearing into the distance a moment later.
When the Heavenly Palace flew out and turned into a stream of light, disappearing before everyone’s eyes, Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling startled.
“It flew away… what does that mean?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox asked as he stared in the direction the Heavenly Palace disappeared.
“Meng Wu Ya is over there!” Thunder Dragon’s eyes narrowed and he declared decisively.
Yang Kai immediately picked up his pace and followed after the Heavenly Palace, feeling both excited and nervous.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior also waved his hand and shouted, “Follow it, the previous strongest master of the Human Race might be nearby.”
“The Human Race’s strongest master, a sight worth seeing,” Earth Splitting Divine Ox’s eyes also lit up.
Anyone who could obtain the title of the first master of an entire race was decidedly not ordinary. This guy named Meng Wu Ya must have some impressive abilities, or else he would not have been recognized as such.
Atop a spacious field, a number of rocky outcroppings and stone pillars were scattered about, many of them broken or lying in ruins.
In the middle of this field, there was a set of intact stone pillars, eight in total, arranged in an octagonal formation, each of them giving off powerful energy fluctuations.
Moreover, these energy fluctuations each had different attributes, one of them burning hot, one frigid cold, another violently poisonous while another rippling with lightning…
All of these different energies melded together to form a strange and imposing domain.
At this moment, on one of the eight pillars, a white-haired old man was bound by some kind of invisible force. He was completely immobilized, not even able to open his mouth to speak, his head hanging limply as his clothes were nothing but tatters and his life aura unstable; clearly he was on the verge of death.
A crackling sound would emerge from time to time as the eight pillars sent out a shocking pulse of energy towards the old man.
Each time this overbearing pulse of energy whipped the old man, although it seemed like he was on his dying breath, he always somehow managed to cling to life, stubbornly refusing to die.
Flames burned the old man’s body, singing his flesh while thunder and lightning coursed through his veins, charring his insides. At the same time, the poisonous toxins invaded every inch of his physique, causing his skin to switch back and forth between black and green.
Just outside the eight stone pillars, a young veiled woman, with beautiful eyes that seemed devoid of the slightest impurity, sat limply on the ground, a strange power constantly pouring out from her tender body towards the energy being released from the stone pillars, her hands constantly swaying, desperately trying to resolve at least some of the terrifying damage directed towards the old man.
The woman’s figure was petite, and her veil completely concealed her visage. Her forehead was dotted with a small blue sapphire, complimenting her beautiful crystal clear eyes.
There were clear tear stains running down her face, and her eyes were puffy and swollen, but it seemed like all her tears had dried up, so she was not currently crying.
Her tender body shivered as she constantly pushed what little strength she had left, trying to save the old man from the octagonal stone pillar formation, but nothing she did seemed to make any difference.
Stuffing a pill into her mouth, the young woman did whatever she could to keep her strength up.
*Hong…*
Another lightning bolt came from one of the stone pillars. It was as thick as a thigh and it instantly landed on the old man, ripping open his skin and causing blood to splash out. Seemingly jolted awake by the pain of this impact, the old man’s pair of old muddy eyes opened as he creakily lifted his gaze towards the young woman, opening his lips as if trying to say something but unable to make any sound.
The young woman clearly understood what the old man was trying to convey, but she resolutely kept shaking her head.
The old man’s eyes filled with a thick sense of regret, as well as a strong unwillingness and obstinacy.
Suddenly, the old man noticed a familiar aura rapidly approaching and somehow managed to turn his exhausted eyes to the side to see what it was.
There, in the direction he stared, was a stream of light that in the next instant, crashed into his body.
The old man’s body shook, and his face revealed a look of astonishment, his originally dim eyes suddenly flickering with light.
The next moment, a palace shaped barrier appeared, enveloping the old man’s body and blocking the destructive energy surges that were bombarding him from all directions.
It seemed like because of the stream of light’s return, the old man’s face became a bit rosier and his vitality was slightly restored.
The young woman sitting outside the eight stone pillars let out a shout as he beautiful eyes opened wide, turning her head in the direction the stream of light had come from in the next instant, just in time to see a familiar figure quickly rushing towards her.
Four eyes suddenly met and the tears the young woman had thought had completely run dry once again began pouring down her cheeks.
Yang Kai also stared back at her, feeling as though all the blood in his body was boiling up, trembling lightly as he somehow put on a smile and in the gentlest voice he could manage called out to her, “Little Senior Sister, I finally found you.”
The young woman in front of him was none other than the one he had arrived in Tong Xuan Realm ten years ago to find: Xia Ning Chang!
Just like when he last saw her back in the Central Capital, Xia Ning Chang had seemingly not changed in the slightest. Her demeanour and actions were all kept unchanged. With age, this naive girl had grown even more, now displaying more womanly charms than before.
“Junior Brother?” Xia Ning Chang somewhat couldn’t believe what she was seeing, muttering hesitantly, “Is this… is this a dream?”
Yang Kai shook his head as he walked towards her.
Xia Ning Chang’s tender body trembled terribly until Yang Kai wrapped his arms around her and she felt the warmth of his chest, finally confirming that everything in front of her right now was not a dream, nor an illusion.
The Junior Brother who she had longed for every day had really come to this place and found her!
In an instant, Xia Ning Chang’s state of mind stabilized, feeling as though in her time of greatest need, she had finally found someone to rely on.
As tears containing his Little Senior Sister’s warmth drenched Yang Kai’s clothes, he couldn’t help inhaling a soft breath before turning his eyes towards the old man who seemed to be nailed to the nearby stone pillar.
What entered his sight almost caused Yang Kai to cry out in shock.
Treasurer Meng!
The Meng Wu Ya who, when Yang Kai was incredibly frail and weak had lent him so much help, now appeared like a dry oil lamp, his body injured and emaciated to the point where it was nothing short of a miracle he was even still alive.
Yang Kai couldn’t imagine just how much suffering and pain Meng Wu Ya had endured to end up like this.
“How did this happen?” Yang Kai asked in a solemn manner.
In his impression, Meng Wu Ya was always calm and steady, exuding a kind of innate confidence that seemed to say that nothing under the Heavens could impede him.
He had always worn an air of invincibility, often giving those who dared to challenge him a terrifying surprise, causing them endless regret.
But now, that same Meng Wu Ya, who was always wearing a calm smile while easily accomplishing what seemed to be impossible, was now a breath away from death, making Yang Kai feel a deep sense of incongruity.
“Master and I entered this strange Demon Race Mysterious Small World, and then we unknowingly triggered some kind of trap which sent us here. By the time I woke up, Master had already been shackled to that stone pillar. I don’t know what purpose these eight stone pillars serve, but they are constantly releasing power to torture Master. I kept trying to save him, but nothing I did had any affect… Junior Brother, please, you have to save Master. If we don’t get him out of here soon, he really will die,” Xia Ning Chang pleaded through her tearful sobs.
When she was very young, she had been picked up by Meng Wu Ya. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say Meng Wu Ya was the one who raised her. On top of that, the one who granted her strength and taught her how to survive was Meng Wu Ya. Rather than a Master, she regarded him as her most important relative.
Seeing Meng Wu Ya suffering in agony every day, Xia Ning Chang felt as if her heart was being torn apart.
“En,” Yang Kai nodded as he lifted his hand and gently stroked Xia Ning Chang’s head, injecting a subtle power into her body as he softly declared, “Rest assured, since I’ve come, I will definitely save him. Just rest now.”
Xia Ning Chang’s eyelids grew heavy, as if Yang Kai’s words contained some kind of hypnotic power causing her to feel extremely drowsy.
Xia Ning Chang was also a lamp without oil, something Yang Kai could not bare to see any further.
Neither of them knew how long they had been trapped in this place, but during this time, it was certain that Little Senior Sister had never once rested as she constantly continued to push her strength, likely causing all kinds of damage to her body in the process.
Before anything else, he had to make her rest!
Meng Wu Ya, who was still trapped on the stone pillar, sent a look of gratitude towards Yang Kai with his gloomy eyes, sending him a faint Divine Sense message in the next instant telling him to take Xia Ning Chang and quickly leave.
As long as Yang Kai safely led Xia Ning Chang away, Meng Wu Ya could die without regret.
He had endured this inhuman torture for so long while desperately clinging to life only because he could not bear the thought of leaving his treasured apprentice trapped here all alone.
After staring into each other eyes for only a moment, Yang Kai did not say anything and simply picked up the unconscious Xia Ning Chang, turned around, and walked back the way he had come.
At that moment, the four Monster Race masters and Li Rong had also arrived nearby and were all silently observing the situation, unsure exactly what had transpired here.
“Master, this girl…” Li Rong saw Yang Kai’s expression was somewhat off and quickly asked.
“She’s my Senior Sister,” Yang Kai answered, setting Xia Ning Chang down nearby in a safe place.
“Master’s Senior Sister?” Li Rong couldn’t help taking a closer look at Xia Ning Chang, quickly noticing that this veiled young woman’s strength was somewhat unstable due to excessive use, but that her cultivation realm was actually the same as Yang Kai’s, Third Order Transcendent!
This point was also noticed by the four Monster Race masters, causing the two Great Seniors to exchange a shocked glance.
They had thought that this world producing a freak like Yang Kai who had reached the Third Order Transcendent Realm at such a young age was already shocking enough, but now it seemed like this mysterious Senior Sister of his was no worse than him!
Yang Kai was from Soaring Heaven Sect, could this young woman also be from Soaring Heaven Sect then?
Was that Sect really capable of producing one monstrous talent after another like this?
After setting down Xia Ning Chang, Yang Kai turned around and continued to stare at Meng Wu Ya a short distance away, a moment later quickly saying, “Thunder Dragon Great Senior, I know Treasurer Meng and your Monster Race have some grievances between you, but I hope you won’t try to find trouble with him right now.”
“Is that guy really Meng Wu Ya?” Thunder Dragon frowned as he stared forward.
If it wasn’t for Yang Kai’s reminder just now, he wouldn’t have been sure, but after observing him carefully for a while, Thunder Dragon did notice a slight resemblance between the old man trapped on the stone pillar and the one he had seen all those years ago.
“Is this the Human Race’s strongest? How did he end up like that?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox also frowned, Meng Wu Ya’s current state was really something that was difficult to look at.
“Yes, he is Meng Wu Ya!” Yang Kai nodded, “I have to free him. I won’t ask you Monster Race masters to help; I only request that you not try to disturb me!”
Hearing this, Thunder Dragon snorted, “Little brat, who do you think this King is? Do you believe this King is the kind of villain who would hit an opponent when he is down? Blood Dragon Great Senior really died because of Meng Wu Ya, and this King would like nothing more than to challenge him, but that will only have meaning if he is in his peak state, naturally, that all depends on if you can rescue him from this place in the first place.”
If a character like Meng Wu Ya could be trapped here, the mysterious force contained within these eight pillars was no doubt extraordinary, Thunder Dragon Great Senior was honestly not optimistic about Yang Kai’s chances.
This kid was full of surprises and had shocked them a number of times since coming to this place, but in the end, he was still just a Third Order Transcendent.
“Whether or not I can save him, I’ll know once I try,” Yang Kai took a deep breath before fully releasing his Divine Sense towards the eight pillars.
This was Yang Kai’s first time here so he did not know what Treasurer Meng had encountered that led to him being tethered to the stone pillar, so he had to first investigate.
Yang Kai moved extremely carefully so as not to accidentally trigger any traps.
Seemingly noticing Yang Kai spreading out his Divine Sense, although still bound to the stone pillar, Meng Wu Ya tried to shake his head and shout something, anxious to stop him, but unfortunately, he was only capable of the making the slightest of movements and sound.
He had also inexplicably become trapped here because he tried to probe these eight pillars.
The speed at which Yang Kai’s Divine Sense expanded though was nearly instantaneous, so there was no time to stop it.
The instant his Divine Sense touched the eight stone pillars, Yang Kai’s expression changed dramatically.
The power contained within these pillars was far beyond what he had imagined, on a true world-shaking level.
In the next breath, the world trembled and pressure that terrified everyone present fell from the sky.
The five Saint Realm masters all felt as if their hearts were about to stop as they painfully gasped for breath.
None of them had ever thought such a terrible pressure could exist in this world, one that they couldn’t even summon the will to resist.
Golden light blossomed and from the void, a giant incorporeal hand stretched forth like lightning and seized Yang Kai.
Immediately after, the five golden fingers transformed into coils of rope, bound Yang Kai, and dragged him forward.
Yang Kai was completely incapable of resisting. After being captured by the golden ropes, Yang Kai felt as if all of his strength had been sealed and he was unable to even twitch.
His eyes darting around, Yang Kai found that all the masters who had come here had also been captured, none of them able to escape, each of them calling out in alarm as they were dragged forward; obviously they had all used their Divine Senses to investigate the stone pillars.
Only Xia Ning Chang, who was currently unconscious, was lucky enough to escape.
Seeing this scene, Meng Wu Ya’s eyes dimmed and knew that it was late.
*Peng peng peng…*
The four Monster Race masters, along with Li Rong and Yang Kai for a total of six, became chained to the stone pillars, unable to move.
The next moment, blood-curdling screams rang out one after another.
Even the two Monster Race Great Seniors were unable to bear the horrifying torture they were suddenly subjected to, their faces warping in pain, Cai Die and Li Rong also crying out in agony.
A wild strength suddenly erupted from everyone as the Monster Race masters attempted to transform into their Beast Forms, hoping to break free from the pillars.
Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon, Earth Splitting Divine Ox, Nine Nether Golden Beast, Seven Coloured Illusory Butterfly, each of them had a noble and powerful lineage amongst Monster Beasts. Seeing any one of them was a rare phenomenon but now all of them had actually gathered together in one place.
Li Rong also used her Demon God Transformation, the profound black Demon Crests quickly covering her face, adding a wild flare to her beauty.
However, no matter how they struggled, in front of these eight pillars, they were still as weak as ants.
Yang Kai’s face has also drained of all colour.
The moment he became bound to the stone pillar, he finally realized just how much pain Meng Wu Ya was enduring.
Each of the eight stone pillars contained a different energy attribute, these eight different energies then gathered together to form a terrible killing array that continuously lashed each of their bodies and minds.
What truly frightened Yang Kai though was that the stone pillars also seemed to be rapidly leeching their strength and vitality.
Each of their individual vitalities and auras was gradually weakening.
“Master, use your Demon God Transformation!” Li Rong suddenly shouted.
Yang Kai was clenching his teeth in order to bear the terrifying pain but upon hearing her words he did not hesitate to display the Divine Skill he obtained from the Great Demon God inheritance.
The world trembled as billowing evil energy surged out from Yang Kai’s Unyielding Golden Skeleton, replacing the Yang Yuan Qi which was flowing through his meridians and physique. Demon Crests flickered and then disappeared into his physique, forming a profound pattern which could not be seen by the naked eye.
In the next moment, Yang Kai suddenly felt relaxed.
After using his Demon God Transformation, the devastating destructive energies which were ravaging his body all disappeared, and although he was still shackled to the pillar, it was no longer extracting his strength.
At the same time, he also felt an unusual aura flowing through the octagonal stone pillar array.
His eyes widening, Yang Kai muttered under his breath, “Is this one of Great Demon God’s method?”
Li Rong nods.
Like Yang Kai, she had become safe after displaying her Demon God Transformation; because she had noticed this abnormality, she had anxiously reminded Yang Kai.
These eight stone pillars stemmed from Great Demon God’s hand while the Demon God Transformation and Ancient Demon Clan shared deep roots with Great Demon God, so it made sense that by using the Demon God Transformation, they could gain some leeway.
Although all of this was only Yang Kai’s guess, it should be close to the truth.
Looking around, the four Monster Race masters were still gritting their teeth to endure; soon they became unable to maintain their Beast Forms and were once again returned to human form.
Each of them was now wearing a soulless look as they stared in a daze towards Yang Kai, knowing that it was now just a matter of time before they were reduced to the same state as Meng Wu Ya.
Yang Kai struggled as he tried to escape from the shackles of the stone pillar, but his efforts were ultimately in vain.
Just as he was becoming anxious, Li Rong shouted again, “Master, there’s movement.”
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes as he stared in front of himself.
In the center of the eight stone pillars, and illusory figure was slowly condensing, gradually taking the form of a man.
This man had a sturdy and majestic physique, with a heroic bearing and a pair of sharp eyes. He was currently staring slightly curiously towards Yang Kai and Li Rong.
Seeing this person’s appearance, Yang Kai suddenly grinned and remained silent.
Li Rong’s beautiful eyes went wide as the figure in front of her slowly overlapped with the one in her memories, calling out in shock a moment later, “Great Demon God?”
The figure in front of her that seemed to fade in and out of reality was clearly the same as the statue in front of Demon God Citadel.
The statue in front of Demon God Citadel was carved by the ancestors of the Ancient Demon Clan, the ones who had directly served under Great Demon God and knew his true appearance.
When they heard this name leak out from Li Rong’s lips, the faces of the four Monster Race masters went even paler.
Even if he had fallen thousands of years ago, Great Demon God’s prestige was world-shaking, a legendary existence without equal from his generation until today.
“Sure enough, it’s you!” Yang Kai shouted lowly.
“But… Didn’t Sir Demon God fall long ago?” Li Rong couldn’t believe that the strange figure in front of her was really Great Demon God, but the overbearing aura that pulsed from him was not something that could be faked.
“He’s not the true Great Demon God, he’s only a Soul Clone. Can’t you see that he doesn’t have a physical form?” Yang Kai stared at the figure in front of him fixedly.
“A Soul Clone? What’s that?” Li Rong exclaimed.
Yang Kai shook his head and did not explain.
He had earlier obtained a drop of pure Demon God Golden Blood and learned this Soul Fission Divine Ability.
Yang Kai had also cultivated this Soul Fission and his own Soul Clone was currently still being nourished inside his Knowledge Sea, unfortunately this was a long process so it would not be useful to him for quite some time.
But obviously Great Demon God was different; since this Divine Ability originally belonged to him, naturally he had a fully formed Soul Clone, one that was nearly as powerful as his main body.
When Yang Kai saw the figure in front of him, he instantly understood its origins.
“Oh? You seem to know a great many things little boy, worthy of this Senior’s true body’s inheritor!” Great Demon God’s Soul Clone stared at Yang Kai and smiled faintly, his voice seemingly sounding direction into Yang Kai’s mind.
Yang Kai smiled and shot back, “It seems that you also know many things about me.”
The Soul Clone of Great Demon God snorted, “How could I have so easily shown myself if I did not sense the bones of my true body? Is this woman a descendant of the clan which served me many years ago? The Demon God Transformation is not something just anyone can learn.”
“You really are Great Demon God?” Li Rong was so shocked she was barely able to speak, her beautiful eyes filling with a kind of fanatical worship and excitement. As a descendant of the Ancient Demon Clan, she had fantasized countless times about what kind of existence Great Demon God was, but it was only today that she learned just how pale her imagination was.
She was now a top master, a genuine Third Order Saint, but she had still been instantly captured and imprisoned without any ability to resist by a method Great Demon God had laid down millennia ago.
If the other party had not shown himself, it was quite likely she and Yang Kai would be facing the same miserable fate as the four Monster Race masters.
She could hardly even dream about what the kinds of strength and means Great Demon God possessed when he was still alive.
“Since we share such a relationship, is it possible for us to sit down and have a discussion?” Yang Kai looked at him.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Is it possible to release my friends? They were all just implicated because of me. The old man who came in before also has close ties to me.”
Great Demon God stared at him for a moment before suddenly sneering, “Little boy, are you perhaps under a mistaken impression? Do you think that just because you are this Senior’s inheritor, you have the qualifications to bargain back and forth with me? If you really think so, then I’m afraid you will be quite disappointed.”
“Why did you capture them? Why did you set up this formation here?” Yang Kai frowned, faintly thinking that things weren’t as simple as he originally thought.
“It is not that I wished to capture them, it is that they trespassed upon a place they never should have!” Great Demon God slowly shook his head, “Anyone who enters this place must give up any idea of leaving alive, this place… is the keystone of the entire world.”
“What do you mean?” Yang Kai asked anxiously.
“It is still too early to tell you this. Since you possess the skeleton of this Senior’s main body, you will one day reach the same height as he once did and will naturally understand the significance of this place,” Great Demon God said, a somewhat impatient look appearing on his face, “In deference to the fact that you are this Senior’s true body’s inheritor, I can allow you and this woman to leave here but you must never come here again, or next time I will show you no such mercy.”
Saying so, the Soul Clone of Great Demon God reached out and waved his hand, opening up a Void Corridor entrance a short distance away, one large enough to accommodate several people.
“Use your Demonic Qi to free yourself from the bonds of the Tong Xuan Pillars and then leave this place,” Great Demon God decreed as if giving an order.
Li Rong turned her eyes to Yang Kai, seemingly waiting for him to make a decision.
Yang Kai just stared at Great Demon God’s Soul Clone silently, his eyes filled with profound light.
“You haven’t left yet?” Seeing Yang Kai now moving, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone snorted, his voice thundering in Yang Kai’s mind like a sledgehammer, causing his blood to boil and his face to turn red.
However, Yang Kai quickly regained his composure and shook his head, “I have to take them with me.”
Great Demon God coldly snorted, “Don’t act so presumptuous, I have given you a chance, if refuse to grasp it, then you can just remain here forever! Even though you are the successor of my main body’s skeleton, you must pay the price for intruding upon this place!”
Yang Kai’s expression remained unchanged though, sweeping his eyes across his surroundings once before asking, “You just called these eight stone pillars the Tong Xuan Pillars. We also encountered another stone pillar on our way here, it was much larger than these eight though and was even engraved with the words Tong Xuan Pillar, what does that one have to do with these eight?”
Even trapped as he was, Yang Kai not only did not display any signs of anxiety but instead was leisurely chatting with Great Demon God’s Soul Clone, causing Great Demon God to feel quite surprised; even Li Rong was looking at Yang Kai curiously, not comprehending what he was trying to do.
“There are many Tong Xuan Pillars in this place, but these eight are the cornerstones… Why do you ask this?” Great Demon God replied faintly.
“No reason,” Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders and grinned, “I just thought that since this array was set up by Great Demon God, it should have nothing to do with you. You’re nothing but a guard who was left behind by your main body to watch over this place.”
The eyes of Great Demon God’s Soul Clone flashed as he stared deeply at Yang Kai, nodding lightly a moment later, “Your mind is quite sharp.”
“Just a casual guess, heh heh,” Yang Kai smiled lightly, “Along our way here, we came across a green sea filled with countless Soul-Spirit Bodies as well as a strange, deadly blood sea. If I’m right, those were all barriers arranged by Great Demon God to prevent anyone from getting too close to these eight pillars, right?”
“What of it?” Great Demon God nodded in acknowledgement, Yang Kai speaking with such confidence had suddenly made him feel a bit interested.
“Nothing!” Yang Kai’s smile suddenly became treacherous, “I just found it a bit strange that with a powerhouse like you here, who can instantly incapacitate and capture any master, regardless of their cultivation, who arrives at this place, why would Great Demon God go through all the trouble of setting up so many barriers to stop people from approaching? Doesn’t that seem a bit unnecessary?”
“What are you trying to say?” Great Demon God’s Soul Clone narrowed his eyes, and a sense of unease slowly creeping into his heart.
“I just want to say… although you appear incomparably formidable; in truth, you don’t have much power at all! The eight pillars that are binding us here are simply another method arranged by Great Demon God; they have no relationship to you at all!” Yang Kai declared in a low, forceful tone.
Listening to him, Li Rong was quite startled as she turned a look of suspicion towards Great Demon God’s Soul Clone, trying to use her Divine Sense to examine him but quickly discovering that the stone pillar she was bound to was sealing her Spiritual Energy.
“What makes you so sure?” Great Demon God’s Soul Clone stared at Yang Kai coldly. His biggest secret had just been revealed, so he could not help his expression from flickering slightly, but his eyes still remained a piercing as ever.
“You trying so hard to get Li Rong and me to leave here as quickly as possible is because you don’t want to leave two uncontrollable variables here. I think, when Great Demon God set up the barriers of this place, he had left a kind of back door to them, allowing anyone who can use the Demon God Transformation to remain unharmed. Unfortunately for you, Li Rong and I both fulfil this condition, correct?”
Great Demon God suddenly burst into laughter, “An interesting thought, but in the end, all of that is just your own speculations.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “After death, one’s Soul cannot remain in the world for a long time and will soon dissipate. Even if you are Great Demon God’s Soul Clone, this is a fate you can’t avoid. You have no physical vessel to sustain yourself and are probably dependant on these eight pillars to maintain your existence, but after so many thousands of years trapped here, how much strength do you have left?”
“How much strength I possess, you can verify for yourself,” the Soul Clone of Great Demon God snorted.
“Of course I have to verify it for myself, because you simply don’t have the ability to drive these eight pillars. Therefore, you have no way to free them either!” Yang Kai shouted, “Since that’s the case, then I can only destroy the eight pillars by myself!”
“Boy, you dare?!” Great Demon God’s Soul Clone’s expression finally changed, filling with a mix of anger and anxiety.
“Just stand there and see for yourself if I dare!” Yang Kai laughed, pushing his strength to its maximum, his Demonic Qi and Blood Qi skyrocketing in intensity.
The whole world suddenly seemed to tremble as the vision before everyone’s eyes began to distort. This wild and violent surge of power astonished the Monster Race Great Seniors.
Neither of them could figure out how a mere Transcendent Realm cultivator like Yang Kai could suddenly unleash such power.
*Ka…*
As if something kind of chain had been broken, Yang Kai fell down from the pillar that he was bound to, shaking his hands and feet as he cracked his joints.
“Li Rong, come down and help!” Yang Kai called out.
Li Rong looked at Yang Kai, then looked at Great Demon God’s Soul Clone, uncertain of what to do.
Great Demon God held an irreplaceable position in the heart of every member of the Demon Race, a sense of worship which had been engrained into her very bones made it impossible for Li Rong to oppose Great Demon God.
However, Yang Kai was her Ancient Demon Clan’s master, any order Yang Kai issued she had to obey.
Suddenly she found herself in a difficult position.
“He is not Great Demon God, the true Great Demon God fell many years ago, you don’t need to feel any psychological burden.”
“B… but…” Li Rong hesitated.
“Nevermind, it’s alright, just stay there,” Yang Kai no longer forced her, instead turning his attention to Great Demon God’s Soul Clone, “I’m going to start destroying these pillars now. If you have some way to stop me, I suggest you use it now.”
Great Demon God’s Soul Clone just stared at him solemnly, not showing any intention of stopping him, only speaking after a long silence, “Do you really want to destroy this place?”
“Does it look like I’m cracking a joke?”
“Do you know what consequences there will be if you destroy this place?”
“I only know that if I don’t destroy these pillars, my friends and Elder will die. However, you should understand the mysteries of this place. Can you explain those things to me now? I heard you say a moment ago that this place is the keystone to the entire world.”
“What would the point in that be?” Great Demon God’s Soul Clone smiled faintly, “When you destroy this place, you will naturally learn what its true purpose is; I just hope you can afford the price.”
Yang Kai’s brow wrinkled, muttering under his breath, “Trying to be mysterious.”
No matter why Great Demon God set up so many barriers here or how important this place was to Tong Xuan Realm, since Meng Wu Ya was being trapped here by these stone pillars, Yang Kai had to free him, regardless of the consequences.
Having finished talking, Yang Kai condensed his Demonic Qi onto his right fist, transforming it into a deep black abyss that gave off a frightening energy fluctuation.
*Hong…*
Yang Kai’s fist hit the stone pillar that had trapped him before, causing it to tremble.
Immediately after, a cracking sound rang out and the entire stone pillar began to fill with hundreds of spider-web like lines, as if it was on the verge of shattering.
Yang Kai was somewhat startled, not having expected this stone pillar to be so easily destroyed. Originally he had been preparing for a long and difficult fight.
Seeing Yang Kai really take action, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone not only didn’t seem anxious but instead let out a hearty laugh, nodding firmly, “An unyielding will not inferior to this Senior’s main body, no wonder you were able to inherit his bones.”
“You’re not going to try to stop me?” Yang Kai didn’t look back at him and simply waved his fist, “The next strike will certainly break this stone pillar.”
Great Demon God’s Soul Clone shrugged his shoulders, “You yourself said that I have no power to stop you, so why should I even try? En, this world has indeed been sealed for too long, it should be time for it to step into the light again. Little boy, if you have time, you should take a trip to the Demon Capital. If you go there, you will naturally be able to understand the mysteries of this place.”
“Why can’t you just explain clearly?” Yang Kai frowned.
Great Demon God’s Soul Clone simply laughed and said nothing more; wearing an inscrutable expression as his body gradually faded and eventually disappeared.
Regardless of how Yang Kai called out to him, he didn’t appear again.
“Kid, hurry up and get us out of here, we shouldn’t remain here any longer…” Thunder Dragon Great Senior turned a gloomy look towards Yang Kai, his gaze revealing deep powerlessness.
Nodding, Yang Kai no longer delayed and sent another punch onto the stone pillar.
The stone pillar shattered into a million fragments that all flew out with great force while the huge energy which had been sealed inside of it also burst out in a violent explosion.
Yang Kai didn’t panic, quickly summoning his Silver Leaf artifact and transforming it into a light halo that surrounded him.
At the same time, he condensed several Grand Heavenly Shields around himself, somehow blocking the damage from this energy explosion.
After the first pillar was destroyed, the remaining seven began to crack open like a chain reaction and the force that was binding the others instantly disappeared.
Everyone else fell to the ground.
*Kacha…*
The seven remaining stone pillars all made cracking sounds, appearing as if they were all about to explode, the energy sealed within each of them showing signs of destabilizing.
“Hurry!” Yang Kai shouted. He had barely been able to resist the energy explosion from the collapse of a single stone pillar. If the remaining seven were to all explode at the same time, it was likely no one here would be able to survive.
Li Rong wrapped Meng Wu Ya and the four Monster Race masters in her Demonic Qi and without any hesitation flew towards the nearby Void Corridor entrance which had been opened by Great Demon God’s Soul Clone.
Yang Kai’s figure flashed, appearing next to Xia Ning Chang in an instant, picked her up and hastily followed after Li Rong and the others.
Just after entering the black corridor, a tremendous explosion resounded behind Yang Kai, causing him to glance backwards for a moment, his face draining of all colour at what he saw.
The Mysterious Small World behind him seemed to be completely disintegrating, its fracturing space rapidly spreading towards the Void Corridor.
In the original position of the eight stone pillars, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone once again revealed himself and quietly stared in the direction Yang Kai and the others left for a moment before he too, was swallowed by the shattering space.
High up in the air, a dark hole suddenly materialized and a moment later, Li Rong flew out together with the four Monster Race masters and Meng Wu Ya and quickly descended to the ground.
Yang Kai, who was holding Xia Ning Chang, appeared right after them.
Just as the two of them left the Void Corridor, a glimmer of light flashed behind them and the black corridor rapidly distorted, shrank down to a point, and then disappeared without a trace.
Yang Kai felt a cold sweat drip down his back as he realized that if he had been even a single breath slower, he and his Little Senior Sister would have been buried inside that Mysterious Small World forever.
Looking down, there was a jungle below filled with a beautiful and refreshing spring-like warmth, lush green mountains in the distance providing pleasant scenery.
Li Rong stood in an open space below and was waving towards Yang Kai, “Master, over here!”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded and flew down.
At the same time, he spread out his Divine Sense to scan the surroundings.
He thought that this was somewhere in the Beast Sea Jungle; after all, he had entered that strange world from there, but after a thorough investigation, he found that there weren’t any Monster Beasts within a few dozen kilometres.
Although this was somewhat confusing to him, after determining that there was no danger in the vicinity, Yang Kai took back his Divine Sense.
Gently setting Xia Ning Chang down, Yang Kai hurriedly asked, “How is their situation?”
“Not too serious, after all, they weren’t bound to the pillars for too long. They should be able to restore themselves shortly, but the old gentleman…” Li Rong directed a look of pity towards the extremely emaciated Meng Wu Ya and released a sigh.
According to Thunder Dragon, this was the Human Race’s current strongest master, but now he had actually been reduced to such a miserable state. If he didn’t receive treatment soon, it would not be long before his last vestiges of vitality went out.
“It’s fine, with me here, he won’t die,” Yang Kai said so, walking over to Meng Wu Ya and helping him up.
Treasurer Meng was in such terrible shape that Yang Kai could not help feeling his heart clench as though it froze and his head turned light, almost ready to faint. Over the many years he had known him, Yang Kai has never seen Treasurer Meng in such a pitiful condition.
Meng Wu Ya stretched out his nearly completely withered hand haltingly, using all his remaining strength to lightly cling to Yang Kai’s clothes, his pair of dull eyes to stare at him as he attempted to move his lips and say something.
“Don’t say anything, I know what you mean, I’ll take care of Little Senior Sister,” Yang Kai nodded lightly.
Meng Wu Ya’s eyes flickered brightly for just an instant, pleased that Yang Kai understood his worries, seemingly wearing an extremely thin smile on his lips to express his gratitude.
Yang Kai quickly took out a jade bottle which was filled with Myriad Drug Milk and made Meng Wu Ya take it.
The Myriad Drug Milk had an incredible effect when it came to treating serious injuries, so even though Meng Wu Ya was having trouble even breathing right now, with this there would be no risk of him immediately dying.
Immediately after, Yang Kai took out the Blood Essence Stone again.
A powerful beating sound resounded from inside the Blood Essence Stone.
Seemingly feeling the huge amount of Blood Qi inside the Blood Essence Stone, Meng Wu Ya’s dimmed eyes became brighter as he felt there might still be hope.
The stone pillars had the power to sap the vitality of anyone bound to them, so after so long, Meng Wu Ya’s life essence had almost been entirely drained; what he needed most right now was to supplement his vitality.
As long as he had access to enough pure Blood Qi, restoring his vitality wouldn’t be a problem.
Undoubtedly, the Blood Essence Stone was the ideal solution to Treasurer Meng’s current need.
By using both the Myriad Drug Milk and Blood Essence Stone, Yang Kai didn’t believe he couldn’t save Treasurer Meng.
Pouring his True Qi into the Blood Essence Stone, Yang Kai extracted a stream of Blood Qi from it and sent it into Meng Wu Ya’s body.
With the infusion of Blood Qi, Treasurer Meng also felt his vitality rapidly being restored, closing his eyes comfortably and allowing Yang Kai to heal him.
Time passed by slowly.
Meng Wu Ya’s body underwent earth-shaking changes at a speed visible to the naked eye.
As if he was an empty sack that was being blown up, his emaciated physique gradually inflated.
The innumerable wounds all over his body also quickly healed and his skin became firm and radiant, no longer looking dry and wrinkled like before.
After an hour, Meng Wu Ya suddenly opened his eyes, a profound light flashing across their depths as he turned to Yang Kai and said in a hoarse voice, “I can handle the rest; you take care of Ning Chang.”
Yang Kai nodded and handed over the Blood Essence Stone to Meng Wu Ya before turning his eyes to the others.
The four Monster Race masters were all still sitting in meditation, but after an hour restoring themselves, their complexion had become much better.
Yang Kai thought about it for a moment before hiding a drop of Myriad Drug Liquid into a few pills he was carrying on him and handing one to each of them.
The four Monster Race masters didn’t hesitate at all and immediately swallowed the pill they received.
Yang Kai then walked over to Xia Ning Chang’s side.
Li Rong had been standing guard here without moving a single step away the whole time, seemingly understanding that this veiled young woman was very important to Yang Kai.
Xia Ning Chang’s situation was much better than Meng Wu Ya’s as she had only fainted because she had been overusing her strength for so long.
Yang Kai fed her a drop of Myriad Drug Liquid before sitting down and waiting.
“Master…” Li Rong suddenly called out, “Just now, Li Rong failed to obey Master’s order and violated the pledge my clan swore to you, bringing shame upon myself and my family, I hope Master will punish me for this offence.”
“Hm?” Yang Kai had been staring at Xia Ning Chang fixedly but upon hearing Li Rong say such words, he couldn’t help turning his eyes towards her in confusion. It was only after thinking for a while that he understood why she was saying such things.
“About that matter… you don’t need to concern yourself; rather, it was because I hadn’t considered clearly what it meant to order you to oppose the Soul Clone of Great Demon God that such a situation occurred, it’s not your fault.”
“But Master, since my clan swore to serve you, we must not have any hesitation about any order you issue.”
“There’s no need to be so inflexible, that was Great Demon God’s Soul Clone, you hesitating was unavoidable. En, if one day Great Demon God suddenly appeared before you and ordered you to kill me, would you hesitate?”
Li Rong was startled by this question and didn’t know how to respond.
Yang Kai smiled and said, “That’s right, you will hesitate because I am your Master, but Great Demon God is Great Demon God, after all. His status in your heart is unparalleled. Everything is in the past, there’s no need to mention it again.”
Li Rong bit her lip lightly and only after a long time nodded, “Yes!”
Suddenly, she smiled again, “Master, is this girl your beloved woman?”
“En,” Yang Kai admitted without hesitation.
“No wonder Master looks at her with such tender eyes,” Li Rong smiled warmly, “I have never seen Master show this kind of expression towards any female before and was wondering just what kind of woman could attract your attention. Although this girl is wearing a veil so I cannot see her appearance, it’s obvious she is a great beauty.”
“A great beauty?” Yang Kai brow furrowed slightly before a wry smile appeared on his face, “Whether she is beautiful or not I can’t say for certain, because I’ve never seen Little Senior Sister’s true face.”
“Ah?” Li Rong shouted, somewhat unable to believe what she just heard, “You’ve never seen her real face?”
Yang Kai shook his head.
Xia Ning Chang’s veil was obviously some kind of magical artifact. Before, Yang Kai was unable to judge the quality of this piece of cloth or understand its mysteries, but now he could.
As long as she was wearing this veil, even if someone wanted to use their Divine Sense to spy on her face, they would be unable to see anything.
“Master’s sentiment towards her must be very deep,” Li Rong said decisively. If that was so, how could Yang Kai never forget about a woman he had never seen the face of?
Also, when he saw her, he wouldn’t have lost his self-control.
Li Rong’s impression of Yang Kai was that he was always calm and composed, with very little that could excite him.
“Kid, if she actually turns out to be ugly, what are you going to do?” Thunder Dragon Great Senior suddenly spoke.
Yang Kai turned to look and found that the two Great Seniors had almost completely recovered while Cai Die and Jin Ni were still meditating.
The two Great Seniors apparently heard the previous conversation and couldn’t help cracking a joke.
“It doesn’t matter, Little Senior Sister’s heart is incomparably pure. In my eyes, she will always be a beautiful woman,” Yang Kai smiled calmly.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior frowned a moment before suddenly nodding, “Fair enough, relationships can also be beautiful with sentiment.”
“But aren’t you at least curious to see what she looks like?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox interjected, egging him on, “She’s currently in a deep stupor, and it’s a golden opportunity.”
“No, I will wait for the day Little Senior Sister lifts her veil of her own free will. At that time I’ll be able to look all I want!” Yang Kai shook his head firmly, “If I were to sneak a peek at her now, the only ones who will benefit are you two.”
Thunder Dragon laughed out loud, “I didn’t expect you to be so overprotective, kid. You can’t even allow others to see your beloved woman’s face?”
“Mind your own business!” Yang Kai spat disdainfully. Of course he wanted to see Xia Ning Chang’s true face, but wasn’t it better to see it for the first time in private?
“But this King is curious, what Sect do you two come from? Actually having such profound cultivation at such a young age, don’t tell me it’s Soaring Heaven Sect. Soaring Heaven Sect doesn’t have that kind of ability.”
“I still have another Senior Sister, she’s no worse than us,” Yang Kai smiled proudly.
Thunder Dragon’s face twitched, “If there is a chance, I have to see just what kind of place was able to raise so many monsters like you.”
“If there’s a chance…” Yang Kai’s look suddenly became somewhat low-spirited; he still didn’t know how to return to the Central Capital.
“Forget it, let’s put that aside for now,” Thunder Dragon changed the subject forcefully, his look becoming serious, “What were you discussing with that man back at those eight pillars? Who was he?”
Yang Kai and Great Demon God’s Soul Clone’s conversation was carried out completely via Divine Sense Messages so the Monster Race masters were only able to see the changes in their expression and didn’t know what was said between them.
“Who he was, doesn’t Thunder Dragon Great Senior already know?” Yang Kai smiled at him.
Thunder Dragon’s eyes narrowed, a look of amazement filling his face, “So… he really was Great Demon God?”
“Great Demon God?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox exclaimed, “No, didn’t that guy already fall thousands of years ago? How could he suddenly appear in such a place?”
“He was probably a remnant Soul of some kind!” Thunder Dragon guessed in a deep voice, “Even though he had no physical form, his remnant Soul was actually that powerful. Just what kind of level did Great Demon God’s true body posses when he was alive?”
Rumour had it that Great Demon God had reached to the pinnacle of this world.
However, from everything they had seen and experienced in that place, it was clear Great Demon God possessed methods and means beyond what a Third Order Saint was capable of.
Three Third-Order Saint Realm powerhouses and two Second-Order Saints were powerless to resist against a method he had arranged thousands of years prior.
If Great Demon God was truly only a Third Order Saint, he wouldn’t be able to achieve such a feat.
Recalling everything that they experienced in that weird space, the two Monster Race Great Seniors felt a cold chill.
Whether it was the green sea, the blood sea, or the last eight pillars, each one contained unimaginable power. Third-Order Saints like them were barely able to withstand the first two barriers and were instantly rendered powerless by the last stone pillars.
The mere methods laid out so many years ago were already so powerful, so how strong was the real Great Demon God?
Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox could hardly imagine it!
In front of that legendary figure, they suddenly felt as weak as children and deeply recognized their own insufficiencies.
“Who knows how strong he was,” Yang Kai smiled brightly, “Perhaps he was a Third-Order Saint, perhaps he reached a realm above the Saint Realm.”
“A higher realm?” Thunder Dragon’s eyes narrowed, “Why has This King never heard of such a thing?”
“A decade ago, I didn’t know that there was a Transcendent Realm above the Immortal Ascension Boundary. In the place I came from, the top powerhouses didn’t even know the Transcendent Realm’s name, let alone about the existence of the Saint Realm.”
Thunder Dragon Great Senior stared at Yang Kai in amazement, after a long time his mouth twitching as he asked, “Just what kind of backwater countryside did you grow up in? How could there still be such an ill-informed place?”
“Let’s not talk about that, have the two of you finished restoring yourselves?” Yang Kai asked.
“Pretty much. Although the pill you gave us didn’t seem to be very high grade, its restorative effects were surprisingly good. Send some more of those to this King. In any case, your Nine Heavens Holy Land is constantly producing pills right?” Thunder Dragon demanded without the slightest bit of politeness.
During their exploration of the Mysterious Small World, the four Monster Race masters trekked across mountains, oceans, and desserts, but none of them obtained a single benefit and instead almost lost their lives. On the other hand, Yang Kai had gained a lot.
Li Rong obtained an epiphany and broke through to the Third-Order Saint Realm while Yang Kai found and rescued his Senior and his Senior Sister who he had not seen for ten years.
Thunder Dragon felt that if he couldn’t extract at least something now it would be too much of a waste of his time and effort.
“Let’s head back for now. When I return, I’ll send you some pills,” Yang Kai said generously, knowing that they would not be satisfied if they couldn’t obtain some benefits.
“En, then This King will wait for the good news,” Thunder Dragon nodded and let out a satisfied laugh.
“Don’t forget this Old Ox’s share!” Earth Splitting Divine Ox called out.
“Of course, of course,” Yang Kai nodded, “In the future, everyone will still be neighbours, I’m sure I’ll have times I need to rely on two Great Seniors.”
“Your too polite, hahaha!”
Finished saying what they wanted to say, Thunder Dragon and Earth Splitting Divine Ox sat in meditation while waiting for Cai Die and Jin Ni to finish restoring themselves.
Yang Kai sat down next to Xia Ning Chang while, once in a while, glancing towards Meng Wu Ya with an expression of relief.
Even after ten years, Little Senior Sister’s aura hadn’t changed at all, but her figure had become more mature, the curves of her body now filled with adult charm that was only emphasized by her tight black robes. Each time she took a light breath, her rich peaks gently rise and fall.
Yang Kai’s eyes couldn’t help being drawn to her.
The sweet fragrance which wafted from his Little Senior Sister was refreshing to both his mind and body.
“Master… this little girl seems to be awake,” Li Rong quietly sent him a Divine Sense Message.
Yang Kai glanced at her face and noticed that his Little Senior Sister’s long lashes were fluttering somewhat while her aura had become somewhat uneven. Even the sound of her heartbeat had become more powerful and slightly faster than just now.
“When did you notice?” Yang Kai asked back.
“When you were talking to Thunder Dragon.”
“At that time…” Yang Kai was somewhat astonished but simply smiled in the end, “Just pretend you didn’t notice.”
“En,” Li Rong gently nodded, not knowing what kind of strange dynamic was playing out between Yang Kai and his Senior Sister. After not seeing each other for ten years, if she had already woken up, why did she keep pretending to be asleep instead of opening her eyes and greeting him?
Yang Kai just stared at Xia Ning Chang with a tender smile.
Little Senior Sister really hadn’t changed at all, after a whole decade; she still had the same marvellous ‘pretending to be asleep’ ability as before.
After half a day, Cai Die and Jin Ni finished restoring themselves; however, recalling the bitter torture and powerlessness they had just experienced, it was clear they still felt some lingering fear.
They had never even dreamed that with their current cultivation and ability, a place that could pose such danger to them still existed in this world.
Jin Ni went out to inquire about the situation and soon confirmed that they really weren’t in the Beast Sea Jungle. After returning to inform the group, everyone was stunned.
“Then where is this place?” Yang Kai asked.
“There was a small town about a hundred kilometres from here. I went there to ask about our location and learned that we’re about a two months journey from your Nine Heavens Holy Land… well, calculated by the speed of a Transcendent Realm cultivator that is.”
“That far out?” Yang Kai exclaimed.
Thunder Dragon and the others were also equally shocked about this. They had obviously entered that place from the Beast Sea Jungle, yet when they came out, they had actually appeared tens of thousands of kilometres away. In the end, they could only blame the discrepancy on the Void Corridor they left through.
It was likely the stretch of The Void they crossed was different from the one they entered through.
“How strange, this old master entered that realm from the Demon Land,” At that moment, Meng Wu Ya’s voice sounded somewhat hoarsely, probably because he was still in the midst of recovering.
“Treasurer Meng,” Yang Kai was shocked and quickly looked over at him.
Meng Wu Ya smiled and nodded, “I didn’t expect that the one to save this old master this time would actually be you, you little brat. It seems that I’ll have to find an opportunity to repay you later!”
Yang Kai grinned and waved his hand, “We’re all one family, there’s no need for such words between us.”
Meng Wu Ya’s face instantly went black as he coughed a few times, “You can eat whatever you want, but you cannot speak words so freely. Since when did we become family?”
Obviously, he was not willing to admit that Xia Ning Chang only had eyes for Yang Kai.
“These are…” Meng Wu Ya quickly fixed his expression before sweeping his gaze over Thunder Dragon and the others.
The four Monster Race masters returned a serious stare to Meng Wu Ya, none of them daring to take him lightly.
In front of them was a man hailed as the Human Race’s strongest master, someone who had defeated Blood Dragon Great Senior in less than an incense stick worth of time. On top of that, not all Humans were like Yang Kai who had no racial biases, if this old man harboured hatred towards the Monster Race…
In any case, they had to keep their guard up.
“These four are my friends from the Monster Race!” Yang Kai immediately introduced them to Meng Wu Ya.
“It turns out they’re from the Monster Race, no wonder the Monster Qi around them is so thick,” Meng Wu Ya nodded slightly before turning a look of suspicion towards Thunder Dragon, “Have we met before? You seem somewhat familiar.”
Thunder Dragon Great Senior solemnly nodded, “Five hundred years ago, in the Beast Sea Jungle!”
Meng Wu Ya frowned as he saw Thunder Dragon directing a somewhat unfriendly look towards him, wondering where he had offended him. Thinking for a while though, his eyes lit up, “Were you one of Blood Dragon’s subordinates from that time?”
“Your Excellency’s memory is impeccable,” Thunder Dragon smiled, “One day, this King will exact revenge for Blood Dragon Great Senior!”
Meng Wu Ya laughed and said, “It’s not like this old master killed him, it was just his capacity was too small. After suffering just one loss he was unable to pick himself back up again, how is that my fault?”
“How dare you insult Blood Dragon Great Senior!” Thunder Dragon stood up and roared.
Seeing the two of them starting to get riled up, Yang Kai quickly interjected.
At this time, if they really were to fight, he would no doubt wind up in the middle; plus, Meng Wu Ya was still in the process of recovering, he was clearly not in a suitable condition to fight.
“It seems we’re unable to agree about even a word,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior coldly snorted before turning to Yang Kai, “Kid, we’ll take our leave first, don’t forget about your promise to deliver this King those pills.”
“En, I’ll remember,” Yang Kai nodded.
The four Monster Race masters nodded once more before flying off.
Meng Wu Ya shrugged indifferently before turning a smile to Yang Kai, “Smelly brat, it seems after not seeing you for ten years you’ve picked up a trick or two. How did you get to know such powerful people?”
“It’s all thanks to Treasurer Meng’s teachings,” Yang Kai quickly said.
“Quit trying to flatter this old master, it’s disgusting!” Meng Wu Ya rolled his eyes, “Don’t think that I don’t know what you’ve been up to. You’re nothing short of a walking disaster, always wandering about getting into trouble, I can’t possibly feel relieved leaving Ning Chang by your side.”
“Like she’ll be safe following you around, old man,” Yang Kai snickered and shot back.
Meng Wu Ya felt like he was choking on his own words, quickly coughing and switching the subject, turning to Li Rong and asking, “How should I call this lady?”
Yang Kai quickly introduced him.
Meng Wu Ya stared at Li Rong, the look of suspicion in his eyes growing stronger as time passed, “Why do I feel that this lady’s cultivation technique is somewhat unusual.”
Hearing his thinly veiled words, how could Li Rong not understand the deeper meaning to his question? Smiling lightly she openly admitted, “Senior is quite observant, I am actually from the Demon Race.”
Meng Wu Ya’s face went a bit stiff before he quickly sent Yang Kai a Divine Sense Message and asked, “Little brat, what have you been up to? How come you’re making friends with such powerful Monster Race and Demon Race masters? Haven’t you learned that those from different races can’t be easily trusted?”
Before Yang Kai even had a chance to answer, Li Rong said, “Senior, if you are worried that I’m harbouring ill intentions towards Master, you need not concern yourself. My clan has sworn a vow to only obey Master’s commands so long as he may live, for the rest of our lives.”
“Master?” Meng Wu Ya eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he glanced back and forth between Li Rong and Yang Kai, asking hesitantly after a while, “You willingly address him as ‘Master’?”
“Yes!” Li Rong nodded sincerely.
Meng Wu Ya’s expression fluctuated back and forth, after a long time before solemnly saying to Yang Kai, “Another day, when there’s an opportunity, we need to have a long chat.”
After not seeing him for ten years, he suddenly discovered that Yang Kai was associating with Demons, causing Meng Wu Ya a great deal of worry. In particular, the strength of this Demon lady was much higher than Yang Kai’s, it would be a simple task for her to force him into a dead end.
“We can talk later, for now, let’s head back,” Yang Kai grinned, knowing what Meng Wu Ya was worried about.
“I’ll return this thing to you now, the Blood Qi inside has almost been consumed clean by me,” Meng Wu Ya said as he handed Yang Kai the Blood Essence Stone.
Yang Kai took it and felt it, his expression changing greatly in the next moment, “What cultivation level do you have right now Treasurer Meng? How did you drain such a massive amount of Blood Qi from this thing?”
Meng Wu Ya smiled, “Before entering that place, this old master was only a First Order Saint, but now… my cultivation has been fully restored. Thanks to the torture I received while bound to that stone pillar, the seals in my body were greatly damaged, giving me the opportunity to completely destroy them.”
Yang Kai’s spirit shook as he asked enthusiastically, “So the seal has been completely removed?”
“En,” Meng Wu Ya nodded.
Yang Kai’s eyes lit up as he smiled, feeling sincerely happy for Treasurer Meng.
Back at High Heaven Pavilion, Meng Wu Ya had been a mystery, and this mysterious background had not been uncovered even in the Central Capital.
Yang Kai had never understood Treasurer Meng’s true depths until he came to Tong Xuan Realm and talked with Ancestral Founder Chu Ling Xiao. It was only then that he gained a faint idea of Meng Wu Ya’s true cultivation: Third-Order Saint!
Chu Ling Xiao had said that Meng Wu Ya had fought a great battle with the current Demon Commander after which he disappeared. Whether he was alive or dead was uncertain.
After learning about Meng Wu Ya from Yang Kai, Chu Ling Xiao speculated that he had been struck by the Demon Commander’s Profound Heavenly Seal, causing his strength to be restricted to the Peak Immortal Ascension Boundary.
The Profound Heavenly Seal consisted of three seals in total, each one stronger than the next; Meng Wu Ya had been looking for a way to break these seals all this time.
Back in the Central Capital, he had successfully lifted the first seal and restored his cultivation to the Third-Order Transcendent Realm.
Then, after returning to Tong Xuan Realm, at some point over the last ten years it seems he was able to lift the second seal and regain the strength of a First-Order Saint.
Now, after enduring the torture of the stone pillar, the third seal had been forcefully broken, allowing him to return to his peak.
It was a small blessing in disguise.
“This old master just restored his original strength, you don’t have to act so shocked; rather, it’s you, you little brat, who is the real surprise. After not seeing you for ten years, how did you manage to keep up with Ning Chang’s growth? Just how many rare opportunities did you encounter?” Meng Wu Ya swept Yang Kai with his Divine Sense and couldn’t help feeling some shock upon discovering his current cultivation.
He was well aware of how terrifying Xia Ning Chang’s aptitude was and he had also spared no effort in raising her these past few years, allowing her to have her current accomplishments.
However, Yang Kai’s own progress had not lagged behind at all, and even showed some signs of surpassing his treasured apprentices.
On top of that, when he left the Central Capital a decade ago, his apprentice’s cultivation was higher than this little brat’s.
This thoroughly shocked Meng Wu Ya.
“Heh heh, I just had a little luck,” Yang Kai scratched his head.
Meng Wu Ya laughed and no longer pursued the matter. Yang Kai encountering a variety of opportunities really could be considered a form of luck, but being able to improve one’s strength to such a degree in just ten years no doubt also required incredible aptitude and hard work.
[This little brat… he definitely went all out!] Meng Wu Ya thought to himself.
“If Brother Ling knew about your current situation, he would be very pleased,” Meng Wu Ya sighed, reminiscing about his old friend Ling Tai Xu who was back in the Central Capital.
“Treasurer Meng, do you know how to get back to the Central Capital from here?” Hearing him mention his Grand Master, Yang Kai hurriedly asked.
“Do you want to bring over Brother Ling too?” Meng Wu Ya guessed what Yang Kai was thinking.
“En. The cultivation environment here is many times better than the one over there. If Grand Master had been born here instead, he would likely already be a Saint!”
“You’re right about that, but unfortunately, this old master doesn’t know how to return to the Central Capital!” Meng Wu Ya sighed once more, “This old master only managed to arrive on that side by coincidence, and when I did so I was heavily wounded and in something of a daze. It would be impossible to find the Void Corridor I passed through at that time.”
Hearing this, Yang Kai was slightly disappointed.
“You wanting to bring them over to this side is a good idea, but do you have the resources and ability to accommodate all of them?” Meng Wu Ya looked at Yang Kai and smiled, “There are so many people back in the Central Capital. If you really brought them all to Tong Xuan Realm, forget about anything else, would you even be able to protect their safety? In addition, you would need a place to house that many people and a way to provide them with cultivation resources. You alone won’t be able to take care of so many people. If you can’t handle these issues, then it would be better to leave them in the Central Capital for now, at the very least, they won’t have to worry about a place to live or encountering dangers.”
“About all that, old sir doesn’t have to worry,” Li Rong pursed her lips and laughed, “Master is not alone in this world and is fully capable of protecting the safety of any number of people.”
“Hm? Why do you say that?” Meng Wu Ya looked at Li Rong suspiciously.
“Because Master is now the Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land.”
Meng Wu Ya’s look changed greatly as he shifted his eyes back to Yang Kai. Upon seeing Yang Kai nod in acknowledgement, Treasurer Meng’s face couldn’t help twitching, “You actually became the Holy Master of that place? Were all those Saintesses blind or something? What the hell did they see in you?”
Yang Kai rolled his eyes, falling speechless while Li Rong covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
Meng Wu Ya’s expression became serious in the next instant, “So that means, the old Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land is dead?”
“En, it happened not long after you left the Holy Land with Little Senior Sister.”
Meng Wu Ya sighed, “Sure enough, when I met him last time, I saw that he didn’t have long to live, I just didn’t expect him to pass on so soon. Little Brat, your rapid growth in strength isn’t because you cultivated the Holy Land’s core inheritance Secret Art, right?”
“No.”
“Good, you must absolutely not cultivate that Secret Art! As far as I know, that technique consumes one’s vitality in exchange for a massive increase in cultivation speed. The faster one’s strength improves, the shorter their life becomes. This old master does not want to see Ning Chang’s tearful face one day when you die young. In any case, with your aptitude, as long as you work hard, you’ll reach the level of this old master sooner or later, so living a thousand years will be easy, there’s no need to use that kind of Secret Art that only chases shadows while sacrificing substance.”
“What Treasurer Meng said is also what I thought,” Yang Kai nodded.
“That’s good,” Meng Wu Ya seemed to have rested enough as his face had regained a rosy complexion and his aura had become deep and calm like the sea, “Since you have a place to live, this old master and Ning Chang will stay with you for a while! These years have been bitter, running east and west all the time. That girl has not been able to live a stable life for quite some time.”
As he spoke, Treasurer Meng glanced over at Xia Ning Chang, who was still pretending to be asleep, several times, shaking his head helplessly.
[I know my treasured apprentice is outstanding in every way… but when it comes to her fondness for this little bastard, Ha…
She is so shy that just after ten years of not being able to see him has left her hesitant to even look at him.
If she were to follow this little brat in the future, wouldn’t she be bullied to death by him?]
Thinking of this, Meng Wu Ya couldn’t help breathing somewhat heavily as he felt like a fishbone had gotten stuck in his throat, wishing he could reach out and choke Yang Kai half to death right now!
Yang Kai had already picked up Xia Ning Chang, gently holding her in his arms.
The tender body of Little Senior Sister also gradually began to give off an amazing heat.
“Lead the way,” Meng Wu Ya faintly said, thinking the less he saw the better.
Treasurer Meng had heard the conversation a moment ago between Yang Kai and the Monster Race masters so he knew this place was quite far from Nine Heavens Holy Land.
However, Yang Kai didn’t have any intention of flying, instead summoning out a small glowing object. The blue glow soon expanded and revealed a long shuttle-like object which suspended itself in front of everyone, stopping its expansion upon reaching about ten meters in length.
“Hm, this artifact’s grade is quite high,” Meng Wu Ya had an experienced eye so when the saw the long shuttle, he couldn’t help praising it, “It seems the Nine Heavens Holy Land’s Holy Master receives quite generous treatment.”
He naturally believed that this artifact was some kind of treasure left behind by one of the previous Holy Masters of Nine Heavens Holy Land.
However, Li Rong recognized the true origins of this long shuttle and exclaimed, “Isn’t this that thing?”
“En, after refining it, I discovered it’s actually a flight type artifact.”
“A flight type artifact?” Meng Wu Ya’s brow rose slightly, “A rare sight.”
“Its speed is very high.”
“Oh, how high?” Meng Wu Ya stared blankly at Yang Kai.
“You’ll know once you try it,” Yang Kai grinned, not stating things clearly; the speed of the Flying Heavens Shuttle was something one had to experience for themselves, no words could describe it. “Please hop on.”
Meng Wu Ya and Li Rong didn’t say much and just jumped up onto the Flying Heavens Shuttle.
Yang Kai brought Xia Ning Chang up as well and sat down at the back of the shuttle, settling Little Senior Sister into a comfortable position in his arms before calling out, “Hold on to your hats.”
Issuing a command with his Divine Sense, the Flying Heavens Shuttle transformed into a stream of light and seemingly broke free of the fetters of space, crossing a hundred kilometres in the blink of an eye.
Meng Wu Ya, who was sitting at the bow of the Flying Heavens Shuttle, felt his eyes bulge. Spreading out his Divine Sense, he quickly discovered how sensational the speed of this artifact was and couldn’t help feeling incredibly shocked.
Li Rong also covered her mouth and exclaimed.
“Little brat, how does this artifact possess such astonishing speed? Who refined it?” After a long time, Meng Wu Ya asked Yang Kai via Divine Sense Message, still somewhat unable to contain his emotions.
This Flying Heavens Shuttle’s speed was several times faster than any top master’s all out sprint.
“I don’t know who refined it, it’s something Li Rong and I inadvertently found in the Starry Sky about a year ago,” Yang Kai briefly explained how he had obtained the Flying Heavens Shuttle, not feeling any need to conceal anything from Meng Wu Ya.
“The Starry Sky? You’ve been to the Starry Sky?” Meng Wu Ya was shocked once more.
“En, if you want to see it, I can show it to you another day,” Yang Kai thought he might be curious about the legendary Starry Sky.
“No need…” Unexpectedly though, Meng Wu Ya just slowly shook his head, a solemn expression appearing on his face as he hesitantly said, “This old master has probably seen the Starry Sky.”
“Old sir isn’t certain?” Li Rong felt somewhat puzzled by his words and asked with a chuckle.
“Because this old master’s consciousness was somewhat blurry at the time. It was actually while I was bound to that stone pillar,” Meng Wu Ya recalled and explained, “I always felt that place was extremely important and profound. While I was being tortured, it felt as if my Soul left my body and travelled to many different places, the Starry Sky being one of them. Those places were located in the north, east, west, and south of Tong Xuan Realm, each one separated by tens of thousands of kilometres. However, because of the pain from the torture, I cannot remember much detail about them.”
Pausing for a moment, he continued in a solemn tone, “Little Yang Kai, my instincts are telling me that you should not have destroyed that place.”
“You’re saying that too, Treasurer Meng?” Yang Kai heard this and was startled.
“Who else told you that?”
“Great Demon God’s Soul Clone! He said that it was the keystone of the entire world, and that if I destroyed it, I would have to bear unimaginable consequences.”
“Keystone?” Meng Wu Ya frowned and asked, “What else did he say?”
Yang Kai thought for a moment and replied, “He also said that this world had been sealed for too long and that it was time for it to step into the light again.”
Meng Wu Ya suddenly went silent as a pensive look appeared on his face, seemingly in deep thought over something…
Seeing his dignified expression, Yang Kai quickly asked, “Treasurer Meng, what is the meaning behind those words? What did he mean when he called this place a sealed world?”
“This old master doesn’t know,” Meng Wu Ya slowly shook his head, “But don’t tell others about this for now, give me some time to think about it.”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded, recalling the words of Great Demon God’s Soul Clone and remembering he had also said that by visiting the Demon Capital, he would naturally understand all of these hidden mysteries.
However, the Demon Capital wasn’t exactly a place he could freely enter.
Soaring forward, the Flying Heavens Shuttle maintained a lightning fast pace.
Meng Wu Ya was continuously amazed at the speed of this artifact.
Yang Kai sat with Little Senior Sister at the back of the Flying Heavens Shuttle, gently breathing in her delicate fragrance while feeling the softness and warmth of her body, relaxing his mind and body.
As time passed, his embrace grew tighter.
The tender body of Little Senior Sister trembled as her long eyelashes fluttered constantly, the heat from her body ever increase as a red blush spread across her jade white skin.
Being held by Yang Kai, their two bodies pressing against one another, feeling each other’s heat and pounding heart, for the incredibly pure and innocent Little Senior Sister, it was undoubtedly incredibly stimulating.
Yang Kai didn’t wake her, simply enjoying this rare moment of peace as he stared at her face, softly whispering, “Little Senior Sister, you’re really beautiful!”
Meng Wu Ya, who was sitting in front of him, clenched his fists as he called out indignantly, “Such shamelessness!”
The explicit words of love that seeped into his ears made him feel an unbearable rage.
Li Rong’s eyes remained clear and bright as she licked her red lips gently and moved a little further forward, giving Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang some more space while speaking to Meng Wu Ya, “Old sir, since we have time, could you tell me about Master’s past? Unfortunately my knowledge of Master is still quite shallow.”
“You want to know about his past?” Meng Wu Ya brow rose up, an evil grin appearing on his face, “This old master knows a great many things about that, come, come, this old master will carefully let you know just how brazen, impudent, and shameless this Master of yours truly is! This little bastard is nothing more than a reckless delinquent and an incorrigible womanizer, stirring up trouble wherever he goes.”
Li Rong pursed her lips and giggled, not interrupting, only listening attentively.
Meng Wu Ya immediately launched into a tirade, but as if fearing Yang Kai would overhear all the malicious remarks he was making, he quickly waved his hand a wrapped himself and Li Rong in a sound proof barrier.
Yang Kai turned a blind eye to this and began acting even bolder.
Holding Little Senior Sister’s soft, seemingly boneless little hand while lovingly caressing her face and gently blowing in her ear, “These past ten years, there hasn’t been a single day I didn’t wish to see you, and when I finally achieved this cherished wish, it was actually under such a situation. Little Senior Sister, do you think this is fate? Could it be the Heavens secretly arranged for me to appear in that place so I could rescue the most important woman in my life?”
Little Senior Sister’s eyelashes were fluttering even more rapidly now, seemingly moved by Yang Kai’s words, the blush on her slender neck deepening even more, filling her white skin with a seductive luster.
“Thinking back now, Junior Brother feels very fortunate, if I hadn’t insisted on traveling together with Li Rong at that time, I’m afraid I would never have been able to see you again,” Yang Kai said with a hint of fear apparent in his tone.
The two Monster Race Great Seniors had mainly been interested in inviting Li Rong to go to that place, Yang Kai had simply been tagging along, yet that actually allowed him to meet Meng Wu Ya and Xia Ning Chang there.
It was all a bit too coincidental.
“En, after the past ten years, I have met a variety of women here, many of them quite beautiful in their own right, but none of them had anywhere near the impact you and Su Yan had on me, making me never able to forget them while engraving themselves on my heart, leaving a mark that could never be erased. You being here, being well, nothing makes Junior Brother more satisfied…”
These sweet nothings flowed out from Yang Kai’s mouth like a gentle stream, conveying his tender affections straight to Xia Ning Chang’s heart, causing her to take the initiative to tightly embrace him, pouring all her strength into her two arms, as if she wished she the two of them could merge together and never separate.
Yang Kai raised his head slightly and looked at Little Senior Sister, seeing her beautiful limpid eyes and faintly blushing cheeks, her delicate neck that seemed aglow with shyness as she let out fragrant breath.
As they stared into each other’s eyes, Little Senior Sister put aside her vision timidly as she ever so softly whispered, “Your words are really pleasant to the ear… can you say a few more…”
After putting forward her request, she quickly closed his eyes and buried her head in Yang Kai’s chest, not daring to meet his eyes again.
“Of course,” Yang Kai naturally could not disappoint her, racking his brain to find as many words of sentiment as possible, gently whispering them like a spell that infiltrated Xia Ning Chang’s heart, making it tremble as her tender body shivered in delight.
Feeling the warmth of Yang Kai’s body and listening to his voice, Xia Ning Chang felt incredibly satisfied, thinking that even if she were to die right now, she would die happy.
“That… little… bastards….” Meng Wu Ya ground his teeth as his eyes filled with an ominous light.
Li Rong laughed lightly, “Old sir does not need to worry so much, with Master’s aptitude and temperament, he can definitely make that girl happy.”
“Haa…” Treasurer Meng sighed heavily, “The little girl has become a woman, I can’t shelter her forever, and this old master might as well settle down in Nine Heavens Holy Land and enjoy the treatment of an elder.”
“How can old sir say such words? You are still hale and hearty; Master even said he will need to depend on your help in the future.”
Meng Wu Ya let out a wry laugh before turning his eyes back to Li Rong, “You are very loyal to that boy, with you by his side, this old master can feel relieved. But you have to be careful not to be deceived by his wiles and end up like this old master’s treasured apprentice, losing your very soul to him. He may look like a young man but in truth he’s no more than a beast.”
Li Rong’s face blushed red, “Old sir must be joking, my Ancient Demon Clan is the sharp blade of Master, the shield which guards his life, none of us dare hope to become anything more.”
“There’s no need for you to call me old sir, you and I are both Third Order Saints, we should interact as peers,” Meng Wu Ya smiled lightly.
“That will not do, you are the Senior of Master, naturally that makes you my Senior too,” Li Rong quickly waved her hands.
Seeing her appearance, Meng Wu Ya suddenly felt exasperated and immediately closed his eyes to mediate.
Behind him, the whispers of Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang continued, the two of them seemingly very happy.
Just two days later, the nine peaks came into sight.
The Flying Heavens Shuttle’s flight speed was simply astonishing.
A blue light streaked across the sky and rushed straight into the nine peaks.
Realizing the appearance of this streak and the powerhouses that accompanied it, the various Saints around the Holy Land emerged one after another and flew over.
Meng Wu Ya’s brow furrowed slightly as he spread out his Divine Sense, asking suspiciously, “Little Yang Kai, why are there so many people outside your Nine Heavens Holy Land? What are they doing here?”
“They’ve come to request Alchemy services,” Yang Kai grinned.
“Ask for Alchemy?” Meng Wu Ya brow rose slightly, snorting disdainfully, “Your Nine Heavens Holy Land has some kind of Alchemy Grandmaster?”
“Master is actually a Saint Grade Alchemist!” Li Rong quickly explained, “The people who came here were attracted by his reputation but outsiders do not know the true identity of the Alchemy Grandmaster.”
“Oh? You also studied Alchemy?” Meng Wu Ya stared at Yang Kai in surprise.
“I learned a little, nothing compared to Little Senior Sister,” Yang Kai glanced over at Xia Ning Chang, who was standing next to him.
“Hmph, seems you still have a little self-awareness!” Meng Wu Ya nodded.
Li Rong delicate brow rose as she directed a stunned look towards Xia Ning Chang, a trace of doubt surfacing on her face.
She, more than anyone else perhaps, understood how great Yang Kai’s Alchemy aptitude and proficiency was, yet if she had not misunderstood his words, he actually considered himself inferior to his Little Senior Sister in the Alchemic Way.
Was that even possible?
As the few of them chatted, many Saint Realm masters, the Elders of Nine Heavens Holy Land and the leaders of the Ancient Demon Clan, all flew over.
After seeing that Yang Kai had returned, all of them were overjoyed. Xu Hui and the others quickly stepped forward and hastily saluted, the heavy expressions on their faces faded somewhat, as if they had just been freed from a great burden, “Holy Master, it is good that you have returned, if you had remained out for much longer, this old master’s heart might have given out.”
“What happened? Has there been an accident in the Holy Land?” Yang Kai asked hurriedly.
“Although it is nothing so dire, it is still a serious matter. The Grandmasters have been inquiring about your whereabouts all day, hoping you can soon come back. Moreover, you have been gone for three months, during that time, the Grandmasters have quickly become exhausted from constantly performing Alchemy. Whenever they wanted to complain, even if I wanted to hide, I could not.”
“Ah…” Yang Kai went silent.
He had almost forgotten about Du Wan and the others.
Xu Hui saying this reminded him that after he had left, the Holy Land’s Alchemy services had been handed over to the five Grandmasters. Over the past three months, they had no doubt become exhausted.
The Grandmasters were all respected Seniors but now they had actually been reduced to free labour for the Holy Land.
Yang Kai’s heart immediately filled with guilt.
“Quickly announce that the Holy Land will not be providing Alchemy services for the next ten days, let the Grandmasters take a break!” Yang Kai declared.
“But there are more and more people coming to request Alchemy services every day. If we suddenly stop, won’t that provoke a wave of public anger?” Xu Hui showed a worried look; it was precisely because of this concern that after Yang Kai left they had never dared stop.
“Just say that my Holy Land’s Grandmaster has taken ill and needs some time to recover. Since they are here to request pills, they need to have enough patience. If they can’t wait, they’re welcome to leave. We’re not saying they won’t be able to request Alchemy services, they just need to wait ten more days. I doubt any of them would dare raise a fuss.”
Moreover, if anyone did leave here and tried to request Alchemy services somewhere else, they would definitely have to wait many times longer.
“Yes,” Receiving this command, Xu Hui quickly arranged for some nearby disciples to pass the message along to the Elders who were currently on duty outside.
After he finished arranging everything, Xu Hui finally turned to look at Meng Wu Ya and couldn’t help calling out in shock, “Isn’t this the friend of the old Holy Master?”
When Meng Wu Ya came here last with Xia Ning Chang, he only spoke openly with the old Holy Master. Although he had been a guest in the Holy Land for a few days, Xu Hui and the others never learned of his identity or origins, so naturally they didn’t know his name and only had a faint impression of his appearance.
“Allow me to introduce you all, this is a Senior from my Sect, Meng Wu Ya.” Yang Kai said.
“Welcome, welcome!” Xu Hui cupped his fists and greeted politely. Feeling the great strength of the man in front of him, Xu Hui didn’t dare act disrespectful, he could also tell that this person was much stronger than the last time he had visited the Holy Land.
However, the name of this person… Xu Hui felt as if he had heard this name somewhere before, but he could not recall where. After spending moments thinking about it yet not coming up with anything, he just slowly shook his head.
In the main square of the Holy Land, a crowd of Saint Realm masters gathered around.
Yang Kai introduced Treasurer Meng and Xia Ning Chang to them, the several Elders of the Holy Land, and Great Commanders of the Ancient Demon Clan returning the greetings.
When they heard that Xia Ning Chang and Yang Kai had come from the same Sect and were Junior Brother and Senior Sister, all of them wore serious expression, not daring to act the least bit impolite.
Seeing the intimacy between Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang, many of them immediately guessed the true nature of the pair’s relationship.
”I had thought our Holy Master was uninterested in women, but it turns out he simply had someone in his heart already,” Yu Ying stood on the periphery and laughed lightly.
“Poor Ling’er…” Cheng Yue Tong couldn’t help feeling somewhat sorry for An Ling’er as all of the Elders thought she and Yang Kai had already begun cultivating the core Secret Art of Nine Heavens Holy Land. What they didn’t know was that An Ling’er was just colluding with Yang Kai to fool them.
“Ling’er should know about this already,” Yu Ying smiled, “The Holy Master is such a character, having a few women is very normal. Ling’er is not someone petty, so what need is there to worry about her being accepting of others? Also, this little girl clearly has a gentle personality; she won’t try to compete with Ling’er.”
“I hope so.” Cheng Yue Tong nodded lightly.
“Meng Wu Ya!?” At that moment, Xu Hui suddenly exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as he stared towards Treasurer Meng, a look of excitement filling his face.
“Why are you calling out his name, Great Elder? Didn’t I just introduce you a moment ago?” Yang Kai was stunned.
“I suddenly recalled where I had heard that name before! A few hundred years ago, the strongest master of the Human Race also had that name! You couldn’t possibly be…”
“Strongest master?” Treasurer Meng frowned before putting on a forced smile, “The world’s common people love attaching titles to others like that, who is the strongest or who is the second strongest, such things are of little significance.”
“It really is you?” Xu Hui said with astonishment.
The other Elders were also dumbfounded as they gawked at Meng Wu Ya, as if someone had suddenly struck them over the head with a hammer, stunning them.
With Xu Hui’s reminder, all of them finally recalled the name Meng Wu Ya.
“Good good, this Xu had not expected that in this life he would have the honour of meeting Elder Brother Meng, this is truly a fortune encounter,” Xu Hui cupped his fists and bowed deeply. When Yang Kai had introduced him to Meng Wu Ya, Xu Hui had only offered a casual greeting.
After all, Nine Heavens Holy Land was now world-famous. As the Holy Land’s Great Elder, his status was quite lofty so the average masters were really nothing in his eyes.
It was only because he was Yang Kai’s Senior that Xu Hui took the initiative to greet Treasurer Meng.
However, now that he knew the identity of the person in front of him, Xu Hui’s attitude became completely different, even containing a faint trace of worship.
“En, Treasurer Meng and Little Senior Sister will be living in our Nine Heavens Holy Land from now on, so there will be plenty of opportunities to communicate with each other,” Yang Kai waved, cutting off Xu Hui’s endless chatter.
“Oh? Elder Brother Meng intends to stay in the Holy Land? You are certainly most welcome!” Xu Hui’s eyes shone brightly.
“Treasurer Meng and Little Senior Sister can take up residence in the Holy Master Court, which is where I currently live. What do you think?” Yang Kai turned to ask Meng Wu Ya for his opinion.
“Good, as long as it’s clean anywhere is fine,” Meng Wu Ya nodded.
“Then come with me,” Yang Kai beckoned.
“Holy Master, please allow Elder Yu Ying to process this matter, there are still some things I must inform you of,” Xu Hui saw that Yang Kai was preparing to leave and quickly called out to stop him.
“Can’t whatever it is wait a moment?”
“Unfortunately it cannot!” Xu Hui replied seriously.
Yang Kai was surprised by this forceful declaration and could only helplessly agree, “Very well, Elder Yu Ying, please take them to the Holy Master Court and let An Ling’er arrange a place for them to stay.”
“Yes, please come with me,” Yu Ying immediately complied.
Xia Ning Chang shot a reluctant look towards Yang Kai but quickly collected herself and followed after Yu Ying.
“Master, if there is nothing else, I’ll also take my leave here,” Li Rong asked to be excused before leading the other leaders of the Ancient Demon Clan back to the peak where they lived.
Soon, only a few of the Holy Land’s Elders and Yang Kai remained in the square.
“So, what is this important matter?” Yang Kai asked, somewhat dissatisfied with Xu Hui interrupting his and Little Senior Sister’s reunion.
“It’s the Holy Tomb!” Xu Hui quickly replied, “There’s been an accident with the Holy Tomb. Holy Master will understand once you see it.”
“What can possibly happen in the Holy Tomb?” Yang Kai asked uninterestedly.
The Holy Tomb was a restricted area of Nine Heavens Holy Land, the place where all previous Holy Masters were laid to rest, but after Yang Kai first entered it, the Holy Tomb had been transformed into an empty space. Afterwards, the Holy Land’s several thousand disciples had taken refuge inside of it for three or so years.
This incredibly small and barren Mysterious Small World, aside from being a good place to enter secluded retreat, essentially had no other worth.
Yang Kai couldn’t even think of what kind of problems it could have.
Arriving in front of the Holy Tomb a short time later though, Yang Kai directed a dignified stare towards its large stone entrance.
Originally, there was a profound array set up on this large stone slab and only the Holy Master Spirit Ring in Yang Kai’s possession was capable of opening it and revealing the entrance to the Mysterious Small World.
But now, in the centre of the stone slab, a pitch-black Void Corridor appeared, like the open mouth of a great beast.
The Holy Land’s Elders had collaborated to set up a barrier a thousand meters out from Holy Tomb’s and forbidden any disciples from approaching it.
“What happened?” Yang Kai asked, “How did the Holy Tomb open?”
“Subordinate does not know what transpired, the Holy Tomb just suddenly opened on its own. In order to prevent the disciples from entering it, the Elders set up numerous restrictions around here.”
“Have you gone in to investigate yet?” Yang Kai turned to ask Xu Hui.
“Subordinate and Elder Shi Kun have entered once.”
“What did you find?”
“Nothing, the Holy Tomb itself doesn’t seem to have experienced any changes.”
“I’ll go in and have a look, you wait here,” Yang Kai issued a command before diving into the Void Corridor.
After about the time it would take to burn a stick of incense, Yang Kai returned from the Holy Tomb with a look of confusion on his face.
Just as Xu Hui had said, besides the entrance opening on its own, there was no change to the inside of the Holy Tomb, the World Energy aura was still as potent as always and there were no signs of any kind of danger.
After sinking into contemplation for a long time, Yang Kai couldn’t come up with any reasonable explanation and asked, “When did this happen?”
“About two or three days ago.”
“Two or three days ago?” Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed, suddenly feeling slightly uneasy.
“En, did Holy Master think of something?”
Yang Kai shook his head.
Two or three days ago was around the time he had rescued Treasurer Meng and Xia Ning Chang.
However, could these two matters have any relationship with one another? After all, these two places were tens of thousands of kilometres apart, a two-month journey for a Transcendent Realm cultivator.
“Was it just a coincidence?
“For the time being, don’t let any of the disciples get close to here, perhaps there is some hidden danger yet to reveal itself. Let’s just observe the situation for a while,” Yang Kai was helpless and could only issue such instructions, he was unable to figure out why this Mysterious Small World’s entrance had suddenly opened.
Receiving his orders, the Elder quickly made the appropriate arrangements.
As soon as he arrived back at the Holy Master Court, Yang Kai felt a bunch of stares land on him.
The five Grandmasters were standing there. It seems they had heard about his return and had rushed out to meet him.
“Little brat, you deceived us. Your three-month trip nearly exhausted these old masters to death!” Chang Bao shouted loudly as soon as their eyes met.
As the manager of Lightning Flash City’s Alchemist Guild branch and a Saint Grade Alchemist, he possessed incredibly high status. Usually when someone came to ask him for Alchemy services, whether he agreed or not was simply up to his mood, if he was feeling generous, perhaps he would refine one or two Saint Pills a month.
There had never once in his life been a time like these past three months where every day he actually had to fulfil a pill refining quota.
It was almost as if he had come to Nine Heavens Holy Land to work for free for Yang Kai.
After three months of strenuous effort, Chang Bao had lost a few dozen kilograms of fat and his body was noticeably slimmer than before.
“That’s right, the several of us discussed a few days ago that if you didn’t come back soon, we would drop this troublesome burden and leave without caring about your Nine Heavens Holy Land’s reputation,” Hong Fang also called out.
“Enough already, you don’t need to keep acting like pitiful victims here!” Kong Ruo Yu gave them a harsh stare, “Thanks to these past three months of constant Alchemy, which one of you has not obtained great benefits? Even putting aside how Du Wan has become a Saint Grade Mid-Rank Alchemist, haven’t all of you now seen hope of reaching such a height? True it was tiring, but the harvests you gained weren’t small either.”
Receiving Kong Ruo Yu’s reprimand, the two of them quieted down, neither of them able to refute her, instead just turning a dissatisfied glare towards Yang Kai.
Yang Kai quickly stepped forward and apologetically cupped his fists, “I really must apologize. I didn’t expect to be gone for such a long time. Originally I had expected to be out for just a few days but a great many accidents happened along the way, dragging things out until this point. Junior offers his sincere thanks to several Grandmasters for preserving my Holy Land’s hard-earned prestige and reputation these past three months.”
“Hmph, as long as you understand,” He Feng nodded with satisfaction, “And, for treating us old guys here as free labour, how do you intend to compensate?”
Yang Kai glanced around and soon caught sight of his Little Senior Sister who was chatting happily with An Ling’er nearby, a grin soon appearing on his face, “I’ve ordered that for the next ten days, the Holy Land will not be accepting Alchemy requests, which will give several Grandmasters an opportunity to rest.”
“A simple break is not enough to satisfy our appetite,” Chang Bao shook his head.
“Ten days from now, Junior will surely provide several Grandmasters with a satisfactory compensation.”
“Good!” Chang Bao’s fat face filled with smiles, “We don’t have any other requests, as long as you continue demonstrating your Alchemy in front of us, we’ll be satisfied.”
“Several Grandmasters should look forward to ten days from now, there will surely be a surprise for you,” Yang Kai chuckled.
The five Grandmasters exchanged a suspicious glance, all of them wondering what kind of snake oil Yang Kai was peddling.
Du Wan eventually smiled and said, “You don’t need to concern yourself too much since we now have a ten-day break. You should also have a good rest. En, I see you are quite anxious to go to that young miss over there, us old folks won’t bother you anymore. Since we came here, we’ve actually yet to experience the scenery of this place. Several old friends, how about we go out for a leisurely stroll?
“Agreed, sitting around inside all day long will only make us stiff, we should get out and stretch our legs a bit.”
And so, the several Grandmasters left the Holy Master Court in a good mood, seemingly planning on touring around the nine peaks.
“You two chat; I’ll take my leave first. If Sister Ning Chang has anything she wants to ask about, feel free to come see me, I also live in the Holy Master Court anyways,” An Ling’er saw the five Grandmasters leave and also tactfully withdrew.
“En, I’ll have to trouble Elder Sister in the future,” Xia Ning Chang nodded gently as she watched An Ling’er depart.
The next moment, she felt Yang Kai lift her into his embrace and couldn’t help letting out a small yelp, her two small hands reaching up and lightly wrapping around his neck as she hurriedly asked, “Junior Brother, what are you trying to do?”
“I have many things to discuss with you,” Yang Kai smiled and carried her into his room.
“So do I…” Xia Ning Chang rested her head against Yang Kai’s shoulder.
Inside the room, atop his bed, Yang Kai gently sat down, placing Little Senior Sister atop his lap, maintaining an intimate posture.
As Xia Ning Chang sat on his lap, their chests pressed up against one another and Yang Kai’s eyes filled with burning flames, a bad smile formed at the corner of his lips as his hands began to wander around dissolutely.
Little Senior Sister was wearing a long, form-fitting black robe, perfectly outlining her beautiful bodyline and showcasing her full, milk-white peaks. Feeling Yang Kai’s hands caressing her waist and thighs, his fingers seeming to send shocks of electricity into her body, causing her to shiver unconsciously. She couldn’t help averting her limpid eyes, too shy to look at him.
Her breathing gradually became heavier as a strange yet pleasant heat began to rise from her tender body.
Yang Kai feigned ignorance, continuing to tease his Little Senior Sister, slowly becoming more and more unscrupulous.
“Junior Brother… I feel strange…” Xia Ning Chang bit her lip and whispered as softly as a mosquito.
“Oh, how so?” Yang Kai asked wickedly. He didn’t know why, but when he saw Little Senior Sister acting so coyly, he felt particularly excited and couldn’t help wanting to see just where the limit of her bashfulness was.
“I… I’m quite uncomfortable,” Xia Ning Chang worked up her courage and said as she reached out and held Yang Kai’s hand, stopping it from wandering around her waist.
As she did so though, the feeling from her thigh became sharper, and she couldn’t help tightly clamping her legs.
At this moment, Little Senior Sister suddenly felt that she had become a hundred times more sensitive, able to clearly sense every change in Yang Kai’s body.
Inside her chest, her heart pounded fiercely, sounding out like a great war drum.
Experiencing this kind of overwhelming mental and physical stimulus, Xia Ning Chang froze up, her thoughts becoming chaotic and having no idea how she should react.
“Didn’t you bring me here because you wanted to talk?” Xia Ning Chang whimpered, trying to maintain the last fragments of rationality, but the surging tide of emotions she was feeling continued to wear down her defences.
“Aren’t we talking?” Yang Kai looked at her with a smile.
“En…” Xia Ning Chang couldn’t argue back or endure any more, only feeling like her body had lost all strength and had gone limp, the heat coming from her core making her think she had been tossed into a volcano as her most precious place unknowingly became slightly damp.
“What does Little Senior Sister want to talk about?” Yang Kai asked again.
“I… I don’t know. Is it okay to go on like this?” Xia Ning Chang closed her eyes and completely entrusted herself to Yang Kai, never having felt so satisfied in her entire life.
Looking at her appearance, Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling a boiling heat rising up within him and almost failed to hold it in, quickly circulating his Secret Art to dispel the evil thoughts gripping his heart.
The movement of his hands also stopped as he calmly watched Xia Ning Chang, waiting for his mood to calm down.
A short time later, Xia Ning Chang opened her eyes shyly and revealed a faintly unsatisfied look.
Yang Kai sat up straight and seriously said, “A few days later, after you’ve settled in here, we’ll carry on.”
Xia Ning Chang gently nodded as she whispered lightly, “En, whenever Junior Brother wants.”
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened as he tightened his embrace. His shy Little Senior Sister had obviously worked up a great deal of courage to say such words.
“We should have a good talk for now; I really do have many things to ask you.” Yang Kai said with great satisfaction.
“What does Junior Brother want to ask?” Xia Ning Chang asked softly.
“How have you been for the past ten years?”
“I just followed Master around everywhere…” Xia Ning Chang as sat up comfortably, leaning on Yang Kai’s chest as she began telling him about her various experiences these past ten years. Yang Kai listened quietly, digesting all of his Little Senior Sister’s words, doing his best to try to understand her hardships and triumphs.
After a long time, Little Senior Sister finished speaking and asked about what Yang Kai had experienced these past ten years.
Yang Kai naturally did not conceal anything from her.
As time passed, the two seemed to never run out of words to exchange, whispering tenderly to one another as they enjoyed this peaceful time together.
“Right, Su Yan Senior Sister is in a place called Ice Sect…” Xia Ning Chang suddenly remembered and raised her head up.
“I know, I went to find her,” Yang Kai grinned, “The environment there is very suitable for her cultivation. When I went to see her, she was in retreat so I could only exchange a few Divine Sense Messages with her before leaving. I don’t know how she is now.”
“Does Junior Brother want to bring her back?”
“After I finish tidying up matters here, we’ll go pick her up together.”
“En,” Xia Ning Chang nodded repeatedly before leaning onto Yang Kai’s chest again.
“What about Old Demon? Do you know anything about what he’s currently up to?” Yang Kai asked.
Xia Ning Chang shook her head, “When we came here from the depths of the Central Capital, Old Demon Senior separated from us. He said he was going to go to the Demon Land, but I also went to the Demon Land with Master, yet we didn’t hear any news about him, so I don’t know where Senior is now.”
“That old devil… well, we don’t need to worry about him, he’s not the kind to end up dead by another’s hands,” Yang Kai smiled faintly.
Old Demon’s cultivation may not be too high right now, but his physical body once belonged to a true Demon General! That was the body of the Third Order Saint.
Only masters in the same realm as him could even hurt him.
It was for this reason that Yang Kai had never worried about Old Demon, after all, Third Order Saints were incredibly rare.
“All of this makes me fondly remember our days back in High Heaven Pavilion. At that time, although I was very small and weak, not even knowing about the secrets of the Transcendent and Saint Realm, I felt free and peaceful,” Xia Ning Chang whispered softly, a look of nostalgia flashing across her eyes.
“En,” Yang Kai also sighed, “As our strength increases, we keep encountering more and more matters we cannot ignore.”
As he spoke, Yang Kai suddenly remembered something and said happily, “Right, Little Senior Sister, I have a gift for you.”
“What kind of gift?” Xia Ning Chang sat up straight and looked at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai took out a jade bottle that contained two drops of crystal clear liquid.
When she saw the two drops of liquid, Xia Ning Chang’s expression became dignified as she immediately recognized their extraordinariness.
“What is this?”
“The Thousand Year Demon Flower’s medicinal liquid!” Yang Kai replied.
Xia Ning Chang couldn’t help covering her mouth in shock; obviously she had also heard about this famous treasure, hurriedly exclaiming, “Is it the medicinal liquid of the Thousand-Year Demon Flower that bloomed near Floating Clouds City a few years ago?”
“Yes, Little Senior Sister also knows about that event?”
“En, at the time, Master brought me there to experience the blossoming and to see if there was an opportunity for me to acquire the Demon Flower’s medicinal liquid, but because there were too many people around making it too dangerous and Master didn’t have confidence he could completely guarantee my safety, we left halfway through,” Xia Ning Chang explained, a somewhat complicated light soon colouring her beautiful eyes, “Does that mean Junior Brother was also there?”
With an extremely bitter look upon his face, Yang Kai sighed, “You as well, apparently.”
Xia Ning Chang sadly nodded.
The two of them stared at each other for a moment, a look of regret filling their faces. Back in Floating Clouds City, neither of them had known the other was nearby, so they had ended up passing each other by without realizing, delaying their reunion for many years.
“It turns out that this treasure was obtained by Junior Brother.”
“Although I was the one who obtained it in the end, there is one other person who deserves an equal share of the credit, someone you should know too,” Yang Kai smiled, not keeping her guessing as he continued, “A young man named Di Yao, do you remember him?”
“Old Man Li’s disciple?” Little Senior Sister really had an impression of him, “I remember him, I also competed in Alchemy with him.”
Yang Kai smiled and nodded, “Di Yao seems to not have been convinced about his loss and was saying that he must compete with you again the next time you meet. Of course, I don’t believe he is worthy to be Senior Sister’s opponent.”
“That’s not true, at the time I also only barely won. He has Old Man Li as his Master, so his skill in Alchemy is quite refined,” Xia Ning Chang said modestly.
“You possess the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body, no one is worthy to be your opponent in the field of Alchemy,” Yang Kai shook his head before taking out another empty jade bottle and pouring a drop of the Thousand-Year Demon Flower’s medicinal liquid into it and handing it to Little Senior Sister, “When the time is right, refining this medicinal liquid should help you break through to the Saint Realm. Your Sacred Spirit Medicine Body can refine all spirit medicines in the world without any side effects so you are the most suited to use this.”
“En, thank you, Junior Brother, but I still need some time to enhance and consolidate my current cultivation,” Xia Ning Chang had no need to be polite with Yang Kai and accepted his gift, placing it carefully into her Universe Bag.
“Come, I still have another gift for you,” Yang Kai said, picking her up and placing her on the bed.
Sitting across from Little Senior Sister, Yang Kai solemnly said, “Release your Knowledge Sea’s defences!”
Xia Ning Chang didn’t hesitate and immediately complied.
The next moment, she felt Yang Kai’s Spiritual Energy flow in.
The Knowledge Sea reflected the inner heart of a person, so Xia Ning Chang’s Knowledge Sea was a beautiful and pristine environment, as pure and innocent as she was.
The pair’s Soul Avatars manifested and stood opposite each other, Yang Kai then asking, “Do you remember the True Alchemic Way I once taught you before?”
“Of course, it was all thanks to it that my Alchemy proficiency increased so rapidly.”
“Back in War City, I had yet to thoroughly comprehend everything in the True Alchemic Way, so I only taught you a portion of it, now I can pass the rest of it to you.”
Hearing this, Xia Ning Chang smiled happily.
“Little Senior Sister, what is your current Alchemy level?” Yang Kai asked before beginning.
“I haven’t been certified by the Alchemist Guild yet, but I can refine Saint Grade Mid-Rank pills,” Xia Ning Chang replied with a somewhat annoyed look, “But after reaching this step, I had no way to further advance as Saint Grade materials are too difficult to find, limiting the chances I’ve had to practice.”
Although he had faintly guessed as much, Yang Kai was still astonished at Xia Ning Chang’s Alchemy aptitude, her words just now only serving to confirm his speculations.
Why am I even doing this?
Both Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang were Saint Grade Mid-Rank Alchemists, but the time and resources they had spent achieving that rank were completely different.
Xia Ning Chang had been constantly running around with Meng Wu Ya for the past ten years and had very few stable days to spend improving her Alchemy technique. On top of that, Treasurer Meng wouldn’t have been able to easily gather large quantities of Alchemy materials like Yang Kai had in order to allow Xia Ning Chang to continually practice and build up her experience.
It could be said that Yang Kai being able to achieve his current level of Alchemy proficiency was completely thanks to piling up an incredible amount of time and resources.
On the other hand, Little Senior Sister has used her innate talent and special constitution to reach such a height while the time and resources she consumed was only a fraction of what Yang Kai had spent.
Yet now, they had both reached the rank of Saint Grade Mid-Rank Alchemist.
The difference in talent between the two was easy to judge.
Although he was surprised, Yang Kai was not discouraged but rather felt a great sense of joy, the more amazing his Little Senior Sister was, the happier he was.
Unlike the common men who would feel annoyed or even jealous that their woman had surpassed them in a certain field, Yang Kai only felt a sense of pride.
“Don’t worry, from now on, you will never lack for herbs to practice your skills with. I believe that soon, your Alchemy technique will experience rapid growth and it won’t be long before you reach the same standard as Old Man Li!” Yang Kai grinned, stretching out his hand and condensing a white ball of light on top of his palm before passing it over to Xia Ning Chang’s Soul Avatar, “Inside this is all the knowledge of the True Alchemic Way, take your time to comprehend it.
“En,” Xia Ning Chang opened her mind and body and absorbed the Spiritual Energy light containing the complete True Alchemic Way into her Soul Avatar before immediately beginning to study it.
Yang Kai did not bother her and quietly left.
Leaving his room, Yang Kai came out and strolled over to the main hall of the Holy Master Court.
An Ling’er was there going over recent reports, seemingly taking inventory of the Holy Land’s current accounts, her pretty face filled with a joyful smile.
Yang Kai’s arrival did not alarm her as she continued to immerse herself in her work, compiling the various documents into a single summary.
It wasn’t until Yang Kai sat down opposite her and poured himself a glass of water that An Ling’er looked up at him and grinned, “What’s wrong? After you finally managed to reunite with each other, shouldn’t you be spending a long time alone together? How come you came out after just two days?”
Yang Kai’s expression became somewhat awkward as he muttered, “We talked about everything we needed to, what else were we supposed to do?”
“Oh? You just talked?” An Ling’er’s grin grew even wider.
“What did you think we were doing?” Yang Kai quickly discovered the strangeness in her expression and understood she had gotten some wrong ideas in her head.
“Who knows, a single man and single woman spending several days all alone together, certain things are bound to happen, no?” An Ling’er seems to be in a good mood as she teased.
“You’re not jealous, are you?” Yang Kai stared at her blankly.
An Ling’er snorted, “Stop flattering yourself, the Elders might think we have that kind of relationship but you and I know better.”
“A Saintess daring to say such words to the Holy Master, you must definitely be the first,” Yang Kai laughed.
“Who made you turn out so differently from all the previous Holy Masters? It’s you who gave up this opportunity on your own. Good, enough about that, the Holy Land’s income for these past few months is all recorded here, do you want to take a look?”
“Why not,” Yang Kai took the account book from her and began glancing over it. Just from scanning the document briefly, Yang Kai saw various entries about which pill the Holy Land’s Grandmaster had refined and what kind of compensation they were given. No matter how small the exchange was, all its details were clearly recorded.
Most of the remuneration paid was in the form of Crystal Stones but there were also things like rare materials and even some Secret Arts, Martial Skill, artifacts, and other strange items.
Browsing through this long list, Yang Kai soon became disinterested and tossed the account book back to An Ling’er, “Forget it, you keep track of things.”
Spreading his Divine Sense out across the Holy Master Court, Yang Kai suddenly wrinkled his brow and asked, “Where’s Treasurer Meng? Why can’t I sense him?”
Hearing him ask this question, An Ling’er replied, “If you didn’t ask, I would have also forgotten. Senior Meng said he was going out for a while and asked me to tell you to take care of his apprentice. He also said that if you dared to bully her, he would make you unable to walk or eat.”
“He went out? When did he go out? Did he say when he might be back?”
“He left yesterday and didn’t say anything about when he would be back,” An Ling’er shook her head.
Yang Kai furrowed his brow; although he didn’t know exactly why Meng Wu Ya had left so soon after coming to the Holy Land, he could faintly guess it had something to do with the strange Mysterious Small World they had entered before and was possibly even related to the words Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had spoken.
However, Treasurer Meng’s strength had been completely restored now so as long as he didn’t do something like flying over to the Demon Capital to challenge the Demon Commander, he shouldn’t be in any danger.
Just as Yang Kai was pondering this issue, Xu Hui hurriedly walked in from the outside and shouted, “Holy Master, Wu Jie wishes to meet you!”
Yang Kai brow rose, “Wu Jie?”
“It seems that something worrying has happened as his expression is a bit disturbed,” Xu Hui followed up.
“Let him come in,” Yang Kai commanded.
Yang Kai had not met with Wu Jie in several months but from listening to Xu Hui and the others’ reports, it seemed that after taking in a lot of elite disciples from Shattering Mystical Palace and War Spirit Temple, Wu Jie’s Netherworld Sect had grown considerably and was developing at a good pace.
A moment later, a black-robed Wu Jie appeared like a ghost and cupped his fists said, “Sir Holy Master!”
“Sect Master Wu,” Yang Kai greeted, “Has something happened?”
Wu Jie nodded slightly and said in a solemn tone, “Indeed, it’s related to the stone forest inside Shattering Mystical Palace.”
Yang Kai expression instantly became serious, “What happened to that stone forest?”
“If it is convenient for Sir Holy Master, I believe it would be best if you come and see for yourself,” Wu Jie did not immediately explain.
However, from his behaviour and tone, Yang Kai could basically guess what this was about. No longer saying anything, Yang Kai simply agreed and stepped out of the Holy Master Court.
At the same time, Yang Kai sent a Divine Sense Message to Li Rong, asking her to come along, and a moment later the trio set out for Shattering Mystical Palace.
“Master, is something wrong?” Li Rong asked curiously.
“Wu Jie said that something happened in the stone forest and requested I see it personally.”
“The stone forest?” Li Rong half-shouted, “You mean the stone forest that leads to the Starry Sky?”
“En.”
“What happened there?”
“I don’t know,” Yang Kai shook his head.
After an incense stick worth of time, the group of three arrived in the sky above the stone forest. Looking down at it, Yang Kai’s eyes instantly shrank.
At the centre of the stone forest, a pitch-black entrance had silently opened, exactly like what had happened to the Holy Tomb.
Li Rong hurriedly asked, “Who opened the entrance to the Starry Sky?”
Wu Jie shook his head and explained, “This situation was inadvertently discovered by my Sect’s disciples. Because this Wu knew that this place was important to Sir Holy Master, since the last time we met, I ordered my disciples to stop coming in and out of the Shattering Mystical Palace, but yesterday, when a group of disciples from my Netherworld Sect flew nearby this place, they suddenly saw the situation down below and out of curiosity, several of them went in to explore, but none of them ever came back. The ones who remained behind hurried back to the Sect and told the story to one of the Elders who relayed it to me. After receiving this news, I rushed over to Nine Heavens Holy Land.”
Listening to his story, Yang Kai nodded faintly, “You should be glad that you did not go in to investigate it yourself.”
Wu Jie smiled and said, “This Wu is well aware of his limits. So, is this really an entrance to the Starry Sky?”
“Yes. Last time, Li Rong and I went in to examine this Void Corridor once and discovered that it really does lead to the legendary Starry Sky. Anyone below the Third Order Saint Realm who enters it will definitely die; your disciples won’t be coming back.”
Wu Jie’s face paled, “Only Third Order Saints can enter?”
“There is a horrible pressure filling the entire Starry Sky and only those who possess physiques on par with Third Order Saints can withstand it,” Li Rong explained.
Wu Jie couldn’t help feeling a bit of cold sweat drip down his brow as a lingering fear gripped his heart.
Fortunately, when he first received word of this situation, he had chosen to first inform Yang Kai rather than rush in to investigate the matter himself, otherwise with his current cultivation, he would likely have shared the same fate as his lost disciples.
“But the question is… who opened this entrance?” Li Rong muttered in confusion.
“It may be that it opened on its own,” Yang Kai said pointedly.
“Opened on its own?” Li Rong and Wu Jie looked at him with some surprise.
“En, there is also a Mysterious Small World in the Holy Land called the Holy Tomb. Originally it was the place where all previous Holy Masters were laid to rest, but several days ago, the entrance to that Mysterious Small World opened by itself, causing the Great Elder no small amount of panic. Even now, it remains open and we have yet to find a way to close it,” Yang Kai explained in a casual tone while on the inside he was feeling more and more uneasy.
The entrance to the Holy Tomb opened on its own, as did the entrance to the Starry Sky, and both of these strange events occurred a few days ago. Strictly speaking, all of this took place on the day he brought Meng Wu Ya and Xia Ning Chang out of that strange place.
Did all of this really have something to do with that strange Mysterious Small World?
The distance between each of these places was really quite far though, how was it possible they were all related?
“Sir Holy Master, what should we do here? Do you need me to place some people here as guards?”
“No, you go back and warn your Netherworld Sect’s disciples that none of them should enter this Void Corridor. I’m not exaggerating; no one under the Third Order Saint Realm will be able to survive.”
“Yes, this Wu firmly believes the words of Sir Holy Master,” Wu Jie nodded sincerely.
“I will also let the Holy Land’s disciple stay away from this place, as for outsiders… if they want to go in, just let them; their lives have nothing to do with me!” Yang Kai snorted, “Let’s head back first.”
“This Wu will also take his leave; this time’s trip to the Holy Land was mainly to inform Sir Holy Master about this matter.”
“Good, do as you please. Oh right, if you have any Saint Pill that needs refining, just come to the Holy Land and find me,” Yang Kai urged, “I can give you priority in refining it.”
Wu Jie was overjoyed hearing this and repeatedly offered his thanks, claiming that he would patronize the Holy Land as soon as he went back to retrieve the required materials.
In fact, he had long wanted to go to Nine Heavens Holy Land to request Alchemy services, but because of his friendly relationship with Yang Kai, if he were to suddenly make a request, it would be quite embarrassing and might even damage Nine Heavens Holy Land’s reputation.
However, since Yang Kai had taken the initiative to offer, how could Wu Jie refuse? After saying goodbye he immediately left in an excited mood.
After Wu Jie departed, Yang Kai and Li Rong rushed back to the Holy Land, both of them remaining silent the whole way as Yang Kai was deep in thought, going over the words Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had said to him back in that strange world, trying to find some clues or information that might explain these strange happenings.
Yang Kai and Li Rong returned together, but seeing his state of concentration, Li Rong said nothing for fear of disturbing him and only followed behind him silently.
A short time later, the pair returned to the nine peaks.
Upon arriving though, Li Rong suddenly whispered, “Master, there seems to be something going on down below with the people who have come to request Alchemy services.”
“Hm?” Yang Kai woke up from his contemplation and looked down, quickly noticing the commotion that was taking place. Many of the cultivators who came to request Alchemy were gathering together in groups, whispering to each other while some others even left the line entirely and flew away from the nine peaks.
Seeing them leave in such a hurry, it seemed like they had just discovered something important.
Because the Holy Land had announced that they would not be accepting any Alchemy requests for ten days, many of the masters waiting outside the nine peaks had become a bit bored; however, none of them had ever left, yet now, for some reason, many people were giving up their spots in the queue and flying off.
What’s more, the number of cultivators leaving was actually quite high.
Yang Kai’s brow furrowed, unable to understand why this was taking place, quickly changing direction and flying over to the stone pavilion just outside the nine peaks.
Inside the stone pavilion, Meng Tian Fei and Luo Sheng, two Holy Land Elders who were currently responsible for maintaining the order of this place, were also directing curious looks towards the crowd, also seemingly at a loss to explain why this was happening.
A moment later, Yang Kai appeared in front of them along with Li Rong.
The two Elders quickly stood up and saluted.
“What happened here?” Yang Kai gestured to them to relax and asked quietly.
“This subordinate does not know. A short time ago, a lone cultivator came to join the lineup but after he quietly whispered something to some of the others nearby, many people began leaving,” Luo Sheng answered.
“Where is that person now?” Yang Kai asked.
“At the end of the queue,” Luo Sheng pointed the person out. Yang Kai looked around and soon found that standing at the end of the line was a Transcendent Realm middle-aged man with a shrewd look on his face, his eyes flashing with a crafty light as he saw more and more cultivators leave the lineup, slowly stepping forward each time with a smug smile on his lips.
“Do you want us to go investigate the situation?” Luo Sheng asked.
“En,” Yang Kai nodded.
Luo Sheng immediately set out.
A short time later, Luo Sheng returned with a strange look on his face and reported, “Holy Master, that man said he coincidentally discovered the entrance to a Mysterious Small World on his way here; the ones who are leaving are apparently going to explore that Mysterious Small World.”
“The entrance to a Mysterious Small World?” Yang Kai muttered.
“En, the words he said are reliable, it’s unlike he is lying.”
“Since he found the entrance to a Mysterious Small World, why not go in and explore it himself instead of coming here and spreading the news. If others go in, would they take away all the benefits inside?” Meng Tian Fei put on a suspicious look, “Is that fellow plotting something?”
“He said that his strength is low and that he is alone so he dared not enter rashly,” Luo Sheng shrugged his shoulders.
Yang Kai wore a dignified expression as he sank into contemplation for a moment, occasionally glancing over at the man in question, a moment later asking, “Did he state clearly where the entrance to that Mysterious Small World was?”
“Two thousand kilometres east of here!” Luo Sheng pointed east.
“Li Rong, let’s go have a look,” Yang Kai stood up immediately.
“Holy Master, do you want me to inform Great Elder and let him go with you too?” Luo Sheng asked.
“No need, we’re just going to have a look, and if my guess is right, there should be nothing valuable inside that Mysterious Small World,” Yang Kai said confidently before leaving together with Li Rong again.
Arriving in an isolated spot, Yang Kai summoned the Flying Heavens Shuttle, hopped on board, and then took off like a streak of blue lightning, disappearing across the horizon in an instant.
Onboard the Flying Heavens Shuttle, Li Rong asked, “Master, do you believe what that man was saying? The entrances to Mysterious Small Worlds have always been hidden and are generally quite difficult to discover, there are many issues with his story.”
In this world, there were many hidden, isolated spaces, some of which were large while others were small, collectively they were known as Mysterious Small Worlds. Some Mysterious Small Worlds were barren; containing nothing at all inside, others though were home living creatures, some Mysterious Small Worlds even contained ancient ruins and relics. In short, there was always a chance that one of these isolate spaces would contain shocking wealth, allowing the one who found it to instantly become rich, never having to worry about food or resources for the rest of their life.
So, in Tong Xuan Realm, there were some cultivators who dedicated their lives to seeking out Mysterious Small World, braving the various dangers they discovered inside and obtaining treasures from them.
However, over time, the undiscovered Mysterious Small Worlds were becoming few and fewer, with all of the easy-to-find entrances having already been sought out by various cultivators while the rest were extremely well hidden or difficult to enter.
The cultivator who came to seek Alchemy services said that he just happened to find an entrance to a Mysterious Small World. Naturally, it was suspicious.
But in this world where people constantly risked their lives for even meager benefits, it was inevitable that some would be captivated by this man’s story and rush to the position he indicated to investigate.
If an undiscovered Mysterious Small World really existed, as long as they could enter and search it, they might be able to find something of value. Even if there was nothing inside though, they’d only have lost a little time.
“I know, but this time I’m pretty sure he was being at least somewhat earnest. That man’s strength wasn’t very high, yet he still dared to spread such a rumour, if those people go there and discover nothing, they’ll all come back looking for compensation. How could he possibly dig his own grave like that when he’s constantly wearing that shrewd look?”
Listening to Yang Kai, Li Rong felt his analysis was reasonable and nodded, “So, he really found a hidden entrance? His luck is quite good.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “It has nothing to do with him at all, the entrance to that Mysterious Small World probably showed up all on its own, he just happened to pass by and discover it.”
“Opened on its own?” Li Rong covered her mouth and called out in alarm, “Does Master mean it’s the same as the entrance to the Holy Tomb and the door to the Starry Sky?”
“It’s just my guess, therefore I need to see it for myself,” Yang Kai nodded.
“I wonder if there is anything good inside,” Li Rong couldn’t help feeling a bit more enthusiastic.
“There should be nothing inside,” Yang Kai laughed, “That man surely took a look inside or there were others who had taken the lead to investigate it already rather than the excuse he gave about his strength being too low that he didn’t dare to explore it. It was because he somehow determined that there was nothing valuable inside that he decided to spread the word of it so that the cultivators who were ahead of him in the line would leave, reducing the time he would need to wait to request Alchemy services from the Holy Land.”
“Master is quite observant,” Li Rong looked at Yang Kai with a tinge of admiration.
“It was mainly because whenever that guy saw someone leave the queue in front of him his eyes would light up and a smirk would form on his lips,” Yang Kai smiled faintly, “His thoughts were all but written on his face, it would be difficult not to see what he was up to; the cultivators who left were just blinded by greed and failed to notice this point.”
Soon after, the Flying Heavens Shuttle arrived two thousand kilometres to the east of the nine peaks.
The azure bolt of light came to an abrupt stop midair and Yang Kai and Li Rong spread out their Divine Senses to explore their surroundings.
After a moment, Yang Kai smiled and flew the Flying Heavens Shuttle off in a certain direction.
Ten breaths later or so, the two of them appeared in front of the entrance to a Void Corridor.
Just as Yang Kai had expected, this place had already been occupied by others and there was a number of cultivators gathered around the entrance, watching the surroundings with vigilance, silently circulating their Qi in preparation to respond to anyone who approached.
Yang Kai secretly observed this group and quickly discovered that their strength wasn’t very high, all of them only at the Immortal Ascension Boundary without even a single Transcendent among them. Sensing this, he no longer bothered hiding and simply walked over together with Li Rong.
“Stop! Who goes there?” As soon as the pair revealed themselves, the cultivators guarding the entrance immediately went on high alert as one of them shouted out, “This is my Chen Family’s restricted area, no outsiders are permitted to enter, if Your Excellency does not turn back, we will have to act impolitely.”
“Master, how do you…” Li Rong asked.
“Be gentle,” Yang Kai waved his hand lightly.
An invisible pulse of Spiritual Energy burst from Li Rong’s Knowledge Sea and in the next instant the eyes of all the cultivators gathered around the entrance became dim, all of them standing in place as if they were in a daze, not even trying to hinder Yang Kai and Li Rong anymore, allowing them to pass by them and enter the Void Corridor behind them.
With Li Rong’s means, dealing with these Immortal Ascension Boundary cultivators was a trifling matter, causing them to blank out for a moment was as simple as breathing for her, it was only because Yang Kai did not order her to kill them directly that Li Rong showed mercy.
Only after the two of them had disappeared into the Void Corridor’s entrance that the surrounding cultivators suddenly woke up looked around and found that young man and a woman who had been walking towards them a moment ago had suddenly disappeared. These guards immediately realized the incredible strength of the other party and felt a cold sweat trickled down their foreheads.
Yang Kai and Li Rong leisurely appeared inside the Mysterious Small World.
Spreading out their Divine Senses, the pair quickly found a number of cultivators spread out across the isolated world, apparently searching for something.
Yang Kai once again summoned the Flying Heavens Shuttle and together with Li Rong shot off in a blue flash of light.
After half an hour, the pair returned to the entrance.
There were indeed some ruins inside this Mysterious Small World, but there were no signs of anyone having lived here for many, many years. The cultivators currently inside should have just recently entered and were combing the ruins for treasure.
This Mysterious Small World was also not large, about one-third the size of Demon God Citadel.
However, the Chen Family should have gained quite a harvest this time. This family did not have any true masters with a few weaker Transcendents being the strongest among them, a force quite similar to the Central Capital’s Eight Great Families in strength. As such, the scattered artifacts they found among the ruins would become a big boost to such a small force.
“Let’s go, there’s nothing to look at here,” Yang Kai took a soft breath before stepping through the entrance with Li Rong.
When the cultivators outside saw this man and woman reappear, all of them stared with wide eyes but none of them dared act in an imposing manner again, all of them too scared to even speak.
The other party’s means were absolutely overwhelming, something they had already experienced once.
The only thing that made these guards feel relieved was that this man and woman did not seem interested in embarrassing them; after walking out of Mysterious Small World, the pair just kept walking off casually.
“Right, there are a lot of Transcendent and Saint Realm masters coming here, they’ll arrive in at most half a day, you should inform your family’s leaders and quickly withdraw from this Mysterious Small World, otherwise you won’t be able to afford the consequences,” Yang Kai suddenly turned back and kindly remind them before leaving together with Li Rong.
Only after the backs of this mysterious pair had vanished from their sights did the cultivator who first called out to them breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the cold sweat from his brow. After collecting himself, he hurriedly entered the Mysterious Small World; obviously, he was going to inform his family’s Elders about Yang Kai’s warning and allow his Patriarch and the others to decide what to do.
After returning to Nine Heavens Holy Land, Yang Kai immediately summoned Xu Hui and let him send out people to inquire about all kind of recent news.
Yang Kai didn’t tell him what kind of news he wanted the Holy Land’s disciples to seek out, only ordering him to deploy them in all directions with instructions to pay attention to any big events that occurred and then report back a month later.
Xu Hui didn’t ask anything and swiftly executed the command.
From the solemn look on Yang Kai’s face, Xu Hui detected that this was a significant matter and that the Holy Master had surly discovered something, otherwise he would not have given such an order.
A few days later.
Early in the morning, Yang Kai came to his room and walked over to the bed with light steps.
On the bed, Xia Ning Chang was still sitting in meditation, her tender body motionless, obviously still immersing herself in the True Alchemic Way.
Yang Kai waited quietly for a while, but seeing her not respond at all, he quietly sent his consciousness into her Knowledge Sea.
Seemingly noticing Yang Kai’s arrival, Little Senior Sister’s Soul Avatar slowly opened her eyes and wore a beautiful crescent-shaped smile, forming a mesmerising picture.
“How was your harvest?” Yang Kai asked.
“I’ve basically absorbed everything, but I’ll need to practice a little to become familiar with it,” Xia Ning Chang nodded lightly.
Yang Kai nodded back. He had delivered the complete contents of the True Alchemic Way to Little Senior Sister’s Soul Avatar in the form of a Spiritual Energy package which would allow her to directly absorb it, coupled with her own understanding of Alchemy and her exceptional aptitude in the Alchemic Way, completely comprehending the True Alchemic Way within a few days wouldn’t be difficult.
“Come with me, we’ll start performing Alchemy now. I’ll also introduce you to several Grandmasters while we’re at it,” Yang Kai grinned and took the initiative to withdraw his Soul Avatar.
The next moment, both of them opened their eyes.
Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang, hand in hand, entered the pill room that had been set up in the Holy Master Court.
The five Grandmasters had long been waiting here, each of them with their own pill furnace set out in front of them. Each of these Alchemy furnaces was small yet exquisite, flowing fluorescent lines circling them, obviously not ordinary items, each of them Saint Grade quality. A pill furnace was the most important artifact of any Alchemy Grandmaster.
After ten days of rest, these five were now full of energy and anticipation.
Seeing Yang Kai show up, the five Grandmasters all smiled and nodded.
Chang Bao leaned against the wall and joked, “After not performing Alchemy these past ten days, this old master actually felt his hands becoming itchy, kid, let’s get started.”
Yang Kai smiled and replied, “I was thinking so too.”
“But this is a place for Alchemy, what do you want to do by bringing along your beloved woman? Could it be you can’t bear to separate from her?” He Feng chuckled and slowly shook his head, “Young man, your vitality is quite impressive.”
“You two mustn’t do anything too stimulating in the presence of us old guys, we’re not young anymore, too much excitement won’t be good for our hearts,” Hong Fang also laughed.
Xia Ning Chang immediately became flustered, turning a helpless, pleading look towards Yang Kai, as if doing so would allow her to have some self-confidence.
“Come here little girl, come and sit by this old lady, don’t pay any attention to these bad old man!” Kong Ruo Yu kindly beckoned to Xia Ning Chang.
Xia Ning Chang looked to Yang Kai once more and upon seeing him nod, she lightly stepped over to Kong Ruo Yu and sat down cross-legged.
“Such an innocent young lady, with pure, untainted eyes, as if she is untainted by this world, Yang Kai, you cannot mistreat her in the future,” Kong Ruo Yu commented seriously.
“Senior can rest assured, this Junior has only love in his heart for Senior Sister, I will never treat her poorly.”
The five Grandmasters all stared, seemingly not having anticipated that Yang Kai would speak such frank words in front of all of them; however, since he had, it was clear these were his true feelings, or it would have been impossible for him to say as much.
Realizing the depths of Yang Kai’s feelings for this veiled young lady, they all couldn’t help nodding in approval.
Xia Ning Chang’s eyes also became more spirited as a look of happiness filled her face.
“Good, enough idle chit-chat, let’s get started,” Du Wan smiled, finally speaking up to move the situation along.
Yang Kai nodded and called out, “Great Elder!”
Xu Hui opened the door in the next instant, wearing a serious look upon his face, “Subordinate has prepared everything.”
Saying so, Xu Hui pulled out several batches of herbs and said, “These are the twenty sets of materials for today’s pills. Many thanks in advance for Holy Master and several Grandmasters’ hard work; when evening arrives, I will return to collect the finished pills.”
“Great Elder, go out and accept ten more sets of materials,” Yang Kai gave a command.
Xu Hui was stunned, “Accept ten more?”
The five Grandmasters also direct looks of astonishment towards Yang Kai with Chang Bao calling out in shock, “Kid, Alchemy is also a matter that requires a balance of work and rest, if one’s condition deteriorates, they will likely produce an inferior quality pill or possibly even fail altogether. You can refine ten pills a day, we have already seen this, but we old fogies can only refine ten as well, how do you intend to handle another ten on top of that?”
“En, if you can’t refine good pills, it would be better to not refine them at all,” Du Wan also earnestly persuaded. Excellent Alchemists also had strict requirements for the pills they refined, if the quality of their work was poor, it would destroy their hard-earned reputation.
Therefore, excellent Alchemists generally would not allow inferior quality pills to circulate outside. If they refined such a low-quality pill, they would almost always end up destroying it themselves rather than selling it out.
Yang Kai glanced around at them and smiled, “What several Grandmasters say is reasonable, but you need not worry, these additional ten pills won’t require me to refine them, nor will several Grandmasters need to act.”
“Then who will refine them?” He Feng widened his eyes and suddenly looked towards Xu Hui, his expression filled with suspicion.
Great Elder hurriedly waved his hand and smiled wryly, “Grandmaster does not need to consider me, I only know how to take pills, I am a complete novice in terms of studying the Alchemic Way.”
He Feng slightly nodded, “True, you don’t look like someone who knows anything about Alchemy.”
Xu Hui’s face went black, secretly thinking that these Alchemy Grandmasters were really a bit too blunt.
“Yang Kai…” Kong Ruo Yu turned a thoughtful look towards Xia Ning Chang, “Are you planning to tell us that these ten extra pills will be refined by your Senior Sister, right?”
As soon as this statement came out, everyone turned their eyes towards Xia Ning Chang.
Yang Kai however just smiled and nodded, “That’s exactly what I mean.”
“She can also refine Saint Pills?” Chang Bao’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, hoarsely calling out, “Impossible, her age isn’t much higher than yours. Even if she began studying Alchemy in her mother’s womb, it would still be impossible for her to have the ability to refine Saint Pills.”
Yang Kai’s mouth twitched as he smiled bitterly, “I didn’t start studying Alchemy in my mother’s womb…”
The five Grandmasters turned somewhat indignant glares towards him and muttered, “You’re different, you can’t be judged using common sense.”
“Is she really able to refine Saint Pills?”
“This old master does not believe it.”
“Little brat, don’t try to play tricks on us, be careful that we old guys get upset with you.”
This was their field of expertise, the skill which defined their existence. Being surpassed already by the young Yang Kai could be written off by them as him being one of this world’s rare geniuses, but if they were to be overtaken by his Senior Sister as well, the several Grandmasters didn’t know what they would think.
At the very least, they would definitely feel depressed, possibly even defeated, and unable to ever recover their confidence again…
“I can…” Xia Ning Chang suddenly declared.
Du Wan brow suddenly rose as he remembered something, turning his eyes to Yang Kai as he asked, “Is she the one you mentioned before, the Senior Sister whose Alchemy talent surpassed your own?”
Back in Grand Boulder City, Yang Kai had once casually mentioned that he had a Senior Sister who was even better at Alchemy than he was. Du Wan hadn’t believed him at the time, but now he suddenly recalled it.
Yang Kai nodded.
Du Wan sucked in a deep breath and solemnly stated, “Words are unreliable while seeing is believing. Great Elder, please bring in ten more sets of materials.”
Xu Hui no longer said anymore and quickly left.
A short time later, he returned with ten more sets of materials.
The pill room’s doors were shut, leaving only the seven people scattered about, sitting cross-legged.
The five Grandmasters were not in a hurry to start refining pills and instead focused all their attention on Xia Ning Chang, all of them quite anxious to see if this little girl was really able to refine Saint Pills as she had said.
Being stared at by these five, Xia Ning Chang couldn’t help turning a timid look towards Yang Kai.
However, she discovered that Yang Kai had already begun to refine a pill and couldn’t help pouting slightly.
“Little girl, what pill furnace do you use, can you take it out and let this old lady have a look?” Kong Ruo Yu asked kindly, she saw that Xia Ning Chang was somewhat nervous and deliberately tried to ease her mood.
“I don’t have a pill furnace,” Xia Ning Chang replied softly.
“You don’t have a pill furnace?” The five grandmasters were shocked, Chang Bao muttering in the next moment, “How can you perform Alchemy without a pill furnace? This smelly brat is really taking us old masters for fools, teasing us like that. Does he think we are naïve five-year-old children? This brat.”
“You keep quiet!” Kong Ruo Yu shot a glare at him before turning back to Xia Ning Chang with a smile, “You don’t use a pill furnace for Alchemy?”
Xia Ning Chang gently nodded.
This time, even Kong Ruo Yu couldn’t help wearing a strange expression; although the words she was speaking were somewhat unbelievable, from the pure and limpid light she saw in her eyes, Kong Ruo Yu could tell that this little girl possessed an innocent heart and it was highly unlikely she was lying.
Patiently, she continued to ask, “How do you usually perform Alchemy? Could you demonstrate for us? We old fogies don’t have any other interests other than Alchemy, so we are all very interested in seeing how you refine a Saint Pill without a pill furnace.”
Xia Ning Chang still just nodded, slowly closing her beautiful eyes, seemingly calming her mood.
A short time later, when she opened her eyes again, the several Grandmasters discovered that the temperament of this little girl had undergone a drastic change.
The original Xia Ning Chang was shy and innocent, but now she exuded a sense of self-confidence, without the slightest hint of panic in her eyes, her every movement measured and stable.
Placing a set of Alchemy’s materials in front of herself, she began meticulously inspecting each spirit grass and herb.
“Saint grade materials…” Kong Ruo Yu whispered softly, “The first thing she took up were the ingredients for a Saint Pill. Can she really refine Saint Pills?”
The five Grandmasters stared fixedly at Xia Ning Chang.
However, Little Senior Sister no longer showed any nervousness or tension; at this moment, it was as if she had entered her own world, and the only thing she could see was the Saint Pill’s materials in front of her.
Suddenly, Xia Ning Chang’s body began emitting a gentle strength.
The moment they felt this energy, the five Grandmasters were all stunned.
What was shocking to the five Grandmasters was not Xia Ning Chang’s great strength.
Although she was already a Third Order Transcendent at such a young age, that was irrelevant to the Grandmasters. They simply assumed she was like Yang Kai, a genius in the Martial Dao.
The key point was that the nature of her body’s strength, it wasn’t of the Flame Attribute or the Yang Attribute.
Whether it was Alchemy or Artifact Refining, one needed to use burning power in order to melt, purify, and then blend the various essences of herbs or minerals in order to refine pills or artifacts. Only by applying such heat could one bring out the true potential of their raw materials.
As such, Alchemist and Artifact Refiners had to cultivate either Fire Attribute or the Yang Attribute Secret Arts, causing the True Qi in their bodies to always be scalding hot.
However, the True Qi sent out by Xia Ning Chang was extremely gentle, with an aura that exuded one close to that of the natural world.
How was this Alchemy? The five Grandmasters were all stumped.
But the next moment, all of them were simultaneously dumbfounded.
The Saint Grade herbs that were wrapped in invisible power gently floated in front of Xia Ning Chang and under her gentle, natural force, began to break down, their medicinal essences congealing together into droplets of incomparable pure medicinal liquid while the remaining dregs were discarded.
Xia Ning Chang’s body remained motionless, only a constant stream of power flowed out from her as her two jade hands formed a number of profound seals that she sent towards the purified herbs.
The Grandmaster’s expression all became solemn, each of them wearing a look of shock as they stared fixedly towards Xia Ning Chang, none of them even blinking for fear they might miss one of her actions.
With the eyesight of the five Grandmasters, they could instantly tell that this little girl in front of them had a deep understanding and possessed profound skills in Alchemy. The way she condensed and processed these drops of medicinal liquids was exquisite, to the point that even they would not have been able to do any better than her.
The efficacy of each herb was perfectly extracted without the slightest waste, and through her incredible methods, all of them were condensed and gradually gathered together.
Drops of medicinal liquid floated like pearls in front of Xia Ning Chang.
Pointing a single jade finger out, Xia Ning Chang pushed the gentle force from her body out once more, taking her finger as a pen and her True Qi as ink to draw a delicate Spirit Array mid-air.
The speed at which she portrayed this Spirit Array was astonishing.
The observing Grandmasters keenly realized that the Spirit Array she was using was nearly identical to the one used by Yang Kai. Clearly, they had been taught by the same Master.
Gradually, the five Grandmasters became enthralled by her performance, none of them even daring to breathe loudly lest they accidentally disturb Xia Ning Chang.
None of them doubted whether Xia Ning Chang could perform Alchemy anymore. The fantastical scene playing out before them was the clearest proof of all.
If it was not someone with profound achievements in Alchemy, it would be impossible for them to understand these Alchemic Spirit Arrays or to so perfectly condense medicinal liquids.
On top of that, Xia Ning Chang’s Alchemy technique contained a kind of fascinating beauty that drew them in, allowing them to forget everything around them, including their own existences as they followed each one of her movements. All five Grandmasters suddenly felt like they had entered into a magical world, one filled with the purest essence of Alchemy.
The path beneath their feet was firm and the view of the horizon was clear.
At this moment, each of them felt as if their souls had been baptized, allowing their hundred years of study in the Alchemic Way to receive a kind of sublimation.
Gradually, the complex Spirit Array took form, its overlapping lines shimmering with light as they gradually drew in the surrounding drops of medicinal liquid, gathering them in its centre.
Right before their eyes, the medicinal liquids began merging with one another, undergoing a special metamorphosis which led the appearance of the embryonic form of a pill.
The five Grandmasters stared at this process with excited faces.
They had immersed themselves in Alchemy for so many years but never once before had they so clearly seen the formation of a pill.
Every pill they had ever refined or seen refined was formed inside a pill furnace, so the process could not be seen by the naked eye. Only after the pill was refined successfully would they be able to see its true appearance…
It wasn’t until this very moment that they all realized that the formation of a pill was so mesmerizing and soul-stirring; it was like watching the birth of a new life as the pill sent out a vigorous energy aura.
The Grandmasters’ hearts pounded as they found themselves unable to speak, all of them stretching their necks out, seemingly wanting to get even the slightest bit closer to more carefully observe.
As the pill slowly began to take shape, the Grandmasters’ poured in their Divine Senses, their tension shooting up as if it was their own child being born.
After a long time, a pill fragrance suddenly began wafting out, filling the nostrils of the Grandmasters, finally allowing all of them to breathe a sigh of relief and relax as they felt a giant weight lift from their hearts.
Xia Ning Chang reached out grabbed the pill in front of her, pinching it between her jade white fingers as she stared at it for a while, a slight frown forming on her brow, seemingly somewhat unsatisfied with this result, placing the pill into a prepared jade bottle a moment later.
At the same time, Yang Kai also finished refining the Saint Pill he was working on, tapping his pill furnace and causing it to fly out and accurately land inside a jade bottle he was holding, sealing it in the next instant.
Two pill fragrances with some subtle differences filled the room, making people feel refreshed.
The room fell so silent one could hear a pin drop, only the heavily pounding hearts of the five Grandmasters resounding.
Xia Ning Chang slowly extricated herself from the world of Alchemy and when she looked up; she saw five pairs of eyes staring at her like starving wolves who had just encountered the finest of prey.
“Several Seniors…” Xia Ning Chang was frightened and quickly turned her eyes towards Yang Kai, silently praying for rescue.
Yang Kai grinned, understanding well the Grandmasters’ shock but still refusing to give them enough time to pull themselves out of their delirium as she called out, “Several Grandmasters, do you now believe this Junior’s words?”
Du Wan glanced over at him and nodded with a forced smile, “Seeing is really believing.”
The five Grandmasters all came back to their senses upon hearing these words, with Chang Bao frowning deeply as he asked in confusion, “But I still can’t figure out how she managed to refine this pill without Flame or Yang Attribute True Qi… Even without mentioning her not using a pill furnace, her True Qi shouldn’t even be suited to Alchemy.”
“I’m also can’t understand. Could it be that one actually doesn’t need burning hot True Qi to perform Alchemy?” He Feng also kept shaking his head. Although watching Xia Ning Chang perform Alchemy even once had brought him a huge harvest, it had simultaneously subverted almost everything he knew about Alchemy, leading him to doubt even his most fundamental knowledge.
Kong Ruo Yu wore a pensive look upon her face and only after a long time did she venture a guess, “Have you ever heard about a special constitution that was born specifically for Alchemy?”
“A special constitution?” Du Wan gasped as he suddenly recalled something, “Do you mean…”
“The Sacred Spirit Medicine Body?” Hong Fang called out in alarm.
“En, the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body!” Kong Ruo Yu eyes lit up as she gazed towards Xia Ning Chang, “This little girl might just possess the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body.”
“If that’s the case, then it can explain why she can perform Alchemy without a pill furnace or burning True Qi,” Du Wan nodded.
As top-level Alchemist, the five Grandmasters had naturally heard about the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body and upon comparing what they knew about this special constitution with Xia Ning Chang’s performance, they grew even more certain about their speculation.
“Little brat, does this Senior Sister of yours have a special constitution?” Chang Bao called out to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai smiled and nodded.
“No wonder! It turns out she possesses the legendary constitution.”
The eyes of the Grandmasters shone even brighter as they now stared at Xia Ning Chang as if they were staring at the greatest treasure of Alchemy, fascination and worship filling their faces.
“You Senior Sister and Junior Brother pair really know how to attack people;” Du Wan smiled bitterly, “This old master now constantly doubts his own competency in Alchemy.”
“En, I also suspect that I’ve been living in vain all these years,” He Feng also wore a depressed look and sighed.
“But if you compare them, this kid really isn’t as fierce as this little girl,” Hong Fang laughed, “Simply judging them based on time spent to refine Saint Pills, it’s clearly this little girl’s win.”
Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders, “What can I say, Senior Sister’s accomplishments in Alchemy have always been better than mine.”
“No, Junior Brother seems to only have been studying Alchemy for a short time, the last time we met he wasn’t even able to refine pills,” Xia Ning Chang quickly waved.
“Alright, you don’t need to go praising each other, let’s continue with the refinements; after all, we need to finish thirty pills today,” Chang Bao couldn’t wait to witness the previous magical scene again and quickly urged.
“En, but let’s say this first, after suffering a blow from you two, we old fogies won’t be refining any pills together so we don’t waste herbs,” He Feng added.
“Good, today’s thirty pills will be handed over to me and Little Senior Sister,” Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang glanced at each other and smiled before no longer saying anything and immersing themselves in Alchemy.
Time flew by.
The five Grandmasters had all gathered around Xia Ning Chang, focusing their eyes on every detail of her movements, completely throwing Yang Kai to the wayside.
They had already observed Yang Kai Alchemy for quite some time so now that there was Xia Ning Chang here, naturally, they weren’t willing to miss witnessing her methods.
Yang Kai was happy to see this, while Xia Ning Chang was even more excited than him.
Before now, she didn’t have access to many Saint Grade materials to practice with, but now that she was in Nine Heavens Holy Land, she didn’t have to worry about this issue anymore and could instead focus all her attention on her Alchemy.
On top of that, with her Sacred Spirit Medicine Body’s special constitution, performing Alchemy was the fastest method Little Senior Sister possessed to improve her strength.
Xia Ning Chang herself had once said that to her, Alchemy was cultivation, so while to others, refining pills was an exhausting task, it actually had the opposite effect on her.
After bustling about all day, when evening rolled around, and the thirty pills had finally all been refined, Yang Kai felt quite tired, but Xia Ning Chang was still bursting with energy, even looking somewhat regretful that they were already finished.
Xu Hui came soon after, accepted the thirty pills, and delivered them to the Holy Land’s customers who were waiting outside the nine peaks.
These cultivators instantly began praising the Holy Land’s Grandmaster. After ten days of rest, this mysterious Grandmaster had greatly increased the number of pills he refined in a single day.
This made those who were waiting in line for pills extremely happy.
The more pills the Holy Land’s Grandmaster refined per day, the shorter the time they would need to wait for their turn.
At this moment, Yang Kai, Xia Ning Chang, and the five Grandmasters had all returned to their individual rooms and were engaged in meditation and introspection.
On the second day, they repeated the process.
It was not until three days later that the five Grandmasters started performing Alchemy again, putting into practice their recent insights.
Inside the pill room, pill fragrance filled the air as Spirit Grade and Saint Grade pills emerged one after another.
Time flew by and soon a month had passed. The Holy Land disciples sent out by Xu Hui to inquire about recent events had returned and after listening to their reports, the Great Elder also vaguely realized that the world seemed to have undergone a subtle change and immediately rushed to the Holy Master Court to see Yang Kai.
Yang Kai had been long anticipating this report so he did not even go to the pill room today.
Inside the main hall, Xu Hui wore a solemn expression and said, “Holy Master, the disciple sent out travelled around for a month, taking note of various events they encountered along the road and found a very strange phenomenon.”
“What?”
“Throughout the entire world, many entrances to different Mysterious Small Worlds had appeared!”
Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed as his expression tightened.
After seeing the Holy Tomb, the door to the Starry Sky, and the entrance to the Mysterious Small World which appeared two thousand kilometers away from the nine peaks all open on their own, Yang Kai had a bad premonition so ordered Xu Hui to send out disciples to explore the situation.
The results of this investigation were basically the in line with his assumptions, only deepening his unease.
Xu Hui continued, “The disciples’ investigations found that the entrances to these Mysterious Small Worlds seemed to all opened on their own, and at the exact same time. Currently, all the world’s cultivators are caught up in a fever of Mysterious Small World treasure hunting, with countless people rushing in and out of different Mysterious Small Worlds. The disciples reported that most of these Mysterious Small Worlds were empty, without any signs of even the most basic life, only occasionally did one of them contain some Ancient Ruins and treasures.”
“Were they able to determine exactly when these entrances opened?”
Xu Hui nodded, “It seems to have occurred a month and a half ago.”
One and a half months ago… Hearing this, Yang Kai’s suspicions were all but confirmed as that was exactly around the time when he rescued Meng Wu Ya and Xia Ning Chang.
[Was that strange space and Great Demon God’s Soul Clone really related somehow to these Mysterious Small Worlds suddenly opening up?]
Great Demon God had said that those eight stone pillars were the keystone to the entire world and if it was destroyed, there would be unimaginable consequences.
Was the current situation related to these words?
Was it because the keystone of Tong Xuan Realm was destroyed that all the hidden Mysterious Small Worlds around the world reappeared? However, if that was the case, it wasn’t exactly a bad thing, so why did Great Demon God’s Soul Clone issue such a dire warning?
From the tone of his speech at the time, it was like a catastrophe would occur once the stone pillars were destroyed, causing Yang Kai a great deal of concern.
Seeing Yang Kai’s fluctuating expression, Xu Hui did not dare to speak and simply stood by and waited for further instructions.
After a long silence, Great Elder tentatively asked, “Holy Master, do you want to send out teams from the Holy Land to explore these Mysterious Small Worlds? Perhaps there will be some unexpected gains. Recently, all the disciples have been spending their time in secluded cultivation so going out and moving about will do them some good.”
Yang Kai raised his head and hesitated for only a moment before suddenly nodding, “Good, allow the Holy Land’s disciples to go out and explore these Mysterious Small Worlds, but let them pay attention to one thing in particular.”
“Holy Master, please advise us!”
“If they come across or hear about a Mysterious Small World that contains places called ‘Central Capital’, ‘Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land’, or ‘Tian Lang Dynasty’, they must report back to the Holy Land immediately!”
“Yes!” Xu Hui didn’t ask what these names meant but from the look on Yang Kai’s face along he could tell that they were definitely important to him.
“In addition, send a message to Wu Jie. Tell him I have something to ask of him!” Yang Kai also said.
Great Elder nodded and respectfully retired.
Sitting on a chair in the main hall, Yang Kai heart raced.
Although this incident was quite unexpected, it may also provide him with an opportunity to return to the Central Capital.
Yang Kai had always been concerned about his friends and relatives back in the Central Capital, but he had so far not been able to find his way back there. When he first came to Tong Xuan Realm, he had been a wanderer with low strength, but now he had settled down and was the master of a giant force; naturally, he wanted to bring his loved ones here so that they could enjoy a better cultivation environment.
The entrances to all the Mysterious Small World which had been hidden throughout the world had opened by themselves, so one of them definitely lead to the world he was seeking.
Because, strictly speaking, the world Yang Kai originated from was a Mysterious Small World.
But unlike other Mysterious Small Worlds, the world containing the Central Capital was much bigger.
If a Saint Realm powerhouse with malicious intentions found their way to the Central Capital, the Eight Great Families would be unable to put up any resistance.
As such, he had to find his way home as soon as possible lest someone beat him there and cause harm to his friends or family.
An hour later, Wu Jie arrived.
Yang Kai asked him to let the disciples of Netherworld Sect seek out any news about the Central Capital. Wu Jie immediately agreed and left to make arrangements.
Since aligning himself with Yang Kai, Wu Jie’s Netherworld Sect had experienced great growth, so he would not refuse Yang Kai’s request.
After doing this, Yang Kai said a few words to Xia Ning Chang before summoning the Flying Heavens Shuttle and flying off alone in a blue streak of light.
One day later, Yang Kai appeared in Soaring Heaven Sect.
Atop Serene Resplendent Peak, he found Fei Yu and asked her to use the power of Soaring Heaven Sect to help him pay attention to any new as well.
Without delay, Yang Kai left again.
Two days later, inside Dragon Phoenix Palace.
Inside the Dragon Pavilion, Sun Yu, the Dragon Emperor, sat cross-legged and cultivated the most precious Martial Skills and Secret Arts available in Dragon Phoenix Palace.
Since Sun Yu successfully entered the Dragon Valley a few years ago and obtained the Dragon Emperor’s inheritance, he became the most eye-catching existence in the entire Dragon Phoenix Palace.
Palace Master Chen Zhou and all the Elders also regarded him as the greatest hope for revitalizing their Sect, providing him with the best possible environment and cultivation resources.
It had been a year and a half since he safely emerged from Dragon Valley and during this time, Sun Yu had made some progress in his cultivation, but not enough to satisfy himself.
When Sun Yu entered Dragon Valley in the past, he spent just two years to grow from the True Element Boundary Seventh Stage to the Immortal Ascension Boundary Seventh Stage, crossing an entire Great Realm.
But now, after a year and a half in the outside world, he had only managed to cultivate to the Peak Immortal Ascension Boundary. A somewhat slow and disappointing rate of progress.
However, because of his identity as Dragon Emperor, the Palace Master and Elders did not say anything and simply waited patiently for the day he would one day soar.
Only Sun Yu knew the truth though, he was not the real Dragon Emperor.
The reason his strength increased so rapidly those two years inside Dragon Valley was all thanks to that Senior’s guidance. After that Senior left though, during this past year and a half, Sun Yu’s diligent cultivation was only able to guarantee that his strength grew faster than ordinary people.
However, even this rate of growth certainly left Palace Master Chen and the other Elders somewhat disappointed.
On top of that, Palace Master Chen had been constantly trying to help him choose a Phoenix Empress, forcing Sun Yu to constantly declare he needed to enter secluded retreat in order to avoid the issue.
Thanks to Sun Yu entering seclusion, the search for a Phoenix Empress finally came to an impasse.
While sitting in meditation, Sun Yu’s heart suddenly clenched as he felt as if someone was staring at him and the aura surrounding his room change subtly.
His eyes shooting open, Sun Yu shouted, “Who goes there?”
Standing right in front of Sun Yu was a young man who was staring at him with a friendly smile as he applauded, “Your senses have become quite sharp. It seems your growth has not been small.”
Hearing the voice of this person and then looking at his appearance, Sun Yu was overjoyed, quickly got up, and shouted, “Senior Yang?”
Yang Kai gently nodded.
“How did you come here? When did you arrive?” Sun Yu asked excitedly as he rushed over to Yang Kai.
“I just got here,” Yang Kai replied casually, “Speak softly; there are two Transcendents outside guarding this place.”
“En,” Sun Yu glanced outside and couldn’t help but shrink his neck, lowering his voice before retrieving a nearby chair, “Senior Yang, please have a seat.”
After waiting for Yang Kai to sit down, Sun Yu respectfully poured him a glass of water and then stood straight nearby, a big smile upon his face, as if he was welcoming his closest family member.
Sweeping Sun Yu with his Divine Sense, Yang Kai gently nodded, “Your cultivation has progressed well; you’ve been practising hard.”
Sun Yu wore a bitter expression and shook his head, “Senior Yang, please don’t make fun of me; although this kind of progress may be better than an average person, compared to the expectations of Palace Master Chen and Master, it’s actually quite disappointing. Even I’m not satisfied with myself.”
“There’s no need to rush, growing steadily is always for the best.”
“Senior Yang, when can you explain everything to Palace Master? the pressure I’ve been under all this time has been quite difficult to bear,” Sun Yu asked helplessly.
“I understand how you feel,” Yang Kai replied, “But now is not the time.”
In the beginning, after transforming from an ordinary disciple to the hope of the entire Sect, Sun Yu quite enjoyed the attention and praise, but after truly coming to understand the burden that had been placed on his shoulder, he began to realize just how difficult being in such a position was.
Enormous pressure and expectations were now part of everyday life for him.
“Wait a little longer,” Yang Kai comforted. He was planning on waiting to first reunite with Su Yan and bring her here to accept the Phoenix Empress’ inheritance from the Phoenix Nest before revealing the truth to Dragon Phoenix Palace. With the Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress appearing before them, presumably, they would happily accept.
“Then did Senior Yang come here this time because he needs something from me?”
“En, I do have something I’d like your help with,” Yang Kai’s expression became serious as he made the same request to Sun Yu as he did to Wu Jie and Fei Yu.
Sun Yu naturally did not decline.
Half a day later, many elites from Dragon Phoenix Palace were dispatched in all directions under the command of Palace Master Chen Zhou.
Yang Kai said goodbye to Sun Yu and left Dragon Phoenix Palace, standing atop the Flying Heavens Shuttle as he released his Divine Sense into his surroundings, observing the area all around him as he flew forward.
He had used all of his personal relationships in order to seek out news about Central Capital as soon as possible.
Originally, he also planned on paying a visit to Water Spirit Temple as well, but after thinking about it, Shui Ling knew about his origins so if Water Spirit Temple really found a Void Corridor leading to his previous world, Shui Ling would definitely send word to Nine Heavens Holy Land about it.
As he rapidly flew through the sky, Yang Kai constantly scanned the ground below and as soon as he noticed any trace of Void Energy fluctuations nearby, he would immediately investigate. If it turned out to be the entrance to a Mysterious Small World, he would directly enter it in order to check if it led home.
Unfortunately, each time Yang Kai was met with disappointment, causing him to feel a sense of anxiety and impatience.
The Central Capital’s Eight Great Families were second to none in his old world, but compared to the forces of Tong Xuan Realm, they weren’t even worth mentioning. If they were discovered by some powerful force from this world, things would turn bad very quickly.
One day, two months later, Yang Kai returned back.
After returning to the Holy Master Court, he immediately summoned Xu Hui to ask if any of the disciples had found anything during this time, but the answer he received was no.
Yang Kai was inevitably disappointed.
Two months ago, he had used all his interpersonal relationships to move several forces to search for news about the Central Capital while also deploying a large amount of manpower from Nine Heavens Holy Land as well, but they still hadn’t found leads yet.
For the past two months, Yang Kai had been flying about searching for entrances to Mysterious Small Worlds.
In total, he had investigated thirty-two Mysterious Small Worlds but none of them had led to the Central Capital.
The speed of the Flying Heavens Shuttle was a big help at this time, allowing Yang Kai to cover almost half of the Human Territory.
Every three days he would return to the Holy Land to avoid missing any useful information.
But so far there had been nothing at all.
Xu Hui drew back and a moment later, a fragrant wind brushed past Yang Kai’s face. Looking up, he saw Xia Ning Chang’s veiled face and graceful figure standing in front of him. Seemingly sensing the anxiety in Yang Kai’s heart, her beautiful eyes flashed a deep sense of concern.
Yang Kai reached out and pulled his Little Senior Sister into his arms, sitting her down on his lap as he asked, “Did you finish Alchemy for today?”
“En,” Xia Ning Chang nodded lightly, “Thanks to all the Mysterious Small Worlds appearing recently, fewer and fewer people have been coming to request Alchemy services, so each day there aren’t many pills to be refined.”
Because of the sudden emergence of so many Mysterious Small Worlds, most cultivators were currently busy treasure hunting, leaving the nine peaks to seek for opportunities, leading to a sharp decline in the number of people standing around waiting in line outside the Holy Land.
This development inadvertently freed up Xia Ning Chang and the five Grandmasters.
The Senior Sister and Junior Brother pair held each other close, gently inhaling each other’s scent, calming their hearts.
“Junior Brother, are you looking for a way back to the Central Capital?” Xia Ning Chang suddenly asked.
“Did you ask Great Elder?” Yang Kai asked in surprise.
Xia Ning Chang shook her head, “I can see it myself. Strictly speaking, our previous world was a Mysterious Small World, before we couldn’t find a Void Corridor leading back, but now that entrances have opened up all by themselves, it shouldn’t be long before one that leads home is discovered. Because there hasn’t been any news yet though, Junior Brother is certainly feeling quite anxious and have been spending most of your time outside.”
“En, I keep searching but unfortunately nothing has been found yet.”
“There will always be clues, Junior Brother doesn’t need to worry so much,” Xia Ning Chang softly comforted as she took the initiative to tightly hold Yang Kai’s hand and say, “At such a critical time, I wonder where Master has gone. If he was here, there would be someone else who we can discuss this matter with.”
“Treasurer Meng… he probably has something important to take care of,” Yang Kai was also not clear where Treasure Meng had disappeared.
But since he decided to leave Nine Heavens Holy Land almost immediately after arriving, even entrusting Xia Ning Chang to Yang Kai’s care, he definitely had something critical to deal with.
Yang Kai even wondered if he had really gone to the Demon Land.
After all, he had suffered a huge loss at the hands of the current Demon Commander, now that he had restored his strength, going to find trouble with the Demon Commander wouldn’t be impossible.
If that really was the case though, Treasurer Meng’s situation really might be worrying.
*Deng deng deng deng…* A flurry of footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.
Like a frightened rabbit, Xia Ning Chang leapt out of Yang Kai’s arms, her face blushing bright red as she stood awkwardly nearby.
When no one was around, she could behave intimately towards Yang Kai, but in front of outsiders, she couldn’t bring herself to act so improperly.
The person who came in was Xu Hui, a somewhat flurried expression on his face.
Yang Kai turned a curious gaze towards him and asked, “What’s the matter, Great Elder?”
Xu Hui had just reported to Yang Kai about the information the disciples had collected over the past few days, yet now, after having only left for a short time, he had actually rushed back here. Obviously, he had something important to say.
“Holy Master, there are two women outside who asked to see you directly,” Xu Hui glanced over at Xia Ning Chang cautiously and lightly coughed as he reported.
“Women?” Yang Kai frowned, “What kind of women?”
“Em… they’re quite young and beautiful,” Xu Hui didn’t beat around the bush and spoke frankly, clearly thinking that these two women had some kind of emotional debt with Yang Kai and had now come looking for him to collect.
Xia Ning Chang also thought so and couldn’t help giggling lightly, shooting a light glance towards Yang Kai as she softly whispered, “Junior Brother, I’ll return to my room first.”
Yang Kai’s mouth twitched as he hurriedly declared, “I don’t know any beautiful young women from the outside… Wait, is it Yun Xuan and Ruan Xin Yu from Bold Independent Union, the two who came to the Holy Land a while ago? Great Elder also met them at that time.”
“It’s not them,” Xu Hui shook his head, his eyes flashing for a moment, seemingly remembering something, “Right, the two girls who have come this time should be twins, their appearances are basically identical but their temperaments are slightly different, one of them charming while the other is lively
… En, they’re a rare pair.”
His look clearly showed he was thinking that Yang Kai was lucky in love, basically having determined that the two who had come had some kind of intimate relationship with Yang Kai.
However, hearing Xu Hui’s words, Yang Kai’s expression changed greatly as his eyes lit up, jumping to his feet as he shouted, “Twins? Did you say twins?”
“Ah… en,” Xu Hui didn’t know why Yang Kai reacted so strongly, giving him a strange look as he continued, “And according to this old master’s observations, those two girls should be cultivating a very Secret Art, one that connects their two life auras together, even their individual energy fluctuations are exactly the same. Both of their cultivations seem to be only at the First Order Transcendent Realm, but when they stand together their innate auras are difficult to ignore. It’s really quite strange, even if they are twins, there should be differences in their life auras and True Qi fluctuations.”
Yang Kai’s expression gradually brightened and became radiant while Xia Ning Chang had also covered her small mouth with her delicate hands, a look of shock and joy flashing across her beautiful eyes.
The Senior Sister and Junior Brother pair exchanged a glance, both of them having thought of a certain possibility.
“Where are those two now?” Yang Kai asked quickly, at the same time spreading out his Divine Sense.
“They are waiting just outside the nine peaks.”
“Take me to see them!”
“I’m also coming!” Xia Ning Chang hurriedly declared.
“Eh…” Xu Hui was struck speechless again, freezing in place, secretly feeling anxious for Yang Kai, wondering if this Senior Sister of the Holy Master was tagging along to make things difficult for the two young women outside.
However, from what Xu hui had seen of her, Xia Ning Chang didn’t seem like such a person.
“What are gawking at?” Yang Kai shouted before flying out together with Xia Ning Chang.
Xu Hui quickly collected himself while silently deciding to flee at the first signs of trouble between these three women, leaving the Holy Master to deal with the resulting headache.
Being loved by beautiful women is not exactly all good.
As a seasoned person, Xu Hui naturally knew how terrifying women could become once sparks began to fly.
Outside the nine peaks, the two young women with graceful figures stood quietly, both of them great beauties with full peaks and slim waists, but despite their similar looks, their temperaments were very different, the one on the left exuded charm while the one on the right seemed more playful. The two of them standing there together was quite an eye-catching sight.
Many of the Holy Land’s disciples who were stationed here as guards were frequently sneaking glances towards these two.
None of them dared stare too long though, only taking a quick peek every now and then when it seemed like they wouldn’t be noticed, satisfying their hearts desires before turning away again.
“Elder Sister, these people are really annoying, they won’t stop peeking at us,” The young woman on the right bit her lip and whispered to her sister to the left.
“Just ignore them,” The young woman on the left shook her head and smiled softly, “How many people have already taken a look at us? In any case, we don’t lose anything from their stares. Men are all like this, and there are plenty who are even more annoying than this lot.”
“But that person is different…”
“That person…” The Elder Sister’s facial expression suddenly became serious as she revealed a reminiscent look, “That person left more than ten years ago and we haven’t heard a single word from him since, we don’t even know if the one we came to find here is really him.”
“I think he is!”
The Elder Sister glanced over at her little sister and smiled mirthlessly, “Although I also hope that’s the case, I’m afraid that it’s unlikely. According to others, the Holy Master of the Nine Heavens Holy Land is a Third Order Transcendent. We sister obtained a profound inheritance allowing us to posses our current cultivation but even if he is fiercer than us, it still seems impossible that his strength could so greatly exceed our own; after all, our cultivation rate is nearly twice as fast as that of ordinary people.”
“Elder Sister, have you forgotten all the miracles that he created in the Central Capital and War City that year? There shouldn’t be anything impossible for him.”
“I hope so, but if it really is him, how was he able to become the master of this place after just ten years? This force is in a completely different league compared to the Eight Great Families,” The Elder Sister sighed, though she was desperately clinging to hope, her rational mind was telling her it was hopeless.
“I wonder what the Sect’s situation is over there…” The younger sister said worriedly.
“No matter what is happening over on that side, there’s no way we can return right now. Our only hope is to find him quickly and let him find a solution… En, some people are coming,” As she was speaking, the Elder Sister looked up towards the distance and saw three figures quickly flying over.
The speed of these three was extremely fast and even with her cultivation, she was only able to see a blurry afterimage.
When the three arrived in front of them, the two sisters’ eyes lit up as they stared forward in a state of disbelief while feeling like a great burden had finally been lifted from their shoulders.
“Disciple greets Holy Master, greets Great Elder!” The Holy Land disciples guarding the place bowed respectfully. Great Elder waved his hand and didn’t speak, simply standing behind Yang Kai and watching.
He found that when Yang Kai saw these two girls, he wore a big smile, and although he remained silent, his happiness was obvious as if he had just reunited with long-separated friends.
“It really is you!” Xia Ning Chang exclaimed.
“Yang Kai!” The two sisters seemed to be extremely excited, both of them shouting in unison and then, under the dumbstruck gaze of Great Elder, leapt forward and hugged Yang Kai.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if their thoughts were linked!
Surrounded by beautiful women, his arms and chest experiencing an amazingly soft yet elastic sensation, Yang Kai could only stand there, obviously overcome with shock.
Too warm!
After ten years of separation, this pair of sisters had become so warm that they had taken the initiative to embrace him, causing Yang Kai to feel somewhat overwhelmed.
Xia Ning Chang meanwhile just stood nearby and giggled, not showing the slightest bit of unpleasantness.
Great Elder turned his eyes towards the sky as if he was admiring the vastness and mystery of the Heavens.
Outside the nine peaks, Yang Kai was being hugged by two identical twin beauties while the veiled Little Senior Sister stood nearby and smiled.
The Holy Land disciples who were responsible for guarding this place all starred with looks of pure admiration on their faces, all of them thinking that their Holy Master was a real man with deep and profound methods, even capable of conquering these two beautiful sisters.
“Alright, haven’t you two had enough yet?” Yang Kai was on the verge of suffocating while the amazing softness he felt on his chest was making him feel awkward so he quickly pinched the two young women’s waists playfully to get them to release him.
The two sisters swiftly released Yang Kai and directed bitter stares towards him.
“What?” Yang Kai asked vigilantly, “You delivered yourselves on your own, it’s not like I was trying to take advantage of you.”
“After not seeing you for so many years, I see you’re still as good at annoying others as always,” The charming woman snorted, “All this time we’ve been thinking and worrying about your safety but it turns out you’ve become a big shot Holy Master here, it seems all our worries were in vain.”
“You were worried about me?” Yang Kai stared at her with a stunned look upon his face, “I’m honored.”
“That’s wrong… I didn’t… it was Mei’er who was always thinking of you,” The woman’s face turned bright red as she let fly a flurry of denials.
“Elder Sister was too.”
“Was not!”
“Good, you don’t want to start quarrelling as soon as you meet each time, let’s go inside to talk,” Xia Ning Chang also regained her composure and softly interjected.
Yang Kai grinned and beckoned to the two sisters, “Come with me, there’s no need for you to feel like an outsider here.”
“No thanks,” The Elder Sister snorted, pulling her little sister and Xia Ning Chang’s hands as she lead them into the nine peaks.
Yang Kai shook his head wryly as he stared at their backs, his face gradually becoming serious.
The two sisters were none other than the Blood Battle Gang’s famous Hu Sisters, Hu Jiao Er and Hu Mei Er.
Because Yang Kai had constantly been seeking for information about the Central Capital during this time, when he heard Great Elder report that a pair of twins had come to see him, he couldn’t help thinking about the Hu Sisters.
Then, as the Great Elder described them, Yang Kai all but confirmed his guess.
Back in the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave, Yang Kai and Su Yan obtained the ultimate inheritance, the one which belonged to Dragon Phoenix Palace.
The Hu Sisters also obtained a profound inheritance called the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art. After cultivating this Secret Art, the two sister’s auras and True Qi fluctuations had become exactly the same.
The Hu Sisters being here meant that the Central Capital and Tong Xuan Realm really had been connected, and perhaps something had happened to them.
“Holy Master… these two girls…” Xu Hui, who had been on the sidelines the whole time, hesitantly spoke, wanting to probe what the relationship between the twins and Yang Kai was but also feeling like he was acting too nosy.
“It’s not what you think!” Yang Kai shot him a glance.
“I understand,” Xu Hui nodded quickly.
Inside the nine peaks, the two sisters walked around and explored their surroundings, constantly exclaiming. Even in Tong Xuan Realm, Nine Heavens Holy Land was considered a top force, so the scenery and aura within the nine peaks were obviously incomparable to anything the Central Capital had.
Arriving here immediately broadened the two sister’s horizons, making them appear like two country girls who had never seen the big city before.
Back in the Holy Master Court, Xia Ning Chang helped the two sisters settle in while Yang Kai personally poured tea for them. An Ling’er also soon came bringing with her a tray of rare spirit fruits.
The Hu Sisters seemed to have not had a good rest for a very long time, the look of exhaustion on their pretty faces apparent to all and their True Qi auras showing signs of overdraft. Upon smelling the spirit fruits, the two of them gulped unconsciously.
Hu Jiao Er reached out and unceremoniously took two pieces of fruit, handing one to Hu Mei Er before biting into the one she kept.
Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang sat down next to each other and waited for the Hu Sisters to restore themselves.
After eating several spirit fruits in succession, the two seemed to recover some of their vigour and Yang Kai asked, “Judging from your travel worn looks, it seems you’ve been on the road for quite some time, yes?”
The Hu Sisters nodded together, “It’s been almost three months.”
Yang Kai took a soft breath, “It’s been hard for you.”
Both of them were First Order Transcendents, so three months of constant travel had no doubt been extremely draining, it was inevitable that they were exhausted.
“Yang Kai, you have to hurry back, there may be something happening on that side,” Hu Jiao Er suddenly frowned as she spoke anxiously.
“I know,” Yang Kai gently nodded.
“You know?” The Hu Sisters stared blankly at him.
“To be honest, some things have happened here in the recent period and I have been searching for a way back, it’s just that until now I haven’t been able to discover any clues so your arrival is really fortuitous. Tell me carefully about how you got here.”
The Hu Sisters exchanged a look before Hu Jiao Er began explaining, “Do you still not remember where the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave opened? That mine that belonged to my Hu Family.”
“Of course I remember,” Yang Kai nodded.
“It was three or four months ago when a strange phenomenon occurred in that place.”
After listening to Hu Jiao Er’s remarks, Yang Kai realized how the two sisters had come to Tong Xuan Realm and also why they trekked tens of thousands of kilometres to find Nine Heavens Holy Land.
Three or four months ago, in the place where the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave once opened, a dark hole suddenly appeared. After receiving notification about this event, the Hu Sisters went in to investigate.
Currently, in the Blood Battle Gang, and even throughout their entire world, the Hu Sisters’ strength ranked among the highest.
Because they had confidence in their own strength, the Hu Sisters weren’t afraid of any dangers and boldly entered the dark hole, planning on carefully exploring what lay on the other side.
After all, they had already experienced the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave and mistakenly thought that this dark hole was quite similar to the entrance which had appeared that time. Little did they know that the Void Corridor that appeared this time was actually a pathway leading to Tong Xuan Realm.
And so, the two of them accidentally arrived in Tong Xuan Realm.
The two sisters searched around for two days and soon discovered that they had come to a completely different place than they had expected. They also discovered many traces of cultivator activities and even noticed several masters they could not see through.
At that moment, they realized they had arrived in an entirely different world.
While preparing to return to Blood Battle Gang though, the sisters discovered to their horror that the entrance they had passed through was already surrounded by cultivators from a certain force.
Among the cultivators guarding the entrance, there were many powerful masters. All alone, the two sisters understood they could not approach this place easily and whenever they tried they were forced to retreat.
Under the circumstances, the two of them could only wait nearby hoping to find a chance to sneak through.
However, such an opportunity never arrived.
At that time, they remembered Yang Kai who had left the Central Capital ten years ago and with the mentality of using medicine to treat a dead horse, went around inquiring about him, hoping that perhaps he too was in this world and that if he was, he could help them return home.
Neither of them held out much hope but they still went around asking.
Throughout Tong Xuan Realm, Nine Heavens Holy Land’s reputation had reached an unparalleled height and Yang Kai as the master of the Holy Land was equally well known.
After inquiring for a while, the sisters found that the age and appearance of Nine Heavens Holy Land’s Holy Master were quite similar to the young man they knew so they immediately rushed over to Nine Heavens Holy Land.
The reason why the two sisters were so excited when they saw Yang Kai was that because he was the Yang Kai they knew. With all the tension and burden weighing down on them for the past few months finally lifted, they even momentarily lost their self-control and clung on to him.
“I didn’t expect that you really were the Holy Master of this place, but seeing how you are, things should be simple to resolve. Since you command the Holy Land, you must be able to communicate with that force to ensure they don’t harm Blood Battle Gang and the other people on that side, right?” Hu Jiao Er looked at Yang Kai eagerly, pinning all her hopes on him.
“Do you still remember the way back? Also, what was the name of the force that drove you away?”
“I don’t remember the way back…” Hu Jiao Er slowly shook her head, “This place is far too vast, but I heard from some cultivators back there that the force occupying the way back was called Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple.”
“Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple?” Yang Kai frowned, vaguely feeling like he had heard that name somewhere before.
“That place is not close,” An Ling’er, who had been sitting and listening the whole time, spoke up, “These two must have taken a roundabout path, otherwise they should have been able to reach the Holy Land within two months from that location.”
“Do you know about that force?” Yang Kai turned to look at her.
An Ling’er smiled, “Saintesses learn many things, naturally that includes the strength and location of the world’s important forces. Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple is a relatively powerful force with several Saint Realm masters, the most powerful one probably having reached the Second Order.”
“Basically on par with the Holy Land!”
“You could say that,” An Ling’er smiled and nodded, “However, in terms of reputation and prestige they are absolutely incomparable with the current Holy Land. Still, they shouldn’t be underestimated.”
Listening to her, the Hu Sisters’ faces became dignified.
In their eyes, this Nine Heavens Holy Land was quite tyrannical, but if it was only equal in strength with Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple, it was uncertain if they could rely on this place’s influence to resolve the other side’s crisis.
“Then we’ll have to see if they know their limits, if they’re willing to back down, naturally we won’t embarrass them, but if they aren’t…
“What then?”
“Just wait and see!” Yang Kai grinned, his eyes flashing a cold light, like a sharp blade.
The Hu Sisters’ beautiful eyes light up as they filled with expectation.
This man was just as domineering as he was in the past!
Anyone who dared look down on or act hostile towards him would pay a heavy price.
The hearts of the two sisters relaxed once again, feeling that as long as Yang Kai acted, they wouldn’t need to worry about their Sect at all.
Yang Kai immediately sent out a Divine Sense Message and a moment later, the sound of rushing wind filled the hall.
The Holy Land’s six Elders and the four Ancient Demon Clan leaders simultaneously appeared.
“Holy Master.”
“Master!”
All of them bowed as they stared towards Yang Kai seriously. They didn’t know why he had suddenly summoned all the high-level members of the Holy Land together, but they faintly smelled an unusual aura.
Feeling the tyranny strength of these ten people, the Hu Sisters suddenly found themselves having difficulty breathing.
Back in their old world, their strength was top-notch, and if they collaborated together, they were nearly invincible, but at this moment they were shocked to discover that even together they were not the match of any single person here.
At the same time as they felt shocked, they also felt excited seeing the strength Yang Kai commanded.
“Master, what matter have you convened all of us here for?” Inside the hall, Li Rong asked while taking a glance towards the Hu Sisters, her beautiful eyes flashing a curious light.
With her strength, she could see that although this pair of sisters weren’t very strong, but the Secret Art they cultivated was rather odd. Even if they were twins, they should still have differences in their life auras and True Qi fluctuations.
The Saint Realm masters all noticed this peculiar phenomenon and couldn’t help taking a second look at the Hu Sisters.
“I need to go out,” Yang Kai swept his eyes over the crowd and said casually, “Li Rong and Han Fei will accompany me.”
The two Great Commanders from the Ancient Demon Clan both immediately nodded.
“In addition, I need another Elder who is familiar with the road to act as a guide,” Yang Kai declared as he turned to face the Holy Land’s six Elders, “Who among you knows the way to Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple?”
“Subordinate knows the way,” Shi Kun stepped forward.
“Then Elder Shi Kun will also come with me, everyone else will remain in the Holy Land.”
“Holy Master, do you have some kind of dispute with Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple?” Xu Hui frowned and asked. Yang Kai’s expression was unusually solemn and his tone was cold, causing Xu Hui to realize something was wrong.
“There is no dispute between us as of yet, but there may be in the future, so I need to bring a few masters with me.”
“Then this subordinate will also…”
“Great Elder cannot,” Yang Kai interrupted him before he could finish, “There must always be someone to assume command in the Holy Land. Great Elder must remain here to handle the Sect’s matters.”
Xu Hui thought about it for a moment and agreed that what Yang Kai said made sense, so he no longer insisted.
“Little Senior Sister, you also remain here,” Yang Kai turned to Xia Ning Chang and said, “Treasurer Meng may come back soon.”
“En, I’ll stay here and continue with the Alchemy services while waiting for Master to return,” Xia Ning Chang nodded cleverly.
“We must go with you!” The Hu Sisters declared simultaneously.
Yang Kai looked at them and upon noticing the determined look on their faces nodded.
Hu Jiao Er and Hu Mei Er smiled in response.
“This matter must not be delayed. We leave immediately,” Yang Kai waved his hand and walked out.
Outside the Holy Master Court, Yang Kai gave some simple instructions to the Elders and Great Commanders before summoning the Flying Heavens Shuttle. After the group of six people boarded it, the shuttle transformed into a streak of blue light and shot off into the distance.
The Flying Heavens Shuttle was about ten meters in length and did not have a problem accommodating seven or eight people. On top of that, because of the protective barrier of the Flying Heavens Shuttle, even at extreme velocities those aboard wouldn’t feel the slightest bit of wind.
However, Yang Kai clearly felt that carrying so many people caused the amount of strength he needed to consume to operate the shuttle to increase dramatically.
Shi Kun stood at the forefront of the shuttle and gave directions while the other five sat behind him.
Along the way, Yang Kai gave a simple explanation to Li Rong and Han Fei about the Hu Sisters’ origins as well as the purpose of this trip to Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple, allowing them to understand why he was acting so urgently and prudently.
The land where Yang Kai grew up was naturally of great importance to him. Since the door to this Mysterious Small World was now open, Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple was free to enter that world and take advantage of the disparity in strength, wantonly oppressing and enslaving the cultivators on the other side.
These people were Yang Kai’s friends and relatives; how could he allow such a thing to happen?
As they flew forward, Shi Kun looked back every now and then, his brow furrowing slightly each time.
“Shi Kun, do you have something to say?” Yang Kai saw his hesitant appearance and couldn’t help asking.
Shi Kun smiled and replied, “It’s nothing important, I just thought the aura of these two girls is quite consistent.”
“Naturally, it’s because they have cultivated a very special Secret Art.”
“So it’s like that,” Shi Kun scratched his head, “If it weren’t for what Holy Master had said about their origins, I would have thought they were disciples of Twin Spirit Pavilion.”
“Twin Spirit Pavilion?” Yang Kai’s brow furrowed, vaguely recalling this force.
Back in Dragon Phoenix Palace, when Sun Yu had left Dragon Valley, his Master, Ling Jian, once said that they would take refuge in Twin Spirit Pavilion for a while, saying that Dragon Phoenix Palace and Twin Spirit Pavilion had always been on good terms.
“Senior, why would you think we came from Twin Spirit Pavilion?” Hu Jiao Er asked.
“Because in Twin Spirit Pavilion there are many twins like you,” Shi Kun smiled and explained, “That force is very special. The disciples they recruit are exclusively twins, so their Sect is not very large, but because of their special cultivation technique, each pair of twins, when fighting together, can fight opponents above their individual cultivation realms. When they cultivate their Secret Art to the extreme, even their life auras and Qi fluctuations gradually become similar to one another; however, it’s not to the extent of you two young ladies where there is essentially no difference at all. When I was young, I went out for life experience and met a pair of brothers from Twin Spirit Pavilion so I know a little something about their Sect. It was because of this that I thought you two were from there.”
“We’ve never heard of that Sect before,” Hu Jiao Er smiled and shook her head. The two sisters had only arrived in Tong Xuan Realm a few months ago and had been constantly travelling since then. Naturally, they didn’t know much about this world and its various forces.
Yang Kai’s eyes lit up as he thought about something, asking a moment later, “Elder Shi Kun, did Twin Spirit Pavilion used to be very powerful?”
“They’re not too formidable. Although they have a Saint Realm master assuming command, their overall strength is not very high… Oh, yes, those two brothers I once met said that many, many years ago, Twin Spirit Pavilion was a top force, but for some reason, their core inheritance was lost and they slowly declined as a result. As for whether those words are true or not, I do not know.”
“Their inheritance was lost?” Hu Jiao Er exclaimed, her beautiful eyes shining a profound light, apparently also thinking of something.
Yang Kai also had basically determined that the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art the Hu Sisters were cultivating originated from Twin Spirit Pavilion.
Their situation was quite similar to that of Su Yan and his own, having obtained an ancient inheritance.
This would also explain why Dragon Phoenix Palace and Twin Spirit Pavilion had always had a close relationship. The two Sects were once top forces in Tong Xuan Realm that had close ties, but at a certain point, they both lost their core inheritances. Naturally, they felt a sense of camaraderie.
“If there’s a chance, we’ll have to visit this Twin Spirit Pavilion,” Hu Jiao Er whispered, obviously curious about this force.
“When we’ve finished dealing with that side’s matters, I’ll bring you there,” Yang Kai said.
“En,” Hu Jiao Er nodded before suddenly leaning over and whispering into Yang Kai’s ear, “Right, Yang Kai, these people you’ve brought with you, what is their cultivation realms? Why can I not see their depths at all.”
“The Saint Realm.”
“Saint Realm?” The Hu Sisters stared at him blankly.
“Above the Transcendent Realm, is the Saint Realm,” Li Rong explained with a smile, “You two are now First Order Transcendents, en, it also seems you’re not far away from the Second Order. From there the next step is the Third Order, and upwards from there is the Saint Realm. It looks like the world in which Master was born there are no Saint Realm masters.”
“Forget about Saints, until recently we didn’t even know the proper name of the Transcendent Realm. Ten years ago it was only known as the Above Immortal Ascension Boundary,” Yang Kai said with some slight embarrassment.
“What is above the Saint Realm?” Hu Mei Er asked, her bright, beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.
“Above the Saint Realm?” Li Rong and Yang Kai glanced at each other and shook their heads slowly, Li Rong smiling as she said, “We don’t know, no one has ever exceeded the Saint Realm.”
The Hu Sisters both fell silent.
It seemed that learning about the existence of Saint Realm had given them quite a shock, so they needed some time to slowly digest this information while trying to adjust their world view.
Back in their previous world, when the two of them joined forces, they were nearly invincible, but after coming here, they were shocked to discover that there were many masters they could not match.
This change in perspective, going from strong to weak, had a huge impact on their perception.
They had to carefully re-examine themselves from the perspective of the Tong Xuan Realm.
For most of the journey, everyone remained silent with the exception for Yang Kai asking Shi Kun about Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple’s details.
Two days later, the Flying Heavens Shuttle came to a stop and Yang Kai spread out his Divine Sense to carefully examining their surroundings.
Hu Jiao Er called out a moment later, “I remember that town down below. Mei’er and I arrived here two days after we first set out.”
“What direction did you walk from?” Yang Kai asked.
Hu Jiao Er looked around carefully before pointing a certain direction, “That way!”
The blue light flashed again.
After an incense stick worth of time, Yang Kai saw a Void Corridor entrance floating a few meters off the ground up ahead. Around the Void Corridor, there were many cultivators waiting and watching the entrance while guarding their surroundings. Once anyone got close, these guards would immediately expel them.
“It’s here,” Hu Mei Er bit her red lips and shouted, “Elder Sister and I came from here.”
Yang Kai gently nodded and landed the Flying Heavens Shuttle, allowing the group of six to disembark before they walked the rest of the ways.
“Master, there are five Saint Realm masters guarding this place, but all of them are only at the First Order, so there is nothing to worry about,” Li Rong spread out her Divine Sense and instantly determined the number and realm of the masters present.
“It looks like it’s not just Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple here,” Shi Kun said thoughtfully, “They should have brought in some helpers. I see at least three different forces here.”
Yang Kai nodded, “That side is a big piece of meat, no single force would be able to eat it all.”
“What do we do?” Li Rong inquired quietly.
“First use courtesy then use force!” Yang Kai quickly said.
The group of six’s arrival obviously attracted the attention of the cultivators guarding the entrance, all of them turning their gazes towards these newcomers.
Among the cultivators scattered around, five people narrowed their eyes and secretly began condensing their strength, preparing to strike at a moment’s notice.
One of them hesitated a moment before slowly walking out and blocking the way, raising his hand and shouting, “Stop, this Mysterious Small World was discovered by my Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple. Please look elsewhere.”
Because the entrances to all the world’s Mysterious Small Worlds had opened, basically every force and every cultivator had been out searching for them, hoping they got lucky.
Quite often, the Sects that first discovered such a Void Corridor would send disciples to guard the entrance and prevent outsiders from approaching.
Powerful forces naturally wanted to obtain all the benefits inside the Mysterious Small World’s they discovered and Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple had such ability.
The entrance the Hu Sisters had come through was not far from Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple, so naturally the latter was the first to lay claim to it. As for the small families and Sects nearby, they could only enviously eye this Void Corridor as none of them dared infringe upon Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple.
Facing the shouting of the Saint Realm cultivator, Yang Kai and others paused. Before determining what the situation was on the other side, Yang Kai did not intend to stir up trouble.
The Saint Realm cultivator slightly nodded, seemingly quite satisfied by their response, crossing his arms as he called out, “Please withdraw, this is my Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple’s territory, if you wish to enter Mysterious Small Worlds to seek for opportunities, I suggest you search elsewhere. I apologize for the inconvenience but that is how it is.”
As he spoke, he paid special attention to use polite language, apparently aware of the great strength Li Rong and the others possessed thus treating them with respect. If not for this, he would have simply shooed them away.
Shi Kun stepped forward and cupped his fists politely, “How may I address this friend?”
Sizing up Shi Kun, the Saint Realm masters frowned and replied somewhat unwillingly, “Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple’s Yu Chun.”
Shi Kun wore a smile and let out a laugh, “So it is Brother Yu, my sincerest greetings.”
Yu Chun gently nodded and asked, “Who are you, why have you come to my Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple’s territory?”
“This one is Nine Heavens Holy Land’s Shi Kun!”
“Nine Heavens Holy Land!?” A burst of exclamations rose from the nearby cultivators, all of them turning their attention towards here as Yu Chun carefully scrutinized Shi Kun once again, trying to determine if he was lying.
Nine Heavens Holy Land’s current reputation was world-shaking so it was difficult for all of them to not care.
When the old Holy Master passed away, a new one soon succeeded him; however, this new Holy Master was little more than a brat who colluded with Demons but before he could be put in his place, a profound Alchemy Grandmaster suddenly emerged from the Holy Land…
All kinds of rumours swirled about raising the Holy Land’s fame to never before seen heights.
Yu Chun suddenly turned his eyes to Yang Kai and asked, “Could this be the new Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land?”
When he saw Shi Kun walking over, the latter had stood behind Yang Kai and his attitude was very respectful, so naturally Yu Chun had some suspicions.
“This is indeed our Holy Master,” Shi Kun nodded.
“So it is Holy Master Yang, no wonder you looked so familiar,” Yu Chun smiled strangely.
“Have we met somewhere?” Yang Kai knit his brow as he stared at him.
“Holy Master Yang is a lofty character so it is only natural you do not remember a minor person like me, but Holy Master Yang should at least remember my Sect’s Temple Master, Wu Zheng, yes?”
“Wu Zheng?” Yang Kai’s brow wrinkled even more, but after thinking about it for a time he suddenly remembered, “That Wu Zheng I saw outside the nine peaks at that time?”
More than a year ago, Yang Kai had brought the Ancient Demon Clan from the endless Snow Mountain Range to Nine Heavens Holy Land. This large group of Demons flying through the Human Territory had attracted a great many Human Race masters, all of whom had gathered together to tail Yang Kai and his group. It was outside the nine peaks that Yang Kai and Li Rong went to negotiate with this group of masters. At that time, there were three people who stepped forward to speak with Yang Kai, one was Chu Yi from Veiled Heaven Palace, another was Mist Lock Tower’s Fang Yue Bai, and the last one was Wu Zheng of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple.
These three were all Second-Order Saints.
Yang Kai still remembered that when Chu Yi and Fang Yue Bai heard the Ancient Demon Clan swear on Great Demon God’s name to not commit any atrocities, they had quickly left while only Wu Zheng looked unwilling.
Yang Kai naturally had some impression of him.
“Indeed,” Yu Chun nodded, “It seems that although Holy Master Yang is still young, his memory is quite good. I had thought Holy Master Yang would feign ignorance here, but it seems you do still remember my Sect’s Temple Master.”
Listening to him, Shi Kun’s face expression became gloomy.
He didn’t know what happened, but as soon as Yu Chun learned about Yang Kai’s identity, it seemed as though he was intentionally trying to provoke him.
“Of course I remember you,” Yang Kai smiled faintly, “Speaking of which, the Holy Land should thank your Temple Master for his care, even before my Holy Land’s Alchemy Grandmaster became famous we were indebted to your for promoting our reputation.”
“What is Holy Master Yang referring to?” Yu Chun complexion paled for an instant before he composed himself and shook his head, “I don’t understand.”
“Oh? I believe you’re quite clear about what I mean,” Yang Kai smiled coldly.
Some time ago, many cultivators had inexplicably been loitering just outside the Holy Land with the excuse of trying to find artifacts. Obviously someone had been pulling strings to make this happen.
Yang Kai had suspected that it was Wu Zheng who was plotting behind the scenes and seeing Yu Chun’s reaction just now, he immediately affirmed his guess.
However, for such a minor matter, Yang Kai was disinclined to further investigate.
Yu Chun seemed to sense there was no need to continue discussing this issue and immediately changed the subject, “Tell me, Holy Master Yang, why have you brought your Holy Land’s Elder to my Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple’s land? Also, if I am not mistaken, this woman should be a Demon, yes?”
“A Demon?” The cultivators guarding the entrance to the Void Corridor all paled as they turned their attention to Li Rong.
Yu Chun laughed loudly, “Holy Master Yang is quite courageous, daring to collude with evil Demons and even openly associating with them. Do you really look down on my Human Race so?”
As Yu Chun shouted indignantly, the other four Saints present also wore unfriendly expressions.
Humans and Demons could not co-exist, no matter whether they and Li Rong had any personal hatred between them; the simple fact that she was a Demon who appeared in Human Territory was enough for them to wish to condemn her to death.
Yang Kai’s expression became impatient as he declared, “I didn’t come here to embarrass you, I only wish to enter that entrance.”
“So just because you say you want to enter we must let you?” Yu Chun waved his hand dismissively, “Strong dragons don’t press local snakes, do not think my Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple fears your Nine Heavens Holy Land. Don’t you think you’re acting too arrogantly, Holy Master Yang?”
“Whether you fear me or not is none of my concern, I must enter that Void Corridor. If you dare to block my path, I’ll remove you by force,” Yang Kai coldly snorted, taking a big step forward towards the pitch-black entrance.
Yu Chun’s face also grew cold as he shot a glance to the other four Saints on his side. The five masters all stepped forward as we well, lining up in front of Yang Kai, pushing their strength as Yu Chun shouted, “Holy Master Yang, if you dare proceed any further, don’t blame us for…”
Halfway through his words though, Yu Chun’s expression contorted, as if a giant invisible hand was gripping his throat, causing him to be unable to speak. Shuddering in fear, cold sweat began dripping down his forehead.
As his eyes filled with panic, Yu Chun hesitantly glanced over at the nearby Demon Race woman.
Before she took action, Yu Chun only knew that this Demon woman was somewhat strong, but as soon as she began targeting him with her aura, Yu Chun discovered that against her, he was completely incapable of resisting.
Even if he joined hands with his four comrades, they wouldn’t even be capable of laying a finger on her.
This woman was no doubt a top-ranked Third Order Saint!
Realizing this, Yu Chun’s complexion went from blue to white.
Yang Kai continued stepping forward and just as he passed by Yu Chun, he glanced over and flatly said, “If I proceed further, you’ll what?”
Yu Chun couldn’t move or even speak, so how was he supposed to answer?
Hu Jiao Er laughed happily, a smile of satisfaction appearing on her face, quite enjoying the feeling of the fox taking advantage of the tiger. When she and Hu Mei Er wanted to return from here for a few months ago, they had been mercilessly expelled by these Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciples, making her feel quite indignant.
Seeing Yang Kai act so domineering like this now allowed her to dispel a fair bit of suppressed anger.
Powerful men always had a unique appeal to them, causing her eyes to flash subtly.
Not long after, Yang Kai’s group arrived in front of the Void Corridor, the cultivators gathered around barely having the composure to remain standing, much less oppose them.
At that moment though, Yang Kai’s brow furrowed as he stared towards the Void Corridor a few meters up in the air.
The Void Corridor entrance suddenly flashed a bright light and distorted slightly with a number of figures soon emerging from it.
The ones in the lead were disciples of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple, all of them quickly gathering around near the Void Corridor’s entrance, each of them wearing a delighted expression, seemingly in a very good mood.
A moment later, more people emerged from the entrance one after another.
However, this group of people was clearly distressed and dispirited, their strength obviously having been sealed.
After coming out of the Void Corridor, these prisoners didn’t even bother looking around, dim and helpless expressions on their face, as if they had lost all hope.
“Hurry up, what are just standing around for?” The Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciples who had come through first immediately began shouting and reprimanding them, reaching over and tossing their prisoners to the ground unceremoniously.
*Peng peng peng…*
One by one, these imprisoned cultivators hit the ground and let out screams of pain.
The Hu Sisters covered their mouths and shouted, “They’re Storm Hall’s disciples!”
Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed as his expression quickly became frigid.
“This bitch is quite nice, hahaha,” Another woman walked out from the Void Corridor, her stature petite but her curves quite luscious, drawing the attention of a Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciple who leered at her obscenely.
A young man who was following right after the young woman heard this and quickly stepped out in front of her, glaring back at the laughing Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciple.
“Du Yi Shuang, Fang Zi Ji!” Yang Kai shouted.
The young woman who came out first was actually Storm Hall’s Junior Sister Du.
Back inside the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave, Yang Kai and her had worked together for a time. Naturally, the one protecting her was the first disciple of Storm Hall, Fang Zi Ji.
After so many years, Fang Zi Ji had also reached the Peak Immortal Ascension Boundary; however, such cultivation was still not enough to contend with the disciples of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple, not to mention his strength was currently still sealed.
Fang Zi Ji’s attitude obviously annoyed the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciple, who quickly reached out and grabbed him before ruthlessly tossing Fang Zi Ji away, causing the latter to tumble several times before slamming into the ground.
“Barbarian disciples, don’t get too cocky!” The Free and Unfettered Spirit Temple disciple acted as if this was all just a trivial matter, turning around in the next instant and rushing over towards Yu Chun and respectfully cupping his fists, “Elder Yu, Religion Master order me to bring this group of prisoners back first and told me to let you arrange their placement. Religion Master said that although these people’s cultivation is poor, they will still make decent slave labourers for digging in the mines and carrying goods. On top of that, there are a lot of beautiful women who can be given to the more outstanding disciples as rewards.”
“Elder Yu?”
The Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciple made his report but soon discovered that Elder Yu wasn’t making responding, or for that matter moving at all, so he couldn’t help feeling something was off; when he looked up though, he saw Elder Yu sweating profusely, appearing quite distressed, causing the disciple to wonder what exactly had happened.
At the entrance of the Void Corridor, the Storm Hall disciples who had been imprisoned and brought through all had dim eyes, each of them feeling intense shame and disgrace.
At the same time, the disciple of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple stood in front of Yu Chun but found that this Elder showed no reaction at all, causing him quite a bit of confusion.
“Your Religion Master said all that?” Yang Kai narrowed his eyes and stared at this disciple.
“Who are you?” The disciple turned his eyes towards Yang Kai but failing to recognize him wrinkled his brow.
Yang Kai simply grinned, “Who I am doesn’t matter, I asked you, did your Religion Master order you to capture and bring back this group of people?”
“That’s right, is there something wrong with that? This group of barbarians is quite unruly, they even foolishly tried to resist, but after killing some of them they became obedient,” The disciple replied calmly. He saw Yang Kai standing here and simply assumed he was a guest of his Spirit Temple, so naturally he spoke a few words.
“Is that so,” Yang Kai nodded lightly, his eyes filling with sharp, cold light.
“Master…” Seemingly feeling his murderous intent, Li Rong’s expression also became icy as she asked for instructions.
“Kill them all!” Yang Kai shouted.
Li Rong and Han Fei nodded and without a word, pushed their Demonic Qi emerged and shrouded the entire surrounding in pitch black darkness.
Everyone suddenly felt the cold grip of death reach out and grasp them in that instant, their hearts tightening in their chest and nearly stopping all on their own.
There were no sounds of fighting and no one screamed in terror.
Ten breaths later, the darkness which seemed to obscure all light dissipated, returning everyone’s stolen vision but now, all the cultivators associated with Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple stood stiff, their vitality completely gone, each of them staring blankly into space, fear plastered all over their faces as if they had witnessed the most terrifying nightmare just before they died.
The five First Order Saints were far stronger than the rest and managed to survive, winding up being imprisoned by Li Rong.
When he came to his senses again, Yu Chun stared towards Yang Kai and grit his teeth, “You really…”
It seemed as if he had not realized how vicious Yang Kai was until this moment, refusing to exchange any words before decisively ordering all of their deaths.
*Kachacha…*
A cracking sound rang out as the five Saints, one by one, were frozen, instantly transforming into ice sculptures.
Han Fei waved her hand a moment later and the five life-like ice sculptures shattered into millions of tiny pieces that scattered in the wind.
The disciples of Storm Hall who had just come out of the Void Corridor were all terrified by this scene, each of them staring on with pale faces.
They fully understood the power of these cultivators who had captured them; but now, these seemingly irresistible enemies had actually been effortlessly slaughtered by this new group, as if they were mere ants.
How astonishing was the strength of these new people?
In their panic, they all unconsciously turned their gazes towards Yang Kai and his group.
Soon however, many of the Storm Hall disciples eyes flashed with amazement.
“It’s the Hu Family sisters!”
“Then are these people helpers they’ve found?”
“Hey, that young man in the lead, doesn’t he look familiar…”
“En, I also think he’s somewhat familiar, like I’ve seen him somewhere before…”
Whispers began spreading around the Storm Hall disciples as some of them vigorously bowed towards the Hu Sisters, thanking them earnestly while many others stared at Yang Kai suspiciously, some of them even recognizing his identity, causing great storms to rage in their heads and hearts.
Nearby, Du Yi Shuang supported Fang Zi Ji and slowly helped him up.
Yang Kai walked over to the pair with a smile on his face.
After finally seeing his appearance, Junior Sister Du couldn’t help covering her mouth and crying out in shock while Fang Zi Ji stood dumbstruck, his jaw falling slack as he stared straight at Yang Kai like he was seeing a ghost.
“Brother Fang, it’s been a long time,” Yang Kai came up to him and nodded, waving his hand lightly to unlock Fang Zi Ji’s sealed True Qi.
Fang Zi Ji didn’t say anything and simply stared back at Yang Kai for a moment before suddenly whispering, “Shuang’er, pinch me.”
“Why do you want me to pinch you?” Du Yi Shuang asked back in confusion.
“I want to know if I’m dreaming right now!”
Du Yi Shuang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Senior Brother, you’re not dreaming…”
“So what you mean to say is, the person standing in front of me is really Yang Kai?”
“Who else would I be?” Yang Kai happily quipped, his previous gloomy mood instantly being swept away as he let out a hearty laugh.
“Brother Yang, you’ve finally returned!” Fang Zi Ji couldn’t help revealing a relieved expression, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, reaching out and firmly grasping Yang Kai’s shoulders in the next instant as he hurriedly said, “You must return back to High Heaven Pavilion quickly! Our three Sects are even now being oppressed.”
Yang Kai nodded as he narrowed his eyes, “That’s exactly why I came. We can talk later, it’s not safe here, you’ll all have to come back with me.”
Fang Zi Ji nodded heavily as he clenched his teeth, “En, I truly must go back!”
Li Rong waved her hand and a gentle force spread out around her, unshackling all the Storm Hall disciples and allowing them to regain the use of their strength.
“Han Fei, you and Elder Shi Kun bring up the rear, Li Rong and I will go on ahead,” Yang Kai said before flying towards the Void Corridor together with Li Rong.
Another Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciple flew out from the Void Corridor but before he could grasp the situation, his vision was filled with a giant palm and in the next instant, he directly burst into a bloody fog.
Bathed in fresh blood, Yang Kai’s murderous intent flared up as he plunged into the Void Corridor.
After feeling the familiar sense of vertigo, a light flashed before their eyes and Yang Kai and Li Rong found themselves above a small mine.
It was Blood Battle Gang’s old Yang Flame Stone mine.
There were many people gathered around, divided into three general groups.
Standing midair, Yang Kai swept his eyes around and immediately confirmed that these three groups were composed of cultivators from the Three Sects.
All of them had their True Qi and Spiritual Energy sealed. The closest ones to the Void Corridor was the cultivators from Storm Hall who were even now being unwillingly corralled towards the black entrance by the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciples.
The cultivators from Blood Battle Gang and High Heaven Pavilion were waiting nearby.
Yang Kai saw many familiar faces among the High Heaven Pavilion group.
The disciples from Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple had very poor attitudes towards the cultivators from the Three Sects. At this moment, several Elders of the High Heaven Pavilion seemed to be loudly shouting towards several Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciples, but the only response they received were spiked whips across their chest and faces.
The several Elders were shielding a young man behind them. The treatment of this young man seemed to be somewhat different from the others. Not only had his strength been sealed, he was also physically tied up and countless wounds covered his body as he sat on the ground. Despite all his cuts and bruises, the young man was glaring back at the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciples, his eyes bloodshot but apparently unable to hit back.
Su Mu!
Yang Kai’s brow furrowed upon seeing him. Although he didn’t know why Su Mu was receiving such harsh treatment, that didn’t stop his blood from boiling as he rapidly condensed his strength into a great spear that he immediately threw out.
*Xiu…*
Before the sound even reached him, the Heaven Punishing Spear had directly impaled one of the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciples who were lashing the High Heaven Pavilion Elders. The violent power of the spear tore this disciple’s body apart, splattered his flesh and blood all over while also sending out a wave of destructive energy.
The other Spirit Temple disciples were unable to react to this sudden and unexpected development and were instantly hit by this shockwave, all of them falling over dead without even knowing how they died
This burst of noise caused everyone in the surroundings to fall silent as all eyes turned upwards.
In the dark of night, a giant full moon hung high up in the sky.
In front of this silver moon stood a tall figure, the cold wind blowing through his clothes while a silent and oppressive pressure radiated from him.
“Who goes there?” Several voices called out as a number of Transcendent Realm cultivators flew up into the sky, soaring towards Yang Kai.
*Pu pu pu…*
A few muffled thuds rang out as the Transcendents who had flown up were knocked down hard to the ground, all of dying instantly.
From the Void Corridor, Fang Zi Ji flew out and immediately stood next to Yang Kai, his True Qi surging up as he shouted, “Yang Kai has come back! Brothers and Sisters, kill these bastards!”
As he shouted, he released his own Martial Skill towards a nearby enemy.
One Storm House cultivator appeared from the Void Corridor behind Fang Zi Ji, each of them like a rampaging wild beast as they launched fierce attacks all around.
“Yang Kai came back?”
The Three Sect’s cultivators were momentarily stunned but were quickly awoken by the sound of fighting erupting all around them, turning burning gazes towards the young man in front of the moon, trying to use their own eyes to confirm whether this person was really the Yang Kai who had disappeared ten years ago.
After a brief moment, cheers resounded as the Three Sect’s cultivators all leapt madly towards the Spirit Temple disciples around them. With their True Qi and Spiritual Energy still sealed, they simply used their fists and feet like ordinary mortals to attack the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple Disciples.
“Li Rong, help them!” Yang Kai shouted before his figure flickered and he condensed his True Qi, rushing into the enemy camp.
The Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple disciples were dumbstruck, none of them able to understand why this crowd of barbarians had suddenly gone berserk after hearing that ‘Yang Kai came back’.
Who was this Yang Kai to them?
There weren’t many cultivators from Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple here, and the only Transcendents among them had been killed in Yang Kai’s opening attack. The rest were nothing but ordinary disciples with insignificant strength.
After less than thirty breaths, before Shi Kun and Han Fei who were bringing up the rear had even arrived, all the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple cultivators had been killed.
Bodies were strewn everywhere and blood flowed like a river but the Three Sect cultivators all wore ecstatic expressions as their eyes darted around the crowd, seemingly looking for someone.
A moment later, everyone’s eyes were cast in one direction. On the other side of their vision was Yang Kai who as walking towards the Elders of High Heaven Pavilion.
Great Elder Wei Xi Tong, Second Elder Su Xuan Wu, Third Elder He Bei Shui, Fifth Elder You Zi Zai. Except for Fourth Elder Zhou Fei, who had been killed by the Demon Lord, all the Elders were present.
Each of the Elders had a look of shock and disbelief on their faces, and it wasn’t until Yang Kai stood right in front of them and greeted them that they came to their senses and nodded strongly.
Wei Xi Tong teared up as he said, “Good, good, since you’ve returned, the Sect can be saved.”
Yang Kai stared at him deeply and replied in a dejected tone, “Disciple has arrived late, forcing several Elders and the Sect to endure much injustice.”
“No no, you’re not too late, not at all. You’re just in time,” Su Xuan Wu wiped his eyes and said gratefully.
In their darkest moment, Yang Kai had crossed worlds and appeared before them, instantly helping them resolve the crisis, just like more than a decade ago. The memory of those events all resurfaced in everyone’s mind, and although much had changed since then, all of them still held absolute confidence in Yang Kai.
It was as if as long as he was here, even if the sky was to fall they wouldn’t need to worry about anything.
“Brother-in-law!” Su Mu, with his hands still bound, stood up unsteadily as he grinned widely towards Yang Kai, obviously a little embarrassed but more excited than anything else.
After slightly more than a decade, Su Mu had actually reached the First Order Transcendent Realm!
Yang Kai’s expression brightened as he patted Su Mu on his shoulder, laughing happily as he nodded, “It’s been too long. It seems your strength has grown well since we last met.”
As Yang Kai said so, he swiftly cut the ropes binding Su Mu and broke the seal on his cultivation.
Su Mu’s growth was even more rapid than Fang Zi Ji’s, probably a result of the benefits he obtained in the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave.
Su Mu also encountered some kind of opportunity in the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave, but no one knew exactly what that opportunity was.
Moreover, Yang Kai had given Su Yan a large quantity of Myriad Drug Liquid so, as her little brother, Su Mu clearly received a portion as well, which helped him improve his physique and aptitude. Given all this, growing to such a height in ten years was not unexpected.
“What about Elder Sister? Did she come back with you?” Su Mu looked around but not discovering Su Yan’s figure among the crowd, he couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
“No, but don’t worry, Su Yan is now in a very safe place,” Yang Kai reassured him.
Hearing this, Su Mu nodded.
As Yang Kai spoke to these old acquaintances, Li Rong and the other Saints lifted the seals from all the Three Sects’ cultivators, restoring their strength. Many people showed looks of pleasant surprise and excitement.
Li Yun Tian and Zhao Hu, who were also familiar with Yang Kai, couldn’t help shouting happily.
Their strength had not risen by much, not even reaching the Immortal Ascension Boundary yet, still lingering around the True Element Boundary; after all, they didn’t obtain the opportunities or possess the aptitude of Su Mu and Yang Kai, so their lifetime prospects were somewhat limited.
“What about Grand Master?” Yang Kai frowned upon noticing that Ling Tai Xu was nowhere to be seen, asking worriedly.
“Former Sect Master went to the Central Capital to request reinforcements a few months ago, but the situation in Central Capital is probably also…” Su Xuan Wu explained.
“Former Sect Master?” Yang Kai raised a brow, “Who is Sect Master now?”
Su Mu laughed and pointed at himself.
Yang Kai looked at him with amazement but soon gently nodded.
With Su Mu’s current strength, he was indeed qualified to become Sect Master of High Heaven Pavilion; after all, none of the other Elders had arrived at the Transcendent Realm yet.
Su Mu said with a bitter face, “You don’t know how troublesome this has been, brother-in-law. Since you left, Sect Master started travelling around the world, not paying any attention to the Sect’s matters, but he suddenly came back a few years ago and passed the position of Sect Master to me without even asking if I agreed or not… haa…”
“No wonder you were tied up and beaten black and blue, your special treatment was a result of your special status,” Yang Kai laughed.
“Don’t you laugh at me, Brother,” Su Mu scratched his head, “How could I even compare with you. Right, Brother-in-law, what is your cultivation level now? Why is it I feel like I can’t completely understand you.”
“Third Order Transcendent.”
“What!?”
Everyone who heard this called out in shock.
Ling Tai Xu was now only a Second-Order Transcendent, a true hidden dragon who showed his tail but never his face. In recent years, the Hu Sisters had actually become known as the world’s first masters, but even they were just First Order Transcendents, yet now Yang Kai had actually arrived at the Third-Order Transcendent Realm.
When he had left the Central Capital ten years ago, he was only an Immortal Ascension Boundary Seventh Stage cultivator. This rate of growth was simply horrifying.
“Then what about my Elder Sister? She shouldn’t be any worse, right?” Su Mu asked excitedly.
“She too should be a Third Order Transcendent,” Yang Kai smiled faintly, “But I haven’t seen her for a number of years so I can’t say for certain.”
After a brief pause, Yang Kai asked, “What is the situation right now in the Sect? Has it been occupied?”
“En,” Su Mu said with a bitter smile, “Not only has High Heaven Pavilion been taken over, the nearby Blood Battle Gang and Storm Hall has also been occupied. There weren’t many people who come, a few hundred at most, but there were a number of extremely powerful masters among them. We couldn’t even put up a resistance…”
Everyone began chaotically explaining the current situation.
Similar to Yang Kai’s guess, the entrance to this world appeared near Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple, so naturally, they had sent people to investigate. When they discovered the vastness and potential wealth of this place, they immediately sent a large number of cultivators, led by a few masters to suppress the nearby forces, capturing all the cultivators of High Heaven Pavilion, Storm Hall, and Blood Battle Gang.
In order to ensure that they could fully swallow this big piece of meat, Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple also invited two or three other forces to help out.
Then, using this place as a beachhead, they began spreading out.
All this occurred more than a month ago, so the Central Capital’s current situation was unknown. The people here had not heard any useful news, but given the strength of these enemies, it was likely the Central Capital would be unable to put up any kind of resistance.
If that was not the case, Ling Tai Xu would have already returned. The most likely scenario was that Ling Tai Xu has also encountered some kind of misfortune.
The Three Sects had revolted several times, but each time they tried to fight back, many of them would be killed as punishment.
“They don’t even see us as human beings, killing or torturing us is all a matter of their mood. Many people were slaughtered by them without any reason at all, like they were butchering pigs or dogs for sport…” Su Mu ground his teeth angrily.
“Many female disciples from Blood Battle Gang were also humiliated by those damn animals!” Hu Man also cursed indignantly. His words immediately caused the Hu Sisters’ mood to turn gloomy.
Fortunately, when the Void Corridor first opened, they had gone in to explore it, otherwise, forget about finding Yang Kai and bringing back reinforcements, it was quite likely they would have suffered such a terrible fate.
“Nephew Yang, what are you planning to do? We’ll follow your lead,” Storm Hall’s Master, Xiao Ruo Han came up to and said to Yang Kai.
“Are they so despicable?” Yang Kai coldly snorted, “Good, I didn’t want to make too big a deal out of this but since they choose to act so inhuman, there’s no need to have any scruples, Li Rong!”
“Master!” Li Rong shouted, feeling a tinge of anger as well listening to everything that had happened, her shoulders rising and falling menacingly.
“You and Han Fei sweep the surrounding area, kill all the enemies in the three nearby forces, and don’t let a single one off.”
“Yes!” Li Rong responded firmly before she and Han Fei shot off, disappearing in the blink of any eye.
The surrounding crowd of people were all dumbfounded and before they could respond Li Rong and Han Fei had already left.
“Nephew Yang, you mustn’t act rashly!” Xiao Ruo Han was shocked and quickly tried to object. He hadn’t expected Yang Kai to be so hot-headed, not even bothering to inquire about the enemy’s strength before directly ordering an attack, “Among those people there are a number of extremely powerful masters.”
“That’s right, they have more than a dozen Transcendents, a many of whom are Second or Third-Order. I even heard that there was a master among them who has reached the Saint Realm, some kind of level beyond even the Transcendent Realm,” Hu Man also advised, “You letting those two young women go out on their own is too rash.”
“Saint Realm?” Yang Kai grinned and shook his head, “Don’t worry, even if there is a Saint Realm master among them, he certainly won’t be a match for those two.”
“What is the cultivation of those two ladies?” Wei Xi Tong trembled as he stared at Yang Kai expectantly.
“Both of them are also Saint Realm cultivators, but they’re significantly stronger than the enemy. Forget about one enemy Saint, even if there were a hundred they wouldn’t necessarily be those two’s opponents.”
Everyone was stunned silent again, each and every one of them staring towards Yang Kai as if he was some kind of monster.
Without even mentioning his own cultivation, which had grown from the Immortal Ascension Boundary Seventh Stage to Third Order Transcendent Realm in just over ten years, a miracle in and of itself, he had actually brought back these two unfathomable women as well.
From how the woman who spoke addressed Yang Kai and from her attitude towards him, it was obviously Yang Kai held an absolutely superior position and was able to order them about at will.
However, not only did neither of them complain, they even obediently followed his commands.
Wasn’t their strength much higher than Yang Kai’s own? Why were they willing to obey his orders like this?
This strange phenomenon confused everyone, leaving them unable to even guess what was happening.
“Clever daughters…” Hu Man quietly came up to the Hu Sisters and whispered, “From the looks of it, you two have a hard path ahead of you.”
“Why’s that?” Hu Mei Er turned a suspicious look towards her father.
Hu Man continued, “Those two ladies are both incredibly strong and beautiful. On top of that, they obey whatever they’re told, there’s no place where you’re comparable to them right now.”
“Why do we need to compare ourselves with them?” Hu Mei Er became more and more confused.
Hu Jiao Er thoughts turned quickly and soon understood, ruthlessly glaring towards Hu Man and she said, “You talk too much.”
Hu Man chuckled and said, “Isn’t it normal for a father to worry about his two daughter’s lifelong happiness? Such a good opportunity shouldn’t be missed, en, Father will support you no matter what, so make sure you find an opening and seize the initiative, you mustn’t act too passive. Men like him never lack women around him!”
Hu Mei Er finally clued in and coyly muttered, “W-what are you talking about?”
Hu Jiao Er wore a smile that didn’t reach her eyes as she flatly said, “If you still want someone to take care of you in your old age, I suggest you shut your mouth.”
“Fine, fine. Pretend I didn’t say anything,” Hu Man immediately sighed and kept silent, wondering how, after all the hard work he and his wives had done, he had only been granted these two daughters. Why couldn’t he have been blessed with a son like Yang Kai too, instead of just these two unfilial daughters?
“Everyone,” Yang Kai finished his reunion with his old acquaintances from High Heaven Pavilion and suddenly called out, “You can all return to your Sect’s now. If you still feel unsafe though, you can come to High Heaven Pavilion temporarily. Su Mu, will there be any problem accommodating the Three Sects’ populations for a while?”
Su Mu thought about it seriously and replied, “It shouldn’t be a problem to squeeze everyone in, but the living conditions may be somewhat bad.”
“That’s fine, Hall Master Xiao, Sect Master Hu, I’ll leave the decision about coming to High Heaven Pavilion up to you. I’ll advance first with the Pavillion’s Elders,” Yang Kai declared before heading towards High Heaven Pavilion.
Hu Man and Xiao Ruo Han exchanged a quick glance before quickly keeping up.
The invasion of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple had left them traumatized and the only way they could feel at ease right now was to follow Yang Kai.
p.s- anyone who can read Japanese interested to translate Live Dungeon!? please contact me on discord.
All the foreign enemies inside High Heaven Pavilion, Blood Battle Gang, and Storm Hall were swept away.
Facing Li Rong and Han Fei, how could these ordinary Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple cultivators resist? Before they even figured out what was happening, they had been violently killed.
In the face of absolute strength, all resistance was futile.
Just before they died, these cultivators might have been humiliating the disciples of High Heaven Pavilion, Blood Battle Gang, and Storm Hall these past few months.
If they were to face such torture, no path to Heaven or road to Hell, only endless despair and the earnest wish for death to come even a moment sooner.
At this moment, Li Rong and Han Fei stood on an empty field in the middle of High Heaven Pavilion, curiously looking around, wondering if this was really the land where their Master grew up.
They couldn’t see anything special about this place, so it was really a mystery how a monstrosity like Yang Kai emerged from here.
Not all of High Heaven Pavilion’s disciples were taken to the Void Corridor entrance. A large part still remained behind in the Sect. Li Rong and Han Fei struck like lightning and eliminated all the Free And Unfettered Spirit troops, shocking all the remaining disciples, leaving them wondering who these mysterious women who saved and freed them were.
A moment later, a large group of people rushed in from the Sect’s main entrance, and upon seeing the ones in the lead, the remaining High Heaven Pavilion disciples started shouting excitedly, “It’s Sect Master and the Elders!”
“They came back.”
“Hey, isn’t the guy walking next to Sect Master Junior Brother Yang Kai?”
“It really is Junior Brother Yang Kai!”
“…”
Cheers resounded as all the High Heaven Pavilion disciples who had only a moment ago been in the midst of despair rushed over from all directions, tears streaming down their faces as they greeted these people.
Su Mu spoke in a firm yet gentle voice to calm the excitement of his many fellow Brothers and Sisters.
“Brother-in-law… En, Senior Brother Yang has returned, so there’s no need to worry about that pack of animals anymore! Instead it is their turn to fear. Together, we’ll kill them all!”
“Kill them all!” Many disciples echoed Su Mu’s call.
Among the spirited crowds though, there was one person whose face paled as he quickly tried to hide himself, preparing to sneak away.
Su Mu’s eyes suddenly glanced over at that moment and he shouted, “Senior Brother Xie, where do you want to go?”
The High Heaven Pavilion disciples all fell silent upon hearing these words and turned their eyes in the direction Su Mu was staring, their gazes all landing on Xie Hong Chen.
Looks of despise and revulsion were cast towards Xie Hong Chen, causing his face to fill with shame and embarrassment.
The several Elders of High Heaven Pavilion also shook their heads and sighed, all of them revealing disappointed look.
“Senior Brother Xie?” Yang Kai’s brow rose slightly as he glanced over at Xie Hong Chen.
Senior Brother Xie had originally been the second strongest member of the Sect’s younger generation, only surpassed by Su Yan. He had also had many conflicts with Yang Kai long ago.
However, as Yang Kai grew stronger and stronger, he had gradually forgotten about this person.
Right now though, seeing the looks in the eyes of the Sect Elders, Brothers, and Sisters, Yang Kai faintly understood he had committed some kind of unforgivable sin.
After so many years, Xie Hong Chen had also grown to the Immortal Ascension Boundary Sixth Stage, not too low, nor too high.
“Senior Brother Xie!” Su Mu sneered lightly as he slowly walked towards him, gnashing his teeth audibly, “My High Heaven Pavilion’s Brothers and Sisters are deeply indebted to all the ‘care’ you’ve shown us these past few months!”
“Junior Brother Su, if you’ll let me explain…” Xie Hong Chen retreated step by step as he felt the murderous intent pouring out of Su Mu’s body, wrapping him in a cold chill like the icy grip of death.
“Does trash like you think yourself worthy to call me Junior Brother?” Su Mu shouted.
“Sect Master!” Xie Hong Chen’s legs went soft and he immediately kneeled on the ground, pleading miserably, “Senior Brother has not forgotten where his loyalties lie! I only surrendered to those bastards and agreed to work for them, enduring such great humiliation, to show the enemy weakness while searching for a way to rescue everyone.”
“Endured humiliation?” Su Mu suddenly laughed, “All I saw was Senior Brother Xie obeying the orders of those bastards like a loyal dog, offering up all the Sect’s secrets of your own will while even ruthlessly killing your Junior Brother Wei to prove your loyalty. Junior Brother Sun also died at your hands did he not? Don’t even try to deny it, many people here witnessed your despicable betrayal with their own eyes!”
“I…” Xie Hong Chen was struck speechless and aware of Su Mu’s increasing murderous intent, he began to panic. Quickly turning to the Elders, Xie Hong Chen kowtowed and cried, “Elders, disciple knows his wrong; please spare this disciple’s life.”
In response, the Fourth Elder just stared back at him coldly, with Wei Xi Tong shouting, “Spare your life? I, more than anyone, wish I could cut you into a thousand pieces! Xie Hong Chen, you have disappointed this old master far too much. This old master once regarded you as the Sect’s future hope, but you turned out you’re nothing but a vicious, spineless, ungrateful traitor! This old master was truly blind.”
The other three Elders also began emitting killing intent.
In a sense, the person in front of them was even more hateful than those foreign enemies, he had to die!
“Junior Brother Yang, Junior Brother Yang…” Xie Hong Chen saw none of the Elders take a stand to help him so he decided to pin his last hope on Yang Kai, “I know you have the greatest say here. Please save me! After this, I, Xie Hong Chen, swear to serve you with absolute loyalty in order to repay this grace!”
Yang Kai stared back at him indifferent and lightly said, “Senior Brother Xie… you talk too much.”
Xie Hong Chen’s expression went blank.
“I, Su Mu, as Sect Master of High Heaven Pavilion, formally declare that when the Sect was exposed to danger, disciple Xie Hong Chen, for his own selfish desires, killed his Junior Brothers in order to live on dishonourably, mistaking enemies for friends. The punishment for his crime is death. As Sect Master, I will now personally right the wrongs done to this Sect! Fellow Brothers and Sisters, please take heed of this warning, work hard so that you will not disgrace my High Heaven Pavilion’s name as he has!” Su Mu shouted in a clear and resolute voice as he stared down at Xie Hong Chen, his eyes filled with cold light as he lifted his hand, condensed his True Qi into a great swirl of wind.
The palm strike gradually enlarged in Xie Hong Chen’s eyes and soon the tornado engulfed him.
None of the spectating High Heaven Pavilion disciples showed the slightest hint of sympathy or compassion, many of them instead even wearing happy expressions.
As the powerful winds wrapped around him, Xie Hong Chen was swept up and tossed around, his body soon ripping apart and bursting into a bloody fog.
“Master’s Junior Brother makes a decent Sect Master,” Li Rong pursed her lips and chuckled as she glanced towards Su Mu with some surprise.
Su Mu looked quite young, probably even more so than Yang Kai, but just now he displayed a bearing appropriate for a Sect Master.
Yang Kai also gently nodded.
“Sect Master Su, we’ll let you decide the placement of our two Sects’ disciples,” Hu Man and Xiao Ruo Han walked up to Su Mu and said.
Su Mu nodded, first ordering several Junior Brothers to process Xie Hong Chen’s bones before leaving to discuss with the Elders about how to settle the other Sects disciples.
While everyone was busying themselves, Yang Kai walked around High Heaven Pavilion alone.
High Heaven Pavilion had been destroyed once before when the First Young Lady of the Qiu Family, Qiu Yi Meng brought a number of experts here and fought with Grand Master and the Elders. It was after that incident, when Qiu Yi Meng had gone missing, that the Sect had been burned down.
High Heaven Pavilion was re-built some time later, after the incident was resolved.
However, history had repeated itself.
Yang Kai arrived at the small wooden house he had once called home.
This wooden house carried a lot of his memories, it was the place he had lived when he was still weak and helpless.
He could still vividly remember his days as a Trial Disciple of High Heaven Pavilion, when even filling his belly each day was a challenge.
It was inside this cabin that Yang Kai first opened the Wordless Black Book, drastically altering his destiny.
The wooden house had been refurbished since that time, but the tables and chair were actually the same ones Yang Kai had originally used, but since this place had been left unattended for many years, everything was now covered with a thick layer of dust.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Yang Kai couldn’t help recalling the night when he returned from the outside to discover Little Senior Sister Xia Ning Chang fast asleep on his bed, the gentle moonlight streaming in from the holes in the roof, startling Yang Kai greatly.
It was from that moment on that her beautiful figure had been permanently engraved in his heart.
Every time he remembered that scene, his heart would fill with a tender warmth. It was a precious memory he would never be able to forget.
After sitting inside his wooden house for a while, Yang Kai left to visit Su Yan’s small house.
It was inside this small house that Yang Kai inadvertently saw the scene of Su Yan changing her clothes, the smooth, graceful curve of her back seizing his soul at the time, her charm and beauty robbing him of all ability to even breathe.
At that time, Su Yan was furious and used her frigid True Qi to freeze Yang Kai into a block of ice. It was only a few days later that Yang Kai thawed out after comprehending the profound Martial Skill, Unyielding Will.
Xia Ning Chang and Su Yan, the two most important women in his life, it was here that Yang Kai had met and grown close to them.
As his heartbeat steadied, a flurry of emotions washed over him.
High Heaven Pavilion was filled with so many of Yang Kai’s memories and emotions.
Walking along the familiar paths, it was like he had returned to the time he was a simple High Heaven Pavilion disciple so many years ago, the sights and scenes from that time all coming back to him.
The Contribution Hall was still the same as before, Yang Kai even felt like he could see Treasurer Meng lazily sitting behind the front desk, his eyes darting around, staring lewdly at the beautiful female disciples passing through, commenting on the height of their chests and the fullness of their bottoms.
The Martial Skill Pavilion was also unchanged, still housing the many Secret Arts and Martial Skills of High Heaven Pavilion.
Of course, for the current Yang Kai, these things had no value other than for nostalgia.
Soon, Yang Kai arrived at the Coiling Dragon Stream. Standing at its edge, he could hear the wind whistling as it blew through the seemingly bottomless canyon.
Several fruit trees stood nearby, swaying gently in the wind. These were the fruit trees Yang Kai had planted in the past. Originally they were only slightly taller than him, but now they had grown high enough for their thick leaves to provide shade for those who stood beneath them.
Stepping off the edge, Yang Kai allowed his body to fall into the Coiling Dragon Stream.
Part-way down, Yang Kai came to a halt and stepped into the secluded cave he had worked so hard to carve all those years ago.
Inside this secluded cave, there were a number of plants that Xia Ning Chang had planted as decorations still growing. After the Demonic Qi had been purged from the canyon down below, these plants had flourished and covered the surrounding area in a thick bed of green leaves.
There were even a few delicate flowers next to the cave’s entrance.
The cave even retained a faint trace of Su Yan and Xia Ning Chang’s fragrances.
This secluded cave was the secret place for the three of them. Several times, while Yang Kai and Su Yan were happily flirting with one another, Little Senior Sister would be ‘sleeping’ on the stone bed nearby.
Yang Kai sat cross-legged at the cave’s entrance and closed his eyes, completely relaxing his mind and body. After revisiting all these memories, he suddenly felt as if his soul had received a kind of sublimation. This indescribable feeling gave him an incredible sense of comfort.
A burst of humming sounds rang out as Yang Kai’s physique began to tremble and the True Qi inside his body seemed to burst forward, flowing like a mighty river through his meridians.
Two days later, Yang Kai opened his eyes and a profound light flashed across their depths.
A moment later, a hint of confusion appeared on his face.
He was somewhat puzzled by the current condition.
After returning to High Heaven Pavilion and walking through all its familiar paths, he had suddenly fallen into a strange state. Initially, Yang Kai had thought he was experiencing a breakthrough and had simply allowed nature to take its course, but after waking up, he discovered that he had not advanced to the Saint Realm at all.
He was still a Third Order Transcendent, but the True Qi that was flowing through his body seemed somewhat different from before.
Closing his eyes and examining himself with his Divine Sense, Yang Kai discovered that the True Qi in his meridians had increased in purity and density. If his previous True Qi was akin to water in a river, his current True Qi now showed subtle signs of crystallization.
When it was not in use, it no longer flowed freely, but once Yang Kai pushed it, it was not only stronger, it also contained a greater destructive force with it.
The Yang Liquid stored in his dantian also seemed to be undergoing a change, becoming more akin to dazzling golden jewels rather than drops of molten gold.
Yang Kai was confused and didn’t know what was happening to him.
After thoroughly investigating his physical condition, Yang Kai couldn’t find anything wrong with himself. On the contrary, he felt quite refreshed, as if the strange change in his True Qi not only wasn’t harmful to him but had instead brought him great benefits.
At the very least, Yang Kai instinctually felt he had become stronger.
Sending out a Divine Sense Message, it was not long before Li Rong and Han Fei flew over and entered the secluded cave, both of them saluting politely as they asked, “What is Master’s command?”
These past two days, Li Rong and Han Fei were treated as guests in the High Heaven Pavilion and they occasionally helped with the cleanup effort around the Sect. Both of them noticed that Yang Kai had entered a state of meditative cultivation and naturally did not come to disturb him until Yang Kai took the initiative to summon them over.
“I have some questions to ask you both,” Yang Kai signalled to them to sit down.
The two women smiled, even Han Fei was showing a warm look quite in contrast to her normally ice-cold temperament.
In their impression, Yang Kai seemed almost omnipotent, but this time he had actually called them to ask their advice, surprising them.
The two sat down and Li Rong asked, “Is there anything Master is unclear about regarding his cultivation?”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded, relaxing his defences, “Use your Divine Senses to examine the True Qi in my body to see if there is anything wrong with it.”
“Something wrong with it?” Han Fei was shocked.
“Very well, excuse us,” Li Rong didn’t speak any nonsense and began sweeping Yang Kai with her powerful Divine Sense.
After a moment, her beautiful eyes lit up as she muttered, “True Qi Sanctification?”
Han Fei also showed a pleasant expression as she smiled happily towards Yang Kai and said, “Congratulations Master, with Master’s cultivation speed, I’m afraid it won’t be long before you officially break through to the Saint Realm.”
“En, since you’ve already reached the point of True Qi Sanctification, and considering the pace at which Master’s cultivation advances, I would estimate that within two to three years you will become a Saint. If there are some opportunities or epiphanies along the way, that time will only be shorter.”
“Stop!” Yang Kai reached out his hand and knit his brow, staring blankly at the two women for a moment before asking, “First explain to me, what is this True Qi Sanctification you’re talking about? Why are you so sure that I am not far from reaching the Saint Realm?”
Li Rong and Han Fei shot an astonished glance at each other upon hearing these questions, but soon the two of them burst into laughter, their voices resounding like delicate silver bells in the secluded cave.
Yang Kai instantly felt uncomfortable.
Li Rong’s laughter was extremely carefree while even Han Fei, who always wore an icy expression, was doubled over, the two of them clearly finding this whole situation incredibly funny, and clearly he was the cause.
Yet Yang Kai, as the butt of this joke, actually knew nothing.
“Have the two of you laughed enough yet?” Yang Kai glared at them.
Noticing that Yang Kai seemed to be becoming angry out of shame, Li Rong and Han Fei hurriedly restrained their laughter, but the two of them still couldn’t help covering their mouths with their hands as their shoulders trembled lightly.
Yang Kai could only rub his forehead, feeling quite helpless.
Sometime later, Li Rong and Han Fei finally composed themselves and the former asked, “Master, have you ever received any formal instruction regarding cultivation?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because if someone had given you formal instruction, you should know what True Qi Sanctification is and understand that it is a checkpoint on the path to the Saint Realm.”
“A checkpoint before reaching the Saint Realm?” Yang Kai suddenly became interested, “Go on.”
Li Rong and Han Fei, one after another, began to explain.
“In this world, there are a lot of Transcendent Realm cultivators, but of these many Transcendents, those who can successfully break through to the Saint Realm probably number less than one percent. Why are there so many Transcendents who fail to grasp the mysteries of the Saint Realm? The main reason is their inability to achieve True Qi Sanctification.”
“A cultivator, from when they first begin to cultivate until they reach the Saint Realm, must walk step by step and experience many breakthroughs, each one more difficult than the last. It can be said that every breaking through to each new Great Realm results in a kind of rebirth where one receives both internal and external baptisms. However, over this entire process of growth, a cultivator will also experience two fundamental changes in their internal strength.”
“One time is when they break through from the Separation and Reunion Boundary to the True Element Boundary, when the Yuan Qi in their meridians is transformed into True Qi. The great difference in power between these two types of Qi, I believe Master is quite well aware of.”
Yang Kai lightly nodded.
Before the Peak Separation and Reunion Boundary, Yuan Qi was what flowed through a cultivator’s meridians, but after they broke through to the True Element Boundary, it was replaced by True Qi.
The two Qis were fundamentally different. Disregarding the change in realm and only examining it from the perspective of pure power, when Yuan Qi transformed into True Qi, a cultivator’s combat potential would dramatically increase.
“The second great change occurs when one breaks through from the Transcendent Realm to the Saint Realm!” Li Rong declared in a spirited tone, “Because the energy which flows through a Saint Realm master’s body is not True Qi.”
“Not True Qi?” Yang Kai’s brow rose, somewhat unable to process what he was hearing.
No one had ever told him anything regarding this matter.
“Yes, what flows through a Saint Realm master’s meridians is Saint Qi, and its strength is incomparable to that of True Qi.”
Yang Kai was shocked and could not speak for a long time.
Han Fei thought about it for a moment before continuing, “For example, a block of Low-Rank Crystal Stone contains significantly less energy a block of Top -Rank Crystal Stone of equivalent volume, but the amount of energy in a block of Saint Crystal is incomparable to a block of Top-Rank Crystal Stone of equal size. Yuan Qi is like Low-Rank Crystal Stone, True Qi like Top-Rank Crystal Stone, and Saint Qi like Saint Crystal.”
Such a basic fact was something Yang Kai actually knew nothing about.
“Because Master has had some kind of opportunity, the True Qi in your body has begun to transform into Saint Qi. When this transformation is complete, Master will only have to fully comprehend the mysteries of the Saint Realm and he will be able to smoothly break through,” Li Rong looked at him with excitement, feeling sincerely happy about his rapid growth.
“Before now, hasn’t anyone ever spoken about this matter to Master?” Han Fei asked in amazement.
The reason they had never mentioned anything about the True Qi Sanctification process to Yang Kai was because they had assumed he was aware of it already, as that was common sense. Never had they anticipate he was actually completely ignorant about it.
“It’s only to be expected that no one has told Master about this,” Li Rong smiled, “Master’s rate of growth is simply too fast! The Elders around him probably did not anticipate he would already be experiencing True Qi Sanctification and were simply planning on mentioning it to him at some point in the future. At the very least, the Holy Land’s Great Elder would have eventually explained about this process to you.”
Yang Kai gently nodded; after learning about his current situation and understanding it was not a misdemeanor, he finally relaxed.
“What should I do now?” Yang Kai asked hesitantly.
“There’s nothing to do, just go about your life as before,” Li Rong smiled and replied.
“Is there any way to speed up the progress of this True Qi Sanctification?” Yang Kai knit his brow, “I remember when it was time to convert my Yuan Qi to True Qi, there were certain medicines that could be used as auxiliaries to improve the purity and refinement rate of my True Qi.”
“That was because your foundation was yet to be fully established, so it was possible to improve and increase the conversation rate, but True Qi Sanctification takes place after one’s foundation has already been established, so there is no way to speed it up. One can only let nature take its course.”
“I understand,” Yang Kai sighed lightly but still felt quite excited in his heart.
After his True Qi was completely converted into Saint Qi, and he fully comprehended the mysteries of the Saint Realm, he would be able to step into that realm.
Yang Kai wasn’t concerned at all about comprehending these mysteries; for others, this might be a difficult task, but for him, it was nothing.
He had absorbed so many Saint Realm cultivators’ perceptions and insights into the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao, transforming them into his own strength, so breaking through to the Saint Realm would not be an issue for him.
Now he just had to wait for the Qi in his body to finish transforming, so the time it would take for him to reach the next Great Realm would probably be much shorter than what Li Rong estimated.
After spending a moment lost in his own thoughts, Yang Kai collected himself and set aside the matter of the Saint Realm, stood up and asked, “What is the situation in High Heaven Pavilion?”
“Things have mostly been settled,” Li Rong replied.
“Good, then we should set out,” Yang Kai said, leaping out of his secluded cave and flying up.
He had planned to travel to the Central Capital immediately after securing High Heaven Pavilion, but this unexpected opportunity had delayed him two days.
High Heaven Pavilion was now fully occupied with the disciples and Elders from all of the Three Sects gathered here. Su Mu was only temporarily place people around the Sect’s grounds, forcing many of them to simply sit outside, taking the sky as their blankets and the ground as their beds.
Inside the main hall, Su Mu and the Pavilion Elders sat around a large table along with Hu Man of Blood Battle Gang, the Hu Sisters, Xiao Ruo Han of Storm Hall and Fang Zi Ji.
When Yang Kai arrived, they seemed to be discussing something.
The moment he entered the room, all eyes landed on Yang Kai, expectant and excited looks upon all their faces.
“Brother-in-law, are you going to the Central Capital?” Su Mu asked.
“En,” Yang Kai nodded.
“Then I wish you a swift victory and triumphant return!” Su Mu declared.
Yang Kai stared at him with a look of surprise.
Su Mu just grinned back at him, “We have self-knowledge. We’d be nothing but a burden to you if we went, but brother-in-law, you have to teach those dogs an unforgettable lesson, you mustn’t show any mercy.”
Yang Kai smiled and nodded sincerely, “Relax, I’ll make sure not a single one of them returns alive!”
Saying so, he turned around and shouted, “Shi Kun!”
“Reporting!” Shi Kun appeared.
“You stay here and help me take care of this place. If anyone dares try to invade, directly report to them the Holy Land’s name. I’d like to see if anyone dares challenge my Holy Land.”
“Yes!”
Central Capital, where north and south could not see one another, the first under Heaven City!
Looking from far away, the gigantic Central Capital City was like an ancient beast slumbering quietly on the ground, giving off an aura of intimidation that made all who saw it tremble in awe.
A streak of blue light came to a halt some twenty-five kilometres away from the Central Capital and the figure of Yang Kai, Li Rong and Han Fei appeared.
“There’s actually such a massive city here?” Li Rong was shocked and exclaimed.
A city the size of the Central Capital, even in Tong Xuan Realm, was rare; Li Rong couldn’t even imagine how many years it had taken for the natives of this world to build it.
“There seems to be some traces of destruction,” Han Fei wrinkled her brow.
“En, more than a decade ago, the Earth Vein below the Central Capital exploded, essentially destroying the entire city. When I left this place, everyone was focused on rebuilding the Central Capital. Although more than a decade has passed, it seems they haven’t finished with the reconstruction yet,” Yang Kai gently nodded.
At this moment, the entire Central Capital seemed a bit too calm, although they were still twenty-five kilometres away, Yang Kai could still make out some people moving about, but far fewer than normal.
A burst of light suddenly appeared above a certain place in the Central Capital, immediately catching Yang Kai’s eyes.
“Master, there seems to be someone fighting there,” Li Rong stated.
“Let’s go take a look!” Yang Kai once again activated the Flying Heavens Shuttle and shot forward.
At the south gate of the Central Capital, a group of Transcendent Realm cultivators wore grim expression as she hurriedly fled.
The Central Capital’s South Gate was for the exclusive use of the Yang Family. When any Yang Family members returned home, they would enter through this gate. When Yang Kai returned to Central Capital to participate in the Inheritance War, he too had walked through this gate.
The Transcendent Realm cultivators who were fleeing right now were almost all masters from the Yang Family’s Blood Warrior Hall.
They were going all out to escape from the Central Capital.
But behind them were two invincible enemies pursuing them.
“You rats can flee but I’d like to see where you can run now!” A single-eyed middle-aged man who was following the Blood Warriors at a seemingly leisurely pace called out called out mockingly, showing no intention of immediately attacking, his eyes filled with scorn, just like a cat toying with a pack of mice, “A trivial group of Transcendent Realm trash dares act presumptuously in front of me? Run, run, keep running! Don’t let yourselves get caught or your fate will be more miserable than you can imagine.”
Everyone who was fleeing felt enraged as their visions were dyed red, but they were well away of how tyrannical these enemies were so they didn’t dare to stop and fight, only using a few Martial Skills every now and then as they ran forward in an attempt to delay the pace of this man.
However, the Martial Skills they used against this one-eyed man were completely ineffective, each of them being blocked by a faint barrier which seemed to surround his body. It was as if their attacks all sunk into an endless sea, disappearing without even a trace.
This reality made the group of escaping Transcendents sink further into despair.
“Chou Xu, stop fooling around. Temple Master Wu is waiting for us to return, just grab them quickly,” From a different direction, a beautiful woman with a luscious figure called out to the middle-aged man lightly.
Chou Xu shot her an annoyed glance and snorted, “You don’t need to remind me.”
Cursing under his breath in the next instant, “Little slut, thinking that after obtaining some favour from Wu Zheng you can order me around like some servant, completely not placing me in your eyes. Fuck, so annoying.”
As he muttered, Chou Xu’s expression became even crueler, shouting a moment later, “Run, run! The first one of you I catch I will make taste the world’s most brutal torture! Seeing that you had a bit of strength and might have some use, we spared your lives, yet you actually dared disregard our mercy and try to escape? You really don’t know the immensity of Heaven and Earth!”
The conversation between the man and woman clearly reached the ears of the fleeing Transcendents, causing their expression to become even uglier.
Among the crowd, one burly man shouted, “Brothers and Sisters, spread out, let destiny decide who lives and who dies. If any of us can escape, you must survive and find Little Lord; tell him about this matter!”
Everyone nodded and shouted, “Good luck!”
The next moment, all of them shot off in different directions.
The man and woman chasing after them saw this scene but showed not the slightest bit of concern, the one-eyed man named Chou Xu grinning viciously as he said, “Seems you’re not complete idiots. I thought at least one of you would stop and fight with me.”
“Don’t make trouble, if we let them run too far it’ll just become more of a hassle. Cut them off while I block their retreat!” The woman shouted, a torrent of power welling up from her body, creating an invisible barrier that blocked off the area behind the fleeing Transcendents, leaving their only option to press on, effectively sealing off their movements.
Seeing that she had already started to act, Chou Xu also no longer delayed, displaying a similar technique that blocked the path ahead of the group of cultivators.
*Peng peng peng…*
The group of Transcendents collided with this invisible barrier that had emerged out of thin air and were all forced back, their expressions turning gloomy.
Two fearful auras engulfed them, forcing them back together, their backs against one another as they glared up at the man and woman standing mid-air above them.
No door to Heaven, or path to Hell, in the face of absolute strength, they could only dance on the palm of the enemy’s hand.
“Xiu Li, if I kill them, will it matter?” Chou Xu turned his one eye to the woman and asked.
Xiu Li frowned and spoke in a dissatisfied tone, “Their strength isn’t high, what’s the point in killing them? The reason Temple Master Wu let them live was to let them submit and work for us. As long as this group of people surrenders, the others will be easier to deal with. The World Energy aura here is not rich and there’s no resources worth exploiting, but there are quite a few people we can bring back to use as slaves and labourers.”
“Of course, I understand Temple Master Wu’s intentions, but… without killing them, I won’t be able to soothe my anger,” Chou Xu slowly shook his head.
Seeing his appearance, Xiu Li felt a deep sense of loathing in her heart, but not wishing to waste any more time arguing with him, she reluctantly nodded, “Fine, but you can only kill one. If you dare to kill more, I’ll report it back to Temple Master Wu.”
“I know you’ve built a ‘good relationship’ with Temple Master Wu, but you don’t keep using his name to suppress me, I am Seeking Heavens Pavilion’s Sect Master, not his subordinate.”
“If you want to kill one then hurry up, stop spouting nonsense,” Xiu Li impatiently shouted.
Chou Xu snorted before turning his one eye to the group down below, glancing around the couple dozen Transcendents while ignoring their angry glares. Suddenly, he pointed to one of them and declared, “Her, I most enjoy killing women, especially beautiful women!”
Saying so, he shot a glance over towards the woman called Xiu Li, the latter snorting disdainfully, knowing what he was implying but refusing to go along with his provocation.
The selected woman paled.
“Yu Xian…” The others called out desperately.
Tang Yu Xian however just smiled miserably, “Let destiny decide who lives and who dies. Don’t try to fight, the place they come from should be the place where Little Lord went, you all have to go there and do everything possible to find Little Lord so he can take revenge for our fallen Brothers and Sisters!”
All of them shook their heads unwillingly.
“Woman, if you have any last words, I’ll give you ten breaths of time to speak them,” Chou Xu stood mid-air and laughed wildly.
“They’ve gone too far, I’ll fight them!” Tu Feng shouted angrily, his Blood Qi madly rising as he tried to display the Blood Warrior’s Mad Tyrant Blood Skill.
“If we must die, then we’ll die together! No matter what, we can’t just stand here and watch as you’re killed!” Ying Jiu’s figure flickered, as he prepared to use his Flickering Shadow Strike.
At that moment though, an invisible pressure descended and completely suppressed all of them, forcefully canceling Tu Feng’s Mad Tyrant Blood Skill while locking Ying Jiu’s shadowy figure in place.
Chou Xu laughed and taunted, “I told you not to act so presumptuous. A group of trash with no self-awareness, how can mere Transcendents possibly fight with a Saint? I’ll let you all see right now the insurmountable gap between us, killing any of you is as simple as crushing an ant.”
Saying so, he stretched out his hand and grasped towards them.
Tang Yu Xian cried out as she found herself bound by an invisible force that slowly pulled her up into the air.
A moment later, she was floating tens of meters above the ground.
The invisible force that shackled her body grew stronger and stronger, making it difficult for Tang Yu Xian to breathe. Her face turned red and her eyes flashed with unwillingness but no matter how much she wished to resist, she was incapable of even struggling.
Sad and shrill cries rang out from down below.
Cracking sounds burst out from Tang Yu Xian’s body as her bones seemed to break under the strain.
Feeling death beckoning to her, Tang Yu Xian’s heart suddenly became calm as she directed a cold glare towards the one-eyed man named Chou Xu, and the indifferent woman Xiu Li.
*Xiu…*
A sword-like attack suddenly flashed and cut through the air between Chou Xu and Tang Yu Xian.
At the same time, the sound of something being cut apart resounded.
Tang Yu Xian, who had just been imprisoned, breathed in a deep breath as the enormous pressure on her body instantly disappeared, freeing her and allowing her to fall back down to the ground.
A blue light flashed and three figures suddenly appeared, seemingly out of thin air, their bodies wrapped in an ice cold aura.
“Who goes there?” Chou Xu and Xiu Li’s expression changed dramatically as they shouted.
The Transcendents down below also turned their eyes towards these newcomers.
All of them froze up.
In the next moment though, shouts of surprise and joy escaped from their lips.
“Little Lord!”
Yang Kai nodded lightly as he swept his gaze down below.
Familiar faces appeared one after another in front of his eyes.
Tu Feng, Tang Yu Xian, Ying Jiu, Ji Li, Xiao Shun, Yan Ling Xing, Wu Ju…
Most of Yang Family Blood Warrior Hall’s masters were present.
“Yu Xian, are you alright?” Yang Kai asked softly.
Tang Yu Xian’s beautiful eyes filled with excitement as she nodded, “Just some minor injuries, Little Lord doesn’t need to worry.”
“That’s good,” Yang Kai let out a sigh of relief.
“Who are you?” Chou Xu frowned as he stood together with Xiu Li and shouted.
Although he didn’t know why, when these three people suddenly appeared, Chou Xu felt a sense of fear grip him, as if their arrival heralded the coming of his death, causing him to shudder unconsciously.
Without standing next to Xiu Li, he simply couldn’t feel a sense of security.
“You just said that Transcendents have no way to fight with Saints didn’t you?” Yang Kai spoke flatly as he stared coldly at Chou Xu.
“En, who might I ask is Your Excellency?” Chou Xu frowned.
“Do I need to announce my name to a dead man?”
“Your Excellency is quite bold. Who are you?” Chou Xu coldly shouted, realizing the situation had become unfavourable and quietly shot Xiu Li a glance, hinting for her to act when she saw an opportunity. In response, she nodded.
Yang Kai didn’t bother responding to him and simply told Li Rong, “You two deal with that woman, I’ll handle him.”
Li Rong nodded, “Be careful.”
She didn’t attempt to stop Yang Kai because she understood just how angry he was. She knew Yang Kai wanted to kill this one-eyed man himself, for the crimes the man had just committed. With her and Han Fei watching nearby, even if Yang Kai ultimately couldn’t win, it was impossible for his life to be in any danger.
Two pairs of beautiful eyes fixed on Xiu Li and an invisible pressure crashed down on her.
The enchanting woman named Xiu Li instantly went stiff, unable to move or even circulate the strength within her body, as if she had been sunk into a mire that completely suppressed her.
Shock filled Xiu Li’s heart as she instantly understood how terrifying these two women who suddenly appear in front of them were, her tender body trembling uncontrollably.
Chou Xu’s expression also paled. The instant Li Rong and Han Fei used their strength, he realized he was severely outmatched. Refusing to even bother with the group of Transcendents he had been chasing, Chou Xu fled towards the centre of the Central Capital.
He needed to find Wu Zheng!
Although he was dissatisfied with the distribution of spoils Wu Zheng had set up, he didn’t doubt that Wu Zheng was the strongest among them, the latter’s Second Order Saint Realm cultivation towering above his own.
Just as he tried to flee though, the figure of the young man who seemed to not know the immensity of Heaven and Earth appeared in front of him and blocked his path.
A Third Order Transcendent!
Chou Xu understood Yang Kai’s real cultivation at a glance and was overjoyed, secretly thinking that the Heavens had not abandoned him yet, shouting loudly as charged forward, “Boy, come here!”
Saying so, he reached out and grabbed towards Yang Kai.
He wanted to capture Yang Kai and use him as a hostage in order to preserve his life.
Yang Kai didn’t try to dodge and just stared back at Chou Xu coldly, his expression completely indifferent. When the big hand reaching towards him landed on his shoulder, before it could even exert any strength, Yang Kai pushed his strength fiercely, sending out a burst of True Qi from his body.
A scorching hot wave of energy erupted, causing Chou Xu to cry out in pain and hastily take back his hand, his face pale and was filled with disbelief.
The young man in front of him was truly just a Third Order Transcendent, but the power he emitted from his body just now was even more potent than his own; despite him being a genuine First Order Saint.
From his palm, the burning True Qi penetrated deep into Chou Xu’s meridians, rushing through his body and infiltrating his five viscera and six organs in an attempt to destroy his vitality.
Not daring to neglect, Chou Xu hurriedly circulated his own Saint Qi to suppress this scalding energy, his body’s temperature rapidly rising as his flesh turned red and began to let off steam as if he was being boiled alive from the inside
Before he could compose himself, a golden spear that gave off a shocking pressure flew through the air towards him, seemingly tearing space itself as it ignored the distance between them and rapidly expanded in his eyes.
Chou Xu was panic-stricken when he felt the destructive force contained within this spear and desperately threw himself to the side to dodge it.
*Xiu…*
The Heaven Punishing Spear just barely missed its mark and flew out of several dozen kilometres before disappearing across in a flash of light.
One Heaven Punishing Spear after another was condensed in Yang Kai’s hand as he stood mid-air and threw them out.
Like bolts of lightning, a storm of golden spears flashed across the sky.
Chou Xu was immediately forced into a difficult situation, only capable of dodging the exquisite Nine Heavens Divine Skill, unable to hit back, his face looking deathly pale.
“Run, run, let’s see how long you can keep this up!” Yang Kai called out in a relaxed tone with an indifferent look upon his face, casually throwing Heaven Punishing Spears from a dominant position, as if he had yet to even use all his strength, taunting Chou Xu in the same way the latter had just been taunting the fleeing Central Capital Transcendents.
Chou Xu couldn’t even shout back as it was taking all his strength and concentration to avoid the storm of attacks coming towards him, causing his expression to become even uglier.
“Aren’t you an all-powerful Saint? Stop acting so pitifully and fight back, or are you saying you’re actually afraid of a mere Transcendent like me? Come, show me everything you’ve got. Today, this Young Master will show you what a Transcendent killing a Saint looks like,” Yang Kai sneered coldly, using his Profound Heavenly Sword and Imprisoning Heaven Chain in addition to his Heaven Punishing Spears, displaying all the Nine Heavens Divine Skills in all their glory.
Down below, Tu Feng and others were dumbstruck and fell into a daze they could not extricate themselves from for a long time.
Thanks to the training and resources Yang Kai granted them in the past, they had all broken through to the Transcendent Realm before the former departed and were able to stand at the top of this world.
During the more than ten years Yang Kai had been away, all of them had been diligently cultivating and now basically every Blood Warrior saw hope of breaking through to the Second-Order Transcendent Realm.
However, a few months ago, a group of enemies they couldn’t match suddenly appeared and quickly subdued the Central Capital’s Eight Great Families.
Just now, even with just the one-eyed man named Chou Xu chasing them, they had been driven into a hopeless situation and were on the verge of witnessing Tang Yu Xian being crushed to death right before their eyes without even being able to fight back.
Suddenly though, their Little Lord had arrived and instantly suppressed the very same Chou Xu they were powerless against to the point where the latter was unable to even talk back.
The Blood Warriors’ spirits rose as a deep sense of pride filled their chests, all of them elated to see the previously domineering and arrogant Chou Xu forced into such a distressed state.
Li Rong and Han Fei’s eyes also lit up as they exchanged a look filled with pleasant surprise.
Although both of them knew that Yang Kai was very strong, since they had begun following him, they had never seen him truly fight with any powerful master, so they didn’t know where his bottom line was.
Just now, the two women had secretly decided that if Yang Kai showed signs of being overwhelmed they would immediately help.
But the situation was actually completely different from what they were worried about. A First Order Saint Realm master actually couldn’t even fight back in front of Yang Kai.
The two of them could even determine that Yang Kai could easily kill the other party if he wanted to.
This is because Yang Kai had yet to use his Demon God Transformation and was still only fighting against the one-eyed man with his raw strength.
At this moment, they finally put down their last worries and, while completely suppressing Xiu Li so she couldn’t interfere, observed Yang Kai’s fight.
“Father will fight with you!” A burst of light flashed as Chou Xu suddenly screamed and summoned a large bell. The bell swung and released a thunderous sound, sending out a powerful shockwave in all directions.
The Heaven Punishing Spear and Profound Heavenly Sword that were flying towards him suddenly weakened.
Down below, the Transcendents all felt like their heads were splitting when they heard the tolling of the bell, looks of pain filling their faces as they felt their blood flow become disturbed, threatening to burst from their bodies at any time.
Li Rong waved her hand and dispelled the pressure surrounding them, allowing the Transcendents to recover, each of them sending her a gratefully look.
Chou Xu’s Spiritual Energy burst out as he controlled his large bell artifact, releasing its full power, using it as a shield to block Yang Kai’s attacks as he charged forward.
Obviously, he wanted to launch a desperate counter-attack in the hopes of creating a mutual loss. If at that moment he could capture Yang Kai, it would be even better.
“A Spirit Grade Top-Rank artifact?!” Yang Kai snorted, ignoring the impact of the sound wave from the bell and not only not retreating, but moving forward to meet it.
True Yang Yuan Qi erupted and like a giant fireball, Yang Kai slammed into the large bell head-on.
A moment later, a loud bang rang out.
The sound of the bell echoed throughout the entire Central Capital, causing everyone’s vitality to uncomfortably tumble.
Chou Xu, who had been hiding behind the large bell, was struck by a terrifying impact and sent flying like a paper kite, blood gushing from his wounds as his face paled and his eyes filled with shock.
Despite feeling it with his own body, he couldn’t believe what had just happened.
The Third-Order Transcendent Realm young had actually used his flesh and blood body to not only block his artifact’s all-out attack but even forcefully repelled it, sending Chou Xu flying.
On the other hand, the young man was only forced back a dozen steps before he stabilized his footing.
Just how tyrannical did one’s flesh have to be to stop an artifact with their body?
It wasn’t until this moment that Chou Xu fully understood how monstrous the combat strength of the young man before him was. Although this youth’s cultivation realm was lower than Chou Xu’s, he was actually the kind of monster that could easily fight above his own level.
Chou Xu’s eyes dimmed as he tumbled through the air, a moment later screaming out, “Wu Zheng!”
Yang Kai grasped the large bell in his hand for a moment before tossing it aside and disappearing, his figure flickering and quickly re-appearing in front of Chou Xu, a ferocious grin forming on his face as he stated, “It doesn’t matter who you call for now, you’re still going to die!”
A blast of pure True Qi crashed into Chou Xu and despite his best efforts he was unable to resist.
Scotching heat flooded Chou Xu’s body, boiling his blood and turning the surface of his skin bright red.
*Hong…*
Chou Xu’s body burst open like a blossoming blood-red flower, his death extremely miserable.
Xiu Li’s tender body trembled fiercely as her heart filled with fear. She had witnessed the entire battle from start to finish but was still unable to understand just how a Saint Realm master was so easily killed by a mere Transcendent Realm youth.
This scene had completely subverted her perception of a cultivator’s strength.
Staring at this terrifying youth’s imposing back, Xiu Li couldn’t help feeling terrified.
“Master, how should we deal with this woman?” Li Rong asked softly.
“Kill her!” Yang Kai responded faintly.
“Understood!” Han Fei nodded, her figure flickering and appearing beside Xiu Li in the next instant before sending out a few light palms.
In the blink of an eye, Xiu Li’s body was covered in a layer of ice, transforming her into an incredibly life-like ice sculpture, the fear on her face perfectly preserved.
This ice sculpture fell down right after and shattered into a million pieces.
Xiu Li had died, leaving not a single trace of her corpse.
“Who dares commit murder here?” A roar echoed from far away and a moment later a red-faced old man leisurely appeared, his face filled with anger as he swept his eyes over the surrounding.
After clearly seeing Yang Kai though, his face paled, “Nine Heavens Holy Land’s Holy Master?”
As Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple’s Temple Master, Wu Zheng naturally recognized Yang Kai; after all, he and Chu Yi of Veiled Heaven Palace as well as Fang Yue Bai of Mist Lock Tower had pursued the Ancient Demon clansmen across half of the Human Territory to the nine peaks.
Wu Zheng also harboured hatred towards this young man who colluded with Demons, as well as a deep sense of envy.
The reason for this was quite simple. Yang Kai was nothing but a young man yet he was already the master of one of the world’s greatest forces and was even able to subdue so many powerful Demon Race masters.
The power he held in his hands was enough to make anyone jealous.
Wu Zheng didn’t know where he was worse than him and why this kind of good deed hadn’t landed in his lap instead.
“Wu Zheng!” Yang Kai grinned as he stared faintly at the old man.
“Holy Master Yang… it’s been a long time,” Wu Zheng looked around and frowned, “Might I ask, why has Holy Master Yang has come to this place? Also, have you seen Chou Xu and Xiu Li? I just heard Chou Xu’s cry a moment ago and sensed the fallout of battle from this place, it couldn’t be that Holy Master Yang…”
“If you’re referring to that one-eyed man and a middle-aged and that beautiful woman, they’re already dead.”
“Dead?” Wu Zheng expression darkened as he stared deeply at Yang Kai, “Could it be they died at Holy Master Yang’s hand?”
“Indeed,” Yang Kai admitted frankly.
Wu Zheng brow furrowed as a cold light flashed across his eyes, “Why did you kill them? What enmity did they have with Holy Master Yang?”
“Can I not kill people without there being enmity between us?” Yang Kai laughed and narrowed his eyes at Wu Zheng, lifting his hand and pointing at him while grinning fiercely, “Not only them, but you too must die today!”
Wu Zheng’s face cramped as he glanced cautiously towards Li Rong and Han Fei, saying with a smile, “What does Holy Master Yang mean by all this? Is there someplace where this Wu has offended you?”
He had just heard Chou Xu’s pitiful scream and immediately realized that something was wrong. When he rushed over, he first saw Yang Kai, but without understanding what the situation was, Wu Zheng didn’t feel much sense of crisis.
After all, Yang Kai was the Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land so it was impossible for him to kill someone for no reason at all, not to mention that Wu Zheng was also the master of a force not too inferior to Yang Kai’s.
He had taken it for granted that they were of equal status and could sit down and talk things out if there was some kind of issue.
Little could he have imagined that Yang Kai had no intention of discussing anything with him and responded to his words with murderous intent.
“How have you offended me?” Yang Kai’s eyes grew ice-cold as he gloomily said, “This place is my home, yet you and your lackeys invaded, humiliating my friends and family…”
Before Yang Kai even finished talking, Wu Zheng understood that the situation was beyond saving.
Whether his words were true or not, it was a fact that Chou Xu and Xiu Li were already dead. Since Yang Kai dared to kill them both, perhaps he would be willing to kill him too.
Wu Zheng was a decisive person, and after hearing just part of Yang Kai’s explanation, he immediately summoned out a shield artifact, transforming it into a light barrier around himself and flew away from the Central Capital as quickly as possible.
Yang Kai’s brow wrinkled as he turned to look in the direction Wu Zheng had fled, waving his hand a moment later.
Without saying a word, Han Fei immediately pursued.
There was no need to speculate about Wu Zheng’s fate, he would die without a doubt!
Once an Ancient Demon Clansmen used their Demon God Transformation, they could fight opponents above their own realm. Li Rong had fought Xue Li to a draw when she was just a Second-Order Saint. The current Han Fei was also a Second-Order Saint, so killing Wu Zheng was just a matter of time.
“Li Rong, sweep the Central Capital, clean up anyone brought here by Wu Zheng.”
“Yes,” Li Rong responded promptly before disappearing, her immense Divine Sense spreading out like a tide in the next instant, covering the entire Central Capital.
Yang Kai then flew down to the ground.
“Little Lord!” The Blood Warriors looked all stared at him with excitement and shouted.
Yang Kai glanced at them and nodded, “Everything’s alright now, let’s go back first before we talk.”
“Good.”
By the time Yang Kai arrived at the Yang Family, Li Rong had already completed the mop-up work and the majority of the people brought over by Wu Zheng had been gathered in the Yang Family to begin with, allowing her to easily take care of them.
After hearing the whole story from Li Rong, many Yang Family members had assembled in anticipation of Yang Kai’s arrival.
The Yang Family Fourth Master husband and wife pair were both waiting eagerly, Dong Su Zhu constantly wiping the tears from her eyes.
A moment later, when Yang Kai and the numerous Blood Warriors appeared in their field of vision, Dong Su Zhu rushed out to Yang Kai despite the Fourth Master trying to hold her back.
“Mother!” Yang Kai shouted happily.
Dong Su Zhu grabbed hold of his shoulders and began looking him over from head to toe, wanting to see if he was in good health. After determining that her son was uninjured, she tightly embraced him.
Yang Kai immediately felt like it had become difficult to breathe.
Li Rong stared strangely at this mother and son reunion. If Yang Kai hadn’t taken the initiative to call out a moment ago, Li Rong would have assumed that this young woman was Yang Kai’s Elder or possibly even Younger Sister. She never would have expected her to actually be her Master’s mother.
“Isn’t that enough, everyone is waiting, why are you hugging Kai’er as if he’ll disappear if you let go?” Yang Ying Feng finally stepped forward to remind her after seeing his wife show no signs of letting their son go.
“Who cares about them… This is my son,” Dong Su Zhu tears continued to pour out, acting like she was suffering some intolerable grievance, as if someone was trying to snatch Yang Kai away from her.
“Father!” Yang Kai grinned and greeted the Yang Family Fourth Master.
“En, good, very good!” Yang Ying Feng nodded heavily, a hint of relief appearing on his face as the corners of his eyes began to water up too.
Yang Kai had been away from home for more than ten years with no news about whether he was even alive or dead, so of course the ones who were most worried were Yang Ying Feng and Dong Su Zhu. Now though, not only were they able to determine their son was safe and sound, Yang Kai had also once again rescued the Central Capital; naturally, a sense of pride rose in the Fourth Master’s heart.
After some time, Dong Su Zhu’s mood gradually calmed down and she reluctantly released Yang Kai.
“Wait until tonight, our family can have a good chat then,” Yang Kai patted her hand and comforted.
“En.”
Yang Kai walked forward and swept his eyes over the faces of the Yang Family Elders as well as his seven brothers, greeting them one by one.
Speaking in a friendly tone with all of them.
“Ninth Brother!” The brothers also greeted him calmly. Yang Kai was the youngest of the nine brothers, but now he was without a doubt the one with the highest achievements. Comparing him with themselves, each of them couldn’t help feeling a bit distraught while at the same time happy for him.
“Second Brother, how is life as the Patriarch?” Yang Kai laughed loudly as he turned to Yang Zhao.
Yang Zhao just let out a long sight, “One doesn’t understand the burdens of being in charge until he finds himself in a position of power. Second Brother was far too naive before, if I was given another chance, I would never have participated in that damn Inheritance War.”
Among the Yang Family’s nine brothers, next to Yang Kai, the most suitable one to become Patriarch was Yang Zhao. Although Eldest Brother Yang Wei had great personal strength, he was obsessed with pursuing the peak of the Martial Dao and cared little for anything else, so the family’s Elders did not feel relieved passing the position to him.
As such, after Yang Kai left, responsibility for the family’s affairs had fallen to Yang Zhao.
After ten years apart, all of the brothers had already established their own families, each of them having gotten married and some of them even fathering children.
“Let’s go inside first. We brothers have not been reunited for a long time,” Yang Zhao said and ushered everyone inside.
Under the insistence of Yang Ying Feng, Yang Kai first stopped by the Yang Family’s Ancestral Burial Hall to burn a stick of incense.
According to the words of the Fourth Master, the reason why they could turn danger into safety was all because of the ancestors’ blessings and had nothing to do with Yang Kai. Yang Kai was just following the fate his ancestors were guiding him towards.
After worshipping his ancestors, Yang Kai walked out of the hall and followed the Fourth Master to the Yang Family’s Elder Hall.
At this moment, the hall was filled with people, and upon noticing Yang Kai enter, all eyes turned to stare at him.
“Grand Master!” Yang Kai spotted Ling Tai Xu amongst the crowd and quickly rushed over.
Ling Tai Xu smiled and nodded, but he seemed to be seriously injured, his face pale as paper as he stood there unsteadily.
Yang Kai’s heart clenched as he asked quickly.
“It’s nothing serious, I just took a palm strike from a man named Wu Zheng. Fortunately, he didn’t have any intention of taking my life or I would not be standing here right now,” Ling Tai Xu comforted.
Yang Kai couldn’t help reaching out and grabbing Ling Tai Xu’s wrist, carefully examining him.
After a while, Yang Kai’s expression slightly relaxed.
The wounds Grand Master had suffered were heavy but there was no risk to his life, such injuries would be easy for Yang Kai to treat with his current means.
“Grand Master, take this pill,” Yang Kai took out a pill and handed it to him.
Ling Tai Xu didn’t hesitate and swallowed the pill directly before patting Yang Kai’s shoulder, “You and the others talk, I’ll first go and refine this pill.”
“Good.”
“Master, let me see you out!” The Yang Family Fourth Master hurried to help Ling Tai Xu.
“Senior Ling was injured trying to save us from that person,” Tu Feng suddenly said, “This time, if not for Ling Tai Xu attracting the attention of those people, we would not have been able to escape from the Yang Family.”
“Unfortunately, we were almost captured, it is only thanks to Little Lord’s punctual arrival that we did not waste Senior Ling’s efforts,” Tang Yu Xian said in low spirits, hanging her head.
“Don’t worry about it, Grand Master acting so was surely because he had carefully considered the situation, and in the end didn’t everything work out” Yang Kai smiled, “Come in and sit down so we can talk.”
Inside the hall, everyone sat down in their own position while those who didn’t have an assigned seat just stood around nearby, all of them turning their eyes to Yang Kai, apparently waiting for him to talk.
“Second Brother, how serious are the family’s losses?” Yang Kai found a random spot to sit down before turning to Yang Zhao and asking.
Hearing his question, everyone’s expression became low-spirited, causing Yang Kai’s heart to sink.
“The biggest losses were from the Blood Warrior Hall,” Yang Zhao sighed heavily, “When those people arrived, we knew nothing about their strength which resulted in Hall Master Feng Sheng and Deputy Hall Master Zhou Feng both dying in battle. The entire Blood Warrior Hall was hit hard.”
The Blood Warrior Hall was filled with the most loyal guardians of the Yang Family, it was the place where the Yang Family specifically raised its protectors.
When danger arrived, naturally they were the first to resist.
Yang Kai had a faint impression of Hall Master Feng Sheng and Deputy Hall Master Zhou Feng; after all, he had also interacted with them before a few times, but he hadn’t expected that both of them would be killed during this invasion.
Tu Feng clenched his fists and his body trembled as he sobbed, “Qu Gao Yi, Ji Li, Xiao Shun, Luo Hai, and Fu Cong… also died.”
Yang Kai shook.
The Blood Warriors that Tu Feng named just now had all followed Yang Kai during the Inheritance War. During the final stages of the Inheritance War, Yang Kai had brought together thirteen Blood Warriors and used various resources to transform them into thirteen Transcendent Realm masters.
In particular, Qu Gao Yi, along with Ying Jiu, was the first to follow Yang Kai; they were the loyalist and most talented members of the Blood Warrior Hall.
Hearing that all these old friends had passed away caused stabbing pain in Yang Kai’s heart.
The Blood Warrior Hall had suffered terrible losses, leaving all the Blood Warriors who survived sad and solemn.
In addition to the casualties from the Blood Warrior Hall, several of the family Elders had also died.
Even Yang Zhen, the Great Elder, had died at the hands of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple.
It could be said that since this catastrophe struck, half of all the Yang Family’s high-level masters had been killed, making this by far the greatest blow the family had ever experienced.
Not only the Yang Family, but every one of the Central Capital’s Eight Great Families had suffered such a fate.
Fortunately, Wu Zheng hadn’t acted completely ruthlessly as he had absolute confidence in his own strength. He believed that the cultivators from the Central Capital wouldn’t be able to revolt against his subordinate. After the initial slaughter, he had sealed strength of many of the masters of the great families, forcing them to submit and work for him.
Wu Zheng’s goal was the human resources of this world.
Whether it was bringing these people back to Tong Xuan Realm to serve as labourers or to be sold as slaves, they would be a great asset.
For this reason, the Central Capital Eight Great Families had not been completely exterminated.
“Ninth Brother, that Wu Zheng’s strength and methods are earth-shattering, can the people you brought with you really oppose him?” Yang Zhao asked somewhat nervously.
“En, I never thought anyone could possess such terrifying strength,” Some of the other Elders chimed in.
“Is that what you’re worried about? Well, seeing is believing,” Yang Kai chuckled, turning his head in a certain direction and nodding after a moment, “They’re back.”
“Who’s back?” Yang Zhao was confused.
Outside the main hall, a beautiful figure appeared, wrapped in an ice-cold aura; naturally, it was Han Fei.
Holding a bloody head in her hand, she walked straight inside and tossed it onto the ground before bowing to Yang Kai, “Master, fortunately, I have not failed my mission!”
“En, good work,” Yang Kai gently nodded.
Inside the hall, everyone’s eyes turned to the severed head that was slowly rolling on the ground, their eyes bulging in the next breathe with Yang Zhao jumping out of his chair and shouting, “It’s Wu Zheng!”
“He’s really dead?”
“Good good!” Many of the Yang Family member’s eyes lit up as their faces filled with joy.
Turning towards Han Fei, each of them showed her a look filled with respect and gratitude.
Before, when Li Rong had appeared and eliminated the masters brought by Wu Zheng, she had received many thanks, but that was all. From their perspective, the disciples of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple had all just died inexplicably, none of them had been able to see Li Rong’s methods so they were unable to judge just how tyrannical her strength was.
But now that the saw Wu Zheng’s head being brought in by Han Fei, all of them fully understood how astonishing this cold beauty’s power was.
For a moment, everyone in the hall couldn’t tell if they were dreaming or seeing some kind of illusion, many of them even getting up off their seats to take a closer look at Wu Zheng’s head to confirm if it was real or not.
After confirming it was though, all of them shook with excitement.
“Ninth Brother, this Lady is…” Yang Zhao directed a hesitant and somewhat strange look towards Han Fei.
“We are Master’s subordinates,” Han Fei took the initiative to explain, lest everyone misunderstood.
“Subordinates…” Yang Zhao’s face twitched visibly, for a while not knowing how to respond.
Ninth Brother had been away for more than a decade without the slightest bit of news, yet he had suddenly returned, bringing with him incredibly powerful subordinates, swept away the seemingly invincible enemies that had invaded their homes, and saved the entire Central Capital. In comparison, he, the Patriarch of the Yang Family, was actually helpless to resist while the enemy had killed so many from his family. The gap between the two of them caused Yang Zhao to feel somewhat dejected.
“Very good, with these two madams here, our Yang Family will not have to fear being bullied again.”
“That’s right, Ninth Brother, you’ve come back to stay, right?”
The brothers inquired eagerly.
However, Yang Kai shook his head.
Dong Su Zhu, who was sitting next to Yang Kai, instantly went pale and instinctually grabbed hold of Yang Kai’s hand, tearfully calling out, “Kai’er, are you planning to leave again?”
Yang Kai smiled and said, “I have to leave, but this time I must take all of you with me.”
“You want us to go with you?” Yang Zhao knit his brow.
“Indeed. I hope that everyone can come with me to Tong Xuan Realm.”
The hall suddenly fell silent. The Central Capital was where their roots were, the birthplace of their ancestors. Yang Kai asking them to abandon it inevitably gave them pause.
Yang Kai naturally understood what they were feeling and stood up to speak, “Before, my Yang Family was the strongest amongst the Eight Great Families, one of the greatest powers in this world, but now, the situation is different. This world and Tong Xuan Realm have become connected. This time it was Wu Zheng, the next time it might be someone else, possibly even someone worse. It is no longer safe to remain here in the Central Capital.”
“More people will come?” Many people’s faces went white, none of them having realized how serious the situation was until now.
They had thought that with Wu Zheng dead, they would have nothing else to worry about, but now it appeared that was not the case.
According to Yang Kai’s words, this place had become a piece of meat that many powerhouses and forces would want to take a bite of.
“If that’s the case, naturally we should not sit idly by and wait,” Yang Zhao’s expression became dignified as he sank into contemplation for a moment before suddenly looking at Yang Kai, “Ninth Brother, Second Brother must ask you a few questions.”
Yang Kai nodded.
“If we leave the Central Capital and follow you back to that Tong Xuan Realm, can you guarantee we’ll be able to survive with just our strength? Second Brother doesn’t want to be demeaning, but after this incident, our weakness and short-sightedness has become painfully obvious.”
“I can. On that side, I have a certain amount of influence, and it will be enough to safeguard all of your lives.”
Yang Zhao expression brightened as he continued, “Is there a place for us to stay? Somewhere we can establish a new home?”
“Yes, I’ve already found such a place, you don’t need to worry about that.”
Yang Zhao asked again, “What about materials? Here we can support ourselves, but we are not familiar with how things work on the other side, will there be any issue securing enough cultivation resources?”
Yang Kai smiled meaningfully, “What I most do not lack now is cultivation materials. There are more Crystal Stones than could ever be used up along with an abundance of Spirit Grade and Saint Grade materials, far more than you could even imagine, I guarantee that you will not have any worries about having enough resources on that side.”
Everyone in the hall was dumbfounded.
Tu Feng hesitantly asked, “Little Lord, we have heard of Spirit Grade, but what is this Saint Grade you speak of?”
“The tier above Spirit Grade,” Yang Kai explained.
“What is a Crystal Stone?” Tang Yu Xian also asked.
“This is a Crystal Stone,” Yang Kai said, tossing something over to her. After Yu Xian caught this thumb size object, all the Blood Warriors began crowding around curiously, like a group of country bumpkins who had never seen the world, each of them revealing looks of surprise.
“Heavens! There’s so much pure energy contained inside this thing.”
“And it seems like it can be directly absorbed and transformed into True Qi.”
“If one had such an item, couldn’t they quickly restore themselves in the midst of a battle?”
Exclamations rang out as the Blood Warriors excitedly examined the Crystal Stone.
“En, the World Energy aura here is incomparable to the one over there, any ordinary place in Tong Xuan Realm has richer World Energy than even the best cultivation paradises here, so the rate of cultivation on that side is much faster than here.”
Yang Kai happily described the various aspects of Tong Xuan Realm, causing the Yang Family members’ eyes to flash and fill with expectation.
Denser World Energy, absolute safety, abundant resources, a comfortable living environment… Yang Kai had taken care of everything, all they had to do was follow him.
“Of course, I hope you can all come with me to Tong Xuan Realm, but if there are those of you who wish to remain, I won’t insist,” After speaking, Yang Kai clarified his standpoint, “If anyone wants to stay here, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Not everyone is as hateful as Wu Zheng, it’s also possible the powerhouses who come here later won’t abuse their strength to bully you, everything is up to you to decide.”
“My Qiu Family is willing to follow you, I just wonder if Little Lord is willing to bring us?” From outside the hall, a melodious voice called out.
Yang Kai raised his brow and turned his head towards the entrance.
A graceful figure gently landed and walked inside, her beautiful eyes quickly landing on Yang Kai as she pursed her red lips. Although she was doing her best to appear calm, it was obvious to everyone that she was filled with excitement and joy.
“Qiu Family Matriarch, welcome,” Yang Zhao got up and greeted.
“Beauty, long time no see,” Yang Kai also stood up and stared at the young woman who was stepping into the hall.
Qiu Yi Meng!
Similar to how she decisively chose all those years ago, before anyone else made their decision, she was willing to entrust her and her family’s interests to Yang Kai without the slightest hesitation.
“En, it’s been a long time,” Qiu Yi Meng’s lashes fluttered as a look of resentment flashed across her face for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and returned the greeting.
“Miss Luo,” Yang Kai next greeted the woman who was standing behind Qiu Yi Meng.
This woman, with great, towering peaks, was none other than Luo Xiao Man of Purple Fern Valley; Qiu Yi Meng’s closest friend.
Even after more than a decade, Luo Xiao Man’s fear of Yang Kai had not disappeared, returning his greeting with a small nod before she quickly hid behind Qiu Yi Meng.
She didn’t know why, but every time she saw Yang Kai, Luo Xiao Man couldn’t help remember that time back in the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land, when that girl named Bi Luo had appeared in front of her, a milky white liquid was dripping from the corner of her mouth…
“My Qiu Family wishes to accompany you, is Little Lord willing to lead us over to that side?” Qiu Yi Meng stared at Yang Kai seriously.
“There’s no need for you to act like an outsider,” Yang Kai grinned, “I never planned to just bring my Yang Family with me this time, since you wish to come too, that would be for the best.”
“Seems like you still have some conscience!” Qiu Yi Meng shot him an angry glare before her expression relaxed and she let out a burst of sweet laughter, instantly brightening the hall.
“I heard that Young Lord Kai is back, is that true?” Another loud voice filled with excitement called out from outside, and as soon as the sound fell, Huo Xing Chen flew inside the hall like a gust of wind, his eyes darting about as he shouted, “Where is Young Lord Kai?”
The next moment, when he saw Yang Kai standing not far away, he ran up and gave him a great bear hug and strongly patted his back, “Brother, it’s good that you’ve come back. Qiu Yi Meng was dying of loneliness without you.”
Qiu Yi Meng pretty face instantly became frigid as she grit her teeth, “Huo Xing Chen, you want me to rip out your tongue?”
The Huo Family Young Lord laughed riotously before releasing Yang Kai, his smiling face filling with happiness, “I’ve also missed you, Brother.”
“Why you, after not seeing you for more than ten years, how have you fallen so far behind?” Yang Kai also smiled upon seeing this familiar face.
During the Inheritance War, everyone who followed Yang Kai obtained great benefits. Little Senior Sister Xia Ning Chang had used the Myriad Drug Liquid and a large number of medicinal herbs to create a pool of medicinal liquid which cleansed their bodies and improved everyone’s aptitude by varying degrees.
Huo Xing Chen, Qiu Yi Meng and other important people obtained even greater benefits than this.
It could be said that their future achievements were guaranteed to not be low; even if they remained in the Central Capital for the rest of their lives, breaking through to the Transcendent Realm was a certainty.
After ten odd years, Qiu Yi Meng had already reached the Peak Immortal Ascension Boundary, but Huo Xing Chen was still stuck at the Sixth Stage, greatly surprising Yang Kai.
He couldn’t understand why Hou Xing Chen’s cultivation had fallen behind so much.
Hearing Yang Kai’s words, many people inside the Yang Family Elder Hall couldn’t help chuckling, revealing knowing looks.
Even Qiu Yi Meng had to cover her mouth in order to stifle her laughter.
Huo Xing Chen’s face instantly became bitter as he helplessly complained, “Young Lord Kai, you don’t know how much misfortune has befallen me…”
Saying so, he began telling his story.
As he silently listened, Yang Kai’s expression became more and more awkward.
The Huo Family was one of the Central Capital’s Eight Great Families, but the previous generation’s Patriarch, Huo Zheng, only had one son, Huo Xing Chen, while on the other hand, he had a great many daughters who he treated as treasures, taking care of them in every possible way.
After Huo Xing Chen assumed the position of Patriarch, the Huo Family Elders, having learned a painful lesson from the previous generation’s Patriarch, immediately began arranging marriages for Huo Xing Chen to ensure he fathered a large number of descendants.
Over the past decade, the Huo Family had added more than a dozen women to Huo Xing Chen’s harem, and under the intimidation of the Elders, Hou Xing Chen had diligently fulfilled his duty to expand the Huo Family.
Having to satisfy so many ‘demands’ had consumed Huo Xing Chen’s time and stamina greatly, so it was only natural his cultivation had not advanced.
“Haa… if I count them all, this Young Lord had a full fifteens concubines and wives,” Huo Xing Chen stared at Yang Kai, his face filled with a look of suffering as he grabbed his shoulders and sobbed, “If some day there is a chance, I’ll introduce them to you. Although each of them is a rare beauty, facing their combined might, this Young Master is really incapable of fighting back.”
Yang Kai looked at him with sympathy but didn’t know what to say, thinking about it for a long time before finally muttering, “My condolences…”
Inside the hall, everyone burst into laughter.
It seemed that the news of Yang Kai’s return had already spread out. Immediately after Qiu Yi Meng and Huo Xing Chen arrived, the other young Patriarchs of the Eight Great Families appeared.
Meng Family Patriarch Meng Shan Yi, Liu Family Patriarch Liu Qing Yao, Kang Family Patriarch Kang Jian, Gao Family Patriarch Gao Ren Xian, Ye Family Patriarch Ye Jing Li…
Of these five people, Yang Kai was only somewhat familiar with Meng Shan Yi and Liu Qing Yao. The other three he had barely even spoken to before.
All of them had come together after hearing that Yang Kai had returned and swept away all the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple invaders, wanting to inquire about what was to happen next.
Upon learning that Yang Kai wanted to bring the Yang Family away from the Central Capital and take them to Tong Xuan Realm, the five young Patriarchs couldn’t immediately make a decision.
Relocating their entire family was not something they could decide at will.
They also had other concerns.
During the Inheritance War, the Huo Family and Qiu Family were by far the closest to Yang Kai, with Qiu Yi Meng and Huo Xing Chen having assisted him directly. Them following Yang Kai was a given, but the other five had mostly fought against Yang Kai in the past. Now that circumstances had changed so dramatically, they weren’t certain how to position themselves.
Yang Kai extended an invitation to them casually, asking them to join him in Tong Xuan Realm.
As for what had transpired between them in the past, Yang Kai had long ago stopped caring about it. These five were also people from his homeland and helping them required very little effort for the current Yang Kai, so he didn’t hesitate to ask.
However, all five young Patriarchs said they needed to go back and negotiate with their family’s Elders before making a decision.
After these five left, before they could have a moment of calm, a steady stream of people began arriving.
All of these visitors were friends of Yang Kai who had participated in the Inheritance War.
Han Xiao Qi, Ye Han, Liu Qing Ru, and Hua Ruo Yin of Ten Thousand Flower Palace.
Feng Qian Hen of Water Moon Hall.
Zuo Fang, Li Xin Yuan of Pure Heart Palace.
Reflecting Moon Sect’s Chen Xue Shu and Su Xiao Yu.
Treasure Instrument Sect Tao Yang and Zhao Rong.
Leng Shan, Chen Yi, and Chen Ying of Ghost King Valley…
These people had all been helping to rebuild the Central Capital after Yang Kai left, causing the Yang Family to feel quite grateful and fostering close ties with each of their respective Sects. Each of them had mutually taken care of the others these past ten years and eventually, the young leaders who had been among the first ones to support Yang Kai were chosen as representatives of their respective Sects to the Yang Family and thus remained in the Central Capital all this time.
Fortunately, during the most recent disaster, none of them had suffered tragedy, all of them managing to survive.
With so many old friends meeting, the atmosphere became jubilant, the four Ten Thousand Flower Palace girls had even matured into great beauties, adding a layer of colour to the scene.
After enthusiastically exchanging greetings, Yang Kai told them about his future plans, all of them saying they would immediately return to their Sects to inform their Elders.
After they left, Yang Kai said, “Second Brother, you discuss with the Elders whether you plan to follow me or not. Please give me a reply as soon as possible though as I won’t be able to stay here for too long.”
“There’s no need to discuss anything, Ninth Brother. Since you’ve already arranged everything, the Yang Family will naturally follow you,” Yang Zhao readily agreed.
Everyone else also nodded, not a single objection being raised, the Blood Warriors all showing excited looks, openly displaying their happiness that they would be able to follow their Little Lord once more.
“Good, then have everyone pack their things, tell them to only take with them their most precious possessions. As for any cultivation materials or resources, you can leave them behind, they won’t be worth anything in Tong Xuan Realm,” Yang Kai urged them before turning his eyes to Qiu Yi Meng and Huo Xing Chen.
The Huo Family Young Lord quickly stated, “Whatever Qiu Yi Meng decides to do I will follow along with, her vision is far better than mine.”
“I must bring the Qiu Family to Tong Xuan Realm,” Qiu Yi Meng stated decisively as she shot him a glance.
Huo Xing Chen shrugged his shoulders, “Then I’ll go back and inform my old man and let our people hurry up and pack.”
Saying so, he quickly left.
“We will also get to work,” Yang Zhao stood up and ordered to the rest of the Yang Family members in the hall, “Just as Ninth Brother said, only take with you what you cannot bear to part with, the rest can be left behind.”
“Yes!” Numerous people shouted and dispersed.
Inside the hall, only Yang Kai, Li Rong, Han Fei, Qiu Yi Meng, and Luo Xiao Man remained.
“Master, we’ll be waiting outside if you need us,” Li Rong pursed her lips and smiled before walking out with Han Fei. With her eyesight, how could she have not seen the way the young girl named Qiu Yi Meng looked at Yang Kai?
It was the look of a maiden that could not hide her longing and infatuation.
Her deliberately staying behind was obviously in order to see Yang Kai alone.
“Elder Sister Qiu, I’ll also go on ahead,” Luo Xiao Man whispered before quickly following after Li Rong and Han Fei.
Inside the Elder Hall, silence fell and the atmosphere became a bit tense as Qiu Yi Meng just stared at Yang Kai without saying a word.
Yang Kai finally broke the silence in a slightly embarrassed tone, “Seeing your current appearance, you don’t seem to have gotten married yet. You’re not young anymore.”
“I was waiting for you,” Qiu Yi Meng raised her eyes, revealing her long, slender white neck.
“Don’t joke with me,” Yang Kai let out a hollow laugh.
“Do you think I’m joking?” Qiu Yi Meng coldly snorted, suddenly grinding her teeth, “I know that there are other women in your heart, and I don’t expect you to like me back… Even I know that the current gap between us is too big. I have some self-awareness!”
Yang Kai could only stare back at her helplessly.
“But you rarely come back, so I need to clearly express myself. You said to me before… You will not speak about love to me but having fun is alright!”
“I really said such feral words?” Yang Kai was stunned.
“You did!” Qiu Yi Meng angrily bit her lip as she glared at him, “You realize now what an animal you were? I thought you were still ignorant!”
“Ah… er… That was all in the past, I was young and frivolous…”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Since you want to play, then let’s play! I don’t expect to wait for you forever, I know that’s not realistic, I don’t want to spend every day suffering like this, I just hope that I can turn your head at least once.”
“Eh…” Yang Kai was dumbstruck by Qiu Yi Meng’s bold words, unable to even answer back.
“I don’t care what you think about me, but just you wait, after we arrive in Tong Xuan Realm and everything has calmed down, I’ll let you know how fierce I can be!” Saying so, Qiu Yi Meng’s tender body flashed, appearing right in front of Yang Kai and completely disregarding whether he was willing or not, stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.
In the next instant, Yang Kai let out a pitiful yelp as he stumbled back feeling a burning pain from his lips.
Qiu Yi Meng turned around gracefully and gradually drifted away, her silver bell-like laughter ringing through the air, “That’s just a little bit of interest, when we get to the other side I’ll find an opportunity to get the rest of it from you as well as the capital you owe me.”
Yang Kai couldn’t help staring dumbly.
After an incense stick worth of time, Yang Kai walked out of the hall with a blank expression.
Li Rong and Han Fei, who were waiting outside, glanced over at him, then quickly turned their eyes away, their shoulders trembling lightly as they desperately tried to stifle their laughter.
“Go on, laugh, haven’t you seen a woman bite before?” Yang Kai touched his lip helplessly, feeling he had no face left at all.
“That young lady is actually quite good,” Li Rong said in a serious manner, “If she had been born in Tong Xuan Realm, her cultivation would be much higher.”
“En, this world has fettered their development!” Han Fei also agreed.
“That’s why I want to take them away from here, so they can see a wider world;” Yang Kai said profoundly, “This world is too small. Although there are more dangers over there, the conditions are still far better.”
Both women nodded in agreement.
A moment later, Yang Kai ordered, “You two temporarily remain here in the Yang Family to guard this place in order to avoid any unexpected situations.”
Li Rong was startled, “Is Master going somewhere?”
“There are still two places I need to visit.”
“Then allow either Han Fei or myself to accompany you.”
“No need, I’ll be fine on my own, with the Flying Heavens Shuttle, I’ll be perfectly safe. No one can catch up with me, especially not in this world.”
Li Rong thought about it for a moment and didn’t insist on it, only saying, “Then Master must be careful.”
“Tell my parents that after I finish my errands I’ll have lots of time to accompany them,” Yang Kai said before summoning the Flying Heavens Shuttle and soaring off in a blue flash of light, disappearing across the horizon in the blink of an eye.
After gazing in the direction of his disappearance for a moment, Li Rong and Han Fei’s figures flickered and also disappeared, the two of them flying over to the Fourth Master’s house to accompany Yang Kai parents in his place.
Medicine King’s Valley, Hidden Cloud Peak, in a flash of light, Yang Kai appeared.
He didn’t fly in directly, but stopped just below the peak and walked up.
This was the holy land in the hearts of this world’s Alchemists, where the first under Heaven Alchemy Grandmaster Xiao Fu Sheng lived. All who came here would pay special attention to etiquette as they ascended the mountain.
In the past, Yang Kai had spent some time in Medicine King’s Valley, and although he never studied the Alchemic Way under Grandmaster Xiao, the old man had taught Yang Kai many valuable lessons.
On the path that Yang Kai trod, these lessons had helped him many times.
Yang Kai genuinely respected the kind Grandmaster and the two beautiful women who served him; they had provided the best resources and support for him without the slightest reservation.
Yang Kai was extremely grateful for their generosity and the assistance they freely gave him.
This time, Yang Kai was preparing to bring the three of them to Tong Xuan Realm.
Xiao Fu Sheng’s lifelong aspiration was to refine a Spirit Grade pill, but he was shackled by this world, unable to achieve this simple wish.
However, as long as he travelled to Tong Xuan Realm, it would not be difficult to refine such a pill given Xiao Fu Sheng’s means.
Yang Kai began to walk slowly towards the summit of Hidden Cloud Peak, glancing around at the herbs which were growing beside the path, recalling the two months that he had lived there.
Reminiscing, he couldn’t help smiling.
Medicine King’s Valley had not changed much since he was last here. Wu Zheng had led his group from High Heaven Pavilion to the Central Capital, committing all kinds of outrage along the way, but it seems he had yet to reach this place.
A moment later, Yang Kai reached the peak.
As always, there were only a few simple huts scattered around.
Two mature beauties were sweeping the leaves and dust in front of one of the huts, their hair wrapped in silk scarves lest they be dirtied while they worked.
Upon hearing Yang Kai’s footsteps, the two women raised their heads and wiped the thin trace of sweat from their foreheads as they stared at him suspiciously.
“Aunt Xiang, Aunt Lan!” Yang Kai smiled widely and shouted.
“You’re…” Aunt Xiang gawked for an instant before her beautiful eyes filled with pleasant surprise, gently putting down the broom in her hands and hurriedly asked, “Yang Kai?”
“En, it’s me.”
Aunt Lan also hurried over and gently nodded as she looked him over, pursing her lips and smiling, “After so many years, I could hardly recognize you.”
“En, you look much stronger than before. You used to be just skin and bones,” Aunt Xiang greeted warmly, “Come in and sit down.”
“En.”
Inside the hut, at a simple table, Yang Kai, Aunt Xiang, and Aunt Lan sat down with three cups of light tea set before them.
Aunt Lan said, “We don’t have much to entertain with, but make yourself at home.”
“Aunt Lan is too polite,” Yang Kai drank the tea in front of him and smiled, “Although I haven’t seen you two for many years, Aunt Lan and Aunt Xiang haven’t changed at all; you’re both as young as ever.”
The two women looked at each other and smiled.
“On the other hand, your tongue has grown slick and learned to sweet talk others,” Aunt Xiang directed a teasing look towards him, “Have you cheated many young misses with it?”
“How could that be?” Yang Kai waved his hand.
“I heard that you left the Central Capital more than ten years ago for unknown lands. Did you just return?”
“En, I came back a few days ago.”
“It’s good that you’ve safely returned. Before, Grandmaster would often mention you, saying you were a rare Alchemy talent yet you clearly didn’t know anything about the Alchemic Way. All those years ago, when you first arrived, it was like you had cheated him.”
“At that time… I really didn’t understand anything. Why haven’t I seen Grandmaster? Is he in retreat underground performing Alchemy?” Yang Kai asked.
The faces of Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan suddenly became gloomy as the smiles on their faces converged.
Yang Kai’s heart sank as a bad feeling rose within it.
“Grandmaster, he… he passed away five years ago,” Aunt Xiang spoke haltingly, her eyes becoming slightly wet as she whispered.
Yang Kai was startled and froze up, the discomfort in his heart increasing notably.
It was only at that moment that he recalled that the reason Grandmaster Xiao had suddenly decided to recruit disciples was because he realized that he did not have many years left, causing him to act so anxiously.
Even so, it was a shock to Yang Kai that he had already departed from this world five years ago.
“Grandmaster…” Yang Kai opened his mouth.
“He achieved his wish!” Aunt Xiang resisted her sadness and gently took out a jade box from her pocket, “Seven days before he passed on, he consumed the last of his vitality to successfully refine a Spirit Grade Pill. This was the last work he had left behind.”
Yang Kai accepted the jade box, feeling as if he was holding a great weight in his hands, like it was not a pill but a newborn life instead.
When he opened it, he saw a pristine Spirit Grade Pill with a rich fragrance and a potent medicinal efficacy. Even an excellent Spirit Grade Alchemist may not be able to produce such a good pill.
“Grandmaster’s departure was very serene,” Aunt Xiang wiped the cover of her eyes and somehow squeezed out a smile, “Therefore we don’t need to feel sad for him. Before he passed on though, Grandmaster said that Spirit Grade was not the peak of Alchemy, and that there must be a grade above Spirit Grade.”
Yang Kai’s body shook as he was secretly surprised by Xiao Fu Sheng’s astonishing vision.
At this moment, Yang Kai seemed to understand why Xiao Fu Sheng was so determined to refine a Spirit Grade Pill. His goal wasn’t to increase his own Alchemy skills, but rather to break through the shackles of this world with his own power.
And he had succeeded.
A Spirit Grade pill, which had never been seen in this world, had been refined by him.
“Where is Grandmaster buried?” Yang Kai looked up and asked.
Aunt Xiang got up and said, “Come with me.”
In a secluded area of Hidden Cloud Peak, not far from the summit, stood a small mound of earth.
It was hard to believe that such a simple grave was actually the burial place of this world’s greatest Alchemist.
“Everything was done in accordance with Grandmaster’s wishes. Grandmaster’s bones are not here, instead he was cremated and his ashes scattered across the nearby rivers and lakes, returning him to nature. There are only a few of his memorabilia buried here.”
Yang Kai knelt in worship as Aunt Xiang stood behind him and explained.
“Grandmaster would certainly be very happy if he knew you, his in-name disciple, had come here,” Aunt Xiang covered her mouth and spoke through the tears she could no longer hold back, Aunt Lan also sobbing nearby.
“This is what I should do,” Yang Kai nodded gently.
……
Half a day later, atop Hidden Cloud Peak, Yang Kai said goodbye to Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan.
“Will the two of you really not consider it? From now on it may not be peaceful here anymore. This world has already been connected to a place called Tong Xuan Realm. In the future, there may be many masters with strength beyond anything you can imagine arriving here,” Yang Kai made one last attempt to persuade.
He wanted to bring these two women who had taken such good care of him in the past back to the Central Capital and then on to Tong Xuan Realm, but they had actually refused his kindness and insisted on staying here.
“No, we have lived here all our lives and don’t wish to move anywhere else… Grandmaster is here too, we should remain here to accompany him. If we were to leave, he would be all alone.”
“You thinking so much of us is more than enough.”
Yang Kai could only sigh helplessly.
The determination of these two was firm, Yang Kai could tell. He knew that it was useless to try to persuade them anymore so he simply said, “Then in the future, when I have time, I’ll certainly come back here to visit you. Right, if someone dares to come here looking for trouble, report my name to them, perhaps it will be useful.”
“En, we know,” Aunt Xiang smiled and nodded.
“Then do take care!” Yang Kai sincerely cupped his fists and bowed before turning and descending the mountain.
“You too must act carefully. Don’t become overconfidence,” Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan waved to him from the top of the peak.
Below Hidden Cloud Peak, Yang Kai carefully placed the jade box containing the Spirit Grade Pill refined by Xiao Fu Sheng inside the Black Book space before summoning the Flying Heavens Shuttle and flying off towards the west.
His next destination was the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land.
He had left the Central Capital this time mainly to visit two places, one was Medicine King’s Valley and the other was the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land.
He was going to see Shan Qing Luo.
This bewitching woman had always been very good to Yang Kai, and during the final battle with the Demon Lord, she had provided him much assistance.
The most important point though was that Yang Kai had engraved himself on her heart, forging a bond between them that could not be erased.
Since he had finally come back, naturally Yang Kai wanted to bring her to Tong Xuan Realm, lest she be bullied here.
As for what she wanted to do once they reached Tong Xuan Realm, Yang Kai did not plan on restraining her.
Two hours later, Yang Kai arrived outside Fragrance City.
This city was arguably the most prosperous place in the entire Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land and was the territory under Shan Qing Luo’s direct jurisdiction.
When the Demon Lord and most of the six Great Evil Kings died, the entire Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land had been plunged into chaos; only Fragrance City was not affected because the Beguiling Demon Queen returned.
The stability of this city stood in stark contrast to the rest of the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land which was filled with slaughter and death.
Many cultivators who didn’t want to spend all their time fighting or running would come to Fragrance City to seek a different way of life, creating great prosperity which in turn attracted more people to come.
Upon arriving here, Yang Kai began to drag his feet as he pondered about what kind of attitude to use when he saw this enchantress again.
This seductress was simply too alluring. If she behaved affectionately and spoiled him, Yang Kai wasn’t certain he would be able to endure. If he couldn’t resist her charms, his ‘innocence’ would be at great risk.
Moreover, Yang Kai knew she would not hesitate to act this way.
After a short delay, Yang Kai arrived in front of Shan Qing Luo’s palace in Fragrance City.
At the entrance to the palace, there was a ragged beggar who was leaning against the wall, clasping his hands in front of him as he closed his eyes. His image was quite awkward, his hair was messy and his beard unkept, as if he had not groomed himself for many years.
Everyone who passed by pretended to not see him, clearly feeling it would troublesome to get involved with him.
Yang Kai glanced at him casually before his mouth curled into a strange smile. Slowly walking over while ignoring his stench, Yang Kai soon arrived in front of him.
When the noon sunlight was obscured by Yang Kai’s figure, the beggar opened his eyes slightly and looked up for a moment before soon closing them again and ignoring him.
It was as if he didn’t even see Yang Kai or was just pretending he didn’t exist.
Yang Kai however just grinned and lightly spoke, “Hello, Shadow King!”
The beggar’s body trembled as his eyes shot open, a trace of profound light flashing across the depths of his pupils. It seemed like it wasn’t until this moment that he recognized Yang Kai, his expression changing greatly and lightning surging up from his skinny body. In the next instant, his figure flickered and disappeared.
Yang Kai didn’t react excessively, simply turning his gaze in the direction the beggar disappeared, lightly sneering before shooting off in pursuit.
In the sky above Fragrance City, the beggar rapidly sped along, turning his head back anxiously in the direction of the palace but failing to find any trace of the young man. While desperately looking around for a trace of the youth, he suddenly noticed another person flying right beside him, his eyes bulging in shock.
“You…” The beggar stared dumbfounded, his face going completely pale as if he had just seen a ghost. He couldn’t believe that someone could actually surpass his speed.
He was proudest of his instant acceleration and rapid speed and truly thought that no one in the world could match him. Even the Demon Lord, Yang Bai, who was acknowledged as the strongest cultivator in this world, had nothing but praise for his speed.
However, this young man, even after giving him a head start, had instantly caught up with him, and from the looks of it, he wasn’t even using his full strength.
How could he not be shocked?
“Shadow King, don’t waste your energy, it’s impossible for you to escape!” Yang Kai coldly snorted as a burning power erupted from his body and surged out like an invisible punch, slamming into the beggar’s body, sending the latter miserably tumbling through the air.
After managing to stabilize himself, the Shadow King stood mid-air, his expression fluctuation as he stared at Yang Kai with dread, a deep sense of unwillingness flashing across his face.
He hadn’t expected that not only would he be inferior to the other side in terms of speed, but also in terms of strength. The casual blow just now had made him painfully aware of the huge gap between them, causing his will to escape to dampen significantly.
It was just like the other party had said, in the face of absolute power, any resistance was futile.
The energy fluctuations that spread out alarmed all of Fragrance City’s cultivators down below, each of them raising their heads to see what was happening.
After catching sight of the two figures floating high up in the sky, many people called out in surprise.
“Hey, isn’t that the beggar who is always in front of the Demon Queen’s palace?”
“Yeah, he sits there in front of the door all day; I don’t know how Lady Demon Queen endures him.”
“If it was me, I would have driven him away long ago.”
“Looking at him now though, it’s obvious he’s no simple beggar… How could someone so powerful have fallen into such a destitute state?”
“Rather, who is that young man with him. Doesn’t he seem even more powerful?”
“…”
The exclamations continued as Fragrance City’s cultivators moved closer to the pair, wanting to see more clearly, and soon, the streets below and the nearby roofs were full of people. There were even some more courageous cultivators who flew up into the air and gathered around, hoping there would be a good show to watch.
Yang Kai turned a blind eye to this, the strength of these Fragrance City cultivators was nothing to him.
“Yang Family little brat, do you really insist on ruthlessly killing to the last?” The beggars face filled with grief and indignation as he sorrowfully shouted.
“It’s not that I want to act ruthlessly,” Yang Kai slowly shook his head, “I’m just curious why the Lightning Flash Shadow King, one of the six Great Evil Kings, is actually dressed up as a beggar and loitering around Fragrance City.”
“Lightning Flash Shadow King?” Many of the spectators called out in shock upon hearing this name.
“It couldn’t be, right?”
“That beggar is actually Lightning Flash Shadow King?”
“Now that I look at him, he does bear some resemblance…”
“It really is Lightning Flash Shadow King that disappeared more than ten years ago! We all thought he was dead but it turns out he’s alive and living in Fragrance City!”
“Oh shit, when I passed by him a few days ago, I actually spat on him… Isn’t that no different from killing myself?” One man shouted, paling with fright.
“I also kicked his foot once… Do you think Lord Shadow King will find me to settle accounts?” Someone else stuttered.
The nearby cultivators all cast these people sympathetic looks, as if they were paying tribute to the dead, causing those who had just spoken to become even more terrified.
“Fortunately, when I passed by him last time, I tossed him some money! It seems my charitable heart has finally won me some good fortune, hahaha!” While some people were panicking when the beggar’s true identity was revealed, others were actually celebrating, the peoples’ moods varying greatly among the crowd.
Lightning Flash Shadow King, together with Thunderbolt Beast King, Annihilating Poison King, Profound Yin Ghost King, Tyrannical Force King, and Beguiling Demon Queen were known as the Six Great Evil Kings.
Before the appearance of the Demon Lord, the entire Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land had been ruled by the six of them, with the Central Capital as their common enemy.
During the Central Capital’s catastrophe a decade ago, the six Great Evil Kings, led by Demon Lord Yang Bai, had turned out in full force to crusade against the Eight Great Families.
However, at the end of the battle, Yang Bai died and the Six Great Evil Kings suffered heavy losses. Besides Shan Qing Luo who managed to escape without a scratch, the other five Evil Kings suffered terrible losses, four of them dying while only Lightning Flash Shadow King managed to flee.
Since then, no one had heard anything about him.
Many people said that he had died from his wounds, while others thought he had secluded himself in some remote mountain to hide.
After all, the Central Capital had many powerful masters left, if he dared to show up, he would no doubt be targeted.
No one could have imagined that he had actually disguised himself as a beggar and hidden inside Fragrance City, enduring humiliation every day in order to live on dishonourably.
If Yang Kai had not come to Fragrance City today to find Shan Qing Luo, it was quite possible his identity would never have been exposed.
He might have been able to deceive others, but there was no way he could conceal himself from Yang Kai’s senses.
A Second-Order Transcendent was already the highest level of master in this world; it would have been strange for Yang Kai to not notice him.
“Yang Family little brat, I am already no longer the Lightning Flash Shadow King and am no longer an enemy of your Central Capital Eight Great Families. I only want to live out the rest of my life in peace, why must you act so aggressive towards me?” Shadow King shouted.
“If that’s true, why are you disguising yourself while sitting outside Shan Qing Luo’s palace? What exactly are you plotting against her?” Yang Kai coldly snorted.
“Plotting against her?” Shadow King gawked before grumbling, “Aren’t you misunderstanding things? The reason I can stay in front of her palace is because I reached an agreement with her. Why else do you think I would be sitting here?”
“She agreed to let you stay here?” Yang Kai frowned before waving his hand, sending out a golden rope that directly tied up the Shadow King, “Whether or not that’s true, we’ll soon see. If it turns out you’re lying to me, today you will die without a doubt.”
Shadow King tried to struggle, but quickly discovered that this True Qi rope was not something he could break; on top of that, his own True Qi was being sealed, causing him a great deal of panic, as if he hadn’t imagined that Yang Kai’s strength had already reached such a frightening height.
Realizing this, he urgently called out, “You won’t find her here, she’s no longer in Fragrance City.”
“Not here?” Yang Kai’s brow furrowed even deeper as he released his Divine Sense across the entire city, soon discovering there really was no trace of Shan Qing Luo’s aura, a hint of loneliness welling up in his heart.
“Where did she go?”
“There are still a few people inside the palace, you can ask them,” Lightning Flash Shadow King grumbled unhappily.
“Good!” Yang Kai nodded, pulling the Shadow King along as he flew into Shan Qing Luo’s palace.
Fragrance City’s cultivators were left dumbfounded by everything they had just witnessed and were unable to calm down for quite some time.
The Evil Kings were the greatest powerhouses of the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land, each one of them synonymous with ‘supreme’; but now, some unknown youth that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere had actually defeated and captured one of those Evil Kings.
What’s more, he had accomplished this feat as easily as if he were pinching a turtle.
This made all of them feel as if they were dreaming, many cultivators rubbing their eyes or even pinching themselves to determine if all of this had been some kind of dream or illusion.
However, all they saw the gradually disappearing Yang Kai and Lightning Flash Shadow King.
Inside the palace, several of the maids had overheard the ruckus outside and rushed out just in time to see Yang Kai enter.
When they saw who this intruder was, all of them called out in shock.
The mature beauty Yun Li and the maid sisters Ruo Yu and Ruo Qing, the three Shan Qing Luo had sent to attend to Yang Kai, were the ones who had come out.
“Young Master Yang?” Yun Li covered her mouth and cried out.
Yang Kai smiled and nodded.
“Senior Shadow King… how did you…” Yun Li looked over at the distressed Lightning Flash Shadow King with a confused expression.
“I’ll have to trouble you to explain to this Yang Family little brat that it was your Mistress who agreed to to let me stay in Fragrance City,” Lightning Flash Shadow King grumbled unhappily.
Yang Kai turned to Yun Li and said, “You don’t need to fear him, just speak the truth.”
Yun Li smiled helplessly and nodded, “Young Master Yang, it was indeed Demon Queen who agreed to him staying here on the condition that he guarded the palace. Since Mistress left all those years ago, Senior Shadow King has been secretly guarding all of Fragrance City ensuring that no turmoil occurs. Outsiders don’t even know that Mistress Demon Queen is gone, all of them believe she is just in secluded retreat.”
Yang Kai was somewhat surprised and knit his brow, but since Yun Li had said so, it meant that Shadow King had not lied to him. Releasing the Imprisoning Heaven Chain casually, Yang Kai continued, “You said a moment ago that Shan Qing Luo left Fragrance City a long time ago, yes? Where did she go?”
Yun Li, Ruo Yu, and Ruo Qing all shook their heads, “We don’t know where Mistress went, but before she left, she seemed to mention something to Senior Shadow King, so he should have some idea.”
Yang Kai glanced over at Lightning Flash Shadow King indifferently.
Shadow King seemed to mutter a few curses under his breath before angrily reporting, “Shan Qing Luo said that she was going to look for you. As for what her exact destination was, she didn’t say.”
“Looking for me? She should have known I wasn’t in the Central Capital anymore, how did she intend to find me?”
“She didn’t go to the Central Capital to find you. Before she left she spoke some strange words, something about a higher level world, similar to what Yang Bai said in the past.”
Yang Kai trembled, suddenly remembering that when he had left he had told some things to Shan Qing Luo.
“When did she leave?”
“Two years after you disappeared. She said that you still had her Soul Seeking Seal on you, so as long as she could arrive in the world you had gone to, she would be able to easily find you.”
Yang Kai nodded, confirming that what Shadow King was saying was true.
Shan Qing Luo placing her Soul Seeking Seal on him was something only the two of them knew about, so the only way Shadow King could have learned about it was if Shan Qing Luo had mentioned it to him.
“What about Bi Luo?”
“She also left with Mistress.”
Yang Kai sighed helplessly.
He hadn’t anticipated that this seductress would actually leave the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land in order to search for him, even seeking a way into the higher world.
He didn’t know if she succeeded either. If she did, that would mean she was also in Tong Xuan Realm; but if that was the case, why hadn’t she come to see him after so long?
Yang Kai had completely lost any clues about her.
Understanding the depths of this devilish woman’s emotional entanglement with him, Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling somewhat moved. At first, when she was constantly pestering him, Yang Kai couldn’t wait to shove her away, but now that he was actually unable to see her, he actually felt somewhat desolate.
At that same time, Yang Kai felt a sense of guilt towards her.
“There, I’ve told you everything I know. If you’re going to kill me, just get it over with,” Shadow King coldly snorted, seemingly resigned to his fate.
Inside the Beguiling Demon Queen’s palace, Lightning Flash Shadow King proudly stood with an unyielding look filling his face.
Glancing over at him, Yang Kai simply waved his hand and said, “Go, I have no interest in killing you.”
Shadow King was stunned by this and stared towards Yang Kai, seemingly not having imagined he would let him go.
Over the past decade, he had constantly been disguising himself as a lowly beggar because he was afraid that the masters from the Central Capital would seek him out. Now that he had accidentally fallen into Yang Kai’s hands, did he really have a chance to survive?
“Haven’t left yet?” Yang Kai snorted.
Shadow King grit his teeth as the veins on his forehead throbbed. He was once a supreme ruler, the Lightning Flash Shadow King who struck fear into the hearts of this entire world’s common people, yet now he was actually so despised by the young man in front of him, deemed not even worth the effort to kill. Never before had he felt so humiliated.
In his heart, the idea of going all out with Yang Kai began to rise.
But in the end, he endured it and coldly snapped, “Shang Qing Luo went to the Spider Mother’s den before leaving, apparently she found something of interest there. If you’re planning to search for her, you might find some clues there.”
After saying so, Shadow King shot off like lightning and disappeared.
“The Spider Mother’s Den…” Yang Kai muttered to himself. Naturally, he remembered this place. It was where the Seventh-Order Monster Beast, the Spider Mother lived.
The Spider Mother was the only Seventh-Order Monster Beast in this entire world.
Shan Qing Luo’s Poison Widow Body special constitution originated from her, as did the life threatening toxin which plagued her lineage. The only cure to this poison was the Spider Mother’s monster core.
“Young Master Yang…” Yun Li called out, “Are you going to find Mistress Demon Queen?”
“I’ll go take a look. She’s not necessarily there, en, she should be long gone in fact.”
“En, then Young Master Yang must take care along the way,” Yun Li, Ruo Yu, and Ruo Qing nodded lightly, not making any attempt to dissuade him.
Yang Kai swept his eyes over them and suddenly asked, “Your Mistress is no longer here, so why do you remain?”
Yun Li smiled mirthlessly, “Where can we go? As long as we stay here at least we don’t have to worry about having a place to sleep, but if we were to leave, with our appearances and strength, Young Master Yang should be clear of the consequences.”
This mature woman and two young girls were all quite beautiful and their strength wasn’t very high, if they left the safety of this palace and travelled outside, they would no doubt degenerate into playthings for unscrupulous men.
“If I offered to take you away, would you accept?” Yang Kai asked on the spur of the moment.
Yun Li eyes brightened as she exchanged a quick glance with Ruo Yu and Ruo Qing before all three of them nodded, “Yes, we would happily accept Young Master Yang’s offer. If we travel with you, perhaps one day we may reunite with Mistress and continue to serve her.”
“Then go tidy up your affairs and pack, I’ll return as soon as possible to pick you up. Right, if I recall correctly, there should be other maids besides you three, yes? Ask them if they wish to come as well,” Yang Kai instructed before departing.
Half an hour later, above the Spider Mother’s Den.
Yang Kai stood high up in the air and overlooked the giant spider statue down below.
He had never thought about it before, but staring at it now, more than a decade later, he couldn’t help wondering how this giant spider statue came to exist, suddenly feeling like something was unusual about it.
There used to be countless giant spiders here as well as the Spider Mother herself, but in the end, they were just Monster Beasts, so it was impossible for them to have built such a statue.
Moreover, this statue seemed to be quite ancient, staring at its weather worn traces, Yang Kai estimated that it was at least ten thousand years old.
At this moment, there were no signs of activity inside the Spider Mother’s lair. After the death of the Spider Mother, the giant spiders who lived here had apparently scattered, so when Yang Kai arrived, he did not see any traces of life at all.
Landing, Yang Kai walked up to the front of the statue and entered into its giant maw.
Inside the statue, there was a huge space, covered in spider webs with a thick layer of dust spread across its floor. Obviously no one had come here for many years.
Yang Kai was looking around when something suddenly caught his eye. Turning towards a certain location, he saw a kind of altar with a strange chart or formation carved onto its surface. In addition, there were some dark stains in various places atop the alter.
Yang Kai instantly recognized the dark stains as dried up old blood.
This altar was not very big, at most large enough to accommodate two or three people standing on top of it. Yang Kai examined it carefully and quickly discovered two distinct sets of footprints that, because of the dried bloodstains had not been erased by time.
Were these two sets of footprints left behind by Shan Qing Luo and Bi Luo?
Yang Kai couldn’t be certain about these footprints, but he was certain that there were traces of Void Energy lingering about this alter.
The altar had been damaged, with many cracks running across it. When Yang Kai reached out and touched it, even though he didn’t use any strength at all, the alter actually crumbled to pieces.
Staring blankly at the scene in front of him, Yang Kai heart pounded.
From the strange chart engraved onto it and the remnant Void Energy aura, it was not difficult for Yang Kai to conclude that this was once the entrance to a Void Corridor.
If the two pairs of blood-stained footprints were really left behind by Shan Qing Luo and Bi Luo, they must have left this world through that Void Corridor.
But where did they go?
When he last separated from this devilish woman, she was only a First-Order Transcendent! That kind of strength was nothing in Tong Xuan Realm.
After inspecting it for a while, yet not discovering any other useful clues, Yang Kai left the giant spider statue and flew up into the air, lifting his palm towards the sky.
Heaven Covering Hand!
A huge palm descended from the sky and landed on the spider statue, shattering the rocks and collapsing it entirely, dust flying as it was buried underground forever.
Yang Kai’s mood was quite complicated
When he left the Central Capital earlier today, he had planned to visit two places and bring the people there back with him to Tong Xuan Realm, but Xiao Fu Sheng of Medicine King’s Valley had passed away and Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan were unwilling to leave him, while Shan Qing Luo had actually left Fragrance City long ago and was nowhere to be found.
He had failed to achieve anything he had set out to do.
Helpless to do anything about all this, Yang Kai returned to Fragrance City just as Yun Li and the other maids finished their preparations. In addition to Ruo Yu, and Ruo Qing, there were indeed two other maids staying in the palace, all of whom Yang Kai brought back with him to the Central Capital.
After half a day, he once again returned to the Yang Family.
Seeing Yang Kai bring back five beauties, the expressions of Li Rong and Han Fei suddenly became strange.
Yang Kai was too lazy to explain to them and simply asked his father to make arrangements for Yun Li and the others. Before finding Shan Qing Luo again, these five women would serve as Yang Family maids.
Yang Ying Feng easily agreed.
“Yang Kai!”
“Cousin!”
Two voices suddenly called out and when Yang Kai turned around to see who it was, he found Dong Qing Han and Dong Qing Yan running over towards him.
Fatty Dong wasn’t fat anymore; having lost what seemed to be several dozen kilograms, leaving behind a tall and imposing figure.
Dong Qing Yan on the other hand had matured into a woman. What should be big was big, and what should be small was small, making for quite a pretty picture.
Yang Kai’s mood instantly brightened as he smiled warmly.
When he came back a few days ago, he had met many old friends, but he had not actually seen anyone from the Dong Family. It wasn’t until today that his two cousins had appeared in front of him.
Dong Qing Yan rushed over, her beautiful eyes looking Yang Kai over as she smiled, “Cousin, after ten years of not seeing you, you’ve become more handsome.”
“And your mouth has become quite sweet,” Yang Kai nodded with satisfaction, but how could he have imagined that Dong Qing Yan would grin mischievously and stretch out her hand towards him, “So what kind of gift does cousin have for me to commemorate our reunion?”
Yang Kai was stunned.
Fatty Dong just laughed as he stared at Yang Kai, clearly taking pleasure in his misfortune.
“I’ll give you this,” Yang Kai took out a single piece of Crystal Stone and handed it over to Dong Qing Yan, saying in a serious tone, “This is a rare and precious treasure. It contains a lot of pure energy that can be directly absorbed and transformed into True Qi, it is extremely beneficial whether it is used to restore oneself or to cultivate.”
Dong Qing Yan’s eyes lit up as she tightly gripped the piece of Crystal Stone and praised liberally, “This thing is so pretty, just like a huge gem. Is cousin really giving this to me?”
“Do you think cousin will try to take back the gifts he sends out?”
“Thank you, cousin!” Dong Qing Yan cried out happily, carefully storing the Crystal Stone into her purse, a look of satisfaction on her face.
Seeing this, Li Rong and Han Fei, who were standing nearby, didn’t have the heart to see this young girl deceived by Yang Kai and quickly explained to her that Crystal Stones were just ordinary items, slowly shaking their heads as they laughed lightly.
“Little sister, go outside the play for a bit, I have something to discuss with Yang Kai,” Dong Qing Han shot Dong Qing Yan a meaningful glance.
“Hmph, trying to be mysterious, obviously you’re not going to discuss anything good,” Dong Qing Yan snorted and quickly dashed off.
When it was just the two cousins, Dong Qing Han’s expression became serious as he stared at Yang Kai and asked, “I heard that you want to bring the entire Yang Family to a place called Tong Xuan Realm.”
“En, what does your Dong Family intend to do? My mother should have passed on the relevant information to you, yes?”
“After receiving Aunt and Uncle’s message, I hurried over. The rest of the Dong Family is currently packing up and preparing to accompany your Yang Family,” Dong Qing Han asked solemnly, “Is this information really reliable?”
“Do you believe I’d let my entire family go with me if it weren’t? I’m not one to play such distasteful pranks,” Yang Kai raised his brow.
“Naturally I understand that, it’s just… Suddenly having to leave our homes and travel to some unknown place is really somewhat nerve-wracking.”
“You’ll slowly get used to it,” Yang Kai comforted, “When I first arrived on the other side, I also felt quite lost, but there were many more wonderful things and opportunities over there for us young people.”
“Haha!” Dong Qing Han laughed, “I was just asking casually. Since Qiu Yi Meng decided to go with you, there shouldn’t be an issue. Frankly speaking, I believe in the Qiu Family’s First Young Lady’s vision more than cousin’s words.”
Yang Kai was dumbstruck.
“When does your Yang Family plan to depart?”
“As soon as possible, the journey will be quite long. From here to our destination, it will be at least three to four months. If there are delays on the road, it could take even longer.”
“So long?” Dong Qing Han gawked.
“The vastness of Tong Xuan Realm is far beyond your imagination. Since that’s the case, there’s no need for your Dong Family to meet up with the Yang Family in the Central Capital; it would be best if you sent them a letter telling them to head to High Heaven Pavilion after they finish packing. I will be bringing the Yang Family people there as well.”
“Good.” Dong Qing Han nodded firmly, “I’ll go arrange it.”
The Central Capital quickly became busy, with the Yang Family, Qiu Family, and Huo Family all packing their things in preparation to depart. Although Yang Kai had told him to pack lightly, the simple act of trying to organize so many people was quite time-consuming.
Yang Kai waited for ten days in the Central Capital before everyone was ready to set out.
With one order, three great families, nearly a thousand people, marched out of the Central Capital towards High Heaven Pavilion.
Of course, there were more than these three families consisted of more than a thousand people, but there were naturally some who were unwilling to leave the Central Capital and others who volunteered to stay behind. The Yang Family had the most departing, with approximately ninety percent of the family following Yang Kai. Only some of the elders and their families who weren’t willing to travel such long distances remained.
As for the Huo Family and Qiu Family, only about half of each decided to leave, only the younger generation and those who were willing to follow Huo Xing Chen and Qiu Yi Meng joined the caravan.
Yang Kai’s close friends were also part of this team. They had already sent word back to their Sects. As for how their forces would decide to act, that was up to their respective leaders and Elders.
Yang Kai had told them that anyone who was willing to follow him back to Tong Xuan Realm could go directly to High Heaven Pavilion. He was planning on waiting in High Heaven Pavilion for a while so there was no great rush.
Outside the Central Capital, a long stretch of people streamed out of the gates, with many people gathering around, watching them leave, complex looks upon their faces.
Most of these people were members of the other five great families in the Central Capital.
“Brother Meng, was it really the correct choice for us to stay?” The Kang Family Patriarch, Kang Jian asked, a hesitant and slightly envious look upon his face as he watched the thousand-person convoy gradually drift away.
These people were headed to a higher world, where they would surely achieve greater things, yet they chose to stay behind in the Central Capital and not get involved.
The Meng Family Patriarch, Meng Shan Yi shook his head and sighed, “I don’t know if staying here is the correct choice or not, it’s just… We don’t have much friendship with Yang Kai. Following him to the other side might not be any better than us remaining here. If he has access to good resources and treasures, he will definitely give priority to the Yang, Qiu, and Huo Families while perhaps not minding about our five families at all. There’s even a chance he might intentionally exclude or forcefully annex us.”
“What Brother Meng said is right,” The Ye Family Patriarch, Ye Jing nodded, “It was because we had such concerns that we refused his invitation, I believe he understands this too, which is why he did not insist.”
“Could it be that we’re just thinking too much? Since that place is a higher-level world, couldn’t it be that our strength and resources now mean nothing to Yang Kai?” Kang Jian hesitated, “Perhaps he invited us this time simply because it didn’t matter to him whether we accepted or not.”
“What use is wondering about such things? We’ve already rejected his offer, or what, do you want to chase after him now?”
“Brother Liu, what do you think?” The Gao Family Patriarch, Gao Rang Xian turned his eyes to Liu Qing Yao and asked.
Liu Qing Yao had once been the strongest master among their generation in the Central Capital, so his opinion still carried some weight.
“I have no opinion,” Liu Qing Yao slowly shook his head, refusing to say any more.
…..
Ten kilometres outside the Central Capital, Yang Kai, Huo Xing Chen, and Qiu Yi Meng were walking side by side.
Huo Xing Chen suddenly glanced back and asked, “Young Lord Kai, are you just going to ignore those people?”
“What do you want me to do? If they don’t want to follow me, am I supposed to force them? People have their own paths; just let them do as they please.”
“En, this is their choice, why take it to heart?” Qiu Yi Meng shot a glance over at Huo Xing Chen.
Huo Xing Chen let out a hollow laugh, “I just had their best interests at heart. All of us lived together for so many years, yet now we’re suddenly separating, I guess I was feeling a bit reluctant is all… En, anyways, enough about them, Young Lord Kai, let me introduce you to my fifteen wives and concubines. All of them are quite interested in meeting you and have been asking me to introduce them.”
Yang Kai’s face went black, “That’s all right.”
Meeting more than a dozen young ladies was nothing but a hassle for him, and if they were expected him to deliver gifts on first meeting…
“How could you say that? If you don’t greet them, they’ll definitely find me tonight to settle accounts!” Huo Xing Chen shouted.
Helpless, Yang Kai prepared to handle this mess when suddenly, his brow furrowed and he turned his eyes towards a certain direction, his expression gradually becoming dignified.
“Master!” Li Rong called out solemnly.
“I know,” Yang Kai nodded before hurriedly saying, “Brother Huo, Qiu Yi Meng, you two continue leading the group forward, I’ll be right back!”
Saying so, his figure flickered and disappeared.
Li Rong and Han Fei exchanged a glance before quickly keeping up.
Qiu Yi Meng and Huo Xing Chen were both startled and remained in place, not knowing why Yang Kai had suddenly run off.
“Where did Kai’er go?” Dong Su Zhu walked up and asked.
“I don’t know, it was as if he suddenly discovered something,” Qiu Yi Meng replied pensively.
“Could it be some kind of danger?” Dong Su Zhu asked worriedly.
“Please relax Aunty, Yang Kai has those two masters with him. Although I’m not entirely clear on those two’s strength, they should both be very powerful,” Qiu Yi Meng smiled and comforted.
Listening to her, Dong Su Zhu also relaxed slightly.
Yang Ying Feng laughed and nodded, “Our son is a grown man now, will you always keep worrying about him? Whatever it is he left to do, Kai’er has his own sense of discretion.”
The convoy continued moving forward, and besides the few people who were nearby who saw Yang Kai leave, no one else realized anything had happened.
A hundred kilometres away.
A blood-red light and a black light were rapidly approaching the caravan.
The speed of these two lights was extremely high, and it was obvious their strength was not low. As they sped along, they unscrupulously exuded a shocking malevolent aura, causing the vegetation beneath them to wilt, as if they had experienced long years of decay, their vitality rapidly draining.
All those who perceived the horrifying Demonic Qi from this pair froze up in fear, their wills nearly collapsing just from their mere presence.
Such terrible Demonic Qi was not something this world’s cultivators could withstand.
“Oh…” An exclamation came out and immediately after the black shadow came to a halt, revealing a tall and sturdily built man that gave off an imposing aura like that of a great mountain.
The blood-red shadow also came to a halt beside him, revealing a graceful woman.
“Did someone beat us here?” The grand man frowned, showing a curious expression, “Moreover, it seems to be someone from my Demon Race, could it be Gou Che?”
The woman shook her head, “Unlikely, if Gou Che wanted to come here, he would definitely have moved together with us, how could he act alone?”
“It’s not Gou Che? Then who else among my Demon Race has such a cultivation?” The man showed a confused look, but soon after his brow furrowed, “No, that’s not all, there’s also a human approaching… But this human’s aura, why do I feel like it’s somewhat familiar?”
Muttering to himself, the man sunk into thought but couldn’t remember where he had met this human before.
Just as he was beginning to doubt himself, the expression of the graceful figured woman beside him changed greatly, “I know who’s coming.”
“Who?”
The woman sneered softly, “The road of life is truly narrow… it turns out to be her.”
“Explain clearly!” The man shouted impatiently.
The woman glanced over at him coldly and snorted, “Do you still remember the incident two or three years ago where I was injured?”
The man’s lips curled into a sneer, clearly taking pleasure in the woman’s misfortune, “You mean when you ran off to the Human Territory without authorization and were injured by one of those Human Race masters? Naturally, I remember, but so what? What does that have to do with the person approaching?”
The woman gnashed her teeth, “How is it related? The person who I was fighting with at that time was her! Clearly, she belongs to my Demon Race yet she actually pledged allegiance to a mere human boy, it’s an utter disgrace!”
The man’s brow rose as he grinned fiendishly, “Looks like today you’ll have a chance for revenge!”
The woman’s tone dropped as she bluntly stated, “She’s not weak. At the time, she was only a Second-Order Saint yet she was able to fight evenly with me.”
“How can that be? Were you sleepwalking at the time or something?” The man’s expression changed greatly, “You are a Demon General, how could you possibly be matched by an opponent an entire Minor Realm below you?”
“That woman is different from other people. If I’m not mistaken, she should be a member of ‘that’ clan.”
“Which clan?”
The woman glanced at him faintly and solemnly said, “The clan which directly served under the Great Demon God!”
The man paled as a look of hesitation appeared on his face; it seemed the mere mention of that clan was enough to illicit dread, “Are you sure she belongs to that clan?”
“You think after fighting her I wouldn’t be able to tell? The Divine Ability she used was definitely the Demon God Transformation that Great Demon God passed to that clan!”
“This is really strange, does that clan’s bloodline actually still exist?” The expression of the man is gradually brightened, as if he had just discovered a rare treasure, his eyes filling with greed.
“Meng Ge, are you interested in her?” The woman shot him a glance and asked seemingly casually.
“I have no interest in her, but I am interested in that Demon God Transformation!” The man named Meng Ge smiled lowly.
“I also have some interest in it,” The woman chuckled, “How about this, you and I will collaborate. There are three people coming, two of them belong to that clan while the last one is a human boy, the two of us can each take one of those two, as for the human…”
“You’re also interested in that human?” Meng Ge was looking at her with surprise before suddenly becoming vigilant, “Xue Li, what kind of wicked scheme are you up to? What is it about that human that makes him worthy of your attention?”
With his understanding of this snake woman, if this human didn’t have something special about him, it was impossible for her to even bother with him. This human was only a Third Order Transcendent, in front of two Demon Generals, he was no different from an ant, someone that could be casually slaughtered at will.
Xue Li laughed pleasantly, “Meng Ge, you’re thinking too much. Actually, that human was the one who escaped from my Sand City that year, causing this Queen to lose a great deal of face, I want to take him back with me and torture him well to sooth the hate in my heart.”
Meng Ge was startled by her response but soon recalled such an incident.
In the past, a human boy had actually managed to escape from Sand City which was governed by Xue Li. This matter had made noise around the Demon Land for a while, causing Xue Li to become a laughing stock amongst the other Demon Generals. Every time they met, they would taunt her about it, annoying her to no end.
“Do as you like,” Meng Ge waved impatiently, “As long as you don’t harm my interests, I don’t care what you do. If you do though, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Xue Li nodded with satisfaction, a cunning light subtly flashing across the depths of her beautiful eyes.
While it was true that Xue Li was annoyed over the fact that this human brat had escaped from Sand City, her real objective was the Demon God Golden Blood in his body! This secret was one Xue Li had not told anyone.
As long as she could catch him and absorb the Demon God Golden Blood in his veins, Xue Li had confidence she could defeat the current Demon Commander and become the ruler of the Demon Land, the first female ruler of the whole Demon Land.
How glorious would that be?!
When she thought about this bright future, Xue Li’s blood began to boil.
“They’re coming right to us, it seems their courage isn’t small,” Meng Ge lightly sneered, standing mid-air in a relaxed stance, not showing any intent to escape.
With two Demon Generals here, they had nothing to fear.
“It’s Xue Li!” Yang Kai muttered as the distance between the two groups shrank and he determined the identity of one of the unknown masters, his brow slightly wrinkling in the next moment, “But the other master… His aura is somewhat familiar, where have I seen it before?”
Both he and Meng Ge simultaneously felt a sense of deja vu upon sensing one another.
“Master, when we reach them, you must act carefully.”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded, his thoughts turning quickly. Earlier, Yang Kai had noticed a pair of powerful masters rapidly approaching their group, causing him some concern, so he had left with Li Rong and Han Fei to investigate.
After confirming that one of the approaching masters was actually Xue Li, Yang Kai’s heart couldn’t help sinking.
This world was not small, so there was definitely more than one passage connecting it to Tong Xuan Realm, he had come here from High Heaven Pavilion, but where had Xue Li come from?
A moment later, Yang Kai’s group of three arrived in the two Demon Generals’ fields of vision.
Coming to a stop, the two groups stared at each other across a thousand-meter distance.
“Little human brat, I didn’t expect to see you again in such a place, enemies truly meet often along narrow roads,” Xue Li’s pair of beautiful eyes seemed ablaze with anger, as if she couldn’t wait to burn down the entire world as she sneered gloomily.
“Enemies do often meet along the narrow road. Last time you managed to run away, but this time you won’t be so lucky,” Yang Kai coldly snorted.
“Your tone is not small!” Meng Ge laughed happily as he sized up Yang Kai with great interest, frowning a moment later, “Boy, have we met before somewhere? Why do you look somewhat familiar?”
“Who are you?” Yang Kai frowned, also feeling like this man’s face was familiar.
He had absolutely met him somewhere before.
“This King is Demon Commander’s subordinate, Demon General Meng Ge!” Meng Ge replied proudly.
“Meng Ge?” Yang Kai was startled, his expression becoming strange as he snickered, “No wonder you seemed so familiar, it turns out it’s you!”
Meng Ge looked at him suspiciously.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you remember me?” Yang Kai said dismissively as he laughed, “Perhaps you recall who it was that killed your Soul Clone in the past?”
Meng Ge expression changed greatly as he carefully stared at Yang Kai’s face, finally recalling where he had seen it before, shouting loudly, “So it’s you! You really wear out iron shoes while seeking one’s feet, what a stroke of good fortune!”
Meng Ge had once transferred his Soul Clone to the Evil Cavern of the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land. At that time his Soul Clone’s strength was great but it had actually been destroyed by Yang Kai with the help of the Demon Sealing Chain.
This was an event from many years ago, so not only had Yang Kai’s impression of it faded, so had Meng Ge’s, leading to the two of them to only feel the other was somewhat familiar when they finally met face to face again.
With Yang Kai’s reminder though, Meng Ge’s anger suddenly erupted as he grinned ferociously, “I’ve been looking for you for a long time, but I never expected you’d deliver yourself to me today! Good, today I will exact my revenge for that past slight and finally relieve the hatred in my heart!”
As he spoke, his murderous intent condensed so much it almost materialized and struck towards Yang Kai.
Xue Li’s complexion changed greatly and with a wave of her hand, sent out a blood-red light to block Meng Ge’s strike, shouting as she did, “Meng Ge, you and I had an agreement, this human brat belongs to me! If you dare to kill him, you’ll have to answer to me!”
Meng Ge didn’t care at all about her threat and simply sneered, “Today, he must die, no one can stop me! Xue Li, if you dare to interfere, don’t blame me for ignoring our years of friendship.”
What had happened to his Soul Clone was an incredible humiliation to Meng Ge, one which had been like a bone stuck in his throat for many years. Now that he had finally come across the culprit responsible for it, how could he allow him to leave alive? Meng Ge couldn’t wait to flay Yang Kai living before reducing his corpse to ash.
That Soul Clone had taken him an enormous amount of time and effort to cultivate, yet the moment it had been born, it was destroyed, and even after so many years, Meng Ge had been unable to cultivate a second one.
Yang Kai’s past actions had made him suffer a huge loss!
“If you want to kill him, you’ll have to get past me first!” Xue Li refused to back down and openly displayed her determination.
Yang Kai just snickered as he watched the two Demon Generals fight amongst themselves and even Li Rong and Han Fei could only shake their heads in amazement.
They hadn’t even begun to fight yet the two Demon General had already had a big falling out, it was really quite laughable.
Xue Li and Meng Ge stared at each other, neither of them willing to give in, but suddenly, after they seemingly reached some kind of agreement, their anger disappeared.
Meng Ge nodded, “We can decide what to do with this human after we first deal with these two women.”
“That was my intention too,” Xue Li nodded lightly and turned her eyes towards Li Rong and Han Fei.
The two Ancient Demon Clan Great Commanders stared back at them, not showing the slightest fear.
“Go, there’s no need to show any mercy,” Yang Kai lightly ordered.
Li Rong and Han Fei both nodded.
Meng Ge laughed loudly, “Boy, your courage is simply enormous. You actually dare not put we Demon Generals in your eyes? Do you really think these two women can defeat us?”
“The last we met, I acted too hasty and was unable to ask for some proper advice, this time we’ll have to compare notes carefully,” Xue Li coldly declared as she stared towards Li Rong, calling her out directly.
“Good!” Li Rong gently nodded, her tender body suddenly disappearing, leaving behind a trail of afterimages and reappearing right beside Xue Li, her palm gently patting towards the latter’s chest.
The relaxed look on Xue Li pretty face rapidly distorted and she hurriedly sent out a powerful burst of Blood Qi from her body.
Demon Crests appeared on Li Rong’s face at the same time and the force behind her exquisite palm multiplied, easily smashing through Xue Li’s Blood Qi defence and landing directly on her chest.
Calling out in alarm, Xue Li managed to avoid taking a critical hit as she retreated back a thousand meters.
Li Rong didn’t pursue Xue Li, instead choosing to just silently stand in place and indifferently stare towards her.
“Your cultivation…” Xue Li’s expression sank, a thick sense of disbelief apparent in her tone.
Last time, only after Li Rong used her Demon God Transformation and went all out could she fight Xue Li to a standstill, but this time, a single palm strike from Li Rong was enough to cause Xue Li to feel great pressure.
This kind of pressure was something only the Demon Commander could give her.
This left Xue Li somewhat dumbfounded.
She couldn’t help giving birth to the idea that if the two of them were to fight again, the only possible result would be her death.
As this thought flashed across her mind, Xue Li’s tender body shivered as she shouted, “Did you break through to the Third Order?”
Li Rong nodded, “Yes!”
The blood drained from Xue Li’s face and she turned pale.
As a Demon General, she understood better than anyone the great strength of the clan that directly served Great Demon God. With the Demon God Transformation they received from Great Demon God, each of them was capable of fighting opponents above their own realm.
When she was a Second-Order Saint, this woman named Li Rong was able to fight her to a draw. Now that she had reached the Third Order, Xue Li simply had no hope of victory.
Xue Li hurriedly glanced over towards Meng Ge, but what she saw caused her to suck in a cold breath, almost not daring to believe what she was witnessing.
During her and Li Rong’s exchange, the other woman had engaged Meng Ge, creating an icy domain that covered a dozen kilometre radius where everything, even the earth and sky, seemed to be freeze over as seemingly delicate snowflakes gently drifted down, blanketing the ground in pure white.
Against this kind of frigid cold, even the two Demon Generals had to fully push their Saint Qi in order to resist.
The previously arrogant Meng Ge was now in a state of confusion, thick Demonic Qi constantly emerging from his body only to be frozen by the surrounding environment, traces of frost appearing on him, hampering his movements as he fought against this female, quickly becoming frustrated.
Even if the strength of this woman was inferior to Meng Ge’s, the difference wasn’t great.
Meng Ge wanting to capture or even kill her was all but impossible.
Xue Li’s heart clenched as she immediately realized that obtaining victory here was nothing but a dream. She and Meng Ge had completely underestimated the other side’s combat effectiveness, causing them to lose the initiative and fall into a disadvantage.
The other party daring to come here so unscrupulously was not because of arrogance but rather because of confidence
“Xue Li, we need to withdraw,” Meng Ge also realized this point as he stared bitterly and angrily towards Han Fei.
“Let’s go!” Xue Li acted decisively, shouting as she surrounded herself in bloody light and soared off towards the distance.
Meng Ge also wrapped himself in a black cloud and like a malevolent ghost, followed after Xue Li.
The two Demon Generals arrived like a great thunderstorm but failed to deliver any rain, fighting for less than ten breaths before deciding to retreat.
“There’s no need to pursue,” Yang Kai shouted, causing Li Rong and Han Fei to come to a halt and withdraw their Demon God Transformations, restoring their original appearances.
The other two were top-level Third-Order Saints. If they escaped wholeheartedly, there was no way Li Rong and Han Fei could stop them.
Returning to Yang Kai’s side, all three of them stared off in the direction the two Demon Generals had disappeared.
“There should be a place called the Great Yan Dynasty in that direction,” Yang Kai frowned as he pondered.
In this world, he was only familiar with the Great Han Dynasty as well as the nearby Tian Lang Dynasty, he had never been to the Great Yan Dynasty.
“Master, two Demon Generals showing up here, could it be…” Li Rong asked worriedly.
“They shouldn’t have come from High Heaven Pavilion, there are definitely other passages in this world that lead to Tong Xuan Realm; moreover, one of them actually leads to the Demon Land… Knowing the methods of the Demon Race people, I’m afraid that side has already suffered terrible losses.”
“What should we do now?”
“Nothing. Them coming here at this time was probably to explore the Central Capital, but they unexpectedly ran into us halfway. After suffering such a loss, I doubt they’ll try to approach this place again,” Yang Kai took a breath, “Let’s head back. This world is big, everyone has their own lives, and I only have enough ability to take care of my own loved ones and friends. Bringing them back to Nine Heavens Holy Land is the priority.”
“En, it is as Master says,” Li Rong gently nodded, agreeing with him.
A short time later, the group of three returned to the caravan where Yang Ying Feng asked him a few simple questions, all of which Yang Kai skillfully dodged.
After a month’s long journey, the thousand-person convoy finally arrived at the High Heaven Pavilion where they met up with the people from the Three Sects.
After returning to High Heaven Pavilion, Yang Kai did not rush to leave and instead waited as he had agreed too.
A few days later, the Dong Family rushed over.
A few days after that, a group of beautiful Ten Thousand Flower Palace women also arrived, dazzling the surrounding people with their charm and allure.
A few days after that, Treasure Instrument Sect came…
Almost every two or three days, a group of people would arrive from different places and joined the migration to Tong Xuan Realm. Yang Kai did not refuse any of them. As long as they were from the same Sects as his friends, he would accept them enthusiastically.
This made all these newcomers very grateful.
The world was in chaos, the Central Capital has fallen, and suddenly there were now masters at something called the Saint Realm appearing. This news had spread like the wind across the entire Great Han Dynasty.
Just when these Sects didn’t know what to do, Yang Kai had shown them a path forward.
So after receiving the news from their disciples who were in the Central Capital, none of these Sects hesitated, all of them quickly packing up their things and rushing over to High Heaven Pavilion to join Yang Kai.
The crowd grew day by day, and soon the original thousand person team snowballed into a massive four or five thousand person crowd.
While waiting, Yang Kai didn’t remain idle, letting Li Rong, Han Fei, and Shi Kun direct everyone’s cultivation while he refined and distributed some simple pills, doing everything possible to help his friends and family improve their strength.
Everyone was ecstatic, Li Rong, Han Fei, and Shi Kun sat in front of countless cultivators day and night, teaching these good students about their own comprehensions of the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao.
The three Saint Realm masters who followed Yang Kai spoke each day until their mouths went dry, but when they looked out and saw the yearning in the eyes of the crowd, so they couldn’t bear to disappoint them.
And so they braced themselves and continued their cultivation lectures.
Among the eager students, the Yang Family Blood Warriors and the Hu Sisters’ growth was the most noticeable. In just a few days, each of them seemed to have experienced subtle changes in their True Qi and cultivation.
Under the shackles of this world, even if they had reached the Transcendent Realm, what they could comprehend of the Heavenly Way was limited.
But after being enlightened by Li Rong and the other Saints, their eyes were immediately opened.
Outside the crowd, Qiu Yi Meng stared at the Transcendent Realm cultivators with some envy before examining her own cultivation and sighing.
These days, she had spoken a lot with Yang Kai and learned about the many wonders of Tong Xuan Realm. She knew that Transcendents were abundant on that side and that such cultivation wasn’t enough to be considered a true master.
On the contrary, as a Peak Immortal Ascension Boundary cultivator, she was already a top-level master here, but on the other side, that really wouldn’t be enough to look at.
Immortal Ascension Boundary cultivators on that side were as common as hairs on an ox.
In her heart, she was secretly anxious.
“Are you envious of their cultivation?” Yang Kai suddenly appeared beside her and asked.
“What use is envy? It just means my aptitude is only such,” Qiu Yi Meng smiled, “Moreover, I am a woman, later in life, I will have to focus on tending the household and raising children, what point will there be in having such high cultivation then?”
“Were you always a woman who could be so easily satisfied?” Yang Kai glanced over at her curiously.
Qiu Yi Meng wore a forced smile, “I’m very easy to satisfy, it’s just that you refuse to.”
“Stop, enough of that crazy talk,” Yang Kai really couldn’t endure it.
Qiu Yi Meng glanced at him faintly before sighing helplessly, “Fine, I envy them, but so what? Why can’t I envy them? Especially those Hu Sisters. You know that in the past, their cultivation was even lower than mine, but since you left, they experienced an astonishing growth period and their strength soared all the way up to the Transcendent Realm, causing everyone’s eyes to go red with envy. Look, can’t you see the red in my eyes too?”
Saying so, she pushed her tender body provocatively onto Yang Kai before ruthlessly pinching his waist, grumbling through clenched teeth, “Tell me honestly, did you give them something good but didn’t give it to me?”
“How could that be?” Yang Kai truly felt wronged, “Didn’t I give you a lot of Myriad Drug Liquid right from the beginning? That spirit liquid should have been enough to greatly improve your aptitude.”
“Then why are they so much fiercer?”
“They have their own opportunities,” Yang Kai didn’t know how to explain.
“Then what about your wife’s little brother?” Qiu Yi Meng looked at him pitifully, “He was even further behind than those two sisters when you left!”
“He also has his own opportunities…” Yang Kai could only brace himself as he repeated.
However, from what Qiu Yi Meng had just said, Yang Kai suddenly discovered that of the younger generation here, only those few people who had obtained benefits from the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave stood out from the crowd. Others, even those on Qiu Yi Meng’s level, had not yet broken through to the Transcendent Realm.
It was clear from this how massively advantageous the benefits from the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave were.
“I believe you!” Qiu Yi Meng saw Yang Kai’s embarrassed appearance and no longer interrogated him, complacently saying, “You’ve always consider those on your side as one family, I know that you wouldn’t treat me poorly.”
Yang Kai nodded, sweeping her with his Divine Sense secretively, suddenly smiling in the next instant, “Just wait until we reach Tong Xuan Realm and I’ll deliver you a pleasant surprise.”
“What kind of surprise?” Qiu Yi Meng’s beautiful eyes brightened.
“When we get to that side, you’ll know. Don’t ask anything more for now, just focus on your cultivation.”
Qiu Yi Meng spat disdainfully, “Playing cheap tricks, what kind of wicked scheme are you up to now?”
Yang Kai just smiled and said nothing more, acting mysterious in the same way Qiu Yi Meng had always hated, causing her to be at her wit’s end yet helpless to change anything.
Qiu Yi Meng’s greatest strength was that she didn’t regard herself as an outsider. Even though she and Yang Kai now had a huge disparity in strength and status, she still dared maintain the same level of intimacy in their relationship and didn’t deliberately humble or alienate herself.
This was something Yang Kai greatly appreciated.
The same was true of Huo Xing Chen.
On the contrary, there are the four girls from Ten Thousand Flower Palace, Chen Xue Shu, and many of the others now acted somewhat restrained when they were facing Yang Kai, no longer interacting as freely as they used to.
The gap in strength and status was something they were conscious of.
As he was happily chatting with Qiu Yi Meng, Yang Kai’s face dramatically changed as he turned his eyes towards the distant horizon.
“Master!” Li Rong and Han Fei, who were even now lecturing others about their cultivation experiences, called out simultaneously.
“Damn!” Yang Kai couldn’t help but swear, his expression becoming incredibly dark and gloomy.
He would rarely swear in front of others, only doing so when his mood was greatly disturbed.
“What happened?” Qiu Yi Meng hurriedly asked, realizing something was terribly wrong from Yang Kai’s unusually stern expression and harsh language; it seemed that there was some kind of huge danger approaching, causing her face to pale slightly.
“Stay alert. If you sense the fallout from a battle from that direction, begin evacuating the people here through the Void Corridor immediately, don’t wait for us!” Yang Kai solemnly replied.
“What exactly is going on?” Qiu Yi Meng anxiously stomped her foot.
“Powerful enemies are coming, several of them,” Yang Kai explained haphazardly before no longer wasting time, signalling to Li Rong and Han Fei, preparing to take them to intercept these newcomers.
He didn’t even need to guess about the identity of the ones approaching, from the shocking Demonic Qi they gave off, it was obvious it was Demon General Meng Ge and Xue Li.
More than a month ago, Yang Kai had driven them away from the Central Capital City and at the time concluded that they would not return to disgrace themselves again, but unexpectedly they had really come back.
On top of that, there was the aura of another master with them this time, and this master was clearly far stronger than Meng Ge or Xue Li, their aura as vast as the sea.
[Another Demon General?]
Facing three Demon Generals, even if Li Rong and Han Fei teamed up, they wouldn’t be able to defeat them quickly nor would they be able to guarantee the safety of the thousands of people here.
Yang Kai planned to seize the initiative and not allow the enemy to approach this place.
But who would have thought that before he could act, from above the thick layer of clouds, a voice would suddenly call out, “This Senior has arrived unsolicited in order to discuss an important matter with Holy Master Yang. I hope Holy Master Yang will not take offence!”
The owner of this voice was still around a hundred kilometres away, but the sound of their voice seemed to resound right beside Yang Kai’s ear, crisp and clear.
The several thousand people gathered nearby all turned and looked up into the sky, quickly seeing the originally bright sun covered in a thick black cloud, blanketing the world around them in darkness. At the same time, this dark cloud seemed to press down upon them, causing everyone present to feel very uncomfortable.
Yang Kai’s brow furrowed and he remained in place.
Li Rong and Han Fei looked to him for instructions, but Yang Kai just slowly shook his head, signaling them to standby.
Before the other party had even arrived, he had taken the initiative to send a message, as if trying to show courtesy. This alone made Yang Kai quite confused, wondering who this individual was and what objective he had.
From the horizon, a pitch-black light swept across the world and rapidly approached, like the herald of disaster, making everyone who saw it pale with fear.
Yang Kai coldly snorted and shouted, “Could Your Excellency withdraw your Demonic Qi? You’re frightening my friends.”
Yang Kai’s voice shot out like an arrow, piercing through the dark clouds of black light, opening a hole in them and allowing the rays of the sun to once again shine down on High Heaven Pavilion.
The oppressive pressure stagnated, allowing everyone to gasp for breath.
Soon, an apologetic voice called out, “Excuse me, Holy Master Yang, this Senior is used to acting freely and had not expected so many people to be present!”
As he spoke, the dark clouds high up in the sky, as if they were brushed aside by a great hand, were scattered and soon melted away.
The world was quickly restored to its former brightness.
Yang Kai’s eyes revealed a deep sense of wariness and even Li Rong’s expression became quite dignified.
They quickly became aware of the tyrannical strength of the man who had come!
Soon, the three figures appeared before the eyes of the crowd, quietly suspended mid-air, as if they had been standing there from the very beginning.
Among the three, the first one was a middle-aged man with a plain appearance, wearing a regal yet somewhat gaudy robe embroidered with images of dragons and phoenixes.
Standing behind this middle-aged man was Demon General Xue Li and Meng Ge, both of them holding their backs up straight with solemn looks upon their faces, a mix of fear and respect flashing across their eyes as whenever they glanced towards the middle-aged man’s back.
Seeing this, Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed as a storm began raging in the depths of his heart.
Before seeing this scene, Yang Kai had thought that Xue Li and Meng Ge were unwilling to let this insult pass and had called another Demon General to assist them, but now could immediately determine that this plain-looking middle-aged man was no Demon General.
Although his heart was calling out in alarm, Yang Kai maintained his tranquil look as he stared deeply at this middle-aged man, dread flashing across the depths of his pupils.
This middle-aged man’s way of dressing was eccentric but his eyes were incredibly sharp, radiating a fierce, piercing light, making others not dare to stare into them. His aura was also vast and immeasurably deep.
Cocking his head to the side, the middle-aged man’s eyes swept over the crowd down below before fixing on Yang Kai and revealing a light smile, “Holy Master Yang?”
This man had never met Yang Kai before, but amongst the thousands of people in front of him, he was able to determine who Yang Kai was at a glance, making it clear how sharp his eyes really were.
Yang Kai gently nodded, responding in a solemn tone, “Demon Commander?”
The middle-aged man raised his brow and laughed loudly, liberally praising, “Holy Master Yang’s vision is quite good, instantly seeing through this Senior’s identity. En, admirable!”
He hadn’t expected Yang Kai to be so perceptive, but what was more impressive to him was the show of indifference on this young boy’s face even after recognizing his true identity. Anyone who recognized him would inevitably reveal a panic-stricken look and either try to escape or immediately launch an attack.
Yang Kai, however, was different; although there was wariness in his eyes, there were no signs of panic, only a kind of tranquillity.
His admiration was genuine.
Yang Kai lightly snorted. Him being able to recognize the identity of this man was because of Xue Li and Meng Ge’s attitudes. These two were Demon Generals, the only one who they would willingly stand behind and show deference towards was the current Demon Commander.
Yang Kai had imagined countless times what kind of person the current Demon Commander was.
Perhaps he was a giant man with overbearing strength.
Perhaps he was a sinister snake that radiated cunning.
Perhaps he was a wanderer, free and unfettered.
But never had Yang Kai thought that the current Demon Commander was actually extremely ordinary. If it weren’t for the gaudy robes he was wearing, this man would be able to perfectly blend into a crowd and disappear from everyone’s vision.
Ordinary people who saw him would only take notice of his strange taste in clothes while completely ignoring the man himself.
[This is the Demon Commander that sealed Meng Wu Ya’s strength?] Yang Kai couldn’t help finding it difficult to believe.
“Holy Master Yang does not need to doubt, this Senior is truly the current Demon Commander, Zhang Yuan! En, this point Xue Li and Meng Ge can attest to for me,” Demon Commander still smiled indifferently as he genially said.
“I don’t doubt you,” Yang Kai gently took a breath, “I just don’t understand. Instead of sitting comfortably in the Demon Land, you actually decided to travel tens of thousands of kilometres to the middle of nowhere. Is there something here that is really worth you visiting in person?”
Perceiving the hostility and rejection of Yang Kai, Zhang Yuan rubbed his nose and grinned, “This Senior already said, I have come here to discuss a certain matter with Holy Master Yang.”
“Is there anything for us to discuss?” Yang Kai frowned.
“There is,” Zhang Yuan insisted, glancing around before asking, “This isn’t an ideal place for this. Can Holy Master Yang arrange a quiet place for us to sit down and talk?”
Saying so, he simply stared at Yang Kai with a smile.
“Master!” Li Rong stood close to Yang Kai and stared fixedly at Zhang Yuan, solemnly whispering, “Be careful not to be deceived by him.”
“Don’t agree with his request!” Han Fei also objected.
Yang Kai knit his brow deeply for a moment before shaking his head, “I’ll speak with him. From the looks of things, he doesn’t appear to have come here looking for trouble; rather, it seems there’s something he really wants to talk about.”
If he was here to find fault or seek revenge for Meng Ge and Xue Li, with Zhang Yuan’s strength, there would be no need to speak so much nonsense.
Although he might not have a way to kill or capture Yang Kai, if top-level Third-Order Saint Realm masters were to fight here, the thousands of people gathered at High Heaven Pavilion would definitely suffer.
This would be the best way to retaliate against Yang Kai.
“This way, please!” Yang Kai shouted before gesturing towards the inside of High Heaven Pavilion.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Zhang Yuan gently nodded before following behind Yang Kai with Meng Ge and Xue Li.
After the six figures gradually disappeared, the several thousand cultivators present finally took a gasp of air; the near tangible pressure just now had made it difficult for them to even breathe.
“Who was that man just now, he seemed to be very powerful.”
“Senior Brother Yang called him Demon Commander… What is a Demon Commander?”
“Senior Shi Kun, how much do you know about this matter?” Ling Tai Xu, Yang Ying Feng, and several other leaders went over to Shi Kun to ask as their understanding of Tong Xuan Realm was simply too shallow.
Shi Kun’s face was deathly pale as he heard the many whispers of the people around him, unable to hold back a bitter laugh, “Ignorance is bliss.”
Demon Commander… Even he had never seen this great figure before, but the people here were casually discussing what a Demon Commander was…
Shi Kun firmly believed that if this title was reported to anyone in Tong Xuan Realm, it would immediately cause great unrest, but here, it has only elicited people’s curiosity.
“The Demon Commander can be said to be one of the strongest masters in all of Tong Xuan Realm. As for how strong he is exactly… En, let’s make an analogy. Do you think I am strong?”
The group of people gathered around Shi Kun nodded.
Half a year ago they didn’t even know about the existence of the Saint Realm, but after having fought against them a few times now, the Blood Warriors of the Yang Family had personally experienced the massive difference in strength between a Saint and a Transcendent.
In front of them, a Saint was an earth-shattering master with unfathomable means, none of which they could resist.
Shi Kun smiled bitterly, “In your eyes, I am truly fierce, but even if there were a hundred of me, the Demon Commander would still be able to crush us like ants.”
Everyone present paled, finally understanding how tyrannical this Demon Commander was.
“Isn’t Kai’er in danger then?” Dong Su Zhu cried out.
Shi Kun scratched his head, “Not necessarily. The Demon Commander didn’t seem to have come here for a fight this time. Moreover, the lady named Li Rong next to Holy Master is also quite fierce. With her by his side, the Demon Commander won’t be able to harm the Holy Master.”
“You mean to say that lady’s strength is on par with that Demon Commander?” The crowd was astonished, only now understanding the depths of Li Rong’s strength.
“I’m also not clear,” Shi Kun shrugged his shoulders, unable to give a definitive answer. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand why the Demon Commander would come to this place and directly ask to speak with the Holy Master.
The two of them had clearly never met before, what matter could they possibly have to discuss?
Inside the main hall of High Heaven Pavilion, Yang Kai and the Demon Commander were seated with Li Rong and Han Fei standing behind Yang Kai, and Xue Li and Meng Ge standing behind the Demon Commander, seemingly staring each other down.
The atmosphere inside the hall was bleak and the air was heavy.
Yang Kai was filled with doubts and didn’t speak, simply staring straight at the Demon Commander, refusing to miss any of his actions.
The Demon Commander, on the other hand, was like a tourist, glancing around at the rather simple hall and commenting, “This is truly a miraculous place, actually able to produce a character like Holy Master Yang. This Senior really wishes he had been born a thousand years later so he could grow up alongside Holy Master Yang as fellow brothers, enjoying wine and travelling the world together!”
Inside the hall, everyone else’s expressions became awkward, none of them understanding what Zhang Yuan was doing.
Hearing such blatant praise and flattery after just sitting down instead made Zhang Yuan seem even more untrustworthy.
“Demon Commander, if you have something to say please speak frankly, this place does not welcome you,” Yang Kai said solemnly, his expression somewhat impatient.
With such a master sitting right in front of himself, even Yang Kai felt a great deal of pressure.
He wasn’t worried about his own safety of course. If a fight broke out, even though he knew he was no match for the Demon Commander, Yang Kai could simply tear space and escape, after which he could summon the Flying Heavens Shuttle and flee. With the Flying Heavens Shuttle’s speed, even the Demon Commander wouldn’t be able to do anything but eat dust behind his butt, unable to catch up for a lifetime.
No, what Yang Kai was worried about was the safety of the thousands of people gathered here; they were his friends, his Sect Brothers and Sisters, his clansmen, his parents and brothers…
He had too many concerns here.
“Impudence!” Meng Ge shouted, “Boy, don’t get too full of yourself, Demon Commander travelling to this place to see you is your honour!”
“He is the one who arrived here unsolicited whereas I am the master of this place, could it be I can’t expel someone from my own house?” Yang Kai sneered.
“Meng Ge, be silent!” Zhang Yuan shouted lowly, forcing Meng Ge to immediately lower his head.
Although both were Third Order Saints, the Demon Commander was far more powerful than any of the Demon Generals, which was why he could sit in his current position.
Zhang Yuan looked back at Yang Kai and said with a smile, “Holy Master Yang seems to be quiet wary of this Senior. Very well, this Senior won’t waste any of your time and get straight to the point.”
Maintaining a friendly expression his face, Zhang Yuan continued, “Actually, Holy Master Yang doesn’t have to be like this, the strength you grasp in your hands currently is not inferior to this Senior’s. The lady behind you may not be as strong as this Senior, but the difference is not great. This Senior has four Demon Generals as subordinates, all of whom are Third Order Saints, but the subordinates of Holy Master Yang are not weak either, if the two of us really have a falling out, neither of us will come out unscathed, correct?”
Yang Kai frowned, his face sullen, refusing to respond.
He didn’t understand why the Demon Commander wanted to point out their respective strengths.
However, the most logical conclusion would be that the Demon Commander really didn’t want to start a fight with Yang Kai. With the strength of both sides almost equal and no one possessing a decisive advantage, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say their respective statuses were also equal.
Zhang Yuan sighed and said, “This Senior has heard that these two short-sighted subordinates of mine have offended Holy Master Yang in the past, so naturally it is the responsibility of this Senior to punish them accordingly. Good, you two, apologize to Holy Master Yang, let us make big things small and make small things nothing so that in the future there are no grudges between our two sides.”
As soon as this statement came out, Meng Ge and Xue Li’s eyes both bulged as they stared dumbfounded at Zhang Yuan.
They had never dreamed they would hear such words from his mouth.
Even Yang Kai’s expression became strange.
If all Zhang Yuan wanted to do was show him some goodwill, this was too much; moreover, with his status, why would he need to show Yang Kai goodwill in the first place?
Yang Kai felt even more strongly that this Zhang Yuan had some kind of hidden intentions; otherwise, he absolutely would not humiliate his own subordinates in such a manner.
Thinking so, Yang Kai’s expression relaxed as he calmly stared at Zhang Yuan, a grin slowly creeping onto his face.
He wanted to see what the current Demon Commander was up to and what exactly it was he wanted from himself.
As long as Zhang Yuan wanted something from him, the initiative lay in Yang Kai’s hands, allowing him to put down most of his worries.
Inside the hall, Yang Kai smiled lightly, as did Demon Commander Zhang Yuan.
Xue Li and Meng Ge standing behind Zhang Yuan, on the other hand, were wide eyed, trembling with shock, a look of disbelief plastered all over their faces.
Did their Demon Commander really just order them to apologize to this abominable human brat?
The two of them could hardly believe their ears and stared at Zhang Yuan questioningly, seemingly wanting to confirm they had heard right but not daring to ask.
Zhang Yuan snorted with displeasure, “What’s wrong? Are the two of you deaf, or mute? Did you not just hear this Senior’s words? Or perhaps you want this Senior to apologize in your stead?”
“We wouldn’t dare!” Meng Ge and Xue Li’s body shivered, noticing the anger in Zhang Yuan’s tone, no longer daring to hesitate, hurriedly cupping their fists and through gritted teeth shouting, “For our many previous offences, we ask Holy Master Yang to be broad-minded!”
This was yet another insult to them; although they apologized to Yang Kai under the pressure of Zhang Yuan, anyone could see that the next time they found an opportunity, they would surely find a way to seek revenge.
The command of Zhang Yuan not only failed to resolve the grievances between the two sides but instead deepened the hatred in the two Demon Generals’ hearts.
Yang Kai remained indifferent, still not saying anything.
Zhang Yuan, however, laughed happily and smiled, “Very good, if one makes a mistake, naturally they have to apologize. En, from now on we should avoid any hostility between us, I also want to become friends with Holy Master Yang.”
“I don’t,” Yang Kai snickered.
Zhang Yuan’s face turned bitter, “Not even giving a hint of face, Holy Master Yang is too unreasonable.”
Although the two were seemingly speaking casually with one another, without the slightest hint of aggression towards one another, the four who were standing between them were completely on edge, fearing that at any moment there would be a falling out and a battle would begin.
However, if an outsider were here, all they would see was two people sitting and smiling at one another, bantering back and forth harmoniously.
The mood of Meng Ge and Xue Li had plunged, an unpleasant taste filling their mouths.
Previously, Xue Li had snuck into Human Territory arbitrarily and had been injured by Chu Ling Xiao, forcing her to flee back to the Demon Land. She hadn’t told anyone about the details of that incident though.
Then, half a month ago, she and Meng Ge had encountered Yang Kai, fought briefly, and then been forced to flee once again.
Originally, she had wanted to conceal things again, but Meng Ge was different from her and was completely loyal to the Demon Commander, so after they returned to the Demon Land, he had report what had transpired in full. When Demon Commander Zhang Yuan heard this report, he had immediately set off from the Demon Capital and rushed to this place saying he wanted to personally meet this Holy Master Yang.
With things having reached this point, Xue Li was also helpless and could only lead the way with Meng Ge.
The two of them had thought that with the Demon Commander setting out personally was all in order to rectify the situation and seek redress for the insult they had suffered. As such, on the road here, the two Demon Generals were secretly quite excited, imagining all the ways they would torment that insufferable human brat once he fell into their hands.
They had never guessed that their solemn Demon Commander would actually display such a genial attitude towards this human boy.
The two Demon Generals suddenly felt like they had been forced to swallow the bitterest of medicines.
“Zhang Yuan, enough nonsense. What is it you’re really after?” Yang Kai smiled faintly, finally asking about the biggest doubt in his heart.
Trying to fight a war of words with this level of master would inevitably end with his loss so Yang Kai decided to go straight to the point.
Zhang Yuan sighed and showed a helpless expression, “It looks like Holy Master Yang has also guessed that this Senior has another purpose in coming here. Good, I indeed have something I wanted to confirm.”
“Oh? And what would that be?” Yang Kai narrowed his eyes and stared at him.
Zhang Yuan maintained his light smile and asked, “I want to know if Holy Master Yang… is Great Demon God’s successor!”
When this statement came out, everyone was startled, with Li Rong and Han Fei’s eyes suddenly becoming icy cold as they locked their gazes onto Zhang Yuan.
Meng Ge and Xue Li’s jaws also dropped with a hint of panic flashing across their faces.
The name Great Demon God carried an unparalleled impact on anyone of the Demon Race.
“Holy Master Yang does not need to deny it,” Before Yang Kai could reply, Zhang Yuan raised his hand and interrupted him, “This Senior had his suspicions and only rushed here to confirm them. After all, if you leave this place and return back to Nine Heavens Holy Land, even this Senior would have no way to infiltrate so far into the Human Territory. But now that I have seen you, it appears Holy Master Yang truly is Great Demon God’s successor. En, there’s no doubt about it.”
Looking at his confident expression, Yang Kai showed neither approval nor disapproval, curling his lips as he asked, “How can you be so certain?”
“Because of the loyalty of the two ladies behind you!” Zhang Yuan turned his eyes towards Li Rong and Han Fei, a faint look of envy flashing across his eyes as he said, “I have many ancient books in my possession which have recorded a number of secrets only this Senior knows. One of these ancient books contains records about the clan that served Great Demon God.”
“They call themselves the Ancient Demon Clan and are close confidants of Great Demon God who had sworn a blood oath that they and their descendants would forever give loyalty to only Great Demon God. But unfortunately, before Great Demon God fell, their clan actually disappeared. The world’s common people speculated that they had been exterminated because they held too much power, saying Great Demon God feared that after he passed away none would be able to control them and thus destroyed them himself.”
“However, I know that those rumours were fake and that Great Demon God actually sealed them away in order to leave this power to his successor! The two ladies behind you are from the Ancient Demon Clan, yet they are willing to pledge loyalty to you, so Holy Master Yang’s identity is apparent at a glance, because it is impossible for members of the Ancient Demon Clan to serve anyone else. Even this Senior is unworthy in their eyes.”
As Demon Commander Zhang Yuan presented his case, Yang Kai just listened quietly and didn’t interrupt.
After he finished, Yang Kai just nodded lightly, “It looks like Senior Demon Commander knows a great many secrets that others do not.”
With such irrefutable evidence, even if Yang Kai tried to deny it, it was useless.
“Indeed,” Zhang Yuan nodded proudly, “I also know why the Great Demon God insisted on sealing away the Ancient Demon Clan in order to leave their power for his successor. Great Demon God left behind a number of clues regarding this and many other issues.”
“Oh, why?” Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling curious, but the moment this question left his lips he realized he had actually fallen into a trap that Zhang Yuan had dug for him, causing him to lose the initiative. This discovery made Yang Kai want to vomit blood in frustration.
Yang Kai had wanted to feign indifference but he had actually be led on by this old ox, making him realize again his own immaturity.
Zhang Yuan laughed lowly and said, “For the coming catastrophe!”
“Catastrophe?” Yang Kai was stunned.
“Indeed, as for what this catastrophe is, I don’t know, but Holy Master Yang can surely unravel it!” Zhang Yuan quickly said.
“How am I supposed to figure out something even you don’t know?” Yang Kai shook his head slowly.
Zhang Yuan’s expression finally turned serious as he said, “In my Demon Capital, there is a secret room left behind by Great Demon God and sealed with a powerful formation. Several generations of Demon Commanders have wanted to unlock it and discover the mysteries inside, but unfortunately, no one has been able to open it.”
“You can’t break the formation?”
Zhang Yuan shook his head as a look of longing appeared on his face, “The means of Great Demon God are simply Heaven defying, not something I can compare to. I’ve always felt that his cultivation had exceeded the Saint Realm and arrived at a higher plane.”
Yang Kai’s body shook, surprised at how consistent his and Zhang Yuan’s thoughts were.
Before, when he and the two Monster Race Great Seniors entered the strange Mysterious Small World and witnessed the various means of Great Demon God, Yang Kai had also had such a conjecture, but somewhat couldn’t bring himself to believe it.
Surprisingly, Zhang Yuan also thought so.
“I can’t open it, but Holy Master Yang should be able to,” Zhang Yuan continued, “I don’t know why Holy Master Yang was selected as Great Demon God’s successor, but since you are, you should have the Demon Mystic Tome in your hands, yes?”
“Demon Mystic Tome?” Meng Ge and Xue Li exclaimed in unison, a frantic and nearly fanatical look appearing on their faces.
It seemed that these three words were enough to make their blood boil.
“Great Demon God somehow managed to obtain a massive piece of soulstone and with it managed to craft the Demon Mystic Tome inside which he hid many of his Divine Abilities and secrets. Whoever could open the Demon Mystic Tome would become his successor. Since Holy Master Yang is said successor, you should have obtained the Demon Mystic Tome, which is the key to unlocking the Spirit Array inside the Demon Capital.”
Yang Kai knit his brow, thinking about it for a moment before summoning the Black Book into his hand, “Are you talking about this?”
All eyes inside the room fixed on the Wordless Black Book, with Meng Ge and Xue Li’s gazes filling with greed. Even Demon Commander Zhang Yuan couldn’t stop his pulse from racing.
Guessing was one thing, but seeing was another matter altogether.
But soon, Zhang Yuan’s look returned to normal, gently inhaling a breath before nodding, “Yes, this is the Demon Mystic Tome. It seems everything is exactly how I had guessed, but the Heavens truly must not have eyes, actually allowing the Demon Mystic Tome to fall into the hands of a human…”
Zhang Yuan wore a look of regret and distress without any disguise, revealing his true feelings.
This was a matter of course though, the inheritor of Great Demon God’s legacy was supposed to be a member of their Demon Race, but the one who ultimately obtained the Demon Mystic Tome was Yang Kai.
This made Zhang Yuan give birth to a feeling of grief and indignation.
“So it’s called the Demon Mystic Tome? I didn’t know, I’ve always just called it the Wordless Black Book,” Yang Kai said lightly before storing the Wordless Black Book back into his body.
Having the object of their desire suddenly disappear, Meng Ge and Xue Li couldn’t help staring towards Yang Kai sharply, seemingly wanting to see where he had hidden the Demon Mystic Tome.
Without even mentioning all the Divine Abilities and secrets of Great Demon God that were hidden inside of it, simply the giant piece of soulstone itself was an immeasurable treasure.
Anyone who saw it would feel tempted.
“I will speak frankly,” Zhang Yuan strived to maintain a stable state of mind as he stared right at Yang Kai, “This Senior coming here personally was to show my sincerity. In truth, the mere status of Great Demon God’s successor is enough to take charge of the entire Demon Land; after all, the Demon Land was created by Great Demon God. This Senior also believes that as long as Holy Master Yang is given enough time, you will grow to the same height as Great Demon God, a height even this Senior could not hope to achieve.”
As soon as these words came out, Meng Ge and Xue Li swallowed hard, a hint of dread flashing across their eyes. Noticing the dangerous glint which appeared in the two Demon Generals’ eyes, Li Rong and Han Fei both began to quietly condense their strength, preparing to take action at a moment’s notice.
Inside the hall, because of Zhang Yuan’s words, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
As long as there was enough time, Yang Kai could grow to the same height as Great Demon God; the very idea made Meng Ge and Xue Li feel a sense of crisis. Even the Demon Commander admitted that this was a level he couldn’t hope to reach, so what would happen if they allowed Yang Kai to fully mature?
Since Great Demon God was able to sweep away the world’s experts and reign unchallenged, Yang Kai would eventually be able to as well.
At that time, he would be able to decide who lived and who died.
The two Demon General involuntarily gave birth to the thought of killing Yang Kai here and now, lest such a day really come to pass.
“Do not be impolite!” Zhang Yuan snorted, “I said that I wish to become friends with Holy Master Yang, which is why I chose not to conceal anything and speak openly with him. If you two dare release that murderous intent again, this Senior will be the first to cripple you!”
Meng Ge and Xue Li were dismayed, never imaging that Zhang Yuan would again reprimand them for Yang Kai. This made it clear how resolute the Demon Commander’s attitude was, he wasn’t just paying lip service. Realizing this, the two of them quickly admitted their mistake and lowered their heads.
Zhang Yuan nodded in approval before turning back to face Yang Kai, “While I’ve said all this, Holy Master Yang should not expect too much. The Demon Land is currently in the hands of this Senior and it is impossible for me to simply hand it over to a human, regardless of his identity.”
“I have no interest in the Demon Land.”
“That’s for the best,” Zhang Yuan nodded and chuckled, “Actually, the safest method for this Senior would be to kill you and snatch your Demon Mystic Tome, but this Senior knows that even if I were to kill you, I would be unable to obtain Great Demon God’s inheritance; that is something unique and irreplaceable. Since Great Demon God has chosen you, he must certainly have his reasons. All members of the Demon Race are descendants of Great Demon God, so this Senior can only hope that Holy Master Yang will not treat us as enemies in the future. I swear in the name of Great Demon God, I will not act disadvantageously towards you in the future, what does Holy Master Yang say?”
Yang Kai’s expression changed greatly upon hearing these words.
No Demon would dare to swear an oath in the name of Great Demon God lightly, such was the immensity of this name in the hearts of the entire Demon Race, even if it was the current Demon Commander, this still remained true.
Yang Kai profoundly recognized the sincerity of Zhang Yuan at this point, wearing a serious expression on his face as he nodded, “Good!”
Zhang Yuan laughed, a look of satisfaction spreading on his face, “Then that’s settled. Holy Master Yang may be young but is also decisive, very much to this Senior’s liking. Dealing with people like you is enjoyable.”
“You are also quite refreshing to deal with!”
“Then we are friends?” Zhang Yuan looked at Yang Kai with a smile.
“At least we’re not enemies,” Yang Kai smiled back.
“Good enough,” Zhang Yuan stood up, “Since I have said everything I came here today to say, I shall take my leave. When Holy Master Yang has free time, please pay a visit to my Demon Capital and allow this Senior to offer you his hospitality. This Senior is quite interested in the secrets left behind by Sir Great Demon God and hopes to use the Demon Mystic Tome to unlock them. I wonder if Holy Master Yang is willing to cooperate?”
“En, I will go.”
“Many thanks! En, if Holy Master Yang intends to come to my Demon Capital, please do send a notice in advance, that way this Senior can arrange safe passage through the Demon Land for you,” Zhang Yuan nodded lightly before immediately turning around and heading for the exit.
“Li Rong, see them out!” Yang Kai commanded.
Li Rong immediately set out to escort Zhang Yuan and the two Demon Generals out of the hall.
After a while, she returned leisurely and walked over to where Yang Kai and Han Fei were waiting.
“Master, do you really believe what Zhang Yuan just said?”
“What do you think?” Yang Kai answered her question with one of his own.
Li Rong thought about it carefully before replying, “He seems sincere, but we are not familiar with him at all, so it is difficult to believe him completely.”
“I think so too,” Han Fei nodded.
“I think he’s actually honest,” Yang Kai grinned, causing the two women to wear startled expressions.
Yang Kai wasn’t a child, if Zhang Yuan could mislead him with just a few words, he wouldn’t still be alive today. Yang Kai obviously had his own thoughts on Zhang Yuan’s actions and attitude.
“Do you plan on going to the Demon Capital?”
“Naturally I must go,” Yang Kai nodded.
However, this decision was by no means because of Zhang Yuan’s invitation, but rather because he was curious about what secrets Great Demon God had hidden there. If he was right, the secrets left in the Demon Capital were definitely related to the words Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had spoken about in that strange space.
When he rescued Meng Wu Ya and Little Senior Sister, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had also told Yang Kai that if he had a chance, he should go to the Demon Capital as he would be able to understand everything once he did.
Yang Kai had not had much hope of doing this any time soon, but with Zhang Yuan’s invitation, and opportunity had presented itself.
Because he had destroyed that place, all the world’s Mysterious Small Worlds had opened. On top of that, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had said that that place was the keystone of the entire world. What hidden secrets were related to that place, Yang Kai completely did not understand, causing him many sleepless nights.
As he was contemplating all this, a group of people came in from outside the main hall, headed by Ling Tai Xu. They rushed over and asked what the Demon Commander had wanted and if there was any danger.
Yang Kai laughed wryly and shook his head as he comforted them repeatedly.
High up in the sky, a few dozen kilometers away from High Heaven Pavilion, Zhang Yuan, Meng Ge, and Xue Li hurried along.
The two Demon General followed behind their Demon Commander while exchanging confused looks. For the life of them, they couldn’t understand why their Demon Commander had not taken the opportunity to kill that despicable human brat but instead gone all out to befriend him.
Such a terrifying person should be strangled early lest he grow up and become a disaster to the entire Demon Land.
Seemingly understanding the doubts in their hearts, Zhang Yuan, while not even looking back, lightly said, “You can’t kill him, don’t even bother trying.”
Meng Ge and Xue Li trembled.
Zhang Yuan continued, “As the chosen successor of Great Demon God, how could that Yang Kai be ordinary? Don’t think of him as just another Third-Order Transcendent youth, if he were to really fight, my guess would be that his strength can rival that of a Second-Order Saint.”
“How is that possible?” Meng Ge and Xue Li exclaimed.
“Why can’t it be possible?” Zhang Yuan laughed, “Sir Great Demon God was famous for being able to fight enemies far above his own realm, with many records telling of his victories against enemies supposedly far stronger than himself. You two are Demon Generals, surely you know this as well.”
Meng Ge and Xue Li were struck speechless; naturally, they were clear about this information, but they had not associated it with Yang Kai.
“That is purely his own strength though; perhaps he has also comprehended some of Great Demon God’s Divine Abilities. We can’t kill him, and attempting to will only cause more hatred between us. If that happens, in the future, when he really grows up, my Demon Land will be finished. That is not a risk worth taking!”
“Furthermore, that woman of the Ancient Demon Clan who is always by his side… This Senior can’t defeat her. As long as she is with Yang Kai, no one in this world can threaten his life.”
The two Demon Generals felt distraught. Although they had personally experienced Li Rong’s terrifying strength and had thought it comparable to the Demon Commander’s, Zhang Yuan personally admitting that he couldn’t beat her still brought great shock to them.
“Then what Senior said today…” Meng Ge started to speak but hesitated.
“I didn’t lie, I really do want to make friends with him. En, if you want to become friends with a person, you must do it while they are still weak, once they’ve become strong, it will be too late. Heed my words, no matter what kind of grudges you had with him before, consider them settled. Do not make any moves against him from now on; I don’t want to see the fragile relationship I worked so hard to establish just now being undermined by you.”
Meng Ge and Xue Li felt a complicated mix of emotions in their hearts and didn’t know what to say, so for now all they could do was nod.
……
Five days later, under the command of Yang Kai, thousands of people began migrating to Tong Xuan Realm through the Void Corridor.
After waiting for so many days, the people who were going to come should have already come while those who hadn’t likely wouldn’t ever, so there was no need to wait any longer.
What made Yang Kai feel gratified was that almost all of the friends he had made in this world were willing to entrust their lives to him and follow him to Tong Xuan Realm.
They all had great confidence in Yang Kai.
Yang Kai had stepped through the Void Corridor in advance together with Li Rong, Han Fei and Shi Kun to clean up the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple cultivators who were still lingering the cultivator that lingering nearby, sweeping clear essentially everyone within a fifty kilometer radius.
Shi Kun looked at Yang Kai with incomprehension and asked, “Holy Master, doing this will definitely bring about a lot of criticism. So long as we vacate a ten kilometer radius of the Void Corridor it should be more than sufficient.”
He didn’t quite understand why Yang Kai insisted on clearing such a large space.
“You’ll understand soon enough,” Yang Kai chuckled, staring at the nearby Void Corridor.
A group of people suddenly began emerging one after another. Naturally the first to come through were the people from the Yang Family, each of them staring around curiously, just like they had arrived in a new world, filled with excitement.
When they realized the richness of World Energy around them, all of them became ecstatic as they greedily breathed in the air, an expression on ecstasy appearing on their faces.
Under the guidance of Yang Kai, these first arriving Yang Family members flew up into the air and looked for an empty spot to wait while the rest of their fellow migrants came through.
A pretty figure was mixed in with the Yang Family and after walking out of the Void Corridor and looking around, she flew straight over to Yang Kai, a big smile upon her face as she landed in front of him.
“Your Qiu Family was supposed to be in the fourth group, how come you, their Matriarch, came here all on your own?” Yang Kai stared blankly at Qiu Yi Meng.
Qiu Yi Meng extended a hand to Yang Kai and bluntly stated, “I came for my gift.”
“What gift?”
“Didn’t you say it yourself? A couple days ago, you said that after we crossed over to this side, you’d deliver me a special present!” As she spoke, her beautiful eyes began to dim as she faintly said, “What’s wrong? You didn’t forget did you?”
“Oh, that gift!” Yang Kai suddenly comprehended, slapping his forehead before nodding, “Naturally I remember, I’ve already prepared it for you.”
Qiu Yi Meng’s mood immediately improved as she excitedly said, “Then give it to me quickly, if whatever it is doesn’t satisfy me though, I’ll make you regret it.”
“You’ll definitely be satisfied,” Yang Kai smiled and casually tapped Qiu Yi Meng’s shoulder.
“What are you doing?” Qiu Yi Meng looked at Yang Kai suspiciously before glancing over at the spot he had tapped, failing to notice anything out of the ordinary.
“I just consumed a great deal of my energy to help you break through your current realm,” Yang Kai said to her seriously, “Carefully examine yourself. Don’t you feel anything special?”
Qiu Yi Meng stared at him only half convinced, apparently quite wary of his words, but when she began examining herself, a stunned look appeared on her pretty face as she muttered, “Oh… It really seems like I’m about to break through.”
“Go and find a place to comprehend the mysteries of the next realm. The surrounding fifty-kilometre region has been cleared up and is perfectly safe,” Yang Kai waved his hand.
Qiu Yi Meng didn’t dare to delay and quickly flew off.
“Too easy,” Yang Kai sighed softly.
Li Rong and Han Fei both giggled nearby.
It took a full three days of work but finally, everyone arrived safely through the Void Corridor in Tong Xuan Realm.
Within a radius of fifty kilometres, many cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty had found suitable places, sat down cross-legged, and immersed themselves in the Heavenly Law and Martial Dao, shaking off the shackles which had chained them and breaking through to the next realm.
Because of the differences between the World Principles, all the cultivators arriving in Tong Xuan Realm were able to obtain a certain promotion in their strength.
The cultivators who were on the verge of a breakthrough could naturally take advantage of this opportunity to advance in one fell swoop.
This was also the case when Yang Kai first set foot in this world.
When the Ancient Demon Clan was brought out of the Mysterious Small World by Yang Kai, they too had experienced such a phenomenon.
Now, it was the turn of these cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty. Yang Kai was well aware that this would happen so he had cleared out the surrounding fifty-kilometre radius to ensure all his friends and family would have a safe environment to break through.
Of the several thousand people who had come to Tong Xuan Realm, at least one-third of them immediately achieved a breakthrough, and while the others weren’t as lucky as them, they were still quite satisfied as their own cultivation having experienced some improvements, scattering themselves about to stand guard for their companions who were in the midst of their breakthroughs.
Qiu Yi Meng flew over from a spot about ten kilometers away, grinding her teeth as she muttered under her breath, seemingly cursing something or someone.
Quickly arriving in front of Yang Kai, she leaned in and stared deeply at him, “Is this the ‘big present’ you prepared for me?”
“Not satisfied?” Yang Kai grinned.
“I’ve very satisfied with it, but what does it have to do with you? Open your eyes and look around for yourself. So many people are breaking through…” Qiu Yi Meng swept her hand around at the countless cultivators sitting cross-legged on the ground and inhaling the rich World Energy.
“Since you’re satisfied then you shouldn’t have anything to complain about, right?”
“Mark my words, I’ll make you regret disappointing this woman!” Qiu Yi Meng stamped her foot bitterly and no longer had enough patience to deal with Yang Kai, stomping off to where the Qiu Family had gathered.
Yang Kai scratched his head and wore a helpless look.
“Holy Master!” At that time, Shi Kun suddenly appeared and hurriedly said, “There is a large group of people approaching here and their demeanor is quite imposing.”
“Who are they?” Yang Kai frowned.
“Subordinate has not had enough time to investigate, but the other party is led by a Saint Realm master.”
“I’ll take a look,” Yang Kai said in a disgruntled tone. The only big force nearby was Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple, but after losing so many masters here, Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple seemed to have vanished. Before beginning the migration, Yang Kai had even let Li Rong go to the Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple to survey the situation, but upon her return, she actually reported that the Sect was deserted.
Yang Kai couldn’t help wondering which group of ignorant people had now decided to run over.
Before he could go far, Yang Kai spotted some small black spots on the horizon that were rapidly approaching. As time passed, the figures among this group became clearer and clearer.
Sweeping this group of newcomers with his Divine Sense, Yang Kai’s expression suddenly became strange.
Among these people, he found that there was only a single First Order Saint Realm expert, the rest were just Transcendents and Immortal Ascension Boundary cultivators.
What he found strange though was not the strength of these people, but that there were many familiar auras among them.
After carefully examining them, Yang Kai suddenly burst into wry laughter.
The group of cultivators who were approaching had obviously also determined the situation here and stopped a kilometre or so out, their leader calling out, “May I ask, are several friends members of Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple? This humble one is Dragon Phoenix Palace’s Palace Master, Chen Zhou. I would like to consult with you about a certain matter.”
“Dragon Phoenix Palace?” Li Rong, who stood behind Yang Kai, wrinkled her brow, not having any impression of this Sect.
“They’re our own people,” Yang Kai said casually before shouting back, “Is Sun Yu with you?”
As soon as this question came out, the Dragon Phoenix Palace cultivators all frowned deeply and Palace Master Chen Zhou swiftly moved his body to cover a young man inside the crowd, preventing Yang Kai from seeing him.
“Disciple, someone is calling for you. Do you have a friend in Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple?” Ling Jian turned a suspicious look towards Sun Yu who was being protected on all sides.
As his master, Ling Jian knew best the life experiences of this disciple of his.
Sun Yu had been picked up by Ling Jian at a very young age and brought to the Dragon Phoenix Palace to cultivate. In all these years, Sun Yu had never left Dragon Phoenix Palace, in fact, if he had not strongly insisted on coming here now, how could Ling Jian dare bring him out so easily?
Now, Sun Yu was the hope of all of Dragon Phoenix Palace, he absolutely couldn’t have any accidents.
As a young man who had never left Dragon Phoenix Palace, how could Sun Yu have made an acquaintance in Free And Unfettered Spirit Temple? Ling Jian was genuinely confused.
Palace Master Chen Zhou also turned his attention to Sun Yu and asked, “Do you know the person who just shouted?”
Sun Yu, however, was so ecstatic he didn’t even respond to his Master or Palace Master Chen and instead stepped out from the crowd with a look of awe on his face and shouted, “Is that you, Senior Yang?”
Yang Kai smiled and nodded, “Yes!”
“It really is Senior Yang!” Sun Yu was overjoyed and couldn’t help rushing forward, leaving his fellow disciples and Elders behind as he flew over towards Yang Kai.
The masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace were shocked by this sudden development and quickly chased after him.
“Elder Ling, what background does this Senior Yang Sun Yu speaks of posses? Why does he seem so enthusiastic to meet him?” As they sped along, Chen Zhou asked curiously.
“This old master doesn’t know either,” Ling Jian was also confused.
As the spoke, everyone arrived in front of Yang Kai, Sun Yu looking more excited with every breath, respectfully cupping his fists, “Greetings Senior Yang. It turns out you already arrived here.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly, lifting his eyes from Sun Yu and staring at the crowd behind him.
Almost every master from Dragon Phoenix Palace had come out and were even now carefully guarding Sun Yu, directing vigilant looks all around in case someone here was harbouring ill intentions.
“Right, let me introduce you,” Sun Yu said spiritedly as he pointed to Yang Kai, “This is Senior Yang.”
He then pointed to the people from Dragon Phoenix Palace and said, “This is our Palace Master, Chen Zhou, this is my Master, Ling Jian, this is Elder Xiao Ling, this is…
As he introduced everyone one by one, Yang Kai nodded and said hello.
“What qualifications does this young man have to be called Senior?” Chen Zhou asked somewhat unhappily.
Sun Yu was now the Dragon Emperor of his Dragon Phoenix Palace, his true status far more important than even his own as Palace Master, yet now, meeting this youth, Sun Yu had actually enthusiastically called him Senior, making Chen Zhou feel very uncomfortable, as if doing so was a disgrace to Sun Yu’s identity as Dragon Emperor.
If Yang Kai had been a middle-aged man, Chen Zhou wouldn’t have paid it much mind, but the young man in front of him was clearly less than thirty years old.
“Palace Master, Senior Yang has a great graciousness to me, you must not speak disrespectfully to him,” Sun Yu snorted.
Chen Zhou stunned, his face becoming somewhat awkward as he cupped his fists and said, “I hope this friend will not take offence, this Chen’s mouth is simply a bit frank, I meant no disrespect.”
“Palace Master Chen is too serious,” Yang Kai didn’t care. Seeing Chen Zhou immediately compromise because of a few words from Sun Yu, Yang Kai fully comprehended how much importance Chen Zhou attached to him.
Nearby, Dragon Phoenix Palace’s Elder Xiao Ling was starring at Shi Kun and after hesitating for a moment, asked, “Dare I ask if Your Excellency is Elder Shi Kun of Nine Heavens Holy Land?”
“It is this Shi, have we met before?” Shi Kun looked at him curiously.
Xiao Ling smiled widely and called out in a fluster, “No wonder Your Excellency looked familiar. Six months ago, this Xiao once travelled to Nine Heavens Holy Land to seek the assistance of your Sect’s honoured Alchemy Grandmaster. At that time, Elder Shi Kun was sitting outside the nine peaks inside the stone pavilion so this Xiao had seen your face, but Elder Shi Kun probably does not have any impression of me.”
“Is that so…” Shi Kun nodded, every time he was on duty outside the nine peaks, he would see and greet dozens of people, how could remember all of them?
“Your Dragon Phoenix Palace came to request Alchemy services?” Yang Kai turned to Sun Yu and asked.
“En, Elder Xiao came back and said that there were many people waiting in line so he had to wait for a month before it was his turn,” Sun Yu laughed foolishly.
“Later if you need pills just ask me directly, you don’t have to wait in line,” Yang Kai declared.
In an instant, the look all the Dragon Phoenix Palace masters were directing at Yang Kai changed greatly.
Chen Zhou stammered as he hesitantly asked, “May I ask what relationship you have with Yang Kai, the Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land?”
With the Holy Land Elder Shi Kun standing respectfully behind Yang Kai, it was clear who had the higher status.
Sun Yu had also called him Senior Yang.
Chen Zhou had a sharp mind and was quickly able to put together these clues, arriving at a certain possibility.
“This is my Holy Land’s Holy Master!” Shi Kun solemn replied.
Everyone from Dragon Phoenix Palace was shocked as they stared at Yang Kai in disbelief.
Chen Zhou’s expression became quite awkward as he cupped his fists and bowed, “So it is Holy Master Yang, a moment ago this Chen acted impolitely and offensively, I humbly request Holy Master Yang forgive my indiscretion.”
When he first saw him, Chen Zhou was unaware of Yang Kai’s identity and had even questioned him; how could he have known that this young man was actually one of the most prominent figures in the world?
The gulf in strength between Dragon Phoenix Palace and Nine Heavens Holy Land was enormous, if his boorish actions just now really angered Yang Kai, Dragon Phoenix Palace would definitely suffer a terrible end.
Realizing this, Chen Zhou couldn’t help feeling afraid as a chill shot up his spine.
“Palace Master Chen does not need to worry, I am a friends with Sun Yu, naturally I won’t care about such trivial things,” Yang Kai smiled faintly.
“Friends…” The masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace were all dumbfounded once again, each and every one of them showing an excited look, as if being friends with Yang Kai was a great honour.
Turning their gazes back to Sun Yu, their eyes filled with even greater worship.
Each of them was thinking in their hearts that the Dragon Emperor really was worthy of his title, even able to make friends with this grade of character.
He was still so young and weak yet he had won the favour of Nine Heavens Holy Land’s Holy Master. It also seemed like this Holy Master Yang was a man of great vision and had seen through Sun Yu’s extraordinariness.
As the masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace indulged in their flights of fancy and smiled happily to themselves, Yang Kai looked to Sun Yu and asked, “How come you are here?”
Sun Yu scratched his head, “Previously, Senior Yang asked me to inquire about a certain piece of news so when the Sect finally got word of a Mysterious Small World that seemed related to Senior Yang’s request, I requested to come investigate it personally. I didn’t think that Senior Yang would also be here though.”
“En, I also heard about it recently and came to investigate.”
“Then these people are…” Sun Yu swept his eyes around and soon discovered that there were some four or five thousand people gathered nearby, astonishing him greatly.
The strength of these several thousand cultivators was not high, only the couple dozen or so who had reached the Transcendent Realm were worthy of a little attention, while the rest were only at the Immortal Ascension and True Element Boundary.
This caused Sun Yu and the masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace to be quite curious, wondering where all these people had come from and what kind of relationship they had with Yang Kai.
“They’re all my friends and family,” Yang Kai explained casually before his expression turned serious, “In any case; I must offer you my thanks for this time.”
Because of a few words from Yang Kai, Sun Yu had actually done his best to have Dragon Phoenix Palace seek out news of his homeland and after obtaining a lead, had personally led a team of masters here.
This alone made Yang Kai very grateful.
At that time, Yang Kai had exhausted all his personal connections in the faint hope that they would discover something.
Yang Kai could just imagine what it was like when Sun Yu insisted on going out this time. The masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace must have vehemently objected but he still had not hesitated to come.
This young man had a character of gold!
“Shi Kun, after we return, speak with Great Elder and let him announce that from now on, our Holy Land will be close friends with Dragon Phoenix Palace,” Yang Kai said seemingly thoughtlessly.
“Yes!” Shi Kun quickly responded.
“This…” Chen Zhou wrung his hands nervously as a smile blossomed on his face, at somewhat of a loss for words, finally managing to stammer out, “I don’t know what to say.”
Dragon Phoenix Palace was not at all formidable now yet Nine Heavens Holy Land’s was among the most powerful and famous Sects in the world and had a profound and mysterious Alchemy Grandmaster within its ranks; which Sect did not want to establish ties with Nine Heavens Holy Land? Once they were able to forge such a relationship, the benefits they would receive would be enormous, at the very least; they would never have to worry about obtaining Saint Pills in the future.
Chen Zhou had never expected that this Holy Master Yang would be so congenial, causing his heart to shake and his thoughts to spin.
His face blushing bright red with excitement, Chen Zhou hastily said, “This Chen sincerely thanks Holy Master Yang for his kind intentions, just as you said, Dragon Phoenix Palace will advance and retreat together with Nine Heavens Holy Land in the future!”
Chen Zhou was not an inexperienced character and had seen his fair share of great storms, but his heart was still thrown into chaos because of these few words from Yang Kai.
“Palace Master Chen is too polite. Right, since you’ve come, I have a favour to ask of you,” Yang Kai suddenly thought of something.
“Please speak it, Holy Master Yang,” Chen Zhou replied sincerely.
“As Palace Master Chen has surely seen, the cultivations of my friends and family are not very high and the distance from here to Nine Heavens Holy Land is quite far. Perhaps there will be accidents on the road like this. If it is convenient, could I request Chen Palace Master to help me escort them home?” Yang Kai smiled and said, “Of course, when we arrive at the Holy Land, I will provide a generous reward.”
Hearing these last words, the eyes of all the Dragon Phoenix Palace masters lit up.
Sun Yu quickly waved his hand, “Senior Yang need not be so polite with us, whatever matter it is you need our assistance with, please feel free to speak it and we will surely comply. As for a reward, there is no need for such a thing.”
Chen Zhou hurriedly composed himself and nodded, “Indeed, Holy Master Yang does not need to treat my Dragon Phoenix Palace as outsiders.”
Yang Kai gently nodded, “Then… I’ll have to trouble you all for a time.”
Sun Yu smiled happily, “Very good, it seems I’ll have another chance to learn from Senior Yang.”
The people from Dragon Phoenix Palace immediately dispersed under the arrangements of Chen Zhou to patrol the surrounding area.
They hadn’t brought a lot of people here, only about thirty or forty in total, but most of them were Transcendent, so with such a group of masters joining them, the caravan would definitely be safer. After all, these masters were natives of Tong Xuan Realm and were very familiar with how things worked here, unlike the Great Han Dynasty cultivators who essentially knew nothing about this place.
Ling Jian quietly pulled Sun Yu aside and whispered, “Little disciple, when did you become acquainted with Holy Master Yang? From how you spoke just now, it was almost as if you had studied with him for a time? Why don’t I, your Master, know anything about that?”
Sun Yu didn’t dare speak the truth so he just left Ling Jian guessing.
Two days later, everything was ready and the several thousand people convey set out for Nine Heavens Holy Land.
These cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty were filled with excitement, all of them staring around curiously, pointing out various new and interesting things from time to time, gathering together in small groups and whispering amongst themselves.
The people from Dragon Phoenix Palace had also become incredibly popular with each of them constantly being surrounded by countless cultivators, all of them asking questions about Tong Xuan Realm.
The Dragon Phoenix Palace’s masters did not dare to neglect these relatives and friends of Yang Kai, answering anything they were asked all day long, their moods somewhat confused, not knowing whether to laugh or cry about this group of country bumpkins.
They had found that these people were ignorant of even the most basic common sense things.
Many of them were curious what kind of backwater Mysterious Small World these people used to line in.
At the back of the caravan, Yang Kai and Sun Yu walked side by side. Sun Yu would ask questions about the Martial Dao from time to time, and Yang Kai would happily teach him.
Not far away, Dragon Phoenix Palace’s Palace Master Chen Zhou actually had his gaze fixed on two pretty figures who were walking slightly ahead of him, a pensive look upon his face.
Perceiving this, a thought came to Yang Kai and he took the initiative to ask, “Has Palace Master Chen discovered something interesting?”
Chen Zhou smiled and said, “It’s not a big deal, I just found it strange how similar those two girls in front are. Not only do they share identical appearances, but even their life auras and True Qi fluctuations are exactly the same. The only difference between them is their temperaments. If Holy Master Yang had not said they had just come to Tong Xuan Realm, I would have thought they came from a certain Sect.”
Yang Kai raised his brow and shouted, “Jiao’er, Mei’er!”
The Hu Sisters, who were walking not far ahead, heard this shouts and hurriedly turned around. After approaching Yang Kai, Hu Jiao’er asked, “What is it?”
Yang Kai ignored her and instead turned to look at Chen Zhou, “Which Sect did Palace Master Chen think they came from?”
Chen Zhou stared at them for a moment before replying, “Twin Spirit Pavilion, I don’t know if Holy Master Yang has heard of it.”
[Just as I thought.]
Yang Kai nodded, “Naturally I have heard of it, I also heard that this Twin Spirit Pavilion and your honoured Sect have been on good terms for a long time.”
“En, the relationship between our two Sects truly is quite good, but there are many complicated reasons for that,” Chen Zhou smiled bitterly and said.
These two Sects had been close for many generations going back thousands of years.
Just as Yang Kai had suspected, Dragon Phoenix Palace and Twin Spirit Pavilion had both once been extremely powerful Sects, standing at the peak of the Human Territory, comparable to today’s Nine Heavens Holy Land.
But for some unknown reason, the top masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion had at some point disappeared along with the Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress, causing their core inheritances to become lost and their Sects to decline.
The two Sects had originally been close, and after suffering similar hardships, had only grown more intimate over the years.
“Our Dragon Phoenix Palace is still better off though thanks to Sun Yu successfully obtaining the Dragon Emperor’s inheritance. Now, so long as he can find an appropriate Phoenix Empress candidate, my Dragon Phoenix Palace will surely be able to reproduce the glory of its past. But Twin Spirit Pavilion… haa… there is still no word on the location of their core inheritance,” Chen Zhou said with a complicated expression, somewhat happy yet somewhat sad.
Sun Yu, who was nearby, lowered his head, not daring to say anything.
“Twin Spirit Pavilion?” Hu Jiao Er, who had been listening up until now, suddenly showed some reaction, a slightly excited look appearing on her face as she asked, “What kind of Sect is this Twin Spirit Pavilion?”
Chen Zhou chuckled, “It is a very special Sect because they only recruit twin brothers or sisters. As such, all this force’s disciples form pairs, en, actually this point is quite similar to our Dragon Phoenix Palace, but they cultivate a shared life Secret Art while we specialize in a life partner dual cultivation art.”
“A force that only recruits twins?” The Hu Sisters’ beautiful eyes lit up.
“Yes, on top of that, all their disciple pairs give off a feeling that they are the same person, quite similar to the two of you. After cultivating their Secret Art, each pair of twin brothers or sisters have their True Qi fluctuations and life auras gradually become the same, allowing the two to join forces and multiply their respective strengths; however, the two of you seem to be even fiercer than them. I have also travelled to the Twin Spirit Pavilion many times and met many of their disciples, but none of them were comparable to you two.”
“Senior, do you know what the name of the Secret Art they cultivate is?” Hu Jiao Er hurriedly asked, a look of expectation flashing across her beautiful eyes.
Yang Kai glanced over at her, knowing what she was suspecting.
“Their Secret Art seems to be called the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art… but it is now incomplete. Although after so many generations the section which was lost has been made up, somewhat through their own efforts, they have still been unable to reproduce the glory of their ancestors,” Chen Zhou said casually; a Sect’s cultivation technique should not be leaked out, but having its name be known wasn’t a big deal.
“It really is!” Hu Jiao’er’s tender body trembled as her beautiful eyes practically glittered with brilliance.
“Elder Sister…” Hu Mei’er also covered her mouth and whispered incredulously, “Isn’t that the name of the Secret Art we obtained?”
“You managed to obtain it?” Chen Zhou called out in alarm as he stared at the Hu Sisters with great shock.
Hu Jiao’er sincerely nodded, “The name of our two sisters’ cultivation technique is the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art, and it could be related to Twin Spirit Pavilion?”
“How could it not be related?” Chen Zhou said excitedly, “Surely that was the lost inheritance of Twin Spirit Pavilion. I never expected it would be obtained by you two; no wonder your auras are so consistent!”
Saying so, Chen Zhou suddenly burst into laughter, “If Wu Fa and Wu Tian learned of this matter, I’m afraid they would be too excited to even sleep.”
“Wu Fa and Wu Tian?” Yang Kai asked.
“En, the two Sect Masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion are called Wu Fa and Wu Tian, they are twin brothers,” Chen Zhou explained quickly.
“Such names… Yang Kai was secretly amazed and couldn’t help chuckling to himself. These two names were far too arrogant and could easily provoke hatred. If some short-tempered master was to bump into them and they announced themselves, it would surely lead to a fight.
“Originally that Secret Art came from that Twin Spirit Pavilion,” Hu Jiao’er wore a complicated look.
Since she and her sister obtained the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art, their destiny had undergone a great change. The rate at which the two of them improved their strengths was now many times greater than an average cultivator, allowing them in just over a decade to break through to the Transcendent Realm, becoming some of the strongest masters in the entire Great Han Dynasty.
The two of them were naturally very grateful to this profound Secret Art and to the Senior who had left it behind for them to discover.
Now that they knew the source of this Secret Art, both of them couldn’t help thinking about paying Twin Spirit Pavilion a visit to take a look at the Sect from which it originated as well as to see other twin brothers and sisters who cultivated the same Secret Art as them.
Yang Kai naturally did not miss what the Hu Sisters were thinking.
Moreover, Yang Kai had long ago planned for such a possibility.
Just because they mistakenly believed Sun Yu was the Dragon Emperor, Chen Zhou and the other masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace treated him like the most precious of treasures. If the Hu Sisters were to return the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art to Twin Spirit Pavilion, they would obviously receive similar treatment.
They would surely become the rising stars and future hope of the Twin Spirit Pavilion!
Because what they had obtained was the most orthodox version of the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art, not one that had been cobbled together by Twin Spirit Pavilion’s descendants.
What was of even more importance though was that Twin Spirit Pavilion might have information the Hu Sisters needed. Over the years, the two sisters had been struggling all on their own, and although their cultivations had reached the Transcendent Realm, such strength was insignificant in Tong Xuan Realm.
The cultivators of Twin Spirit Pavilion who had immersed themselves in the study of the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art for centuries undoubtedly had a deeper understanding of it than them and would be able to teach them their insight and experiences, greatly increasing the rate of the Hu Sisters’ progress.
“Yang Kai, we’d like to…” Hu Jiao’er turned to Yang Kai hesitantly, but he simply lifted his hand to interrupt her next words.
“Palace Master Chen, what is the temperament of Twin Spirit Pavilion’s Sect Masters?” Yang Kai asked. He understood the Hu Sisters’ thoughts, but that alone was not enough for him to feel relieved sending them to Twin Spirit Pavilion.
“Regarding their demeanour, Holy Master Yang may feel at ease. I have been dealing with them for many years and they are upright people. Twin Spirit Pavilion has very few disciples, only about a thousand people in total, so they always act prudently and never do anything that would bring disrepute upon themselves. Although there are only about a thousand of them, the position of the Twin Spirit Pavilion in Tong Xuan Realm is not worse than that of my Dragon Phoenix Palace. Both Wu Fa and Wu Tian are First Order Saints, the same as this Chen, but when they collaborate, they are capable of defeating most Second-Order Saints,” Chen Zhou explained happily.
“Then there should be no issues,” Yang Kai nodded.
Chen Zhou’s eyes flashed, “If these two young ladies can bring the complete Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art to Twin Spirit Pavilion, Wu Fa and Wu Tian will certainly be ecstatic!”
“There’s no rush, Jiao’er and Mei’er will first return back to Nine Heavens Holy Land with me. It won’t be too late for them to make a decision once we arrive,” Yang Kai chuckled.
“En,” The Hu Sisters did not hesitate to agree.
“Then… can this Chen send a message to Wu Fa and Wu Tian to inform them of the good news?” Chen Zhou asked cautiously as he observed Yang Kai’s expression.
“En, I shall trouble Palace Master Chen to do so,” Yang Kai nodded.
“Many thanks,” Chen Zhou replied gratefully before quickly summoning over Elder Xiao Ling of Dragon Phoenix Palace and letting him quickly travel to Twin Spirit Pavilion to convey the word of the Hu Sisters to Wu Fa and Wu Tian.
Dragon Phoenix Palace and Twin Spirit Pavilion had always had a good relationship, and Chen Zhou, Wu Fa and Wu Tian were also on good terms. When Sun Yu had obtained the Dragon Emperor’s Inheritance, allowing the Dragon Emperor’s prestige to reappear after thousands of years, Chen Zhou had felt somewhat regretful for Twin Spirit Pavilion even though he was happy for his own sect. Now that Chen Zhou saw hope in the Hu Sisters, he wanted to let his two friends know as soon as possible so they too could rejoice.
Yang Kai soon left to join the rest of the caravan, walking alongside and chatting with Ling Tai Xu.
It was difficult for Hu Jiao’er and Hu Mei’er to hide their excitement, each of them taking a spot next to Chen Zhou and constantly asking him about Twin Spirit Pavilion’s current situation.
Chen Zhou did not conceal anything and happily answered the two you girls’ questions.
“Holy Master Yang is quite considerate of you two,” Chen Zhou suddenly smiled mysteriously.
“What does Senior mean?” Hu Jiao’er asked, confused.
Chen Zhou explained, “Holy Master Yang insisted that you two first go to Nine Heavens Holy Land with him while allowing me to send a message to Twin Spirit Pavilion. Now, if Wu Fa and Wu Tian wish to meet with you, they must first travel to Nine Heavens Holy Land! Knowing you have a close relationship with Holy Master Yang, Wu Fa and Wu Tian will certainly not mistreat you in the future. On the contrary, they will regard you as their Sect’s future hope. If both of you had instead gone directly to Twin Spirit Pavilion, the situation may not be the same.”
Hu Jiao’er thought about it for a moment and felt that this was reasonable, her beautiful eyes glancing over towards Yang Kai who was walking in front of them and pouting slightly, “He’s always up to something.”
“He acted so for your own well being,” Chen Zhou nodded with an ambiguous smile, seemingly having noticed something.
……
After three long months of travelling, the several thousand person caravan was finally approaching their destination. When this news spread out, everyone felt very excited.
After so long, these cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty were all thoroughly exhausted, their initially vibrant curiosity giving way to the desire to find a quiet place and quickly begin enjoying the rich World Energy aura of Tong Xuan Realm.
This world was many times better in terms of cultivation environment compared to the Great Han Dynasty, causing all of these cultivators to secretly anticipate what kind of development they would achieve in the future.
From Nine Heavens Holy Land a few hundred kilometres away, a group of figures flew out.
Upon arriving, each of these people cupped their fists and greeted, “Holy Master!”
All of the Holy Land’s Elders had rushed out to welcome this caravan, their eyes curiously sweeping over these several thousand people.
Yang Kai gently nodded and asked, “Is everything ready?”
Great Elder Xu Hui nodded, “Everything has been prepared. When Elder Shi Kun arrived a few days ago, we immediately began tidying up War Spirit Temple’s old site. Although there are still some places in need of repair, we can begin moving people in at any time.”
“Not a problem,” Yang Kai nodded and expressed his satisfaction.
There were roughly three thousand disciples of Nine Heavens Holy Land, and now Yang Kai had brought back four or five thousand people with him. The nine peaks did not have enough space to comfortably place all of these people, and even if they squished everyone in, the supply of World Energy wouldn’t be sufficient to supply so many cultivators.
Therefore, Yang Kai had long ago decided to place his friends and family in a different location.
The old sites of Shattering Mystical Palace and War Spirit Temple were both good choices.
These two Sects had originally been set up in locations with rich World Energy and beautiful scenery, so they were quite suitable for long-term residence. The most important thing was that there were many buildings already in place.
However, Shattering Mystical Palace now had a constantly open entrance to the Starry Sky, so Yang Kai didn’t feel comfortable settling the Great Han Dynasty cultivators there and decided to use War Spirit Temple’s site instead.
Yang Kai had sent Shi Kun ahead a month ago to convey his instructions to Nine Heavens Holy Land.
Now it appeared that all the arrangements on that side had been completed.
All that was left was for the people brought over by Yang Kai to move in.
War Spirit Temple was not far from Nine Heavens Holy Land and was actually located right between the Holy Land and Netherworld Sect, so if anyone ever wanted to act against them, they would first have to pass through Nine Heavens Holy Land or Netherworld. Sect.
This was the strongest guarantee of the Great Han Dynasty cultivators’ safety.
Yang Kai had informed everyone about these things on their way here and the various leaders like Yang Zhao, Qiu Yi Meng, and Huo Xing Chen had said that there were no problems with his arrangements.
Living in the former site of War Spirit Temple would be convenient for them if they ever needed to look for Yang Kai or visit Nine Heavens Holy Land in the future as the two were only half an hour apart.
As the huge caravan walked forward, Yang Kai introduced the Elders of the Holy Land to the various leaders of the forces from the Great Han Dynasty, allowing them to mingle with each other.
Towards these people brought by Yang Kai, Xu Hui and others showed great humbleness, causing many of the young leaders to feel quite flattered.
All of them were quite clear that with their pitiful cultivation, if they were not close friends of Yang Kai, these Saint Realm masters may not even deem them worthy to look at.
But now, all these powerful masters who had lived for hundreds of years treated them with politeness and courtesy.
For a moment, these leaders felt a subtle sense of excitement and were once again profoundly taught about how extraordinary Yang Kai’s status in this world was.
“Holy Master Yang, since we have arrived, we shall take our leave,” Chen Zhou suddenly came up to Yang Kai and said.
They had been away from Dragon Phoenix Palace for several months now so it was high time for them to go back.
“Palace Master Chen must be tired after such a long journey, please stay in my Holy Land for a few days and allow me to offer you my hospitality,” Yang Kai sincerely said. Along the road, there were indeed many incidents they had helped to resolve.
With thousands of people slowly walking together, there were always a few fellows without eyes who came to stir up trouble, and if they had not been handled properly by the masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace, Yang Kai might have killed them all.
Chen Zhou and the others had escorted them all the way to the doorsteps of the Holy Land so Yang Kai was not about to just let them leave like this.
“This…” Chen Zhou hesitated.
“Since Senior Yang has invited us, we should not refuse,” Sun Yu interjected.
Chen Zhou smiled bitterly, “You kid…”
Relenting, Chen Zhou nodded and cupped his fists, “Then we shall be imposing on you.”
Yang Kai smiled with satisfaction.
Sun Yu quietly arrived beside Yang Kai and whispered, “Senior Yang, when can I tell Palace Master and the others the truth of this matter? Every time I see them acting so respectful towards me, I feel a deep sense of guilt.”
“After this time’s matter has been processed, I will go find someone and then bring them to your Dragon Phoenix Palace to explain everything.”
“Really?” Sun Yu asked excitedly.
“En.”
“Is the one Senior Yang is going to look for the Phoenix Empress?” Sun Yu casually guessed.
But to his surprise, Yang Kai readily admitted, “Yes!”
It was about time for him to seek out Su Yan and bring her back. She had been in Ice Sect for more than a decade now and it had been seven years since Yang Kai had last met with her. Now that everyone from High Heaven Pavilion had come to Tong Xuan Realm, he should allow her to return home.
After bringing her back and allowing her to obtain the Phoenix Empress’ Inheritance, presumably her cultivation would soar upwards!
Yang Kai was quite looking forward to it.
After an hour, the huge convoy passed by the nine peaks and, under the orders of Yang Kai, Xu Hui invited the group of masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace into Nine Heavens Holy Land and personally entertained them.
Meanwhile, the others moved on towards the old site of War Spirit Temple.
Yang Kai has already instructed Xu Hui to deliver some pills to Dragon Phoenix Palace as thanks for their efforts. Xu Hui would have no trouble handling this.
Another hour later, everyone finally arrived at the former site of War Spirit Temple.
From far away, Wu Jie of Netherworld Sect flew over, cupped his fists and bowed, “Holy Master Yang, long time no see.”
“Sect Master Wu, why are you here?” Yang Kai was surprised.
Wu Jie chuckled lightly, “Things have been quiet in the Sect lately so I brought some of my disciples here to lend a helping hand. Are these the people from Holy Master Yang’s hometown? There are a lot of them.”
As he spoke, Wu Jie glanced behind Yang Kai and was secretly surprised.
“En, they will live here from now on and will be neighbours to your Netherworld Sect, so I will have to trouble Sect Master Wu to look after them every now and then.”
“Rest assured, as long as my Netherworld Sect exists, no one will cross its defences and trouble this place,” Wu Jie struck his chest proudly and promised.
Inside the former site of War Spirit Temple, the various cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty began settling in and after ten days of discussion, each force had its own place.
War Spirit Temple originally had several thousand disciples, so even though there were many cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty, it was not a problem to fit them all in.
With new homes in a new environment, everyone felt a sense of prosperity.
Yang Kai summoned the leaders of the various forces and warned them about several things, especially the passage to the Starry Sky gate inside Shattering Mystical Palace, making sure none of them allowed their people to enter it at will.
That was a place where even if Saints went in, they were almost guaranteed to die, let alone this group of people from the Great Han Dynasty.
“This world is very different from the Great Han Dynasty, here you cannot act the same as before. All of you must regard one another as one whole family. Although you may need years, or even tens of years to fully integrate into this world, and the road ahead will be challenging, the room for development here is also far greater compared to the other side,” Yang Kai said as he looked out across the crowd.
The leaders of the various forces all nodded. Since they were willing to follow Yang Kai here, they were naturally prepared for all this.
If they wanted to develop and thrive here, they would need to put aside their differences and band together, abandoning their previous Sect and Family identities to become one cohesive force.
There was no need for Yang Kai to mention such matters, this was something they all understood.
Fortunately, at present, the leaders of each force basically came from the younger generation, so their mindsets were more flexible.
The Holy Land sent over a large number of cultivation materials and evenly distributed them to everyone here, so the Great Han Dynasty cultivators had no need to worry about securing resources and could instead focus on improving their own cultivation realms.
The Holy Land could now easily collect this amount of cultivation materials as the five Grandmasters and Xia Ning Chang were constantly receiving requests for Alchemy services. With the storm of the Mysterious Small Worlds dying down, the number of people coming to the Holy Land for pills was gradually increasing again.
The Holy Land’s daily income was now enough to support ten Holy Lands, so naturally there was no issue supplying resources to the Great Han cultivators.
During these ten days, Xia Ning Chang had also come over and stayed awhile, spending time greeting everyone from High Heaven Pavilion, but because there were so many people requesting Alchemy services from the Holy Land, after a few days she had to return.
Another ten days passed by and everything had finally settled down.
In a corner of the former War Spirit Temple grounds, Yang Kai came across Ling Tai Xu standing atop of mountain peak, quietly gazing out across the world, and called out, “Grand Master!”
Ling Tai Xu looked back and nodded with a smile, “Have you grow tired after all these days of hard work?”
“Not at all,” Yang Kai smiled, “It was my greatest wish since I first came to this world to bring my family and friends here.”
Ling Tai Xu revealed a look of approval as he nodded, “This time, you have splendidly dealt with all possible issues, I believe everyone who has come here is deeply thankful to you.”
Yang Kai gently inhaled, revealing a worried look, “The only thing I worry about now is if there will be any contradictions in the future.”
Ling Tai Xu however just laughed, “There will definitely be contradiction; after all, the people who came here come from far too many forces, but you don’t have to worry about that, no one here is unreasonable, so even if contradictions arise, they will be able to find solutions on their own. As long as they have the heart to come together, after one or two generations have passed, they will truly become one family. Everything is just a matter of time.”
“I hope so,” Yang Kai nodded.
He had done what he should do, the rest would be up to the efforts of the cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty.
“Kai’er, that Soaring Heaven Sect you mentioned on the way here… Ling Tai Xu suddenly changed the subject, “Is it true that the Ancestral Founder for my High Heaven Pavilion is there?”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded sincerely, “It’s absolutely true. When disciple first came to this world, I received much care from the Ancestral Founder as well as my Martial Uncles and Martial Aunt.”
On the journey to the Holy Land, Yang Kai had spoken about the relationship between High Heaven Pavilion and Soaring Heaven Sect. At that time, the Ling Tai Xu was very interested and excited; now that he was suddenly bringing it up again, it was obvious what he was planning.
“Ancestral Founder is still alive…” Ling Tai Xu’s face showed a fascinated look, “His strength is probably quite profound, yes?”
“Among the highest level in this world!” Yang Kai quickly said.
Ling Tai Xu took a deep breath, “I wish to greet him!”
He was the former Sect Master of High Heaven Pavilion, but compared with Chu Ling Xiao, he was still several generations lower. Now that Ling Tai Xu knew that the Sect’s Ancestral Founder was still alive, naturally he wanted to meet him.
“I’ll take you,” Yang Kai said immediately.
“There’s no need for that, you have many things to attend to, just find someone who knows the way there and have them show me the way,” Ling Tai Xu waved his hand.
Yang Kai smiled meaningfully, “If I let someone else take Grand Master there, it will be at least a four-month round trip, but if disciple takes you, it will only take a few days to go back and forth.”
“Oh?” Ling Tai Xu’s brow rose, “Do you have the means to travel so quickly?”
“Grand Master will have to experience it to understand,” Yang Kai chuckled, thinking for a moment before saying, “Let’s also bring Su Mu along.”
Ling Tai Xu pondered for a bit before nodding, “Good, regardless of anything else, he is now the Sect Master of High Heaven Pavilion. Coming with me to meet Ancestral Founder is only appropriate.”
Yang Kai immediately released his Divine Sense to search for Su Mu.
An incense stick worth of time later, Su Mu rushed over, “Brother-in-law, Former Sect Master, why did you suddenly summon me?”
“To lead you to see the Sect’s Ancestral Founder!” Yang Kai grinned and summoned the Flying Heavens Shuttle, leaping aboard before beckoning to Su Mu and Ling Tai Xu.
After the two also boarded, the Flying Heavens Shuttle immediately transformed into a blue streak of light and disappeared.
Feeling the terrifying speed of the Flying Heavens Shuttle, Ling Tai Xu and Su Mu both paled.
Su Mu exclaimed, “Brother-in-law, what is this artifact? Isn’t its speed too incredible?”
He was also now a Transcendent, yet when he released his Divine Sense into the surroundings, he was unable to capture the flow of scenery around him, which meant that the Flying Heavens Shuttle could fly at least several times faster than he could expand his Divine Sense.
“It’s called the Flying Heavens Shuttle, a flight type artifact,” Yang Kai explained casually.
“This thing is amazing. At such a speed, if I ever wanted to visit Nine Heavens Holy Land in the future, I’m afraid the trip would only take the blink of an eye,” Su Mu shouted excitedly, “Brother-in-law, make one for me too!”
Yang Kai’s face went black.
Ling Tai Xu saw this and smiled, “You should give up such wishful thinking, I’m afraid this artifact is not easy to acquire.”
“En, in all the world, this is the only one,” Yang Kai nodded.
Su Mu was inevitably disappointed upon realizing just how precious and rare the Flying Heavens Shuttle was, “Brother-in-law, you being able to obtain a unique treasure like this is really the good fortunes of Heaven… Right, a moment ago you mentioned something about bringing me to see the Ancestral Founder? What Ancestral Founder?”
Yang Kai quickly explained about Chu Ling Xiao and Soaring Heaven Sect.
After listening to him, Su Mu couldn’t help looking forward to this meeting.
Along the way, Yang Kai took advantage of this opportunity to teach some knowledge about Tong Xuan Realm to Su Mu and Ling Tai Xu.
Two days later, they arrived at Soaring Heaven Sect.
Yang Kai rushed directly into Serene Resplendent Peak.
Before he could enter the mountain cave though, a tender shout reached his ears, “Little Martial Nephew!”
Turning his head towards the source of the voice, Yang Kai saw his Martial Aunt Fei Yu standing not far away, apparently having already noticed his arrival. Beside her was Cang Yan, Li Wan and Fei Jian.
Yang Kai smiled happily and rushed over with Ling Tai Xu and Su Mu.
“I was just wondering which blind bastard dared to break into my Serene Resplendent Peak, but it turns out it’s just you returning,” Fei Yu said full of enthusiasm, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Yang Kai as she angrily said, “You never send word in advance and always just appear and disappear so mysteriously.”
“I just arrived,” Yang Kai laughed, “In any case, it’s not like we’re strangers.”
“The only one who dares to come and go freely from my Serene Resplendent Peak is you. If Li Wan or the rest dared to do this, I would knock all their teeth out without question,” Fei Yu snorted.
Li Wan made a pitiful face as he complained, “Why are you pulling me into this? I’ve never come in and out of this place without letting you know.”
“These two are…” Cang Yan cast his eyes curiously towards Ling Tai Xu and Su Mu, not knowing why Yang Kai would bring these two people to Soaring Heaven Sect.
“This is my Grand Master Ling Tai Xu that I mentioned to you before, and this is my Junior Brother Su Mu, en, he is now the Sect Master of the High Heaven Pavilion.”
“High Heaven Pavilion!” The four of them were quite shocked as they asked, “The Sect Martial Ancestor created in that other world?”
“En.”
“High Heaven Pavilion’s Ling Tai Xu greets Senior Brothers and Senior Sister!” Ling Tai Xu is a cupped his fists and politely bowed. Although his appearance made him look much older than Cang Yan and the others, Ling Tai Xu knew that in terms of true age each of the four before him was much older than himself, so it was only a matter of course to call them Senior Brothers and Senior Sister.
“Su Mu greets Martial Uncles and Martial Aunt!” Su Mu also hurriedly saluted.
“Good good good!” Cang Yan laughed as he and the other three returned the courtesy, “So Junior Brother and Martial Nephew are here to recognize your ancestors and return to your homeland. Good, Martial Ancestor will be very happy when he learns of this.”
“What about the others from High Heaven Pavilion?” Fei Yu kindly inquired.
“I have settled them in a place near Nine Heavens Holy Land. The journey from there to here is too far and they have only just arrived in Tong Xuan Realm so I have not led them here today.”
“That’s fine, if there is a chance in the future, you can bring them here,” Cang Yan nodded, “Come, let me take you to see Martial Ancestor. We just so happen to have something to discuss with him as well.”
“Then I’ll trouble Senior Brother to lead the way,” Ling Tai Xu’s heart pounded with excitement.
Inside Chu Ling Xiao’s secluded room, the group of people looked for a place and sat down cross-legged; after learning about Ling Tai Xu and Su Mu’s origins, Chu Ling Xiao also felt some rising emotions.
After a moment of silence, Chu Ling Xiao said, “In the past, I founded High Heaven Pavilion as a temporary plan. I could not remain forever to watch over that Demon General’s body so I casually found some disciples and taught them a few things, but I hadn’t thought that after leaving, those few disciples would continue to carry forward High Heaven Pavilion for so long. En, I was somewhat negligent in my responsibilities. If I had known things would turn out this way, I would have left some better Secret Arts and Martial Skills there. These years must have been hard for you.”
“Ancestral Founder is too serious,” Ling Tai Xu hurriedly said, “It was all thanks to Ancestral Founder that disciple can have today’s achievements. Disciple now being able to greet Ancestral Founder in this lifetime is already the greatest blessing of High Heaven Pavilion’s ancestors. If they were to learn of this in the afterlife, I’m sure they would smile happily.”
“Good,” Chu Ling Xiao gently nodded, a look of gratitude appearing on his face.
Chu Ling Xiao was quite concerned about the current situation of High Heaven Pavilion and Ling Tai Xu also had many things he wished to talk about with the Ancestral Founder. Seeing that they would not be finished any time soon, Fei Yu beckoned to Yang Kai while quietly withdrawing.
Yang Kai excused himself and followed after her.
Outside the secret room, following Yang Kai, Cang Yan and the others also came out.
They had come here to report something to Chu Ling Xiao, but seeing him immersed in his discussion with Ling Tai Xu, they decided their matter could wait.
“Little Martial Nephew, I heard that your Nine Heavens Holy Land is developing quite well, yes?” Fei Yu asked Yang Kai with a smile.
“Things are alright,” Yang Kai chuckled.
“I also heard that your Nine Heavens Holy Land Saintesses are completely obedient to the Holy Master. Is that really the case? Little Martial Nephew, have you found a few Saintesses already?” Li Wan’s eyes glanced around, a false look of concern appearing on his face as he said, “Although you’re still young and strong, everything should be done in moderation lest you hurt yourself.”
Yang Kai’s face cramped up, not knowing how he should respond, instead choosing to forcefully change the subject, “Martial Uncles, Martial Aunt, did you all just come back from the outside?”
“En,” Cang Yan nodded, “We were out investigating the Snow Mountain Range’s situation.”
“Oh? Why? What happened?” Yang Kai asked curiously.
The four looked at each other, with Fei Yu eventually saying, “Little Martial Nephew is not an outsider, is there any need to conceal things?”
Cang Yan nodded, “We should discuss it, it will also be good to inform Little Martial Nephew so he can let Nine Heavens Holy Land pay attention.”
Seeing their expression become dignified, Yang Kai immediately realized that the situation was more complicated than he anticipated, otherwise how could four Saint Realm masters treat it so seriously?
“Come with us,” Fei Yu waved her hand and led Yang Kai together with the other three towards a certain direction.
“About half a year ago, the world’s Mysterious Small World all opened on their own, Little Martial Nephew should know about this, yes?” Cang Yan asked as they walked.
“Naturally,” Yang Kai gently nodded. Not only did he know about it, but he was also quite suspicious about whether these Mysterious Small Worlds opening on their own had something to do with him destroying the space which was guarded by Great Demon God’s Soul Clone.
Although he had no definitive evidence, the timing was quite consistent, with all the entrances to the various Mysterious Small Worlds appearing just after he destroyed that space.
“We don’t know if the two situations are related to one another, but after the entrances to all the Mysterious Small Worlds opened, an incident inside the Snow Mountain Range occurred.”
“What kind of incident?” Yang Kai asked.
“A top-level master strangely appeared,” Cang Yan replied in a low tone.
“Top-level master?”
“A Third Order Saint!”
Yang Kai wore a look of shock.
There were only a handful of Third Order Saints across the world, with the total number among all three races adding up to no more than twenty.
Yang Kai knew that there were only five such masters amongst the Demon Race. Besides the Demon Commander Zhang Yuan, there were the four Demon General.
On the Monster Race’s side, only the three Great Seniors had arrived at such a cultivation, namely Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon, Divine Ox, and Ice Jade Python.
The number amongst the Human Race was slightly more, but not by a wide margin.
Such a master inexplicably appearing in the Snow Mountain Range was naturally an incident worthy of note.
“What race is he from?” Yang Kai hurriedly asked.
When he did so though, the expressions of his four Martial Seniors suddenly became strange, Cang Yan only responding after a brief silence, “It was because we were uncertain of what race he belonged to that we were concerned. When we get to the place, you will understand.”
Yang Kai was stunned and no longer asked any questions and simply followed along.
Listening to what they had just said though, it seemed like this Third Order Saint was actually imprisoned somewhere inside Soaring Heaven Sect at the moment, making Yang Kai feel quite confused.
Wanting to capture a Third Order Saint was no simple matter.
Although he was curious about how they accomplished this, Yang Kai refrained from asking.
Following the four through Soaring Heaven Sect, it took a moment before they arrived at a certain mountain peak at the bottom of which was a hidden entrance that led down into its depths.
Along the downward ramp were bright torches that gave off a thick Yin Qi.
Feeling a certain pressure on his body, Yang Kai’s expression grew serious.
Fei Yu took the initiative to explain, “There is a powerful Spirit Array set up here that has the effect of suppressing one’s strength. This place is where my Soaring Heaven Sect imprisons powerful enemies, but it has been empty for quite some time, that is, until a few months ago.”
“That unknown master is being held here?”
“En, the situation is very strange, we don’t know how to explain it, it’s best if you see it with your own eyes,” Cang Yan nodded.
As they descended, Yang Kai felt that the pressure fettering him seemed to be growing stronger and stronger, giving him the illusion that the entire mountain was pressing down on him, making it difficult to breathe.
This was obviously the overflow effect of the Spirit Array. Although it was not specifically targeting Yang Kai, it still gave him great pressure. If they were to be the focus of this suppression, Yang Kai didn’t know what kind of master would be able to withstand it.
After descending around three thousand meters or so, the group finally arrived at a dimly lit stone room. Inside this stone room, there were a number of faintly glowing lines that were arranged in a complicated pattern. At the centre of this pattern was a bound human figure.
Chu Ling Xiao’s Demon Sealing Chain was firmly wrapped around this humanoid form, constantly releasing a scalding hot aura that was burning this figure while its hands and feet were also bound by a series of artifacts Yang Kai had never seen before.
Even so, a shocking malevolent aura still filled this room.
“That’s him,” Cang Yan pointed to the front, “Little Martial Nephew, look carefully, if your Nine Heavens Holy Land encounters such a creature in the future, you must act prudently, we are still unable to determine which race he belongs to.”
As Yang Kai looked towards the human form, his eyes suddenly filled with shock as he called out unconsciously, “Bone Race?”
“What?” His four Martial Seniors simultaneously stared towards him.
Yang Kai frowned deeply and quickly walked towards the human form, carefully examining it and confirming his initial suspicions.
The one tied up here was actually a Bone Race!
“Little Martial Nephew, do you know this race?” Cang Yan asked urgently.
“I’ve seen one before!” Yang Kai nodded solemnly.
“Where?”
“Seven or eight years ago, when I went to find my Senior Sister, in a place at the northern edge of the endless sea covered in glaciers,” Yang Kai explained quickly.
When he had gone to find Su Yan, he had blended Souls with her inside Ice Sect, allowing their Souls to assume the forms of a Golden Dragon and Ice Phoenix. In that form, the two of them flew across the glacial word and inadvertently destroyed a certain iceberg. Inside that iceberg was where Yang Kai had found a frozen skeleton.
That frozen skeleton was exactly the same as the humanoid one in front them, without any flesh and blood, only consisting of bones and meridians, a frightening sight to behold.
At the time, Yang Kai didn’t know what it was and thought it was perhaps the remains of an Ice Sect disciple that had accidentally died, so out of good-will he brought it back.
Ice Sect’s Master, Qing Ya, along with Ice Sect’s Elders, however, knew who this skeleton was and informed Yang Kai about him.
They said that a long time ago, a strange race which called themselves the Bone Race had mysterious appeared in Tong Xuan Realm. They appeared as nothing but skeletons, but each one of them was extremely powerful and long-lived.
The decline of Ice Sect was deeply tied to the appearance of the Bone Race.
Qing Ya finally instructed Yang Kai to incinerate the skeleton, and during that process, the frozen bones which he had thought was nothing more than a corpse, actually revealed a powerful life aura.
This frightening incident had left a great impression on Yang Kai.
Now seeing this shackled skeleton, Yang Kai naturally recognized its origins at first glance.
After listening to Yang Kai’s explanation, his Martial Uncles and Martial Aunt all wore extremely solemn expressions.
“You mean… he has lived for several thousand years?” Cang Yan asked somewhat incredulously.
“Most likely,” Yang Kai nodded.
“Martial Ancestor also said that this person seemed to have no vitality but was somehow still alive… However, it seemed like he had only just awoken from a very long sleep, so his strength was nowhere near its peak, allowing Martial Ancestor to easily capture him and bring him back to the Sect.”
“This Bone Race member was captured by Ancestral Founder?” Yang Kai turned to look at the four.
“En, on the same day that the Mysterious Small World entrances all opened, Martial Ancestor suddenly detected an unusual aura deep inside the Snow Mountain Range. Unable to feel relieved, he went to investigate and a few days later, brought this skeleton back… we all thought he was already dead.”
“Fortunately, Martial Ancestor had the foresight to imprison him here!” Li Wan said fearfully.
This Bone Race master’s energy fluctuations revealed to be a Third Order Saint Realm, and although it was faint, there was no doubt about his strength. If they had allowed him to recover, even Chu Ling Xiao may not have been able to defeat him.
“Wait, when we came here a few days ago, his meridians were all dried up but now they seem to be quite full, the life aura from his body has also become stronger,” Fei Yu noticed something and quickly reminded them.
“He’s restoring himself?!” Cang Yan’s expression dropped.
Did he really possess such amazing vitality? After being frozen in the Snow Mountain Range for thousands of years, he was still able to awaken and restore himself, the very concept was shocking.
“Why have we never heard of such a race before?” The four Saints all glanced around at each other in confusion.
“The world is big and filled with many unknowns. There’s nothing strange about there being things we know nothing about. Li Wan, go inform Martial Ancestor, we should let him decide what we do next,” Cang Yan declared.
“Good,” Li Wan immediately disappeared.
They had originally brought Yang Kai here to warn him about this strange entity, but instead they had actually gained information about it from Yang Kai, information that was of great concern to Cang Yan and the others.
A moment later, Chu Ling Xiao swiftly appeared.
“I’ve heard about the situation from Li Wan. Yang Kai, how much do you know about this Bone Race?” Chu Ling Xiao asked seriously.
“Not much,” Yang Kai shook his head, “I only know that if you want to completely destroy him, burning his skeleton to ash is the best way, otherwise once he fully recovers, he will be difficult to deal with.”
“Such a strange race… This old master has never heard of it before, but I know a bit about the Ice Sect. I hadn’t expected that their lineage was still continuing,” Chu Ling Xiao took a deep breath.
“Martial Ancestor knows about Ice Sect?” Yang Kai was quite surprised.
“Naturally, this endless Snow Mountain Range was once the exclusive domain of Ice Sect.”
Yang Kai was stunned.
However, that would also explain why a Bone Race master would appear here. If the fall of Ice Sect was inextricably linked to the Bone Race, they must have fought here a long time ago, ultimately losing and being chased out by the Bone Race, forced to retreat to that glacial world where they remained even now.
Soaring Heaven Sect, deep inside the depths of the prison mountain, Yang Kai pushed his True Yang Yuan Qi fiercely and engulfed the Bone Race skeleton in it, burning it down.
Chu Ling Xiao and the others all stood by close and watched quietly.
Yang Kai’s True Yang Yuan Qi was not an ordinary flame, it was the crystallization of his cultivation, an incredibly pure and dense form of energy, there was nothing it could not incinerate.
The Bone Race master, bound by the Demon Sealing Chain and various artifacts, seemed to be dead.
But the malevolent aura which emanated from his body was actually becoming more and more intense.
*Chi chi chi…*
Inside the dimly lit room, a harsh, grating sound resounded as cracks spread throughout the Bone Race’s skeleton, his meridians and bones slowly reducing to ash.
Suddenly, the two deep green lights appeared in the eye sockets of the Bone Race master, just like a pair of gloomy eyes which flickered erratically.
The malevolent aura suddenly exploded out.
*Hou…* An angry roar suddenly burst forth from the Bone Race’s head, his Spiritual Energy penetrating into the Knowledge Seas of everyone nearby, allowing them to clearly sense his violent unwillingness. This scream also contained a potent yet mysterious Divine Sense attack which caused the Souls of everyone except Chu Ling Xiao to tremble.
Everyone paled at this sight and Yang Kai hastily increased the output of his True Qi.
*Kacha…*
Under the intense heat, the skeleton gradually disintegrated.
The green glowing eyes of the Bone Race master also quickly dimmed and eventually lost all light.
After the time it would take to burn a stick on incense, only a black powder remained.
Everyone stared at this sight for a moment, unable to speak.
“He really hadn’t died… such tenacious vitality!” Fei Yu wore a frightened look.
“All that was left was his skeleton, how could he have survived?” Cang Yan also couldn’t understand.
“Perhaps, he was originally just a skeleton, with no flesh or blood at all, or perhaps his skeleton was the core of his life essence…” Yang Kai spoke thoughtfully.
“What Little Martial Nephew means to say is that as long as his skeleton remains, he won’t die?”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded, “In any case, this race is completely different from the others in this world, and is extremely dangerous. If any of us encounter them again in the future, we mustn’t take them lightly.”
“Rest assured, if I ever bump into these creatures again, I’ll definitely smash their bones,” Li Wan said firmly.
“Is there really such a strange race in this world?” Chu Ling Xiao’s brow wrinkled. Even with all his knowledge and experience, if Yang Kai hadn’t arrived today, he wouldn’t have been able to figure out the identity of the Bone Race master he had captured.
When he had entered the Snow Mountain Range to investigate all those months ago, following the shocking evil aura he had sensed, all Chu Ling Xiao had found was a skeleton buried a thousand meters beneath the ice. It was only because he realized there was something strange about it that he brought it back.
Fortunately, he had the foresight to seal and suppress it.
“For some time now, this old master has felt that this world has become subtly different,” Chu Ling Xiao solemnly said.
“The meaning of Ancestral Founder is…” Yang Kai turned a curious look towards him.
Chu Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “Your realm is not high enough, so you probably have not noticed yet, but I believe that all the Third Order Saints around the world have the same feeling as this old master. This world seems to have somehow been released from something, and the stars in the night sky are also much clearer and more numerous than before.”
Yang Kai’s look changed.
“This old master doesn’t know why, but it’s as if some great change is approaching,” Chu Ling Xiao sighed.
The four other Saints present shivered, finally understand why since the day he had brought back the Bone Race skeleton, their Martial Ancestor had often left his cultivation room at night to stare up at the night sky.
They didn’t know why their Marital Ancestor had suddenly begun taking such a strange action, they had only thought that Chu Ling Xiao had obtained some kind of enlightenment, but listening to his words just now, they now know that he had actually discovered something unusual.
After spending two days in Soaring Heaven Sect, Yang Kai returned to Nine Heavens Holy Land with Ling Tai Xu and Su Mu.
When they left, Chu Ling Xiao had sternly cautioned them and repeated insisted that if they encountered another Bone Race master again, they must let him know.
Yang Kai readily agreed.
Along the way, Yang Kai remained silent, lost in thought.
Ling Tai Xu did not miss his absent-mindedness and asked, “Is there something wrong?”
Yang Kai nodded and told him about the Bone Race matter, causing Ling Tai Xu to pale slightly. Unfortunately, there was nothing Ling Tai Xu could contribute to the discussion; after all, he had just arrived in Tong Xuan Realm and was unfamiliar with even the common sense of this world, let alone something as out of the ordinary as the Bone Race.
In the past, back in the Great Han Dynasty, he hadn’t even known about the existence of the Demon and Monster Races.
He had thought that under the Heavens, the only race capable of rational thought was the Human Race.
It was only after arriving in Tong Xuan Realm that Ling Tai Xu realized his own naivety.
“Grand Master doesn’t need to worry about this matter, if the sky collapses, the world’s giants will be there to hold it up,” Yang Kai laughed, relaxing his expression greatly before turning to look at Su Mu and asking with a smile, “What good things did you obtain that you can’t stop grinning?”
Su Mu chuckled and took out a Universe Bag, “Look, this is a gift from Ancestral Founder.”
“A Universe Bag!” Yang Kai nodded, “Do you know how to use it?”
“Of course I do, the Ancestral Founder, Martial Uncles, and Martial Aunt all gave me many artifacts, Martial Skills, Secret Arts, ancient books, and other treasures,” Su Mu held the Universe Bag to his chest and gently patted it.
“You must make good use of all the treasures you received, do not disappoint the expectations of Ancestral Founder and your Martial Seniors,” Ling Tai Xu said sincerely.
“Disciple knows,” Su Mu nodded before suddenly asking, “Brother-in-law, when are you going to bring Elder Sister back? Our entire Sect has migrated here, I think it’s a good time for her to return.”
“En, after sending the two of you back, I plan to go look for Su Yan,” Yang Kai responded.
Even if Su Mu did not remind him, Yang Kai had been planning to do so. After nearly eight years apart, Yang Kai had grown quite anxious to see his beloved again.
Now that Xia Ning Chang was also in Nine Heavens Holy Land, he only needed to find Su Yan so that they could all reunite.
Yang Kai very much yearned for such a day!
Two days later, the three returned to the old War Spirit Temple site.
Just after returning to this place, Xu Hui, who heard the news, flew over and reported, “Holy Master, two guests arrived at the Holy Land two days ago and requested to see you.”
“Who are they?” Yang Kai asked.
“They announced themselves as the Sect Masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion, Wu Fa and Wu Tian!” Xu Hui reported with a wry smile, unable to stop himself, apparently thinking that their names were far too rampant.
“Oh? They came personally?” Yang Kai raised his brow.
On the way to the Nine Heavens Holy Land with the Great Han Dynasty cultivators, Palace Master Chen Zhou of Dragon Phoenix Palace had sent Xiao Ling, one of his Sect’s Elders, to Twin Spirit Pavilion to deliver a message. Now, only a few months later, Twin Spirit Pavilion had taken swift action.
The two Sect Masters travelling all this way to seek an audience with Yang Kai explained just how much importance they placed on the Hu Sisters.
This made Yang Kai very satisfied; at least they had shown enough sincerity.
“Holy Master, do you wish to see them?” Xu Hui asked.
“Of course I must see them. Where are they now?”
“They are waiting inside the Holy Land!”
“Good, continue to entertain them and tell them I will return shortly.”
Xu Hui acknowledged the command and quickly departed.
After he left, Yang Kai spread out his Divine Sense to search the former War Spirit Temple site, soon finding the location of the Hu Sisters and rushing over to see them.
War Spirit Temple’s grounds covered a large area and the Blood Battle Gang was situated in the northwest corner where a number of splendid residences had previously been constructed.
The Hu Sisters and Sect Master Hu Man were currently working with the gang’s disciples to repair these broken houses and clean up the surrounding area, keeping themselves occupied.
Seeing Yang Kai appear, Hu Man smiled and walked over, cupping his fists as he said, “Nephew Yang, you’ve come.”
The Hu Sisters’ beautiful eyes brightened as well as they smiled happily.
Yang Kai nodded slightly and asked, “How are things here, is there anything you’re unsatisfied with?”
Hu Man quickly waved his hand, “How could there be anything we’re unsatisfied with? Nephew Yang has already arranged everything and provided so many cultivation resources, all we need to do is cultivate diligently. As for the environment, we weren’t picky in the first place so we couldn’t be happier.”
“That’s good. En, if you have anything you need, just inform my Holy Land’s Elders and they will do everything they can to accommodate you.”
“We have no additional needs,” Hu Man laughed before smoothly changing the subject, “The only request I could think of would be for Nephew Yang to find some free time to help teach my two daughters. If you could, this Hu would be most grateful. En, personal guidance at night would be the best, it would greatly ease this Hu’s worries, heh heh heh!”
“Father, if you continue speaking, someday, you might turn mute!” Hu Jiao’er turned red and glared at her father.
Since coming here, Hu Man had constantly been mentioning how much he appreciated Yang Kai to his two daughters. What their father was thinking, the sisters knew, but now that he was all but spelling it out to them, what’s more right in front of Yang Kai, Hu Jiao’er suddenly couldn’t take it anymore.
What this so called father of theirs’ plan was, was clearly written on his face.
“I’ll leave you three to talk!” Hu Man let out a hollow laugh and quickly slipped away.
“Don’t pay any attention to him,” Hu Jiao’er quickly walked over to Yang Kai, the blush on her face still not faded as she faintly whispered, “He’s just spouting nonsense.”
“Why did you suddenly come to see us?” Hu Mei’er asked.
“Guests from Twin Spirit Pavilion have come,” Yang Kai replied frankly.
The two Hu Sisters trembled lightly as they directed glowing gazes towards Yang Kai.
“The ones who have come are the two Sect Masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion, their purpose is obvious and they’ve displayed their sincerity. All that’s left is for you two to decide how you want to proceed.”
The two sisters exchanged a glance, seemingly a bit hesitant about what choice to make. After a brief silence, Hu Jiao’er said, “Whatever you decide, we’ll go along with.”
They entrusted the decision to Yang Kai.
“Do you want to go?” Yang Kai asked with a smile.
The sisters nodded simultaneously, Hu Jiao’er saying, “Naturally, I want to see what kind of Sect it is.”
Yang Kai could understand their mood because he was the same. When Yang Kai discovered that Dragon Phoenix Palace had some relation with the inheritance he and Su Yan obtained, his first thought was also to check this Sect out.
Of course, right now, it was partially because it was a huge opportunity for Sun Yu that Yang Kai had striven to build a good relationship with Dragon Phoenix Palace.
“Since you want to go, then let’s go! Perhaps you’ll be able to find others with valuable experiences you can study; on top of that, there will certainly be gains if you go.”
Chen Zhou had guaranteed the character of Wu Fa and Wu Tian, and with the additional layer of protection their status as Yang Kai’s friends provided, the Hu Sisters would not be mistreated if they went to Twin Spirit Pavilion.
On the contrary, Wu Fa and Wu Tian would regard them as precious treasures and treat them as such.
Nine Heavens Holy Land reception hall.
Twin Spirit Pavilion’s two Sect Masters Wu Fa and Wu Tian sat anxiously upon their chairs, as if their cushions were made from pins and needles, their eyes darting around unceasingly.
They had been here for a few days now but they had yet to see the Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land or the pair of twin sisters who had obtained the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art.
Naturally, they felt like ants on a hot wok.
With the Holy Land’s Great Elder Xu Hui standing nearby though, they didn’t dare show too much impatience and could only keep their anxiety to themselves.
A few years ago, an ordinary young disciple of Dragon Phoenix Palace had managed to enter the depths of Dragon Valley and obtain the Dragon Emperor’s Inheritance.
In just two years, that young disciple had managed to break through from the True Element Boundary Seventh Stage to the Immortal Ascension Boundary Seventh Stage, and upon exiting, had managed to kill the First Order Saint Realm Master of Frozen Nether Cave Heaven who had led his Sect to invade Dragon Phoenix Palace. In that conflict, Frozen Nether Cave Heaven had suffered heavy casualties while Dragon Phoenix Palace had won a near-total victory.
When this news spread to Twin Spirit Pavilion, Wu Fa and Wu Tian couldn’t help feeling deeply envious that Dragon Phoenix Palace had recovered its ancient inheritance.
At the same time that they felt happy for Dragon Phoenix Palace, they also felt a sense of dejection.
Twin Spirit Pavilion and the Dragon Phoenix Palace’s core inheritances were both lost at the same time, but now a new hope had risen in Dragon Phoenix Palace while their Twin Spirit Pavilion was still wallowing in decline.
With such a massive contrast between them, how could Wu Fa and Wu Tian not feel some indignation?
The two of them often sighed as they wondered why their Twin Spirit Pavilion hadn’t obtained such luck.
But a few months ago, Dragon Phoenix Palace’s Elder Xiao Ling had arrived with a message saying that in a Mysterious Small World, a pair of twin sisters who cultivated the original Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art had appeared.
On top of that, this pair of sisters had arrived in Tong Xuan Realm and was currently staying in Nine Heavens Holy Land!
Upon hearing the news, Wu Fa and Wu Tian immediately set out from the Twin Spirit Pavilion and rushed to this place, neither of them daring to delay, arriving at Nine Heavens Holy Land as quickly as possible.
But now, unable to meet those they wanted to, and unable to question Xu Hui about why, Wu Fa and Wu Tian’s mood had understandably dropped.
Fortunately, just now, Xu Hui had returned and told them that the Holy Master would soon see them.
“Great Elder, may I ask when Holy Master Yang will arrive?” Wu Fa couldn’t help the restlessness in his heart and asked, his expression becoming quite awkward the moment these words left his lips.
He was embarrassed with himself because this was the third or fourth time he had asked this same question in the last hour.
Xu Hui smiled faintly and said, “Holy Master said he will be here soon, is Sect Master Wu feeling that anxious?”
Wu Fa laughed awkwardly, “Something like that. Please don’t mind, Great Elder!”
“Big brother, they’re here!” At that moment, Wu Tian’s shoulder trembled as he shouted.
Wu Fa also quickly released his Divine Sense and noticed that a group of people were rapidly approaching. The two brothers could no longer sit still and immediately flew out, landing in front of the reception hall and staring towards the approaching group.
A moment later, a blue light flashed and three figures appeared.
In the lead was a heroic-looking youth whose aura was quite powerful and whose eyes shone with a sharp light. At first glance, it was apparent he was not weak.
However, Wu Fa and Wu Tian’s gaze was completely attracted by the two young women behind this youth.
These two women appeared exactly the same, their life auras and True Qi fluctuations identical in every way and, as they stood side by side, there seemed to be an invisible connection linking them together as if the very essence of their beings was shared between them.
If not for the contrast in their innate temperaments and demeanours, it was likely that people would think of them as copies of the same person.
Wu Fa and Wu Tian felt their breath catch in their chests as a look of excitement filled their faces. The moment they laid eyes on the Hu Sisters, they refused to look away, their eyes gradually filling with both surprise and joy.
There was to confirm if these two were the sisters they had come to see as Wu Fa and Wu Tian had already concluded that they were definitely cultivating the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art.
Because in this world, there was no other Secret Art which could create this kind of result other than the Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art.
Moreover, these two sisters had clearly cultivated the most orthodox version of this Secret Art.
The extent to which these two young women’s life auras and True Qi fluctuations mirrored one another far surpassed even Wu Fa and Wu Tian who were the Sect Masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion.
“Big Brother!” Wu Tian gasped, a frantic look appearing on his face.
“En,” Wu Fa was also very excited, “It is absolutely our Twin Spirit Pavilion’s lost inheritance!”
The Hu Sisters were also curiously sizing up Wu Fa and Wu Tian, they had never seen other cultivators in a similar situation to themselves.
However, the look in these two people’s eyes that seemed almost like starving beasts that couldn’t wait to devour them cause them some slight fear, so the two sisters couldn’t help hiding behind Yang Kai.
Their subtle movements made Wu Fa and Wu Tian realize their own impropriety and the two quickly composed themselves and wore temperate smiles, trying to appear harmless to humans and small animals.
“Are two friends the Sect Masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion?” Yang Kai asked with a smile.
Wu Fa and Wu Tian stood up straight and cupped their fists, “Indeed, is Your Excellency Holy Master Yang?”
Yang Kai nodded.
“Greetings! We have long heard your resounding name!” Wu Fa exchanged some quick pleasantries before getting straight to the point, “Holy Master Yang, these two girls…”
Yang Kai interrupted him with a smile and said, “Let us go inside first.”
Saying so, he led the Hu Sisters into the reception hall.
Wu Fa and Wu Tian exchanged a quick glance before hurriedly keeping up.
After the guests and hosts were seated, Yang Kai made the waiting maids serve fresh tea before calmly stating, “I will get straight to the point then. En, I am well aware of two Sect Masters’ purpose in coming here.”
Wu Fa face brightened as he directed an expectant gaze towards Yang Kai, anxiously waiting for him to continue.
“However, my Nine Heavens Holy Land and Twin Spirit Pavilion have never had any dealings with one another and this Holy Master is not familiar with two Sect Masters, so… there are some things I’d like to clarify first. I hope two Sect Masters will not mind!”
“What Holy Master Yang says is how it should be,” Wu Fa and Wu Tian quickly agreed.
“Ultimately, you wish for both of them to go to your Twin Spirit Pavilion, right?”
Wu Fa and Wu Tian nodded together.
“Because they have obtained the core inheritance of your Twin Spirit Pavilion and are your Sect’s hope for revitalization yes? The two of them also wish to see your Twin Spirit Pavilion, this point I have already confirmed with them.”
“Truly?” Wu Fa was overjoyed and directed a grateful look towards the Hu Sisters.
Wu Fa and Wu Tian had been extremely on edge this whole time, worried that the two sisters would not be willing to go with them. If it had turned out like that, they would have been helpless to do anything about it.
They were currently inside Nine Heavens Holy Land, where masters were as abundant as clouds. The two brothers were both only First Order Saints, and although when they collaborated, they wouldn’t have a problem handling a Second-Order Saint, such strength was far from enough to face a giant like Nine Heavens Holy Land.
They had already stayed here for a few days and were well aware of an incredibly powerful aura residing on one of the nearby mountains. They did not doubt that there was Third Order Saint Realm powerhouse guarding this place.
Acting dissolute here would be akin to digging their own graves.
“This is a matter between your two parties and not really the place of an outsider like me to interfere,” Yang Kai smiled softly, “But these two girls, to me… En… they are like younger sisters who live next door.”
As soon as he said these words, the Hu Sisters shot him a complicated look.
Yang Kai feigned ignorance and continued, “Moreover, they had just now arrived in Tong Xuan Realm. Before now, they used to live in a remote Mysterious Small World so they know practically nothing about this world, so I must ask about some things on their behalf.”
“Please ask, Holy Master Yang, we brother will definitely give you satisfactory answers,” Wu Fa declared sincerely.
“What would their treatment be if they went to the Twin Spirit Pavilion?” Yang Kai was no longer polite and began asking directly.
Wu Fa thought for a moment before replying, “Dragon Phoenix Palace has a disciple called Sun Yu, the Dragon Emperor’s successor. How Dragon Phoenix Palace treats Sun Yu is how we will treat these two girls in Twin Spirit Pavilion.”
Yang Kai nodded with satisfaction, “If they want to come back later?”
“We will not try to stop them. Twin Spirit Pavilion’s inheritance being carried forward is our greatest wish. As for where it is carried forward, it matters not.”
“When they arrive in your Sect, their cultivation…”
“We will provide them with the best cultivation materials in the Sect as well as the finest cultivation environment, we two brothers can even personally protect them at all times to ensure no harm comes to them unless we die.”
“The Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art they inherited…”
“If they are not willing to share it, no one will force them to; it was the blessings of my Twin Spirit Pavilion’s ancestors which gave them that opportunity.”
“Their…”
……
Each proposal Yang Kai made was swiftly agreed to by Wu Fa and Wu Tian, the two brothers showing the utmost sincerity and unconditionally.
“Their…”
“Yang Kai!” Hu Jiao’er finally called out to Yang Kai, directing an accusing look at him, “That’s good enough, don’t embarrass them any further.”
Even though the various conditions put forward by Yang Kai and the various problems he asked about were all designed to reap the greatest benefits for them, the Hu Sisters were really unable to watch Wu Fa and Wu Tian continue on like this.
They had already felt the sincerity of the other party.
“En, so be it,” Yang Kai chuckled, turning to the side and saying, “Xu Hui, prepare some cultivation Saint Pills for them to take with them.”
“Yes!” Xu Hui quickly left to make arrangements.
These days, Xia Ning Chang and the five Grandmasters were refining many pills each day even when no patrons came to seek Alchemy services, so the Holy Land now had a great deal of Saint Pills in storage.
Wu Fa and Wu Tian were both quite shocked when they heard this and directed meaningful looks towards Yang Kai.
Saint Pills were rare treasures, but this Holy Master Yang actually intended to give these two girls several all at once, further articulating their status in his heart.
For a time, their looks became ambiguous.
“When do you intend to depart?” Yang Kai turned to the Hu Sisters.
Hu Jiao’er hesitated for a moment before saying, “Our departure is up to the two Seniors.”
Wu Fa clearly couldn’t wait and immediately proposed, “Then we should start off now, the road is quite far and it will take at least a month or two to arrive at Twin Spirit Pavilion.”
“Good.” Hu Jiao’er nodded before looking towards Yang Kai, “I’ll have to trouble you to inform our father over there. Tell him that this time we’re just going to Twin Spirit Pavilion to have a look and that after some time we’ll return so he doesn’t worry.”
“En, no problem,” Yang Kai nodded.
“How may we address two young ladies?” Wu Fa and Wu Tian asked finally. After today, the Hu Sisters would be spending a lot of time in Twin Spirit Pavilion, so naturally, they had to ask for their names.
The Hu Sisters replied promptly.
The four of them then began engaging in a lively discussion, creating a harmonious atmosphere, causing the two Twin Spirit Pavilion Sect Masters to even more appreciate the Hu Sisters.
Outside the nine peaks, Yang Kai personally saw off the two Sect Masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion and the Hu Sisters.
Wu Fa and Wu Tian walked in front while Yang Kai, Hu Jiao’er, and Hu Mei’er followed a few steps behind as he gave them some last warnings.
It had not been long since the two sisters came to this world, and now they were traveling far away to a place outside his reach, so there were many things Yang Kai urged them to pay attention to.
Jiao’er and Mei’er constantly nodded to his words.
After speaking to them for a while, Yang Kai finally said, “Then I’ll see you off here. When you arrive on that side be sure to be on your best behaviour and not cause trouble for others, but if anyone wrongs you, just come back and find me. I’ll help you straighten them out.”
“En…” Hu Mei’er seemed reluctant to part.
Meanwhile, Hu Jiao’er pressed her tender body onto Yang Kai’s and drew his arm into her soft embrace.
“What are you doing?” Yang Kai stared at her with a look of blank surprise.
“You actually called us neighbourhood little sisters…” Hu Jiao’er bit her lip in frustration, “Mei’er isn’t a problem, she is younger than you after all, there’s nothing wrong with calling her a little sister, but me… you actually want I, your great aunt, to call you Elder Brother Yang?”
Staring at her enchanting appearance, and listening to her crisp yet refreshing voice which was filled with flirtatious overtones, Yang Kai simply nodded, “Naturally.”
“Could you be more shameless?” Hu Jiao’er didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
In terms of age, she was older than Yang Kai.
However, because she and her sister were too similar in appearance, everyone who didn’t know them would mistakenly think they were twins.
“I just said those words because they were convenient, moreover, I did so to raise your status. You know all this, so why are you trying to make trouble now?” Yang Kai sighed helplessly.
“I know what your intentions were,” Hu Jiao’er released his hand and her expression became light again, laughing as she said, “Having a neighbourhood big brother like you might not be so bad!”
Yang Kai gawked.
While he was busy being dumbfounded though, the Hu Sisters had walked forward and caught up with Wu Fa and Wu Tian.
The two Twin Spirit Pavilion Sect Masters turned back and cupped their fists, “Holy Master Yang, we will take our leave here. You don’t have to worry about these two’s safety. As long as we brothers are alive, no one can bully them.”
“I’ll have to trouble two Sect Masters then,” Yang Kai returned the courtesy.
Jiao’er and Mei’er looked at each other and in an instant understood each other’s intentions, both of them suddenly raising their hands and waving, “Bye-bye Big Brother Yang, we’ll miss you.”
Saying so, their figures gradually flew away.
Looking in the direction of their disappearance, Yang Kai let out a long sigh of relief, shaking off the chill he felt before quickly returning to Nine Heavens Holy Land to seek Little Senior Sister’s warmth.
After ten days, everything has been arranged properly.
Inside the former War Spirit Temple grounds, all the various parties from the Great Han Dynasty were peacefully co-existing. The preliminary groundwork had been complete so now they all just needed time to familiarize themselves with this world.
Inside the Holy Land, there wasn’t much that required Yang Kai’s personal attention as Great Elder Xu Hui could handle most of the things on his own.
Saying goodbye to everyone, Yang Kai set out towards Ice Sect alone.
He was going to bring Su Yan back to reunite with the Sect.
He didn’t bring anyone with him this time; Li Rong and Han Fei had wanted to accompany him, but Yang Kai had refused.
How could he go to seek his woman while bringing along two great beauties? Even if Su Yan was magnanimous and would not suspect him of impropriety, Yang Kai would still feel quite embarrassed.
And so, he resolutely refused Li Rong and Han Fei’s request to follow him.
How exactly to reach Ice Sect, Yang Kai wasn’t clear, so he planned to first visit Water Spirit Temple then use it as a transit point to locate Ice Sect.
High up in the sky, a blue streak of light sped along as Yang Kai stood atop the Flying Heavens Shuttle leisurely.
Over mountains and across rivers, as Yang Kai got closer to Water Spirit Temple, his mood became more and more excited.
The closer he got to Su Yan, the stronger his nostalgia became, as if he was getting closer and closer to his family.
He didn’t know what cultivation Su Yan had achieved by now but Yang Kai estimated that given her aptitude and cultivation environment, she shouldn’t have fallen behind him at all.
It was pursuing her and Xia Ning Chang that brought him to Tong Xuan Realm in the first place and at the time, Yang Kai’s only thought was to find them as soon as possible.
He hadn’t anticipated that such a simple wish would actually take him more than ten years to complete!
He had also never anticipated that he would have his current achievements.
Third Order Transcendent, True Qi Sanctification, Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land, Master of the Ancient Demon Clan, a hidden identity of the Dragon Emperor.
Besides a slight lack of personal strength, it could be said that Yang Kai had reached the summit of this world and stood as one of its great overlords.
On top of that, the promotion of his strength was only a matter of time.
When he first came here, he was like a lost child that had just emerged from the wild mountains, ignorant of everything around him. He had followed behind Bold Independent Union’s Yun Xuan and the others while silently observing the world with his own eyes with no one to depend on but himself. Bold Independent Union seemed shockingly formidable to him back then.
But now, with a few words, he could actually consign a force like Bold Independent Union to oblivion and Yun Cheng, Bold Independent Union’s Union Master would actually humble himself in order to build a good relationship with him.
As such thoughts flashed across his mind, Yang Kai couldn’t help shaking his head and laughing wryly.
Suddenly, Yang Kai heard a spattering of panicked screams and saw a number of cultivators dashing in his direction, many of them wearing terrified expressions as they constantly glance behind them, as if they were being pursued by some kind of horrifying abomination.
Yang Kai frowned and slowed his pace.
He wasn’t clear what had happened down below to cause so many people to flee like this.
Approximately thirty kilometres in front of him lay Blue Water City, the place Yang Kai had come to in order to find Su Yan in the past and a territory under Water Spirit Temple’s jurisdiction.
Looking up ahead, at this moment, Yang Kai saw columns of smoke rising from Blue Water City and a great many panic-stricken screams resounded as total chaos ensued.
Yang Kai’s face sank and he shot forward in a streak of blue light.
A moment later, when he reappeared atop Blue Water City and looked down, his eyes shrank violently.
Blue Water City had been transformed into what could only be described as a bloody purgatory, with rivers of red running through the streets and smashed corpses scattered everywhere, a terrible scene to behold.
Yang Kai was greatly confused, unable to understand what kind of disaster had occurred here that could transform this once vibrant city into a bloody hellscape.
This was Water Spirit Temple’s territory, could Water Spirit Temple ignore such a tragedy?
Spreading out his Divine Sense, Yang Kai soon discovered some unusual places.
From a number of locations inside the city, Yang Kai detected somewhat familiar cruel and malevolent auras. These auras were making no attempt to conceal themselves, wantonly spreading out a rich Evil Qi that caused one’s skin to crawl.
Looking towards the nearest aura, Yang Kai was startled by what he saw.
In that position, there was a dark red skeleton standing upright and walking around, a thumbing sound echoing from it as if blood was pumping through its bones.
In the sockets of his eyes were two fiery green lights that terrified anyone who saw them.
All around, there were tragically killed cultivators, and at this moment, an inexplicable attraction was being emitted from the skeleton, causing the flesh and blood of the dead bodies to transform into a stream of energy and flow into it.
After absorbing the flesh and blood of these dead people, a thin layer of flesh appeared on the surface of the skeleton.
It was looking at an extremely thin man whose skin had been peeled off.
Seeing all this, Yang Kai couldn’t help calling out in alarm, “Bone Race?”
The skeleton in front of him, exuding a rich vitality, was clearly a Bone Race master, but he was not the same as the ones Yang Kai had seen in Ice Sect and Soaring Heaven Sect.
It was as if he was completely alive.
The aura pulsing from his thin body belonged to a First Order Saint.
Yang Kai’s thoughts were in a state of chaos as he found himself unable to explain the strange phenomenon he had just witnessed.
As he was lost in thought, the Bone Race master suddenly turned his head and stared straight at him, his greens eyes fiercely glowing as his Divine Sense locked onto Yang Kai.
Immediately, his mouth curled into a cruel grin.
Yang Kai felt a cold chill spread throughout his body, finally understanding why all the residents of Blue Water City had been fleeing, anyone who saw this hellish scene would only be thinking about escaping.
What’s more, Blue Water City’s residents’ strength wasn’t very high while this Bone Race kin was a Saint Realm master!
The Bone Race kin in front of him was also not the only one inside Blue Water City, Yang Kai had noticed at least four or five other powerful auras scattered throughout the city.
The sudden appearance of Yang Kai seemed to have caught the Bone Race master’s attention, and after observing him for a moment, the Bone Race master slowly began walking towards him.
There was clearly no skin on his body, but the places where he stepped remained clean, none of the blood flowing along the surface of his flesh spilling out and contaminating the ground.
After approaching halfway, the Bone Race master’s body suddenly emitted a bloody light and disappeared.
At the same time, Yang Kai’s instincts screamed out and he hastily pushed his True Qi, sending a palm strike forward.
A huge palm print flew out and with a great crashing sound, the Bone Race master that had just disappeared was struck by Yang Kai’s Heaven Covering Hand, revealing his figure.
Drops of jewel-like blood splattered from him, and the thin layer of flesh he had just condensed was greatly shaved off, revealing his blood red bones beneath it.
The Bone Race master was stunned, the green flames in his eyes flickering even more, seemingly not having expected Yang Kai to be able to block him.
His aura revealed clear anger as he opened his mouth and let out a piercing scream. His howl hit Yang Kai like a sledgehammer, causing the latter’s Knowledge Sea to toss and turn.
The Bone Race master’s scream was clearly a powerful Soul attack.
Yang Kai’s face became cold and he summoned a golden spear into his hand, tossing it ruthlessly towards the screaming Bone Race master.
*Xiu…*
The Heaven Punishing Spear turned into a streak of golden light and passed straight through the mouth of the Bone Race master like a bolt of lightning before exiting out the back of his head.
A hole appeared, allowing Yang Kai to see straight through the Bone Race master’s heads.
The Bone Race master, however, remained indifferent, the thin flesh around his neck squirming and quickly covering this wound, returning it to its original shape, as if it had never been pierced at all.
Yang Kai suddenly felt that the situation was more dire than he originally thought and his mood gradually became heavy.
This strange race was not only absorbing the vital essence of deceased cultivators but they could also use it to shape their own flesh and even ignore what would normally be fatal injuries.
It was almost like they were immortal, greatly disturbing Yang Kai.
The blow Yang Kai struck a moment ago seemed to completely irritate the other party. The Bone Race masters howled, releasing a blood red light that seemed to cover the sky before it descended onto Yang Kai.
This blood red light contained a terrifying strength and released a hissing noise as it passed through the air, clearly illustrating its extreme corrosiveness.
Yang Kai let out a snort and opened all the pores on his skin before he pushed his True Yang Yuan Qi, sending out an eruption of golden light, like a miniature sun, which bathed all of Blue Water City in a stunning radiance.
The blood red light falling towards him could not even approach before it was evaporated by the intense heat.
The Bone Race master was obviously startled by this, but before he could regain his composure, Yang Kai had already dashed towards him while condensing a Profound Heavenly Sword that he slashed out from close range.
An angry and unwilling scream burst from the Bone Race master’s mouth as the thin layer of flesh on his bones was cut apart and flew off, spewing blood all over the surroundings, turning him in to a miserable sight.
Yang Kai’s face remained indifferent as he silently observed the Bone Race master’s strength and reactions.
He had the aura of a First Order Saint, but it seemed he was unable to exert all his power, and as his flesh was cleaved from his skeleton, his aura grew increasingly weaker.
A moment later, Yang Kai withdrew and stared at his opponent.
The Bone Race master in front of him had been reduced back to nothing but a skeleton with meridians running across his bones, a strange sight as usual.
However, Yang Kai discovered to his amazement that even after suffering so many attacks, the Bone Race master’s skeleton didn’t have a single scar on it.
It seemed his bones were comparable to high grade artifacts.
On top of that, although his flesh had been destroyed, his vitality had not been affected. The Bone Race’s body once again exuded a huge attractive force and in an instant, Yang Kai felt as if his own flesh, blood, and vitality were being pulled from his body. His skin felt like it would rip open at any moment.
Yang Kai’s face changed dramatically as he hurriedly circulated his True Qi to resist this attractive force from the Bone Race master.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
From all around, the flesh and blood of the deceased cultivators transformed into stream of pure vitality and poured into the Bone Race’s skeleton.
Soon after, another thin layer of flesh appeared on the bones of the Bone Race master, fueling his violent momentum.
Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed.
He suddenly felt that the guess he had made back in Soaring Heaven Sect a few days ago may be correct.
For this strange race, flesh was only a decoration; their true essence lay in their bones. As long as their bones were not destroyed, they would never die!
No wonder at that time Qing Ya had made him incinerate the Bone Race’s skeleton!
Only by doing so could they be completely destroyed.
Yang Kai’s eyes flickered as he secretly felt he had come to understand this race’s characteristics.
The Profound Heavenly Sword in his hands scattered into particles of light and Yang Kai gathered strength in his palms, pushing them forward slowly in the next instant.
Beast Soul Skill!
The White Tiger and Divine Ox appeared with a great roar and bellow.
“Crush him!” Yang Kai commanded, and the two beast phantoms condensed from his True Qi crashed towards the Bone Race master, Yang Kai following close behind.
One person and two beasts launched a simple and crude attack.
The Earth Splitting Divine Ox phantom dashed and impaled the Bone Race master’s abdomen with one of its horns. This huge impact caused the fire in the Bone Race master’s eyes to flicker, seemingly somewhat unable to withstand the violent force.
The Heaven Shaking White Tiger phantom took this opportunity to fiercely bite down on one of the Bone Race’s arms, refusing to let go no matter how its prey struggled.
Yang Kai flew out and stood opposite the White Tiger, a cold look upon his face as he reached for the other arm of the Bone Race master.
*Ci la la…*
Burning hot True Qi singed the thin layer of flesh, sending out an unpleasant smell.
Yang Kai ignored his opponent’s struggles as he pulled hard on this arm.
A wild aura burst from the body of the Bone Race master as he struggled violently, trying to escape from the fetters of the two beast phantoms.
The two beast phantoms were condensed from Yang Kai’s True Qi and were unable to withstand this intense struggle, soon growing dim and threatening to collapse at any moment.
Yang Kai reacted quickly, using his free hand to display the Imprisoning Heaven Chain.
A golden chain wrapped around the Bone Race master in the next instant, sealing his movements.
The two flame-like eyes flashed, convey the uneasiness of the Bone Race master, a thick and pure Blood Qi soon rushing out from his skeleton and transforming into a strange, disfigured face that bit towards Yang Kai.
“Grand Heavenly Shield!”
A solid barrier appeared and blocked the Bone Race master’s attack.
Yang Kai instantly increased the force in his arm.
*Kacha…*
Along with a crisp sound, one of Bone Race’s arms was gradually stretched until it finally tore off.
Blazing hot True Qi burst from Yang Kai’s hand and burned the torn arm down to ash.
Screams left the mouth of the Bone Race master as a thick flow of blood and energy escaped from where his arm once was, instantly making him appear dispirited.
Yang Kai clenched his fist and struck his opponent’s chest like a ten thousand kilogram hammer, devastating the Bone Race master’s body.
*Kacha, kacha…*
The bones of Bone Race’s chest gradually broke and shattered while the Heaven Shaking White Tiger’s jaw also began crushing the bones and meridians in his remaining arm.
After half a cup of tea’s worth of time, the flames in the Bone Race master’s eyes finally became dull and fully extinguished, his body collapsing and scattering in the next moment.
Yang Kai let out a sigh of relief, standing in place and frowning.
He now realized the difficulty in dealing with the Bone Race!
Ordinary attacks had next to no effect on this strange race and what would be fatal injuries for humans couldn’t even harm them. The only way to kill them was to complete incinerate or crush their skeleton.
With Yang Kai’s current strength, it wasn’t difficult for him to deal with an ordinary First Order Saint, but this Bone Race master had actually taken him quite a lot of effort to destroy.
Throughout Blue Water City, there were five other auras, one of them even showing the energy fluctuations of a Second Order Saint.
This situation was beyond what he could handle.
At that moment, a familiar life aura suddenly appeared inside the range of Yang Kai’s Divine Sense perception. Yang Kai quickly flew up high and looked over towards this life aura, quickly discovering Water Spirit Temple’s Shui Ling who was currently fleeing under the protection of a Saint Realm cultivator.
The strength of this Saint Realm cultivator was not low, his body giving off a rich Water Attribute aura that was both soft and powerful. He appeared to be around forty years old and his robes were stained with fresh blood, his Saint Qi fluctuating chaotically, clearly having just experienced a difficult battle.
As soon as he appeared, he was immediately noticed by the five Bone Race masters inside Blue Water City and a series of blood-red lights quickly shot towards him.
To these Bone Race masters, he seemed like a delicious meal, strongly arousing their interest.
In the blink of an eye, the five Bone Race masters had rushed over and surrounded him, their green glowing eyes staring at him with wicked interest.
Shui Ling, who was being guarded by him, couldn’t help but tremble, her pretty face draining of all colour.
The middle-aged man’s expression became dignified as he turned towards Shui Ling and spoke a few words. As Shui Ling listened to these words, her beautiful eyes filled with tears as she constantly shook her head.
“Be obedient!” The middle-aged man saw this and shouted firmly.
Shui Ling’s expression went blank as she faintly nodded.
The middle-aged man showed a face filled with tragic resolve as a supple strength burst from his body, filling the surrounding world with a raging Water Attribute Energy.
Drops of crystal clear water suddenly condensed around the middle-aged man, their number too high to count.
All at once, these water droplets shot out like arrows towards the surrounding Bone Race masters, each one containing tyrannical penetrating power.
“Go!” The middle-aged man shouted, his hands swiftly forming a series of seals, manipulating the water droplets around him to combine and pierce.
The Bone Race masters surrounding the middle-aged people remained completely indifferent, allowing these water arrows to penetrate their bodies, seemingly ignoring them altogether.
When these water arrows shot out, Shui Ling transformed into mist and vanished into the sky.
She was the possessor of the Water Spirit Body special constitution and was born with this Divine Ability. In the past, Yang Kai had suffered a number of losses because of this trick of hers, finally having to rely on Old Demon’s strange methods to capture Shui Ling.
However, Shui Ling still couldn’t escape. One of the Bone Race masters turned his gaze towards a certain place in the air and released a pulse of Spiritual Energy, sending out an invisible Divine Sense attack. A moment later, Shui Ling screamed and her figure reappeared, falling from the sky as red blood flowed from her mouth and nose.
Eerie laughter left the lips of the Bone Race masters, but because their physiques were seemingly incomplete, their voices were particularly harsh and grating.
The Bone Race masters were greedily eyeing Shui Ling, apparently interested in her physique.
It seemed like her Water Spirit Body would allow them to more quickly restore themselves than the flesh and blood of ordinary cultivators.
At that moment, a flash of blue light appeared and swept up Shui Ling before she could hit the ground.
The Bone Race masters stared coldly at this scene before a look of pleasant surprise appeared on their faces, their Divine Sense bursting out, seemingly be communicating with one another.
As she was held in his arms, Shui Ling saw who her rescuer was and exclaimed, “Yang Kai?”
“We’ll talk later!” Yang Kai rushed over to the absent-minded middle-aged man and shouted, “Come up!”
The middle-aged man didn’t hesitate and jumped directly onto the Flying Heavens Shuttle.
In a flash of light, Yang Kai, together with the middle-aged man and Shui Ling, were already a hundred kilometres away.
The few Bone Race masters didn’t even try to stop them, as if they knew it was futile, instead just staring at Yang Kai’s disappearing back while cackling lowly.
The few of them continued communicating via Divine Sense for a while before one of the nodded and quickly left Blue Water City and headed out towards the sea.
Several thousand kilometers away from Blue Water City, inside a remote mountain valley.
Yang Kai set down the Flying Heavens Shuttle and allowed the rescued middle-aged man and Shui Ling to disembark, all three of them remaining silent with heavy looks upon their faces for a time.
Shui Ling was still a little weak. She had been hit by a Bone Race master’s Divine Sense attack which had caused her some minor wounds. The middle-aged man hurriedly took out some pills from his Universe Bag and let Shui Ling take them.
Seeing her enter a state of meditative recovery, the middle-aged man gradually calmed down and turned to Yang Kai, sincerely cupping his fists and bowing, “Many thanks for little brother’s timely rescue, this humble one is extremely grateful!”
“No need to be so polite,” Yang Kai gently nodded, “It was just a slight effort.”
“Is little brother acquainted with Ling’er?” The middle-aged man looked at Yang Kai curiously.
Yang Kai smiled and asked back, “Are you the Temple Master of Water Spirit Temple, Shui Yun?”
“Indeed!” Shui Yun nodded, “How may I address little brother?”
“Father, he is the one I told you about, Yang Kai!” Shui Ling called out from the side.
Shui Yun’s shoulders trembled as he stared at Yang Kai in amazement, calling out in alarm in the next instant, “So it is Holy Master Yang of Nine Heavens Holy Land! This Shui’s vision was lacking, please forgive my lack of respect!”
After learning Yang Kai’s identity, Shui Yun’s speech immediately became more polite.
In today’s Tong Xuan Realm, no one dared disrespect the master of Nine Heavens Holy Land!
Yang Kai was able to recognize Shui Yun’s identity so easily because Water Spirit Temple only had a single Saint Realm master, the Temple Master Shui Yun. Coupled with the care he showed towards Shui Ling, his identity was obvious.
“Yang Kai, why are you here?” Shui Ling asked Yang Kai while she steadied her breathing.
“I was just passing through,” Yang Kai frowned, his tone lowering as he asked, “Where did those Bone Race masters in Blue Water City come from?”
“Bone Race?” Shui Yun.
“Those walking skeletons that absorb vital essence to mould their physiques!”
“Is Holy Master Yang familiar with them?” Shui Yun expression changed as he asked urgently.
Yang Kai shook his head, “I don’t understand much about them, but I have seen them before, once quite recently. Does Senior Shui know where they came from?”
Shui Yun’s look sank as he sighed, “We don’t know where they came from. A year ago, an iceberg that was about to melt drifted into the vicinity of Water Spirit Temple. Inside it, a disciple found a frozen skeleton. Curious, I retrieved it but after a thorough investigation failed to find anything of value so I casually buried it and that was the end of the matter, or so I thought until a few months ago when that skeleton inexplicably came to life…”
As Shui Yun narrated his story, Yang Kai listened quietly.
In summary, after that Bone Race master revived, it had gone on a killing spree inside Water Spirit Temple. As it killed and absorbed vital essence, its strength was quickly restored. When Shui Yun noticed this disturbance, he joined together with all the masters of Water Spirit Temple and after more than a dozen sacrifices, they somehow managed to imprison it.
However, no matter what they tried, they were unable to kill this Bone Race master and in the end, they could only burn him down.
This method ultimately proved correct and finally managed to put him down for good.
It took a few months after that incident for things to settle down, but a few days ago, before everything could return to normal, Water Spirit Temple was invaded by many similar living skeletons from all directions, instantly resulting in the Sect’s collapse.
“Those skeletons… En, Bone Race masters were all extremely powerful. There were many Saints among them while even the weakest had reached the Transcendent Realm. There were no Immortal Ascension Boundary cultivators at all. On top of that, after they killed someone, they would absorb their flesh and blood to restore themselves and to mould their own physique. My Water Spirit Temple’s two thousand disciples were completely slaughtered in less than a day and all our islands were seized… Water Spirit Temple has been completely destroyed!” Shui Yun said with a distraught look, “Not many managed to escape. This Shui was too incompetent and could only manage to protect Ling’er while escaping to Blue Water City, but I hadn’t expected that those Bone Race bastards had already made their way there and carried out another slaughter!”
“Father, this is not your fault!” Shui Ling comforted.
“But it is the truth that Water Spirit Temple fell under my watch,” Shui Yun shook his head sorrowfully.
“They may have come from the glacial expanse,” Yang Kai’s expression darkened.
“Glacial expanse?” Shui Yun stared at him in confusion.
“From Ice Sect’s territory!” Yang Kai tensed up, “These past few months, have you had any contact with Ice Sect? Do you have any idea what their situation is?”
“Our most recent transaction with them was a few months ago, a few days before that first skeleton came to life…” Shui Yun replied.
“You stay here and restore yourselves, I’m going to take a look,” Yang Kai said before summoning the Flying Heavens Shuttle and preparing to leave.
“Yang Kai, don’t go!” Shui Ling called out in alarm, “Those creatures are too strong, going along is too dangerous.”
“En, although there aren’t many of them, there are still a number of Saint Realm masters. Moreover, they can restore their strength after killing people; facing them along is far too risky, Holy Master Yang.”
“It’s alright, I’m just going to scout out the situation. If you notice danger approaching, leave here quickly, I’ll find a way to find you after,” Yang Kai urged them before vanishing.
Shui Yun and Shui Ling both wanted to stop him but were helpless to do so.
“I hope he can remain safe,” Shui Yun sighed heavily. In front of those horrible living skeletons, even he, the Master of Water Spirit Temple, was powerless to resist. This time, if he hadn’t decisively escaped, both he and Shui Ling would have definitely perished.
Thinking back on this experience, Shui Yun still felt some lingering fear.
Surrounding by an azure light, Yang Kai rapidly sped towards Water Spirit Temple.
The Bone Race appearing in Water Spirit Temple one such a large scale, occupying Water Spirit Temple’s islands and slaughtering all of Water Spirit Temple’s disciples, was no mere coincidence.
If Yang Kai wasn’t mistaken, these Bone Race cultivators should have come from Ice Sect.
Ice Sect had been guarding that glacial world for centuries to prevent the revival of the Bone Race. Yang Kai hadn’t thought about it much before but now he realized that Ice Sect must have known the Bone Race had not died out but were instead hiding deep within the ice, so they remained there all this time.
However, they probably didn’t know where the Bone Race was hiding. Before the Bone Race restored themselves, they appeared no different from ordinary skeletons, so it was extremely difficult to detect them.
But now, with so many Bone Race members appearing in Water Spirit Temple, Ice Sect’s situation was really worrying.
Su Yan was still in Ice Sect, so how could Yang Kai not worry?
A short while later, Yang Kai returned to Blue Water City.
At this moment, the city was filled with a rich air of death, with no trace of anything living, even the Bone Race masters had disappeared, but not before they had cleaned out all the corpses from the city.
All that remained inside Blue Water City were broken buildings and faint bloodstains on the ground.
Crossing Blue Water City, Yang Kai quickly arrived in the skies above Water Spirit Temple.
A tyrannical aura that caused one’s heart to clench spread from down below.
Yang Kai’s blood ran cold as he quietly released his Divine Sense to probe the situation, his face paling in the next moment.
In the range of his sensation, there were at the very least a dozen Saint Realm masters and a hundred Transcendents. Many of these Saints were Second or Third Order as well. Such a huge force could crush any Sect in this world. It could be said that if they wanted to dominate Tong Xuan Realm, it would be an easily achievable goal.
‘Great change is approaching!’
The words Chu Ling Xiao had said to him a few days ago now resounded in his ears again, their fulfillment appearing right before his eyes.
Yang Kai’s speed was incredibly fast and as he flew past, he had not been locked onto by any of these Bone Race masters.
When this blue streak flew by, the highest strength Bone Race masters all looked up and then in the direction Yang Kai disappeared.
“A Star Shuttle!” A middle-aged man with a pair of green eyes stood up and shouted, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on his face.
This Bone Race master was completely different from those Yang Kai had seen before, he already had a complete body that looks no different from ordinary humans. His face was ruddy and his body radiated a powerful vitality, only his eyes were different, an eerie and terrifying green in colour.
“Sir, that’s the Star Shuttle we saw a moment ago in that little city. Should we go seize it?”
The middle-aged man shook his head, “A Star Shuttle’s speed it too fast for us to catch up. Find out what the origins of that person are.”
“Yes!”
“From the direction he was headed, it looks like he is headed towards those glaciers… What reason would he have to go there? Does he have some kind of relationship with those people?” The middle-aged man frowned pensively.
After half an hour, Yang Kai successfully arrived in the vast world of glaciers.
As soon as he arrived, Yang Kai sensed an unusual energy fluctuation from up ahead.
Void Energy!
Looking up, he discovered that a few dozen kilometres away, several hundred meters off the ground, there was a Void Corridor entrance. The rich Void Energy was leaking from this Void Corridor.
Yang Kai was slightly startled.
Ignoring where this Void Corridor lead for the moment, Yang Kai quickly released his Divine Sense to explore the glacial expanse.
The results were disappointing. The whole glacier world was devoid of vitality. The original location where Ice Sect’s disciples lived was empty and the various ice peaks had also collapsed. From the various traces left behind, it was clear that a great battle had taken place here.
The white world of ice and snow was stained red in many places.
Yang Kai’s heart sank in a deep abyss!
He and Su Yan had already achieved a union of heart and soul, so as long as they weren’t too far apart, they could clearly sense the other’s existence, but now he was unable to feel Su Yan’s aura…
One possibility was that she had died while the other was that she had gone far away from here.
Yang Kai’s breath became ragged and his aura fluctuated rapidly as he hurriedly tried to control his raging emotions.
After a long time, he inhaled a deep breath.
He felt that the latter possibility was the more likely one.
Ice Sect’s Sect Master, Qing Ya, was a Third Order Saint Realm master and the other Elders were also powerful Saints, even if the Bone Race recovered here and launched an attack on them, it was impossible for them to have exterminated Ice Sect.
Qing Ya should have opened a path of escape with them.
Looking up, Yang Kai’s eyes landed on the Void Corridor.
Although he had no clues indicating so, Yang Kai could conclude that Qing Ya and the others should have entered this Void Corridor, because if he was Qing Ya, in a situation where resistance was futile, he would make this choice.
Without hesitation, Yang Kai immediately rushed into the entrance of the Void Corridor.
In a flash, a terrifying pressure descended upon him, seemingly trying to simultaneously crush and tear apart his body, yet there was nothing under his feet and his surroundings were filled with stars.
The Starry Sky!
Yang Kai’s expression sank, he hadn’t expected that this Void Corridor was the same as the one in Shattering Mystical Palace, a gateway to the vast Starry Sky. The heartstrings he had just managed to relax instantly became tense again.
The Starry Sky was filled with a terrifying pressure that, if one’s physique was not intrepid enough, they would die without a doubt. At the very least, one needed to be a Third Order Saint in order to resist the pressure of the Starry Sky.
This was a place of legend and very few had ever set foot there.
The legendary Great Demon God was even rumoured to have explored the vast Starry Sky, where he ultimately met his end.
Regardless of whether these rumours were true or not, it was certain that the Starry Sky was extremely dangerous.
If the masters from Ice Sect had thought this was just an ordinary Void Corridor entrance to Mysterious Small World and had rushed inside, the result was likely to be disastrous.
With the exception of Ice Sect’s Sect Master, Qing Ya, the others would have been unable to resist the Starry Sky’s pressure.
Yang Kai’s thoughts were in chaos as he stood stupidly in place for who knows how long, not knowing what to do next.
It wasn’t until he saw several broken bones out of the corner of his eye that he came back to his senses.
Yang Kai’s hands trembled as he reached out and drew these lightly drifting bones towards him, picking them up hesitantly and carefully examining them, only breathing a sigh of relief a moment later.
These bones should belong to a Bone Race cultivator that had rushed into the Starry Sky, and were unable to bear the huge pressure to end up crushed.
This, however, only reinforced Yang Kai’s previous guess.
The masters from Ice Sect should really have escaped through this Void Corridor and the Bone Race cultivators had chased after them, resulting in them being struck by the Starry Sky’s pressure and dying on the spot.
Looking carefully, Yang Kai discovered a great many broken bones scattered about; it seemed that several Bone Race cultivators had died here.
But if that was the case, what about the Ice Sect Elders and Su Yan?
There was no trace of their deaths here at all; it was as if they had magically vanished into the Starry Sky.
As his mood gradually stabilized, Yang Kai crushed the bones in his hand before using the Flying Heavens Shuttle to begin searching the vast Starry Sky for any clues he could find.
He did not let off any suspicious areas, his Divine Sense extended out as far as possible as he fantasized about suddenly finding a trace of Su Yan, or better yet finding her hiding safely under the protection of Qing Ya in some corner of the Starry Sky, just waiting for his arrival.
Unfortunately, he was destined to be disappointed.
Yang Kai searched a ten thousand kilometre radius around the Starry Sky entrance, combing over every last centimetre but failed to find any clues.
Time passed by, and after an unknown number of days, Yang Kai returned to the Void Corridor, turning his head back once to stare deeply into the Starry Sky’s depths before rushing inside.
As soon as he returned to Tong Xuan Realm, he flew directly to Water Spirit Temple!
In this world, if anyone knew the whereabouts of Ice Sect’s survivors, it would be the Bone Race masters. If they had any news about Su Yan, no matter the danger, he had to find out.
The largest island inside Water Spirit Temple’s territory was also the location of its headquarters, but since its destruction, this place had become occupied by the Bone Race.
At this moment, all the Bone Race cultivators had gathered here.
Every one of them now had a complete physique and were no longer a walking skeleton.
At first glance they appeared no different than the humans of this world, but their green glowing eyes made them easily identifiable.
Nearly two hundred Bone Race cultivators had gathered here, their green eyes flickering with an ominous light, causing the entire island’s atmosphere to feel and appear gloomy.
In contrast to this atmosphere, these Bone Race masters were in the midst of revelry, celebrating their recovery after thousands of years of slumber, each of them wearing an excited look.
Their cheers echoed across the surrounding sea.
They had all assembled in a giant circle at the centre of which was a huge pool of blood filled with broken pieces of meat and bone. Huge bubbles constantly emerged from this blood pool and burst open, sputtering out a rich blood fog that dyed the sky above it in a crimson hue.
Many pale bones and unknown herbs floated in this blood pool.
Bright flashes appeared from time to time at the bottom of the pool, forming a profound and complex array.
“Senior Luo, it’s almost time,” A Bone Race cultivator walked up to the head middle-aged man and reported.
The middle-aged man nodded lightly, his face indifferent, standing up in the next instant.
The noisy Bone Race cultivators all fell silent as they turned their gazes towards him.
Ke Luo swept his eyes over the crowd for a moment before speaking, “A few thousand years ago, my clan inadvertently arrived in this world, thinking it was a good opportunity to open up new territory, but we never expected to be set upon by a great expert. My clan was defeated, our masters all died in battle while the rest of us could only escape to the remote glaciers of this world to slumber away the centuries. But now, we have awoken! That powerhouse who killed our clan’s masters has already died, so now there is no one in this world who can resist us!”
The Bone Race masters all cheered in excitement, their voices resounding louder and than ever before.
Ke Luo lifted his hand to silence the crowd before continuing, “Tonight, new clansmen will be born. Each of us must contribute our strength to help them rise!”
All the Bone Race masters nodded.
In the next moment, all of them began to act, and the vital essence which formed each Bone Race’s physique welled up and poured into the blood pool.
The blood pool instantly being to churn, as if it was boiling up, the flesh, blood, bones, and herbs floating within swirling about violently.
Along with what sounded like a burst of cries and howls, many fuzzy faces appeared inside the blood pool. These faces were like ghosts that were trapped within the blood pool, none of them able to escape from its depths.
All the Bone Race masters stared at the blood pool with excitement and expectation.
Suddenly, the bones inside the pond sank down and with a crackling sound and began to fuse together, undergoing earth-shaking changes.
With a great splash, a complete skeleton stood up from the blood pond, its pitch black eye sockets soon filling with a green fiery light.
However, compared to the rest of the Bone Race masters nearby, this skeleton’s green eyes were very dim, like candles blowing in the wind that could be extinguished at any time.
This skeleton appeared somewhat dazed, as if he didn’t understand his own situation.
However, following his instincts, he began absorbing the vital essence contained within the blood pool.
At a rate visible to the naked eye, this feeble skeleton gradually became covered in a layer of flesh, and a moment later, skin also appeared.
It now looked like a shrivelled up old man.
More skeletons began to emerge from the blood pool and soon at least a hundred of them had appeared. As these new skeletons emerged, the blood inside the pool also rapidly reduced, and within half an hour, everything had dried up.
At the bottom of the now drained pool, there were some remnant herbs and bones which seemed to be useless scraps.
Ke Luo nodded lightly, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face, but just as he was about to issue some orders, an indifferent voice suddenly echoed from the night sky, “So this is how you’re born!”
Ke Luo’s eyes flashed as he turned them towards the sky.
He was only able to catch a glimpse of a golden light rapidly descending towards him, carrying with it a huge destructive force.
His face changed dramatically and Ke Luo quickly pushed the power in his body, trying to block this golden light attack, but he was a step too late.
With a loud bang, the newly born Bone Race clansmen who were still standing in the remnants of the blood pool were struck. Unable to withstand this blow, their bones were shattered and blew apart, not a single one of them surviving.
Bone Race clansmen born this way were clearly extremely fragile when they first step into this world.
“Who goes there!” Ke Luo’s expression warped as he called out angrily.
Wrapped in a cold aura, Yang Kai stood mid-air over the heads of the gathered Bone Race masters and looked down at Ke Luo fearlessly.
He also felt that among the Bone Race gathered here, this person was the strongest and possessed the highest status.
If he wanted to know something, this was the best person to ask.
All the Bone Race masters’ visions landed on Yang Kai, their Divine Senses locking onto him, their expression gloomy.
Among the crowd, one of the Bone Race masters stared at Yang Kai for a moment before he exclaimed, “It’s you!”
“Sir, he is the one who owns that Star Shuttle!” He quickly reported to Ke Luo.
Hearing this, Ke Luo’s expression brightened as he let out a laugh, “No wonder you show no fear despite having such pitiful strength, you think you can rely on your Star Shuttle to escape. Unfortunately for you, you’ve miscalculated. That Star Shuttle of yours is useless in front of me.”
As he spoke, the surrounding world seemed to stagnate, as if an invisible barrier had been erected with Yang Kai firmly placed in the middle of it.
Yang Kai’s brow wrinkled as he carefully probed his surroundings, but upon not sensing anything out of the ordinary, he became even more alert.
“Human, hand over your Star Shuttle and I can grant you the honour of joining my clan!” Ke Luo lifted his hand towards Yang Kai and said in a commanding tone.
“Star Shuttle?” Yang Kai’s brow wrinkled, immediately thinking of something and taking out the Flying Heavens Shuttle, “Do you mean this?”
“Yes!” Ke Luo’s green eyes fixed on the Flying Heavens Shuttle, “Give it to me!”
Yang Kai slowly shook his head, “You call it a Star Shuttle, do you know what this artifact is?”
Despise flashed across Ke Luo’s eyes as the other Bone Race clansmen also laughed at Yang Kai’s ignorance.
“Who doesn’t know what a Star Shuttle is? In any Star Field, it’s one of the most common artifacts!” One of the Bone Race down below shouted.
“Star Field?” Yang Kai raised his brow.
Ke Luo impatiently explained, “A Star Field is a Star Field! Your world is really too remote, you don’t even know about Star Fields and Star Shuttles.”
“Other than travelling quickly, this artifact doesn’t have any other function, what do you want it for?” Yang Kai asked.
“Hmph, without a Star Shuttle, how could one traverse the Starry Sky? Each Star Field is so vast that anyone trying to cross it casually will lose their way and end up dying alone of old age!”
Yang Kai’s expression changed. Although the other party hadn’t said much, he had managed to glean from useful information.
This Star Shuttle seemed to originally be designed for use in the Starry Sky, which explained why it possessed such great speed.
But this was not the most critical piece of information the Bone Race master’s words had revealed.
Staring deeply at Ke Luo, Yang Kai asked solemnly, “Your race isn’t from Tong Xuan Realm?”
Ke Luo laughed, “When did I say we were?”
Yang Kai’s heart clenched. If this Bone Race master was telling the truth, it meant they were visitors from a different world across the Starry Sky.
How was this not shocking?
Many had suspected that there might be other intelligent creatures in the vast Starry Sky.
But because no one could cross the Starry Sky, no one could confirm this theory.
It wasn’t until this moment that Yang Kai was able to determine that the suspicions of these great predecessors were true.
The Bone Race had come from the Starry Sky, they weren’t natives of Tong Xuan Realm!
“Boy, how much did you see just now?” Ke Luo’s pair of sinister green eyes stared coldly at Yang Kai as he asked.
“Basically everything.”
Yang Kai had witnessed the strangeness of the blood pool, the Spirit Array arranged at its bottom, how the various bones had combined into living skeletons with the help of the herbs and vital essence supplied by the already living Bone Race masters, giving rise to new Bone Race clansmen.
These newly born Bone Race clansmen were extremely fragile and had been easily destroyed by his attack just now, but each of them, without doubt, had the aura of a Transcendent Realm cultivator. It could be said that as long as they were given enough time, these fresh Bone Race clansmen would all become true Transcendents, moreover incredibly difficult to kill Transcendents.
“Hmph!” Ke Luo coldly snorted, “Whether you saw it or not isn’t important, you’re going to die today anyway!”
Yang Kai grinned, “When I came a moment ago, I heard you shouting something about dominating this world. Do you think that with a few extra Transcendents you’d be able to achieve such a lofty goal?”
Ke Luo shot Yang Kai a mocking look, not showing the slightest signs of nervousness, not taking any kind of offensive action, simply using his Divine Sense to block the space around Yang Kai to prevent him from using his Star Shuttle to escape as he lightly said, “A few extra Transcendents? The only reason for that is because this place is too barren so the newly born members of my clan can only reach the Transcendent Realm.”
“You mean you can directly create Saint Realm masters?” Yang Kai’s face sank.
Ke Luo laughed and replied, “As long as we kill enough experts and obtain enough high-grade flesh and blood as well as the matching high-grade herbs, what’s so difficult about creating Saints?”
Yang Kai’s face paled involuntarily.
He had far underestimated the strangeness of this race, never having expected such unfathomable creatures to exist.
However, one thing that gave Yang Kai some solace was that the price to perform this ritual was not small.
From what he had seen, the blood pool just how had an incredible amount of herbs, bones, flesh, and blood in it. It was likely it had contained the remains of most of Water Spirit Temple’s two thousand cultivators, but that had only been enough to give birth to about a hundred Bone Race clansmen.
“Enough nonsense, hand over that Star Shuttle and as a reward, I’ll let you choose a comfortable way to die,” Ke Luo remarked with impatience.
“Let me ask you one last question, if you can answer it, I’ll give this Star Shuttle to you!” Yang Kai said flatly.
“You’re not qualified to talk to me about conditions!” Ke Luo said disdainfully, “With your pitiful strength, I can take your life before you even blink!”
“Go ahead and try, see if I can’t destroy this Star Shuttle before I die!” Yang Kai replied boldly, gripping the Star Shuttle in his hand tighter as he pushed his True Qi, putting on a posture of perishing together.
Ke Luo’s expression finally changed, a hint of anxiety appearing on his face. Yang Kai’s words managed to strike at a sore point.
Star Shuttles were indeed extremely common in the vast Star Field; in fact, when they first came to Tong Xuan Realm, his clan had a lot of Star Shuttles with them, but after thousands of years without physiques, unable to nourish these artifacts, all their Star Shuttles had already become irrevocably damaged and unusable.
The Star Shuttle in Yang Kai’s hand was probably the only one left in all of Tong Xuan Realm.
If they wanted to leave Tong Xuan Realm and return to their Star Field in the future, they absolutely needed a Star Shuttle.
That was why Ke Luo was so interested in Yang Kai’s Flying Heavens Shuttle, without it, they would forever be stranded here.
“Young man, there’s no need to be impulsive, everything is open to discussion!” Ke Luo’s complexion became bad as his green eyes flashed a hint of coldness, swearing to himself that as soon as he got his hands on this Star Shuttle, he would make Yang Kai taste the world’s most brutal torture!
“Are you willing to talk now?”
“Ask your question!”
“That glacier-covered region with a gateway leading to the Starry Sky, where did the people who lived there go?”
“You mean those people who all cultivated Ice Attribute Arts?” Ke Luo’s green eyes flickered.
“Yes, tell me where they went!”
“What kind of relationship do you have with them?” Ke Luo didn’t answer immediately and asked a question of his own instead.
“Don’t spout any nonsense with me otherwise I’ll crush this Star Shuttle right here and now, making you forever unable to obtain it!” Yang Kai shouted.
Anger flashed across Ke Luo’s face and he was on the verge of erupting but somehow he managed to hold himself back and coldly state, “Most of them died, the rest fled!”
“Fled where?”
“The Starry Sky!”
“Bullshit!” Yang Kai’s expression became fierce as he shouted, “You think I know nothing of the Starry Sky’s mysteries? With the pressure there, besides experts on your level, none can survive travelling through the Starry Sky! Don’t think you can lie to me, I’ve been to the Starry Sky more than twice!”
Ke Luo couldn’t help showing a look of surprise at Yang Kai’s words, apparently not having expected this weak youth to possess such experience or boldness.
The Starry Sky was not a place an ordinary person dared to explore.
Shrugging his shoulders, Ke Luo grinned, “If you don’t believe me there’s nothing I can do about it. They really fled to the Starry Sky because… they also had a Star Shuttle in their hands!”
“They also had one?” Yang Kai was startled, but soon understood. Ice Sect had fought many battles with the Bone Race before, so it wouldn’t be impossible for them to have obtained a Star Shuttle.
If they used a Star Shuttle, they really could flee to the Starry Sky without worrying about the danger.
Ke Luo’s words were possible!
“How many of them escaped?” Yang Kai hurriedly asked.
“You said you’d only ask one question,” Ke Luo coldly snorted.
“I changed my mind!”
Ke Luo grit his teeth as sent of hate-filled stare towards Yang Kai and shouted, “Six! Five Saints and a Third Order Transcendent!”
“Six…” Yang Kai whispered, silently calculating before asking, “How many women were there?”
“Three, that Third Order Transcendent included.”
Hearing this, Yang Kai chuckled, his voice initially quite quiet but soon growing louder and louder until finally it boomed like rolling thunder, as if he had just heard the world’s funniest joke, his originally nervous look suddenly relaxing as a healthy glow appeared on his face.
He was certain the Transcendent Realm cultivator was Su Yan! Her cultivation had really not fallen behind his own.
Finally, Yang Kai’s tight heartstring finally unwound and he let out a long sigh of relief.
“If you’re satisfied, give me that Star Shuttle!” Ke Luo reached out again and said to Yang Kai in a gloomy manner. Obviously, he had decided that if Yang Kai tried to pull any tricks here he would immediately take action.
“If I refuse, what are you going to do?” Yang Kai snickered as he directed a contemptuous look towards him.
“Then you’ll die! Miserably at that!” Ke Luo warned coldly, “Don’t think you can use that Star Shuttle to escape, that’s pointless. Star Field cultivators have many ways to restrain the speed of Star Shuttles. In the end, it’s just a simple artifact used for fast travel!”
“I don’t need to use this Star Shuttle!” Yang Kai shook his head before waving his hand through the air.
As he did so, it was as if something had split open.
A jet black tear suddenly appeared in front of Yang Kai.
Yang Kai waved goodbye to Ke Luo lightly before stepping through this crack and disappearing.
“Tearing space!” Ke Luo’s face changed dramatically, a tidal wave like Spiritual Energy rushing out from his towards the crack in an attempt to stop Yang Kai from escaping.
However, the entrance to The Void closed in an instant, causing Ke Lou’s Divine Sense attack to hit nothing but air.
Staring at the spot where Yang Kai disappeared, Ke Luo’s expression fluctuated as a bitter taste filled his mouth.
Never had he anticipated that this weak looking youth would actually know how to tear space like this. Such an ability was not something an ordinary expert could master.
The Void was even more dangerous than the vast Starry Sky. The slightest carelessness would leave a cultivator forever stranded inside, unable to find their way out!
“Sir, should we pursue him?” One of the nearby Bone Race masters turned and asked Ke Luo.
“With no clue where he went, how do you intend to chase him?!” Ke Luo angrily roared, “Collect a new batch of materials! Word of my clan’s return will soon spread, we must prepare!”
“Yes!” The numerous Bone Race masters simultaneously flew off in all directions.
A thousand kilometres away, Yang Kai reappeared, a heavy look upon his face.
Although he had not confirmed that Su Yan was safe, this bit of good news was enough to lift his spirits. However, the Bone Race suddenly recovering brought Yang Kai great pressure, especially after he witnessed all the peculiarities of this race, each one of which made them seem more and more difficult to handle.
With them possessing a few dozen Saints and over a hundred Transcendents, no single force in this world could contend with them.
The worst part though was that by collecting raw flesh and blood, and mixing them with a variety of herbs, they could create more of their own race!
As long as they were given enough time to amass their strength, they really would be able to dominate the world.
This was a fatal infection that had to be purged as soon as possible, otherwise, Nine Heavens Holy Land and his friends and relatives from the Great Han Dynasty would be implicated sooner or later.
Yang Kai faintly felt that the appearance of the Bone Race was even related to the final words left behind by Great Demon God’s Soul Clone and the secrets that were hidden in the Demon Capital!
Summoning the Flying Heavens Shuttle, Yang Kai flew forward while deep in thought.
Arriving at the mountain valley where he had left Shui Yun and Shui Ling, Yang Kai went down to investigate and found that they were still waiting here.
When she saw Yang Kai return, Shui Ling rushed over, a thick look of concern on her face, “You really came back safely, it’s been almost half a month already.”
Clear admiration appeared on Shui Yun’s expression, “Holy Master Yang’s boldness appears to have been well-founded. Did you manage to obtain some gains?”
“En, a few,” Yang Kai nodded, “Why are you still here?”
“We were waiting for you!” Shui Ling replied.
“Then do you plan to depart now? Where do you want to go, I can send you anywhere,” Yang Kai said as to the father and daughter pair.
Shui Yun’s expression immediately became bitter and helpless, “Water Spirit Temple has been destroyed, so we currently don’t have any place to go.”
Shui Ling also wore a miserable expression and was clearly quite depressed. Water Spirit Temple was their home, but now it was completely occupied by the Bone Race; moreover, her fellow two thousand disciples had all been slaughtered, even Blue Water City had not escaped this calamity.
It could be said that in this big world, there was no place where they had a home to go to.
Observing their responses, Yang Kai understood their difficulties, and after thinking about it for a moment, he invited, “Would you like to return to Nine Heavens Holy Land with me?”
Shui Yun was somewhat startled and directed a look of surprise towards Yang Kai, “That… that wouldn’t be appropriate…”
“How could it not be? It’s just that the environment there may not be suitable for your cultivation. Of course, if you are willing, I can temporarily grant you the status of Deacon in my Nine Heavens Holy Land. If later you wish to revitalize Water Spirit Temple, my Holy Land will lend you its full support!”
Listening to Yang Kai, Shui Yun’s eyes overflowed with a deep sense of happiness and gratitude.
“Many thanks for Holy Master Yang’s generosity!” Shui Yun bowed his head.
“Shui Ling and I are friends, Senior Shui does not need to act like an outsider,” Yang Kai smiled.
Shui Yun was a First Order Saint, so a guest Deacon position in the Holy Land would not bring shame to him.
After a brief discussion, the three set out for Nine Heavens Holy Land.
Two days later, Yang Kai returned and immediately sent word to High Heaven Pavilion’s side.
Half a day later, Su Mu, Su Xuan Wu, and Ling Tai Xu rushed to the Holy Land and saw Yang Kai inside the main hall.
At this moment, all of the Holy Land’s Elders and all of the Ancient Demon Clan’s Great Commanders were present, each of them cloaked in a solemn atmosphere.
Sensing that the situation was quite serious, Ling Tai Xu couldn’t help but frown as he glanced towards Yang Kai, wondering why he had suddenly convened all his high-level forces here.
“Yang Kai, where’s Su Yan?” Su Xuan Wu was naturally concerned about the safety of his granddaughter, so when he looked around the hall and found no trace of her, he couldn’t help asking.
“Yes, brother-in-law, where is Elder Sister?” Su Mu also had his doubts. Yang Kai had gone out to find Su Yan, this was something they all knew, but now he had returned and without her, this fact alone caused them to become a little uneasy, concerned that something might have happened to Su Yan.
Yang Kai hesitated for a moment, but quickly organized his thoughts and expression before saying, “Su Yan is safe for now, but she is no longer in Tong Xuan Realm.”
Su Mu was startled and scratched his head, “What do you mean? If Elder Sister is not in Tong Xuan Realm, did she enter some Mysterious Small World?”
It had been some time since they arrived here so naturally, they were aware of the concept of Mysterious Small Worlds. The cultivators from the Great Han Dynasty even understanding that their original homeland was a relatively large Mysterious Small World.
Yang Kai shook his head and pointed his finger up, “She went to the Starry Sky!”
This time, everyone inside the hall was shocked, all the leaders of the Holy Land and Ancient Demon Clan staring at Yang Kai in disbelief.
“The Starry Sky?” Ling Tai Xu frowned, “Did you not say that the Starry Sky was filled with danger? That man named Wu Jie once talked to this old master about it and mentioned that anyone who had not reached the Third-Order Saint Realm that entered the Starry Sky would die without doubt.”
“En, that’s true, but Su Yan did not go there alone. There are five Saint Realm masters with her and they have an artifact designed to traverse the Starry Sky.”
“Brother-in-law, what happened?” Su Mu asked, his head unable to catch up with the situation.
Yang Kai sighed and began explaining what had transpired.
After listening to his story, everyone was dumbfounded. The strangeness of the Bone Race greatly frightened the Holy Land’s Elders.
“Holy Master, you mean to say that these Bone Race creatures are only living skeletons but they can actually absorb the flesh and blood of others to mould their own physiques?”
“Yes.”
“And they can create more of their race from a large amount of dead cultivator’s flesh and blood along with the appropriate herbs?”
“Exactly!”
“The higher the grade of the material, the higher the strength of these newborn creatures?”
“That’s what they said.”
Everyone’s heart sank greatly.
With just this information alone, everyone present was able to picture a future where the Bone Race dominated Tong Xuan Realm.
This race could invest its entire strength into a war without worrying about destroying their foundation. All they had to do was kill enough masters and they could give birth to new clansmen; what’s more, these newly born clansmen could extremely quickly become additional war strength.
If left alone, one day, the world would certainly become conquered by the Bone Race.
This was a catastrophe, a world-ending catastrophe!
“The situation is grave!” Xu Hui said heavily, “This matter must be told to the entire human race.”
“Even if we inform them, how many will believe it?” Yu Ying’s pretty face filled with worry. The news about the Bone Race was too sensational, if it wasn’t Yang Kai and instead someone else who had told them this story today, all the Elders present would have written him off as a raving lunatic.
“Whether they believe it or not is a matter for the future, we can only do what we’re capable of right now. I assembled all of you today for this matter, quickly arrange some manpower to go out and distribute this information to every force possible and make them continue to spread the word. Tell everyone that my Holy Land guarantees the authenticity of this information and that if they have any doubts, they may come to the Holy Land and speak directly with me!”
“Yes!” The Elders all acknowledged.
Without wasting another breath they departed and began making arrangements as all of them was well aware of the seriousness of this problem. If the Bone Race was not strangled in the cradle as early as possible and allowed to expand without check, even if the managed to assemble the power of the entire Human Race, they would be unable to stop them.
After the Elders left, Yang Kai turned to Li Rong and said, “You, Han Fei, and I will go to the Demon Capital!”
Li Rong’s tender body trembled, “Has Master decided to go?”
“En, whatever secrets are hidden there, I must unravel!”
“Good!” Li Rong nodded firmly.
“This old master will also accompany you!” Outside the hall, a deep sounding voice called out. When he heard this voice, Yang Kai’s expression shook and both he and Ling Tai Xu turned towards its source.
From outside the hall, Meng Wu Ya strode in, his face full of smiles as he let out a hearty laugh, “Brother Ling, it has been far too long, have you been well recently?”
“Brother Meng!” Ling Tai Xu was also quite excited and he hurried forward to welcome this old friend he had not seen in over a decade.
Meng Wu Ya had suddenly left only a few days after being brought back to the Holy Land by Yang Kai and was not present when the Great Han cultivators had arrived.
Before the two could speak many words though, Yang Kai called out, “Treasurer Meng, you’ve come back at a fortuitous time.”
“Do you want to go to the Demon Capital?” Meng Wu Ya turned his attention to Yang Kai.
“En.”
“Then I’m going with you. I also want to know what secrets are hidden there!” Meng Wu Ya eyes then flashed a profound light, “On top of that, I need to pay a visit to that Demon Commander. Last time he used an underhanded trick to seal my cultivation, this time I’d like to see how he plans to face me.”
Yang Kai smiled bitterly, “I’m not going there to find trouble with Zhang Yuan.”
Meng Wu Ya frowned, “You’ve met him?”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded.
“Be wary of him, Zhang Yuan is as insidious as he is ambitious. Don’t be deceived by his usual mild manner. If he really wants to act against you, he won’t show the slightest hesitation or mercy.”
“I know, but with you together with me, even if Zhang Yuan wants to play any tricks, do you think he’ll have the guts to try?” Yang Kai relaxed greatly.
It would have been sufficient with just Li Rong and Han Fei accompanying him, but now that Meng Wu Ya would be coming too, Demon Commander Zhang Yuan wouldn’t dare have any crooked thoughts.
“I hope he knows his limits,” Meng Wu Ya snorted.
“Treasurer Meng, why did you suddenly leave nearly a year ago, what have you been up to?” Yang Kai asked.
“Investigating, mainly about that Bone Race you were just speaking about!” Meng Wu Ya’s face suddenly became dignified, “But I only managed to learn that they are foreign invaders and that their deep sleep was somehow related to Great Demon God. Everything else I am not clear about. I was planning on going to the Demon Capital to inquire about them from Zhang Yuan, but since you also plan to go, we might as well go together. I have a hunch that as long as we go there, all the mysteries the Great Demon God left behind will become clear.”
“I also feel the same!” Yang Kai stared at him deeply, the two of them exchanging a grin.
Moreover, Yang Kai held the only key to unlocking the array in the Demon Capital, the Wordless Black Book, or as Zhang Yuan called it, the Demon Mystic Tome!
The secrets left behind by Great Demon God had puzzled generations of Demon Commanders, and Zhang Yuan was also very curious about it.
However, Meng Wu Ya being able to learn so much about the Bone Race was extremely impressive in Yang Kai’s eyes.
He had heard most of his information directly from the Bone Race, but Yang Kai didn’t know what method Meng Wu Ya had used to acquire his information.
Treasurer Meng’s network was obviously quite vast so being able to uncover some clues actually wasn’t too surprising.
After spending two days in the Holy Land taking care of various arrangements, Yang Kai took Meng Wu Ya, Li Rong and Han Fei and headed to the Demon Capital.
Passing through the Beast Sea Jungle, Yang Kai stopped at Thunder Tree Palace and told Thunder Dragon Great Senior about the Bone Race’s reappearance and made him aware of the stakes.
Thunder Dragon listened carefully, and although he found the story difficult to believe, since it was Yang Kai telling him so, he chose to unconditionally trust him.
Thunder Dragon solemnly declared that he would pass this information on to the other two Monster Race Great Seniors and discuss with them how to deal with it.
Yang Kai then continued on to the Demon Capital.
Passing through the entire Monster Domain, the group of four arrived in the Demon Land a few days later.
Feeling the Demonic Qi in the air, Li Rong and Han Fei both unconsciously relaxed, their beautiful faces showing looks of happiness. They were descendants of the Ancient Demon Clan and should by all rights be living in the Demon Land; it was only because they followed Yang Kai that they were currently staying in Nine Heavens Holy Land.
To them, the environment of the Demon Land was definitely more suited for them to live in.
Even though he had entered the Demon Land, Yang Kai still unscrupulously utilized his Star Shuttle. With the speed of the Flying Heavens Shuttle, even if the masters in the Demon Land became aware of them, they would be powerless to block their path.
The Demon Land’s area was inferior to the Human Territory, but still much larger than the Monster Domain. Meng Wu Ya also knew the way forward so there were no delays on the road or any need to stop and ask for directions to the Demon Capital.
With some idle time on his hands, Yang Kai inquired to Meng Wu Ya about his battle with the Demon Commander.
But the moment he asked, Treasurer Meng became angry out of shame and began unceasingly cursing.
From the few words between his various curses, Yang Kai managed to infer that Treasurer Meng had boldly run over to the Demon Capital all alone to challenge the Demon Commander, completely unaware that there was a hidden Grand Spirit Array beneath the Demon Capital. Zhang Yuan used this Spirit Array to trap Meng Wu Ya inside the city and fought him for a while three months before finally managing to apply the Profound Heavenly Seal to him.
It was also at that moment that Meng Wu Ya managed to luckily escape, but not before his Third Order Saint Realm cultivation was restricted to the Peak Immortal Ascension Boundary.
Since then, Meng Wu Ya had concealed his identity and been searching for ways to break this seal.
Finally, he had found his way to the Great Han Dynasty where he inadvertently discovered Xia Ning Chang who carried the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body.
Meng Wu Ya continued cursing resentfully for quite some time.
It was apparent that he was deeply disgruntled with Zhang Yuan using the grand Spirit Array to deal with him in the past. Yang Kai smiled bitterly as he thought to himself that if he had known Treasurer Meng had cared so much about this matter, he wouldn’t have asked about it in the first place, thus avoiding the suffering he was going through right now. This was a perfect example of moving a stone only to smashed one’s foot.
A few days later, the Demon Capital came into sight.
From far away, the entire Demon Capital appeared like an ominous beast lying down on the ground, exuding an ancient and desolate aura. Even from dozens of kilometres away, Yang Kai could clearly feel the violent Demonic Qi pulsing from it.
Naturally, this was the aura of the Demon Race masters living in the Demon Capital.
Although there were only five Third Order Saints in the Demon Land, there were more than a dozen Saint Realm masters living in the Demon Capital.
Ordinarily, Demon Commander Zhang Yuan would be in retreat to explore the mysteries of the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao, and wouldn’t pay much attention to the Demon Land’s day to day occurrences. There were rumours floating about that he was trying to break through the current world’s shackles and arrive at the same height as Great Demon God had in the past.
Unfortunately, even after several dozen years had passed, his cultivation seemed to have not made any progress, remaining at its current realm.
Even so, he was the undisputed strongest master in the Demon Land, far more powerful than any of the four Demon Generals.
The Demon Race city was not the same as one built by humans, not only was the architectural style different, but the buildings themselves were rougher and gave off a kind of wild beauty. On top of that, no one guarded this Demon Race city.
Anyone could freely enter or exit from the main gate, quite unlike cities in the Human Territory where someone would stand at the entrance and force people to pay a certain number of Crystal Stones before they could enter.
The group of four didn’t bother concealing their true faces and openly strode into the Demon Capital from the gate.
In an instant, countless eyes landed on Yang Kai, looks of great interest flashing across the Demons’ faces.
“A human?”
“Heh heh, interesting, unexpectedly there are humans who dare to intrude upon my Demon Capital!”
“This little brat’s courage is not small, isn’t he looking down on my Demon Race too much?”
These Demon Race cultivators who were originally walking about the Demon Capital stopped to sneer at Yang Kai, cold murderous intent slowly rising from their forms. Many Demons even began approaching Yang Kai, intending to teach this arrogant boy a lesson.
Meng Wu Ya coldly snorted and swept his piercing eyes across the crowd, causing every Demon Race cultivator he met eyes with to freeze in place as an icy chill gripped their hearts.
Only now did they comprehend why this human youth dared enter the Demon Capital: He had someone to depend on.
Yang Kai smiled faintly and stopped in place, allowing himself and his group to be surrounded by hundreds of Demon Race cultivator s. If he had continued walking forward, a fight would likely break out immediately.
“Who here has authority to speak?” Yang Kai looked around and asked.
The numerous Demon Race cultivators just stared at him, none of them answering.
Yang Kai’s eyes suddenly landed on a certain spot in the crowd; there, a Demon Race master with a Second-Order Saint Realm cultivation was walking over, his expression extremely solemn and his Demonic Qi quietly fluctuating, his eyes occasionally glancing towards the three figures behind Yang Kai, the light of fear apparent in their depths.
The other Demons here did not possess the vision to see the fierceness of Meng Wu Ya, Li Rong, and Han Fei, but he was different.
No matter which one of these three it was, they gave him a terrifying amount of pressure. Naturally, they weren’t nameless individuals, yet these three top powerhouses were actually standing behind a mere human youth, which begged the question, just who was this boy?
“Who is Your Excellency? What business do you have in my Demon Capital?” The Demon Race stood ten meters in front of Yang Kai and asked, not daring to approach any closer.
“Your Demon Commander invited me, please notify him that Yang Kai has come!”
“Yang Kai?” The Demon Race man’s brow wrinkled, vaguely recalling hearing this name before, but he couldn’t immediately place it, asking for confirmation, “Did Sir Demon Commander really invite you?”
“Is there any reason for me to deceive you?” Yang Kai chuckled.
“Good, wait here a moment, I must go to the Demon Palace to seek instructions!” The demon said but just as he finished his words, his brow furrowed slightly and he inclined his head, seemingly listening to something, a moment later nodding and respectfully replying, “Yes!”
Turning back to Yang Kai, he cupped his fists and said, “Sir Demon Commander has just sent a message informing me to guide you to Demon Palace, please follow me!”
Yang Kai nodded and kept up, followed soon after by Meng Wu Ya and the others.
Countless demons stared curiously at the backs of Yang Kai and his group, all of them wondering why their Demon Commander had suddenly invited such a human into the Demon Capital.
In front of the Demon Palace was a large open square.
In this square, there were a number of black pillars, each of them engraved with a mysterious Spirit Array that gave off a faint energy fluctuation.
There were a number of people bound to these stone pillars, some of them already dead, some of them looking as though they could die any moment.
The entire square was filled with a rancid aura and cawing birds were flying about, freely feasting on the various corpses.
As Yang Kai followed the demon man into the square, he couldn’t help looking around curiously, his brows wrinkling soon after.
The demon man seemed to notice Yang Kai’s look and voluntarily explained, “These people are criminals who dared disobey Sir Demon Commander. Their sentence is ninety days of drying in the sun before they are allowed to die.”
“Ninety days? Your Demon Commander’s means are too cruel, if you must kill them, just kill them,” Yang Kai grumbled unhappily.
The demon man sneered, “Sir Demon Commander has shown them enough mercy, if it were up to me, I would definitely extract their Souls and torture them for all eternity!”
Yang Kai glanced over at him before shaking his head.
Although it was well known that the Demon Race were violent and cutthroat, this kind of torture was still somewhat excessive.
“It seems like not everyone shackled here is from your Demon Race, there seems to be a few humans mixed in with them.” Yang Kai looked at one of the pillars and saw a corpse without a single trace of Demonic Qi, it was clearly once a Human Race master.
“Oh, that’s only natural. These few Humans called themselves experts and invaded my Demon Land, and obviously they need to pay a price for their arrogance!” The Demon Race man snickered casually.
Yang Kai simply nodded. There were always some fools in this world with too much time and too little brains. They thought themselves strong so they decided to come to the Demon Land to stir up trouble and make a name for themselves without comprehending their own depths, the result being their attempt to steal a chicken ending with them losing their rice.
Regarding these kinds of people, Yang Kai only felt they got what they deserved and had no sympathy for them.
“Yang Kai!” Meng Wu Ya suddenly came to a halt and stared towards one of the pillars seriously.
“What is it?”
“Look at that person!” Meng Wu Ya pointed in a certain direction.
Yang Kai looked in the direction Treasurer Meng pointed only to see a dishevelled Demon Race man shackled to a pillar, his aura as weak as a candle in the wind, in danger of blowing out at any moment.
His head drooped down and his long messy hair was blocking his face, making it impossible to see his true appearance.
On top of that, his hands and feet had been nailed to the pillar by some kind of dark metallic spikes, rendering him unable to move.
The blood that flowed out of his wounds had already dried up, giving him a particularly miserable look.
Li Rong and Han Fei both frowned, secretly thinking it was fortunate they not followed a master as cruel as this Demon Commander Zhang Yuan!
The Demon Race man who was leading Yang Kai and others also looked over and said with a grin, “This fellow is truly unyielding, even I admire him somewhat.”
Saying so, he began to explain lightly, “He was a rising star in my Demon Land. Ten years ago, no one had heard of him, but this past decade his strength grew rapidly until it eventually reached the peak of the First-Order Saint Realm. If he was giving another two years, he may have been able to break through to the same realm as me. Unfortunately, he refused to submit to Sir Demon Commander. Sir Demon Commander then crucified him here and declared that once he had reflected upon his decision and come to his senses he would be released. Who could have expected that even after a few months, he would continue to stubbornly refuse? Sir Demon Commander actually said that this guy would reach the Third-Order Saint sooner or later. When that time came, my Demon Land would welcome its fifth Demon General!”
“Isn’t he similar?” Meng Wu Ya ignored the demons musings and instead directed a solemn look towards Yang Kai.
“Not just similar, it’s him!” Yang Kai’s expression became gloomy as he quickly walked towards the stone pillar.
“Hey, what are you doing?” The demon man saw this and quickly called out while at the same time moving to block Yang Kai.
“You shut up!” Meng Wu Ya glared at him and emitted a thick murderous intent, “If you dare run your mouth, I’ll kill you. If you dare take another step, I’ll also kill you!”
The Demon Race man opened his mouth to speak but no words came out, his face turning bright red, not daring to say anything or even more.
He could feel the thick murderous intent flowing from Meng Wu Ya’s eyes.
“Master, what happened?” Li Rong was puzzled, “Do you know this Demon?”
“We know him!” Meng Wu Ya nodded solemnly.
Li Rong’s shoulder shook lightly as she glanced over to the other side with concern.
Over there, Yang Kai had arrived in front of the stone pillar, seemingly unable to suppress his excitement and surprise as he lifted his trembling hands to move aside this demon’s messy hair, revealing his pale face.
Sensing this movement, the bound demon slowly opened his eyes to see Yang Kai’s figure. After seeing Yang Kai’s face, the man’s dull eyes suddenly burst with light, revealing a look of shock, his lips moving slightly like he wanted to say something but failing to do so.
“I know,” Yang Kai nodded, “Don’t try to speak.”
The man gently nodded and obeyed Yang Kai’s instructions.
“Brace yourself, I’ll get you down now,” Yang Kai urged him before reaching out and grabbing hold of the black spike nailed through his right hand and swiftly pulling it out, causing black blood to spray out.
In the same way, Yang Kai removed the other three spikes.
As this was happening, because of the severe pain, the man continuously shuddered, but it was clear his will was extremely firm as he refused to make a sound from beginning to end.
Li Rong and Han Fei both wore uncomfortable looks.
Yang Kai brought down the half dead demon man and fed him some Myriad Drug Milk to help him restore himself while hurriedly checking his condition.
Zhang Yuan didn’t seem to want to take the life of this demon, nor did he intend to cripple him, his only intent was to torment him enough so that he would yield and submit to him.
As such, although the injuries this demon man had suffered looked serious, they were actually not too big a problem; it was just that after a few months of this torture he had grown very weak.
After taking a few drops of Myriad Drug Milk, with the strength of this man’s physique, he would recover within a dozen days or so.
Yang Kai took a deep breath and his expression relaxed.
“Holy Master Yang…” Beside Yang Kai, a voice called out and Demon Commander Zhang Yuan strangely appeared, a somewhat bitter smile look upon his face as he stared at Yang Kai and asked, “You come to my Demon Palace and then arbitrarily move my person, don’t you think that’s a bit inappropriate? Did you not think you should first at least ask for my opinion?”
“Your person?” Yang Kai straightened up and looked at him coldly, sneering in the next moment, “He is my person!”
Zhang Yuan’s brow furrowed as he stared at Yang Kai in confusion, “What is the meaning of Holy Master Yang? This Senior, doesn’t quite understand, is Holy Master Yang possibly mistaking him for something else? He…”
“His body is that of a former Demon General, but the Soul which resides inside is an old friend of mine!” Yang Kai didn’t wait for him to finish what he was saying and interrupted directly, not giving this Demon Commander any face.
Zhang Yuan’s expression changed greatly and said with some amazement, “Holy Master Yang knows about this?!”
“I’ll add this to the list of things we must settle between us!” Yang Kai grit his teeth before gently picking up the man lying on the ground then casting a sidelong glance at Zhang Yuan, “Arrange a place for us, I need to help him recover.”
Zhang Yuan wore a forced smile and nodded.
He could tell that Yang Kai was not just trying to make trouble, it was clear that the Soul which had seized this Demon General’s body was really related to him.
And that relationship was not shallow!
Choking down a lot of unstated criticism, Zhang Yuan quickly arranged a small building for Yang Kai’s party.
Inside this guest house, the demon man lay on a bed while Li Rong and Han Fei slowly poured their Demonic Qi into his body to help him recover.
Zhang Yuan watched for a while, but soon grew disinterested and found an excuse to leave.
Outside Demon Palace, the Second-Order Saint who had led Yang Kai and his group over patiently waited. Seeing Zhang Yuan soon appear, this man respectfully bowed.
“Send a message to Gou Qiong and them. Tell all of them to immediately come to the Demon Capital, I must see them here within ten days!” Zhang Yuan firmly ordered.
“Yes!” The Demon Race Saint shouted before departing to carry out his orders.
After this man left, Zhang Yuan turned back to stare at the majestic Demon Palace, a barely concealed excitement flashing across his eyes.
Yang Kai had come, bringing with him the Demon Mystic Tome, which meant that the mystery which had plagued him for hundreds of years would finally be solved! This was the greatest wish he had after he had become Demon Commander, so now that he finally saw a glimmer of hope, how could he not be excited?
“It’s alright now, he should wake up after half a day or so!” Li Rong and Han Fei took back their hands and stopped pouring their Demonic Qi into this man before nodding to Yang Kai.
“En.” Yang Kai responded as he stared down at the demon in front of him with a complex look on his face, not having anticipated that he would be reduced to such a state one day.
“Master… this person…” Li Rong looked at Yang Kai curiously, wondering why he was so concerned about this demon man.
Yang Kai smiled, “His name is Old Demon!”
“I just heard that his body is that of a former Demon General?”
“Yes, Old Demon was originally just a remnant Soul and by coincidence managed to obtain the heavily damaged body of a Demon General, allowing him to seize control of it,” Yang Kai explained.
Li Rong and Han Fei nodded as they listened to the story of Yang Kai and Old Demon.
When Yang Kai was small and weak, Old Demon had continuously accompanied him and provided a lot of assistance to his survival and growth. Although at the beginning neither of them trusted one another, even going so far as to harbour murderous intent to the other, as time passed, both sides grew closer and eventually began sincerely cooperating. Even after Old Demon regained his freedom, he did not leave Yang Kai.
He was grateful to Yang Kai for giving him a second chance at life and Yang Kai was also quite thankful for all the help he gave him over the years.
As he was speaking, Old Demon suddenly opened his eyes and hoarsely called out, “Young Master, Old Meng!”
Yang Kai’s spirit shook as he turned to look at him quickly, asking with concern, “How do you feel?”
“Terrible!” Old Demon curled his lips and remarked resentfully.
Meng Wu Ya laughed, “You old demon, aren’t you doing well? If Yang Kai and this old master didn’t happen to arrive here today, you’d likely have to bear that suffering without end!”
“Hateful! Just wait for this old master to reach the Third-Order Saint Realm! I’ll certainly unscrew that damn Zhang Yuan’s head and use it as a chamber pot, otherwise, I won’t be able to soothe the hatred in my heart!” Old Demon cursed as he gasped for breath.
“If you think you have such skill, you’re welcome to try, this Senior will be waiting expectantly!” Zhang Yuan walked in with a slight grin, a leisurely look upon his face.
Yang Kai shot him a gloomy look.
Zhang Yuan paid this no mind and said, “Holy Master Yang, don’t blame me for this, this Senior had no idea he was your person, and really had no other choice but to offend him. Well, regardless, this Senior will apologize.”
Saying so, he quickly added, “In fact, this Senior did not have any malicious intent, I just wanted him to submit to me, it’s just that his spirit was more stubborn than I had anticipated. If he had told me earlier he was one of Holy Master Yang’s subordinates, how could I have treated him like this? You should have also seen that although he’s suffered some pain, his foundation wasn’t injured. This is all a result of this Senior’s generosity.”
Old Demon just snickered wickedly and said, “It’s true that I am the inferior one today and have no way to defeat you, but one day, when my strength dominates above yours, I’ll let you understand the meaning of generosity!”
Zhang Yuan raised his brow, “I think you should focus on how to make your Soul fit perfectly with this body first. According to my observations, in less than twenty years, the two will surely begin rejecting one another! At that time, you’ll have to find a new skin to wear and re-cultivate from the beginning again. If that keeps happening, just when will you be able to unscrew the head of this Senior?”
Listening to him say this, Old Demon’s face went black.
Although he didn’t want to admit it, what Zhang Yuan just said was right on the mark.
When he first obtained this Demon General’s body, he had told Yang Kai that there would be no problems occupying it for thirty years, but if he could not find a way to perfectly integrate his Soul into it by then, he would have to abandon it and seek a new body.
It had now been just over a decade since then. The Demon Commander’s eyes were quite sharp and had easily peered into Old Demon’s future.
“Holy Master Yang, although this Senior carries some blame in this incident, the body your friend is currently inhabiting once belonged to a Demon General of my Demon Race. Technically, as this Senior is the current lord of the Demon Race, it would be well within my rights to take back this body. It was also for this reason that this Senior had wanted him to submit, but seeing how he is Holy Master Yang’s subordinate, how about a compromise? I will deliver this body to Holy Master Yang, and in exchange, Holy Master Yang will not make a fuss over the torture he was put through.”
Zhang Yuan’s face was sincere, but Yang Kai still frowned and looked at Old Demon, “I’ll respect your wishes, if you’re unwilling and wish to seek redress immediately, I’ll help you level this Demon Capital!”
As soon as this statement came out, Zhang Yuan’s complexion changed greatly, “Holy Master Yang, please don’t make such tasteless jokes.”
Yang Kai glanced over at him coldly and flatly said, “Do you think I’m joking?”
Meng Wu Ya, Li Rong, and Han Fei all shot him a bad look as well.
Zhang Yuan suddenly felt a great deal of pressure. Although he was confident in his own strength and possessed many earth-shaking methods, he was only a match for either Meng Wu Ya or Li Rong. If the two of them were to act together, he would definitely be at a great disadvantage.
If a fight were to really start here, the Demon Capital would probably be destroyed.
In an instant, Zhang Yuan’s expression became heavy as he turned a slightly nervous glance towards Old Demon, for fear that an unfavourable word might leave his lips.
“Many thanks for Young Master’s consideration, but this old master will seek retribution for this humiliation himself, there is no need for Young Master to intervene!” Old Demon grinned fiendishly.
Zhang Yuan’s expression relaxed greatly.
Yang Kai nodded and no longer said anything.
“This Senior will arrange for some healing supplements to be sent over,” Zhang Yuan said and quickly snuck away.
As Demon Commander, he had not been threatened by others for many years, how could he just stand here and endure such shame? If it weren’t for his need to use the Demon Mystic Tome in Yang Kai’s hand to open the barrier Great Demon God left behind, he certainly wouldn’t swallow this insult!
A Demon Commander naturally had the pride of a Demon Commander.
A short time later, a few precious treasures were delivered by one of Demon Palace’s maids to help Old Demon restore his vitality.
Old Demon was extremely satisfied and began conversing with Yang Kai and the others about his experiences these past ten years.
When he first arrived in Tong Xuan Realm with Meng Wu Ya, Old Demon had quickly separated from the group. He was currently inhabiting the body of a Demon General and it was too dangerous for him to act in Human Territory, so he set out for the Demon Land alone.
Over the following ten years, he had hidden his identity and worked hard to rapidly improve his strength.
After all, he had the foundation of a top-ranked master and the body of a top powerhouse, everything was already prepared and all he needed to do was accumulate enough World Energy into his body to improve his strength. He had no bottlenecks at all.
After more than a decade, he had managed to restore his cultivation to the peak of the First Order Saint Realm.
However, no matter how careful he was, he wasn’t able to completely conceal himself.
Someone had recognized him as a long lost Demon General and reported him to the Demon Commander. Zhang Yuan had personally brought him back to Demon Palace and ordered him to swear allegiance. Naturally, Old Demon refused and was then nailed to the stone pillar by the Demon Commander.
A few months later, Yang Kai showed up.
After listening to his remarks, Yang Kai and Meng Wu Ya exchanged a surprised glance, neither of them having expected Old Demon to show such unwavering loyalty.
“Young Master, how is your situation? Why are you here?” Old Demon then inquired about Yang Kai’s experience.
Yang Kai briefly explained.
Compared with Old Demon’s experience, Yang Kai’s was far more spectacular. Even Li Rong and the others had not heard about all these matters and incidents and were quickly drawn into his story.
Learning that Ling Tai Xu and the others had also come to Tong Xuan Realm, Old Demon couldn’t help showing a happy expression.
When he heard about the great change in the world and the recovery of the Bone Race, Old Demon’s expression suddenly becomes very strange, solemnly asking, “Young Master, are these Bone Race people you speak of nothing more than skeletons, but also capable of absorbing the flesh and blood of fallen masters to shape their own physique?”
“Yes!” Yang Kai was shocked and looked at Old Demon with surprise, “Have you encountered them before?”
Old Demon shook his head, “I only have a vague impression of them. I believe I should have fought with this race before!”
Old Demon was originally a remnant Soul, so before now, Yang Kai didn’t know which age he belonged to. But as his position in this world grew and he learned more secrets, Yang Kai was able to determine that Old Demon was from at least a few thousands of years in the past.
Because Yang Kai found him inside the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave.
And that Inheritance Heaven’s Cave was related to Dragon Phoenix Palace and Twin Spirit Pavilion.
The core inheritances of these two forces had been lost several thousand years ago.
That age was the era of Great Demon God!
In other words, Old Demon and Great Demon God both came from the same period in history! It was also possible Old Demon had fought against the Bone Race, but his memory loss was so serious that he couldn’t even remember his own name and only vaguely recalled being called Old Demon.
Obviously he didn’t know much about the Bone Race.
“With that Bone Race, was there another race that had a single horn on their forehead?” Old Demon seemed to recall something else and asked.
“You mean the Monster Race?” Yang Kai asked. A single longhorn was a characteristic of certain human form Monster Beasts.
“No no no, that race seemed to call themselves the Horn Race,” Old Demon frowned, but couldn’t remember much else.
After a few more words, Yang Kai made Old Demon rest.
For the next five days, Yang Kai and his group stayed in Demon Palace.
Zhang Yuan’s hospitality was impeccable, sending an array of delicacies crafted from the finest unique ingredients from all over the Demon Land, things most Humans would never be able to sample. Not only were these dishes delicious, but they also benefited one’s cultivation and help refine their physique.
However, Yang Kai didn’t have the frame of mind to enjoy these luxuries as repeatedly asked Zhang Yuan about the secrets left behind by Great Demon God, only to have Zhang Yuan tell him there was no hurry while encouraging him to enjoy the amenities of the Demon Capital for a few days before they discussed this matter.
Yang Kai was well aware that Zhang Yuan was wary of his strength, knowing he alone couldn’t compete with Meng Wu Ya and Li Rong. It was likely he had sent word to the four Demon Generals already, ordering them to quickly arrive and balance the situation.
Neither of them wanted to start a fight, but what secrets were left behind by Great Demon God were a complete mystery, it was possible there were massive benefits waiting to be reaped just behind that strange barrier. If that was the case, Zhang Yuan would definitely not be polite and would try to seize all these benefits with the help of his four Demon Generals.
Understanding Zhang Yuan’s concerns, Yang Kai no longer insisted.
A few days later, Yang Kai, who was wandering around the Demon Capital, suddenly looked up into the sky, his expression becoming serious.
“The four Demon Generals are here!” Meng Wu Ya grinned, “This old master knew that Zhang Yuan was waiting for them. His vigilance is still so heavy, actually worrying about us trying to monopolize the secrets left behind by Great Demon God.”
“Him having scruples is a matter of course,” Yang Kai snorted, “Let’s head back, I doubt he’d decline us again.”
Saying so, Yang Kai led his group back towards Demon Palace.
On the streets, countless demons cast curious eyes towards Yang Kai.
The demons living in the Demon Capital were aware that this human youth was a guest of the Demon Commander, so over the past few days, none of them had tried to find trouble with Yang Kai, but that didn’t stop them from wondering why their respected Demon Commander would invite and entertain a mere human boy.
In front of Demon Palace, Yang Kai and his group had only just entered the square when a demon race man walked up to them and cupped his fists, “Holy Master Yang, Sir Demon Commander invites you to join him in the hall, this way please!”
Yang Kai and Meng Wu Ya looked at each other and exchanged a knowing smile.
“Lead the way!” Yang Kai nodded lightly to this man.
The Demon Race master didn’t utter a word, simply turning around and guiding them inside.
Inside the palace, Zhang Yuan and the four Demon Generals were sitting at a large table, quietly waiting for the arrival of Yang Kai.
Seeing him walk in, Zhang Yuan stood up, laughed happily and greeted him, “Holy Master Yang, I’ve kept you waiting for a few days. The truth is my four subordinates are also quite interested in the secrets left behind by Great Demon God so I intentionally delayed things so they could arrive. En, come come, let this Senior introduce you.”
Saying so, he turned to the four people and said, “This is Yang Kai, the master of Nine Heavens Holy Land, the most talked about force in the world. Some of you have met him before, while others have not, but I believe all of you have heard the word of his reputation.”
Yang Kai swept his eyes over the four and added, “I am Great Demon God’s successor!”
Zhang Yuan’s complexion changed and the four Demon Generals couldn’t help revealing a slightly tense look, a faint trace of awe and respect flashing across their faces. Even Xue Li flashed Yang Kai a friendly smile devoid of any of her previous hostility and arrogance.
Great Demon God’s successor, the weight of this title was almost equal to that of the Demon Commander, so none of them dared act the least bit scornful or disrespectful.
Zhang Yuan gawked for a moment before letting out a hearty laugh, “Good, Holy Master Yang is indeed Sir Great Demon God’s successor, unfortunately, he is of the Human Race! If he was from my Demon Race… En, this Senior would immediately hand over the position of Demon Commander to him!”
The Demon Land was developed by Great Demon God, so naturally, his successor was its rightful ruler.
Zhang Yuan had spoken these words lightly, but secretly he was quite worried that Yang Kai would use this opportunity to snatch the position of Demon Commander from him.
Quickly switching the topic, Zhang Yuan began introducing the others to Yang Kai, “These four are the pillars of my Demon Land. En, Holy Master Yang has already greeted Xue Li and Meng Ge, he is Gou Qiong, and he is Ba He.”
As he spoke, he pointed to the other two seated men.
Ba He nodded towards Yang Kai lightly. Yang Kai had only heard about this Demon General in passing and never had any dealings with him.
Gou Qiong, however, wore an awkward expression as he looked towards Yang Kai.
His cheeks twitching slightly, Gou Qiong cupped his fists and said, “Holy Master Yang, before, there seems to have been some misunderstanding between us for which I apologize. I hope Holy Master Yang will not take these matters to heart. In addition, I must thank Holy Master Yang for saving my son’s life, if not for Holy Master Yang, I’m afraid he would have already lost his life back in that Mysterious Small World.”
Yang Kai smiled lightly, “Sir Gou Qiong is too polite, is Gou Che alright?”
“Many thanks for Holy Master Yang’s concern, my son is doing well,” Gou Qiong showed a slight look of surprise. He hadn’t expected Yang Kai to so easily brush off the past matters and even speak so freely with him.
His son, Gou Che, had once been trapped together with Yang Kai in a Mysterious Small World, and it was ultimately thanks to Yang Kai that he was able to escape. It was in that Mysterious Small World that Yang Kai obtained the Divine Tree.
However, after fleeing from that Mysterious Small World, their group had been captured by Xue Li and brought back to Sand City. Gou Qiong then sent someone to redeem Gou Che and at the same time take Yang Kai’s life.
With all these intertwined gratitudes and grudges, it was difficult to say the two were strangers.
“What about the Sun Clan? When the world’s Mysterious Small Worlds all opened, that one containing the Sun Clan must have as well, what became of them?” Yang Kai asked.
At that time, he had suffered a lot at the hands of the Sun Clan.
“Exterminated completely!” Gou Qiong replied sincerely, “The strength within their bodies has a highly suppressive effect on my Demon Race, so they can’t be allowed to remain!”
Yang Kai nodded, thinking that the Sun Clan suffering such a fate was perfectly normal, who made their Mysterious Small World exit into the Demon Land? Even if Gou Qiong hadn’t acted, Xue Li wouldn’t have just sat back and ignored them.
“Good, enough idle chatter, let’s get down to business!” Zhang Yuan stated.
Everyone’s expression suddenly turned serious.
“This time, I invited Holy Master Yang to come in order to unlock the secrets left behind by Great Demon God. Holy Master Yang must also be quite curious about these,” Zhang Yuan smiled knowingly towards Yang Kai.
“I indeed came for this matter.”
Zhang Yuan gently nodded and said, “To be honest, if the situation had not left me with no other choice, this Senior had not wanted to draw support from others; after all, the secrets left behind by Sir Great Demon God are the supreme treasures of my Demon Race. However, besides the Demon Mystic Tome in Holy Master Yang’s hand, there is truly no other way to open the barrier, I believe this was also the intention of Great Demon God.”
The four Demon Generals all wore dignified expression as the turned complicated looks towards Yang Kai.
“As such, this Senior needs to first confirm one thing; I hope Holy Master Yang can agree to a few conditions.”
“What conditions?”
“Regardless of what these secrets are, Holy Master Yang must not expose them to others!”
“Good!” Yang Kai nodded.
“If there are any benefits left inside, they will belong to my Demon Race, Holy Master Yang cannot covet them. Of course, this Senior will not make Holy Master Yang travel all this way and work for free, I will provide a satisfactory reward!”
“Does Sir Demon Commander think there will be many advantages inside?” Yang Kai chuckled.
“Who knows? Legend has it that Great Demon God possessed all kinds of Divine Abilities, perhaps the cultivation methods for those are hidden there!”
As soon as this statement came out, the four Demon Generals’ breathing suddenly became hurried, their eyes flashing a greedy light.
All of them couldn’t help feeling excited.
“I actually believe there won’t be anything of value left there!” Yang Kai smiled confidently.
“Why does Holy Master Yang say so?” Zhang Yuan looked at him strangely, secretly thinking that Yang Kai might have uncovered something he was unaware of.
“Just speaking thoughtlessly,” Yang Kai grinned.
In that strange world, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had once said that if he had a chance, he should go to the Demon Capital, and that as long as he went there, all his questions would be answered.
So Yang Kai believed that the secrets hidden in the Demon Capital had nothing to do with Great Demon God’s Divine Abilities of treasures, but were instead purely information.
The benefits left behind by Great Demon God had all been stored in the Demon Mystic Tome, which Yang Kai had long ago obtained.
Seeing Yang Kai not willing to explain any further, Zhang Yuan knit his brow slightly and helplessly said, “Does Holy Master Yang agree or disagree with this Senior’s proposal?”
“It doesn’t matter, have it your way,” Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders.
Seeing him agree so easily, Zhang Yuan’s mood dropped, feeling a faint premonition that the secrets left behind by Great Demon God in the Demon Capital’s barrier did not have any tangible advantages.
However, before arriving at the end, he refused to give up hope, silently encouraging himself before saying, “Then it’s settled. If Holy Master Yang trusts this Senior, this Senior would like to you to enter alone!”
“Impossible!” Meng Wu Ya decisively shook his head and stared at Zhang Yuan with a sneer, “With you and those four Demon Generals there, what difference is letting him go alone than sending a sheep into a wolf’s den? No matter what, this old master and these two ladies must accompany you, there’s no way this old master can trust you.”
In the past, he had suffered a big loss because of this Demon Commander’s schemes, so he wasn’t about to make the same mistake again.
Zhang Yuan looked at Meng Wu Ya and sighed helplessly, he could tell how resolute his attitude was, so after hesitating for a moment he nodded, “Good, then we’ll all go in together! But this Senior still must insist on the previous conditions, when we get there, no matter what we see, it cannot be leaked out, otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?” Meng Wu Ya stared provocatively at Zhang Yuan.
“This Senior cherishes his friendship with Holy Master Yang and doesn’t want things to sour because of such trifles!” Zhang Yuan smiled calmly, not saying any more on the subject and simply beckoning, “Please come with me.”
The four Demon Generals followed behind him with excitement, they too were very curious about the secrets left behind by Great Demon God. Although they have heard rumours before, none of them had ever even seen this barrier before, so this was a great opportunity for them, one they owed to Yang Kai.
Zhang Yuan walked through the halls of the Demon Palace, soon arriving at a certain courtyard which he entered, followed closely by everyone else.
Yang Kai looked around quickly and discovered that this courtyard was actually where Zhang Yuan normally lived. Apparently, the entrance to the room where Great Demon God had left behind his last secrets was hidden here.
For many millennia, only the Demon Commander had been qualified to enter this place, but today, a great many people had come.
In one of the buildings tucked away in the corner of the courtyard, Zhang Yuan released a few strands of Demonic Qi towards one of the walls and a hidden passage opened.
Zhang Yuan walked inside without a word, followed by the four Demon Generals. Meng Wu Ya shot Yang Kai a glance and whispered a few words of caution to him before taking the lead.
Yang Kai then entered.
Li Rong, Han Fei, and Old Demon brought up the rear.
The passage sloped downward gently, leading deep underground, and although there was no way for sunlight to enter, it was not dark. The walls of this passage were lined with many strange stones that emitted a soft glow.
There was a faint hint of whispering coming from up ahead; it seemed the four Demon Generals were quietly discussing something.
Yang Kai also discovered something interesting. On the walls of this ramp, there were many profound and mysterious carvings. These patterns were quite abstract, and if one wasn’t paying close attention, they wouldn’t have even noticed them.
Zhang Yuan’s voice came from the front, “These murals depict the legacy of Great Demon God’s life. Perhaps they were even carved by Great Demon God himself, but they don’t contain any hidden secrets.”
Yang Kai gently nodded, and as he walked forward while observing these carvings, they seemed to come alive before his very eyes, as if they were silently telling him the life story of Great Demon God.
Yang Kai even saw the scene of Great Demon God fighting with that generation’s Nine Heavens Holy Land Holy Master. Great Demon God had suffered some injuries, but the master of Nine Heavens Holy Land was badly wounded, only managing to snatch a drop of Demon God Golden Blood before fleeing.
He also saw a scene of Great Demon God fighting with a man and a woman who were proficient in an exquisite Dual Cultivation Technique, the two of them displaying the power of a Golden Dragon and Ice Phoenix.
He then saw a pair of burly twin brothers suffering defeat at Great Demon God’s hand!
Atop an ancient iceberg, Great Demon God stood proudly as a woman dressing in a long white robe that was drenched in blood stared at him with a look filled with both love and hate. After a long time, Great Demon God departed casually while that woman silently shed tears.
Yang Kai trembled greatly as he immediately realized that these murals contained a great deal of hidden information.
The couple who was proficient in Dual Cultivation was that era’s Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress.
The twin brothers must have been the Sect Masters of Twin Spirit Pavilion at the time.
The woman in white robes standing atop an iceberg, if Yang Kai did not guess wrong, should have been the Sect Master of Ice Sect!
These three Sects were all top forces of their time.
The people who fought against Great Demon God were all the most powerful masters of their time, but Great Demon God never tasted defeat, remaining ever victorious!
The images flow by like a stream of water in front of Yang Kai’s eyes, making him feel like he had somehow been transported back in time to that era and become Great Demon God himself, coldly overlooking the world from an unsurpassed height.
Great Demon God had only used a few dozen years to establish his status as the First Under Heaven master from ancient to present, never once being surpassed. From that point on though, he became all alone.
He embarked on a journey to the Starry Sky to continue exploring the secrets of the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao.
After that, there was no word from him!
Rumours had it that he had perished out amongst the Starry Sky.
“Holy Master Yang… Holy Master Yang!” Zhang Yuan’s shouts reached Yang Kai’s ears, waking him up from his daze only for him to discover that everyone was staring at him strangely. He immediately realized he had allowed himself to become immersed in these strange murals.
“What is it?” Yang Kai asked.
Zhang Yuan frowned slightly as he stared into Yang Kai’s eyes. From his perspective, he could now see a kind of desolateness residing in their depths, as if in that instant, Yang Kai had experienced the passage of many years, causing this youth to now display the vicissitudes of age.
Meng Wu Ya also noticed this and couldn’t help wrinkling his brow.
However, the desolate light inside Yang Kai’s eyes quickly dispersed and Zhang Yuan dismissed it as him simply thinking too much, smiling lightly as he said, “We’ve arrived, the rest is up to Holy Master Yang.”
“Arrived?” Yang Kai looked forward and found that there was a dead-end in front of them, a thick wall that blocked everyone’s path forward.
On the wall, there was a smooth, square-shaped indentation.
Everyone looked at him with expectant eyes.
Yang Kai knew what to do, pushing his Divine Sense slightly to summon the Demon Mystic Tome.
In an instant, Zhang Yuan and the four Demon Generals’ eyes became hot.
“Don’t get any ideas, if we fight here, none of you will feel any better!” Meng Wu Ya grinned fiercely.
This space was far too small. Once so many Saint Realm masters began fighting here, the only possible result would be a mutual loss.
Zhang Yuan smiled wryly, “Isn’t Brother Meng a bit too suspicious? This Senior never thought of trying to seize this treasure.”
“One can’t be too careful, that’s the Demon Mystic Tome after all. Who knows what you might be thinking,” Meng Wu Ya coldly snorted before moving towards Yang Kai’s side and saying, “Go on, I’ll watch them.”
Yang Kai nodded and slowly pushed the Demon Mystic Tome in his hand into the spot on the wall.
Inside the tunnel, everyone’s breathing suddenly stagnated, their eyes completely focused on the Demon Mystic Tome, anticipation apparent in their gazes.
As the distance narrowed, Yang Kai felt the Demon Mystic Tome in his hand tremble slightly and an intermittent buzz began sounding from it. Suddenly, the Demon Mystic Tome transformed into a ray of black light and directly entered the slot.
The square depression was instantly filled and in the next moment, the whole world shook.
Rumbling sounds resounded and bits of loose dirt and gravel began falling from the ceiling, giving everyone present the illusion that it would collapse at any moment.
Everyone’s look changed and they secretly became vigilant, all of them wondering if some kind of accident had happened.
With a cracking sound, the thick wall in front of them suddenly split open and a dazzling white light bloomed, blinding everyone for a moment.
At the same time, a huge and irresistible attraction came from the crack in the wall and even characters like Zhang Yuan and Meng Wu Ya were powerless to resist it.
Along with a strange whistling noise, everyone was swallowed by the crack and disappeared.
It was as if they were being swallowed into the belly of a beast.
The next moment, in a world of white, the many Demon Race masters, Yang Kai, Meng Wu Ya, and the others appeared one by one.
“Kid, what about that Demon Mystic Tome?” Meng Wu Ya quickly checked his situation before hurriedly asking Yang Kai.
Yang Kai frowned and inspected himself before replying, “It’s returned!”
Just as they were being swallowed by the crack, the Demon Mystic Tome, which had been used to open this barrier, had returned to Yang Kai’s body.
“Good!” Meng Wu Ya nodded.
“What is this?” Meng Ge suddenly yelled, his voice mixed with shock and agitation, as if he had just witnessed something incredible.
Turning towards the direction Meng Ge was staring, the eyes of everyone present shrank sharply.
In front of everyone was a ship!
An incredibly massive ship.
However, it was hard to tell just how many years this ship had been resting here. It was already in ruins and there were many traces left on its hull that told of a fierce battle it had experienced.
What was most strange to everyone though, was that this ship did not have a mast, nor any trace of water stains, as if it had never before sailed upon the sea.
The desolate aura which spread from this broken ship made everyone realize it was very old.
Yang Kai swept it with his Divine Sense and was shocked to discover that the materials used to produce this large ship were all extremely high grade, its broken hull actually exuding the same aura as a Saint Grade artifact.
Staring at it, Yang Kai was struck speechless.
How much material was required to construct such a huge ship? That much Saint Grade material would be enough to create thousands of Saint Grade artifacts.
“Is this the secret left behind by Sir Great Demon God?” Zhang Yuan muttered to himself with a look of unwillingness himself, a look of deep disappointment flashing across his eyes.
He had made innumerable guesses about what was hidden here, many times fantasising about Great Demon God’s Secret Arts and Divine Abilities resting in this place, things which allow him to break through his current bottleneck and arrive at a higher cultivation realm.
Regardless of what treasures had been left here, he was very much looking forward to them, so he had even decided to lower himself to asking for Yang Kai’s help, hoping to open the barrier with the Demon Mystic Tome in his hand.
But when Yang Kai finally came and they managed to open the barrier beneath the Demon Palace that all previous Demon Commander couldn’t, Zhang Yuan discovered that the situation here was completely different from what he had thought.
All that was here was a broken ship!
Even though this broken ship exuded the aura of a Saint Grade artifact, what use was it? Could he use it to go out to sea? Zhang Yuan’s strength had reached the pinnacle of this world, he didn’t need to use a ship to traverse the sea.
He couldn’t accept this!
He even suspected that everything here was a big joke that Great Demon God had decided to play on his descendants.
“It seems that it’s only this broken ship here!” Meng Wu Ya smirked, clearly taking pleasure in other’s misfortune.
The more disappointed Zhang Yuan was, the happier he was. Meng Wu Yu even wished Zhang Yuan would drop dead here due to disappointment.
“It shouldn’t be,” Yang Kai frowned deeply. In that strange world, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had clearly said that as long as he went to the Demon Capital, he would be able to unravel all the world’s mysteries. Now that he had come here though, opened this barrier that had been untouched for thousands of years, and was finally about to obtain the answers to all his questions, things had actually differed greatly from his expectations.
He was also somewhat disappointed.
There would have been no point in him traveling hundreds of thousands of kilometers just to see this broken ship.
Releasing his Divine Sense thought, there really was nothing else here except for this broken ship.
“The mysteries must be hidden inside this boat, search it!” Zhang Yuan seemed to recover and shouted.
The four Demon Generals exchanged a glance before rushing into the ship.
“I’ll also go take a look!” Meng Wu Ya grinned strangely before he quickly chased after the four Demon Generals, obviously not wanting to let them gain any kind of advantage by themselves.
Yang Kai shook his head wryly but didn’t follow.
In the blink of an eye, the four Demon General and Meng Wu Ya had arrived in front of the massive broken ship, but just as they were about to set foot on its deck, a potent Demonic Qi suddenly burst out from a certain place inside it.
The four Demon Generals couldn’t react in time and simply felt a great force slam into them, sending all of them flying backwards. Even Meng Wu Ya was sent tumbling through the air and fell beside Yang Kai, a look of dread flashing across his face as he turned back to stare at the broken ship.
In the direction he was staring, a pitch-black cloud of energy floated midair, constantly churning and folding over itself.
“The aura of Great Demon God!” Yang Kai muttered as a strong look of wariness appeared on his face.
“Is this the aura of Sir Great Demon God?” Zhang Yuan called out in alarm, a frantic light flashing across his eyes as he let out a riotous laugh, “This Senior knew there was more here than just a broken ship.”
Saying so, he began sweeping his eyes over this mass of energy, hoping to discover something; he figured that anything he could find would be invaluable.
Feeling the pressure coming from this aura cloud, everyone was on high alert.
After a while, the mass of dark energy took the shape of a figure, and although it was very vague, Yang Kai could still see the image of Great Demon God from the outline.
This figure only paused midair for a moment before it rushed towards the crowd.
As it approached, everyone suddenly seemed to be imprisoned by a mysterious force, unable to move, staring forward as the black figure exploded into a fine mist that enveloped them for a moment before disappearing.
At that moment, everyone feels that there was something extra that had been deposited in their minds and they couldn’t help closing their eyes.
Inside the white space, the group of people stood still, each of them examining whatever it was the black energy figure had left behind in their minds, their expressions gradually becoming serious.
Yang Kai was no exception, when he focused his consciousness inward, it was as if his Knowledge Sea had disappeared and had been replaced by the vast Starry Sky.
All around there was emptiness, with only distant stars providing light. A golden glowing man flew rapidly through the Starry Sky, his eyes firm and resolute, his body strong, and his expression indifferent; he was not using any kind of artifact, nor was he circulating his strength to shield himself, using only his flesh and blood body to resist the pressure of the Starry Sky as he roamed freely.
Naturally, this man was Great Demon God!
Yang Kai’s spirit shook, suddenly understanding what the black shadow had instilled into his Knowledge Sea.
This was clearly the experiences of Great Demon God while he was exploring the Starry Sky!
The legendary figure had left behind his memories of the Starry Sky here to enlighten future generations.
Yang Kai was now just an observer, only capable of silently watching what Great Demon God encounter, unable to intervene at all.
Yang Kai believed everyone else was also experiencing this!
Immediately, Yang Kai became focused, refusing to miss even the slightest of details.
The scene before him was the continuation of the murals from the before. Great Demon God, after enduring many years of loneliness, finally embarked on the road to the Starry Sky.
He had no goal in mind and was just like a fallen leaf, fluttering around the vast Starry Sky.
He encountered a Starry Sky Storm but, with his intrepid physique and tyrannical strength, he came out unscathed.
He found an asteroid sea, and sat down cross-legged on one of them, allowing the asteroid to take him through the Starry Sky.
After an unknown period of time, as he sat amongst the asteroid sea, Great Demon God suddenly opened his eyes and gazed towards a certain direction.
Following his gaze, Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed.
He saw a huge ship sailing through the Starry Sky, and the ship was exactly the same as the broken ship he had just seen.
Great Demon God’s eyes flashed with excitement, and after the big ship departed, he trailed behind it without saying a word.
His intention was to follow this ship to a more profound world, one where he could pursue greater heights in the Martial Dao.
However, what surprised Great Demon God was that this Starry Sky ship seemed to have also lost its way among the Starry Sky.
Great Demon God followed it for a few years without any gains, just aimlessly roaming about the Starry Sky.
Until one day, the Starry Sky ship seemed to have discovered something and hurriedly changed course, heading for a certain planet.
Great Demon God celebrated!
But after the Starry Sky ship arrived at the planet, Great Demon God discovered it was actually Tong Xuan Realm, the homeland he had left!
After wandering about the Starry Sky for an unknowable number of years, following behind this Starry Sky ship, Great Demon God had actually returned to where his journey began.
The big ship landed at a certain place in the Demon Land, and from the ship, many visitors from the stars emerged. Some of them had glowing green eyes, some of them had a single horn sticking out their forehead, some of them even had long drooping ears, but in general, they all had human like figures.
Each of these visitors was extremely powerful though, the weakest of whom had at least reached the Transcendent Realm.
Several of their leaders had even surpassed the Saint Realm.
As soon as they appeared, the entire Demon Land became engulfed in the flames of war. A Demon General came forward to block them, but the Third-Order Saint Demon General was no different than an ant in front of these visitors from the stars. He was struck dead by a single strike from one of the cultivators with green eyes, even his bones shattering as a result!
Atop a great mountain peak, the masters of these alien invaders stood around overlooking Tong Xuan Realm, pointing to the various mountains and rivers with interest, feeling like they could easily enslave this small world with their strength!
Great Demon God did not remain aloof and quickly rallied the entire Demon Race to resist.
The scene changed and became an earth-shaking battle, Great Demon God’s golden figure was bathed in blood as he killed one enemy after another, shredding their corpses and pulverising their bones.
Atop this battlefield, blood flowed like rivers and corpses piled up into mountains.
With Demon Crests covering their faces, the Ancient Demon Clan who had sworn to forever follow Great Demon God used their very bodies and lives to prevent attacks which were aimed at Great Demon God over and over again.
The Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress from Dragon Phoenix Palace collaborated to resist a powerful Bone Race master.
There were also many masters from Ice Sect who worked together to create a domain of ice and snow, freezing many enemies all at once.
The two Sect Masters from Twin Spirit Pavilion used their Twin Qi Shared Spirit Divine Art to combine their strength and challenge the alien invaders.
There were also several Monster Race Great Seniors who flew through the sky in their Beast Forms, spewing Monster Qi as they thrashed back and forth.
The world itself shook.
In this war, the alien invaders suffered a total defeat, none of them managing to survive.
Broken corpses littered the ground. The Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress had disappeared, as had the two brothers of the Twin Spirit Pavilion. Several Monster Race Great Seniors lay dead. The entire Demon Race had suffered heavy casualties, and even Great Demon God was barely clinging to life!
Over the next few decades, Great Demon God dragged his broken and battered body across the entire length and breadth of Tong Xuan Realm, arranging a massive Spirit Array using the strength of the Void Corridors scattered around the world.
He sealed off the entire Tong Xuan Realm from the outside world, allowing it to fade out of the Starry Sky’s sight, preventing any foreign visitors from ever discovering it.
He then left behind his Soul Clone at the centre of this grand formation, which guarded it for thousands of years without letting a single person approach.
Finally, he sealed away the Ancient Demon Clan.
After that, he faded from history!
Inside the white space, everyone slowly opened their eyes, each of them wearing an astonished look, somewhat unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
The atmosphere became heavy.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
As they awoke, the dark energy that had poured into them suddenly overflowed and rushed towards Yang Kai, disappearing into his body in the blink of an eye.
Yang Kai’s body shivered and his face contorted, seeming to suffer from severe pain, sweat pouring down his forehead, soaking his clothes in an instant.
“Master!” Li Rong didn’t give a thought to digesting the shocking information she had just obtained and instead hurried towards Yang Kai.
The rest of them had fully woken up, but Yang Kai’s eyes remained closed; moreover, the movement of the pitch-black energy just now concerned Li Rong, she didn’t know why only Yang Kai’s experience was different.
“Don’t disturb him!” Meng Wu Ya suddenly called out to stop her, his expression turning pensive as he muttered, “He seems to have obtained some additional benefits.”
“In the end, he is Great Demon God’s successor, Great Demon God favouring him slightly is unavoidable,” Zhang Yuan stared at Yang Kai enviously. The dark energy that had poured into the crowd just now, besides carrying the memories of Great Demon God, also contained a massive amount of energy.
If he could have absorbed and refined that energy, Zhang Yuan was confident that his strength would increase noticeably.
Unfortunately for him, that energy had flowed away and all been given to Yang Kai.
Zhang Yuan felt some discomfort.
“You move away from him!” Meng Wu Ya glared towards Zhang Yuan, worried that he would try to disturb Yang Kai at this critical juncture.
Zhang Yuan smiled bitterly and said, “Brother Meng, after everything we just saw a moment ago, do you really think I’d try to act against him now?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t trust you,” Meng Wu Ya remained intractable.
“Fine, fine, this Senior will keep his distance!” Zhang Yuan said helplessly, moving away with the four Demon General to investigate the rest of this space.
The pain Yang Kai was experiencing seemed to grow stronger with time, his tough body shuddering as his muscles clenched tightly, causing both Li Rong and Han Fei much anxiety.
“When did he start undergoing True Qi Sanctification?” Meng Wu Ya suddenly asked. With Yang Kai’s True Qi spilling over, he had noticed the subtle change.
“A few months ago, when we went to High Heaven Pavilion,” Li Rong replied.
“Only a few months? How could it be so fast?” Meng Wu Ya frowned slightly.
Yang Kai’s current appearance was showing some signs of a breakthrough, but ordinarily, when a cultivator experienced True Qi Sanctification, it would be at least a few years before they could spy on the mysteries of the Saint Realm.
Even if Yang Kai possessed incredible natural talent, it didn’t seem possible to shorten this process to only a few months.
That was simply unthinkable.
Just as he was growing suspicious, Yang Kai’s close left eye suddenly began leaking blood. The red tear he cried containing a faint golden light.
“What’s happening?” Meng Wu Ya was shocked.
“Is Young Master in any danger?” Old Demon also expressed concern.
Meng Wu Ya didn’t say a word, instead focusing all his attention on Yang Kai’s situation, but the more he observed him, the less confident he became.
He had never encountered a situation like the one Yang Kai was currently experiencing.
Inside Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea, something unexpected had occurred.
Just after he finished viewing Great Demon God’s memories of exploring the Starry Sky, a burst of energy suddenly flooded in.
His entire Knowledge Sea was whipped up into a storm and the Six Coloured Soul Warming Lotus island which was floating atop the water was tossed about, in danger of being submerged at any time.
Yang Kai focused his efforts on stabilizing his Knowledge Sea but was unable to calm the chaos.
This flood of energy was like a great burst of wind and lightning that tore up his Knowledge Sea, making him feel very uncomfortable.
The Demon Eye of Annihilation, which hovered just above his Knowledge Sea, suddenly emitted a strong suction and inhaled all the rampaging energy, dying his entire Knowledge Sea black in the next breath.
This was Yang Kai’s personal domain, where he was the absolute master. Whatever he ordered or imagined would be, whether it was changing the scenery or completely rearranging the layout.
But after the Demon Eye of Annihilation swallowed up this torrent of energy, Yang Kai discovered that he had actually lost control of his Knowledge Sea.
It was as if his Soul Avatar was falling through an abyss that went on forever, without any bottom to it, causing him a good deal of fear.
In this darkness, only the golden light emitted by the Demon Eye of Annihilation illuminated his view.
His Soul Avatar was shrouded in a golden hallow and gave him the terrifying impression that he had been swallowed by it.
The Demon Eye of Annihilation’s golden light restrained all forms of Spiritual Energy; there were many masters killed by Yang Kai whose remnant Souls had been drawn into this place and then purified by this golden light.
It had never harmed Yang Kai before.
But this time was different, Yang Kai faintly felt that if he didn’t do something quickly, he would meet the same fate as all those people, his Soul purified, leaving behind only a mass of pure Spiritual Energy.
If that came to pass, there was no way he would survive.
As he was going all out to resist, Yang Kai suddenly saw a six-coloured point of light in the darkness and hurriedly rushed over towards it!
A moment later, his Soul Avatar set foot on the six-coloured island.
Atop this six coloured island, innumerable tiny Soul Devouring Insects were resting. After absorbing the energies in this place for so long, these Soul Devouring Insects seemed stronger than ever.
Yang Kai didn’t pay any attention to them and instead focused his Divine Sense, ordering the six coloured island to return to its original Soul Warming Lotus appearance, then wrapping his Soul Avatar up in its petals.
The rays of golden light continued to pour out, making the Demon Eye of Annihilation shine like a hot sun, evaporating the Spiritual Energy inside Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea, quickly drying it up.
An indescribable pain welled up from the innermost depths of his soul.
Yang Kai clenched his teeth and stimulated the power of the Soul Warming Lotus to continuously replenish the power he was losing from his Knowledge Sea.
Gradually, the pain grew faint, and Yang Kai was surprised to find that he had established a kind of connection with the Demon Eye of Annihilation which should originally have belonged to Great Demon God.
Since obtaining the Demon Eye of Annihilation, Yang Kai had been trying to refine it but had never had any success.
Although he could use the purification power of the Demon Eye of Annihilation, fundamentally, this single golden eye was a foreign object that coexisted in his Knowledge Sea, not something he truly owned and commanded.
It was completely different from the Six Coloured Soul Warming Lotus.
After experiencing this excruciating pain though, he had really connected with the Demon Eye of Annihilation; the power which had been evaporated from his Knowledge Sea had formed a bridge between him and the Demon Eye of Annihilation, joining the two together and finally allowing it to recognize him as its master.
Perceiving this, Yang Kai suddenly cheered up.
Continuously motivating the power of the Soul Warming Lotus, Yang Kai filled his Knowledge Sea with new seawater which was quickly evaporated and absorbed by the Demon Eye of Annihilation.
As time went by, the pain in his Soul became lighter and lighter, until it eventually disappeared altogether, replaced by a relaxed and uplifting feeling.
At that moment, Yang Kai felt that the Demon Eye of Annihilation had truly become his.
The Demon Eye of Annihilation, which had always been suspended midair, then turned into a streak of light that shot towards Yang Kai.
Surrounded by the petals of the Six Coloured Soul Warming Lotus, Yang Kai stared intently at the Demon Eye of Annihilation, allowing it to rush into his Soul Avatar and disappear without putting up any resistance.
The world suddenly became somewhat different, and a subtle type of joy rose inside his heart.
Back inside the white space, Yang Kai’s eyes shot open.
As an aching sensation spread from his left eye, Yang Kai noticed Meng Wu Ya and the others nearby staring at him with concern.
“Yang Kai, what happened?” Meng Wu Ya hurriedly asked.
As soon as these words came out though, Treasurer Meng let out a cry of surprise as he pointed to Yang Kai and said, “Your left eye…”
His left eye was no longer their original black and white, but had instead turned golden and was now emitting an endless aura of majesty. This eye gave off a feeling of indifference, as if it was overlooking all mortal beings, just like those of Great Demon God’s Soul Clone which Meng Wu Ya had met before.
Vaguely, an invisible vortex emerged from the golden eye that madly pulled at Meng Wu Ya’s Soul, seemingly wanting to swallow it whole, causing his Soul to rapidly become unstable.
Treasurer Meng’s complexion paled as he quickly removed his gaze and shouted, “Close your left eye!”
Yang Kai was also startled by this and soon realized what was happening, reaching out in the next instant to cover his left eye.
Yang Kai felt a hot and wet sensation on the palm of his hand and a faint smell of blood soon reached his nose.
Only now did Li Rong, Han Fei, and Old Demon let out a long breath, their eyes overflowing with shock and amazement.
“Young Master, what happened to your left eye?” Old Demon asked in a flurry, “The Soul of Old Servant was almost sucked away by it.”
“The Demon Eye of Annihilation! Great Demon God’s Demon Eye of Annihilation!” Zhang Yuan called out in alarm. Even though they were separated by quite a distance, when he had glanced over at Yang Kai a moment ago, he too felt his Soul being tugged at.
It was as if he had been personally facing Great Demon God, the pressure was as heavy as a mountain!
The four Demon Generals also looked deathly pale as they directed complicated looks towards Yang Kai.
Great Demon God possessed all kinds of Divine Abilities, one of which was embedded in his left eye and had the capability to release golden light which could erase an enemy’s Soul. Ancient records stated at the left eye of Great Demon God could see through all mysteries and secrets of the world while restraining the Soul of any it gazed upon.
Zhang Yuan had never imagined that after a few thousand years, the Demon Eye of Annihilation would reappear in this world.
What’s more, in the body of a human boy!
This made him quite depressed.
He couldn’t understand why this little brat Yang Kai was so lucky.
“I need to retreat here for a while!” Yang Kai declared as he covered his eye and wiped away the blood dripping from it.
Meng Wu Ya nodded. The golden eye was far too dangerous. If Yang Kai could not control it freely, anyone who got close to him in the future would be in extreme danger.
“You seclude yourself here, we’ll leave first. When you exit, we’ll discuss these matters again,” Meng Wu Ya said solemnly before turning to look at Zhang Yuan, “Do you have any problem with that?”
Zhang Yuan shook his head.
Yang Kai then summoned the Demon Mystic Tome, opened the exit, and let the others out first.
After they left, Yang Kai immediately immersed himself in studying the Demon Eye of Annihilation.
….
Time flew by and one month later, Demon Commander Zhang Yuan, the four Demon Generals, Meng Wu Ya, and the two Great Commanders were waiting anxiously.
During this last month, while Yang Kai was in retreat, they were essentially idle.
However, just now, they suddenly sensed Yang Kai’s aura appear and understand that he should have succeeded. All of them rushed to Zhang Yuan’s courtyard and stared at the entrance to the secret room.
After a short time, they heard the steady sound of footsteps.
A moment later, Yang Kai’s figure appeared before their eyes, and everyone unconsciously glanced towards his left eye while feeling a slight lingering fear. But they soon discovered that his eyes had both been restored to their normal state, becoming plain black and white.
“Succeeded?” Meng Wu Ya hurriedly asked.
“En,” Yang Kai gently nodded.
After a month of hard work, he was now able to summon and retract the Demon Eye of Annihilation at will. This single Divine Ability of Great Demon God’s had greatly enhanced his combat effectiveness.
“Since Holy Master Yang has exited, we should discuss the scenes we all witnessed,” Zhang Yuan didn’t want to go too deeply into the issue of the Demon Eye of Annihilation, his tone still containing traces of bitterness.
Everyone looked around at each other and nodded.
All of them had been mulling over this issue for the past month and were eager to discuss it now.
Inside a large hall, the Demon Race sat on one side of a large table while Yang Kai’s group sat on the opposite.
After a short silence, Zhang Yuan lightly coughed and stared the conversation, “I assume that everything this Senior witnessed in that space was also seen by all of you.”
Everyone nodded.
“Great Demon God did fall, not because he encountered some kind of accident in the Starry Sky, but rather to protect Tong Xuan Realm,” Zhang Yuan said with a sigh, “Sir Great Demon God is indeed worthy of respect!”
Meng Wu Ya snorted, “For a man who died thousands of years ago, there’s no need to speak such flatteries.”
Zhang Yuan stared at him indifferently, “This was a monumental achievement for Sir Great Demon God, no one can deny that. If he had not fought so selflessly in the past, this world would have already fallen to those alien invaders.”
“Say whatever you’d like,” Meng Wu Ya snorted again. Although he did not like the Demon Race, it was undeniable that Great Demon God’s actions had changed the fate of Tong Xuan Realm.
Unfortunately, the Bone Race had not actually died out. Although the message left by Great Demon God said that all the visitors from the Starry Sky had died, there must have been some from the Bone Race who had managed to escape Great Demon God’s sight and hide.
After thousands of years, they were now reviving.
“Thanks to Sir Great Demon God, we now know there is a realm above the Saint Realm, the Saint King Realm!” Zhang Yuan declared with emotion, “Sir Great Demon God also reached the Saint King Realm!”
It was precisely because he had achieved such a level of strength that even experts like Meng Wu Ya and Zhang Yuan could not crack the barriers and arrays left behind by Great Demon God.
The huge gap in strength had rendered them powerless.
“Among those alien invaders, there were also a number of Saint King powerhouses, but all of them were killed by Great Demon God during that war!”
“What I don’t understand is why Sir Great Demon God used all the Void Corridor across the world to set up a Grand Spirit Array to seal the entire Tong Xuan Realm,” Meng Ge asked curiously.
“Because he realized the danger those Starry Sky invaders posed!” Yang Kai said solemnly, “The method Great Demon God used in the past was more than just a seal, it was likely a kind of concealment array. Among those Starry Sky cultivators, there were multiple masters at the Saint King Realm, and Great Demon God knew that once he died, if such a master were to arrive in Tong Xuan Realm in the future, no one would be able to resist them. As such, he arranged that Grand Spirit Array to let Tong Xuan Realm fade out of sight from the Starry Sky. This way, if any Starry Sky cultivators passed nearby Tong Xuan Realm, they would be unable to sense it, creating a layer of protection for this world.”
Yang Kai’s explanation was reasonable and matched up with the suspicions of most people in the hall.
Each of them nodded in agreement
“I understand now!” Yang Kai suddenly wore a look of epiphany as he thought out loud, “I understand what those last words Great Demon God’s Soul Clone spoke meant!”
“Great Demon God’s Soul Clone?” Zhang Yuan heard these words and quickly asked for details.
Yang Kai did not try to conceal it and simply described the process of him rescuing Meng Wu Ya.
“At the end, Great Demon God’s Soul Clone had said that this world had been sealed for too long and that now it was time for it to step into the light again! At that time, I thought he was referring to all the Mysterious Small Worlds, but what he really meant was Tong Xuan Realm itself. It’s also why he told me to travel to the Demon Capital because this message had been left here.”
With the Grand Spirit Array broken, all the Mysterious Small Worlds had opened and Tong Xuan Realm had reappeared in the Starry Sky, exactly as Great Demon had said!
Yang Kai suddenly recalled that Chu Ling Xiao had said the night sky had undergone a change, and that many stars which were previously invisible could now be seen.
This must have been one of the effects of Great Demon God’s seal being lifted. With the layer of camouflage gone, there was now one less barrier between Tong Xuan Realm and the Starry Sky, so naturally, the stars appear brighter and more numerous.
“So that means…” Meng Wu Ya’s began to speak but hesitated, “The world’s current situation was a result of this old master and Little Yang Kai’s actions?”
Exchanging a glance with Yang Kai, they both wore somewhat awkward expressions.
“The seal being undone was indeed your doing, but the Bone Race recovering should have nothing to do with you. Although the timing is a bit coincidental…” Old Demon frowned.
“That’s not necessarily true. Great Demon God was the one who left behind that seal, so his aura has constantly been covering Tong Xuan Realm, causing the Bone Race to not dare wake up. After the seal was released though, and Great Demon God’s aura disappeared, the Bone Race definitely would have noticed,” Yang Kai postulated, “This is only my guess, but it is very likely to be true.”
The five Demon Race masters gawked for a moment, with Zhang Yuan soon saying, “If this is the case, then Holy Master Yang bears an inescapable responsibility to face the world’s current catastrophe.”
“What are you trying to imply?” Meng Wu Ya glared at Zhang Yuan and sneered, “Could it be you want to stay out of this? Yang Kai said that the Bone Race has the dozens of Saint Realm masters among them and that they can use the flesh and blood of masters they kill to create more of themselves. Once they are given enough time, they will be impossible to deal with.”
The Bone Race was like a spark in a prairie. Right now the fire was small, but that fire would soon grow out of control.
Zhang Yuan snorted, “Of course not. Sir Great Demon God exhausted his strength and life to defend this world from them, my Demon Race is his descendant, naturally, it is impossible for us to bring shame to his legacy. My Demon Race will also assist Holy Master Yang.”
Although he was speaking such words, anyone could see he was doing so reluctantly.
Yang Kai glanced over at him briefly before standing up and saying, “The course of events and the truth of this world, I have now understood. Whether your Demon Race intervenes in what is to come, that will be up to you. If you wish for your future generations to forever be enslaved by the Bone Race, by all means, remain on the sidelines.”
Saying so, Yang Kai directly walked out of the hall.
Meng Wu Ya and the others quickly followed after him.
Zhang Yuan’s expression dropped as he quickly called out, “Holy Master Yang, please wait!”
“What else do you want to say?” Yang Kai turned back.
“May I ask, after Holy Master Yang goes back, do you plan to fight with the Bone Race?”
Yang Kai paused for a moment before replying, “With just Nine Heavens Holy Land, it’s impossible. The difference in strength is too great, and I’ll first need to find allies. As for how many I can gather, that will depend on luck.”
Zhang Yuan frowned and pondered for a long time before saying, “There should be no one else in the world who understands the power of the Bone Race better than us. Just now, it was only that this Senior had some concerns which caused him to hesitate. En, after Holy Master Yang returns, please rally as much support as possible. This Senior will also do the same. Once this Senior has organized his forces, I will bring them to Nine Heavens Holy Land to join up with you.”
Yang Kai chuckled, “Do you want to help?”
Zhang Yuan wore a forced smile, “This Senior does not wish to disappoint Sir Great Demon God’s soul in Heaven! I am this era’s Demon Commander, the leader of the Demon Land. Could it be that I am incapable of even cleaning up the mess Sir Great Demon God left behind?”
Yang Kai stared at him deeply for a moment before sweeping his eyes over the four Demon Generals behind him, quickly discovering that all of them wore determined expressions.
Nodding lightly, Yang Kai declared, “No matter how things turn out, after this incident is resolved, all grievances between us will be written off.”
“When that time comes, this Senior will have many things to discuss with Holy Master Yang, especially about Sir Great Demon God,” Zhang Yuan laughed.
“Good!” Yang Kai nodded, “We’ll take our leave, no need to see us out.”
After Yang Kai and his group left, Zhang Yuan’s face became dignified as he turned to face the four Demon Generals, “How serious this matter is, you know yourselves. There’s no need for this Senior to say any more. Return to your territories immediately and call up all your strongest warriors. Meet back here within half a month!”
“Yes!” The four Demon Generals nodded sternly and quickly left.
Atop the Star Shuttle, Yang Kai’s group swiftly flew forward.
Meng Wu Ya said with some surprise, “Zhang Yuan was quite cooperative just now, much more so than I expected.”
“It’s not that he wanted to, it’s just that he understands the situation. He knows we will engage the Bone Race in battle; if we lose, the next one they will attack will be his Demon Land. If we win, I would definitely find him to settle accounts in the future! No matter who wins or loses, if he does nothing, he will lose,” Yang Kai said lightly, laying bare Zhang Yuan’s thought process.
His attitude at the beginning was very ambiguous. Obviously Zhang Yuan wasn’t eager to intervene; after all, once he did, he would definitely suffer heavy losses.
However, when he saw Yang Kai decisively get up to leave, he had no choice but to compromise.
Perhaps Zhang Yuan initially wanted Yang Kai to ask him for help so he could negotiate for some benefits. The two of them were not friends and Yang Kai had many things he coveted.
The Demon Mystic Tome, various Divine Abilities, the Demon God Golden Blood, each of these something Zhang Yuan would drool over.
“No matter what, this time’s catastrophe is also the responsibility of this old master!” Meng Wu Ya sighed heavily
If it weren’t for him entering that Mysterious Small World with Xia Ning Chang, Yang Kai wouldn’t have had to destroy those eight Tong Xuan Pillars in order to rescue him. That was the keystone of the entire Grand Spirit Array, once it was destroyed, the array ceased operating and the seal Great Demon God placed on the world was lifted, resulting in the current disastrous situation.
Meng Wu Ya heavily blamed himself for this.
“It’s no one’s fault,” Yang Kai shook his head, “Even if this time I hadn’t destroyed those pillars, this grand formation would have stopped working one day. The only difference is that it happened slightly ahead of time.”
“If you don’t believe this situation is your responsibility, why are you so enthusiastic to handle it?” Meng Wu Ya chuckled.
“You think I’m acting overly enthusiastic?” Yang Kai frowned
Li Rong and Han Fei both nodded.
Old Demon also laughed and said, “Young Master is truly so.”
Yang Kai thought for a moment, “Perhaps it is because I do not wish to let all those who left their homes behind to lose their homeland again. If it was some other matter, even if the sky were to fall, others would stand to hold it up, but regarding those who I led here, I am the one they look to. If I don’t act, who will?”
Meng Wu Ya’s shoulder shook lightly, understanding that the people Yang Kai was referring to were those from the Great Han Dynasty, nodding lightly, “You’ve matured a lot.”
Li Rong and Han Fei’s beautiful eyes also flashed as they looked warmly towards Yang Kai, feeling that the Master they had chosen to serve was extraordinary indeed.
Under the night sky, the Star Shuttle shot forward like a meteor.
Yang Kai looked up at the stars but couldn’t find the beautiful figure he dreamed of as she was no longer there.
He didn’t know where Su Yan was in the vast Starry Sky.
A few days later, the group returned to Nine Heavens Holy Land.
The atmosphere in the Holy Land was somewhat different from before he left, seemingly somewhat more solemn and tense. When Yang Kai came back, Xu Hui hurriedly reported, “Holy Master, there is news. With Water Spirit Temple as the centre, the surrounding ten thousand kilometres has become a barren wasteland where nothing lives. Word of this matter has spread throughout the world, causing quite a commotion. At the same time, those Bone Race monsters are continuing to expand their territory.
“Let them expand!” Yang Kai coldly snorted, “The more noise they make, the easier it will be for us to convince others.”
After a pause, he asked, “When you passed the news to the major Human Race forces, what was their attitude?”
Xu Hui immediately became indignant, “Many people refused to believe us, and even those who did reluctantly trust our word showed no intention of intervening.”
“Everyone only cleans the snow before their own door!” Yang Kai chuckled, “Their reaction was only natural, but I think they’ll have no choice but to believe us now.”
“It’s impossible to not believe,” Xu Hui smiled bitterly, “Countless people fled from around Water Spirit Temple and are spreading the word of this calamity. The Holy Land is actually on the edge of the Human Territory, so ironically we have nothing to worry about right now.”
“Good, continue to spread the word. Let all those who are willing to fight with the Bone Race come to my Nine Heavens Holy Land, and also tell them that this time it will not be just our Human Race, but also the Demon Race and Monster Race who will be participating. This time we will need to unite the full strength of this world to resist.”
“The Demon Race and Monster Race too?” Xu Hui was greatly shocked, suddenly realizing the situation was more serious than he had thought, quickly excusing himself to accomplish his orders.
After a brief stopover in the Holy Land, Yang Kai rushed to the Beast Sea Jungle.
Atop Thunder Tree Palace, the three Monster Race Great Seniors had gathered. It seemed they were in the midst of discussing something, so when Yang Kai suddenly arrived, the three of them were quite surprised.
Thunder Dragon asked with amazement, “Weren’t you going to the Demon Land? Why did you suddenly return?”
“I’ve already been there and spoken to Zhang Yuan.”
“What was his attitude?”
“He’ll be sending his forces here, I’m here to ask the meaning of three Great Seniors.”
“Zhang Yuan is also sending people?” The only woman among the three called out in surprise.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is Yang Kai, you’ve not met him before, right, Yu’er?”
The enchanting woman Thunder Dragon introduced as Yu’er had a graceful figure and delicate looking waist, with a plump pair of milk white peaks and deep, beautiful eyes, a truly mesmerizing appearance.
She was one of the Monster Race’s three Great Seniors, her original form that of an Ice Jade Python. In terms of strength, she was no worse than Thunder Dragon or Earth Splitting Divine Ox.
The two people greeted one another, and Yu’er soon curled her lips into a tender smile, “I have already heard that Holy Master Yang is a young man with excellent abilities. Today, I see your reputation is well-deserved. En, dashing and handsome too. I wonder if Holy Master Yang would be interested in coming to my territory as a guest for a few days.”
Saying so, her enchanting eyes stared deeply into Yang Kai’s.
“If there is an opportunity one day, I will certainly accept your generous invitation,” Yang Kai grinned.
“Then we have an agreement! I will eagerly anticipate your arrival,” Yu’er said while throwing him a coquettish look.
Thunder Dragon’s face turned black as he shouted, “Hey, flirting so blatantly in front of me, don’t you think that’s a bit inappropriate?”
Thunder Dragon Great Senior’s tone was bitter, and when Yang Kai glanced over at him he and immediately understood that he somewhat dreaded this enchantress, quickly composing himself with a cough and saying, “Let’s get down to business.”
The expressions of the three Great Seniors also became serious.
“Words alone aren’t enough to describe the situation, it would be best if three Seniors see for themselves!” Yang Kai quickly said.
“See for ourselves?” Thunder Dragon’s brows rose slightly, not quite understanding what it was Yang Kai wanted them to see.
“If three Seniors trust me, please lower your Knowledge Sea defences,” Yang Kai said as he gathered a shimmering ball of white light at his fingertips. This ball of light was composed of Yang Kai’s Spiritual Energy and carried the same fluctuations as his Soul; obviously it was a copy of some of his memories.
The three Monster Race Great Seniors exchanged a glance before all nodding.
Yang Kai pointed his finger towards their foreheads and transferred the Spiritual Energy wisp that carried his memories into their Knowledge Seas.
The three Great Senior’s bodies shook slightly and they quickly closed their eyes to carefully examine the information Yang Kai had delivered them.
What Yang Kai transmitted to them was not only everything he saw in the Demon Capital, but also the events he had witnessed in Water Spirit Temple.
After a long time, the three Monster Race Great Seniors slowly opened their eyes, their expression even more dignified than before.
They now deeply understood how difficult the Bone Race was to deal with.
“I didn’t expect that this matter was actually related to Great Demon God himself.” Thunder Dragon muttered to himself.
“On top of that, my Monster Race’s Seniors also fought with those Starry Sky invaders!” Yu’er’s brow furrowed deeply, “Why have I never heard anything about this? With so many of my Monster Race’s Seniors dying in battle, it should have been a glorious event passed down for many generations.”
“Above the Saint Realm is the Saint King Realm? Since ancient times, only Great Demon God has reached such a level?” Earth Splitting Divine Ox called out, “Truly inconceivable!”
“What do you want us to do?” Thunder Dragon looked towards Yang Kai.
“Help me!” Yang Kai said concisely, “According to my observations, the Bone Race doesn’t have a Saint King powerhouse, the strongest of them are only Third-Order Saints, but there are several of them. The biggest difficulty regarding them is their ability to create new clansmen!”
“They may seem incredibly powerful and nigh invincible, but that is not the case. If the Human, Monster, and Demon Races can join forces and rally together all the world’s masters, destroying them shouldn’t be impossible.”
Thunder Dragon nodded, “If we are going to do this, the sooner the better. The longer we wait, the worse the situation will be for us.”
“I think so as well.”
“Old Ox, Yu’er, what do you think?” Thunder Dragon turned his attention to the other two Great Seniors, “This matter affects our entire Monster Race, this King is unable to make a decision all on his own.”
“I’ll follow your lead!” Yu’er gave the decision to Thunder Dragon while Earth Splitting Divine Ox just shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care either way.
Thunder Dragon grinned, “Even that Zhang Yuan plans on getting involved, how could my Monster Race possibly stay out? If the word were to spread to that effect, wouldn’t the world’s common people laugh at our Monster Race’s cowardice? You can count us in!”
Yang Kai’s spirit rose as he nodded repeatedly, “Good, I knew Thunder Dragon Great Senior was an upright man.”
Thunder Dragon shook his head and said, “This is not about me helping you, but about my Monster Race seeking a path to survival! Tong Xuan Realm is not those Bone Race bastards’ site, it’s ours.”
After the three Great Seniors agreed to participate, they immediately dispersed to begin mustering their forces.
The Beast Sea Jungle was not far from Nine Heavens Holy Lands, so once they called up their subordinates, they would soon be able to join up with Yang Kai; at least they would be faster than the Demon Race.
Both the Demon and Monster Race had taken a stand, indicating they would use their full strength to intervene in this matter, causing Yang Kai to feel a bit disappointed that the powerhouses of the Human Race had actually not made their position clear.
Besides the forces which had close ties with Nine Heavens Holy Land or Yang Kai personally, most Human forces were maintaining a wait-and-see attitude.
They had all assumed that the situation was not too serious and that even if this plague spread out, it would not affect them greatly.
The ambiguous attitude of these forces caused Great Elder Xu Hui so much frustration that he couldn’t stop himself from cursing vehemently, but in the end, he was helpless to change the situation.
One day, a pair of men, one old, one young, arrived outside Nine Heavens Holy Land. The old man had a head of messy white hair but exuded a sage-like poise while the youth had extremely pretty features, so much so that many women would secretly be jealous of him.
“Master, we’ve arrived,” The pretty young man looked towards the nine peaks and took a deep breath, “That guy is living quite well now, actually occupying such a big paradise.”
The old man just lightly stroked his beard and smiled, “You don’t need to envy others, we Master and Disciple have freely travelled the world and gained much as well.”
“En, what Master said is true,” The young man nodded respectfully, “That being the case, why did Master suddenly decide to come here?”
The old man chuckled, “I heard that there is an Alchemy Grandmaster here, naturally I wish to greet him.”
“How could there be an Alchemy Grandmaster comparable to Master?” The young man laughed, obviously not taking his Master’s words seriously, his expression suddenly become dignified as he seemingly thought out loud, “Could it be Master does not want the Human Race to embarrass themselves?”
“If you already know, why bother asking?” The old man sighed slightly, “The world’s situation is worrying, but he is young. How many people can he really gather? The Demon Race and Monster Race have already begun to take action while my Human Race actually feigns ignorance and cannot coalesce. This old master has hidden himself for a long time, but now is the time I should appear.”
“I knew that this was Master’s true intentions!” The youth laughed happily, already having understood the old man’s plan.
“Good, there are some disciples over there standing guard, go inform them of our arrival,” The old man waved his hand and the young man quickly stepped forward, arriving in front of the Holy Land disciples and speaking a few words.
The disciple on guard duty listened carefully and quickly said, “Please wait a moment, I will go to inform Great Elder!”
Inside the Pill Room located in the Holy Master Court, Yang Kai was refining pills together with Little Senior Sister and the five Grandmasters when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.
His brow wrinkling, Yang Kai put down what he was working on and quietly left the room.
Outside the door, Xu Hui was waiting.
“What is it?” Yang Kai asked.
“There is a guest outside the nine peaks requesting to meet Holy Master.”
“Who is its?”
“According to the disciple’s report, the one who asked to see Holy Master called himself Di Yao!”
“Di Yao?” Yang Kai’s body shook as he hurriedly asked, “Did he come alone or was he together with an old man?”
Xu Hui was startled, not understanding why Yang Kai suddenly seemed so excited but quickly replying, “He really is accompanied by an old man.”
Before Xu Hui could even finish speaking, Yang Kai had rushed out towards the entrance to the nine peaks.
Xu Hui scratched his head in confusion.
He had never seen Yang Kai so urgently leave to welcome any guest; with Nine Heavens Holy Land’s current status, very few guests were even qualified to be received personally by the Holy Master.
Just what kind of identity did this Di Yao possess that let the Holy Master hold him in such high regard?
As he was wondering about this, Yang Kai actually rushed back again.
Xu Hui was stunned and called out, “Holy Master, you…”
Once again, before he could finish his words, Yang Kai rushed past him and dove into the Pill Room. A moment later, the angry shouts of the five Grandmasters rang out, “Boy, wasting my furnace’s pill, if you don’t give me a reasonable explanation, I must go all out with you!”
“My pill was also ruined! It’s such a waste of these precious Saint Grade herbs!”
“Heavens, what are you doing kid? Squandering the gifts of Heaven!”
“Stop trying to pull me, I must remain here to perform Alchemy, I refuse to leave!”
“See someone? This old master refuses!”
“En en, what person is possibly more important than our Alchemy?”
“Just try saying that again, what qualifications does this person have to make us old masters go out to greet him? I refuse, tell him to go away!”
The five Grandmasters shouted chaotically, obviously very discontented that Yang Kai had interrupted their Alchemy.
Xu Hui then vaguely heard Yang Kai whisper something.
Suddenly, the five Grandmaster stopped shouting, falling completely silent as if they had all become mutes.
Xu Hui then heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming from the room.
Immediately, the five Grandmasters rushed out and dashed down the hall, each of them wearing a frantic look as they did their best to pull away from the others.
Even the rotund Chang Bao refused to fall behind, his roll of fat undulating fiercely as he ran faster than a rabbit, actually relying on his immense figure to knock the other Grandmasters out of his way and take the lead.
Xu Hui stared dumbfounded at this scene.
When had he ever seen these world famous Grandmasters so completely lose their composure before?
“Several Grandmasters, please wait a moment!” Xu Hui only had time to shout out briefly before the five people disappeared.
Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang also hurriedly flew past him.
“What is going on?” Xu Hui muttered out loud as he was lost in confusion.
Outside the nine peaks, when Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang arrived, they saw the five Grandmasters gathered around a white-haired old man. The Grandmasters’ faces were all filled with looks of worship as they cautiously and haltingly spoke to this old man.
Chang Bao wiped the sweat from his forehead while wearing a huge smile. It seems he had received some praise from the old man causing his face to blush brightly with excitement.
“Brother Yang!” The youth standing next to the old man called out to greet Yang Kai.
“Brother Di!” Yang Kai warmly returned the greetings, “It has been many years.”
“Indeed, the events of Floating Cloud City were nearly ten years ago. Oh…” Di Yao was saying when he suddenly caught sight of Xia Ning Chang and exclaimed, “Aren’t you the girl from that time. Why are you here?”
“This is my Senior Sister, Xia Ning Chang!”
“Senior Sister…” Di Yao’s expression froze up but quickly remembered, “So you finally found her? Congratulations!”
“Many thanks, Brother Di,” Yang Kai smiled before walking over to the old man and respectfully saluting, “Junior Yang Kai, greets Old Man Li!”
Xia Ning Chang also performed an elegant greeting.
“Little Friend Yang does not need to be so polite,” Old Man Li smiled and nodded, “This old master has arrived unannounced, I hope Little Friend Yang won’t take offence?”
“Old Man Li must be joking, Old Man Li patronizing my Holy Land with Brother Di is this Junior’s honour, how could I possibly take offence? Please come inside!” Yang Kai opened the way and gesturing towards the nine peaks.
Old Man Li smiled and nodded, and while being escorted by the five Grandmasters, strolled into Nine Heavens Holy Land.
The disciples on guard duty who saw this scene almost had their eyes pop out of their sockets, wondering just what kind of status this old and young pair possessed that garnered such respect from the five Grandmasters and their Holy Master.
Word that The Old Man of Heaven’s Keep, Li Rui, had come to Nine Heavens Holy Land spread like wildfire through the nine peaks!
From all over the nine peaks, many disciples put down whatever they were doing and ran over to the reception hall, filled with curiosity, hoping to catch a glimpse of this world famous Grandmaster.
The source of all this was because Xu Hui had accidentally shouted Old Man Li’s name.
When Yang Kai and the five Grandmasters escorted Old Man Li and Di Yao into Nine Heavens Holy Land, Xu Hui quickly inquired about their identities; after all, he was the Holy Land’s Great Elder and could not mistreat any distinguished guests.
After learning that this old man was actually The Old Man of Heaven’s Keep, Xu Hui couldn’t stop himself from calling out in shock, only then understanding why Yang Kai would rush out so eagerly to meet him, and why the five Grandmasters behaved like obedient disciples in front of this old man.
In this world, only Old Man Li had such qualifications, and only he could command such respect from these five Grandmasters.
The result of Xu Hui’s gaff though was news had rapidly spread out.
A few thousand of the Holy Land’s disciples had soon formed an almost watertight crowd around the reception hall.
The world never lacked for supreme talents. Thousands of years ago, the Demon Race had produced Great Demon God, the greatest master in history, but today, Old Man Li of the Human Race had risen to the top of the world.
The Human, Demon, and Monster Races all opposed one another, and it was not an exaggeration to say hostilities between the three races had never ceased, but if there was anyone in the entire world who each of these three races would receive with courtesy, besides The Old Man of Heaven’s Keep, there was no other.
Even Demon Commander Zhang Yuan and the three Monster Race Great Seniors wouldn’t dare act disrespectful in front of Old Man Li.
Unfortunately, Old Man Li was a hidden dragon who showed his tail but never his face. There were very few people who even knew his true appearance, and no one had heard anything about him for many years. Back in Floating Cloud City, Old Man Li had also quietly arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion in order to not alarm too many people.
There were many rumors that he had actually passed away long ago, making the common people sigh
But unexpectedly, he had taken the initiative to come to Nine Heavens Holy Land today.
“Have you all looked enough? Don’t you have anything better to do? If you keep standing there staring I’ll dig out all or your eyes!” Xu Hui coldly snorted as he shouted to the crowd.
The thousands of disciples were all shocked out of their daze and quickly made like frightened birds and beasts
Inside the hall, Yang Kai apologized, “I’ve let Old Man Li see something disgraceful, don’t worry, I will order these disciples restrain themselves.”
“No need, no need,” Old Man Li waved his hand to indicate he didn’t mind, “Normally, I try to avoid letting others know about my whereabouts, but this time… I hope that as many as possible know I am here.”
“Hm, why would that be?” Inside the hall, the Holy Land’s Elder and the five Alchemy Grandmasters stared at Old Man Li in confusion.
Old Man Li light expression suddenly became serious as he asked, “Recently, this old man has heard some disturbing news, and that this news actually spread from here, yes?”
“En.”
“Then those rumours…”
“They’re true!” Yang Kai replied solemnly
“Sure enough,” Old Man Li sighed and said, “This old man also heard that Zhang Yuan and the three Monster Race Great Seniors have all begun to act, but most of the major Human forces have chosen to take a wait-and-see approach.”
“En,” Yang Kai expression sank, “Hearing rumours and seeing with one’s own eyes are two very different things. They also don’t know some ancient secrets like Zhang Yuan and the Monster Race’s Great Seniors, so them having doubts isn’t strange.”
After a pause, Yang Kai added, “But not everyone has chosen to remain idle, Soaring Heaven Sect, Dragon Phoenix Palace, Twin Spirit Pavilion, and Bold Independent Union have all sent word that their masters will soon arrive.”
“With only the Sects which had close ties to Little Friend Yang’s, how many masters will you be able to gather? I’m afraid that when the Demon and Monster Race arrive, we will become laughing stalks. In today’s world, our Human Race occupies the strongest position and this matter has actually occurred inside our territory, yet only the Demon and Monster Race are willing to contribute their full strength to resolving this issue, how improper of us!”
“Unfortunately that is just how things are, I have no way to compel these forces to act!” Yang Kai said helplessly.
“Does Little Friend Yang know which force has the greatest amount of influence in this world?” Old Man Li suddenly smiled and asked.
“Which force has the greatest influence?” Yang Kai was surprised by this question but quickly thought it over, “My Nine Heavens Holy Land’s name is quite loud right now and can be considered one of the world’s top forces. Soaring Heaven Sect is also quite good but I don’t believe there is a great difference between these two and other top forces.”
“En, there are many cultivation paradises and powerful forces throughout the world, there are also many top masters who have not appeared for many years, whether they’re even alive or not uncertain,” He Feng added.
“Old Man Li, which of these forces do you believe to be the most influential?” Du Wan asked curiously.
Old Man Li chuckled and didn’t answer directly, instead commenting lightly, “Little Friend Yang, the rise of your Nine Heavens Holy Land, this old man has heard much about. It is said that the appearance of a mysterious Alchemy Grandmaster has allowed Nine Heavens Holy Land to reach a height which surpasses even its peak former glory.”
“That’s right!” Yang Kai nodded, his eyes suddenly brightening, somewhat understanding which force Old Man Li was referring to.
“A single profound Alchemy Grandmaster caused many cultivators to travel from far and wide to seek Alchemy services, what would happen if all the world’s Alchemists were to come here?”
“The Alchemist Guild!” Yang Kai shouted.
Old Man Li smiled and nodded, “If you can convince the Alchemist Guild to act, I believe the world’s great forces and experts would all move.”
“Has Old Man Li come here today for this reason?” Yang Kai looked towards him excitedly.
“Good, since becoming famous, this old man has secluded himself away and not intervened in worldly matters. For the past thousand years I have not done anything worthy of note for this world yet countless people revere and respect me, causing my heart to feel unsettled. Now that there is an opportunity for my influence to make a difference, this old man will naturally not let it off. En, although this old man was not born handsome, I believe I’ll be able to attract at least a few people’s attention,” Old Man Li smiled as he explained.
“I’ll go now to the Alchemist General’s headquarters and negotiate with them to take a stand!” Hong Fang hurriedly stood up.
“There’s no need for that, Master has already sent word to the Alchemist Guild about this matter before coming here. En, while he was at it, he also contacted many of his old friends!” Di Yao smiled and said confidently, “It shouldn’t be long before many people start arriving here.”
Inside the hall, the looks of everyone’s face filled with happiness and excitement.
Regardless of whether these people do so voluntarily or not, as long as they come, the Three Clans could collaborate to solve the problem of the Bone Race as soon as possible.
“Many thanks, Old Man Li!” Yang Kai said seriously.
“It is this old man who should be thanking Little Friend Yang on behalf of the world’s common people. It was Little Friend Yang who rushed about to rally the Three Clans, the dedication and care you hold for this world’s people is so great that this old man must admit his inferiority,” Old Man Li looked towards Yang Kai approvingly.
Yang Kai hesitated for a moment before saying, “Old Man Li misunderstands; I did not run around gathering the Three Clan and sending messengers to all the major forces out of some sense of righteousness, nor because I wanted to save this world.”
“Oh? Then why is Little Friend Yang acting so fervently, according to what this old man has heard, it was you who personally convinced the Demon and Monster Race to stand with you.”
“En, because I want to resolve the Bone Race issue as soon as possible so I can handle a personal matter. If I do not first solve the Bone Race, they will become an unwanted distraction,” Yang Kai replied sincerely.
Old Man Li stared at him deeply for a moment but did not ask him what this personal matter he wanted to deal with was, instead just letting out a chuckle, “No matter what your objective is, what you’ve done is a great meritorious deed, later generations who read tales of this day will no doubt see Little Friend Yang and Nine Heavens Holy Land’s names.”
Yang Kai could only let out a wry laugh.
Ten days later, Nine Heavens Holy Land had not yet seen the appearance of any Human Race master, but several Saint Grade Alchemists from the Alchemist Guild had actually arrived.
These Alchemists usually secluded themselves in their homes, and with their honoured status, it was always others who came to seek them out, but today, as if they had some prior agreement to, they all poured into Nine Heavens Holy Land.
Because The Old Man of Heaven’s Keep was here!
Each of them came here filled with anticipation, excitement and admiration.
Over the next few days, Saint Grade Alchemist from around the world arrived.
After learning the news, they had raced over even faster than the Human Race’s powerhouses.
In just ten days, the number of Saint Grade Alchemists inside Nine Heavens Holy Land had nearly reached thirty; almost ninety percent of the entire world’s Saint Grade Alchemists!
As for the remaining ten percent, they were all on their way.
Along with these Saint Grade Alchemists, a number of Human Race masters from various forces also began to arrive.
There were even several Third Order Saints!
Each of these masters were around a thousand years old and were old acquaintances with Old Man Li. After hearing his call, they had all rushed over without hesitation.
These top masters had also brought their own subordinates and disciples along with them to the nine peaks.
Soaring Heaven Sect’s Chu Ling Xiao had come together with Yang Kai’s four Martial Seniors too.
Chu Ling Xiao also seemed to know all of these old folks and each of them spent their time greeting and talking with one another
All of them praised Chu Ling Xiao about how outstanding a youth Yang Kai was.
As time passed, more and more Human Race masters assembled in the nine peaks, none of them possessing a cultivation lower than the Transcendent Realm.
The Alchemist Guild had announced that this time, if any great force did not give them face, the Alchemist Guild would act in kind, not only denying them Alchemy services, but even refusing to sell them spirit grasses and spirit medicines in the future.
This announcement had shaken the world and every force, big and small, did not hesitate to turn out in full strength.
They might be able to offend others, but none dared offend the entire world’s Alchemist, especially with The Old Man of Heaven’s Keep actually stepping forward to take the lead; none could withstand universal condemnation.
Once a cultivator no longer had access to pills, their days would be miserable.
Moreover, it was not like there were no benefits to showing up, the Alchemist Guild had pledged that after this matter was settled, all their Alchemists would provide Alchemy services for free for the next three years, including those Saint Grade Alchemist who would rarely personally take action!
No one would easily let go of such a huge advantage.
The entire nine peaks became very lively in a short period of time, with various masters emerging one after another.
With the introductions of Old Man Li and Chu Ling Xiao, Yang Kai also became acquainted with many of these top masters.
Time flew by and one month later, from the horizon, a terrifying Demonic Qi emerged, while at the same time, from a different direction, the sky filled with potent Monster Qi.
The masters inside the nine peaks all looked towards the sky, their expression becoming dignified.
On the other hand, Yang Kai’s eyes brightened as he muttered, “The masters from the Demon and Monster Races have arrived!”
The three Monster Race Great Seniors had already finished their preparations a month ago, but seeing how the Demon Race had not yet come, they decided to wait a day longer till they felt the approaching auras of the Demon Race.
Inside the nine peaks, the Human Race masters all turned their attention to the approaching Demon and Monster Race forces, many people showing looks of disgust and revulsion.
Facing those of different races, they naturally felt distrust. The grudges and hatred between the three races could not be resolved overnight.
A short time later, Zhang Yuan led the four Demon Generals and a large number of Demon Race Saints into the nine peaks, the three Monster Race Great Seniors also arriving at the same time.
Letting out a clear and resonant laugh, Zhang Yuan faintly swept his eyes over the crowd and calmly said, “There’s certainly a lot of people gathered here. If I had known so many would come, this Senior would not have bothered running all the way over from the Demon Land and just let you handle this yourselves. This Senior had actually thought most of you humans wouldn’t even show up.”
Thunder Dragon nodded in agreement, “En, this King also thought so.”
The way they addressed themselves as ‘This Senior’ and ‘This King’ caused many of the Human Race masters to glare as bitterness filled their hearts, their expressions becoming ugly.
“Do you two want to say anything else?” Yang Kai crossed the crowd and stared up at them, “Do you want to provoke hatred amongst our three clans even at this juncture? After coming this far, do you really want to just turn around and go home?”
Zhang Yuan chuckled as a look of vigilance appeared on his face, “This Senior had no such intentions, but I do need a guarantee from your Human Race’s powerhouses that after we finish dealing with the Bone Race, they won’t take advantage of the opportunity to attack my Demon Race. You Humans are famous for your insidious and deceitful nature. If you cannot provide such assurances, this Senior will immediately leave!”
“My Monster Race also needs such a guarantee!” Thunder Dragon concurred.
Vaguely, the Demon and Monster Race consolidated into one camp.
The Demon and Monster Race leaders had not anticipated that the Human Race would turn out in such force, they had thought that the various human forces would show their usual disunity and if even a dozen or so forces had assembled, it would have been quite good already, but upon arriving at the nine peaks, they discovered that almost every Human Race master had actually made an appearance.
There were even five or six Third Order Saint Realm masters here, and that was not counting Yang Kai’s people.
Once the Bone Race crisis had been settled, if these people decided to act against them, Zhang Yuan and Thunder Dragon weren’t sure the forces they had brought would be able to safely retreat.
At this moment, the two leaders felt an urge to withdraw and were secretly regretting agreeing to help Yang Kai so easily.
“If I promise you this, would you believe it?” Yang Kai looked up at them faintly.
Zhang Yuan and Thunder Dragon both decisively shook their heads. Although Yang Kai’s aptitude and influence were both outstanding, he was only able to directly command the forces of the Nine Heavens Holy Land. There was no way he could control so many other Human Race masters.
From the crowd down below, some of the Human Race masters began calling out, “Aren’t you two acting a bit paranoid? We didn’t have such ideas before. However, now that you mention it, some of us may be having some strange thoughts.”
Saying so, a number of sly grins began appearing.
Zhang Yuan and Thunder Dragon’s expression instantly became cold.
“How about if this old man makes the guarantee?” An elderly yet stable voice spoke out.
Zhang Yuan and Thunder Dragon followed the sound of the voice to its source and were met with the lightly smiling face of an old man who was slowly walking towards them. Upon seeing this man, both Zhang Yuan and Thunder Dragon respectfully cupped their fists, “Greetings, Old Man Li!”
Old Man Li stepped forward calmly and clearly stated, “You two are too polite. En, on behalf of the entire Human Race, this old man can guarantee that after this matter is settled, your two races will be able to withdraw without anyone acting against you. Are the two of you willing to trust this old man?”
Thunder Dragon and Zhang Yuan exchanged a quick glance before they both nodded sincerely.
Thunder Dragon’s expression relaxed as he said, “Among the Human Race, the only ones who I can believe in without question are Old Man Li and Holy Master Yang.”
“I agree,” Zhang Yuan expressed his support.
Old Man Li nodded lightly, “The specific situation I have learned from Little Friend Yang. The threat the recovery of the Bone Race poses must not be underestimated, this catastrophe really requires the cooperation of Human, Demon, and Monster races alike to resist, so this old man hopes that all of us can temporarily abandon the hatred between our races and unite against these Starry Sky invaders!”
“It is as Old Man Li says!”
“Old Man Li is correct!”
“We will do our utmost!”
Among the crowd, many Human Race masters openly expressed their support, none dared refute Old Man Li’s words.
Yang Kai was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. He has been worried that, when Zhang Yuan and Thunder Dragon arrived, conflict with the Human Race masters would erupt. If that were to happen, before they even fought with the Bone Race, their backyard would be on fire, a laughable predicament.
The sudden appearance of Old Man Li had solved this potential crisis though.
At the very least, he had allowed the Three Clans to temporarily unify.
“There is still an issue this Senior needs to clarify,” Zhang Yuan suddenly shouted, “With our three races teaming up, who is going to be in command?”
When these words came out, everyone fell quiet, each of them pondering over who would be the right candidate for this role, many of them soon turning their eyes towards Old Man Li.
Besides Old Man Li, there really was no one else who was respected by all three races.
Old Man Li, however, shook his head and chuckled, “Do you want this old man to stand on the battlefield too? This old man’s bones are brittle from age, going there would be tantamount to seeking death.”
Everyone couldn’t help revealing a look of disappointment, but considering Old Man Li’s situation, no one really dared let him fight with the Bone Race.
If he really suffered misfortune in the coming conflict, no one could afford the responsibility.
Old Man Li caressed his white beard and said solemnly, “This old man cannot go, but I do have a candidate in mind for the role, perhaps everyone can consider it.”
“Who?” Many people suddenly looked towards Old Man Li.
“Why not Little Friend Yang take the lead? This matter was originally coordinated by him. If he had not taken steps to inform the world, I’m afraid all of us would have died in ignorance. On top of that, he knows more about the situation than any of us. What’s most important though, is that this old man has heard Little Friend Yang has no prejudices in his heart. He was able to befriend both the Monster Race and Demon Race while himself being human. I don’t believe there is a more suitable candidate than him.”
Among the gathered Human Race masters, many whispers could be heard, some people began nodding while others shook their heads.
Yang Kai was also stunned and shook his head, “Old Man Li, I’m afraid this is not appropriate. I am not suited to ordering others around, and I am far younger and weaker than most of the Seniors here. How could I be the one commanding them?”
Old Man Li sternly replied, “Don’t belittle yourself so, although your present strength may not be great, having such achievements at your age is more than enough to qualify you as this world’s greatest talent. Besides the Great Demon God thousands of years ago, I am afraid no one can compare to your aptitude. Your achievements will certainly not be inferior to any of the Seniors present today. On top of that, you are the master of Nine Heavens Holy Land. Your status is no lower than anyone’s here.”
“But in the end…” Yang Kai frowned, not wanting to pick up this hot potato.
Old Man Li lifted his hand to interrupt him, “The Three Clans indeed need someone to oversee the whole situation, weigh the pros and cons, and give rational orders. If you don’t accept this role, then the Three Clans will be unable to collaborate effectively.”
Zhang Yuan nodded, “This Senior has no objections!”
Thunder Dragon shrugged his shoulders, “My Monster Race also agrees!”
Compared to anyone else here, they felt more comfortable following Yang Kai; after all, they had no friendship with any of the other Human Race masters, nor had they had any prior dealings with them. The only thing they shared was common hatred, so if they allowed someone else to issue orders, they may very well end up in a disadvantageous situation.
“My Soaring Heaven Sect agrees,” Chu Ling Xiao added his support.
“Little Yang Kai, if you are capable, you should not refuse,” Meng Wu Ya also advised.
With these two speaking, many human masters began pondering.
Whether it was Chu Ling Xiao or Meng Wu Ya, both were top powerhouses of the Human Race, so naturally their words carried weight.
Soon, the expression on the hesitant masters became stern as they discovered that although the Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land was neither old nor strong, his connections were actually broader than anyone else here.
He had a large number of Saint Realm master subordinates, originated from Soaring Heaven Sect, was closely related to the Human Race’s strongest master Meng Wu Ya, and was favoured by Old Man Li. He was even friends with the likes of Zhang Yuan and the Monster Race Great Seniors.
Invisibly, Yang Kai’s position in these peoples’ minds had risen sharply, making them realize that this young man was fully able to command a part of the world.
Bearing this thought in mind, none dared to despise Yang Kai again.
Immediately, everyone expressed their agreement to Old Man Li’s proposal.
Yang Kai’s brow became flat, not only lacking any joy but instead wishing he could find a way to reject.
Everyone’s vision silently gathered on him, waiting for his reply.
Facing this situation, rejection was not an option.
If Yang Kai were to reject, just as Old Man Li said, the combined forces of the Three Clans would be nothing more than loose sand.
After hesitating for a moment, Yang Kai braced himself and nodded, “Then this Junior will not be polite and will instead just ask the many Seniors present to assist me!”
Old Man Li smiled and nodded with satisfaction, “Don’t carry any psychological burden, just act in accordance with your best judgement!”
Yang Kai nodded lightly before sweeping his eyes over the crowd and loudly declaring, “Since everyone had gathered, we should not delay, let’s go!”
“May the fortunes of war be with you!” Old Man Li cupped his fists solemnly.
“We will take advantage of Old Man Li’s auspicious words!” Yang Kai took a deep breath and flew out of the nine peaks, Li Rong and Han Fei following close behind.
Many Human Race masters also pushed their Saint Qi and True Qi and swarmed after him, like a departing flock of birds.
Zhang Yuan and Thunder Dragon looked at each other with a slight grin before they too quickly kept up.
In an instant, the sound of rushing wind resounded across the nine peaks as various colourful rays of light flashed through the air.
In order to increase their speed, many masters had summoned their flight type artifacts.
Carriages, flying swords, boats, all sorts of artifacts of various shapes and sizes appeared, dazzling the crowds down below.
Behind the Human Race masters, the Demon Race’s were wrapped in a thick black cloud, obscuring their figures as they quickly flew forward.
Further behind then, the Monster Race masters followed, some in human form, some in beast form, a number of giant Monster Beasts actually dashing along the ground, their speed in no way inferior to those who were flying, a cloud of dust being kicked up wherever they passed.
Old Man Li stood at the edge of the nine peaks and watched as this gathering of the world’s top masters flew of and disappeared before turning to the Saint Grade Alchemists standing behind him and saying, “We should also handle the matters we are capable of and refine a number of Saint Pills. When they return home, there will no doubt be many in need of healing and restorative pills.”
The sky was dim and the earth was smashed, a scene one would only expect to see at the end of the world.
The masters of the Three Clans flew over a city as their Divine Senses all spread out. Yet, they have not found a single aura down below; chilling their hearts.
This was already the tenth dead city they had encountered.
These towns were originally bustling with people and activity, but now they had become bloodstained ruins that eerily lacked any corpses.
After leaving Nine Heavens Holy Land, the Tong Xuan Realm masters had spent an entire month on the road. A few days ago, as they approached the former boundaries of Water Spirit Temple’s territory, the Three Clans’ masters discovered that the situation was much worse than they originally thought.
The Bone Race had expanded rapidly; a swath of territory ten thousand kilometres in radius with Water Spirit Temple at its centre had turned into a desolate wasteland where not even birds remained.
It was as if this area had become a dead zone where no one lived and nothing grew.
At least several hundred thousand humans had disappeared from this land!
How many Bone Race clansmen could be spawned from these hundreds of thousands of corpses, no one could tell.
A blue light flashed in front of the group of masters and Yang Kai’s figure appeared, his expression extremely solemn.
“How is the situation?” Chu Ling Xiao hurriedly asked.
Because Yang Kai possessed a Star Shuttle, he had gone ahead a few days ago to scout out the situation and had not returned until just now.
“Not good!” Yang Kai shook his head before turning his attention to the group of masters in front of him, “The Bone Race currently has at least three thousand clansmen, all of whom have at least reached the Transcendent Realm.
When this remark came out, everyone’s face paled.
When Yang Kai had first encountered newly revived Bone Race, there had only been a few dozen Saints and a hundred or so Transcendents among them, their total population less than two hundred.
But in just half a year, their number had actually swelled to more than three thousand.
Such astonishing growth was difficult for everyone present to accept.
And these three thousand Bone Race clansmen were all at least Transcendent Realm masters!
Such strength was enough to sweep clean this world.
“We only have a bit more than a thousand people on our side, less than a third their number,” Chu Ling Xiao muttered unconsciously. Even someone as seasoned and experienced as he couldn’t help showing a grim look at this moment.
Zhang Yuan, Thunder Dragon, and all the other top masters were also aware of the seriousness of the problem.
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “While there’s some bad news, there is also some good. Although there are many more of them than before, most of them are still just Transcendents, the number of Saint Realm masters they possess hasn’t increased much. I estimate that from six months ago, there might be twenty more Saints in total on their side while on ours there are over two hundred. In terms of top-level masters, we have a decisive advantage.”
“But the remaining Transcendents are still a big problem,” Meng Wu Ya frowned.
Yang Kai grinned fiercely, “Just leave those Transcendents to me.”
Everyone looked at him with amazement, not knowing where his confidence was coming from.
Even Meng Wu Ya or Chu Ling Xiao wouldn’t dare say they could deal two or three thousand Transcendents, never mind Yang Kai.
“We should be glad that it took us less than half a year to assemble. If we have given the Bone Race six more months, they really would have become unstoppable,” Yang Kai said as a look of fear flashed across his face. The Bone Race’s rate of development was simply too fast.
Right now, with the Three Clans collaborating, they should still be able to extinguish the Bone Race, but if they had given the Bone Race another year, or even half a year to prepare, victory would no longer be guaranteed.
“Their entire population is now occupying Water Spirit Temple’s former headquarters, an island about one thousand kilometres away from here. We’ve all been travelling for so long, so I suggest we rest here for a while and then set off again two days later,” Yang Kai shouted in a clear and resonant voice.
No one raised any objections. They were now just a stone’s throw away from Water Spirit Temple where they would soon be waging a great war, so it was only natural for them to recover to their peak state first. In the coming battle, one moment of carelessness could very well result in death.
For now, many masters flew down to the ground and looked for positions to meditate and restore themselves.
Inside Water Spirit Temple, atop an island covered by a thick cloud of blood mist, one thick enough to even dye the surrounding pristine waters a bloody red.
In the middle of this island lay a huge blood pool, one that churned and tumbled as the fresh blood within it seemingly boiled.
Many pale bones and countless herbs floated inside the blood pool, similar to what Yang Kai had once seen before.
The only difference now though was that this blood pool was much larger than what Yang Kai had last visited, it now occupied almost half of the entire island.
Beside the blood pool, there were Bone Race masters who were pouring their own vital essence into the pool to help spawn new clansmen.
Innumerable hideous faces, like tormented ghost, were bound within the blood pool, wailing as they struggled to break free, filling the entire island with a terrifying air.
Ke Luo sat at the highest point on the island, overlooking the blood pool down below with satisfaction.
Suddenly, a Bone Race clansman hurried over and reported, “Sir, the masters of this world seem to have been attracted to our presence. They are now resting in a place not far from here.”
Ke Luo’s eerie green eyes flashed a ghastly light as he grinned, “They’re finally here, but it’s already too late!”
As he spoke, he rose from the chair he was sitting upon, “The inhabitants of this world are truly ignorant, actually giving my clan half a year to prepare. Without these past six months of buffer time, even if our clan had completely recovered, we wouldn’t have been able to create much stir, but things are different now. Since they dare to come, we must let them pay a suitable price. We’ll grind their bodies and use their remains to create more of our clan!”
His voice was high spirited and filled with confidence, causing the bone Race clansmen who had come to report to fill with excitement, as if he could already see the scene of his clan dominating this world and enslaving the beings who lived here.
“Transmit my orders! All our clansmen are to stop pouring their life essence into the blood pool, and instead have the newly born clansmen absorb as much energy from the blood pool as soon as possible to shape their physiques!”
“Yes!” The Bone Race clansmen immediately withdrew and rushed to the blood pool to spread the word.
After a moment, the Bone Race clansmen who were gathered around the blood pool stopped pouring their essence into it and began silently extracting energy from it instead.
The skeletons which originally did not possess any flesh or blood soon began forming their physiques.
The Bone Race clansmen who already had flesh on their bodies also became stronger after absorbing energy from the blood pool.
The Bone Race was planning to go all out as well.
The frightening blood cloud which had engulfed Water Spirit Temple’s main island gradually disappeared as the energy contained within it was absorbed into the bodies of the Bone Race clansmen, becoming a part of their strength.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed by.
Above the endless sea, the one thousand masters from the Thee Clans flew towards Water Spirit Temple.
Atop the island in front of them, the Bone Race clansmen stood fearlessly, their fiery green eyes filled with a violent and bloodthirsty light as they stared at the Three Clans’ masters like they were delicacies to be devoured.
Many Bone Race clansmen were even licking their lips, appearing completely undaunted.
Ten kilometres from the island, Yang Kai came to a stop, the masters from the Three Clans quickly forming up behind him.
Countless curious eyes stared towards the front.
Of those who had come here, almost none of them had ever encountered a member of the Bone Race before, so this was actually their first time seeing this enemy they had come to face.
On the surface, they appeared like ordinary humans, the only difference being their burning green eye. The coldness of these eyes and the bloodthirsty aura which pulsed from their bodies made everyone who was facing these Bone Race masters uncomfortable.
“Are they the Bone Race?” Many people muttered in surprise.
“They’re not such a big deal after all. I had thought they would have three heads and six arms, but it turns out they only have the normal amount!”
“Ha ha ha! We’ll soon let this trash know the meaning of fear!”
Everyone began shouting, seemingly not putting the Bone Race in their eyes.
“Yang Kai, what’s our plan? You’re in command, we’ll follow your orders,” Zhang Yuan stared forward, his Demonic Qi surging as a dangerous aura began pulsing from his body.
This was the enemy Great Demon God had once fought; now, after thousands of years, he, Demon Commander Zhang Yuan, was doing the same, giving him an indescribable feeling. He had secretly decided to give his all to clean up this mess Great Demon God had left behind so as not to bring shame to his legacy.
“I’m going to make the first move, all of you should wait patiently,” Yang Kai said lightly.
“You what?” Zhang Yuan was stunned and turned his head and looked at him; Thunder Dragon and the many Human Race masters also gave him strange looks.
Slowly shaking his head, Zhang Yuan said, “It’s not that this Senior is looking down on you, but with your strength, if you rush in there alone, you’ll die without a doubt.”
“That’s right, Little Yang Kai. Don’t forget that you are currently the one in command of our Three Clans’ alliance, so it’s not necessary for you to personally take the lead,” Meng Wu Ya said worriedly, “How about letting the old master step forward for you?”
He was afraid Yang Kai might have an accident.
“No need, naturally I have my reasons for going on ahead. Just watch,” Yang Kai smiled confidently.
Saying so, he immediately summoned his Star Shuttle and in a flash of light, soared into the skies above Water Spirit Temple.
Down below, countless Bone Race eyes stared towards him and Ke Luo coldly snorted, called out, “It’s you!”
Obviously he remembered Yang Kai’s appearance. The last time they met, Yang Kai had played him for a fool, causing Ke Luo to decide that in the future, he would track down Yang Kai and torture him brutally.
What he hadn’t expected was for Yang Kai to actually offer himself up.
Immediately overjoyed, Ke Luo waved his hand and shouted, “Capture him, I want the Star Shuttle in his hand!”
At that moment, a Second-Order Saint Realm Bone Race clansman flew up, sending out a burst of malevolent intent that formed itself into a nearly tangible beast that bit towards Yang Kai.
This monster was massive, and of a shape no one from Tong Xuan Realm had ever seen before. The Evil Qi it gave off seemed able to consume the Heavens and Earth.
An azure light flashed and Yang Kai’s Star Shuttle easily avoided this attack as he continued to fly about over Water Spirit Temple, a powerful Spiritual Energy constantly flooding out from him and covering Bone Race clansman on the island.
Ke Luo’s eyes narrowed as he sneered, “A Divine Sense attack?”
As he spoke, he sent out a pulse of Spiritual Energy no less intense than the ones Yang Kai was releasing, shaping it into an invisible sword and piercing it towards Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea.
Yang Kai’s figure suddenly went stiff.
“Hmph, seeking one’s own end! Actually daring to show off a Divine Sense attack in front of me, it seems you have no concept of your own strength,” Ke Luo snickered.
In the sky over Water Spirit Temple, Yang Kai, who was aboard his Star Shuttle, seemed to have frozen up and incapable of moving, a painful look upon his face.
Everyone who saw this scene paled, Earth Splitting Divine Ox quickly shouted, “Not good, that kid’s been incapacitated! We need to save him!”
“It’s too late!” Demon General Meng Ge’s expression turned ugly as he stared at the Bone Race master who was quickly approaching Yang Kai.
Just now, Yang Kai had taken advantage of his strange artifact to avoid being caught by the pursuing Bone Race Saint, but now that he had been locked in place, the Bone Race master was quickly able to close in, a malicious grin on his face as he reached out his hand to grab Yang Kai’s neck.
Everyone had no doubt that in the next breath, Yang Kai head would be separated from his body!
Many people couldn’t bear to witness this cruel sight and quickly turned their heads away, lamenting Yang Kai’s untimely demise.
In the next instant though, a wave of heat burst out and several muffled explosions resounded, dying Water Spirit Temple in a reddish hue. Numerous brilliant flames suddenly appeared and rained down like a meteor shower on the island below, each one containing a terrifying concentration of power that upon contact with the ground, erupting into an inferno that rapidly blackened the earth.
Many of the Bone Race clansmen’s green eyes couldn’t help flashing with fright as they hurriedly leapt up into the sky to avoid this raging hellfire.
What they feared most was fire, for potent flames were one of the few things that could completely kill them.
At the same time, Yang Kai, who was on the brink of being captured after suddenly losing his freedom, grinned mockingly towards the approaching Bone Race master as if he had never been hit before his figure flickered and he returned to his own camp.
“Smelly brat, you nearly scared this old master to death!” Meng Wu Ya was not exaggerating. Although he had great confidence in Yang Kai, the scene just now had been too close to the edge.
“Did you run over just to play a little trick and frighten them?” Zhang Yuan glanced over at Yang Kai, a slight look of dissatisfaction on his face.
“Of course not,” Yang Kai smiled lightly, “Just wait.”
“Wait for what?” Zhang Yuan couldn’t help but frown, not knowing what scheme Yang Kai was up to.
In fact, no one understood Yang Kai’s actions, not even Ke Luo, the leader of the Bone Race.
Although they had been hibernating for thousands of years, before that, they had fought against many of the inhabitants of this world, yet never before had they encountered such a strange young man.
A moment ago, Ke Luo realized that this youth’s Spiritual Energy was actually no weaker than his own! If it weren’t, there would have been no way for him to withdraw safely.
But what Ke Luo was confused about was this youth’s objective. Did he deliberately fly over just to show the unusual strength of his Soul?
After ten breaths of confusion though, a pitiful scream rang out from among the Bone Race camp. This one scream seemed to set off a chain reaction as more and more Bone Race clansmen began wailing.
Each of them seemed to be experiencing unbearable pain, their green eyes flickering as they soon began uncontrollably falling from the sky like raindrops onto the island and water below.
Within moments, five to six hundred of the three thousand Bone Race clansmen had fallen.
“What happened!” Ke Luo changed continence and shouted angrily.
“Sir, we’re not clear!” One of the nearby Bone Race clansmen replied.
The masters from the Three Clans were also staring dumbfounded at this development, unable to understand the situation.
However, they were keenly aware that the Bone Race clansmen who screamed and fell from the sky were all Transcendent Realm’s cultivators, and the less powerful ones at that.
“It was that Divine Sense attack!” A First-Order Saint Realm Bone Race master’s complexion paled as he endured a sharp pain coming from his Knowledge Sea, gritting his teeth as he reported, “His Divine Sense attack was laced with some strange insects that are now eating away at our Souls. These bugs are extremely tiny and difficult to detect, even I’ve been affected!”
“Soul Devouring Insects?” Ke Luo expression changed greatly as he suddenly thought of a certain type of insect which matched his subordinate’s description, “How could this backwater planet have these things?”
What was even more shocking to him though was how this young man could utilize these Soul Devouring Insects and even mix them into his Divine Sense attacks.
As they spoke out loud, their voices could be heard ten kilometres away and the masters from the Three Clans couldn’t help staring towards Yang Kai with amazement, their eyes filled with shock and pleasant surprise.
Naturally, they had heard of Soul Devouring Insects. They were a type of Exotic Ancient Insect that specifically fed on Spiritual Energy. Once someone was infested by these insects, if their Soul wasn’t strong enough to expel them, they would inevitably die.
However, what surprised them was that the Soul Devouring Insects released by Yang Kai seemed to be far more powerful than the rumors, because according to ancient records, as long as one arrived at the Saint Realm, they could easily use their powerful Spiritual Energy to kill these bugs.
But among the Bone Race clansmen, there were clearly Saint Realm masters affected as well; although these masters had not succumbed, they looked extremely uncomfortable. Obviously, they were completely occupied by these Soul Devouring Insects and had temporarily lost their combat capabilities.
“Are those Soul Devouring Insects they’re talking about really yours?” Meng Wu Ya asked curiously.
“En,” Yang Kai nodded, “I raised them with my own Spiritual Energy.”
“Raised them yourself…” Meng Wu Ya’s expression cramped up as he simultaneously admired Yang Kai’s courage and wondered what he was thinking.
“No wonder you said to leave those Transcendent Realm Bone Race to you. It turns out you had such a card,” Thunder Dragon Great Senior suddenly understood, these Soul Devouring Insects were indeed terrible and could even exterminate a race if used recklessly.
Considering this, Thunder Dragon, Zhang Yuan, and many others behind them felt cold sweat drip down their backs.
All of them secretly rejoiced that they had taken the initiative to be on good terms with Yang Kai and not become enemies with him. If they had really become intractable enemies, with just his Soul Devouring Insects alone he would be able to destroy their Demon or Monster Race.
Saints might not have to fear these insects, but how many Saints did each of their two races possess? The overwhelming majority of their clansmen were below the Saint Realm and would be helpless against these Exotic Ancient Insects.
Many Human Race masters also took notice of this and the looks they directed at Yang Kai became subtly different from before, all of them seemingly re-evaluating him and wondering how they could go about building good relationships with Nine Heavens Holy Land in the future.
“The opening of this war has gone well,” Chu Ling Xiao smiled heartily, “Eliminating several hundred of their number at once, it seems they are doomed to die here today.”
“If they have any intelligence at all, they won’t just sit there waiting to die!” Yang Kai knit his brow as he stared forward. Although he had successfully launched a pre-emptive attack on the Bone Race, if the situation turned into a melee, his Soul Devouring Insects would no longer be able to play such a big role.
These little insects only followed their instincts to devour Spiritual Energy, in a melee they were very likely to accidentally injure the masters from the Three Clans as well.
Yang Kai was now hoping the Bone Race would continue to remain in a state of confusion. Once enough time had passed, the Soul Devouring Insects would be able to kill all the Bone Race clansmen below the Saint Realm!
At the time, with less than a hundred Bone Race Saints left, it would a simply task for the forces of the Three Clans to clean them up.
In less than thirty breaths, the five or six hundred Bone Race clansmen that had fallen into the sea or onto the island down below had all died, their green eyes losing their former light and instead filling with dullness.
Even the strange Bone Race cultivators would die if their Souls were destroyed!
Seeing so many of his clansmen die like this, Ke Luo green eyes seemed to become red with anger, and in his fury, he roared towards the sky, releasing a thick blood fog from his body that washed over the island.
This blood fog not only contained his potent physical strength, but also Ke Luo’s tyrannical Spiritual Energy.
In an instant, Yang Kai felt the Soul Devouring Insects he had been raising for so many years suffer massive losses, causing his expression to ink as he quickly recalled the survivors back.
At this point, there were still more than two thousand Bone Race clansmen remaining, each of them now directing looks of bitter hatred towards him.
A huge suction force suddenly spread from these Bone Race masters.
The bodies of the Bone Race clansmen who had just died quickly shriveled up, their physiques transforming into stream of vital essence that was swallowed up by their living counterparts, enhancing their strength.
Within moments, the five or six hundred dead Bone Race clansmen had been transformed in dust and thoroughly vanished.
Yang Kai was stunned as he couldn’t help muttering, “They can even do this?”
The masters from the Three Clans also wore grim looks.
With this strange ability, the more people who died, whether they were their allies or enemies, the stronger the remaining Bone Race masters would become.
Yang Kai immediately realized this point, as did the others.
Everyone understood that this was going to be a difficult fight.
“They’re advancing!” Meng Wu Ya shouted.
“Meet them head-on!” Yang Kai narrowed his eyes as he shouted, “Remember, ordinary injuries have no effect on them! Even what would normally be mortal wounds are meaningless, the best way to kill them is to tear them apart, crush them to pieces, or burn them into ash!”
Yang Kai had previously explained this information to everyone, but with the battle about to begin, he couldn’t help issuing a reminder.
“I know, I’ll let these walking skeletons experience this Senior’s methods,” Zhang Yuan grinned.
On the opposite side, the two thousand or so Bone Race clansmen were flying over, each of them eerily silent, their expressions fierce and determined, seemingly unafraid of even death.
The masters from the Three Clans didn’t move, but all one thousand of them had begun to condense their strength, ready to strike at any moment.
The ten kilometres between the two groups quickly shrank.
When the Bone Race had crossed half the distance, the Human, Demon, and Monster Race masters finally moved, streams of potent Saint Qi, Demonic Qi, and Monster Qi flying out as all kinds of radiant artifacts were summoned out.
The entire sky was lit up with explosions of light as the world itself seemed to tremble under the fury of this combined attack.
Artifacts of all shapes and sizes flashed as they released one strike after another.
The more than two thousand Bone Race clansmen all simultaneously opened their mouths and let out a terrible howl, sending out an invisible shockwave that caused the sea below them to rise into the sky and blend together with the rancid Blood Qi they were emitting, countering the opening salvo from the Three Clans.
The world shook as the ocean rose up and a hundred Bone Race clansmen at the head of their charge were struck by the combined attack of the Three Clans’ masters and burst into dust, leaving behind not even a trace of their existences.
More Bone Race figures emerged from the tidal wave and charged fearlessly into the Three Clans lineup.
They had blocked the wave of attacks with the help of this wall of seawater and by sacrificing over a hundred of their fellow clansmen.
A great melee was about to begin. As the two thousand Bone Race clansmen rushed over, the Three Clans coalition instantly began to split up to engage the enemy.
The Bone Race also knew that this battle would determine the fate of this world.
If they were defeated here, the enemy would completely exterminate them, not giving them a chance to preserve the last of their clan, like they had done all those thousands of years ago. But if they were to win, they would be able to enslave this world without the slightest opposition.
As such, Ke Luo had gone all out, investing the strength of his entire clan and disregarding any kind of losses they suffered in pursuit of victory.
Howls and pitiful screams echoed through the air as cultivators from both sides perished, crimson flowers blossoming across the sky and sea.
The Bone Race had the absolute advantage in terms of numbers; even after Yang Kai had used his Soul Devouring Insects to launch a surprise attack, the Bone Race was still twice as numerous as the Three Clans masters.
On top of that, they didn’t fear injuries. Even if their hearts or heads were pierced through, they would quickly be able to restore themselves. As long as their skeleton remained undamaged, they would not die!
However, they had no artifacts!
Perhaps thousands of years ago, when they first set foot on Tong Xuan Realm, they had their own artifacts, but after thousands of years unable to nourish them, all their artifacts had long decayed and been destroyed.
Right now, they could only fight using their personal strength.
The masters from the Three Clans were different, each of them possessing a few good offensive and defensive artifacts which they did not hesitate to summon.
The Bone Race also possessed far fewer Saint Realm masters than the Human, Demon, and Monster Races.
Each side had its own advantages and disadvantages, so when this battle to determine the future course of Tong Xuan Realm broke out, it almost immediately fell into a stalemate.
The Bone Race’s clansmen were quickly being killed, each of them being smashed to pieces or burnt to ashes, their pitiful screams constantly ringing through the air.
The Three Clans also suffered losses, but compared to the Bone Race, the number of people who fell was undoubtedly less.
The Human, Demon, and Monster Race masters all respectively revealed their own Divine Abilities, display a shocking array of astonishing methods.
A thick black cloud covered the sky, resembling the curtain of night.
The brilliant rays of the sun were unable to penetrate this cloud, blanketing the entire sea in darkness.
The atmosphere was filled with a gloomy chill as this black cloud descended, bringing with it a pressure akin to a falling mountain, weighing down hundreds of Bone Race clansmen, severely hindering their movements.
Beneath this cloud, Zhang Yuan led many Demon Race masters in a grand formation to launch a devastating attack.
A giant meteor of compressed dark energy rained down from the black cloud onto the Bone Race cultivators below.
This dark meteor pulsed with terrifying, Heaven-shaking energy.
When the meteor landed among the suppressed Bone Race cultivators, it silently exploded into a wave of pitch-black ripples.
As these ripples of black energy propagated outwards, they swept up all the surrounding Bone Race cultivators.
The sea below sank as a huge gully formed on its surface.
Even the main island of Water Spirit Temple, which was ten kilometres away, could not withstand this series of attacks and was quickly torn apart, collapsing into the sea.
*Kacha…*
Countless Bone Race clansmen were caught up in this dark explosion and shredded, as if they had been slashed apart by thousands of sharp blades.
The Transcendent Realm Bone Race clansmen were unable to bear this kind of violent attack.
Even the Saint Realm Bone Race masters suffered heavy losses under this attack and were nearly crushed by it. If they had not escaped quickly, their fate would have been no different from their Transcendent Realm counterparts.
After experiencing Zhang Yuan’s tyrannical might, the surviving Bone Race masters’ eyes flashed with dread.
The four Demon General followed close behind Zhang Yuan, each of them wearing fierce expressions as they madly pushed their Demonic Qi, soaring straight into the Bone Race cultivators and slaughtering in all directions.
Meng Wu Ya fought alone.
His hands seemed able to grasp the sky itself, his gestures wild and unrestrained as an amazing momentum centred on him constantly whipped about.
No Bone Race master dared to approach him, steering well clear of this frightening aura.
Above Meng Wu Ya’s head, inexplicable energy gathered and gradually condensed into a number of great beasts. These beasts were massive and carried with them an indomitable and ancient aura.
A moment later, these beasts seemed to come alive as their eyes all shot open and an overwhelming aura of destruction erupted from their bodies.
The world shuddered.
There were eight of these beasts in total, some that ran along the ground, others that flew through the sky, and some that even swam in the sea.
These eight beasts possessed real physical essence and were nearly indistinguishable from living Monster Beasts. A moment later, they rushed into the Bone Race cultivators, trampling and smashing them to pieces, swallowing them whole without spitting out even their bones.
Chu Ling Xiao led Cang Yan and the other Soaring Heaven Sect Saints through the battlefield. Accurately targeting the Third Order Saint Realm Bone Race masters, their group of five focusing solely on killing these top enemy powerhouses with the greatest efficiency.
Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon, Earth Splitting Divine Ox, and Ice Jade Python, the three Monster Race Great Seniors, also held nothing back, transforming into the Beast Forms as the led the other Monster Race masters on a wild rampage.
Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon spat out swaths of burning flames; everywhere he went, Bone Race cultivators were reduced to ash. Arcs of lightning as thick as an adult male’s torso also surged around his body, inspiring bolts of lightning from the Heavens above to endlessly fall on the surrounding Bone Race masters, shredding their forms before they could even resist.
Wherever Earth Splitting Divine Ox stepped, massive cracks would appear, and from these cracks an intense vortex of Earth Qi would emerge, drawing in the nearby Bone Race cultivators before grinding them into slag.
Ice Jade Python’s body was covered in beautiful jade white scales that granted physical defence so strong that all the Bone Race attacks that landed on her only managed to produce some small sparks without causing any damage.
Whenever she whipped her long tail about, any Bone Race clansman unlucky enough to be hit would explode into a bloody fog, their bones shattering to pieces.
Among the Ancient Demon Clan, Li Rong’s figure flickered about lightly, her movements elegant and graceful, her jade white hands reaping the lives of one Bone Race master after another in a seemingly relaxed fashion.
Han Fei wrapped herself in a frigid aura as she shuttled across the battlefield. Everywhere she went turned into a frozen tundra where snow fell from the sky. Gorgeous ice flowers blossomed on the chests of Bone Race masters she struck, freezing them into ice sculptures that soon shattered into particles of light.
None of the masters from the Human, Demon, and Monster Races concealed their strength, each of them constantly unleashing their strongest Divine Abilities, going all out to destroy the enemy before them.
They paid no attention to their own side’s losses, instead just striving to extinguish these Starry Sky invaders as quickly as possible.
They had seemingly been infected by Yang Kai’s boldness after witnessing him single-handedly charging into the enemy’s ranks.
Yang Kai was only a Third-Order Transcendent, but he had still flown straight into the three thousand Bone Race masters all alone and killed hundreds of them in an instant.
None of these masters were willing to show any weakness here.
Before leaving, Yang Kai had been appointed by the Three Clans as their commander, but he was not one to sit back and issue orders.
Rather than using words, he had chosen to inspire the spirits of the Three Clans through his actions instead.
He had to let them temporarily abandon the boundaries between their races and work together to carve out a future for all of them in this world.
Everyone was fighting bravely, and Yang Kai was no exception.
Unfortunately, as a Third Order Transcendent, in this tangled melee, the role he could play was too small. Every one of the Bone Race cultivators was at least a Transcendent and quite difficult to kill, even making full use of his Nine Heavens Divine Skills, Yang Kai had only managed to kill ten more enemies since the battle broke out.
A tinge of annoyance welled up in his heart and Yang Kai quickly began condensing the burning hot True Qi inside his body.
The Golden Dragon tattoo on his back which none around him could see suddenly came to life and began swimming across his skin.
The next moment, a dazzling golden light erupted from the Golden Dragon tattoo pattern, blinding everyone nearby.
An immense and majestic aura erupted.
A mighty dragon roar resounded through the sky, piercing the Heavens like an unstoppable sword and echoing across the world.
A huge golden dragon suddenly appeared at a certain spot on the battlefield. This Golden Dragon shone like the sun, the blazing hot energy pulsing from its body scalding all the Bone Race cultivators near it.
In the blink of an eye, four or five Transcendent Realm Bone Race cultivators were burned to ashes.
“The Dragon Emperor’s power!” Dragon Phoenix Palace’s Palace Master Chen Zhou gasped as he saw this Golden Dragon emerge and then begin to wantonly slaughter the Bone Race cultivators around it, shouting out excitedly, “My Dragon Phoenix Palace’s Dragon Emperor has once again reappeared in this world!”
Even after several years had passed, Chen Zhou still distinctly remembered this familiar scene. On that day, when Frozen Nether Cave Heaven had invaded Dragon Phoenix Palace, and the Sect was on the verge of collapsing, the Dragon Emperor had appeared and swiftly turned the tide of the battle, saving Dragon Phoenix Palace.
Today, on this battlefield against these Starry Sky invaders, the Dragon Emperor has once again appeared.
“Xiao Ling!” After recovering from his excitement, Chen Zhou called out angrily.
“Palace Master!” Elder Xiao Ling, who was fighting nearby Chen Zhou, rushed over.
“Did Sun Yu come?” Chen Zhou asked urgently.
“No, Sir Dragon Emperor’s strength was insufficient and did not participate in this matter.”
“Then what is that all about?” Chen Zhou stared blankly at the huge Golden Dragon.
Sun Yu was the Dragon Emperor of Dragon Phoenix Palace. If he wasn’t here though, how could the Dragon Emperor have appeared?
Chen Zhou’s head was filled with confusion.
“The aura of a True Dragon!”
At the same time, Thunder Dragon Great Senior couldn’t help freezing up and turning towards the Golden Dragon, exclaiming in shock.
He too had assumed the form of a dragon, but compared to this Golden Dragon, his Scarlet Flame Thunder Dragon, whether it was in terms of size or purity of Monster Qi, differed greatly.
This Golden Dragon exuded the purest Monster Race aura, akin to that of a great sovereign.
For a moment, Thunder Dragon Great Senior’s heart was overawed, as if he had never expected a day would come when he could feel such an aura in this world.
Even Earth Splitting Divine Ox and Ice Jade Python wore solemn expressions as they stared towards the Golden Dragon with looks of reverence and yearning.
Many Monster Race masters became stimulated by this sight, transforming into their Beast Forms and releasing thunderous roars as they madly crashed against the Bone Race cultivators.
This True Dragon aura had greatly roused the spirits of the Monster Race.
The melee dragged on into the night, and the entire sea had become a battlefield, the number of Bone Race clansmen rapidly decreasing from originally more than two thousand during the day until only several hundred now, and this number was still falling.
From the original thousand Human, Demon, and Monster Race masters, less than half remained.
All who had fallen on this battlefield had no hope of survival.
Whether they were Transcendents or Saints, in this kind of tangled melee, their individual strength mattered not, only the Third Order Saints could move somewhat unscrupulously throughout the battlefield.
After Yang Kai transformed into a Golden Dragon, it was as if his bloodthirst had been awoken and he madly slaughtered all the Bone Race clansmen around him. Intense burning heat was the Bone Race’s biggest nemesis and the heat which naturally overflowed from the Golden Dragon was enough to melt any Bone Race clansmen below the Saint Realm.
The situation gradually changed from a balanced stalemate to a one-sided slaughter.
As soon as the Three Clans gained the advantage, they pressed it hard until the Bone Race was unable to resist, reducing them to pigs waiting for the slaughter.
However, Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling a sense of discomfort.
For some time now, he had been looking for the leader of the Bone Race, Ke Luo, but ever since the melee began, he had never appeared and no one knew where he had gone.
All of the masters present were busy fighting the enemies in front of them and had no time to pay attention to this oddity.
Yang Kai flew high up into the sky, ignoring all the commotion around him.
Fully releasing his Divine Sense, Yang Kai began searching for Ke Luo’s trail.
This person was the leader of the Bone Race and should be the most powerful among them. If he didn’t die here today, even wiping out the rest of the Bone Race would become meaningless.
As time passed, Yang Kai’s frown deepened.
Ke Luo seemed to no longer be here, as if he had long ago fled. No matter how Yang Kai pushed his Divine Sense, he simply couldn’t feel his aura!
Yang Kai’s heart sank but not believing such a ridiculous possibility, he persisted in his search.
After a cup of tea worth of time, Yang Kai finally found some clues.
All the Bone Race, Human, Demon, and Monster Race masters who died on this battlefield had their flesh and blood transformed into vital essence which then invisibly sank into the ground before gathering towards a certain spot where a formidable aura was concealing itself.
Ke Luo!
Yang Kai dove down without hesitation, his Golden Dragon form transforming into a streak of golden light, like the sun itself was falling from the sky, slamming into the ground in the next instant.
*Hong…*
The earth trembled violently as a wild strength passed through the soil and sank underground.
A cold snorted came out and Ke Luo’s figure smashed out from the ground, his face dyed in an unusual red light as he stood overlooking the crowds down below, his flaming green eyes filled with a contemptuous and self-satisfied light.
An astonishing energy fluctuated around him.
Yang Kai’s eyes shrank as his instincts screamed out in alarm.
He saw that something was wrong!
Just as Ke Luo came to a halt, a black demonic hand emerged from the void and grabbed towards him. This black hand grew bigger and bigger and soon seemed as if it was able to grasp the entire world in its palm.
Naturally, this hand belonged to Demon Commander Zhang Yuan!
Ke Luo seemed to have not realized at all and simply remained hovering mid-air.
“Zhang Yuan, fall back!” Yang Kai quickly shouted.
Unfortunately, he was too late; Zhang Yuan was the Demon Commander, the strongest master in the Demon Land, naturally he held absolute confidence in his own strength, but just as his black hand was about to seize Ke Luo, it was as if it was pierced by something and he hastily withdrew it.
The next moment, Zhang Yuan appeared beside Yang Kai, his expression incredibly solemn as red blood dripped from his right hand and a potent stench of death wrapped around his arm.
In that instant, he had been injured by Ke Luo.
A thick sense of dread flashed across Zhang Yuan’s eyes and he quickly circulated the Demonic Qi in his body to expel the malevolent energy Ke Luo had injected into his arm.
In a flash of light, Li Rong, Meng Wu Ya, Chu Ling Xiao, Thunder Dragon Great Senior appeared.
At this moment, the Saint Realm masters of the Bone Race had almost been completely eliminated and the remaining Transcendent Realm cultivators were fleeing. The Human, Demon, and Monster Masters were in pursuit, vowing to not let a single one escape alive.
Only the top powerhouses remained behind to deal with Ke Luo.
“Saint King Realm?” Meng Wu Ya asked in amazement.
The strength of Zhang Yuan was something he was clearer about than anyone else; after all, he had fought against Zhang Yuan hundreds of years ago. Naturally, he was incomparable to an ordinary Third Order Saint, but Zhang Yuan had still been easily wounded by Ke Luo.
Ke Luo’s strength at this moment seemed to be above everyone else here, and even as he faced the top masters from the Three Clans, he didn’t show any signs of panic.
“He’s not a Saint King yet, but he’s on the verge of breaking through!” Yang Kai said while maintaining his Golden Dragon form.
Ke Luo’s aura was truly earth-shaking, significantly more potent than anyone else present, but he had definitely not reached the Saint King Realm yet because his strength was still fluctuating wildly, a clear sign of imminent breakthrough.
“I must thank you!” Ke Luo looked down at the crowd arrogantly and said in a cold voice, “Thanks to your efforts I was able to obtain this opportunity! If it wasn’t for so many masters dying here, I would never have been able to break through to the Saint King Realm so quickly! Thousands of years ago, you had a powerful Saint King masters on your side who slaughtered my clan’s leaders, but now, I’d like to see what you plan to fight me with!”
With a shout, a great suction force erupted from his body, like an invisible vortex that spun madly.
The vital essence of the countless dead bodies down below flowed towards him at a rate visible to the naked eye.
The rivers of blood and essence continuously poured into Ke Luo’s body, transforming into his own strength, fueling his ever-rising momentum.
Most embarrassing of all was that the majority of this fresh blood came from the corpses of the deceased Human, Demon, and Monster Race masters!
The sky clouded over as Ke Luo breakthrough drew closer!
“This was your objective all along!” Chu Ling Xiao shouted.
The faces of the masters present all became gloomy as they suddenly understood.
This time, when the Three Clans collaborated to attack the Bone Race, the Bone Race had fought back without the slightest fear. The Human, Demon, and Monster Race masters had thought that these Bone Race invaders had simply been overconfident, but it was only now that they realized that Ke Luo didn’t care at all about the lives of his clansmen. The past six months, he had only expanded his clan’s numbers in order to force the Three Clans to confront him.
During this battle, both his clansmen and this world’s masters died in droves!
Ke Luo was aiming at this opportunity to obtain a massive amount of vital essence.
The dead Human, Demon, and Monster Race masters had all at least reached the Transcendent Realm and there was no shortage of fallen Saints.
With such a huge amount of vital energy injected into his body, Ke Luo wouldn’t have any trouble breaking through.
This was all one giant plot; while the Three Clans had thought victory was within their grasp, they were actually being manipulated into doing Ke Luo’s bidding.
“You can exterminate my clansmen to the last! As long as I live, I can spawn as many of them as I want!” Ke Luo seemed to think he had already won, turning his head towards the sky and letting out a victorious laugh.
Everyone’s face instantly darkened as they stared up at the terrifying swirl of World Energy gathering in the sky. Naturally this energy was the makings of the baptism one would receive when they broke through from the Saint Realm to the Saint King Realm; none of the masters here dared test its power.
If they were caught up in it, they may very well be reduced to dust.
“You plan to live on?” Yang Kai dismissed his Golden Dragon form and stared towards Ke Luo coldly, a grin quickly forming on his face, “Wishful thinking!”
Saying so, Yang Kai flipped his hand and summoned an item out from the Black Book space.
It was a dark red stone roughly the size of a fist.
Pouring his True Qi into this stone, it immediately released a brilliant red light as well as an astonishing attractive force, one many times stronger than the one Ke Luo was emitting.
The fresh blood which had been gathering rapidly toward Ke Luo instantly froze, as if it was grasped by a giant invisible hand, and then began flowing faster and faster through the air towards the red stone before being swallowed up by it.
Not a single drop of vital essence flew towards Ke Luo anymore.
The source of energy he was using to break through had been abruptly cut off.
“Blood Essence Stone!” Ke Luo’s green eyes shook violently and he couldn’t help calling out in alarm, a hint of panic flashing across his face, “How could you have a Blood Essence Stone?”
At this moment, he even seemed afraid of this strange stone.
Yang Kai grinned mockingly, “Without any energy to support you, I’d like to see how you break through to the Saint King Realm!”
As if to echo Yang Kai’s words, the gathering World Energy high up in the sky suddenly began to disperse.
Ke Luo raised his head to the sky and upon realizing he had no hope of breaking through, he finally began to panic.
Yang Kai held tightly to the Blood Essence Stone, constantly pouring his True Qi into it, absorbing every last drop of vital essence and fresh blood from the surrounding dozens of kilometre radius, refusing to give Ke Luo a single opportunity.
Sneering deeply, Yang Kai taunted, “What’s wrong, you suddenly seem afraid?”
The eyes of the masters gathered around Yang Kai also brightened as they once again saw hope of wiping out the Bone Race.
All of them were secretly rejoicing; if Yang Kai had not promptly discovered traces of Ke Luo, after he had gathered enough energy, no one would have been able to resist him.
Ke Luo’s eyes flashed as a thick murderous intent burned within them; glaring at Yang Kai, he gnashed his teeth and shouted, “Even if I have not arrived at the Saint King Realm, none of you are my opponent! I’ll kill you first then seize your Blood Essence Stone!”
Saying so, a cold, gloomy Spiritual Energy suddenly burst out from Ke Luo and flew towards Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea, clearly trying to extinguish Yang Kai’s Soul.
Realizing that this was a pure Divine Sense attack, Yang Kai didn’t show the slightest fear and stood his ground.
“Burn!” With a low shout, Yang Kai unleashed his Conflagrated Divine Sense and incinerated Ke Luo’s malevolent Spiritual Energy before it could even get close.
Not pausing for an instant, Ke Luo lifted his hand and palmed towards Yang Kai.
A pale, skeletal had suddenly appeared, giving people the illusion that it was the hand of death itself, causing everyone present to shudder.
This bone hand was massive and seemed to be comprised of the hardest jade, it gave off a strange power and terrifying pressure, its five fingers curling into hooks as it pressed down towards Yang Kai.
The surrounding world seemingly couldn’t withstand this pressure and began to crack and collapse, a huge palm print appearing on the ground.
“In your dreams!” Li Rong shouted as her pretty face was instantly filled with dense Demon Crests, giving her a wild look as a dreadful Demonic Qi overflowed from her tender body and shot like a barrage of arrows towards this giant bone hand.
“Go!” Yang Kai also shouted, summoning his Silver Leaf Grade Top-Rank artifact and transforming it into a silver shield to block the oncoming attack.
The ground below caved in as brilliant light shone; it was as if the entire world was trembling.
The skeletal hand shattered into fragments and before the pieces could hit the ground they disintegrated and disappeared.
Li Rong’s tender body shivered as her face flushed red; in the confrontation with Ke Luo’s just now, she had clearly suffered a slight loss.
At some point during this exchange, the other masters around Yang Kai had disappeared.
Zhang Yuan once again appeared mysterious right beside Ke Luo, his body wrapped in a thick black cloud and a jet black halberd in his hand. This weapon exuded terrifying energy and seemed able to swallow all light in its surrounding.
The long halberd pierced out, as if breaking the shackles of space, and stabbed towards Ke Luo’s chest.
This strike was made silently, but actually contained the full might of Zhang Yuan’s strength!
Until now, the Demon Commander had never displayed his full strength, causing Yang Kai to secretly marvel.
The tip of the halberd was filled with Zhang Yuan’s comprehension of the Martial Dao and Demonic Qi, creating an attack that tore through the world itself.
“Paltry tricks!” Ke Luo seemed to have already detected this attack and coldly snorted, showing neither panic nor anxiety as he summoned a bone shield beside him.
The halberd struck the centre of this bone shield and a shockwave of energy burst forth, forcing Zhang Yuan to retreat a dozen steps while the bone shield itself shattered.
Ke Luo was unscathed, causing Zhang Yuan’s eyes to flash with shock, he had never imagined this Bone Race leader’s strength would be this tyrannical.
His current strength, although not reaching the Saint King Realm, definitely exceeded the limits of this world, forcing Zhang Yuan to unwillingly admit his inferiority.
A cold gale whipped up and a dozen floating skulls suddenly appeared around Ke Luo. These skulls rapidly grew to become big as a houses and riding the swirling wind, rapidly surrounded Zhang Yuan, their eye sockets and mouths spurting out eldritch power as they closed in.
They were trying to swiftly kill Zhang Yuan!
Zhang Yuan didn’t even have time to dodge before he was struck by this mysterious power and a look of pain surfaced on his face. Even given the intrepid strength of his Demon body, he was unable to completely withstand this violent attack.
Not daring to delay, Meng Wu Ya flew in and pushed his Saint Qi to the limit, shielding Zhang Yuan from the next wave of attacks. Without saying a word, Zhang Yuan immediately began cooperating as he wielded his long halberd, sending out waves of black energy towards the giant skulls.
These two rivals who had competed against one another for hundreds of years were unexpectedly capable of perfectly coordinating with one another.
“The Saint King Realm expert from all those years ago only hit me once, leaving me severely wounded, I must see whether his descendants inherited any of his strength!” Ke Luo shouted, waving his hands and sending out a deep green rope from his sleeve. This rope seemed to have a mind of its own and quickly began to inflate, soon becoming even bigger than Yang Kai’s Golden Dragon incarnation.
When it revealed itself, everyone realized it was a powerful artifact.
No one knew how Ke Luo had managed to maintain the power of this artifact over thousands of years.
This artifact soon transformed into an incredibly realistic flying serpent with a pair of wings on its back.
When this flying snake artifact appeared, it gave Yang Kai an immense pressure and he couldn’t help give birth to the illusion that he was being crushed beneath a mountain, his body becoming heavy and difficult to move.
The flying snake danced through the air, sending out mysterious ripples from its body that seemed to contain a magical force that bound everyone present, like they were tied up with ropes.
At this moment, the masters present all felt as if they had been shackled and sunk into a muddy swamp, finding it difficult to move or even circulate their strength.
Chu Ling Xiao flew forward to confront this flying snake artifact, summoning his Demon Sealing Chain and releasing a brilliant golden light from it to block these ripples.
Thunder Dragon Great Senior also rushed up, wantonly releasing the power of flames, thunder, and lightning from his body, cooperating with Chu Ling Xiao to finally hold back the power of this flying snake artifact.
Ke Luo himself had not yet moved, only relying on the dozen skulls and his flying snake artifact to tie down four of Tong Xuan Realm’s top masters.
The four masters had each unleashed their full strength and were still only capable of dealing with the problem in front of them, having no spare ability to deal with Ke Luo himself.
Only Li Rong remained to guard Yang Kai.
Ke Luo turned his eyes towards Yang Kai and smiled coldly, “You should have escaped! You should have run away as far as you could, but since you’ve chosen to remain, you can have the honour of dying by my hand.”
Saying so, he leisurely stepped towards Yang Kai.
As he approached, Li Rong’s expression became heavier and heavier, an inexplicable pressure pressing down on her, making her bones creak, threatening to force her to the ground at any moment.
Yang Kai also noticed that something was wrong and quickly whispered in a low voice, “Devil Transformation!”
With these words, the True Yang Yuan Qi flowing through Yang Kai’s meridians madly retreated to his dantian and was replaced by a rich Demonic Qi. Demon Crests, which could not be seen by the naked eye, flickered before disappearing into his physique, forming a profound and shocking array inside his body.
Yang Kai’s strength of vitality soared and the energy fluctuations coming from his body sharply rose in intensity, become many times stronger than a moment ago.
Ke Luo steps paused briefly as he stared at Yang Kai with some surprise. In the blink of an eye, the young man in front of him who was supposed to only be a Third-Order Transcendent actually began giving off an aura similar to that of a Third Order Saint, a shocking phenomenon.
“Unexpectedly you are still able to summon out this kind of strength, impressive!” Ke Luo gently nodded, maintaining an aloof attitude as he grinned, “But you will still die! Without arriving at the Saint King Realm, no one can rival me!”
Saying so, he gently pushed his palm forward, sending a terrifying invisible strike towards Yang Kai, as if he was planning to crush him to dust.
Yang Kai dragged Li Rong behind him and also sent out palm strike of his own.
A massive palm print that seemed capable of blotting out the sky emerged.
Heaven Covering Hand, the hand that covers the Heavens!
This was the Heaven Covering Hand Yang Kai displayed while in his Devil Transformation state, causing it to be many times more powerful than normal.
*Hong…*
A loud explosion erupted, rattling everyone’s eardrums as shockwaves visible to the naked eye spread out in all directions, sending massive tidal waves racing across the sea down below.
“Hm?” Ke Luo expression changed once more, seemingly not having expected Yang Kai to so easily counter his blow and even remain uninjured.
He was clear just how much power was behind his attack just now, and though the young man in front of him gave off an aura equivalent to a Third-Order Saint, he had only been able to achieve this by borrowing some kind of external force.
In the end, he should still have just been a weak Third Order Transcendent.
But the reality was that this youth had managed to block his attack. The only explanation was that his body could fully utilize this external force without any reservations!
[Just how powerful is his physique?]
Ke Luo’s eyes lit up as he suddenly gained a strong interest in Yang Kai’s physique. He secretly felt that if he could extract all of this youth’s vital essence, his own strength would improve by leaps and bounds.
Yang Kai, on the other hand, didn’t stop moving for an instant, swiftly condensing a number of dark spears above his hand and hurling them out.
Li Rong followed immediately behind this rain of spears, waiting for an opportunity to deliver a critical blow to Ke Luo.
The bone shield once again appeared in front of Ke Luo.
This bone shield seemed to be condensed purely of Ke Luo’s energy, so it could be used over and over again as long as he still had enough strength.
The storm of Heaven Punishing Spears landed on this bone shield, breaking it to pieces once more, but Ke Luo remained unharmed.
Li Rong saw that the situation was unfavourable and rapidly pushed her Demonic Qi to send out two black spikes towards Ke Luo’s eyes as she fell back and returned to Yang Kai’s side, their joint offensive producing no appreciable results.
Ke Luo smiled lightly, “Is this the extent of your ability? If you only have such skill, I’m afraid your luck has run out.”
“You spew too much nonsense!” Yang Kai sneered and said impatiently.
At the same time, he hurriedly sent a Divine Sense Message to Li Rong, “His goal right now is the Blood Essence Stone in my hand. He wants to absorb the Blood Qi inside it to help him achieve a breakthrough. You don’t have to worry about me here, quickly help Treasurer Meng, Zhang Yuan and the others. As long as they can break that snake artifact and those skulls, we can encircle Ke Luo.”
Li Rong was startled and immediately understood what Yang Kai was planning.
Right now, the other four top masters present were completely tied down, leaving only her and Yang Kai to face this Bone Race leader. Obviously with just the two of them there was nothing they could do to Ke Luo, but if the other four could be freed up and all six of them joined forces, even if this Bone Race leader was strong he wouldn’t be able to resist.
After all, he hadn’t yet reached the Saint King Realm!
Li Rong’s pretty face filled with hesitation, “But…”
“No buts, just hurry,” Yang Kai cut her off.
A look of struggle flashed across Li Rong’s beautiful eyes.
Yang Kai was the master of the Ancient Demon Clan, so she naturally wanted to protect him above all else, but she also understood the correctness of Yang Kai’s proposal, causing her to temporarily not know what decision to make.
If any kind of accident happened to Yang Kai…
She almost didn’t dare to imagine it.
But after a moment, her look became firm as she grit her teeth, “Then Master must be careful!”
Saying so, her tender body flickered and flew off towards Zhang Yuan and Meng Wu Ya.
The two men were constantly trying to distance themselves from the dozen strange skulls but were unable to escape, only barely managing to avoid the strange energy which was being released by them as they exchanged blows. However, as they were withdrawing, they had managed to destroy a number of these skulls so their efforts were not totally in vain.
Li Rong had decided to help them first; as long as they were freed up and were able to assist Thunder Dragon and Chu Ling Xiao, the flying snake artifact was would be nothing to fear.
Seeing Li Rong depart, Ke Luo grinned towards Yang Kai, remaining in place, not taking any obvious actions.
He also understood what Yang Kai’s plan was and couldn’t help snickering, “Before they return, I can easily kill you!”
“Go ahead and try,” Yang Kai grinned back, “Let’s see if you can catch up to me!”
Ke Luo slowly shook his head, “Don’t think you can use that Star Shuttle in front of me, that’s useless, I told you as such the last time we met.”
Pausing for a moment he continued, “En, don’t think you can tear space either, I’ve blocked the surrounding area with my Divine Sense. Your cultivation is far lower than mine so you won’t be able to use that Divine Ability of yours. If I had previously known you possessed such a skill I would never have allowed you to escape!”
“I wasn’t planning on tearing space,” Yang Kai smiled meaningfully.
“Then how do you plan on dragging for time?” Ke Luo seemed quite interested in what methods Yang Kai was still hiding and wasn’t in a hurry to act.
“Guess!” Yang Kai’s eyes became cold as the strength of wind burst from his body and tiny arcs of lightning flashed across his form, this wind and thunder quickly condensing on his back to form a pair of semi-transparent wings.
The Wind and Thunder Wings!
Since obtaining his Star Shuttle, Yang Kai had only used this extremely fast flight type artifact to travel long distances.
His Wind and Thunder Wings had been left untouched for quite some time.
However, these wings which had almost transformed into a part of his body still played an irreplaceable role.
As the wind and thunder swirled around him, Yang Kai transformed into a streak of light and flew away.
Yang Kai understood the gap in strength between himself and Ke Luo, so he never had any intention of fighting him head-on, he only had to stall him long enough for Meng Wu Ya, Chu Ling Xiao, Zhang Yuan, and Thunder Dragon to defeat their opponents and return to assist him.
He had also determined that Ke Luo would not let him escape because he had the Blood Essence Stone in his hand, and Ke Luo’s breakthrough to the Saint King Realm depend on him obtaining the massive amount of Blood Qi stored within it.
As long as Ke Luo was still thinking normally, he would never let him escape.
Yang Kai had already seen through Ke Luo’s intentions.
Sure enough, when he quickly flew away, Ke Luo’s eyes shrank, a stunned look appearing on his face as his green glowing eyes stared at Yang Kai’s back, a thick murderous intent welling up from his body.
His figure flickered and he quickly chased after Yang Kai.
His speed was incredible, not in any way inferior to Yang Kai’s even when he was using his Wind and Thunder Wings.
The shackles of space seemed to have no effect on him and every step he took allowed him to cross a thousand meters at once, each pace bringing him ever closer to Yang Kai.
The palpable murderous intent behind him sent cold shivers up Yang Kai’s spine as he continued to flee. Yang Kai tried to tear space, but quickly discovered that the space around him had somehow become viscous and a strange force was solidifying his surroundings, making it impossible to open an entrance to The Void.
Ke Luo should have some understanding of the principles of space, otherwise, even if his cultivation was much higher than Yang Kai’s, it would have been impossible for him to have achieved this. This caused Yang Kai to become even more vigilant.
One chased while the other escaped, a seemingly endless cycle.
Yang Kai purposefully flew in circles, not rushing in any particular direction; he needed to buy enough time for the others to come help him. If he were to run far away, they’d have to catch up, wasting even more time.
The aura of death brushing against his back gave him an enormous sense of pressure.
Yang Kai had never experienced such a difficult battle before. Ke Luo was far stronger than Zhang Yuan, Meng Wu Ya, or any of the other masters present, he was truly the strongest in this world.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
Slicing sounds rang out behind him, and even before the attack arrived, Yang Kai felt as if his body had been sliced apart, the illusion causing his soul to tremble.
Not daring to hesitate, Yang Kai summoned his Silver Leaf artifact and transformed it into a protective shield while simultaneously changing direction, his body twisting like a snake midair.
*Hong Hong Hong…*
The attacks still landed extremely accurately on his back, causing him severe pain. Yang Kai felt warm liquid leak out from the places he had been struck.
The Silver Leaf Saint Grade Top-Rank artifact’s defensive barrier was also instantly broken.
“You can’t run away! Surrender without a fight and I’ll grant you a swift death!” Ke Luo’s voice rang in his ears with haughtiness in his tone as if he had already won.
The next moment, he appeared alongside Yang Kai and sent him a mocking look, extending his finger towards him as a shocking amount of energy gathered at its tip.
Not waiting for him to attack, Yang Kai pushed both his palms forward and used his Beast Soul Skill, sending a roaring White Tiger and bellowing Divine Ox towards Ke Luo, while he himself changed direction again and flew off.
This attack gained Yang Kai a brief moment of time that he used to once again open the distance between Ke Luo and himself.
In his heart Yang Kai was secretly growing anxious, praying emphatically for Meng Wu Ya and the others to quickly finish their fights.
“I want you to die without burial!”
Ke Luo howled fiercely, his expression twisted with anger.
It seemed that because he had been unable to catch Yang Kai even after so long, he had finally become enraged.
A malevolent aura erupted as Ke Luo began using his full strength, obviously refusing to continue playing this game of cat and mouse.
The sky suddenly dimmed as a blinding red light as thick as blood surrounded Ke Luo and he shot out towards Yang Kai.
Yang Kai’s instincts screamed out in warning and he hurriedly summoned his Silver Leaf artifact once again while at the same time condensing several Grand Heavenly Shields to defend himself.
But the great sense of crisis he felt had not abated, as if the strongest defence he had just erected could not play any role.
“Ice Seal!” Suddenly, a tender voice called out and a figure rapidly approached from in front of Yang Kai. Naturally, it was Han Fei.
Han Fei’s expression was indifferent, like an ancient iceberg, her elegant face covered in Demon Crests making her seem even colder than usual.
In her hand was an ice crystal sword that she waved repeatedly, sending out a burst of cold air that frozen the very space behind Yang Kai.
*Kacha…*
The blood-red light froze along with the rest of the world and came to a halt.
Han Fei passed beside Yang Kai and shot forward, apparently intending to resist Ke Luo for him.
Yang Kai hastily grabbed her arm and pulled her away, shouting as he did, “We cannot fight him!”
It was impossible for Han Fei to be Ke Luo’s opponent, the best possible result of her facing him would be severe injuries while the most likely one would be death.
Cracking sounds spread out, and although Han Fei’s attack had indeed blocked Ke Luo, sealing him in a thick layer of ice, this only lasted for the briefest of moments before he broke free.
Ke Lu’s pursuit became even more violent.
“Master!” Han Fei stared behind with amazement and shouted, “Who is this person, how is he so powerful?”
“The Bone Race leader!” Yang Kai released her and urgently asked, “What’s the situation on your side?”
“The Bone Race cultivators that ran away have basically been exterminated and the masters who pursued them are quickly returning!” Han Fei replied swiftly.
Yang Kai’s eyes lit up and he couldn’t help but smile.
At that moment, four figures flew in from the distance and caught sight of Yang Kai and Han Fei escaping from Ke Luo, startling them greatly.
It was the four Demon Generals!
Two more figures followed and soon came up beside the four Demon Generals.
Naturally, they were the other two Monster Race Great Seniors!
The six of them had gone to hunt down the escaping Bone Race cultivators thinking the battle had already been won, but the moment they returned they were actually greeted by this scene.
The six of them stood side by side and stared towards Ke Luo menacingly, gathering their strength and sending a combined world crushing pressure towards Ke Luo.
Ke Luo finally noticed them and abruptly halted his pursuit of Yang Kai, turning a cold stare towards these six newcomers.
A cold snort came out and he slowly closed his eyes, remaining motionless, his whole body sending out a dangerous aura, seemingly summoning something.
A moment later, from the distance, six house-sized skulls flew over.
They were the strange skulls which had been tying down Zhang Yuan and Meng Wu Ya, but of the original dozen, only half remained.
The snake-like artifact also flew back at the same time and disappeared into Ke Luo’s body, causing his brutal aura to grow even stronger.
“Ke Luo, it’s over!” Yang Kai also came to a stop and stood together with Han Fei, staring coldly towards him.
Just as his words fell, more figures appeared beside him; it was Meng Wu Ya and the others who had been pursuing the skulls and flying snake.
Eleven Third Order Saints, a Second Order Saint, and Yang Kai, a total of thirteen people formed this unprecedentedly powerful lineup.
These thirteen people quickly surrounded Ke Luo in a watertight formation, each of them applying the greatest pressure they could to him to prevent any chance of his escape.
“Over?” Ke Luo calmly laughed, “Not necessarily.”
Saying so, he shot a look over towards Yang Kai and said, “Do you think I didn’t know what you were planning? All you wanted was to buy enough time to gather together and oppress me with numbers.”
Yang Kai’s brow wrinkled, a sense of uneasiness rising in his heart.
Ke Luo was too calm, causing Yang Kai to wonder what kind of trick he had left.
“I said, without reaching the Saint King Realm, no one in this world is my opponent, it doesn’t matter how many of you there are!” Ke Luo declared.
“Enough idle boasting, in front of this Senior you’re not qualified to act impudently!” Zhang Yuan said coldly, his expression dim and gloomy.
“If you have some kind of magical means left, please feel free to demonstrate,” Meng Wu Ya stared at him with cold eyes, although his words seemed calm and relaxed, he was silently circulating his Saint Qi rapidly while maintaining the highest level of vigilance.
“As you wish!” Ke Luo laughed, suddenly sitting down cross-legged, his pair of green eyes violently flickering as they sent out blinding pulses of light.
His hands formed a series of unfamiliar seals as a stream of inaudible words left his lips.
The strength of his Blood Qi and vitality rapidly climbed and his skin took on a strange red glow, as if he would begin leaking fresh blood at any moment.
A thin crackling sound suddenly emerged from all over his body, as if his bones had all simultaneously broken while at the same time, cracks spread all across the surface of his skin.
Dark red fresh blood overflowed from these cracks turning him terrifying blood man.
“Be careful!” Chu Ling Xiao shouted hastily.
This must be Ke Luo’s last resort, and from the self-confidence in his voice, this method was definitely powerful. Before they knew the extent of this ability, no one dared to recklessly step forward and attack him.
Everyone wore a dignified expression as all of them secretly felt incredibly nervous.
The blood inside Ke Luo’s body was constantly flowing out, as if he possessed an endless supply, enough to dye the world red.
A suffocating Blood Qi filled the surrounding sky.
Suddenly, Ke Luo wore a treacherous grin and shouted, “Forcing me to demonstrate my Bone Race’s forbidden technique, Blood Pond Flesh Forest, you can all die without regrets!”
As he shouted, his figure suddenly burst open and pieces of flesh flew out, his body collapsing, bones and all.
“Self-destructing?” Everyone was dumbstruck.
None of them had expected that after making such imposing claims, Ke Luo would actually choose to explode his flesh body.
“Wrong, fall back!” Yang Kai suddenly shouted, feeling a great sense of crisis wash over him and hurriedly retreating.
“Too late!” Ke Luo sneered, his grating laughter resounding in everyone’s ears, his scattered flesh, blood, and bones suddenly seeming to come alive and gather together into a great blood sea that swallowed the group of thirteen people whole.
The blood sea was boundless and seemed to envelop the entire world.
In an instant, everyone’s heart sank; wherever their eyes passed, all they could see was red, their surroundings filled with thick blood which greatly hindered their movements.
The blood sea was also filled with a strange force that suppressed the flow of energy through their bodies.
All thirteen of them seemed to have fallen into a huge blood pond which they couldn’t find a way out of.
Instantly, they all summoned their defensive artifacts to shield themselves while searching for an exit.
Ke Luo had disappeared, but the blood sea was filled with his aura.
He seemed to be everywhere!
This was the Bone Race’s forbidden technique, the Blood Pond Flesh Forest.
Inside the thick sea of blood, a number of blood dragons took shape and began circling, each one exuding a dangerous aura. Obviously, these blood dragons were being controlled by Ke Luo who seemed to not be in a hurry to attack, apparently intending to appreciate the struggles of his prey.
Yang Kai stood shoulder to shoulder with Han Fei. Han Fei tried releasing the ice-cold strength within her body but failed to freeze any of the surrounding blood. Her Qi was being strongly suppressed.
Yang Kai took out the Blood Essence Stone and poured his True Qi into it, trying to absorb the fresh blood from this Starry Sky invader.
But he was quickly disappointed.
The Blood Essence Stone didn’t work here, it was completely unable to absorb any of the surrounding blood.
This discovery filled him with bitterness.
He had used the Blood Essence Stone many times before and understood that it could only absorb the blood of the dead, the blood of the living could not be taken.
Even if the person was badly wounded, he still couldn’t suck the blood from their wounds because the living person could circulate their own strength to resist the suction of the Blood Essence Stone.
Ke Luo was not dead, so the Blood Essence Stone had no effect.
On top of that, this whole Blood Pond Flesh Forest was formed from his exploded body. Realizing this, Yang Kai suddenly understood why Ke Luo’s aura seemed to be coming from all around.
“Figured it out?” Ke Luo’s voice sounded next to Yang Kai’s ear and was followed by a burst of wicked laughter, “That’s right, you’re all inside my body. In here, I am in control! If I want you to live, you live, if I want you to die, you die, none can resist!”
As if to prove the validity of his claim, just as his arrogant words fell, a tender scream rang out.
“Yu’er…” Thunder Dragon Great Senior shouted out nervously.
The scream just now came from Ice Jade Python Great Senior. Clearly, she had just been attacked.
“I’m fine!” Yu’er’s voice rang out from a certain direction which Thunder Dragon hurriedly rushed over to, but even tracing the sound to its source, he couldn’t find any trace of Ice Jade Python.
Inside this blood sea, it was impossible to even grasp one’s bearings.
Of the thirteen people, Yang Kai and Han Fei stood together while the other eleven had been separated, each of them cut off from everyone else.
The situation was extremely dire.
Yang Kai’s thoughts turned rapidly as he tried to find a solution to this crisis, but nothing came to mind.
“Your aura is similar to that man from thousands of years. It’s disgusting, so I’ll kill you first!” Ke Luo’s annoyingly calm voice sounded again, sounding as if he really could control whether one lived or died inside this blood sea.
Yang Kai clearly felt a huge amount of energy flow through the Blood Sea and gather towards a particular direction. Immediately after, the sounds of combat rang out.
A short three breaths later, Demon General Ba He’s scream echoed, “Want to kill me? Don’t think you’ll feel any better!”
A dreadful Demonic Qi surged up and the sounds of fighting grew even louder.
A muffled snort sounded and Ba He’s aura rapidly faded. A loud wheeze echoed throughout the blood sea as if Ba He’s heart and lungs had been crushed and he was unable to aspirate clearly.
“Ba He!” Zhang Yuan called out angrily.
“Sir, take revenge for this subordinate!” Ba He roared towards the sky, his voice trembling before a loud burst rang out and his aura completely disappeared.
Faintly, the others could sense the remnants of his Soul disappear into the Blood Sea.
“Ba He died?” The other Demon Generals who were scattered across the blood pool exclaimed, each of their faces filled with amazement.
Of the four Demon Generals, Ba He was the youngest and most junior.
But although his strength was the lowest, he was still a Third-Order Saint Realm master.
However, he had only managed to fight Ke Luo for less than ten breaths of time before perishing. Just how shocking was this blood pool ability Ke Luo displayed?
Meng Ge, Gou Qiong, and Xue Li all dashed back and forth, fearing that it would be their turn next, each of them shuttling through the blood sea looking for Zhang Yuan’s figure, hoping to find some kind of shelter.
At the moment Ba He died, Yang Kai madly poured his True Qi into the Blood Essence Stone.
A huge attractive force came out and from a certain spot inside the blood sea, a mass of Blood Qi flew over and disappeared into the Blood Essence Stone.
Naturally, this was Ba He’s Blood Qi!
The Blood Essence Stone was finally able to play a certain role, at least keeping Ke Luo from immediately becoming stronger.
“Hmph, I’ll deal with you soon enough!” Ke Luo’s cold snort rang in Yang Kai’s ears. It seemed Ke Luo was not in a hurry to take Yang Kai’s life. Yang Kai was the weakest one inside this blood sea, so Ke Luo felt it would be easy to kill him at any point.
“Sir,” Gou Qiong’s voice rang out from a certain location, a thick sense of joy contained within it.
“What is it,” Zhang Yuan’s voice responded from a different position though.
Gou Qiong gawked before he let out a cry, “You…”
He seemed to have seen something inconceivable, his Demonic Qi bursting out in the next moment as he shouted, “Inside this blood sea, he can change his appearance into anyone else, everyone be careful!”
Everyone’s faces paled even further.
Only then did they comprehend why Gou Qiong’s voice had been mixed with excitement a moment ago. Obviously, he thought he had found Demon Commander Zhang Yuan, but it had actually just been a fake that Ke Luo had formed from the energy within the blood sea.
Catching Gou Qiong off guard, Ke Luo had launched a sneak attack.
“Gou Qiong!” Xue Li shouted, but she didn’t receive any response.
The Blood Essence Stone in Yang Kai’s hand once again drew in a huge amount of Blood Qi, clearly illustrating Gou Qiong’s fate.
“Gou Qiong!” Meng Ge also called out.
Although the four Demon Generals were closer to enemies than friend, with two of their companions falling in such rapid succession, Meng Ge and Xue Li’s mood became very grim, and they couldn’t help giving birth to a sense of grief.
Somewhere in the blood sea, Zhang Yuan’s complexion became incredibly gloomy as he gnashed his teeth and exclaimed, “I’ll make you pay, this Senior swears he will make you pay for this!”
“You don’t have the skill!” Ke Luo snorted and ridiculed, “If that powerhouse from your race was still alive, my clan would not have dared reveal itself, but his aura has disappeared and he has clearly fallen. Now, in this world, none can resist me; rest assured, after I kill you, I will use your Blood Essence and bones to create a clansmen with your appearance so you can live on as one of us.”
Ke Luo clamoured wildly; after displaying the Bone Race’s forbidden technique, he felt like he had complete control over the situation.
“You’ve constantly been getting in my way. Evidently, I should kill you next!” Ke Luo’s voice once again sounded in Yang Kai’s ear. He had already killed two people but failed to obtain any Blood Qi from them, all of it having been sucked up by the Blood Essence Stone in Yang Kai’s hands. This annoyed Ke Luo to no end.
After killing two Demon Generals to sooth the hatred he had been harbouring for thousands of years, he finally turned his attention to Yang Kai.
A sharp bone spear flew through the blood sea and pierced accurately towards Yang Kai.
Silent and stealthily.
By the time Yang Kai noticed, the bone spear was already too close to dodge.
“Master, watch out!” Han Fei had been maintaining the highest level of vigilance and upon noticing the approaching danger shouted.
*Pu…*
A muffled sound came out, and Yang Kai’s incredibly formidable body was actually run through by the sharp bone spear, a small hole opening in his torso out of which golden blood began to flow.
“Master!” Li Rong immediately noticed something was wrong and began calling out in alarm, “Han Fei, how is Master?”
Han Fei didn’t answer because she couldn’t see Yang Kai’s situation. Even if she was standing nearby Yang Kai, the thick blood fog had cut off her sight, leaving her only able to see a sea of red.
However, under her Divine Sense’s perception, she discovered fluctuations in Yang Kai’s aura; obviously he had been hit.
In that instant she nearly fell into a panic.
“I’m fine!” Yang Kai shouted, trying to maintain the calmness of his voice as he gripped tightly to the bone spear which had passed through his body, his eyes stubbornly staring forward.
Among the blood sea, a humanoid figure had appeared, holding the other end of the spear.
Yang Kai felt Ke Luo was coldly gazing at him from this figure.
“I heard you mention the supreme powerhouse from thousands of years more than once. Are you afraid of him?” Yang Kai face became solemn as he asked.
“Of course!” Ke Luo replied without hesitation, “I am nowhere near worthy to be his opponent! With a single casual strike, he had severely wounded me and robbed me of my consciousness. The masters of my clan were also exterminated by him, so how could I not fear him?”
As he spoke, his indistinct hand twisted the bone spear, torturing Yang Kai with unbearable pain.
He seemed to be venting his anger for the embarrassment Yang Kai had caused him.
“However, it was thanks to that incident that I was able to avoid the fate of being slaughtered by him; to enter a state of stasis for thousands of years, waiting for him to fall!” Ke Luo laughed wildly, “In terms of lifespan, no race can compare with my clan!”
The essence of their lives was completely contained within their bones, so as long as their skeletons weren’t destroyed, they were nearly immortal.
“What if I told you, he didn’t fall?” Yang Kai muttered quietly.
The blood figure in front of Yang Kai noticeable shivered, Ke Luo’s state of mind clearly suffering a severe impact as a feeble and terrified aura leaked out from him. Ke Luo immediately shouted, “Impossible, his aura has truly vanished, it’s not possible for him to still be alive. In the past, after that war, he was already an arrow at the end of its flight, he’s already dead, you can’t deceive me!”
“Then open your eyes wide and see if he is still alive!” Yang Kai’s expression became fierce as he wiped the wound on his abdomen with his fingertips before lifting his hand toward his left eye.
The golden blood was absorbed into his left eye like a drop of water falling into the sea, disappearing without a trace.
Yang Kai’s black and white eyeball flashed and instantly became a frightening pure white.
Soon after, a majestic golden radiance appeared, transforming this pure white pupil into a golden eye, one that seemed to disdainfully overlook all mortal beings.
Great Demon God’s Demon Eye of Annihilation had long been integrated into Yang Kai’s left eye.
The Demon Eye of Annihilation contained one of Great Demon God’s Divine Abilities, the soul extinguishing golden light.
Yang Kai didn’t know how this mysterious golden light worked, or even the principles behind it, but he did know that Great Demon God was able to use this golden light to purify and erase all kinds of Soul.
However, when this demon eye appeared in his left eye’s socket, Yang Kai’s perception of the entire world became a little different.
The outside world also trembled as the blood sea became turbulent, seeming suffering a heavy blow. Amidst the roiling blood sea, a faint figure gradually became clear.
Naturally, it was Ke Luo’s figure.
This figure had no physique but was instead comprised of Spiritual Energy, Ke Luo’s Soul Avatar.
His body had already exploded, forming the Blood Pond Flesh Forest, and his bones were scattered across the entire blood sea, becoming his sharpest and deadliest weapons.
At this moment, Ke Luo’s Soul Avatar stood in front of Yang Kai, holding a bone spear which was pierced through Yang Kai’s abdomen. The golden blood flowed out from the wound and dropped into the blood sea, but instead of merging together, the blood sea actually separated and automatically gave way for this golden blood.
Ke Luo’s eyes trembled fiercely as he stared at Yang Kai’s left eye, its majestic glint giving him the illusion that he was seeing the proud and invincible master for thousands of years.
In the past, when that master had passed by him, a simple wave of his hand was all that was necessary to make Ke Luo slam into the ground and pass out.
From beginning to end, that master had never looked at Ke Luo, obviously never caring about him in the slightest.
That scene had left an indelible mark on Ke Luo’s heart. Even when he was slumbering away the millennia, he had remained fearful and uneasy, worried that the master would track him down and finish him off.
Ke Luo had hidden for thousands of years until that master’s aura finally disappeared from this world, only then daring to wake up along with the rest of his clansmen.
But now, that aura which filled him with terror from the bottom of his heart had appeared once more.
That same overbearing and domineering eye from thousands of years ago was now right before him.
From this eye a mysterious power emerged and gradually condensed into a great vortex seemingly capable of swallowing the entire world. Ke Luo instantly felt like his Soul Avatar had been seized by a giant invisible hand that was drawing him into this whirlpool, dragging him down into a purgatory from which there was no return.
“Impossible!” Ke Luo screamed desperately as he went all out to withdraw, pushing his Spiritual Energy frantically to resist the attraction of the golden eye.
“Ke Luo, your time of death had arrived. Obediently accept your fate!” Yang Kai stepped heavily towards him, not caring at all about the wound on his abdomen, constantly using words to further influence Ke Luo’s chaotic state of mind and make him lose focus.
“You’re not him!” Ke Luo cried out in panic, “Even if you have one of his eyes, you’re not him, he’s already dead!”
Ke Luo’s Soul Avatar quickly plunged into the blood sea to hide, howling as he controlled innumerable bone spears throughout the blood sea to fly towards Yang Kai.
He had listed Yang Kai as the most dangerous enemy present and immediately tried to kill him.
The masters from the Three Clans scattered throughout the blood sea instantly felt the pressure on them decrease and released their Divine Senses to seek out everyone else’s position.
At this moment, all of Ke Luo’s attention was concentrated on Yang Kai and he had no spare capacity to suppress the others, causing the effects of his Blood Pond Flesh Forest to drop sharply.
“Ice Crystal Shield!” Han Fei shouted as she swung her long sword as she simultaneously cut through the blood sea and condensed a giant shield of ice in front of Yang Kai to protect his safety.
Li Rong also flew in from the side, reaching out with her jade hand to grab one of the bone spears which was piercing towards Yang Kai, tightly wrapping it in her Demonic Qi to prevent it from advancing.
Zhang Yuan, Meng Wu Ya, Chu Ling Xiao, Thunder Dragon and the others all raced over as well, displaying their methods to intercept the bone spears one after another.
In front of Yang Kai, the ten masters worked together to block Ke Luo’s crazed offensive, allowing Yang Kai to remain completely unharmed despite not taking a single step.
Moreover, seemingly because of the appearance of the Demon Eye of Annihilation, all illusions and fabrications were broken, allowing everyone’s vision of the surrounding fifty meters to become clear.
Ke Luo was still hiding in the blood sea, far from Yang Kai, not daring to come out and expose himself.
He had exploded his own flesh and bones to display the Bone Race’s forbidden technique, leaving only his Soul Avatar behind in the blood sea. He thought he was the master here, but this development had shattered that belief.
The Demon Eye of Annihilation had an unparalleled ability to suppress Souls. Without a physical shell to protect himself, he dared not show himself.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
The bone spears danced through the sky, each one carrying an incomparably sharp and imposing momentum. The red blood also gathered together to form several blood dragons which bared their fangs and roared towards Yang Kai’s group, recklessly attacking them.
The ten masters met these attacks head-on, no longer showing any signs of distress. Standing next to Yang Kai, they would not be lost in the blood sea again, so everyone’s nerves had relaxed as they once against saw hope of victory.
“Over there, use Divine Sense attacks. Right now, he’s only a Soul Avatar!” Yang Kai shouted as he pointed towards a certain position.
“Only a Soul Avatar?” Zhang Yuan was startled for a moment but immediately wore a fierce grin, “Good, then this will be easy. I’d like to see how long he manages to preserve his feeble existence!”
As he spoke, the Divine Sense attacks of all ten masters shot towards the direction indicated while Yang Kai also strengthened the power of his Demon Eye of Annihilation to constrain Ke Luo’s actions.
This silent and invisible attack burst out, causing a terrifying explosion of Spiritual Energy.
Ke Luo screamed out miserably.
He had finally been injured.
Even if he was close to breaking through to the Saint King Realm, he was unable to resist the simultaneous Divine Sense attacks of ten top-level masters.
“Over there!” Yang Kai pointed to another position and the Divine Sense attacks of the ten masters flew in that direction.
The blood sea once again trembled unstably and the bone spears and blood dragons which Ke Luo was originally controlling to suppress the ten masters lost all the force behind them. The blood dragons collapsed and merged back into the blood sea while all the bone spears were taken back by Ke Luo and disappeared.
Ke Luo obviously didn’t have any energy to spare on controlling them as evading the Divine Sense attacks of the ten masters was currently all he could do.
“Here!” Yang Kai pointed once more.
The attacks of the ten masters were akin to a sharp sword that slashed towards Ke Luo with extreme accuracy, causing him to remain constantly on edge.
After a half cup of tea’s time, the blood sea which had been surrounding everyone burst apart.
Everyone’s vision became clear and the Bone Race forbidden technique, the Blood Pond Flesh Forest, disappeared.
Not far from their position, the bone spears and fresh blood re-integrated and Ke Luo’s figure gradually formed.
Unexpectedly, he could still restore his original shape.
“Without that strange forbidden technique of yours, I’d like to see what you plan on fighting us with!” Zhang Yuan eyes flashed as he taunted.
The other masters also stared towards Ke Luo with thick malicious intent. Inside that blood sea, they were forced to dance on the top of his palm. Everyone here was a top master with their own sense of pride, what they just experienced was nothing short of a great disgrace.
Now that they had escaped from the blood sea, naturally they had to seek revenge for this slight.
Not waiting for Ke Luo’s figure to fully reform, the ten masters dispersed and surrounded him, leaving him no path the Heaven or gate to Hell.
Ke Luo finally began panicking, his face pale and his green eyes overflowing with fear and regret.
He felt that he should not have been so eager to wake up and instead remained asleep for another thousand years.
“Ke Luo, haven’t you forgotten something?” Yang Kai stared at him indifferently and asked.
Ke Luo turned his attention to Yang Kai and his eyes shrank.
What he saw was the bone spear he had inserted into Yang Kai’s stomach!
This spear was like fine white jade, seemingly carved from the most beautiful Crystal Stone, and inside it was fearsome energy. He had stabbed it into Yang Kai not too long ago and it was even now still there.
The instant he saw this spear, Ke Luo’s expression changed greatly and became more and more alarmed. This spear was a part of his body and contained a large amount of his life essence, if he lost this bone spear, his strength would be greatly reduced.
Yang Kai’s expression became fierce as he reached out and grabbed hold of the spear, slowly pulling it out of his abdomen.
His eyes were firm and never left Ke Luo, not a single rippled appearing in his vision despite the severe pain he was experiencing.
Golden blood flowed out as soon as the bone spear was removed, and Yang Kai’s wound automatically began to heal.
Ke Luo’s eyes stared fixedly on the bone spear, his lips trembling, seemingly wanting to say something but unable to form the words.
Yang Kai grinned as he stared towards Ke Luo in a calm and composed manner, lightly saying, “For your Bone Race, your bones are the basis of your life, right?”
“What about it?” Ke Luo grit his teeth and snapped back angrily.
“Very good!” Yang Kai gently nodded before a devastating Demonic Qi emerged from the palm of his hand and wrapped around the bone spear. In a flash, as if it had been lit on fire by these dark flames, the bone spear rapidly burned down and changed to ashes, slipping through Yang Kai’s and scattering into the wind.
Right before his eyes, Yang Kai had incinerated his bone spear.
Ke Luo’s expression warped madly, as if his most precious possession had been destroyed by Yang Kai, his face twisting horribly as he screamed, “For destroying my bones, I’ll make you pay the price!”
“You won’t get the opportunity!” Meng Wu Ya shouted, his hands wildly clawing at the void.
From the sky above, as if a meteor had been caught by Meng Wu Ya, a bright sphere of light containing a terrifying destructive force fell towards Ke Luo, as if it was trying to destroy the world together with him.
“For killing my Demon General, I’ll ground your corpse to ashes today!” Zhang Yuan’s long halberd pulsed with thick darkness and shot out like a great dragon towards Ke Luo.
Meng Ge and Xue Li immediately followed behind Zhang Yuan, looks of intense hatred and hostility filling their faces as they pushed their strength to its limits.
The three Monster Race Great Seniors all transformed into their Beast Forms and attacked towards Ke Luo.
Chu Ling Xiao’s Demon Sealing Chain flew out and entangled Ke Luo, restricting his actions.
Bone shields condensed all around Ke Luo as he felt a huge sense of crisis. He knew if he was unable to resist this blow, he would without a doubt die. He was counting on these bone shields to buy him a moment of time.
He still had ample strength to fight!
Even surrounded by his bone shields, Ke Luo was extremely nervous.
Han Fei’s figure flashed and appeared directly before him, slashing her ice crystal sword to create a light barrier engulfing him.
When she attacked, Li Rong also acted.
The leader of the Ancient Demon Clan swung her pair of jade fists repeatedly, smashing Ke Luo’s bones shields as easily as one would crush dry weeds and smash rotten wood, opening up a path to him and slamming her fist down.
An astonishing destructive force suddenly surrounded her fist as she punched forward.
Ke Luo’s face changed greatly and was just about to defend himself when Zhang Yuan’s black halberd stabbed towards him from behind. Unable to deflect both attacks, he could only hurriedly avoid Zhang Yuan’s strike while meeting Li Rong’s head-on.
*Hong…*
The earth shook and a deafening sound spread out; Ke Luo’s just reformed flesh body seemed to be incapable of bearing such a violent blow and began to show cracks.
Chu Ling Xiao’s Demon Sealing Chain wrapped around his body at that moment and further restricted his movements.
The other masters seized this opening and rushed in together, exerting their full strength to wantonly bombard Ke Luo’s figure.
Ke Luo was immediately thrust into a dangerous situation, the cracks on his flesh rapidly expanding and pieces of it soon blowing off entirely, exposing his skeleton, the root of his existence, to the enemies surrounding him.
*Kacha…*
His skeleton was unable to bear the ten masters endless storm of attacks and soon too began to crack.
Ke Luo was finished!
This time he had truly reached a dead end.
He had counted on his Bone Race’s Blood Pond Flesh Forest to wipe out the top Tong Xuan Realm masters, but at the last minute this plan was destroyed by Yang Kai; now, Ke Luo didn’t dare use this forbidden technique, and subsequently was no longer a match for these ten masters.
All his various means had been restrained, and he no longer had any hope of victory.
Ke Luo’s green eyes flashed with annoyance, anger, and unwillingness, all kinds of intertwined emotions. Zhang Yuan’s long halberd directly penetrated his head, puncturing his eyes.
As his flesh and blood flew apart, Ke Luo suddenly came to a halt.
The next moment, as if he was violently dismembered, his entire physique exploded, bones and all, scattering in all directions.
An illusory ethereal figure suddenly emerged from Ke Luo’s head the moment before it exploded, shrank down into a ball of faint light, and quickly flew away.
“His Soul is trying to flee!” Meng Wu Ya shouted.
With his body completely destroyed, Ke Luo’s Soul decisively escaped, striving only to survive.
No matter how powerful it was, a pure Soul could not remain in the world for very long unless it was placed inside a specially refined artifact designed to store a Soul, otherwise, the only option was for it to find a compatible body to occupy.
Old Demon was a perfect example of this.
If Ke Luo was allowed to escape and he found the right body, with the strangeness of the Bone Race, it wasn’t impossible for him to stage a comeback.
How could the ten masters possible give him such an opportunity? All of them had long been guarding against this possibility.
Just as Meng Wu Ya’s voice fell, ten Divine Sense attacks crashed towards Ke Luo’s escaping Soul.
The next moment, Ke Luo’s pitiful screams resounded and his Soul Avatar came to a halt mid-air, his semi-transparent face filled with terrible wrath as a dangerous aura pulsed from his form.
Feeling the strangeness of his state, the ten masters didn’t dare act rashly, instead using their Spiritual Energy to surround Ke Luo and prevented him from continuing to flee.
Battles between Souls were far too dangerous. One wrong move could result in injuring one’s own Soul, and naturally, none of them could bear such a cost.
All the masters were worried about Ke Luo lashing out in one last desperate attack and dragging them down with him.
If they truly forced Ke Luo into a hopeless situation and he detonated his Soul right on top of them, none of them would emerge unscathed.
“Don’t force me, or we’ll all perish together here!” Ke Luo hysterically screamed, the dangerous aura radiating from his Soul Avatar became more and more dangerous, seemingly like it was on the verge of exploding.
The ten masters couldn’t help but frown, feeling the situation had become a bit tricky.
“Ke Luo!” Yang Kai’s voice suddenly sounded.
Hearing this shout, Ke Luo turned his gaze towards Yang Kai, but in the next instant, he realized that the situation was bad. The moment he saw the golden eye, a huge suction force enveloped him and pulled his Soul Avatar in.
Regardless of how Ke Luo tried to break free, he could not. In fact, the more he struggled, the faster he was drawn in.
*Xiu…*
In a flash, the ten masters felt the Ke Luo’s incredibly volatile Soul get directly sucked into Yang Kai’s left eye, all of them hearing the unwilling echo of Ke Luo’s voice as it happened.
Everyone was stunned.
Before anyone even had time to ask Yang Kai about the situation, he had closed his eyes and sat down cross-legged.
Inside his Knowledge Sea, Yang Kai’s Soul Avatar appeared and faced the terrified Ke Luo who was gazing about in fear. Feeling the burning hot temperature of the world around him, Ke Luo couldn’t help screaming, “A mutated Knowledge Sea? You actually have an attributed Spiritual Energy?”
With his eyesight, Ke Luo could naturally see how extraordinary Yang Kai Knowledge Sea was.
This was a Soul filled with blazing flames.
Even if one considered an entire Star Field, there were very few people would possess a mutated Knowledge Sea. Ke Luo had never expected to find such an individual in this backwater world.
“Right here, right now, I’ll extinguish your Soul!” Yang Kai didn’t speak any nonsense, condensing the full strength of his Knowledge Sea the moment his Soul Avatar appeared and burning Ke Luo’s Soul Avatar.
At the same time, the Demon Eye of Annihilation reappeared inside his Knowledge Sea, and from it, a golden beam of light shot forth.
Ke Luo screamed and struggled, but was ultimately powerless to resist. Faced with the Conflagrated Knowledge Sea’s flames and the Demon Eye’s Golden Light, his consciousness and lifetime worth of experiences were quickly purified, leaving behind only a pure mass of Spiritual Energy.
Yang Kai reached out and drew in this mass of Spiritual Energy. Feeling its intensity, his expression changed greatly.
Worthy of a master on the verge of breaking through to the Saint King Realm, Ke Luo’s remnant Spiritual Energy was far more powerful than any Yang Kai had ever absorbed before.
Floating above Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea was a large number of pure energy masses.
These were remnant Souls Yang Kai had inadvertently absorbed during the previous fight.
As long as someone died nearby him, their remnant Soul would be drawn into his Knowledge Sea regardless of whether Yang Kai intended it to be or not.
However, thanks to this, he had managed to obtain an unimaginable amount of benefits.
Yang Kai didn’t rush to return his consciousness to his body. In any case, the overall situation had been decided. The Bone Race had been stamped out and all that remained was to clean up the battlefield and count the casualties.
Yang Kai began to absorb the countless masses of energy.
These energy masses mostly belonged to Transcendent Realm cultivators, but there was no shortage of those which came from Saints either.
Inside each of these masses of energy were the comprehensive insights into the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao of that particular cultivator.
Yang Kai absorbed what was useful and discarded the rest, transforming all of it into his own strength.
Gradually, a kind of ethereal door appeared before him, and as he opened this door, Yang Kai caught a glimpse of a wider world behind it.
His heart and mind shook violently and his Knowledge Sea began to churn as a frightening energy fluctuation immediately erupted from his body.
Outside, everyone who was sitting in meditation felt Yang Kai’s change and opened their eyes in shock, quickly turning their attention towards him.
A moment later, Li Rong’s tender body trembled as she exclaimed, “Master is about to break through!”
Meng Wu Ya expression stiffened, “So fast?”
Previously he had inquired to Li Rong about when Yang began undergoing True Qi Sanctification and learned that it had only been about a year since the process had started.
According to his estimations, even with Yang Kai’s outstanding aptitude, it would still take two or three years of hard work after his True Qi underwent Sanctification before he could spy on the mysteries of the Saint Realm.
When that time came, whether he could make a breakthrough or not would be up to fate.
But now, after only a single year, Yang Kai had already begun to break through.
He would soon become a Saint Realm master.
Meng Wu Ya was somewhat unable to accept the scene in front of his eyes, staring towards Yang Kai as if he was seeing some kind of monster, muttering something under his breath, a look of shock mixed with a trace of jealousy covering his face.
He believed himself to be a rare genius, but compared with Yang Kai, he couldn’t help feeling inferior.
“It really looks like he’s about to break through,” Chu Ling Xiao smiled and nodded, his old face showing a gratified look, “It seems that he harvested much during this battle. En, we should clear the area to ensure we do not bother him.”
Saying so, the two of them took the initiative to withdraw.
The Demon Race and Monster Race masters also fell back, and after everyone else had left, Li Rong and Han Fei also stepped back.
They still did not feel relieved leaving the Demon and Monster Race masters nearby; although everyone had just been collaborating to deal with the Bone Race, now that the threat that bound them together was gone, no one could guarantee that they wouldn’t take this opportunity to kill Yang Kai to prevent him from fully maturing.
As such, Li Rong and Han Fei remained vigilant.
After some time, from all directions, many masters from the Three Clans returned. They had been chasing down the last remnants of the Bone Race, pursing every one of them relentlessly, ensuring that none of these Starry Sky invaders remained, eliminating any possibility for them to rise again.
After half a day, everyone who was still alive had gradually returned, and the Three Clans began to assess their casualties.
When the results came out, everyone’s heart grew heavy. When the Three Clans masters had set out, there were just over a thousand of them in total, but after this great war ended, only about five hundred remained.
Nearly half of Tong Xuan Realm’s top masters had perished here, including many Saints.
Although this war had secured the future of the world, rooting out a fatal catastrophe, each of the three races had suffered a serious decline in strength, with the Demon Race having taken the worst hit. In the battle with Ke Luo, two Demon Generals had fallen. This kind of loss was something even Zhang Yuan was unable to withstand. Together with the surviving Xue Li and Meng Ge, all three of them were both worried and depressed.
The most sorrowful aspect of the aftermath though was that those who had died had been stripped of all their flesh and blood, leaving behind only bleached bones. No one could even identify which skeleton belonged to who.
The Three Clans jointly collected the remains of the dead and buried them on Water Spirit Temple’s main island while consoling one another.
The surviving masters paid homage to their fallen brethren for their contributions in this war.
One day later, the sky suddenly clouded over and a terrifying pressure began to condense.
“Yang Kai’s about to break through!” On the island down below, Meng Wu Ya’s eyes lit up as he shouted excitedly.
“Let’s go take a look,” Chu Ling Xiao said and flew straight over, the various masters from the Monster Race and Demon Race following close behind.
The masters of the Human Race who heard the news were also filled with curiosity and rushed over to watch.
A few years ago, no one had heard the name Yang Kai, but after a mere decade, he had become famous throughout the Tong Xuan Realm.
At the age of 30, he was about to break through to the Saint Realm. This kind of cultivation was enough for the entire world to pay attention to him.
What’s more, Yang Kai’s status was not low, and during this time’s battle against the Bone Race, he had taken on the role of commander.
No one dared look down on him.
Everyone believed that from today on, his name would echo across the entire world, becoming the topic of discussion of commoners and experts alike as the most dazzling talent in history!
His future achievements would definitely be higher than anyone else’s.
When the Human, Demon, and Monster Race experts arrived, the Ancient Demon Clan’s clansmen, led by Li Rong and Han Fei, had already cordoned off a ten-kilometre radius around Yang Kai, forbidding anyone from approaching any closer.
Everyone could only settle for watching from a distance.
After clearly seeing Yang Kai’s current condition though, all of them changed continence.
The violent World Energy storm that seemed capable of tearing the earth asunder was repeatedly slamming down and smashing into Yang Kai’s body.
The clothes on his upper body had already been shredded, revealing his solid figure.
He remained sitting in a cross-legged position, not circulating a trace of his Qi, relying solely on the strength of his physique to endure the World Energy baptism.
The energy of Heaven and Earth that fell was not wasted by him in the slightest, every last drop of it sucked into his body and transformed into his own strength.
His flesh shivered and tensed, fully demonstrating its formidability, shocking everyone who saw it.
Everyone present could feel that his flesh body was rapidly becoming more powerful and was already comparable to even the strongest of defensive artifacts.
The masters from the three races were dumbstruck.
“Brother Meng, when you broke through to the Saint Realm…” Chu Ling Xiao whispered, “How much of the World Energy baptism were you able to endure?”
“Half,” Meng Wu Ya replied in a low voice, “I could not withstand anymore.”
“I was slightly worse than Brother Meng then,” Chu Ling Xiao breathed a light breath and silently compared his own performance to the one Yang Kai was showing right now, causing him to let out a sigh.
Zhang Yuan’s face was constantly twitching, secretly thinking to himself that he really had to build a better relationship with Yang Kai.
This time, two Demon Generals had fallen, causing his Demon Race’s total strength to drop precipitously. If he failed to grasp the opportunity in front of him, the Demon Race’s very future would become very uncertain.
The potential of the young man who was breaking through right now far surpassed any of the forces or races present.
In the past, Zhang Yuan couldn’t understand why top-level masters like Li Rong and Han Fei expressed such unwavering loyalty to Yang Kai, who was but a mere Transcendent at the time. Even considering his relationship with Great Demon God, that shouldn’t have been the case.
This was nothing short of demeaning themselves. With their strength, they could easily stand on their own; with none in this world that could take advantage of them.
However, at this moment, Zhang Yuan finally understood: Li Rong and Han Fei simply had greater vision than he did.
Because this young man could give the Ancient Demon Clan a grander, and farther future than any other.
Just as everyone was recovering from their initial shock, Yang Kai suddenly took an action which astounded them once again.
Under that unbearable pressure, in a state where the world itself was battering his body, Yang Kai suddenly stood up, directed a cold look towards the sky, and immediately flew up, soaring into the very heart of the World Energy baptism.
In the blink of an eye, his figure disappeared into the violent storm clouds filled with World Energy high up in the sky.
“This…” Everyone was dumbstruck, their jaws all going slack.
Simply withstanding the World Energy baptism was already a difficult task, but if one were to directly break into the World Energy storm, the pressure they would need to bear would increase exponentially.
If one acted carelessly, they would end up dying a pitiful death.
Everyone close to Yang Kai couldn’t help wearing a nervous look, worried that his reckless actions would lead to unbearable consequences.
But in the next moment, high up in the sky, a strange phenomenon suddenly occurred.
The seemingly unstoppable swirling storm of power, as if something was hindering it, suddenly came to a stop and the massive storm none dared to approach actually began rotating in reverse, as if there was a powerful vortex at its centre pulling it in the opposite direction.
The speed of the rotation grew faster and faster and the devastating power of the storm rapidly began to reduce.
Or rather, it was being absorbed.
After the time it would take to boil a cup of tea, the World Energy storm disappeared entirely and at what was once its centre, Yang Kai’s figure was revealed, a faint look of disappointment upon his face.
“This little brat…” Meng Wu Ya laughed helplessly, “He’s too rash.”
“There is actually someone who can enter the centre of a World Energy storm to withstand its baptism. Holy Master Yang is truly an astonishing man!”
“Congratulations Elder Brother Cu, Soaring Heaven Sect has produced an exceptional character, all of us are deeply envious.”
“Many congratulate to Great Elder Xu Hui as well, with this Holy Master, your Holy Land will surely become even more magnificent in the future.”
A series of compliments echoed, causing Xu Hui’s smile to stretch from one ear to the other.
After this battle, and witnessing Yang Kai’s breakthrough, everyone present realized just how great Yang Kai’s personal strength was.
Those who didn’t care much about him as a single cultivator were forced to re-examine their evaluations of him and correct their attitudes.
Yang Kai slowly walked down from the sky.
The Three Clans’ masters all congratulated him sincerely.
Yang Kai cupped his fists, “Many thanks to all of you as well for your efforts in this great war. I believe that future generations will not forget the sacrifices made today and will forever remember them in gratitude.”
On many people’s face, a look of glory and fulfilment rose.
“Holy Master Yang…” Dragon Phoenix Palace’s Palace Master Chen Zhou suddenly walked up and hesitantly spoke, “Can this Chen ask you something?”
Since the beginning of the battle with the Bone Race, many doubts had filled his heart which he no choice but to temporarily suppress, but now that he had a chance, he certainly wished to clear them up.
Yang Kai glanced over at him and knew what he wanted to ask, nodding as he said, “Can Palace Master Chen wait a moment? I too have some things I need to discuss with you, but before that, I wish to speak with Sir Demon Commander first.”
“Good, this Chen will be waiting,” Chen Zhou’s shoulders trembled, faintly realizing the truth of the matter.
“Does Holy Master Yang have something to say to me?” Zhang Yuan turned a somewhat puzzled look towards Yang Kai.
“Let’s step away for a moment,” Yang Kai said before beckoning to Li Rong, “You come too.”
Li Rong and Han Fei both exchanged a confused glance, neither of them knowing what Yang Kai wanted to do, but quickly following after him.
The other masters remained where they were, enjoying the aftertaste of victory while chaotically discussing what to do next.
“What matter does Holy Master Yang wish to discuss with this Senior?” Zhang Yuan asked Yang Kai after they had walked a fair distance away, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer.
Yang Kai took out a new set of robes from the Black Book Space and dressed himself before saying, “Gou Qiong and Ba He died, I hope Demon Commander can restrain his grief.”
Zhang Yuan gawked for a moment before letting out a helpless laugh, “They died a worthy death, many thanks for Holy Master Yang’s consideration.”
“En, I wanted to tell you that although I had the idea to use the Demon Eye of Annihilation to restrain Ke Luo from the beginning, without him showing himself to me, I had no way to act, rendering me powerless to prevent Gou Qiong and Ba He’s deaths.”
“Holy Master Yang need not pay it any mind, I understand your difficulties,” Zhang Yuan nodded lightly.
“That’s good,” Yang Kai smiled before continuing, “Now that your Demon Land has lost two Demon Generals and your overall strength has dropped, what are you planning on doing?”
“What do you mean?” Zhang Yuan frowned, coldly snorting, “If you’re mean to imply that the other two races might take this opportunity to invade my Demon Land, you are mistaken. As long as this Senior still breathes, none should have any ideas about my Demon Land!”
“You misunderstand me,” Yang Kai shook his head, “I just wanted to ask you if you were interested in finding another Demon General to fill the vacant position?”
“Finding another Demon General?” Zhang Yuan brow furrowed for a moment before suddenly understanding, turning his eyes to Li Rong and asking, “You mean this lady?”
“Naturally. Li Rong belongs to the Demon Race, and her strength is not worse than your own, is there any problem with her becoming a Demon General?”
“Of course there’s no problem, but… is Holy Master Yang willing to part with her? Is this lady willing to go to my Demon Land?” Zhang Yuan smiled deeply as he stared at Yang Kai deeply, seemingly wanting to peer into his heart and understand what his true intentions were.
Li Rong becoming a Demon General truly wasn’t an issue; in fact, with her strength, she was already qualified to compete for the position of Demon Commander, but Yang Kai suddenly proposing this inevitably elicited a hint of caution from Zhang Yuan.
He thought Yang Kai was having ideas about seizing the Demon Land.
“I refuse!” Li Rong decisively cut in.
Yang Kai raised his hand to stop her though and said, “Listen to everything I have to say first before you decide. En, soon after this, I’ll be leaving this place.”
“Leaving?” Zhang Yuan, Li Rong, and Han Fei all asked simultaneously.
“Wherever Master goes, we will go,” Li Rong declared firmly.
Yang Kai pointed his figure towards the sky, “I must go to the Starry Sky, so I can’t take you together with me.”
“The Starry Sky?” Zhang Yuan paled, “What do you intend to do by travelling to the Starry Sky? That place is filled with crisis upon crisis! You’ve only just broken through to the Saint Realm, and if you go there you won’t even have the ability to protect yourself.”
“That’s right, Master, if you really must go, take me with you,” Li Rong hurriedly stated.
“Me as well!” Han Fei quickly chimed in.
Yang Kai however just slowly shook his head, “I’ll be going alone. More than a decade ago, when I came to Tong Xuan Realm, I was only an Immortal Ascension Boundary Seventh Stage cultivator and didn’t have the strength to protect myself, but I persisted. If I hadn’t come here at that time but instead stayed back in my old world, I definitely wouldn’t have my current strength. When the people from this side invaded my homeland, I might have degenerated into a slave with no ability to resist, but because I came here that year, when crisis befell my home, I was able to defuse it and even bring my friends and family here to settle near Nine Heavens Holy Land while guaranteeing their safety and livelihood. The present situation is the same as it was ten years ago.”
“How is it the same?” Zhang Yuan was puzzled.
“Great Demon God sealed this world and concealed it from the rest of the of Starry Sky’s view, but now that the seal has been lifted. Perhaps, one day, there will be a master at the Saint King Realm or higher that arrives here. At that time, how will we resist them?”
Zhang Yuan paled as he instantly recalled the chilling images he had seen from Great Demon God’s memories.
Thousands of years ago, Great Demon God had been here to resist the Starry Sky invaders, but if that situation were to repeat itself now, with the current level of Tong Xuan Realm’s masters, all of them would really be reduced to slaves in an instant.
Just killing Ke Luo had cost two Demon Generals their lives, and Ke Luo’s cultivation was only close to the Saint King Realm, not actually having achieved it.
If a true Saint King Realm powerhouse came, no one would be able to stop them.
Zhang Yuan somewhat understood Yang Kai’s meaning.
“By going to the Starry Sky, perhaps I can find a way out of this crisis, so even if a strong enemy invades, we’ll at least be able to protect ourselves. Of course, this is only a possibility, no one can guarantee what the future holds,” Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders.
The current situation really was quite similar to his previous experiences over the past decade.
In short, it wasn’t wrong to plan ahead.
“So… Holy Master Yang, out of consideration for the future safety of the world, plans to venture out into the Starry Sky?” Zhang Yuan stared at him strangely for a moment before grinning meaningfully, “Were you always a man of such high-minded ideals and righteousness?”
Although he had not had much contact with Yang Kai and had only known him for a short time, Zhang Yuan thought he had a fairly good understanding of the youth in front of him. As Demon Commander, Zhang Yuan’s eyes were naturally far sharper than ordinary people’s.
He thought that Yang Kai so desperately wanting to go to the Starry Sky had nothing to do with what he had just said, but rather something else.
Yang Kai laughed and nodded, “There really is a more important reason for my decision, but that’s my personal business is not something to be disclosed so easily. I can only guarantee you that I have no ill intentions towards the Demon Land.”
“I believe you!” Zhang Yuan gently nodded before glancing over at Li Rong, a hint of anticipation appearing on his face.
If Yang Kai really left Tong Xuan Realm, he wouldn’t necessarily be unable to accept Li Rong as a new Demon General. The Ancient Demon Clan was an extremely strong force and each of its leaders was a powerful expert in their own right, if they joined the Demon Land, it would certainly be reassuring.
Most importantly, he may be able to persuade the Ancient Demon Clan to truly integrate into the Demon Race while Yang Kai was away.
Zhang Yuan was naturally tempted.
“Li Rong, you are a member of the Demon Race. The Demon Land’s environment is far more suitable for you cultivation, and going there will allow your clansmen to grow faster. En, if one day, I can return, and you are still willing to follow me, I will definitely bring you to experience the wider world,” Yang Kai suddenly wore a nostalgic look, “More than a decade ago, I said the same words to the people of the Great Han Dynasty.”
Li Rong and Han Fei’s beautiful eyes brightened.
“Master, are you really not bring us together with you?” Li Rong made one last attempt.
Yang Kai shook his head.
The Starry Sky was too vast and dangerous, and he had no idea what his destination was or even which direction he should even go, how could he bring others along with him?
“Then my Ancient Demon Clan will calmly await good news from Master!” Li Rong nodded heavily, no longer saying anymore. She knew that since Yang Kai had made a decision, it would be useless to try to change his mind, “Before then, my family will temporarily reside in the Demon Land. I don’t know if Sir Demon Commander is willing to accept us.”
“This Senior will gladly welcome you!” Zhang Yuan smiled heartily.
After returning back to the place where the Three Clans’ masters had gathered, a brief discussion and celebration were held before everyone began to split up.
Every force here had come from a different place, and after some time, most of them had split off and headed back to their respective bases. This time, every force had suffered huge losses, so most of them couldn’t wait to return to their Sects to rest and recover.
After ten days, Yang Kai separated from Xu Hui, telling him, Li Rong, and the others that he needed to visit Dragon Phoenix Palace for a short time and for them to return to the Holy Land first.
Xu Hui nodded and took the lead.
“Let’s go,” Yang Kai said to Chen Zhou after the masters from Nine Heavens Holy Land and the Ancient Demon Clan departed.
Chen Zhou wore a somewhat cautious, somewhat puzzled look upon his face, but he didn’t dare ask anything right now and simply lead the way.
After a while, Yang Kai suddenly said, “Does Palace Master Chen want to ask about the Dragon Emperor’s matters?”
Chen Zhou was startled for an instant but his expression quickly became solemn as he cupped his fists and said, “If it is convenient, could Holy Master Yang please explain?”
During the war with the Bone Race, the Dragon Emperor had reappeared, but Sun Yu, the recognized inheritor of the Dragon Emperor’s legacy, had not come to the battlefield.
And after the great Golden Dragon disappeared, Yang Kai was the one who appeared.
Also, when Yang Kai returned from breaking through to the Saint Realm, Cheng Zhou had seen the vivid Golden Dragon Tattoo on his back!
This series of events had gradually allowed Chen Zhou to come to a vague understanding of the truth of the matter, but he was still not certain of his speculations.
Naturally, he wished to ask Yang Kai directly about this matter.
“I suppose it is time I gave you a proper explanation,” Yang Kai gently nodded, his face also turning serious, “Before that, I must apologize to Palace Master Chen and your noble Sect, until now, I have been deceiving you.”
Chen Zhou’s body shook, his face revealing a look that seemed to say ‘it really is so’.
“Sun Yu is not the Dragon Emperor’s successor, I am.”
“Ah?” Elder Xiao Ling was stunned as he directed a look of shock towards Yang Kai.
“That year, when the inheritance in Dragon Valley opened, it was not because of Sun Yu, but rather because I had accidentally entered it. Sun Yu just happened to be present at the time and was caught up in the Dragon Emperor’s inheritance. For two years, I stayed with him in the depths of Dragon Valley.”
“I didn’t know much about Dragon Phoenix Palace back then, but with Sun Yu there, I was able to ask him about various things while directing his cultivation while convenient.”
“Then Sun Yu being able to make such huge strides in his cultivation during those two years was completely because of his relationship with Holy Master Yang?” Chen Zhou was shocked and suddenly realized why after Sun Yu had exited from Dragon Valley, the progress of his cultivation had been somewhat unsatisfactory; although it was quite a bit faster than an average person, it was far from what one who had succeeded the Dragon Emperor should have.
“That’s half right. It was also thanks to his hard work,” Yang Kai denied.
“After that, when Frozen Nether Cave Heaven attacked…”
“It was also I who secretly resolved the issue,” Yang Kai admitted frankly.
“No wonder Dragon Emperor… Sun Yu worshipped and admired Holy Master Yang so greatly. It was for such a reason,” Xiao Ling suddenly understood, “Both I and Great Elder Ling Jian were suspicious about when he had made friends with a character like Holy Master Yang, now everything makes sense.”
“However, there is a point I am still not clear about,” Chen Zhou frowned, “Since Holy Master Yang is the Dragon Emperor’s true inheritor, why would you try to conceal this fact?”
Just what kind of identity was the Dragon Emperor? Sun Yu had reached the sky in a single bound and become the highest-ranking person in all of Dragon Phoenix Palace simply by receiving this title, so Chen Zhou really couldn’t understand why Yang Kai would want to conceal his own existence and instead let Sun Yu attract everyone’s attention.
With some embarrassment on his face, Yang Kai explained, “Mainly because I had just become the new Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land. You should have heard that at that time, Nine Heavens Holy Land was suffering from a number of worries, so before all of those issues could be tidied up, I truly had no ability to handle other matters. En, the most important point though was that I was not a member of Dragon Phoenix Palace, I didn’t know how you would react if I had come out and told you that I had obtained Dragon Phoenix Palace’s core inheritance. Perhaps it would have let to more troubles.”
“All of this is my responsibility and has nothing to do with Sun Yu. I was the one who told him to help me conceal this matter.”
Yang Kai chose not to conceal anything and honestly explained the reasons behind his actions.
Chen Zhou, Xiao Ling, and the other masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace all look around at each other with somewhat complicated expressions.
Sometime later, Chen Zhou finally let out a laugh, “Holy Master Yang willingly informing us of the truth at this moment is more than enough. En, there’s just one thing this Chen doesn’t quite understand. How was it that Holy Master Yang was able to open the Dragon Emperor’s inheritance? Is there some special reason?”
“En, because I have cultivated the Yin-Yang Joyous Unification Art.”
Chen Zhou’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Yang Kai briefly told them the story of what happened in the Inheritance Heaven’s Cave that year, causing the masters from Dragon Phoenix Palace to show looks of excitement as they listened with rapt attention.
“It is the inheritance left behind by the previous Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress! No wonder Holy Master Yang was able to open the array inside Dragon Valley, everything makes sense now!” Chen Zhou nearly danced with joy, “In other words, Holy Master Yang is by no means an outsider.”
“Yes yes, strictly speaking, Holy Master Yang should be considered my Dragon Phoenix Palace’s person!” Xiao Ling also said enthusiastically.
Yang Kai encouraging good relations between Nine Heavens Holy Land and Dragon Phoenix Palace was all because of this connection. At this moment, Chen Zhou and Xiao Ling finally understood everything.
“Right, what about the Phoenix Empress?” Chen Zhou suddenly remembered, “Since Holy Master Yang has cultivated the Yin-Yang Joyous Unification Art, there must be a Phoenix Empress as well! Where is she? Why have I never met her?”
“She is no longer in Tong Xuan Realm,” Yang Kai’s expression suddenly became low-spirited, “She went to the Starry Sky.”
“The Starry Sky…” Chen Zhou stared dumbfounded.
“Soon, I am going to depart to search for her, and I don’t know when I will be back; as such, I wish to take the Phoenix Empress inheritance from Phoenix Nest with me so that when I do find her, I can pass it to her it.”
“Take it away?” Chen Zhou parroted, “Can that inheritance be taken away?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “I’m not sure, I just wish to try… Of course, only if Palace Master Chen agrees.”
“There’s no problem, but the difficulty of what you wish to do is quite high. The inheritance has been hidden inside the Phoenix Nest for thousands of years, no one knows what or where it is… Well, it can’t hurt to try.”
“Many thanks,” Yang Kai nodded sincerely.
After confirming that Yang Kai was the real Dragon Emperor, Chen Zhou and Xiao Ling’s attitude suddenly became more respectful. Yang Kai asked them not to blame Sun Yu and they easily agreed, saying they would not take this matter to heart. For the entire Dragon Phoenix Palace, as long as the identity of the Dragon Emperor was inherited by someone, everyone in the Sect would stand on their side. As for who it was that gained the inheritance, it mattered little.
What’s more, Yang Kai obtaining the status of Dragon Emperor was a matter that was determined long ago.
The two of them also pledged that although Sun Yu was not the real Dragon Emperor, they would not mistreat him in the future and that the Sect would continue to pour their resources into him.
Sun Yu’s current aptitude was already far beyond that of an ordinary cultivator, so regardless of his identity, he was worth the training.
After more than a month, the group arrived at Dragon Phoenix Palace.
All of Dragon Phoenix Palace came forward to welcome them.
Sun Yu had long ago received word that they would be arriving and had led a group of people outside Dragon Phoenix Palace to congratulate Chen Zhou and the others on their triumphant return as well as to welcome Yang Kai.
Chen Zhou hosted a grand banquet and the entire Sect was filled with drink and merriment.
After three rounds of drinking, Yang Kai pulled Sun Yu aside and told him about everything.
Sun Yu became slightly nervous and asked, “Senior Yang, although I can now have peace of mind, afterwards, will Palace Master and the others bear a grudge towards me?”
“How could they?” Yang Kai laughed, “Cultivate diligently, even if you aren’t the Dragon Emperor, you are still the Sect’s future hope, Palace Master Chen and the others won’t mistreat you.”
“Really?”
Yang Kai nodded.
“That’s good,” Sun Yu smiled carefreely, the great psychological burden he had been carrying these past few years finally lifting from his shoulders. Every day he spent shouldering the false identity of Dragon Emperor caused him great worry, fearing he would slip up and be discovered. Now though, he could finally relax and hold his head up high.
The Phoenix Nest was a world of Ice and Snow, with frigid air blowing through the forest that was covered in a layer of pure white fog, creating a kind of illusory fairyland.
The inheritance belonging to the Phoenix Empress was hidden somewhere inside this forest and for thousands of years, no one had managed to obtain it.
Only some disciples who cultivated Ice or Cold Attribute Secret Arts would regularly come to the Phoenix Nest to take advantage of the natural environment to cultivate.
Frozen Nether Cave Heaven had previously acted against Dragon Phoenix Palace mainly to seize the Phoenix Nest from them.
Yang Kai sat cross-legged in a certain place inside Phoenix Nest, his Saint Qi keeping the icy wind from affecting his body.
After breaking through to the Saint Realm, Yang Kai could feel an extraordinary energy circulating through this place, which left a layer of frost clinging to his hair and clothes, seemingly capable of affecting both the physical and spiritual world.
If Su Yan could come to this place, she would likely need only circulate the Yin-Yang Joyous Unification Art to absorb all the Ice Attribute Energy throughout the entire Phoenix Nest.
However, she couldn’t come here.
Yang Kai constantly released his Divine Sense into the surroundings, trying to communicate with this ice domain and have it accept him.
After all, Yang Kai had no idea when he would be able to return from this trip to the Starry Sky. If he could take away the Phoenix Empress Inheritance that resided here and was lucky enough to find Su Yan, he could directly pass it to her to help her improve her cultivation.
However, Yang Kai wasn’t even certain this was possible.
The intense ice-cold power exerted by this place was completely incompatible with the Yang Qi he has cultivated within his body.
He could try his best but this wasn’t something that could be forced.
Time passed by and Yang Kai had sat inside the Phoenix Nest for half a month without making any progress.
But that did not mean he didn’t have any gains. Yang Kai had taken advantage of the situation to consolidate his recent breakthrough to the Saint Realm.
Just after breaking through to a new Great Realm was the time one most needed to avoid advancing recklessly.
The Cold Qi in the environment forced Yang Kai to resist it with his own hot Saint Qi, allowing him to continuously circulate the energy within his body while experiencing the difference between his previous True Qi and current Saint Qi.
Yang Kai had reaped a great harvest from this experience and did not mind it continuing, instead splitting his attention between communicating with the Phoenix Empress Inheritance and stabilizing his Saint Realm cultivation, allowing his Saint Qi to become purer and denser.
This period of time gave Yang Kai an opportunity to lay down a solid foundation, enabling the strength within his body to slowly grow stronger as he comprehended the mysteries of the Saint Realm.
During this process, the Golden Dragon Tattoo swam vigorously across his back while interacting with the energy contained inside the Phoenix Nest, seemingly obtaining some special form of nourishment from it. Over time, it became more and more excited, as if it wanted to leap out from Yang Kai’s body and blend directly with the ice-cold strength in the surrounding air.
The Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress were the twin pillars of Dragon Phoenix Palace, the two were inextricably linked.
The Golden Dragon Tattoo contained a massive amount of energy and was the ultimate inheritance of the Dragon Emperor. It being able to elicit a reaction from the Phoenix Nest was only natural.
Another half a month later, the Phoenix Nest still showed no signs of movement.
During this time, Yang Kai had constantly been releasing his Divine Sense into the surrounding, trying to understand the mysteries of the Phoenix Nest.
But ultimately, he had failed.
After spending an entire month on this without any gains, Yang Kai could only reluctantly give up.
He concluded that he was unable to take the Phoenix Empress Inheritance from here.
Just as he opened his eyes and prepared to leave though, the ice-cold strength inside the Phoenix Nest suddenly underwent some unusual changes, seemingly coordinating with the Golden Dragon Tattoo on Yang Kai’s back and establishing a kind of subtle connection between them.
Yang Kai’s trembled, and recalling his movements just now, he quickly calmed his breathing and stopped circulating any of the strength within his body, allowing the Golden Dragon Tattoo to act completely freely.
The subtle connection became clearer and clearer, and Yang Kai’s expression grew brighter, as if he had understood something.
The huge icy strength within Phoenix Nest gathered towards a certain spot not far away from Yang Kai’s current position.
Gradually, the layer of frost and fog which had covered Phoenix Nest for thousands of years began to condense into a single small spot directly in front of Yang Kai, forming a cloud of astonishingly rich Ice Attribute Strength.
It seemed that all the ice-cold strength had gathered here now.
An Ice Phoenix phantom soon appeared in front of Yang Kai.
It was a gorgeous, pure-white, crystal-clear, flawless image, that exuded the nobles of auras, as if it was aloof of the mortal world.
It reminded Yang Kai greatly of Su Yan.
Their two auras were so similar it was almost as if they had been carved from the same mould.
Hu Jiao’er had once commented that Su Yan was like an ice fairy. This evaluation was not an exaggeration, anyone who saw Su Yan’s first impression would be similar to this; only when facing Yang Kai would her icy demeanour soften and melt.
A tremendous heat burst out, one seeming hot enough to burn down the entire world.
At the same time, a resounding dragon roar echoed throughout the Heavens and the Earth while the Ice Phoenix phantom lifted its head up high and released a piercing phoenix cry towards the sky above.
Yang Kai stretched out his hand and gazed at it gently, just as if he was seeing Su Yan.
He sent out his most sincere invitation to the Ice Phoenix phantom at that moment.
The Ice Phoenix stared at him as if it possessed its own sentience, peering into Yang Kai’s eyes straight to his heart and understanding the importance she had to him.
Understanding his sincerity, she responded.
Her luminous body shattered into a million brilliant points of light that swept towards Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn’t move, allowing this rush of cold energy flood into his body, a thick layer of frost instantly condensing on his skin in the process.
The influx of ice and cold attribute energy had instantly caused his body temperature to plunge.
Yang Kai’s Saint Qi unconsciously began to riot, trying to resist this invasion of Cold Qi, but he quickly suppressed it, withdrawing all of it into his dantian.
In an instant, Yang Kai’s teeth began chattering and his lips turned purple as signs of frostbite appeared all over his body.
The massive amount of Ice Attribute Energy continued to flow in, and only after quite some time did the Cold Qi in the surroundings completely disappear.
Yang Kai’s tight and trembling body suddenly relaxed at this moment as the unbearable chill he had just been feeling vanished.
There seemed to be something more inside his body now, swimming across the surface of his skin, giving him an icy cool feeling that shook his spirit.
Untying his robes and lowering his head, Yang Kai saw both a dragon and a phoenix tattoo, frolicking and chasing one another.
Contained within these two tattoos was an unimaginable amount of power.
Yang Kai smiled with satisfaction and no small amount of surprise.
He had come here just to try his luck, never having imagined he would actually succeed; this result had far exceeded his expectations.
The Phoenix Empress’ Inheritance had really responded to his invitation and entered his body.
Closing his eyes, Yang Kai felt the Phoenix Empress’ aura and sensed its intentions of using his body to temporarily take shelter.
Till the end, it was a foreign entity, so despite the massive amount of energy it contained, Yang Kai was unable to access it, the only thing he could do was carry it for Su Yan for the time being.
After carefully confirming that the Ice Phoenix Tattoo would not adversely affect him in any way, Yang Kai got up and strode out of the Phoenix Nest.
The sun shone in, unsealing the Phoenix Nest.
The world of ice and snow which had existed for thousands of years finally began melting today.
After spending some time in Dragon Phoenix Palace to inform Chen Zhou about the Phoenix Nest’s situation, Yang Kai bid him farewell, summoned out his Star Shuttle, and headed back to Nine Heavens Holy Land.
When he arrived at the Holy Land, Xu Hui and the others had long since returned.
The entire Holy Land was still immersed in a jubilant mood.
Yang Kai summoned his friends and family and informed them about his plans to travel to the Starry Sky.
But to Yang Kai’s surprise, none of them showed many reactions after hearing the news, as if they all already knew.
Yang Kai turned to Li Rong and figured that she should have told them beforehand, allowing them to psychologically prepare themselves.
“Have you decided?” Meng Wu Ya asked calmly.
“En,” Yang Kai nodded gently.
“If you’ve decided, there’s no need to say anything more. Just concentrate on taking care of yourself out there. Don’t worry about here, this old master will look after it for you,” Meng Wu Ya nodded back.
“I’ll leave it to Treasurer Meng,” Yang Kai nodded sincerely. With Meng Wu Ya’s commitment, he could feel at ease even if he left.
Nine Heavens Holy Land was on a steady path now and didn’t require the Holy Master’s presence, the only thing Yang Kai had to worry about was his friends and relatives living in the former War Spirit Temple site, but as long as Meng Wu Ya was here, none would dare bully them.
“You head out first. Perhaps sometime later, this old master will follow suit; if that happens, I’ll definitely go looking for you,” Meng Wu Ya smiled.
“I’ll be waiting.”
Suddenly, a burst of sobs came from nearby as Dong Su Zhu’s eyes became red and puffy, an imploring look upon her face, clearly saying she didn’t want Yang Kai to go.
More than a decade ago, Yang Kai had left the Central Capital and she had lost all contact with him.
It wasn’t until very recently that their family had finally reunited.
Dong Su Zhu hadn’t even had enough time to sit down and have a long chat with her son before Yang Kai had decided to embark on a new journey, this time heading out in the vast Starry Sky.
How could she be willing?
The Yang Family Fourth Master wore the face of iron, but the tears threatening to fall from the corners of his eyes gave away his true thoughts.
Yang Kai’s heart filled with guilt and was just about to try comforting them when Yang Ying Feng spoke first, “Go. Father supports your decisions and believes in you!”
Yang Kai’s shoulders trembled as he nodded strongly.
The Yang Family Fourth Master’s words greatly relieved Yang Kai. Now he could finally put down all his burdens and focus on the matters he wanted to accomplish.
“Before you go, you should go talk with Ning Chang,” Meng Wu Ya sighed slightly, “She has refused to leave her room for the last half-month.”
“I know.”
It was late at night, and the pale moon hung in the night sky, sending down pure gentle rays.
Yang Kai walked into the Holy Master Court just in time to see An Ling’er walk out. Upon seeing Yang Kai, An Ling’er couldn’t help letting out a giggle as she stepped aside, allowing him to pass, with a mischievous look on her face.
Yang Kai stared at her briefly before continuing towards Xia Ning Chang’s room.
Outside the door, Du Wan and the other five Grandmasters had gathered together and were constantly calling out, each one speaking words of persuasion, trying to tempt Xia Ning Chang out.
However, there was no movement from inside the room.
“Grandmasters, good evening,” Yang Kai coughed lightly to attract their attention.
In the darkness, five pairs of eyes simultaneously turned towards him, disgruntled looks upon their faces.
“You little brat…” Chang Bao fat body trembled as he immediately took advantage of his seniority to reprimand, “You really don’t know how blessed you are! Little Xia having a liking for you is simply more than you deserve, yet you actually dare make her sad, you really know how to anger this old master!”
Outside Xia Ning Chang’s room, the fat Chang Bao interrogated Yang Kai, his spit flying all over the place as he loudly scolded.
“Xia girl hasn’t left her room for half a month now, even refusing to perform Alchemy, and it’s all your fault!” Hong Fang also said unceremoniously.
Kong Ruo Yu coldly snorted and continued, “As a man, it is your responsibility to make your woman feel safe and secure, not cause her grief. As Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land, you’re fine, but in this area, you have a long way to go.”
Even Du Wan, who had the best relationship with Yang Kai, solemnly said, “Hurry up and think about how to comfort her.”
At this moment, the five Grandmasters seemed to be firmly standing on Xia Ning Chang’s side, vigorously protecting her while blaming Yang Kai.
Yang Kai froze up like a wooden chicken.
He hadn’t anticipated that the relationship between Little Senior Sister and the five Grandmasters would become so close.
He clearly remembered when the five Grandmasters first came to the Holy Land and were willing to put down their pride just to ask him to allow them to study the Alchemic Way with him.
Back then, he had received much respect from these five Grandmasters.
But now, it seemed Xia Ning Chang’s status far surpassed his own in the minds of the five Grandmasters.
“Uh…” Yang Kai opened his mouth but before he could say anything to defend himself was cut off by Hong Fang.
Hong Fang squinted with displeasure towards him and snorted, “Boy, I heard you insisted on going to the Starry Sky to chase a woman, yes? What kind of woman can compare with Xia girl?”
“That’s right, Little Xia is already the best girl in the world. Don’t try to eat from the pot with your bowl already full.”
“Xia girl is kind, gentle, understanding, pure, innocent, and cute; it really makes one wonder how she could take a liking to a little bastard like you?”
Facing a second round of reprimands, Yang Kai was again struck speechless.
“Xia girl, don’t be sad!” Kong Ruo Yu suddenly turned to the door and shouted, “You don’t need to care about such an indecisive man, another day this old lady will introduce you to a fine young man, although he may not be as good as Yang Kai, he is still a dragon among men.”
Yang Kai’s face instantly went black as he said flatly, “Old Kong, if you don’t want that person to have an ‘accident’, it would be best if he never appeared in the Holy Land.”
Kong Ruo Yu stared back at him defiantly, “What? So you’re allowed to act half-hearted but Xia girl can’t even make her own choice?”
“That’s not what I meant…” Yang Kai felt a headache coming on as he was unable to explain clearly, wondering just what these five Grandmasters had taken to cause them to interfere in the love of a man and woman.
*Zhiya…*
The door suddenly opened and in the darkness, Xia Ning Chang appeared in front of everyone, her pair of beautiful eyes shining brightly without the slightest trace of impurities.
However, everyone could tell that her eyes were a little red and swollen.
“Don’t say such bad things about Junior Brother…” Xia Ning Chang spoke in a voice as quiet as a mosquito as she turned to stare at Yang Kai faintly, biting her thin lip as she said, “The one Junior Brother is going to find is Senior Sister Su Yan. Senior Sister is a very good person.”
“Ha, you’ve finally decided to come out great aunt,” Chang Bao sighed as he wiped the sweat from his forehead while hurriedly asking if Xia Ning Chang was alright.
“Junior Brother, come inside so we can talk!” Xia Ning Chang pulled Yang Kai into her room.
Yang Kai turned around as they walked in and somehow squeezed out a smile, “Five Grandmasters also rest early!”
Before they could reply, the door was quickly closed.
“This smelly brat…” Hong Fang snorted before letting out a helpless laugh.
“Good, Yang Kai should be fine on his own from here on out,” Du Wan chuckled, “We should also retire.”
The Grandmasters were all seasoned people and naturally understood the pain in Xia Ning Chang’s heart. Them harshly reprimanding Yang Kai just now was mostly to arouse Xia Ning Chang’s sympathy and force her to come out.
Any issues young people had just needed them to open their hearts and discuss to resolve.
Inside the room, after the five Grandmasters drifted away, Yang Kai stared towards Xia Ning Chang with a look of apology.
“I am going to find Su Yan, I came here tonight to tell you,” he said.
“I know!” Xia Ning Chang gently nodded, “I won’t stop you, I’m just a bit reluctant to part.”
Saying so, her crystal clear eyes became misty and she plunged herself into Yang Kai’s arms, burying her head in his chest.
Tears began to wet Yang Kai’s clothes as Xia Ning Chang’s voice came out, “You don’t need to worry about here, just find Su Yan and bring her back.”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded heavily, embracing the beautiful woman tightly, feeling the softness and heat of her body. Yang Kai surprisingly felt not the slightest hint of arousal, only a sense of reluctance and guilt.
Xia Ning Chang seemed to sense his concerns and softly whispered, “You don’t have to feel guilty because I know that if Master had taken me to the Starry Sky, you would also search for me, right?”
“Of course!” Yang Kai tightened his embrace, feeling especially gratified for Little Senior Sister’s understanding.
“I also believe that you will find her,” Xia Ning Chang suddenly raised her head and stared at him with her beautiful crescent-shaped eyes.
“Why?”
“Because you already found us once!” Xia Ning Chang declared firmly, “This time you will certainly not fail. If two people are destined to be together, no matter how far apart they are, no matter how much time passes by, they will inevitably reunite. I used to think so, and now I believe so because in my most hopeless and isolated moment, you…” Speaking until here, Xia Ning Chang’s voice became incredibly quiet, as if she was ashamed to even say her next words.
“What about me?” Yang Kai stared at her intently, a strange smile forming on his lips.
Xia Ning Chang’s face flushed with embarrassment, her eyes sinking slightly as her delicate hands gripped Yang Kai’s clothes and whispered in a nearly inaudible voice, “You appeared like a hero.”
As soon as she spoke these words, Little Senior Sister’s cheeks blushed bright red and her heart began racing, causing her tender body to heat up even further.
She was not the kind of person who would easily reveal their inner thoughts, especially the ones close to her heart. Speaking her true feelings just now was already her limit.
She suddenly recalled the time they traveled together to the Nine Yin Mountain Valley in order to obtain the Nine Yin Yuan Condensing Dew, when she and Yang Kai had suffered an ambush.
Inside that mountain valley, when she fell into mortal danger, Yang Kai had stood tall in front of her, becoming battered and bloody all to protect her.
At that time, his back wasn’t nearly as broad as it was now, even seeming a bit weak and unreliable, but he still stood a firm as a mountain, shielding her from the wind and rain.
From that point on, his figure had quietly been imprinted into her heart, greatly moving her heartstrings.
Every time she thought about to that scene, Xia Ning Chang’s heart filled with a warm sweetness.
After that, for ten years she had been separated from Yang Kai, and as she followed her Master east and west, she had met no shortage of talented young men, heirs of big Sects and families, many of whom expressed their admiration to her without any disguise.
However, she had always remained indifferent, her heart never moving for any of these men.
She was waiting.
And finally, after many years, she achieved her wish.
When her Master had been trapped, unable to escape, and she had been plunged into the depths of desperation and helplessness, that same figure from her memories appeared in front of her again, breaking open the dark clouds that blinded her to all hope and showering her in endless light.
At that moment, she felt that even if she were to immediately die, it would be worth it, such was the excitement and joy that filled her heart.
Today, he was leaving, and what she needed to do was wait.
Waiting calmly and expectantly. Xia Ning Chang felt that she was not lacking in patience. Even if the seas dried up and the mountains crumbled to dust, she would continue to wait.
Suddenly, her body felt light and Xia Ning Chang couldn’t help but shout tenderly. By the time she reacted, she found that she had already been lifted up by Yang Kai’s.
His arms were strong and powerful, making her feel comfortable and safe, as if she was afloat in the most peaceful of harbours, all her weariness and anxiety melting away.
“Junior Brother, what are you doing?” Xia Ning Chang called out tenderly as she noticed that Yang Kai was staring at her with a meaningful smile and walking step by step towards her bed.
Under his soft gaze, Xia Ning Chang felt like she was melting like snow in the early spring.
She was faintly aware of what was happening and her heart began pounding fiercely. Her breathing quickened and an astonishing amount of heat rose from her tender body.
Yang Kai still just smiled meaningfully, causing Xia Ning Chang to involuntarily close her beautiful eyes, bite her lip and tuck her head into his chest, not daring to face him.
Feeling a softness on her back, Xia Ning Chang found herself lying on the bed, the bright moonlight pouring down onto her from the nearby open window.
Yang Kai sat on the edge of the bed and stared at this beautiful scene, his hands gently brushing Little Senior Sister’s hair.
“Little Senior Sister, do you remember that time in High Heaven Pavilion when I went out on a mission and returned at night to find you lying in my bed, fast asleep?” Yang Kai asked suddenly.
Xia Ning Chang opened his eyes slightly and whispered, “That was so long ago, I don’t remember.”
How could she not remember? She was clearly just too ashamed to admit it.
On that day, she had come to deliver a message to Yang Kai. Back then, the two of them weren’t familiar with each other and had never even exchanged greetings before. She had waited inside his small wooden house but Yang Kai never came back.
While she was waiting, she had at some point fallen asleep.
When she awoke, she found Yang Kai standing by the bed, staring at her with an infatuated gaze.
Xia Ning Chang didn’t know when he had come back, but she could still clearly remember that Yang Kai’s eyes at the time contained no obscenity, only admiration.
It seemed like he was unable to bear to wake her from her rest.
“That time was almost exactly the same as right now,” Yang Kai’s voice was soft and his eyes filled with love, “The gentle moonlight shining down on you, the sapphire gem on your forehead reflecting their radiance. At that time, Junior Brother was startled by your beauty. Junior Brother was very envious back then, wondering which lucky man you would choose to be with in the future. How could I have known that lucky man would be me?”
His sincere words filled with tender affection were like a sharp sword which pierced through Little Senior Sister’s defences, causing her to become lost in their honeyed sweetness, unable to extricate herself from this blissful happiness.
Her eyes blurred, and her delicate ears become bright red, a pink flush dying her neck as her heart beats rapidly, a burning flame bursting from her body as she directed a look of anticipation towards Yang Kai, reaching up and wrapping her delicate arms around his neck and gently pulling him towards her.
Her defences broke and she fell to the enemy’s hands in an instant.
Inside the room, atop the soft bed, Xia Ning Chang had fallen into an intoxicated state.
Yang Kai didn’t hadn’t acted aggressively, instead whispering sweet words filled with tender feelings and allowing her to lower all her defences on her own. This made her feel as if she was floating on clouds, fluttering in the wind, her soft body unconsciously swaying to and fro, hot breath leaking from her lips.
Her beautiful eyes became blurred and an immense look of satisfaction appeared on her innocent face.
Yang Kai leaned down and kissed her brow, then the tip of her nose, his movements cautious to the extreme, like he was handling the finest work of art.
Meeting his eyes, her small and delicate ears dyed bright red, Xia Ning Chang softly whispered, “Junior Brother… Before you leave, remember my appearance well.”
Yang Kai was startled for a moment but soon gently nodded.
It had been more than a decade since he had met Xia Ning Chang, but in all that time he had never truly seen his Little Senior Sister’s visage.
At all times, Little Senior Sister would wear her veil, making it impossible for anyone to gaze upon her face.
In the beginning, Yang Kai was also curious about what she looked like, but as time passed, he found himself not caring at all.
Whether she possessed beauty that could destroy a country or a completely ordinary appearance, Little Senior Sister would always be Little Senior Sister, an irreplaceable existence.
She had the purest pair of eyes in the world. That was enough.
Yang Kai had never thought that before his departure, Xia Ning Chang would actually take the initiative to show him. Naturally, he wouldn’t refuse.
In the next moment, Xia Ning Chang gently removed her veil and revealed to him her immaculate appearance.
A gentle breeze blew in from the window, lifting her veil and carrying it to the other side of the bed.
Xia Ning Chang closed her eyes, somewhat nervously lifting her head, allowing Yang Kai to gaze upon her unobstructed face.
Yang Kai stared carefully, his body trembling with shock as a strong light flashed across his eyes.
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, the moment he laid eyes on Xia Ning Chang’s true portrait, he couldn’t help feeling a bit overwhelmed.
The appearance of Little Senior Sister wasn’t the most beautiful Yang Kai had seen. After all, she could be said to be as beautiful as Su Yan or Shan Qing Luo. However, there was something more to her appearance that made it unique on its own.
Su Yan had a noble coldness to her while Shan Qing Luo exuded seductiveness meanwhile; Little Senior Sister gave off a pure, holy temperament.
It was as if more than two decades of life had not left a single trace of dust upon her body or soul.
A delicate porcelain nose, with lightly blushing cheeks and two petal-like lips. No trace of cosmetics adorned or was necessary for her tender, snow-white skin which glistened like the finest jade.
Each one of these facets was similar to those of other great beauties, exquisite and flawless.
But when these pure, pristine features were combined together, an unexpected result occurred.
Her sacredness and innocence intertwined, causing Yang Kai to feel as if the beautiful young woman before him was inviolable and aloof from the mortal world.
Yang Kai had travelled far and wide for many years and seen no shortage of beautiful women, but none had ever given him as intense an impact from their image alone as Xia Ning Chang.
The moment he saw her true appearance, Yang Kai’s heart was filled with an impulse that was difficult to suppress.
He wished he could embrace Xia Ning Chang so tightly that their bodies became one so she could never leave his side again.
As this thought washed over him, Yang Kai had to force himself to take a deep breath and firmly suppress it, his expression turning solemn.
He was not a man without self-restraint; on the contrary, he was quite adept at controlling his actions and emotions.
Yet he still had such thoughts.
Yang Kai didn’t know just how intense of a reaction other men would have if they were to see Xia Ning Chang’s face.
“Master said long ago… I mustn’t expose my face easily, so I have been wearing a veil all these years,” Xia Ning Chang whispered softly, her cheeks blushing bright red under Yang Kai’s intense gaze, clearly somewhat embarrassed still.
“Treasurer Meng was right,” Yang Kai nodded repeatedly while brushing his hand through Xia Ning Chang’s silky hair, leaning in even closer to her as he softly said, “I think most men who see will you have one of two thoughts.”
“What two thoughts?” Xia Ning Chang was dreadfully ashamed but couldn’t repress her curiosity and asked.
“Protect or violate!”
Protect her innocence and keep her ignorant of worldly affairs, or dye her purity in their own colour, forever destroying her sacredness. Any man would feel a great sense of accomplishment from either of these acts.
The combination of these contradictory ideas would undoubtedly bring a great deal of unnecessary trouble to Xia Ning Chang.
“Then Junior Brother, what about you?” Xia Ning Chang suddenly found her courage and stared directly into Yang Kai’s eyes. Asking about her beloved’s true thoughts was a matter of great concern!
She couldn’t care less about anyone else’s thoughts, all she wanted to know was what Yang Kai felt.
“Me?” Yang Kai grinned evilly, “Junior Brother is part of the majority.”
Saying so, he leaned over all the way and lightly kissed Little Senior Sister’s red lips.
“Em…” Xia Ning Chang’s tender body suddenly tensed up as her beautiful eyes opened wide. It was like her Soul had received a devastating attack, causing her to lose all control over her body, immobilizing her to the point where she couldn’t even think straight, much less talk.
However, all that was soon overwhelmed by great happiness and satisfaction.
She slowly closed her eyes and enjoyed this long-awaited, intoxicating moment, her heart beating as strongly as a drum in her tight chest.
As Yang Kai gently kissed her, his hands reached out and slipped inside Little Senior Sister’s dress, finding their way to her two flawless peaks and gently began kneading them, indulging in their astonishing elasticity and dream-like softness, feeling the incredible heat that rose from them as he pinched and massaged their jade tips.
Little Senior Sister’s panting became even fiercer as a tingling sensation flooded her chest every time Yang Kai’s strong hands caressed her supple flesh.
This tingling did not cause her any kind of discomfort, but instead stimulated her nerves and sent shocks through her soul, filling her with feelings of comfort and bliss.
She couldn’t help wanting time to freeze in this moment and never flow on.
*Cila…*
As her clothes were untied, Xia Ning Chang’s tender body trembled.
With the many times she had been ‘asleep’ around Yang Kai and Su Yan, she knew all about the matters between men and women, and exactly what came next after her dress had been removed.
Her clothes became disordered and her breathing became short.
Under the pale moonlight, Little Senior Sister’s exquisite figure shimmered like the finest jade. Yang Kai took his time gazing at this divine creation, engraving everything about it into the deepest depths of his soul.
He continued to kiss and caress, plucking at Xia Ning Chang’s taut heartstrings.
He was determined to leave Little Senior Sister with the most perfect, most unforgettable night of her life.
With his departure on the horizon, this was the only thing he could do for his Little Senior Sister. Therefore he refused to leave behind any kind of unpleasantness or regrets for her.
The sheets gradually grew wet as Little Senior Sister lost all ability to think for herself, her desires unconsciously leaking from her lips in between her gasps and moans, her tender body writhing back and forth as her skin glowed a pinkish hue from top to bottom.
Yang Kai gathered his strength and began his assault on the enemy’s last line of defence.
His gentle movements soon growing vigorous.
The entire Holy Master Court seemed to be shrouded in an aura of spring, the breath of life filling the air as flowers blossomed one after another…
Outside the Holy Master Court, a pretty shadow quietly stood, a pair of beautiful eyes filled with complex emotions staring forward.
Another shadow slowly approached. It was An Ling’er who was carrying a small lantern with her, but the previous shadow remained unaware of her arrival until An Ling’er lightly coughed, waking her from her stupor and causing her to jump like a frightened rabbit, her pretty face immediately blushing bright red.
“Ms Qiu, are you still not resting at such a late hour?” An Ling’er looked at Qiu Yi Meng suspiciously, not knowing why she was standing here.
“Oh… I was about to rest,” Qiu Yi Meng stealthily shot a glance in the direction of the Holy Master Court and hurriedly replied.
“Do you have something you need to discuss with Holy Master?” An Ling’er quickly saw some clues from her behaviour and smiled thoughtfully, “If there is any matter you need to see him for, you should go on in. You’re not an outsider, after all. He shouldn’t be asleep yet.”
“N… no…” Qiu Yi Meng quickly waved her hands, “I… I didn’t come here for him… I just… came here to see the stars!”
“To look at the stars?” An Ling’er looked up at the sky for a moment before letting out a giggle, “It’s a bright moon tonight, there aren’t many stars to see.”
Qiu Yi Meng’s pretty face blushed an even brighter shade of red.
“Holy Master will probably be leaving tomorrow, and there’s no way to know how long it will be before he returns. If you miss this opportunity, I don’t know when the next one will appear. What is there to hesitate about, Ms. Qiu?” An Ling’er had seemingly seen through Qiu Yi Meng’s hearts and couldn’t help giving her a little push.
“I really didn’t come here for him,” Qiu Yi Meng spoke with embarrassment.
An Ling’er continued to smile meaningfully and was just about to say something when suddenly a strange sound reached her ear, causing her brow to wrinkle as she concentrated her hearing.
Qiu Yi Meng also took notice and cupped her ear in an attempt to identify the sound.
A moment later, the faces of the two women became crimson red as they exchanged an flustered glance.
“Ahem…” An Ling’er lightly coughed, “The night wind is nice, so I’ll accompany Ms. Qiu here to see the stars.”
An Ling’er was too embarrassed to return back to the Holy Master Court so she took the initiative to sit down at a nearby table and looked up at the sky.
Qiu Yi Meng nodded and quickly sat down next to her.
The two young ladies didn’t say a word, allowing them to hear the violent beating of their own hearts as well as the intermittent sounds coming from behind them that seemed to penetrate straight into the ears, making them feel incredibly uncomfortable and involuntarily clamp their legs together while their bodies squirmed gently.
“Hehe… such wonderful weather today,” An Ling’er spoke some meaningless words.
“Indeed,” Qiu Yi Meng absent-mindedly nodded and agreed.
The muffled sounds grew clearer and louder with each passing moment, causing the two young women to feel as if a flame had been lit in their lower abdomens while the cold night wind blowing past their slender legs sent chills up their spines. The mixture of hot and cold made them feel as if their bodies had suddenly become far more sensitive than before.
“I really couldn’t have imagined it!” An Ling’er suddenly declared with a speechless look upon her face.
“Couldn’t imagine what?” Qiu Yi Meng turned to her and asked.
“That always quiet, reserved girl, calling out so intensely…”
“Hehe…” Qiu Yi Meng didn’t know how to respond.
“Aren’t you going in?” An Ling’er bit her red lips and suddenly asked, “Now is the perfect time, nothing would need to be said.”
“Ah…” Qiu Yi Meng was shocked and blushed bashfully, “How could that be alright?”
“What need is there to be embarrassed now? If I were you, I’d rush in right now and teach him a lesson!” An Ling’er needled, anxious to stir up trouble.
“No way!” Qiu Yi Meng waved her hands frantically, “I couldn’t possibly do that.”
Acting like a jealous beggar, pleading for the love of another, Qiu Yi Meng couldn’t bring herself to act so shamefully.
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll fully support you. If you pass by this village there won’t be another with the same store after it,” An Ling’er continued to be whisper devilish temptations.
Qiu Yi Meng seemed to be wavering, but after carefully thinking for a moment, she suddenly shook her head, stood up and declared, “I’ll wait for him to return. When he comes back next time… I won’t let him off! Goodnight, Ms An. I’ll be heading back first to rest.”
“Ah, hey, don’t just leave me here…” An Ling’er raised her hands to stop Qiu Yi Meng but the latter had already disappeared.
All alone now, heavy breathing and stimulating moans floated into An Ling’er’s ears, causing her to bite her lip hard and shrink her body up, covering her ears with her hands as she cursed under her breath, cursing Yang Kai to never be able to go forth into battle again and for tonight to be the last meal he ever eats…
The next day, Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang walked out of the Holy Master Court, side by side.
Outside, there were many people standing around, the leaders of the all the forces from the Great Han Dynasty, the Yang Family brothers and Elders, the leaders and Elders of the Holy Land, the Ancient Demon Clan’s Great Commanders, thirty or so Saint Grade Alchemists, The Old Man of Heaven’s Keep Li Rui and Di Yao…
All of them seemed to have been waiting for Yang Kai to appear.
Seeing him coming out from inside, everyone’s vision instantly fixed onto the pair, meaningful grins appearing on all their faces.
Xia Ning Chang’s face could not have been redder as she quickly hid behind Yang Kai’s back, her walking posture somewhat unnatural.
No matter who it was, they could see that Xia Ning Chang was practically glowing now and that there was a glamorous aura about her that was not there before, as if she had received a great moisturizing from something.
Everyone was a seasoned master here and was well aware of what had transpired.
Yang Kai let out a great laugh and cupped his fists said, “Why has everyone gathered here so suddenly?”
“To see you off!” Old Man Li took a step forward and said, “You said you would be leaving today.”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded, “Many thanks to all of you.”
“No need for superfluous words. Be careful out there, if the matters may not be, return as soon as possible!” Old Man Li said concisely.
“Junior will bear that in mind,” Yang Kai sincerely nodded.
Yang Ying Feng and Dong Su Zhu both walked up, the latter repeatedly cautioning her son about various things, to which Yang Kai promised to heed her warnings one by one.
“Little brat, you must come back safely. Ning Chang, more than anyone here, does not wish for anything to happen to you,” Meng Wu Ya lowered his voice and whispered into Yang Kai’s ear.
“I know,” Yang Kai solemnly promised, “I won’t make Little Senior Sister sad.”
“I wish you success,” Meng Wu Ya took a deep breath and declared.
Hearing the goodbyes from all friends and family, as well as their well wishes and words of concern, Yang Kai felt warmth from the bottom of his heart.
Entrusting the Holy Land to the various Elders and then bidding farewell to Li Rong and the others again, Yang Kai finished arranging everything he had to then gently kissed Little Senior Sister on her forehead and whispered his eternal love for her into her ear before he summoned out his Star Shuttle and disappeared in a blue streak of light.
He was embarking on a new journey.
Everyone waved goodbye to him in front of the Holy Master Court.
Waiting until Yang Kai’s figure disappeared, Yu Ying let out a faint sigh and comforted, “Ling’er, don’t cry. Holy Master will definitely come back.”
“Who’s crying?” An Ling’er wore a genuinely confused look.
“Why are your eyes so red then?” Yu Ying laughed lightly, thinking she was too embarrassed to admit the truth.
“My eyes are red because…” An Ling’er opened her mouth and began to explain but thinking about what happened last night, she really couldn’t bring herself to continue.
Glancing over at the innocent-looking veiled girl who had tears streaming down her face, An Ling’er silently expressed her deepest admirations!
Last night, she had spent the entire night outside the Holy Master Court staring at the stars…
The spirit and strength of those two were simply astonishing, but what was most shocking was that even though Ms Xia had clearly not slept a wink, she seemed to be the very picture of health and radiance.
For the life of her, An Ling’er couldn’t understand why.
A few days after Yang Kai set out, the Ancient Demon Clan also left Nine Heavens Holy Land and went to the Demon Land under the leadership of Li Rong and the other Great Commanders in accordance with her previous agreement with Zhang Yuan.
Old Demon followed suit!
After all, he too belonged to the Demon Race now, and only in the Demon Land could he have the best possible cultivation environment. On top of that, he was a peculiar case where it was all but certain that in less than twenty years he would reach the Third Order Saint Realm and become another Demon General.
The Hu Sisters also left from the former War Spirit Temple site and travelled to Twin Spirit Pavilion for further study.
Meng Wu Ya settled down in Nine Heavens Holy Land, becoming its grand protector.
Inside the former domain of War Spirit Temple, the Great Han cultivators made use of the abundant resources from Nine Heavens Holy Land to diligently cultivate themselves.
The nearly thirty Saint Grade Alchemists now essentially regarded Nine Heavens Holy Land as the headquarters of the Alchemist Guild, none of them showing any willingness to leave because Old Man Li had announced that from now on he and his apprentice would stop roaming the world and settle in the Holy Land.
Old Man Li also became the honorary Chief Alchemist of Nine Heavens Holy Land.
With Old Man Li and Xia Ning Chang both there, how could the other Saint Grade Alchemists bear to leave? All of them continuously found one excuse or another to stay behind.
In an instant, Nine Heavens Holy Land became the most powerful and influential force in the world, completely eclipsing any other Sect or Family.
Everyone entered a period of stable prosperity.
…..
The Starry Sky was vast and endless.
Amidst the cold, dark, Star Field, Yang Kai’s Star Shuttle soared forward.
He had come to the Starry Sky from the Void Corridor above Ice Sect’s former site because Ice Sect’s Sect Master, Qing Ya, had come to the Starry Sky with Su Yan from there, so he had hoped to discover some clues by following their trail.
Unfortunately, he failed to discover anything.
He didn’t know where he should go or whether he would be able to encounter any other living beings, the only thing he was certain of was that there were others out here amongst the vast Starry Sky.
The Bone Race had managed to find Tong Xuan Realm many thousands of years ago.
Yang Kai hoped that one day, as long as he kept going, he would be able to discover some traces of life.
The Star Shuttle’s blue hue flashed through the endless Starry Sky, its thin protective shield tightly covering Yang Kai and blocking out the destructive power of the Starry Sky.
Without this Star Shuttle, Yang Kai wouldn’t have been able to travel too far into the Starry Sky as he would have to constantly consume his own strength to resist the omnipresent Starry Sky pressure.
The strength he needed to consume to operate the Star Shuttle was definitely a lot smaller than the alternative!
Yang Kai didn’t know how long he had drifted through the Starry Sky, but his First Order Saint Realm cultivation had long ago been consolidated, so he had begun to spend his idle time cultivating while operating his Star Shuttle.
So far, he had not made any special discoveries.
His experience was actually quite similar to that of Great Demon God’s initial foray into the Starry Sky, encountering Starry Sky Storms and Asteroid Seas.
However, he had yet to encounter any trace of life.
Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling somewhat dispirited, wondering if continuing this blind exploration would ever yield any results.
Perhaps he would become lost in this Star Field forever and die all alone of old age.
But despite these negative thoughts, he was not prepared to retreat because Su Yan was still somewhere out here in this Star Field.
One day, while he was idle, Yang Kai took out the Demon Mystic Tome and quietly began examining it while allowing the Star Shuttle to simply fly forward.
Since obtaining this Demon Mystic Tome, his life had undergone unimaginable changes, and Yang Kai knew that all his current achievements were inextricably linked to this Demon Mystic Tome.
From this ancient book, he had obtained the Unyielding Golden Skeleton, the Demon Eye of Annihilation, and the inheritance of Great Demon God.
Great Demon God had seemingly arranged a set path for his successor’s life before he died.
But now, Yang Kai had finally embarked on Great Demon God’s greatest unfulfilled adventure, exploring the Starry Sky.
From this moment on, he had leapt out of the arrangements made by Great Demon God and flown off into the beyond.
Yang Kai firmly believed that in the near future, he would exceed Great Demon God and accomplish what he had failed to do in the past, fulfilling the ritual of disciple surpassing master.
“Em…” During his contemplations, Yang Kai suddenly discovered something and knit his brow as he stared at the Demon Mystic Tome.
He found that from all directions, light from the surrounding stars was transforming into thing rays of energy and being drawn into the interior of the Demon Mystic Tome.
At the same time, the Divine Tree which still resided inside the Demon Mystic Tome sent him a Divine Sense Message.
Receiving this message, Yang Kai nodded in response, “I’ll come in immediately.”
Saying so, Yang Kai sent his Soul Avatar into the Demon Mystic Tome and was greeted by the scene of numerous rays of starlight drifting towards a certain location.
Unexpectedly, these rays destination was the two mysterious pitch-black round stones.
These two pitch-black round stones were the source of much confusion for Yang Kai; to this day he still didn’t even know what they were.
They had extracted the essence of a large number of precious ores and their surfaces had developed patterns which resembled human meridians. They had also begun to rhythmically pulse.
It was like they were somehow alive!
At this moment, the ambient energy in the Starry Sky was being absorbed by the two pitch-black round stones.
After absorbing the power of the stars, the lines on their surfaces became both clearer and more distinct while the pulsing sensation they gave off also gradually increased.
“I think they really are alive,” The Divine Tree suddenly said; it had stayed in the Demon Mystic Tome this whole time and had been able to carefully observe the two pitch-black round stones, thus giving it a better understanding of them than Yang Kai. “They give off feeling very similar to the Shimmering Moon Grass!”
“You mean, they are also World Spirit Treasures?” Yang Kai raised his eyebrows.
“I’m not sure. Do you want to cut them apart and find out?” Divine Tree proposed.
“There’s still no need for that, if they really are World Spirit Treasures, it would be too wasteful to cut them open,” Yang Kai shook his head, “In any case, it seems they’re still undergoing changes so just continue to monitor them for now. If something out of place happens, tell me immediately.”
“Got it,” The Divine Tree responded.
Regardless of what these objects really were, Yang Kai believed that as long as he waited patiently, he would eventually discover the truth.
As such, Yang Kai didn’t rush to take back the Demon Mystic Tome and instead left it out so it could absorb more Starry Sky energy to satisfy the two pitch-black round stones.
Yang Kai continued forward.
One day, in front of him, another energy storm appeared, this one extremely vast in scope.
Yang Kai’s brow wrinkled, circulating his Saint Qi quietly and preparing to resist the oncoming danger.
Since he stepped into the Starry Sky, this kind of situation had become commonplace. Unlike when he broke through to the Transcendent Realm and had barely survived the Starry Sky Storm, his physique and strength were much higher and he was now able to essentially ignore them.
When the storm hit, Yang Kai maintained his Star Shuttle’s calm and leisurely forward pace.
Countless big and small asteroids which had been caught up in the storm added to its destructive power.
Suddenly, a certain asteroid caught Yang Kai’s eyes and he swiftly flew over it. After carefully scrutinizing it for a while, his body began to tremble as a look of excitement flashed across his face.
Standing atop this asteroid, Yang Kai’s expression brightened as he began sweeping his eyes over his surroundings.
Everywhere he looked, he saw traces left behind by other cultivators!
In other words, on its surface, this asteroid had trace of life!
Yang Kai was overwhelmed with excitement. When he began his journey, he was completely blind, with no idea where he should be heading. However, now that he had finally found a clue, it was only natural for his spirits to rise.
His gaze became sharp and firm, no longer containing any of the gloom they just had as he began to carefully investigate these traces.
This asteroid was a large as a mountain and had many smaller asteroids floating about it nearby. Clearly, these asteroids had come from some Asteroid Sea somewhere and had been brought here under the influence of the Starry Sky storm.
There were many pits and ridges on this huge asteroid which were not naturally formed; instead, they seemed to be left behind by sharp cuts and strong impacts, many of them similar to marks that would be made by sword slashes.
Someone had fought here!
Yang Kai clearly understood this and, inferring from the traces left behind, this fight had not taken place long ago, somewhere between a few days and a few months before. Otherwise, these traces would have been smoothed out or erased by the violent Starry Sky Storm already.
Yang Kai could almost picture the scene of this battle, but what surprised him the most was that the strength of those who fought here didn’t seem too high.
This knowledge allowed him to further relax; he had been worried that the first people he would encounter out here would be powerful masters.
Staring out beyond the Starry Sky Storm, Yang Kai attempted to peer deeper into the Starry Sky, immediately afterwards engaging his Star Shuttle to quickly fly in the opposite direction the storm was moving.
The Starry Sky Storm had come from that direction, which meant that whoever it was that had found on this asteroid might still be over there somewhere.
Although the chances were small, it was worth a try.
Yang Kai flew forward, releasing his Divine Sense to its maximum extent, not missing a single asteroid that passed by him.
From these asteroids, he really discovered some additional clues, and from these signs, he determined that he was indeed getting closer and closer to the people he was tracking.
Yang Kai pushed his Star Shuttle even faster.
After searching around in the darkness for an unknown amount of time, a bright light appeared in Yang Kai’s eyes.
In front of Yang Kai, a new piece of this vast Star Field entered his view.
The sector of the Star Field was filled with countless beautiful shining stars that seemed to exude a rich aura. It was as if he had arrived at a different side of the Star Field, this one filled with warmth and life while the previous one contained nothing but dark silence, the two diametrically opposite one another.
Innumerable large and small stars had been born in this Star Field since ancient times, each of them in motion, forming a myriad of patterns as they seemingly rotated around some central point.
Colourful rays of light filled this section of the Star Field.
Some of these stars burned extremely brightly, emitting a rich, scalding hot strength. Yang Kai had no doubt that the power contained in these stars was enough to force anyone to draw back without even getting close.
Anyone who did approach too close would certainly be reduced to ash.
This burning power poured into Yang Kai’s body and gave him an incredible sense of satisfaction and comfort; it was the purest Yang Attribute strength.
Other stars appeared extremely cold, like they were entirely composed of the most profound ice, sending out a deep chill that created a visible domain several thousand times greater in radius than the stars themselves.
This domain seemed to be filled with a chill capable of freezing the entire universe.
Still, other stars were deep green in colour and appeared very different from the others nearby. With great rounded tops, they seemed closer to umbrellas in shape than anything else, almost like gigantic trees which exuded rich Wood Attribute Strength.
They were like massive trees standing proudly in the Starry Sky.
Yang Kai was dazzled by this sight and couldn’t help staring around blankly.
He had finally seen with his own eyes the splendours of this Star Field.
The unquantifiable amount of energy being released from these different stars gathered together in this place and filled this stretch of Star Field with an incomparably rich aura.
Any Holy Land or Paradise in Tong Xuan Realm would be completely insignificant compared to this place.
Cultivating here for a year would be equivalent to cultivating anywhere else for several tens of years.
Yang Kai’s pores involuntarily opened and as he closed his eyes, greedily absorbing the surrounding World Energy and causing his physique to shiver while his expression filled with happiness.
Yang Kai even felt an urge to enter secluded retreat here. Although he knew that this idea was somewhat impractical, he really couldn’t bear to give up on the rich World Energy here.
As he was immersed in such thoughts, his Divine Sense, which he had constantly been releasing, suddenly noticed signs of someone entering the range of his detection.
Yang Kai’s swiftly withdraw his Divine Sense and opened his eyes, turning his gaze towards the direction he had sensed the disturbance with a look of pleasant surprise.
He had discovered another party, while they had discovered him; Yang Kai could tell this because the moment he took back his Divine Sense, he senses two other Divine Senses which weren’t inferior to his own reach out.
Two people! Moreover, their gap in cultivation levels was not too far. They were only around the Second Or Third-Order Saint Realm.
In this vast Star Field, two people he had casually bumped into actually turned out to be Saint Realm cultivators. Yang Kai couldn’t help letting out a meaningful sigh, but the other side’s cultivation also made him feel relieved because even if these two people harboured hostile intentions, he would at least have the strength to resist.
Without hesitation, Yang Kai steered his Star Shuttle towards these two strangers and flew over to them.
After finally bumping into two people, Yang Kai naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to inquire about some information. It would be best if he could find the location of someplace nearby where people gathered and lived.
To his surprise, when he began approaching these two, the other party seemed to also be flying quickly towards him.
This discovery made Yang Kai feel slightly vigilant.
With their cultivation realms, they should have already noticed his strength, and if they had ill intentions, this is exactly the course of action they would take.
Yang Kai didn’t withdraw though and instead just raised his vigilance while continuing to approach this unknown party because he urgently needed to obtain directions.
A moment later, a blue light appeared in front of Yang Kai, similar to the light of his own Star Shuttle.
Yang Kai came to a halt and stared towards the blue light which had stopped in front of him, in the next moment seeing two pairs of bright, beautiful eyes staring back at him.
It was only now that Yang Kai discovered that the ones who had entered the range of his Divine Sense were actually a pair of young women.
Both of them were dressed in matching white robes and shared the same refined temperament and good looks. The pair had graceful figures and rich curves which were emphasized by their tight clothes. On their chests, over their hearts, was a sword symbol, indicating they belonged to the same force.
The two of them were riding a single Star Shuttle.
After sweeping his eyes over them once, Yang Kai secretly nodded, confirming that what the Bone Race leader Ke Luo had told him was true. In the Star Field, Star Shuttles weren’t rare. This fast flight type artifact was clearly quite common.
However, the young women’s Star Shuttle was obviously significantly higher grade than his. Both the materials it was refined from and the energy fluctuations it gave off were vastly superior to Yang Kai’s Star Shuttle.
[So, Star Shuttles came in all kinds of different grades!] Yang Kai secretly thought to himself, putting on his best harmless to humans and animals appearance as he nodded to the two young women and greeted, “Hello!”
The woman standing in front gently nodded back, her pretty face staring at Yang Kai with a hint of caution; however, seeing that Yang Kai’s cultivation was far lower than theirs, she wasn’t in any way flustered.
On the other hand, the woman who stood behind her, who appeared to be a bit younger, was curiously examining Yang Kai, sweeping her eyes over him unscrupulously.
“Elder Sister, is he one of that side’s people?” The little beauty whispered, “Why haven’t I seen him before?”
“His cultivation is too low, he shouldn’t be one of them,” The big beauty standing in front of her shook her head slowly, “But be careful.”
“En,” The little beauty nodded repeatedly.
“Hello,” The big beauty in front returned Yang Kai’s greeting before continuing, “We have no malicious intent, we simply wanted to ask you for a favour, so please don’t be too anxious.”
“Oh?” Yang Kai raised his brow and smiled, “I’m not anxious, in fact, I also wanted to ask for your help.”
“You also want help from us?” The big beauty frowned slightly.
“En,” Yang Kai maintained his smile, “Since everyone has their own needs, why don’t we help each other? Of course, only within the limits of our respective abilities without forcing the other against their will.”
Yang Kai was loathing to be in other’s debt so the opposite party’s words were really a blessing to him.
The big beauty turned her head and whispered something to the little beauty behind her, a moment later turning around and nodding, “Agreed.”
“You go first, what do you want my help with?” Yang Kai took the initiative to offer as he was currently in a very good mood.
“Can you let us copy your Star Chart?” The big beauty asked.
“Star Chart?” Yang Kai heard these words and was confused, “What’s a Star Chart?”
“What else could a Star Chart be but a Star Chart?” The big beauty’s brow wrinkled, thinking that Yang Kai’s words were somewhat muddled, “You don’t have a Star Chart?”
Yang Kai shook his head.
“Who are you trying to fool?” The little beauty standing at the back of the Star Shuttle shouted, “How could you come here without a Star Chart? Don’t think that because we’re women you can bully us so easily.”
Letting out a cute snort, she glared back at Yang Kai and waved her small fist threateningly, seemingly having determined that Yang Kai was lying to them.
“I’m not trying to bully you,” Yang Kai was astonished.
“Hmph, you don’t have the skill to bully us anyways, you’d best be careful not to anger me or I’ll beat you up, snatch your Star Chart, and leave you here to fend for yourself,” The little girl snorted.
“He Miao!” The big beauty scolded lightly.
The little beauty simply grinned, “Elder Sister, he looks suspicious and is obviously spouting a bunch of lies; maybe he really is one of those people and is just here to delay us.”
Listening to her say this, the big beauty’s expression became even more vigilant as she stared deeply at Yang Kai and said, “I don’t care if you are one of their people or not, I only want your Star Chart right now. I’ll buy it from you! Is ten Low-Rank Saint Crystals enough?”
Saying so, the bracelet on her wrist flashed and ten shimmering Saint Crystals appeared in her hand.
“Elder Sister, we don’t have many Saint Crystals left,” The little beauty exclaimed, her pretty eyes filled with a look of anxiety, as if these ten Low-Rank Saint Crystals were her most precious treasure.
Yang Kai looked calm on the surface but in his heart was shocked.
Not because the other party had so easily brought out ten pieces of Saint Crystal, but because of the bracelet worn by the big beauty.
If he was not mistaken, that bracelet should be a storage artifact!
In Tong Xuan Realm, Universe Bags were the common type of storage artifacts.
Only the Great Commanders of the Ancient Demon Clan possessed Space Rings which were refined by Great Demon God from some three leftover pieces of soulstone.
The value of these three rings was many times greater than that of a Universe Bag.
However, the first person Yang Kai had met out in the Star Field actually had a bracelet type storage artifact, and without a doubt the value of this bracelet was no less than the rings of the Ancient Demon Clan, perhaps even greater.
Could it be that in this vast Star Field, storage artifacts were common just like Star Shuttles?
Yang Kai quietly examined the little beauty’s wrist but didn’t discover a similar bracelet; instead, on her figure, he found a ring which gave off the same energy fluctuations as the big beauty’s bracelet.
Sure enough, she too had a higher grade storage artifact than a Universe Bag.
However, what puzzled Yang Kai was the material these storage artifacts were refined from was not soul stone, but some other unknown ore.
“What are you staring at? Acting all sneaky is really quite hateful,” He Miao noticed Yang Kai’s eyes staring and mistakenly thought he was harbouring improper thoughts, causing her to call him out on it.
“Sorry,” Yang Kai took back his gaze and shook his head, “I really don’t know what a Star Chart is, I’ve never heard of it before.”
“Never heard of it?” This time even the big beauty showed a look of distrust, a hint of anger even appearing on her pretty face.
“Elder Sister, don’t talk nonsense with him, if we linger here too long our whereabouts might be exposed. Just snatch his Star Chart quickly so we can leave here. He’s just a First Order Saint, he’s not our opponent.”
The look on the big beauty’s face began to waver, but she did not immediately take action, seemingly still hesitant.
She was obviously not someone who easily resorted to violence.
“Wait!” Yang Kai raised his hand and said, “Shouldn’t you at least explain to me what a Star Chart is? I really haven’t heard of it.”
Seeing the serious look on Yang Kai’s face, the big beauty couldn’t help grumbling under her breath.
Although Yang Kai’s words were too unbelievable, going this far for such a ridiculous lie was simply unthinkable; on top of that, she didn’t notice any unusual Soul fluctuations while he was speaking just now.
“Where are you from?” The big beauty asked hesitantly.
“Can I not say?” Yang Kai frowned, he had come to the Star Field alone to first find Su Yan and second to find a way forward for Tong Xuan Realm.
Compared with the vast Star Field, Tong Xuan Realm was too underdeveloped, if its location was exposed, it may very well draw the covetous eyes of some powerful master.
Therefore, Yang Kai didn’t want to mention Tong Xuan Realm’s name if possible.
“I can only say I am from a very small and remote place,” Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders.
“A lower world?” The big beauty’s delicate brow rose slightly, somewhat believing Yang Kai’s words. Only those from lower worlds wouldn’t know what a Star Chart was.
“En,” Yang Kai took advantage of her words.
“If you don’t mind, can you let me see your Star Shuttle?” The big beauty asked.
“Sure, why not?” Yang Kai smiled, using his Divine Sense to send the Star Shuttle under his feet over to the big beauty.
Yang Kai remained standing where he was.
Although their contact was very short and only a few words had been exchanged, making it impossible for Yang Kai to completely grasp the nature of these two women, he believed they weren’t unreasonable people. If they were, with the outward disparity in their cultivations, they wouldn’t have bothered talking to him and simply attacked straight away.
From their perspective, there wouldn’t have been a need for words.
The big beauty gently lifted her hand and received the Star Shuttle, the two sisters observing Yang Kai’s flight type artifact for only a moment before their eyes widened with shock.
Both pairs of beautiful eyes shifted to Yang Kai and flashed an amazed light.
Yang Kai looked himself over but didn’t find anything out of the ordinary, not understanding why these two young women were staring at him so awkwardly.
“Elder Sister, this person doesn’t have the protection of a Star Shuttle and didn’t even summon a defensive artifact, so why is he fine under the pressure from the Starry Sky? Isn’t he just a First Order Saint?” He Miao whispered her doubts.
“He also isn’t circulating his Saint Qi…” The big beauty was also quite shocked, “Is his physique simply that powerful?”
“Could he be hiding his cultivation? Is he actually a Saint King Realm master or higher?” He Miao thought of a possibility, her pretty face going pale as she spoke them out.
“It doesn’t seem like it…”
The two sisters whispered back and forth, concealing their voices from Yang Kai, who after a while couldn’t bear it anymore and called out, “Are you finished yet?”
The big beauty was startled and only then remembered that she was holding onto Yang Kai’s Star Shuttle. Quickly releasing her Divine Sense, she began to inspect the inside of the Star Shuttle but soon after shook her head with a look of disappointment.
After returning the Star Shuttle to Yang Kai, the big beauty wore a confused look and asked, “How did you manage to arrive here without a Star Chart?”
“In a nearby Asteroid Sea I discovered some traces of life and after following them, I ended up here,” Yang Kai explained.
“Your courage is quite big!” The big beauty couldn’t help expressing some admiration, “Your luck is also quite good, to think you actually managed to travel all the way out here with a damaged Star Shuttle.”
“Damaged?” Yang Kai was stunned, “It’s quite easy to use, how is it damaged?”
“You don’t know about Star Charts, so I can’t really explain it to you,” The big beauty faintly sighed.
“En,” Yang Kai didn’t force the issue and just let out a chuckle, “It seems you’re willing to believe me. En, even though I wasn’t able to assist you, I suppose it’s my turn to ask you for help.”
The big beauty however just shook her head, “If you want us to give you directions, I’m afraid we’ll have to disappoint you, we can’t help you.”
She seemed to understand what Yang Kai wanted help with and spoke in advance.
Yang Kai’s expression sank.
“Because we’ve been lost here for a long time,” The big beauty said slightly awkwardly.
“That’s why we asked you for your Star Chart,” The little beauty, He Miao, interjected, “With a proper Star Chart, we would be able to leave this place. How could we have known that inside your Star Shuttle there was no Star Chart at all.”
“You’re also lost?” Yang Kai suddenly wanted to laugh. He had gone through untold hardships to arrive here from Tong Xuan Realm, and when he finally met two living people and felt his luck had finally turned for the better, it turned out that the two of them were actually no different from him.
However, listening to these two’s words, Yang Kai was still able to obtain some useful information.
A Star Chart was probably a kind of map cultivators used to navigate the Starry Sky or the Star Field, and the storage location for these Star Charts was definitely inside one’s Star Shuttle.
Yang Kai suddenly recalled that when he was refining the Star Shuttle, he had seen a vast Starry Sky inside the Star Shuttle, as if it had been reduced countless times over and placed inside it.
“En, we also became lost, what’s so funny about it?” The big beauty saw the corners of Yang Kai’s lips curl upwards and became somewhat angry out of shame.
Yang Kai quickly adjusted his expression and asked, “How did you become lost?”
“The Star Chart in our Star Shuttle was damaged, so we can’t find the appropriate direction to go. This is a fatal problem for any cultivator flying through the Star Field. If our Star Chart had become damaged somewhere else, we might still be able to find our way back, but in this place, it’s different.”
“Why is it different here?”
“Looking at your ignorant expression, you really don’t know anything about the Star Field,” The big beauty muttered somewhat impatiently, apparently not prepared to explain any further to Yang Kai, instead just stretching out her jade finger, condensing a wisp of white light and sending it over to him.
“Look over it yourself, I’ve included some basic common sense things in it. I hope you find a way out, so goodbye.” Saying so, she activated her Star Shuttle and flew away.
He Miao, who stood behind her Elder Sister, made a face towards Yang Kai just before the two sisters disappeared into the distance.
Yang Kai shook his head wryly but didn’t try to stop them.
Since they were also lost, there wasn’t any point in asking them for directions.
Absorbing the white light he received from the big beauty into his Knowledge Sea, Yang Kai began examining it.
This wisp of light was a package of Spiritual Energy which carried some information inside it, but there wasn’t much.
However, to the current Yang Kai, this little bit of information was still extremely precious.
Among this information were details about the role of Star Charts. As Yang Kai had guessed, a Star Chart was indeed a road map to guide cultivators flying through the Starry Sky.
When a cultivator wanted to fly from one world to another, crossing an incredibly vast distance, they would purchase an appropriate Star Chart. Each Star Chart was different as they were manufactured from the Spiritual Energy of experts in this field.
These purchased Star Charts could be stored inside one’s Star Shuttle, and a cultivator only needed to circulate their Qi and Spiritual Energy to activate it, allowing their Star Shuttle to safely follow the route depicted in the Star Chart, avoiding many potential dangers. With a proper Star Chart, there wasn’t even any need for a cultivator to manual change steer their Star Shuttle, as it would simply move forward automatically according to the laid out route.
The Star Chart inside a Star Shuttle could be replaced, and erased.
These were just some of the wondrous uses a Star Chart had.
Yang Kai immediately realized the importance of Star Charts and understood why the two sisters had wanted to copy his.
However, Yang Kai had only inadvertently obtained his Star Shuttle and it was unknown how long it had been drifting through the Starry Sky. Even if it had a Star Chart at one point, it had long ago disappeared.
The miniaturized version of the Star Field stored inside his Star Shuttle was also quite badly damaged, so it was likely impossible for it to store a new Star Chart.
This was why the two sisters had said that his Star Shuttle was damaged.
In addition to the information the big beauty had passed him about Star Charts and Star Shuttles, she also explained to him his current location.
The Chaotic Abyss!
This piece of information greatly stunned Yang Kai. This incredibly beautiful stretch of the Starry Sky, where Yang Kai had even seriously thought about entering retreat to cultivate, was one of the Star Fields most dangerous restricted areas, the Chaotic Abyss!
The massive, beautiful stars in this region not only exuded massive amounts of energy, they also created a twisted and chaotic domain that confused one’s senses, causing cultivators to easily become lost. Worse off, it was extremely difficult to leave this chaotic field, causing many who inadvertently entered to become trapped inside forever.
After examining all the information he received, Yang Kai’s face sank.
He had unwittingly found himself inside one of the Star Field’s Restricted Areas.
Even masters at the Saint King Realm didn’t dare set foot into this place. All half-decent Star Charts’ plotted routes were well away from here.
The brilliant beautiful stars nearby which pulsed blazing hot and frigid cold energy also hid some kind of immense danger.
The dangers of this place were not just limited to its disorienting effects, but also far more terrifying things. The information the big beauty passed over to Yang Kai via that Divine Sense package didn’t explain what these dangers were, but from the way it was described to him, Yang Kai understood that any of these dangers was enough to reap his life.
Worst of all, Yang Kai once again found himself in a state of helplessness, not knowing where he should go from here.
After absorbing the information left by the other party, Yang Kai remained in place for a while to ponder his next move before starting up his Star Shuttle again and flying off, seeking a way out.
Yang Kai was not willing to just give up; he had only just arrived in the vast Star Field and hadn’t even seen its real splendours yet.
As time passed, Yang Kai would randomly pick a direction and then fly towards it at maximum speed, not trying to conserve his energy at all.
But it seemed that despite Yang Kai’s best efforts, no matter how long he flew for, he would always find himself still in the middle of the countless beautiful stars.
Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling like he was flying in one giant circle!
The chaotic domain here affected Yang Kai’s ability to judge his position and confused his sense of direction, constantly leading him astray despite him being certain he was heading the right way.
Amidst the shimmering Starry Sky, Yang Kai soon lost track of how long he had been wandering aimlessly.
Perhaps it had been a month or two; perhaps it had been half a year, with nothing to use as a reference, it was impossible to tell.
Yang Kai’s cultivation had been growing steadily all this time, the incredibly rich energy surrounding him quickly bringing him to the point where he could begin breaking through to the Second Order Saint Realm. His strength had improved far faster than he had ever imagined possible.
This fact was the one thing that comforted his heart.
Yang Kai even secretly feel that staying here wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be and that, as long as he continued to look for it, he would eventually find a way out.
Yang Kai sat on his Star Shuttle, allowing it to fly forward on its own while he silently cultivated.
His expression was as calm as the surface of a lake, without the slightest hint of nervousness. In any case, since he couldn’t find a way out, for the time being, he might as well take advantage of this opportunity to improve his strength. He believed that even throughout the entire Star Field, such an astounding cultivation environment was extremely rare.
Yang Kai felt that as long as his strength reached a certain height, he would be able to break out of this chaotic domain.
Suddenly, two weak Soul fluctuations and life auras suddenly appeared inside the range of his perception.
It was the two sisters he had met before!
Yang Kai opened his eyes and wrinkled his brow slightly.
He hadn’t expected to see them again; it seemed like they too had not found a way out of the Chaotic Abyss.
Right now, they appeared to be resting on a huge asteroid, not continuing to fly forward and instead allowing the asteroid to carry them about aimlessly.
These two were the only living beings Yang Kai had come across this entire time, and they were caught up in the same situation as he was, so he couldn’t help feeling a subtle sense of affinity with them.
After thinking about it for a moment, he flew his Star Shuttle over to the asteroid where they were.
Shortly after, Yang Kai landed on the asteroid and looked around. Although he didn’t see the sisters’ figures, he did find a cave entrance at a certain place not far away.
[Are they hiding inside?] Yang Kai frowned.
Walking over to the cave, Yang Kai leaned over and shouted inside, “Are you in there?”
“Come inside to talk!” The voice of Elder Sister came from within. They had also felt his life aura and knew it was Yang Kai, so they judged there was no need to act overly cautious.
Yang Kai jumped down into the cave, following a winding and twisting path until he arrived deep inside and discovered two figures sitting cross-legged, snuggling together.
At this moment, the moods of the two young women seemed particularly low. Yang Kai also felt that the younger sister named He Miao was quite depressed, as if she was despairing that they had become lost in this Chaotic Abyss.
“We meet again,” The Elder Sister gently nodded to Yang Kai.
“It seems so,” Yang Kai smiled, though this wasn’t exactly something to feel happy about, “Why are you two hiding here? Did you encounter some kind of danger?”
“There’s no immediate danger, we just don’t want to waste our physical strength and Saint Qi. Didn’t you notice that by staying here, there’s no need to expend Saint Qi to guard against the Starry Sky’s power?”
Hearing her words, Yang Kai suddenly understood and noticed that the pressure which filled the Starry Sky really couldn’t invade this place, so staying here was comparatively more relaxed.
“We used up all our Saint Crystals and pills, so we can only hide here,” The younger sister He Miao added, her voice no longer as sharp and energetic as before.
“Used up?” Yang Kai was shocked.
“We’ve been lost here for a long time,” The Elder Sister explained, “If we ventured out now and still can’t find a way out, once our strength is exhausted, we’ll only be able to wait for death.”
“You’re situation’s really quite miserable…” Yang Kai understood their troubles and sympathised.
“Why are you taking pleasure in our misfortune…” He Miao sniffled, her voice filled with bitterness.
“I am?” Yang Kai was stunned.
“Yeah!”
“… If you say so. Anyways, what do you plan on doing now? Just keep hiding?”
”What else are we supposed to do?” The Elder Sister gave Yang Kai and complicated look, “We aren’t like you, and our bodies aren’t intrepid enough to withstand the power of the Starry Sky without using up our Saint Qi.”
Yang Kai let out an awkward laugh, not knowing what to say.
In the darkness, He Miao’s beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, “That’s right, you aren’t afraid of the power of the Starry Sky, which means you don’t need to use up Saint Crystals or pills to supplement your strength! Do you have any extra Saint Crystals or pills? Could you sell us…? En, lend us some?”
Her face filled with a look of expectation, seemingly having discovered a source of hope in the midst of her despair, her pretty eyes silently appealing to Yang Kai.
The Elder Sister was woken up by her younger sister’s words, also showing a look of anticipation.
“I don’t have any Saint Crystals,” Yang Kai shook his head.
The two sisters frowned at the same time, both of them believing that Yang Kai was a stingy man who didn’t know how properly treat women.
“But I have Crystal Stones, I also have a few pills,” Yang Kai followed up.
“Crystal Stones? Low grade Crystal Stones?” The Elder Sister was startled but quickly nodded, “Crystal Stones are alright as well, it’s better than nothing.”
“Would you please lend us some?” He Miao asked pitifully.
“Giving you some shouldn’t be a problem,” Yang Kai didn’t hesitate, in any case, he didn’t need to worry about expending his strength in this region of the Starry Sky as he could just recover by absorbing the energy around him.
“Great! You’re really a good person!” He Miao celebrated as a look of joy filled her face.
“But what can you give me in return?” Yang Kai asked.
He Miao’s joyful expression went stiff and the Elder Sister asked with some vigilance, “What do you want?”
In the darkness, Yang Kai swept his eyes over the two sisters as he contemplated what to ask for.
He really didn’t know what these two sisters had on them right now that could make up for his loss.
“Forget it,” The Elder Sister’s face suddenly became gloomy, her attitude also taking a turn for the worse as she coldly declared, “Just pretend we never asked, we’d rather stay here.”
“Smelly man!” He Miao also snorted as she stared angrily towards Yang Kai, a look of revulsion appearing on her face, “Be careful we sisters don’t join together to beat you up!”
They had obviously misunderstood Yang Kai’s intentions, thinking he was trying to take advantage of them.
Yang Kai shook his head and laughed helplessly, taking out some Crystal Stones and pills from the Demon Mystic Tome and setting them down, “Just think of it as a gift.”
He didn’t take out too many Crystal Stones and the pills he gave them were only Spirit Grade, even though he didn’t lack Saint Pills.
After all, he had only just met these two women and didn’t share any friendship with them, if he really took out a bunch of Saint Pills or too many Crystal Stones, it might cause them to covet his belongings, leading to an unnecessary fight.
He had to act prudently.
Yang Kai’s actions caught the two sisters off guard, not knowing why this bad man had suddenly become so generous.
The coldness on the Elder Sister’s face receded as she offered some words of apology, “If there is an opportunity, we’ll pay you back ten times over.”
“En, I wish you good luck,” Yang Kai replied casually, “I’m going to continue searching for a way out, so I won’t bother you further.”
Saying so, he turned around and walked towards the cave’s exit.
Just as he was about the leave the cave, the voice of the Elder Sister came from behind him, “We are disciples of Sword Union, my name is He Zao, and my sister is He Miao!”
“I’ll remember, I hope we meet again under better circumstances,” Yang Kai replied.
After Yang Kai left, He Zao and He Miao sat somewhat dazed inside the cave, He Miao commenting after a while, “He’s a strange person. Not even telling us his name, he doesn’t understand etiquette at all.”
“At the very least he’s not a bad guy,” He Zao looked at Crystal Stones and pills in front of them, a touch of gratitude appearing on her face.
“He really must be from a remote place, these Crystal Stones and pills are so low-grade they won’t allow us to recover much strength,” He Miao snorted as she evaluated what Yang Kai had left behind.
“We should be grateful he left us anything at all. With these, we can at least explore the area for another month or two without worrying about running out of strength. Although there’s not much hope, we can’t just give up. Master may be out there looking for us, if she can bring some people here to search, we may survive after all.”
“Elder Sister, I miss Master already. In the future, I won’t ever come near this damned place.”
“If this time we weren’t pursued by those Purple Star people, we never would have fallen into this situation, much less find ourselves so deep inside Chaotic Abyss.”
“Are those Purple Star people chasing us still? It doesn’t seem like they’d be willing to let us off.”
“It’s quite possible, after all, that thing is still in our hands. Hateful, how did news about it leak out?”
“There’s definitely a traitor inside the Union,” He Miao categorically said.
“No matter the case, right now, we just need to focus on surviving.”
As the two sisters spoke, they carefully collected the Crystal Stones and pills.
Ordinarily, they wouldn’t even spare such low-level resources a second glance, but right now they represented their last hope, so they dared not waste them.
After recovering their strength to its peak, the two sisters left the cave and headed off in a different direction from Yang Kai, clinging to the slim hope of finding a way out.
Amidst the Starry Sky, Yang Kai continued wandering about.
It had been some time since he had separated from He Zao and He Miao, but he had not made any progress finding a way out.
One day, as Yang Kai was drifting aimlessly once again, three auras suddenly appeared to his rear. These auras were fierce and contained a thick aggressive intent, causing Yang Kai to suddenly feel as if there were needles pricking his skin.
It wasn’t He Zao and He Miao!
From what Yang Kai could infer, the three people approaching him from behind were all Third Order Saints!
Their auras made Yang Kai feel quite unhappy as well as a little vigilant, as if he wasn’t being followed by three people but three bloodthirsty beasts.
[Avoid or wait?] The two contradictory thoughts flashed across Yang Kai’s mind, but he quickly decided on the latter, bringing his Star Shuttle to a halt.
The other three had obviously discovered him, otherwise, they wouldn’t be acting so obviously. If he was to try to avoid them now, it would only result in them chasing him down.
Yang Kai wasn’t sure that his Star Shuttle was fast enough for him to outrun them.
Most importantly though, was that he had finally met a second group of people, presenting him with an opportunity to escape this situation. If he could obtain a copy of their Star Chart, it would naturally be best.
He Zao had said that as long as one had a proper Star Chart, they would have a chance to leave this Chaotic Abyss, and although that chance wasn’t great, it was still worth a try.
Facing three Third Order Saints, Yang Kai estimated that even if it really turned into a fight, with his current strength, if he went all out, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.
As such, he was not afraid.
Three streaks of blue light rushed across the Starry Sky, drawing long cyan trails behind them as they rapidly closed in on Yang Kai’s position.
Shortly after, in a flash of light, three figures appeared in front of Yang Kai.
Each of these three people had their own Star Shuttle, unlike He Zao and He Miao, who were sharing one. This demonstrated that whoever these three were, they had significant financial resources.
There were two men and one woman. One of the men was tall and strong with a stoic look while the other man was thin and short, a cynical smile adorning his face. The thin man was playing with a silver-coloured dagger in his hand as a cold light flashed across his eyes from time to time, staring towards Yang Kai with obvious ill intentions.
As for the woman, she possessed an enchanting figure and a pair of lustrous eyes that she used to examine Yang Kai with great intensity, a look of interest soon surfacing on her face.
When they appeared, Yang Kai knew that his concerns were correct.
Not everyone out here was as reasonable as the two sisters, He Zao and He Miao. At first glance, it was obvious that these three weren’t good things; if he didn’t act appropriately, the consequences would be bad.
“Little brat, where are you from?” The burly man stared at Yang Kai coldly and asked in a commanding voice. From his tone and demeanour it was obvious he was completely indifferent to Yang Kai’s existence, as if he could freely control whether he lived or died.
“From a lower world,” Yang Kai carefully considered his words as he replied, “I’ve been lost here for a long time, unable to find my way out. If it’s convenient, can I borrow your Star Chart to make a copy?”
These were the words He Zao had said to him before, and although he didn’t know how to copy a Star Chart, Yang Kai figured it wouldn’t be difficult to figure it out once he got hold of a Star Shuttle with one.
“Copy our Star Chart?” The man grinned deviously at these words before nodding mockingly, “Fine, but you have to answer my question honestly first.”
“What do you want to know?” Yang Kai didn’t display any joy on his face because he could feel that this person wasn’t being earnest with him.
As soon as the burly man had agreed to his request, the thin man nearby had stretched out his tongue and licked the dagger in his hand, his eyes flashing a barely concealed killing intent.
Yang Kai figured that the moment he answered this question, the skinny man would immediately attack. The other party had never even considered allowing him to borrow their Star Chart.
“You said you’ve been lost here for a long time, yes? Did you ever meet a pair of girls? En, they would have been wearing white robes with a sword-shaped symbol embroidered on their chests.”
Yang Kai’s brow furrowed, immediately understanding that he was asking about He Zao and He Miao.
In his mind, a flash of light went off as he suddenly remembered that the first time he met the pair of sisters, He Miao had mentioned something about him being sent by ‘those people’, obviously they were being pursued by someone.
Could it be that the three people in front of him were the ones chasing them?
Yang Kai’s brief contemplation revealed a slight flaw which the burly man’s eyes didn’t miss, causing him to approach closer and shout, “You’ve met them, right?”
“Why are you looking for them?” Yang Kai didn’t answer right away.
“Boy, that’s not something you need to know, just answer my question and you’ll receive some benefits. Of course, if you are unwilling to answer, I don’t mind forcing you to cooperate,” The skinny man laughed maliciously, staring at Yang Kai like a vicious snake.
With denying at this point being meaningless. Yang Kai simply nodded, “Yes, I’ve met them.”
“When did you meet them, and where are they now?” The burly man eagerly asked, as if He Zao and He Miao were incredibly important to them.
“I don’t know the exact time, probably about a month ago, they were resting on an asteroid. I stopped to ask them for direction,” Yang Kai put on an honest expression.
“A month ago? What kind of asteroid was it? Where was it located?”
Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders, “I can’t remember!”
“Waste!” The burly man shouted, anger spreading across his face.
A cold light flashed across the depths of Yang Kai’s eyes.
“Liu Shan, why bother getting angry at him…” The enchanting woman smiled and said, putting on an inviting expression as she stepped forward, swaying her hips rhythmically, emphasizing her wondrous curves, “A little fellow like him who lost his way here, what more could he possibly know? At the very least, we can be sure that those two sluts are still here.”
Saying so, she turned to look at Yang Kai and called out, “Little boy, you don’t need to be afraid, Elder Sister just wants to ask you a few things. Were those two also lost when you met them?”
When he heard her voice, it was like an invisible hand was stroking his heart, causing Yang Kai’s blood to boil and his primitive instincts to flare up.
A Seduction Technique!
Yang Kai’s heart grew even colder as he suppressed the imbalance in his body while putting on a slightly dazed look and replying, “Yes, they were also lost, I heard them say that their Star Chart was damaged.”
Yang Kai’s performance made the beautiful woman quite satisfied and caused her to shoot a triumphant look towards the big man named Liu Shan; however, the big man seemed to deeply disdain this woman’s methods while simultaneously looking down on Yang Kai even further, believe that this youth had too easily fallen for this beauty’s little tricks.
“Haha, it’s good that they’re lost!” The skinny man cackled.
“Kill him, since he doesn’t know where those two sluts are, he’s of no use to us,” Liu Shan waved impatiently.
A cold aura suddenly burst from the skinny man, seemingly quite eager to attack Yang Kai.
“No need to be so anxious!” The beautiful woman quickly interceded.
“You want him? Don’t forget that we’re still in the middle of a mission, after we finish up here, you can have as many men as you like,” Liu Shan calmly stated.
“What about if I wanted you??” The beautiful woman threw a wink towards Liu Shan.
“Stop, I don’t want to have anything to do with you, I quite enjoy the feeling of being alive.” Liu Shan coldly snorted, not feeling the slightest bit of temptation.
“Then don’t kill him, a young Saint Realm man isn’t something easily obtained, isn’t it too wasteful to just kill him?” The beautiful woman narrowed her eyes next and seriously remarked, “Moreover, we’ve just obtained some important intelligence, shouldn’t we hurry back and report to the higher-ups? Could it be that you want to continue exploring this place? Do you think it’ll be easy to located two people in this vast region?”
Liu Shan hesitated for a while before nodding, “Fine, this time we’ll go along with you, we truly should go back and report about this!” He didn’t seem to want to annoy this beautiful woman and thus finally compromised.
“Little boy, come along with Elder Sister. Elder Sister will protect you, as long as you stay with me, no one will hurt you,” The beautiful woman eagerly beckoned to Yang Kai.
“Thank you,” Yang Kai’s mouth curled into a grin as he continued, “I actually want to work with you; the truth is I have a grudge with those two sluts.”
“Oh? What kind of grudge?” The beautiful woman stared at him with interest, even Liu Shan and the skinny man were somewhat curious.
“They apparently used up all their Saint Crystals and pills, so they robbed me of mine,” Yang Kai said with an angry look.
The beautiful woman covered her mouth as if she was appalled while Liu Shan and the skinny man swept Yang Kai quickly with their Divine Senses and confirmed that he didn’t have any storage artifacts on his body.
They knew what kind of cultivations He Zao and He Miao had. Yang Kai, as a First Order Saint, would certainly not be their opponent.
Therefore, Yang Kai’s remarks didn’t arouse any suspicions.
“Wait until we find them, then we’ll let you dispose of them,” The beautiful woman took Yang Kai’s arm into her own as she exhaled a hot breath into his ear, her luscious chest tightly wrapping Yang Kai’s elbow as her tender body pressed up against him.
“Really?” Yang Kai said in a pleasantly surprised voice as an obscene look appeared on his face.
“Really, when the times comes, we’ll torture them together!” The beautiful woman smiled and nodded, “I most enjoy handling this kind of thing.”
The skinny man put on a mocking look as he sneered, “Of course, the premise is that you live until then. Kid, if I were you, I’d choose to be killed right now rather than going back together with her.”
“Liu Sha, even if you don’t speak, no one will mistake you for a mute,” The beautiful woman glared wickedly towards the skinny man.
Liu Sha shrugged his shoulders and obediently shut up.
“Is it dangerous to go back with you?” Yang Kai turned to look at the beautiful woman, a cheap look on his face, as if he didn’t know how to write the word dead, boldly pressing his arm up against her full chest as he did.
At such a close distance, as long as he unleashed his full strength, this beautiful woman would have no hope of living, but he decided against acting rashly. Although he felt that these three weren’t the slightest bit trustworthy, they should at least be able to lead him out of the Chaotic Abyss.
This was what Yang Kai most wanted right now, so he held back his urge to attack.
“How could that be?” The beautiful woman smiled enchantingly, “Not only will there not be any danger, but Elder Sister will also give you an unforgettable experience.”
“Then I’ll eagerly wait,” Yang Kai nodded.
Yang Kai didn’t know what business these three had with He Zao and He Miao, but he could still infer from their conversations that they were quite wary of the hidden dangers in the Chaotic Abyss.
So after obtaining some reliable news, they couldn’t wait to leave here, go back, and report what they had learned.
No matter where they went, so long as he followed them, Yang Kai felt that he would be able to leave this Star Field Restricted Area that had trapped him for so long.
After leaving here, he just had to find a suitable opportunity to get rid of these three.
Yang Kai behaved very cooperatively, remaining silent the whole time, causing the three people to gradually lower their vigilance towards him.
Of course, with him being only a First-Order Saint, the three of them had not been very wary of him to begin with.
Along the way, their words inadvertently revealed some more information, letting Yang Kai know that they belong to a force called Purple Star, the burly man was named Liu Shan, the small snake-like man, Liu Sha, and the beautiful woman, Bi Ya.
These three’s Star Shuttles were higher quality than Yang Kai’s and had much higher speeds than his own.
Perceiving this, Yang Kai secretly felt fortunate that he had not chosen to avoid them earlier, because even if he had tried to run away, he wouldn’t have been able to escape their pursuit.
After a few days of flying, Yang Kai finally couldn’t help but turn to the beautiful woman and asked, “Where are we going now?”
“Don’t worry, you’ll know soon enough,” Bi Ya giggled, not answering Yang Kai’s question.
Liu Sha shot a profound look towards Yang Kai at that moment, a meaningful grin appearing on his face.
“Look, we’ve arrived,” Bi Ya suddenly pointed to the front, her beautiful eyes lighting up.
Looking in the direction she pointed, Yang Kai’s eyes shrank and he nearly called out in alarm.
Amidst the cold, dark, the Starry Sky was a giant beast-like figure that was rapidly speeding towards them. This beast was nearly a thousand meters in length and had a spectacular appearance.
Although this beast was massive, it was also silent as well as remarkably fast.
When they saw this huge figure, Liu Shan, Liu Sha, and Bi Ya couldn’t help but reveal a relaxed look, like they had returned home and felt a sense of security.
Every moment they remained inside the Chaotic Abyss they had been extremely on edge.
“An ominous beast?” Yang Kai brow wrinkled as he whispered under his breath. Releasing his Divine Sense though, he quickly discovered that this beast-like figure didn’t exude any vitality, and instead had a regular kind of energy fluctuation similar to an artifact’s.
“Ominous beast?” Bi Ya looked at Yang Kai with amazement, covering her mouth with her hand in the next moment and laughing, “Little brother is so cute, how could that possibly be a beast? That’s my Purple Star’s Saint King High-Rank Starship!”
“Starship?” Yang Kai was dumbfounded, but suddenly recalled the giant broken ship he had seen in the Restricted Area beneath the Demon Capital.
Liu Shan also shot Yang Kai a curious look before slowly shaking his head and snorting disdainfully.
Yang Kai’s outburst just now revealed that he had really come from a lower world as only those from such backwater places wouldn’t know that this large artifact was a Starship.
Before now, Liu Shan hadn’t determined whether Yang Kai was telling the truth or not, nor did he intend to because he felt he would be dead soon enough, but now, Liu Shan was certain this youth really came from a lower world.
As they got closer, Yang Kai got a clear look at what he had mistaken for a beast.
A bronze ship a length exceeding one thousand meters with some similarities to the broken ship he had seen beneath the Demon Capital. The only noticeable difference was the ship in front of him was a bit bigger.
Had the Bone Race arrived in Tong Xuan Realm thousands of years ago on a ship like this?
Yang Kai was at a loss for words and couldn’t speak for quite some time.
He also realized that he probably wouldn’t be able to carry out his original plans anymore.
He had thought these three would be leaving the Chaotic Abyss aboard their Star Shuttles, so he had not hesitated to follow along with them in order to find a way out; but now, facing this massive ship, Yang Kai discovered that he had greatly misjudged his choices.
If he entered this great ship with them, he would definitely become a turtle hiding in its shell.
Inside this ship, there would no doubt be at least one master at the Saint King Realm!
Just as he was thinking hard about how to get out of this situation, Liu Shan suddenly took out compass-like artifact from his storage artifact.
The compass lit up as Liu Shan poured his Divine Sense into it, seemingly communicating with someone.
A moment later, he put away this compass-like artifact and with a creaking sound, a gate at the bottom of the giant ship slowly opened.
“Let’s go!” Liu Shan waved and dashed into the gate, quickly followed by Liu Sha and Bi Ya.
At the same time, the three of them brought Yang Kai into the gate and arrived inside the great ship.
After the three men stepped into the bronze ship, the gate automatically closed.
Yang Kai was dazzled, as if he was a country bumpkin who had just come to the big city, staring curiously at everything around him.
In his heart though, Yang Kai felt a deep bitterness because the instant he had stepped on board this great ship, he had felt many powerful life auras all around him.
Most of these auras belonged to Saint Realm cultivators, while two or three of them were far stronger than that, giving Yang Kai an incredibly strong sense of oppression.
It was as if these auras alone could destroy his will to resist.
Saint King Realm!
This giant bronze ship really had masters at the Saint King Realm aboard.
“Liu Shan, you’re late,” A Third-Order Saint who walked over shouted impatiently.
“We had to the long way around, but we also found some important news.”
“Oh?” The man frowned, “What news?”
“Those two little sluts really did enter the Chaotic Abyss, and their Star Shuttle was damaged in the previous battle, causing their Star Chart to fail. They’re currently lost somewhere inside this place.”
“Where did you learn that from? How credible is it?” The man’s eyes flashed curiously.
“This little brat told us that he met those two sisters, and that his Crystal Stones and pills were robbed by them. I suspect those two sluts won’t be able to last much longer,” Liu Shan pointed to Yang Kai and said.
It was only then that the man noticed Yang Kai’s existence, looking him up and down at him before nodding lightly, “Very good, as long as they’re still inside the Chaotic Abyss, they won’t be able to escape our grasp. This news must be reported to Senior quickly so he can decide our course of action!”
“That’s what I was just about to do, do you want to come?” Liu Shan asked.
“En, let’s go!”
Saying so, the two walked side by side towards the inner depths of the great ship.
“This lady won’t accompany you, I want to take him back to have a rest,” Bi Ya smiled and once again linked arms with Yang Kai before heading in the other direction.
Liu Shan frowned but didn’t try to stop her, simply calling out, “Don’t go too crazy.”
“I know, I have a sense of discretion,” Bi Ya smiled tenderly.
Bi Ya walked through the corridors swiftly and easily, obviously she was very familiar with the inner structure of this great ship. She was also familiar with the cultivators coming and going along the road. None of these cultivators had a cultivation below the Transcendent Realm, with Saint Realm cultivators making up the majority.
However, whenever these people saw Bi Ya, they all avoided here like they would a poisonous snake, each of them wearing a nervous look, waiting for her to leave before they finally relaxed.
When they looked at Yang Kai, who was being held by Bi Ya, all of these bystanders wore sympathetic looks on their faces mixed with a little mockery.
Noticing this, Yang Kai felt increasingly uncomfortable.
He could almost predict what this beautiful woman was intending to do with him, and from the surrounding cultivators’ demeanors, he could infer that if she were to really carry out her plans, he would end up very miserable.
[This cheap slut!] Yang Kai cursed in his heart while maintaining a composed look upon his face, his thoughts turning over rapidly as he constantly observed the route they were travelling, memorizing it as best he could while searching for any way out of this mess.
After a while, Bi Ya came to a room with Yang Kai and opened the door. Bi Ya stepped inside first and then beckoned invitingly to Yang Kai, “Come in.”
Yang Kai walked in docilely and looked around to find that this was Bi Ya’s residence. The whole room was filled with a touch of fragrance, the aroma wasn’t strong but just right. The room was embellished with hues of pink everywhere, giving it a warm and comfortable feeling, causing anyone who entered to unconsciously relax and lower their guard.
There was a small incense burner in the centre of the room which was emitting an unknown scent. When Yang Kai inhaled a wisp of this scent though, his body involuntarily had some subtle reaction, his blood flow becoming faster as his more base instincts flaring up.
His clear eyes gradually became clouded with a layer of red.
Near his ear, there seemed to be an entrancing whisper that was constantly trying to entice his soul, causing his breathing to become heavy.
Before Yang Kai knew it, Bi Ya had changed out of her robes into a thin seductive dress, her pair of sensuous eyes flashing a lustrous light as her jade hands reached out and caressed his chest, her face blushing a faint reddish hue, further enhancing her seductive charms.
She gazed at Yang Kai satisfactorily, taking the initiative to paste her hot tender body onto his, causing her proud elastic peaks to greatly deform against his chest as a burst of beguiling moans leaked from her throat.
Gently, she pulled Yang Kai over towards her fragrant bed.
“What are you doing?” Yang Kai breathed raggedly, putting on the look of a young man without the slightest hint of ‘experience’.
“Hehe…” Bi Ya seemed to be very satisfied with Yang Kai’s reaction. The expression of an ignorant boy had always been her favourite. She most enjoyed destroying young men’s intellects, transforming them into beasts who only obeyed their desires; she felt a rush of satisfaction from this act.
Bi Ya stepped closer to Yang Kai, pushing him back further, exhaling an orchid scent, “This is Elder Sister’s private room, no one will come in, anything you want to do, we can do.”
Her breathing had also become heavy and her tender body was swaying enchantingly as the two delicate tips of her milk-white peaks became hard and brushed against Yang Kai’s chest, bringing him an indescribably pleasant sensation.
At this moment, Bi Ya seemed to have transformed into the very embodiment of men’s desires.
Yang Kai fell onto the bed in the next step and Bi Ya took the initiative to mount him, unceremoniously beginning to help him undress.
Yang Kai constantly let out audible gulps, as if he had fallen into her land of warmth and tenderness, not asking any questions and instead stretching out his two big hands towards the hanging fruits in front of him and grasping them tightly.
Bi Ya’s enchanting body trembled lightly as a seductive moan leaked from her lips, shooting Yang Kai a slightly rebuking glance as she whispered to him, “Be gentle, if you’re too rough I’ll break.”
[This slut!] Yang Kai’s cursed silently in his heart, but deep down, he too was becoming excited. The feeling he had while massaging Bi Ya’s amazingly soft yet elastic peaks almost made him lose the ability to think, the burning heat he felt on the palms of his hand threatening to destroy all his mental defenses.
Bi Ya also seemed like she was becoming excited, but Yang Kai was keenly aware that the strength in her body was beginning to subtly circulate in a strange pattern.
Her aura was slowly transforming, causing her to appear more and more charming, making her seem truly irresistible to any man she pinned beneath her.
This beautiful woman was like a ripe peach, her exposed skin glowing a faint pinkish hue, highlighting her body’s allure, tempting one to grab hold of her and never let go.
Such a woman had a deadly appeal to all men.
Yang Kai’s eyes became even redder and his pupils dilated. Seemingly unable to control his own body, his two big hands rhythmically kneading her plump chest.
It was as if he had fallen into a trance.
After quietly observing for a while, Bi Ya’s beautiful eyes revealed a self-satisfied look.
She knew that that young man under her had been completely conquered by her charms and she could now do whatever she wanted with him.
She had taken countless men like this. Once they became entranced, she would absorb all of these men’s Blood Essence to enhance her own strength.
The men she played with often became dried up corpses afterwards which she could discard at will.
Although she had played with a great many men before, Saint Realm cultivators were still quite difficult to obtain. Anyone who had cultivated to this realm would generally not sit still and let her do as she pleased.
It was for this reason that she particularly loved gullible men like Yang Kai. She especially appreciated how he had a rugged look to him, which was just to her appetite.
After confirming that Yang Kai had fallen under her spell, Bi Ya giggled happily as she lightly brushed her hand across her lips, seemingly wiping them in preparation to eat the meal in front of her.
Slipping off her clothes, Bi Ya exposed her jade white body to the air before reaching down with her delicate hands and gently grabbing hold of Yang Kai’s rising dragon.
Calling out in surprise, Bi Ya’s beautiful eyes flashed as whispered suggestively, “Your qualifications aren’t small.”
She was incredibly pleased as she shifted her body slight in preparation to descend onto her prey.
A crystal clear viscous liquid dripped down her legs, leaving behind a glistening sheen.
Just as she was about to begin her feast though, her brow furrowed deeply and a look of anger and dissatisfaction appeared on her face as she glared towards her door.
The moment Bi Ya shifted her eyes, Yang Kai’s dull eyes narrowed slightly and he quietly dispersed the strength he had secretly condensed.
From the corridor outside, a rush of footsteps resounded and immediately after, the door was pushed open, with Liu Shan and Liu Sha bursting in.
The two of them stared at Bi Ya and Yang Kai, both of whom were still maintaining an ambiguous position atop the bed without showing any intention to hide. Liu Sha even whistled frivolously as he unscrupulously swept his eyes over Bi Ya’s beautiful figure.
“We’re heading out,” Liu Shan said bluntly.
“Now?” Bi Ya asked bitterly, “Didn’t we just get back?”
“It’s Senior’s orders. If you have any complaints, you can take them to him,” Liu Shan replied indifferently, “You have ten breaths to get ready!”
Saying so, he turned around and left, from beginning to end not paying any attention to Bi Ya’s naked figure, as if her near-perfect body wasn’t the least bit attractive to him.
Bi Ya looked down at Yang Kai who was lying beneath her, without the slightest ability to resist and ground her teeth, disappointment and anger filling her expression, a moment later shooting a deathly glare towards Liu Sha and snapping, “What are you looking at? Keep looking and I’ll dig out your eyes!”
Liu Sha grinned tauntingly, “Why didn’t you say this to Liu Shan? He also looked.”
“He wasn’t dissolute; you, on the other hand, have nothing but obscene thoughts in your head, you waste of a man! Now get out!” Bi Ya waved her hand and slammed the door shut.
Outside the door, Liu Sha rubbed his nose and muttered unhappily, “So what if one more man stares at you, what’s the big deal?”
Saying so, Liu Sha then let out a mocking laugh, “Being interrupted at the critical moment would drive anyone crazy, Liu Shan. You really did a good job.”
“I just delivered Senior’s orders,” Liu Shan coldly snorted.
Inside her room, Bi Ya ground her teeth as she quickly dressed herself and moment later rushed out of the room.
The footsteps of this group of three gradually drifted away.
After confirming that they had really left, Yang Kai’s ‘intoxicated’ expression became gloomy as he sat up from the bed.
If Liu Shan had come even a breath later, he would have already taken action.
Bi Ya had thought he had completely submitted to her and had let her guard down entirely. At such a close distance, Yang Kai was confident he could have killed her in a single strike.
As for what to do after killing her, Yang Kai hadn’t thought that far.
He only knew that he could never have physical contact with this promiscuous woman. The aura that she sent out just now when she had been in oestrous was far too dangerous.
That aura of hers was no doubt of a predator ready to swallow him whole.
The Star Field was truly filled with wonders, but also contained great danger.
Fixing his clothes, Yang Kai sat on the bed and began to think.
Now that Bi Ya was gone, no one was watching him, and he considered taking this opportunity to escape from the ship, but how exactly to open this Starship’s exit, Yang Kai wasn’t sure, so acting rashly now would definitely not be to his advantage.
Just as he was contemplating his next move, the door was opened again.
Standing in the entrance was a middle-aged man who was giving Yang Kai a strange look.
This man had a Second-Order Saint Realm cultivation, a rather low level for the cultivators aboard this great ship. Yang Kai didn’t even put such a cultivation in his eyes now.
“Little brat, your luck is good,” The middle-aged man suddenly said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Yang Kai feigned ignorance.
“You don’t have to, now get out,” The man waved at him.
Yang Kai frowned, but didn’t refuse, standing up and walking out of the room before silently following the middle-aged man through the ship’s corridors.
“Where are you taking me?” Yang Kai couldn’t help but ask.
“Wherever I take you, you just need to follow. Why ask so much nonsense?” The middle-aged man frowned and coldly snorted, “Normally, useless visitors like you should be killed directly.”
Hearing this man’s dismissive words, Yang Kai’s eyes flashed a cold light.
“But Senior Bi Ya wasn’t willing to see you die just like that, so she told me to arrange a good place for you for the time being. When she comes back, she’ll come for you,” The middle-aged man explained casually.
Yang Kai took a soft breath and knew that for the time being, he wouldn’t be in any danger.
As long as Bi Ya still wanted something from him, she wouldn’t let others kill him off just like that.
Following the middle-aged man, Yang Kai continued to move forward, and after a stick of incense worth of time later the two of them arrived at a large room.
As soon as he entered this room, Yang Kai felt rich energy in the air. The energy aura in this chamber had become almost dense enough to see.
This room was at the bottom of the big ship. Once he got there, Yang Kai looked around curiously.
Yang Kai didn’t know what this large room was for, but he could see that a giant Spirit Array had been engraved on its floor and walls that had offshoots that seemed to lead to every other section of the ship.
On top of that, rows upon rows of the highest quality Saint Crystals were arranged all over the room. Each of these Saint Crystals was as big as a washbasin and contained an incredibly rich amount of pure energy.
The energy from these Saint Crystals was being extracted by the Spirit Array and sent along its engraved paths to places unknown.
In addition, in the centre of this room, there was a big open space where a large number of cultivators with varying cultivation levels were sitting down cross-legged.
Most of these cultivators were Transcendents, but there were also several Saints among them.
The hands and feet of these cultivators were bound by the shackles that were attached to the floor of the room, so all of them could only move within a very narrow range.
The shackles binding these cultivators gave off a strange energy fluctuation that seemed to have some kind of restraining effect.
Yang Kai’s heart sank as he realized the situation was not good.
Because he found that these shackled cultivators each had weak auras and pale complexions. The power from their bodies was silently leaking out and all of them showed signs of overdraft.
Some of these cultivators even appeared to have unstable internal energy fluctuations, as if their cultivation realm had fallen.
“Where is this place?” Yang Kai asked dully.
“The Starship’s power room,” The middle-aged man replied casually, “Your task is simple. Just sit over there and we’ll take care of the rest.”
Not waiting for Yang Kai to ask anything more, the middle-aged man turned to the side and said, “Ke Meng, I’ve brought you a new recruit!”
A figure suddenly appeared in front of Yang Kai and looked him over, showing a satisfied grin in the next moment, “His cultivation level is good, where did you find him?”
The middle-aged man shrugged his shoulders, “Senior Bi Ya brought him back from outside.”
“Senior Bi Ya?” The man named Ke Meng frowned before showing a meaningful smile, “And she was willing to send him to the power room?”
“Senior Bi Ya went out to perform a task, so there’s no one to look after him right now. Therefore, I wanted to keep him in the power room. You’d best take care and not let him die.”
Ke Meng smiled evilly, revealing a set of jagged teeth like those of a beast, “I can’t guarantee anything. There was a guy with bad luck who expired just now. You know the situation here; it’s not exactly something I have complete control over.”
The middle-aged man frowned, seemingly aware of Ke Meng’s difficulties, nodding as he said, “Try your best, otherwise when Senior Bi Ya returns next time, if he really ends up dead, she’ll definitely be angry.”
Ke Meng’s face changed and a deep sense of dread flashed across his eyes. It seemed he was quite afraid of that woman, hesitating for a moment before nodding, “Good, I’ll portion him some more Saint Crystals so that he doesn’t grow too weak.”
“That would be for the best!” The middle-aged man said with satisfaction, glancing over at Yang Kai for a moment before turning around and leaving.
The middle-aged man who led Yang Kai to the power room spoke a few more words to the cultivator named Ke Meng before leaving.
As the two talked, Yang Kai said nothing and just silently observed his surroundings, his obedient performance satisfying Ke Meng very much.
“Little brat, come with me!” Ke Meng beckoned to Yang Kai and led him over to the centre of the power room.
A short time later, the two came to a slot on the floor.
This slot was already occupied by another cultivator who had both his hands and feet shackled to the floor, forcing him to sit cross-legged. However, at this time, it was clear that this man had already died as he showed no signs of vitality.
Before dying though, it seemed as though he had suffered an immense amount of pain. His eyes bulged round and his mouth was agape, the veins on his neck clearly visible.
Obviously, he had suffered unimaginable torture, his body little more than flesh and bones now, his skin pale without the slightest trace of colour or blood.
“Someone, come and throw this corpse out,” Ke Meng shouted to the side.
Immediately after he shouted, a cultivator rushed over, unchained the corpse, and carried it off.
Ke Meng sneered as the turned to Yang Kai, “Little brat, sit here obediently and I won’t make you suffer much; after all, you’re Senior Bi Ya person and I don’t want to make her unhappy. As long as you cooperate, it’ll be to both of our advantages.”
Yang Kai gently nodded.
Ke Meng laughed, “That’s for the best. En, sit down here.”
Saying so, he pointed to the spot the dead man was just occupying.
Yang Kai sat down honestly and allowed Ke Meng to shackle both his hands and feet.
There were many Saint Realm masters concealing themselves inside this Starship power room, and Yang Kai could even feel an aura that belonged to a Saint King Realm powerhouse nearby.
Facing this kind of lineup, he didn’t dare act rashly.
After the shackles were attached though, Yang Kai’s expression changed dramatically.
He instantly discovered that these shackles were madly absorbing the Saint Qi from his body and feeding it into the Starship itself. Together with the energy of the huge Saint Crystals spread throughout this room, they were supplying the power that let the Starship move.
Yang Kai finally understood why so many cultivators were shackled in this place.
It also explained why the cultivators who were bound here all had weak and sluggish auras.
With their strength being so forcefully extracted like this, no matter who it was, they wouldn’t be able to maintain themselves for too long. Those who were stronger and had greater reserves could last longer while those who were weaker were at risk of dying on the spot from the excessive consumption.
The cultivator who was sitting where he was just now had probably died this way.
“Don’t worry!” Ke Meng squatted down in front of Yang Kai and patted his shoulder, “The Starship is basically powered by the Saint Crystals here.”
As he said so, he pointed to the huge array of Saint Crystals nearby. “You guys are just here as backups, so there’s nothing to worry about. En, these are for you. Don’t think about it too much, just absorb them when you need to.”
The ring on Ke Meng’s hand flashed as he took out more than a dozen fist-sized Saint Crystals and set them down in front of Yang Kai.
These Saint Crystals contained a lot of energy, and although they couldn’t be compared with the giant ones arranged next to him, they were still quite good.
“What if I run out?” Yang Kai picked up a piece of Saint Crystal and held it in the palm of his hand.
“When you run out, call me and I’ll give you a few more. You belong to Senior Bi Ya, so naturally, I won’t be too stingy with you!” Ke Meng smiled deeply.
If that slut Bi Ya came back and found that this little brat was too weak for her to enjoy, Ke Meng knew he would be punished harshly.
“Good!” Yang Kai no longer said anything more and closed his eyes directly, circulating his Secret Art to absorb the power inside the Saint Crystal in order to supplement his own loss.
Ke Meng stood up and nodded with satisfaction before leaving to attend to his own affairs.
After he left, Yang Kai opened his eyes and secretly glanced around.
There were at least fifty cultivators imprisoned inside this power room, each of them was already extensively weakened, some of them even gasping for breath as if they could die at any moment. As Yang Kai was observing, he suddenly discovered that many pairs of eyes were staring at him, like a pack of hungry wolves, each of them revealing a greedy look.
These gazes belonged to the cultivators who were imprisoned here, and obviously, they weren’t interested in Yang Kai but rather in the dozen pieces of Saint Crystal that Ke Meng had given him!
The shackles chaining them to the floor were constantly extracting the energy from their bodies, and the only way to supplement this loss was for them to refine Saint Crystals; however, none of them had received such favourable treatment from Ke Meng.
In this situation, Saint Crystals were equivalent to one’s life.
Yang Kai immediately understood why these cultivators would have such a reaction.
Quickly, Yang Kai placed the dozen pieces of Saint Crystal between his legs, obscuring them from those prying eyes.
Closing his eyes and monitoring the speed at which the shackles were extracting his strength, Yang Kai gradually calmed down.
He found that the rate of extraction wasn’t very fast and could easily be supplemented with the Saint Crystals he had received. Yang Kai estimated that he could absorb energy from these Saint Crystals much faster than the shackles were draining his strength away, meaning there was no threat to his life and he could even take this opportunity to improve his cultivation.
But faintly, he still felt like things weren’t as simple as they seemed; after all, there were so many people here with hopeless expressions on their faces, so Yang Kai decided to act prudently for now.
“Friend, friend…” A quiet voice suddenly called out to him.
Initially, Yang Kai didn’t pay it any mind, but this voice kept calling out, seemingly unwilling to give up until it got a response. Yang Kai couldn’t help frowning as he turned towards the source of the sound.
Although there wasn’t much light in this room, he still managed to see a square-faced youth seated to his right showing him a friendly smile.
That smile even had some traces of flattery in it.
Yang Kai’s mouth twitched, already guessing what this ‘friend’ wanted, staring back at him indifferently as he asked, “Are you talking to me?”
“Yes,” The young man nodded quickly, flashing a pearly white smile in the darkness as he said, “My name is Shen Tu. How could I address this friend?”
“Why do you want to know?”
The young man still maintained a sunny smile, seemingly not minding Yang Kai’s indifference, continuing to speak in a familiar tone, “We’re all victims sharing the same fate here, which makes us friends. Is there any need for such vigilance?”
“I don’t like making friends with strangers,” Yang Kai shook his head.
“Don’t say this,” Shen Tu pressed on, a wry grin appearing on his face, “As the saying goes, first time strangers, second time friends, third time brothers. What harm is there in chatting, we’re not strangers after all.”
Yang Kai closed his eyes decisively, no longer paying any attention to this youth.
Shen Tu wore a bitter face as he continued whispering, “Hey, don’t ignore me, we’re stuck here, in any case. Chatting a bit will help relieve our boredom.”
“Rest assured, I’m not trying to get my hands on your Saint Crystals, those idiots who chained me here can’t hurt me, even if these things drained my strength for a hundred years it wouldn’t be enough to kill me.”
“Look, I’m really not interested in those Saint Crystals. See, take a look at me, I’m sure you can tell that my life aura is still strong, nothing like those half-dead people over there.”
Shen Tu kept on chattering while Yang Kai ignored him, the cycle repeating itself ad infinitum, one refusing to give up while the other refused to acknowledge.
“Right, I just heard that man say you were caught by a woman named Bi Ya, yes? Hey, brother, your luck is really quite astonishing, astonishingly bad that is. Of all the people you could be caught by, it was actually that cheap slut. I urge you, whatever she wants you to do, absolutely don’t agree. Her name is famous across the entire Star Field, and whoever goes to bed with her will not have a good end. Your strength will be sucked dry by her, causing you to die the most miserable of deaths.”
He attempted to draw Yang Kai’s attention with this topic, awakening him to his impending crisis.
However, Yang Kai remained unmoved.
“Brother, I haven’t gotten your name yet, have I? Let’s make friends. After we get out of here, I can promise being my friend will have many advantages. I can let you enjoy wealth, food, Saint Crystals, artifacts, beauties, whatever your heart desires.”
Yang Kai’s eyes which had been shut tight suddenly opened upon hearing these words.
Shen Tu saw this and immediately grinned, thinking he had finally found something Yang Kai was interested in, but just as he was about to continue his persuasion campaign, something suddenly flew over to him.
Shen Tu quickly reached out and grabbed this object, and after noticing what it was, he directed a happy and gratefully looked towards Yang Kai, “Brother, thank you very much, you’re a good man.”
He hadn’t expected that Yang Kai would actually send him a piece of Saint Crystal on his own!
This, of course, was his goal in showing goodwill towards Yang Kai.
Although every day Ke Meng would distribute some Saint Crystals to the cultivators who were shackled here, allowing them to supplement the strength which was being sapped from them, the amount of Saint Crystal simply couldn’t fully make up for the loss.
Shen Tu hadn’t been caught too long ago, and his cultivation wasn’t low, so he was still alive and kicking; however, if this situation were to continue for an extended period of time, there was no guarantee he would be able to survive.
Just now, Yang Kai had received a dozen pieces of Saint Crystal, and Ke Meng had explicitly said that if he exhausted them, all he had to do was ask for more. Shen Tu, who was sitting next to Yang Kai, naturally heard this and immediately came up with this little plan.
Before now, with all the status and wealth he possessed, Shen Tu hadn’t ever imagined that a trivial piece of Low-Rank Saint Crystal would ever be able to make him happy.
Right now, this piece of Low-Rank Saint Crystal seemed even more attractive than the greatest of beauties.
“Brother, could you give me another piece? In any case, you have so much, you won’t be able to use all of them up for a while,” Shen Tu shamelessly begged, a slightly unsatisfied look appearing on his face.
Hearing this though, Yang Kai just shot him a strange grin.
Shen Tu didn’t understand what this grin was about, but in the next instant, he actually witnessed Yang Kai calling out in surprise.
Ke Meng quickly appeared and rushed over to Yang Kai, asking in a disgruntled tone, “What is it? Kid, did you forget what I just said to you? I told you to sit here quietly.”
“When I wasn’t paying attention, he stole a piece of Saint Crystal from me!” Yang Kai pointed indignantly towards Shen Tu.
Ke Meng glanced over in the direction Yang Kai was pointing and saw Shen Tu tightly gripping the piece of Low-Rank Saint Crystal, as if it was the most precious of treasures.
The smile on Shen Tu’s face suddenly froze up.
Inside the Starship power room, the young man who called himself Shen Tu wore a dumbfounded look, seemingly never having expected Yang Kai would frame him by planting stolen goods.
Immediately, he opened his mouth to defend himself, but when he saw the Saint Crystal in his hand, Shen Tu suddenly knew that anything he said would be useless.
With yellow mud smeared on his pants, no one would believe him if he said it wasn’t shit.
Understanding all this, he ignored Ke Meng’s fierce gaze as well as Yang Kai’s sinister behaviour and decisively closed his eyes while tightly gripping the Saint Crystal in his hands, madly circulating his Secret Art to refine the energy within it.
In that instant, he was like a starving beggar who was only concerned about having a last meal before he died.
This time it was Yang Kai’s turn to stare dumbfounded.
“Boy, you dare cause trouble on my watch? Your courage isn’t small!” Ke Meng sneered, rushing over to Shen Tu and thoroughly beating him.
He used a very heavy hand and the words he spat clearly indicated he didn’t care whether Shen Tu lived or died.
However, Yang Kai was keenly aware that Ke Meng was avoiding any critical damage to Shen Tu and was only causing him a great deal of non-lethal pain.
Obviously, he didn’t want to kill any of the cultivators here powering the Starship.
Ke Meng sneered as he continued dishing out this beating, insults and curses flying from his lips the whole time.
Shen Tu didn’t say anything or even attempt to resist, his face distorting in pain but still focusing all his attention on refining the piece of Saint Crystal, seemingly vowing not to surrender until he had absorbed every last bit of energy from it.
Yang Kai’s expression became thoughtful as his impression of Shen Tu underwent some subtle changes.
This guy’s performance a moment ago had thoroughly disgusted Yang Kai, but now it was undeniable that this youth had great fortitude and strength of spirit.
After a while, Ke Meng stopped his attack and after delivering a quick reprimand, turned around and left.
He didn’t take away the Saint Crystal held by Shen Tu, as if he was tacitly approving of him owning it; however, the price Shen Tu had paid for this piece of Saint Crystal was high, Ke Meng had beaten him black and blue, breaking his nose and causing blood to spill from his mouth.
Gazing at Ke Meng’s back which was disappearing into the darkness, Shen Tu wiped his mouth and a cold light flashed across his eyes.
Glancing over at Yang Kai next, he lightly sneered.
The piece of Saint Crystal in his hand, because of his unrestrained absorption just now, had lost much of its energy and grown dim.
A few breaths later, this piece of Saint Crystal directly turned into dust, which slid from Shen Tu’s palms.
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes slightly at this sight.
The energy contained within that Saint Crystal was quite vast, so Shen Tu being able to refine it completely in such a short period of time fully illustrated that the Secret Art he cultivated wasn’t simple.
Yang Kai casually threw another piece of Saint Crystal over to him.
This time, Shen Tu didn’t pick it up, instead just directing a cold stare towards Yang Kai, clear vigilance upon his face as he smirked, “Trying to use the same trick twice? You think I’m a fool?”
Yang Kai did not pay attention to him, closed his eyes, and began meditating.
Shen Tu stared at him for a while but soon became bored and decided to no longer waste his energy on this person, turning away and ignoring the piece of Saint Crystal at his feet.
Time passed slowly.
The next day, Ke Meng distributed two pieces of Saint Crystal to each of the shackled cultivators, Yang Kai included.
After Shen Tu received these two pieces of Saint Crystal, he immediately began refining them, supplementing the excessive consumption of the previous day.
A short time later, the two Saint Crystals shattered.
Shen Tu let out a sigh, a half-full feeling filling his heart as he licked his lips. At that moment, he took another glance towards the piece of Saint Crystal that Yang Kai had thrown over to him yesterday and inevitably became somewhat tempted.
He desperately wanted to take it, but he was worried that Yang Kai would once again call Ke Meng; struggling between his fears and desires, he couldn’t help cursing Yang Kai for his shamelessness.
Shutting his eyes after a moment, he did his best to ignore this piece of forbidden fruit.
This pattern continued for several days.
As more and more time passed, Shen Tu felt that the strength in his body was becoming weaker and weaker. His Saint Qi was constantly being siphoned away and he couldn’t obtain enough resources to make up for the loss. Soon he couldn’t even maintain his healthy condition and gradually began looking like all the others around him.
His image formed a sharp contrast with the nearby Yang Kai.
In addition to the dozen or so pieces of Saint Crystal that Ke Meng had first given to Yang Kai, he also got two more pieces each day. During this time, Yang Kai had also deliberately asked Ke Meng for some more.
Of the Saint Crystal’s he obtained, Yang Kai used less than half to maintain a balance with his consumption while the rest were quietly hidden by him inside the Demon Mystic Tome in case of emergencies.
Ke Meng never rejected his requests; it seemed that because of Yang Kai’s ‘special’ relationship with Bi Ya, Ke Meng didn’t want to make things difficult for him. Not only did Ke Meng supply Yang Kai with a generous amount of Saint Crystals whenever he asked, he even provided a couple of Saint Pills which helped Yang Kai maintain his physical strength and spirit in case Bi Ya suddenly returned.
Seeing this every day caused Shen Tu’s eyes to go red with envy. The look he gave Yang Kai was also quite disdainful now. In his mind, the latter was a gigolo who was depending on a woman to eat.
A few more days later, Shen Tu’s condition deteriorated.
He felt that if he couldn’t obtain more resources soon, his current realm would be in danger of falling.
When he realized just how critical the situation was, Shen Tu couldn’t bother worrying anymore and, after refining his daily supply of two Saint Crystals, finally reached out and took the one Yang Kai had tossed over to him.
After picking this piece of Saint Crystal up, Shen Tu carefully observed Yang Kai’s reaction, but what surprised him was that even after he finished refining it, Yang Kai didn’t say a word, much less try to frame him like he had the first time.
Just as Shen Tu’s tense expression finally relaxed, another piece of Saint Crystal flew over and landed in front of him.
Shen Tu frowned, reaching out to take it while shooting Yang Kai a questioning look and whispering, “What are you up to?”
“Nothing much. In any case, I have a lot of Saint Crystals, more than I can use up,” Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders.
Shen Tu’s mouth twitched as he sneered, “Even if you give this to me, I won’t thank you. I’ve already suffered a loss at your hands, this just makes us even.”
“If I wanted someone to be grateful to me, there are many other choices here, there’s no need for me to intentionally give these to you.”
“Then what do you want?” Shen Tu looked at Yang Kai vigilantly.
One bite from a snake would cause ten years of fear towards ropes, Shen Tu obviously did not trust Yang Kai.
“An ally!” Yang Kai whispered lightly.
“An ally?” Shen Tu’s eyes narrowed and after waiting a moment to make sure no one was paying attention to them, he meaningfully said, “You have some dangerous ideas.”
“And you don’t?”
Shen Tu was at a loss for words and remained silent.
“I set you up before because you wouldn’t shut up, I didn’t want to have anything to do with such a boisterous person, but right now you’re the only one who is even slightly energetic. You’re the only one I can work with.”
“Oh? What a great honour for me,” Shen Tu snickered, “But even you have some kind of idea, it won’t necessarily work.”
“One step at a time. It’s better than just sitting here, waiting for death.”
Shen Tu’s eyes flashed as a grin formed on his face, silently observing Yang Kai for a while before once again putting on a carefree look, rubbing his nose as he said, “If you can give me a piece of Saint Crystal every day, I’ll consider our previous grievances settled.”
“Deal!” Yang Kai nodded generously.
Shen Tu chuckled, “I suddenly found that you’re quite pleasing to the eye.”
Saying so, he quietly stuffed his newly acquired Saint Crystal into his sleeve, preparing to use it tomorrow. With his current cultivation, he only needed three pieces of Saint Crystal each day to maintain his strength every day, which was also why Ke Meng only gave him two, it was to prevent him from having enough energy to consider making trouble.
“Let me re-introduce myself, my name is Shen Tu.”
“Yang Kai!”
The two exchanged a glance and grinned.
Bi Ya had gone out to perform some kind of task and it was uncertain when she would return, but Yang Kai estimated that once she did, his luck would run out, so he had to make some preparations before that happened.
However, inside this power room, basically everyone had become weak and useless. Just as Yang Kai had said, besides Shen Tu, who had some trace of vitality, everyone else was like a walking corpse without even the spare strength to talk to him.
Yang Kai knew he wouldn’t be able to obtain the information he wanted from those people.
Regardless of Shen Tu’s personality or whether he would be useful when the time came, right now he was the only suitable candidate to work with.
“How much do you know about this ship?” Yang Kai quietly released his Divine Sense to communicate with Shen Tu.
“How much do you know?” Shen Tu asked.
“I only know that there is a master at the Saint King Realm in command and that it belongs to a force called Purple Star.”
“Then I know more than you,” Shen Tu grinned, “They didn’t hesitate to deploy a Saint King Grade High-Rank Starship to this crisis-filled Chaotic Abyss for two women, so there’s no doubt those two have something they desperately want.”
“I’ve met those two women,” Yang Kai interrupted him.
“You’ve met them?” Shen Tu’s eyes flashed.
“En, a Second Order Saint and a Third Order Saint from a force called Sword Union. But what could they possibly have on them that would make Purple Star go this far to catch them?”
“I don’t know,” Shen Tu also looked confused, “Damn it, I just accidentally bumped into them outside the Chaotic Abyss and ended up being caught. When this father gets out of here, I swear one day I’ll destroy their entire Purple Star.”
Yang Kai shot him a surprised look.
“This is my one lifelong wish!” Shen Tu added.
“What about the other people in here?”
“They should all be from forces hostile to Purple Star. After being captured, they were placed in this power room and used until they expired from exhaustion! All forces act like this, therefore one needs to be careful not to be easily captured, otherwise their ending will be very pitiful. Some who are captured are sent to dangerous places to serve as miners or to gather medicinal herbs… The feeling of not being in control of one’s own life is even worse than those imprisoned here.”
Shen Tu’s expression was quite miserable when he spoke these words, as if he had suffered such experiences before, once again stunning Yang Kai.
After saying so though, he shot Yang Kai a look of sympathy, “But the most pitiful one is definitely you, actually catching that the woman Bi Ya’s eye, hahaha!”
Seeing Shen Tu taking pleasure in his misfortune, Yang Kai was rendered speechless.
As he spoke with the young man named Shen Tu, Yang Kai managed to inquire about many things he wanted to know.
Gradually, he came to understand some common sense of the Starry Sky.
The Star Field he was in right now was called the Heng Luo Star Field, and although it was extremely large and contained countless stars, it was actually only one of many Star Fields in the vast Starry Sky.
Heng Luo Star Field had several massive forces which dominated over all the others.
Sword Union and Purple Star were both such forces; in addition to them, there was Heng Luo Chamber Of Commerce, Galaxy Ridge, and Abandoned Lair which acted as the rulers of the Star Field.
Beneath these top-level forces, there were countless other forces of varying sizes.
The strength of a force greatly depended on whether or not it could build and deploy Starships.
Forces that were able to operate Starships, which were essentially extremely large artifacts, were considered to be strong, because construction and maintenance of a Starship was a massive expenditure.
From how many giant pieces of Saint Crystal were arranged inside this power room, Yang Kai could easily tell how energy intensive it was to operate this ultra-large artifact.
An average small force wouldn’t be able to afford such consumption.
“These big forces all occupy a number of Cultivation Stars, two or three on the low end, seven or eight at the high end, each one is different,” Shen Tu was clearly more informed about the Star Field than Yang Kai, and seeing how the latter seemed to be ignorant of even these basic facts, he patiently explained.
“Cultivation Stars?” Yang Kai frowned.
“Stars that are suitable for cultivators to inhabit,” Shen Tu explained, “The Star Field is indeed vast and contains a countless number of stars, but for various reasons, most of them aren’t suitable for long term living. Stars that can support life are called Cultivation Stars.”
“Got it,” Yang Kai nodded lightly, indicating he understood.
“However, those stars that aren’t suitable to permanently occupy aren’t worthless. Some of those stars are rich in rare ores while some of them have environments suitable for raising precious spirit grasses and medicines, such stars are respectively called Ore Stars and Medicine Stars. The big forces occupy many Ore Stars and Medicine Stars, allowing them to obtain massive amounts of resources to help develop themselves. Of course, there are many Death Stars out there too, stars covered in Death Qi without ores, herbs, or even World Energy.”
Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling shocked.
In Tong Xuan Realm, major influences would fight over even small pieces of land, but in this vast Star Field, there were actually some forces who could rule over multiple stars.
Before now, this was something Yang Kai couldn’t even conceive of.
Tong Xuan Realm simply had no way to compare to the massive Star Field.
“Each Cultivation Star has its own Star Master. The Star Master is the highest authority on his or her Cultivation Star. If you or I can one day reach such a height, we’ll have made it in life,” Shen Tu smiled widely towards Yang Kai, a glimmer of yearning in his eyes.
“What is the cultivation of a Star Master like?”
“Unfathomable. For example, a Saint King High-Rank Starship like this one could be destroyed by any Star Master with a wave of their hand!” Shen Tu replied solemnly.
Yang Kai was speechless for a while.
Although Shen Tu didn’t tell him clearly what kind of cultivation realm these Star Masters had reached, Yang Kai could tell that it was definitely beyond the Saint King Realm.
Above the Saint King Realm, there was a higher realm!
“Take a look outside,” Shen Tu suddenly whispered.
Yang Kai followed his vision and saw the beautiful stars outside the Starship.
The power room was located at the bottom of the Starship and was directly responsible for adjusting the Starship direction and speed, so it was necessary to be able to see outside from here.
All around there were transparent windows manufactured from some unknown material that allowed one to see out in all directions.
“What do you think of these stars?” Shen Tu asked.
“The World Energy they contain is beyond imagination!” Yang Kai replied sincerely. While he was wandering about the Chaotic Abyss, he had often marvelled at the energy contained in these stars.
“Indeed, throughout the entire Heng Luo Star Field, no Cultivation Star can match this place. All the forces in the Star Field are very keen to develop the stars within the Chaotic Abyss. Whether it’s the blazing hot or frigid cold stars, both are extremely suitable for certain cultivators with the appropriate attribute strength. Cultivating on or even nearby these stars will yield unimaginable benefits to these cultivators.”
“But I heard that it is very dangerous here, even being labelled as one of the Star Field’s most famous Restricted Areas. The overlapping energy fields emitted by these stars create a kind of chaotic domain that causes one to lose their sense of direction.”
“En, because these stars contain too much energy, they produce that chaotic domain, causing anyone who enters here to easily become lost. For this reason, the Chaotic Abyss has always been one of the Star Field’s Restricted Areas and no one has successfully developed it, let alone laid claim to these stars.”
“Then this Starship…”
“You don’t have to worry about that, the Star Chart carried aboard any Starship is of the highest grade. There is also a Chart Master on board who is well versed in drawing Star Charts, so the Starship won’t lose its direction here. It’s only because of this reason that they dared to enter this region. Star Shuttles are different, once affected by the chaotic energy flow here, the Star Chart inside a Star Shuttle can easily be destroyed, which is why no one dares enter this place with only a Star Shuttle.”
“If that’s all though, can this place really be considered one of the Star Field’s Restricted Areas? Is there some other danger here too?” Yang Kai immediately noticed something odd.
“There are indeed some more,” Shen Tu nodded heavily, his expression becoming dignified, “But as to what these dangers are, no one can say clearly, because anyone who falls prey to those dangers never returns alive.”
Yang Kai’s look changed greatly, his thoughts turning sharply, suddenly letting out a sigh, “If things are as you say, then whatever it is those sisters have on them is something Purple Star desperately wants, otherwise they wouldn’t take such a big risk.”
Shen Tu narrowed his eyes and thought about it for a moment, soon nodding in agreement, “I hadn’t really thought about it before, but you’re right, what kind of treasure could possibly cause Purple Star to send a Saint King High-Rank Starship into the Chaotic Abyss?”
Even after wracking his brain for some time, Shen Tu couldn’t come up with an answer.
Just then, from a corner of the power room, a voice suddenly called out in alarm, “Senior Bi Ya and her team are back!”
Yang Kai and Shen Tu looked at each other before turning their gazes outside the ship’s hull.
Sure enough, they soon saw two blue lights speeding towards the ship.
“Seems your good days are at an end,” Shen Tu looked at Yang Kai with some sympathy, “What do you want to do? Now that that slut is back, she definitely won’t let you off. Let me say first, what she wants is you. I can’t do anything about that or help you in any way.”
“Not necessarily!” Yang Kai’s eyes brightened as he stared towards the two approaching blue lights, seemingly having discovered something interesting.
“What do you mean?” Shen Tu asked in confusion, not understanding why Yang Kai didn’t seem worried at all.
“When they left, there were three of them, but now that they’re back there’s only two… It seems they ran into something unexpected,” Yang Kai whispered.
Shen Tu took another look and sure enough, there were only two blue lights approaching.
A moment later, two figures appeared beside the Starship.
“Only Senior Bi Ya and Senior Liu Shan returned, Senior Liu Sha isn’t with them!” The voice of a concerned cultivator exclaimed, “And it seems Senior Bi Ya and Senior Liu Shan have been injured.”
“What’s happened?” Ke Meng walked out from the shadows and asked with a stern face.
“I don’t know, my subordinates are asking,” The first man said, pouring his Divine Sense into the compass-like artifact in his hand, seemingly communicating with someone.
Outside of Starship, Liu Shan also took out a similar artifact.
Yang Kai suddenly understood that this artifact should be used for long-distance communication. The last time he was brought back by Liu Shan and the others, he had seen Liu Shan do the same.
Looking out the window of the power room, Yang Kai saw that Liu Shan and Bi Ya had many scars on their bodies and their clothes were stained in blood. It appeared they had barely managed to escape with their lives. Bi Ya’s beauty was completely ruined as she now appeared haggard and dishevelled, her once pretty face filled with fear and alarm, from time to time glancing over her shoulder, as if someone was chasing after them.
“Ha! It’s really as you guessed,” Shen Tu wore a smug smile, taking great pleasure in this pair’s misfortune, “They got what they deserved, daring to rush into the Chaotic Abyss only to suffer a big loss.”
“They seem to have been injured in a fight with other cultivators, the situation doesn’t seem to be as simple as you think,” Yang Kai said thoughtfully.
“Eh…”
“Those sisters I met only had a Second Order and Third Order Saint Realm cultivation, they certainly wouldn’t be Liu Shan’s group’s opponent, but now this side is the one that was forced to escape with dead and wounded…”
“There are others inside the Chaotic Abyss?” Shen Tu immediately understood, “Moreover there’s definitely at least one master at the Saint King Realm!”
“The Sword Union’s people!” Yang Kai stated.
“Haha, then we’re in for a good show. Since the Sword Union has also sent forces to the Chaotic Abyss, there will definitely be a big fight. When that happens, we’ll have a chance to escape,” Shen Tu’s eyes flashed brilliantly.
“We’ll soon find out,” Yang Kai was also secretly looking forward to this. If something big didn’t happen soon to disrupt the situation, he would have to once again deal with Bi Ya.
Yang Kai really didn’t want to die beneath such a woman.
As such, he couldn’t wait for the situation to become as chaotic as possible.
“It’s Sword Union, Sword Union’s Starship is here too!” The cultivator that had been communicating with Liu Shan shouted, confirming Yang Kai and Shen Tu’s suspicions.
“What?” Ke Meng’s expression changed, “Their courage is big!”
As soon as he spoke, he realized that another Starship had been detected nearby, causing his look to sink.
During this time, the cultivator that had been speaking with Liu Shan opened the door to the Starship and let him and Bi Ya inside.
“Where are the Sword Union forces?” Shen Tu stretched out his neck and scanned their surroundings, but upon finding nothing at all, he was inevitably disappointed.
“If I were Sword Union, I would immediately leave the Chaotic Abyss after picking up those two sisters instead of chasing after this Purple Star Starship!” Yang Kai said calmly.
Shen Tu glanced over at Yang Kai and thought for a moment before nodding, “What you say makes sense. Whatever it is those two sisters obtained must be extraordinary, as long as the retrieve it, Sword Union wouldn’t have any reason to stay here and fight with Purple Star… Your way of thinking is really somewhat different from ordinary people.”
Just from Liu Shan and Bi Ya’s return, and the state they were in, Yang Kai was able to infer what had transpired and what was likely to happen next, Shen Tu had to admit that such insight and analytical skill were beyond him.
At this moment, he sincerely admired Yang Kai.
“Shen Tu, the people placed in this power room are here mainly to provide an auxiliary boost to the Starship when it executes intense actions, right?” Yang Kai suddenly asked.
“En, that’s right, why do you ask?”
“I suddenly had a bad premonition,” Yang Kai stared at him deeply.
Shen Tu’s face changed and his mouth twitched, “Don’t frighten me like that. What kind of bad premonition did you have?”
Yang Kai shook his head and didn’t answer.
The two of them suddenly fell silent and began quietly observing their surroundings, raising their vigilance as they closely watched Ke Meng’s movements.
After the time it would take to burn a stick of incense, Ke Meng’s communication artifact suddenly flickered and he quickly poured his Divine Sense into it to receive whatever message was sent.
A moment later, Ke Meng put away this artifact and in a loud, commanding voice, shouted, “Increase speed, we’re going after Sword Union’s Starship. We cannot let them escape!”
When this order came out, both Yang Kai and Shen Tu went pale.
“Congratulations, you were right again, I’m also having a bad promotion now,” Shen Tu said sarcastically before indignantly shouting, “You and your damn mouth!”
In the next instant, alarms began sounding throughout the huge Saint King Grade Starship and its speed suddenly shot up, flying forward towards a certain direction in the Starry Sky.
At the same time, the suction force from the shackles binding Yang Kai and Shen Tu increased greatly, madly draining them of their strength.
This suction force was now twice as strong as before, doubling the burden on their bodies.
Shen Tu couldn’t help letting out a groan as his body shivered unconsciously. Even Yang Kai felt a sharp ache throughout his body. No matter how he circulated his Secret Art, he was unable to stop the outflow of his strength.
The cultivators who were imprisoned in the power room usually only provided a temporary boost to the Starship’s operations while most of the energy was supplied by the giant pieces of Saint Crystal; however, once this massive artifact began making rapid manoeuvres, it’s energy requirements would drastically increase. This was nothing short of a disaster for the people like Shen Tu and Yang Kai.
The power in their bodies was being drawn out more and more intensely.
Ke Meng shuttled through the power room as he issued one command after another, his expression fierce.
Because of the indiscriminate extraction of power by the shackles, the cultivators who were bound in the power room began to rapidly expire.
Only moments after the Starship began accelerating, in all directions, tragic screams rang out. All at once, imprisoned cultivators at the end of their ropes began collapsing to the ground, dead.
They really couldn’t bear this kind of torture anymore as the last vestiges of their strength were sucked clean from their bodies.
Shen Tu became frightened as a deep look of bitterness spread across his face. He knew that in his current state he wouldn’t last long. If the strength in his body really continued to be drained like this, even if he didn’t die, his cultivation realm would inevitably fall.
Although he was cursing violently in his heart, that long wouldn’t change his destiny.
Sneaking a glance over at Yang Kai, Shen Tu couldn’t help showing a confused expression for a moment.
He found that although Yang Kai’s expression was painful, and the strength in his body really was flowing out, the intensity of the energy fluctuations coming from him didn’t show any sign of weakening, almost as if his body was constantly maintaining his level of Saint Qi.
This greatly puzzled Shen Tu, wondering just what was going on with Yang Kai.
“Sir, five people have already died,” A cultivator suddenly came up to Ke Meng and reported.
Ke Meng gawked, like he had only just remembered about this, shooting the chained up cultivators on the ground a cold glance before snorting, “Useless wastes, give them some Saint Crystals!”
“Yes!” The cultivator saluted and quickly walked over to still-living prisoners and dropped three pieces of Saint Crystal in front of each of them.
All the pairs of gloomy eyes suddenly lit up as everyone reached out hastily to pick up the Saint Crystals in front of them and began extracting the energy within them to supplement their rapid consumption.
Shen Tu also did the same. His Secret Art was clearly quite high grade as it took him less than half a cup of tea’s worth of time to absorb all the energy in the three Saint Crystals.
Having finally obtained some extra energy, his complexion became much better.
The Saint King High-Rank Starship continued advancing through the Starry Sky at a speed far beyond what a Star Shuttle was capable of.
Sitting in the power room, Yang Kai only managed to catch a glimpse of an asteroid shoot past the windows and disappear into the distance. The Starship’s hull was incredibly strong and could easily shrug off minor obstacles in the Starry Sky. Small asteroids it ran into were smashed into oblivion while the Starship itself remained unaffected.
After about half a day, Ke Meng’s expression suddenly brightened as he shouted, “Sword Union dogs, we’ve finally caught up to you! Let’s see where you can run now!”
Hearing this, Shen Tu and Yang Kai simultaneously turned their eyes towards the front window.
Up ahead, a huge ship that was basically the same shape as the Starship they were riding was sailing through the Starry Sky, a giant sword-shaped emblem emblazoned on its hull.
This symbol was exactly the same as the one Yang Kai had seen on He Zao and He Miao’s clothes.
It was a Sword Union Starship!
“Hahahaha, have a taste of my Purple Star Starship’s power!” Ke Meng’s entire personality seemed to have transformed, a bloodthirsty aura pulsing from his body as he quickly issued a series of orders.
With a loud bang, the entire Starship shook violently and a number of dazzling beams of light suddenly shot out from its hull.
These beams of light were thick and fast, seemingly able to break through the shackles of space, soaring through the Starry Sky and closing in on the Sword Union Starship.
All the asteroids blocking these light beams’ path were instantly vaporized.
As Yang Kai observed these beams of light, his complexion turned ashen.
Even sitting inside the power room, he could feel the destructive power each of these beams of light possessed.
He had no doubt that each one of these beams of light could level a mountain or evaporate a lake.
This was a true Heaven shaking, Earth destroying power.
If he were to be hit by one of those beams, Yang Kai estimated that even if he used all his strength, he would still be reduced to dust.
At that moment, he couldn’t help sympathizing with Sword Union’s Starship.
However, what happened next greatly stemmed from his expectations. Just as the light beams were about to hit the Sword Union Starship, a seemingly thin barrier suddenly appeared and surrounded its hull in five coloured light.
This barrier of light trembled under the impact of the light beams, sending out many ripples that spread towards the depths of the Starry Sky.
A moment later, aside from shaking a bit, Sword Union’s Starship emerged from this bombardment unscathed.
The look of excitement on Ke Meng’s face turned gloomy, he hadn’t thought that the sneak attack he had just made would be so easily blocked by the other side.
Shouting once more, the ship trembled again and a second volley of light beams short forth.
“Fuck!” Shen Tu cursed as his face turned pale. All the energy he had just absorbed had been sucked away again, so he quickly turned to Yang Kai and shouted, “Yang Kai, save me!”
Hearing this, Yang Kai turned a blank look towards him and finally came back to his senses.
Just now he had all of his attention attracted by the powerful beams of light so he hadn’t taken any notice of the changes inside himself or his surroundings.
When Shen Tu shouted, he suddenly realized that the neatly arranged Saint Crystals inside the power room had dimmed noticeably after those two shots were fired. On top of that, many of the cultivators around him had also fallen.
At the same time, all the Saint Qi in his meridians and flesh had been sucked clean by the shackles on his hands and feet.
[Those two rounds of divine light must require a massive amount of energy to produce,] Yang Kai quickly understood what had happened.
The two light beam volleys not only drained a lot of energy from the Saint Crystals in the power room but also put an unimaginable load on the cultivators who were bound here.
After the two shots, of the fifty or sixty cultivators imprisoned in the power room, more than half had died, their vitality drained and their souls scattered in the wind.
Those that were still alive were gasping for breath, barely managing to maintain their feeble existences. As long as those beams of light were fired once more, they would all certainly die.
Only Shen Tu, who was nearby Yang Kai, was barely better off.
Yang Kai quickly burst a drop of Yang Liquid in his dantian, filling his body and meridians again before throwing a few of the Saint Crystals he had previous hidden away over to Shen Tu.
Shen Tu’s eyes brightened and immediately reached out to catch these Saint Crystals and madly began refining them, his complexion gradually becoming rosy again.
“Those bastards dare fight back?” Ke Meng shouted again.
It seemed like because of Purple Star’s had aggressively opened fire, Sword Union responded in kind.
Beams of light shot out from the other side as a defensive energy shield was raised around Purple Star’s Starship.
With a loud bang, the Starship shook violently.
Shen Tu’s face went pale again as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He didn’t even have the spare energy to curse, as whether the Starship sent out that light beam attack or activated its defensive shield, both siphoned a massive amount of energy from him. Every action the two Starships took placed an unbearable burden on Shen Tu and the other prisoners.
“Fire again, I want them blow to smithereens!” Ke Meng shouted hysterically like a madman.
“Sir, the crystal cannons cannot be used again! If we do, the Saint Crystals won’t be able to provide sufficient energy to operate the ship!” A nearby cultivator warned.
Ke Meng’s brow furrowed deeply, his hot-tempered mood finally calming down.
He finally remembered this problem.
At this moment, the communication artifact in his hand flashed again and Ke Meng quickly poured his Divine Sense into it. After a brief exchange, a fierce grin appeared on his face as he waved his hand, “Open the hatch! Today we’ll let these Sword Union dogs experience our true strength!”
“Yes!”
The next moment, the Starship’s hatch was opened, and one after another, Purple Star’s cultivators flew out, summoning various artifacts and quickly charging towards Sword Union’s Starship.
The artifacts the Purple Star cultivators summoned were all different kinds of Star Shuttles, shaped like chariots, flying swords, and various other dazzling designs, showcasing how unique the Starry Sky was.
From Sword Union Starship, a large number of people also suddenly emerged and met the Purple Star attackers head-on without fear, instantly setting off a great battle.
Amidst the Starry Sky, streaks of light flew about as the cultivators from both sides traded Martial Skills and artifact attacks.
Both the Purple Star and Sword Union forces pulsed with thick murderous intent, their eyes dyed red as they engaged in a desperate struggle.
In the tangled melee, low grade artifacts and Star Shuttles were struck and shattered directly.
Fragments of these burning artifacts shot out like the most luminous of fireworks, filling the sky with a thrilling beauty, then fading just as fast, becoming pieces of trash that were lost forever in the Chaotic Abyss.
In this chaotic battlefield, there were many Saint Realm masters while Transcendents were as common and weak as ants.
There were even a few figures that gave off shockingly powerful auras that could only belong to Saint King Realm powerhouses. Each of these masters displayed earth-shattering abilities and could easily slaughter the weak cultivators around them. Everywhere they flew, many enemy cultivators would fall, their bodies shattered and their souls erased.
Both sides suffered huge losses over the course of this short battle.
Neither side wanted to show weakness or easily admit defeat, so a continuous stream of reinforcements from their respective Starships poured out to join the battlefield.
For a moment, the fight entered a fragile stalemate.
In the Star Field, both Sword Union and Purple Star were first-class forces, each of them managing at least five Cultivation Stars along with countless Ore and Medicine Stars. The number of resources they controlled was simply unimaginable, allowing their many cultivators to grow and develop rapidly.
Their leaders could not care less about such losses.
Yang Kai was stunned speechless for a long time.
He was thoroughly shocked.
He was still astounded by the power of light beams the Starships had shot out a moment ago; he had never dreamed such incredible things existed in this vast Star Field.
Since coming to the Star Field, everything he had seen and heard about far exceeded his imagination.
He suddenly realized that the Star Field was a far more exciting place than he had anticipated, his eyes filling with light as his blood began to boil.
He neither panicked nor had any intention to withdraw because of these fantastical sights, but instead was more and more looking forward to this adventure.
Because only in such a wondrous place, could he live a more exciting life.
“Yang Kai, Yang Kai!” Shen Tu’s voice called out again.
Yang Kai turned his head back to look at him.
With an extremely bitter look upon his face, Shen Tu bit his cracked lips and asked, “Can you give me some more Saint Crystal? I can’t hold on much longer.”
At this moment, his strength was almost completely depleted, a true lamp without oil.
Yang Kai said nothing and directly threw him five or six pieces of Saint Crystal.
“Thanks!” Shen Tu’s face filled with gratitude as he sincerely thanked Yang Kai before quickly refining these crystals.
Yang Kai also calmed down finally and began scanning his surroundings with cold eyes, listening to the footsteps coming and going throughout the ship as well as observing the various energy fluctuations around him, his eyes slowly flashing a dangerous light.
A short time later, Shen Tu let out a heavy sigh of relief and said, “The suction finally slowed down. Fuck, if they had fired the crystal cannons even once more I would have died on the spot. That was far too dangerous.”
Saying so, he shot a grateful look towards Yang Kai, “Thanks are not enough for this kindness, I will remember this gratitude.”
“Shen Tu, what’s your real cultivation?” Yang Kai shot him a look and whispered.
Shen Tu raised his brow slightly, seemingly wanting to ask him what he was talking about, but soon grinned instead and asked, “You noticed?”
“I’d have to be blind not to have seen that much!” Yang Kai face became serious.
The fluctuations coming from Shen Tu’s body made him appear to be a First-Order Saint, the same as Yang Kai.
But in the crisis just now, when Shen Tu was frantically absorbing the pieces of Saint Crystal, unusual energy fluctuation had appeared in his aura.
From this, Yang Kai judged that he was hiding his true cultivation.
Being able to hide his true strength in the middle of this Purple Star Starship was not something just anyone could do, this Shen Tu was clearly not simple!
“Third-Order Saint Realm!” Shen Tu suddenly looked serious and whispered back.
Yang Kai nodded, knowing he shouldn’t be lying.
“Why do you ask?” Shen Tu looked at Yang Kai curiously.
“Nothing much, but if you have this kind of strength, we can probably do something. Right now there aren’t many aboard this Starship, and almost all the masters have gone outside to fight. Even this power room’s defences are far lighter than before,” Yang Kai said meaningfully.
Originally, there had been a Saint King Realm master guarding the power room from the dark, but after the battle outside broke out, the aura of that Saint King Realm master had disappeared. Yang Kai figured that he should have been gone out to fight and that right now, the number of Purple Star cultivators guarding the power room had been reduced by more than half. On top of that, now, besides Ke Meng, who was a Third Order Saint, the rest were just First or Second Order Saints numbering less than ten in total, all of whom were seated at various nodes of the giant Spirit Array that was keeping the Starship running.
“What do you want to do? Don’t act rashly, these shackles are forged from Qi Scattering Stone. Anyone chained by them won’t be able to use their full strength,” Shen Tu’s face changed greatly, suddenly understanding what Yang Kai was planning.
“Then we just need someone to unlock them for us,” Yang Kai grinned, his face suddenly became pale and his life aura becoming faint.
He then shot a meaningful glance towards Shen Tu.
Shen Tu wore a bitter and hesitant look on his face, but after a moment, he grit his teeth and muttered, “Forget it, in any case, my life was saved by you, I’ll play along with your insane idea.”
Saying so, he began shouting loudly.
Ke Meng, who was monitoring the various functions inside the power room, heard his cries and his expression turned cold, shooting a sharp glance over towards Shen Tu and Yang Kai and letting out a slightly surprised grunt, “You two haven’t died yet?”
This was really somewhat unexpected.
During the battle between the two Starships a moment ago, nearly all of the cultivators imprisoned in the power room had used up all their strength and perished.
Shen Tu and Yang Kai still clinging to life was no small surprise to Ke Meng.
“My vitality has always been strong, but he’s on the verge of dying!” Shen Tu continued to yell, “Isn’t this guy the one Bi Ya wants? If you just let him die like this, won’t it cause you trouble?”
Ke Meng frowned as he stared deeply at Yang Kai. After sweeping him with his Divine Sense, Ke Meng noticed Yang Kai’s vanishing vitality and impatiently grumbled, “So troublesome, why did he have to have one last breath instead of just dying directly?”
Saying so, he quickly came over to Yang Kai.
When he was commanding the Starship’s actions just now, he didn’t consider the side effects at all, and had naturally not paid any attention to Yang Kai’s situation.
But now that he had calmed down and thought carefully, if Yang Kai really happened to die, Bi Ya would likely vent her anger on him.
That wasn’t a responsibility he could afford.
So went up to Yang Kai and took out the key for his shackles before unlocking them, releasing him from their effects.
At this moment, he had completely let his guard down.
After all, Yang Kai’s current appearance couldn’t have been weaker; what’s more, Ke Meng was a Third Order Saint so he didn’t have much wariness towards the First Order Saint Yang Kai in the first place.
This self-confidence backfired against him severely.
The moment the shackles were unlocked, Yang Kai suddenly bit his own finger and drew some blood.
He then rapidly wiped his cut finger across his left eye.
The golden blood dripped into his left eye, causing it to change from its original black and white to pure gold in colour.
Yang Kai swiftly raised his head towards Ke Meng.
Four eyes suddenly met, and Ke Meng’s look became absent-minded as he stared into the golden eye filled with overwhelming majesty. At that moment, Ke Meng felt a soul gripping terror as well as a crushing sense of inferiority, as if before this eye he was the lowliest of beings.
An invisible vortex formed from the golden eye that produced an astonishing suction force that tore at Ke Meng’s Soul, nearly frightening him out of his wits.
His face draining of all colour, Ke Meng cried out strangely and went all out to resist this suction force.
Yang Kai instantly displayed his Demon God Transformation, filling his body with rich evil energy, drastically changing his temperament, and causing the temperature inside the power room to drop precipitously.
A cruel and malevolent aura burst out and filled the air.
Yang Kai body slammed Ke Meng’s chest, unleashing the full might of his intrepid physique, knocking him into the nearby wall and pouncing towards him.
Blood splashed out as punches and palms rained down on Ke Meng’s back, causing his clothes to explode into dust in an instant.
Ke Meng wasn’t weak, but in a moment of defencelessness, under Yang Kai’s wanton bombardment, he was unable to summon any of his profound artifacts or display any of his polished Martial Skills, only becoming more and more muddleheaded as he suffered under the unceasing blows.
In the blink of an eye, Ke Meng’s body burst into a bloody fog that spattered red all across the power room in a thrilling explosion.
An ethereal figure, exactly the same as Ke Meng, stood in his original position.
Naturally it was Ke Meng’s Soul Avatar.
Even until now, he didn’t seem to have reacted to what had happened to him, just staring there blankly at Yang Kai.
From Yang Kai’s golden eye, an even more powerful suction force appeared, drawing Ke Meng’s Soul Avatar into the former’s Knowledge Sea.
Yang Kai’s eyes swept over the blood fog rapidly and in the next instant, his hand reached out and snatched the key to the shackles before tossing it over to Shen Tu.
“Open it yourself!” Yang Kai said before disappearing in a gust of wind. The next moment, tragic and chaotic cries rang out all over the power room.
Shen Tu shook violently, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.
He simply couldn’t believe what he had just seen.
When he first realized Yang Kai’s intentions, Shen Tu decided to accompany him despite thinking the later was insane, not even asking what Yang Kai’s exact plan was. Originally, Shen Tu thought Yang Kai was going to leave here temporarily and look for an opportunity to act.
As for whether Yang Kai would come back to help him escape, Shen Tu hadn’t thought much about it; after all, Yang Kai had already saved his life a couple of times now, asking for anything more would be ungrateful.
How was Shen Tu supposed to know this guy was even crazier than he had thought, actually daring to launch a sneak attack the moment he was freed?
However, what was most surprising to Shen Tu was that Ke Meng, a Third-Order Saint, had actually been killed so easily by Yang Kai.
How did he do it? How could he have done it?
Shen Tu held the key thrown to him by Yang Kai in his hand while staring dumbfounded at the bloody fog lingering in front of him, his heart tumbling and turning.
If it had been him who fought Ke Meng just now, who would win and who would lose was a tossup, so how did Yang Kai, a First-Order Saint, butcher him so easily?
Even if Ke Meng had his guard down at that moment, he shouldn’t have lost all ability to fight back given his cultivation realm and strength.
Everything happened so suddenly that Shen Tu was completely caught off guard.
He remained in place, too shocked to even move, forgetting all about his current situation, even forgetting to free himself from his shackles.
It was only now that he realized that Yang Kai was an extremely dangerous guy. If Yang Kai was able to kill Ke Meng in an instant, that meant he himself wouldn’t present much more of a challenge.
Shen Tu nearly gasped in alarm.
“Are you coming or not?” Yang Kai’s low voice called out.
Shen Tu suddenly returned to his senses and quickly used the key to unlock his shackles. In the next instant, numerous bolts of lightning suddenly spread from his body, each one distinct and lifelike, making it seems as though he was wrapped in a million lightning snakes.
These vivid lightning bolts wandered around his body before shooting outwards in every direction, lighting up the entire power room.
Shen Tu let out a hearty laugh, “Brother, your performance just now was outstanding. I deeply admire you!”
After letting out this laugh, Shen Tu’s figure suddenly vanished and, in the next moment, reappeared next to a First-Order Saint Purple Star cultivator.
This Purple Star cultivator was trying to sneak attack Yang Kai, but Shen Tu had easily captured him.
Violent thunder began to surge and the cultivator trembled fiercely as a massive amount of lightning poured into his body and soul, causing him to instantly lose all ability to resist.
A burnt smell filled the air as black smoke emerged from the top of the cultivator’s head. After Shen Tu let this man go, his charred body collapsed to the ground dead.
The power room was the heart of the entire Starship, therefore it was normally heavily guarded, with at least one Saint King Realm personally watching over it to ensure no accidents occurred.
But at this moment, it seemed that Purple Star was completely focused on Sword Union, so the various masters who would normally be stationed here had all been deployed as reinforcements, leaving behind only Ke Meng to oversee the situation.
Ke Meng was the first to die, and under Shen Tu and Yang Kai’s rapid and unexpected assault, the other Purple Star cultivators quickly fell.
Relying on his immense physical strength and the element of surprise, Yang Kai swiftly killed five cultivators and, after returning to the power room, discovered that only Shen Tu and him were still alive. The Purple Star cultivators who had realized the situation was dire and tried to run away had all been struck down by Shen Tu’s lightning.
“I’m finally free, hahaha!” Shen Tu shouted joyously, like a wild beast that had at last escaped from its cage.
“Where to next? You’re more familiar with this place than me, you lead the way,” Yang Kai said to him indifferently.
“No need to rush, let’s deliver Purple Star a big gift before we leave,” Shen Tu suddenly grinned menacingly.
Dashing to the middle of the power room, he sat quickly sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.
Releasing his Divine Sense, Shen Tu connected the power in his body to that of the central Spirit Array.
Yang Kai stared at him curiously but didn’t try to stop him, simply waiting and watching.
After spending so many days inside this power room, Yang Kai had also acquired a certain understanding of how this giant Starship artifact worked and knew what role the Spirit Array Shen Tu was currently operating played.
This was the central control interface for the Starship.
Shen Tu obviously wanted to make this Saint King High-Rank Starship take some kind of action.
The lines of the giant Spirit Array lit up and the Starship, which was parked somewhere in the Starry Sky, slowly re-oriented itself and came to a stop a moment later.
“Heh heh, I’ll let you all know today that this Shen Tu isn’t someone good to bully!” Shen Tu’s eyes shot open and a violent light flashed across them as he poured his strength into the giant Spirit Array beneath him.
In the next instant, the Starship trembled.
A massive beam of light, filled with destructive energy, shot out from the Starship and flew straight towards the chaotic battlefield.
At the same time, Yang Kai keenly felt the energy in the Saint Crystals placed around the power room drastically reduce, their original radiant glow fading rapidly and becoming dim.
The beam of divine light surged forward, causing all the cultivators from both Sword Union and Purple Star who were in the middle of their battle to come to a halt. Seeing the approaching earth-destroying beam, all of them became panic-stricken, screamed out in alarm, and pushed their flight type artifacts to their limit in an attempt to escape.
It was too late for a lot of them, the speed of the beam of light was so fast that before any of these cultivators could even blink, it was upon them.
The entire world suddenly fell silent.
The intense sounds of battle had all disappeared and those fortunate enough to have been outside the light beam’s range stared at the scene before them as if the apocalypse had just descended, none of them able to speak, or even open their mouths to breath.
The beam of light passed through the battlefield and soared off into the distance.
All that was left behind was an empty void, clear of even dust.
Only a moment ago, that space was filled with cultivators who were each displaying their own Divine Abilities and waving their artifacts in a desperate battle! But now, everything was gone.
It was as if they had never existed.
At least a hundred people were directly wiped away by the beam of light.
Inside the power room, Shen Tu laughed wildly, extremely satisfied with himself.
Yang Kai frowned slightly, thinking that Shen Tu’s act of vengeance had unjustly involved many of the Sword Union cultivators, but he chose to not say anything at this moment.
He didn’t have any friendship with Sword Union, and even He Zao and He Miao were just casual acquaintances he had met by chance.
“Done venting? If so, we need to leave quickly,” Yang Kai muttered, “Your little stunt will no doubt cause all those masters to return here immediately.”
“Ah, you’re right!” Shen Tu suddenly realized the implications of what he had done and hurriedly jumped up from the Spirit Array control centre before rushing out of the power room together with Yang Kai.
Inside the Purple Star Starship, there was only a handful of cultivators left, and because of the sudden firing of the crystal cannons, they had all become alarmed and were rushing towards the power room.
Shen Tu seemed to have a good understanding of the structure of this Starship and led Yang Kai through a series of more remote corridors.
Along the road, unexpectedly, they didn’t encounter any trouble.
“Where are we going? Is this the way to the Starship’s exit?” Yang Kai followed behind Shen Tu for a while before suddenly asking with a calm expression.
Although he was not too familiar with this place, he also had his own instincts and intuition and they were telling him that Shen Tu was actually leading him in a giant circle through the Starship rather than immediately heading to the hatch.
“The exit?” Shen Tu continued forward while concealing his aura, only glancing back briefly to ask, “Do you have an accurate Star Chart?”
Yang Kai shook his head.
“How do you plan on leaving without a Star Chart?” Shen Tu chuckled, “Do you have a Star Shuttle?”
“Yes!” Yang Kai nodded, “But I heard that my Star Shuttle is broken and can’t store a Star Chart anymore.”
“It doesn’t matter, we just need to grab a certain individual and let him take us out,” Shen Tu said lightly.
“Who? If you’re just looking to capture someone, there’s a Second-Order Saint a few dozen meters to our left, you can just grab him,” Yang Kai proposed.
Shen Tu shook his head, “He’s no good, even if we catch him, we won’t be able to leave the Chaotic Abyss. You should know that it’s very easy to get lost in the Chaotic Abyss, my goal is not just to escape from this Starship.”
Yang Kai expression changed, suddenly understanding, “You want to catch the Chart Master on this Starship?”
“It really is much easier talking with a smart person,” Shen Tu grinned, “I’m looking for that guy right now.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“I have a general idea where he is, but whether or not we can find him there is up to luck.”
Yang Kai didn’t say anything more and simply followed behind Shen Tu quietly.
From his previous conversations with Shen Tu, Yang Kai had learned that Chart Masters were people who specialized in creating the Star Charts that cultivators used to accurately navigate the vast Star Field.
The Star Chart created by skilled Chart Masters would allow cultivators to avoid many potential dangers of the Starry Sky and smoothly reach their desired destination. As long as the Star Chart was extremely accurate, it didn’t matter how far one had to fly, they would arrive without error.
Essentially, the Star Charts produced by every Chart Master would be different; poor quality Star Charts were cheaper while more accurate ones sold at much higher prices.
The most expensive of Star Charts could cost tens to hundreds of thousands of Saint Crystals while the cheapest ones could be acquired for a few dozen Saint Crystals.
Outstanding Chart Masters were always sought after by big forces, and their status was highly respected. Regardless of their personal strength, wherever skilled Chart Masters went, they would be treated as honoured guests.
Starships often had a Chart Master standing by because they would often change their direction of travel and destination. When such a course change was made, a Chart Master was needed to map out an appropriate route.
Becoming a Chart Master was many times more difficult than becoming an Alchemist or Artifact Refiners, because the basic required of a Chart Master was that they understand the makeup of the entire Star Field, including the location of innumerable stars and the distance between them.
Chart Masters were the rarest existences in the entire Star Field, with any particular master only passing their knowledge down to a single successor rather than multiple disciples.
Because the nurturing of any Chart Master required dedicated and painstaking teaching from a current master.
This was an extremely time-consuming matter, so even the most excellent Chart Masters would only accept one or two apprentices because they would not be able to teach any more than that.
The foundations of creating Star Charts were all held tightly by famous Chart Master, it was basically their legacy and inheritance, not something they would easily pass to outsiders.
All sorts of information about the Chart Master flashed through Yang Kai’s mind, causing him to realize that this profession was quite daunting.
Inside a luxurious room aboard the Purple Star Starship, a short, sallow-skinned old man held a communication type artifact in front of himself and poured his Divine Sense into it, trying to contact Ke Meng in the power room, but no matter who he tried to reach, he received no response.
“What happened?” The old man wiped the sweat from his forehead and stomped his foot.
After a moment of hesitation, he hurriedly opened his door and prepared to go down to the power room personally to see the situation.
But just as he opened the door, he saw two youths emitting clear malicious intention flying towards his direction.
The old man didn’t think too much about this though and simply called out to the two youths, “You two, come here!”
Shen Tu, who was leading the way, let out a cry of surprise and said, “It’s this old man, he’s the Chart Master on this Starship! I saw him go in and out of the power room some time ago!”
Yang Kai nodded lightly and followed after Shen Tu, quickly arriving beside the old man.
“What’s going on in the power room, why isn’t Ke Meng responding to this old master’s call?” The old man roared angrily.
Shen Tu just grinned back at him, revealing a gloomy smile as he said, “Ke Meng is dead, so of course he won’t respond to your messages!”
The old man’s expression filled with surprise at these words and suddenly realized that something wasn’t right. Just as he was about to turn back and return to his room, a lightning snake appeared from Shen Tu’s body and quickly wrapped around the old man’s body, binding him tightly.
The powerful lightning arc caused the old man’s body to go stiff and numb.
“Carry him!” Shen Tu looked around and saw that no one else as nearby before he turned towards a certain direction and sped off.
Yang Kai’s face became cold as he grabbed the old man tied up in the lightning rope and faintly said, “If you want to live, you’d better cooperate, or I’ll kill you!”
Although the Chart Master of this Purple Star Starship wasn’t young, his strength wasn’t very high, only reaching the Third Order Transcendent Realm, so it was easy for Shen Tu, and Yang Kai to capture him.
Ordinary Chart Masters didn’t possess high cultivations because they dedicated most of their time and energy to studying the mysteries of the Starry Sky and producing Star Charts.
This also caused them to not have any self-protection ability when they fell into danger.
“Who are you?” The old man asked sternly.
“Who we are is none of your concern. So long as you take us out of the Chaotic Abyss, everything will be fine, once we leave this place, we will naturally let you go, I promise you!” Shen Tu spun around and said flatly.
“Good, I’ll lead you away, but you must take me to the Starship’s power room first, otherwise we’ll all end up dead!” The old man hurriedly shouted.
Shen Tu sneered, “Do you think we’re idiots? We just managed to escape from the power room, and now that place is filled with Purple Star’s masters, are we supposed to go there and meekly accept death?”
“You don’t understand, naturally I have a good reason for insisting on going to the power room, this has nothing to do with you letting yourselves get caught!” The old man said desperately, “If you don’t take me there now, not only will we three die, even this Starship will be destroyed.”
“What do I care if this Starship can’t be saved?” Shen Tu’s snickered, taking pleasure in Purple Star’s misfortune.
“How can I convince you… There is a huge danger brewing outside that will soon sweep across the entire Chaotic Abyss, if we don’t act quickly, no one here will survive.”
Shen Tu came to a halt and turned back towards the old man, “What do you mean? Speak clearly.”
“Just look outside for yourself!” The old man didn’t answer but instead gestured towards the outside.
Shen Tu and Yang Kai both exchanged a glance and felt that this old man wasn’t simply being an alarmist, the two of them casting their eyes through one of the windows in the corridor in the next moment.
Outside, it was the same scene of massive and beautiful stars, but right now, the incredibly rich World Energy field seemed to have taken on a hazy quality, appearing somewhat like an illusory fog.
The powerful domains produced by the various stars also seemed to be fluctuating as well.
All the cultivators from Sword Union and Purple Star, who were originally heavily engaged in a battle to the death, had ceased all combat and were instead fleeing with all haste towards their respective Starships.
“What happened? They’re all returning now,” Shen Tu expression changed greatly, “It couldn’t be because of the crystal cannon barrage I just shot, right?”
Yang Kai looked at him faintly but said nothing.
Shen Tu seemed somewhat embarrassed and shrugged, “I didn’t expect things to turn out like this, I just wanted to vent some of my anger…”
“I don’t think it has anything to do with what you did. If it was, the Sword Union cultivators wouldn’t also be retreating but instead chasing after them; but right now, both sides are withdrawing. They should be aware of the coming danger,” Yang Kai turned his attention to the old man in his hand and quickly asked, “What is this danger?”
“A domain eruption! You can’t feel it from inside here, but all of those people are coming back because they sensed the drastic change in the energy domains of the Chaotic Abyss’ stars. None of them dares stay outside now, they should only want to return to their ships as quickly as possible to flee from here. If they’re too late, even if they hide inside this Starship, they won’t be safe!”
“A domain eruption?” Shen Tu’s face sank.
“The Chaotic Abyss’ greatest danger!” The old man explained hurriedly, “Do you think that the chaotic and disorienting energy fields here simply cause one to lose their sense of direction? You’re very wrong, the stars in the Chaotic Abyss contain unimaginable World Energy, and once the World Energy in the surrounding space reaches a state of saturation, exceeding the limit of what this region can withstand, the delicate balance they normally maintain collapses and all that energy explodes. As for what happens next, I’m sure you can both imagine, yes?”
Yang Kai and Shen Tu both gasped and went deathly pale.
“Can’t you understand!?” The old man yelled, his spit flying out, showing not the slightest awareness of being a prisoner.
“Do you understand?” Shen Tu asked quietly.
“Nonsense! This old master is a Chart Master. If this old master doesn’t understand what’s happening, who would?” The old man shouted and scolded Shen Tu.
“Since you saw this coming, why didn’t you stop the two sides from fighting? Isn’t it because of their fight that the balance between the fields was broken?” Yang Kai shot him a cold glare.
The old man quickly averted his eyes and awkwardly said, “I only noticed after they started fighting. This old master’s Stargazing Technique isn’t omnipotent, how could I have known things would become so dangerous so quickly?”
“Stargazing Technique?” Yang Kai’s brow rose.
“The technique’s Chart Masters use to study the mysteries of the Starry Sky. I’ll explain to you some other time, but right now, what should we do? This old guy doesn’t look like he’s lying,” Shen Tu hesitated.
If what this old man was saying was true, then all the effort he and Yang Kai had put into silently catching this old man was for nothing, once the Chaotic Abyss’s domain eruption occurred, there would be nowhere for them to run or hide.
As long as they stayed inside the Starship, they would at least have another layer of protection.
This was a Saint King High-Rank Starship after all!
However, with all of Purple Star’s surviving masters about to return to the Starship, staying here wasn’t exactly a good plan either.
“Your thoughts are quite sharp, aren’t they? You make the decision,” Shen Tu said to Yang Kai with an expectant gaze, seemingly hoping he would have some brilliant way out of this mess.
“What’s the status of this Chart Master in Purple Star?” Yang Kai asked suddenly.
“His position is extremely high!” Shen Tu looked towards the old man, “Grandmaster Wu Suo’s ability to create Star Charts ranks among the top three in all of Purple Star and is someone that the other major forces have constantly tried to win over.”
“Do you know this old master?” The old man looked at Shen Tu with clear surprise.
“I’ve heard of you,” Shen Tu grinned.
“Let’s go to the power room,” Yang Kai quickly said.
Shen Tu’s expression cramped and seemed to hesitate, but after carefully thinking about it for a while, he nodded and said, “Agreed, if what he said is true, going outside is no different from courting death.”
“Let’s go!” Yang Kai lifted up the Chart Master called Wu Suo and headed back to the power room.
The corridor outside the power room was overcrowded, with the cultivators who were outside just now battling and the ones who had stayed behind in the Starship all gathered around, wondering who it was that fired the crystal cannons a moment ago, not only killing many of their enemies but also many of their own people as well.
They were all enraged because, if their luck had been a bit worse, they might have been killed just now.
However, after seeing the situation in the power room, their anger suddenly froze up.
There was no one living inside the power room, Ke Meng and the dozen other Saint Realm cultivators had been killed by some unknown enemy.
Inside the power room, a middle-aged man in fine robes with his hands folded behind his back glared around with an angry expression, his pair of sharp eyes soon landing on two pairs of opened shackles, causing him to let out a gloomy snort, “Wastes!”
With his eyesight, it was natural for him to see how Ke Meng had died, and although he didn’t know exactly what had transpired, he could make a fairly accurate guess.
One of the cultivators who had been locked up in those shackles had launched a sneak attack, butchered Ke Meng, snatched the key, released his companion, and then swept through the power room. After killing everyone, these two rats had taken control of the Starship, then shot that crystal cannon barrage, causing the Purple Star cultivators to suffer great losses.
[Ke Meng, that waste, his death isn’t worthy pitying!]
The middle-aged man was infuriated.
Just as he was about to order his subordinates to search the ship for the escapees, a loud voice suddenly resounded outside the power room, “Who are you! Release Grandmaster Wu Suo immediately, or else!”
The middle-aged man’s eyes became gloomy as he looked up.
A cynical and arrogant voice soon echoed, “Make way, make way! Clear a path and don’t get any funny ideas, the moment you try anything, Grandmaster Wu Suo dies!”
A moment later, a group of three figures strolled into the power room.
Two strange youths walked in, one of them wearing a self-important look upon his face while the other wore an indifferent expression while tightly grasping Wu Suo’s shoulder, his Divine Sense and Saint Qi both covering the latter, ready to strike at any moment.
The middle-aged man’s eyes shrank as he shouted, “You dare come back?”
Although he had never met or even seen Yang Kai or Shen Tu, the middle-aged man was certain these two were the rats who had escaped from the power room and fired the crystal cannons, killing several dozen Purple Star cultivators in the process.
Glaring at them, the middle-aged man’s wrath soared towards the Heavens and he couldn’t wait to palm them to death to vent the rage in his heart.
Seeing the middle-aged man’s nearly materialized murderous intent, Shen Tu couldn’t help his neck from shrinking somewhat but he still maintained his aloof grin and snickered, “We didn’t want to come back.”
No fool would return back to the cage they had just fled from if it wasn’t the only option available to them. Shen Tu would have already escaped this place together with Yang Kai with Wu Suo.
“Grandmaster, you can rest assured. With me here, no one will dare to hurt you,” The middle-aged man turned to Wu Suo and comforted down.
“If any of you tried to make a move, I’ll immediately kill him!” Yang Kai’s Saint Qi and Divine Sense were already locked onto Wu Suo as he stared around indifferently.
“Little brat, you dare!” The middle-aged man’s face changed again, a faint hesitation appearing in his expression, clearly worried about harming the innocent while punishing evil.
On the contrary, Wu Suo, who was the one actually clutched by Yang Kai, waved his hands and hurriedly said, “Gui Che, put aside your grievances. I finally persuaded these two to bring me to the power room so there’s no time to waste. What’s most important now is for us to leave here as quickly as possible.”
Hearing him say this, Lu Gui Chen’s expression also became dignified, “The outside fields seemed to have undergone some kind of change. Grandmaster, what exactly is happening?”
“The energy fields are going to erupt, hurry up and steer the Starship away from here!” Wu Suo shouted before turning to Yang Kai, “Boy, if you want to live, take me to the control array.”
Yang Kai nodded and followed his instructions, bringing Wu Suo to a corner of the power room.
Shen Tu followed, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
The Purple Star cultivators also began taking action under the command of Lu Gui Chen, starting up the Starship.
Over on Yang Kai’s side, he kept Wu Suo firmly under his control.
A Star Chart suddenly appeared in front of Yang Kai, a giant, beautiful, three-dimensional representation of the Star Field shrunk down countless times.
This massive Star Chart was stored inside the Starship actually came from the same source as the Star Charts stored inside Star Shuttles, but it was far more comprehensive.
Wu Suo immediately immersed his consciousness into this giant Star Chart.
He was the Starship’s Chart Master and was responsible for setting the Starship’s course. He could find the safest and fastest escape route for the Starship in the shortest amount of time.
Shortly after, on the giant Star Field map, a bright line was drawn by Wu Suo, the beginning of which was where the Starship currently was, and the endpoint where the Starship needed to go.
If no accidents occurred, the Starship would follow this route and sail out of the Chaotic Abyss.
After completing all this, Wu Suo let out a long breath and nodded to Lu Gui Chen.
Lu Gui Chen nodded back and quickly ordered the Starship to set sail.
“Three Saint King Realm masters, the pressure sure is big,” Shen Tu stood next to Yang Kai and silently observed Purple Star’s lineup.
Inside the power room, in addition to Lu Gui Chen, there were another two Saint King masters as well as many Saints.
He and Yang Kai were like lost sheep in the middle of a pack of wolves, surrounded on all sides. The slightest carelessness would spell their doom. It was only thanks to Wu Suo’s great status that the Purple Star cultivators didn’t dare act rashly.
“Do you have any ingenious plan for after this?” Shen Tu glanced over at Yang Kai.
“Nope, just taking things one step at a time and waiting until we leave the Chaotic Abyss to think about it,” Yang Kai shook his head.
Shen Tu sighed faintly, only feeling that his luck was the worst. He had only been flying close to the Chaotic Abyss when he was suddenly caught by the crew of this Starship and now he actually had to pass through this life or death crisis.
“How did these two people come in?” On the other side, Lu Gui Chen gloomily asked.
Liu Shan, who was standing next to him, grinned and said, “The weaker one was brought back by Bi Ya.”
“Bi Ya?” Lu Gui Chen’s gaze crossed the crowd and accurately landed on an enchanting woman, his eyes flashing in the next instant as a cold flash of Spiritual Energy rushed out of his forehead.
Amongst the crowd, Bi Ya screamed miserably and held her head, experiencing an unimaginably painful sensation, causing her clothes to instantly become soaked in sweat, exposing her exquisite curves for all to see.
Unfortunately, none of the Purple Star cultivators were able to appreciate this beautiful picture as they were all too anxious, none of them daring to even breathe heavily because they knew how terrifying Lu Gui Chen was when he was angry.
“I’ll spare your life for now, but once this crisis is averted, I’ll settle accounts with you!” Lu Gui Chen coldly snorted.
Bi Ya was filled with fear as her tender body shivered, quickly bowing her head, “Many thanks for Senior’s mercy, this subordinate will surely make reparations for this sin!”
Saying so, her beautiful eyes landed on Yang Kai, a burning hatred flashing across them!
She hadn’t expected that this seemingly insignificant young man would actually cause her so much trouble. If she had known this was going to happen, even if she had ten times the courage she wouldn’t have dared to bring Yang Kai back to Starship. She would have simply killed him back in the Chaotic Abyss.
She hated Yang Kai deeply and couldn’t wait to peel his skin and torture him brutally.
“Senior, the Saint Crystals don’t have enough energy,” Suddenly, one of the Purple Star cultivators reported.
Lu Gui Chen once again shot a cold glare towards Yang Kai and Shen Tu.
Shen Tu shrugged his shoulders indifferently, “That’s right, I shot that crystal cannon barrage, what are you staring at me for? If you have time to stare at me you might as well replace the Saint Crystals instead.”
The energy required to fire the crystal cannons was enormous, Ke Meng had used them twice before he perished and with Shen Tu firing them once more, it had nearly drained all the energy from the Saint Crystals inside the power room.
Now, if the Starship wanted to escape the Chaotic Abyss at full speed, the energy remaining in these Saint Crystals would obviously not be enough.
“It’s too late to replace them,” Lu Gui Chen took a deep breath and shouted, “All those above the Second Order Saint Realm are to provide power to the Starship.”
Many cultivators in the surrounding wore bitter and unwilling expression, but seeing the look in Lu Gui Chen’s eyes, they didn’t dare object, obediently sitting down in the place where Yang Kai and Shen Tu had formerly been imprisoned, grabbing the shackles and attaching them to themselves, allowing them to draw out their Saint Qi to supplement the energy of the Saint Crystals.
In an instant, sixty Saint Realm cultivators shivered, their hearts filling with remorse.
These cultivators continuously stuffed pills into their mouths while tightly gripping Saint Crystals in their hands to supplement their consumption.
Shen Tu grinned as he watched these Purple Star cultivators forced to bear the same pain and suffering they had subjected him to.
With sixty Saints now providing energy to it, the speed of the Starship increased dramatically.
However, in the next moment, a deafening humming sound rang out, and the Starship’s speed plummeted. Not only that, but some kind of massive, invisible force appeared and latched onto the Starship, making it impossible to move forward.
Under the influence of this invisible force, the Starship began to fly backwards at an increasing rate.
“It’s too late! It’s too late!” Wu Suo’s face went ashen as his body shook like a leaf in a storm, muttering unconsciously, “It’s all over.”
As soon as these words came out, the entire Starship seemed to lose control and began tumbling through the Starry Sky, knocking everyone off their feet and sending them smashing into the power room walls.
“Look outside!” Someone suddenly screamed.
Everyone turned their eyes to the window.
Yang Kai’s eyes shrank and a sense of terror he was unable to suppress spread from the depths of his heart.
Outside, the unimaginable energy lingering around the massive stars was erupting, sending out visible ripples of light that were rapidly spreading across the entire Chaotic Abyss. .
The energy fields centred on these massive stars were all bursting, creating a chaotic chain reaction of explosions.
At the very centre of Chaotic Abyss though, there was a massive black hole that seemed to be capable of swallowing everything around it.
The Saint King-class High-Rank Starship, with everyone still on board it, was actually being drawn towards this black hole which now seemed like the giant maw of a great ominous beast ready to swallow them whole.
In front of this horrifying display of force, whether it was the Transcendents, Saints, or even Saint Kings, all of them realized in this moment their own insignificance.
Before this black hole, no one could guarantee they could survive.
Lu Gui Chen shouted out and tried to direct the Purple Star cultivators to stabilize the Starship, but it was all to no avail.
“It turns out that this is the true danger of the Chaotic Abyss,” At the critical moment, Shen Tu suddenly said to Yang Kai, “No wonder no one knows about this. After witnessing it, is there any other option other than to wait for death?”
“Wait for death?” Yang Kai glanced over at him and coldly snorted, “I won’t sit here waiting to die.”
“Heh heh, you’re not the only one. Hey… Isn’t that Sword Union’s Starship?” Shen Tu pointed outside the window and shouted.
Yang Kai looked in the direction he pointed and was struck speechless.
Purple Star’s Starship was being sucked into the black hole, unable to resist, and it appeared that Sword Union’s Starship was not fairing any better. This Starship was flying erratically, seemingly completely out of control.
As the Sword Union Starship tumbled and rolled, the seemingly solid materials that made up its hull were being continuously being peeled off and sinking into the black hole.
Yang Kai estimated that the Starship he was on was experiencing a similar fate.
The two Starships had originally fled in different directions, but neither of them had succeeded in escaping and were now both being drawn back.
If things continued on the way they were, the two Starships would likely collide before they were swallowed up by the black hole.
Such a disaster would absolutely bring about total destruction.
“Brother, best of luck to you, I hope you can survive this calamity,” Shen Tu said with a dignified look before he immediately sat down cross-legged. In the next moment, lightning arcs surged around him, wrapping him up in a kind of cocoon.
He had clearly noticed that the situation was critical and was attempting to withstand the coming collision by putting up his strongest defensive stance.
Yang Kai didn’t bother with him and even cast aside Wu Suo who was supposed to be his safety charm.
At this moment, the Purple Star cultivators had no time to attend to anything else as they were all feeling the threat of death. In this chaotic scene, no one would care about him.
Yang Kai’s expression became dignified as he watched Sword Union Starship’s rapidly approach.
The distance between the two Starships was getting closer and closer, just as they were about to collide, Yang Kai fully pushed his Saint Qi.
Yang Kai summoned his Silver-Leaf Saint Grade High-Rank artifact and transformed it into a defensive light halo tightly wrapped around his body while simultaneously displaying his Nine Heavens Divine Skills to their fullest extent.
Grand Heavenly Shields appeared all around Yang Kai, covering him in layers of overlapping protection.
Inside the Purple Star Starship, Yang Kai didn’t even try to conserve his Saint Qi, condensing one Grand Heavenly Shield after another, forming at least one hundred of them.
Of the Yang Liquid stored in his dantian, he had instantly consumed more than twenty drops.
He had then used his Demon God Transformation, filling his body with a malevolent aura and summoning his invisible Demon Crests in order to further enhance his vitality and physical defence.
He had done everything he could, and could now only meet fate head-on.
A Heaven shaking crash filled Yang Kai’s ears in the next moment, nearly deafening him while he simultaneously felt the Saint King Grade High-Rank Starship instantly tear apart and shatter into tiny pieces.
Screams filled the air as many powerful life auras all of a sudden vanished. The moment the two Starships had collided, the Purple Star cultivators had clearly suffered serious casualties.
Yang Kai felt like he was stuck on a small boat in the middle of the sea while a great storm whirled around him, his life in constant danger.
The Grand Heavenly Shields which he had erected for his protection rapidly began to crack and shatter, and within just two short breaths, all one hundred of them had been destroyed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Yang Kai saw the Chart Master, Wu Suo, get ripped apart by the tidal forces and burst into a bloody fog, not even leaving behind any bones.
Yang Kai felt his own body being crushed and pulled apart all at once, as if the forces around him were trying to grind even his bones to dust.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
The fragments of the two Starships whipped about in all directions at frightening speed, each of them carrying with them shocking and deadly force. Yang Kai soon felt something strike his head after which he immediately lost consciousness.
Inside the Chaotic Abyss, the two Saint King-Grade High-Rank Starships which collided broke up into millions of pieces of debris which, along with all the surviving Sword Union and Purple Star cultivators, were swallowed up by the huge black hole, leaving no trace they ever existed behind.
After a long time, the Chaotic Abyss’ turbulent energy fields gradually stabilized and became regular again; the huge black hole that had opened up in the Starry Sky also slowly disappeared.
When everything was over, the Chaotic Abyss became so calm that no one would have been able to imagine that just a short while ago, two giant Starships and hundreds of cultivators had fought a desperate battle here.
……
When Yang Kai woke up and opened his eyes, he looked up and saw a strange seven coloured sky. It was a beautiful yet otherworldly sight.
He tried to turn his eyes down to see confirm his condition, but he quickly discovered that even such simple movements were beyond his current ability. His entire body was in a state of paralysis where he couldn’t feel anything of it at all.
Circulating his Saint Qi, Yang Kai slowly began to move his hands and feet, allowing his blood flow to pick up and relieve his paralysis.
Gradually, Yang Kai began to feel pain from all over his body, as if he had been hit by a series of mountains from all directions, causing him to grimace in pain.
Suddenly remembering everything he had experienced just before passing out, Yang Kai let out a deep sigh, feeling extremely thankful to even be alive right now.
It was only then that he realized that he wasn’t being supported by anything and was falling down at an extremely fast speed.
Pushing his aching body, he somehow managed to turn himself over and see what he was falling towards.
As he turned over, Yang Kai saw pieces of the two Starships as well as a number of cultivators falling along with him. Some of these bodies had vitality, some did not, and there was also no shortage of broken limbs and chunks of flesh spread around as well.
Down below him, Yang Kai saw a continent.
But this continent was very different from any he had seen before, it was actually just floating mid-air, without anything supporting or holding it in place.
The size of this continent wasn’t small. Seeing it from several kilometres up, Yang Kai estimated that it was as big as the entire Great Han Dynasty.
The continent was lush and verdant, beautiful and refreshing like a spring day.
[What is this?] Yang Kai frowned.
He knew almost nothing about the Star Field, and what little he did know he had learned while chatting with Shen Tu in the power room over the past few days.
However, what he did know was that this floating continent was definitely not a star in the Chaotic Abyss.
Because he had seen the local stars in the Chaotic Abyss and none of them looked anything remotely like the continent below him.
The Purple Star Starship was in the Chaotic Abyss, collided with the Sword Union Starship, shattered into pieces, and was then swallowed by a massive black hole, so how did Yang Kai suddenly arrive at this floating continent?
Thinking about it, Yang Kai guessed that the massive black hole may have been something similar to a Void Corridor entrance and had transported him here.
However, this place didn’t look anything like a Mysterious Small World and much more closely resembled the Chaotic Abyss.
All around the huge floating continent, in every direction, was a seven coloured sky, and the air here was filled with incomparably rich World Energy that caused one to unconsciously feel relaxed and happy.
It was as if the rich World Energy that circulated through the Chaotic Abyss all gathered here.
Yang Kai pondered over these issues while simply letting himself continue to fall down, but a moment later, he quickly realized that his situation wasn’t good.
If he survived that disaster, some of the Purple Star masters must have as well.
During his brief moment of contemplation, others had also begun waking up around him, and sweeping his surroundings, Yang Kai quickly spotted Bi Ya.
Yang Kai swiftly hid behind a big piece of Starship debris and began looking for Shen Tu.
To his regret though, Yang Kai didn’t find any trace of Shen Tu, and couldn’t even be sure if he had survived the previous disaster or not.
In the sky, many people began flying about, waking up their comrades while rescuing those who were still alive but badly injured.
These people also spotted some of their enemies who were still passed out and subsequently let them sleep forever.
In some places, small-scale battles had broken out.
With the cultivators from Purple Star and Sword Union all in the same place. Naturally, they wouldn’t just let each other off.
Yang Kai took the opportunity to sneak away and try to find somewhere in this strange place to hide.
How could he have expected that just as he began moving, an angry and sullen shout would reach his ear, “Little bastard where are you trying to run!”
Afters Bi Ya opened her eyes, the first person she searched for was none other than Yang Kai.
Because of Yang Kai, she had been punished by Lu Gui Chen and suffered a Divine Sense attack that nearly left a permanent injury on her Soul. Naturally, she hated Yang Kai to death.
When Yang Kai moved, she had noticed him.
As she shouted, she summoned a Dragon Bone Whip into her luscious jade hand. This Dragon Bone Whip was clearly a high-grade artifact and immediately soared through the air like a great Azure Dragon, slamming towards Yang Kai’s head.
Yang Kai was uninterested in dealing with her and simply sent out a casual palm strike towards her Dragon Bone Whip, using the resulting impact to further accelerate himself and fly away
“Hmph!” A cold snort suddenly resounded next to him, causing Yang Kai to pale. Quickly glancing to his side, Yang Kai met eyes with the Saint King Realm master named Lu Gui Chen who had at some point appeared beside him.
He stared at Yang Kai indifferently, as if he was observing an ant, and then reached out his hand, calmly and easily grasping towards him.
His movements weren’t fast by any means, but Yang Kai found that in front of him, he was actually unable to muster any kind of resistance, as if the other side only needed a single thought to destroy him.
Yang Kai became panic-stricken.
The next moment, Lu Gui Chen seized Yang Kai’s neck and coldly asked, “Grandmaster Wu Suo?”
Before the Starship accident, the closest one to Grandmaster Wu Suo was Yang Kai. It was because of this that Lu Gui Chen had sought out Yang Kai personally; otherwise, how could someone of his status and strength possibly lower himself to perform such a menial task?
“Dead!”
Despite having already suspected as much, Lu Gui Chen’s expression still became gloomy upon hearing Yang Kai’s answer.
Now that their Purple Star cultivators had arrived in this strange place, the only hope they had of escape was their Chart Master, because only Chart Masters had detailed knowledge about the Star Field, making Wu Suo the most likely candidate to find a way to leave wherever they were now.
Having learned what he wanted to know, he instantly lost all interest in Yang Kai and casually tossed him over to Bi Ya.
“If there are any problems again, deal with it yourself!” Lu Gui Chen coldly snorted.
“Senior can rest assured, I will definitely drain every last drop of his vitality and let him die without a burial!” Bi Ya gnashed her teeth, her beautiful face twisting with madness like a venomous snake.
Saying so, her beautiful eyes filled with hostility as they glared towards Yang Kai, as if she couldn’t wait to start tormenting him.
Yang Kai face filled with bitterness but he didn’t say a word.
Yang Kai didn’t know what kind of method Lu Gui Chen has used on him, but right now he couldn’t use any of his Saint Qi. Without his cultivation, no matter how sturdy his physique was, he definitely wasn’t Bi Ya’s opponent.
It wasn’t until now that Yang Kai clearly comprehended the huge gap between the Saint King Realm and the Saint Realm. On top of that, he figured that Lu Gui Chen shouldn’t be an ordinary Saint King Realm expert, clearly, he had very high attainments in this realm otherwise it would have been impossible for Lu Gui Chen to so easily suppress him.
Bi Ya grabbed Yang Kai and no longer paid any attention to the anything else around her, simply flying down towards the floating continent below.
Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the air of this continent and felt a sense of joy and relief from just having survived that terrifying disaster. Her full peaks heaved in an exaggerated matter. Her dress was also unconventional one with a wide opening in front, revealing a large amount of her jade white skin as well as her deep and inviting valley.
“How about we discuss this?” Yang Kai suddenly spoke.
“Little brat, don’t waste your breath”, Bi Ya smiled coldly, “No matter what, today you won’t escape, I’ll definitely eat you up.”
Yang Kai shrugged his shoulders and gestured to the front, “Sword Union also has a number of survivors who will soon arrive here, if you encounter them a fight is inevitable, I’ll help you kill them and in exchange, you don’t take advantage of me, how about it?”
“When did I ever take advantage of you?” Bi Ya seemed to become angry out of shame before she swept her eyes up and down him, sneering disdainfully, “Besides, who can a little First-Order Saint like you kill? You really overestimate yourself.”
“I was able to kill Ke Meng,” Yang Kai said lightly.
Bi Ya’s jaw dropped slightly as she stared at him with some shock, “Wasn’t Ke Meng just being too careless?”
She had obviously thought that Ke Meng was killed by Yang Kai because he was caught off guard, not because Yang Kai possessed greater strength.
“No matter what you say, I won’t believe you anyway. This Great Aunt has never been deceived by a man before, you are the first!” Bi Ya snorted, “So when the situation here stabilizes, Elder Sister will take good care of you, I’ll certainly not disappoint!”
Watching her clenching her teeth, Yang Kai noted that Bi Ya seemed to be the extremely vengeful type, much to his misfortune.
Yang Kai shook his head and stopped talking to her, instead focusing on examining his own condition.
After some investigation, Yang Kai was surprised to find that he had not received any serious injuries.
Because he had fused with the Unyielding Golden Skeleton of Great Demon God, his bones were abnormally sturdy. His skeleton hadn’t received any damage just now, but his five viscera and six organs had received some shocks and he had many bruises and scars from various impacts.
These were all minor injuries and with Yang Kai’s current regenerative and restorative abilities, even without taking any healing medicines, he would recover within half a day.
The real trouble was the seal Lu Gui Chen had placed on him. All the Saint Qi within his meridians had been locked in place and couldn’t be used. On the other hand, his Spiritual Energy had not been affected, probably because Lu Gui Chen had felt that Yang Kai’s strength was too low to warrant such serious treatment.
This gave Yang Kai a glimmer of hope.
With his Spiritual Energy accessible, he could still find a way out of this mess.
He wasn’t afraid of Bi Ya, it was only Saint King Realm masters like Lu Gui Chen he had to worry about.
When he had seen it from above, Yang Kai knew that the area of this continent wasn’t too big, and if he wasn’t able to somehow disappear without a trace, it wouldn’t be long before he would be tracked down.
Yang Kai hesitated as he weighed his options.
For the time being, he immersed his consciousness into his Knowledge Sea.
As soon as he entered his Knowledge Sea though, Yang Kai’s Soul Avatar frowned.
Because he found that inside his Knowledge Sea there were around fifty new Spiritual Energy masses, each of which contained varying amounts of energy.
Yang Kai was startled.
But he soon realized that these Spiritual Energy masses were the remnant Souls from the cultivators who had died during the previous disaster.
The Demon Eye of Annihilation not only wipe out other people’s Souls, but could also draw in the remnant Souls left behind when others died nearby Yang Kai. These remnant Souls must have been pulled into his Knowledge Sea by Demon Eye of Annihilation while he was unconscious.
This was a truly unexpected harvest.
Lacking time right now, Yang Kai didn’t perform a thorough inspection of these remnant Souls suspended above his Knowledge Sea and only gave them a rough check.
Most of these Spiritual Energy masses belonged to Saint Realm cultivators, but among them, Yang Kai actually found one that had belonged to a Saint King.
Yang Kai paled slightly.
Even some masters in the Saint King Realm had failed to survive that disaster, fully illustrating how terrifying the collision between the two Starships was, as well as how deadly that black hole had been.
Everyone who was still alive now should rejoice that their luck was not as bad as this Saint King Realm master.
In order to avoid arousing Bi Ya’s suspicions, after performing a cursory examination, Yang Kai took back his consciousness from his Knowledge Sea. Those groups of Spiritual Energy could wait until later when he found a safe opportunity to absorb.
The insights into the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao of a Saint King Realm cultivator was something Yang Kai was looking forward to very much, wondering just what kind of improvements they would bring to him.
When he opened his eyes again, just as he had expected, Yang Kai found that battles had broken out all around him.
The Purple Star and Star Union cultivators fought one another in groups of three or four, the previous disaster not even giving them pause, instead only fueling the anger that pushed them to slaughter the enemy they saw as responsible for their ill fate!
Lu Gui Chen was locked in combat with a beautiful mature woman who possessed a noble and graceful aura; however, despite her temperate appearance, her strength was extraordinary, not inferior to Lu Gui Chen’s at all. The short sword in her hand gave off an incomparably sharp aura and every time she swung it, swift rays of light would rush towards Lu Gui Chen, flying in a myriad of formations and patterns. Clearly, her level of swordsmanship was not low.
Lu Gui Chen didn’t dare have the slightest negligence while fighting this beautiful woman, wearing golden armour of light on his body and grasping a short spear in his hands. The short spear exuded a potent energy fluctuation as it gave off golden rays, meeting the incoming sword waves blow for blow.
The two masters fought high up in the sky, the fallout from their battle covering a wide area that all the Purple Star and Sword Union cultivators stayed well clear of for fear of being affected.
Yang Kai’s eyes swept across the battlefield, trying to find some kind of opportunity, a moment later opening his mouth to say to Bi Ya, “The fight has already started, don’t you need to help?”
Bi Ya shot him a look over at him and giggled, “Do you want to find a chance to escape?”
“My cultivation has been sealed, how am I supposed to escape? You can rest assured, if you go out to fight, I’ll wait here patiently for you. I’m also quite interested in what a woman like you tastes like.”
“Is that so?” Bi Ya’s face suddenly glowed somewhat radiantly, becoming more beautiful as her red lips twittered and her twin peaks trembled lightly, putting on full display their amazing elasticity.
However, she put away her smiling face as quickly as she had worn it and glared at Yang Kai coldly, “Don’t even dream about it, I’ll never give you the slightest chance, I’d rather sit here watching than let you escape.”
“Why?” Yang Kai shook his head slowly, feeling frustrated.
Bi Ya had made up her mind to not relax her surveillance of him, leaving truly helpless.
Just then, two white streaks suddenly flew past, seemingly chasing a Purple Star cultivator together, but when they passed by Yang Kai and Bi Ya, they let out a startled cry.
Immediately, the two figures came to a halt and stared blankly at Yang Kai.
The older woman showed a surprised look, “How is it you?”
“It’s you two?” Yang Kai raised his brow.
These two women were the first people he had met after coming to the Star Field, He Zao and He Miao of Sword Union.
Seeing them, Yang Kai’s mouth curled up slightly, suddenly thinking that the situation wasn’t as bad as he had imagined.
“Since you’re here… that must mean that Sword Union’s forces found you, yes?” Yang Kai seemed to ask casually.
“En,” He Miao nodded heavily, smiling happily, “Soon after we separated from you, master arrived with the others and found us, but the Purple Star people were simply too hateful. They refused to give up and chased us all the way here, finally causing all of us to fall into misfortune, yet even now, they still want to keep fighting.”
“Why are you here?” He Zao was clearly much more mature and had quickly noticed that something was wrong.
Yang Kai was standing beside a Purple Star cultivator, and although he didn’t seem to have been exposed to any ill-treatment, his strength was clearly sealed.
He had obviously been captured by the other side.
On top of that, while they were speaking, this Purple Star woman was quietly circulating her strength, preparing herself to act at a moment’s notice.
“It’s a long story…” Yang Kai coughed awkwardly.
“You couldn’t be this loose woman’s… boy toy?” He Miao covered her small mouth as she showed a look of incredible shock on her cute face along with no small amount of disdain and loathing.
Yang Kai was stunned, not having expected even He Miao to recognize Bi Ya; it seems when Shen Tu had said that Bi Ya was a famous celebrity, he had not been exaggerating.
“Little girl, it seems you weren’t educated properly!” Bi Ya eyes flashed coldly, obviously angry that He Miao had called her a loose woman, “Didn’t your parents ever teach you to treat others with politeness and courtesy?”
“Hmph, who doesn’t know you in this Star Field? Aren’t you embarrassed to even speak about proper education? Do you have anything of that sort?” He Miao shot back, waving the glowing long sword in her hand as she shouted tenderly, “Elder Sister, there’s no need to speak any nonsense with her, let’s go!”
He Zao said nothing and simply gently nodded, sending Yang Kai a stealthy wink before she and her younger sister shot gathered their strength and rushed over.
Before the two sisters had even arrived, a bone-chilling Sword Qi like the frigid north wind descended upon the area, causing the surrounding earth to crack and sword marks to appear.
Bi Ya snorted, wielding her Dragon Bone Whip once more, causing the Azure Dragon phantom to reappear and soar towards the pair of sisters, blades of wind flying out from its body, seemingly trying to slice through He Zao and He Miao’s necks.
Instantly, the three figures became entangled.
Taking this opportunity, Yang Kai scurried away.
Bi Ya was only a Third-Order Saint, the same as He Zao, and although He Miao was slightly worse off, only a Second-Order Saint, with the two sisters working together, Bi Ya would obviously not be their opponent.
Therefore, Yang Kai wasn’t worried about He Zao and He Miao’s safety. Right now, the most important thing for Yang Kai to do was to withdraw.
His speed was extremely fast; although his Saint Qi was sealed, Yang Kai’s physique was incredibly strong, so it only took him a few short breaths to escape from the chaotic battlefield and find a well-hidden location. Once he was safe, he sat down cross-legged. While maintaining his vigilance of the surrounding, Yang Kai tried his best to circulate the Saint Qi in his body to break the seal Lu Gui Chen had planted on him.
The battle between Purple Star and Sword Union continued, both sides seemingly baring bitter hatred towards each other, neither of them willing to show weakness.
Cultivators from both sides continued to fall, littering the ground with fresh corpses.
Yang Kai sat and watched, and fortunately. During this time, no one came to find trouble with him.
Suddenly, when his gaze wandered over to a particular location, a strange look appeared on his face.
Over there was an old man in a blue robe with messy grey hair seemingly searching for something.
This old man was indifferent to everything around him, his complete attention focused on the various pieces of Starship debris around him. From time to time, he would pick up a piece of the broken Starship from the ground, knock it with his hand and nod lightly, his ring flashing in the next instant and the piece of debris disappearing inside.
A short time later, he had collected several dozen pieces of Starship; these fragments varied in size but were all manufactured from good quality materials.
What could be preserved in that disaster and at least the materials of the Saint King High-Rank are tempered.
While he was picking up the Starship pieces, he would sometimes mutter to himself and let out a laugh, seemingly very satisfied.
Such a strange person casually shuttling through the chaotic battlefield naturally drew many people’s attention.
But what surprised Yang Kai the most was that neither the Purple Star or Sword Union cultivators were able to approach this old man.
No matter who it was, before they could get close to him, they would be guided away by some kind of invisible force. Noticing this, the cultivators who went to find trouble with him quickly realized that this old man wasn’t someone they could easily provoke, causing them to hastily withdraw and not dare to approach him again.
And so, the old man was able to leisurely stroll about and collect the various Starship fragments.
Eventually, the strange old man finally caught the attention of the two forces’ real masters.
Lu Gui Chen and the mature beauty from Sword Union who were fighting high up in the sky simultaneously retreated, opening up some distance between them as they continued to stare at one another; however, they were also paying close attention to the old man down below.
The strange old man gave Lu Gui Chen and the beautiful woman from Sword Union an unusual feeling which caused them to become very concerned, so both of them had ceased their battle and were now silently paying attention to him instead.
“Yue Xi, you and I are old acquaintances, we both know neither of us is capable of easily defeating the other. Why not end our little battle here for today? I think that whether it is your or my people, they are in need of some rest to recover,” Lu Gui Chen waved his hand and addressed the mature beauty from Sword Union.
The beautiful woman named Yue Xi thought about it for a moment before gently nodding, “Good!”
“I knew you’d be reasonable,” Lu Gui Chen laughed, putting away his golden light armour and storing his short spear, knitting his brow in the next moment, “Yue Xi, I have a certain issue I need to discuss with you.”
“If you need to put out a fart just get it over with,” Yue Xi’s pretty face wore a look of impatience as she crudely spat.
Lu Gui Chen curled his lips, not minding her attitude, and stuck out a finger, saying, “Is this old man from your Sword Union? How come I’ve never seen him before?”
When he asked this, Yue Xi’s expression suddenly became weird and she asked back, “Isn’t he one of your people?”
Lu Gui Chen brow furrowed and he slowly shook his head.
The two people stared at one another for a moment before their eyes brightened, simultaneously saying, “He’s a native of this place?”
As soon as their voices fell, both of their figures transformed into streaks of light as they shot towards the old man who was still carefreely sifting through the Starship debris.
Where this place was and what kind of dangers existed here, neither Lu Gui Chen nor Yue Xi knew.
However, all of a sudden, right before their eyes, a native of this world had appeared!
Both of them naturally thought that whoever was able to grab this old man first would be able to monopolize the information he had, giving them an advantage over the other side. In this unknown place, information was the key to survival. This much was obvious to everyone.
So, without even saying a word, the two of them had taken action.
Two auras belonging to Saint King Realm masters spread out and competed with one another, sending out much stronger shockwaves than when they had been fighting just now, both of them obviously going all out.
Lu Gui Chen and Yue Xi had indeed known each other for many years and were aware that their strengths were roughly equal, so when they rushed over to seize this old man, neither of them was willing to compromise in the slightest.
The old man had just picked up a piece of Starship debris and hadn’t had time to put it into his Space Ring when the two of them both reaching out and grabbing one of his arms, their auras pressing down on him, causing him to stiffen up, like he was too scared to even move.
However, in the next instant, his expression became strange and a look of interest flashed across his face. Even facing the suppression and fallout from the battle between these two Saint King Realm masters, he calmly and leisurely placed the Starship piece he had just picked up into his Space Ring.
This strange action immediately caused Lu Gui Chen and Yue Xi to stare, both of them realizing that their situation was not good.
Being able to act so carefreely and completely ignore their confrontation either meant that this old man was a madman, or a master powerful enough to not put them in his eyes.
The latter possibility was much greater.
So Lu Gui Chen and Yue Xi both immediately let go and tried to withdraw from this strange old man.
However, just as they attempted to escape, a powerful force emerged from the old man’s body, solidifying the area around him, trapping Lu Gui Chen and Yue Xi in place.
The next moment, the two masters felt the Saint Qi in their bodies rapidly being drained away and pouring into the old man.
The two were horrified and Yue Xi even let out a panic-stricken scream.
As their strength passed, the old man’s face became more and more rosy, seemingly receiving great nourishment, even his white hair gradually became darker and glossier.
The old man flashed the two people a faint grin.
Suddenly, a terrifying aura burst from the old man’s body, and as it rapidly spread out, everyone couldn’t help stopping whatever it was they were doing and trembling in fear.
Near everyone’s ear, a burst of cries and howls resounded as a frigid wind wrapped around their bodies. From simply revealing his aura, this old man had let everyone present feel like they had been plunged into the deepest depths of purgatory and were experiencing a kind of spiritual torture that made them wonder if death wouldn’t be preferable.
“You two little things seem to look down on others a bit too much. En, this old master hasn’t bumped into such a lively and entertaining scene for many years, so this time I’ll spare your lives, but if you dare make such a mistake again, I’ll extinguish your souls!” Saying so, the old man sneered and shook his body lightly, sending out an incomparably powerful burst of power.
Lu Gui Chen and Yue Xi both screamed and flew backwards like broken paper baskets. Both of them spat blood as they tumbled through the air, their complexion paling as their auras became feeble.
Simply being thrown off by this old man had nearly caused them to die on the spot.
When they finally managed to stand firm, both of them stared at the old man with utter horror.
Yang Kai’s eyes also nearly popped out of their sockets, hardly able to believe what he had just witnessed.
He had personally experienced how strong Lu Gui Chen was. When Yang Kai had faced him, he didn’t even have the ability to resist.
Lu Gui Chen was at least a Second-Order Saint King, possibly even a Third Order Saint King powerhouse.
Yet such a master, in front of this strange old man, was no better than a three-year-old child.
[What kind of cultivation does this old man possess?] Yang Kai couldn’t even imagine it.
“En, right, it’s rare that so many visitors come here. Let your people settle down. The more that dies, the more deserted this place becomes,” The old man thought for a moment before suddenly saying.
Lu Gui Chen and Yue Xi both gawked at him for an instant before nodding quickly, “We will obey Senior’s instructions!”
After witnessing the astonishing strength of this old man, they didn’t dare disobey him again, because they knew that if this old man wanted to, he could easily kill everyone here in a flash.
His strength was not something they were capable of resisting.
“En, those who already died can’t be wasted, best to collect them,” The old man seemed to mutter to himself before waving his hand and summoning out a jet black flag which gave off a cold, gloomy aura. On this flag, there seemed to be countless faintly visible hum and beast figures. Each of these figures was clearly a Soul-Spirit Body, each one of which was extremely powerful.
They were all bound and shackled inside this flag and had seemingly lost their own consciousnesses, turning into bloodthirsty and vengeful spectres.
The big flag fluttered in the wind, sending out piercing cries and howls that rang throughout the world.
The semi-transparent Soul Avatars of the recently fallen cultivators suddenly appeared and were seemingly caught up in some kind of suction force which dragged them towards the flag.
A breath later, the dark flag drew in the Soul Avatars of some thirty or forty cultivators.
Just as if a stone had been thrown into the calm lake, the surface of the dark flag rippled, and the resentful spectres which were sealed within it suddenly began madly competing for these new Soul Avatars.
The sound of crunching and chewing lingered in the air, grating at the minds of those still living.
In the blink of an eye, the dozens of Soul Avatars belonging to the Purple Star and Sword Union cultivators were devoured and disappeared, as if they had never even existed.
The gloomy aura of the jet black flag became even heavier as a result.
“If anyone dares stir up trouble, I’ll collect all of you like this!” The old man wore a sinister grin as he swept his eyes over the crowd before putting away his dark flag.
Everyone went completely pale and none dared to respond.
After seeing the scene just now, who among them would have the courage to make trouble? Having their Soul devoured by evil spirits after they fell, this was more terrifying than simply dying.
Everyone immediately became well-behaved and restrained their strength.
“Find a place to settle down by yourselves then familiarize yourself with the environment. En, I’ll tell you now, there are no dangers here, but there are plenty of precious resources and World Energy. It’s a perfect place to cultivate. The fifty-kilometre radius around that mountain over there is off-limits, that’s where this old master lives. Anyone who dares to approach it… you should know the consequences!” The old man pointed to a mountain not far away and spoke at length, as if he hadn’t spoken for many years and couldn’t stop himself once he got started. After he finished, he drifted away and, before anyone even realized it, he had disappeared without a trace.
For a long time after he left, no one dared to move, all of them standing in place, the hearts in their chests pounding loudly as many of them gulped unceasingly.
Lu Gui Chen and Yue Xi glanced at each other across a long distance and for a while were speechless.
Soon after though, the two of them sat down and took out some healing pills and Saint Crystals to begin restoring themselves.
After an hour, the two of them stood up one after the other.
It was only after they saw their respective leaders stand up that the surviving cultivators from Purple Star and Sword Union dared to breathe out and gather around them.
“Yang Kai, Yang Kai…” Hearing his name called out from afar, Yang Kai stuck his head up and saw a slightly pale He Miao beckoning to him.
Yang Kai stood up and walked towards them.
A dozen meters or so away, Bi Ya ground her teeth and stared at him with obvious hatred, but she didn’t dare try to block his way.
The old man had said that whoever dared to cause trouble would have their Soul Avatar fed to his dark flag, Bi Ya didn’t dare annoy do anything that might annoy him.
“Many thanks,” Yang Kai arrived at He Zao and He Miao’s side and sincerely thanked them.
If, a moment ago, they hadn’t diverted Bi Ya’s attention, he wouldn’t have had a chance to escape and hide until the strange old man had shown up and displayed his invincible might.
“No need for that,” He Zao shook her head, “It’s what we owe you.”
“Who is the old fogey? He nearly scared me to death,” He Miao patted her milk-white bosom and muttered, her face still covered in fear.
“Master should have some idea,” He Zao said thoughtfully as she glanced over at the beautiful woman name Yue Xi, “In any case, since he has spoken, those people from Purple Star won’t dare act unreasonably again so, for the time being, we’re safe. Yang Kai, was your strength sealed?”
“En, it was something that Lu Gui Chen did,” Yang Kai nodded.
“Come with me, I’ll take you to see Master and ask her to help unlock that seal.”
“I’ll have to ask that of you two,” Yang Kai’s expression brightened.
“No need to be so polite,” He Miao smiled, finally seeming to restore her spirits a bit, “Before, if you hadn’t given me and Elder Sister those restorative items, we wouldn’t have been able to insist until Master saved us, we owe you our lives.”
“A minor matter,” Yang Kai faintly nodded, neither warmly nor coldly, displaying an attitude of a passerby who had simply done a bit of charity.
He followed He Zao and He Miao over to where the people from Sword Union had gathered and soon arrived in front of the mature beauty named Yue Xi.
Yue Xi of Sword Union was a middle-aged beauty with an abundant set of peaks, graceful waist, and shapely, slender legs. The white dress she wore complimented her looks perfectly and was adorned with the unique sword-shaped symbol of Sword Union atop her right chest. From top to bottom, her tender exuded a mature and dignified temperament.
The two sisters, He Zao and He Miao, led Yang Kai over to her and greeted her respectfully.
Yue Xi’s face still looked pale, and her white robes were stained red in many places. Hearing the two sisters call out to her, she simply nodded lightly before turning a suspicious look towards Yang Kai and asking with some slight vigilance, “What did you lead this Purple Star person over for?”
She had never met Yang Kai, so naturally, she assumed that Yang Kai was a cultivator from Purple Star’s side.
“Master, he’s not a disciple of Purple Star,” He Miao stepped up and held Yue Xi’s arm before pointing back at Yang Kai with a smile, “He was the one who gave Elder Sister and me those Crystal Stones and Pills inside the Chaotic Abyss. He’s called Yang Kai.”
“Him?” Yue Xi’s delicate brow rose slightly, seemingly somewhat surprised.
When she found He Zao and He Miao inside the Chaotic Abyss, she had heard the two sisters mention the bitter experience they had been through and she knew that if Yang Kai had not provided them with some restorative resources, the two sisters would have been too weak to carry on.
However, she still had some doubts about Yang Kai’s origins.
How could a little First-Order Saint run out to the Chaotic Abyss for no reason at all? Did he really have such boldness and skill?
Thinking so in her heart, Yue Xi didn’t show anything on her face, instead just saying lightly, “Young man, thank you for the care you showed my two disciples.”
“Senior is too polite,” Yang Kai nodded faintly, “It was just a little effort.”
“En. Before, you gave He Zao and He Miao some help in their time of need, so I’ll send you a thousand pieces of Saint Crystal as a thank you,” Yue Xi said so before motioning to a nearby Sword Union cultivator. When this cultivator came over and looked over Yang Kai, he couldn’t help asking, “Friend, where is your Space Ring?”
Yang Kai was stunned for a moment before he shook his head, “I don’t have such a thing.”
The cultivator turned to Yue Xi somewhat awkwardly. If Yang Kai didn’t have a Space Ring, he couldn’t hand over a thousand pieces of Saint Crystal.
Yue Xi frowned and said, “Give him your Space Ring, it’s nothing expensive in any case.”
“Yes,” The cultivator nodded reluctantly before he began taking out all of his belongings from his Space Ring and handing them over to one of his companions. After a while, he took the Space Ring off his hand and passed it to Yang Kai, “There are exactly one thousand pieces of Saint Crystal left inside, you can count it yourself.”
“I didn’t come here to ask for a reward,” Yang Kai said with a strange look.
He somehow sensed that this Yue Xi was eager to send him away, as if she was afraid of him sticking around.
He didn’t know why this was.
“What do you want?” Yue Xi frowned, her face showing a slightly disgruntled look.
The cultivator that handed over the Space Ring also grinned and encouraged, “Friend, a thousand pieces of Saint Crystal isn’t a small amount, I’m also delivering you a storage artifact, shouldn’t you be content?”
“I said I didn’t come here seeking payment,” Yang Kai also frowned, suddenly realizing that the other party seemed to think he was up to some kind of scheme and was using this favour as an excuse to get close.
This made him very upset.
“Master, it’s like this,” He Zao walked up and said, “Lu Gui Chen placed a seal on him so he currently can’t use his strength. We brought him here to ask for your help removing this seal.”
“You’re not able to use your strength?” Yue Xi looked at Yang Kai with surprise, using her Divine Sense in the next instant to confirm what He Zao had said and nodding, “I’ll have a look.”
Saying so, she stretched out her hand towards Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn’t move. Although the other person had some misunderstandings about him that made him a little unhappy, right now, lifting the seal on his strength was more important.
For this reason, he was willing to cooperate.
Yue Xi’s finger pointed towards Yang Kai’s forehead and a stream of energy flowed from its tip into him.
He didn’t know what, but Yang Kai suddenly felt a comfortable sensation. Everywhere this stream of energy passed became relaxed and his spirit also couldn’t help becoming calm.
The next moment, Yang Kai’s expression changed greatly, as if he had been struck by lightning, his body trembling as he hurriedly retreated several steps to avoid Yue Xi’s finger while directing a gloomy look towards her.
This woman… while sending her strength into him a moment ago was secretly trying to use her Divine Sense to break into his Knowledge Sea.
If he hadn’t responded quickly enough, his Knowledge Sea’s defences would have been breached and Yang Kai estimated that all the secrets in his Knowledge Sea would have been exposed to her.
Inside Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea, there was the Six Coloured Soul Warming Lotus, as well as his Conflagrated Knowledge Sea and the Demon Eye of Annihilation which had been integrated into his being. Normally, he could perfectly conceal all of these things, but once someone peeked into his Knowledge Sea, he wouldn’t be able to hide them.
Regardless of what Yue Xi’s true purpose was, her actions had already violated Yang Kai’s bottom line.
So he immediately avoided her.
Yue Xi’s pretty face flashed with surprise, seemingly not having anticipated Yang Kai’s senses to be so sharp, even able to detect her silent probing.
“Yang Kai, what happened?” He Miao saw Yang Kai’s expression and hastily inquired.
“It’s nothing, Senior’s cultivation is too high, so when her strength entered my body I couldn’t quite bear it,” Yang Kai explained casually. He didn’t tell the truth because doing so didn’t have any advantage for him.
Yue Xi was startled but quickly said with a smile, “I was careless just now, causing you some discomfort.”
“Master, can the seal in his body be unlocked?” He Zao asked with some concern.
Yue Xi shook her head and bitterly said, “If it was before, I could easily remove it, but I was injured just now by that old man, so there’s nothing I can do about the seal in his body for the time being.”
He Zao and He Miao suddenly showed disappointed looks, turning apologetic looks in the next moment towards Yang Kai.
“It’s fine if you can’t remove it,” Yang Kai said without any disappointment, reaching out and accepting the Space Ring from the nearby cultivator’s hand before cupping his fists to Yue Xi, “In any case, many thanks for Senior’s good intention and generous gift.”
Finished what he had to say, he turned around and left.
“Yang Kai, don’t be so anxious to leave. When Master recovers in a few days she will be able to help you,” He Miao shouted innocently, but didn’t get any response, causing her to frown slightly and mutter, “Why does he seem a little angry?”
“This boy is very suspicious,” The cultivator beside Yue Xi stared at Yang Kai’s receding back and said, “According to what two Junior Sisters said, he should have been wandering around the Chaotic Abyss, so how did he end up together with Purple Star? Him appearing here clearly means he was aboard Purple Star’s Starship. On top of that, he’s just a small First-Order Saint Realm cultivator, so why would Lu Gui Chen bother sealing his strength?”
“What are you trying to say?” He Zao glanced over at this man.
The cultivator smiled and said, “Isn’t it possible two Junior Sisters were deceived by him? Maybe he was originally a Purple Star cultivator and just pretended to meet you in the Chaotic Abyss to gather information about your whereabouts. I remember you two saying you actually ran into him twice, right?”
“What about it?” He Zao frowned deeply.
“Nothing much. Junior Sister shouldn’t be angry, I just wanted to wake you up to such a possibility. You have been cultivating beside Master most of your life and haven’t seen much of the outside world. The outside world is a much messier place than you imagine,” The man explained with a smile, seemingly just casually making a point.
“Elder Sister, could he really be a Purple Star person?” Hearing her Senior Brother talk like this, He Miao also became a bit suspicious.
“It doesn’t seem likely,” He Zao slowly shook her head. The two sisters had met Yang Kai twice before yet both times he hadn’t asked them about anything of importance and the second time he had even sent them a number of Crystal Stones and pills for free.
If he really was a Purple Star cultivator, there would have been no need for him to do any of this, all he would have needed to do was send word to Lu Gui Chen and the two sisters would definitely not have been able to hide until their Master had arrived.
It was for these reasons she didn’t believe her Senior Brother’s speculations.
“There’s nothing to lose by acting cautiously,” Yue Xi said.
“Master…” He Zao tuned a strange look to Yue Xi and wanted to say something but hesitated to speak.
“What do you want to say?”
“No, it’s nothing, Master should rest first,” He Zao swallowed down her words.
She originally wanted to ask her master if she really couldn’t lift the seal on Yang Kai’s body, but she just couldn’t bring herself to.
Looking at Yang Kai’s lonely figure, He Zao’s heart felt bitter.
Strictly speaking, Yang Kai had saved both her and her sister’s life, that wasn’t a favour a single Space Ring and a thousand pieces of Saint Crystal could offset.
Letting out a slight sigh, He Zao gave her sister and wink and the two of them quietly left.
After the two sisters had walked away, Yue Xi, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, suddenly opened her eyes and said to the cultivator beside her, “Wei Wu, pay attention to that youth’s movements. Don’t let He Zao or He Miao get too close to him, try to avoid having them make contact if possible.”
Wei Wu eyes lit up and he quickly cupped his fists.
Yue Xi’s beautiful eyes flashed as she whispered under her breath, “What was all of that about?”
The moment her Divine Sense stabbed into Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea, she had suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of fear, but because Yang Kai had shut off his Knowledge Sea so quickly, Yue Xi was unable to obtain any significant information about him.
She didn’t know what kind of secrets were hidden inside his Knowledge Sea.
However, his origins were even more worrisome now, so Yue Xi had to act cautiously, lest he deceives her two young disciples.
She understood her disciples’ character best. They were kind, open-hearted, and upright.
That youth had saved their lives, so they were definitely thinking about how to repay him, if she didn’t handle this matter well, it would definitely lead to problems.
Once Yang Kai had moved far away from the Sword Union group, he found a quiet place to sit down.
He felt that he should try to avoid approaching Yue Xi. This beautiful woman was far too overbearing.
With the Purple Star cultivators not daring stir up trouble, Yang Kai estimated that in the short run, he would be safe.
When his mind and body relaxed, he finally felt the true richness of this floating continent’s World Energy aura. Even though he wasn’t able to circulate his Saint Qi or Secret Art, the surrounding World Energy still flowed towards his body and penetrated into his skin, integrating itself into his physique and giving him a refreshing feeling.