“Brother Yang, please accompany me to Azure Sea Palace. With my Old Ancestor around, you’ll be sure to achieve great success in the future!” Yan Luo passionately invited him.
Yang Kai put on a faint smile, “Patriarch Yan, many thanks for your invitation, but I don’t intend to join Azure Sea Palace. We’ll part ways now, and let’s hope that we won’t meet each other again.”
When Duan Mu Qi, who was whispering something to Chen Chui Ling, heard that, his gaze darkened. He had no regard for Yang Kai whatsoever. The reason he came with Yan Luo to help him out this time was that they were on good terms. As for the grudges between the Yan Family and this young man, he couldn’t care less.
However, he had never expected that the young man would reject joining Azure Sea Palace, and it was apparent that the latter had no respect for his Sect. Displeased, he uttered, “Boy, Azure Sea Palace is one of the great forces in the Ancestral Domain. Most cultivators wouldn’t have a chance to join us even if they wanted to. Now that you’re given a chance, you’d better appreciate it. If you miss it, you might regret it in the future.”
Without uttering a word, Yang Kai shook his head slowly.
Duan Mu Qi’s expression darkened as he snorted, “What an ungrateful brat!”
[How dare a bumpkin from the Lower Star Field be so arrogant in front of me!]
Thinking so, he released his Dao Source Realm aura in an attempt to pressure Yang Kai.
Seeing that, Yang Kai almost burst out laughing.
Duan Mu Qi was just a First-Order Dao Source Realm cultivator, so where did his sense of superiority come from? How could he dare act so haughty in front of an Emperor Realm Master? If Yang Kai unsealed all of his cultivation pressure right now, everyone present would immediately be forced to their knees.
“Duan Mu Qi, what are you doing?” Just then, another Dao Source Realm aura silently clashed with Duan Mu Qi’s and neutralised it. The person was a muscular man whose face also oozed masculinity, he appeared to be a forthright character, and since his cultivation was the same as Duan Mu Qi’s, he wasn’t afraid of him, “Don’t you know the rules? Are you trying to snatch him by force?”
“That’s right. He’s expressed his unwillingness to join Azure Sea Palace, so why are you still harping on about it? Follow the customs, otherwise, he might despise all of us in the Ancestral Domain.”
“Come on, young lad. You don’t have to be afraid of him. Not joining Azure Sea Palace is a wise choice, they have nothing worthy of note. Why not join my Holy Mountain Peak? Your future will be bright with us, and you’ll receive many benefits.”
“Nonsense, you should come to Nine Stars Palace. As long as you’re talented enough, I guarantee that you’ll reach the Dao Source Realm within ten years!”
“Haha, Little Brother, rather than those stuffy places, you should join Elder Sister’s Yin-Yang Sect. As long as you join us, you can take home one of our Senior Sisters or Junior Sisters. Moreover, the lady behind you is as beautiful as a peach blossom. Just the lovely countenance of her face proves that she is perfectly suited to cultivate our Sect’s Secret Arts.”
…
He Yun Xiang was dumbstruck. She watched dazedly as these people in a realm above the Origin King Realm invited Yang Kai and her to join their respective Sects.
[Are they all really in the realm above the Origin King Realm? Where’s their majesty? Where is their aloofness?] He Yun Xiang felt like she was a wealthy woman with a lot of cash who had accidentally stepped into a food market, causing all these people to call out to her passionately to hock their wares.
[What’s going on? Why are they so hospitable? Something must be amiss.]
In just a short moment, these Masters had all invited them to join their forces, more than a dozen of them at once.
After everyone else had made their appeals, an old man with a smoking pipe approached them, but he walked up to He Yun Xiang instead of greeting Yang Kai. Then, in a serious manner, he stuffed something into her hands and said in a low voice, “Come join Eternal Life Pavilion. As long as you can make a single contribution, there will be many more of these in your future.” The old man seemed to be taking an indirect approach. As long as he could persuade the woman beside Yang Kai, he was sure that Yang Kai would join them.
Lowering her head, He Yun Xiang took a look at her palm and saw a familiar-looking Spirit Pill.
[Isn’t this a Source Condensing Pill?] She had consumed a lot of Source Condensing Pills recently, so she was familiar with it and could recognise it at first glance. However, the pill in her hand appeared inferior to those given to her by Yang Kai. The pill wasn’t as fragrant, its size was small, and the colour appeared dull. Apparently, it was poorly made.
At that instant, she realised that those Source Condensing Pills given to her by Yang Kai were in a realm of their own, so the pill in her hand wasn’t comparable to them.
She was torn between tears and laughter, but at the same time, she grew more confident in Yang Kai. Judging from this pill alone, she was certain that the heritage of these people wasn’t comparable to that of Yang Kai.
On the nearby hill, Azure Sea Palace’s Duan Mu Qi and the two people from the Yan Family were extremely displeased. Yan Luo was especially anxious because he thought that he could rely on his Old Ancestor to teach Yang Kai a lesson after he arrived in the Ancestral Domain so that Yang Kai would understand the consequences of offending the Yan Family. However, he didn’t expect such an unforeseen event.
He understood what the Old Ancestor was wary of, as the latter couldn’t possibly make a move on Yang Kai in front of all these Masters.
If Yang Kai joined another Sect, then it would be hard for them to retaliate against him in the future, so he turned to look at his Old Ancestor in hopes he would have a solution. Unfortunately, Yan Ren Hao just shook his head, which hinted that he was powerless to do anything as well.
Yan Luo clenched his fists in resentment as he couldn’t get the fury off his chest.
“Everyone, many thanks for your kind invitations,” Yang Kai cupped his fists and put on a faint smile, “But I apologize as we do not intend to join any great force at the moment.”
All of them fell silent in an instant and stared at Yang Kai as though the latter was a fool.
The alluring lady from Yin-Yang Sect uttered in a small voice, “Little Brother, I don’t know what grudges you have with those from the Yan Family, but if you don’t seek refuge now, it will be hard for you to move around in the Ancestral Domain in the future.”
The old man with a smoking pipe also whispered, “A wise man should be able to adapt to his circumstances. As a man, you should know when to yield. It doesn’t matter if you take a step back temporarily to take two forward later.”
Yang Kai still shook his head, “Again, many thanks, but we have made our decision.”
He Yun Xiang immediately passed the pill back to the pipe-smoking old man. Since she wasn’t going to join his Sect, she didn’t feel right accepting this reward.
The pipe-smoking old man, however, waved his hand, “Since it is fate that brought us together today, just take it as a gift.”
He wouldn’t mind giving her a single Source Condensing Pill as he could just treat it as an investment, possibly making them change their minds in the future.
He believed that after He Yun Xiang took the pill, she would definitely want to join his Sect.
“Farewell,” Yang Kai said and walked away with He Yun Xiang who hurriedly summoned a flight type artifact and boarded it together with him. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared from everyone’s sight, leaving these people sighing in the same spot.
Yan Luo nearly failed to contain his laughter. [He has basically just refused the easy way out and headed to Hell instead. He could have joined a great force and left this place safely, but he’d chosen to walk into a dead end. Isn’t he trying to induce me to retaliate against him? Certainly, I wouldn’t let this chance slip through my fingers.]
Then, he traded glances with the Old Ancestor as they understood what was on each other’s minds.
Yan Ren Hao uttered, “Senior Brother Duan Mu, we should probably forget it. Let’s go back to Azure Sea Palace.”
“Good.” Duan Mu Qi played along and nodded his head. Then, he hurled a small boat forward, upon which it expanded along with the wind and transformed into a flying ship that could accommodate five to six people.
The four people from the Azure Sea Temple then boarded the boat and rose into the air, after which they headed in the direction Yang Kai had left without trying to hide their intentions.
“That boy…”
“He’s basically asking for death.”
“I think he must be out of his mind.”
“I don’t think so. Everyone coming from the Lower Star Field is haughty because they were overlords in their respective homes. Now that you want him to join a great force and work under someone else, it’s expected that he’s not willing to do so. Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with his brain since he has cultivated to this point. It’s just that he thinks too highly of himself. I guess he’ll have to suffer a few setbacks before he’ll face reality.”
The others present agreed with such sentiments, because that was the path that many of them had gone through before, so they understood that it was important to adjust their mentality. It meant nothing that someone was able to rule over a Star Field, only if they could gain a solid footing in the Ancestral Domain would they be considered powerful.
[Unfortunately, it seems that he won’t live to see the sunrise tomorrow.]
“That poor girl…” The woman from Yin-Yang Sect heaved a sigh. She didn’t exaggerate when she said that, given He Yun Xiang’s alluring face, it was suitable for her to cultivate Yin-Yang Sect’s Secret Art. Before she could promise her any benefits or show her the Yin-Yang Sect’s power and heritage though, she had already left this place, making this woman quite displeased with that young man.
Nevertheless, she didn’t want to bother about it anymore since the young man was about to lose his life.
…
The view around them was quickly flowing past them as Yang Kai and He Yun Xiang took in the Ancestral Domain’s magnificence while riding her artifact.
The World Energy here was indeed more abundant than any place in the Star Field, but it still wasn’t comparable to the Star Boundary. There was a large difference between the two. Moreover, Yang Kai could feel that the World Principles here weren’t as perfect as those of the Star Boundary.
In other words, Dao Source Realm was probably the limit in the Ancestral Domain while it was practically impossible for anyone to reach the Emperor Realm here.
If the incident earlier hadn’t happened, He Yun Xiang would’ve been more than happy to enjoy the splendid view around her; however, she wasn’t in the mood to do so now as obviously there were multiple auras relentlessly tailing them.
She didn’t even need to give it a thought to know that they must be those from Azure Sea Palace and the Yan Family duo. She wanted to ask Yang Kai about his plan, but she gulped down her words in the end. In her heart, she consoled herself that there was nothing to be afraid of. Since Yang Kai was so confident, he must have a way to deal with them.
“Cultivators from their respective Star Fields who have managed to come here are all top talents, so their futures are naturally bright. That is why those from the Ancestral Domain were waiting at that portal to invite us to join their forces,” Yang Kai suddenly said something puzzling.
He Yun Xiang replied in shock, “Is that so?”
“Why do you think they’ve been staying there? Isn’t it better for them to meditate and cultivate if they have the time?”
He had a similar experience in the past. After he entered the Star Boundary, he was taken in by Bian Yu Qing.
However, it seemed that Ancestral Domain and Star Boundary were slightly different in a way. There were no fixed entrances to the Star Boundary. After he passed through the Starlight Corridor, he landed in a random place. However, judging from what happened earlier, he could see that the entrances to the Ancestral Domain were fixed.
That seemed to be a fixed passageway that connected the Ancestral Domain and the Star Fields, which gave those people a chance to keep watch in that place.
Yang Kai even felt that he could open the passageway in reverse and return to Unending Star Field.
The discovery made him excited. If he could find the corridor that connected to Heng Luo Star Field, he would be able to return to his homeland.
“However, those Sects are obviously not very powerful. The truly formidable Sects will never do such a thing.” Yang Kai came to this conclusion because he could see that those people were only in the First-Order Dao Source Realm. Cultivators would scramble to get into the truly powerful Sects, so those forces wouldn’t disparage themselves like that.
He Yun Xiang pondered on it and nodded, “Sir, I think you’re right.”
“Stop here,” Yang Kai tapped her shoulder.
Upon receiving his order, she stopped the Star Shuttle.
They were in a place that was surrounded by mountains. The area was beautiful with fragrant flowers dotted around, and birds could be heard chirping joyfully.
“You’ve found a good cemetery for yourself. It’s a nice place indeed.” Yan Luo’s voice could be heard from behind. When he uttered the first word, he was still in the distance, but when he finished speaking, he had already reached right in front of Yang Kai.
Then, the boat was put away as the four from Azure Sea Palace hovered in the air.
“It’s indeed a good place to be buried, but I’ve not chosen it for myself,” Yang Kai grinned.
Certainly, he knew that by turning down the other Sect leaders, they would attract those from Azure Sea Palace to chase after them once they left the scene. If those from Azure Sea Palace and the Yan Family decided not to race after them, they would have stood a chance to stay alive. After all, the Yan Family had helped him enter the Ancestral Domain, so it would be wonderful if their grudges could be resolved just like that. However, since they had chased after him, then he had no choice but to destroy them.
A true Master would never intentionally oppress the weak, he would only inadvertently destroy everything the weaker party had. Those who oppressed the weak all the time were not truly powerful, they were those who had lost the will to challenge greater heights and thus degenerated into cowards who could only handle those beneath them.
Certainly, Yan Luo understood the meaning behind his words, so he snorted, “How shameless! Now that my Old Ancestor is here, do you still think you can act however you please?”
Yan Luo had been forced to act obsequiously for a long time, so he felt truly gleeful that he would get his revenge soon. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Old Ancestor, please bring justice to our family and avenge the Second Elder’s death.”
Yan Ren Hao nodded slightly and stepped forward, upon which his First-Order Dao Source Realm aura surged and pressed down on Yang Kai.
Casually, Duan Mu Qi uttered, “I don’t care what you do to the man, but you have to keep the woman alive.”
Hearing that, Chen Chui Ling pouted in displeasure. With a smile, Duan Mu Qi explained, “I’m getting you a new Sister to share your burdens. Don’t you like it?”
Chen Chui Ling knew that she couldn’t dissuade him from doing this as he was always a lascivious man. Regardless, she just wanted to cling to him, so she said dispassionately, “I want to be the Elder Sister, then.”
“Sure. It’s up to you,” Duan Mu Qi replied with a smile.
Upon that, Chen Chui Ling put on a smile, but she still shot a disdainful glance at He Yun Xiang. By just thinking that there would be one more woman who would share her man from now on, she was displeased.
“Old Ancestor, you have to be careful. This man seems to have cultivated the Dao of Space.”
“Dao of Space?” Yan Ren Hao turned solemn, then he put on a haughty expression, “So what?”
When faced with absolute power, even Masters of the Dao of Space were useless. Dawdling no further, he growled, “Die!”
After that, he shot towards Yang Kai and reached him in the blink of an eye. Without using any artifact or Secret Technique, he clawed at the young man’s forehead as his Source Qi burst out from his fingers. The sound of something breaking through the air could be heard, as though his fingers had turned into a sharp weapon.
He wanted to end Yang Kai’s life with just one strike to avenge the humiliation that had been brought upon the Yan Family.
He Yun Xiang exclaimed as she witnessed the prowess of a Dao Source Realm cultivator for the first time. She couldn’t even clearly see his move. If she was in Yang Kai’s place, she wouldn’t have been able to avoid the attack. In an instant, her face turned pale and immediately tried to push her Star Shuttle to bring Yang Kai away.
When she moved, though, Yang Kai remained in the same spot.
*Dang…*
The crisp sound of metal clashing against metal sounded.
The ferocity on Yan Ren Hao’s face froze at that moment before it quickly turned into shock as he stared at the young man in disbelief.
He had accurately hit right on target, but unlike his imagination earlier, the young man’s head didn’t explode, nor did blood splash out. It didn’t feel like he was clutching at a person’s head but rather had grabbed an extremely hard piece of metal, only managing to leave a small white mark on the man’s forehead.
[What is his head made of? Why is it so hard?]
Not daring to hesitate, Yan Ren Hao immediately released his powerful Source Qi through his palm.
Upon impact, Yang Kai rocked his head back and forth lightly like a toy rattle, a mocking gaze on his face as he stared at Yan Ren Hao, who was now less than an arm’s length away.
In an instant, Yan Ren Hao’s heart sank, and while he was in a dazed state, Yang Kai managed to grab his hand. An immense power could be felt on his wrist as the sound of cracking was heard. The next moment, the bones in his wrist shattered to pieces.
[No! I’m definitely no match for him! Is he really from Unending Star Field? How is it possible that there’s such a monster like him in our Star Field!?] Flabbergasted, Yan Ren Hao opened his mouth, upon which a beam of light shot out and transformed into a sabre. However, instead of slashing at Yang Kai, the sabre was actually aimed at Yan Ren Hao’s own wrist.
Instantly, Yan Ren Hao’s wrist was severed from his arm as blood spurted out of the wound, thereby allowing him to escape Yang Kai’s grasp. He had not hesitated at all when he cut off his own wrist because he knew that if he didn’t do that, he would be killed by the young man.
He had managed to reach his current cultivation realm by not only relying on his talent and luck, but also on his sharp intuition.
Seeing Yang Kai leap into the air after him, his speed was even more rapid than his own, Yan Ren Hao was terrified and shouted as he retreated, “Friend! Please stop! There must be a misunderstanding between us! It must be my family’s descendants who were disrespectful and offended your honourable self! I have to thank you for teaching them a lesson and instilling a sense of respect in them. Friend, I haven’t managed to ask for your name yet.”
He spoke in a rapid yet clear manner, as though he was worried that he might not have the chance to speak again if he was slow.
“Just die.”
Yan Kai had given them a chance already, but since they didn’t appreciate it, they could reflect on their mistakes in the next life.
Then, he pushed out his fist with brute force, without any aura fluctuation around him.
The target, Yan Ren Hao, turned ashen as he shouted, “Senior Brother Duan Mu, save me!”
After he finished speaking, he was struck by the fist. Without the chance to utter one more word, he exploded into a blood mist that even those kilometres away would clearly be able to see.
Yang Kai lifted his hand casually and combed his hair back as it had been slightly disturbed by Yan Ren Hao just now. Then, he turned to look at Yan Luo.
Yan Luo’s jaw was dropped as he was still reeling from the shock that his Old Ancestor had just been killed.
The process was too fast. From the time his Old Ancestor made a move until he exploded into a blood mist was less than a breath. Unlike what he had imagined, his Old Ancestor didn’t manage to kill Yang Kai to avenge their family’s humiliation. Instead, Yan Ren Hao had been killed.
Yan Luo couldn’t accept this fact. He was so astounded that it felt as if someone had battered his Soul. His heart contracted, causing him to feel suffocated.
Meeting the young man’s gaze, Yan Luo began trembling uncontrollably as he could feel that he had been engulfed in an aura of death. Subconsciously, he hid behind Duan Mu Qi to gain a sense of security.
“How dare you kill someone from Azure Sea Palace!?” Duan Mu Qi was no longer in the mood to flirt with Chen Chui Ling. In the blink of an eye, Yan Ren Hao had been killed, and he didn’t even clearly see what had happened. Enraged, he shouted, “You must die today!”
Just like what Yang Kai had expected, although Azure Sea Palace had some fame in the Ancestral Domain, it wasn’t among the top Sects. They didn’t have many cultivators in the Dao Source Realm, so the death of any one of them would mean a huge loss for the Sect.
Initially, Duan Mu Qi thought that this excursion would be a simple, easy one; he never anticipated that a Master from his Sect would be killed. Once he returned, he would definitely be punished.
If he wanted to be spared from punishment, he had to kill the murderer to make up for his mistake.
“Is there something wrong with his head?” Yang Kai turned to look at He Yun Xiang and asked seriously.
With a smile, she replied, “I guess he’s so sick that not even the Heavens can save him.”
She had just witnessed that someone in the realm above the Origin King Realm couldn’t withstand a single punch from Yang Kai, so the worry in her heart had vanished instantly. She couldn’t comprehend the depths of Yang Kai’s strength, but she was certain it was beyond even her wildest imagination.
“Good, I should send him on his way then.” Yang Kai flickered and appeared before Duan Mu Qi in the blink of an eye. Although his figure wasn’t particularly large or burly, the moment he appeared there, he seemed to block out everything else in the world from Duan Mu Qi’s vision.
It was then that Duan Mu Qi came to his senses. His instincts were screaming to him that he was in imminent danger.
Despite that, he wasn’t flustered as he extended his hand into the air and summoned a long sword into it. It was apparently a Dao Source Grade Low-Rank artifact. Layers of cold glints radiated from the sword and turned into a net as it engulfed Yang Kai.
In response, Yang Kai just waved his hand, upon which a sword appeared in his grip. However, the sword was quite different from the other long swords. The hilt was unusually large as the average person would need both hands to take hold of it. It was apparently a heavy sword, but Yang Kai managed to hold it with ease. He didn’t attempt to use any splendid-looking moves as he brandished his Myriads Sword.
The net of swords broke into pieces with a loud clang. As if struck by lightning, Duan Mu Qi sprayed out blood as the Dao Source Grade long sword in his hand snapped in two.
Yang Kai didn’t pause for an instant as he slashed his Myriads Sword at his opponent.
As though a Binding Technique had been cast on him, Duan Mu Qi was rooted to the spot as he looked dazedly at Yang Kai, only able to mutter, “You…”
With a loud slice, his body was split into two from his head to crotch in a symmetrical manner. Falling apart, blood and organs splattered everywhere.
After a short moment of silence, the sound of someone sobbing could be heard from the side. Already drenched in tears, Chen Chui Ling was completely pale as she trembled and stared at Yang Kai. Her pupils had bulged to the size of plates, as though the person standing before her was a stone-hearted devil instead of a Human.
Two First-Order Dao Source Realm Masters were not even able to take a single blow from this young man. They were killed easily as though they were just ants.
In her heart, she was utterly regretful. If she knew this would be the outcome, she wouldn’t have followed Duan Mu Qi to this place.
When Duan Mu Qi was killed and his blood had splashed everywhere, she was right beside him, so she was immediately dyed red. The mixture of blood and tears slid down her face and got into her mouth, which tasted salty and fishy, causing her to retch.
Not sparing her a glance, Yang Kai grinned at Yan Luo, who had been hiding behind Duan Mu Qi just now.
At this moment, Yan Luo was drenched in blood as well. Fear and horror seemed to be filling his eyes as he lamented in the deepest part of his heart.
[Why is he so powerful?] He had never expected that there existed a person as formidable as Yang Kai in this world. When Yang Kai made a move, he couldn’t even sense any aura fluctuation around him, but with just a fist and a sword, he had managed to kill Yan Ren Hao and Duan Mu Qi with ease.
Therefore, Yan Luo decided to run for his life. His desire to stay alive had conquered the fear in his heart.
With a faint smile, Yang Kai stared at his figure.
He Yun Xiang uttered, “Sir…”
She wasn’t willing to let Yan Luo off. If it weren’t because Yang Kai was so strong, they would’ve fallen into Yan Luo’s trap. Since the situation had been flipped, she could not forgive him.
Yang Kai didn’t race after Yan Luo not because he was magnanimous, but because…
All of a sudden, a net shot out of a nearby forest towards Yan Luo. Yan Luo was caught off guard and swiftly captured. Shocked, he hurriedly pushed his Saint Qi to resist it, but he soon plunged into despair because he realised that the harder he tried to struggle, the tighter the net became. In just a short moment, he was wrapped up like a rice dumpling. The thin threads, which seemed to contain some sealing power, even dug into his flesh, causing him to be unable to use his Saint Qi.
At the other end of the net, an old man with a sallow face appeared. There was a smoking pipe in his hand as he gazed at Yang Kai with a conflicted expression.
After a moment of hesitation, he approached Yang Kai with his pipe in one hand and the bound Yan Luo in his other hand. Then, he sized up the young man and asked, “What is your cultivation realm?”
Although he was rejected by Yang Kai earlier, he wasn’t willing to give up so easily. Thinking that it would be a waste of talent if someone from the Star Field was killed by those from Azure Sea Palace, he secretly followed them. His intention was to save Yang Kai from trouble and make the young man owe him a favour, thereby luring him to join the Eternal Life Pavilion.
However, instead of reaching his goal, he watched a hair-raising show.
The two First-Order Dao Source Realm Masters were killed by this young man with ease, which meant that it also wouldn’t take him much effort to end his life either. What horrified this old man though was that he couldn’t even see through Yang Kai’s cultivation.
Even if Yang Kai had an artifact that could cover up his cultivation, he couldn’t possibly hide it after taking action; however, from beginning to end, his cultivation had remained a mystery.
“How should I address you, Elder?” Yang Kai smiled at him.
The old man replied, “Xu Hou Tu.”
Yang Kai uttered, “Elder Xu, many thanks for lending me a hand.”
In a helpless manner, Xu Hou Tu shook his head. Yang Kai was able to kill two Dao Source Realm Masters with ease, so there was no way a trivial Third-Order Origin King could turn the situation around. Even if he didn’t make a move, this man called Yan Luo would never have been able to escape. Given how he immediately changed the topic though, it was apparent Yang Kai was unwilling to answer the old man’s question.
After giving it a thought, the old man said, “There are about ten Dao Source Realm Masters in Azure Sea Palace. What’s more, the Palace Master is in the Second-Order Dao Source Realm. Since you’ve killed two of their people, they won’t let you off.”
Yang Kai replied, “I’m not interested in slaughtering an entire Sect, but if they insist on asking for death, I won’t be magnanimous.”
Xu Hou Tu was shocked upon hearing that. He was just telling Yang Kai some information about Azure Sea Palace, but at the same time, he was also trying to probe him. Seeing that the young man had no regard at all for a Second-Order Dao Source Realm Master, he knew that he had still underestimated him.
As such, he gave up the idea of inviting him to join the Eternal Life Pavilion. Even if a Master like Yang Kai was willing to join his Sect, he would bring immense pressure and worry to everyone else.
But, how was this possible? He had personally seen Yang Kai arrive from a Lower Star Field, so how could the latter possess such incredible strength? Which Star Field could nurture this kind of monster? There was no precedent like this in the past.
“Little Friend, why have you come to the Ancestral Domain?”
Since he couldn’t lure him to join his Sect, the old man reckoned he could at least strike up a relationship with him. Perhaps this friendship would be useful in the future.
After a moment of deliberation, Yang Kai replied, “I came here because I wish to travel to a different Star Field through the Ancestral Domain.”
Yang Kai knew that Xu Hou Tu wasn’t a wicked person judging from the fact that the latter had followed him to this place. Moreover, he knew nothing about the Ancestral Domain, nor could he rely on He Yun Xiang since she was as clueless as he. So, he might achieve his goal faster with the help of a local.
“I am not originally from Unending Star Field. I just happened to be stranded there and want to return to my native Star Field.”
Hearing that, Xu Hou Tu finally understood what was going on, “I see.”
The Ancestral Domain was supposedly connected to all Star Fields. Many Masters had discussed before the feasibility of using the Ancestral Domain as a terminal to head to other Star Fields. Their conclusion was that it was possible, but they would have to pay a hefty price, and it required them to be extremely powerful.
“But I’m not sure how I can go home. Elder Xu, do you have any suggestions?” Yang Kai asked.
Xu Hou Tu replied, “Little Friend, I’ll have to ask which Star Field you want to go to first. It’s not that I want to boast, but I’ve lived in the Ancestral Domain for many centuries now and have come into contact with many cultivators from different Star Fields. So perhaps I know someone from your Star Field.”
Yang Kai’s gaze brightened, “Elder Xu, then, have you heard of Heng Luo Star Field before?”
Xu Hou Tu gave it a serious thought, but to Yang Kai’s disappointment, he shook his head, “No.”
Then, he consoled the young man by saying, “However, the Ancestral Domain is extremely vast. People from my Sect have been guarding only five Star Road Portals, so I can at least tell you that these portals do not connect to Little Friend’s Heng Luo Star Field.”
Yang Kai asked curiously, “You mean, there are many such portals like the one just now?”
“Haha. There are hundreds of them.”
Yang Kai was astounded.
Xu Hou Tu went on to say, “Your best option would be to visit other Star Road Portals and ask the ones waiting at them about it. If the people from your homeland have come to the Ancestral Domain, you will surely obtain some useful information from those at the portals.”
“Where are all these portals?”
Xu Hou Tu pondered on it for a moment before flicking his wrist, upon which two Space Rings flew towards him. The rings belonged to the deceased Yan Ren Hao and Duan Mu Qi. He forcefully erased the seals on those rings and then searched them.
Then, he took out something that looked like a scroll and tossed it to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai took it and looked doubtfully at him.
Xu Hou Tu uttered, “Try infusing your Divine Sense into it.”
Hearing that, Yang Kai unrolled the scroll open and poured his Divine Sense into it. The next moment, dots of light suddenly lit up on the scroll.
Yang Kai his brow and poured more Spiritual Energy into it, upon which the light dots appeared closer now.
These light dots were mostly very far from his current location, but there was one that looked like it was quite a nearby place.
Xu Hou Tu explained, “This is a Star Road Chart. All the portals that have been discovered in the Ancestral Domain are recorded here. The closest portal to you is the one you just passed through to reach the Ancestral Domain.”
Yang Kai withdrew his Divine Sense and stored the scroll. Elated, he said, “This is indeed a good thing.”
With a smile, Xu Hou Tu uttered, “This thing isn’t that valuable in the Ancestral Domain. Almost any Sect or individual with a little background can afford to buy a similar Star Road Chart.”
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai cupped his fists, “Many thanks for your guidance, Elder Xu.”
With this Star Road Chart, he could go to different Star Road Portals to ask for more information. At that instant, Yang Kai’s plan for the future had been set.
“It was just a minor matter, so there’s no need to thank me. I hope that you’ll achieve your goal soon.”
“I’ll take advantage of your auspicious words.”
“En, please carry on then, I’ll help you handle the situation here.”
Yang Kai bowed his head, “I’ll be troubling you then, Elder Xu. Farewell.”
Then, he beckoned to He Yun Xiang, upon which they left the place on the Star Shuttle.
Just as they left, something flew through the air. Xu Hou Tu reached out and caught a round object in his hand, and upon a closer look, he was astonished.
It was a Spirit Pill that he had never seen before, but he could feel that the pill contained medicinal efficacies that were beyond his imagination. Excited, he began fantasizing about what kind of transformation he would go through after he took this pill.
He had intended to gain some benefits in the future by helping Yang Kai, but he didn’t expect that the reward would come so soon.
Then, he took a look at the sobbing Chen Chui Ling and the bound Yan Luo. After that, he lit up his pipe and drew in a deep breath. Following that, he puffed out the smoke and it soon covered a large area. When the smoke disappeared, there was no longer anyone at the scene.
…
“Sir, where are we going now?” He Yun Xiang asked while she flew the Star Shuttle.
Having just witnessed that Yang Kai had killed two people who were in the realm above Origin King Realm, she grew even more respectful of him.
Yang Kai tossed the Star Road Chart to her and replied, “Visit every place that’s recorded on this.”
He didn’t know where the portal that connected Heng Luo Star Field and the Ancestral Domain was. He didn’t even know whether such a portal existed. Since he knew nothing, he had no choice but to investigate each portal one by one.
Although it was quite a silly and time-consuming method, it was the best way he could think of for now.
He Yun Xiang nodded before she took the Star Road Chart and infused her Divine Sense into it. Upon confirming their location and destination, she steered her Star Shuttle towards a particular light dot.
Five days later, they reached a desolate swamp area. There was a huge puddle of water somewhere in the swamp, and in the water, lights of different colours undulated. Looking at it from above, the puddle of water appeared quite mysterious.
The colourful lights were vivid and flowing, swirling in a particular pattern that was clearly a Star Road Portal!
Around the puddle, there were some cultivators standing guard. Some of them exuded an aura that suggested that they were in the Dao Source Realm as they sat in place to meditate and adjust their breathing.
Although they were waiting for new people here, it was quite a boring task. So, they spent most of their time cultivating. By doing so, they wouldn’t slow down their progress. Nevertheless, the environment here was hostile.
The flash of light in the distance had attracted the attention of those guarding this place and those cultivators, who were meditating, opened their eyes in displeasure in an attempt to find out who had the guts to disturb them.
The light faded, upon which a Star Shuttle was revealed. All of their gazes brightened when they saw an alluring lady piloting it. She was standing at the front of the Star Shuttle, and behind her was a young man. What made them displeased was that the young man was lying on the Star Shuttle with his head resting on his arms while his legs had crossed, appearing carefree.
[Who is this arrogant man?]
After they scanned the young man with their Divine Sense, they were all shocked, because they couldn’t find out whether he had cultivated before or not.
Standing on the Star Shuttle, He Yun Xiang put on an elegant smile and said in a soft voice, “Pardon me for disturbing all of you. There’s something I need to ask.”
A beautiful woman naturally had an advantage when it came to negotiations. Moreover, she was quite polite, so it was hard for them to feel repulsed by her.
“What do you want to ask?”
“Have you heard about Heng Luo Star Field before?”
One of them replied, “Yes.”
He Yun Xiang’s gaze brightened as she didn’t expect that they could gain some useful information on their first stop. With a joyful expression, she gazed at the person and asked, “Can you tell me more about it?”
It was a burly man whose muscles were bulged up noticeably. Upon hearing that, he replied with a meaningful smile, “Good. Why don’t you follow me to a quiet place? I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” As he spoke, he winked at her.
In an instant, He Yun Xiang’s face fell. Meanwhile, at the back of the Star Shuttle, Yang Kai closed his eyes again, seemingly going to sleep.
Suppressing her displeasure, He Yun Xiang uttered, “If any of you can tell me any useful information about Heng Luo Star Field, I’ll give you a reward.”
The burly man asked with a smile, “What kind of reward can you give us?”
It was apparent that she had just reached the Third-Order Origin King Realm not long ago, so it was impossible that she had any treasures on her. However, if she was willing to spend a night with them, they might help her find out more about Heng Luo Star Field.
At the very least, the burly man was willing to do so. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have teased her.
With a faint smile, He Yun Xiang fished out something and replied, “This is the reward.”
It was an ordinary-looking round mirror that looked like something a woman would use. It appeared simple and dated, but when He Yun Xiang infused her Saint Qi into it, a glint flashed across the mirror. At the same time, an amazing energy fluctuation propagated from it.
Everyone down below was immediately attracted to the mirror as their gazes were filled with greed and desire.
[It’s a Dao Source Grade artifact! Moreover, it’s Mid-Rank… No, High-Rank!]
Although they were not sure about the uses of the mirror, they couldn’t ignore the fact that it was a High-Rank Dao Source Grade artifact. All of those guarding this portal were merely First-Order Dao Source Realms. Although they had Dao Source Grade artifacts themselves, those were just Low-Rank items. None of them even had a Mid-Rank artifact, much less a High-Rank one. In fact, none of them had even seen a Dao Source Grade High-Rank artifact before.
Even the Sect Masters of their Sects didn’t possess such a treasure! Normally, only the strongest Sects in the Ancestral Domain had such artifacts, and they were seen as Supreme Artifacts in their respective Sects.
*Gudong…* All of them gulped.
It was said that everyone only acted for benefits. To cultivators, good pills and high-grade artifacts were unspeakably attractive. By obtaining either one of these treasures, they could significantly increase their power and reach a higher realm.
“I know some information about Heng Luo Star Field. Let me have a look at the mirror first. If it’s good, I’ll tell you all you need to know.” The burly man spoke as he leapt into the air. At the same time, he covered He Yun Xiang in his Dao Source Realm aura. With his fingers forming into a claw, it was apparent that he intended to snatch the treasure.
The other Dao Source Realm Masters were shocked and cursed at the burly man. They had been staying together in the same place for far too long, so they knew each other’s temperament well. This burly man was reckless and unreasonable. If he managed to snatch the treasure, it would be hard to make him cough it out.
At that instant, all of them shot into the air and pounced on He Yun Xiang, targeting the mirror.
After a sigh, He Yun Xiang looked pitifully at these people who were coming at her.
Faced with so many Dao Source Realm Masters, not only was she, a Third-Order Origin King, not afraid, she even put on that kind of expression. Some of her attackers were amazed upon seeing this while at the same time, they felt that something was amiss.
Just then, a fist appeared mysteriously and came at the burly man at an incredible speed. It was so rapid that a scar in space was formed where the fist passed.
Before the fist even reached him, the burly man’s expression drastically changed as he widened his eyes. He opened his mouth to shout something, but before he could utter a word, his face was struck by the fist.
Like a watermelon that had been dropped from a hundred metres up, his blood exploded out while the momentum of the fist sent his headless corpse flying backward for some time before it landed in the swamp and caused a giant splash.
Everyone gasped as they froze in place. They hovered in mid-air as all their blood seemed to have been frozen over, even having difficulty gulping.
Their focus was now on the carefree-looking young man, who was lying on the Star Shuttle. Their gazes were filled with horror.
Just now, they clearly saw this young man make a move, after which the burly man was killed.
They knew the burly man’s power very well and none of them had the confidence to defeat him in a one-on-one fight. However, just now, a single fist was all it took to end his life. He was killed as easily as though he were an ant.
[Who is this man!?] Feeling fearful, they even quieted their breathing, afraid they would displease him by being too loud while he relaxed.
He Yun Xiang kept a smile on her face as she swept a glance over them, “Has no one heard about Heng Luo Star Field before?”
None of them dared to reply to her now, as they were worried that they would be killed as soon as they spoke.
He Yun Xiang went on to say, “Sir is a man of his word. If any one of you can provide any information about Heng Luo Star Field, this mirror will belong to you. Of course, it’d be best if you could also point out the Star Road Portal that leads to Heng Luo Star Field. Sir has said that he’ll give you an additional reward if you can provide such information.”
Only after some time did an elderly man muster enough courage to reply, “Madam, we know nothing about Heng Luo Star Field, and we have never heard of it before.”
He just wanted them to leave as quickly as possible, as they felt pressured with these two people around.
“That’s a shame,” He Yun Xiang didn’t expect to get any useful information on their first stop. Perhaps they wouldn’t even get a lead after visiting all the Star Road Portals; however, they still had to work hard and make the attempts.
“I swear it is the truth.” The elderly man said sincerely.
He Yun Xiang replied with a smile, “It’s fine. I believe you, but since all of you are guarding this place, please keep an eye on it for us. If anyone comes out of this portal, please ask where they’re from. If they come from Heng Luo Star Field, tell them to head to Azure Dragon City after three years. Tell them that Yang Kai will be waiting for them.”
Azure Dragon City was one of the top cities in the Ancestral Domain, so everyone knew about it, which was why it was a suitable gathering place. As for the timeframe, Yang Kai had calculated that they would need three years to visit all the Star Road Portals in the Ancestral Domain. It would be great if they could find a clue by then, but if they couldn’t, then they’d have no choice but to wait in Azure Dragon City.
“Yes, yes,” the elderly man hurriedly agreed.
He Yun Xiang uttered, “If possible, please help escort the person to Azure Dragon City when the time comes. All of you will be rewarded for your efforts.” Then, she raised the mirror with a smile, “Sir has many such things after all.”
All of them were shocked and became excited.
This was indeed some incredible news. By just escorting a person to Azure Dragon City, they would be able to obtain a Dao Source Grade High-Rank artifact. They probably couldn’t find such a good deal anywhere else in this world. Of course, the prerequisite was that a cultivator from Heng Luo Star Field would come out of their portal.
They silently memorized Yang Kai’s name, as this might be their opportunity to rise. At the same time, they speculated that this young man must have some powerful background, otherwise, he wouldn’t have told them his name even after he killed someone. Apparently, he wasn’t afraid that the force behind the burly man would retaliate against him.
Moreover, judging from the young man’s single move just now, his cultivation was profound. Anyone who wanted to take revenge on him would basically be asking for death.
The Star Shuttle then turned into a beam of light and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
…
For the next period of time, the pair visited more Star Road Portals and left behind the same reminder and request.
Some greedy men were killed while most made sure to remember Yang Kai’s name before promising to bring any cultivator from Heng Luo Star Field to Azure Dragon City three years later.
Just like that, half a year had passed. During this period of time, Yang Kai and He Yun Xiang tirelessly visited every Star Road Portal they could. He Yun Xiang knew that this matter was important to Yang Kai, so she had been very meticulous when carrying out her duty. Besides driving the Star Shuttle, she spent most of her free time cultivating, and she never complained.
Although it had been half a year since she arrived in the Ancestral Domain, she hadn’t been able to take a proper look at the sights and scenes of this place as she spent most of her time on the road, looking for people from Yang Kai’s homeland.
“Sir, we’ll arrive at the next portal soon.” The Star Road Chart in her hands played an important role, without which it would be akin to looking for a needle in a haystack if they were to aimlessly search around the Ancestral Domain.
As she spoke, she took a look at a little girl who seemed to only be about seven or eight years old with a weird expression.
One day about half a month ago, after He Yun Xiang finished her meditation, she opened her eyes and turned around, only to be shocked to see this little girl riding on her Star Shuttle. The girl’s facial features were delicate and adorable. There was no impurity behind her clear gaze, which seemed to sparkle with the radiance of a spring river.
Hearing how Yang Kai addressed her, she knew that her name was Liu Yan.
However, she failed to notice how Liu Yan appeared on her Star Shuttle. Moreover, this little girl was as strange as Yang Kai. There were no aura fluctuations around her, as though she had never cultivated before.
Nevertheless, when facing her, He Yun Xiang could feel an immense pressure that was just as intense as when she was facing Yang Kai.
[Is she as powerful as Sir?] He Yun Xiang couldn’t believe she would have this thought. After a person began cultivating, they would age slower, so it was difficult to tell a cultivator’s age by looking at their appearance. However, this was just a little girl, so how powerful could she be?
She had asked Yang Kai where Liu Yan was from, but all he told her was that he had picked her up from somewhere, which caused her to be torn between tears and laughter.
Moreover, she was puzzled as to how Liu Yan addressed Yang Kai. The little girl kept calling Yang Kai ‘Master’ without feeling ashamed. He Yun Xiang even suspected that he had a special fetish, which was why he wasn’t interested in a charming lady like her.
At this moment, Yang Kai was sitting cross-legged on the Star Shuttle, while Liu Yan was lying in his embrace as she fiddled with her own long and smooth hair. Both of them appeared bored as Yang Kai yawned and grunted.
Then, he suddenly turned to look in the distance and said with a grin, “It’s certainly bustling down there.”
Liu Yan immediately said, “Let’s go over and have a look!”
“No. What’s the point of watching a group of ants fight? Focus on our task.”
Liu Yan pouted.
“Alright. Alright. We’ll take a look.” Feeling helpless, Yang Kai pinched her face.
It was then that Liu Yan beamed at him. Her temperament seemed to have changed significantly during her time of cultivating in seclusion on Spirit Beast Island. After acquiring her Phoenix Bloodline, she really seemed to have turned into a child. Perhaps it was due to her inheritance.
Without waiting for his order, He Yun Xiang changed direction and headed for the crowd. At the same time, she used her Secret Technique to hide their figures and auras.
It was truly bustling below them. Hundreds of people were using their own Movement Skills as they charged forward at a speed that was as swift as the wind. A small number of people were leading the way at the front as their sleeves flapped in the air. Their auras were stable and powerful, apparently Dao Source Realm Masters. The most powerful one was even in the Third-Order Dao Source Realm. Besides him, there were five others in the Second-Order Dao Source Realm.
He Yun Xiang could feel immense pressure coming from these people.
Her concealment technique naturally couldn’t fool the senses of these people so they shot her a glance before looking away. Apparently, there was a more urgent issue at hand for them.
The pressure was as heavy as a mountain on He Yun Xiang. However, since Yang Kai had remained silent, she had no choice but to continue chasing after them, all the time feeling as though she was a moth that was flying towards a fire.
After they kept flying at full speed for half a day, they finally saw those people stopping in front of a solitary mountain.
The mountain was about a thousand meters high, and there was a bamboo hut at the peak. The place was practically covered in bamboo forests as the plants swayed with the wind, which looked like a sight that came right out of a beautiful painting.
The arrival of these hundreds of cultivators had added a layer of murderous intent to this place. Apparently, they were all from the same Sect as their movements were orderly and organized. Upon arriving at this place, they immediately dispersed and surrounded the mountain.
Upon a closer inspection, He Yun Xiang was shocked to discover that these people were actually arranging a huge Formation. She wondered who the Master was that could make these people go all out and form into such a huge Formation to oppose him. In her heart, she lamented that there was always someone stronger out there. Then, she took a look at Yang Kai, who was still casually lying on the Star Shuttle, as though he was unperturbed by the tension below them.
At that instant, she realised she had forgotten that the person she was following was also an inscrutable Master and probably had no regard for the people below them.
After pulling herself together, she keenly looked down at the good show.
“It’s just a normal vendetta against someone. There’s nothing to see here,” Yang Kai pinched Liu Yan’s ear.
Liu Yan just let him be as she looked excitedly at the events down there and uttered gently, “There’s a Secret Technique in the Phoenix Clan that can be used to predict the future. Just now, I suddenly had a feeling that your wish would come true today.”
Hearing that, Yang Kai sat up straight and gazed at her in shock, “Really?”
Liu Yan replied, “It wouldn’t cost us anything to just watch.”
Yang Kai nodded slightly and released his Divine Sense to investigate the solitary mountain, but it was blocked in front of the bamboo hut and couldn’t go any further. In an instant, his expression turned awkward.
Just then, a grey-haired old man leapt into the air. Although his figure was thin, he appeared very energetic. There were some age spots on his wrinkled face, which made him look like he didn’t have much time left in this world; however, his eyes beamed with a horrifying glare.
He stared fixedly at the bamboo hut and bellowed, “How dare you break into Wild Dragon Pavilion and steal our Sect’s Supreme Artifact!? This place will be your burial ground today!”
“Wild Dragon Pavilion…” He Yun Xiang was stunned.
It had been half a year since she arrived in the Ancestral Domain, so although she had always been on the road to carry out Yang Kai’s orders, she wasn’t as clueless as before and had even gained a lot of information during her journey. Certainly, she had heard about Wild Dragon Pavilion before, which was one of the most powerful Sects in the Ancestral Domain.
It was no wonder that there was a Third-Order Dao Source Realm Master among them. They were all from Wild Dragon Pavilion, which was why there were so many formidable Masters.
It wasn’t that there were no other great forces that could go up against Wild Dragon Pavilion, but there were definitely not many. Who was it that was gutsy enough to steal the Supreme Artifact from Wild Dragon Palace? What amazed He Yun Xiang was that the person in question had actually succeeded and fled from the place.
It would take immense power and boldness for someone to achieve that.
At that instant, she felt curious about the person who was hiding in the bamboo hut.
“Stop hiding in your shabby hut and come face us now!” Gong Yang Xi was extremely furious. His Sect’s Supreme Artifact had been stolen, but there were no signs prior to that of anything amiss. If it weren’t because the thief didn’t intend to erase his traces, they wouldn’t have even been able to pursue him to this place.
The thief apparently had no regard for him or Wild Dragon Pavilion. He would like to find out who had the guts to steal something from the tiger’s den in the Ancestral Domain.
“Come out!” The people from Wild Dragon Pavilion were agitated as they chanted along with their leader.
Just then, a dispassionate voice could be heard from the bamboo hut, “I was just taking back my own thing, so how could you call me a thief? Trash like all of you should mind your language. I’m in a good mood today, so I don’t want to kill anyone. Go back to where you’re from now.”
Gong Yang Xi was so angered that he actually started laughing, “What a shameless man!”
[Who is this arrogant man? Who does he think he is? Wild Dragon Pavilion has stood in the Ancestral Domain for over ten thousand years! Our inheritance is rich, and our disciples are both powerful and plentiful.]
Gong Yang Xi was in the Third-Order Dao Source Realm, which was the highest cultivation achievable in the Ancestral Domain, so he had never been afraid of anyone.
Moreover, what this man said was ridiculous. The Supreme Artifact was a relic left behind by their Ancestral Founder more than thirty generations ago, which meant that it was at least ten thousand years old, so how was it possible that it belonged to some outsider?
“Sir?” He Yun Xiang was shocked that the person was so haughty, as though he had no regard for anyone in the world, but just then, Yang Kai stood up on the Star Shuttle. He had always been calm and carefree, but at this moment, his expression had turned solemn for the first time as he stared fixedly at the bamboo hut, as though a formidable enemy was right before him.
[What’s going on?] He Yun Xiang’s heart was filled with doubts.
She still did not understand the full extent of Yang Kai’s strength, because since she started following him, she had never seen him use his true power. Be it Origin King Realm Masters or Dao Source Realm Masters though, he could kill all of them with just one punch. Certainly, he wouldn’t need to use all his power when faced with enemies that he could kill with one move.
He Yun Xiang had speculated that Yang Kai was probably at the peak of the Third-Order Dao Source Realm. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to kill those First-Order Dao Source Realm Masters as though they were mere ants.
Given his cultivation, he could be considered one of the top cultivators in the entire Ancestral Domain. Wherever he went or whoever he faced, he would still be confident enough.
So, why would this kind of Master appear so solemn all of a sudden? Who was that person inside the bamboo hut?
“Master?” Feeling that something was off, Liu Yan looked up at him and asked.
After a gulp, Yang Kai stroked her head and said in a bitter voice, “It seems that you’re right. My wish will come true today.”
Liu Yan’s gut feeling had indeed lit up a light that could show him the way forward, but the light was so dazzling that he was worried he would be blinded by it.
“Little Friend, you’re here as well! What a coincidence!” The voice sounded from the bamboo hut again.
Hearing that, Yang Kai stiffened. Up until a moment ago, he was 30 percent doubtful and 70 percent shocked, but upon hearing what this man just said, he was now 100 percent confident of his speculation. The man in the bamboo hut was exactly the one he thought it to be.
[I can’t believe he’s here!]
It was pointless to try to hide their figures in front of such a Master, so the moment Yang Kai’s trio arrived at this place, that person must have discovered them.
As such, Yang Kai let out a loud growl, “You thief! I don’t care how powerful you are, but you’re in the wrong to have stolen their Sect’s Supreme Artifact! Such heinous acts are contrary to how a true Master should behave! It wouldn’t matter if I hadn’t come across this incident, but since I’ve seen it now, I won’t just stand by!”
Then, he turned to look at the old man from Wild Dragon Pavilion and cupped his fists, “Old man, although this has nothing to do with me, it seems fate has brought us together today. If you require any help, please don’t hesitate to ask. I have always pledged to help those in need.”
He appeared righteous, and his voice sounded determined.
[O-Old man?] Gong Yang Xi was astounded. Since he took over Wild Dragon Pavilion, anyone who had come across him would always call him ‘Pavilion Master’ in a respectful manner. Now that he was called an ‘old man’, his expression turned weird, but it wasn’t the right time to flare up. So, his expression only slightly darkened.
The person in the bamboo hut fell silent for a moment before he uttered again, “Little Friend, are you pretending that you don’t know me?”
“I don’t know who you are!”
[I don’t know who you are either.] Gong Yang Xi felt helpless toward this young man. Although he had realised that the latter had been following him, he ignored him because he was busy. However, he didn’t expect that the young man would butt in on his affairs.
[He said he wanted to help me?] Gong Yang Xi wasn’t a fool, so he wouldn’t believe the young man’s nonsense. It seemed that the young man and the person in the bamboo hut were old acquaintances. It was just that they were on bad terms.
Still, he didn’t want the situation to become more chaotic, so he saluted the young man and said, “Young Friend, many thanks for your offer. However, this is an internal matter for Wild Dragon Pavilion, so we don’t want any outsiders to interfere in it. Please step aside now, as I’m worried that you might be accidentally harmed during the fight.”
In truth, he didn’t want Yang Kai to get involved in this matter because he was worried that the young man was the accomplice of that person in the bamboo hut.
“Alright.” Yang Kai bowed his head, “Old man, since you’ve said so, I’ll stand aside for now.” He intended to find out the strength of the man in the bamboo hut by using these people from Wild Dragon Pavilion in the first place.
He had been suppressed and repelled by the Heavenly Way since he came to the Lower Star Field, so Yang Kai knew that it was the same case for that person as well. When they fought later, Yang Kai could probably find out about it. However, he was worried that Gong Yang Xi would underestimate the person, so he said solemnly, “Old man, it’s not that I’m trying to frighten you, but the person in the hut is a difficult character to deal with. You have to be careful. Otherwise, you will suffer.”
Gong Yang Xi frowned and replied impassively, “Many thanks for your warning.”
However, his expression suggested that he didn’t take the young man seriously. He was a Third-Order Dao Source Realm Master, so he was already one of the top cultivators in the Ancestral Domain. Even if there was someone stronger than he was, that person wouldn’t be overwhelmingly more powerful. Now that all the top cultivators from Wild Dragon Pavilion had gathered here, there was basically no one in the world that could be a match for them. No matter how formidable the person in the hut was, he was determined to kill him.
Then, with a dark expression, he turned back and uttered, “It seems that you’re unwilling to return our artifact to us in a peaceful manner. I’ll ask you one last time. Will you give back what you stole or not?”
“I told you this thing belongs to me, so stop harping on it. You’re annoying.”
“Good! Since that’s the case, don’t blame this Gong for being ruthless! Die!” Gong Yang Xi pushed his Source Qi as his beard and hair flapped in the wind. Then, he leapt into the air and charged towards the bamboo hut like an enraged ram. His aura was strong, and his fury seemed able to burn through the air.
However, there was no reaction from the person in the bamboo hut.
Gong Yang Xi’s threat from earlier wasn’t effective at all. When he reached the bamboo hut, he attempted to land a palm on the door, “It’s disgraceful that you don’t even have the guts to show your face. Come out now!”
*Ziya…* The bamboo hut’s door suddenly flung open as a gale gusted out of the house. Gong Yang Xi’s pupils contracted as his expression was transformed by horror. Under the attention of hundreds of stunned cultivators, Gong Yang Xi was sucked into the bamboo hut.
*Hong…* The door was closed again, but no noises were coming from the house anymore, nor any signs of a struggle. It was so quiet that it was as though they were in the earliest stage of the universe.
With their eyes widened, everyone held their breaths and became all ears. However, the atmosphere was eerily quiet, which caused their hearts to be filled with horror.
At that instant, the bamboo hut looked like an ancient beast that had swallowed Gong Yang Xi whole.
A moment later, the bamboo hut’s door opened again, and under everyone’s stunned gazes, a pale Gong Yang Xi walked out of the house. He turned around and respectfully closed the door before bowing, “I’m sorry for disturbing you, Senior. Please rest well.”
The jaws of these hundreds of top cultivators from Wild Dragon Pavilion dropped as they couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Let’s go!” Gong Yang Xi yelled as he turned into a beam of light and shot into the distance.
Although the people from Wild Dragon Pavilion were doubtful, they didn’t dare to ask anything. After that, they summoned their own flight type artifacts or used their Movement Skills to leave this place. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of them disappeared from the place, as the solitary mountain became serene again.
After they flew for more than 100 kilometres, Gong Yang Xi, who was at the front, staggered and sprayed out a mouthful of blood as his aura weakened all of a sudden. His wrinkled face became even more withered, as though he would lose his life at any moment.
“Pavilion Master!” The other Elders were stunned as they surrounded him.
[What happened inside the bamboo hut? What did Pavilion Master and the thief talk about? Why did he step out of the house and leave the place in silence? Why does he look like he’s severely injured now?]
Their minds became a mess because of the mysteries.
Gong Yang Xi stabilized himself with difficulty and waved his hand to signal that he was fine.
“Pavilion Master, that person…” One of the Elders couldn’t contain his curiosity anymore, so he asked the question.
“Don’t ask anything,” A sense of fear flashed across Gong Yang Xi’s face.
“But our Sect’s Supreme Artifact…”
“Never mention it again!” Gong Yang Xi’s gaze was filled with conflicted determination, “Just treat it as if we have never had it before.”
“What!?” All of them exclaimed.
[Who was that person!? Why is Pavilion Master so terrified of him? Now, he doesn’t even want to get back the Supreme Artifact that has been with us for more than ten thousand years…] The Elders wouldn’t dare to keep thinking about it, as they were worried that the idea in their minds would make them lose faith in their Martial Dao.
…
Outside the bamboo hut, He Yun Xiang opened her mouth slightly, as though two invisible fingers had been stuffed into it. She watched dazedly as the people from Wild Dragon Pavilion left the place because what was happening before her eyes was beyond her ability to understand.
[Aren’t they from one of the top Sects in the Ancestral Domain? Why did they suddenly turn so timid when they were confronted?] If He Yun Xiang hadn’t sensed their power, she would have thought that there was another great force in the Ancestral Domain that was also called Wild Dragon Pavilion.
The corners of Yang Kai’s mouth kept twitching. If possible, he would want to turn around and leave as well.
However, the person inside the house might be the key to obtaining what he wanted, so he was reluctant to leave. After hesitating for a long time, he clenched his teeth and made up his mind. In order to return to the Heng Luo Star Field, even if there was a pile of dung inside the house, he would go in and step on it!
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Yang Kai patted Liu Yan’s head.
Nevertheless, she grabbed his sleeve and wouldn’t let go.
“Let go.” Yang Kai glowered at her.
“No!” Not to be outdone, Liu Yan opened her eyes wider than him.
Yang Kai uttered, “We can’t put all the eggs in the same basket. If something goes wrong, I’ll notify you. Then, you’ll rush into the house and burn him to ashes.”
Hearing that, Liu Yan nodded and released him, “Alright then. Be careful.”
Yang Kai groaned and thought that it was useless to be careful in front of that person. Then, he walked up to the door and coughed slightly before he knocked on the door. In a loud voice, he asked, “Is anyone home?”
In an instant, the solemn atmosphere became hilarious. He Yun Xiang even burst out laughing, but she quickly covered her mouth and suppressed her voice.
Getting no response, Yang Kai adjusted his clothes and went on to speak, “Sorry for the disturbance then.”
Following that, he pushed the door open and stepped into the house. Just like what had happened just now, the door automatically closed.
Inside the dark house, a person was sitting cross-legged on a futon as he looked smilingly at Yang Kai.
When their gazes met, Yang Kai became extremely alarmed, but he still pretended to be nonchalant and cupped his fists, “Brother Wu, how are you?” [Since you’ve used the alias Wu Chen, I’ll call you Brother Wu, then. I’ll never call you Senior Wu because you’re the biggest scourge in the entire Star Boundary has ever known.]
Wu Kuang didn’t mind it as he extended his hand, “Have a seat.”
Yang Kai replied, “I don’t mind standing.”
He circulated his Qi and readied himself to battle against the man before his eyes at any moment.
Wu Kuang said, “But then I have to raise my head to speak to you.”
Yang Kai’s brow twitched. After giving it a thought, he decided that he didn’t want to take advantage of him in this matter, for he was worried that the latter might suddenly become enraged. So, he gave in and took a seat.
As they were sitting across from each other, Wu Kuang took out a tea set and started preparing tea.
At that moment, Yang Kai felt overwhelmed by this kind of treatment. Wu Kuang was the greatest disaster the Star Boundary had experienced in the past hundred thousand years and had devastated countless Star Fields, killing an innumerable number of people in the process. Nevertheless, he was still one of the strongest Masters in the entire Star Boundary’s history, even killing a few Great Emperors. So, it was quite an honour for Yang Kai that Wu Kuang was preparing tea for him.
In an instant, he felt less hostile towards Wu Kuang. That was indeed the kind of demeanour a Master should have. In the future, he would be quite honoured to tell others that he had had tea with Wu Kuang before.
“Little Friend, why are you here?” Wu Kuang asked nonchalantly. In fact, he hadn’t expected that he would come across Yang Kai in such a place.
With a serious expression, Yang Kai replied, “It’s a long story, but my intention was to hunt you down.”
Wu Kuang put on a smile, “What about now?”
“Will you let me kill you?” Yang Kai questioned.
“That’ll depend on whether you’re powerful enough.”
Yang Kai pondered on it for a moment and shook his head, “Even if I had the power to do so, I’m afraid I still can’t kill you.” By killing Wu Kuang, it would be akin to murdering Duan Hong Chen, so it was too hefty a price to pay.
In an instant, he turned furious and bellowed, “Just you wait. When I find a way to get you out of Senior Hong Chen’s body one day! I’ll certainly kill you!”
“Then you’ll have to work harder on cultivating.” Wu Kuang grinned.
Yang Kai felt uneasy, as this meeting was different from what he had imagined. [Isn’t he a murderous madman? Why is he acting like a wise and magnanimous old sage now?] He felt as though his fist had landed on a soft wad of cotton rather than an iron sheet he was expecting, making him feel all the more uncomfortable. It would have been more natural to have been dragged into an all-out battle from the start.
“Did you suddenly become a vegetarian?” Yang Kai suddenly asked.
“What do you mean?” Wu Kuang was puzzled.
“Why didn’t you devour those people from Wild Dragon Pavilion?” In fact, Yang Kai was utterly surprised that those from Wild Dragon Pavilion had left safely, which was an inconceivable idea. It must be the luckiest day in their lives that they had escaped from this place unscathed.
Wu Kuang’s temperament couldn’t have changed, as his Heaven Devouring Battle Law was his primary Secret Art. Just half a year ago, he had even eaten an Eighth-Order Dragon on Dragon Island.
“They’re not even enough to fill the cracks between my teeth, so why should I bother?”
Finally understanding the reason behind it, Yang Kai nodded and asked, “Why did you come to the Ancestral Domain, then? Did you go to Dragon Island in an attempt to come here?”
Wu Kuang replied, “I’ve come here to get back something and prepare for the future.”
“The future?” Yang Kai frowned.
“We’ll talk about the future in the future.” When the tea was ready, Wu Kuang filled one cup with it and took a sip.
Realising that there was no extra teacup, Yang Kai directly picked up the pot and drank a mouthful of it before he said, “You didn’t eat those people not because you didn’t want to, but because you couldn’t, right?”
Wu Kuang froze for a moment as a glint flashed across his eyes, “What do you mean? There’s nothing in this world that I can’t do!”
“Although those people are not powerful enough, a mosquito is still meat to you. Moreover, you’re still recuperating. The reason you’re hiding in a Lower Star Field is to absorb more energy, isn’t it?”
“So?” Wu Kuang looked smilingly at him but didn’t refute him.
Yang Kai went on to say, “Senior Duan would never allow that to happen though, he must have stopped you…” As he spoke, he frowned all of a sudden. Then, he fell back a little and sized up Wu Kuang.
For a moment, an inconceivable idea flashed across his mind.
Wu Kuang kept a smile on his face.
Yang Kai’s body shook as he asked hesitantly, “Senior… Duan?”
It was then that Wu Kuang’s smile turned helpless.
In disbelief, Yang Kai asked, “Are you really Senior Duan?”
All of a sudden, ‘Wu Kuang’ cackled, “Old Duan, I told you that you can never imitate my confident demeanour! It’s as if you want to draw a tiger, but it turns out to be a dog instead.”
Then, the same man snapped, “Shut up.”
Yang Kai’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat. He was just having doubts earlier, but now, his speculation had been confirmed. Since the beginning, it was Duan Hong Chen who had been talking to him instead of Wu Kuang.
In an instant, Yang Kai’s face fell as he questioned, “Senior Duan, what’s going on?”
He had thought that Duan Hong Chen had been suppressed by Wu Kuang. Otherwise, the latter wouldn’t have gone to Dragon Island to slay a Dragon and hidden in a Lower Star Field. However, now, that didn’t seem to be the case. Apparently, Duan Hong Chen hadn’t been completely suppressed as he still had some freedom.
Moreover, judging from the conversation between Wu Kuang and Duan Hong Chen just now, they were at least not fighting anymore.
No matter what evil atrocities Wu Kuang had done, Yang Kai would just think that it was typical of him to have done that. However, if Duan Hong Chen was involved in those evil acts, it would be an entirely different story.
Knowing what Yang Kai was questioning, Duan Hong Chen replied after a sigh, “I was only liberated after he came to this place. I didn’t mean to hide anything from you.”
Yang Kai heaved a sigh of relief because Duan Hong Chen wasn’t involved in any of those crimes. If Duan Hong Chen and Wu Kuang had become partners things would become troublesome.
Seeing Yang Kai’s expression fluctuating between ferocity and hesitancy, Duan Hong Chen uttered, “Don’t even think about it. Even if we team up, we won’t be able to kill him. It’s thanks to him that I’m able to take a breather now. If he decides to fully suppress me, I won’t be able to struggle out of his grip.”
Frustrated, Yang Kai pushed the idea to the back of his mind and asked helplessly, “What should we do, then?”
Duan Hong Chen replied, “Just let nature take its course. However, since we’re lucky enough to have come across each other today, I do have a favour to ask of you.”
With a serious expression, Yang Kai said, “Just tell me right away. I’ll surely do my best to fulfil it.”
Duan Hong Chen went on to say, “After you return to Star Boundary, they’ll certainly ask you about Wu Kuang’s whereabouts. Please don’t reveal it to anyone.”
Yang Kai asked curiously, “Why?” During this meet-up, he had a feeling that Duan Hong Chen’s attitude towards Wu Kuang had changed significantly. Duan Hong Chen wasn’t as hostile towards Wu Kuang as before, almost as if he had given in and was now partnering with him.
[What’s going on? Have these two Great Emperors communicated and come to some kind of agreement? Why is Duan Hong Chen trying to help Wu Kuang hide his whereabouts?]
“Please just agree to it.”
“Alright. Since you’ve said so, I won’t say no.”
It was then Duan Hong Chen nodded, “Work hard and continue to cultivate. Given your aptitude, you might be strong enough by then. In the future, we might have a chance to go to war together.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai became excited as it would be an honour to go to war with a Great Emperor. However, he soon became puzzled. [Who is the enemy? Wu Kuang?]
However, he felt that something was amiss. Also, Duan Hong Chen appeared grim when he said those words earlier.
Then, he went on to tell Duan Hong Chen about the recent developments in Azure Sun Temple and what happened after the latter left Dragon Island. After a sigh, Duan Hong Chen said, “It’s a shame that a Dragon Clan member was killed.”
After that, he suddenly chided, “What do you mean it’s a shame? All members of the Dragon Clan should become food for me!”
“Will you shut up!?” Yang Kai looked disdainfully at him. [I was having a chat with Duan Hong Chen, why did you come out all of a sudden?]
Wu Kuang put on a wicked smile and took a look outside before asking, “Where’s your Stone Spirit, your Embodiment?”
“What do you want with it?” Yang Kai looked vigilantly at him. It wasn’t strange that Wu Kuang knew about his Embodiment because they had come across each other before. Moreover, his Embodiment had cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, so they shared a kind of invisible connection.
“Actually, my Heaven Devouring Battle Law isn’t suitable for Humans to cultivate, but it does suit those from the Stone Spirit clan surprisingly well. I thought that if you had brought him with you, I could have given him a gift. Since he isn’t here, forget it then.”
As soon as he finished his words, the Embodiment appeared out of thin air.
Fortunately, after absorbing Shi Huo’s Source, the Embodiment could shrink to the size of a Human now. Otherwise, this house wouldn’t be able to accommodate him.
“The Dao of Space is indeed wonderful.” Wu Kuang complimented him. He didn’t even realise how Yang Kai made the Embodiment appear, he just assumed that this young man had some kind of special storage artifact on him.
After the Embodiment appeared, he immediately felt Wu Kuang’s aura, so he became alarmed as the scarlet fires in his eyes flickered.
“He said he’ll give you something,” Yang Kai uttered.
Embodiment asked in a low voice, “What is it?”
In response, Yang Kai shrugged.
With a faint smile, Wu Kuang extended his hand towards the Embodiment, who hesitated for a moment but didn’t resist in the end. The next moment, Wu Kuang’s large hand was pressed against the Embodiment’s angular head as an amazing wave of energy was released, causing the Embodiment to be rooted to the spot.
Although Yang Kai appeared aloof, he was extremely alarmed in his heart. He had no idea what Wu Kuang was up to; however, he was ready to make a move if something went wrong. Nevertheless, from beginning to end, nothing seemed to have happened to his Embodiment.
A moment later, Wu Kuang withdrew his hand, upon which Yang Kai turned to look at the Embodiment, only to see that the latter had fallen into deep thought.
Yang Kai pushed his Divine Sense and immediately understood what his Embodiment had obtained from Wu Kuang. After all, the Embodiment was his Soul Clone, so there were no barriers in their communication with each other. If Yang Kai wanted, he could even feel everything his Embodiment could feel.
What he received was a vast amount of knowledge and insight into the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!
Wu Kuang had infused practically all his experience in cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law into the Embodiment, which was more than just a generous gift. Wu Kuang was the one who created the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, so he was undoubtedly the most knowledgeable about it. His millennia of experience and insights into this Secret Art were an unimaginable treasure.
Nevertheless, he still passed everything to the Embodiment without any reservation.
Although Yang Kai had always been hostile towards Wu Kuang, he was still moved at this moment. [Is it a bribe to keep our mouths shut? However, this is indeed a hefty price to pay.]
It could be imagined that after his Embodiment comprehended this knowledge, it would be smooth sailing in his cultivation journey from then on. Perhaps he would become as powerful as Heaven Devouring Great Emperor one day, or even surpass him; after all, the Embodiment was initially a Stone Spirit, and he had already assimilated Shi Huo’s Source, so his starting point was much better than Wu Kuang’s.
Noticing that Yang Kai was both doubtful and shocked, Wu Kuang said with a grin, “Maybe one day we’ll stop being enemies and become friends instead.”
“Don’t even think about it!” Yang Kai snorted, but his tone had softened significantly.
It couldn’t be helped, as it was said that gifts blinded the eyes. He wasn’t a shameless man, so after obtaining huge benefits, he was too embarrassed to keep acting aggressive. However, it was impossible that they would go from enemies to friends because Wu Kuang was the most detested figure in the entire Star Boundary.
It was said that there were no eternal enemies, only eternal benefits, but what Wu Kuang had done was beyond the boundary of morality. Yang Kai would be out of his mind if he became friends with him.
“Nothing is constant. Who can say what will be in a hundred years, or a thousand,” Wu Kuang didn’t seem to mind either way.
Yang Kai stored his Embodiment and grinned, “Only if you’ll live until then.”
With a wicked gaze, he stared fixedly at Wu Kuang’s neck, as though he was pondering on where to start.
Then, his expression turned solemn as he said, “Wu Kuang, since you’re willing to change for the better, I’ll give you a chance to make up for the crimes you’ve committed.”
With a smile, Wu Kuang asked, “What is it? Just tell me.”
Yang Kai replied, “I want to return to my homeland, but I can’t find any way to do that. Since you’re an expert in this matter, tell me how I can go back to my own Star Field.”
This was the reason he still stepped into the house despite knowing that Wu Kuang was inside.
Wu Kuang had destroyed countless Star Fields before, so he was apparently familiar with the ways to move between Star Fields. If Yang Kai could get his guidance, it’d be better than if he searched around aimlessly.
“What Star Field are you from?” Wu Kuang asked.
“Heng Luo Star Field!”
Hearing that, Wu Kuang shook his head, “Never heard of it before.” He had been to countless Star Fields, but he had never bothered to find out their names. To him, all Lower Star Fields were just resources to him.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but be disappointed. After giving it a thought, he realized that if Wu Kuang had been to Heng Luo Star Field, Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, Purple Star, and Sword Union would already be in Wu Kuang’s stomach.
“If you want to return to a Lower Star Field from here, one of the ways is to pass through those Star Road Portals. The prerequisite is that the Star Field has a portal that’s connected to the Ancestral Domain. Apparently, you haven’t found it.”
“What about the other way?”
With a smile, Wu Kuang replied, “You’ll have to make use of the Star Field Source.”
“Star Field Source?” Yang Kai arched his brow as an idea flashed across his mind. It seemed important, but he couldn’t catch it.
“There’s a Star Source in every Star, so naturally, there’s also a Star Field Source in every Star Field. The difference is that a Star Source is hidden in a Cultivation Star. Anyone with enough power will stand a chance to refine it and become the Star Master. On the other hand, it’s much more difficult to look for a Star Field Source. A Star Field is extremely vast. Maybe a flower, a tree, someone you come across on the street, a rabbit running in the wild, an asteroid in the Starry Sky… Any of these could be the manifestation of the Star Field Source. The average person might not be able to discover it even if they see it. However, if you can refine it, you’ll take control of the Star Field and become its Master and its Guardian.”
Wu Kuang was speaking slowly, while Yang Kai was attentively listening to him as his eyes glinted. It wasn’t the first time he heard about Star Field Guardian. Someone had mentioned that title to him before.
In the past, when he left Heng Luo Star Field and headed to the Star Boundary, Yang Kai had made the decision to become the Guardian of Heng Luo Star Field one day.
“If you can become the Star Field’s Guardian, you’ll be able to sense the Star Field’s location no matter where you are. By then, you won’t need to exert any effort to travel to that Star Field from the Ancestral Domain.”
By then, Yang Kai would just have to think about the Star Field, and he’d be able to grasp the connection between them. In a calm manner, he uttered, “I see. Many thanks for your guidance.”
In his heart, he scolded himself for being an idiot. If he hadn’t come across Wu Kuang on this day and listened to him, he would have forgotten about the thing in his Knowledge Sea. The Star Chart!
In his Knowledge Sea, there was a massive Star Chart of the entire Heng Luo Star Field. It wasn’t a Star Chart that was drawn by a Star Chart Master to navigate through a Star Field. It was more like a mysterious inheritance.
He obtained it from a Star Chart Master not long after he first stepped into the Starry Sky from Tong Xuan Realm. At that time, the Starship he was aboard fell into a crisis and was torn apart. A Star Chart Master was killed in a place near Yang Kai, upon which a beam of light shot into Yang Kai’s mind. After that, the Star Chart of the entire Star Field suddenly appeared in his Knowledge Sea.
During his years in Heng Luo Star Field, it was the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea that had given him directions countless times, which was why he was never lost in the Star Field.
In the past, there was a Master who broke into Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea using a kind of Soul Clone, and upon seeing the Star Chart, he exclaimed as though he had obtained an invaluable treasure. Unfortunately for him, he was captured and taken away by Yang Yan before he could obtain anything.
Previously, Yang Kai still couldn’t confirm what the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea was. But now, he knew that it was the Star Field Source!
He still remembered that after he reached the Star Boundary, he was still somewhat connected to his homeland thanks to this Star Chart. However, as time passed, this connection weakened.
The very elusive Star Field Source had been residing in his own Knowledge Sea for years. With this thing in his mind, he could easily find the path back to Heng Luo Star Field.
Although he was over the moon, he still pretended to be nonchalant as he uttered dispassionately, “I’ll ask you one more question.”
“Go ahead.” Wu Kuang seemed to be in a good mood, which was why he didn’t mind Yang Kai asking so many questions.
“How do you avoid being rejected by the Heavenly Way?” Tens of thousands of years ago, Wu Kuang had destroyed countless Star Fields. Yang Kai didn’t think he could do it with just an Origin King Realm cultivation.
Since Wu Kuang was able to act as he pleased in those Star Fields, he must have used a power that exceeded the Origin King Realm. Perhaps he had even showcased all his power, but even though he was a Great Emperor, the Heavenly Way’s repulsion was no laughing matter. How was he not punished?
Wu Kuang explained, “Every time I visited a Star Field, the first thing I’d do is look for the Star Field Source. I didn’t care if I had to dig it up or simply snatch it from someone. After I refined the Star Field Source, I became Master of that Star Field, so why would I be rejected?”
At that instant, enlightenment dawned upon Yang Kai.
Just like how a Star Master could become the ruler of a Cultivation Star by refining its Source, a Star Field’s Master could take control of the entire Star Field by refining its Star Field Source, so being repelled by the World Principles of that Star Field would naturally become impossible.
Certainly, if a Star Field Guardian didn’t want the Star Field to be damaged, he shouldn’t showcase a power that was too strong. Only someone like Wu Kuang whose intention was to swallow everything would be so reckless.
Outside the bamboo hut, Liu Yan was sitting on the Star Shuttle as she rested her delicate face on her palms. Every detail of the solitary mountain was reflected in her clear gaze.
“Were you really picked up by Sir?” He Yun Xiang stroked the little girl’s head. It was hard not to take a liking to such an adorable young girl. She especially liked to run her fingers through the young girl’s long and silky hair. She probably wouldn’t get bored even if she had to do it all day.
“Yes,” In a way, Liu Yan was picked up by Yang Kai. If she hadn’t come across Yang Kai, she would still be an Artifact Spirit that was trapped in an Artifact Refining Furnace. She considered herself extremely lucky that she had gotten her own body and the inheritance of the Phoenix True Fire.
“Who is the person inside that Sir is meeting?”
Liu Yan shook her head, for she also didn’t know who the person inside was. However, she could feel that the person was so powerful that even if she and Yang Kai joined forces, they might not be able to defeat him. Suddenly, she looked up at He Yun Xiang and asked, “Do you want to be my Master’s woman?”
“What?” He Yun Xiang started blushing. [This is not something a kid should ask about!]
Then, she crouched down and uttered solemnly, “Who taught you this?”
Liu Yan replied, “I don’t think you’ll stand a chance, because my Master already has several women.” Then, she turned her head and looked at the front.
Yang Kai pushed the door open and stepped out of the house. Rubbing his own chin, he fell into his thoughts on the same spot for a long time before he leapt into the air and landed on the Star Shuttle.
“Sir, shall we continue?” He Yun Xiang asked.
“En, let’s go.” Yang Kai waved his hand and sat down on the Star Shuttle with his legs crossed. Seeing that Liu Yan was staring longingly at him, he felt helpless and pulled her into his embrace.
It was then that Liu Yan beamed at him and sat properly. After that, the Star Shuttle turned into a beam of light and disappeared from the place.
Then, voices could be heard from inside the bamboo hut.
“My reputation has always been excellent, but I’ve never expected that I’d partner up with someone like you to do such a thing in the end.”
“Hmph. You shouldn’t bother about trifles if you want to achieve success. When that day comes, you’ll understand that you’ve made the right decision.”
“I hope so…”
The bamboo hut fell into silence again, as the person inside it had disappeared.
…
“This way!” One day later, Yang Kai suddenly opened his eyes and pointed in a particular direction. His gaze appeared excited.
All of a sudden, he caught a faintly discernible trace. It was like a thread that would break apart at any moment, or a flickering fire amidst the rain that was shining faintly. It was this faint and almost imperceptible connection that pointed in the right direction for him. The direction that led to the Heng Luo Star Field!
There was no doubt that the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea was its Source. However, it was impossible to refine it in one day. Despite that, Yang Kai had attempted to communicate with it multiple times, and now he had gotten something in return.
By just following this faint induction, he would surely find his way back home. It was like a kite that was high above the sky, but the thread was still firmly held by the kite runner.
Just then, different faces flashed across his mind. Su Yan, Xia Ning Chang, Shan Qing Luo, Xue Yue, his other friends and family… and even those whose names he had forgotten. However, at this moment, all of them sprang into his mind as though they were trying to tell him something.
All of a sudden, a subtle but intoxicating feeling rose within him. It was as though a warm stream was filling his chest and penetrating his heart.
Liu Yan seemed to have noticed the change in him, so she lay in his embrace and touched his chest to feel the vigorous heartbeat.
The induction coming from the Star Chart was faint and intermittent. While Yang Kai kept giving directions, He Yun Xiang drove the Star Shuttle and executed his orders.
One month later, they arrived at a deserted stretch of land. There was a vividly colourful Star Road Portal that was tens of metres above in the sky. Some cottages were scattered around the place, and there were some cultivators who were meditating in those houses. Apparently, they were the cultivators from different Sects that had been stationed here to attract newcomers if anyone emerged from the portal.
Almost every Star Road Portal in Ancestral Domain looked like this. These Sects seemed to be in favour of the cultivators that came from Lower Star Fields. Those cultivators who came from Lower Star Fields themselves would even proactively take up this task. This way, they would be in an advantageous position to attract newcomers if they came across those from the same Star Field.
With that said, while some Star Road Portals were bustling, some were quiet. The reason for that was that the number of Star Fields these Star Road Portals were connected to varied. Some portals were connected to a dozen and even more Star Fields, while some portals were connected to only one or two Star Fields, so the number of cultivators that would walk out of these portals would be different too. That was why some portals were viewed as more important than others.
The portal before their eyes was obviously the latter, so Yang Kai reckoned that it was probably only connected to a few Star Fields. Moreover, the cultivators that had been stationed here were all Origin Kings, none of them being in the Dao Source Realm, which went to show that this place wasn’t regarded as important.
However, in Yang Kai’s eyes, this portal was the most beautiful thing in this world. He pulled himself together and communicated with the Star Chart again, upon which he realised that the induction really pointed to the deepest part of the entrance.
[This is it!]
He was truly surprised that there was a portal that was connected to Heng Luo Star Field in the Ancestral Domain. In the past, before he left the Star Field, he had never heard of the Ancestral Domain, not even a rumour.
Just then, the doors of the cottages opened, upon which some cultivators walked out and looked up at Yang Kai and the others. One of them cupped his fists and asked, “Friend, where are you from? And where are you going?”
Yang Kai was in a good mood, so he waved his hand and uttered, “I’m just passing by, no need to concern yourself with me.”
The person frowned as he was disgruntled with Yang Kai’s attitude, but he didn’t utter another word.
The next moment, Yang Kai activated his Divine Sense and probed the Star Road Portal. Although the portal must be connected to Heng Luo Star Field, it would still take him some effort if he wanted to return to his Star Field through this portal.
Others might need immense power to break through the Void, but Yang Kai was proficient in the Dao of Space, so he would just have to grasp the proper path to take and he’d be able to go home with ease. He was already used to passing through the Void anyway.
A moment later, he made up his mind and clapped He Yun Xiang’s shoulder, “You have two options now. First, you could stay here in the Ancestral Domain. This is a good place. If you stay here, you’ll also have a bright future. I’ll give you some pills and supplies for your cultivation.”
“I’ll choose the second option,” He Yun Xiang declared without hesitation. If the recent incidents hadn’t happened, she would have chosen to stay in the Ancestral Domain; however, she had experienced many eye-opening events with Yang Kai, so she knew that the Ancestral Domain wasn’t the greatest world out there, and Third-Order Dao Source Realm wasn’t the peak of the Martial Dao.
She had followed Yang Kai all the way from Unending Star Field to this place, so she wouldn’t want to stop here. Before Yang Kai even told her the second option, she had already made a decision.
“Good.” Yang Kai nodded. It wouldn’t be a burden for him to bring along one more person.
Just when he was about to step forward, he suddenly stopped and looked down at the people below him, “Friends, have you ever met someone from Heng Luo Star Field?”
During this period of time, he would ask this kind of question every time he reached a new portal. Now, he was just habitually asking this question, so he didn’t expect any positive reply. Since he was going back to his Star Field, he would be able to meet his loved ones soon anyway.
“Why are you asking this question?” One person suddenly appeared vigilant as he stared at Yang Kai with a frown. It was the person who talked to Yang Kai earlier.
Shocked, Yang Kai blinked and asked, “You’ve really met someone from that Star Field?”
“No,” The person shook his head.
Naturally, Yang Kai wouldn’t believe him, so he extended his hand, upon which the person felt an immense power of attraction as his body flew uncontrollably forward. After his neck was clenched, his face reddened in an instant, and he realised that he couldn’t use his Saint Qi at all, so he couldn’t help but be horrified.
Appearing ferocious, Yang Kai demanded, “What I hate most is when others lie to me. You either have or have not seen anyone from Heng Luo Star Field. I’ll give you one last chance. Think it through before replying to me.”
Sometimes, being overbearing was more effective than appearing kind.
The other cultivators turned pale upon seeing how powerful Yang Kai was. It was then they realised that the young man was able to kill them with a wave of his hand.
“Y-Yes!” The person tried his hardest to squeeze out one word.
[Really?] Yang Kai couldn’t believe his ears as he slightly relaxed his grip and questioned, “When did you see that person? What did that person look like? Where did they go? Tell me everything in detail. If you dare hide anything from me, today next year will be the anniversary of your death!”
“I couldn’t remember exactly when it was, but it was about 20 years ago. At that time, I wasn’t the one who was responsible for welcoming her, but I heard that Senior Sister came from Heng Luo Star Field.”
“Senior Sister?” Yang Kai turned solemn, “What’s her name?”
“Su Yan!”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was shaken to the core. The name of the woman he had been longing for was uttered by a stranger all of a sudden, and it was revealed that she was in the Ancestral Domain! The revelation had an unimaginable impact on him, which caused his mind to turn blank and all his thoughts to stop.
If any Master were to attack him now, they would certainly be successful.
Then, Liu Yan asked, “Are you sure she’s from Heng Luo Star Field?”
“Yes. Because Senior Sister Su has never tried to hide her background. Instead, she intentionally made it known to everyone. My fellow Brothers paid attention to her at that time.” They didn’t just pay attention to her background but also to her stunning, world-shaking beauty.
Yang Kai was dumbfounded. He was still doubtful earlier, but now, there was basically no doubt that Su Yan was here in the Ancestral Domain.
Her name wasn’t that special. In fact, it could even be said to be ordinary, so there must be many people with the same name; however, there was only one Su Yan in this world who was from Heng Luo Star Field and would be able to pass through that portal.
[Twenty years… It means that a few years after I left the Star Field, Su Yan arrived in the Ancestral Domain. How did she find the entrance to this place? She has never been one to speak carelessly though, so the reason she told everyone her background must be because she wanted me to hear about her! She didn’t know where she was or what place the Ancestral Domain was, which was why she did that to increase the chances of meeting me. If I were in the Ancestral Domain, I would’ve looked for her upon learning about her. She was venturing into this totally unfamiliar world on her own…]
At that instant, Yang Kai felt sorry for her, and at the same time, he felt extremely guilty.
Original Title – Su Yan Is in the Ancestral Domain
Yang Kai had personally witnessed what Chi Yue and Ai Ou had to experience when they ventured into the Star Boundary, and what kind of suffering they had to go through. Even Wu Dao, who was touted as the strongest cultivator in Heng Luo Star Field, had fallen, to say nothing of a woman like Su Yan who was on her own.
There was a voice that was shouting in the deepest part of Yang Kai’s heart. [I have to meet her! Now!]
His longing for the woman surged within him, almost causing him to drown in it.
“Master!” Liu Yan hurriedly took his arm. When Yang Kai felt the soft touch, he immediately came to his senses, only to see the man, whose neck was clenched by him, rolling his eyes. His face was completely pale, and he could hardly breathe, as though he would lose his life at any moment.
Seeing that, Yang Kai quickly released him and dropped him on the Star Shuttle.
The person fell on his knees and covered his neck as he coughed violently until his tears slid down his face. The eyelids of the cultivators on the ground twitched as they watched that.
“Sorry,” Yang Kai reached out to that person, but his hand was visibly trembling.
Given his temperament and cultivation, there was hardly anything in this world that could rattle him, but the news that Su Yan had arrived at the Ancestral Domain was one of those things. The man before his eyes called Su Yan ‘Senior Sister’, which meant that Su Yan had joined his Sect after she came to the Ancestral Domain. Whatever the case, it wasn’t appropriate of Yang Kai to bully her Junior Brother. Moreover, he still needed this man’s help.
The person pulled himself together before he took Yang Kai’s hand and got to his feet. He still appeared horrified as he looked timidly at Yang Kai.
He was a Third-Order Origin King, but he was as powerless as an ant when confronted by this young man. Apparently, he was no match for him. Moreover, Yang Kai’s rapid switch in attitude made him feel that this young man was subject to shifting moods, which made him grow more wary of him. To him, the young man was extremely strange, had shocking power, and was also temperamental.
“Junior Brother, what’s your name?” Yang Kai tried his hardest to appear benevolent.
The person gulped and replied, “Xiang Fei.”
“I’ll call you Junior Brother Xiang, then.” Yang Kai patted his shoulder with a grin, causing the latter to shrink back slightly, “I’m sorry for what happened just now. Please don’t mind it. Good, you called Su Yan ‘Senior Sister’ just now. Does it mean she’s joined your noble Sect as a disciple?”
During their conversation, Yang Kai obtained some useful information.
Just like what he had expected, after Su Yan came to the Ancestral Domain, she joined the great force behind Xiang Fei, Red Clouds Sect. Also, she had arrived in the Ancestral Domain through this very Star Road Portal.
However, it was someone else from Red Clouds Sect instead of Xiang Fei who welcomed her, so he knew little about the situation at that time. He only managed to learn more about Su Yan after she joined the Sect.
Su Yan was a cold but alluring lady who was also very intelligent, so a few years after she joined Red Clouds Sect, she managed to garner a lot of supporters. Many Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers were pursuing her, so she had become a popular figure.
There were always such figures in every Sect, though the number varied. As a disciple from a Lower Star Field, Su Yan would naturally attract more attention, which was how the news that she came from Heng Luo Star Field was spread.
Xiang Fei had met Su Yan several times before, but he had never had the guts to speak to her. Her icy aura and expression seemed able to deter anyone from approaching her. It was as though he might be frozen if he even approached.
“Senior Sister Su is extremely talented. Just five years after she joined our Sect, she managed to reach the Dao Source Realm. Her aptitude made many of us feel ashamed of ourselves,” Xiang Fei said bitterly. It was apparent to him that Yang Kai knew Su Yan, so he tried to only say good stuff about her.
As expected, Yang Kai appeared elated upon hearing that, “She reached the Dao Source Realm already?”
He was worried that she might be treated unfairly or marginalised in this world; however, it now seemed that she was having a good life here.
“How is she now?” Yang Kai questioned.
Xiang Fei replied, “I don’t know.”
Yang Kai scowled, “What do you mean you don’t know? Aren’t you a disciple of Red Clouds Sect?”
Shocked, Xiang Fei hurriedly explained, “I’m indeed a disciple of Red Clouds Sect, but I’ve been stationed here for more than ten years. I’ve rarely returned to the Sect, so I know little about any recent developments there.”
Hearing that, Yang Kai looked pitifully at him. Normally, people who were sent to keep watch on Star Road Portals were not considered important in their Sects, and they didn’t have any backers, which was why they were given this kind of task that was time-wasting and without any benefits.
Apparently, Xiang Fei was one of those people in the Red Clouds Sect.
“Do you want to go back?”
“Of course,” It had been a difficult life for him in this wilderness, making him miss the comfortable life in the Sect.
Yang Kai clapped his shoulder, “Congratulations. Your wish will be granted soon!”
“W-What?” Xiang Fei hadn’t grasped what Yang Kai meant, but he instinctively had a bad feeling.
“To Red Clouds Sect!” Yang Kai said to He Yun Xiang, who immediately activated the Star Shuttle.
“Tell us the direction.” Yang Kai turned to look at Xiang Fei.
Flustered, Xiang Fei shouted, “No, no! Please let me go! Without permission from the Sect Master or the Elders, I… Ah! Not that way, that way!” Faced with Yang Kai’s fist, he was forced to give in, for he couldn’t afford to offend this crazy young man. At the very least, after he returned to his Sect, if anyone asked him about it, he would be able to give an excuse. However, he wasn’t sure what kind of punishment he would receive. Perhaps he would have to forfeit his share of resources for the next year. At the thought of missing his important Source Condensing Pills, he felt dejected.
Just then, Yang Kai landed a fist on Xiang Fei’s chest, causing him to be terrified. Upon realising that he hadn’t been hurt, he said with a crying face, “Senior Brother, please stop scaring me.”
“Tell me more about Su Yan. If your information is useful, I’ll give you some benefits.”
[As long as you stop involving me, I won’t ask for anything else!] Xiang Fei wasn’t sure whether it would be a blessing or disaster to bring this man to Red Clouds Sect. This man was apparently close to Su Yan, and he was probably one of her admirers. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have tried to pry more information out of him about her. Moreover, he was clearly very powerful, so he was bound to fall into a conflict with those from Red Clouds Sect.
After giving it a thought, Xiang Fei realised that this matter actually had nothing to do with him though. Every man loved beautiful women, but most of them couldn’t obtain one, so they could only drool over them from afar. If Yang Kai were to make a scene at the Sect, he would be the one who would be taught a lesson.
With this thought in mind, Xiang Fei began telling Yang Kai what he knew.
In fact, he knew very little about Su Yan. Although Red Clouds Sect wasn’t one of the top Sects in the Ancestral Domain, it was still second class. There were more than a thousand disciples in the Sect, so people who weren’t familiar with each other would rarely come into contact. Most of his understanding of Su Yan came from hearsay.
Whether or not the news was true, Yang Kai kept a smile on his face as he listened to him, as though he was able to personally go through what Su Yan had experienced over the years.
“By the way, not long after Senior Sister Su Yan joined our Sect, she was taken in as a disciple by Elder Ruan. I heard that Elder Ruan had been extremely adamant at the time and raised a huge fuss. It’s because of this incident that Senior Sister Su became famous in our Sect.”
“Is Elder Ruan a man or a woman?”
“S-she’s a woman. Elder Ruan is the oldest and most seasoned Elder in our Sect!” Xiang Fei felt that a cold glint had flashed across Yang Kai’s gaze when the latter asked that question. However, after he took one more look, he realised there wasn’t any trace of hostility left in his eyes anymore, so he wondered if he had seen it wrong.
Yang Kai laughed and patted Xiang Fei’s shoulder hard, “Your Elder Ruan indeed has an acute vision.”
“Haha…” Xiang Fei pursed his lips and smiled, “Elder Ruan is a peculiar person. We wouldn’t dare to go near the Spirit Peak where she resides. Although she’s an Elder of Red Clouds Sect, she rarely gets involved in the Sect’s matters and she had never taken in any disciple before Su Yan. That was why after she decided to take in Senior Sister Su, the news caused an uproar in the Sect.”
After Yang Kai listened to Xiang Fei’s narration, the image of a peculiar, temperamental, and wrinkled old lady sprang into his mind. Nevertheless, he was grateful for this Elder whom he had never met before.
It was Su Yan’s good fortune to come across a Master who treated her well and cared for her. Otherwise, given her beauty, she would’ve attracted a lot of trouble after she joined the Sect. There were many talented people out there, so why was she able to reach the Dao Source Realm in just five years? Ultimately, it must be thanks to Elder Ruan’s support. It would take lots of Source Condensing Pills for anyone who wished to reach the Dao Source Realm. Su Yan had come to this place without any resources on her, so how was she able to collect so many pills?
The conversation went on while they were on the way. Xiang Fei racked his brain for anything knew about Su Yan; however, Yang Kai was still not satisfied as he kept pressing for more information from him. He was like a starving person who demanded someone else to give him more food.
Xiang Fei had nothing to say, but he didn’t dare to offend Yang Kai, so he felt rather miserable as he thought, [What kind of person is this?]
Gritting his teeth, he decided to tell him something that was supposed to be shocking, “Senior Sister Su has many admirers in the Sect.”
It was apparent to him that this young man must be close to Su Yan, and was likely an admirer of hers. Earlier, he avoided talking about Su Yan’s personal life because he was worried that he might irritate the young man.
Now that he had nothing else to say, he had no choice but to talk about it. [You’re basically asking for trouble, so you can’t blame me!]
Unexpectedly, Yang Kai only smiled at him in response as he appeared unperturbed.
He had guessed this point even before Xiang Fei told him about it. In fact, it would be strange if Su Yan didn’t have many admirers. However, she wouldn’t favour any man in this world. To Yang Kai, those admirers couldn’t even be considered his rivals.
Seeing that he was unfazed, Xiang Fei went on to say, “Most men have given up. After all, Senior Sister Su is Elder Ruan’s only disciple, so they wouldn’t dare to keep pestering her. After they were rejected, they would tactfully back off. But there is one person…”
“What? Is there such a shameless man?”
“I’ll tell you about it, but don’t tell anyone you’ve heard it from me.” Xiang Fei lowered his voice as he looked around.
“Just spill it!”
“Our Young Sect Master is very fond of Senior Sister Su. He’s announced to everyone in public that he will marry her.”
“What!?” Yang Kai was enraged as his expression turned hideous. His calmness from earlier vanished completely.
[Damn it! If I ever come across that man, I’ll beat him up until his mother can’t recognize him anymore! I don’t care if he admires Su Yan, but he shouldn’t have made such an announcement in public! How shameless!]
Red Clouds Mountain was a beautiful place that was covered in forests and rivers. The mountain range was long and wavy. Birds and animals could be seen roaming, making the atmosphere refreshing and peaceful.
Outside the entrance of the mountain, the Star Shuttle landed on the ground, upon which the disciples, who were responsible for guarding the mountain, stepped forward and stared at Xiang Fei in shock, “Senior Brother Xiang, why are you back? Who are they?”
Although Xiang Fei had no backer in Red Clouds Sect and he wasn’t favoured by the Elders, he was still a Third-Order Origin King. That was why these disciples wouldn’t dare to be disrespectful to him.
Xiang Fei hesitated for a moment as he didn’t know how to explain himself. He had already broken the rules by coming back to the Sect without permission. If he wanted to go in, he had to give an explanation to these disciples so that they could inform the Elders about it.
The other disciples looked doubtfully at Xiang Fei as they didn’t know what he was hesitating for.
“We’re looking for someone!” Yang Kai was eager to meet Su Yan, so he didn’t want to waste any time. He waved his hand to sweep the disciples away and stepped into the place.
Xiang Fei’s heart skipped a beat when he saw that. [Damn it! I knew that things were going to be messy, but I didn’t expect that this guy would be so impatient! If we politely asked, we would be able to get in without any trouble, so why is he being so rude and charging forward directly? Because of him, I might be regarded as colluding with outsiders to break into the Sect! Should I run away now? If I don’t run away, I’ll be punished by the Elders. However, where can I go if I choose to run away?]
At the thought of this, he clenched his teeth and raced after Yang Kai before pleading, “Senior Brother, please wait!”
He Yun Xiang immediately blocked his way and put on a smile, “Many thanks for your help so far. Take this bottle of pills as your reward. You may leave now.” After tossing a bottle of pills at him, she ran after Yang Kai.
The disciples were startled for a moment before they came to their senses. One of them hurriedly took out a communication artifact and infused his Divine Sense into it. A moment later, deafening alarms from Red Clouds Sect started ringing out.
Xiang Fei turned ashen as he fell on his bottom. The bottle of pills in his hand seemed to have become scorching hot.
Following that, beams of lights could be seen rising from the Sect and heading to the entrance from all directions.
Soon, Yang Kai came across the first hurdle, the Sect Defending Array.
Every Sect had their own Sect Defending Array, but it wouldn’t be activated fully in normal times. However, it would still provide detection and alarm functions in a passive state. Without permission or special methods, it was almost impossible for anyone to pass through this barrier. During a war, a Sect Defending Array could even be turned into a powerful shield.
Yang Kai had no choice but to stop in his tracks because there was an invisible wall in front of him.
*Shua shua shua…*
Many figures appeared around Yang Kai and glowered at him. Although Red Clouds Sect wasn’t one of the top great forces, it wasn’t so weak it could be bullied at will. The man before their eyes was trying to enter without permission, so it was apparent that he had no regard for their Sect at all. This was a taboo for any Sect because this was a sign of hostility.
“Stop right there! Identify yourself!” A red-faced man at the front growled. This person was in the First-Order Dao Source Realm, so he was obviously one of the important Masters in this Sect. It seemed that he was holding a major position, and he was probably an Elder.
Yang Kai frowned not because he was blocked by the Sect Defending Array or that he was surrounded by so many people, but because he couldn’t sense Su Yan’s aura in Red Clouds Sect.
In the past, he and Su Yan had shared a fortuitous encounter where they obtained the Yin-Yang Joyous Unification Art and the Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Empress inheritance. They became a couple after that moment and formed a kind of inextricable link between their Souls. As such, as long as they were within a certain distance, they would be able to sense each other.
Red Clouds Mountain was only a few hundred kilometres in diameter, so if Su Yan was here, he should have been able to sense her. Since there was no induction, it meant that Su Yan wasn’t in Red Clouds Sect.
[Is it just a misunderstanding, then? Does she just share the same name? Is the Su Yan in Red Clouds Sect not the one I know and love? However, according to Xiang Fei’s descriptions, that woman must be the one I’ve been longing for. Maybe Su Yan isn’t in Red Clouds Sect at the moment. En, that’s possible.]
The red-faced man was indeed an Elder of the Red Clouds Sect, but in front of so many disciples, his question was completely ignored, so he was rather furious. Then, he scanned them with Divine Sense and realised that one of the invaders was a Third-Order Origin King while the other two didn’t show any signs of cultivation. What shocked him though was that there was a little girl who was about seven or eight years old in this group.
[Has this family of three come out for a walk and lost their way or something?]
“Are you deaf? Did you not hear my question?” The red-faced man bellowed.
It was then that Yang Kai turned to look at him and raised his hand, upon which an illusory phantom appeared above the void, which looked so lively that it was as though it was a real Human. Her long hair waved in an invisible wind as her delicate gaze and alluring smile caused everyone to fall into a dazed state.
Yang Kai stared at the red-faced man and asked, “Is this woman in your noble Sect?”
Before the red-faced man could answer that question, the other disciples broke into commotion.
“Isn’t that…”
“Senior Sister Su?”
“She looks like Senior Sister Su. No, that’s exactly her!”
“My goodness. Senior Sister Su’s smile is so charming!”
The image of Su Yan that Yang Kai had formed using his Qi was her appearance that he remembered in his mind. However, these disciples had never seen Su Yan’s smile before. Her dispassionate temperament earned her the title of ‘Ice Fairy’. At this moment, these people almost couldn’t recognise her.
[Who is this person? Why was he able to see Senior Sister Su Yan smile?] At that instant, all of them felt furious and found the young man before them loathsome. [Why was he so lucky?]
The answer was pretty obvious now as Yang Kai listened to their chatters. He heaved a sigh of relief and asked, “Where is she?”
“Who are you!?” Having been ignored by Yang Kai several times, the red-faced man was infuriated.
“Where is she!?” Yang Kai stared at him and growled.
The red-faced man was so angered that he broke into laughter, “Why should I tell you?”
With a loud boom, the mountain shook as the Sect Defending Array in front of Yang Kai shattered into pieces and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Then, Yang Kai withdrew his fist and uttered calmly, “Today, I am feeling a little impatient, so please forgive me if my behaviour is abrupt.” As he spoke, he stepped forward and instantly arrived in front of the red-faced man.
The red-faced man was still reeling from the shock when he was confronted by an intense aura. When he raised his head and saw that Yang Kai was only a few centimetres away from him, he couldn’t help but step backwards and question in a vigilant manner, “What do you want?”
Yang Kai had managed to destroy their Sect’s barrier with a single punch. Although their Sect Defending Array wasn’t running at maximum capacity, it should have been impossible for anyone to break it with such ease. Moreover, from beginning to end, this young man had not exuded any kind of energy fluctuation, so how was he able to do that with pure brute force?
Following that, Yang Kai grabbed his collar and questioned, “Are you deaf or dumb? I’ve asked you many times already. Where is she!? Tell me!”
The red-faced man was soon covered in spit, causing his rage to win out over his cautiousness, “Stop being so arrogant! You are now in Red Clouds Sect! If you’re clever, leave this place immediately, otherwise, you’ll regret it for the rest of your short life!”
Yang Kai had showcased incredible brute force, but as an Elder of the Sect, the red-faced man couldn’t appear weak. They had more than a thousand disciples in the Sect, and there were more than ten Dao Source Realm cultivators serving as Elders and Protectors. The Sect Master was even a Second-Order Dao Source Realm Master. If Yang Kai dared to make a scene here, they would be sure to make him leave this place on his back.
Moreover, after Yang Kai broke the Spirit Array, the red-faced man had secretly sent a message to the Elders and the Sect Master, so they should already be on their way.
Just then, a beam of cold light approached Yang Kai and turned into a long sabre before it slashed at him.
Yang Kai just flicked his finger at the spine of the sabre, upon which it flashed and was sent flying backwards. Following that, an old man grabbed the weapon as his face contorted as he felt that the spirituality of his artifact had been greatly damaged.
[Who is this young man?]
*Shua shua shua…*
More powerful auras appeared as eight people showed up. When the Sect’s disciples saw these people, they immediately turned respectful. These were all Dao Source Realm Masters as well as the Elders of the Sect. Normally, it would be quite hard to meet any one of them, but at this moment, so many of them had shown up in one place. Besides the Elders who were currently outside the Sect, basically all the powerhouses of the Red Clouds Sect had gathered.
Just then, a man in black clothes stepped forward as his long sleeves flapped in the wind. He appeared authoritative, and his aura was stronger than the others.
“Sect Master!” The man in black nodded slightly as all of them saluted him.
He was the Sect Master of Red Clouds Sect, Han Zheng Yuan. Since the Sect Defending Array had been damaged, he had to personally look into it without needing the red-faced man to inform him about it.
When he saw that a young man was clenching an Elder’s collar, his expression darkened.
“Let go!” The red-faced man sneered as he glared at Yang Kai with his sharp gaze.
By now, Yang Kai had calmed down slightly. He was partly responsible for this farce, as he became agitated since Su Yan was involved. Then, he released the red-faced man as he was told.
Upon seeing that, those from Red Clouds Sect thought that he was afraid. The red-faced man arrogantly scoffed at him before he turned to look at Han Zheng Yuan and cupped his fists, “Sect Master.”
At the very least, the red-faced man didn’t embarrass their Sect and still appeared very confident.
Han Zheng Yuan nodded and shifted his attention to Yang Kai, “May I ask who Your Excellency is and what your purpose here is?”
Yang Kai replied, “It doesn’t matter what my name is. I’m here to look for someone.”
“Who?”
“Su Yan!”
With a frown, Han Zheng Yuan questioned, “What’s your relationship with her?”
Yang Kai uttered, “I’m her husband!”
After he finished speaking, all of them broke into commotion. All the disciples were dumbfounded as they looked at Yang Kai as though he was a fool. Su Yan had been in the Sect for more than twenty years, but they had never heard that she had a husband. It was already quite rare for her to speak to a man, so how was it possible that her husband would appear all of a sudden? They first denied this statement and then became furious.
Su Yan was a popular figure in the Sect as many of the male disciples were fond of her. Certainly, they’d be enraged if a man came out of nowhere and claimed to be her husband. They felt that this guy had blasphemed the goddess of their hearts, so they were all eager to charge forward and rip him apart to soothe their anger.
“Lies!” Before Han Zheng Yuan could even reply to him, a young man suddenly stepped forward and scolded Yang Kai.
Yang Kai turned his head and saw a clean-looking man. His skin was fair, and his figure was thin. Although he was an Origin King, his aura was fairly unstable. Apparently, his foundation wasn’t solid, indicating that he had reached his current cultivation only with the help of many pills and precious treasures.
Upon a closer look, Yang Kai realised that the man looked similar to Han Zheng Yuan, so he immediately knew who he was.
Han Qian Cheng was baffled when he saw Yang Kai grinning at him. He felt that there was a hidden message behind this man’s grin, but he wasn’t willing to waste time pondering on it. With a dark expression, he uttered, “Little brat, you should stop spouting nonsense, otherwise, you might attract trouble towards yourself!”
Everyone in Red Clouds Sect knew that Su Yan was his! Although many disciples were fond of her, they would only dare to secretly admire her, and they would never have the guts to appear intimate with her. There was a brazen man who walked up to Su Yan and tried to talk her up in the past. The next day, all his bones were broken, and all his meridians were crippled.
Since then, no man in Red Clouds Sect dared to approach Su Yan again.
So, Han Qian Cheng couldn’t believe that someone had the nerve to claim to be Su Yan’s husband. He was so angered that he began sizing Yang Kai up with his sharp gaze, as though he was thinking about how to make him experience the most excruciating pain in the world.
Then, he turned around and spoke to Han Zheng Yuan, “Father, this man has broken into our Sect, so it’s apparent that he has no regard for us at all. He’s even damaged our Sect Defending Array. He cannot be forgiven! Please kill him now so that it will serve as a warning to others. Otherwise, others might think that we are cowards if this news is spread.”
With an impassive expression, Han Zheng Yuan simply declared, “Stand back. I have my own considerations.”
“Father!” Han Qian Cheng called out relentlessly.
“I said back down!” Han Zheng Yuan turned stern.
It was only then that Han Qian Cheng stepped back with a dark expression. He was seen mumbling something, so it was apparent that he was cursing at someone. Since he was a young child, he had always been favoured by Han Zheng Yuan, which was why he had grown up to be a haughty man who would willfully do whatever he wanted. He hated Yang Kai, so he wanted him immediately dead. However, he didn’t understand why his father, who had always doted on him, would reject his request at this point, embarrassing him in front of so many disciples and Elders of the Sect.
If anyone else was so arrogant in this place, Han Zheng Yuan wouldn’t have let him off. In order to protect their Sect’s reputation, he would certainly battle against that person. However, there was no aura fluctuation around the young man before his eyes, which gave him an eerie feeling.
Han Zheng Yuan had a feeling that if they got into a fight here, it would be Red Clouds Sect that would suffer a setback, so he had to be careful.
“Little Brother, what is your name?” Han Zheng Yuan asked.
Upon getting a reply from Yang Kai, he frowned and gave it a thought. [I’ve never heard of this name. This is a totally unfamiliar name to me.]
He turned to look at the Elders and realised that they appeared baffled as well. [Alright. Since none of us has heard about him before, it means that he’s without any powerful background. This matter can be solved easily, then.]
“You said you’re Su Yan’s husband. Do you have any proof?” Han Zheng Yuan asked. Then, he added, “I’m not doubting you. However, Su Yan is my Sect’s disciple, and I’m the Sect Master, so I have to look into this matter.”
Yang Kai replied, “Just tell Su Yan to come over, and you’ll know.”
Seeing that Yang Kai appeared so confident, Han Zheng Yuan started believing him. On the other hand, Han Qian Cheng’s expression appeared gloomier. [No way! That woman has a husband? When did she get married? She’s been in our Sect for more than twenty years, but I’ve never seen her come into contact with any outsider. Why is there a man who claims to be her husband all of a sudden? This is ridiculous.]
“Su Yan has been in our Sect for more than twenty years, but she’s never contacted any outsider before. How did you even become her husband?”
“I’m from Heng Luo Star Field!”
“What?” Han Zheng Yuan was shocked upon hearing that. Then, he mocked himself in his heart. [Have I grown timid because of my old age? Why am I so overly cautious now? I’m no longer as straightforward and bold as when I was young.]
The fact that Su Yan came from Heng Luo Star Field wasn’t a secret, as many people in Red Clouds Sect knew that. As the Sect Master, Han Zheng Yuan was aware of that as well. According to Su Yan, she believed that she was the first one who left Heng Luo Star Field and arrived at the Ancestral Domain.
In other words, Yang Kai must have come to the Ancestral Domain after Su Yan did. So, it hadn’t been a long time since he arrived in this place and there was no way his cultivation was very strong.
At most, he was probably a First-Order Dao Source Realm. The reason Han Zheng Yuan couldn’t sense his cultivation must be that Yang Kai had used a Secret Art to hide his cultivation or that he was wearing an artifact with a similar effect.
Then, Han Zheng Yuan shook his head and chuckled, “So, you and Su Yan come from the same Star Field.”
Han Qian Cheng’s face had turned livid as he cursed at Su Yan. [What a slut! She always appears pure, innocent and aloof, but I’ve never expected that she’d actually slept with a man before! And to think I’ve always treated her so well. If I knew this earlier, I would’ve forced myself upon her instead of wasting my years away!]
“Yes. Su Yan and I became a couple back in our Star Field. We come from the same Sect as well,” Yang Kai said in an impatient manner, “Sect Master Han, please tell Su Yan to meet me.”
He was here to look for Su Yan, so he wasn’t willing to waste time talking to them.
Han Zheng Yuan said, “Alright, then.” He suddenly changed his tone, “However, Su Yan’s place is pretty far from here, so it might take her some time to come here.”
“That’s fine. I’ll wait.” Yang Kai had been longing to meet her for years, so he wouldn’t mind waiting for a bit. [It’s no wonder that I can’t sense her aura. It turns out she is somewhere far from here.]
“Elder Chen, please bring this Little Brother to the reception hall and serve him some tea. Then, send a message to Su Yan and tell her to come over.” Han Zheng Yuan spoke to the red-faced man.
The red-faced man was startled for a moment before he cupped his fists, “Yes!” Then, he made a gesture to Yang Kai, “This way, please.”
Normally, a cultivator from a Lower Star Field wasn’t worthy of such a treatment. However, the power Yang Kai just showcased was incredible, so he deserved a little more respect.
In a calm manner, Yang Kai nodded and followed Elder Chen.
The other disciples watched them leave as they found the situation baffling. [Is this matter over just like this? Someone broke into our home and destroyed the Sect Defending Array, but the Elders and Sect Master don’t seem to have the intention of holding him responsible. Moreover, they’ve even invited him in for tea. When did the Elders and Sect Master become so amiable? Also, Senior Sister Su Yan isn’t in the Sect!]
Some could see that it was a trap, and they disdained the way the Elders and the Sect Master dealt with the young man. However, there was nothing they could do as they sighed and looked pitifully at Yang Kai.
[If this man really is Senior Sister Su Yan’s husband, he’ll be doomed today.]
Upon entering the reception hall, Yang Kai took a seat and looked around. While He Yun Xiang stood behind him, Liu Yan directly sat next to him.
Only the red-faced Elder Chen was there to keep them company, but he was reluctant to talk to Yang Kai, so he just said briefly, “Just wait here. I’ve informed Su Yan about your arrival so she’ll come soon.” Then, he closed his eyes to take a rest. It seemed that he still had a grudge against Yang Kai for grabbing his collar earlier.
[Just go on being arrogant. You’ll soon know the consequences of offending me!] Worried he might accidentally show signs of hostility if he opened his eyes, he decided to keep them shut.
Just then, a female disciple came in and put down cups of tea for them, upon which the aroma of tea permeated the place.
The red-faced Elder Chen opened his eyes and put on a smile, “This is Red Clouds Tea, which is exclusive to our Sect. This is quite famous in the Ancestral Domain. Little Brother, please give it a try. The average person wouldn’t be able to drink it. The Spirit Teas in the Star Field are not comparable to this.” His voice sounded arrogant as he gazed at Yang Kai as though the latter was a bumpkin.
Yang Kai just stared fixedly at him without uttering a word.
Elder Chen kept a smile on his face, but he was vigilant in his heart. [Has he found out about it? No, it’s colourless and odourless. I’m not even able to tell if it’s been added, so how could it be possible for a brat from a Lower Star Field to have such sharp vision? Nevertheless, Sect Master is basically making a big fuss over a trivial matter. Yes, this brat has shown amazing strength, but with so many people in our Sect, we should be able to take him down with ease. It’s quite pointless to use this kind of trick to deal with him.]
Despite his displeasure, he still had to carry out the order in a serious manner. After all, this was a task given to him in secret by the Sect Master. [In any case, Sect Master has overly doted on Young Sect Master. Just like Su Yan, this brat is a talented person. If we could have pacified him, we might have been able to take him in as a disciple so that our Sect will have one more powerful member. What a shame… Since he has the guts to snatch Young Sect Master’s woman, he won’t be able to see the sunrise tomorrow.]
With this thought in mind, Elder Chen asked, “Little Brother, do you not like this tea?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then, why don’t you drink it?” Elder Chen’s expression darkened. His red face appeared stern even though he was actually calm, “Do you have no regard for our Sect at all?”
With a faint smile, Yang Kai picked up the teacup and said, “Elder Chen, since you’ve said so, I’ll drink it. I’ll just take this tea as wine to thank all of you who have been taking care of and nurturing Senior Sister Su over the years.”
Whatever the case, the reason Su Yan was able to reach Dao Source Realm and gain a footing in the Ancestral Domain was because of Red Clouds Sect. Drinking this cup of tea would serve as his gesture of gratitude towards them. Then, they would battle against each other to resolve the grudges between them.
[I hope they won’t have any complaints.]
“Boy, put down that tea!” Suddenly, a loud voice called out from outside.
Elder Chen’s expression changed when he heard that voice and raising his head, he saw a figure leaping into the hall and pouncing at Yang Kai, reaching for the teacup in his hand.
Enraged, Elder Chen slammed the table and got up before snarling, “Elder Ruan! What are you doing!?”
Yang Kai twisted his wrist slightly and avoided the hand grasping for his own before lifting his head and pouring all of the tea into his mouth.
Elder Chen was stunned for a moment before he started laughing boisterously.
The person who barged into the hall was startled as well. Given her Second-Order Dao Source Realm cultivation, not only was she not able to snatch the teacup from Yang Kai, but the latter was also able to avoid her attack without even getting up. This young man indeed had incredible reflexes.
Upon a closer look, she realised that, just like what she had heard, there was no aura around the young man, as though he had never cultivated before.
“Elder Ruan?” It was then that Yang Kai turned to look at the person and realised that she was a middle-aged beauty. Her plain clothes could not conceal her well-defined curves or her mature charm. He had never expected that she was such a lovely lady, totally different from his imagination.
The only person in the entire Red Clouds Sect with this kind of cultivation who was also surnamed Ruan must be Su Yan’s Master.
“Boy, you say you’re Su Yan’s husband?” Ruan Bi Ting asked with a frown.
Yang Kai nodded, “Indeed.”
“How can you prove it?”
“Hmm… Her sword is called Profound Frost! She also uses a Secret Technique called Clear Sky Snowfall!”
Ruan Bi Ting turned solemn, “It’s really you!”
The others might not understand what Yang Kai was talking about, but as Su Yan’s Master, Ruan Bi Ting immediately did. Su Yan had brought an Origin King Grade longsword from her Star Field to this place. The long sword was named Profound Frost, and one of the techniques she used was indeed called Clear Sky Snowfall.
What Yang Kai had just said confirmed his identity. Since he was able to name her sword and her Secret Technique, he must be very close to her. Moreover, Ruan Bi Ting had heard from Su Yan about Yang Kai’s existence; after all, they were Master and Disciple, so they frequently communicated with each other. And today, she finally met Yang Kai.
“Brat, follow me!” Upon confirming Yang Kai’s identity, Ruan Bi Ting reached out her hand towards him.
She had just gotten a secret message from a disciple which said that Su Yan’s husband had come to look for her from Heng Luo Star Field, but he was brought to the reception hall by Elder Chen to drink tea. Once she heard that, she immediately knew that it was a trap, so she rushed over to this place; however, she still couldn’t stop the tragedy from happening.
At that moment, she was utterly frustrated. She had warned him to put down the teacup and even tried to snatch it from him, but he ignored her and gulped it down right in front of her.
[Su Yan, Su Yan, what kind of husband have you gotten for yourself? Given his stupidity, how has he even survived until this day? Has no one taught him that he should be careful when drinking or eating in the outside world?]
She grabbed Yang Kai’s wrist with her slender hand and pulled him towards herself. However, instead of making him move, she was forced to stagger forward.
Her pupils contracted as she was flabbergasted. She was a Second-Order Dao Source Realm Master, and although she didn’t use all her strength just now, it was impossible that she couldn’t even make him move.
Yang Kai flashed a smile at her. His impression of Red Clouds Sect was quite terrible at the moment, so his intention was to find out Su Yan’s whereabouts before he slaughtered all of them; however, it now seemed that there was someone in this place that actually cared about Su Yan.
[That is more than enough, isn’t it? It isn’t like there is only evil in this world. There is still warmth that is like a light in the darkness that shines and illuminates our way.]
He then tapped Ruan Bi Ting’s hand to motion for her to release him.
With a frown, Ruan Bi Ting questioned, “What are you doing?”
She used her Divine Sense and spoke to him in his mind, “This place is dangerous! Leave with me now!”
Seeing that she was truly worried about his well being, Yang Kai felt warm in his heart. They didn’t know each other, but she was concerned about him because of Su Yan. Apparently, she was really good to Su Yan.
“Elder Ruan, what are you doing?” The red-faced Elder Chen sneered at Ruan Bi Ting, not showing any respect to a Master like her who was stronger than he was. Although both of them were Elders in this Sect, she didn’t hold any important position, so she was basically powerless regarding internal affairs. If it weren’t because of the Old Sect Master’s will, she wouldn’t have even been allowed to remain in this Sect for such a long time and keep her title as an Elder.
Nobody really knew the relationship between Ruan Bi Ting and Red Clouds Sect. It was rumoured that the Old Sect Master owed her a favour, which was why he let her stay in this Sect; however, after the Old Sect Master passed away, the current Sect Master took over his role and Ruan Bi Ting became an outsider within their Sect.
“It’s none of your business!” Ruan Bi Ting glowered at Elder Chen.
With a grin, Elder Chen rebuked, “I don’t agree that it’s none of my business. The Sect Master has ordered me to serve this Little Brother. Elder Ruan, you’re being impolite to our guests, so please leave now.”
Ignoring him, Ruan Bi Ting stared at Yang Kai and asked, “Are you leaving or not?”
“I can’t leave because this matter isn’t over yet.” Yang Kai put on a smile and gazed at Elder Chen, “You seem quite pleased. What are you laughing at?”
“Of course I’m laughing at something funny.” Elder Chen looked disdainfully at him, “How does our Red Clouds Tea taste?”
“The tea is good, but the taste isn’t very pure.” It was then Yang Kai put down the tea cup and adjusted his position, “You’ve put something into it, right?”
“It’s too late that you’ve only found out about it now!” Elder Chen’s expression turned cold as he could stop pretending to be polite. Anyone who was stricken with that poison would go limp very quickly. Even a Third-Order Dao Source Realm Master couldn’t detoxify it with ease. Now, Yang Kai was like a fish on a chopping block in his eyes, so he could do whatever he wanted to him.
“Elder Chen, you seem quite confident in this poison,” Yang Kai lowered his head as his hair blocked his face, which made him look quite gloomy.
“You… Knew that there was poison in the tea?” Ruan Bi Ting suddenly thought of something and exclaimed. At the same time, she cursed at him in her heart and thought that he must be insane.
*Chiliu…*
In this intense atmosphere, a sound was suddenly heard. The three of them turned their heads and saw Liu Yan holding another teacup and drinking down its content.
Elder Chen and Ruan Bi Ting were dumbstruck. [Has she also become foolish because she’s been with this boy for too long? Both of them are out of their minds!]
“Why did you still drink it after they admitted that there was poison in it?” Yang Kai stroked her head.
“I just wanted to have a taste,” Liu Yan replied, “It’s not delicious though, so I’ll give it back to you!”
After she opened her mouth, the tea shot towards Elder Chen like an arrow. While the tea was still in mid-air, it turned red suddenly as though it was a fire snake.
The temperature in the hall rose rapidly.
The expression of Elder Chen changed drastically as he was engulfed in a sense of danger. Without even thinking, he summoned an artifact to protect himself. With a clang, the tea arrow crashed into the artifact that looked like a shield, causing the glow on the artifact to flicker and turn dim, which went to show that it had lost all its spirituality. The tea arrow then continued forward unimpeded, burning a hole right through the artifact.
“AH!” Elder Chen shrieked and fell on his butt. Lowering his head, he realised that there was a dark hole on his shoulder as his blood was streaming out of it. At the same time, he could feel a horrifying Fire Attribute energy entering through the wound. Wherever it went, all his meridians and flesh would burn.
He widened his eyes in disbelief. [What is going on? What is going on? Aren’t they poisoned? How are they still able to use their strength? Also, who is this little girl? Did she make tea so terrifying!?]
Ruan Bi Ting was dumbfounded as she looked dazedly at Liu Yan. If she hadn’t seen it with her eyes, she wouldn’t have believed that this little girl was able to harm Elder Chen with just a mouthful of tea. Then, she turned to look at Yang Kai and realised that he had at some point stood up. His countenance appeared healthy, so it was apparent that he wasn’t poisoned.
“You’re… fine?” Ruan Bi Ting almost lost her ability to think.
Yang Kai put on a smile, “It’s just a little bit of trash, how could it possibly harm me?”
[T-Trash? This is the most potent poison in our Sect, but it’s just some rubbish to him? Is he really from Heng Luo Star Field?]
What she wasn’t aware of was that Yang Kai had cultivated the Dragon Transformation Secret Art, and after refining the Golden Divine Dragon Source, he had developed a strong Dragon bloodline. Dragon Clan members were famously known for their resistance to all kinds of poisons.
Given Yang Kai’s physique, he couldn’t be said to be immune to all poisons, but the kind of poison that could harm him definitely didn’t exist in the Ancestral Domain. He decided to drink the tea not because he was a fool or that he was out of his mind, but because he wasn’t worried about it at all.
“Elder Ruan, what are you doing? It will be hard for me to explain myself to Su Yan if she sees this,” Yang Kai turned to look at Ruan Bi Ting and winked at her.
It was then that Ruan Bi Ting realised that she had been clenching his wrist the whole time. With her face blushing slightly, she shot him a glare and released him.
She indeed had lost her composure on this day.
*Shua shua shua shua…*
Just then, many figures appeared abruptly. They were all the Sect’s Elders who had been waiting outside. They barged into the hall because they heard Elder Chen’s scream, and upon a closer look, they were all dumbstruck.
While Yang Kai was fine, Elder Chen was battered.
With a cold expression, Han Zheng Yuan bellowed, “Elder Ruan, I think you need to give me an explanation!”
Earlier, he saw Ruan Bi Ting breaking into this place, but he hadn’t managed to stop her. Now that Elder Chen was injured, he thought that it was she who had made a move.
[I’ve been putting up with this woman for far too long! No matter what, I’ll have to kick her out of our Sect today!]
Ruan Bi Ting growled, “Han Zheng Yuan, don’t cross the line!”
Han Zheng Yuan replied, “Who is crossing the line here? You are our Sect’s Elder, but you’ve sided with an outsider! You’ve let all of us in Red Clouds Sect, including the Old Sect Master, down.”
“Settle your own problems later. I just want to know why you’re treating me this way when I’m just here to look for Su Yan.” Yang Kai swept a glance over everyone and then stared fixedly at Han Zheng Yuan.
Elder Chen couldn’t have possibly made the decision on his own. He must have received the order from Han Zheng Yuan. A Sect Master was going against Yang Kai for no apparent reason, so his behaviour was really laughable.
“Su Yan isn’t in Red Clouds Sect. He was lying to you earlier,” Ruan Bi Ting explained.
Yang Kai asked, “Where is she?”
“She’s been sent to guard our Fire Cloud Ore Vein. She hasn’t returned to the Sect for more than ten years. That’s a mineral lode under Red Clouds Sect, so it’s one of our core businesses.”
“She’s guarding a Fire Cloud Ore Vein?” Yang Kai arched his brow as he set his mind at ease. Since that was the case, Su Yan wasn’t in any danger. However, he soon grasped the crux of the matter and snorted, “Why?”
Fire Cloud Ore was rich in Fire Attribute Strength, so it was suitable for cultivators who practised Fire Attribute Secret Arts and Secret Techniques to stay at such a mineral lode. Any cultivators with this kind of Secret Art would be more than happy to take on this task.
However, Su Yan cultivated an Ice Attribute Secret Art. Moreover, she had an Ice Crystal Jade Body. If she stayed in such a fiery place for too long, she would be considered lucky if her cultivation didn’t regress, so it was practically impossible for her to cultivate.
Yang Kai doubted that these people from Red Clouds Sect didn’t know the attribute she was cultivating. Since they were aware of it, they must have done it on purpose by sending her to guard Fire Cloud Ore Vein.
[Damn it! Ten years isn’t a long period of time, but it isn’t a short time either. In other words, Su Yan has wasted ten years for nothing!] Yang Kai was enraged.
“Why?” Ruan Bi Ting sneered as she was utterly disappointed, “They’re trying to make her give in. You might not be aware of it, but his son is very fond of Su Yan.” She paused for a moment, “Moreover, Su Yan has grown too rapidly, so someone is afraid that her cultivation would surpass his and threaten his position!”
“What a load of nonsense!” Han Zheng Yuan snorted, “Both of you two agreed that she’d guard the Fire Cloud Ore Vein, so why are you blaming it all on me now?”
Ruan Bi Ting shook her head as she appeared disheartened, “Han Zheng Yuan, you’re a Sect Master now, but you’re still so narrow-minded. You’re no match for the Old Sect Master in this regard.”
In fact, this was the reason she had been marginalised in the Sect as well.
Before the Old Sect Master passed away, he asked Ruan Bi Ting to help look after Red Clouds Sect, which was why she continued staying in this place for more than 100 years. At that time, she was already a Second-Order Dao Source Realm Master, while Han Zheng Yuan had just entered the Dao Source Realm. Without her protection, Red Clouds Sect would’ve been destroyed by their enemies, and they wouldn’t have been able to hold on to the foundation passed down to them by their Ancestors. 100 years had passed, and Han Zheng Yuan finally reached the Second Order, but his attitude towards Ruan Bi Ting grew increasingly terrible as well.
He couldn’t tolerate someone who had protected their Sect for more than 100 years, let alone a rising star like Su Yan. If Su Yan managed to reach the Second-Order Dao Source Realm and join forces with her Master, Han Zheng Yuan would probably lose his position as Sect Master.
The reason he sent Su Yan to guard the Fire Cloud Ore Vein was to warn and suppress her. If she was clever enough, she would marry Han Qian Cheng and her future would be bright. However, ten years had passed, but Su Yan had never returned to Red Clouds Sect once. She seemed determined to remain defiant even as she guarded that place.
“You have no right to criticize whatever I do!” Han Zheng Yuan snorted, “You’re just a Foreign Elder in our Sect, but we’ve been providing for you for a long time. However, not only do you not help us solve our problems, but you’ve also colluded with our enemies! Ruan Bi Ting, I’ll abolish your position as an Elder today. From now on, you have nothing to do with our Sect!”
Han Zheng Yuan was elated because the events that unfolded turned out to be a pleasant surprise. He had always intended to kick Ruan Bi Ting out of his Sect, but he couldn’t find an excuse; after all, the fact that she had protected the Sect for so long left him and the Sect indebted to her. If he banished her out of the Sect without a reason, others would feel disheartened.
Now, he had finally found an excuse.
Ruan Bi Ting tucked her hair behind her ear and replied in a calm manner, “Good. At least I’ve not disappointed the Old Sect Master. Now, Red Clouds Sect will be fine even without me. Just like what you’ve wished for, I hereby announce that I’ll have nothing to do with your Sect anymore.”
“You may leave!” Han Zheng Yuan growled.
Ruan Bi Ting uttered, “He comes with me!” She pointed her slender finger at Yang Kai. Since he was Su Yan’s husband, she wouldn’t let him stay in this place.
“Dream on!” Han Zheng Yuan bellowed.
Ruan Bi Ting uttered dispassionately, “It’s hard to sustain the foundation left behind by your Ancestors. Don’t let it perish in your hands.” Although she was utterly disappointed in Han Zheng Yuan, she was still concerned about this Sect because she had protected it for more than a century. She didn’t have the heart to see it destroyed.
“I am the Sect Master of Red Clouds Sect!” Han Zheng Yuan yelled.
“Han Zheng Yuan, think this through!” Ruan Bi Ting said through gritted teeth.
In response, Han Zheng Yuan shot her a cold glance, “If you’re not willing to leave, you’ll also have to stay here with him.”
The last bit of hope in her heart died. With such a Sect Master, there was no way Red Clouds Sect could be sustained. She had already done her best by protecting the Sect for more than 100 years.
“Are you done?” Yang Kai suddenly uttered. With his eyes glowing with a red glint, he swept a glance over Han Zheng Yuan and the other Elders, causing them to feel horrified.
A sense of uneasiness rose within Han Zheng Yuan, but it was soon replaced by rage. Waving his hand, he demanded, “Kill him!”
In an instant, two figures pounced on Yang Kai from both sides, their movement as swift as lightning. However, in the blink of an eye, they were sent flying backwards as they exploded into blood mist in mid-air. Even their bones had vanished.
The chamber fell into silence as everyone widened their mouths and watched the sight in disbelief.
Ruan Bi Ting sighed and closed her eyes. [Han Zheng Yuan, this is the dumbest decision you’ve ever made in your life. Do you think I’m doing this for this young man by trying to bring him away? I’m just trying to help Red Clouds Sect one last time.]
Yang Kai still appeared fine even though he had been poisoned, so Ruan Bi Ting knew that his strength must be inconceivable. Paired with the strange young girl, there was no way these people from Red Clouds Sect were a match for them. What was laughable was that Han Zheng Yuan still thought everything was well within his control. He wasn’t aware that the positions of the predator and the prey had been switched without him knowing.
“Start the Array!” After Han Zheng Yuan was startled for a moment, he growled as rapidly formed a set of hand seals.
At that instant, the talismans inside the chamber flickered as the people at the scene were all engulfed in a Spirit Array. It was only then that the Elders felt a sense of safety as they looked at Yang Kai as though he was the most horrendous devil.
Earlier, he seemed to be just lightly waving his fist, but two Elders in the First-Order Dao Source Realm who had leapt at him exploded into blood mist, which went to show that the young man was incredibly powerful. Fortunately, the Sect Master was intelligent enough not to confront him at the mountain entrance earlier. Instead, he had lured him to this place.
With the help of the Spirit Array, paired with their collective powers, they were practically invincible.
“Kill them!” Yang Kai simply pointed a finger forward.
In response, Liu Yan opened her mouth and spat out a breath of fire that seemed to have a life of its own, one that filled the entire hall with blistering heat. The temperature in the palace rose rapidly, causing the base and flags of the array to flicker.
The Red Cloud Sect Elders were terrified as they hurriedly tried to defend themselves.
He Yun Xiang was equally shocked.
She had been getting along with Liu Yan for some time, but she had never expected that this adorable little girl was able to exert this kind of horrifying power.
He Yun Xiang took note of one Elder who was trying to resist Liu Yan’s flames, only to quickly be turned into ashes.
He was a Dao Source Realm Master! He Yun Xiang wasn’t surprised that Yang Kai was able to kill a Dao Source Realm Master with ease, as she had witnessed his power many times throughout their journey, but what was going on with this little girl? Was she just as formidable as Yang Kai?
“Let’s go!” Yang Kai took Ruan Bi Ting’s wrist.
In a dazed state, Ruan Bi Ting asked, “Where are we going?” She was stunned as well. She had seen Liu Yan injuring the red-faced Elder Chen with just one move earlier, so she knew that the latter was powerful, but it was apparent she had still underestimated her. No one in Red Clouds Sect could possibly match her.
“Bring me to look for Su Yan!” Without waiting for her reply, Yang Kai brought her to the door and pushed out his fist, upon which the Spirit Array disintegrated with a boom.
Horrified screams could be heard from behind them as Han Zheng Yuan yelled, “Elder Ruan! Elder Ruan! Save us!”
Ruan Bi Ting turned around as she didn’t have the heart to see them die.
“If you want, I can spare his life.” Noticing the emotion behind her gaze, Yang Kai stared at her. She was Su Yan’s Master, after all, so he was willing to grant her wish.
Ruan Bi Ting opened her mouth slightly, but she eventually sighed and replied, “Let’s go.”
All debts of gratitude and grudges between them had been settled, and she no longer had any association with Red Clouds Sect. The only thing she felt guilty about was that she was no longer able to protect the Sect as the Old Sect Master had asked her. Although it was her first time meeting Yang Kai, she had already learnt a lot about his temperament. He was a resolute man in whatever he did. Even if she asked him to spare Han Zheng Yuan’s life, he would still cripple him.
If a cultivator was crippled, it was more miserable than if he was killed. She wondered if, at this moment, Han Zheng Yuan regretted the fact that he didn’t listen to her earlier.
In front of a Space Array, the Red Clouds Sect’s disciples traded glances and cupped their fists, “Elder Ruan.”
The person at the front asked, “Elder Ruan, where are you going?”
Ruan Bi Ting was still in a dazed state as she replied, “To Fire Cloud Mountain.”
The Fire Cloud Ore Vein was inside Fire Cloud Mountain.
The disciple was surprised, “Elder Ruan, you’re going to Fire Cloud Mountain as well?”
While Ruan Bi Ting nodded, Yang Kai realised something through his words, “What’s wrong? Has someone else recently gone to Fire Cloud Mountain?”
“You are…” the disciple asked as he had never seen Yang Kai before.
Ruan Bi Ting came to her senses and questioned, “Who else has gone to Fire Cloud Mountain?”
Naturally, the disciple wouldn’t dare to ignore her. In a respectful manner, he replied, “Just a quarter of an hour ago, Young Sect Master brought two Elders to Fire Cloud Mountain.”
“What!?” Ruan Bi Ting’s expression changed as she yelled, “Oh, no!” She immediately swept the disciple away and stood on the Space Array with Yang Kai before she activated her power. In an instant, the array glowed and engulfed them. When the glow disappeared, they were nowhere to be found.
Inside Fire Cloud Mountain, there were many interconnected tunnels and caves. This place was where Fire Cloud Ore was mined, so it was one of the most important businesses for Red Clouds Sect. There was always an Elder in the Dao Source Realm who would guard the place.
However, the environment in this place was quite hostile. Normally, the Elders from the Sect weren’t willing to take on this task. Even the two Elders who cultivated Fire Attribute Secret Arts didn’t want to remain here all the time, so they basically took turns to guard the place. Every year, another Elder would come over to take this post.
However, for the last ten years, only one person had been guarding the place. No other Elders had come here since.
She was a woman who was always clad in white robes. Her skin was as translucent as jade and she was always on her own, but she seemed to carry herself well.
Anyone would take a liking to such a beautiful woman, but she was ordered to guard this dirty mineral lode inside a mountain. Her white clothes were in stark contrast with the filthy environment. However, wherever she went, the place would appear clean and pure.
The disciples knew that she was forced to take on this difficult task because she had offended the Young Sect Master. They were all displeased with the Young Sect Master because of this, but they wouldn’t dare to complain about it, so they could only secretly feel sorry for her. A beautiful woman like her was to be treasured. No man would have the heart to make her do such a thing. [Young Sect Master is too stone-hearted.]
Normally, the disciples who were responsible for mining Fire Cloud Ore would go back to the Sect every ten to fifteen days to take a break before coming back here. However, she had stayed in this place for ten years without ever leaving.
She was the most outstanding disciple in the history of Red Clouds Sect. It only took her five years to go from the peak of the Origin King Realm to the Dao Source Realm after she joined the Sect. Nonetheless, in the past ten years, her cultivation had not improved one bit.
It was thanks to Ruan Bi Ting who would give her resources from time to time that she was even able to sustain her Dao Source Realm cultivation, otherwise it might have already regressed.
Inside a cave, a disciple, who was in charge of the place, hung his head low as he reported to the white-clothed lady on the recent developments in their mining activities. Having been here for too long, the disciple appeared dishevelled as well. He kept his head low and never looked at the lady. It wasn’t because he didn’t dare to, but because he wasn’t willing to. It was as though his vision would blaspheme her beauty and purity.
Upon hearing his report, the lady nodded slightly, “Good, thank you.”
Her voice was soft and gentle. The person in charge appeared satisfied as he looked forward to reporting to her every ten days. It was because he just wanted to hear her voice.
“Please take a rest.” The person in charge stepped backward but suddenly crashed into someone, upon which he turned around with a furious expression. [Who is this reckless person that has entered this place without permission? Doesn’t he know this is the place where Senior Sister Su cultivates?]
After he made out who the person was though, he was shocked as he hurriedly stepped aside as he bent his back, “Young Sect Master!”
[I can’t believe that the Young Sect Master has come here. He rarely visits this place. He hasn’t come here for a long time. Ten years ago, he would come here very often with a joyful expression, but he’d always leave disappointed. After a time, he stopped visiting at all. Why is he here today all of a sudden? Moreover, he is followed by two Elders.]
The disciple appeared doubtful, but he wouldn’t dare to be disrespectful, so he immediately saluted the two Elders.
“We don’t need you here, scram.” Han Qian Cheng impatiently waved his hand.
The disciple then hung his head low and left the place quickly.
Han Qian Cheng stepped forward and stopped ten steps away from the white-robed lady. His eyes appeared as fiery as the Fire Cloud Ores that had just been unearthed as he stared lustfully at her figure. He hadn’t seen her for years, but she remained as enrapturing as ever
All of a sudden, he regretted the fact that he hadn’t visited her often in the past years. Perhaps she would be moved by his persistence if he had come here more often. However, he soon cast the idea away. He was the Young Sect Master of Red Clouds Sect, so he could get any woman he wanted with ease. However, this woman had always been cold to him. [If it weren’t for our Sect, she wouldn’t have been able to reach Dao Source Realm. Perhaps she would’ve been gobbled up by other Masters right after she arrived at the Ancestral Domain.]
As he recalled what that bastard from earlier had said, he became even more frustrated. He thought that this woman was as pure as jade, but he hadn’t expected that she had already gotten married and surrendered her innocence to another. He was furious because he couldn’t be her first man.
“Junior Sister Su, we haven’t met for a long time. How are you?” He looked at Su Yan with a smile. Although she was in a higher realm than him, he was the Young Sect Master of Red Clouds Sect, which was why he wouldn’t call her ‘Senior Sister’ like how other disciples did.
“Young Sect Master.” Su Yan looked calmly at the front as she got up slowly and saluted them, “Greetings, Elders.”
The two Elders remained silent as they stood behind Han Qian Cheng like two pieces of wood. The cave was dim, and they stood in the shadows, so it was hard to see their expressions clearly.
“Young Sect Master, why are you here?”
With a faint smile, Han Qian Cheng replied, “I missed you, so I decided to come over to meet you. We haven’t met for a long time, right?”
Su Yan remained calm, “It’s been eight years.”
“Oh, eight years is indeed a long time.” Han Qian Cheng appeared dejected, “It’s true that time flies. I remember that when you first joined our Sect, you weren’t so cold to me.”
Su Yan replied, “I do not mean to discriminate against anyone. If you feel unjustly slighted, then I apologize.”
Han Qian Cheng guffawed, “It’s fine. I know it’s your nature, so I don’t blame you.” He leaned forward slightly, as though he was an aggressive beast that was ready to pounce on his prey, “Eight years have passed. Junior Sister, have you seriously considered my offer?”
Su Yan uttered, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
With a smile, Han Qian Cheng pointed at her, “Junior Sister, what’s the point of feigning ignorance? You’ve always known what I want.”
“I don’t intend to fall in love with anyone.”
Han Qian Cheng put on a meaningful grin, “Really?” He reached out and took a look at his own hand. Then, he rubbed his fingers and went on to say nonchalantly, “I think it isn’t because you don’t intend to fall in love with anyone, but because your heart already belongs to someone else.”
Su Yan replied, “If you understand, then you should know it’s pointless for you to persist.”
[You slut!] Han Qian Cheng cursed at her in his heart, [I’m the Young Sect Master of Red Clouds Sect, so how am I not comparable to that bumpkin!? I can’t believe you still can’t forget about him after so many years. You’ll soon understand the consequences of going against me. I’ll have my way with you all I want and only after you’re worn out completely will I toss you away!]
“That man is called Yang Kai, right?”
Su Yan’s eternally cold expression finally changed slightly, “How do you know that?”
She had only told Ruan Bi Ting about Yang Kai before, so other people were not supposed to be aware of his existence. The first thought that came to her mind was that Ruan Bi Ting had told other people about it, but she soon realised it was impossible. Ruan Bi Ting was her Master in Red Clouds Sect, and although they were Master and Disciple, they were as close as Sisters, and Ruan Bi Ting had always been good to her. So, there was no way she would mention such a sensitive piece of information to others.
“How could I not know?” Han Qian Cheng chuckled. It was the first time he managed to attract Su Yan’s attention, but he felt dejected instead of happy because she only showed interest at the mention of that bastard. Pretending to be nonchalant, he went on to say, “Let me tell you something, then. That brat called Yang Kai is in Red Clouds Sect right now.”
“What?” Su Yan exclaimed, “What did you just say?” She couldn’t believe her ears. After pulling herself together, she said, “Young Sect Master, please don’t joke with me.”
“You can ask the Elders whether or not I’m telling the truth.”
Su Yan looked hopefully at the two Elders behind him.
One of them nodded and replied, “Young Sect Master is right. Today, a young man called Yang Kai came to our Sect to look for you and said…”
“What did he say?”
“He said he’s your husband.”
Su Yan staggered as her doubt had been cleared. [Yang Kai really was in Red Clouds Sect! Did he come to look for me? Has he been in the Ancestral Domain all these years?] She had always been a dispassionate lady, but at this moment, she couldn’t help but put on a bright smile, one that seemed to make all the colours in the world fade away and dull.
Han Qian Cheng widened his eyes as he stared fixedly at her. He was eager to pull her into his embrace and do whatever he wanted to her when he saw that radiant smile. The feeling of becoming one with such an icy beauty must be different from his experiences with other women.
“It seems that he’s really your husband.” Han Qian Cheng snorted as he was burning with jealousy.
Su Yan uttered, “Young Sect Master, I want to return back to the Sect.”
Han Qian Cheng shook his head and replied, “No! Unless my father gives the order, you cannot go back.” He paused for a moment and grinned, “Moreover, it’s pointless for you to go back.”
“What do you mean?” Su Yan asked with a frown.
“The thing is…” Han Qian Cheng sighed, “That Yang Kai is far too reckless. It’s fine that he came to look for you, but he scolded all of us and destroyed our Sect Defending Array. Our Sect has been around for thousands of years, so we won’t let anyone humiliate us. By now… I presume he must have been captured.” He tutted, “He must be going through an unimaginable ordeal now.”
A sense of coldness that seemed able to freeze people’s hearts appeared in this searing cave all of a sudden.
Han Qian Cheng looked smugly at her, as his intention was to make her furious. [If you beg me properly, I might grant your wish and let you meet your lover before his death.]
However, he soon became startled, because her cold aura had disappeared in the blink of an eye as her expression turned dispassionate again.
He asked, “Junior Sister, aren’t you worried?”
“Worried about what?” She questioned.
Han Qian Cheng was rendered speechless, as her reaction was different from his imagination. [Isn’t she too cold-hearted? That’s her husband after all. Now that he’s in trouble, she should appear worried at the very least. Why is she still so calm and collected?]
“Shouldn’t you be worried about that Yang Kai?”
“There’s nothing to worry about.” Su Yan brushed her hair back behind her ear.
When Yang Kai left the Star Field, he was already in the Second-Order Origin King Realm. Many years had passed, and given his aptitude, his cultivation must be among the top in the Ancestral Domain by now. Although those in the Red Clouds Sect were strong, it would be hard for them to deal with him. Moreover, he was proficient in the Dao of Space, so he was unmatched when it came to escaping.
Han Qian Cheng was startled for a moment before he said, “He’ll end up in a miserable state.”
“He only has himself to blame then.”
“Junior Sister, he’s your husband isn’t he, how can you just ignore his well being? If no one begs my father, he might severely punish him. If that Yang Kai is injured or even dies…”
“It is up to the Heavens to decide his life or death. Young Sect Master, you need not concern yourself.”
“Junior Sister, I’m willing to put in a good word to my father to let him go. You know that he will listen to me.”
“Many thanks for your kind intentions, Young Sect Master, but you don’t have to worry about it. I’m certain you find this place stiflingly hot, so you should probably return.”
“You…”
“By the way, if you go back and see my husband, please tell him to come over. I’ll be waiting for him here.”
“You bitch!” Han Qian Cheng couldn’t take it anymore and cursed.
Everything went differently from his imagination. He thought that after he told her this news, she would be flustered, and then she wouldn’t reject whatever request he would come up with. As long as she still cared about that bumpkin, Han Qian Cheng would be able to fulfil his long-held wish.
However, everything subverted his expectations. She didn’t even seem to care about that bumpkin’s safety at all.
[How is she so unfeeling and ruthless?] Even Han Qian Cheng felt sorry for Yang Kai. This kind of stone-hearted woman must be taught a lesson so that she would understand how it felt to be with a man.
At that instant, he couldn’t help but start snickering. [It seems that Yang Kai isn’t that important in her heart. However, since I’ve come here, I must obtain her.]
He raised his head and stared lustfully at her.
Su Yan questioned, “Is there anything else?”
Han Qian Cheng replied, “Although this place is dirty, it must be quite fun to do it here.”
Hearing that, Su Yan scowled.
“I’ve never slept with a woman in this kind of place. I’m looking forward to it. Will you scream after I strip you bare?”
With a clang, Su Yan summoned Profound Frost as a cold glint flashed across her weapon.
A sword wave rapidly swept toward Han Qian Cheng’s eyes as he was engulfed in the fear of death. Although he was in the Origin King Realm, his cultivation was built almost entirely using Spirit Pills. He had never battled against anyone before, so there was no way he could parry her attack. If no one saved him, he would be killed on the spot.
Just then, a big hand landed on his shoulder and pulled him back while at the same time, another hand moved past him and confronted the cold flash.
After a clang, the sword wave scattered and Su Yan withdrew her sword and straightened up as she watched the middle-aged man clad in grey and white clothes before her eyes. This man was in the First-Order Dao Source Realm, the same as Su Yan.
On the other hand, Han Qian Cheng had been saved by another Elder. Although he was fine, he felt as though he had just escaped from death’s door. After he stabilised himself, his cold sweat started streaming down his forehead as he growled, “You! You dare try to kill me!?”
The attack just now was no laughing matter. If the sword wave had hit him, he would undoubtedly have died.
“That was just a warning.” Su Yan looked impassively at Han Qian Cheng. Since he had the guts to harass her with such vulgar words, she had to respond appropriately.
“Good, very good!” Having just escaped from death’s door, Han Qian Cheng still appeared pale. As he looked insidiously at her, he stepped backwards until he all but left the cave and waved his hand, “Capture her!”
Whatever the case, he had to bed her today. He had lost all patience, so he wasn’t willing to keep waiting. Since she wasn’t willing, he just had to use force!
The two Elders stood beside each other as they blocked the cave entrance. They looked quite similar and were apparently brothers. Both of them appeared tough and sturdy as their shoulders and waists were broad. After they pushed their Source Qi, a layer of red glow appeared on their skin, which was so hot that it was as though it was burning with fire.
Han Qian Cheng prepared well before he came to the Fire Cloud Ore Vein to find fault with Su Yan. The two Elders he had chosen had cultivated Fire Attribute Secret Arts, so they were able to amplify their power in this environment.
By standing there, they had blocked the only exit. If Su Yan wanted to leave, she had to defeat them first.
The Elder on the left advised, “Su Yan, our Sect is basically your saviour. If it weren’t because we took you in after you came to the Ancestral Domain, you wouldn’t have been able to achieve success. Since you owe our Sect a favour, you should repay us. Is this how you repay our Young Sect Master?”
Su Yan refuted, “The only person who I am indebted to is my Master. What does it have to do with Red Clouds Sect?”
The Elder on the right snorted, “Young Sect Master will certainly take over the position of Sect Master in the future. How is he not a match for you? If you’re clever, agree to his request now. Otherwise, we’ll have to make you suffer.”
Su Yan slowly shook her head, “No!”
“How obstinate!”
“You court death!”
The Elders growled at the same time as their Source Qi soared, causing the cave to quake.
Han Qian Cheng bellowed, “Enough nonsense! Take her down now! I want to make her regret it for the rest of her life! By the way, don’t damage her face and body. I’m going to have fun with her later.”
“Don’t worry, Young Sect Master, she’s just a young inexperienced woman, so we can capture her easily.” The Elder on the left snorted as the Source Qi within his body surged. Then, he charged at Su Yan, stretching out his hand. As he attempted to claw at her, the Fire Attribute Energy around him seemed to be attracted as it gathered on his palm to amplify his power.
Su Yan wielded Profound Frost as a curved and azure-blue sword screen appeared right before her, serving as a protective barrier. The sword screen appeared thin, as though it could be broken by a gust of wind, but it was actually formed from countless tiny sword waves.
The Elder on the left extended his hand and came into contact with the sword screen, but he soon felt a sharp pain. In response, he pushed his Source Qi harder to scatter this thin barrier.
A ripple was formed, but the sword screen remained unphased. After the Elder’s first strike was blocked, he arched his brow in surprise. Although they were both in the First-Order Dao Source Realm, he had reached this realm a long time ago, while Su Yan had only broken through recently and had been guarding the Fire Cloud Ore Vein for the past ten years. It should have been impossible for her to increase her strength during this time, and with the environmental advantage, this Elder thought that he could defeat her with ease.
However, in just one move, he realised that he was wrong. Su Yan’s sword screen was impenetrable. She was indeed a cultivator from a Lower Star Field, but the purity of her Source Qi was beyond his imagination.
After the failed attack, the Elder on the left flew backwards and twisted his body as he circled around Su Yan.
At the same time, the Elder on the right stepped forward, upon which a brown hammer appeared in his hand. The brown hammer was more than a meter in length and appeared quite weighty. With this artifact in his hand, the right Elder charged forward and smashed down at the sword screen.
Su Yan frowned as she realised that this move was indeed powerful. If she was outside, she could have evaded it swiftly; however, she was trapped inside a narrow cave now, so how could she avoid his attack?
The sword screen suddenly disintegrated as Profound Frost released thousands of cold flashes. Following that, the flashes converged into one and shot towards the right Elder.
The entire cave suddenly filled with icy cold Sword Intent. Su Yan’s usually indifferent expression flashed with determination and coldness. Ignoring the hammer that was coming at her, she instead thrust out to attack, seemingly determined to perish together with the Elder on the right.
The Elder on the right was shocked and didn’t dare to continue with his attack. Although he would certainly end her life with his hammer, he would also be killed in the process. Feeling the power of her sword, he was horrified.
[Why is she so powerful?]
She was still so formidable even after she had been suppressed for ten years. If she stayed in the Sect to cultivate and continued to enjoy its resources, her power would soon reach an unbelievable level.
Her aptitude was indeed unrivalled. It was no wonder that the Sect Master decided to send her to guard the Fire Cloud Ore Vein for ten years. Otherwise, no one in Red Clouds Sect would be a match for her by now.
At the most critical moment, he lowered his brown hammer and parried the fatal attack.
Nevertheless, Su Yan twisted her wrist as Profound Frost flitted past the Elder and stabbed at Han Qian Cheng.
[Such swift movement!] The Elder on the right was astounded as he realised that Su Yan’s suicidal counterattack had actually just been a feint. Her intention was to catch the most important person on the scene. With the two Elders joining forces, there was no way she could escape from this place. However, if she managed to capture Han Qian Cheng, she could flip the situation around.
It was too late to turn back to save Han Qian Cheng, so at this critical moment, the Elder on the right stomped his foot hard, forming a crack on the ground, sending rocks shooting up. Su Yan’s vision was suddenly blocked, causing her movements to slow down momentarily.
“Get back here!” Seizing the chance, the Elder on the right wielded his brown hammer and blocked her way.
Profound Frost clashed with the hammer as she made use of the force from the exchange to withdraw to her original position.
[What a shame.] Su Yan thought to herself. If she was just a bit quicker, everything would have been different. She was a First-Order Dao Source Realm Master that had been suppressed for ten years, so the power she had showcased was indeed surprising, given the fact that she was confronted by two Elders at the same time. Both Han Qian Cheng and the Elders were already drenched in a cold sweat.
The battle just now was indeed marvellous and eye-catching.
The Elder on the left, who had snuck behind Su Yan, finally found a chance to make a move as he lashed his red whip at her. The whip looked like a fire snake that was sticking out its tongue as it swerved towards her.
Without turning her head, Su Yan swung her sword back and accurately parried the fire snake. Nonetheless, the fire snake twisted and climbed around the sword. At that instant, auras of fire and ice clashed with each other as the cave was soon filled with a thick fog, blocking everyone’s sight.
Just then, Su Yan turned around and pointed her finger at the red whip that looked like a fire snake. At that moment, her slender finger became as translucent as ice as though it was no longer made from flesh and bone.
The Elder on the left exclaimed in shock as he felt that his artifact’s spirituality had been damaged. Moreover, the damage was rapidly increasing. Not daring to dawdle, he immediately withdrew his artifact. His expression changed when he took a closer look because a layer of frost had formed on the end of his whip and was spreading quickly.
Astounded, the Elder on the left quickly pushed his Source Qi into the whip to break the frost. Even after succeeding, he still appeared horrified.
[Just how is she so strong?]
Although it was just a brief battle, both Elders realised that they were no match for Su Yan individually. If they were in a one-on-one fight with her, they would undoubtedly be the ones to lose.
Amidst the thick fog, all three of them activated their Divine Sense to locate each other. After the initial exchange, the two Elders no longer dared to make any rash moves. However, Su Yan was also in a perilous situation because her enemies were standing in front and behind her. Although she was incredibly strong, she couldn’t safely leave this place if she didn’t take some risks.
Both Elders wouldn’t dare to make any reckless moves now and were waiting for the right chance to capture her with one strike.
The place fell into silence, and the atmosphere was extremely eerie.
Displeased, Han Qian Cheng growled, “What are you two doing? You’re swift when it’s time to get your pay, but when I want you to capture someone, both of you are just dawdling about! Wastes!”
The two Elders were enraged upon hearing those words. [You are the waste, not us! If it wasn’t for you being the Young Sect Master, we would have killed you a long time ago! You know nothing, so how can you boss us around here!? Ridiculous!]
Whatever the case, both Elders were truly embarrassed because they couldn’t defeat Su Yan even though they had joined forces. After they communicated with each other using their Divine Senses, they came to an agreement. Following that, they both pushed their Spiritual Energy and sent two streams of invisible Divine Sense toward their target.
It was a Soul Technique!
Su Yan’s Source Qi was extremely pure, even more so than these two Elders. If they fought with her head-on, one of them might even be killed. However, an attack on her Soul would be a different story. It had only been ten years since Su Yan reached her current realm, so there was no way her Soul was that strong.
Any wise man would attack the enemy’s shortcomings using his strengths.
As expected, after Su Yan received the Divine Sense attacks, she groaned in pain. Apparently, she was unable to block their attacks. Her defence against their strike only lasted for a short while before it was broken.
The two Elders were elated upon that realization. In order to seize the chance, the Elder on the right didn’t hesitate and leapt at her while lifting his brown hammer.
Right then, he saw a faint glint in front of him. Upon scanning it with his Divine Sense, he realised that Su Yan was charging forward with her sword as she appeared determined. At the same time, she had totally given up her defence.
[Again?] The right Elder sneered. He had just been fooled by her earlier, which caused him to be embarrassed, so he wouldn’t fall for the same trick again.
Turning ferocious, he also gave up his defences and attempted to smash his brown hammer at her sword.
His brown hammer was a Dao Source Grade Low-Rank artifact, while Profound Frost was just an Origin King Grade High-Rank artifact, which Su Yan had brought with her from her Star Field. Both weapons were not even in the same realm. If their weapons clashed with each other, it would be Su Yan who would suffer a loss.
With this thought in mind, the right Elder grinned smugly, but his smile soon froze.
Before their weapons clashed, Su Yan’s sword avoided the hammer as it slid over his weapon in a seemingly impossible manner, the cold aura coming from the blade sending a chill down his spine.
Following that, the sound of a blade penetrating flesh could be heard as the Elder on the right grunted.
It was scorching hot inside the cave as the fog gradually dispersed, upon which everyone’s vision cleared up.
Standing outside the cave entrance, Han Qian Cheng widened his eyes as he gazed forward with a horrified expression. He almost couldn’t believe his eyes.
The hammer-holding Elder and Su Yan were just three steps apart as they were facing each other. However, at this moment, a blade had penetrated the Elder’s chest and stuck out of his back. The blade itself had a pristine glow about it, seemingly unstained by a single drop of blood.
With the wound as the centre, coldness spread across the Elder’s body, quickly freezing his limbs and head.
“You…” The Elder uttered with difficulty as he couldn’t believe that he would lose his life in this place. He thought that the way he was harmed earlier was ridiculous. He seemed to have fallen into a dazed state for a moment and when he came to his senses, his chest had already been penetrated.
Su Yan was surprised as well, for she didn’t expect that she could kill this Elder with such ease. Her intentions were to trade wounds with the other party. However, it had never crossed her mind that the Elder would be so inept.
[Was it really just a careless mistake?] In her heart, she felt that something was off. With no time to think about it though, she hurriedly infused her cold aura into the Elder and froze him into an ice sculpture in the blink of an eye. After she withdrew Profound Frost, the Elder fell forward and shattered into pieces.
Then, Su Yan turned around and swung her sword, upon which her cold aura condensed a flurry of snowflakes that engulfed the other Elder.
The left Elder still hadn’t come to his senses from the fact that his brother had just been killed. Faced with a fatal move though, he quickly composed himself and attempted to parry. However, he realised that he couldn’t make a move as he was covered in the snowflakes, winding up in the same state as the right Elder.
The snowflakes were actually condensed from Su Yan’s Source Qi, so they were extremely potent and deadly. The cold aura penetrated the Elder’s body through his pores, causing him to tremble uncontrollably. He wasn’t even able to circulate his Source Qi, so how would he resist her attack?
Faced with Su Yan’s strike, the Elder couldn’t even raise his hand. A look of regret and pleading flashed across his eyes as he was cut in half by her, upon which his blood splashed out, dying the cave red.
With a frown, Su Yan stood there with her sword in her hand. She didn’t feel joyful about killing two cultivators in the same realm, nor was she elated about escaping unscathed. Instead, she increasingly felt that something was amiss. At the same time, something seemed to be surging within her.
All of a sudden, she realised something and turned to the cave entrance as her eyes beamed with a different glow.
Earlier, she was too focused on the life-or-death battle with the two Elders, so she wasn’t aware of the strange sensation in her Soul. After both her enemies were killed though, she finally realised what this familiar feeling was. Even though she was a woman with an icy temperament, at this moment, she couldn’t hide the change of emotions on her face. Expectation, surprise, fear, apprehension…
“Ah!” Han Qian Cheng exclaimed as he staggered backwards and waved his hands, “J-Junior Sister, please don’t kill me. I-It’s just a misunderstanding.”
Both Elders were killed just like that. If he hadn’t seen it with his eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it. He thought that he could rely on them to capture Su Yan so that he could do with her as he pleased. However, it now seemed that not only was his plan foiled, but he might also lose his life here.
He felt apprehensive because he didn’t know whether Su Yan would also kill him. [Wastes! How did they get killed by a woman so easily!?]
Suddenly, he couldn’t move backwards anymore as though he had crashed into a solid wall. Turning around, he opened his mouth wide and stuttered, “W-W-Why are you here?”
The young man called Yang Kai was now standing in front of him with his arms crossed. Han Qian Cheng wasn’t even sure how long Yang Kai had been there because he couldn’t sense his aura at all. [Wasn’t he supposed to have been captured by those Elders in the Sect by now? Why has he appeared here all of a sudden? Moreover, he looks totally fine!]
His face turned completely pale as he was now surrounded by two people who bore him ill will. When he caught a glimpse of Ruan Bi Ting, who was standing nearby, he hurriedly shouted, “Elder Ruan, save me!”
Without hiding the disdain behind her gaze, Ruan Bi Ting simply snorted coldly at him.
“Hello, Young Sect Master!” Yang Kai flashed a grin at him before raising his hand and uttering, “Goodbye!”
After he landed a palm on Han Qian Cheng, the latter turned into a pile of hashed meat without even a chance to scream. A metallic tang filled the cave, one that would induce the urge to retch. Yang Kai hadn’t met Su Yan for a long time, so he wasn’t willing to waste time on this rubbish.
He raised his head and looked at the person inside the cave. The image in his memory slowly integrated with the person before his eyes as he gulped. Although he had many things to tell her, he wasn’t even sure where to start. For some reason, he became very nervous.
On the other hand, Su Yan was staring quietly at him with her clear gaze, as though he was the only existence in this world.
“Ahem!” Ruan Bi Ting coughed and spoke, “Go on and have a chat. I’ll go out.”
Even a fool could see that the atmosphere was turning ambiguous, so she wouldn’t choose to continue staying in this place. However, she felt crestfallen as her decision somewhat led to the destruction of the Red Clouds Sect. She wasn’t even sure where else she could go now.
It was supposed to be a warm reunion after a long time of separation, but the three corpses on the ground had spoiled the atmosphere. Nevertheless, as long as they were together, they would still feel sweet even if they were in Hell.
“What are you waiting for? Come over here!” Su Yan beckoned to Yang Kai as she spoke in a trembling voice, which went to show that she wasn’t as calm as she appeared to be.
Now, she knew that she managed to kill the two Elders with ease not because they had made a mistake, or because her potential was suddenly ignited, but because this man had secretly assisted her.
Yang Kai threw himself at her as he spread his arms and pulled her into his embrace. He was so forceful that it was as though he wanted to merge her into his body so that they would never separate again.
Her fragrance and touch were still so familiar to him. Although they had been separated for several dozen years, he still hadn’t forgotten anything about her. The moment they came into contact with each other, all the memories were unsealed as they flashed across their minds as though it was yesterday.
Su Yan draped her arms around him and rested her chin on his shoulder. This moment seemed to have turned into eternity.
Yang Kai greedily inhaled her scent as he could never get enough of it, but after half an hour spent just like that, Su Yan patted his back and spoke in a tone that sounded like a mother pacifying her child, “It’s alright.”
“No,” Yang Kai wasn’t willing to let her go. Feeling unsatisfied, he moved away a little and clenched her shoulders. When their eyes met, he lowered his head and locked his lips with hers.
Just like her temperament, her red lips were cold, but Yang Kai was still engrossed in the kiss. Then, he pried her mouth open and stuck out his tongue as they had a taste of each other’s longing. Initially, Su Yan was stiff. After all, they hadn’t met for decades, and they hadn’t been so intimate with each other for a long time. However, after she got used to it, her body softened as she proactively wrapped her arms around his neck.
The two of them were deeply engrossed in their kiss, and if not for the environment and the corpses on the ground, the sight could be considered romantic and poetic.
A while later, Yang Kai still wasn’t satisfied, so he moved one hand towards her bottom and grabbed her peaks with the other. As he felt the amazing elasticity of her body through his hands, he began massaging them as he pleased.
Su Yan balled up her fists and thumped at his shoulders, but it was useless. Instead, her actions only stimulated his wild nature.
Then, she hardened her heart and bit his lips, but he was still unfazed.
“Don’t force…” she mumbled with difficulty, but before she could even finish her words, her soft tongue was captured and sucked by his lips.
All of a sudden, he stopped his presumptuous action as he realised that he couldn’t feel the intoxicating touch anymore. Instead, he felt a cold aura as though he was grabbing ice blocks. Not only was her body hard, but it was also bitingly cold. Both his hands and tongue felt the same way, as though he was embracing an ice sculpture.
Then, he moved away a little and took a look. Shocked, he asked, “Senior Sister, what are you doing?”
At this moment, Su Yan appeared translucent as though she was sculpted from an ice block. There was no trace of flesh on her body, and if it weren’t for her eyes that seemed out of focus and her panting, anyone would have mistaken her to be an ice sculpture.
“My Master is still outside.” Su Yan reached out a finger and poked his head.
Although she too was drowning in a sense of longing after the reunion, in the end, she was a woman with a sense of shame. Moreover, how could she let Ruan Bi Ting wait outside while she made out with Yang Kai in this cave?
Yang Kai grabbed her finger and fiddled with it as he asked in shock, “Is this the Ice Crystal Jade Body?”
Su Yan nodded and retracted her finger, upon which she deactivated her Divine Ability and restored her body. After pushing him away, she scolded, “Don’t move. Let me have a look at you.”
While remaining on the same spot, Yang Kai grinned at her.
Upon inspection, she finally set her mind at ease. He had ventured into the outside world for several dozen years, so she was glad that none of his limbs were missing. His cultivation wasn’t as important as his safety.
Yang Kai uttered, “I’m hurt.”
Su Yan asked in shock, “Where?” She had failed to notice it just now.
Then, he appeared in pain as he explained, “I don’t know. Senior Sister, you must give me a full examination. I feel that my entire body is in pain. I think I’m dying.”
“Which part of your body is hurt!?” Su Yan’s expression changed as she was flustered.
After that, Yang Kai wrapped his arms around her waist and replied with a grin, “It’s not the right place for an examination. Let’s go somewhere else.” After a flash, both of them disappeared from the place.
Somewhere near the medicine garden in the Sealed World Bead, Yang Kai quickly stripped himself bare. Then, he took her hand and placed it on his chest before saying in a shy manner, “Senior Sister, please do a thorough examination of me now. My heart is thumping.”
Su Yan glowered at him as her fair face started blushing. Lowering her head, she said through clenched teeth, “I think you look fine. You’re not hurt at all.” She was truly worried about him just now, but after giving it a thought, she realised that he was able to influence the two Elders without any of them noticing, so it was apparent that his strength had grown to an incredible level. Therefore, it was unlikely that he would get hurt easily.
As for the reason his heart was beating so fast, the lust in his eyes was more than enough of an explanation.
Yang Kai gulped as he stared at her blushing face. Leaning closer to her, he uttered, “Senior Sister, you have to let me check on you as well.”
“I-I’m not hurt.” Su Yan looked away.
“How will I know if you don’t let me examine you? You just battled two enemies in the same realm, it would be terrible if you were left with some internal injuries.” As he spoke, he started making a move. Her white robes couldn’t possibly withstand his rough movements and were soon taken off.
Seeing her jade white body filled with astonishing curves and softness, Yang Kai practically threw himself onto her. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably as she attempted to suppress her moaning. During their union, a layer of pinkness appeared on her fair skin and even the air seemed to have been filled with sweetness.
It was like a timely rain after a prolonged drought. All the trees had been resurrected, and all the flowers started blooming.
Su Yan’s white clothes were put on and then taken off again and again, as though she had fallen into an infinite loop.
No matter how impassive and aloof she was, she couldn’t resist Yang Kai’s passionate aggression. The fiery lust seemed able to completely melt her Ice Crystal Jade Body. She lay paralysed on the ground as she couldn’t exert any strength at all, as though all her bones had softened. Her fair skin was left with many marks that were caused during the intimate session.
They spent the entire day entangled with one another, and as they both lay naked, Yang Kai rested his head on her plump bosom to take a rest.
Su Yan’s out-of-focus eyes slowly regained their vigour as she patted his head and asked, “Are you done?”
She couldn’t take it anymore, as the man in her embrace seemed to have the intention of infusing his several dozen years of longing into her body, causing her to writhe in happiness. Her heart had been like a still lake for the past few decades, but at this moment, countless ripples had been formed in it.
Yang Kai could be heard mumbling, but it was hard to make out what he was saying, as though he was talking in his sleep.
With a faint smile, Su Yan stroked his back with her slender hand, as if she was trying to pacify a child who was having a nightmare. All of a sudden, she uttered, “It must have been difficult for you over the years.”
He was just a Second-Order Origin King when he left the Star Field, but now, she couldn’t even be certain about his current realm. However, she could feel that he must have reached a height even greater than the Third-Order Dao Source Realm.
He must have sacrificed much and endured even more to reach this kind of realm.
Although she hadn’t been able to stand by his side over the years, she knew that he must have gone through a lot of hardship and pain. At that instant, she felt utterly sorry for him. [Who was there to serve and take care of him whenever he was hurt?]
“I’m fine.” Yang Kai suddenly opened his eyes and rested his head on his palm. As he stared at her face right in front of his own, he began climbing on of her peaks with his hand. Appearing to be deep in guilt, he said, “I’m sorry for being late.”
Su Yan stroked his face and protested, “You’re such a fool!”
Yang Kai was startled, “I’m a fool?”
Covering her mouth, she giggled and replied, “Yes, you’re the most foolish person I’ve ever seen.”
“Why do you say so?” He felt wronged.
Nevertheless, she just smiled without replying to him.
Pretending to be angry, he uttered, “How dare you tease me?” Then, he extended his hand to tickle her, causing her to scowl as she tried her hardest not to laugh. After that, he paused what he was doing and tilted his head, “If I’m a fool, then all of you are this fool’s wives!”
Upon finishing his words, he lowered his head and kissed the redness on her chest, as though he was having a taste of the most delectable dish in the world.
Su Yan stiffened and bit her lip as her long legs unconsciously squirmed. Reaching out her hands, she cupped his face and hoisted his head.
“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“Let’s go again…” Su Yan looked away and said gently as she was too shy to meet his eyes.
In an instant, Yang Kai’s eyes beamed with a lustful glare. Upon receiving the order, he stopped hesitating and growled before he pressed his body against hers.
…
“Let me put on my clothes.” Su Yan appeared exhausted and desperate as she looked at him and pleaded.
[No. We can’t keep doing this. If I don’t put on my clothes, I’ll probably die here. Moreover, I’m really too unrestrained as I’ve made love with him in this place for two days! My Master has been waiting for so long.] Realising that she still had to face Ruan Bi Ting later, Su Yan started blushing.
Yang Kai grinned at her, “Why are you in a rush? I’m not done with you yet.”
She poked his forehead and demanded, “Be a good boy.”
He nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Ma’am.”
She went on to say, “We still have a lot of time in the future, so you don’t have to rush things.”
“But we haven’t even dual cultivated yet!”
Two days of union was just his way to express his longing, but they hadn’t even cultivated the Yin-Yang Joyous Unification Art.
“Can we do it next time?” Su Yan pleaded with him.
“No,” Yang Kai shook his head.
With a long face, she threatened, “I’ll get mad.”
He couldn’t help but be frightened as he darted his gaze around and replied, “I want to tell you what I’ve gone through over the years. Don’t you want to listen?”
She frowned and appeared hesitant. Certainly, she wanted to find out what had happened to him over the years. In fact, she had wanted to ask him about it right after their reunion, but he didn’t give her that chance. After hesitating for a bit, she uttered, “Good… The short version?”
“Good.” After lifting her up, he sat down with his legs crossed and grinned at her, “We can talk about it while dual cultivating.”
Feeling helpless, she nodded gently. Then, she ran her fingers through her messy hair and tied it into a bun before she sat down on his thighs.
It was a story of his experience in the past several dozen years, so he couldn’t make it short. Beside the medicine garden, a man and a woman could be heard moaning harmoniously as their desire consumed them from the inside out.
Time went by slowly as Yang Kai narrated his experiences to her. Too many things happened after he arrived in the Star Boundary, so he only told her the most important events and avoided talking about his dangerous experiences. Su Yan listened attentively as she asked some questions from time to time.
A long time had passed when he was finally done with his story.
“Senior Sister, what about you? How did you end up in the Ancestral Domain?”
She replied, “It was an unexpected opportunity.”
It was indeed a strange incident. Heng Luo Star Field had always been a sealed place, and their connection with the Star Boundary was actually formed using the Star Emperor Tokens left behind by Yang Yan. However, five years after Yang Kai left, an area of space in the Star Field showed some unusual signs, as though it was going to collapse.
That place wasn’t far from Shadowed Star, so upon learning the news, Su Yan brought some people with her to look into the matter. However, before she could find out what was going on, she suddenly arrived at the Ancestral Domain and then joined Red Clouds Sect. She wasn’t even sure how she had come to this new place.
The story after she joined the Sect was simple. She was favoured by Ruan Bi Ting, so she was taken in as her Disciple and nurtured by her. However, because she resisted Han Qian Cheng’s harassment, she was ordered to guard the Fire Cloud Ore Vein, and she had stayed there for ten years since then.
Upon hearing her story, Yang Kai snorted and regretted killing Han Qian Cheng too quickly earlier. He should have tortured him first.
…..
“Elder Ruan, Red Clouds Sect is finished! What should we do?” Inside the Fire Cloud Ore Vein, the disciples, who were responsible for mining operations here, looked to Ruan Bi Ting for guidance.
They had received the news from their Sect that their Sect Master and all the Elders were killed by a little girl who looked only seven or eight years old, and the incident seemed to be related to Su Yan.
The death of the Sect Master signalled the fall of Red Cloud Sects. In just one night, all the disciples scrambled to leave the Sect as they were worried that they would be dragged into this mess. There was probably no one left in the Sect now.
It was already quite late when these disciples, who were here to mine Fire Cloud Ore, received the news.
Feeling apprehensive, they had no choice but to ask Ruan Bi Ting what they could do.
Ruan Bi Ting heaved a sigh as everything was within her expectation.
She had protected the Sect for 100 years, so she felt dejected that it was now destroyed. However, after giving it a thought, she realised that those from the Sect only had themselves to blame. If Han Zheng Yuan wasn’t such a narrow-minded man, his Sect wouldn’t have ended up in such a state. If they had treated Su Yan well, they would have reaped a handsome reward by now.
The young man called Yang Kai possessed a power that was beyond even her ability to comprehend. She wasn’t even certain about what realm he was in. However, she knew that if Yang Kai was willing to gift any one of his possessions to them, it would be hugely beneficial for Red Clouds Sect.
Unfortunately, there was no pill for regret in this world. Han Zheng Yuan and his son must be utterly regretful in Hell right now.
“You must seek your own path now,” Ruan Bi Ting waved her hand in a crestfallen manner.
“Elder Ruan, only you can take charge of Red Clouds Sect now.” The disciple at the front wasn’t willing to leave the Sect, so he still attempted to persuade her.
However, Ruan Bi Ting shook her head, “Red Clouds Sect has fallen. There are no everlasting Sects or families in this world. Tides rise and fall. Flowers bloom and wither. Just let nature take its course. Please go now.”
In fact, she was more relieved than sorry. She took a deep breath as she refreshed her spirits, as though the chains that had been binding her had shattered to pieces.
“But…”
All of a sudden, Ruan Bi Ting’s expression turned solemn as she looked in a particular direction and uttered, “That person is coming. If you don’t want to be dragged into this, leave now. I’m not even sure if he will kill all of you.”
The expressions of these disciples changed when they heard that. Not daring to remain, all of them ran away in the blink of an eye.
A moment later, Yang Kai and Su Yan came out together.
“Master,” Su Yan saluted her with a healthy blush on her face.
Ruan Bi Ting wasn’t an inexperienced little girl, so she knew what this pair had been up to for the past few days. Besides the fact that Su Yan had become even more charming at this moment, Ruan Bi Ting was able to tell through the unique fragrance associated with such acts that were literally covering them.
[It’s been ten days! This brat is truly relentless!]
“Su Yan, you… wait, your cultivation!” Ruan Bi Ting hadn’t even finished her words when she stared at Su Yan in shock. She thought that she was dreaming.
They hadn’t met each other for merely ten days, but Su Yan’s cultivation had risen from the First-Order to the Second-Order Dao Source Realm! Moreover, her aura was rich and her foundation was solid, as though she had spent years thoroughly consolidating it.
[H-How can this be?]
She had never doubted Su Yan’s aptitude, as the latter was able to go from peak Third-Order Origin King Realm to Dao Source Realm in just five years. In the past, it had taken her more than ten years to achieve the same result.
However, they were now in the Fire Cloud Ore Vein, and Su Yan had been suppressed here for ten years, so her cultivation shouldn’t have increased at all. Ruan Bi Ting was even certain about this fact as when she came to look for Su Yan ten days ago, the latter’s cultivation was still in the same state as ten years ago.
However, now, Su Yan had reached the Second-Order Dao Source Realm, the same as her.
[How did she achieve this? How is this possible?] After Ruan Bi Ting recovered from her shock, she immediately turned to look at Yang Kai.
There was no way Su Yan was able to achieve this on her own. This had nothing to do with aptitude, it was simply an impossibility to advance so quickly without some kind of shocking fortuitous encounter or outside assistance from a supreme Master.
It must be this young man who had helped her! But what kind of elixirs did he give to Su Yan to achieve such an amazing result?
Su Yan’s face turned a shade redder. In truth, it was all thanks to the dual cultivation session she just experienced that she was able to reach a higher realm. The Yin-Yang Joyous Unification Art was a Dual Cultivation Technique. Although they hadn’t met for ages, Su Yan’s foundation had only been strengthened over the years, so after the dual cultivation session, her accumulated strength burst forth and pushed her cultivation higher.
Moreover, Yang Kai was in the Emperor Realm, so with his ‘assistance’, it was impossible that Su Yan couldn’t reach a higher realm.
“Congratulations.” Ruan Bi Ting came to her senses and stared at Su Yan.
She felt joyful that her Disciple had attained the same realm as her. It went to show that she had made the right decision to take her under her wing.
Su Yan replied, “Master, it’s all thanks to your help over the years.” Without Ruan Bi Ting continuously and secretly giving her resources this past decade, her cultivation would have regressed, as it was impossible for her to maintain her realm in this fiery place without adequate support.
“Many thanks, Elder Ruan.” Yang Kai saluted her with a sincere expression. There was no doubt that Ruan Bi Ting had been treating Su Yan well. During their conversation over the past few days, he had heard from Su Yan about what Ruan Bi Ting had done for her, so he was grateful towards her Master as well.
Ruan Bi Ting waved her hand and uttered, “You don’t have to thank me. Su Yan is my Disciple, so I’m supposed to take care of her. I blame myself for not being resolute enough in the past as I didn’t take her and leave Red Clouds Sect, which caused her cultivation to stagnate for ten years. Thankfully, she’s finally reached a higher realm. Otherwise, I’d feel very guilty.” Then, she turned to look at Yang Kai, “You must treat her well. Although I’m no match for you in terms of cultivation, I won’t let you off if you ever betray her.”
Yang Kai grinned at her and made a ‘cut-throat’ gesture on his neck, “Senior, if that really happens one day, you don’t have to do it because I’ll behead myself.” Although his cultivation was more powerful than hers, she was Su Yan’s Master after all. So, he was supposed to call her ‘Senior’.
With a smile, Ruan Bi Ting replied, “I’ll remember that.”
Realising something, Su Yan asked, “Master, where will you go now?”
Ruan Bi Ting took her Disciple’s hands and heaved a sigh, “Red Clouds Sect has fallen. Prior to that, I was expelled from the Sect by Han Zheng Yuan. The world is vast, so I should go out and have a look; after all, I’ve stayed in the same place for 100 years already. Furthermore, you’re already in the same realm as me. If I don’t work harder, how am I supposed to be your Master?”
Su Yan asked, “Master, why don’t you come with me?”
With a faint smile, Ruan Bi Ting replied, “You two have just reunited after a long time of separation, so why should I be the third wheel? Good, we’ll definitely meet again when the time is right.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “Senior, if you leave now, we might not be able to meet each other forever.”
Ruan Bi Ting uttered, “Although the Ancestral Domain is vast, we still can meet up if we want to.”
“We are going to leave the Ancestral Domain soon.”
Ruan Bi Ting was startled for a moment before she stared at Su Yan and asked, “You’re leaving the Ancestral Domain? Where are you going?”
Su Yan replied, “The Star Boundary!”
“Star Boundary?” Ruan Bi Ting was stunned, but she soon appeared surprised, “You have a way to head to the Star Boundary?” Judging from her expression, it was apparent that she was aware of the existence of the Star Boundary.
In fact, this wasn’t surprising. The Ancestral Domain was connected to countless Star Fields, some of which undoubtedly knew of the Star Boundary. The average cultivators in the Ancestral Domain might not be aware of it, but the top cultivators would be able to gain access to this kind of secretive information.
The Star Boundary was almost a legendary place. It was rumoured that it was a broader place with even more abundant World Energy. The environment there was more advanced, and there was a higher Martial Dao to be pursued.
It was the final destination in every cultivator’s Martial Dao journey. In that place, Third-Order Dao Source Realm Masters were nobodies.
“En.” With a serious expression, Yang Kai nodded.
“Master, please come with me.” Su Yan pleaded with her. Ruan Bi Ting had helped her immensely before, and if they parted ways just like this, she might not be able to repay her favour forever.
At that moment, a myriad of expressions came over Ruan Bi Ting. She intended to roam around the world, but all of a sudden, a door had been opened right before her eyes, and the view on the other end was extremely tempting.
After taking a deep breath, she stared at Yang Kai and asked, “What realm are you in right now?”
“I am a First-Order Emperor.” Yang Kai flashed a smile at her.
“The Emperor Realm!” Ruan Bi Ting appeared to be yearning for it, “After the Dao Source Realm, it’s called the Emperor Realm?” She tucked her hair behind her ear and put on a smile, “If I tag along, will I disturb you two?”
“No, because we’ve had enoug… gah!”
Su Yan hit his stomach with her elbow.
Ruan Bi Ting looked smilingly at her and said, “I’ll rely on you from now on, then.”
…
Although the view in Red Clouds Sect remained beautiful, the place was no longer lively.
Despite the Sect’s vast territory, the entire place was quiet. Not a single person could be seen in the square or wandering the palaces, as though this place had become a desolate area. Even the beasts in the forests had returned to their homes and wouldn’t come out again, as if they could sense the danger around them.
On the steps in front of a certain palace, Liu Yan was sitting as she rested her chin on her palms and stared at the scene in front of her. Her gaze appeared listless and hollow, as though she had no regard for anyone or anything in this world, but at the same time, it seemed able to contain the entire world.
He Yun Xiang shuffled towards her and took a look at her with fear in her heart.
No one could have expected that this adorable-looking little girl was able to kill her enemies in such a resolute manner. He Yun Xiang still remembered vividly what happened inside the reception hall ten days ago. This little girl used a single fire snake to burn the Sect Master and all the Elders of Red Clouds Sect to ashes in less than ten breaths of time. Those formidable Dao Source Realm Masters in He Yun Xiang’s eyes were completely powerless when confronted by her attack.
“Have you found anything good?” Liu Yan suddenly looked at her and raised her hand, upon which a burning palm-sized firebird that had been following He Yun Xiang around flew over and landed, vanishing after a light chirp.
He Yun Xiang was startled for a moment before she replied, “I’ve taken all the things from their storehouse.”
Red Clouds Sect was a great force in the Ancestral Domain, so they had their own treasury of course. Normally, only the Sect Master and a small number of Elders had the right to open it; however, the Sect Master Han Zheng Yuan and the Elders were killed suddenly, and all the disciples had run away, so no one had the time to get anything out from the storehouse.
The treasury was protected by multiple barriers while He Yun Xiang had just reached the Third-Order Origin King Realm not long ago, so she was powerless to open it. However, the firebird given to her by Liu Yan had burned through all the barriers with ease, allowing her to enter and clean out the place.
He Yun Xiang had never expected that she would one day be able to seize so many treasures, exciting her greatly. Those were the treasures that had been accumulated by Red Clouds Sect over thousands of years, which included countless elixirs, exotic herbs, Secret Art manuals, and artifacts.
As the Head Manager of the Fierce Gale Pirates who had roamed around the entire Unending Star Field and robbed countless people for many years, it wasn’t until this moment that she realised that she was still just a small-time ignorant bumpkin. The treasures seized by the Fierce Gale Pirates were totally incomparable to what she found in Red Clouds Sect’s treasure house.
It required more than ten Space Rings for her to store everything!
[We’re rich now!] Then, she passed all the Space Rings in her hands to Liu Yan, who raised her head and stared at her with her clear gaze.
“I’ll just keep one and you can have the rest, Madam,” He Yun Xiang explained. Certainly, she couldn’t hoard all the good stuff, as she was someone who knew her place. Besides, just this one ring would be enough to last her for many years.
“Just keep all of it.” Liu Yan waved her hand.
Both Yang Kai and she didn’t need this kind of trash.
“But…”
All of a sudden, Liu Yan turned to look in a particular direction as her petite figure leapt up. Her expression also became strange, filling with a mix of excitement and respect.
He Yun Xiang was shocked and followed her gaze, only to see a few figures rapidly flying towards them. The person at the front was none other than Yang Kai. A moment later, all three of them landed on the ground.
In an instant, He Yun Xiang was attracted to the unfamiliar woman as she was astounded. [What a pure beauty! Sir was enraged upon learning that ‘Su Yan’ had been mistreated. Is she the one?]
The first impression she had of Su Yan was that the latter was utterly flawless. It was as if the Heavens had given all its blessings to her. By just looking at her, any woman would find themselves feeling inferior.
Then, she took a closer look at her face and realised that the latter was indeed beautiful enough to make any man fall for her. It was then she came to the realisation why Yang Kai wasn’t interested in her, because he already had such a beautiful woman by his side. Other women in this world probably couldn’t attract him anymore.
“Sir,” He Yun Xiang hurriedly saluted him as she felt apprehensive because she was worried that Su Yan might be displeased with her; after all, she had been following Yang Kai around, so it would be terrible if the latter was jealous. It seemed that she had to be more restrained in the future. At the very least, she should stop trying to flirt with Yang Kai.
“What’s wrong?” Yang Kai looked puzzledly at Liu Yan as he approached her and stroked her head. Then, he said with a grin, “Don’t you remember her?”
Certainly, Liu Yan and Su Yan knew each other because they had come into contact many times before in Heng Luo Star Field. What baffled Yang Kai was that Liu Yan was looking at her with a curious expression, as though it was her first time meeting her.
What was even more puzzling for him was that Su Yan was also looking at Liu Yan in the same way, her gaze filled with interest.
Yang Kai darted his gaze between them and asked in bewilderment, “What are you two doing?”
Liu Yan stepped forward and approached Su Yan before she wrinkled her nose and sniffed around her like a dog. A moment later, she raised her head and flashed a smile at her.
Su Yan smiled back at her as though she was looking at her relative. Lovingly, she stroked Liu Yan’s head and asked in a soft voice, “What’s your name?”
Yang Kai hurriedly wiped the rapidly forming cold sweat on his forehead and explained, “She’s Liu Yan.”
Su Yan paused what she was doing as she was astonished, “Liu Yan?”
[Why has she become like this?] The Liu Yan Su Yan remembered was a beautiful mature woman who was always clad in revealing clothes. She had never expected that Liu Yan had become a child when they met again.
Then, she turned to look at Yang Kai and inquired him about it with her gaze.
“It’s a long story, but in short, many things have happened, and she’s become like this.” He paused for a moment, “By the way, why were you two silently looking at each other just now?”
He didn’t understand what these two women of different heights were up to as they were not so intimate in the past.
Su Yan and Liu Yan traded glances as they put on tacit smiles, but they didn’t seem to have the intention of explaining themselves.
[Oh! Just you wait!] Yang Kai protested in his heart, but he didn’t want to harp on this issue. After looking around, he said, “Let’s go.”
Ruan Bi Ting waved her hand, upon which a 100-metre ship with four floors appeared. The ship was beautifully crafted, so it was apparently made by a famous grandmaster.
After they boarded the ship, Ruan Bi Ting injected her Source Qi into it and with a flicker, it soared off.
It was time to return home!
The vast Star Field was dead silent.
A Void Corridor swirled at a certain location, looking as if it had been there for eternity all on its own. The Void Corridor was unlike others because it gave off a feeling that it was extremely unstable, as though it would collapse at any moment.
A dangerous aura wafted from it.
The existence of this Void Corridor wasn’t a secret in the Star Field, but rarely did anyone have the guts to approach it. That was because a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master had gone missing in this place in the past, and there had not been any news about her since then. No one knew for sure whether she was even still alive.
So, over the years, many people had speculated that this Void Corridor led to an unknown world from which there was no way to return, but no one had actually tried to find out.
In fact, this place had become desolate for several dozen years.
However, at this moment, there seemed to be some unusual changes in the Void Corridor. The entrance violently contracted and expanded several times before a beam of colourful light shot out of it.
A figure was also ejected out of the corridor along with the beam of light. Like an arrow leaving the bow, the person was shot out more than a kilometre before he managed to stabilize himself.
The person was none other than Yang Kai. At this moment, he appeared quite dishevelled.
After he entered the Star Road Portal in the Ancestral Domain, he had to pass through multiple Void Cracks before he managed to return to Heng Luo Star Field. It took him quite some effort to do that. He couldn’t use much of his strength either as it might cause a Void Collapse, but he also couldn’t use a power that was too weak, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to break through the various World Barriers to reach his destination.
He had made many attempts before he found the path back home. After he stabilised himself, he scanned the surroundings with his Divine Sense. Following that, he appeared elated as he guffawed. That was because he could sense the existence of Shadowed Star.
Spreading his arms, it was as if he wanted to embrace the Star Field itself.
[Heng Luo Star Field, I’m back!]
When he left this place in the past, he had never expected that he would come back so soon. He had set a goal of returning 100 years later for himself, but now, not even half of that time had passed. The journey had been paved with countless hardships and life-or-death battles, but everything became worthwhile now. The images of the people he had been longing for became clearer in his mind, making him wish he could grow a pair of wings and immediately fly back to Shadowed Star. He wanted to show up before their eyes and see how pleasantly surprised they were.
Then, he turned around and stared fixedly at the Void Corridor. That was the portal through which Su Yan had travelled to the Ancestral Domain. As he felt the aura wafting from the corridor, he was still reeling from the shock. Su Yan must have been extremely lucky to have arrived at the Ancestral Domain safely.
After that, he took a deep breath and waved his hand, upon which Su Yan appeared before his eyes.
She seemed to be meditating, but upon realising something had changed around her, she opened her eyes and looked around before asking with a smile, “We’re back?”
Before they embarked on the journey back home, Yang Kai put all of them in the Sealed World Bead. First of all, it was energy-consuming to bring so many people to pass through the Star Road Portal. Secondly, Su Yan was in the Second-Order Dao Source Realm, which was beyond the limits of what Heng Leng Star Field could tolerate, so she had to suppress her cultivation.
So far, it seemed that she had been doing well. It was just that she had suppressed her cultivation too much, to the point that she only gave off a Second-Order Origin King aura now.
“En, we’re back!” Yang Kai took a deep breath. Although there was no air in the Starry Sky, he could still smell the familiar scent. Then, he extended his hand and grabbed Su Yan’s firmly, as though he didn’t want to separate with her again. With their hands of different sizes interlocked with each other, Yang Kai appeared as excited as a child as he declared, “Let’s go back home!”
He didn’t need to identify the direction as the intimate connection between Shadowed Star and him was enough to point out the right way for him. Following that, they transformed into a beam of light and shot towards Shadowed Star.
With a beautiful woman by his side, Yang Kai no longer felt lonely on his journey. Whenever he felt like it, he would bring Su Yan to land on a nearby Dead Star or asteroid before engaging in various ‘activities’ with her. After he did this several times though, Su Yan had no choice but to use her Ice Crystal Jade Body to dampen his enthusiasm.
A few days later, a huge Star finally came into sight. The Star Source of Shadowed Star within his body pulsated, as if it was a traveller that was finally back home.
For some reason, Yang Kai felt nervous again, as if he was slightly afraid to return home. Then, he felt a firm grip on his hand. It was Su Yan who had grabbed his big hand. As their eyes met, he was finally at ease. After that, he pulled her into an embrace and landed a kiss on her forehead as he shouted, “Let’s go!”
Half a day later, they were in a location that was near Shadowed Star.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai and Su Yan turned to look at a spot where more than ten large Starships were hovering in the Starry Sky. Powerful auras radiated from those Starships.
“What Sect are they from?” Yang Kai pointed at the symbol that looked like a skeleton on a Starship. Perhaps he had left the Star Field for too long, so he couldn’t recognise the great force this symbol represented.
Unexpectedly, Su Yan shook her head and replied, “I don’t know.”
She had also left the Star Field for years, so she wasn’t aware of the changes that had happened to Heng Luo Star Field and Shadowed Star in recent decades.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared on the deck of the biggest Starship. It was an old man with a dense aura, marking him as a Third-Order Origin King. They were a few thousand metres apart, but he still fixed his sharp gaze on Yang Kai. His eyes seemed capable of seeing through the void and the intrinsic quality of everything in this world.
Yang Kai flashed a smile at him, but the old man raised his hand, upon which a Crystal Cannon on the Starship aimed at Yang Kai and Su Yan before a dazzling light started converging. Following that, a beam of light shot toward them.
“Hahaha!” Yang Kai chuckled heartily, “It seems we’ve bumped into a madman right after we’ve come back. En, let’s have a chat with him.”
After the beam of light diminished, Yang Kai and Su Yan were nowhere to be found. The old man on the deck stared in that direction for a while before he snorted and turned around, ready to get back into the cabin.
However, he suddenly stopped in his tracks as he felt a sense of coldness engulfing him. With a horrified gaze, he stared fixedly at the front where a man and a woman had appeared at some point without him realising. These two people were none other than the pair he had just seen thousands of metres away! They were supposed to have been destroyed by the Crystal Cannon.
Nevertheless, they were still alive and kicking as they appeared behind him, but he couldn’t sense their presence at all.
“Old Sir, are you addicted to killing or something?” Yang Kai looked smilingly at him. In the past, he would have directly killed this old man with one punch; however, he was in a good mood on this day, so he wasn’t interested in seeing blood. Moreover, he didn’t know this old man’s identity, so he didn’t want to make a rash move. It would be terrible if the old man actually held an important position and there was simply some misunderstanding here.
Yang Kai had connections with many people and forces in Heng Luo Star Field, so he couldn’t act rashly.
The old man just stared fixedly at Yang Kai without replying to him. He instinctively felt that he couldn’t afford to offend this young man as a drop of cold sweat slid down his forehead. With his hands hidden in his sleeves, he secretly performed a seal and readied himself to make a move at any moment.
“Old Mister, who are you? Who do these Starships belong to? What are you all doing here?” Yang Kai looked around and casually asked some questions, but he didn’t get any answers in return.
Then, he stepped forward and circled around the old man several times. Following that, he stopped in front of him and leaned closer to gaze at him, “Old Mister, you seem very anxious.”
More cold sweat streamed down the old man’s forehead.
Yang Kai reached out and patted the old man’s shoulder before saying with a grin, “Don’t worry. As long as you’re not my enemy, I won’t do anything to you. Are you my enemy?”
“N-N-No!” The old man uttered with difficulty.
Yang Kai nodded, “Very good. By the way, let me introduce myself. I’m the Master of this Star, Yang Kai.” He pointed at the huge Star below them.
The old man’s pupils contracted as he appeared horrified. He had never heard of any news that there was a Star Master for this Cultivation Star, but Yang Kai appeared serious, so he wasn’t sure if he should believe him.
“I’ve been gone for several dozen years, and I’m finally back today. Some women are waiting for me at home. Old Mister, what gifts do you think I should bring?”
[Why are you asking me this question?] The old man complained in his heart, but he wouldn’t dare to ignore his question. After giving it a thought, he replied, “I don’t think they’ll care about gifts as long as you’re back.”
Yang Kai stroked his chin and nodded in agreement, “Old Mister, you’re right.” Then, he suddenly laughed, “I’m already the best gift. Do you agree, Senior Sister?”
Su Yan replied, “Yes.”
“Old Mister, many thanks for enlightening me.” Yang Kai cupped his fists at the old man and took a deep breath, “I should get going now. I believe they can’t wait to see me.”
[Please just go away! Where did this lunatic come from!? It’s a shame that this beautiful woman doesn’t seem to have the intention of leaving him.]
Yang Kai was indeed in a rush, so he was eager to leave, but just as he was about to fly off, he suddenly turned around and looked at the old man, “Old Mister, are you really not my enemy?”
“Certainly not!”
“En, good,” Yang Kai nodded, “Just so you know, if you were my enemy, your end will be miserable.”
The old man’s heart jumped to his throat as a chill ran from his feet to his head, but when he raised his head again, the duo was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t even sure when they disappeared. After he scanned the area with Divine Sense, he couldn’t even detect any auras, as though they hadn’t been there in the first place.
With difficulty, the old man gulped and immediately fished out a communication artifact before infusing his Divine Sense into it. His wrinkled hands were trembling uncontrollably.
High Heaven Sect.
As a relatively new great force, the rise of High Heaven Sect could be considered miraculous. It was founded just several dozen years ago, but after such a short period of time, it had managed to amass countless Masters that were in the Origin King Realm. They even had four or five Third-Order Origin Kings in the Sect. Therefore, they had now become the most powerful force in the Star Field. Even the old hegemons like Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, Purple Star, and Sword Union were of no match for them.
At this moment, in the Main Conference Hall of High Heaven Sect, many Masters had gathered together.
The temporary Sect Master as well as the Great Elder of High Heaven Sect, Ye Xi Yun, sat at the head position while elders like Chu Ling Xiao, Ling Tai Xu, Yang Xiu Zhu, Chu Han Yi, Lin Yu Rao, Qing Ya and the others were seated on both sides of the hall. Each of them was an Origin King.
Further away from this group were more than ten Juniors like Wu Yi, Yang Wei, Dong Qing Han and the others that were already in the Origin Returning Realm. Some of them were at the peak of Origin Returning Realm, so they might break through to the Origin King Realm at any moment.
The hall was noisy as all of them were engaged in a heated discussion. Not only were the older people split in their views, but even the younger generation were also engaging in fierce debate.
Seated in the main seat, Ye Xi Yun remained silent, but she was attentively listening to all their conversations.
They were all arguing over one issue, how to wage a war! Two prevailing strategies had emerged, splitting their forces to confront the enemy on all fronts, or launching an all-out assault on the enemy headquarters. Everyone in the hall had been split into two sides and had been debating with each other for a long time but still couldn’t come to a conclusion.
All of a sudden, Ye Xi Yun, who had remained silent for a long time, looked into the distance with her deep gaze as though she was able to break through the barrier of space.
All the arguments in the hall halted abruptly as they all looked up at her.
Chu Ling Xiao asked, “What happened?”
“Some people have broken into High Heaven Sect,” Ye Xi Yun replied. As the substitute Sect Master, she was the one who controlled the Sect Defending Array of High Heaven Sect, so she was able to detect anyone who attempted to forcefully intrude.
“What!?” All of them exclaimed in disbelief and shock. High Heaven Sect was no longer a budding force. It was now the top Sect in the entire Star Field, so who would have the guts to force their way into their headquarters without permission? Who had the power to do so?
In an instant, all of them turned extremely solemn.
“These auras…” Ye Xi Yun’s expression changed. A tinge of disbelief appeared on her indifferent yet alluring face. Following that, she became agitated as she swiftly stormed out of the hall.
All of them traded glances as they didn’t know what had happened that made Ye Xi Yun lose her composure. They all knew her temperament very well, no matter what kind of disaster she had to face, she wouldn’t even frown, so her actions at this moment truly surprised them.
They immediately rose from their chairs and walked out of the hall before looking into the distance as well.
On the other side, two figures were walking toward them at a relaxed pace. Everyone in the hall stared fixedly at the two people as they widened their eyes in disbelief, wondering if they were dreaming.
As Yang Kai came across the High Heaven Sect’s disciples along the way, he amicably greeted them, causing these disciples to widen their mouths as they looked dazedly at him and Su Yan.
These disciples were mostly brought over to this place by Yang Kai from Tong Xuan Realm or the Great Han Dynasty, so most of them knew who he was. Even those who didn’t know him could recognise Su Yan. They all couldn’t believe that these two people, who had disappeared separately and at different times several dozen years ago, suddenly appeared together now.
Wherever they went, all the disciples appeared to be in a dazed state as they followed their figures with their eyes, unable to come to their senses even after a long time.
The entire High Heaven Sect seemed to have been affected by a Binding Technique by a supreme master. Everything seemed to have frozen, as only the voice of Yang Kai greeting them could be heard.
“It’s Yang Kai! It’s Yang Kai!” Dong Qing Han suddenly exclaimed. He forcefully rubbed his eyes as he was worried that he was mistaken. Then, he took Lan Chu Die’s hand and asked, “Do you see him? Is Yang Kai really back?”
Still in a confused state, Lan Chu Die nodded her head almost unconsciously, “You’re not mistaken. He’s really back.”
Dong Qing Han forcefully clapped his hands. The two of them had already been married when they were back in the Great Han Dynasty. They had gone through life’s ups and downs for several dozen years already and had always treated each other well.
The more than ten members of the younger generation in the hall who knew these two people became agitated as well. As for Ye Yi Xun, Chu Ling Xiao, and the other Elders with the strongest cultivations in the Sect, who always remained level-headed, they could barely contain the excitement on their faces.
A moment later, Yang Kai reached all of them. After sweeping a glance over them, he said with a grin, “I’m back!”
The passionate welcome he had imagined earlier, however, didn’t happen as all of them just stared dazedly at him, which made him feel slightly embarrassed. Rubbing his nose, he said in a cautious manner, “I’m back…”
Right after he finished his words, Dong Qing Han pounced on him and tackled him with a bear hug. Then, he forcefully clapped the latter’s back with his big hand as loud thuds could be heard.
Yang Kai was torn between tears and laughter, as he didn’t expect that the first person who would respond to him would be this fatty. Yang Kai, however, let him be for a moment before he uttered teasingly, “My dear Cousin, it’s time you lost some weight.”
“Is it really you?” It was only then that Dong Qing Han stopped what he was doing as he moved away a little to examine Yang Kai.
“I’m really back!”
Dong Qing Han turned his head and pointed at Yang Kai before shouting to everyone, “Yang Kai is back!”
It was as though he was the first one who noticed it.
All of them appeared solemn as they saluted Yang Kai, “Welcome back, Sect Master!” Their voices trembled, which went to show they were all agitated.
Yang Kai raised his hand and used an invisible force to make sure that all of them couldn’t bend their backs. What was strange was that none of them could detect Yang Kai using the slightest force to accomplish this, a feat beyond their imagination. At that instant, they realised that his power had truly reached an inconceivable level.
With a serious expression, Yang Kai cupped his fists and saluted them instead, “Martial Ancestor, Grand Master, I have returned!”
Chu Ling Xiao was the Ancestral Founder of High Heaven Pavilion, while Ling Tai Xu was the Honoured Master of Yang Kai’s Father. These two people were truly his Seniors. Although his cultivation was more powerful than theirs, he would never dare to see himself as more important than them. Naturally, he also wouldn’t dare to let them salute him.
If that really happened, Yang Ying Feng, his father, would certainly break his legs.
With a smile, Chu Ling Xiao replied, “You are the Sect Master of High Heaven Sect now, so you should stop being overly polite to us.”
Ling Tai Xu uttered, “He’s right. It’s thanks to you that we’ve achieved such success. You should start carrying yourself in a way that befits the image of a Sect Master.”
Yang Kai replied, “Even a Sect Master shouldn’t be impolite to his Seniors. Both of you are my Seniors, so I must be respectful of you.”
Chu Ling Xiao and Ling Tai Xu traded glances as both of them appeared gratified.
“Big Brother Yang…” Wu Yi stepped forward and pressed her lips together.
Yang Kai turned to look at her and put on a smile, “We haven’t met for many years. How have you been?”
In the past, it was thanks to Wu Yi’s help that he was able to gain a footing on Shadowed Star. It could be said that Wu Yi and her family’s disciples were the first friends and allies he had made on Shadowed Star. Without them, High Heaven Sect wouldn’t have become what it was today.
“I’m well,” Wu Yi replied with a faint smile. She had missed him greatly, and this reunion after so long had formed a ripple on the tranquil lake that was her heart. However, after she took a look at the woman beside him, the ripple immediately faded. She could no longer keep up with his pace. He was now in a position high above, shining brightly like a star.
After greeting everyone one by one, Yang Kai finally turned to look at Ye Xi Yun and said with a grin, “Great Elder, many thanks for looking after the Sect for all these years.”
Ye Xi Yun replied, “You’ve come back at just the right time. I’ll pass the Sect back to you now so I can finally enjoy my retirement.”
Yang Kai uttered in shock, “Great Elder, you are still in your prime and have many years of life left to live. Why would you want to suddenly retire?”
Ye Xi Yun snorted, “It’s no use flattering me because I’ve made up my mind. Don’t even try to change my decision!” [I don’t care how powerful your cultivation is now. I’m totally done with this job. It’s too exhausting to be in charge of a Sect. I’d rather be on my own so I can roam around freely.]
After a sigh, Yang Kai said, “Since you’ve said so, I won’t force you. Anyway, after some time, I’ll bring all of you to a new place. By then, you can take a rest for as long as you want.”
“A new place?”
“Where is it?”
“Is it where you’ve come back from?”
All of them were curious.
Yang Kai smiled without replying to them. A moment later, he asked, “I heard all of you arguing over something. What’s wrong? Who has the guts to offend our High Heaven Sect?”
Upon hearing that, all of them fell silent and no longer appeared excited.
Yang Kai examined their expressions and immediately knew that something serious must have happened to the Sect.
Ye Xi Yun uttered, “Let’s go in first.”
After they entered the hall and took a seat, Ye Xi Yun explained the current situation in the Star Field to Yang Kai.
It was then Yang Kai realised that it was the entire Heng Luo Star Field, rather than High Heaven Sect, that was in trouble.
Twenty years ago, even after Su Yan left the Star Field and entered the Ancestral Domain, everything was peaceful. However, a few years later, a strange Void Corridor appeared in the Star Field. Following that, a large number of Starships and powerful cultivators poured through this portal and began a widespread invasion of Heng Luo Star Field, travelling from one Cultivation Star to the next, burning and pillaging everything in their path.
In the beginning, no one understood what was going on. They only knew that these invaders were exceptionally formidable. Heng Luo Star Field had been sealed off for countless years, so they had never seen any cultivators like them before. They were caught unprepared and as a result, several Cultivation Stars quickly fell to the enemy.
For a short period of time, everyone in the Star Field was thrown into a flurry of panic as they worried about their own safety. After the initial stage of the invasion though, the remaining forces composed themselves and began banding together to resist the foreign invaders. With the four top great forces, High Heaven Sect, Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, Purple Star, and Sword Union, leading the way, Masters gathered from all over Heng Luo Star Field to wage war. Countless were killed, including many powerful Masters. Even High Heaven Sect had lost many people.
Yang Kai’s chest tightened when he heard that. Earlier, he had noticed that even though there were many familiar people in the hall, the women closest to him were not there. Even his parents were nowhere to be seen.
Ye Xi Yun seemed to have noticed his worries, so she reassured him by saying, “Your wives are all fine; however, they have returned to their own Stars to rally their forces and strengthen their defences.”
It was only then that Yang Kai set his mind at ease.
[Shan Qing Luo must have returned to Monster Emperor Star, while Little Senior Sister should have gone back to Tong Xuan Realm. En, Xue Yue must have returned to the Home Star of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, Water Moon Star.] The Star Field was in a crisis now, so naturally, they wouldn’t stay in High Heaven Sect and do nothing.
Moreover, before he left in the past, Yang Kai had arranged many Cross-Star Space Arrays in the Star Field. Monster Emperor Star, Tong Xuan Realm and Water Moon Star were all connected to High Heaven Sect on Shadowed Star. It was just that they might need to take several waypoints in the process. If they came across any danger, they still had a way out, so they should be pretty safe.
“Where are those invaders from?” Yang Kai asked in a grim voice.
He couldn’t believe that while he wasn’t in the Star Field, there were people out there who had the guts to invade his homeland.
Ye Xi Yun replied, “I heard that they come from a place called the Grand Desolation Star Field.”
In an instant, Yang Kai’s expression turned awkward, “They come from Grand Desolation Star Field? Are you sure?”
Ye Yi Xun bowed her head, “Yes.”
The war had been going on for more than ten years, so it would truly be laughable if they still hadn’t found out where their enemies came from. In the past, after they discovered the fact, they were all stunned, because they had never expected that another Star Field would suddenly open a Void Corridor to their Star Field and launch an invasion.
If it weren’t because those Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field suddenly invaded and devastated them, many of Heng Luo Star Field’s people would never have even known other Star Fields existed.
“Sect Master, you know about the Grand Desolation Star Field?” Ye Xi Yun looked doubtfully at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai chuckled, “En, naturally I know about it.”
[What a coincidence.]
Grand Desolation Star Field was a familiar name to Yang Kai.
In the past, when he and the others left Heng Luo Star Field and passed through the Starlight Corridor, they were ambushed by some Origin King Realm Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field, which caused the Starlight Corridor to collapse and separated all of them. Even Liu Yan and Xiao Xiao had gone missing at the time and it took Yang Kai a few years to find them.
The leader of those ambushers was called Yin Le Sheng. He was the Sect Master of Netherworld Sect as well as the overlord of Grand Desolation Star Field.
Liu Xian Yun, who had gone through some hardships with Yang Kai before, also came from Grand Desolation Star Field. Both of them treated Yang Kai differently, so they also ended up in different states.
Yin Le Sheng had escaped unscathed from the Shattered Star Sea, but in the end, Yang Kai managed to kill him in the Ancient Wild Lands of the Eastern Territory. On the other hand, with Yang Kai’s recommendation, Liu Xian Yun was accepted by Ice Heart Valley. The last time he went to Ice Heart Valley, he met up and had a chat with her. She had been doing well, and she was ready to break through to the Third-Order Dao Source Realm. Certainly, given her aptitude and Ice Heart Valley’s support, it wouldn’t be hard for her to achieve this breakthrough; then, it would only be a matter of time before she reached the Emperor Realm.
Yang Kai was surprised to hear the name ‘Grand Desolation Star Field’ from Ye Xi Yun.
However, after giving it a thought, he realised that since they could come across Yin Le Sheng in the Starlight Corridor when they were heading to the Star Boundary, it meant that the two Star Fields must be adjacent to each other. They were probably separated by only a single World Barrier. Now that the barrier was broken, and the Star Fields were connected, it was expected that those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were able to reach Heng Luo Star Field.
“We’re both from Star Fields, so how are we not a match for them?” Yang Kai asked.
Ye Xi Yun explained, “There’s a Sect called Netherworld Sect that is the leader of their Star Field, so their forces are completely united. On the other hand, our Sects are all divided, so it’s indeed difficult for us to oppose them. Moreover, they’re the invaders, so they have far more freedom of movement. As a result, they have always had a more advantageous position.”
[It’s really Netherworld Sect. It seems that even without Yin Le Sheng, their Sect is still the ruler of their Star Field. They’ve even managed to unite all the forces in their Star Field.]
“So, the Starships outside Shadowed Star all come from Grand Desolation Star Field?”
Ye Xi Yun nodded, “That’s right. Shadowed Star is one of the main battlefields. They’ve deployed quite a large force to this place to specifically target us.”
“How dare that old fart lie to me!” Yang Kai snorted.
They didn’t know who Yang Kai was referring to, so they were all somewhat puzzled.
Ye Xi Yun set aside her confusion though and went on to say, “We were arguing whether we should directly attack those Starships to destroy their cannons, or split up and kill the enemies that are scattered around Shadowed Star. Since you’re back, there’s no need to argue anymore though.”
“Good.” Yang Kai nodded his head, “Just wait a moment.”
All of a sudden, he closed his eyes and raised his arm. Then, he twisted his wrist and extended his hand into the void. His movement appeared swift, but it was actually quite slow.
All of them in the hall felt their chests tightening suddenly. Following Yang Kai’s movement, it was as though their hearts were grabbed by someone, causing them to suffocate.
Just then, Yang Kai clenched his fist.
“It’s done!” He opened his eyes and lowered his hand, upon which the horrifying pressure vanished.
Everyone traded glances and appeared puzzled, as they didn’t know what he was talking about. But soon, sounds of intense explosions could be heard from a faraway place. All of them immediately focused their attention on this new development. Some of them seemed to have figured out something as they dashed out of the hall and looked up at the Starry Sky.
High up in the sky, huge explosions could be seen clearly even though it was now daytime. The location of these explosions was a few tens of thousands of kilometres away, but the sound from them could still be heard clearly.
The location where the explosions took place was where those Starships from Grand Desolation Star Field were anchored.
After everyone became aware of what just happened, they were left dumbfounded.
Although they knew that Yang Kai was the Star Master of Shadowed Star who could rule over everything on this Star, those Starships from Grand Desolation Star Field were parked in the Starry Sky, not on the ground of Shadowed Star. How was he able to destroy those Starships that were so far away with such ease? How powerful must he be?
Moreover, many Origin King Realm Masters were aboard those Starships. However, it was likely that none of them managed to escape with their lives.
At that instant, these people in the hall were extremely excited.
With a serious expression, Ye Xi Yun uttered, “Since there’s no disagreement between us now, I believe we can stop waiting. Now is the best time to make a move.”
In an instant, everyone rose from their chairs and stepped out of the hall. Then, they left High Heaven Sect through different Space Arrays and headed to various parts of Shadowed Star. Since they had the absolute advantage now, they had to hunt down those remaining people from Grand Desolation Star Field who were on Shadowed Star and kill them ruthlessly.
Yang Kai uttered, “I’ll also get some exercise, then.”
Shadowed Star was his territory, so he wouldn’t allow such trash to make a fuss in his home. Those invaders from Grand Desolation Star Field were like fleas that jumped around on his body, so he had to catch them, pull out their guts, and twist their necks so that he could relieve this itch.
First though, he turned around and said, “Senior Sister, you should take a rest.”
Before Su Yan could disagree with him, he had already disappeared from the hall, so she could only shake her head helplessly.
Just then, a figure stormed into the hall and shouted in an agitated manner, “Where’s my son!?”
Upon learning that Yang Kai had returned, Dong Su Zhu immediately rushed over to this place, but it was too late.
“Take it slow. What if you trip and fall? You’re not a child anymore, so why are you still so impetuous?” Yang Ying Feng’s calm voice could be heard from behind; however, in the blink of an eye, he already appeared next to Dong Su Zhu, so it was apparent that he was not as calm as he tried to appear.
The couple looked around but couldn’t see Yang Kai, their attention soon shifting to the white-robed young woman standing there.
“Su Yan…” Dong Su Zhu’s eyes turned bloodshot as she covered her mouth. With teary eyes, she asked in a trembling voice, “Are you really Su Yan?”
Su Yan approached her and elegantly saluted her, “Mother.”
Her soft voice was like the most pleasant music in the world to the ears of Yang Ying Feng and his wife. They felt that there was no voice in this world that was more delightful than hers.
“She’s really Su Yan,” Yang Ying Feng gently pushed the dazed Dong Su Zhu. [Haa… she’s a woman after all. She’s always so flustered whenever something happens. I guess I’ll have to keep worrying about her for the rest of my life.]
It was then that Dong Su Zhu spread her arms and pulled Su Yan into an embrace. Dong Su Zhu was a petite lady, while Su Yan was slightly taller than her, so now it seemed as though she had actually crashed into Su Yan’s embrace.
With a faint smile, Su Yan looked over Dong Su Zhu’s shoulder and stared at Yang Ying Feng, “Father.”
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Yang Ying Feng nodded gently. He felt as if the worries that had stayed in his heart for twenty years were finally taken off his chest.
In the past, Su Yan had gone missing after she went over to investigate a strange Void Corridor. All of them were worried about her. Dong Su Zhu and Yang Ying Feng were so flustered that they could barely eat anything or sleep at night. They felt guilty that they hadn’t managed to take good care of Yang Kai’s wife. At the same time, they blamed themselves for their weak cultivation. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let Su Yan look into the matter as they could have done so themselves.
Over the years, the couple had been trying hard to increase their cultivation so that when they eventually reached the Origin King Realm, they could head to the Void Corridor to look for Su Yan. Otherwise, they would be too embarrassed to meet Yang Kai again.
However, a surprise came to them when they least expected it. Both Yang Kai and Su Yan came back together. No one could be happier than their father and mother.
“Stop it. You’ve dampened Su Yan’s clothes. Stop being inappropriate.” Seeing that Dong Su Zhu just wouldn’t stop crying, Yang Ying Feng couldn’t take it anymore and chided her.
Upon hearing that, Dong Su Zhu raised her head and examined Su Yan. She appeared worried, just like how Su Yan reacted when she reunited with Yang Kai.
“Come take a seat first.” Dong Su Zhu grabbed her hand and brought her to a nearby chair. She couldn’t wait to find out where Su Yan had gone, and whether the latter had suffered any hardships over the years.
After they were both seated and had a chat for a while, Su Yan uttered, “Mother, Yang Kai…”
“Don’t mention that brat!” Dong Su Zhu’s face fell, “Just let him perish outside!”
Yang Ying Feng refuted, “Then why were you in a rush to come here?”
“What does it have to do with you? Why can’t I come here in a rush?” Dong Su Zhu shot him a glare, “I was looking for Su Yan.”
“Look. I was just saying… why are you mad at me?” Yang Ying Feng felt helpless and pressed his palm against his forehead. [Why did she call out to her son right after she came into this place, then?]
“If you can’t put up with me anymore, why don’t you divorce me? There are many beautiful women out there anyway. That’s your intention, right? Why don’t I prepare the divorce document for you? You just have to sign your name on it.”
Yang Ying Feng spread his palms and then did a ‘zip’ gesture on his mouth. Seeing that, Su Yan burst into laughter.
Dong Su Zhu patted her hands and persuaded her by saying, “Men should be lectured just like this. Don’t treat that brat too well. If you’re too good to him, he won’t take you seriously. You should be more fierce with him, then he’ll keep thinking about you.”
“I will remember Mother’s teachings,” Su Yan nodded gently.
“I’m just concerned about you. With your temperament… Haa… It’s the same case for Ning Chang. Only Little Qing Luo is more opinionated. I’ll persuade her next time. All of you are too doting on him.” She paused for a moment before speaking in a small voice, “Did he bring back any…”
“Bring what?” Su Yan looked doubtfully at her.
“Did he bring any women back?”
After giving it a thought, Su Yan replied, “I guess… Not?” She had met He Yun Xiang and understood why the latter was following Yang Kai, so she wouldn’t regard her as Yang Kai’s woman.
However, just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Dong Su Zhu became enraged in an instant as her face turned livid, “He really brought back a woman?”
[How outrageous! If any man has a wife like Su Yan, he would have doted on her instead of leaving home for several dozen years. But he still dared to flirt with other women out there!]
“She’s not Yang Kai’s lover.”
“Did he force you to lie!? How dare he!” Dong Su Zhu landed a slam on the armrest and glowered at Yang Ying Feng, who had remained silent, “Look at the good deed your son has done!”
Yang Ying Feng hung his head low and didn’t dare to speak. He felt wronged, as he had never uttered a word, but he was still dragged into this mess.
[Brat, just pray for yourself. When you’re back, your mother will probably beat you black and blue. Even if she forgives you, I’ll still do it on her behalf!]
“She’s really not,” Su Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she felt warm deep in her heart all the same.
Gathering Clouds Mountain on Shadowed Star was a place filled with vitality where the World Energy was abundant. It was also the location of the most famous Crystal Stone Lodes on the Star and the most important business for High Heaven Sect. The Crystal Stones mined from this place accounted for one-tenth of the Sect’s income every year.
For this kind of important business, naturally, there was a Master assuming command here.
She was clad in tight-fitting clothes which outlined her curvy figure and her hair was tied into a neat bun, giving her a clean-cut appearance. In the past, she was the Eldest Young Lady of the Qiu Family in the Great Han Dynasty, but now, she was the Matriarch of the Qiu Family. Qiu Yi Meng was the person who guarded this place. Several dozen years had passed since she came to Shadowed Star, and she had always worked hard to increase her cultivation. Now, the aura radiating from her body suggested that she was a First-Order Origin King.
It could be said that among the youths who had left the Great Han Dynasty, besides Yang Kai, her cultivation was the strongest. Even many of those from the older generation were not comparable to her. There was no doubt that she had innate talent, but there was a more important reason why her cultivation had soared.
The sun in the sky was too far away from her, so if she wanted to pick the Sun and reach for the Moon, she had to work harder. Even if she couldn’t pick it, she wanted to be nearer to it at least.
As one of the main battlefields of the two Star Fields, Shadowed Star was targeted by many Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field. There were more than several dozen battlefields on the Star, and as expected, those places with more resources were where more battles were fought.
Naturally, those from Grand Desolation Star Field had their eyes on Gathering Clouds Mountain and had deployed an Origin King to take control of it. This person had hundreds of subordinates who were mostly Origin Returning Realm cultivators. With Qiu Yi Meng as the leader of the disciples from High Heaven Sect, the feud between the two sides had lasted for about five years now.
During this period of time, there had been hundreds of skirmishes between them. Both parties had won some battles and suffered some losses, but no one had managed to become the clear winner. Those from Grand Desolation Star Field failed in their attempt to seize the Crystal Stone Lode, while on the other hand, Qiu Yi Meng couldn’t expel or exterminate all of her enemies. Nevertheless, she couldn’t seek help from High Heaven Sect because the other party would also do the same if she did that.
Moreover, the helpers on the other side would arrive quickly. The more Origin Kings that High Heaven Sect sent out, the more the other party would also increase their fighting strength.
Five years had passed, and they seemed to have come to a tacit agreement that they would only battle against each other with the current manpower they had. Neither commander would seek help from their respective backers.
At this moment, Qiu Yi Meng was burning with rage. [Several dozen years have passed, so he’s probably reached a very high realm by now. If I can’t even deal with these low lives, how am I supposed to get closer to him?]
With such thoughts, whenever there was no active battle, Qiu Yi Meng would cultivate diligently because she didn’t dare to waste any time.
Just then, someone rapidly knocked on the door from outside.
“Come in!” Qiu Yi Meng opened her eyes.
The door was opened, after which a burly man stepped into the room. His murderous intent was so intense that it was as though it had almost materialised. He was none other than Tu Feng, a Blood Warrior who had greatly helped Yang Kai in the Inheritance War.
The Blood Warriors from the Yang Family were all top talents who had sworn loyalty to the Yang Family. After they followed Yang Kai to Shadowed Star, their power had also seen exponential growth. As one of the most outstanding Blood Warriors, Tu Feng was already in the Third-Order Origin Returning Realm, just one step away from the Origin King Realm.
Among the subordinates Qiu Yi Meng had, many came from the Eight Great Families of the Great Han Dynasty, so naturally, Blood Warriors from the Yang Family worked under her as well.
“Elder Qiu!” Tu Feng cupped his fists.
After Qiu Yi Meng had reached the Origin King Realm, she had been promoted to the position of Elder in High Heaven Sect.
“What’s the matter?”
“Those rats have made a move.”
“Again?” Qiu Yi Meng frowned and felt that something was off, because their enemies had returned too soon. The last battle only ended five days ago, and normally after such a war, they would rest and recuperate for at least a month before staging another assault, so why did they come back after only a few days?
With a weird expression, Tu Feng replied, “They’re not coming; they’re fleeing.”
“What!?” Qiu Yi Meng scowled. They had been fighting with each other for five years now, so both sides were quite familiar with one another. The question then became, why would the enemy flee all of a sudden? Realising something, Qiu Yi Meng asked, “What were those loud sounds just now?”
She was cultivating earlier, so although she had heard some strange noises, she didn’t pay much attention to it. Now, she realised that those sounds came from the Starry Sky, and the source of the sounds was…
Appearing excited, Tu Feng replied, “That’s what I was going to tell you. Those Starships from Grand Desolation Star Field seem to have been destroyed.”
“Has the Great Elder made a move?” Qiu Yi Meng straightened her face.
The dozen or so Starships had been anchored outside Shadowed Star and had served as the enemy’s headquarters and staging ground for their invasion. Not only did this strategy allow those from Grand Desolation Star Field to wage an unrestricted war on Shadowed Star, it had also served as a blockade to stop those from High Heaven Sect from making a move.
Although High Heaven Sect was fairly powerful, and they had quite a few Origin King Realm Masters, there was only one Third-Order Origin King, the Great Elder, Ye Xi Yun, guarding this place. The other top Masters were no longer on Shadowed Star as they had their own territories to defend.
Unless Ye Xi Yun personally made a move, no one else could deal with those Starships.
In fact, even if Ye Xi Yun made a move, she couldn’t have achieved this kind of result, unless those people had returned to High Heaven Sect and joined forces with her.
[Have they come back?] That was the only reason Qiu Yi Meng could think of. If that was the case, then everything made sense to her now.
Tu Feng uttered, “I don’t know the exact details, but it’s the best time for us to make a move.”
Qiu Yi Meng rose from the chair and sneered, “It’s time we settled the score with them.”
The Grand Desolation Star Field’s support had been destroyed, so it was no wonder that their forces on the ground became flustered. Certainly, Qiu Yi Meng wouldn’t let this chance of striking their weakened enemies slip through her fingers.
After she stepped out of the room, she saw many people gazing at her. All of them exuded auras that were thick and heavy. Staring at these familiar faces, she nodded slightly.
Then, she turned around and saw that many beams of lights were flickering in the sky that was hundreds of kilometres away. They were as bright as meteors, but instead of descending, they were all flying upwards. Those were the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field who were trying to flee from Shadowed Star.
After that, she turned to look at the other side and saw a similar sight in an even further location.
It seemed that those from Grand Desolation Star Field had become flustered after their Starships were destroyed and they no longer dared to remain on Shadowed Star, so they attempted to run for their lives.
“Spare no one!” Qiu Yi Meng ordered while snickered to herself, [Shadowed Star is not a place where you can come and go as you please!]
“Yes!” Everyone pushed their Saint Qi and shot into the sky to chase down the hated enemies they had fought with for the past five years.
At this moment, dazzling lights could be seen filling the sky. It was a bustling and chaotic day on Shadowed Star as similar sights could be seen everywhere. However, those who were racing after their enemies couldn’t shorten the gap between them. After all, those from Grand Desolation Star Fields were not weaklings. They must be quite powerful to have the guts to invade another Star Field.
Qiu Yi Meng realised that she had to use her trump card here, otherwise, those people would flee from Shadowed Star soon. Gritting her teeth, she performed a hand seal with both hands, upon which a layer of pink mist wafted from her skin. Suddenly, her pace quickened as though she was able to move as swiftly as lightning.
Those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field, who were running away, sensed this sudden surge in energy fluctuations and turned their heads to investigate, only to see a beam of red light shooting towards them at incredible speed. The man leading the withdrawal had his expression darken as he cursed, “You!”
He was the Origin King Realm Master from Grand Desolation Star Field who had been fighting with Qiu Yi Meng in the past few years. He was a thin man who appeared to be in his forties. Although he had been drooling over Qiu Yi Meng’s beauty since he arrived, he had never been able to subdue her. Now that she had separated from her forces though, he started having lustful thoughts again.
[It’d be nice if I can get myself a woman before we have to leave.]
After he spoke to his subordinates with Divine Sense, they all immediately dispersed.
Although Qiu Yi Meng saw this, she still didn’t slow down her pace.
“Come if you dare! I won’t let you leave if you do!” The thin man sneered.
“Bian Hong, today you die!” Qiu Yi Meng’s shout resounded even before she arrived within striking distance.
The man called Bian Hong simply cackled as he pretended to flee as he turned his head and mocked her, “Little Girl, are you reluctant to see me go? Why don’t you come with me? I’ll dote on you and make sure to fill you with ‘satisfaction’ every day!”
His vulgar language elicited a laugh from his subordinates.
In response, Qiu Yi Meng used her Divine Ability. She raised her hand as her long sword pulsated. Lights could be seen flashing across the blade, and the power of wind converged at its edge.
With a wide sweep of her sword, a sword wave was released and transformed into a weapon that was several dozen metres long, aimed at the heads of those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field. The Wind Attribute energy could be seen circling around the sword wave as the sound of a tornado forming was heard.
Seeing that, all of them from Grand Desolation Star Field turned solemn. After all, this was the attack of an Origin King Realm Master, so they couldn’t take it lightly.
The dispersed group converged all of a sudden as their Saint Qi fluctuations could be seen around them. In the blink of an eye, those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field had assumed a Formation that linked their Saint Qi together, forming a light shield before them.
With a loud crash, the huge sword wave slashed into the giant light shield, upon which a surging explosion took place.
Clenching her teeth, Qiu Yi Meng exerted more force and pressed down her weapon in an attempt to break the light shield and kill some people first.
*Kacha…*
Cracks were immediately seen on the light shield, as though it would break into pieces at any moment.
Qiu Yi Meng was startled at this sight. Although her strike was powerful, it was impossible that it could break the other party’s defence so easily; after all, there was an Origin King on the opposing side, unless…
She swept a glance over all of them and realised that Bian Hong was nowhere to be seen. She wasn’t even sure when he disappeared.
[Damn it!] Qiu Yi Meng was astounded as she realised that she had fallen into the enemies’ trap because she was too eager to chase after them.
Suddenly, she felt a gust of wind coming at her from behind. At the same time, Tu Feng and the others could be heard shouting out warnings in the distance.
Although Qiu Yi Meng was astonished, she still wasn’t flustered. She had learned to be flexible and swift from her years of battle. In order to ward off the attack, she pushed her Saint Qi and formed a protective layer behind her.
Two streams of Saint Qi clashed with each other as the protective layer behind her broke apart in an instant and Bian Hong landed a palm on her back, scoffing as he sneered, “Go to Hell!”
Qiu Yi Meng staggered forward and spat a mouthful of blood. At the same time, she seized the opportunity to widen the gap with Bian Hong.
Rather than looking pleased though, Bian Hong looked down at his palm with a livid expression as he realised that it was now darkened. He even felt a numbing sensation in his hand that he tried his hardest to suppress with his Saint Qi, but found very little success.
Clenching his teeth, he growled, “What have you done?”
Qiu Yi Meng chuckled and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth before she gazed at him with a tilted head, “Do you like my present? I’ve prepared it specifically for you.”
Bian Hong’s chest tightened when he saw her expression, “You set me up!”
Now, he realised that she had used a powerful Divine Ability just now, seemingly leaving herself exposed and defenseless, in order to draw him in and take the opportunity to mount a sneak attack.
[She must be wearing an Artifact Armour that is coated in some extremely potent poison.] Instead of ending her life with a palm, he was actually poisoned. Although the poison wasn’t fatal, it would require him to spend some time suppressing it. However, he couldn’t divert his attention to do that right now as he was facing her in battle.
Qiu Yi Meng brushed her hair behind her ear and stared at him with her clear gaze, “Indeed, and so?”
Bian Hong’s heart sank as he felt a sense of coldness engulfing him from head to toe.
[This woman is too devious!]
He had been battling against her for the past five years, but he had never expected that she still had such a trump card. She only used it at the last moment to deal a fatal blow to him.
He blamed himself for being careless, but there was no use complaining about what was already done. Sweeping away all distractions, he turned around and fled before shouting “I’ll let you off today! I’ll definitely make you beg me to stop in bed one day!”
Seeing that, Qiu Yi Meng raised her sword and raced after him, but she couldn’t shorten the gap between them. She had expended a lot of her Saint Qi to use her Secret Technique to increase her speed earlier. Moreover, she had shown a weakness to lure Bian Hong to launch a sneak attack on her. As a result, she was wounded after she was struck by his palm. Given the fact that they were in the same realm, if Bian Hong tried his best to flee, she wouldn’t have any way to catch up to him.
In the blink of an eye, they had shot past the clouds and couldn’t see the view on the ground anymore.
Qiu Yi Meng sent out a blast of Sword Qi for the last time before halting in her tracks.
As expected, Bian Hong was able to avoid the attack with ease, and as he fled, he turned around and mocked her, causing her to be infuriated. She stared fixedly at his figure, as though she wanted to imprint his image in the deepest part of her memory so that she could find him one day and kill him with her sword.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared a thousand metres above Bian Hong.
Qiu Yi Meng didn’t notice the figure at first, but upon catching a glimpse of it, she couldn’t help but frown and narrow her eyes to examine this newcomer.
The person was facing away from her, and with the sun in her eyes, the glow and golden halo surrounding him was too dazzling, making it hard to see him properly. However, his figure was familiar to her.
Her chest tightened, for the person’s figure was exactly the same as the man she had always longed for in her mind.
“Who!?” While in mid-air, Bian Hong sensed something and lifted his head, only to be shocked to see that a person was standing right above him. Upon closer inspection, he realised that he hadn’t seen this young man before. Moreover, he couldn’t detect any energy fluctuations around this young man even after he scanned him with his Divine Sense.
“Move!” Bian Hong bellowed. He had been set up by Qiu Yi Meng on this day, and he was almost killed by her, forcing him to flee in embarrassment. However, he didn’t expect that someone would have the guts to block his way at the last moment.
As such, he raised his hand and pushed out his palm at the young man.
The young man also lifted his hand and nonchalantly pushed down his palm, as though he was facing a leaf that was swept up at him by the wind instead of the blow of an Origin King Realm Master.
With an inscrutable smile on his face, the young man simply uttered, “Fall.”
In an instant, Bian Hong widened his eyes as his body trembled uncontrollably. The young man’s attack appeared slow and harmless, but when he pushed down his palm, it felt as if the entire world was pressing down on him.
Bian Hong’s vision darkened as he couldn’t see any light at all, and for reasons he could not comprehend, he found himself plummeting down rapidly.
[What’s going on?] He was dumbfounded, but before he figured out the reason behind all this, he felt a stream of Sword Qi slashing toward him.
Upon turning his head to investigate, Bian Hong was terrified.
Naturally, Qiu Yi Meng wouldn’t let this chance slip through her fingers. She covered herself in a radiant glow and charged toward Bian Hong while swinging her sword.
After the sword light slashed across his figure, Qiu Yi Meng appeared again with a reddened face. Judging from her heavy panting, it was apparent that this fatal attack cost her a lot of energy.
On the other hand, Bian Hong covered his chest and staggered, as though he was about to fall. In disbelief, he stared at Qiu Yi Meng and said through clenched teeth, “You…”
His blood was gushing out through his fingers and soaking his clothes, filling the air with the smell of blood.
Following that, Qiu Yi Meng raised her hand and slashed once more, upon which the vitality in Bian Hong’s eyes rapidly diminished as his view turned upside down and faded into darkness.
The cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were instantly flustered, because they couldn’t believe that the strongest person among them, Bian Hong, was killed so easily. They wanted to run away immediately, but they suddenly realised that the space around them had become extremely viscous, and they couldn’t move forward at all.
Right then, Tu Feng and the others finally arrived at the scene.
Tang Yu Xian approached Qiu Yi Meng and asked, worried, “Young Lady Qiu, are you alright?”
They were too far away from this place earlier, so they weren’t sure what was going on. All they saw was that Qiu Yi Meng had killed Bian Hong in an astonishing manner, but they reckoned that she had also paid a hefty price to do it.
Qiu Yi Meng shook her head and pointed at those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field, “Kill them all.”
Tu Feng, Tang Yu Xian and the others nodded and charged forward to engage the remnants from Grand Desolation Star Field. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be an easy battle. Their opponents, who were normally just as resilient as they were, didn’t seem able to use half of their usual strength at this moment, as though they had been suppressed by something. Just like a group of wolves pouncing on a herd of sheep, the disciples from High Heaven Sect were able to defeat those from Grand Desolation Star Field with ease as their opponents were powerless to resist.
Screams could be heard continuously as blood rain filled the sky and bodies fell to the ground far below.
On this day, they were able to destroy the arch enemies they had confronted for the past five years. This was supposed to be a piece of joyful news, but Qiu Yi Meng was oblivious to it as the shouts around her sounded distant and became almost inaudible. She looked up dazedly as she desperately wanted to find out the answer she needed to know.
As the person approached her, she realised that her heart was pounding against her chest, and she felt incredibly nervous. When the person finally stood right before her eyes, his familiar face and smile came into her sight. The memories from several dozen years ago became vivid again, like this man had leapt from the past right into her present.
She held her breath, as if she was afraid to greet the man before her eyes. Although the distance between them had shortened, she felt as if they were further away from each other now more than ever. He was like the sun in the sky that was extremely radiant and distant from her. She could see it and feel its warmth, and it illuminated her gently, but at the same time, it also cast a shadow behind her that could never be eliminated.
“Don’t you recognise me anymore?” Yang Kai looked at her with a smile.
“Sect Master!” Qiu Yi Meng pulled herself together and bowed her head low. Her eyelashes fluttered while she spoke in a choking voice.
She thought that her years of hard work could shorten the gap between them, but at this moment, she realised that she had been naïve.
Yang Kai was startled for a moment before he bent his middle finger and placed it in front of her head, “Raise your head!”
After taking a deep breath, she lifted her head.
*Dong…*
Her head jerked backwards from the impact, after which she covered her forehead with both hands and bellowed, “What are you doing!?”
[How could he flick my forehead with his finger? That’s outrageous! He shouldn’t bully me just because he’s powerful!] Her eyes turned bloodshot. [Is this what I get after years of waiting!?]
Nevertheless, Yang Kai let out a hearty laugh and said, “I’m glad you’re still the Young Lady Qiu I know. I thought that you were possessed by an evil spirit or something, so I was ready to harden my heart and kill that demon. Now, it seems that there’s no need for that.”
“You’re the one who’s been possessed!” Qiu Yi Meng growled. Seeing that he was still grinning, she felt her fury rising within her. Emboldened, she raised her leg and kicked him.
Yang Kai evaded it with ease.
“How dare you!” She glowered at him and threw another kick at him.
This time, Yang Kai obediently let her kick him. Seeing that she was still mad as she was glaring at him, he pretended to be in pain as he groaned and covered his calf before jumping up and down, as though he was truly in excruciating pain.
Qiu Yi Meng shot him a look as if he was a fool. As she gazed at him, her face started blushing all of a sudden. [Why do we look like we’re flirting with each other?]
At that thought, she didn’t dare glower at him again.
At the same time, she felt warm in her heart. No matter how powerful he had become or how long he had left, he had never been too far away from her. It was just that she insisted on gauging the distance between them with her own metrics.
“Alright. You’re a Sect Master now. It’d be embarrassing if the others see you behaving like a child.” She couldn’t help smiling as well.
Yang Kai suddenly took her wrist. Flustered, she stammered, “W-What are you doing?”
After she finished her words, her face turned completely red, because she could feel a pure energy coming from his palm and streaming into her body. In an instant, her wounds seemed to have healed. Feeling embarrassed, she wanted to look for a hole and bury her head into it.
[He’s just trying to heal me. Why do I feel so dejected? What was I expecting?]
A moment later, he withdrew his hand and fished out a Spirit Pill before placing it on her palm.
Without asking anything, she raised her head and gulped it down. After tidying her hair, she asked, “When did you come back?” Her expression and tone had become normal again. Since the feelings she had would never be reciprocated and forgetting him was equally impossible, she decided that maintaining the status quo was her best option.
“I just came back.” He replied, “It seems that many things have happened here.”
“En, did you return to the Sect already?”
“Yes.”
“Has the Great Elder told you everything?”
“I’ve heard about it from her.”
“Shadowed Star is your territory. How are you going to settle it now?”
He replied, “Since they’ve come here, then they shouldn’t even think about leaving.”
As they spoke, he was already making a move in secret. The World Energy of the entire Star surged as its Principles started to become active.
In disbelief, Qiu Yi Meng looked around as she felt an amazing change around herself. The Star below her seemed to have come to life.
In fact, it was a living thing, and it had never been dead; however, since Yang Kai left Shadowed Star, the Star had become lethargic as it simply meandered along in its existence. Although it was a living thing, it had been in a kind of hibernation for the past several dozen years since Yang Kai was gone.
Now, after he had returned, the Star had also awakened from its slumber. All the World Energy in the atmosphere seemed to be filled with an unspeakable sense of vitality. Qiu Yi Meng could even feel that the streams of World Energy around her were dancing and intertwining with one another.
A gigantic web seemed to have formed in this world as it transformed into a cage and engulfed the entire Star.
Qiu Yi Meng realised something and turned to look into the distance. Then, she directed her Saint Qi to her eyes and faintly saw the sight on the other side.
In an area of the sky thousands of kilometres away, cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were struggling hard like trapped fish in an attempt to struggle out of a net, but their efforts were clearly in vain.
Not only could they not flee from Shadowed Star, but they were also not able to fully use their strength under the suppression of the World Principles.
The cultivators from Shadowed Star were not suppressed in the same way though, so they quickly caught up to their opponents and killed them all.
[This is the power of a Star Master! Here, I rule over everything! Here, I am God!]
Above the clouds and below the sunlight, Yang Kai closed his eyes and spread his arms. He was engulfed in the golden sunlight, appearing rather sacred.
Following that, screams could be heard continuously. In just an incense stick’s worth of time, hundreds of cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were killed.
After Tu Feng and the others returned, they were all agitated when they saw Yang Kai.
Qiu Yi Meng placed a finger on her lips and shushed them.
A moment later, Yang Kai opened his eyes and looked at them with a smile.
“Patriarch!”
“Sect Master!”
All of them saluted him.
Yang Kai swept a glance over all these familiar faces. Blood Warriors like Tu Feng, Tang Yu Xian, and Ying Jiu, who followed him in the Inheritance War of the Yang Family in the past, had grown exponentially over the years. Those disciples from the Eight Great Families had come of age as they all appeared mature. The disciples from different Sects in the Great Han Dynasty were also at the scene. Although he hadn’t met them for several dozen years, he could still remember their names just by looking at their faces.
He had never forgotten about them because they were his closest companions when he was still young and weak. At that instant, memories from the past flashed across his mind.
“Your Elder Sister is back,” Yang Kai stared at Su Mu and uttered.
Su Mu was startled for a moment before he became ecstatic, “She…”
“She came across an opportunity.”
Tears could be seen sliding down Su Mu’s face as he jumped up into the air like an excited monkey. After pulling himself together, he gazed at Yang Kai and asked, “Where is she?”
“At High Heaven Sect.”
“I’m going back now.” Not willing to wait anymore, Su Mu turned around and left.
Su Yan had gone missing for twenty years, and no one knew whether she was dead or alive, so he had been extremely worried all the while. Now that she was said to be safe, he was excited.
However, he realised that he couldn’t step forward, as though he had been bound by someone. Then, he turned to look at Yang Kai and said in embarrassment, “Brother-in-law, I admit that I’ve been cursing you in my heart over the years, but since my Elder Sister is back, just take it as that it’s all nonsense. I’ll apologise to you next time. Please let me go now.”
“You’ve been cursing me?” Yang Kai was stunned.
Su Mu scratched his head and put on a hollow laugh. Certainly, he had cursed Yang Kai many times before, as he felt that Su Yan only went to investigate the Void Corridor because she wanted to look for Yang Kai. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone missing. The culprit behind this incident was undoubtedly Yang Kai.
“I’ll tell your Elder Sister to deal with you later.” Yang Kai snorted.
“As long as both of you are safe, you can deal with me however you want,” Su Mu appeared prepared to be taught a lesson. He was no longer as reckless as when he was younger, “Can you let me go now?”
“Better than that, I’ll send you there directly.” Yang Kai waved his hand, upon which, Su Mu disappeared from the place with only some residual Space Principle fluctuations remaining.
Then, he turned to look at Qiu Yi Meng and said, “After all of you settle everything here, you can return to the Sect. There won’t be any invaders anymore.”
“Yes!” All of them replied in agreement.
“Where are you going?” Qiu Yi Meng asked anxiously.
“I have to attend to some matters. I’ll go back soon,” Yang Kai flashed a smile at her and disappeared from the place.
Qiu Yi Meng reached out her hand but couldn’t grab him, causing a crestfallen expression to cross her face.
All of them looked at her with conflicted expressions, because they knew what was on her mind. She was in love with Yang Kai, but unfortunately, he didn’t love her back, so there was nothing they could do about it.
With a grin, Tu Feng added, “Finally, we can take a long rest. Elder Qiu, why don’t we go back?” He was attempting to change the topic because he didn’t have the heart to see her looking so dejected.
Qiu Yi Meng nodded and turned to look in the direction of High Heaven Sect, “We really should go back.”
On the other hand, Yang Kai kept moving down until he reached the centre of the Star. This was the birthplace of Shadowed Star’s Source.
It was the first time he returned to this place since he left several dozen years ago. He came here today because he had realised that there had been some unusual reactions in the Shadowed Star’s Source, especially during the past few times when he communicated with the World Principles here.
After he stepped into the hollow at the centre of the Star, Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling a sense of warmth, like a traveller that had returned to his homeland. This kind of feeling was even more intense than when he returned to High Heaven Sect, as though this place was the origin of all things as well as the beginning and the end of everything.
Shadowed Star’s Source Strength within his body had become more active as it was now surging within him.
He walked up to a stone bed and sat down on it with his legs crossed. Then, he emptied his mind and let the Source Strength within his body resonate with Shadowed Star.
A moment later, he lay down on the stone bed. After some time, he turned and slept on his side as he appeared serene like a baby that was still being nurtured in a mother’s stomach.
Just then, some sounds could be heard. At first, he couldn’t make out what the sounds were, but soon, they became clearly audible.
The sounds were chaotic and continuous as though a piece of indescribable music had been composed and played out in his mind.
[This is…] He was astounded as he listened attentively to it.
Soon, he realised that these sounds were coming from every part of Shadowed Star. He didn’t use any force or even try to communicate with the World Principles here, nor did he use any of the powers that were bestowed on him as the Star Master of this Star. By just lying down on the side, he was able to listen to everything on the Star.
The languages of birds and insects were alien to him in the past, but at this moment, he seemed able to understand them.
Two dung beetles were fighting over a ball in the wilderness. They clashed with each other with their horns as they were having an argument, “This is my dung! Go away!”
“You should go away because this is mine. Otherwise, I’ll beat you up!”
“Try me!”
“Alright, then!”
After they argued for a bit, they started trying to snatch the dung ball, then it turned into a scuffle. Neither of them was willing to back down and the fight went on for a long time.
On the other hand, a moth was struggling on a spider web. An eight-legged spider giggled as it climbed towards the centre and injected its poison into the moth before having its meal, “This is delicious! It’d be nice if I could have such a delectable meal every day.”
A pair of ants were shouting a chant in an orderly manner as the other ants diligently brought the food back to the ant nest kilometres away.
Pleading voices could be heard as well. Yang Kai followed these voices and realised that there had been a drought in a certain area for several years, leading to a famine where many had died of hunger and those who had survived were barely hanging on. The situation had become so desperate that some had even resorted to cannibalism. There were also people who had invited mediums to communicate with the Heavens to beg for rain to alleviate their suffering.
Yang Kai, who seemed to be asleep, saw this and impatiently waved his hand.
Just then, thunder could be heard from above the peoples’ heads. The sky, which was filled with nothing but blue, suddenly turned gloomy as dark clouds had gathered above them, covering an area that spanned ten thousand kilometres in every direction. Lightning struck, then rain started pouring down.
Looking up at the sky, those mortals fell on their knees and pressed their heads against the ground as they thanked the Heavens for their blessing.
Inside Coloured Glass Sect, Dai Yuan had activated her Coloured Glass Body, forming a nigh unbreakable barrier around herself. Right now she was battling against several people at the same time, but just as she was on the brink of defeat, the World Energy around her surged and condensed into a series of blades that slashed her enemies in half. In an instant, their blood and organs splattered everywhere.
Dai Yuan was flabbergasted as she didn’t understand what was going on.
Those who were cut into half appeared horrified as well because they couldn’t tell who had launched a sneak attack on them. Whoever it was, they were unable to even sense their presence.
*Chi chi chi chi…*
More blasts of World Energy formed and began cutting down the enemy forces. All the disciples from Coloured Glass Sect were dumbfounded as they watched as some mysterious force slaughtered all their opponents while they remained unharmed.
“Senior Sister, what’s going on?” Yin Su Die flew towards Dai Yuan and stood beside her before asking this question.
Dai Yuan shook her head, “I have no idea.”
Then, they turned to look at Gong Ao Fu, who appeared surprised as well. After their enemies were all killed, Gong Ao Fu cupped her fists and said gently, “May I know who has helped us? Please show yourself Your Excellency, so we may offer you our sincere gratitude.”
Even after she shouted three times though, she still didn’t receive any reply, as though the Master who had helped them earlier didn’t exist.
Gong Ao Fu heaved a sigh, as she knew that their saviour wasn’t willing to show up, and she probably had no way to find him. So, she could only remember this favour in her heart so that when she found out their saviour’s name one day, she could repay this grace.
Similar sights could be seen all over Shadowed Star.
Initially, those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field wanted to flee because their Starships had been destroyed. Certainly, those from Shadowed Star wouldn’t let them go easily, so they raced after them and engaged them in fierce combat.
For some mysterious reason though, before many of the battles could even be joined, their enemies were all killed. In just one hour, Shadowed Star fell silent as no more battles were left to be fought.
Countless people were befuddled as they didn’t understand what happened. They also wondered who the mysterious benefactor was that had helped them.
Just then, World Energy started swirling high up above as a kind of illusionary phantom appeared in the distance. When the shadow first appeared, no one could clearly make out what it was. They just knew that it was immense as it was covering half the sky like a black screen.
All living creatures on Shadowed Star, regardless of where they were, could see this shadow as long as they looked up.
An indescribable feeling then rose within everyone’s heart, as they had the urge to worship that phantom. As everyone gazed dazedly at this image, it started going through a transformation. The phantom’s image grew clearer, as hands and legs became visible. Eventually, it assumed the form of a human, an enormous human that towered above the world. All were astounded at this sight and couldn’t come to their senses for a long time.
Moments later, the shadow’s face became clearer, causing the sluggish eyes of the masses to glow with excitement and ecstasy as utter surprise and joy came over them, for many of them recognised this person’s face.
It was Yang Kai! He was the Shadowed Star’s Star Master who had left several dozen years ago. As they watched the gigantic shadow, they wondered where Yang Kai actually was.
What was even more puzzling was that this immense shadow, which was hovering in a void, was lying on his side in the sky. His eyes were closed, making him look like he was asleep.
As his chest heaved, the World Energy rose and fell as well.
Just then, faint wisps of starlight could be seen coming from the Starry Sky and landing on Shadowed Star from all directions.
At first glance, many thought Shadowed Star had somehow run into an Asteroid Sea, sending tens of thousands of meteors falling to the ground, causing a kind of fluster and panic.
However, after the wisps landed on the ground, they didn’t cause any damage at all. Instead, they streamed into Shadowed Star like a mysterious force that nurtured this Cultivation Star and the trillions of creatures that lived on it.
As the giant illusionary Yang Kai breathed in and out, more wisps of starlight rained down in a dense and dazzling shower.
The World Energy Aura across Shadowed Star became thicker and purer at a speed that was clearly noticeable. Even the elusive World Principles seemed to become stronger and more tangible at this moment.
The Star Master was nourishing his Star!
The relationship between a Star Master and a Cultivation Star wasn’t that of a Master and a Servant. Instead, their fates were correlated as one’s fortune or misfortune would affect the other. If the Star Master’s cultivation was powerful, the Cultivation Star would also benefit, and vice versa.
It was just like what happened to Tong Xuan Realm in the past. At that time, the World Energy on the Star was quite weak, and if not for Xia Ning Chang taking the risk and refining its Star Source, it would have become desolate after several hundred or possibly a thousand years, rather than being its current vibrant existence.
Yang Kai had left Shadowed Star for many years, so the connection between the Star Source and Shadowed Star had become frail. Moreover, after years of wars, the Star had taken damage and begun to decline.
Nevertheless, it was still a short period of time, and the change was gradual, so the cultivators on Shadowed Star hadn’t noticed much.
However, Yang Kai immediately realised it after he returned because Shadowed Star had become bleaker than before he left.
As such, the unexpected opportunity to return nurture to the Star as a Star Master was a stroke of good fortune. Yang Kai had managed to attract some power from the Star Field to nourish Shadowed Star, replenishing the losses it had suffered. All things, living or nonliving, were able to benefit from this nourishment.
After such an incident, mortals would rarely come across any droughts again and cultivators would find it easier to cultivate. Whenever they were facing any bottlenecks, they would be able to achieve breakthroughs quicker. It could be said that what Yang Kai had done did not just help the current situation on the Star, but it would also benefit generations to come.
Nonetheless, Yang Kai wasn’t aware of what he was doing for his Star. His mind was in a totally empty state as countless sounds flowed into his ears. Anyone would have gone mad if the same thing happened to them, but Yang Kai appeared calm and collected, as though this was a completely natural process. Not only did he not find the chaotic sounds maddening, he even found a sense of cordiality and warmth in them.
His eyes were closed, but he was able to sense every movement of all the trees and flowers on Shadowed Star. The entire world had become vivid and beautiful in his mind.
Time slowly went by. On the square in front of the main hall in High Heaven Sect, many people were gathered together. The hall was also packed with people. Besides those from High Heaven Sect, the cultivators from other great forces on Shadowed Star had arrived at this place.
At this moment, the strongest Masters on Shadowed Star had all gathered together here.
One month ago, the gigantic image of Yang Kai sleeping on his side suddenly appeared in the sky for everyone to clearly see. It was impossible that this huge image would appear for no reason, so with doubts in their minds, many people had asked those from High Heaven Sect about it.
The reply they got was truly exciting – Yang Kai was back!
It was then everyone realised why the Starships from Grand Desolation Star Field were all destroyed and the cultivators from the invading Star Field were killed. It was all thanks to Yang Kai. While they were agitated, they were also shocked to learn that a Star Master’s power could be so horrifying.
It was as though they had found a pillar to rely on, boosting their confidence and setting their minds at ease after many years of anxiety and tension. With Yang Kai watching over Shadowed Star, no one would dare to invade them again. This was probably the best news they had heard in the past decade.
Yang Kai’s huge image had been hovering in the sky in a sleeping position since it appeared one month ago. Sometimes, he would turn over and extend his legs to change into a different position. As he breathed, countless wisps of starlight would continuously be attracted to Shadowed Star, causing the entire Star to be illuminated in a fantastical glow.
Those on the Star hadn’t seen the sky turning dark for the past month, but even after such a long time, they were still astounded whenever they looked up.
In just one month, the effects of the Star Master giving back to his Star could be clearly felt.
Like the bamboo shoots after a spring rain, the disciples from different Sects in every corner managed to achieve breakthroughs all at once. The lower their cultivation was, the faster they could achieve a breakthrough. The most shocking success story was a disciple from a small, previously unknown Sect. He was just a Separation and Reunion Boundary Junior one month ago, but now he had reached the Sixth-Order Immortal Ascension Boundary. In just one month, he had broken through two Major Realms!
In normal times, such an incident wouldn’t have happened. Even the most talented of cultivators couldn’t possibly achieve such progress in just one month; however, during this period of time when the Star Master was returning nurture to the Star, the impossible had become reality.
What truly excited those cultivators on Shadowed Star was that many cultivators who were stuck in the Third-Order Origin Returning Realm for a long time were finally able to break through to the Origin King Realm. Although there were not a lot of examples of this, it wasn’t a small number either. Roughly twenty people on Shadowed Star reached the Origin King Realm in this one month period, four of which came from High Heaven Sect.
More than twenty Origin King Realm Masters were a terrific number on any Cultivation Star. If they had these more than twenty Origin King Realm Masters a dozen years ago, they would have chased away those from Grand Desolation Star Field a long time ago, and the war wouldn’t have lasted until now.
It was said that a person could transform after everyone hadn’t seen him for three days. It was just an old saying, but during this period of time on Shadowed Star, anyone could truly transform into an entirely different person in just three days, because he might have reached a new realm.
At this moment, more than ten people were standing in a row in front of the main hall as they looked up at the Starry Sky. These people were the leaders of the most powerful Sects on Shadowed Star. Ye Xi Yun stood in the middle, while everyone else stood beside her.
“Hasn’t he awakened?” The Hall Master of Shadow Moon Hall, Qian Tong, looked up at the huge image in the sky and recalled the time when Yang Kai had arrived at this place as though it was yesterday. At that moment, he couldn’t help but heave a sigh. He had never expected that this brat would grow up to be as powerful as the Heavens and Earth one day. As he reminisced about the past, he found that everything that was happening now a little surreal.
“He’s been sleeping for a whole month already. Is that really alright?” The Sect Master of Clear Sky Sect, Gu Zhen, appeared worried.
Gong Ao Fu explained, “He’s basically nourishing the Star. The longer this period of time lasts, the better it is for all of us. So, there won’t be any problem. We should hope that he’ll continue sleeping for longer.”
“He’s waking up.” Ye Xi Yun suddenly raised her head and declared.
Hearing that, all of them shifted their attention to the sky, only to see the huge image, which had been sleeping for a long time, turning over and slowly sitting up. He covered his mouth and yawned as he was still in a groggy state. Although it was just an image, it captured every movement and expression of Yang Kai accurately and vividly.
“This brat!” Dong Su Zhu said through clenched teeth as her eyes had turned bloodshot, “I’ve come all the way to look for him, but he isn’t willing to show up for the entire month! He’s definitely not my son!”
Hearing that, Yang Ying Feng was shocked, “Then who gave birth to… Ahh…” Before he could finish his words, Dong Su Zhu landed a kick on him, causing him to grimace in pain.
“Help me deal with him later!” Dong Su Zhu turned to look at Su Yan with a furious expression.
“Yes, mother.” Su Yan nodded obediently.
“Little Su Yan, you’re the best. Haa… I should have given birth to a daughter. My son is never by my side…” Dong Su Zhu complained for a bit before she glowered at her husband.
“What’s wrong?” Yang Ying Feng’s chest tightened. [I’ve done nothing here. How have I offended you again? I didn’t even complain about it when you kicked me. What else do you want?”
“This is all your fault!” Dong Su Zhu uttered through gritted teeth.
Yang Ying Feng felt wronged, “What does it have to do with me?”
She went on to say, “If it weren’t because of you… If it weren’t because of you, I wouldn’t have given birth to such a son. He’s always making me so worried!”
Yang Ying Feng forced a smile, but it was uglier than if he had been crying. At that instant, he felt that there was no justice in this world.
To the side, Su Yan covered her mouth and giggled. It was quite rare that a married couple would still bicker like this after so many years of marriage.
“I feel furious just by looking at you!” Dong Su Zhu seemed to have no other way to get the frustration off her chest, so she could only vent it all out on her husband.
Yang Ying Feng darted his gaze around, but suddenly thinking of something, he walked up to his wife and leaned close to her before speaking to her using Divine Sense.
Dong Su Zhu’s face reddened in an instant as she pinched his waist and uttered, “What in the world are you talking about? You’re such an old pervert!”
“Let’s go.” He took her wrist and dragged her away.
“No! Stop pulling me! There are so many people around. It’s so embarrassing!”
As they bickered with each other, they soon disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Su Yan was blushing slightly. Yang Ying Feng thought that no one could hear him, but Su Yan was already a Second-Order Dao Source Realm Master, so his Divine Sense couldn’t block her probing.
She hadn’t eavesdropped intentionally, it was all just an accident, but what was said still sounded like thunder in her ears.
[They want to give birth to a little sister for Yang Kai? I’m looking forward to it…]
In the sky, Yang Kai finally came to his senses. It was apparent that his mind had become clearer now after awakening from a long sleep. He scanned his surroundings and eventually looked down from the sky.
His vision seemed able to traverse across space and allowed him to take in everything that was happening in High Heaven Sect. Then, he put on a smile.
Everyone thought that he was smiling at them. No matter where they were, or from whatever angle they looked at him from, this seemed to be a universal feeling for all of them.
However, only Su Yan was able to see the reflection of herself in his eyes.
With a loud crash, the huge image suddenly disintegrated and turned into pure and thick World Energy that began circling the world.
Just then, a figure appeared in the sky above the square of High Heaven Sect. As he was flying over, his black hair and clothes flapped along with the wind. At that moment, all of them shifted their attention to him.
Following that, voices that were as loud as thunder or a mountain collapsing could be heard, “Sect Master Yang!”
Facing this Star Master, who was not only supremely powerful but had also brought great transformative changes to the entire Shadowed Star, everyone could only offer the highest respect.
Yang Kai waved his hand, upon which a breeze whisked across the square and prevented them from bowing. Then, he swept a glance over all the faces that he was or wasn’t familiar with before he said with a smile, “This is a fortunate day for Shadowed Star, and so many Masters have gathered here as well. It’s such a rare occasion. I’ll drink 300 cups of wine with all of you at the very least!” Then, he swung his hand, “Prepare a banquet for the next three days. No one is to leave this place without getting drunk!”
“Many thanks, Sect Master Yang!”
Even without his order, those in High Heaven Sect had already prepared for such a celebration; after all, Yang Kai’s return was an important occasion. Moreover, they had just destroyed all the invaders on Shadowed Star, thus resolving the pain of a war that had lasted for more than ten years. It was the time for them to celebrate.
Yang Kai was the Sect Master of High Heaven Sect as well as the Master of Shadowed Star, so no one could challenge his authority.
As such, this celebration party could only be held in High Heaven Sect, not that anyone was opposed to the idea.
Soon, the vast square was covered in tables and chairs. The venue that could accommodate thousands of people was now packed. Besides the disciples from High Heaven Sect, there were also disciples from other Sects who had followed their Elders to this place.
On the other hand, the Sect Masters of different Sects and powerful cultivators were given a seat inside the main hall, which separated them from the people on the square.
Countless delectable dishes were soon served and placed on the tables. Many wines were opened as their aroma permeated the air. The joyous atmosphere around these cultivators on Shadowed Star seemed to fill from the ground all the way to the Starry Sky.
Silavin: I’m alive!
Has not been that active on Discord the past few weeks. Got the covyeet.
To celebrate, I’m gonna do a 50 this week.
I was all happy until I found out I still have to take the booster or I’ll be registered as unvaccinated in a few months. Well, since I’ve already made my mind up about the upload, here you go.
After a long bout of drinking, many bottles of wine had been exhausted. Countless people collapsed to the ground as loud snoring could be heard in the square.
Normally, cultivators wouldn’t get drunk by drinking wine. They could just circulate their Secret Arts and let their Qi disperse the effects of alcohol. However, it was time for celebration, so they were all feeling joyous and wouldn’t do such a thing to dampen the mood.
They kept waking up, drinking, getting drunk and sleeping as though they were in an infinite loop. Thousands of cultivators walked around and clinked glasses with each other as they pushed their worries to the back of their minds. At this moment, they were all elated as they were set on becoming totally wasted.
In the main hall, Yang Kai was seated in the main seat as toasts were proposed to him one by one. He wouldn’t reject any one of them as he gulped down the wine, showing enough respect to his guests, thereby livening up this celebration-cum-welcome-back party.
After the Seniors were done drinking with Yang Kai, it was the younger generations’ turn.
Yang Kai wasn’t so familiar with the older cultivators, but he had more or less come into contact with these young ones before.
The married couple Wei Gu Chang and Dong Xuan’er from Shadow Moon Hall, Dai Yuan and Yin Su Die from Coloured Glass Sect, Shen Shi Tao and Lu Ying from Clear Sky Sect, had all gone through life-or-death moments with Yang Kai, so they were on good terms.
However, during this reunion after several dozen years, there seemed to be a kind of barrier between them, so they were not as close to each other as before. This barrier was caused by the difference in their realms.
The difference in their cultivation and status made them unable to look at Yang Kai in the same light as several dozen years ago. There seemed to be an invisible layer of restraint between them.
A person would always get to know new friends and companions in his cultivation journey; however, as one forged onwards, when they looked back, they would realise that they could no longer see many of those familiar figures from the past.
Nevertheless, precious memories would always be kept in the deepest part of their hearts. Whenever they thought about it, they would be able to put on a proud smile. [Look, this powerful man once ran alongside me as I climbed the Martial Dao. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to keep up with him, so I was soon left behind. Nevertheless, I’ll never forget this experience. I’m sure both of us will remember the time we spent together.]
“Sect Master, let me propose a toast to you. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve lost my life. The reason I’ve even achieved such success is thanks to you, so I’m eternally grateful to you.”
Gazing at the woman before his eyes, Yang Kai smiled faintly and gulped down the wine before saying, “Yun’er is doing well now.”
Huang Juan’s body shook as she looked dazedly at Yang Kai.
“I just met her some time ago. She has come of age, so she’s looking like an adult now.” Yang Kai spoke in a small voice, but he was the centre of attention, so the moment he started speaking, the hall immediately fell into silence as they listened to him intentionally or otherwise.
“She’s grown up…” Huang Juan’s gaze appeared longing, as though she was trying to imagine what the little girl, who was reluctant to leave her in the past, looked like now that she had grown up. In fact, Lin Yun’er wasn’t her biological daughter, but rather the daughter of a married couple who were Huang Juan’s good friends. After the couple was killed in an accident, Huang Juan took in Lin Yun’er and regarded her as her own daughter. After they came across Yang Kai, he brought them back with him to enter High Heaven Sect. Soon after though, Lin Yun’er was taken away by Yang Yan.
Huang Juan covered her mouth and uttered, “I’m glad that she’s safe.” Her tears were already sliding down her face, and no matter how hard she tried to wipe them, they just wouldn’t stop streaming out of her eyes. She was on her own, so she was most concerned about Lin Yun’er. However, in this kind of atmosphere, it wasn’t inappropriate for her to ask Yang Kai for more details; what she didn’t know was that he would mention these things on his own.
“Her strength is on par with my own now.” Yang Kai put on a smile, “She was taken in as a Disciple by a Great Emperor, so hardly anyone in this world can afford to offend her now.”
[A Great Emperor!?] Everyone became all ears, even though they didn’t understand what this title suggested.
However, they recalled the Starry Sky Great Emperor of the Star Field from the past. Many of them at the scene had even seen her countenance. She was a dazzling woman who was unrivalled in this world.
[Could she be Lin Yun’er’s Master?]
Yang Kai picked up his wine glass and rose from his chair. After looking around, he shouted, “All of you must be curious about what realm I am in now.”
Naturally, they were very curious. Yang Kai was already a Second-Order Origin King before he left the Star Field, so after years of venturing in the outside world, it was impossible that he was only a Third-Order Origin King now. There were many Origin King Realm Masters at this scene, but none of them was certain about Yang Kai’s realm. Besides the fact that he was a Star Master, there must be another reason behind this. The most fundamental reason was that his cultivation far outmatched their own.
However, no one had the guts to ask him about it, not even Ye Xi Yun. Was he about to unveil the mystery?
All of them stared fixedly at him and held their breaths. The hall was so quiet that even their heartbeats could be heard.
“Above the Origin King Realm is the Dao Source Realm, and above the Dao Source Realm is the Emperor Realm. I am now a First-Order Emperor!”
Dao Source Realm!
Emperor Realm!
These two new names had shaken them to the core. Just like two hammers that had broken the chains binding them apart, a door had opened before their eyes, beyond which a new world could be seen.
“The place I have been staying in is called the Star Boundary. It is a higher world than any Star Field. In that place, Origin Kings are common, and only Dao Source Realm Masters have some right to gain a footing. Meanwhile, only Emperor Masters have the power to stand above the world.” Yang Kai suddenly changed his tone, “Of course, if you’re too arrogant, you’ll still be killed.”
All of them started laughing as the atmosphere became less intense. However, what Yang Kai had said had shaken their concept of reality, especially those Origin King Realm Masters. They had always thought that they had already reached the peak, so they could look down at the mortals below them.
However, when they raised their heads, they realised that there were two higher peaks at a nearby place. They were engulfed in those peaks’ shadows, which caused them to feel helpless about their lives, but at the same time, they were also excited about it.
They had the desire to climb up the mountains and reach the peaks to experience a wider world and see more beautiful scenery.
At that instant, they felt their throats drying up.
“With that said, Emperor Realm Masters are not the strongest. Ten Great Emperors in the Star Boundary transcend Emperor Realm Masters. They are the ones who can truly summon the clouds and call the rain. Even now, I cannot imagine how powerful they actually are.”
All of them caught their breaths again. The Emperor Realm was already like an unreachable dream for them, so how stunning were those ten Great Emperors, who transcended Emperor Realm Masters?
They couldn’t and wouldn’t dare to imagine it.
Turning his head, Yang Kai gazed at Huang Juan and uttered, “Yun’er’s Master is Iron Blood Great Emperor!”
All of them turned their heads with difficulty and looked enviously at Huang Juan.
Earlier, when they heard from Yang Kai that Lin Yun’er was taken in as a disciple by a Great Emperor, they still didn’t understand the meaning behind it; after all, no one knew what a Great Emperor was. However, after Yang Kai’s explanation, they realized that the Great Emperors were the strongest, the ones who stood above all others as overlords.
How was this woman called Lin Yun’er so lucky that she had a Great Emperor as her Master? With such a powerful backer, no one in the Star Boundary would dare to offend her. No one could possibly rival her when it came to the opportunity she had managed to capture. She had basically reached the pinnacle in her cultivation journey, so she was even able to walk around Star Boundary with her head held high.
Noticing the shock behind their gazes, Yang Kai put on a smile, “The Star Boundary isn’t unreachable.”
Just then, something flashed across their eyes as Yang Kai had disappeared from their sight. After a moment of silence, they finally came to their senses.
[What did Yang Kai mean before he left?] That kept them wondering if they were also able to head to Star Boundary.
[That’s right! He already went to Star Boundary several dozen years ago. Since he’s able to come back, he definitely can go there again. Perhaps he can even bring some people with him.] With this thought in mind, all of them became agitated. Then, they turned to look at Ye Xi Yun, only to be shocked to see that many others had surrounded her because they had thought of this as well. Now, many were asking her how to head to Star Boundary.
Ye Xi Yun placed her palm on her forehead as she felt her ears ringing, like countless flies were buzzing around her. Unable to take it anymore, she snarled, “I know nothing! If you all dare to be rowdy again, I’ll definitely teach you a lesson!”
In an instant, the place fell into silence.
After a snort, Ye Xi Yun picked up a bottle of wine and drained it in one gulp. Upon seeing that, all these Origin King Realm Masters were stunned. They had known Ye Xi Yun for years, but they had never seen her drink wine before. It had never crossed their minds that she would be so unflinching when she drank, so they couldn’t help but clap their hands for her.
…
On Jade Tree Peak in High Heaven Sect, Yang Kai suddenly appeared in front of a house and knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door opened, upon which Yang Ying Feng appeared before his son with messy clothes and a dishevelled look.
“Father, you…” The smile on Yang Kai froze as he examined the ‘spots’ on Yang Ying Feng’s face and neck. After looking around, he questioned cautiously, “Father, are you keeping a mistress? Does mom know about it? How could you be so foolish? If mom finds out about it, both of us will be killed! Who is that woman in the house?”
“Your mother is right here!” A woman bellowed.
Yang Kai flinched and shrank up while Yang Ying Feng glared at him and parted his lips, but his voice couldn’t be heard. Judging from the movements of his lips though, he seemed to be saying, ‘Brat, you’re doomed.’ Then, he was ready to close the door.
With his forehead drenched in cold sweat, Yang Kai stepped forward and stopped the door from closing with his foot. Then, he took his father’s arm and looked sincerely at him.
[Save me!]
However, Yang Ying Feng just glowered at him.
Yang Kai uttered, “Father, you must save me. I’m your only son. How do you have the heart to see me die!?”
After he returned, not only did he not visit his parents right away, he had actually gone missing for a whole month, so it was no wonder that his mother was so furious. In fact, he had never expected that he would spend so much time at the centre of the Star. Initially, he thought that he could deal with those invaders and come back quickly. Nevertheless, his plan was derailed by unexpected events.
Yang Ying Feng patted his shoulder and uttered in a heartfelt manner, “Just pray for yourself.”
Yang Kai felt helpless at that, no longer looking as nonchalant as when he was facing those Origin Kings. With a fawning smile, he called out, “Mother, your son is here to visit you. May I come in?”
Dong Su Zhu’s voice could be heard coming from the house, “Who are you? We don’t have a son like you. Don’t bother us while we’re having fun here. Leave now.”
Yang Kai was stunned, “Mother, don’t you recognise me? I’m your son, Yang Kai.”
Dong Su Zhu sneered, “Do I know you?”
Before Yang Kai could continue speaking, Yang Ying Feng spoke to him in his mind, “Leave first. Your mother is furious at the moment. I’ll give her some consolation and help her vent her anger. A woman’s heart will soften after her needs are satisfied.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai found his father to be sensible. Then, he took out a jade bottle from his Space Ring and secretly stuffed it into his father’s hands.
“What’s this?” Yang Ying Feng took a glance at the bottle and then looked up at him.
“These are Dragon Muscle Tiger Bone Pills.” Yang Kai arched his brow, which suggested that all men should know what these pills were.
Yang Ying Feng took a deep breath and put the jade bottle in his sleeve.
[You’re indeed my good son! Good, I’ll please the tigress with my own body so that she’ll stop being mad!] Then, he turned around and closed the door. Following that, he strode toward his wife in a determined manner.
Well, PP is not made of muscles
Also, no! No .5 chapter here!
I don’t think people want to read it… I think…
There was a palace on the main peak of High Heaven Sect. Although Yang Kai had left this place for several dozen years, the palace remained spotless, as it was cleaned up regularly.
Su Yan was seated by the window as she rested her chin on her palm. Looking at the view outside the window, she was walking down memory lane. Recalling the experiences over the years, she couldn’t help putting on a faint smile.
Sensing something, she turned her head, only to see Yang Kai leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed and looking silently at her.
“You’re back.” Su Yan rose from the chair and stepped forward. After she had only taken two steps forward, a masculine figure approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Then, he exerted more force with his hands, causing her to lean forward. In an instant, a plump and elastic sensation could be felt on his chest.
“Senior Sister, you’re so beautiful,” Yang Kai looked down at the woman before his eyes and praised her. After he studied her delicate nose and mouth for a bit, he lowered his head and attempted to kiss her luscious lips.
Su Yan pressed one hand against his chest and stopped his lips with her fingers, “You stink! How much have you drunk?”
Yang Kai beamed at her, “Not a lot. I’ve only drunk with every one of them.”
“Take a seat,” Su Yan pulled him towards the bed and said.
Obediently, Yang Kai took a seat on the bed. Then, Su Yan turned around and took the basin of water she had already prepared. After squeezing the towel, she helped wipe his face. He never moved a muscle and let her do whatever she wanted to him as he felt warm in his heart.
After Su Yan was done with it, she turned around to leave, but Yang Kai grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his embrace, causing her to lose grip on the basin and the water to splash over the floor. Yang Kai waved his hand, upon which everything returned to its original position.
Then, he flipped over and trapped Su Yan under his shadow. He stared passionately at her as his fiery gaze seemed able to burn her.
Su Yan pressed her red lips together as her long eyelashes fluttered. Then, she looked away, as if she didn’t dare to look him in the eyes.
At that instant, Yang Kai’s interest was piqued. They had been man and woman for years, and they had practised dual cultivation countless times, but she was still so shy in front of him. She was a woman, after all. Nevertheless, her bashful look was able to ignite a man’s desire.
After that, he reached out and clenched her blemish-free chin, forcing her to face him.
Su Yan was frustrated as she glared at him. It would be interesting if Su Yan could just be as seductive as Shan Qing Luo. By just thinking about how this pure and innocent woman would seduce and enchant him, Yang Kai felt as though there was a volcano in his body that was about to erupt.
With that thought in mind, his gaze became even more aggressive.
Su Yan couldn’t take it anymore, so she asked, “Have you seen your parents? Your mother misses you a lot.”
“I just came back from seeing them.” Yang Kai’s hand moved from her chin to her earlobe before he gently stroked it. As he spoke, he puffed out some breaths at her earlobe. Certainly, he knew that it was her most sensitive body part.
Su Yan’s aura destabilised as she said through clenched teeth, “Did she scold you?”
She had accompanied Yang Kai’s parents for the past month, so she knew what Dong Su Zhu had been complaining about. She was worried that Yang Kai might have been lectured by his mother.
“It’d be much better if she had scolded me.”
“What happened?”
He appeared dejected, “She doesn’t even acknowledge that I’m her son anymore.”
Su Yan just scoffed, “You deserve it!”
He glared at her, “Why are you taking pleasure in my misfortune?”
She replied, “Your mother told me to teach you a lesson when I saw you.”
“You want to teach me a lesson?” His expression turned weird suddenly as he playfully examined her, “How are you going to teach me a lesson, then? Please tell me about it. I have to get prepared.”
“I don’t know…” Su Yan looked away, as her slender neck was completely red.
Just then, Yang Kai covered her bosom with one hand and stroked it. In an instant, Su Yan frowned, which aroused him slightly.
“Since you won’t tell me, I’ll give you all I have, then.” Yang Kai couldn’t contain his desire anymore. An aggressive glare flashed across his eyes as he grabbed her clothes and tore them apart.
With a loud ripping sound, her imperial dress was shredded, drawing a sharp exclamation as she looked at him in shock and puzzlement.
Over the years, he had always been gentle to her. This was the first time he had been so forward and aggressive, so she thought that he might be acting strangely because he was drunk. However, upon closer look, she realised that he wasn’t intoxicated. Although his gaze appeared fierce, it was extremely clear. Nonetheless, his demeanour was completely different now as he pinned her down on the bed.
For some reason, she felt her heart trembling, but just when she was about to speak, he lowered himself and kissed her.
“Mmm…” Su Yan grunted. It was the first time she felt him being so forceful and domineering. At that instant, she realised she was unable to resist his advance.
At the same time, all her clothes had been ripped off her, which revealed her figure that was as lovely as jade. Under the evening light, her body appeared radiant.
At this moment, two iron-hard hands were wandering on her immaculate body, as though trying to destroy this fine piece of art. Yang Kai didn’t seem to show any sympathy as he exerted so much force with his hands, causing her to feel pain. In spite of the pain though, she also felt a feeling that was unfamiliar and indescribable to her.
She had never had this kind of feeling before. All of a sudden, her body froze as her snow-white skin reddened. It was as though a barrier in her heart had broken into pieces, which released her instincts that have been suppressed for years.
Yang Kai was stunned, as she not only proactively draped her arms around his neck, but she had also demanded a kiss from him. At this instant, she appeared completely lost in her own desire.
Her actions had shaken Yang Kai to the core. Although he had practised dual cultivation with her countless times, it was the first time he saw her taking the initiative. Becoming aroused, he exerted more force with his hands. All his sympathy vanished as he rubbed her body more forcefully. Just then, a crazy idea flashed across his mind.
[I must do this! I must do this! This is the only way!]
A voice was shouting in his mind as though he had been possessed, which forced him to take action. After that, he grabbed her body and forced her to turn around so that she would face away from him.
Su Yan turned her head to look at him. Her alluring gaze appeared out-of-focus and puzzled.
*Pa…* After a loud slap, a palm mark immediately appeared on her fair bottom.
Su Yan suddenly lifted her head as her hair flapped in the air. Her parted lips made her look like a fish that was dragged out of water. She could be heard gasping, but she never let out her breath.
*Pa…* He landed another slap on the other side of her bottom. Now, two palm marks appeared symmetrical on both sides of her backside.
Su Yan hoisted her head even further as her waist lowered, as though it might break at any moment. The curve on her back appeared fatally alluring, and her body could be seen trembling uncontrollably.
She felt humiliated that she was now kneeling on all fours like a dog, but at the same time, she couldn’t help feeling ecstatic. Her mind had turned completely blank. She felt as if she was writhing about on the clouds.
Her sense of morality and virtue told her that she shouldn’t behave like this, but her body wasn’t able to resist her man’s blistering passion.
*Pa! Pa! Pa!* More slaps landed on her backside.
Su Yan couldn’t contain her desire anymore as she moaned in a way that could make any man’s blood boil. She was neither crying nor laughing. She seemed to have gone mad as she shook her head repeatedly, causing her long hair to swing in the air. With tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes, she pleaded, “No! No! Junior Brother, please stop. Please…”
The inner demon in Yang Kai’s heart had gotten out of the cage, so he was oblivious to her plea. He felt like he was doing the most enjoyable thing in this world ever as he raised his hand and landed a slap on her bottom, leaving a mark on her fair skin. Then, he watched her reaction as he panted and let out fiery breaths.
Inside the hall, slapping sounds and Su Yan’s yelling moans could be heard continuously.
A long time later, her yell weakened. Not only had her voice become small, but it had also become hoarse. Moments later, she couldn’t even utter anything at all as only the sound of Yang Kai pounding against her was left.
…
“Senior Sister. Senior Sister…” Seated by the bed, Yang Kai gently poked the woman on the bed.
Su Yan covered herself in a quilt and faced away from him as she remained silent.
Yang Kai scratched his head and cursed himself for being such a brute in his heart. [How could I have hurt her like that?]
However, in that situation and atmosphere, he couldn’t suppress the wicked desires in his heart. He didn’t even know why he had done such a foolish thing.
[It’s all over now. Senior Sister must hate me. I don’t even know whether she’ll talk to me again.] While he was feeling guilty, he was also anxious.
“Senior Sister, if you’re mad at me, please just beat me up. I have really thick skin anyway.” Laying down on the bed, Yang Kai pressed one hand against the bed and pulled her into his embrace with his other hand.
However, she remained silent.
After a sigh, he uttered, “I know I was in the wrong this time. Please don’t get mad at me. It’s not good for your health.”
“That’s not it…” Su Yan could be heard whispering from under the quilt.
“What do you mean?” Yang Kai was elated. [I’m glad that she’s talking to me now. I was worried she’d remain silent forever.]
She turned over to face him, but her expression couldn’t be seen because she was still covered in a quilt, “I’m not mad at you.”
“Then why did you remain silent?”
“I’m mad at myself.”
Yang Kai was rendered speechless. Then, he wanted to lift the quilt off her, but she gripped it tightly and pleaded in a small voice, “No! I’m too embarrassed to face you. Don’t take it away from me.”
Yang Kai burst into laughter. [So, she’s not mad at me; she’s just too embarrassed.]
Nevertheless, she was right to feel this way. They had been a couple for decades already, but it was the first time they had acted so wildly in bed. Now that he thought about it, he also felt utterly embarrassed, to say nothing of the fact that Su Yan was a woman.
Then, he gently pulled her fingers away and took the quilt away from her. However, her eyes remained closed, and her fluttering eyelashes suggested that she was nervous.
“Look at me,” Yang Kai said in a small voice.
Su Yan pressed her lips together for a moment before she slowly opened her eyes. Faced with the man’s narrowed eyes, she immediately attempted to cover herself in a quilt again.
“Alright alright,” Yang Kai stopped her from doing that and ran his fingers through her hair. Lovingly, he gazed at her and uttered, “I love you no matter what you look like.”
[Well, maybe I prefer what she looked like last night.]
Su Yan covered her face as her voice transmitted through her fingers, “Don’t do that again.”
“Yes, yes.” Yang Kai nodded repeatedly and leaned close to her before giving her a peck. With a smile, he said, “It’s time to get up. Please visit my parents with me.”
[If I go over alone, Mother will probably kick me out of the house again. However, with Su Yan around, she might go easy on me.]
The atmosphere around them was intimate when they were putting on their clothes.
Gazing at the palm marks on Su Yan’s fair body, Yang Kai felt utterly sorry. He blamed himself for being rough and causing bruises all over her body. Then, he whisked his hand across her as he activated his Qi, infusing it into her body. As a result, the red marks on her started diminishing.
After they were done getting dressed, they flew towards Jade Tree Peak together. On their way there, Su Yan remained blushing while Yang Kai kept turning his head to look at her. Realising that he had discovered an unknown side of her, he felt a sense of pride in his heart.
That was a side that was only shown to him.
After they landed on the ground in front of a house on Jade Tree Peak, Yang Kai saw his father taking care of the plants.
Then, he greeted his father, upon which they traded glances. Yang Ying Feng secretly made a gesture to tell his son that it was all good.
[Many thanks for your help, father!] Yang Kai felt grateful.
Following that, Yang Ying Feng turned around and shouted, “Su Zhu, our son is here.”
“Tell him to scram!”
Yang Kai cringed and looked bitterly at his father. [Is this what you mean it’s all good? Father, I’m so disappointed in you. Give my Dragon Muscle Tiger Bone Pills back to me this instant!]
“Mother!” Su Yan called out gently.
“Su Yan is here?” Dong Su Zhu was startled for a moment before she hurriedly called out, “Come in.”
Su Yan hinted at Yang Kai with her gaze, after which they stepped into the house together.
The decorations inside the house were simple. It was apparent that only his parents lived on Jade Tree Peak, as there wasn’t even a single servant present. After passing through the living room, they entered a dressing room. Dong Su Zhu was seated in front of a table as she ran a comb through her hair, which was jet black and silky smooth.
Seeing that, Su Yan immediately approached her and uttered softly, “Mother, let me help you.”
With a smile, Dong Su Zhu passed the comb to her, “Thank you.”
Su Yan replied, “You don’t have to thank me. This is what I’m supposed to do.”
Dong Su Zhu nodded and remarked, “Daughters are really the best. Little Su Yan, it’d be wonderful if you were my daughter. You have no idea how badly I want a daughter.”
Smiling faintly, Su Yan replied, “I am your daughter. Moreover, you have more than one daughter. Although my sisters are not by your side, I’m sure they all miss you.”
“That’s true. Little Qing Luo, Little Ning Chang and Little Xue Yue would get some people to pass on their words and ask how I’m doing from time to time.” Then, Dong Su Zhu’s smile froze as she stared at Yang Kai’s figure through the reflection on the bronze mirror and scoffed, “So unlike a certain someone I know. I gave birth to him after ten months of pregnancy, but after he’s grown up, he’s stopped caring about me.”
Meekly, Yang Kai called out, “Mother…”
“Oh?” Dong Su Zhu appeared shocked and spoke in a strange tone, “Who is this? Why are you in my room? Boy, where are your manners? Did I allow you to come in? Su Yan, help me beat him up and chase him out.”
Su Yan hung her head low and uttered, “I’m no match for him.”
An enraged Dong Su Zhu landed a slam on the armrest and bellowed, “How dare he lay a hand on you? He must be sick of living!”
“No, no.” Su Yan’s face reddened as she couldn’t help but recall the crazy incident last night. At that instant, her entire body turned limp.
[He did lay a hand on me last night for a long time. My backside still burns in pain.]
Dong Su Zhu uttered, “Don’t be afraid of him. So what if his cultivation is powerful? So what if he’s a Star Master? If he’s bullied you, just tell me right away. I’ll beat him up for you.”
As she spoke, Yang Kai approached her and crouched down beside her before extending his head.
“What are you doing?” Dong Su Zhu glowered at him.
“Since you want to beat me up, I figured I should come over instead of letting you take a few steps forward,” Yang Kai grinned at her.
“Shoo, shoo. What a shameless boy.” Dong Su Zhu’s attitude shifted between cold and warm. While she was stern to Yang Kai, she was hospitable to Su Yan, causing the atmosphere in the room to be torn between the two.
Yang Kai took his mother’s hand and placed it on his head.
With a cold expression, Dong Su Zhu scolded, “Don’t you think I don’t have the heart to smack you!”
“As long as you stop being mad at me, you can smack me however you want.”
“Good!” Dong Su Zhu clenched her teeth as she raised her hand and slammed down her palm.
On the other hand, Yang Kai didn’t even flinch.
Her palm stopped right above his head, causing the wind to swirl around. She glared at him and bellowed, “I’ll die of exasperation because of you sooner or later!”
Certainly, she didn’t have the heart to lay a hand on her son. Just as she said, she gave birth to him after ten months of pregnancy, and she had placed all her hopes on him. She would be heartbroken even if he was slightly injured, so how would she have the heart to beat him up?
“You’re only so daring because you know I dote on you,” As she spoke, she wiped the tears off her eyes.
Yang Kai got to his feet and placed his palms on her shoulders before he looked at her through the mirror and uttered, “Mother, don’t cry or get mad easily because that’ll leave you with wrinkles on your face.”
“Wrinkles?” Dong Su Zhu was shocked as her tears abruptly stopped streaming down her face. Then, she examined herself in the mirror and questioned, “Where are the wrinkles? Do you see them?”
“It’s fine even if you have wrinkles.” Yang Kai seemed prepared as he fished out a jade box and presented it to his mother.
“What’s this?” Dong Su Zhu took the jade box and asked.
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai replied, “Look for the right time and take it. I guarantee that you’ll look like a young woman in her twenties forever.”
In an instant, Dong Su Zhu beamed at him, “Is it really so amazing?”
She hurriedly stored the jade box in her Space Ring and spoke in a way that was different from what her expression suggested, “I didn’t tell you to bring a gift when you came back.”
Yang Kai uttered, “It’s not expensive anyway. Do you like it?”
“Good, I like it.” Certainly, Dong Su Zhu loved the gift her son had given her. After that, she took his hand and stroked his face with her other hand, “You must have experienced a lot of hardship over the years, right?”
“Not really.” Yang Kai shook his head, “I’m the one who can walk sideways anywhere I go. Who has the guts to offend me? All those who dared to do so are dead now.”
“What silly things are you talking about?” Dong Su Zhu knocked his head. She knew that he didn’t want to tell her what he had gone through because he didn’t want her to worry.
While she was glad that he had come home safely, she knew that even though the outside world was beautiful and filled with wonders, the road he tread upon was paved with danger. Several dozen years had passed, and he had grown into a mature man, so there was no way he hadn’t experienced any hardship. Perhaps he had even gone through countless life-or-death moments.
“Now that you’re back, are you still going to leave?” Dong Su Zhu asked.
“Yes.” Yang Kai bowed his head.
Her face fell in an instant as she waved her hand, “Leave now. After you leave this time, don’t ever come back again. Just let me perish in this place.”
Yang Kai was helpless at that, “I’m going to leave with all of you.”
It was then Dong Su Zhu realised what he was talking about as she stared at him with displeasure, “Why didn’t you speak clearly?”
Then, she paused for a moment before asking, “Where are we going?”
“The Star Boundary.”
“Is that where you’ve been for the past several dozen years?”
“Yes. I’ve founded High Heaven Palace there, and I have countless Masters in my Sect. You and Fa\ther can cultivate there with peace of mind. There are no conflicts or danger.”
“You have a Sect there?” Dong Su Zhu was amazed. Although she didn’t know what the Star Boundary was like, she reckoned that it must be much better than Shadowed Star. Nevertheless, Yang Kai was able to found a Sect there in just several dozen years, which was definitely a difficult feat to pull off.
At that instant, she felt proud of the fact that he was her son. Curious about the Star Boundary and High Heaven Palace, she kept asking him many questions.
Outside the house, Yang Ying Feng listened attentively as he put on a smile. [Last night, I showcased all the skills I have and even tried out eighteen new positions. Paired with the Dragon Muscle Tiger Bone Pills, there’s no way it wasn’t effective at all. My sacrifice was definitely worth it.]
Their conversation went on until night fell.
Most of the time, it was Yang Kai who narrated his experiences in the Star Boundary, while Dong Su Zhu and Su Yan listened attentively as they looked forward to heading to that place. In fact, as long as this man was around, they didn’t mind staying anywhere. It was this familial bond that had bound them together.
Yang Ying Feng had entered the room several times to serve them tea. Although he was displeased with being left out and having to act as a waiter, he didn’t dare to say anything as he was afraid of his wife.
“By the way, I have to ask you a question and you must answer me honestly.” Dong Su Zhu suddenly turned solemn.
Yang Kai replied, “Ask anything you want.”
She took a look at Su Yan, who misunderstood her intention and uttered, “I’ll take my leave now.”
Dong Su Zhu immediately took her hand and said, “Don’t go. This has something to do with you, so you have to listen as well.”
“…Good,” although Su Yan didn’t know what Dong Su Zhu was going to ask, she still took a seat upon hearing that.
For some reason, Yang Kai felt apprehensive as he didn’t know what his mother was going to ask. Moreover, she appeared grim.
“I want to ask you…” Dong Su Zhu looked sternly at her son, “You’ve left us for several dozen years, so have you hooked up with other women in the outside world?”
Su Yan straightened her face as well and gazed at him.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai’s forehead was drenched in a cold sweat.
“How dare you!” Seeing that, Dong Su Zhu immediately knew the answer. Infuriated, she poked his forehead aggressively and bellowed, “How could you do this to your wives?”
Yang Kai hung his head low and remained silent.
Dong Su Zhu went on to say, “You already have Su Yan, Ning Chang, Qing Luo and Xue Yue. Are you still not satisfied? Are all men like this? Tell me what goes through that head of yours!”
Meekly, Yang Kai replied, “It was an accident…”
“An accident?” Dong Su Zhu sneered, “There are countless beautiful women in this world. Do you want to get into an accident with every one of them?” Then, she pointed at Yang Ying Feng on the side, “Why can’t you learn from your father? When has he ever flirted with other women?”
Yang Ying Feng muttered, “I think it’s not a bad idea to have a few wives. You said so in the past as well…”
“What did you just say?” Dong Su Zhu shot him a glare.
Yang Ying Feng immediately glowered at his son and now scolded, “Brat, you’ve crossed the line this time!”
It was then Dong Su Zhu’s expression turned milder as she uttered, “I don’t care whether it’s an accident or not. After we go to Star Boundary, you have to chase them all away. You already have four wives, and I only acknowledge them to be my daughters-in-law.”
“Mother.” Su Yan took Dong Su Zhu’s arm and put on a smile, “Junior Brother isn’t a cold-hearted person, nor is he a man who flirts with other women without thought. He must have gone through a lot with those women to have formed a relationship with them. Moreover, he’s been alone in the outside world for years, so he needs some women to take care of him. In fact, I, Ning Chang and the others should be thankful to those sisters. Please don’t be so hard on him.”
Dong Su Zhu replied, “I know you’re a magnanimous person, but you don’t have to put up with everything, especially when it comes to a matter like this. You have to make things clear to him.”
Su Yan put on a faint smile, “He’s not a child anymore, so I trust he knows what he’s doing. It’s really fine.”
Staring at her, Dong Su Zhu heaved a sigh, “I’m so sorry for what my son has done to you all.”
Just to make it consistent, I added ‘you said so in the past as well’ just to reference the past.
Yang Kai had ventured into the outside world for several dozen years. There were many beautiful women out there, so it was expected that he’d make a mistake. Dong Su Zhu understood this and her son very well. The reason she made a fuss now was to ask about it on Su Yan’s behalf. She had even predicted how Su Yan would react.
It wasn’t that she was a scheming woman; however, as Yang Kai’s mother, she had to show Su Yan that she was on her side.
Su Yan replied with a smile, “Although the other sisters and I don’t mind, you have to understand that not every woman can be accepted into the Yang Family. They have to be kind-hearted and have a clean background. Otherwise, you’re inviting trouble to yourself instead of enjoying a harmonious life with several wives. Junior Brother, do you agree with me?”
She suddenly put on an Eldest Sister facade, so Yang Kai wasn’t used to it, but he still nodded quickly, “Senior Sister, you’re absolutely right.”
Su Yan went on to say, “Since Father and Mother are here as well, why don’t you tell us about our new sisters in the Star Boundary? That way we can decide who among them is worthy and who is not.”
A serious Dong Su Zhu uttered, “That’s right! Tell us everything in detail and make sure you don’t hide anything. Otherwise, you’ll die a horrible death.”
Yang Ying Feng also glowered at him. It was as though three people were interrogating him at the same time.
Feeling immensely pressured, Yang Kai wiped away the sweat on his forehead and stuck out one finger, “There’s only one woman. It’s not as many as you think.”
“Only one!?” The three of them were shocked.
The answer defied their expectation as they thought that Yang Kai must have flirted with many women since he’d been in the outside world for decades now. However, he had only gotten together with one woman, which went to show that he was pretty restrained. A man like him, who had left his homeland for years, was quite rare.
Dong Su Zhu asked, “What is she like? Tell us about it.”
Yang Kai replied, “She’s not a Human.”
“She’s not a Human?” Yang Ying Feng’s eyes glinted, “Is she from the Monster Race, then?”
[Tsk… This smelly brat has a special preference in women. Anyway, Monster Race women are indeed more exotic than women from the Human Race. I’m so jealous of him. He’s indeed very lucky.]
“She’s not exactly from the Monster Race either…”
Dong Su Zhu frowned, “She’s neither a Human nor Monster Beast? Is she a plant that has transformed into a Human?” She landed a slam on the armrest. [Damn it! Why is he so not picky when it comes to women? Although plants might get an opportunity and transform into Humans as well, how can he get together with such a woman? I’d rather find out that he had found a woman from the Monster Race.]
Yang Kai bit the bullet and replied, “She’s a Dragon.”
The room fell into silence for a moment before Dong Su Zhu asked in shock, “What!? A Dragon?”
“She’s a Dragon. Literally.” Yang Kai uttered. Seeing that they still didn’t seem to get it, he went on to explain, “The Dragon Clan exists in the Star Boundary. They’re the leaders of all Ancient Divine Spirits that we’ve heard of in our legends. An… accident happened between a Dragon girl and me, then we…”
Dong Su Zhu and her husband gasped as they finally understood what he was talking about.
They had only heard about Dragons in legends. Dragons and Phoenixes were the leaders of all Ancient Divine Spirits. However, such a powerful Race was never seen in the Star Field. They could only see their pictures in ancient books.
So, they couldn’t believe that their son had gotten together with a Dragon girl.
Dong Su Zhu gulped and asked, “Does this Dragon girl… I mean, does she have other family members?”
Yang Kai uttered, “There are about twenty Dragon Clan members in the Star Boundary. They live in a place called Dragon Island.”
“There are about twenty of them?” Dong Su Zhu was startled. It was already difficult to imagine that living Dragons existed in this world. What would it look like if more than twenty Dragon Clan members were to gather up in the same place? Her mind had gone completely blank.
“How did you even come back alive?” Yang Ying Feng was drenched in a cold sweat as he examined his son in shock.
Although he had no idea what the Dragon Clan was like or what position they held in the Star Boundary, he knew that there was no way their status was low. Perhaps they were also the strongest Race in the Star Boundary. Yang Kai was just a mere Human, but he was able to get together with a Dragon girl without getting killed, so his luck was beyond extreme.
With a grin, Yang Kai replied, “I do have some authority to speak in Dragon Island.”
His strength, and the strength within him gave him that authority.
Dong Su Zhu remained silent for a moment before she uttered, “I don’t care what that Dragon girl is like. If she wants to be accepted into the Yang Family, she has to acknowledge that Su Yan is the First Wife of the family.”
Su Yan added, “Mother, we’re all equals because we’re Sisters. I regard us as one family.”
Dong Su Zhu shook her head, “This is different. She’s a Dragon girl, so we have to make it clear to her first.” Then, she stared at her Son, “Do you get it?”
Yang Kai nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Yes.”
“What if she doesn’t agree to it?”
Yang Kai raised his fist, “I’ll beat her up until she agrees to it.”
Upon hearing the reply, Dong Su Zhu directly landed a slap on him, “How dare you lay a hand on a woman!?”
…
Ten days later, they all gathered in front of a Space Array in High Heaven Sect. Yang Kai was standing in the centre of the array as he closed his eyes and tried to sense the passage.
For the past ten days, he and Su Yan had accompanied his parents on Jade Tree Peak. He hadn’t been able to fulfil his filial duties because he had been in the outside world for years. Now that he was back, he wanted to make it up to them. If it weren’t because Dong Su Zhu urged him to leave, he would’ve stayed even longer.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to keep her son by her side for a longer time; however, the Star Field was in a perilous situation as wars were raging across it. They could ignore others because their life or death had nothing to do with them; however, Shan Qing Luo and the others were still on their respective Stars, so how could Yang Kai stand idly by?
Therefore, on this day, she decided to chase her son away and told him to look for his other wives. Yang Kai happily agreed to it because he missed Xia Ning Chang and the others as well.
The situation on Shadowed Star was stable as they had killed all the invaders. After this war, there was no way those from Grand Desolation Star Field would invade them again before they understood the current situation on Shadowed Star.
Moreover, Su Yan was here. Even if the invaders had the guts to come, she would ensure that they wouldn’t go back alive.
In the past, before Yang Kai left the Star Field, he had set up more than 100 Space Arrays, which were able to connect almost every major Cultivation Star in the entire Star Field. However, due to the war that had lasted for more than ten years, many Space Arrays had been destroyed. Some were even occupied by those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field, which was why the great forces in the Star Field weren’t able to effectively support each other as they could only battle against the enemies on their own. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been in such a helpless position.
The Space Array in High Heaven Sect was the origin of all Space Arrays in the Star Field, so it was also the most targeted. The passages that connected High Heaven Sect to other Stars were all destroyed or occupied, which was why the communication between Shadowed Star and the other Stars was cut off.
These Space Arrays were arranged by Yang Kai though, so no one knew them better than he did. After he activated his Divine Sense, Space Principles started fluctuating as he released his might.
Although he was in a Lower Star Field, he was the Star Master of Shadowed Star, so in this place, he was able to use some of his power and didn’t have to worry about repulsion from the Heavenly Way.
A moment later, he opened his eyes as he had found a passage that could be used. The others were looking at him from a nearby place.
Gazing at Su Yan, Yang Kai uttered, “Senior Sister, I’ll leave everything here to you.”
She nodded her head and replied, “Don’t worry.” She now had a Second-Order Dao Source Realm cultivation, so although she had suppressed her cultivation, there was no way any Third-Order Origin King would be a match for her. With her keeping watch over Shadowed Star, there was nothing to worry about.
“Come back quickly!” Dong Su Zhu said as she was reluctant to part with him.
Yang Kai nodded and took a deep breath. As the Principles swirled, a light flashed across the array, upon which he disappeared from their sight.
There was a Dead Star a few million kilometres away from Shadowed Star, and inside a mine that was deep below the ground, a Space Array glowed faintly all of a sudden.
In the darkness, some people opened their eyes and shifted their attention to the array.
They were all Origin King Realm Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field. The reason they were guarding this place was that they were waiting for people from Shadowed Star to come so that they could kill them. Previously, they had managed to do so several times. Shadowed Star was under siege, so it was expected that they would send some people out to spread the news. Those people were killed by the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field. They had even obtained some Transmission Tokens that were crafted by Yang Kai in the past.
The Space Arrays Yang Kai had set up were not accessible to everyone. If anyone wanted to use it, they had to possess a Transmission Token specially made by him. Otherwise, the user would be exiled to the endless Void.
With those Transmission Tokens, the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were able to move around freely. They could even go directly to High Heaven Sect. However, with only a small number of Transmission Tokens, they didn’t have the guts to do so. So, they only kept the tokens to use a limited number of Space Arrays to share information with their own people, which was still quite convenient for them.
Nevertheless, they hadn’t seen anyone try to use this array for the past few years. Apparently, those from Shadowed Star had found out that their messengers were being ambushed and killed here, so they stopped trying to send out people.
It wasn’t until this day that someone was going to make the same mistake.
In the darkness, the eyes of those cultivators had turned bloodshot as they concealed their auras and surrounded the Space Array from all directions.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared on the Space Array. He was a handsome and energetic young man, and as soon as he appeared, five shadowy figures pounced on him like ravenous beasts. They were all ruthless people with incredible cultivation, so in the blink of an eye, the mine became as bright as daytime as explosions rang out.
These five people either wore calm expressions or wolfish grins as they stared at the spot where Yang Kai stood, certain he was doomed.
It wasn’t that they thought they were powerful enough and that no one was a match for them. They were all First-Order Origin Kings in fact, without a single Second-Order among them. Given their power, it would be difficult for them to deal with a Second-Order Realm Master, let alone a Third-Order one.
However, Shadowed Star was extremely far away from this place, and anyone who teleported here from there would inevitably fall into a dazed state for a moment. Even a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master wasn’t spared from this side-effect.
The time it took for such a person to regain their senses would be short; however, even a breath of time was enough to launch countless deadly attacks.
These stone-hearted people were determined to kill anyone who came to this place. This was how they had always done it, and they had never failed in their attempts before.
They didn’t care if Yang Kai was instantly killed or if they had to follow up and kill him. What they really wanted was the Transmission Token he carried with him. Anyone who used this array must have a token with them. Those from Grand Desolation Star Field were eager to collect these tokens for, as soon as they obtained ten, they planned to send ten top Masters from Cultivation Stars to directly destroy the forces on Shadowed Star.
In the darkness, lights flashed across these five people as they charged towards their prey.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai raised his head and looked into the eyes of a burly man.
As their eyes met, the burly man was astounded. Yang Kai’s clear gaze appeared vigorous, so it was obvious that he didn’t feel any discomfort. With no time to think about it, the burly man still smashed his hammer towards Yang Kai’s head as the wind swirled around his weapon.
Just then, a hand lightly grabbed the hammer, causing the forceful attack to halt. Upon impact, the burly man realised that his arms had turned numb.
The burly man’s pupils contracted as he thought, [How can this be? This guy just came from Shadowed Star. However, not only is he still clear-headed, but he’s also able to grab my artifact with just one hand! How is this possible!?]
Before he could figure it out, his four companions had launched their attacks on the strange young man. At that instant, waves of Saint Qi surged as a loud clang could be heard in the mine. At the same time, rocks started falling from the ceiling.
After a successful strike, the four of them leapt back to their original positions.
A woman in revealing clothes gazed at the burly man and sneered, “Man Zi, have you become exhausted because we’ve had too much sex lately? Why are you so weak now? You’re so useless.”
A frail and short old man coughed and said in a lethargic manner, “It’s said that a charming beauty makes men fall. You should be more restrained.”
A clean-looking man guffawed, “Lady Can, since Man Zi is useless now, why don’t you try out a different man?”
The beautiful woman called Lady Can shot him a look and pressed her lips together, “Go away. Pretty boys like you don’t suit my taste.”
All of a sudden, a folding fan appeared in the clean-looking man’s hand as he fanned himself with it and replied with a smile, “Yes, I’m a pretty boy, but I’m not a weakling. Lady Can, why don’t you sleep with me to find out about it yourself?”
With a cold expression, Lady Can uttered, “Even if your manhood is big, you’re still not my type. I prefer sturdy men like Man Zi.”
Saying so, she turned around and asked curiously, “Man Zi, why are you rooted to the spot there?”
The burly man called Man Zi felt stiff all over his body as cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
As he silently stared at Yang Kai, his eyes were filled with fear and horror, he felt as if death itself was staring back at him.
[All of you are such idiots! He’s not dead!] The other four people immediately retreated after they launched their attack, so they were not aware of Yang Kai’s condition. After all, hardly anyone could survive their collective attack, so they thought that Yang Kai must be doomed. However, only Man Zi, who was standing closest to Yang Kai, clearly saw that his companions’ attack didn’t harm the young man one bit, as though they had just helped him scratch a light itch. At this moment, Yang Kai was almost expressionless, simply staring at the burly man with a mocking look in his eyes.
The burly man wanted to retract his artifact, but he realised that he couldn’t move it at all. The force exerted by the other party made him feel helpless. Upon seeing that Yang Kai’s lips had curved into an eerie smile, he immediately had goosebumps all over his body as he released his artifact in an attempt to retreat.
Just then, a hand reached out slowly and clenched his neck.
At that instant, Man Zi realised that he couldn’t move at all. Despite his towering figure, he was lifted off his feet as he struggled in the air.
Lady Can and the others exclaimed as their expressions changed drastically. They almost couldn’t believe their eyes. A sense of horror was rising within them, consuming them from inside out while at the same time, their limbs had turned completely cold.
They knew Man Zi’s strength very well. He was just as powerful as any one of them, but at this moment, his neck was clenched by this young man and he was lifted off his feet like a helpless chicken.
[Who is he?]
“I can see that all of you are chatting happily,” Yang Kai’s grim voice resonated in the mine, horrifying Lady Can and the others when it entered their ears.
They traded glances without uttering any word. Following that, they charged forward one more time as they expended all of their might. Lights flashed across their bodies and illuminated the entire mine.
“Haha! Come!” Yang Kai guffawed. If these people decided to flee, it would be slightly bothersome for him to catch them all, but he didn’t expect that they would proactively come over, which saved him some trouble.
Just then, he exerted more force with his hand and hurled Man Zi away in a particular direction. At that instant, Man Zi had become a Human-shaped weapon for him.
Nothing was supposed to be there in that direction, but as soon as Man Zi reached that place, the frail and short old man suddenly appeared on the exact spot, as though he had rushed over to place himself there.
A gale gusted across them as the frail man’s muddy eyes were transformed by terror. He watched in horror as Man Zi’s sturdy figure smashed right at his head.
The sound of flesh and bones breaking apart could be heard as Man Zi and the old man became mashed meat, their blood splattering all over the cave, filling the mine with a metallic tang.
Yang Kai then swung Man Zi’s artifact, which he had still held onto, in a seemingly casual manner. However, this light toss contained a power that could destroy a thousand soldiers and turn the seas upside down.
The next moment, the clean-looking man was broken in half on the spot. The defensive artifact on his body and his protective Saint Qi were as frail as paper before the flying hammer, and a moment later, the remnants of his body exploded into a blood mist.
Lady Can and the other man were not dead yet, but they were still impacted by the violent fallout from this clash and were sent reeling backwards as they coughed up blood. Clearly, they were severely injured and their defensive artifacts had all been destroyed.
By the time they managed to stabilize themselves, they were already engulfed in fear. [Just who is this man? Not only did he not feel any discomfort after teleporting here from Shadowed Star, but he was also able to kill three First-Order Origin Kings with ease as though they were helpless lambs. Is he really Human? How is it possible for such a powerful Master to exist on Shadowed Star?]
While Lady Can was still in a dazed state, the other First-Order Origin King turned around and transformed into a beam of light before fleeing for his life.
Since he was no match for the young man, he knew for certain that he would lose his life if he didn’t flee. He did not know what the full extent of Yang Kai’s strength was, so he didn’t dare to continue to stay.
The mine was full of twists and turns, so after dodging left and right a few times, he disappeared from Yang Kai’s sight.
Seeing this, Yang Kai slowly shook his head with a disdainful expression. Any resistance was futile in the face of absolute power. That was the lesson he had learned repeatedly in the Star Boundary.
Then, he spun the hammer artifact around with his hand before he hurled it away. The hammer flew forward and broke through some layers of the rock. Following that, a man could be heard shrieking before the cave fell silent again.
Lady Can had turned completely ashen as she could clearly feel the aura of her last companion disappearing from her Divine Sense. Recalling the shriek just now, she knew what had happened to him.
Of the five First-Order Origin King Realm Masters who were guarding this place, only she was left now.
Upon meeting Yang Kai’s eyes, Lady Can immediately fell on her knees as she trembled and spoke in a shaking voice, “Please spare my life!”
Yang Kai frowned and walked up to her. Then, he clenched her blemish-free chin, forcing her to look up to him, “You’re called Lady Can?”
Lady Can forced a smile, but it was uglier than if she was crying, “That’s what they call me.”
Yang Kai nodded and examined her hourglass body. Her plump and fair bosom was indeed befitting her title. Then, he exerted more force with his hand and uttered, “You’re making it difficult for me.”
It’d be much better if Lady Can had just turned around and fled. He could kill her just like what he had done to the other people. However, not only did this woman not flee, but she had also fallen on her knees and pleaded. If he still killed her, it would make him appear unrighteous.
Lady Can appeared in pain.
“I’m not good at killing women.” Yang Kai shook his head.
Her gaze brightened when she heard that, “Sir, please spare my life. I’m willing to do anything for you.”
However, Yang Kai still shook his head, “I’m not interested.”
A flustered Lady Can immediately looked up at him. Upon realising that he was staring fixedly at her chest, she hurriedly pleaded, “I’m willing to be your slave as long as you don’t kill me.”
As she spoke, she bent over and lifted her backside before she stuck out her tongue. Not only did she appear fawning, but she also barked like a dog. If there was a tail on her backside, she’d really look like a bitch.
Yang Kai couldn’t take it anymore as he couldn’t help but recall the crazy night he had experienced with Su Yan. The intimate session that night was the most exciting experience in his life. However, after that night, Su Yan wouldn’t let him touch her again. It wasn’t certain whether she was mad or shy.
At this moment, Lady Can’s action made him recollect his previous memories, so he immediately felt his blood boiling and his breathing became rough. Although Su Yan wasn’t willing to play such games with him, the woman before his eyes would surely let him do whatever he wanted to her.
[Tsk. I’m somewhat looking forward to it.]
Lady Can examined his expression and realised that he was tempted. Elated, she swung her backside from side to side as her barking turned into a wail, which sounded like moaning. The way she was teasing was able to make any man lose control.
Yang Kai took a deep breath and placed his hand on her shoulder, “After giving it a serious thought, I think that you should still go to Hell.”
Then, he activated his Qi and infused it into her body. The violent force charged around her five viscera, six organs, and her meridians, shredding them all. She then collapsed to the ground as her blood and bits of her organs streamed out from her nose and mouth, her gaze still filled with shock.
Even at the moment of death, she still couldn’t believe that this man didn’t treasure a beautiful woman like her and directly gave her a fatal blow. She widened her eyes and fell to the ground as her vitality left her body.
After Yang Kai scanned the surroundings and made sure that no enemies were left, he nodded slightly.
He had never expected that the Space Arrays, which he had expended a lot of time, energy, and resources to arrange in the past, had become a convenient tool for the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field. These five people had clearly been guarding this place for some time now, so they must have killed a number of cultivators from Shadowed Star and even from High Heaven Sect. As such, he didn’t care that this woman was pleading with him in such a pitiful manner. Even if she had stripped herself bare, he would still have killed her.
Although he wasn’t fond of killing women, he wouldn’t be soft-hearted when it was necessary to do so.
After that, he took their Space Rings and made a search. As expected, he found a few Transmission Tokens in these rings and retrieved them. As for the other miscellaneous items, he disdained to even check them.
Following that, he stepped into the Space Array and tried to sense the right direction. Upon finding several paths to take, he focused his mind and identified which one he wanted. Then, he pushed his Space Principles again and disappeared from the place.
Green Mountains Star wasn’t among the top Cultivation Stars in Heng Luo Star Field. It wasn’t even the Home Star of one of the top forces. However, it was famous.
There were two reasons behind its fame. First, there was a Forbidden Zone in this place called the Blood Prison, which opened up every 100 years. Cultivators in the Origin Returning Realm could take part in the Blood Prison Trial to obtain many benefits and opportunities as well as learn the secret to breaking through to the Origin King Realm.
In the past, Yang Kai had participated in the Blood Prison Trial and obtained many Domain Stones, which could help a cultivator in the Origin Returning Realm condense their Shi and form their Domain. Yang Kai had relied on those Domain Stones to reach the Origin King Realm.
No one was certain when the Blood Prison was created, but it had been in existence for more than 10,000 years. As for the reason for its birth, it was rumoured that many Origin King Realm Masters had gotten into a grand battle in this place and lost their lives. Their Martial Dao essence and insights scattered around the land and seeped into the soil. A series of coincidences led to the formation of such a unique environment, after which, Domain Stones were born.
The second reason for the Star’s fame took place several dozen years ago.
After the last Blood Prison Trial, the Star Master of Green Mountains Star, Luo Hai, died suddenly, which sent a shock wave across the entire Star Field. Most people found it inconceivable.
Although Luo Hai was only a Second-Order Origin King, he was the only person in the entire Star Field, at the time, who had managed to become a Star Master at only the Second-Order Realm. His aptitude was already extraordinary, and paired with his Star Source, he was bound to become a Third-Order Master one day and stand at the top of the Star Field, thus becoming an Overlord of his era.
However, such a bright star lost his life all of a sudden. No one knew what happened to him after the Blood Prison Trial. At that time, most people speculated that he had offended some reclusive ancient Master who hadn’t shown himself for thousands of years, leading to his death.
He was a Star Master who was fairly powerful in his own right, so apart from those old monsters, no one else could possibly kill him.
Nevertheless, the truth was only revealed after more than ten years. The person who had killed him wasn’t one of those ancient Masters, but the Star Master of Shadowed Star, Yang Kai!
The news came from Ice Heart Valley on Scarlet Wave Star. Although it wasn’t certain who spread the news, the source should be credible. It was because Scarlet Wave Star was where Luo Hai lost his life, and many disciples from Ice Heart Valley had personally witnessed it.
At that time, Yang Kai had already left the Star Field and headed for the Star Boundary, so after the news was spread, it didn’t even cause a ripple. Although Luo Hai had many friends, no one had actually stormed into Shadowed Star to take revenge for him. Moreover, Yang Kai had already left the Star Field, so they couldn’t even look for the culprit. Therefore, as time passed, this matter slowly quietened down.
However, it was still a piece of shocking news that a Star Master had fallen. It could be said that in the entire Heng Luo Star Field, Luo Hai was the first Star Master to be killed because he had gotten into a conflict with someone. It couldn’t be said that such an incident wouldn’t happen again, but he was definitely the first.
Looking at this familiar Star, Yang Kai started walking down memory lane. It wasn’t the first time he came to Green Mountains Star. Counting the number of times, this was his third visit.
The first time he came to this place was to take part in the Blood Prison Trial. After that, he was hunted down by the Star Master Luo Hai as he ran around the Star Field for half a year until he reached Scarlet Wave Star. If it weren’t because he had hidden in his Sealed World Bead several times, he would have been killed.
That was one of the rare moments when his life was hanging by a thread, so he could never forget the experience. However, he had long ago set that matter out of his mind.
Nonetheless, Yang Kai still had to thank the deceased Luo Hai. If it weren’t because the latter kept chasing after him, he wouldn’t have accidentally barged into Scarlet Wave Star and come across Su Yan in Ice Heart Valley.
These past events had faded like a puff of smoke.
With a smile, Yang Kai stopped thinking about it and turned into a beam of light before heading to Green Mountains Star.
He had wanted to go to Monster Emperor Star directly, which was the only Cultivation Star in the Star Field where the Monster Race ruled and Humans and other Races were treated as second class existences. Shan Qing Luo was currently in that place, and it was also the closest destination to Shadowed Star where one of his wives was waiting.
If the Space Array he had set up in the past didn’t get damaged, he could have directly reached Monster Emperor Star, thus saving him some time. However, the Space Array on Monster Emperor Star seemed to have been destroyed, so he couldn’t go there directly. Left with no choice, he could only take a detour.
The reason he came to Green Mountains Star was that there was a secret passage that led to Monster Emperor Star in the Blood Prison. During the last Blood Prison Trial, Shan Qing Luo and other Juniors from the Monster Race went back and forth through this secret passage. Yang Kai didn’t know the exact location of the passage, but given his cultivation now, he could easily find it after he entered the Blood Prison.
Landing on the ground, he frowned slightly, because the Star was starkly different from when he first saw it. The entire Star was filled with very thick Death Qi. With his bare eyes, he could even see that the Star was engulfed in a layer of yellowish glow.
Certainly, it had something to do with the fall of its Star Master, but it wasn’t the fundamental reason. The Star Master Luo Hai had passed away several dozen years ago, and the Star Source Strength had all returned to Green Mountains Star. Although it was slightly damaged at that time, it couldn’t have caused the Star to go through this kind of transformative change.
Recalling what he had heard from High Heaven Sect about what those from Grand Desolation Star Field had done previously, Yang Kai had a feeling that the changes in Green Mountains Star had something to do with these invaders.
This Cultivation Star had probably fallen completely. Without a Star Master or powerful cultivators around, Green Mountains Star couldn’t have possibly resisted the invasion of those from Grand Desolation Star Field.
Like a falling meteor, Yang Kai descended upon a city. Stopping several hundred metres above it as he looked down and knitted his brows.
He had wanted to ask someone to point out the location of Blood Prison for him, but upon closer inspection, Yang Kai discovered that there were not many people who were still alive in this city. Instead, the entire place was filled with a bloody stench that could make anyone retch. The entire city was basically destroyed. As birds flew past the city, a few people groaned in pain on the ground.
A city of this size could easily accommodate a million people, but at this moment, only a small number could be seen. The thick Corpse Qi had converged and materialised as it hovered above the city like dark clouds.
Upon closer look, there was a huge blood pool in the middle of the city. The blood pool was brimming with blood as it appeared crimson. Countless broken limbs and what looked like faces of ghosts floated on the surface of this pool. At the same time, terrifying wails could be heard.
The entire city was covered in corpses. No one knew how long they had been lying there, but they were all rotten.
Beside the pool, rows of cultivators could be seen being pushed forward to this place by another group of people. After they were mercilessly killed, they were pushed into the blood pool. Begging, crying, and scolding were continuously heard.
This place was practically a living hell, and the sight of it made Yang Kai’s expression turn gloomy.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t killed anyone before. In fact, he had killed countless people, but it was the first time he saw such a horrifying sight at such a scale. It was also the first time he witnessed how cruel those from Grand Desolation Star Field could be.
[This is basically a massacre! What are those from Grand Desolation Star Field trying to achieve? Have they invaded Heng Luo Star Field just to show off their might and have fun killing people?]
Then, he realised that the blood pool was surrounded by a Spirit Array with flickering talismans. There was also a platform that looked like a strange altar.
It was then he came to the realisation that these people were trying to refine something, while those people who were pushed into the blood pool were the ingredients.
“Who goes there!?” Although those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field weren’t particularly on guard, it wasn’t possible that they still hadn’t noticed it after Yang Kai observed them for such a long time. Moreover, he had never tried to conceal himself, so someone immediately shouted and looked cautiously in his direction.
After Yang Kai swept his eyes around once, he moved and appeared beside the blood pool in the blink of an eye. Then, he lightly patted the head of the one who had shouted earlier, upon which that person turned limp and fell into the blood pool.
In an instant, howling could be heard from the blood pool as countless phantom hands stuck out and pulled that person into the pool. Soon, he disappeared from everyone’s sight.
The other cultivators were flabbergasted, as they didn’t expect that Yang Kai would directly kill without uttering a word. After that, all of them pounced towards him.
“Watch out!” Some people shouted. They were the cultivators whose cultivation had been sealed as they were escorted to this place. They were clearly the locals of Green Mountains Star who had been captured. They thought that they were doomed, but at this moment, a saviour had descended to save them, so they became hopeful again. Not having the heart to see Yang Kai get killed, they hurriedly called out to warn him.
Just then, Yang Kai moved and transformed into countless illusory phantoms before he circled around this huge blood pool. In just a short moment, he stopped in his tracks, as though he had never moved.
On the other hand, those hostile-looking cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field who were pouncing at him were all rooted to the spot. Following that, sounds of corpses falling to the ground could be heard.
The cultivators from Green Mountain Star were all dumbfounded. It wasn’t until a moment later that they started gasping.
These cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were not weaklings. There were a little more than ten Origin Returning Realm Masters present, while the remaining hundred or so were all Saint Kings. However, these people were all murdered in the blink of an eye.
If they hadn’t seen it with their eyes, they wouldn’t have believed it. Now, they gazed at Yang Kai as though he was a deity. Upon realising that they had finally escaped from death’s door, they started crying tears of joy.
Yang Kai swept a glance over them and then stared fixedly at a red-faced man. He had the highest cultivation among these people, Third-Order Origin Returning Realm. Nevertheless, he had been restricted by a seal as all his Saint Qi was confined to his meridians.
The red-faced man realised that Yang Kai was an incredible Master, and knowing that his survival now hinged on him, he immediately cupped his fists and uttered, “Greetings, Senior. This one is called Peng Shi Zhong.”
Yang Kai raised his hand and replied, “Bring them away first. I have to ask you something later.”
Then, he looked through the void and gazed at the other end of the city. Over there, two Origin King Realm auras were surging. Apparently, they were alerted by what Yang Kai had done here. One of them was a Second-Order Origin King, while the other was a First-Order.
When the auras appeared, Peng Shi Zhong and the others were aghast as they retreated. There were about 300 of them, but their cultivations varied. Their different styles of clothes suggested that they came from different backgrounds, but at this moment, they were united as they looked worriedly at Yang Kai.
“How dare you spoil my plans?! Don’t even think about leaving!” A sharp voice that sounded like a jackal was heard. Following that, two figures emerged from the other end of the city as they flew toward Yang Kai at lightning speed.
They reached Yang Kai in the blink of an eye. Then, it was revealed that they were a man and a woman.
Both of them appeared aged. One of them was an old man whose hair and beard were all grey, while the other was a wrinkled old lady. The similarity between them was that they exuded a thick Corpse Qi. At this moment, the old man stared resentfully at Yang Kai as though he was eager to skin him and pull out all his tendons.
On the other hand, the old lady took a glance at the blood pool and turned hysterical. Glowering at Yang Kai, she said through clenched teeth, “Little brat, how dare you kill the disciples from Netherworld Sect! I’ll make sure that you’ll go through a pain that’s worse than death!”
The disciples from Netherworld Sect could basically do whatever they wanted on Green Mountains Star. Although they would come across some resistance from time to time, they could suppress it quickly. So, they had never expected that someone would have the guts to kill so many of their disciples at once.
These two people from Netherworld Sect were the ones who were in charge of this place, so they had to assume responsibility for anything that happened here. Moreover, some of the dead disciples were just as close to them as their descendants, so there was no way they could forgive Yang Kai.
“Both of you are from Netherworld Sect?” Yang Kai arched his brow.
[Grand Desolation Star Field, Netherworld Sect… Why do I always bump into my enemies?]
“Brat, it’s too late even if you want to beg for mercy! Your Soul will belong to me, and your body will go to her. Don’t even dream about entering the reincarnation cycle again!” The old man’s jackal-like voice screeched, which was so unpleasant to the ears that it was as though the listener’s heart was clawed at.
Yang Kai gazed disdainfully at them, “Do I look like I’m going to beg for your mercy? Are you too old to even see properly now?”
“How dare you!” The old man was enraged after Yang Kai rebuked him. After that, he extended his withered hand toward the young man. His hand was skeletal, and his nails were all black, which looked as horrifying as a ghost claw.
As his withered hand broke through the air, cold wind could be seen swirling around his hand, which was able to send a chill down everyone’s spine.
Yang Kai snickered, “Having a brain is a good thing, but it seems that not everyone has one. I wanted to ask you something; however, since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish.” Upon finishing his words, he pushed out his fist.
The old man’s expression changed drastically at that moment as, although he couldn’t sense Yang Kai using any kind of Qi and his attack seemed simple and straightforward, this punch gave off a very discomforting feeling and he could tell that he could not block or deflect it no matter what.
Although he was already a Second-Order Origin King and had great strength, there was a more practical reason why he was able to live to such an old age. That was because he was highly sensitive to any possible danger.
Therefore, before his claw even reached the young man, he immediately retracted his hand. However, it was too late, as the violent fist hit right at his fingers and a destructive force caused his hand to explode into a fine blood mist.
“What!?” The old lady was astonished. [Who is this brat!? Where did he come from!? Although his fist appeared light, it’s horrifyingly powerful. How did he achieve that?]
It was then that a gale gusted across them and caused them to stagger back. They traded glances and saw the horror behind the other’s gaze. Not daring to hesitate any longer, they immediately brought out their trump cards.
Simultaneously, they extended their hands towards the blood pool and beckoned to it.
Following that, two banners shot out of the blood pool and landed in their grasp. One of the banners appeared scarlet as though it was dyed with blood and exuded a metallic tang. The other banner appeared as dark as night with no reflection of light on it. Eerily though, faces could faintly be seen floating on the banners as they struggled and growled.
“Blood Sea Banner, Ten Thousand Soul Banner!” Peng Shi Zhong exclaimed from afar. His gaze appeared resentful as he stared at the two artifacts that were refined from countless lives while all the others present wore similar expressions.
An innumerable number of people from Green Mountains Star had lost their lives to these two artifacts, so they knew what the Blood Sea Banner and Ten Thousand Soul Banner were.
With their Natal Artifacts in their hands, the old man and the old lady became confident as they stared grimly at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai questioned, “Is this the reason you’ve slaughtered so many people?”
He could feel that both the Blood Sea Banner and Ten Thousand Soul Banner were evil artifacts. The reason they were soaking in the blood pool was to make use of the fresh blood and Souls to nurture their power and spirituality.
After these two artifacts appeared, the blood pool fell silent. Even the colour of the blood inside faded.
“It’s an honour for those useless people to enter my banner!” The old man snorted.
With a wicked smile, the old lady uttered, “There’s no rush. You’ll join them soon.”
Yang Kai scoffed, “Oh, interesting, why don’t you show me then?”
The old lady snorted, “I’ll grant your wish.”
Upon finishing her words, she swung her Blood Sea Banner and engulfed Yang Kai in it.
At that instant, the entire sky had turned crimson.
Yang Kai raised his head and took a look in a nonchalant manner. The old lady had put her guard up because she was worried that Yang Kai might resist, but he was actually absorbed into the Blood Sea Banner without making any move. Seeing that, she scoffed, “What a reckless guy. Since he has the guts to enter my Blood Sea Banner, I’ll make sure he perishes inside.”
The old man uttered, “This man is no ordinary cultivator, so you have to be careful. Let me go in as well. We’ll join forces and deal with him.”
The old lady replied, “You’re overly cautious. After entering my Blood Sea Banner, even a Third-Order Origin King will lose a layer of skin.” Despite what she had said, she still took the old man’s arm and moved, upon which they entered the banner together.
Peng Shi Zhong and the others were flustered as they watched from afar. They wondered why the young man was so foolish when he appeared so extraordinary. The Blood Sea Banner was an incredibly powerful artifact and paired with the power of this old lady’s First-Order Origin King cultivation, there was no way he could come out alive. Not only could he not kill the old lady, but he would also contribute to the power of the banner.
They thought that he was their saviour, but he turned out to be an overconfident fool.
“Brother Peng, what should we do now?” Someone gazed at Peng Shi Zhong and asked. At this moment, only their own people were around the blood pool. All the disciples from Netherworld Sect had been killed; moreover, the two Origin Kings had entered the Blood Sea Banner. It could be said that they were the only ones left in the city at the moment.
“Flee!” Before Peng Shi Zhong could utter a word, some people started making noises.
Peng Shi Zhong put on a bitter smile, “Flee? Now? Where?”
If their cultivations hadn’t been sealed, there might still be a glimmer of hope; however, all of them had their strength sealed at the moment, so they could only rely on their legs if they wanted to flee. They couldn’t even run for a thousand kilometres in a day in such a condition.
A thousand kilometres was nothing to an Origin King. They could easily cross such a distance within a quarter of an hour at most to chase after these people. Now, these people were basically hopeless, unless a miracle happened again.
“Should we just wait here to be killed here, then?”
Peng Shi Zhong uttered, “Maybe… Maybe he will be able to come out of the Blood Sea Banner.”
At that instant, all of them looked at him as though he was a fool.
Peng Shi Zhong rubbed his nose, “It’s still a glimmer of hope for us.”
However, there was only a slim chance that a miracle would happen.
“Brother Peng, I’ll leave now even if you don’t. As cultivators, we’re not afraid of death, but it will be miserable if our Souls and bodies are refined into artifacts, and we won’t be able to get into the reincarnation cycle again if that happens. I’d rather look for a place to kill myself than wait for the two old bastards to come out.”
This man’s words resonated with the others. Sometimes, death wasn’t so horrible, but it would be unacceptable if their body and Soul were desecrated even after they died.
Peng Shi Zhong uttered, “Since that’s the case, I wish you all a safe journey.”
Seeing that he insisted on staying, they didn’t attempt to persuade him. They were running out of time now as no one knew when the duo from Netherworld Sect would come out. The most important thing for them now was to flee.
In just a short moment, half of the people on the scene had left. Several dozen people still remained on the spot though. They appeared apprehensive and hopeless. Perhaps they had realised that it was useless to flee, so they preferred to remain and save some energy. Maybe a miracle would really happen.
…
The Blood Sea surged as only redness could be seen everywhere. At the same time, the smell of iron permeated the air. Inside the Blood Sea, countless hideous corpses were floating on the surface as they all looked like horrible ghosts.
Yang Kai hovered above the Blood Sea and looked coldly at the sight that looked like Hell.
Just then, the old man and the old lady appeared at the same time.
The old lady sneered, “Since you’ve entered my Blood Sea Banner, there’s no way you can leave alive.”
The old man also laughed in a grating manner, “Foolish overconfidence.”
Yang Kai asked, “Are all these corpses cultivators from Green Mountains Star?”
The corpses that were wallowing in the Blood Sea definitely numbered more than 10,000. There were probably more than several hundred thousand of them.
The old lady replied, “How are you still in the mood to ask about other people when you’re about to die? You’re quite soft-hearted, huh?”
“I have the right to find out the truth before my death. Don’t you agree?” Yang Kai turned to look at her faintly.
The old lady put on a laugh that sounded like a crow’s caw, “I’m glad you understand the situation you’re in! Don’t worry. I won’t let you feel any pain. You’ll be killed in the blink of an eye.”
“You haven’t answered my question. Besides blurred vision, have you also become deaf because of old age?”
The old lady’s face fell, “Good, most of them are local cultivators. It’s thanks to their contribution that I was able to reach the Origin King Realm.”
Yang Kai went on to ask, “Has your Sect invaded our Star Field just because of this?”
She replied, “It takes a lot of ingredients to refine a Blood Sea Banner and Ten Thousand Soul Banner. We have to be more restrained in Grand Desolation Star Field, but we can do whatever we want here. By the way, there are indeed many cultivators here. I wonder how far my Blood Sea Banner can be refined after all of them are digested.”
Yang Kai shook his head at that and commented lightly, “It’s already reached its limit because you won’t be able to improve it again.”
She sneered, “Do you still think you can flee?”
“Why should I flee?” Yang Kai looked puzzledly at her.
She was startled for a moment before she asked in disbelief, “Do you want to kill us, then?”
“Of course.”
The old lady and the old man guffawed as though they had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
“Do you know Yin Le Sheng?” Yang Kai suddenly asked.
Their laugh stopped abruptly as they gazed at him in disbelief. The old man questioned, “How do you know that name?”
“Yin Le Sheng was the former Sect Master of Netherworld Sect, right?”
The old man appeared hesitant, “You know our former Sect Master?”
[That’s not possible! Our Sect Master had left Grand Desolation Star Field several dozen years ago and headed for the Star Boundary. He’s never come to this Star Field before, so how is it possible for him to know of his name?]
“Of course I know him.” Yang Kai nodded as his voice turned grim, “Because I was the one who killed him.”
Right after he finished speaking, the old man suddenly floated in the air against his will as he felt a vice grip on his neck. It was then he realised that his throat was clenched by Yang Kai, but the young man’s figure was still dozens of metres away from him.
“I’ll send you two to meet him. You don’t have to thank me,” As Yang Kai spoke, he exerted more force with his hand, upon which an old head flew into the air.
Beside the blood pool, one of the several dozen people, who were ready for death, suddenly uttered, “Brother Peng, I think we should flee.”
He didn’t want to die just like this, so he persuaded Peng Shi Zhong by saying, “As long as we can stay alive, we can always get our revenge in the future.”
Upon hearing that, Peng Shi Zhong put on a helpless smile. Just when he was about to say something, he suddenly turned his head, only to see a red glow surging as the Blood Sea Banner, which was floating in the air. The banner flapped wildly, as though something was about to storm out of it.
“It’s too late.” Peng Shi Zhong slowly shook his head.
[Was that young man killed so quickly?] He couldn’t help but laugh in self-mockery. He was too naive to have placed his hope on the young man.
The others were speechless as well. Yang Kai appeared haughty earlier, so they thought that he must be formidable. However, after he entered the Blood Sea Banner, he was killed in just a short moment, which was laughable.
Nevertheless, no one was in the mood to laugh, because they would be killed next.
The next moment, all of them were astounded as they widened their eyes and stared at the front in disbelief.
A person indeed leapt out of the Blood Sea Banner, but contrary to their expectations, it wasn’t the old lady or the old man from Netherworld Sect. It was the foolish young man.
The young man seemed to have just taken a stroll, as he still appeared calm and collected. After leaving the Blood Sea Banner, he waved his hand and stored the artifact, which was made using countless lives. Then, he turned around to have a look and frowned, “Where are the others?”
No one replied to him. All of them were rooted to the spot as though they had been struck by lightning. Their minds were in a mess, and they couldn’t come to their senses.
“Hey, I asked you a question,” Yang Kai scowled. [What are these people doing? I saved their lives, so shouldn’t they fall on their knees and say something like they’ll never forget my favour? Why are they all gawking like fools? Have they lost their minds?]
“T-T-They ran away,” Peng Shi Zhong gulped and replied in an awkward tone.
Yang Kai scanned the surroundings with his Divine Sense and realised that there were indeed many people who were running for their lives in different directions a few kilometres away. However, since their cultivations had been sealed, they were pretty slow.
“Never mind,” Yang Kai waved his hand and sent out a wave of force that was as gentle as a breeze across Peng Shi Zhong and the others.
Everyone below widened their eyes in disbelief, because after Yang Kai swept his hand, the seals in their bodies were all broken.
They hadn’t felt their Qi flowing freely along their meridians for a long time, so at this moment, they had the urge to lift their heads and cheer.
“Senior, those two…” Peng Shi Zhong looked hopefully at Yang Kai. Although he had his own speculation, he wasn’t certain about it.
“The culprits have been killed, so it can serve as some small comfort for those who have lost their lives in the city. It’s a shame that I arrived too late.” Yang Kai heaved a sigh, “Flee now and don’t get caught again.”
They were lucky this time, but they wouldn’t always get so lucky. Then, Yang Kai moved and disappeared from their sight as he had left the city.
Peng Shi Zhong was dumbfounded. Although he had made a guess, he still found it inconceivable after his speculation was confirmed by Yang Kai.
[The two people from Netherworld Sect were Origin King Realm Masters. Moreover, they had the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and Blood Sea Banner with them. On top of that, that young man had entered the Blood Sea Banner, but he was still able to kill them in just a short moment. How is that possible?]
The young man’s strength and methods were indeed extraordinary. It was difficult to believe what had happened, but Peng Shi Zhong couldn’t deny reality; after all, the young man had stashed the Blood Sea Banner into his Space Ring. If the old lady from Netherworld Sect was still alive, she wouldn’t have allowed such a thing to happen.
[Who was that young man? What realm is he in that allows him to achieve such a thing?]
In exasperation, Peng Shi Zhong smacked his own head. He was so shocked just now that he had forgotten to ask for the young man’s name. Now, he didn’t even know his saviour’s name, which was highly improper.
While he was deep in his thoughts, a shadow that was as small as a ring appeared in his sight all of a sudden. In the blink of an eye, the shadow became as big as a fist. The next moment, it looked as large as a melon, and when he came to his senses, his saviour was already standing in the air above him.
He looked dazedly at Yang Kai and uttered, “Senior, you…”
“En, I think I should give you some extra help.” Yang Kai reached out, upon which Peng Shi Zhong flew towards him and hovered in the air before his eyes.
“Senior!” Peng Shi Zhong was flustered, as he didn’t know what Yang Kai was trying to do. Nevertheless, he wasn’t so worried because the young man didn’t appear ill-intentioned.
“Open your mouth!” Yang Kai ordered.
Peng Shi Zhong was confused, but still opened his mouth as he was told.
Then, Yang Kai flicked his finger and shot a pill into his mouth. The pill soon entered his stomach.
The restrictive power disappeared as Peng Shi Zhong fell back to the ground. After he stabilised himself though, he widened his eyes and immediately sat down with his legs crossed. The other cultivators were still puzzled as they watched the sight, but after a moment of observation, they were flabbergasted by what they witnessed.
That was because, at this moment, Peng Shi Zhong exuded an extremely powerful aura fluctuation. He looked like he had a caged beast inside his body that was battering against him, trying to free itself from its confines.
Between the Heavens and Earth, an astonishing vibration could be felt, and a moment later, dark clouds started gathering in the sky as lightning was seen flashing across them.
[Is he going to achieve a breakthrough? He’s already a Third-Order Origin Returning Realm cultivator though. If he achieves a breakthrough, that means he’ll reach the Origin King Realm!]
Many people at the scene were close to Peng Shi Zhong, so they knew what realm he was in. Although he was quite talented when it came to cultivation, he was still quite far away from breaking through to the Origin King Realm. At the very least, he would have to cultivate hard for at least another 100 years to achieve this.
However, all of a sudden, he took a seat on the ground and was about to achieve a breakthrough. Apparently, it was all thanks to the pill given to him by the young man.
At that instant, everyone stared enviously at Peng Shi Zhong, as this was indeed a fantastic opportunity. At the same time, they found Yang Kai to be even more inscrutable. The fact that he was able to kill two Origin King Realm Masters with ease was already stunning enough, but after he offered Peng Shi Zhong such an astounding benefit, they couldn’t help wondering who this young man really was.
*Hong long long…*
In just a short moment, the dark clouds in the sky had grown thicker, as though a pile of dark cotton had covered the entire sky.
Yang Kai looked up and appeared displeased because everything was moving too slow. He was in a rush to head to Monster Emperor Star, and although he didn’t mind lending a hand to Peng Shi Zhong, he wasn’t willing to waste too much time on this matter.
It seemed that it would take half a day before World Energy Baptism would take place.
Suddenly thinking of something, Yang Kai approached Peng Shi Zhong and circulated his Emperor Qi ever so slightly.
*HONG LONG LONG…*
The dark clouds in the sky instantly become more turbulent as the lightning grew far more violent.
Yang Kai put on a smile. That idea had just flashed across his mind, but he didn’t expect that it would really be effective. His existence was not tolerated by the Star Field, so during this period, he had suppressed his cultivation to avoid being rejected by the Heavenly Way. After he unsealed his cultivation a little, he had indeed attracted hostility from the Heavens. Together with the baptism that would allow Peng Shi Zhong to reach the next realm, it had accelerated the convergence of World Energy.
As he made calculations in his heart and realised that it was the right time, Yang Kai quickly sealed his cultivation again. A vast amount of World Energy had already been gathered, so it now had to be released, and Peng Shi Zhong happened to be the best target around.
In just a short period of time, World Energy had reached a critical saturation.
Although Peng Shi Zhong was seated on the ground as he was refining the medicinal efficacies of the pill he was forced to take, he wasn’t oblivious to his surroundings. At this moment, he felt horrified as he reckoned that he would probably lose his life; after all, it required a lot of preparation before anyone could achieve a breakthrough. The incident on this day was totally unexpected to him though, so he hadn’t prepared anything. He didn’t even wear any defensive artifacts.
[What is he doing? He gave me a pill and helped me achieve a breakthrough, but that’s akin to leading on the road to death. This turn of events is a little unbearable for me…]
*Kacha…*
A beam of lightning that was as thick as a baby’s arm directly struck Peng Shi Zhong.
[I’ve come to the end of my life!] Peng Shi Zhong was crestfallen. At this moment, the violent medicinal efficacies were charging around in his body, so he couldn’t even run away as he had to remain seated on the ground and bear this fatal strike.
After he was struck by the lightning bolt, he shuddered and felt numb all over his body, followed by a sharp pain; however, he was surprised instead of afraid because he wasn’t dead. The power of the World Energy Baptism was weaker than he thought it would be, and since that was the case, he knew that there was a high possibility of him managing to endure it.
If he managed to overcome this tribulation difficulty, he would reach the Origin King Realm and become a true Master. In this era that was full of wars, he might not be able to walk sideways, but he would be able to protect himself. At the very least, he wouldn’t be captured easily like what had happened to him this time.
“What wild thoughts are you having? Focus your mind and feel the power of Heaven and Earth around you, then use it to solidify your Domain!” A stern voice suddenly rang in Peng Shi Zhong’s ear, after which he set aside all distracting thoughts and emptied his mind.
Another beam of lightning struck him.
It was then that Peng Shi Zhong realized that when the World Energy Baptism descended, the young man beside him waved his hand and made the force that was approaching from the sky split into two.
Most of the force shot back towards the sky, while a small part of it landed on him.
[He’s even able to interfere in the World Energy Baptism? In the World Principles themselves!?] Peng Shi Zhong wasn’t even sure how to put his feelings into words anymore.
The onlookers around them were equally dumbstruck, as they had never seen or heard of such a thing before. The young man’s power probably didn’t belong to this world.
As the power of Heaven and Earth kept descending, Yang Kai repeatedly waved his hand and split the force in two. With his protection, it was impossible that Peng Shi Zhong would lose his life.
One hour later, Peng Shi Zhong got to his feet. Although he appeared battered, dishevelled and exhausted, there was a glow in his eyes that he had never had before. Then, he cupped his fists and bowed so deeply he nearly became parallel to the ground as he shouted, “Senior, many thanks for helping me reach the Origin King Realm. I will never forget your favour and swear that…”
“Yes, yes, very good,” Yang Kai raised his hand impatiently, “I wouldn’t have done so much if I wanted you to return the favour.”
The value of the pill alone had exceeded Peng Shi Zhong’s ability to repay as a debt of gratitude.
The reason Yang Kai decided to help him was that he didn’t want to see them falling into the hands of those from Grand Desolation Star Field again after he saved them. With an Origin King Realm Master around, they would be able to resist their enemies better.
Green Mountains Star was a Cultivation Star in Heng Luo Star Field, so Yang Kai couldn’t allow the invaders to continue strutting around here as they pleased. Sooner or later, he would chase them all away, but until then, he decided to leave a spark here in the hope that it would eventually set the entire Star Field aflame, bringing hope with it.
Peng Shi Zhong wouldn’t dare to be displeased even though he was interrupted by Yang Kai. In an even more respectful manner, he asked, “Senior, are you a member of White Robes Guild?”
“What is that? I’ve never heard of it.”
Peng Shi Zhong replied, “It’s the greatest force against Grand Desolation Star Field on Green Mountains Star. I assumed Senior was from White Robes Guild.” After giving it a thought, he realised that even though White Robes Guild had risen in fame in the past dozen years, they didn’t have any Masters as powerful as this mysterious young man. The leader of White Robes Guild was only a Second-Order Origin King and naturally, a young man with such phenomenal ability wouldn’t become someone else’s subordinate.
“Good. This is as far as I can help you. From now on, all of you have to rely on yourselves.” Yang Kai extended his hand and patted Peng Shi Zhong’s shoulder, “By the way, where’s the Blood Prison?”
Peng Shi Zhong immediately pointed out the direction for him, but just when he wanted to ask Yang Kai why he was going to the Blood Prison, the latter had already leapt into the air and headed into the distance.
“Senior, may I ask your honoured name?” Peng Shi Zhong shouted.
In the distance, Yang Kai answered back.
Upon hearing that, Peng Shi Zhong frowned, as he felt that the name was familiar to him. He must have heard it from somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember where it was.
“Yang Kai!” One person suddenly exclaimed.
Peng Shi Zhong turned to look at the person as his expression appeared inquisitive.
“Brother Peng, please don’t tell me you’ve forgotten this name.” The person looked at Peng Shi Zhong with a conflicted expression, “Several dozen years ago, Star Master Luo Hai was killed…”
It was then that Peng Shi Zhong recalled who the young man was, “It’s him?”
He finally remembered where he had heard this name before. Although everyone in the Star Field was shocked to learn that Luo Hai was killed, it was the cultivators on Green Mountains Star that were most affected. After the Star Master passed away, the Star Source Strength with Luo Hai had returned to the Star, but it had inevitably suffered some damage, causing the World Energy on the Star to weaken. That was why the billions of cultivators on the Star loathed Yang Kai.
However, Peng Shi Zhong had never expected that the person who saved him on this day was the one who had killed Luo Hai several dozen years ago.
[If it’s him… Then it all makes sense,] Peng Shi Zhong thought. Yang Kai was already able to kill a Star Master several dozen years ago, so it wasn’t surprising that he could showcase such power and methods today.
“I heard that he had left the Star Field several dozen years ago and headed for a Higher Plane. Was this news fake?”
“Maybe he has returned?”
“In the past, there was the Starry Sky Great Emperor in the Star Field who was practically unrivalled. I think even if this Senior Yang is still no match for the Starry Sky Great Emperor, the difference in powers between them isn’t far off.”
“If a new Starry Sky Great Emperor rose, then it would be good news for the countless cultivators in the Star Field.”
Although the fact that Yang Kai had killed Luo Hai had left a bad impression on those from Green Mountains Star, that incident happened a long time ago, so nobody really wanted to take revenge for Luo Hai anymore. Now that they were saved by Yang Kai, naturally, they were grateful to him.
After they chatted for a while more, they stopped talking and approached Peng Shi Zhong to congratulate him on his breakthrough.
Peng Shi Zhong forced a smile. In the past, he would have been over the moon if he reached the Origin King Realm; however, now, so many people had been slaughtered, and his friends and relatives were mostly killed, so the joy of such an ascension had diminished greatly.
“Brother Peng, what should we do now?” Someone asked.
In the past, Peng Shi Zhong already had the highest cultivation among them, and now he was a genuine Origin King. If they wanted to survive, they had to stay by his side and listen to his orders.
After giving it a thought, Peng Shi Zhong raised his head and uttered, “I intend to join White Robes Guild.”
There were many great forces on Green Mountains Star that resisted the oppression from Grand Desolation Star Field. Nevertheless, White Robes Guild was definitely the most powerful among them. Moreover, it had only been a short time since it was founded, so they would surely be in need of more Masters and warriors. Peng Shi Zhong believed that they would certainly welcome an Origin King like him.
He had gone through a bumpy emotional ride today, so he was somewhat enlightened. Not only had he escaped from death’s door, but he was also offered help to reach the Origin King Realm. So, he reckoned that he should join the war to liberate Green Mountains Star. Even if he was bound to die on the battlefield, he wouldn’t regret his decision.
His suggestion resonated with many people and all soon agreed with his plan.
Peng Shi Zhong went on to announce, “Go bring those other people back. If they’re willing to follow me, we’ll go to White Robes Guild together; however, if they don’t agree to it, I won’t force them.”
After that, all of them dispersed to search for the others who had fled earlier.
…
Smoke could be seen billowing from everywhere as scorched earth covered the land.
Yang Kai’s expression was extremely dark. He thought that the city where he came across Peng Shi Zhong was just a rare instance, but he had never expected that it was already the norm on Green Mountains Star.
All the cities he passed by were destroyed with no survivors in sight. Inside the cities, traces of blood pools and altars could still be seen. Apparently, it was the doing of the cultivators from the Netherworld Sect.
Needless to say, all the citizens who once lived in these cities must have been killed and used as materials to refine Blood Sea Banners and Ten Thousand Soul Banners by those from the Netherworld Sect.
What those from the Netherworld Sect had done was evil and outrageous. Nine in ten cities were empty as Death Qi permeated the skies.
On his way to his destination, Yang Kai had saved some people and killed anyone from the Netherworld Sect and Grand Desolation Star Field he came across. However, what he had done was inadequate to save everyone on this Star.
After arriving at a new city, Yang Kai again killed all the invaders he found, but he finally reached a breaking point and couldn’t take it anymore. So, he kept the last person alive and clenched his neck before questioning in a grim voice, “Where’s the strongest person from the Netherworld Sect right now?”
The person was already shaken to the core by Yang Kai’s overwhelming power, so he replied in horror, “The Sixth Elder is currently in Gathering Yang City!”
“Lead the way!” Yang Kai ordered.
“Yes, yes, yes!” The person hurriedly replied and pointed out the direction for Yang Kai. The next moment, the view around them went flying by him in reverse at a horrifying speed. The person was so shocked that he immediately closed his eyes.
Although Yang Kai didn’t have the time to stay on Green Mountains Star to turn the situation around, he could still look for the enemy leader and kill him.
Gathering Yang City was one of the top cities on Green Mountains Star. It was a huge city that was hustling and bustling with countless cultivators entering and leaving the place in the past. However, it had been occupied after those from the Netherworld Sect invaded this place and, since then, the city had become the base for Netherworld Sect on Green Mountains Star.
At least hundreds of thousands of people had been detained in the city as ingredients for those from the Netherworld Sect to refine their wicked artifacts. Over the past few dozen years, countless people had been sacrificed.
Naturally, such an important place was the most heavily guarded by Netherworld Sect. Although they had absolute control over Green Mountains Star, they couldn’t possibly oppress every single cultivator on the Star. Nevertheless, they had never intended to do so, as they only regarded the people on this Star as materials to refine their artifacts.
It was a particularly violent day in Gathering Yang City.
Yang Kai arrived at this place with his guide, but just when he was about to showcase his power, he realised that the city had descended into an intense battle.
Flashes of light could be seen across the city as people were continuously killed. Countless were entangled in the air and on the ground in a chaotic melee.
“White Robes Guild!” The person, who was still being carried by Yang Kai, exclaimed.
“They’re from White Robes Guild?” Yang Kai swept a glance over the battlefield and his interest was piqued.
He had just heard from Peng Shi Zhong about White Robes Guild yesterday, so he didn’t expect that he’d come across them on this day. According to Peng Shi Zhong, White Robes Guild was the strongest force opposing Grand Desolation Star Field on Green Mountains Star, and it seemed that he was right. These people had to be fairly powerful to have the guts to start a battle in Gathering Yang City.
“Yes, they’re from White Robes Guild,” the man replied. Then, he suddenly came to his senses and yelled, “Senior, I’ve brought you to Gathering Yang City. Please…”
He stopped speaking abruptly though before Yang Kai hurled the new corpse away and pursed his lips.
Upon closer inspection, he realised that there was no mystery as to which side would turn out to be the winner. Although there were many people on White Robes Guild’s side, it was apparent that they were no match for Netherworld Sect. That was because they didn’t have many powerful Masters. On most of the battlefields, those from White Robes Guild had already lost, and in just half a day, they would have to flee for their lives.
The prerequisite was that they had to still be able to flee by then.
At this moment, everyone was caught up in the battle around and inside the city. Yang Kai also realised that the City Defending Array of Gathering Yang City had been activated. Although he wasn’t certain what was going on, he could deduce that White Robes Guild must have fallen into an enemy trap. If the array was able to fully close, they would be trapped and eventually eliminated.
Certainly, those from White Robes Guild had realised this problem as well and many wanted to break out of the siege, but they were tied down by the enemy forces. Moreover, with multiple Ten Thousand Soul Banners and Blood Sea Banners in this place, putrid Blood Qi and vicious Yin Souls roamed the air freely, making the entire city look like the very picture of Hell.
[I’ve definitely come at the right time!] Yang Kai strode forward and waved his hand, upon which a few figures appeared suddenly. He needed more people to help him out at this kind of moment. Although it would be completely fine for him to charge forward alone, he knew that he could save more people with additional helpers.
Before he could even say anything, Liu Yan charged forward and landed a kick on him.
“What are you doing?” Yang Kai glared at her.
Liu Yan pouted as her eyes had turned wet. She appeared aggrieved, as though she was blaming Yang Kai for ignoring her for the past few days. Yang Kai had wanted to reprimand her, but he gulped down his words and picked her up before placing her on his shoulder, “Are you happy now?”
Liu Yan then rode on his neck and wrapped her arms around his head before putting on a smile.
Li Jiao cupped his fists and uttered, “Brother Yang.”
He Yun Xiang also greeted, “Sir.”
Although his Embodiment, Lu San Niang, and Ruan Bi Ting didn’t say anything, they looked curiously at him.
“Have you all suppressed your cultivations properly? Are you alright with fighting against others now?” Yang Kai asked.
“There’s no problem.” Li Jiao nodded. Since he was put into the Small Sealed World by Yang Kai back on Dragon Island, this was the first time he had been let out, so he wanted to show Yang Kai that he was able to help him.
He Yun Xiang looked in the direction of Gathering Yang City and asked, “Sir, are we going to interfere in the battle over there?”
“Yes.” Yang Kai pointed at the front, “Do you see those banner-wielding people who look like ghosts? Kill them all.”
“Yes.” He Yun Xiang bowed her head.
Seeing that Ruan Bi Ting was constantly looking around anxiously, Yang Kai explained, “Su Yan is somewhere else right now.”
He had forgotten to leave her behind to keep Su Yan company some time ago, but since she was here anyway, she could be a helper at this moment.
As they spoke, they moved towards Gathering Yang City.
At this moment, the array in this city was steadily shrinking, pressuring the cultivators from White Robes Guild. Although they wanted to break out of the enclosure, they were powerless to do so; therefore, they could only watch as the array continued to close up.
Just then, they caught a glimpse of some strangers outside the city, so they looked curiously at them.
Just then, the mountains and the ground could be seen shaking as the City Defending Array of Gathering Yang City finally sealed off completely.
Everyone from White Robes Guild turned ashen as they realised that they were doomed.
Right before everyone’s eyes though, the Embodiment stepped forward and lightly pushed out his fist, seemingly not exerting any force at all.
Nevertheless, the power of his fist was able to make the Heavens and Earth shudder, and those from Grand Desolation Star Field turned pale upon realizing this.
After refining Shi Huo’s Source, the Embodiment could shrink to the size of an average Human; however, his true form was that of a stone giant that was as towering as a mountain. So, although his strike appeared light, it actually contained immense power.
In one move, the City Defending Array, which looked impenetrable, rippled wildly, and with his fist as the centre, several cracks started spreading across the barrier. Lights could be seen flickering above the array, and the next moment, it broke into pieces.
It was indeed stunning that he was able to break the array with just one light fist, and those who witnessed this scene down below were shocked and aghast.
Without the need for Yang Kai to say anything, Li Jiao, Lu San Niang, Ruan Bi Ting, He Yun Xiang, and the Embodiment shot off in five different beams of lights towards five different directions. After they landed on the battlefield, all their enemies were immediately killed as these people were no match for them.
Among the five people, He Yun Xiang had the lowest cultivation, as she had just reached the Third-Order Origin King Realm not long ago. Nevertheless, in Gathering Yang City, their most powerful enemy was only a single Third-Order Origin King, while there were not many other Origin Kings present. So, how were these people supposed to oppose this force?
Just like a bunch of fully grown adult soldiers who had interfered in the game of a group of young children, it was a completely unreasonable and overwhelming disaster.
In the blink of an eye, they had managed to kill more than 100 people, with a number of Origin Kings among the deceased.
The arrival of these saviours instantly turned the situation around and those from White Robes Guild, who were determined to fight till their death, were astounded as they realised that these people were there to help them. While their enemies were still stuck in a dazed state, the White Robes Guild charged forward and counterattacked. Unlike earlier, they occupied the absolute advantage as the cultivators from the Netherworld Sect were forced to retreat again and again.
From a bird’s eye view, Li Jiao and the others looked just like five Dragons that were swimming across the city, leaving five trails of death and destruction behind them. The enemies within a radius of several dozen meters around any one of them were immediately wounded or killed.
These people were totally no match for them as the difference in power wasn’t just massive, it was as wide as the gap between the Heavens and Earth.
“Oh?” Yang Kai suddenly looked in a particular direction. In the sky over there, a white figure was struggling amidst a mass of black Qi, attempting to break free from it. Yang Kai looked through the black Qi, and upon making out the face of the white figure, he was surprised, for he had never expected that he would come across a familiar person here.
After giving it a thought, he finally recalled the person’s name. In fact, he wasn’t close to this person, as they had only met once; however, this person had offered him some assistance at that time, so in a way, they were somewhat related.
They hadn’t met for years, so Yang Kai hadn’t expected this person to have reached the Second-Order Origin King Realm already, but as ‘that’ person’s Disciple, his aptitude proved truly extraordinary.
This person’s enemy was the Third-Order Origin King Realm Master assuming command of this city. Nevertheless, the enemy’s aura was unstable, which was similar to He Yun Xiang’s situation. Apparently, he had just reached the Third-Order a short time ago and hadn’t managed to consolidate his foundation.
This newly promoted Third-Order Origin King was a short old man who was clad in a loose robe, one which almost covered his entire body. As the energy waves around him surged, his aura appeared glacial. He was holding a Ten Thousand Soul Banner in his left hand from which a menacing howling could be heard. These howls seemed able to affect one’s Soul and were causing trouble for the white figure. Meanwhile, beams of lights that looked like blood kept shooting out from the Blood Sea Banner in the old man’s right hand.
There was a gap between their cultivations, and the artifacts in the old man’s hands were eerily powerful, so although the white figure was fairly powerful in his own right, he could barely parry the enemy’s attacks. He appeared battered as he kept avoiding the enemy’s strikes without the power to counterattack.
If the Embodiment hadn’t broken Gathering Yang City’s Defending Array, distracting the old man, the white figure would have lost the battle by now.
Just then, Yang Kai leapt into the air and approached them. The old man’s expression darkened as he had been distracted again, which allowed the white figure to take a breather.
In just a short moment, Yang Kai reached a location that was only a kilometre away from them.
The old man immediately bellowed, “Who are you? Why are you going against our Sect?” He was certain that these people were not from Green Mountains Star. He had stayed on this Star for more than ten years and dealt with countless local cultivators, so he knew most of the Masters here. However, he had never heard of these people who had visited Gathering Yang City on this day, but every one of them was able to arouse fear in him.
As such, he couldn’t remain focused as Yang Kai edged closer to him. He was worried that not only could they not destroy White Robes Guild today, they would also lose Gathering Yang City. However, he was a Third-Order Origin King in the end and was confident in his own power, so he wasn’t in a rush to flee. Now, he wanted to find out more about Yang Kai and the others before he returned to the Sect to ask their Master to deal with them.
“Watch out, old man. I’m going to use a super-secret hidden weapon!” Yang Kai yelled as he didn’t want to waste any time on him. Then, he grabbed something from his head and hurled it forward.
The old man and the white figure were dumbfounded as they had forgotten about the battle between them, for the hidden weapon Yang Kai had thrown at them was a young girl, who had been sitting on his shoulders just now.
She looked like a child of only seven or eight years. Her long hair reached her waist, and she appeared delicate and adorable. Anyone who saw her would take a liking to her; however, at this moment, she was actually thrown out at the enemy as a hidden weapon. So, there was no way she could survive. The young girl appeared dumbstruck as well as her petite figure shot toward the old man. Nevertheless, she didn’t try to struggle or throw a tantrum.
The old man was enraged as he felt that he had been looked down on. He wanted to kill the little girl, but as soon as he met her clear gaze, he suddenly felt terrified.
The flustered old man immediately swung the Blood Sea Banner in his hand, upon which a blood light flashed out across the young girl and drew her inside of it.
[I don’t care who she is. I’ll hold her hostage first.]
The white figure was flurried upon seeing that, so he immediately pounced on the old man and traded some moves with him. However, he was no match for him, so he was forced to retreat. With a spear in his hand, he panted heavily.
“Brother Xu, it’s been too long since we last met. How have you been?” Yang Kai continued hovering mid-air as he greeted the white figure with a smile. His black hair and robe flapped in the wind. If he hadn’t thrown out the little girl as a hidden weapon earlier, he would have looked pretty noble and imposing.
“You are…” Xu Bin Bai looked at Yang Kai with a frown as he found the latter familiar, and after some quick deliberation, he finally recalled an incident that happened several dozen years ago and in shock, exclaimed, “It’s you!”
He finally recognised Yang Kai.
Yang Kai grinned at him, “En, it’s me.”
“Why are you…” Xu Bin Bai couldn’t believe that Yang Kai would appear in this place; after all, Yang Kai had left the Star Field several dozen years ago. It was said that he had used the Great Emperor Tokens to forcefully break through the Void and head for the Higher World.
His companions at that time were the greatest Masters in the Star Field, President Ai Ou of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, Monster King Chi Yue from Monster Emperor Star, Union Master Gu Cang Yun of Sword Union, and Xu Bin Bai’s Honoured Master, Wu Dao.
It had been several dozen years since they left, and there had never been any news about them. Before Wu Dao left, he had told Xu Bin Bai many things, so the latter understood this matter very well.
[Why is he here? Where is my Honoured Master?] Xu Bin Bai looked around in an attempt to look for the person who had raised him, but that person was nowhere to be found.
Seeing his enemies chit-chatting while ignoring him, the old man from Netherworld Sect couldn’t take it anymore and bellowed, “Who are you!?”
Yang Kai turned to look at him, “You’re going to die soon, so what’s the point of you asking so many questions?”
The old man’s face fell as he said through clenched teeth, “I’ll remember you. Our Sect will definitely have its revenge one day!”
Upon finishing his words, he shot into the distance.
Certainly, Xu Bin Bai wouldn’t allow him to leave, so he was ready to chase after him, but just then, Yang Kai raised his hand and uttered, “There’s no point running after a dead man.”
Xu Bin Bai looked puzzledly at him. Although he wasn’t certain about Yang Kai’s cultivation, he knew that the old man was definitely no match for Yang Kai. That was the Sixth Elder of the Netherworld Sect, so if they could kill him in this place, it would be a blow to the Netherworld Sect. Therefore, he didn’t understand why they had to let this chance slip through their fingers.
While gazing at Yang Kai, he realised that there was an inscrutable smile on his face as the latter stared fixedly in the direction the old man had left.
Realising something, Xu Bin Bai turned his gaze in that direction, after which he widened his eyes in disbelief.
The old man, who had flown several thousand metres, suddenly staggered as though he had been hit by something. Following that, the Blood Sea Banner in his hand burst into flames.
Initially, the fire wasn’t so conspicuous, but in the blink of an eye, the Blood Sea Banner was completely engulfed in flames. The old man coughed out a mouthful of blood before he threw away what was left of the banner.
He had used his Soul to refine both the Blood Sea Banner and Ten Thousand Soul Banner, so if either of these artifacts was damaged, he would also be affected. Since the Blood Sea Banner was now burning to ashes, there was no way he could still be alright.
Just then, a spark leapt out of the Blood Sea Banner and transformed into a mini Fire Phoenix. It was only a palm-sized phoenix, but it appeared extremely elegant. As it raised its head and cried, the Heavens and Earth seemed to shake.
Seeing the Fire Phoenix flying at him, the old man was terrified and wielded his Ten Thousand Soul Banner, releasing a thick black Qi to form a protective barrier around himself.
Wherever the palm-sized phoenix went though, the black Qi would immediately vaporize. The protective barrier around the old man was completely useless and after he was lit on fire, he began wailing in despair. However, his cries did not last long as he was soon covered in flames and fell from the sky.
Right then, a fair hand stuck out from the burnt remnants of the Blood Sea Banner, as though it was coming from a different space. Following that, a petite figure appeared.
Standing mid-air, she patted her clothes and looked around. Then, she flew towards Yang Kai and hopped back on his neck. Just like what she had been doing earlier, grabbing Yang Kai’s ears with both hands to stabilize herself.
Xu Bin Bai’s eyes bulged and his jaw dropped as he was left dumbfounded. He regarded himself as a seasoned man, but what he had just seen made him think he was dreaming.
[How was a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master killed so easily? What realm is this little girl in? What kind of fire is so mystical?]
As though sensing his stare, Liu Yan turned to look at him. There wasn’t any impurity behind her clear gaze, and feeling somewhat guilty and overwhelmed, Xu Bin Bai looked away.
“Brother Xu, let’s end this battle first,” Yang Kai uttered.
It was then Xu Bin Bai came to his senses and nodded, “Good.”
Then, he wielded his spear and turned into a beam of light before plunging toward the city. At the same time, he yelled, “White Robes Guild, today, we purge these devils!”
His fellow guildsmen cheered along with him and at that instant, the mountains and the ground seemed to tremble. With unrivalled courage, those from White Robes Guild, together with Li Jiao and the others, charged forward and killed all the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field.
Inside a gazebo that was 10 kilometres away from Gathering Yang City, Yang Kai looked up at the sky and observed the movements of the clouds.
Just then, a white figure flew over and landed on the ground, after which Xu Bin Bai’s sturdy yet sleek figure was revealed.
By regaining control of Gathering Yang City, they had managed to completely destroy Netherworld Sect’s foundation on Green Mountains Star. Although some enemies had fled, they couldn’t possibly cause any harm anymore. The haze, which had covered the Star for more than ten years, had cleared up, so even the sky appeared brighter now.
Respectfully, Xu Bin Bai gazed at the figure inside the gazebo as his emotions undulated in his heart, as though he had returned to the time several dozen years ago.
At that time, he and Yang Kai had taken part in the Blood Prison Trial. Both of them were in the Origin Returning Realm, so they were supposed to be equals. Nevertheless, Xu Bin Bai thought he was the stronger one just because he had his Honoured Master, Wu Dao.
If the Starry Sky Great Emperor wasn’t taken into consideration, Wu Dao was universally acknowledged to be the strongest person in Heng Luo Star Field.
With the blessing of such an Honoured Master, Xu Bin Bai’s future was unlimited, and that was truly the case. Several dozen years had passed, and he had already reached the Second-Order Origin King Realm. What’s more, he still had great potential, so it was only a matter of time before he reached the Third-Order Origin King Realm.
However, when compared to the person before his eyes, his achievement was like the light of a firefly compared to the bright moon, not even worth mentioning.
Although Yang Kai hadn’t made a move in the battle on this day, the helpers he had brought with him were all inscrutable. Even the innocent-looking little girl riding his shoulders like a child was able to kill a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master with ease.
So, Xu Bin Bai was certain that Yang Kai’s power was beyond his ability to speculate.
“Brother Yang!” Xu Bin Bai cupped his fists and lowered his head slightly, “Many thanks for helping us today. It is all thanks to you that we’re able to kill those degenerates from the Netherworld Sect. Please accept my gratitude.”
Before he could bow though, Xu Bin Bai felt an invisible force holding him up. Yang Kai replied with a smile, “We’re even now, then.”
Xu Bin Bai looked doubtfully at him.
Yang Kai went on to say, “In the past, after we came out of the Blood Prison, if you hadn’t spoken up for me, I wouldn’t have been able to leave Green Mountains Star safely.”
At that time, during the Blood Prison Trial, Yang Kai had attracted the attention of the Star Master of Green Mountains Star, Luo Hai. After he came out of that place, he was stopped and interrogated. It was only because Xu Bin Bai spoke up for Yang Kai at the time that Luo Hai stopped pursuing the matter temporarily.
Although Xu Bin Bai’s cultivation was low at that time, his backer was Wu Dao, so Luo Hai had to show him some respect.
In the end, Luo Hai still chased after Yang Kai until they reached Scarlet Wave Star; however, if Xu Bin Bai hadn’t interfered at that moment, Yang Kai couldn’t have possibly been able to flee. Maybe he would have been captured by Luo Hai on Green Mountains Star. At that time, Yang Kai wasn’t able to resist the power of a Star Master on their Star.
Xu Bin Bai recalled what had happened, then burst into laughter, “That incident isn’t even worth mentioning compared to today.”
No one could have thought that Yang Kai would be the one who saved him on this day.
“Have a seat,” Yang Kai made a gesture.
Xu Bin Bai hesitated for a moment, but he still elegantly took a seat. When he met Liu Yan’s gaze, he still couldn’t believe how such a young girl was able to kill a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master. Moreover, since the beginning, she had never shown any emotion on her face, as though she had just killed an ant by stepping on it.
After shaking his head, he turned to look at Yang Kai.
Before he could ask the most important question in his heart, however, Yang Kai uttered, “Senior Wu Dao has fallen.”
Upon hearing that, Xu Bin Bai shuddered and gulped with difficulty.
Yang Kai went on to say, “He fell during a breakthrough. No one killed him.”
Of the people who had headed to the Star Boundary, only Wu Dao had lost his life. According to Chi Yue and the others, when Wu Dao was breaking through from the Origin King Realm to the Dao Source Realm, he failed to survive the World Energy Baptism.
Yang Kai hadn’t personally seen it, so he wasn’t certain about what had happened; therefore, he was unable to explain the situation to Xu Bin Bai in detail. Nevertheless, it was regrettable that Wu Dao had lost his life, and one couldn’t help but lament that life was full of uncertainties. In the past, Wu Dao was the strongest cultivator in the entire Star Field. They had travelled to the Star Boundary together, but only Wu Dao had lost his life, while Chi Yue and the others successfully broke through.
[I guess no one can really predict their fortunes.]
At this moment, Xu Bin Bai was engulfed in a deep sense of sorrow, so he no longer felt joyful that they had won a great battle today. His Honoured Master was just as close to him as a father, so he was the most important person in his life. Without him, Xu Bin Bai couldn’t possibly have achieved success in life.
Nonetheless, he had experienced countless hardships over the past dozen years, and he was used to seeing the loss of lives now. He could even disregard his own safety, so he managed to pull himself together quickly as he asked with bloodshot eyes, “Can you tell me the details?”
Yang Kai shook his head and told him the reason behind it.
Upon that realization, Xu Bin Bai said, “Brother Yang, I’m truly grateful that you’ve informed me about this.”
“It’s a coincidence that we’ve come across each other today. Brother Xu, please don’t be overly sorrowful.” Yang Kai paused for a moment and changed the topic, “Are you the founder of the White Robes Guild?”
Xu Bin Bai took a deep breath and replied, “Yes.”
In fact, he didn’t have the intention to create the White Robes Guild. Over the years, he had seen too many people die, and he had even saved some on the verge of death. Thus, he had somewhat made a name for himself. As a result, some people started following him. One day, those people decided to make use of his fame and founded White Robes Guild. It was said that heroes were born in turbulent times. Rather than saying that Xu Bin Bai and his companions had founded White Robes Guild, it was Green Mountains Star that needed an organisation like theirs. The guild developed rapidly after its founding, and now, they were the largest force opposing Netherworld Sect on the Star. After the battle today, they would certainly reach new heights and rule over everything on the Star.
“Brother Yang, can you stay here to relieve the suffering of everyone on Green Mountains Star?” Xu Bin Bai looked sincerely at him. With Yang Kai around, the Netherworld Sect would no longer be a threat.
However, Yang Kai shook his head, “I just happened to pass by this place, so I won’t stay for long.”
Upon hearing the reply, Xu Bin Bai appeared disappointed. Although the Netherworld Sect had suffered a setback due to the battle today, and their foundation on Green Mountains Star had been destroyed, no one could guarantee that they wouldn’t send even stronger cultivators to this place once they learned of this setback. If a new Third-Order Origin King came to this place, Xu Bin Bai wouldn’t be able to defeat him, and their previous efforts would all be wasted.
Nevertheless, since Yang Kai had said so, he wouldn’t want to keep persuading him. He was a man, so he would rather rely on himself than the mercy of others. Although he was grateful to Yang Kai, he didn’t want to act as if he was inferior to him.
“Good, I can stay here for two days at most,” Yang Kai uttered.
Xu Bin Bai was speechless at that. What could Yang Kai do in two days? Moreover, if the cultivators from Netherworld Sect or Grand Desolation Star Field wanted to make a comeback, they wouldn’t choose to do so in such a short period of time.
With a smile, Yang Kai replied, “No one has refined the Star Source of Green Mountains Star, right?”
Upon hearing that, Xu Bin Bai trembled and gazed at him in disbelief. Shocked, he uttered, “Brother Yang, you mean…”
[No way! That’s not possible! Even though he’s powerful, he can’t possibly do that!]
“Come with me!” Yang Kai suddenly grabbed Xu Bin Bai’s shoulder, and before the latter could understand what was going on, Yang Kai moved as they disappeared from the place.
Xu Bin Bai could see the view around them flowing by him like a rapid stream, and even given his current cultivation, he wasn’t able to see how Yang Kai was moving. Nevertheless, he got a whiff of the smell of soil, and the view around him was rather dark, so he believed that they were now deep underground.
In just a short moment, both of them stopped moving as they appeared in some kind of cave filled with brilliant multi-coloured light. Xu Bin Bai turned around and narrowed his eyes to get a better look at the source of this radiance.
Over there, a mass of colourful light was waving about, a dazzling sight to behold. After scanning it with his Divine Sense, Xu Bin Bai could feel a horrifying force coming from this mass of light. Moreover, it seemed to contain a mysterious and unrivalled power.
“This is…” Xu Bin Bai had his own speculation, but he couldn’t be certain about it.
“It’s the Star Source of Green Mountains Star!” Yang Kai replied.
[It really is the Star Source!] Xu Bin Bai gasped as he looked hesitantly at Yang Kai, “Brother Yang, are you going to tell me to refine it now?”
Yang Kai uttered with a smile, “After you refine it, you’ll be the Master of Green Mountains Star. With the help of the Star, you don’t have to be afraid of any invaders anymore.”
“But I…”
“Hold your breath and focus. Feel it with your heart. This will decide whether you’ll be able to refine it!” Yang Kai suddenly extended his hand and poked Xu Bin Bai’s forehead. At that instant, a lot of information rushed into his head as rows of words appeared in his mind. Hesitating no more, he calmed himself and tried to comprehend all he had just been taught.
A moment later, Yang Kai retracted his hand and straightened up, while Xu Bin Bai still remained unmoving on the same spot.
Yang Kai had passed Xu Bin Bai the Star Refining Art, and with the help of this Secret Technique, the latter should be able to refine the Star Source of this Star with ease. However, Yang Kai still had to stay there to give him some guidance.
He had obtained this Secret Technique from Yang Yan’s Emperor Garden and both he and Xia Ning Chang had relied on this Secret Technique to refine the Star Sources of Shadowed Star and Tong Xuan Realm respectively, so the effectiveness of this technique was unquestionable.
Moreover, Yang Kai did not just pass down the technique, but also his own comprehension and understanding of its mysteries, which would save Xu Bin Bai a lot of time when he tried to learn and master it.
Four hours later, Xu Bin Bai opened his eyes and excitedly looked at Yang Kai.
“Let’s begin,” Yang Kai urged him.
Xu Bin Bai nodded and sat down with his legs crossed in front of the Star Source. Then, he activated the Secret Technique and communicated with the Source.
A moment later, dots of lights jumped out of the mass like fireflies and hovered around Xu Bin Bai.
Yang Kai was astounded, as he didn’t expect that Xu Bin Bai could communicate with the Source so easily.
After giving it a thought though, he realised the reason behind it. Over the years, Green Mountains Star had been devastated by those from the Netherworld Sect, its land destroyed and its World Energy drained. During this time, Xu Bin Hai had valiantly led a resistance trying to save the people from suffering as the leader of White Robes Guild. His actions conformed to the Heavenly Way and were of great benefit to Green Mountains Star.
The Star Source was the will of the entire Cultivation Star. It was like a living being and could sense what was happening on the Star.
Xu Bin Bai was saving the people, so in a way, he was helping Green Mountains Star as well, which explained why the Star Source took a liking to him. The world was full of uncertainties, but there were rules behind the Heavenly Way.
Upon that realization, Yang Kai knew that his worries were unnecessary. It would be difficult for anyone else to try to refine the Star Source, but Xu Bin Bai could achieve this with ease.
Yang Kai knew that soon enough, the Star would welcome a new Star Master. By then, the people on the Star would be able to protect themselves and not need to worry about the Netherworld Sect’s invasion again.
He wanted to leave just like this, but after giving it a thought, Yang Kai still walked to the side and fished out some materials before setting up a Space Array. It was a good decision to place a Space Array around here so that he would be directly transported to this place when he wanted to come here next time.
Two days later, inside a certain gazebo, Liu Yan was bored as she was seated there resting her chin on her palms. Li Jiao and the others were inside the gazebo as well. They didn’t take the previous battle seriously, as it was akin to killing ants for them.
In front of the gazebo, a group of cultivators clad in white robes were looking respectfully at them as they all appeared restrained. These people were the most powerful Masters in White Robes Guild, and there were also a few Origin Kings among them. However, when facing these saviours who had appeared out of nowhere, they were all diffident. Due to the huge gap between their strength, they didn’t even dare to greet the people inside the gazebo.
Just then, a light flashed across their eyes as a young man appeared.
Seeing him, those from White Robes Guild were energised and the person at the front immediately cupped his fists and uttered, “Senior, may I ask where our Guild Master is?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Brother Xu is refining the Star Source of Green Mountains Star now, so you don’t have to worry.”
“What?”
“He’s refining the Star Source of Green Mountains Star?”
All of them were in disbelief, but Yang Kai appeared firm when he said those words, so they didn’t dare to not believe him.
Refining the Star Source of Green Mountains Star was indeed a piece of shocking news. It wasn’t that there were no Star Masters in the Star Field; however, normally, Star Masters were Third-Order Origin Kings. Only cultivators in this realm stood a chance of successfully refining the Star Source. Otherwise, they’d suffer a backlash and be killed by the immense Source Strength. Such an incident had happened many times in the past.
Many years ago, the fact that Luo Hai had managed to become a Star Master when he was only a Second-Order Origin King had sent a shockwave across the entire Star Field. Everyone was envious of him and thought that he was extremely lucky. If it weren’t because Yang Kai broke the record later, Luo Hai would still be the only success story.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai was a special case. Now, as a Second-Order Origin King Realm Master, Xu Bin Bai wanted to refine the Star Source as well. Instead of feeling pleasantly surprised, those from White Robes Guild were horrified when they heard about it.
After the war in Gathering Yang City, the foundation of Netherworld Sect on Green Mountains Star had been destroyed. Now, it was the time for those from White Robes Guild to step forward and lead the way to a brighter future. However, at this critical moment, Xu Bin Bai had taken a huge risk to refine the Star Source, which was absolutely ridiculous.
He’d be considered lucky if he could successfully refine it, but more likely he would fail in his attempt and lose his life, causing all his previous efforts to go to waste. By then, not only would Green Mountains Star descend into chaos again, it would also cause White Robes Guild to fall into internal strife.
Yang Kai observed all their expressions but didn’t explain anything, as they would find out that their Guild Master was fine very soon. Then, he looked at Li Jiao and the others before saying, “Let’s go.”
After that, they turned into beams of lights and shot into the distance. Half a day later, they arrived at the Blood Prison.
A blood-coloured barrier had engulfed the entire place and turned it into a Forbidden Zone, which blocked anyone from spying on it. Only when the time was due would this blood-coloured barrier open up and allow cultivators who were below the Origin King Realm to enter.
This barrier was set up by the Star Master before Luo Hai using the Star Source of Green Mountains Star. In the past, even Luo Hai couldn’t change it as he pleased, so he could only maintain the traditions of the Blood Prison Trial. Although the cultivators from Netherworld Sect had devastated the entire Star, they were powerless to do anything to this barrier around the Blood Prison.
So, when Yang Kai arrived at this place, he realised that it still looked the same as when he first saw it. Then, he placed his hand on the blood-coloured barrier, which immediately beamed with a red glow. The glow seemed corrosive as a sizzling sound could be heard coming from his palm.
Nevertheless, he ignored it. If he were just a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to this barrier; however, he was already in the Emperor Realm, and he was also a Half-Dragon. Therefore, this barrier couldn’t possibly harm him.
Then, some strange vibrations could be felt. Yang Kai slowly pushed his palm into the blood-coloured barrier, followed by his arm, and then half of his body. Following that, he stepped forward and entered the Blood Prison.
Inside the prison, all he could see was the colour red. Even the clouds in the sky seemed to have been dyed scarlet. The average person would be horrified upon entering the place, but Yang Kai found it cordial. After all, he had already experienced a trial here and grown stronger as a result.
Liu Yan also ambled into the place and elegantly stood beside him. Her tight-fitting clothes had perfectly outlined her petite figure and her long hair reached her waist, making her look particularly adorable.
Earlier, she had told Yang Kai that she wouldn’t enter the Sealed World Bead again and insisted on following him around.
Left with no choice, Yang Kai could only grant her wish. However, Li Jiao and the others had no qualms about re-entering the Sealed World Bead.
“Wait here,” Yang Kai stroked her head.
Annoyed, Liu Yan slapped his hand away, as though she was still mad at the fact that he hadn’t released her for a long time earlier.
Yang Kai put on a smile and spread his arms. Then, he closed his eyes in an attempt to sense it. He only activated a fraction of his Divine Sense because he wasn’t on Shadowed Star, and if he showcased a power that was too strong, he would still be repelled by the Heavenly Way.
Just like fish in a river, his streams of Divine Sense, paired with Space Principles passed through the Void as a panoramic view was transmitted back into Yang Kai’s mind, as though he was personally seeing the view within the entire Blood Prison.
His Divine Sense spread across this place in all directions, as though it was never going to stop, and a quarter of an hour later, Yang Kai suddenly opened his eyes and looked in a particular direction.
[Found it!]
There was a secret passage in the Blood Prison that was connected to Monster Emperor Star. In the past, Shan Qing Luo and the Monster Race’s top Juniors passed through this secret passage and entered the Blood Prison to take part in the trial. Since it was a passage that connected two Cultivation Stars, there was definitely a Void Corridor between them. Therefore, the fluctuations of Space Principles around it could be detected.
This kind of fluctuation was elusive to most people, but to Yang Kai, it was as dazzling as a lighthouse in the darkness. Then, he took Liu Yan’s hand and they flickered forward. Despite their slow pace, the view around them was reversing rapidly.
A while later, they arrived at a hidden spot that looked like it was in the centre of a mountain. There was an altar in this place that Yang Kai stepped onto with Liu Yan.
…..
Monster Emperor Star was the only Cultivation Star in the Star Field where the Monster Race ruled. This place could be said to be their paradise as well as their origin. On this Star, Humans and those of other Races could barely survive as their status was low, so they had always been oppressed by the Monster Race. There were no Masters in the Human Race with the strongest Humans being mere Origin Returning Realm cultivators. Those that had the potential to reach the Origin King Realm would be weeded out by the Monster Race early. In such a place, Humans could only subordinate themselves to the Monster Race.
There were Ten Great Tribal Lords on Monster Emperor Star who ruled over different parts of the Star, each of them Tenth-Order Monster Beasts, equivalent to Origin Kings. However, only when they reached the peak of the Tenth Order could they gain the right to be called Monster Kings.
Monster Kings were extremely rare because it might take a few hundred to a thousand years for one to appear.
Several dozen years ago, a Monster Queen had emerged on Monster Emperor Star. She was the Master of Red Moon Territory as well as one of the Ten Great Tribal Lords; however, she soon left the Star and passed her own territory to her adopted daughter. Since then, Monster Kings had become a sort of legend.
The Ten Great Tribal Lords on the Star had different temperaments, and they treated Humans differently as well. In the territory of one of the Tribal Lords, Humans could never gain a footing because they were all killed on sight.
Of the Ten Great Tribal Lords, the leader of Red Moon Territory was the most hospitable to Humans. In her territory, Humans weren’t oppressed, and they were even able to live freely, which was why many great forces had been founded by Humans there.
Chi Yue was a far-sighted woman and knew that Monsters were not good at Artifact Refining and Alchemy, but Humans were experts in these fields, so she decided to provide shelter for those oppressed Humans and ensure their safety. After taking in a lot of Artifact Refiners and Alchemists, she told them to refine artifacts and pills to help increase the power of Red Moon Territory.
After she left, Shan Qing Luo took over Red Moon Territory and continued this practice. Moreover, Shan Qing Luo had the support of the High Heaven Sect from Shadowed Star, so her tribe grew stronger like a rolling snowball. In just a dozen years, she had surpassed the other nine Tribal Lords and seemed set to subdue the entire Monster Emperor Star.
If it weren’t because of the sudden invasion, given Shan Qing Luo’s cultivation and the support she had, she would have ruled over Monster Emperor Star sooner or later. However, the invasion of the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field had derailed her plans.
Monster Emperor Star had been targeted by those from Grand Desolation Star Field as well, and the Sect that had set their eyes on this Star was also a first-class Sect from that Star Field, Limitless Beast Mountain. Although they were not as formidable as Netherworld Sect, they were still fairly powerful.
Limitless Beast Mountain focussed on Beast-taming, so their disciples were all experts in enslaving and subduing Monster Beasts. As their cultivation increased, they’d also be able to control more Monster Beasts. When the disciples from Limitless Beast Mountain got into a fight with their enemies, they had the help of their Monster Beasts, so they always had an upper hand against opponents in the same realm.
Upon hearing that there was a Star in Heng Luo Star Field that was ruled by the Monster Race, and that there were many rare and exotic Monster Beasts to be found on that Star, they couldn’t hold back anymore and went all out to invade Monster Emperor Star.
After just a dozen years, of the Ten Great Tribal Lords on Monster Emperor Star, only three were left. The other seven Tribal Lords were either not willing to be tamed, so they killed themselves by destroying their own Monster Cores, or had submitted to Limitless Beast Mountain and become their lackeys.
Now, the Tribal Lords existed in name only, as only Red Moon Territory continued to resist.
The reason Red Moon Territory could persevere in their battle against Limitless Beast Mountain until now was thanks to their leader, Shan Qing Luo. She was already a Third-Order Origin King and possessed the Divine Spirit Heavenly Moon Demon Spider’s Source, so it was hard for anyone to defeat her.
Furthermore, they had the support of High Heaven Sect in the past, so they had developed rapidly and amassed countless Masters and resources. If Limitless Beast Mountain insisted on confronting them, both parties would suffer greatly.
So, even though Limitless Beast Mountain had invaded most of the land on Monster Emperor Star and subdued 90% of the Monster Race population, they had remained awkwardly peaceful with Red Moon Territory.
Despite the peaceful façade, however, a storm was brewing beneath it.
Everyone knew that this peace wouldn’t last forever. Limitless Beast Mountain was accumulating strength as their disciples needed time to tame new Monster Beasts and familiarize themselves with their new slaves. When they prepared well enough though, they would launch an assault on Red Moon Territory like a tempest.
By then, Red Moon Territory wouldn’t be able to fight back.
On Half-Moon Mountain, Shan Qing Luo was seated by the window in her bedroom as she looked out at the mountain view. She was clad in red clothes that were as bright as the sun and perfectly outlined her astounding figure. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders, and her enrapturing face was able to enchant any man who so much as gazed upon her.
Shan Qing Luo was an extremely seductive woman. Back when she was in the Tong Xuan Realm, she was known as the Beguiling Demon Queen, and now that her strength had grown markedly, her charms had become even more stunning.
A bright red dress might look gaudy on most, but she was able to wear such colours with ease and they only made her beauty appear even more striking.
At this moment, she was holding a wine glass in her hand as she gazed out at the sky with narrowed eyes. She seemed to be observing the stars and the moon, but upon closer look, one would realise that her eyes were out of focus, as though she wasn’t looking at anything physical before them.
Then, she slightly lifted her head and poured the wine into her mouth. The clear liquid slid down the corners of her mouth and fair neck before sneaking into the deepest part of her unknown valley, dampening her clothes. If there was a man in this place, his blood would undoubtedly boil and he would lose all control of his rationality from this sight.
Staring at the Starry Sky, she raised her hand and grabbed the air, as though she was trying to grasp a star and never let it go. However, when she spread her palm, there was nothing in it.
Agitated, she hurled the wine glass away and messed up her hair before bellowing through clenched teeth, “That jerk!”
The sound of a wine glass breaking to pieces shocked the people outside and the door was quickly pushed open, upon which an hourglass figure stepped into the room. After taking a look at Shan Qing Luo and then the broken glass on the floor, this newcomer silently crouched down and began cleaning up.
“Bi Luo, come here.” Shan Qing Luo beckoned to her. Her voice was soft and pleasant to the ears. Even Bi Luo, as a woman, felt her chest tightening upon hearing that, as though something was squirming within her body, causing her to be fidgety.
Placing her palm on her forehead, Bi Luo uttered, “Mistress, what do you want?”
“Come here!” Shan Qing Luo was being unreasonable because she was drunk.
Feeling helpless, Bi Luo walked up to her, but before she could stop in her tracks, she was pulled into Shan Qing Luo’s embrace and placed on her thighs.
Looking up, she realised that Shan Qing Luo’s alluring face was just a finger length away. Her lips were as translucent as rubies and the breath she let out exuded an intoxicating scent. Shan Qing Luo was looking down at her with a smile as her long hair tickled Bi Luo’s face.
Bi Luo gulped as her face turned completely red, “Mistress…”
However, Shan Qing Luo just smiled at her without uttering a word, which caused Bi Luo to be on pins and needles. [Oh, my goodness. Is my wish going to be realised now? I haven’t gotten prepared yet. What should I do? Should I reject her? But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When she sobers up, I’ll never get another opportunity…]
Bi Luo was a maidservant who had followed Shan Qing Luo all the way to this place from their original home in Fragrance City, so she had entrusted her heart and body to the latter long ago. Her cultivation wasn’t low, as she was in the First-Order Origin King Realm. In truth, Bi Luo’s aptitude wasn’t outstanding, so the reason she was able to achieve such success was all thanks to Shan Qing Luo’s support and guidance over the years.
Therefore, she would do anything for Shan Qing Luo. She wouldn’t even frown if her Mistress asked her to die for her. At this moment, she was panting heavily as her blood was boiling. Her entire body was stiff as though she had been struck by lightning.
“Do you love me?” Shan Qing Luo suddenly asked with a grin as her eyes appeared out of focus. As she spoke, she extended her finger and whisked across Bi Luo’s lips.
Bi Luo almost couldn’t contain her urge to lick it. Fortunately, she still hadn’t lost all her rationality yet. Torn between tears and laughter, she uttered, “Mistress, you’re drunk.”
“Nonsense.” Shan Qing Luo poked the maidservant’s red lips and spoke in a languid voice, “I’ve only downed a few bottles of wine tonight, so how would I be drunk? Hey, you haven’t answered my question.”
Pressing her lips together, Bi Luo nodded slightly and replied, “I’m yours.”
Shan Qing Luo chuckled, “You’re the best.”
Then, she leaned close to her and let out a fragrant breath.
Bi Luo widened her eyes in disbelief. Just when she thought something was going to happen, Shan Qing Luo only landed a kiss on her forehead, which caused her to feel dejected.
Just then, Shan Qing Luo uttered as she whisked across Bi Luo’s nose, “But we’re both women. If I were a man, I would’ve bedded you by now.”
Bi Luo looked away shyly and said in a small voice, “I am willing…”
“What do you mean?” Shan Qing Luo heaved a sigh, “It’s much better to be a man. He can leave whenever he wants without having to worry about anything. However, he isn’t aware that he’s taken my heart away as well. I don’t even know whether he’s having fun with other women right now. Perhaps he’s gotten more wives and even children. Maybe he has forgotten about me.”
An enraged Bi Luo said, “Mistress, that kind of man isn’t worthy of your love. You should just forget about him.”
Shan Qing Luo took the maidservant’s hand and placed it on her own chest before replying with a weak smile, “But this part of my body doesn’t agree.”
Bi Luo was heartbroken as her tears almost slid down her face. In a crestfallen manner, she uttered, “Mistress, no matter what happens to us or how the world changes, I will always be by your side. As long as you don’t chase me away, I will never leave.”
“Why would I chase you away?” Shan Qing Luo smiled faintly at her.
Bi Luo beamed at her as well before uttering in an awkward manner, “Mistress, if you really miss him so much… I have a way to help you unwind and relieve your longing.”
A curious Shan Qing Luo asked, “What do you mean?”
Bi Luo replied, “I’ve learned some illusion skills in recent years.”
“Oh?” Shan Qing Luo was surprised.
“I can transform into that person.”
Shan Qing Luo remained silent as she appeared tempted.
Seeing that, Bi Luo quickly struck while the iron was hot, “Maybe I won’t look exactly like him, but it’ll be 70 to 80 percent similar.”
“Who are you going to imitate?”
The voice from outside the window shocked the ladies.
Bi Luo immediately bounded off the chair and bellowed, “Who!?”
They were now in the most important location on Half-Moon Mountain, which was the Monster Queen’s bedroom. How was it possible that someone was able to approach this place without anyone noticing?
When Bi Luo raised her head, her jaw dropped as she uttered dazedly, “Y-Y-You…” That was because she saw a face that she had never expected to see there.
Shan Qing Luo was stunned as well. She fell into a dazed state as she was gazing at the face she had been missing for the past several dozen years.
“Luo’er!” Yang Kai grinned and waved his hand at her before turning to look at Bi Luo, “Little girl, it’s quite bold of you to try to snatch my woman when I’m not around!”
He had known about Bi Luo’s ‘interest’ in Shan Qing Luo since their first meeting back in Tong Xuan Realm, but he had never expected that after so many years, she still hadn’t changed one bit. It could be said that she was really quite obstinate.
The harmonious relationship between Yin and Yang was the Grand Dao of the Heavens and Earth, but Bi Luo seemed dead set on going against it.
With that said, when they were still in Tong Xuan Realm, a certain incident had taken place between Yang Kai and Bi Luo, so upon their reunion, he couldn’t help but glance at her red lips.
The experience was extremely pleasant and he still remembered it vividly.
Upon finishing his words, he attempted to jump into the room through the window.
With a loud slam though, Shan Qing Luo shut the window as the hardwood smashed at Yang Kai’s nose, causing him to stop in his tracks.
“Hmph!” Liu Yan snorted at his side as her expression appeared mocking.
Inside the bedroom, Shan Qing Luo extended her hand and rubbed her own temple.
A stunned Bi Luo uttered, “Mistress, what are you doing?” [The man she’s been missing for years has finally appeared, so why did she shut him out? Shouldn’t she have crashed into his embrace and told him how much she missed him?]
Shan Qing Luo replied with a frown, “I think I’m seeing things because I’m drunk.”
As she spoke, she opened the window and gazed out again, but when she met a pair of eyes out there again, she immediately slammed the window shut once more.
“This wine is so strong. Bi Luo, where did you get it from?”
Seeing that, Bi Luo was torn between tears and laughter.
“Hey, you silly woman!” Unable to take it anymore, Yang Kai pushed the window open and leapt into the room. With an upright posture, he uttered, “How dare you avoid seeing me when I’m back! When did you become so gutsy?”
Shan Qing Luo took a step backwards and sized him up before asking in shock, “Are you really my husband?”
It was as though she hadn’t seen him until now.
Yang Kai took a step forward and pinched her cheek before pulling it to the other side, causing her beautiful face to contort. In a fierce manner, he questioned, “What in the world are you doing?”
“No…” Shan Qing Luo couldn’t even speak clearly, “I thought I was seeing an illusion. Are you really back? Oh, I’m so happy. I don’t think I can contain my joy.”
Although her words sounded happy, she spoke in a monotone voice that clearly portrayed her displeasure.
The corners of Yang Kai’s eyes twitched as this was different from his imagination. After a snort, he released her.
Shan Qing Luo rubbed her cheek and looked meekly at him. Appearing guilty, she asked cautiously, “Husband, how long have you been there? Have you heard anything you shouldn’t have heard?”
Yang Kai grinned at her, “No matter what I should or should not hear, I’ve heard everything.”
Shan Qing Luo heaved a sigh as a glint of determination flashed across her eyes, as though she had just made an important decision. Then, she wrapped her arm around Bi Luo’s shoulder and pulled her into her embrace. Putting on a fearless face, she declared, “Good, there’s nothing I should hide. To be honest with you, Bi Luo and I are deeply in love with each other now. Our life together has been happy and carefree, so I’ve forgotten all about you. Please forgive me for feeling lonely and falling in love with someone else.”
As she spoke, she bowed to Yang Kai, “I’m sorry.”
The corners of Yang Kai’s brow twitched harder.
While Bi Luo was still dumbfounded, Shan Qing Luo pinched her back, after which Bi Luo hurriedly bent over and added, “I-I’m so sorry for snatching your woman.”
Shan Qing Luo straightened up and took Bi Luo’s hand before looking lovingly at her, “Husband… No. Little Brother Yang, as long as you don’t force us to break up, I’ll agree to any demand you come up with.”
“Little… Brother… Yang…?” Yang Kai said slowly through clenched teeth.
Shan Qing Luo replied with a smile, “You’re younger than I am, so there’s nothing wrong with how I address you. If it really bothers you, I can call you Big Brother Yang.”
Before she could finish her words, Yang Kai pinched both her cheeks again and pulled harder than last time as he muttered, “Are you done?”
“Stop it!” Shan Qing Luo bellowed, “We are no longer husband and wife, so why are you still touching me? Your actions are too outrageous!”
“Alright. Let’s talk about something serious now.” After Yang Kai was done messing with her face, he pretended to be stern and stared at her. He didn’t understand what she was doing. They hadn’t met for decades, and he had finally come back, so why did she put on such a show? What did she mean by this?
“Hmph. I am being serious.” Shan Qing Luo appeared displeased, “What’s wrong? You can flirt with other women out there, but why am I not allowed to fall in love with someone else?”
“When did I ever flirt with other women?” Yang Kai was guilty, so the way he spoke was diffident. [Wait a moment. Yes, I’ve indeed gotten together with a new woman, but I’ve only confessed that to my mother and Su Yan, so how did Shan Qing Luo find out about it? She must be bluffing me! Whatever she accuses me of, I’ll not admit it!]
Shan Qing Luo sneered and looked down at Liu Yan, “You’ve even conceived a child, yet you still dare to say you didn’t hook up with other women?” Then, she turned milder and crouched down, “Little girl, what’s your mother’s name?”
Yang Kai saw this and laughed confidently as he stroked Liu Yan’s head, “Ask all you want.”
He suddenly understood why Shan Qing Luo treated him in such a weird way upon seeing him, because she thought that he had brought his daughter back with him. [She must feel very bitter now. Anyway, if I weren’t there when Liu Yan’s body was restructured in the past, I wouldn’t have been able to recognise her either, to say nothing of the fact that Shan Qing Luo hasn’t met her for decades. So, a misunderstanding is bound to happen; after all, Liu Yan did indeed go through a transformative change.]
“Tell her who you are!” Yang Kai grinned at Liu Yan.
Liu Yan appeared timid as her eyelashes fluttered. Grabbing the hem of Yang Kai’s clothes, she hid behind him and uttered in a small voice, “Daddy, I don’t want to stay here. This aunty is so strange.”
The smile on Yang Kai’s face froze as he stared at Liu Yan with widened eyes, feeling as if a knife had just been stabbed into his back.
“Hahaha…” Shan Qing Luo scoffed and slowly rose from the chair before glaring at him, “What else do you have to say?”
“What am I supposed to say?” An enraged Yang Kai made Liu Yan face him and glowered at her, “How can you do this to me? I’ve treated you so well over the years… why must you harm me like this!?”
Tears almost slid down Liu Yan’s face as she cried out, “Daddy, you’re hurting me!”
“Enough!” Shan Qing Luo bellowed and pulled Liu Yan behind her back before she glared fiercely at Yang Kai, “How can you bully a child? Is this what you’re supposed to do as a father?”
Yang Kai found it difficult to explain himself, so he embraced her and uttered, “Luo’er, this is a misunderstanding. Please hear me out.”
“There’s no need for any explanation!” Shan Qing Luo pushed him away with a cold expression, “I guess I’ve gotten together with the wrong man. From now on, we’re no longer husband and wife. Don’t come looking for me again!”
As if struck by lightning, Yang Kai shuddered as the colour drained from his face. Standing beside Shan Qing Luo, out of her line of sight, Liu Yan stuck out her tongue.
[Argh! It seems that I’ve crossed the line…]
On the other hand, Bi Luo appeared excited. If what was happening was really happening, she would still stand a chance! Although it was improper to take advantage of the situation when they were going through a crisis, she reckoned that she had to do it to save Shan Qing Luo from this mess.
“Luo’er, are you sure?” Yang Kai looked solemnly at her.
A glint of fluster flashed across her eyes, but she still nodded steadfastly, “I’ve made up my mind.”
Appearing dejected, Yang Kai turned around and gave it a thought before he heaved a sigh, “Forget it, then. I’ve made many mistakes in the past because of my recklessness. Now, I’m not willing to hold you back. Luo’er, please take care of yourself.”
Shan Qing Luo’s chest tightened as she hurriedly questioned, “Where are you going?”
Nevertheless, Yang Kai jumped onto the windowsill and waved his hand. Following that, he plunged into the darkness and disappeared from her sight.
“Hey! Come back!” Shan Qing Luo was flustered, as she didn’t expect that he’d really go.
[How could he leave just like that? I was just pulling his leg because I was mad at the fact that he’d left for so many years. Why did he act so hasty and decisively? Why didn’t he even try to coax me?] She rushed towards the window and yelled, “Come back! Come back here right now!”
No one replied to her as all she saw was endless darkness. With her eyes turning bloodshot, she collapsed to the ground and muttered, “Come… back… you heartless bastard!”
Just then, a muscular figure approached her from behind as he pressed his broad chest against her back and gently wrapped his arms around her waist. Following that, he uttered close to her ear in a deep voice, “I was just pulling a prank on you!”
With her eyes already drenched in tears, Shan Qing Luo turned around and thumped her fists against the man’s chest, but she didn’t seem to have exerted any force at all. Rather than venting out her anger, she seemed to be acting coquettishly.
Yang Kai grinned at her without moving a muscle. After pounding his chest for a while, Shan Qing Luo suddenly draped her arms around his neck and landed a kiss on his lips.
“Mmm…” At that instant, Yang Kai found it hard to breathe. The body in his embrace was warm and her soft tongue swiftly snuck into his mouth like a snake and did whatever it wanted. Certainly, Yang Kai had to fight back, so he grabbed her twin peaks and fiddled with them, which caused her body to turn completely limp as she collapsed into his embrace.
A long time later, their lips parted as a thread of saliva still hung between them.
Shan Qing Luo’s alluring gaze was just like a blooming flower, which gleamed with a charming glow. Suddenly thinking of something, she said with a red face, “Your daughter…”
She was so engrossed just now that she had forgotten about the little girl. Although she was quite bold when it came to the affairs of men and women, she was still embarrassed at this moment.
“They’ve already left,” Yang Kai put on a smile.
Earlier, seeing that they were about to make out, Bi Luo and Liu Yan immediately left the room. At this moment, only two of them were left in Shan Qing Luo’s bedroom as the atmosphere turned intimate.
Shan Qing Luo looked around and realised that he was right. Both Bi Luo and the little girl were already nowhere in sight. With no more worries, she cupped the man’s face and thoroughly examined it. Despite her loving gaze, she still scolded, “What a heartless guy. I was just playing with you. How could you hurt me like this?”
Yang Kai reached out and helped tuck her hair behind her ears. His eyes also appeared loving, as though he wanted to suck the woman in front of him into his gaze to relieve his longing for the past decades. In a gentle voice, he uttered, “I’m sorry.”
Shan Qing Luo replied, “You have to be punished for what you’ve done.”
Yang Kai asked with a smile, “Luo’er, how are you going to punish me?”
In response, Shan Qing Luo raised her hand and placed it on his chest before beaming at him, “I hope you’ll be able to endure it and not pass away.”
Upon finishing her words, she released her Saint Qi through her palm and sent the man flying backwards. She was now in the Third-Order Origin King Realm, so her control of her Saint Qi had reached an extreme. Therefore, her attack wouldn’t cause any harm to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai placed his hands on the back of his head and flew towards the wall, but he didn’t seem worried at all. He just looked smilingly at her as he wondered what she was up to.
Shan Qing Luo slowly got up and opened her mouth, upon which a gust of Saint Qi shot out from her lips and whizzed past Yang Kai before turning into a spider web, which hung in mid-air.
Yang Kai crashed into the web and immediately felt that his back was stuck. He tried to struggle, but instead of struggling out of it, he realised that more parts of his body were stuck to the web, including his hands.
[This seems quite exciting.]
He gulped at the sight as his blood started boiling. His eyes appeared lustful and fiery as he stared at Shan Qing Luo, as though he was trying to burn all the clothes on her body.
“Hahaha…” Shan Qing Luo covered her mouth and giggled. Hearing her intoxicating laughter, Yang Kai felt as though his bones had turned soft.
Then, she raised her hand, upon which the door and windows were shut at the same time. Following that, she lightly stepped toward Yang Kai as she took off her clothes and revealed her fair hourglass body. Her skin was so delicate that it looked as translucent as white jade. Her plump bosom swayed as she stepped forward in a seductive rhythm. The red cherries on the tip of her peaks looked like two swirls that were capable of hypnotizing any man. There was no excess fat or muscle on any part of her slender figure, and her long lithe legs and delicate feet looked so delicious they would cause a man to salivate over them.
With his throat turning dry, Yang Kai uttered in a restrained voice, “You seductress, what are you trying to do?”
Shan Qing Luo climbed up the spider web as the most precious treasure between her legs was faintly exposed. She looked down at Yang Kai in an aloof manner, as if a deity was examining her own territory impassively, and she replied, “What do you think?”
Soon, she stuck out her red tongue and licked her lips, which made her appear even more seductive.
At that instant, Yang Kai was about to lose control. Fortunately, he had some fun with Su Yan not too long ago. Otherwise, he might forcefully struggle out of the web and pin Shan Qing Luo down on the floor. Unlike the reserved Su Yan, Shan Qing Luo had always been unrestrained when it came to their bedroom activities. She was able to give Yang Kai a sense of wanton and immoral pleasure that he couldn’t receive from other women; however, it was their first time engaging in such an exciting game.
It seemed that there were still some benefits that came with their decades of separation. At the very least, it had unlocked some chains in the deepest parts of these women’s hearts.
Shan Qing Luo raised her leg and gently slid it down Yang Kai’s shirt, which caused robes to rip apart and revealed his muscular figure. Her gaze appeared cold and elegant as she licked her lips, “I wonder how many women have enjoyed your body over the years.”
Yang Kai replied in a steadfast manner, “There’s no such thing.” Although he was lying, he couldn’t admit it at this moment.
Shan Qing Luo waved her hand and shredded the rest of his clothes before declaring, “How dare you lie to me! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll probably forget how fierce I am.”
In response, Yang Kai grinned at her, “Luo’er, please teach me a lesson immediately. I can’t wait!”
Then, she rode on top of his body and leaned close to him. Following that, she licked his earlobe and puffed out a breath that smelled as pleasant as orchids, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll eat you down to the last bone?”
Yang Kai replied, “I heard that there’s a kind of spider called black widow that eats her male partner after they mate. Luo’er, are you going to do just that?”
“En, I just might!”
Without a warning, Yang Kai stuck out his waist and thrust against her, causing her to straighten up. As her long hair swayed in the air, she shrieked, but her expression suggested that rather than a sense of pain and panic, she was in a state of euphoria, “Damn it! Why didn’t you warn me first? Ah…”
Yang Kai chimed in, “Why should I warn you when you’re going to eat me? Let’s see who will be the one who feasts today! Luo’er, you mustn’t be defeated too soon.”
Shan Qing Luo gritted her teeth as her body swung in the air along with his movements. Intermittently, she uttered, “You’re… doomed! I… will never… go easy… on you!”
Seeing the tall mountains and deep valleys before him quaking back and forth, Yang Kai grabbed onto them and rubbed them vigorously, causing Shan Qing Luo to scowl and moan louder. The huge spider web swayed in the air as two naked bodies entangled with each other in the bedroom.
Soon, a strange smell permeated the air.
In another bedroom, exotic stones dotted the walls, giving off a soft light. Appearing sorrowful, Bi Luo was resting her chin on her palms.
[He’s back! I can’t believe he’s back! And he’s made my Queen cry. How outrageous! After his return, I’ll never stand a chance again. But… why don’t I feel jealous at all? Instead, I feel happy for her and I’m somewhat looking forward to it.]
She shook her head to shake away the wild thoughts in her mind. It was then she remembered that she had brought a young guest into her room.
Raising her head, she realised that the little girl was seated across the table, unmoving. The little girl was strangely quiet. Her gaze was so clear that her eyes looked like crystal lakes. She seemed to be looking at something, but her eyes were out of focus.
[What a delicate child. I wonder who he bore this girl with. Her mother must be a beautiful woman.]
Realising that she had been ignoring the little girl, Bi Luo put on a smile and made a search in her Space Ring. After fishing out some berries, she presented them to her and said, “Try them. They’re sweet.”
Liu Yan took a glance at the spirit fruits and looked up at her before replying with a serious expression, “I’m not a kid.”
Bi Luo burst into laughter and patted her head, “You are a kid. Why would you deny it?”
An annoyed Liu Yan slapped her hand away and bellowed, “I won’t forgive you if you keep acting this way!” Although she had tried her hardest to put on a furious expression, her age and figure, paired with her delicate face, made any adult want to play with her.
Bi Luo said, “You’re so little, but your attitude is quite big. Alright, I won’t touch you.”
Liu Yan leaned backwards as her entire body plunged onto the chair.
Trying to have a conversation with her, Bi Luo asked, “Is your dad good to you?”
“He’s not my dad!”
“What? You just called him Daddy. Why do you deny it now? Oh, I got it. You must be trying to stand up for your mother. You’re quite the precocious child. Anyway, what you’re doing is useless, because your dad has many women. My Queen is just one of them.” Suddenly, she realised that it was quite ridiculous to talk to a little kid about such topics, so she immediately ended this line of conversation and instead began asking, “How old are you? What’s your name? Where’s your mother? How did your parents get to know each other?”
She was extremely gossipy now; however, she told herself that she was trying to get more information for Shan Qing Luo so that they could get to know their competitors better.
Hearing all this, Liu Yan slowly turned her head and looked silently at her.
Bi Luo asked, “Is there something on my face?”
“You’re annoying. Can you keep your mouth shut?”
Bi Luo blinked her eyes. [I can’t believe I’ve just been lectured by a little girl!] She couldn’t believe her ears as her face reddened in an instant.
“You look fidgety. Are you curious about what they’re doing?” Liu Yan asked.
“No!” Bi Luo’s face turned a shade redder, as though the little girl had seen through her thoughts.
Liu Yan moved her ear, as if she was listening to something, before saying, “Oh, it’s intense. Your Queen is indeed unrestrained. That position is quite interesting.”
“Y-Y-You…” Bi Luo stood up straight from the chair and stared at Liu Yan with widened eyes as though the latter was a ghost.
[Is this what a kid is supposed to say? I don’t even need to give it a thought to know what they’re doing in that room, but why does she look like she’s eavesdropping on them? Why did she mention a position? Perhaps she’s a little too mischievous!] Bi Luo felt that her sense of morality had been shaken as it was now showing signs of breaking apart.
Just then, Liu Yan extended both hands into a void and seemed to grab something.
“What are you doing?” Bi Luo asked doubtfully.
Liu Yan replied, “He’s grabbing your Queen like this, then your Queen is doing this now…” As she spoke, she swung her head as her hair flapped in the air.
At that instant, Bi Luo widened her mouth, rooted to the spot as if a Binding Technique had been cast upon her.
Liu Yan was giving some vivid descriptions, as though she was really able to see it, and upon hearing all this, Bi Luo could even picture what was going on in the adjacent room. Nevertheless, Liu Yan appeared impassive as she was describing the scenes, which added a layer of eeriness to the atmosphere. Uncontrollably, Bi Luo felt her body turning cold.
[This kid is too strange. Is Yang Kai aware of this? Maybe there’s an ancient giant beast that’s hidden in her petite body. I have never seen a young kid like her before.]
All of a sudden, Bi Luo came to her senses and smiled with pursed lips, “Stop spouting nonsense.”
[I was almost fooled by her. The Queen’s bedroom is protected by layers of barriers. Even a First-Order Origin King like me can’t possibly peek at what’s going on in there, so how could a little girl like her be able to do that?]
“Forget it if you don’t believe me.” Liu Yan lost the interest to keep describing the scenes as she sat leisurely on the chair. Her hands were placed on her stomach as she fiddled with her own two fingers.
For that moment, the room fell into silence. Bi Luo didn’t dare to speak to this young kid anymore, as she was worried that the latter would say something else to shock her.
“Hey…” Liu Yan suddenly said.
“Are you calling me?” Bi Luo turned to look at her.
“Is there anyone else in the room?” Liu Yan stared at her in exasperation as though the latter was an idiot.
Bi Luo took a deep breath to contain her urge to strangle this kid. [She’s an adorable little girl as long as she stays silent, but why does she keep saying things that infuriate me? Although we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, she’s too different from her appearance. I can’t accept it!]
Bi Luo forced a smile and uttered in a calm voice, “I’m Bi Luo. You can call me Aunt Bi Luo or Big Sister Bi Luo.”
“You didn’t have to tell me this because I know your name.”
[I must be patient! She’s Yang Kai’s daughter after all. If I really strangle her, I can’t explain myself to Yang Kai or my Queen.]
“Do you want to sleep? You can sleep in my room.”
Liu Yan stuck out one finger and shook it, “Stop trying to speculate what’s on my mind.”
“What do you want then?” Bi Luo was no longer fond of this little girl. [A devil must be hidden beneath her beautiful facade. It is said that kids take after their parents. Since she’s Yang Kai’s daughter, I can’t expect her to be anything good.]
“Tell me about the current situation on this Star right now.”
“The current situation?” Bi Luo looked at her in shock, “What do you mean?”
Liu Yan replied, “I can tell that a defensive Spirit Array has been arranged around this place, and the area is heavily guarded. Obviously, all of you have put up your guard against your enemies. Tell me more about your enemies.”
“Why do you want to know?” Bi Luo raised her brow curiously, wondering, [Is this something a child is supposed to worry about?]
“Just hurry up and tell me!” Liu Yan glowered at her.
“Good, good,” appearing helpless, Bi Luo placed her hand on her forehead. Since she couldn’t sleep now, she thought she could talk to this weird little girl to kill some time.
After that, she started explaining the current situation on Monster Emperor Star to Liu Yan. She didn’t take it seriously at first, but upon seeing that Liu Yan appeared solemn and serious, she found it amusing and thought, [I’ve said many things, but can she even understand a single one of them? She sure pretends that she’s attentively listening to me though.]
One hour later, Bi Luo poured herself a glass of water to moisten her throat as she was exhausted from all the talking.
Liu Yan tapped the back of the chair and said, “So, the situation on Monster Emperor Star is actually quite pessimistic. All the great forces of the Monster Race have been destroyed except for Red Moon Territory?”
“Although some have hidden rather than been outright destroyed, they’re practically powerless now,” Bi Luo heaved a sigh. In fact, there were many Masters on Monster Emperor Star. All of the Ten Great Tribal Lords were Tenth-Order Masters, equivalent to Origin Kings. Some of them even had a lineage descended from Divine Spirits, though their bloodlines were incredibly thin. Therefore, they were just as powerful as those from Limitless Beast Mountain, but the problem was that they were not united. Furthermore, the cultivation techniques and Secret Techniques used by their enemies were able to restrain them greatly, which was why they had ended up in such a miserable state.
Another reason for their misfortunes was the resistance from the Human Race.
Over the years, Humans had been oppressed quite harshly on Monster Emperor Star, so the sudden arrival of those from Limitless Beast Mountain was actually a good thing for those Humans. Before those from Limitless Beast Mountain had to do anything, most of the Humans on Monster Emperor Star had sided with them.
Even the Humans in Red Moon Territory were no exception, let alone the Humans in the territories of other Tribal Lords.
Although the Humans that had sided with them were not that powerful, they were numerous. Moreover, they had lived on Monster Emperor Star for generations, so they could provide information those from Limitless Beast Mountain desperately needed. With useful information and great strength, it was no wonder that they were able to win the battles easily. Of the Ten Great Tribal Lords, seven of them had either been killed or subdued. On Monster Emperor Star, only Red Moon Territory was still largely unaffected.
However, when those from Limitless Beast Mountain managed to amass enough power, they would definitely invade this place.
An exasperated Bi Luo said, “That Old Lion from Limitless Beast Mountain is such a shameless bast… guy. Some time ago, he had sent a messenger over to tell our Queen that as long as she sided with them, they’d let Red Moon Territory off. He even said that our Queen would still be able to manage our Tribe. Such impudence!”
“Old Lion?”
Bi Luo explained, “He’s the Mountain Master of Limitless Beast Mountain. I think he has the lineage of some kind of lion, or that he’s refined some kind of Monster Beast Source, so he’s quite powerful.”
Shan Qing Luo had dealt with him before, but she couldn’t defeat him because that old fart had the help of many Monster Beasts when he was in a battle. Although Shan Qing Luo was powerful, she wasn’t able to deal with so many opponents at the same time.
“Since you’re in a perilous situation now, why don’t all of you leave? Why do you still stay here like a bunch of fools?”
An annoyed Bi Luo refuted, “What do you know? This is the territory the Queen’s adoptive mother has passed down to her. She wouldn’t give it up until the last moment.”
“It’ll be too late when the last moment comes.”
Bi Luo uttered, “The Queen has her own way of escaping.” Shan Qing Luo was in the Third-Order Origin King Realm, so even if she was really no match for those from Limitless Beast Mountain, it wouldn’t be hard for her to flee.
Upon hearing that, Liu Yan remained silent for a moment before she hopped off her chair, “Come with me.”
“Where are you going?”
“To Limitless Beast Mountain!”
Bi Luo exclaimed, “Are you out of your mind?”
[What’s wrong with this little girl? Why does she want to head to Limitless Beast Mountain? That place is like a lion’s den, so how are we going to break into it as we please?]
“Are you coming or not?” Liu Yan stared at her.
“Of course not!” Bi Luo determinedly rejected her.
Right then, Liu Yan turned around and placed her palms on the chair before lifting her backside. After that, she swayed her head as her long hair flapped in the air.
“What are you doing now?”
Liu Yan turned her head and stared at her with a charming expression as she said, “This is what your Queen is doing right now!”
“Limitless Beast Mountain is over there.” Bi Luo was standing beside Liu Yan on a mountain peak as she pointed at a place up ahead that was brightly lit.
In the past, this had been the residence of the Wild Lion Tribal Lord; however, since Limitless Beast Mountain’s invasion more than ten years ago, one of the Ten Great Tribal Lords, Kuang Shi, was the first one to side with Limitless Beast Mountain. From then on, this place had been the base for Limitless Beast Mountain on Monster Emperor Star.
This place wasn’t far from Red Moon Territory, so given Bi Luo’s cultivation, it only took her one hour to reach this place.
As the cold wind whisked across her, she immediately regretted it.
[Why did I even bring her to this place? This is definitely not safe, and if those from Limitless Beast Mountain find out that we’re here, we’ll be doomed.] Earlier, she just couldn’t put up with the little girl, who imitated Shan Qing Luo’s different positions in front of her, so she brought her to this place out of rage.
At this moment, Liu Yan was standing beside her as she looked fixedly at the largest building down there. After investigating it with her Divine Sense, she managed to find out what was going on inside the building.
“Are you done?” Bi Luo lowered her head and asked, “If you’re done, follow me back to Red Moon Territory. If anything happens to you, I’ll have a hard time explaining myself to Mistress and Yang Kai.”
Then, Liu Yan shook her head and burst into laughter.
[She’s such a mischievous little girl. I wonder what it is that she wants to see here.]
Right after she turned around and flew away, her expression changed drastically. Turning her head, she realised that instead of following her, Liu Yan had actually jumped down from the peak and flew towards Limitless Beast Mountain.
“What are you doing!?” Bi Luo exclaimed and raced after her.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t reach her no matter how hard she tried. They were already in the enemy’s territory, so she wouldn’t dare to use too much power lest their enemies discover them. The young girl didn’t seem to be flying rapidly, but she managed to constantly keep a distance away from Bi Luo.
“Come back now! Are you sick of living!?” Bi Luo said through clenched teeth, but Liu Yan just ignored her.
Bi Luo was enraged at the fact that the little girl didn’t take her seriously, so she exerted more Saint Qi to hasten her speed as the gap between them shortened.
A moment later, she took Liu Yan’s arm to make her stop before bellowing at her, “Why are you so naughty? Do you want me to spank your backside?”
Liu Yan raised her head and looked silently at her.
“How dare you glare at me? We need to go back, now!”
However, Liu Yan shook her head slowly, “It’s too late.”
Bi Luo’s face turned ashen in an instant because streams of powerful Divine Sense spread out from the brightly lit place and engulfed her like a great tide. [Damn it! I must have accidentally exposed my aura because I used more Qi to chase after this girl. I’m going to die here because of her!]
“You’re unable to do anything right? Do you know you’ve just ruined my plan?” Liu Yan pursed her lips.
Her plan was to launch a sneak attack on them and destroy them in one go. Now that their enemies were alerted, it might take her more effort to eliminate them. Though, in the end, it didn’t matter much to her.
“Who do you think you’re accusing?” Bi Luo couldn’t believe her ears. [How dare she still lecture me at this point? Doesn’t she understand that I’ve been dragged into this mess because of her?]
“Hahaha. Welcome, my guests. Why don’t you come in and have a chat with me?” A loud voice was suddenly heard saying. The voice was as deafening as thunder, so it was apparent that the speaker was very powerful. Upon hearing it, Bi Luo felt her chest tightening as she almost couldn’t support her own weight. The speaker’s cultivation was undoubtedly much higher than hers. He was probably the Mountain Master of Limitless Beast Mountain.
What she failed to realize at that moment though was that Liu Yan was unfazed upon hearing the voice as she still remained calm and collected.
Feeling conflicted within, Bi Luo muttered through gritted teeth, “I’ll be killed because of you!”
More than ten powerful but restrained streams of Divine Sense had targeted her, so she knew that if she showed any intention of fleeing, she would be severely injured the next moment. Now, she could only see how things would work out. At the same time, she had to come up with a solution quickly. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to leave this place alive.
As she tried to rack her brain for a plan, she drew a deep breath and erased any signs of fear on her face. With a faint smile, she attempted to utter in a calm voice, “Sorry for disturbing you, then.”
After that, she took Liu Yan’s hand and shuffled toward the source of the voice. Simultaneously, she spoke to the little girl in her mind, “After we get in there, don’t say anything and follow my lead.”
She paused for a moment, “If we really get into a fight, you should try to flee on your own.” However, she then shook her head and spoke in a dejected manner, “I think you’d better kill yourself.”
It was cruel to tell a young girl to kill herself, but if they really fell into the hands of those brutes from Limitless Beast Mountain, they would go through an ordeal that was worse than death. So, killing themselves might be a better option.
Meanwhile, Liu Yan remained silent and let Bi Luo lug her forward.
Many of the disciples from Limitless Beast Mountain had been alerted, but seeing Bi Luo and Liu Yan come over together, they looked mockingly at them. Some of the men even presumptuously sized up Bi Luo’s curvy figure and whistled at her.
Naturally, Liu Yan had the attention of some men as well as a delicate young girl like her could attract the attention of some with perverse fetishes.
Bi Luo put on a faint smile as she ambled towards the lion’s den as if she was taking a stroll in her own back garden. Now, she could only pretend to be confident to increase her chances of survival. If she showed any sign of diffidence, she would definitely end up in a miserable state.
It was only a distance of several hundred meters, but Bi Luo walked so slowly that it was as though it would take her a year to reach the other end. If she hadn’t tried to suppress her perspiration, her clothes would’ve been drenched in her sweat by now.
All of a sudden, she felt a pinch on her palm. Looking down, she realised that Liu Yan was winking at her and speaking to her in a clear voice, “Don’t worry.”
Bi Luo pressed her lips together and giggled, as she felt that this kid was indeed strange. Compared to how calm this child was, she looked just like a paper tiger. With that said, her mood seemed to have been infected by her confidence as she truly felt less anxious now.
Outside the hall, more than ten disciples from Limitless Beast Mountain blocked their way. They were accompanied by all sorts of Monster Beasts, which included a wolf, a bear, a tiger, a leopard and so on. These were all their ‘pets’. Moreover, these people had some strange patterns on their faces, so they looked rather exotic.
Bi Luo knew that these were Beast Tattoos. The disciples from Limitless Beast Mountain focussed on taming beasts, and every time they successfully tamed a new Monster Beast, a new Beast Tattoo would be added to their bodies. These Beast Tattoos were their features as well as their connections with their Monster Beasts.
The more Beast Tattoos one had, the more powerful he was, thus enabling him to control more Monster Beasts.
These more than ten cultivators in the Origin Returning Realm were standing in a row. Apparently, they didn’t seem to have the intention of making way for the ladies as they looked provocatively at them. The more than ten Monster Beasts growled as well. They seemed to have felt their Masters’ intention, so they readied themself in an aggressive posture.
Bi Luo stopped in her tracks and swept a glance over these people with a smile. Following that, her expression turned cold before she yelled, “Scram!”
Then, she waved her hand as a gale gusted across this group, causing them to stagger backwards. Even their Monster Beasts retreated to the sides. All of them were stunned as they didn’t expect that not only did this woman have the guts to come to their place in the middle of the night, but she also dared to be so presumptuous. At that instant, they were all astounded. Then, they recalled that this woman was an Origin King and realized they truly weren’t powerful enough to deal with her.
After that, Bi Luo walked straight inside. No one dared to stop her again, as if all of them were non-existent. Although she was a lady, her posture was that of a Master at this moment.
Upon entering the hall, she immediately heard the melodious sounds of traditional musical instruments. The hall was spacious and brightly lit as a group of young women, who were clad in semi-transparent dresses, were dancing, their curvy figures faintly visible as they twirled and leapt.
Cultivators of different sexes, heights and weights were seated on both sides of the hall, a table in front of every one of them on which delectable dishes and wine were placed. All of them exuded auras that suggested that they were in the Origin King Realm.
It seemed that tonight, they were having a feast on Limitless Beast Mountain.
Bi Luo was stunned as her heart sank. [We’re really doomed this time. It seems that all the Masters of Limitless Beast Mountain have gathered together tonight. If I can’t come up with an excuse, we won’t be able to leave.]
Facing all the stares Bi Luo found it hard to breathe, as if a mountain had been pressed against her chest. So, she immediately circulated her Saint Qi to pull herself together.
Ignoring the others, she looked fixedly towards the head of the hall. Over there, a burly man was seated in the main seat. His towering figure was like that of a bear. He was clad in a top that was made of animal skin, but he didn’t button it up, which revealed his chest. Apparently, he was an unrestrained man.
He was reclining on a piece of animal skin, which was hard to identify. There was a beautiful woman in his embrace and he was supporting his own head with one hand while tapping his thigh to the beat of the musical instruments with the other. He didn’t open his eyes when Bi Luo was entering the place and even after she stopped in her tracks he still didn’t seem to have noticed it. He was like a sleeping lion that exuded an impenetrable aura.
Certainly, Bi Luo recognised him. He was the Mountain Master of Limitless Beast Mountain, as well as the culprit who had devastated Monster Emperor Star, Huang Tu Dao. Previously, Shan Qing Luo had battled against him several times, but it always ended up in a draw. That was because Huang Tu Dao was also a Third-Order Origin King!
The ladies were still dancing to the music and the feast wasn’t interrupted just because Bi Luo had arrived as only the Masters of Limitless Beast Mountain, who were seated on both sides, looked playfully at her.
As for Liu Yan, nobody actually cared about her, as they just wondered why Bi Luo would bring a little girl along with her.
Standing in the hall, Bi Luo pressed her lips together and remained silent.
Like a lion that had awakened from its slumber, Huang Tu Dao suddenly opened his eyes as a glint flashed across his gaze. In a stern voice, he demanded, “Why is there a lady who is not dancing here? Is she sick of living?”
Upon hearing that, all of them broke into laughter as they teased Bi Luo.
“Come on. Dance for us. You’ll be rewarded handsomely.”
“Dance now. Don’t worry. Even if you dance poorly, you won’t be punished. Our Mountain Master is very gentle to beautiful women.”
“Are you too hungry to dance? Come here then, I’ll give you this piece of meat.” Just then, a piece of well-cooked meat dropped beside Bi Luo.
Unfazed, Bi Luo put on a faint smile and slightly bowed to the leader, “Greetings, Mountain Lord Huang, I have come tonight as an envoy from Red Moon Territory.”
Huang Tu Dao arched his brow, “An envoy from Red Moon Territory?” As if he had just managed to clearly see her face, he pretended to examine her, “Oh, you’re that Shan Qing Luo’s maidservant.”
“Bi Luo.”
“En, it’s you!” Huang Tu Dao grinned at her with a hideous face and suddenly blew his top, “How dare you barge into our Mountain! You court death!”
After Huang Tu Dao bellowed, Bi Luo felt her chest tightening. Fortunately, she had come up with an excuse while she was stepping into the hall earlier, so she didn’t appear flustered. After tucking her hair behind her ear, she replied with a smile, “Mountain Lord Huang, please restrain your anger. The reason I’m here tonight is to pass on our Queen’s word to you.”
If they wanted to stay alive, they had to make it clear that they were Shan Qing Luo’s people. Just like how Shan Qing Luo was wary of Huang Tu Dao, he was wary of her; after all, they were both in the same realm.
Huang Tu Dao narrowed his eyes, “Shan Qing Luo’s message? What is it? Has she agreed to become my wife? Hahaha!”
In response, Bi Luo just flashed a smile at him.
“She said that all of you will die tonight!”
Huang Tu Dao stopped laughing abruptly while all the cultivators at the scene were shocked as they got up and glowered at Bi Luo.
The smile on Bi Luo’s face froze as she looked down, because the person who had just uttered those words was Liu Yan, not her.
Huang Tu Dao took a glance at Liu Yan and then Bi Luo before saying impassively, “I can’t pretend that I have not heard that.”
Bi Luo’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat as she hurriedly said, “That was just a child’s nonsense, please don’t mind her.” Upon finishing her words, she glared at Liu Yan to warn her not to speak again.
“A child’s nonsense?” Huang Tu Dao snorted, “Rather than that, I think you’re here to find fault with us. Good. Initially, I didn’t want to make things too hard on you because you’re a woman, but since you can’t show proper respect, don’t blame me for treating you harshly.”
“Mountain Lord Huang, please wait!” Bi Luo felt a bitter taste in her mouth. [What have I done to deserve this kind of torture?] She hurriedly pushed Liu Yan forward, “Apologise to Mountain Lord Huang now.”
Liu Yan questioned, “He’s going to die soon. Why should I apologise to him?”
Huang Tu Dao was so enraged that he started laughing. Upon straightening up, he pressed his palms on the table and leaned forward. Staring at Liu Yan, he mocked, “Little girl, you’re quite interesting. I’m curious to see how I’m going to die tonight.” He then growled, “If that doesn’t happen, both of you will go to Hell tonight!”
He didn’t care even if she was just a young child. Since she had the guts to offend him repeatedly, she had to be taught a lesson. He wasn’t a kind-hearted man, so he’d still be able to sleep at night even if he had to kill a child.
“As you wish,” Liu Yan replied dispassionately. All of a sudden, she raised her hand as a fire was ignited on her finger. It was just a small flame that flickered unsteadily as though it could be put out by lightly blowing on it.
Upon seeing this, everyone in the hall burst into laughter, everyone except Huang Tu Dao of course, because the moment this flame appeared, he felt a deep chill shoot up his spine.
Following that, Liu Yan flicked her finger, upon which the flame shot towards Huang Tu Dao.
Feeling as if he was confronting a terrifying foe, Huang Tu Dao braced himself and let out a fierce growl, after which more than ten thick Beast Tattoos appeared on his body. At the same time, one of the Beast Tattoos glowed brightly and a giant beast that looked like a chimpanzee appeared in front of him. The ferocious Monster Beast exuded a Tenth-Order aura, and right after it appeared, it started thumping its chest and howling madly.
In the next instant though, the giant beast stopped howling as a blackened bloody hole appeared on its chest. Flames could be seen around its wound as it immediately spread and engulfed the giant beast in a burning inferno.
Meanwhile, after the flame penetrated the giant beast, it continued towards Huang Tu Dao and easily penetrated his protective Saint Qi and defensive artifact.
Just like a piece of dry wood that had come into contact with a raging fire, Huang Tu Dao’s entire body burst into flame as he shrieked pitifully.
As a crackling sound was heard, those cultivators from Limitless Beast Mountain, who were still laughing earlier, jumped to their feet in shock, spilling their wine and food all over the floor. All the dancers in the hall screamed and fled in all directions.
A stiffened Bi Luo was rooted to the spot as her eyes reflected those flames, wondering to herself if she was dreaming.
The shrieks only lasted for a short moment before Huang Tu Dao collapsed to the ground and scattered into ashes. Not a single bone was left while the beast he had summoned before had shared an identical fate.
In less than a breath, Huang Tu Dao had lost his life!
The hall fell into silence, with no one even daring to breathe. Everyone was dumbfounded as they didn’t expect that the Mountain Master of Limitless Beast Mountain, who was still behaving in an overbearing and arrogant manner just now, would be killed by a little girl who looked like she was no older than seven or eight.
They also found it hard to believe that a small flame was able to burn a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master to ashes in an instant.
[Who is this little girl? What kind of flame was that?]
After a moment of silence, the sound of clothes swishing could be heard as everyone fled in different directions, some of them even smashing right through the walls of the hall. Suddenly, ten new exits from the hall were opened.
None of them had the guts to stay there. They didn’t know what realm this little girl was in or what powers she possessed; however, since she was able to kill Huang Tu Dao with ease, it would definitely take her even less effort to end their lives.
If they wanted to survive, they had to escape as far as possible.
“Thirteen…” Liu Yan muttered calmly as if she wasn’t aware of what was going on. Then, she uttered impassively, “Song of the Phoenix!”
Waving her little hand lightly, beams of light shot in all directions. All these beams turned into firebirds that released a cacophony of sharp cries as they circled the hall before soaring out of the palace.
After that, miserable cries rang out from outside the hall for a brief moment before several powerful auras disappeared.
Bi Luo felt her entire body trembling. Rather than feeling joyous, she was horrified. The little girl, who she thought was a harmless child, had showcased an unimaginable power that caused Bi Luo to be terrified as she dashed out of the hall. After arriving outside though, she was immediately rooted to the spot.
At this moment, the firebirds could be seen flying around the vast city, no longer exquisite and petite as they had transformed into giant creatures with dazzling fiery tails. Wherever these giant firebirds went, everything would be reduced to ashes.
In just a short while, besides Liu Yan and Bi Luo, there were no more living creatures within a ten-kilometre radius of the main hall. Those people who were overbearing and rude to them just moments ago were nowhere in sight as they had all been reduced to ashes in different parts of the city. Meanwhile, the firebirds continued flying outwards.
It was a horrifying sight, and it signalled the end of Limitless Beast Mountain as their foundation had been uprooted and utterly destroyed.
Bi Luo didn’t know what kind of celebration Limitless Beast Mountain had been hosting tonight to gather all their top cultivators; however, looking back, she knew that they had made a fatal mistake because it gave Liu Yan a chance to kill them all in one go.
It was then that she came to the realisation why this little girl had insisted on coming to Limitless Beast Mountain. It was no wonder that not only was she not afraid, but she had also offended Huang Tu Dao multiple times in the hall. With such power, there was no reason for her to fear anyone or anything here.
Just then, a cold breeze whisked across Bi Luo’s face and cleared up her mind a little. Still in a semi-dazed state, she stepped back into the hall, only to see Liu Yan sitting on the chair where Huang Tu Dao was seated earlier. Appearing to be bored, she yawned nonchalantly.
Bi Luo’s face twitched when she saw that.
…
Three days later, Yang Kai pulled out his arm from under Shan Qing Luo with difficulty, but she soon wrapped her limbs around him again like an octopus.
Then, he landed a slap on her backside and instantly formed a palm mark. Following that, he said, “Are you not satisfied yet?”
Still in a groggy state, Shan Qing Luo opened her eyes and said languidly, “Am I someone who can be satisfied easily?”
Yang Kai replied in shock, “Are you not?”
The two of them had spent almost every moment of the last three days engaged in a torrid lovemaking session. It was as though Shan Qing Luo wanted to make up for all the time she had lost since they had separated decades ago.
She always proactively came on to Yang Kai, as if she wanted to squeeze every last bit of energy out of him; however, her endurance simply could not match his, so she was always the one to be subdued in the end.
Now, Yang Kai’s cultivation was two realms higher than hers, and he was also a Half-Dragon; therefore, his prowess in bed could easily be unbearable for her. Nevertheless, she would still pounce on him no matter how many times she was knocked out. Hence, the past few days had been quite enjoyable for him.
Shan Qing Luo and Su Yan were two extremely different women.
“What are you talking about?” Shan Qing Luo shot him a glare and pinched him.
Yang Kai put on a smile and placed his hand on her flat belly, “If you pinch me to death, the baby in your belly will lose its father.”
All of a sudden, she widened her eyes and muttered, “Baby…”
She stroked her belly and thought, [En, maybe there’s a child in here now. If that’s the case, I’ll still have someone by my side after he’s gone in the future.]
Following that, she flipped over and rode on top of him. Her hair cascading down over her shoulders and covering her twin peaks, with her lips pressed together, she said, “Give me more. I must get pregnant this time.”
Yang Kai was torn between tears and laughter, “I was just trying to make a point. Why do you take it so seriously?”
“Are you a man of your word or not? How dare you evade your responsibility!” She clenched his neck with a fierce expression.
Yang Kai replied, “I wouldn’t dare to, but someone is looking for you now.” He pointed at the door.
“Who is it?” Shan Qing Luo frowned, “I don’t want to meet anyone.”
“It’s Yu Xiong.” Yang Kai smiled faintly.
In the past, Chi Yue had adopted a son and a daughter. Naturally, the adopted daughter was Shan Qing Luo, while Yu Xiong was the adopted son. Since then, both of them regarded each other as a real brother and sister.
Previously, Yang Kai had come into contact with Yu Xiong when he came to Monster Emperor Star. Yu Xiong was a forthright man, so they were on good terms.
Upon hearing that Yu Xiong was looking for her, Shan Qing Luo immediately got up and put on her clothes, as it would be inappropriate for her to refuse to meet him.
A moment later, she placed her hand on the handle, but before she could open the door, she heard Yu Xiong yelling outside the room, “Step aside, Bi Luo. I have something vital to tell my Little Sister. How dare you stop me!?”
Bi Luo replied anxiously, “Sir, it’s not convenient for Mistress to meet you now. Please wait for a while. I’ll inform her of your visit.”
Yu Xiong bellowed, “What do you mean it’s not convenient for her to meet me?” While they were bickering, the door was suddenly pushed open. Yu Xiong immediately moved past Bi Luo and walked over, but upon seeing how radiant Shan Qing Luo appeared, he was startled for a moment and gulped down what he was about to say.
Raising his head, he saw Yang Kai stepping out of the room as well.
“Little Brat! It’s you!” Yu Xiong growled. With his brow twitching, he attempted to land a fist on Yang Kai, “I’ll kill you!”
Shan Qing Luo immediately stepped aside and looked smilingly at them. She wasn’t worried that either of them would hurt the other, so she didn’t intend to interfere.
Upon seeing that Yang Kai was able to block his fist with just one finger, Yu Xiong widened his eyes in disbelief and pushed out the other fist.
Yang Kai lightly flicked Yu Xiong’s fist, after which the latter’s muscular arm turned limp as he couldn’t exert any force with it anymore. After moving several steps backwards, he examined Yang Kai and uttered, “You…”
He was rough-looking, but it didn’t mean that he was brainless. Although he hadn’t used all his strength with his two fists, he believed that hardly anyone in this world could stop his attacks. However, since Yang Kai was able to do so with utter ease, he couldn’t help but make all kinds of speculations.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai just stood there with a smile as his expression appeared inscrutable.
Yu Xiong shook his head and stopped messing with him before he turned to Shan Qing Luo, “Little Sister, something major happened.”
A shocked Shan Qing Luo asked, “What happened?”
Yu Xiong was also an Origin King Realm Master now, so anything that could make him so flustered must be serious. On Monster Emperor Star, there were not so many pressing issues, so it must have something to do with Red Moon Territory.
“Limitless Beast Mountain has been destroyed.”
Upon hearing that, Shan Qing Luo was rooted to the spot for a moment before she turned to look at Yang Kai, as though she was asking him whether it had something to do with him. Red Moon Territory had been in a battle against Limitless Beast Mountain for more than ten years, but they had always been suppressed by the latter. She had also dealt with Huang Tu Dao several times before, so she knew that he was truly powerful. No one in Red Moon Territory, or on Monster Emperor Star for that matter, had the power to destroy them.
The person who was able to do this without anyone else knowing must be the man beside her; however, for the past three days, they had basically spent every breath together, so how was he able to achieve that? [Did he go over to Limitless Beast Mountain before coming to see me?]
An excited Yu Xiong uttered, “I also couldn’t believe it when I first heard the news, so I personally went over to investigate the matter and guess what? All the buildings on Limitless Beast Mountain have been destroyed, and not even a single living creature is left. Although I have no idea who made the move, the person must be an expert in the Fire Attribute and possess unparalleled ability. Moreover, from what I’ve gathered, on the night when Limitless Beast Mountain was destroyed, that old dog Huang Tu Dao was holding a feast. Besides the Elders from Limitless Beast Mountain who were all in the Origin King Realm, the participants also included the two traitors, Qian Yan and Kuang Shi! All of them finally got what they deserve! Hahaha! Retribution came for them at last!” He clenched up his fists as his eyes beamed with ferocity, “Little Sister, it’s time we made our move!”
After Limitless Beast Mountain was destroyed and their top cultivators were all killed, Red Moon Territory practically had no more worries. It was time they regained control of Monster Emperor Star.
“It wasn’t me,” Seeing that Shan Qing Luo kept staring at him, Yang Kai shrugged and put on a smile before he turned to look at Liu Yan.
Upon hearing that Limitless Beast Mountain was demolished by someone with a Fire Attribute Divine Ability, he immediately knew who the culprit was.
Liu Yan and Bi Luo had gone out the other night, and although they were able to hide it from Shan Qing Luo, they wouldn’t be able to fool his Divine Sense. Apparently, they had made a move that night.
Liu Yan happened to turn her head and beamed at him, as if she was demanding a compliment from him. In response, Yang Kai showed her a thumbs-up, and her smile became even sweeter.
“You did it?” After examining their expressions for a bit, Shan Qing Luo stared at Liu Yan in shock. Initially, she thought that this little girl was Yang Kai’s daughter from another woman, but now it seemed that she was mistaken.
“She was the one?” After Yu Xiong’s speech was interrupted, he turned to gaze at Liu Yan in amazement. Then, he pursed his lips and uttered, “You must be kidding me.”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t accept new and strange things, but what he had just heard was utterly inconceivable.
To the side, Bi Luo said meekly, “Sir, it was really her who devastated Limitless Beast Mountain.”
Yu Xiong took a glance at her and guffawed, “This is not a joke you know?”
Seeing that Bi Luo was solemnly gazing back at him though, he stopped laughing and asked dumbly, “Are you serious?”
Bi Luo replied, “I was about to tell Mistress about it. Three nights ago, we…” She then went on to narrate what happened that night in detail. Although her tone was calm and she only relayed the facts, not making any exaggerations, her descriptions were so vivid and shocking that Shan Qing Luo and Yu Xiong were both astounded.
Upon hearing that Huang Tu Dao was killed by Liu Yan with a tiny flame, even they were drenched in a cold sweat.
[He was a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master. How was he burned to death in just an instant?]
Yu Xiong’s face had turned pale as he looked at Liu Yan with respect and fear, because just some time ago, he had gently patted her head as he found her to be cute.
Thinking back, he realised that he was extremely lucky. If this little girl had taken offence to his actions, he would have followed Huang Tu Dao to Hell. Since Huang Tu Dao was powerless to resist her flames, they could also kill him easily.
With difficulty, he gulped and secretly widened his gap with Liu Yan, as if he could find a sense of security by doing so.
“Who is she?” Shan Qing Luo turned to look at Yang Kai, “Isn’t she your daughter?”
Yang Kai spread his palms, “I told you she’s not, but you just wouldn’t listen to me. She’s Liu Yan.”
“Liu Yan!?” Shan Qing Luo was flabbergasted. Certainly, she was familiar with Liu Yan, but she couldn’t liken the Artifact Spirit to the little girl before her eyes; after all, the person in front of her was a living being with a body of flesh and bone.
Then, she immediately realised that since Liu Yan had been following Yang Kai around over the years, the latter must have come across an astonishing opportunity and even obtained a physical body for herself.
After she recovered from the shock, her eyes flashed. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since all the top cultivators from Limitless Beast Mountain were dead, the others were now powerless to resist Red Moon Territory. If they made a move now, all their enemies on Monster Emperor Star would be doomed.
Then, she gave Yang Kai an apologetic smile and uttered, “Husband, I’m afraid I have to leave now.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “Go ahead. We still have a long future together anyway, so there’s no rush.” The reason he came back this time was to bring all of them to the Star Boundary. Since he wouldn’t disappear for decades again, he’d have plenty of time with his wives in the future.
Moreover, after three days of intense activities, both he and Shan Qing Luo needed some time to recover.
Shan Qing Luo and Yu Xiong soon left the place to embark on a journey to reclaim control of Monster Emperor Star, so only Bi Luo was left to serve Yang Kai.
With a conflicted expression, Bi Luo gazed at him, “Sir, what can I do for you?”
She had never expected that this young man, who was captured and brought back to Fragrance City by Shan Qing Luo in the past, would become so powerful one day. Even Shan Qing Luo had benefited from his protection now.
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai replied, “I remember that there’s a Space Array in Red Moon Territory. Lead me to it.”
Shadowed Star was now free from any enemies, and the same would be true of Monster Emperor Star soon. However, they still had to be careful as those top cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field might try to make a comeback. Shadowed Star was currently protected by Su Yan, so Yang Kai didn’t have to worry about anything. Nevertheless, more power was needed to protect Monster Emperor Star. The best way was to connect both Cultivation Stars so that they could help each other. Once the connection was established, if anyone had the guts to invade Monster Emperor Star again, they would certainly lose their lives here.
And so, the trio headed further towards a certain spot in Red Moon Territory.
According to Bi Luo, the Space Array in Red Moon Territory had been destroyed by Shan Qing Luo more than ten years ago because she was worried that their enemies might arrive at their place through this Space Array.
At that time, they had already lost contact with Shadowed Star, so she had to do it as a last resort.
On their way there, they came across many Monster Race members as they all respectfully saluted Bi Luo. Although she was just Shan Qing Luo’s maidservant, she was an Origin King, after all, so she received the respect she deserved. Furthermore, all these Monster Race members in Red Moon Territory knew that Shan Qing Luo had never regarded her as a maidservant, instead treating her as if she was her blood sister.
On the other hand, they were all shocked when they saw Yang Kai and Liu Yan. However, since Bi Luo didn’t say anything, they did not dare to inquire about it.
Soon, they reached the Space Array. This Space Array was also arranged by Yang Kai in the past, and upon closer inspection now, he realised that it was quite simple and crude. Besides the fact that his vision had been broadened due to the advancement of his cultivation, his mastery over the Dao of Space had also increased dramatically.
“Sir, what materials do you need?” Bi Luo asked, remembering it had required many rare materials to arrange this Space Array the first time.
Yang Kai waved his hand, “There’s no need for that. Just go about your business.”
In the past, the primary materials he used to build the Space Arrays in the Star Field were Space Spirit Jades; however, those materials found in the Star Field were no longer that high of a grade to him.
Meanwhile, he had brought countless Space Spirit Crystals and Space Spirit Jades from the Star Boundary, and they would undoubtedly bring out better effects after they were used to arrange Space Arrays.
Bi Luo replied with a smile, “My most important job is to serve you.”
Certainly, she had to take Shan Qing Luo’s orders seriously, but after she finished speaking, she realised that something was off, because what she had just uttered sounded somewhat intimate.
Yang Kai happened to turn to look at her at that moment. Realising that he was staring at her lips, she immediately hung her head low. The shadows of her long eyelashes had been formed under her eyes, and no one could make out her expression.
When she raised her head, she realised that Yang Kai was now working on the Space Array in a serious manner. Sensing a stare from the side, she turned her head only to see Liu Yan gazing at her as she spread her arms and drew a circle in the air.
“What are you doing?” Bi Luo was terrified of her now, especially when the latter made any gestures with her hands that might lead anyone to fall into wild thoughts.
“A lot of women. A lot,” Liu Yan replied.
After giving it a thought, Bi Luo realised what the young girl was talking about as her face reddened, “Why did you tell me this?”
“Hah hah hah…” Liu Yan laughed slowly and in a hollow manner.
Seeing that, Bi Luo had the urge to rip her mouth off.
“Liu Yan, come help me!” Yang Kai called out.
Liu Yan grumbled in agreement and skipped toward Yang Kai. Facing the Space Spirit Crystals and Space Spirit Jades he had fished out, she let out a breath, after which, a jet of flames shot out of her mouth and engulfed the materials.
With her help, repairing and upgrading the Space Array became much easier. In just half a day, a new Space Array had been built.
After Yang Kai added some finishing touches and localized its coordinates, the Space Array now had direct access to Shadowed Star. There was no need for relay points anymore, so it was convenient for the people on both ends.
Then, he told Liu Yan to stay behind before he stepped onto the array and pushed his Space Principles. After a glint flashed across the array, he disappeared from their sight. Bi Luo and Liu Yan only waited for half a day before the array began glowing again. In the next moment, they could faintly see some figures atop the array who all exuded powerful auras.
After the glow disappeared, Bi Luo was surprised to see many familiar faces. These people were all the top cultivators from High Heaven Sect and Shadowed Star. She and Shan Qing Luo had lived on Shadowed Star for some time in the past, so she was naturally familiar with these people.
Upon seeing Su Yan, Bi Luo was dumbfounded.
Su Yan had disappeared twenty odd years ago, and there had not been any news about her since. [Why is she back in High Heaven Sect all of a sudden?] Not daring to appear impolite, Bi Luo hurriedly stepped forward and saluted her, “Greetings, First Madam.”
Although Yang Kai had many wives, Su Yan still ranked first. It wasn’t because she was the closest to Yang Kai or because she was his first woman, but because her demeanour could command respect from all the others.
Xue Yue and Shan Qing Luo would still bicker with each other from time to time, but both of them would become obedient in front of Su Yan. Faced with this undisputed First Madam, Bi Luo had to show due respect to her.
In response, Su Yan flashed a smile at her, “We haven’t met for a long time.”
Bi Luo replied, “It’s been twenty years. Mistress has always missed you. If she learns that you’re fine and healthy, she’ll definitely be elated.”
Su Yan turned to look at Yang Kai, “Haven’t you told Luo’er about it?”
Yang Kai scratched his face, “I er… forgot to mention it.”
“Too busy, right?” Su Yan teased him.
Although Yang Kai was thick-skinned, he still blushed with embarrassment at this moment. He had spent the last three full days intimately entangled with Shan Qing Luo and had no time to talk about other matters. Now that Su Yan had pointed it out, he felt slightly bashful.
Fortunately, Su Yan wasn’t someone who enjoyed picking on minor issues like this, so she turned to look at Bi Luo quickly and said, “We’re here to give Luo’er a hand. Where is she? Bring us to look for her.”
Although all the top cultivators from Limitless Beast Mountain had been killed, they had been around for more than ten years and had occupied about 90 percent of the territories on Monster Emperor Star. Therefore, it would take those from Red Moon Territory a lot of time to regain these lands. Besides testing the viability of the Space Array, Yang Kai had also returned to High Heaven Sect to gather reinforcements from Shadowed Star to assist Shan Qing Luo.
Su Yan and the other Masters were just the vanguard though, and more people would continue to arrive from now on to support Shan Qing Luo. As such, it was just a matter of time before they could regain control of Monster Emperor Star.
“Yes!” Bi Luo responded firmly.
Su Yan then turned to Yang Kai and said, “I’ll leave Little Sister Yue and Ning Chang to you, then.”
“Yes, I was just about to set out now.” Yang Kai nodded. His experiences on Shadowed Star and Monster Emperor Star made him realise that the entire Star Field was in a perilous situation; therefore, he was worried about Xia Ning Chang and Xue Yue. He eagerly wanted to meet them to make sure that they were safe.
They didn’t even bid each other farewell because they knew that they’d reunite soon. Su Yan and those from the High Heaven Sect then turned around and left, while Yang Kai and Liu Yan stepped onto the array and continued with their journey.
…
Water Moon Star was the Home Star of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce.
It took Yang Kai one month to reach this place after he left Monster Emperor Star. Upon arrival though, he appeared to be in doubt, because he thought that this place should be devastated by wars, just like the other Stars that he had visited; however, he didn’t expect that the Star would appear peaceful at this moment, as if there were no traces of battle, which made him feel slightly uneasy.
Also, he realised that a few Starships had been anchored in the Starry Sky. He acutely saw the symbol of the Netherworld Sect on those Starships, which made him become even more apprehensive.
Following that, he swiftly shot past the Starships, after which a series of intense explosions could be heard from behind him. These Starships that belonged to the Netherworld Sect were destroyed before the people inside even managed to realize they were under attack. The loud and bright explosions in the sky immediately attracted the attention of those top cultivators on Water Moon Star as they looked up at the same time. Some of them had their expressions change because they realised what was going on.
They were soon attracted to a beam of light, which presumptuously shot down from the Starry Sky and penetrated the clouds before landing in the main city that used to belong to Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce.
With a loud boom, the entire city shook as wide cracks appeared and spread across the ground. At the same time, a gale blasted out across the city, demolishing many buildings in its path.
*Sou sou sou…*
Many figures flew over from all directions and hovered in mid-air, looking down at this unwelcome guest.
Yang Kai swept a cold glance over them as his heart sank, because his worries had become reality.
Water Moon Star had fallen!
None of the cultivators here were familiar to him. Moreover, some of them were clad in clothes that resembled the uniforms of the Netherworld Sect. Even though the others might not be from Netherworld Sect, it was certain they came from Grand Desolation Star Field as well.
[Why has this Star fallen?] Yang Kai couldn’t understand it.
He wasn’t surprised that Green Mountains Star had been occupied, because they didn’t have any peak level cultivators or top forces protecting them. However, even Shadowed Star and Monster Emperor Star hadn’t fallen, so why would such a thing have happened to Water Moon Star? This was the Home Star of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, which was one of the three strongest forces in the entire Star Field. Before the rise of the High Heaven Sect on Shadowed Star, Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce was the top force in the Star Field, with even greater strength than Purple Star and Sword Union.
So, he couldn’t believe that such a Star had fallen. Now, the situation on this Star appeared even worse than Green Mountains Star.
[What has happened to this place over the past decade? Where is Xue Yue? Where are those from Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce?]
As these questions flashed across Yang Kai’s mind, his aura suddenly turned cold, which caused the cultivators around him to feel as if they’d fallen into an ice cave.
[This person is quite bold to descend here straight from the Starry Sky.] Although Yang Kai hadn’t made a move, his cold aura was enough to terrify them.
“Who is the one who is in charge of this place?” Yang Kai swept a glance over all of them. His attitude was that of a tiger that had barged into a place where a herd of sheep lived, as he didn’t take any one of them seriously.
The place fell into silence as no one replied to him. Faced with this formidable young man, these cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field all appeared cautious.
“I asked…” Yang Kai raised his fist and bent his arm backwards before forcefully pushing out his fist, “Where is the person in charge of this place!? Are all of you deaf?”
Just then, a loud boom was heard, as if something had exploded. These people turned their heads and gasped, because in the direction Yang Kai pushed out his fist, a cultivator had exploded into a blood mist on the spot, leaving not a single bone behind.
That person was a First-Order Origin King! How powerful must this young man be to be able to kill an Origin King Realm who was a thousand meters away from him with just one punch? These people, who were already wary of Yang Kai, felt their hearts freezing when they saw this. None of them could possibly be a match for him, so they all started moving backwards at the same time.
Right then, a person stepped forward. He was a thin and tall middle-aged man who was surrounded by Death Qi. An array controller suddenly appeared in his hand and he pushed his Saint Qi into it. The next moment, a buzzing sound could be heard in the air as the City Defending Array rumbled to life.
The Netherworld Sect had been in control of Water Moon Star for many years now, and it had been peaceful on the Star because no one dared to find fault with them. So, they were quite lax when it came to guarding the Star. However, they didn’t expect that someone would barge into the city one day.
The others were afraid of Yang Kai’s power, but this thin man wasn’t. That was because he was in control of the city’s defensive Spirit Array.
[I may not have the confidence to face you if you were acting wantonly outside the city; however, since you have the guts to enter this place, once the array is active, I can still deal with you!]
As he activated the array, he bellowed, “What are you all waiting for? Take him down! I’ll assist you with the array!”
After he finished speaking, the Spirit Array became fully active and exerted a strong pressure to suppress Yang Kai.
At that moment, Yang Kai’s knees bent slightly, as if two mountains had been placed on his shoulders.
Seeing that, everyone present became elated. Hesitating no more, they activated their Secret Techniques and artifacts before launching an attack on Yang Kai.
Meanwhile, the thin man was shocked for a moment before he became ecstatic. Then, in a way that was against the current atmosphere, he yelled, “Keep him alive!”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kill. Yang Kai had killed one of their Origin King Realm Masters and even offended them, so there was no way he’d let him off; however, after he activated the array, not only was Yang Kai not pinned down to the ground, but the latter didn’t even show any sign of using his Saint Qi. At that instant, he realised that the young man’s body must be incredibly tough, so the latter might have cultivated some kind of profound Body Tempering Secret Art.
Body Tempering Secret Arts weren’t all that rare, but it was difficult to look for a person with such a strong body.
This thin man was a Netherworld Sect Elder who was an expert in Corpse Refinement, so he was most fond of cultivators whose bodies were sturdy. If he could capture Yang Kai and refine him, he would certainly be able to produce an excellent Corpse Puppet. The man before his eyes was an extremely rare material that he had always dreamed of obtaining.
[He’s even more precious than the other materials I’ve obtained on Water Moon Star over the years!]
With that thought in mind, he wasn’t willing to see Yang Kai get killed. Although he could also refine Yang Kai after the latter was dead, the results would be better if he refined a living Human.
Receiving these instructions, the cultivators, who were pouncing on Yang Kai, cursed at him in their hearts. [Why didn’t you say earlier that you wanted us to hold back?]
Now that they had launched an attack, it was difficult for them to stop. However, they couldn’t disobey the thin man, so left with no choice, they tried their best to hold back some of their power. Some of them even suffered a backlash and spat blood from the exertion.
With a loud boom, all their Secret Techniques and artifacts landed on Yang Kai, sending out surging waves of energy and dazzling explosions of light.
Seeing this, the thin man felt his chest tightening. [Damn it! He’ll probably be dismembered! There will be nothing left for me to refine!]
His face fell as he felt heartbroken.
After the lights all faded though, he was shocked to see that Yang Kai was still alive and kicking. On top of that, the little girl beside him also appeared calm and collected, as though she wasn’t hurt one bit.
The thin man was horrified as he was gripped by a sense of uneasiness.
“It’d be impolite of me if I don’t give you something in return for your warm greeting gift. Since you’re all so hospitable, please accept my regards!” Yang Kai growled as his arms flickered out, sending fist shadows in all directions.
*Hong! Hong! Hong!* Bodies exploded in all directions as no one here could withstand even one punch from Yang Kai. In the blink of an eye, dozens of enemy cultivators had been killed.
At this moment, only the thin man was still alive. His limbs had turned completely cold as if he had fallen into a blizzard.
Yang Kai turned to look at him and said, “It seems that you’re the person in charge here. Don’t worry, I only have some questions for you. If I’m happy with your answers, I promise to give you a painless death.” His hair hung loose on his forehead, and his gaze appeared dark.
At that instant, the thin man found it hard to breathe, as if he was being stared at by a giant ancient beast.
Nevertheless, he was a proud man, so even though he was terrified, he hadn’t lost his will to struggle. After taking out a copper ring, he quickly spun it and glared at Yang Kai as he said through clenched teeth, “I don’t care who you are, but since you have the guts to offend us, you have to die today!”
Just then, a ringing sound could be heard as a few figures suddenly appeared around the thin man. The figures came in different shapes and sizes, but they all exuded very thick Death Qi. Upon closer look, it could be seen that their faces were all ashen and hollow. Their teeth were sharp, and their hair was in a mess, so they looked rather hideous.
“Corpse Refinement!” Yang Kai arched his brow in surprise, as he didn’t expect that someone from the Netherworld Sect was an expert in Corpse Refinement. No one else he had come across from the Netherworld Sect so far knew this skill. It seemed that the Secret Techniques in Netherworld Sect were also divided into different schools; however, they all seemed related to the dead.
“Hmm?” Yang Kai narrowed his eyes and stared fixedly at one of the Corpse Puppets. After he sized it up for a bit, his expression darkened.
“Brat, I’ll capture and refine you so that you’ll become one of my Corpse Puppets too!” The thin man bellowed at Yang Kai and glowered at him. Although the young man before his eyes had showcased some exceptional combat skills, he wasn’t a weakling either. With the Corpse Puppets around him, even a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master couldn’t possibly harm him. He might also stand a chance to capture his enemy; therefore, he wasn’t flustered at all. Instead, his interest in Yang Kai had increased because of what the latter had done.
A Corpse Puppet’s strength correlated with its power before death. The more powerful a cultivator was, the more power he would be able to showcase after he was made into a Corpse Puppet.
Not only was Yang Kai powerful, but his body was also tough, which was the best Corpse Refinement material that this thin man had always dreamed of obtaining.
He almost couldn’t contain his urge to cackle out loud, as he couldn’t believe that it didn’t take him any effort to find such a precious material. If he could refine this young man, his position within the Netherworld Sect would be strengthened.
As the copper ring on the thin man’s hand spun, the Corpse Puppets that he had summoned started howling. All of them exuded very thick Corpse Qi as they pounced on Yang Kai with their claws. Their nails were just as sharp as blades, and they also appeared green, which suggested that they were poisonous.
Just then, a fire appeared as a petite firebird flew towards the Corpse Puppets. Its movement was swift, and its demeanour was elegant.
The first Corpse Puppet that it came into contact with was set ablaze in an instant while the firebird didn’t even slow down as it flew towards the second Corpse Puppet. In the blink of an eye, it had burned several of them to ashes.
“Keep this one alive!” Yang Kai suddenly shouted and clenched the neck of one of the Corpse Puppets before pulling it towards himself. The Corpse Puppet started struggling as he clawed at Yang Kai’s chest with his sharp nails; however, it was as if he was trying to jab his nails into a piece of iron as clanging sounds could be heard. Ultimately, he was unable to penetrate Yang Kai’s chest at all.
Liu Yan tilted her head. Although she didn’t know what Yang Kai’s intentions were, she didn’t ask him about it as she controlled the firebird to burn down the other Corpse Puppets.
*Pu…*
The thin man sprayed out a mouthful of blood as his once confident gaze was now filled with utter terror. Staring at Liu Yan in fear, he stammered, eyes turning bloodshot, “Y-You…”
His Corpse Puppets were all as powerful as Origin Kings, especially the strongest one, which was refined from the body of a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master. Given this lineup, he was confident that no one in Heng Luo Star Field would be able to oppose him. However, now, his Corpse Puppets had mostly been reduced to ashes by a little girl who looked at best eight years old, and even his strongest Corpse Puppet had been captured by the young man with ease.
Just then, something flashed across his eyes as the young girl appeared in front of him without warning. She was looking up at him as her clear gaze reflected his terrified face.
He watched as the little girl raised her hand and pressed it against his belly, but he didn’t have the time to make a move at all.
“Keep him alive as well,” Yang Kai suddenly shouted.
Liu Yan released some of her energy through her palm, after which the thin man became listless like a popped balloon. He staggered backwards and fell on his butt as he coughed up blood. At the same time, he felt the organs inside his body churning.
It was then he realized that his cultivation was gone. Nothing in this world was more painful than this for a cultivator. Moreover, his Corpse Puppets were destroyed earlier, which affected his mind, so he was currently half dead.
His enemy was able to severely injure him with ease, which meant if she got serious, no one in this world would be a match for her. Not even his Sect Master.
[Where are these two monsters from?]
Yang Kai clenched the strongest Corpse Puppet’s neck and let him claw at his body with the latter’s sharp nails, a conflicted glint flashing across his eyes.
This Corpse Puppet was under someone else’s control, so he kept struggling and growling, as if he had gone mad. Cracking sounds could be heard coming from the puppet’s neck as, apparently, his bones were breaking; however, as this puppet didn’t feel pain or had the ability to think, he continued lashing out. All he knew was that he must destroy everything before his eyes, so he wouldn’t stop moving even if his bones were all ground to dust.
Yang Kai took a deep breath and pushed his Divine Sense before shouting through gritted teeth, “Long Tian Shang! Wake up!”
Extremely pure Spiritual Energy mingled with his voice and shot into the Corpse Puppet’s mind. Then, a faint sound of something breaking could be heard. Following that, the Corpse Puppet, who had been flailing about wildly, calmed down all of a sudden. Although he was still waving his claws, he wasn’t as ferocious as earlier.
His eyes started darting around and seemed to be regaining focus; however, it was just a weak sign.
Seeing that, Yang Kai immediately knew that the Corpse Puppet hadn’t lost all his spirituality. Perhaps it was because it had only been a short time since he was refined into a Corpse Puppet, or because his cultivation before death had been extremely powerful. Whatever the case, there seemed to be a chance of awakening him, so Yang Kai hurriedly circulated his Spiritual Energy and infused it into the Corpse Puppet’s mind to carefully guide his consciousness to the surface.
A quarter-hour later, the Corpse Puppet’s eyes regained focus and he stopped waving his hands. A strange expression appeared on his hideous face as he asked, “Y-You are…”
His voice was husky, like he hadn’t spoken for a long time, or possibly because his body had been damaged, so it was grating and unpleasant to the ears.
“Senior Long,” Yang Kai gazed at him with a conflicted expression.
In fact, Yang Kai wasn’t close to Long Tian Shang. He had met him once when he arrived on Water Moon Star in the past, but they hadn’t talked much. This man was the Supreme Elder of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, so he was actually Ai Ou’s Senior. Naturally, that made him Yang Kai’s Senior as well.
At that time, Ai Ou had followed Yang Kai to leave the Star Field and head for the Star Boundary. After that, Xue Yue took over the businesses of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, while Long Tian Shang stood behind her to give her some support. In fact, given his power, he had the right to follow Yang Kai to leave the Star Field as well; however, he had spent most of his life contributing to Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, so he didn’t have the heart to leave. Therefore, he decided to stay and continue to act as their guardian.
However, Yang Kai didn’t expect that when they met again after several dozen years, Long Tian Shang would be refined into a Corpse Puppet and enslaved by someone else.
Fortunately, he had come across Yang Kai, who was able to use his Spiritual Energy to awaken him for a moment. No one else in the world could have done this.
“You are… Yang Kai!” Long Tian Shang slowly regained his senses as he recalled some memories from the past. Naturally, he still remembered Yang Kai, who was a rising star at that time as well as Xue Yue’s husband.
Yang Kai said, “Senior Long, we don’t have much time. Please tell me what has happened to the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce. Where is Xue Yue?”
In fact, he was most concerned about Xue Yue, as it didn’t matter that the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce was gone. The most important thing now was that Xue Yue had to be safe. Nevertheless, given Long Tian Shang’s cultivation, he was still made into a Corpse Puppet by someone from the Netherworld Sect, so it was expected that Yang Kai was worried about Xue Yue’s safety.
“Xue Yue…” Long Tian Shang muttered in a hoarse voice as he recalled more memories from the past. He then took a look at his own hands and appeared dejected, “Ah, I see…”
Finally, he remembered the situation he was in. After pulling himself together and finding the right words, he said, “Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce was destroyed. Xue Yue… After the fall of Water Moon Star, I stayed behind to cover their escape; however, I don’t know where they are now.”
His memories halted on the day of that epic battle. He single-handedly held back more than ten Starships from the Netherworld Sect and its Grand Desolation Star Field allies. Eventually, he was exhausted, after which he was captured and refined into a Corpse Puppet.
Yang Kai arched his brow, “Xue Yue fled?”
That was indeed some good news, given the perilous situation they were in at that time. Although it wasn’t certain whether Xue Yue was safe, there was a hope at the very least. With this thought in mind, Yang Kai was finally able to relax a bit.
“Have you met this woman before?” Liu Yan crouched down in front of the thin man and a flame on her palm flickered before transforming into the image of a valiant-looking lady. Although the image was formed from fire, it resembled the actual person greatly, which went to show how talented Liu Yan was in controlling fire.
She had refined the Fire Phoenix Source, so controlling fire was her forte.
Although she spoke in a calm and soft tone, it sounded like a reaper of death’s voice to the thin man. He was horrified as he shuddered and shook his head repeatedly, “No! I have never seen her!”
“Haha…” Liu Yan put on a hollow laugh as another fire shot out from her palm and transformed into a fire snake, which surrounded the thin man and opened its mouth wide above his head before hissing and sticking out its tongue at him, as though it would swallow him whole in the next moment. Liu Yan’s fire was able to burn his powerful Corpse Puppets with ease, but at this moment, it seemed to have lost its heat as it didn’t harm the thin man one bit, which made it look quite absurd, “How could you say you had never met her when you didn’t even take a look? Although I’m young, it doesn’t mean you can lie to me.”
It was then the thin man raised his head and took a glance at the fire image.
“You’d better give me an honest answer. Otherwise, you’ll be begging for death before we’re done,” Liu Yan uttered dispassionately.
“Yes, I’ve seen her before!”
“Where is she now?”
The thin man replied, “She and some people fled to a Cultivation Star where there’s a Star Master. Over the years, we’ve been in a deadlock with the people over there.”
“Where did she flee to?”
The thin man tried to identify the location and then pointed in a direction.
Liu Yan turned to look at Yang Kai, who immediately entered his own Knowledge Sea and looked up at the Star Chart. Following that, an idea came into his mind.
[Xue Yue and the others fled to a Cultivation Star where there’s a Star Master. Moreover, the direction is right as well. If I’m not mistaken, she must have gone to that place. A wise decision. Although it is pretty far from Water Moon Star, it’s a better option when compared to others.]
The conversation between Liu Yan and the thin man was all heard by Yang Kai. At the same time, he was trying to communicate with Long Tian Shang, which was a difficult task.
Although he had used his Divine Ability to make Long Tian Shang come to his senses, the latter had lost most of his memories and couldn’t remember most things. He only remembered that Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce was too powerful, so they had attracted the attention of those top cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field. Netherworld Sect had joined forces with other great forces from Grand Desolation Star Field and launched an attack on them. Besides that, even the infamous Star Pirates from Galaxy Ridge and Abandoned Lair had sided with the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field.
Galaxy Ridge and Abandoned Lair were the two largest Star Pirate groups in the entire Heng Luo Star Field. These people who had come together were the vilest criminals. He Yun Xiang’s Fierce Gale Pirates paled when compared to these two great forces.
Before the invasion from Grand Desolation Star Field, these two great forces had been in conflict with the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, Purple Star, and Sword Union for about a thousand years. Starships from each of these Sects had all been ransacked by these Star Pirates before while navigating through the Star Field. On the other hand, Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, Purple Star, and Sword Union had joined forces to launch an attack on those pirates. Both sides had suffered a loss of life, so a blood feud had been formed between them.
Now, the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field had invaded Heng Luo Star Field and these great forces, which were led by Netherworld Sect, had showcased their incredible powers. Naturally, those criminals from Galaxy Ridge and Abandoned Lair immediately sided with them to become their subordinates.
It was then that Yang Kai understood why Water Moon Star had fallen.
Faced with this kind of hostility, even though the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce was fairly powerful, they still couldn’t ensure their own safety. The other Cultivation Stars had all fallen, so there was no way Water Moon Star, their Home Star, could be spared from this disaster.
Since the situation was already so terrible in Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, there was no way Purple Star and Sword Union were fine now.
It wasn’t that the cultivators in Heng Luo Star Field were no match for those from Grand Desolation Star Field. Both of them were Lower Star Fields, so although there might be some disparity between their powers, the gap was definitely not huge. If they fought with each other head-on, both sides would be severely hurt.
The difference was that Netherworld Sect was the clear leader in Grand Desolation Star Field, so they could give orders to the other Sects, while there was a lack of such a leading force in Heng Luo Star Field. At its peak, High Heaven Sect could act as this leader; however, since the invasion from Grand Desolation Star Field, many of the Third-Order Origin Kings of the Sect had returned to their own Stars, so they were not united against their enemies.
“Be careful!” Long Tian Shang suddenly warned him sternly.
“Be careful of what?” Yang Kai gazed at him with a frown.
Long Tian Shang shook his head, as he didn’t know what Yang Kai should beware of. He just subconsciously thought that he should give the young man this warning as he felt that there was a person that they should be wary of. This person was the key that led to the downfall of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce.
Yang Kai questioned him one more time, but Long Tian Shang was unable to answer. He had managed to help him regain consciousness for a short while, but the latter had already been made into a Corpse Puppet, so both his Divine Sense and body had suffered irreversible damage. Hence, this short moment of consciousness was like terminal lucidity.
Just then, Long Tian Shang started growling as his eyes could be seen trembling. It was apparent that he was losing his consciousness again, and he would soon turn back into a corpse that was ruthless and knew no pain.
Seeing that, Yang Kai heaved a sigh. He was saddened by the fact that the Supreme Elder of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce had ended up in such a miserable state.
Liu Yan approached Yang Kai and took the hem of his clothes. The thin man, whose cultivation had been crippled, was lying on his side with a pale face. Liu Yan only asked him some questions before proceeding to ignore him.
At this moment, the thin man was staring at Long Tian Shang as though he was seeing the most horrifying sight in the world. With his eyes filled with terror as he yelled, “Kill me! Kill me!”
Nevertheless, Yang Kai just stared at him coldly without moving a muscle.
The thin man wailed and pleaded with them, “Please! Kill me now!”
Nobody wanted death if they could live; however, his cultivation was gone, so he was unable to flee. If he wasn’t killed, he would experience an ordeal that was worse than death.
Perhaps Long Tian Shang still remembered the blood feud between them, or that he was attracted to the thin man’s voice, he turned to look at him and walked up to him in the blink of an eye. Following that, he jabbed his sharp fingers into his chest and lifted him off his feet.
Blood started dropping from the thin man’s body as he shrieked.
Long Tian Shang appeared hideous as he growled in a meaningless way. His consciousness was replaced by the nature of a corpse. He opened his mouth and revealed his pointed teeth before taking a bite on the thin man’s body.
Another shriek was then heard.
Long Tian Shang tore off a piece of flesh from the thin man and started chewing it as blood streamed down from his mouth.
Most people had only heard about cannibalism in myths, but at this moment, such an incident was happening right before their eyes.
“Kill me… Please… Ah!” The thin man begged them to kill him; however, Yang Kai just stared at him with a cold expression. He watched as Long Tian Shang tore off his flesh piece by piece and gulped them down. Only a quarter of an hour later, the thin man stopped moving and left for the other world.
Yang Kai stepped forward and stood beside Long Tian Shang, who was still eating the raw flesh. Upon sensing an aura approaching him, Long Tian Shang immediately turned around and howled.
Following that, Yang Kai landed a palm on him as the latter turned into ashes and scattered into the wind.
Then, Yang Kai waved his hand, after which a few figures appeared out of nowhere. They were Li Jiao and the others who had been kept in the Small Sealed World. This time, he had even released Lu Yu Qin. Although Lu Yu Qin’s cultivation was low, she should be safe in this place with Lu San Niang taking care of her.
Upon seeing the horrible sight around them, Li Jiao and the others were stunned. When they saw Yang Kai’s gloomy expression, they felt their chests tightening, as they wondered who had offended him because he appeared to be in a bad mood now.
“Brother Li, there’s something I need all of you to help me with.”
Li Jiao straightened his face and replied, “Brother Yang, just tell us what you want us to do.”
“Help me take back this Cultivation Star.” Yang Kai pointed at the ground beneath him.
Water Moon Star was the Home Star of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce as well as the place where Xue Yue grew up, so it mustn’t remain in the hands of those from the Grand Desolation Star Field. Given Yang Kai’s strength, he was able to retrieve the Star with ease, but he wasn’t willing to keep dawdling.
So, he thought that he could seek help from Li Jiao and the others. Otherwise, it’d be quite boring for them to keep staying in the Sealed World Bead.
“Sure,” Li Jiao directly agreed to it.
He already had a full understanding of the powers of those cultivators in the Star Field. Given his Third-Order Emperor Realm strength, it was like a walk in the park for him to do such a thing. Moreover, he had the help of Lu San Niang, He Yun Xiang, Ruan Bi Ting, and the Embodiment.
Although the Cultivation Star was massive, they could settle everything in half a month if they split up and carried out this task.
“If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask my Embodiment. He’ll tell you who our friends and enemies are.”
“Good!”
As the others stayed behind to come up with a plan, Yang Kai and Liu Yan directly stepped into the palace that was in the middle of the city. Earlier, there were some cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field in the palace, but they were just observing the battle from afar. Seeing that their Masters had been killed ruthlessly, they knew that they were confronted by a formidable enemy, so they had all fled.
Yang Kai went straight into the palace without coming across any hurdles and soon he reached a square where he found the Space Array he had arranged in the past.
The Space Array wasn’t destroyed, but the connections to many places had been cut off. Moreover, given Yang Kai’s needs now, this Space Array was dated and insufficient.
After that, he spent half a day with Liu Yan to restructure the array and reconnect it to Monster Emperor Star and Shadowed Star. Following that, they left Water Moon Star and headed in a particular direction.
Sensing Yang Kai’s anxiety, Liu Yan took his hand and said, “Lady Yue is definitely safe.”
Yang Kai forced a smile, “If Xue Yue has really gone to that place, her safety isn’t an issue.”
“Master, you know where she is now?”
Yang Kai nodded his head, “Yes, I think I know where she is.”
The Cultivation Star in this direction where there was also a Star Master must be Tong Xuan Realm. The Star Master of Tong Xuan Realm was Xia Ning Chang, and Xue Yue was aware of it as well.
Since Water Moon Star had fallen, there were only three places she could go; Shadowed Star, Monster Emperor Star and Tong Xuan Realm.
Shadowed Star was too far away, so she wouldn’t consider that option, as no one knew whether they’d come across any danger while navigating through the Starry Sky. Although Monster Emperor Star was nearer to them, it was a Star where the Monster Race ruled, after all. Moreover, they didn’t have a Star Master, so it wasn’t safe either.
Given Xue Yue’s intellect, there was only one place she would choose to go. She must have gone to Tong Xuan Realm to look for Xia Ning Chang. Apart from seeking her help, she could also help increase the strength of Tong Xuan Realm’s defence.
Liu Yan gave it a thought and figured out where Xue Yue was as well. She said, “Since that’s the case, why are you so worried?”
Yang Kai replied, “Tong Xuan Realm is unlike other Cultivation Stars. In the past, it had shown signs of its World Energy being exhausted. If it weren’t because Little Senior Sister took the risk to refine its Star Source, bringing back some vitality to it, Tong Xuan Realm would have continued to degenerate into a Dead Star. I’m not worried about Xue Yue, but about my Little Senior Sister.”
If the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field decided to go all out to deal with Tong Xuan Realm, it would be disastrous for the Star even though Xia Ning Chang was around; after all, Tong Xuan Realm hadn’t restored all its vitality. If it was devastated by wars, it’d be akin to adding salt to injuries. If its World Energy was exhausted again, Xia Ning Chang, as its Star Master, would be affected as well. By then, it would be impossible to bring her back to life once she died.
The fates of the Star Master and their Cultivation Star were intertwined. If any one of them was destroyed, the other would also suffer. This was no laughing matter.
After some calculation, Yang Kai realised that it had been a few years since Xue Yue fled to Tong Xuan Realm. There was no way that those from Grand Desolation Star Field had done nothing these past few years. They must have done everything they could to destroy Tong Xuan Realm, so Yang Kai was worried that Xia Ning Chang wasn’t able to resist the enemies on her own for a long time. That was the fundamental reason behind his anxiety.
Upon understanding the reason, Liu Yan stopped talking. Her eyes, which were now filled with murderous intent, suddenly started burning with flames.
It was thanks to Yang Kai that she was reborn; moreover, with his help, she was able to keep growing her power until now. If it weren’t for Yang Kai, she would still be an Artifact Spirit that was trapped in the Earth Lung Fire Pond. Maybe she’d be able to obtain a real body for herself one day, but that would only happen thousands and even tens of thousands of years later. So, Yang Kai was the world to her. Whoever had the guts to displease him, she would let that person have a taste of a Phoenix’s wrath.
Tong Xuan Realm, the second stop along Yang Kai’s Martial Dao journey, was also an important springboard for him to reach a higher plane. Without his many opportunities and experiences in Tong Xuan Realm, he would never have achieved what he had today.
As his thoughts floated about, his memories rose up. He looked at the Star that he had left a long time ago with a deep and profound expression. Everything he had been worried about had become reality.
Looking at the entire Tong Xuan Realm from the Starry Sky, he could see that the situation there was much worse than that of the Green Mountains Star. The Star seemed to be suffering from some kind of serious illness and was now showing all sorts of sickly symptoms, like a dying old man that was walking towards his own grave.
The black spots scattered all across Tong Xuan Realm looked like someone had randomly splashed several gigantic drops of ink on it. Those spots were clearly visible even from where he stood hundreds of thousands of kilometres away in the Starry Sky. Furthermore, the surface of the Star was covered in faint Black Qi.
He studied those ‘black ink stains’, vaguely thinking that they were arranged like an Array because of the way they were connected and corresponding with each other from afar. They formed a large yet invisible net that sealed the entire Tong Xuan Realm within it.
This Grand Spirit Array might not be fully formed, but it was gradually demonstrating its extraordinary power. Even Yang Kai, who stood within the Starry Sky, could feel a smothering aura coming from it. So, how would the residents living on Tong Xuan Realm feel? They were trapped inside, and the aura of the Array must be greatly affecting them. This Array would annihilate all living beings within it and if it was fully triggered, the entire Tong Xuan Realm would definitely perish.
[I’m glad I made it in time.]
He might not know when the Spirit Array would be fully formed and activated, but it would not be completed within the next few days. With his current ability, a few days was enough for him to run around killing all the invading enemies in Tong Xuan Realm.
Logically speaking, Tong Xuan Realm had a Star Master guarding it, so it shouldn’t have been so easy for the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field to invade. After all, the strength of a Star Master was extraordinary. In particular, a Star Master, who was on their own Cultivation Star and blessed by its Star Source, was practically an invincible existence.
However, Tong Xuan Realm’s situation was different. Just as he had told Liu Yan, it had experienced a depletion of its World Energy, and although Xia Ning Chang later refined the Star Source and helped it recover, how much could be restored in just a few dozen years?
Therefore, Tong Xuan Realm’s World Energy and Principles were much weaker compared to other Cultivation Stars. If not for that, the strongest cultivators on the Star would not have been limited to the Saint Realm. It was precisely because of the Star’s World Energy and Principles that it could not nurture any cultivators more powerful than that. Meanwhile, other Stars in the same Star Field could give birth to cultivators in the Saint King Realm, the Origin Returning Realm, and even the Origin King Realm.
Tong Xuan Realm had, at most, restored some traces of vitality over the past several dozen years. Unfortunately, this small improvement had now been exhausted by the arrival of Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators. If Xia Ning Chang wanted to resist the invasion of Grand Desolation Star Field, she would have to rely on the strength of the Star Source; however, it would cause a heavy burden on the Star if it was used too many times. For that reason, she could not keep the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field out for long, even though she was Tong Xuan Realm’s Star Master. Their invasion into Tong Xuan Realm was inevitable.
Yang Kai had completed his analysis of Xia Ning Chang’s current situation in almost an instant.
Pushing such thoughts aside for the moment, he focused on the task at hand. He currently had no idea where to find Xia Ning Chang and Xue Yue, and while Tong Xuan Realm was not particularly large, it wasn’t small either… If the two of them were hiding somewhere, he would not be able to locate them any time soon. He might as well use that time to kill some of the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field and teach them what would happen to them if they offended somebody they should never have offended.
After observing the situation for a moment, Yang Kai’s figure flickered as he rushed towards Tong Xuan Realm. He headed toward the largest ‘black ink stain’ on the Star, letting gravity pull him down. Meanwhile, Liu Yan followed closely behind him. Her movements were neither fast nor slow, yet did not hinder Yang Kai in any way.
It didn’t take long for them to plunge into the atmosphere, and when they did, the aura coming from their surroundings made them frown. It was unpleasant, pungent, and sickening. Fortunately, the two of them were strong enough that they could ignore the discomfort this aura caused. If ordinary cultivators were enveloped in such an aura, it wouldn’t take long for their minds to be affected and for them to turn into walking corpses.
Back when Yang Kai was observing the situation in the Starry Sky, he only felt that the situation in Tong Xuan Realm was not promising, but now that he plunged into the area covered by the large ‘black ink stain’, he discovered that the situation was worse than he had anticipated. He did not know what that ‘black ink stain’ was. However, it made the people trapped within it feel like they were in a living Hell.
A strong wind roared in his ears, his clothes whipped around his body noisily, and his black hair was blown about by the wind as Yang Kai allowed himself to plummet from the sky freely, penetrating through the atmosphere and falling towards the ground. The extreme speed caused his body to rub against the air, and the friction ignited a burst of flames around his form. If one were to look up from the ground, it would look as though a meteor was falling down, a spectacular sight to behold.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Yang Kai raised his hand and spread out his fingers. Then, he bent his arm back before slowly pushing out his palm towards the ground. An incredibly large palmprint formed without warning. It was laid out horizontally and covered a vast swath of ground below Yang Kai, growing larger the further he fell, as if trying to encompass the entire world.
Inside the largest building in the middle of the ‘black ink stain’, an old man covered in Death Qi was cultivating in a cross-legged position. Judging from the way he was dressed, he was from the Netherworld Sect. His cultivation was strangely high. He was a Third-Order Origin King, which would at least make him an Elder of the Sect.
Initially, Netherworld Sect did not have so many Third-Order Origin King Masters among their ranks. The number of Masters in the Sect was similar to that of High Heaven Sect at its peak. In other words, there were only three or four of them, at most; however, invading Heng Luo Star Field had brought huge benefits to the entire Netherworld Sect. Whether they were refining Blood Sea Banners, Ten Thousand Soul Banners, or even Corpses, all of these techniques required living people as materials. The stronger the sacrifices used as cultivation materials, the greater the benefits.
Netherworld Sect achieved unification in Grand Desolation Star Field, and nobody dared to disobey their orders. There was no great force that could rival it in strength. Nevertheless, they could not act too recklessly when cultivating. At the most, they would find reasons to annihilate a few Sects and capture all the cultivators of those forces to become materials for their cultivation once in a while. It was impossible for them to act too unscrupulous as everything in the world had a limit, and Netherworld Sect had a firm understanding of what those limits were. That was how it managed to unify Grand Desolation Star Field without arousing public outrage from the entire Star Field.
Unfortunately, it was different when they came to Heng Luo Star Field. Their cruel nature, which had been previously repressed, was liberated. To them, all the cultivators in Heng Luo Star Field were free to be slaughtered! With the countless cultivators of Heng Luo Star Field as their cultivation resources, how could the strength of those in the Netherworld Sect not increase drastically?
It had only been slightly more than ten years since their invasion began, but all the cultivators from Netherworld Sect had experienced an increase in their cultivation by at least a Minor Realm. Meanwhile, the Elders, Protectors, and Deacons experienced even greater improvement in their cultivations. Those in the Origin Returning Realm broke through to the Origin King Realm; those in the First-Order Origin King Realm broke through to the Second-Order Origin King Realm, and those in the Second-Order Origin King Realm broke through to the Third-Order Origin King Realm!
It would have been fine if only one or two had experienced such growth, but the key point was that this growth applied to all the disciples in Netherworld Sect. This was an extremely horrifying situation. After ten years of wanton destruction and consumption, the Netherworld Sect had already surpassed the High Heaven Sect by leaps and bounds. They had more than ten Third-Order Origin King Masters alone. Moreover, more than half of them had broken through to this Realm after the invasion into Heng Luo Star Field. Similarly, First-Order and Second-Order Origin King Masters were emerging endlessly from among their ranks.
Upon tasting the sweetness of conquest, the Netherworld Sect became even more ruthless in their invasion of Heng Luo Star Field. It didn’t matter where they went, nobody could put up a fight against them. Even Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce had fallen, not to mention the various other great forces. Only those Cultivation Stars guarded by Star Masters posed some threat to them.
Tong Xuan Realm was one such Star that made things a little difficult for the Netherworld Sect. Unfortunately… it was only at the level of being ‘a little difficult’. The World Energy of this Star was weak, as were its World Principles. It could not give birth to anything extraordinary, and under normal circumstances, the Netherworld Sect might not even have bothered to expend the energy required to conquer it.
However, many powerful cultivators had gathered in this place! That was exactly what the Netherworld Sect was looking for. If they could turn those cultivators into their resources, their Sect would be able to produce another Third-Order Origin King Master, at the very least.
Whether it was simply to make an example of Tong Xuan Realm or for the sake of cultivation, this place had to be taken down at all costs. Any who opposed the invasion would be killed! That was the only way for the Netherworld Sect to announce to the world just who was in charge of this Star Field.
For that reason, five of Netherworld Sect’s Third-Order Origin Kings had come to attack Tong Xuan Realm. Moreover, one of them was none other than the Vice-Sect Master of the Netherworld Sect, the one who had chased Xue Yue all the way to this place. The old man sitting cross-legged in the great hall was that very Vice-Sect Master, Xin Xuan Ming.
There was a Star Master in Tong Xuan Realm, and Xin Xuan Ming was aware that this Star Master was a woman in the Third-Order Origin King Realm. Nevertheless, he was not afraid.
It would have been different had it been a stronger Star. He might have needed more effort to deal with that; however, this Star seemed to be very weak. As long as he sapped the World Energy of this Star, it would be equivalent to destroying the Source of Tong Xuan Realm. When that happened, the Star Master would face a tragic ending without even needing him to do anything. Then, without the protection of the Star Master, those rats hiding in the shadows would become his playthings.
The Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array had been arranged for that purpose. Once the Array took shape, the entire Tong Xuan Realm would be sealed within this Spirit Array. Consequently, this Cultivation Star would no longer be supplemented by the essence of the Starry Sky. It would be equivalent to a river without a source, or a tree without roots. That wasn’t all; the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array could also be used to summon the Core of the Netherworld. Then, the power of the Netherworld would spread across this land. This place would turn into a paradise for Netherworld Sect and Hell for all the other cultivators.
Thinking back to several years ago, Xin Xuan Ming had led a group of people to pursue Xue Yue to this place. At the time, he had been intercepted by the Star Master outside the Star. More than ten Starships belonging to the Netherworld Sect had fired their Crystal Cannons all at the same time, but the ridiculous thing was that it only took a few barrages from the Crystal Cannons to break through the Star Master’s blockade, after which they marched right in.
Over the next few years, the Netherworld Sect and the rest of the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field had covered the entire Tong Xuan Realm in their tracks, while the Star Master here had no power to resist whatsoever. She could only hide away to protect a small group of people within a tiny area.
[Since she wants to do things the hard way, she can only blame herself for not being strong enough. It will not take much longer. At most, another half a year before the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array is fully formed. When that time comes, that Star Master won’t even be able to think about resisting!]
All of a sudden, a great crisis descended from the sky. It was accompanied by an indescribably horrifying pressure. Xin Xuan Ming felt like a huge mountain was pressing down on his chest and his expression changed abruptly as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
The place where he was located was also the place where the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core was located. Many of the disciples of Netherworld Sect and the other Sects from Grand Desolation Star Field were gathered here. The defence here was extremely tight, so Xin Xuan Ming never imagined that somebody would launch a sneak attack here and time had shown that to truly be the case. Over the years, those rats had only assaulted this place once before when the initial preparations for the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array had been underway. After that, they vanished without a trace.
Therefore, Xin Xuan Ming had been cultivating in retreat here without any worries. He was simply waiting for the day the Spirit Array would be completed. That was the day he would come out of retreat and turn the rivers red with the blood of the people he slaughtered.
While in retreat, his mind needed to be fully focused and he could not afford to be disturbed at all; however, that huge pressure from the sky forced him out of his meditative state. If that was all, Xin Xuan Ming would not have suffered any injuries from the rude awakening, it was just that the pressure was so terrifying that even he couldn’t afford to take it lightly. He bent over, injured by the force of the pressure, his eyes filled with horror as he desperately circulated his Saint Qi.
Standing up under the tremendous pressure, he took a step forward and arrived outside of the hall.
He looked around and saw that the surroundings were in a miserable state. Countless disciples of Grand Desolation Star Field were crushed against the ground, staining it with splatters of red blood that stood out glaringly. It was the blood that these cultivators had coughed up, while some with weaker cultivations had even exploded into blood mist on the spot.
In just the blink of an eye, hundreds of cultivators had died on the spot.
Lifting his head, Xin Xuan Ming looked up and his eyes narrowed. All he saw was a bright light falling from the sky and a humongous palmprint crashing down on them. The palmprint was so enormous that it covered the entire Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core with space to spare.
[What kind of Divine Ability is this!? Just who is challenging us now?] Even Xin Xuan Ming, who had experienced many great storms, was dumbstruck by this sight. [This kind of power isn’t something an ordinary Origin King can display. The only person who can do something like this in the Tong Xuan Realm is the Star Master who has holed up somewhere for the past several years! But, that Star Master is a woman while that palm print clearly belongs to a man. How is this possible?]
There was no room for consideration in that fleeting moment though as Xin Xuan Ming knew that if he did not defend against this falling palm, the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core would be in danger. Leaving aside how many people would die from the force of that palm strike, all their hard work and persistence over the past few years would be for nought if the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core was destroyed.
As the Vice Sect Master of the Netherworld Sect, he could not stand idly by and do nothing. That seemingly thin body swelled up with a loud roar, similar to a balloon filling with air. At the same time, his clothes billowed around him. An Array Jade appeared in his hand as he formed a set of seals and injected his Saint Qi into it rapidly.
The Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array was a Grand Spirit Array composed of eight smaller sub-Arrays, each of which could operate independently. As the place he was located was also where the Array Core was located, this place was able to handle even more power than the other seven.
The Array Jade in his hands was the controller for the Array Core. The moment the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core was activated, Yang Kai let out a soft exclamation of surprise as he fell from the sky. The huge ‘black ink stain’ beneath him suddenly distorted and squirmed. Immediately following that, thick Black Qi gathered in one place and transformed into a ghost hand, its fingers sharp like claws as it stabbed upward into the sky.
Looking at it from above, the ghost hand did not look that large, but in reality, it was gigantic beyond comparison. When it spread its palm open, it was large enough to encompass an area approximately 100 kilometres wide. Moreover, the aura it was exuding was extremely powerful and did not seem easy to deal with.
Naturally, that was only when considering ordinary Third-Order Origin Kings. This Array was set up by cultivators in the Origin King Realm, so its power could not exceed a certain limit despite its potency. Unfortunately, Yang Kai happened to be an existence that exceeded all those limits and broke all of such preconceived notions.
“How troublesome!” Yang Kai muttered under his breath and exerted slightly more strength. The palmprint that could cover the world suddenly doubled in size and power instantaneously.
Xin Xuan Ming originally had a frosty expression on his face. With the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core in his control, he believed that the enemy’s ambush would not succeed; however, when he was about to control the ghost hand to clash against the enemy, he saw the descending palmprint rapidly expand, causing his calm expression to turn into one of shock.
[The enemy still had strength left to spare?! How is that even possible?!] He almost thought that there was something wrong with his eyes, but the increased pressure coming down on him proved that it was not a lie.
Under Xin Xuan Ming’s dumbfounded gaze, the black ghost hand and the huge palmprint slammed into each other. The palmprint paused for a moment before pressing down abruptly. The colour of the palmprint had grown distinctly duller than before, but the ghost hand was far worse off. It looked like a thin wooden stick that was splintering apart little by little, and despite pouring every last bit of his strength into it, Xin Xuan Ming still couldn’t stop the palmprint from bearing down.
The whole world darkened instantaneously.
As the palmprint smashed down on the ‘black ink stain’, a wave of violent pressure swept out and crushed the ground below it to form a large depression. A gigantic trench appeared suddenly as a result, and the ‘black ink stain’ was smashed apart at the same time. Looking down from above, a distinct five-fingered palmprint could be seen dug into the ground, covering the entire region where the ‘black ink stain’ had once been.
*Peng peng peng…*
Strange muffled noises rang out as one after another, the bodies of the cultivators within the ‘black ink stain’ exploded into clouds of blood mists. None of the cultivators below the Origin King Realm were spared. They either couldn’t withstand the pressure of the palmprint crushing down on them or they were squashed into meat patties by its eventual impact. Similarly, the buildings in the surroundings had turned into dust.
Only a few Origin Kings were lucky enough to escape with their lives, but all of them were seriously injured. Many didn’t even realize what was going on. All they felt was a sense of crisis looming over them before they collapsed in pain. At this moment, they were looking around their surroundings in confusion and their mouths fell open in shock. The Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array had been broken!
All the efforts of Grand Desolation Star Field’s operation here over the past few years had been crushed to pieces, literally. Concurrently, the hundreds of disciples they had brought with them had all either died or been critically wounded. The losses suffered were devastating.
Xin Xuan Ming vomited a large amount of blood as everything below his knees had been smashed, exposing bone while blood flowed out freely. Collapsing to the ground, he could only stare up in horror.
He had the highest cultivation in this place; he was the strongest; he had control over the Array Core; therefore, he thought that he could use the power of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core to resist this invader, but in the end, he had still underestimated his opponent’s strength. He bore the brunt of the attack after the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core was destroyed, so he suffered the most miserable fate. Even the Array Jade in his hand had exploded, covering him in soot and dust. Even though the other Origin Kings suffered severe injuries, none of them was in as bad of a condition as he.
[Who is it!? Just Who!? How is it possible for such a shockingly powerful person to exist in this place!? He destroyed the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core with a single palm strike! Impossible!]
As if sensing something, Xin Xuan Ming looked up and saw a handsome young man slowly descending from the sky. The young man stood in mid-air, looking down on them.
[Is it him!?] He released his Divine Sense and discovered that he could not detect the young man’s cultivation. A seven-or-eight-year-old girl followed closely behind that young man and landed next to his side. She was exquisite and lovely, but she also gave off an unfathomable feeling.
“Who… are you, Your Excellency…” Xin Xuan Ming endured the stabbing pains coming from his wounds and asked in a bitter tone. Under this person’s stare, he couldn’t even form the desire to escape. He knew today was the day he would meet his end, but even so, he wanted to die knowing the reason for his death. At the very least, he wanted to know who was attacking them.
[Perhaps… I might even be able to inform them about this before I die…]
“It looks like I didn’t kill the wrong person,” Yang Kai ignored Xin Xuan Ming. Turning his head, he glanced around at all the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field. Next, he stepped out and arrived in front of Xin Xuan Ming. Then, he placed one foot on the old man’s chest, put his arm against his thigh, and leaned down to stare at Xin Xuan Ming, “Old thing, I’d like to ask you about the whereabouts of someone. Where is the Star Master of this Star?”
“Pei!” Xin Xuan Ming opened his mouth and spat a mouthful of blood in Yang Kai’s direction. This person was cruel and merciless and it was clear that he was targeting them, so Xin Xuan Ming knew that he was not going to survive today, even begging for mercy was useless. If that was the case, he might as well save that effort and act as he pleased instead.
Yang Kai waved his hand and the blood flowed backwards, rushing back into Xin Xuan Ming’s mouth; however, the liquid somehow became incredibly hard and smashed all Xin Xuan Ming’s teeth. Yang Kai smiled savagely, “How dare you spit at me. Have you gotten sick of living, you old dog?”
Xin Xuan Ming sneered, “Hurry up and get on with it. Why are you wasting your breath?”
Yang Kai laughed mockingly, “Kill you? What thing are you? I refuse to kill you.”
“If you don’t kill me, you will pay for this a hundred times over once I recover!” Xin Xuan Ming yelled.
“Then, I’ll be waiting for you.” Yang Kai grinned at Xin Xuan Ming and removed his foot from the other party’s chest. Turning around, he glanced toward another Origin King Realm Master.
Behind Yang Kai, a flash of delight flitted through Xin Xuan Ming’s eyes. [The taunting method sure is useful. Although it can be rather cliché, it often works wonders, especially when dealing with these young and powerful Masters like him.]
Yang Kai turned around abruptly and teased, “You can’t be so naïve as to think that I’d really let you go, right?”
Xin Xuan Ming’s heart clenched and his Saint Qi surged, but before he could do anything, a burst of energy rushed towards him and slammed into his head. His eyes widened in surprise, and he died with his eyes wide open just like that.
“Seriously; what a sly and deceitful old dog!” Yang Kai coldly snorted. Then, he looked over at the injured Origin King Realm Masters and asked loudly, “Alright. Now, who can answer my question?”
His voice was not that loud when he was asking all those questions just now, but even so, the ones still alive here were all Origin Kings, so how could they have failed to hear him? Upon hearing this, one of them cautiously answered, “Will you let me live if I tell you the answer?”
When his voice rang out, his entire body shuddered without warning. After that, both his arms separated from his body. The pain made him screech out in agony. He staggered backwards unsteadily and fell to the ground, feeling a wave of cold air around his legs. Looking down, he saw that both his legs below his knees were gone. All his limbs had been chopped off! Blood-curdling screams resounded through the sky. Following that, he felt pain coming from his dantian as his Qi all began leaking out from his body. His cultivation had been crippled!
Everybody was horrified.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai coldly snorted, “I was just asking. It’s up to you whether you answer me or not.”
“Attack!” Somebody shouted.
Yang Kai’s cruel and tyrannical acts clearly indicated that answering him would not allow them to survive. Every here was an Origin King, and none of them were fools. Even if he promised to let them live, none of them would dare to believe him. The only hope they had to survive was to join forces against him.
“Charge!” Somebody else immediately echoed the first and all of them rushed towards Yang Kai. Eight figures surrounded Yang Kai in an instant, each of them brimming with murderous intent as they charged forward…
After a while, the ground was scattered with dead bodies. It was a large area, but Yang Kai and Liu Yan were the only two people alive.
In the end, not everybody was unshakeable. Although the surviving Origin King Realm Masters had joined forces at the last moment, their efforts were no different from ants trying to shake a tree. They watched Yang Kai’s deadly and savage attitude as he killed them. Eventually, one of them broke down from the pressure and told Yang Kai the answer he wanted to know. He didn’t manage to escape death, but his death was quick and painless.
“Nine Heavens Holy Land?” Yang Kai turned his head and looked in a certain direction. [What a familiar name.]
He had been the Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land during his time in Tong Xuan Realm. Later, he brought a group of subordinates from Nine Heavens Holy Land to Shadowed Star with him; however, he had not seen hide nor hair of them on Shadowed Star so far.
They must have returned to this land with Xia Ning Chang; after all, this was their homeland. They couldn’t watch their homeland being invaded by foreign enemies and do nothing. Besides, Xia Ning Chang had chosen Nine Heavens Holy Land as her base due to a sense of nostalgia toward him.
“Let’s go!” Yang Kai beckoned to Liu Yan.
Liu Yan darted to his side and flew towards Nine Heavens Holy Land with him.
Just after Xin Xuan Ming was killed and the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array was broken, one of the old men in the Third-Order Origin King Realm located at another ‘black ink stain’ on Tong Xuan Realm suddenly shuddered. He came out of his mediation and opened his eyes with a fearful expression. He had vaguely sensed something at that moment. It felt as though a crisis was looming just next to them. Frowning, he took out an Array Jade and used his Saint Qi to appraise it for a bit. All of a sudden, his expression changed.
The Array Jade he held was a controller for part of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array. Due to the special traits of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array, this Array Jade could communicate with the other seven Spirit Jades and they could perceive each other through them.
The old man could tell through this Array Jade that six places were safe; however, there was no response from the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core.
He seemed to have lost contact with it.
For an instant, an incredulous thought popped into his mind and he did not dare to neglect this matter. Thus, he stood up and quickly entered a secret room. That secret room was filled with the writings of various Runes and Spirit Arrays of mysterious purpose.
He activated a certain Spirit Array, and the entire secret room flashed bright and dark intermittently. A short while later, a blurry figure suddenly appeared in front of him. That figure only contained the outline of a person and there were no facial features visible on him. Rather, its appearance was like a stream of water, changing constantly. That figure spoke as soon as it appeared, “Third Elder, I was just about to contact you. A commotion broke out at the place where Vice Sect Master Xin was at, so I contacted him to ask about the situation; however, I did not receive any response and now, the connections between the Array Jades have disappeared. Third Elder, do you know if anything has happened to Vice Sect Master Xin?”
When the Third Elder heard those words, the uneasy feeling in his heart grew stronger. If his Array Jade was the only one that lost its connection with the Array Core, then it might have been nothing more than a minor technical issue that could be resolved shortly.
Unfortunately, it seemed as though this person was facing the same issue. Combined with the fact that this person, who was the closest to the Array Core, had sensed a commotion, it would seem that this was turning into a huge problem.
The Third Elder replied, “I also called you because of the issue with my Array Jade. I’m not sure about the details. It’s just that Vice Sect Master Xin isn’t responding. Let’s wait and see how the others are doing.”
While the two of them were speaking, several illusory figures appeared one after another inside this secret room. Even though they were physically far apart from each other, they could still gather together and communicate as if they were face to face. It was all thanks to the help of the Spirit Array within the secret room, which made things very convenient for them.
Including the Third Elder, there were seven figures inside the secret room. They were none other than the top Masters of Grand Desolation Star Field who were guarding the seven parts of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array in seven different locations.
After a brief exchange, they discovered a shocking fact: They had completely lost contact with the Array Core. Moreover, there was no news from Vice Sect Master Xin. Silence fell over the room for a moment. Then, somebody exclaimed in horror, “It can’t be that…”
“Impossible!” Somebody else shot it down immediately, “Vice Sect Master Xin is a Third-Order Origin King! None of us were his equal, and now he is in control of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core! Who can stand a chance against him now?! It’s impossible for anything to happen to Vice Sect Master Xin.”
“Third Brother You, you are the closest to the Array Core. Tell us what you saw just now.” Everyone cast their gaze at the figure that was the first to appear.
Third Brother You spoke in a low voice, “A stream of light fell from the sky, followed by a huge earthquake that shook the land. Then, there was no more contact from the Array Core.”
The silence in the secret room became heavier.
He continued, “Although I can’t believe it, judging by the current situation… I’m afraid that Vice Sect Master Xin might be…” While speaking, he shuddered from the chill running down his back. If that was truly the case, then Netherworld Sect had truly provoked an incredible enemy. Still… who could be so shockingly powerful?
“Third Elder, what should we do now?”
The Third Elder’s expression was grim as he pondered in silence for a moment before breathing out slowly. It seemed like he had made a difficult decision, “We have to cut off the lizard’s tail!”
Everyone was shocked and somebody immediately said, “Third Elder, I don’t think that’s appropriate. We have been operating in this place for several years and only need to wait for another half a year to achieve success. If we act hastily, then all our previous efforts would have been in vain!”
“That’s right. It’s not too late for us to decide once we’ve confirmed the situation with Vice Sect Master Xin.”
“Fools!” He scoffed coldly, “I know you are unwilling to accept reality, but with the facts placed in front of you, how can you still continue to deny it? Would Vice Sect Master Xin not contact us if he was safe? Why can’t we detect the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core? I’m afraid the situation on the other side is… disastrous. Regardless of who attacked us, that person or group is extremely strong. We don’t have the means to defend against them.”
[If our opponent is someone who can kill Vice Sect Master Xin despite the support he had from the Array Core, then that person or people are perfectly capable of barging into our locations and taking our lives as well.]
“It takes courage for a strong man to cut off his hand to save his life. Besides, our efforts will not be wasted.”
“Third Elder, what do you mean…”
The Third Elder sneered, “It’s time to bait the snake out of the hole. It’s also time for that secret chess piece to be of use. As long as we can subdue that Star Master, it won’t matter whether we have the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array or not. If we can take control of the Star Master’s power, I don’t see why we can’t defeat this new, powerful enemy.”
When the others heard those words, they fell into deep thought and understood what he was planning to do. Third Brother You was the first to agree, “I agree with the Third Elder’s decision.”
The main reason was that staying in their respective areas would give them no sense of security anyway, so they might as well take a leap of faith. At least, there was a glimmer of hope with that option.
Everybody here was in the Origin King Realm, and having lived for hundreds of years, they quickly understood the pros and cons of the decision before them. Hence, nobody raised any other opposition and simply nodded in agreement.
“Now that it’s decided, let’s go and prepare ourselves. We’ll begin in a quarter-hour. I’m sure it will catch them by surprise!”
Everybody agreed, and the figures dissipated like flowing water. Soon, only the Third Elder was left in the secret room. He stood motionlessly, frowning deeply. The unease in his heart had not gone away. Rather, it had gotten stronger after the decision he made. Gritting his teeth, he pushed aside the irrelevant thoughts in his head before turning to leave the secret room. At this point, he had no better solution.
…
Yang Kai’s brow was wrinkled throughout the entire journey toward Nine Heavens Holy Land. Looking down at the land below him, his expression was very gloomy. Tong Xuan Realm’s current situation was highly precarious. The World Energy was even weaker than when he was last here. The mountains and rivers had lost the so-called charm they used to have, and the entire Star seemed to be suffering from a serious illness.
If this situation were to continue, it wouldn’t take more than 100 years for the World Energy to disappear completely, even if Netherworld Sect and the Grand Desolation Star Field cultivators stopped actively ravaging the Star. It would be impossible to raise new cultivators in such a situation. Moreover, the lives of the ordinary people would become more and more difficult with time. Once the World Energy was completely exhausted, the Star Source would collapse, and Tong Xuan Realm would turn into a Dead Star that could no longer support any living creatures.
There were countless Dead Stars in the Star Field and many of them had undergone this very transformation, step by step, in this manner. Perhaps tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years ago, those Stars had been thriving and filled with life. Unfortunately, even the Stars would slowly die as the years went by, regardless of how brightly they used to burn. Humans go through the cycle of birth and death, and the Stars were not an exception to that cycle either.
The world that cultivators lived in had been greatly affected; of course, ordinary mortals would have it worse. Disasters would occur endlessly as the end approached, causing countless people to lose their homes and lives. There would be tragedies everywhere.
Even if Yang Kai drove the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field away, the situation on Tong Xuan Realm would not improve without outside assistance.
Although he had not returned to Tong Xuan Realm for many years, he was the Holy Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land and he was very familiar with this piece of land. Thinking that he would meet Xia Ning Chang and Xue Yue soon, his mood lightened significantly. [Let’s meet up with them first before cleaning out the rats from Grand Desolation Star Field.]
The Nine Peaks were as beautiful and refreshing as a spring day. They were rich with World Energy and thousands of cultivators had gathered here, but many of them looked anxious and forlorn. This was the last piece of pure land in the entirety of Tong Xuan Realm. Xia Ning Chang might not have been able to prevent the invasion of the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field or stop them from arranging the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array, which poisoned Tong Xuan Realm’s World Energy; however, she was still capable of sheltering Nine Heavens Holy Land from those two threats. With her here, the enemy would never be able to set foot into the Nine Peaks.
At this moment, many silhouettes could be seen inside the great hall. These figures consisted of Old Demon and Meng Wu Ya who were the leaders of this group; the Saintess of Nine Heavens Holy Land, An Ling’er; Elder Xu Hui; Li Rong and Han Fei of the Ancient Demon Clan; Hu Jiao’er and Hu Mei’er, the sisters of Twin Spirit Pavilion; the Palace Master of Dragon Phoenix Palace; Wu Jie… All these people in the great hall were Yang Kai’s old acquaintances. There were approximately 30 of them here, and besides a few that he had met back in the Great Han Dynasty, the rest were people that he had met in Tong Xuan Realm.
Aside from them though, there was also another familiar figure amongst this group, the Young Union Master of Sword Union and the son of Gu Cang Yun, Gu Jian Xin. This person had a Special Constitution known as the Universe Sword Body. He was born with an extraordinary talent for swordsmanship, and despite not seeing each other for many years, he remained as suave as before. His Sword Servants, Ling Yue and An Xing, stood at attention by his sides.
Years of training had made him more and more unyielding. He no longer had the imposing Sword Intent he used to have. Instead, he gave off the feeling of a sword hidden in its scabbard. There were no sharp edges exposed on the outside, but instead a sense of calm majesty and hidden ferocity that would only be unleashed when he drew his sword.
At this moment, Gu Cang Yun was talking to another person in a low voice. The other party was none other than Zi Wu Ji, the Sect Master of one of Heng Luo Star Field’s top forces, Purple Star.
In the past, Zi Long, the Master of Purple Star, had a dispute with Yang Kai because of matters involving his first son. Consequently, he was killed by Yang Kai and the Embodiment in the Starry Sky. That incident had left Purple Star without a leader for many years. Internal conflicts had continued endlessly and, in the end, Zi Wu Ji had taken over to become the new Sect Master of Purple Star.
Unfortunately, the Grand Desolation Star Field had invaded Tong Xuan Realm before Zi Wu Ji could enjoy his new position.
The strength of Purple Star had been reduced greatly compared to the past due to the long-term internal conflict it suffered over the years; therefore, it was completely helpless against the Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field. It only managed to stand its ground against the invaders for half a year before it was completely annihilated, losing several Cultivation Stars in the process.
Seeing that the situation was not in their favour, Zi Wu Ji took some subordinates with him and sought refuge under Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce. They managed to lead a peaceful life for some time there; however, Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce eventually fell too. Thus, he could only follow Xue Yue and escape to Tong Xuan Realm.
Sword Union’s experience was similar. The cultivators of the Grand Desolation Star Field had been acting lawlessly in Heng Luo Star Field for many years, and Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce couldn’t maintain its resistance against the invasion. Sword Union was similarly powerless to resist. In this way, several of the former top forces fell, one after the other.
That was the reason why everybody had gathered here. Nine Heavens Holy Land was not just the last untouched oasis on Tong Xuan Realm, but also one of the few refuges in the Star Field as a whole; it was their only remaining hope. If they couldn’t defend this place, then there would be no place for them anymore.
For that reason, they had not been sitting around, twiddling their thumbs and waiting for their deaths to come. When they noticed that the Netherworld Sect was arranging the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array, they launched a series of attacks. Unfortunately, the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array was so powerful that they couldn’t slip through the defences of the Spirit Array. Moreover, being exposed to that Black Qi for a long time would cause dizziness and weakness. Their Saint Qi would also become useless as a consequence. Although they managed to kill some people, those people were mere pawns. The deaths of those pawns had little impact on the Netherworld Sect’s plans.
It could be said that these people, along with Nine Heavens Holy Land, had reached the end of their rope. They might not know what the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array was supposed to do, but they could sense that the moment it was activated, even Xia Ning Chang would no longer be able to protect them. In the end, the foundation of Tong Xuan Realm was too superficial. If it was a Star like Shadowed Star or Water Moon Star, the cultivators of the Grand Desolation Star Field would not have been allowed to roam free with its Star Master overseeing it.
“How is Young Lady Xia doing today?” Zi Wu Ji asked in a whisper.
Gu Jian Xin held a simple longsword in his arms and shook his head slowly, “I haven’t seen her for two months. The last time I saw her… Haa… It’s better not to talk about it.” For a person like that to suffer such torture because of the Grand Desolation Star Field’s poison made his heart hurt just thinking about it.
“Is Lady Xue Yue taking care of her?”
“En.” He nodded, “They are sisters with the same husband. It’s only right for them to take care of each other.”
“Brother Yang sure is a lucky man.” Zi Wu Ji chuckled and continued, “Still, isn’t he a little too unmanly? He escaped but left his women here to suffer in his place.”
Gu Jian Xin frowned when he heard those words. He was a swordsman with a straightforward nature, so he disliked hearing other people talking badly about others behind their backs. Even so, that was their freedom so he couldn’t rebuke them even if he disliked their behaviour.
Speaking of which, even he felt that Yang Kai’s actions were a little too much. Yang Kai had left this place, leaving several women behind to struggle and fend for themselves in this Star Field. Several dozen years had gone by since then with no news from him.
[I wonder if he couldn’t return, or if he had forgotten about these beautiful confidantes of his. If it was the latter… Then, it would be just too sad.]
Zi Wu Ji bitterly added, “Young Lady Xia is exquisite, intelligent, and gentle, if only I could obtain her favour…”
“Brother Zi!” Gu Jian Xin abruptly lifted his head and glowered at Zi Wu Ji in warning.
Other people might not know, but Gu Jian Xin knew only too well. Ever since the first time Zi Wu Ji laid eyes on Xia Ning Chang, he had been lovestruck. Oftentimes, his feelings of love were expressed in his words, albeit discreetly. Gu Jian Xin had always pretended not to notice, especially since they were currently stuck in this tough situation where every ally mattered. Besides, Zi Wu Ji was a Second-Order Origin King and such a minor issue wasn’t worth causing trouble over. However, Zi Wu Ji’s words today were beyond what could simply be brushed off as ‘indiscreet’.
Then again… Although Xia Ning Chang always wore a veil that concealed her true countenance, anybody would still be moved by her beauty. Xue Yue wasn’t inferior to her either, but she had an extraordinarily high status, so it was inevitable that she exuded a sense of arrogance and aloofness that created a sense of distance between herself and others. On the other hand, Xia Ning Chang was a Star Master and a Third-Order Origin King, but even so, she had never once shown the slightest arrogance; she also had an incredibly gentle nature. What man wouldn’t want to get their hands on a woman like that? She was the very model of a loyal wife and a good mother. Any man who could obtain her would be extremely blessed.
Zi Wu Ji couldn’t be blamed for falling in love with her; however, it was also possible that he simply wanted to take advantage of the situation. Xia Ning Chang was a Star Master after all, so it would be a good deed if he could marry her. With her by his side, becoming a Third-Order Origin King in the future would be more than just a dream.
Gu Jian Xin and Zi Wu Ji were not very close; in fact, they had barely interacted with each other before coming to Tong Xuan Realm, so Gu Jian Xin didn’t know much about the latter’s personality. However, the latter’s words had crossed a line so he had no choice but to speak up in warning.
If Zi Wu Ji had revealed such intentions in front of others, he would surely be ostracized by Xue Yue, Meng Wu Ya and the others.
Knowing that he had misspoken, Zi Wu Ji smiled embarrassedly, “How lucky. How lucky.”
Nobody knew who he was talking about.
At the same time, Xia Ning Chang was lying weakly in bed in one of the rooms in the inner palace. A faint layer of Black Qi shrouded her entire body as if she was dying from a terminal illness.
Tong Xuan Realm had been poisoned by the Netherworld Sect, so as its Star Master, she was most directly affected by it. The Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array felt like chains shackling her body. Meanwhile, the eight Spirit Arrays in different locations were like poisonous sores growing on her body, constantly draining her vitality.
Her veil had been removed, revealing a face that could move the moon and stars with her beauty. Right now though, her complexion was deathly pale, and she was breathing shallowly, a distressing sight to see.
Xue Yue sat on the edge of the bed, holding Xia Ning Chang’s hand without letting go, full of feelings of self-loathing.
When Water Moon Star had fallen, she had no choice but to come to Tong Xuan Realm to seek shelter from Xia Ning Chang; however, that now seemed to have been the worst possible decision.
Tong Xuan Realm was located on the periphery of the Star Field, so it was not highly valued by Grand Desolation Star Field. It was only because she had brought her group here that Xue Yue had attracted her pursuers to this place. If it wasn’t for her, Tong Xuan Realm would not have been besieged, and Xia Ning Chang would not have to suffer such torture.
The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt.
[How I wish I could take her place instead!]
The figure of a man appeared in her mind at that moment, and gritting her teeth hard, she scolded in her heart, [Where are you right now?!]
All of a sudden, Xia Ning Chang, who was lying on the bed, groaned. Her delicate brow knitted together as her aura became unstable.
Xue Yue was startled and quickly lifted her hand to place it against Xia Ning Chang’s forehead. At the same time, she circulated her Saint Qi and poured it into Xia Ning Chang’s body. Only then did Xia Ning Chang’s frown gradually ease and her fluctuating aura stabilize again.
Even so, Xue Yue didn’t stop her actions as she was worried that Xia Ning Chang might still be experiencing discomfort in her body.
*Shua…*
Xia Ning Chang opened her eyes suddenly and a brilliant light flashed across them.
“Ning Chang!” Xue Yue whispered, more surprised than happy. It had been a long time since she had seen that kind of expression on Xia Ning Chang’s face. For the past few years, Xia Ning Chang had been ill and weakened, losing a lot of weight in the process, becoming thin and withered.
[What’s going on? Did the Grand Desolation Star Field finally take action!?]
“He…” Xia Ning Chang raised a hand and grabbed Xue Yue’s arm hard. She used so much force that Xue Yue felt some pain from it.
“Speak slowly. I’m right here,” Xue Yue quickly comforted Xia Ning Chang.
“H-He’s here!” Xia Ning Chang said.
“Who’s here?” Xue Yue asked suspiciously. The moment the words left her mouth, she froze as a thought that she did not dare to believe popped into her mind.
Xia Ning Chang smiled, “He’s here!”
They were the same words, but this time around, Xue Yue could clearly understand what Xia Ning Chang was trying to express. Her heart began pounding wildly as she bit her lip and asked, “I-Is he really here?”
Xia Ning Chang nodded slightly, “I can feel that he is coming this way. Elder Sister Yue, please go and pick him up… but… don’t bring him to me.”
After saying that, she closed her eyes as if she had gone to sleep. However, there was a slight energy fluctuation coming from her body.
At the same time, a few tens of thousands of kilometres away, Yang Kai suddenly exclaimed in surprise and stopped moving. The surrounding World Energy was reacting strangely as small spots of lights flickered like countless fireflies around him. Those lights soon converged into one spot in the middle and transformed into a beautiful, colourful butterfly that fluttered about nearby.
He grinned and stretched out a finger, upon which the butterfly immediately landed on his finger.
“Little Senior Sister!” He called out softly, looking at the colourful butterfly on his finger. This butterfly could not have appeared without reason. The only possibility was that somebody had used some sort of Secret Technique. Furthermore, there was no other person who could pull this off except Xia Ning Chang. It would seem that she had sensed his arrival and deliberately gave him some instructions, for fear that he could not find her or the others. It was not surprising that she could detect his arrival as she was the Star Master here after all.
[Still… Why didn’t Ning Chang show up in person?] Yang Kai did not have the time to consider the question deeply as the butterfly spread its wings and flew up high, leading the way ahead. Its destination was the location of the Nine Heavens Holy Land, and though its movements seemed light and gentle, its speed was incredible, seemingly reflecting the urgency in its summoner’s heart.
Yang Kai stopped thinking too much about it as he felt he would see her in a few moments anyway. Once he did, everything would become clear.
Inside the main hall of the Nine Heavens Holy Land, everyone fell silent the moment a certain someone entered.
Meng Wu Ya hurriedly stood up and looked at Xue Yue anxiously, “Lady Yue, how is Ning Chang?”
He had raised Xia Ning Chang like his own daughter, so it was only to be expected that he would be uneasy now that she was surrounded by dangers. It was just that her current condition was not due to an ordinary injury or illness. Instead, it was closely related to the vitality of Tong Xuan Realm. More importantly, there was no cure for this. The only solution was to drive away all the invaders from Grand Desolation Star Field and find a way to restore the Star itself. Perhaps, she might then recover on her own once the vitality of the Star was revived after a period of several hundreds of years.
Xue Yue shook her head gently.
Meng Wu Ya immediately understood that the situation was not optimistic; thus, he slammed his palm down in chagrin and the chair below him turned into dust.
Old Demon asked, “What’s the matter, Lady Yue?”
Seeing a trace of excitement in Xue Yue’s solemn expression, he immediately realized that something was up. He lifted his gaze and looked out of the hall. However, he did not see anything when he followed her gaze. The Nine Peaks were currently under the protection of the Star Master, Xia Ning Chang, so it was impossible for the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field to barge in.
Xue Yue resisted the excitement in her heart and walked out of the hall. When everybody saw that, they glanced at each other and followed her and soon, a large crowd soon gathered outside.
Meng Wu Ya looked at Old Demon; both of them shook their heads slowly. They did not know what was going on.
All of a sudden, the Nine Peaks hummed and shuddered.
Meng Wu Ya paled, “Someone is coming!”
The rest also looked like they were preparing to face the enemy.
Xue Yue lifted her hand, “No need to be nervous.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, they settled down. They lifted their heads and looked into the distance, watching as the Spirit Array rumbled before splitting open. It wasn’t because an enemy had managed to slip through the defence. Rather, it opened on its own.
The control jade for the array was in Xue Yue’s hands, and Xia Ning Chang was the only other person. Aside from her, who could control it? Since she wasn’t doing anything and the array was being activated on its own, it had to be Xia Ning Chang’s doing.
Before they could understand why Xia Ning Chang did this though, a figure suddenly walked out of the mist. It looked like that person barely made any movement, but they stood in front of the crowd in a few steps. Their speed was so fast that none of them could react.
All eyes turned to that person and everybody was frozen in place as if they had been struck by a Binding Secret Technique. Only Xue Yue watched Yang Kai quietly. Her eyes were gleaming with a complicated mixture of love and hate before they gradually reddened.
Yang Kai smiled at her. With that, her tears began to fall uncontrollably and slide down her cheeks. Although she had not heard from this man for several dozen years, he still appeared in front of her at the most critical moment. It instantly made her rely on him. She wasn’t as anxious as before, and her emotions had calmed down considerably.
“Young Master!” Old Demon was so emotional that his lips trembled.
“Greetings, Holy Master!” Similarly, An Ling’er, Xu Hui, and the others returned to their senses, swiftly stepped forward, and cupped their fists.
“Greetings, Master!” Li Rong and Han Fei of the Ancient Demon Clan also hurriedly bowed.
“Yang Kai…” Hu Jiao’er and her little sister exclaimed, lifting their hands to cover their red lips.
Every single gaze fixed on him was filled with disbelief. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that Yang Kai would appear here at this moment. It felt as if they were dreaming.
Zi Wu Ji said in astonishment, “Elder Brother Gu, is he really…”
“En. He’s back. The Master of Shadowed Star!” Gu Jian Xin replied solemnly. He was frowning slightly as he gripped the sword in his arms a little tighter.
At that moment, the simple longsword in his arms was conveying a sense of terror to him, one so strong that he couldn’t even gather any fighting spirit when he glanced at Yang Kai. As a swordsman, something like this was supposed to be impossible. A swordsman’s character was calm and resolute. Generally, their first thought upon meeting a strong opponent was to battle them to temper their Sword Dao; however, his sword was warning him that he was no match for Yang Kai the moment he saw him. [Just how great is his cultivation?! How much stronger is he to be able to make even my Sword Spirit fear him?]
Meanwhile, Zi Wu Ji was startled when he heard those words. [So, it’s him! I can’t believe it’s him!]
Back then, Yang Kai had been rather arrogant on Purple Star’s Home Star. He even killed several Masters while he rampaged. Later, Purple Star confirmed that both Zi Long and his son had both died at Yang Kai’s hands; therefore, their hatred towards Yang Kai was absolutely irreconcilable.
Nevertheless, it was not the first time Zi Wu Ji had met Yang Kai; however, after so long, it was unbelievable for him to suddenly appear now.
The conflict between Yang Kai and his Sect took place decades ago, and right now, Zi Wu Ji needed Xia Ning Chang’s protection to survive. So, how could he possibly show any hostility towards her husband?
Yang Kai walked over to Xue Yue and reached out to wipe away her tears, whispering in a gentle voice, “Don’t cry. I’m back.”
Xue Yue’s tears stopped and turning her head away, she refused to let him touch her. Then, she reached her hand up and rubbed at the corners of her eyes.
He was stunned, but he couldn’t cause a fuss in front of so many people. He waved his hand dismissively and said, “Be at ease.”
Everybody immediately straightened without any resistance.
“Where is Ning Chang?” He glanced at Xue Yue. Despite leading him here, Xia Ning Chang had yet to show herself. That could only mean that something was wrong. Combined with what he had seen prior to this, he couldn’t help feeling very uneasy.
Xue Yue lowered her eyes without saying anything. Thus, he raised his head to look at Meng Wu Ya. In response, Meng Wu Ya sighed and shook his head slowly. That immediately made Yang Kai’s expression crumble. All the expectations he had fell apart, and his heart sank into an endless abyss.
“Come with me,” Xue Yue called out to him as she headed into the inner palace. She might hold a lot of resentment towards him, but when it came down to it, what happened wasn’t his fault, so how could she blame him for it? She was not the kind of woman to find fault with others for no reason. The truth was that she blamed herself for leading her pursuers here, bringing this disaster down on Tong Xuan Realm and Xia Ning Chang. More precisely, her cold attitude towards him wasn’t because of her resentment; it was mostly because she was too ashamed to look at him.
[I am the culprit. It’s my fault if anything happens to her!]
Yang Kai stepped forward to keep up with her. Reaching out, he grabbed her soft hands. Her small hands were ice cold; it almost felt like they had no temperature at all. Despite struggling lightly against him, she couldn’t break free of his hold. After that, she stopped struggling but did not dare to look him in the eye.
The two of them vanished out of sight soon after, but following their departure, a heavy silence remained outside the great hall. The depression and anxiety they had been suffering from for a long time were not relieved by Yang Kai’s arrival in any way. Regardless of how high Yang Kai’s cultivation currently was, even if he could drive the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field away, Xia Ning Chang would still not be able to recover from her wounds so easily.
Just then, another small figure suddenly walked over.
Meng Wu Ya made a soft cry of surprise as he looked in that direction and immediately revealed a shocked expression. He discovered that the small figure belonged to a seven or eight year old girl. She was exquisite and adorable, yet gave one a strange feeling when they looked at her. After considering it for a moment, he realized what was so strange about her. She had no expression! There was neither happiness, anger, sorrow, or fear on this little girl’s face. It was like a dried-up well, which was very odd.
A colourful butterfly was fluttering in front of the little girl as she walked over from the foot of the mountain, step by step, unhurriedly. She seemed to be chasing after the butterfly while at the same time, it also seemed as though she was walking down a path she did not want to miss.
…
“She probably doesn’t want to meet you,” Xue Yue stopped outside a certain room in the inner palace, lowering her head as she spoke. Just because Xia Ning Chang said that she did not want to meet Yang Kai did not mean that she really did not want to meet him. She simply did not dare to let him see her haggard appearance. As a woman, Xue Yue could understand her feelings; after all, women always wanted to show their best sides to the man they loved.
Yang Kai held Xue Yue’s hand tightly, “Thank you for everything that you’ve done.”
Her tears gushed out again uncontrollably. All the longing and grievances that she had suffered over the years disappeared with those words. Shaking her head, she said, “Ning Chang had the hardest time out of all of us. You should talk to her, but don’t just force your way in.”
“Good.” He nodded before turning to face the door, lifting his hand and knocking softly. He then called out, “Is anybody in?”
There was no response from inside the room; however, he could clearly detect Xia Ning Chang’s aura inside the room. It was just that her aura was extremely weak. It was like a thin thread that could break at any moment. This discovery broke his heart while at the same time, murderous intent flared up within him. The reason she was in this condition was undoubtedly related to what the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field did to Tong Xuan Realm. All of them had to die, not a single one could be allowed to escape!
“If you’re there, can you please open the door?” Yang Kai restrained his murderous intent and kept his voice as gentle as possible.
Still, there was no response.
He continued, “Ning Chang, I’m back. Can’t I at least see you? I’ve missed you so much. I’ve never forgotten you and often thought about you throughout all these years I’ve been away. I finally returned today. How can you have the heart to lock me out?”
He blabbered on and on for some time.
After a while, Xue Yue grabbed Yang Kai’s arm and shook her head slowly. Xia Ning Chang generally had a gentle and obedient demeanour towards Yang Kai, but also had a stubbornness in her that was not to be underestimated.
Yang Kai sighed and slumped, “Good, rest well, Ning Chang. I’ll go get rid of those pests right now. After I obtain justice for you, I’ll come back to see you again.”
Turning around, he shot a look at Xue Yue and she immediately understood his meaning. Thus, she turned around and followed him outside. They had not taken more than several steps when a loud noise sounded from inside the room. Xue Yue and Yang Kai looked at each other, their complexions turning pale in unison.
With a loud bang, they crashed through the door with Yang Kai rushing over to help Xia Ning Chang up from where she lay on the bed. When he supported her in his arms, he realized that she felt very different from how she used to be. At this point, she could not be described as having just lost some weight. She was practically skin and bones now.
For her height, she was now at least a third lighter than she should be to be considered healthy. The bones underneath her frail body pressed against his hands, feeling like they were stabbing into his heart.
Yang Kai was in no mood to pay attention to her physical appearance though because at this moment she was coughing up blood from her mouth. The bedding was stained red and her body was enveloped in a faint black smog. The Black Qi was churning like a living being, but that wasn’t all; there were certain spots where the colour was extremely dark, as if someone had spilled ink on her.
This situation was exactly the same as the scene Yang Kai had observed while observing Tong Xuan Realm’s condition from the Starry Sky. It was just that those ‘black ink stains’ had covered the Star while these ‘black ink stains’ were on Xia Ning Chang’s body. Upon counting those spots, he saw that they were exactly seven of them!
[Grand Desolation Star Field and Netherworld Sect… You court death!]
Although he did not know why such a change had occurred so suddenly, it was obviously related to something the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field had done. He had just destroyed their Array Core, so for her to suffer such attacks suddenly… It was definitely related to his actions.
The black ink stains slowly expanded. They were not increasing quickly, but the expansion affected Xia Ning Chang’s entire body, and every time they expanded, they devoured some of her vitality and made the Black Qi surrounding her body grow denser. Obviously, the consequences would be disastrous for her once they expanded until they covered her entire body.
“Ning Chang!” Xue Yue was dumbfounded and frozen in place from shock. She never expected that things would turn out like this. She initially thought that it was caused by Xia Ning Chang’s excitement over Yang Kai’s return; however, that did not seem to be the case. This situation was not that simple.
Yang Kai sat sideways on the bed and pulled Xia Ning Chang into his arms so that she was lying in his embrace, he then began sending pure energy into her body.
He had sealed his cultivation and could only draw out power equivalent to an Origin King Realm Master at their peak, but even so, the essence of his Emperor Qi had not changed by much. Emperor Qi was two realms higher compared to Saint Qi; hence, pouring even a small amount into her body had a miraculous effect on her condition.
The speed that the seven black spots were spreading out over her body distinctly slowed down. They even looked to be slightly suppressed. Additionally, the Black Qi on her body that had been churning wildly calmed down too.
Yang Kai kept this up diligently for a quarter of an hour, working carefully and not daring to let his guard down in the slightest. Even so, he could only suppress those seven ‘black ink stains’ to the size of a fist. That was the extent of what he could do.
Besides, he knew that these ‘black ink stains’ on her body were just manifestations of what was actually happening. The damage the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were causing to Tong Xuan Realm was the most fundamental reason for these ‘black ink stains’.
If his guess was correct, it was the effects of the Spirit Arrays that were surging with Yin Qi. Xia Ning Chang’s fate was inextricably intertwined with Tong Xuan Realm’s. If one suffered, both suffered. Therefore, to solve her current problem, he had to first deal with the crisis that was affecting Tong Xuan Realm. In other words, these ‘black ink stains’ could not be removed unless the Spirit Array was completely rooted out.
It was not a difficult task to get rid of the Spirit Arrays and he only needed to go out for a while to do so; however, he had to stabilize her vitality first. The Black Qi and ‘black ink stains’ covering her body were continuously devouring both her and Tong Xuan Realm’s vitality. As she already had a weakened constitution, this immediately caused her condition to worsen. Thus, she would be at risk of death if her vitality was not stabilized immediately.
Yang Kai lifted his hand and tossed quite a number of jade bottles to Xue Yue, “Take out those pills and feed them to her.”
Xue Yue took those jade bottles and opened them without any hesitation. Taking out some of the Spirit Pills within, she pinched Xia Ning Chang’s small mouth open and stuffed those pills into Xia Ning Chang’s mouth. Then, she placed one hand on Xia Ning Chang’s chest and poured some Saint Qi in to help her absorb the medicinal effects.
Unfortunately, the results weren’t promising. These Spirit Pills were only Dao Source Grade, which could only bring about a limited result. Although Yang Kai had many Emperor Grade Spirit Pills on him, he couldn’t give Xia Ning Chang any due to her current cultivation. The effects of one such pill would be enough to cause her body to explode from the potency.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai slapped his palm to his forehead and cursed at himself for being a fool.
[How could I forget about that at such a critical moment?!]
He plunged his Soul Avatar into the Sealed World Bead in the next moment and soon after, a green leaf appeared in his hands. There was a drop of milky white sap on that leaf. That white and flawless sap contained an unimaginable amount of vitality in it, as though it was the source of life itself. The same went for the leaf.
The leaf and sap were both from the Immortal Tree and were incredibly precious. They were treasures that anyone in the Star Boundary would kill to obtain. Nevertheless, Yang Kai took them out without hesitation. If it could resolve the current critical condition that Xia Ning Chang was in, he wouldn’t even mind letting her refine the entire Immortal Tree. Unfortunately, he had yet to find a method of refining the Immortal Tree itself. Besides, one leaf and one drop of sap was the limit; her body could not withstand any more than that.
Opening her mouth, Yang Kai placed the leaf and the sap inside. Then, he gently patted her on the back. Both items slid down her throat and entered her belly. His Emperor Qi circulated as he embraced her gently, like he was holding an exquisite and delicate porcelain vase in his arms; after all, the slightest negligence and carelessness could cause the woman in his arms to suffer.
The leaf and the sap of the Immortal Tree slowly melted, causing the effects of the Spirit Pill she had taken previously to spread out as well. A moment later, her body emitted a faint green light which melted into the Black Qi and diluted it.
Xue Yue cried with joy when she saw that. She did not know what Yang Kai had done or what he had fed Xia Ning Chang, but the scene before her undoubtedly showed that the latter was getting better.
[A family really can’t function perfectly without a man in the house.] There was nothing much she could do to help at the moment, so she continuously called Xia Ning Chang’s name softly in hopes of waking the other party up.
The green light gradually became denser and Xia Ning Chang’s dried-up vitality slowly recovered. At the same time, the Black Qi shrouding her body was restrained by the green light. The two colours intertwined continuously around her body and gradually reached a balance.
The effect of the Immortal Tree was so powerful that if it were any other person, they would already be jumping around energetically by now even if they had been at death’s door just a moment ago. However, Xia Ning Chang’s situation was different. The reason being that the problem she was facing was not an internal one that could be solved solely by treating her.
Xia Ning Chang groaned softly, her eyelashes fluttering. Then, her eyes slowly opened slightly.
Xue Yue exclaimed, “Ning Chang! Ning Chang!”
“Elder… Sister Yue…” Xia Ning Chang’s eyes were still a little dazed. Her thoughts gradually returned to normal when she saw Xue Yue’s face; however, she soon noticed that she was lying in a broad and comfortable pair of arms. Moreover, her nose was filled with a nostalgic scent. Leaning her head back to rest against Yang Kai’s shoulder, she looked at that side profile and smiled bitterly, “Junior Brother!”
[I didn’t want him to see me like this, but in the end, he still saw me in this state. I must look extremely ugly right now.]
“Call me ‘husband’!” Yang Kai lightly touched his forehead against hers.
Her pale face blushed slightly before disappearing a moment later. Lowering her head, she called him again softly.
He laughed in response, “It’s bad enough that Su Yan calls me Junior Brother, but I can’t have everybody calling me that, right? I am the head of the family. How can I hold my head up high in the future?” He turned to look at Xue Yue, “What about you?”
Xue Yue shyly replied, “Save Ning Chang first.”
Xia Ning Chang added, “I’m feeling much better now.” During that short conversation just now, her complexion had truly gotten much better. Even her voice sounded stronger and she no longer felt as lethargic as before. The green light wrapping around her body gave her a warm and comfortable feeling, so much so that she wanted to lie in her man’s arms until they grew old together.
Xue Yue said frustratedly, “Ning Chang, how can you do this to me?!”
Xia Ning Chang smiled.
Then, Xue Yue snapped, “Husband!” She glared at Yang Kai with an expression that seemed to say, ‘are you happy now?’
All of a sudden, a person came into the room. It was Meng Wu Ya, who looked very anxious. He and the others had been waiting outside the great hall just now, so they were unaware of what had happened here. At this moment, he saw Xia Ning Chang lying shyly in Yang Kai’s arms, smiling again. For some reason, that made him calm down as the heavy weight that had been pressing down on his heart for a long time lifted.
Yang Kai and Xue Yue exchanged a glance with each other and immediately came to an understanding. Putting Xia Ning Chang down again, Yang Kai said, “Rest well. I’m going to kill some people and avenge you.”
When he turned around, he felt something pulling on his clothes. Xia Ning Chang, who was lying on the bed, was looking at him with a horrified look. That gaze was extremely distressing to see. She was scared; she was petrified that he might leave and never return, just like last time; she was afraid she might not hear from him for several dozen years again. More than that, she was terrified that what happened just now was nothing more than a dream. If that was the case, she would rather not get revenge. She would rather he stayed by her side forever. She never wanted to let him leave again.
Knowing how she felt, Yang Kai patted her hand gently and comforted, “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. Here, why don’t you count to a hundred? I’ll reappear in front of you by the time you reach a hundred.”
“What if you don’t come back?” She asked.
“I will definitely come back!”
Upon hearing those words, she nodded gently, let go of her hand, and closed her eyes.
Yang Kai signalled Xue Yue and Meng Wu Ya with his eyes, and they walked out of the room together. Liu Yan was happily standing outside the door. She looked up at him when he came out. He patted her head, “Stay here and take good care of her.”
She nodded obediently.
Meng Wu Ya frowned slightly, wondering why Yang Kai asked a little girl to guard this place. Furthermore, he could not understand the relationship between those two. [Could she be Yang Kai’s daughter?] He had to admit that Liu Yan’s appearance could easily cause such misunderstanding. [Even if she is Yang Kai’s daughter, she doesn’t seem to have cultivated before. What can she do even if she stays here?]
A short while later, they walked into the outer palace. Meng Wu Ya anxiously spoke up, “Those rats seem to be fleeing from Tong Xuan Realm. Yang Boy, what should we do?”
It was precisely because he had sensed the signs of Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators fleeing that he hurriedly approached Yang Kai to discuss countermeasures.
During that conversation, they arrived outside the palace. A group of people were standing there and looking at something in the sky. Following their gazes, Yang Kai saw streams of light flying out in all directions and fleeing into the Starry Sky. Many of those lights were huge Starships. Just as Meng Wu Ya had reported; the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field were retreating from Tong Xuan Realm.
The corners of Yang Kai’s mouth lifted into a smirk. [Trying to escape? Where can you run to? I planned to deal with you after meeting with Xia Ning Chang and Xue Yue, but I did not expect you to flee so quickly like frightened rats. Still… Did you really think you’d be able to escape death that easily!? You still need to pay for all the suffering Little Senior Sister went through several hundred times over!]
Everyone looked at Yang Kai, waiting for his orders, as even though he had just returned, the moment he stood there, he became their backbone. He reached out, pointed toward the sky, and ordered in a low voice, “Engage them. There’s no need to fight; just don’t let them escape easily.”
Everybody acknowledged those words as soon as they heard them.
“Wait!” Somebody shouted all of a sudden. Everybody turned to look in the direction of the voice. The speaker was none other than the current Sect Master of Purple Star, Zi Wu Ji.
Yang Kai glanced at him but did not recognize him, so he frowned in response.
“Greetings, Brother Yang. I am…”
He interrupted Zi Wu Ji, “If you have anything to say, hurry up and spit it out.”
A flash of displeasure flitted through Zi Wu Ji’s eyes. He knew that Yang Kai was powerful. Yang Kai had already been in the Second-Order Origin King several dozen years ago and at that time, he had supposedly journeyed to a mysterious place. His cultivation was probably much higher than it had been back then. Even so, Zi Wu Ji was the Sect Master of Purple Star. He might be under the shelter of somebody else at the moment, but his strength wasn’t to be scoffed at. With such a powerful enemy in front of them, every little bit of strength was precious. For that reason, everybody, including Xue Yue, Xia Ning Chang, or Meng Wu Ya, had been rather polite to him for the past few years. It was inevitable that Yang Kai’s forceful attitude rubbed him the wrong way.
Putting such thoughts aside though, he warned, “The cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field greatly outnumber us. As far as I know, there are several Third-Order Origin Kings among them as well. Now, they even have several dozen Starships escorting them. If we charge at them recklessly with our numbers, it wouldn’t be any different from walking into a lion’s den.”
“Besides, they are fleeing. Why bother provoking them at this time? The concept of ‘not pursuing a hard-pressed enemy’ fits this situation perfectly. I hope you can think this over, Brother Yang.”
“Are you done?” Yang Kai looked at Zi Wu Ji.
Zi Wu Ji nodded in response.
Then, Yang Kai stopped paying attention to Zi Wu Ji. Raising his finger to the sky, he shouted, “Engage them!”
“You…” Zi Wu Ji was stunned. He did not expect this person to ignore his advice and be so adamant on doing things their own way.
To some extent, there was nothing wrong with his concerns. There were quite a lot of Masters gathered in Nine Heavens Holy Land, and their respective cultivations were very high, but even so, they would be stretched quite thin compared to the lineup of those from Grand Desolation Star Field. If they really chased after the enemy without care, they might not only fail to kill them, but also risk losing their lives as a result.
Hence, the best way to deal with this situation was to stay put and let the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field leave. That way, they would have some breathing space to catch their breath; after all, ten years was not too long for a gentleman to have his revenge. There would always be an opportunity in the future as long as one survived.
He had tried so hard to persuade Yang Kai only to realize that he was simply casting pearls before a swine. Thus, he started cursing Yang Kai in his heart. [Hmph. Look at how arrogant you are acting. Let’s see just who is willing to accompany you in your crazy endeavours!]
However, he quickly froze in shock.
That was because Li Rong and Han Fei solemnly acknowledged Yang Kai’s order the moment it was issued. They turned into two streams of black light and shot straight into the sky with all the rest of the Ancient Demon Clan following behind them.
Meng Wu Ya and Old Demon followed closely behind. Similarly, Hu Jiao’er and Hu Mei’er transformed into two rays of light, one purple and one green, and spiralled into the sky.
Everyone took off, one after another, without any hesitation or doubt. In the blink of an eye, only the people of Purple Star and Sword Union were left standing in front of the great hall.
[Are they all crazy?] Zi Wu Ji looked lost.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai bent his knees and leapt up, shattering space and leaping across the Void, disappearing in an instant.
“Brother Zi, let’s go and help them too!” Gu Jian Xin said suddenly.
Zi Wu Ji turned to look at Gu Jian Xin, “Have you gone crazy too, Brother Gu?”
Rushing over right now was tantamount to rushing towards their deaths. Leaving aside the others, what surprised him was that Gu Jian Xin had made the same decision. That puzzled him to no end. He had grown a sense of comradery with Gu Jian Xin over the years due to their similar situations; therefore, he simply could not understand why Gu Jian Xin was so foolish now.
Gu Jian Xin smiled slightly, “You’re not really living if you don’t let loose a little every once in a while.” The simple longsword in his arms trembled, making his blood boil. He couldn’t wait to fight a huge battle and release the Sword Intent accumulated in his body.
As a Sword Master, he had not fought to the death for years and he felt as though his Martial Heart had been growing duller as a result. Although the situation at this moment was not optimistic, Gu Jian Xin burned with an endless fighting spirit. It didn’t matter whether he was being wise or unwise, at this moment, all he could think about was letting loose and fighting to his limits.
Taking out his sword, it thrummed with power and flashed with light. Gu Jian Xin became one with his sword and took off like a flash of lightning. His Sword Servants followed him without saying a word.
The corners of Zi Wu Ji’s brow twitched. He couldn’t remain here alone no matter how shameless he was; thus, he gathered a group of cultivators from Purple Star and joined the attack. He vowed to himself that he was only there for appearances’ sake and refused to fight to the death. If the situation took a turn for the worst, he would escape quickly.
In the blink of an eye, there was no one left in front of the great hall and the entire Nine Heavens Holy Land fell silent.
…
“Many thanks, Little Senior Sister!” Yang Kai laughed as he threw out a punch. A storm of fists then rained down on the enemy party.
He did not intercept the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field. He had more important things to deal with at the moment; that was to deal with the seven sub-arrays of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array. These seven sub-arrays were like seven malignant tumours growing on Tong Xuan Realm. They eroded away at the vitality of both Xia Ning Chang and this Star. Although he had used the leaf and the sap of the Immortal Tree to stabilize Xia Ning Chang’s condition, getting rid of these seven sub-arrays was the top priority at the moment.
He initially wanted to rush to the place where these seven parts were located as quickly as possible; however, his body suddenly became lighter during the flight and he immediately appeared at his destination, crossing several tens of thousands of kilometres in an instant.
This was clearly Xia Ning Chang’s doing. She was the Star Master of Tong Xuan Realm, so transporting a person around on this land was as easy as snapping her fingers. Even though she was still recuperating in her room, she was obviously aware of his plans; hence, she helped him with the power of a Star Master. It was also a way to help herself.
Below Yang Kai was where one of the seven ‘black ink stains’ was located. According to reason, the situation should have been similar to what he saw at the largest ‘black ink stain’ he destroyed previously; however, the cultivators of the Grand Desolation Star Field had clearly done something to the Array. The ‘black ink stain’ was showing signs of wildly spreading to its surrounding areas. The huge ‘black ink stain’ continuously devoured the surrounding region while at the same time, an extremely uncomfortable aura was being emitted from its depths. It seemed to be connected to the Netherworld and led straight to Purgatory.
An endless rain of punches blasted down on the ‘black ink stain’ from above, and the Black Qi was instantly sent churning. It was like throwing a drop of cold water into a pan of boiling oil, resulting in an unpredictable chain reaction. The ‘black ink stain’ stopped expanding all of a sudden. Then, it exploded without warning, shrouding a thousand-kilometre radius in black light.
Yang Kai stopped punching at that moment. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at the situation below him. The ‘black ink stain’ could no longer maintain its shape, and although it had expanded by a lot, its colour had grown considerably lighter.
Regardless of what the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field had done to make the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array gain such explosive power before they left, it was still just a Spirit Array. The ‘black ink stain’ would no longer be a threat as long as he destroyed the structure of the array. The World Energy would now repair this region over time and one day, the Black Qi would disappear on its own.
Without giving him time to observe the situation though, Yang Kai felt a floating sensation once more. It felt as though he was being held by an invisible hand, and when that hand moved him around again, he found himself in a new place. Below him was another ‘black ink stain’ that was spreading violently, so he gave it the same treatment as the one from before.
“Another one down!”
“Little Senior Sister, don’t tire yourself out, okay? Don’t force yourself if you feel uncomfortable. My cultivation is very high, so travelling this kind of short distance is no trouble for me.”
“By the way, I forgot to tell you, but Su Yan is fine now. I’ve brought her back with me. She is probably with Luo’er right now.”
“When this matter is resolved, let’s return to Shadowed Star together. We can have a good talk once our whole family is reunited once again.”
Yang Kai attacked again and again. At the same time, he kept up what looked like a monologue to outsiders. Although he did not receive any responses, he knew that Xia Ning Chang was paying close attention to him as she was actively assisting him. The help she gave him undoubtedly saved him a lot of time travelling as while Tong Xuan Realm wasn’t exactly large, it would still take some time for Yang Kai to deal with the seven ‘black ink stains’ in his current condition. Therefore, things went far smoother with the Star Master aiding him. It was just that… This undoubtedly put quite a heavy burden on her body. Her condition had just stabilized, so it was best if she did not use so much strength.
The entire process took approximately a quarter of an hour. In that time, the seven ‘black ink stains’ had been eradicated and the seven sub-arrays had been destroyed.
Yang Kai smiled, “Alright, Little Senior Sister. You should get some rest. Leave the rest to me.”
A gentle breeze blew against his face at that moment and it felt as if something had left his side.
Raising his head, Yang Kai looked up into the sky and his gaze instantly became as sharp as a sword. The tenderness his eyes previously held was gone without a trace.
Blood was being spilled above the clouds high up in the sky. Corpses fell to the ground as figures tangled together in battle. Their violent power flowed and spread out wantonly.
The power gathered in Nine Heavens Holy Land was not weak, but it was not as good as the lineup of those from Grand Desolation Star Field. One after another, they began to fall into a disadvantage as there were four Third-Order Origin Kings from Grand Desolation Star Field present. If Xin Xuan Ming, who was killed by Yang Kai previously, was added to the count, they had a total of five! Most of them might only have been promoted recently, but a Third-Order Origin King was still a Third-Order Origin King, not an easy opponent to face under any circumstances.
Xue Yue was battling alone at the moment against none other than the Third-Elder of Netherworld Sect! Among all the other Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field, he was the strongest.
Both of them were Third-Order Origin Kings. Xue Yue was full of vigour while the Third-Elder was still kicking despite his age. Thus, they were equally matched. Both sides used their Artifacts and Secret Techniques at full power, but neither could gain an advantage.
The strongest was facing the strongest. It was a fruitless move, but it was also the best way to deal with the situation. If the Third-Elder was allowed to roam around freely, nobody from Nine Heavens Holy Land would be able to withstand him.
Meng Wu Ya and Old Demon were each battling a powerful enemy; but unfortunately, they were being beaten badly. In just a short amount of time, both Meng Wu Ya and Old Demon suffered minor injuries. They could only keep a Third-Order Origin King busy through various tricks and didn’t dare to turn the fight into a direct confrontation.
Meanwhile, Hu Jiao’er and her sister merged their strength to confront their opponent. Even though they were both just First-Order Origin Kings, they were in a much better situation compared to the former two. A purple and a green sword-light twisted together to form a large net of swords and wrapped around the final Third-Order Origin King. Caught in the net, their opponent would not be able to break free for some time.
Li Rong, Han Fei, Gu Jian Xin and his two Sword Servants, Xu Hui, as well as An Ling’er… All of them were fighting vigorously. They remembered Yang Kai’s order to hinder the enemy and prevent them from escaping.
“How dare you chase after us!? I’ll kill every last one of you!” The Third Elder forced Xue Yue back with a heavy palm strike; then, laughing wildly, he hurriedly turned and retreated.
Likewise, the other Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field seemed to have received some kind of signal and quickly created some distance between themselves and their opponents. One of them even reached into the net of swords created by Hu Jiao’er and her sister to pull their companion out.
The Third Elder stood there, looking outraged, but soon a sly and triumphant smile appeared on his face. Dozens of Starships lined up behind him, and their Crystal Cannons shone with white light. Their target was everybody from the Nine Heavens Holy Land!
Escaping was just a ruse! Their biggest purpose was to draw the enemy out of their lair, and from the looks of it, they had succeeded in their goal. The Starships had long been prepared and they only needed to fire one volley to reduce these people from Nine Heavens Holy Land to dust.
Victory was within sight; however, the Third Elder still felt his heart pounding in trepidation. He couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong. It made him feel extremely uneasy. Scanning his gaze over the crowd, he could not find any notable yet unfamiliar face.
[Who was it? Who was the one that destroyed the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core and killed the Vice Sect Master!?]
“Damn it!” Meng Wu Ya cursed, his complexion turning pale. The dozen or so Starships lined up in a row looked like wild beasts that devoured people whole and they gave off an incredible pressure as their Crystal Cannons began to glow, generating a sense of crisis.
Starships had always been used as weapons of conquest; therefore, even a single Crystal Cannon had unbelievable power. With more than ten Starships and hundreds of Crystal Cannons, even the Third Elder of Netherworld Sect could not predict just how great the damage would be. The only thing he could be sure of was that the people of Nine Heavens Holy Land would not be able to defend against this attack.
Even though Xue Yue and the others were unable to defend against an attack of that magnitude, they had no choice but to do so because behind them stood Nine Heavens Holy Land, as well as the Tong Xuan Realm. If they dodged the attack, then Nine Heavens Holy Land and Xia Ning Chang would be the ones to take it instead. Xia Ning Chang’s condition had just stabilized, so if she had to withstand a volley of hundreds of Crystal Cannons all at once, her condition would surely worsen.
Xue Yue’s figure flickered and she once again appeared, her long hair flying in the wind. Subsequently, a group of people gathered around her and formed an impassable defensive barrier.
The Third Elder was both shocked and overjoyed as he sneered, “If you are not going to avoid this attack, then you can all go and die!”
With a grand wave of his hand, he ordered the Starships to open fire.
The light of the Crystal Cannons was extremely dazzling, and the accumulated energy had reached its peak.
Without warning, a loud explosive sound rang out.
It was so loud that the world seemed to tremble in response; however, the expected barrage of Crystal Cannons did not appear. Scenes of carnage and devastation did not materialize either. On the contrary, an aura so powerful that it made one’s heart pound came from behind the crowd and approached them swiftly.
The Third Elder turned his head abruptly and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. A black-haired young man had appeared out of nowhere and rushed towards where Grand Desolation Star Field’s Starships were all on his own. The difference between the size of the huge Starships and that person’s figure was akin to a firefly and the Moon, giving off an absolutely tragic yet resolute vibe.
Be that as it may, the defences of the Starships might as well have been made of paper when that person slammed into one of their hulls. The Third Elder watched as that young man swung his fists casually, opening a huge hole in the side of a Starship with ease. It was followed by a loud explosion and flames flaring in all directions. At the same time, miserable cries rang out from inside the Starship as lives were extinguished, one after another.
In the blink of an eye, the young man rushed out from the other side of the Starship and flew straight to the second. He was like a meteor falling from the sky, bringing with him an unstoppable destructive force as he smashed through one Origin King Grade Starship after another.
*Hong hong hong…*
A series of explosions rang out from every Starship, and by the time the unknown man made his way out of the last Starship, none of them remained intact. The Crystal Cannons that had been shining with a dazzling light now became extremely unstable.
*Hong long…*
A Starship suddenly exploded and was engulfed in flames. The huge hull of the ship split apart with a creaking sound and slowly fell downward. Another Starship quickly followed suit, then a third, a fourth… In just a few breaths, the dozen or so Starships had all been completely decimated.
All the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field felt as though their souls had left their bodies. Chills ran down from the tops of their heads to the soles of their feet, freezing them in terror as all of them stared at this young man with eyes full of shock and horror.
[Who the Hell is that!? How was he able to destroy more than ten Starships so easily!? Is he still human!?]
The Third Elder suddenly had an epiphany and shouted, “It’s you!”
He had wondered who destroyed the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core and killed Vice Sect Master Xin Xuan Ming. It was only at this moment when he saw this earth-shattering sight that he understood.
[It’s him! It’s definitely him! To be able to perform such feats… There can be no other person! He must be the one who destroyed the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array Core and killed the Vice Sect Master! But, who is he!? How is he so strong!?]
Xue Yue breathed out softly. She had steeled herself just now. Even if she had to give up her life in this place, she would not let a single one of those Crystal Cannons touch Tong Xuan Realm, but to her surprise, Yang Kai had arrived in the nick of time. His arrival instantly created a sense of relief and reliance in her heart and the churning emotional storm in her was finally able to calm. A proud expression next appeared on her face as she inwardly declared, [This is the man I chose!]
Gu Jian Xin looked shocked as a bitter smile hung at the corner of his lips, [No wonder my sword warned me about him. To what extent has he grown? When I first met him, his cultivation was on par with mine. I’ve always known that he had a limitless future ahead of him, but even so, I can’t believe he managed to increase his strength by so much in just a few dozen years. He has left me so far behind that I can’t even see his shadow anymore. What is his cultivation now? Is it comparable to the legendary Starry Sky Great Emperor? No wonder he only asked us to keep the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field occupied. We really only needed to prevent them from escaping as with his current strength, all of them put together aren’t his opponent.]
The situation had changed sharply, and it was all because of the arrival of one man.
Many of the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were ashen-faced. They couldn’t even muster the slightest bit of courage to fight when faced with that young man in front of them.
“Die!” Yang Kai spat out a word coldly. He was still standing there when he opened his mouth to speak, but by the time his voice rang out, he had already appeared on the opposite side of the crowd.
The Third Elder only saw a barely visible shadow passing through the ranks of his men, but before they had any time to react, the other party had already walked out of there calmly. He jumped in fright, intuitively feeling as though he had brushed past the gates of death.
*Chi…*
A strange sound rang out as many cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field looked in the direction of the sound only to see a scene that scared them senseless. A headless corpse stood in mid-air, blood spouting from its neck like a fountain. It was spectacular as the corpse still maintained a defensive posture, but its head was nowhere to be seen.
Turning their eyes stiffly, they quickly found the missing head of the corpse. At this moment, it was being held in the hand of the young man who had appeared out of nowhere. The head of the corpse had a confused expression on its face, looking as though it was still clueless about what had happened up until the moment of its death.
That was one of their Third-Order Origin King Realm Masters! That Master had battled with Meng Wu Ya previously and pounded the latter into the ground. To think he had been beheaded by Yang Kai; moreover, nobody had seen how he pulled that off!
“Kill!” Xue Yue shouted. The rage, resentment, and even the guilt she felt that had accumulated over the years burst out at this moment. These emotions fueled a thick murderous intent as she charged toward the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field.
What else was there to hesitate about? After seeing Yang Kai’s strength, everyone from Heng Luo Star Field immediately understood that there was no possibility of them losing today’s battle. Thus, they swiftly used their Movement Skills and jumped forward.
The battle began raging once more, but the situation was reversed. The cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field were fearful of Yang Kai’s Heaven defying strength and had lost all will to fight. On the other hand, the cultivators of Nine Heavens Holy Land charged forward bravely, fueled by unparalleled fury.
The result of the battle was decided from the beginning.
Yang Kai was not idle either. The torture Xia Ning Chang went through had left him feeling as though he had a fishbone stuck in his throat. He needed to get that feeling of vexation out of his system. Moreover, he intended to make these invaders pay plenty of interest for this blood debt. Like a tiger descending from the mountain, he struck at the Third-Order Origin Kings with both hands. These Third-Order Origin Kings that had always stood at the top of the world quickly exploded into blood mists as they were completely incapable of putting up any resistance whatsoever. All of them died in the blink of an eye, leaving only the Third Elder behind.
The Third Elder looked around in stunned shock. How could he not realize that the war was lost? This young man was so strong that he had never seen another of this calibre in his life. Nobody in the Star Field was a match for this person.
Suddenly, the Third Elder’s vision blurred as he saw the unfathomable young man appear just one step away from him
Before he had the time to get out of the way, he was grabbed by the neck and hoisted into the air. He couldn’t even circulate his Saint Qi as he felt as though his bones were going to be crushed. Only when experiencing it in person did the Third Elder fully understand just how terrifying this man was.
“You sure had a lot of fun while I wasn’t home!” Yang Kai looked at the Third Elder coldly as he tightened his grip on the other party’s neck.
“Wait!” The Third Elder yelled, his face flushing red.
Yang Kai grinned, “If you have any last words, then hurry up and spit them out. You won’t have another chance if you don’t speak now.”
The Third Elder looked hostile instead, “Release me. Otherwise, you will regret it for the rest of your life.”
Yang Kai looked at the Third Elder in surprise, “What did you say? I didn’t hear you clearly. Can you say it again?”
The Third Elder coldly said, “Your Star Master! Aren’t you going to go back to check on her condition? If nothing unexpected happens, she should be dead by now.”
Activating the seven parts of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array to lure their enemy out of their lair was only one part of the Third Elder’s plan. He had prepared something else too, and the target was Xia Ning Chang! Once the Master of Nine Heavens Holy Land was gone, all the defences in this place would collapse. There was no way his plan could fail as it was his biggest trump card. Unfortunately, all the other Third-Order Origin King Realm Masters, aside from himself, had died before he could reveal this final move.
The Third Elder hated Yang Kai for being so decisive and ruthless. He only wanted to lure his enemies out, but how could he have known that he would bait such a dangerous existence instead?
“Really?” Yang Kai tilted his head to the side.
“You can go and confirm it yourself! The Netherworld Sect is finished, so I won’t ask for anything else. I just want you to let me live, and I will let your Star Master go free.”
“Idiot!” Yang Kai suddenly exerted more strength and the Third Elder’s head immediately separated from his shoulders. Blood splashed everywhere, as that flying head filled with an incredulous expression. It seemed as though he did not understand why Yang Kai had killed him. [I told him the truth. Doesn’t he need to confirm it? He-] His thoughts were cut off partway through, and he plunged into eternal darkness.
Yang Kai stood in mid-air, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. Sneering as he muttered, “As I thought, a thief in the family is the hardest to ward against.”
All of a sudden, he recalled what Long Tian Shang had said to him before losing his last bit of sentience. Those words might have been about the situation today. From the looks of it, Long Tian Shang had learned some secrets before and after being refined into a corpse.
Glancing at Nine Heavens Holy Land below him, Yang Kai raised an eyebrow but eventually shook his head, “Forget it, I’ll go back later.”
He was not worried about Xia Ning Chang’s safety at all. The Third Elder may have had a hidden trump card, but Liu Yan was guarding Xia Ning Chang right now. With Liu Yan there, nobody could harm a single hair on Xia Ning Chang’s head!
Thus, Yang Kai entered the fray again. His figure leapt across space and wherever he passed, Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field fell, one after another. Many people wanted to escape when they saw that the battle had been lost; however, how could Xue Yue or any of the others allow these people to escape so easily? All of them used everything they had to intercept and tie down these invaders.
The number of Masters from Grand Desolation Star Field dwindled as the battle went on, and under these circumstances, it soon turned into a massacre.
The battle ended an hour later, with not a single cultivator from Grand Desolation Star Field surviving. On the other hand, except for some casualties sustained during the initial interception, nobody from Nine Heavens Holy Land had died after Yang Kai came to support them. In fact, not a single one of them had even taken any further injuries.
Everyone was covered in blood, some of it their own, most of it the enemies’. They were breathing heavily as many pairs of eyes were fixed on Yang Kai. The looks were filled with admiration and astonishment. All of them were curious as to how strong he really was as he had seemed so casual in today’s battle, making it obvious that he wasn’t using his full strength…
While everybody from Nine Heavens Holy Land was stuck in a desperate battle against the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field, a sneaky and suspicious figure suddenly appeared in the empty Nine Heavens Holy Land. That figure was dressed in a purple robe that seemed to signify auspicious omens and unparalleled luxury. That figure was none other than Zi Wu Ji!
He did not follow Gu Jian Xin nor participate in the battle. He only pretended to join for a bit before returning to Nine Heavens Holy Land. Gu Jian Xin and the others were staunchly fighting against the enemy, so how could they notice what he was doing? Besides, the Holy Land had Xia Ning Chang’s protection and should be all but impregnable to invasion from external forces. Unfortunately, Zi Wu Ji was one of their own, and all of those sturdy defences were useless against him; therefore, he returned to the great hall without any problems. He was constantly muttering under his breath with a bitter and resentful expression, as if cursing at something.
Just a moment ago, he received a secret order that was currently troubling him greatly. Even so, he had to choke down his resentment and get it done out of consideration for his life. Not only would his life be spared if he succeeded, but he would also be able to become intimate with the woman of his dreams. That was killing two birds with one stone.
Approaching the inner temple cautiously, he tried to restrain his aura as much as possible. He knew that it was difficult to conceal his whereabouts from a Star Master, especially when they were so close. Still, that only applied if the Star Master was in a good enough condition and had the spare mental capacity to perceive their surroundings.
Unfortunately, that was not the case for Xia Ning Chang. She was in a terrible condition that had been worsening by the day, a fact Zi Wu Ji had confirmed with Gu Jian Xin earlier. For that reason, he was rather confident about succeeding in his mission despite feeling a little nervous.
After passing through the inner palace, Zi Wu Ji soon arrived at a room located not too far away. He rounded the corner and was overjoyed by the sight he was greeted with. The door to the room was wide open, and there were no traces of any Spirit Arrays for defence.
[The Heavens are on my side!]
Before he could dance for joy though, he heard a peal of clear and sweet laughter. The sound shocked him so much that he was stunned in place for some time. That was because the sound of laughter belonged to Xia Ning Chang. Although she sounded weak, she was not in as bad a condition as he had thought.
[What is going on? Isn’t she supposed to be bedridden, so sick that she doesn’t even have the strength to open her eyes? How is she able to laugh now? Also, who is joking with her at this time?] In that instant, he decided to retreat. He might not be able to go against those orders, but he had to reconsider taking action if his life was going to be at stake.
Suddenly, a realization flashed through his mind and he recalled the identity of a person Xia Ning Chang could be talking to. It was that seven- or eight-year-old girl! Among all the people who arrived earlier, she was the only one who did not leave.
Thinking so, he let out a soft breath of relief. [What a false alarm. I don’t have anything to worry about if it’s that little girl. The only thing I have to worry about right now is Xia Ning Chang’s current condition. She has the strength to laugh, so will she also have the strength to mobilize the power of Tong Xuan Realm? If that’s the case, then I’m no match for her…]
While he was hesitating, Xia Ning Chang’s voice suddenly rang out, “Come in and talk if you have something to say. Why are you… cough, cough… skulking around outside?”
[I’ve been discovered!] Zi Wu Ji was surprised at first, but he soon calmed down. Since she was not unconscious, it was only natural for her to notice his presence as he was literally just outside her room. Listening to her voice, he realized that she was indeed extremely weak, so after struggling with himself in his heart, he made his decision and stopped concealing his presence. He hurriedly ran into the room and shouted, “Young Lady Xia, this is bad!” Barging into the room, he promptly revealed an anxious expression.
Xia Ning Chang’s expression immediately changed as she couldn’t help but straighten her body that was leaning against the side of the bed and ask anxiously, “What’s wrong?”
He looked devastated, “Brother Yang, h-he… Haa…” Zi Wu Ji thumped his chest and stomped his feet, deliberately dragging things out.
Even if Xia Ning Chang doubted Zi Wu Ji’s words, she couldn’t help turning pale after hearing them. Swiftly, she released her Divine Sense and turned her attention to the battle above the clouds.
At that moment, Zi Wu Ji struck out. His palms flashed with a purple brilliance as he covered Xia Ning Chang in a layer of light and blurted out, “Please don’t blame me for this, Young Lady Xia. I have no choice; I was forced to do this. But, don’t worry. I won’t take your life…”
His sentence trailed off as at the same time, his expression turned into one of astonishment. Without any warning, a small figure was suddenly standing in front of him. A pair of distinct black eyes calmly watched him without the slightest emotion. Those eyes were looking at him as though looking at a mere pebble or grain of sand and made him extremely uneasy for some reason.
“Scram!” he shouted. [I’ve already shown my hand. At this point, there’s no turning back anymore. This little girl doesn’t know her place, so I’ll dispose of her first!]
He threw out a palm strike towards Liu Yan’s head at the same time, one that made solid contact, but in the next instant, his face filled with astonishment as he gawked stupidly, [She’s unscathed!]
The little girl, who looked like she was carved from the purest jade, was completely unscathed after taking a hit from him at full strength. She simply remained standing there quietly, her body note even flinching from the impact.
A feeling of horror grew in Zi Wu Ji’s heart as he began to wonder, [Did I… make a mistake somewhere?]
Before he could understand the situation, a fire snake wrapped itself around him and bound him up.
When Yang Kai returned after he finished dealing with the cultivator from Grand Desolation Star Field, he was greeted with the sight of a trussed up Zi Wu Ji trembling in a corner. The tongue of the fire snake flicked in and out of its mouth, making it look extremely ferocious. Even so, it was not releasing any heat even though it was literally made of flames. Otherwise, Zi Wu Ji would have been burned to ashes by now.
“As I thought, it was you!” Yang Kai glanced at Zi Wu Ji as if he had expected this outcome. What the Third Elder mentioned earlier had not been very clear, but Yang Kai was shrewd, so how could he fail to guess what that old man was implying? At that time, Yang Kai simply glanced about the battlefield and quickly figured out the meaning behind the Third Elder’s words.
All of a sudden, Liu Yan tugged at his clothes. She pointed to herself to indicate that it was all thanks to her. Then, she put on an expression that seemed to say. ‘Hurry up and praise me.’
Nodding, he rubbed her small head, “Good job.”
She narrowed her eyes in enjoyment.
“Hey! Why did you get up, Little Senior Sister? Lie down quickly!” Walking over to the side of the bed, Yang Kai helped Xia Ning Chang lie back down on the bed.
Xia Ning Chang, however, gave him a small smile and comforted, “I’m fine.”
She had received nourishment from the Immortal Tree, and additionally, Yang Kai had destroyed the seven sub-arrays of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array, curbing the spread of the ‘black ink stains’ they were sustaining. For that reason, she was feeling much better now. Although she should have been recuperating meticulously, she was curious about what he had experienced over the years while he was away; therefore, she had sat up on the bed and asked Liu Yan to chat with her.
Liu Yan also sympathized with Xia Ning Chang’s situation, so she only spoke about all the interesting things that Yang Kai had experienced outside while she avoided mentioning all the dangers he had faced. It was those stories that had made Xia Ning Chang burst into laughter.
“Have you counted to a hundred?” Yang Kai reached out and tapped Xia Ning Chang on the nose.
Xia Ning Chang replied, “Not yet.” [Why would I count to a hundred? I was busy chatting with Liu Yan.]
He laughed, “Good, then it seems that I have not broken my promise.”
While they were talking, Xue Yue walked in from the outside where the sight of Zi Wu Ji sitting there, tied up, caught her by surprise, “What’s this? What happened?”
Zi Wu Ji cried and pleaded, “Young Lady Yue, please save me!”
She frowned, looking at him before looking back at Xia Ning Chang again. Although she did not know the full sequence of the events, she was intelligent and quickly guessed what had happened in this room. Realizing what had transpired here, her pretty face filled with anger as she shouted, “How dare you?!”
There had been no signs at all. It wasn’t that Zi Wu Ji had concealed himself well, it was just that they had both been swamped with internal and external issues. Combined with his identity, nobody could have imagined that he would actually be a traitor that managed to take refuge under those from Grand Desolation Star Field. Now that they thought about it, this person did seem to portray some rather suspicious behaviour over the past few years.
“I didn’t mean to do this! I was forced to! I was helpless too!” He had a bitter expression on his face.
“It’s just a simple seal placed on you!” Yang Kai coldly snorted. He hadn’t bothered investigating Zi Wu Ji before, but when he looked into the matter after something had occurred, he discovered that Zi Wu Ji had a very well-hidden seal on his body. The person who placed the seal was very skilful, and no Master from a Lower Star Field would be able to notice any trace of it without a thorough investigation. Moreover, the seal had been planted for at least seven or eight years by now, so it would seem that it had been applied when Purple Star had been conquered.
Zi Wu Ji asked, “Why would I do something so unjust if I had the choice? Young Lady Xia has protected us for so many years. I’m eternally grateful to her! It’s just that this seal is impossible to remove! I’ve been trying to break it for so many years but to no avail; moreover, I would be tortured if I was discovered trying to break the seal. If…”
A ray of light flashed towards him at that moment, cutting him off mid-sentence. Shocked, he thought that Yang Kai was going to kill him but instead, he felt his body becoming lighter when that beam entered him, as though the chains binding him had been broken.
A thought flashed through his mind before he turned to stare at Yang Kai in horror. The seal placed on him by a Master from Grand Desolation Star Field had vanished! That should have been an extremely gratifying event; however, he could not bring himself to feel happy at all. A deep wave of regret washed over him. If he had simply told Yang Kai about his situation… he could have gotten his life and freedom back, but now…
Zi Wu Ji’s lips moved but no sound came out as only the strong taste of bitterness remained on his tongue.
“Kill him!” Yang Kai said coldly.
“No! Have mercy!” Zi Wu Ji yelled in horror.
In the meantime, Liu Yan’s thoughts flashed, causing the fire snake wrapped around him immediately came back to life and began to emit a scorching aura.
“Wait!” Yang Kai suddenly shouted, shooting a look at Liu Yan before saying, “Kill him outside. Don’t dirty this place.”
Liu Yan nodded and controlled the Fire Snake to fly off with Zi Wu Ji in its grasp. A short while later, a scream came from far away.
Xue Yue shook her head and sighed. [He really brought ruin upon himself. The overall situation had been decided, but he chose to walk into a dead end.]
Starting from several dozen years back, Purple Star had been wrought with various conflicts in quick succession and probably would not recover from this incident anytime soon. Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce might not be in good shape, but its foundation was still in place. There was a chance of making a comeback as long as they could recover their lost Cultivation Stars.
“Little Senior Sister, you should rest now!” Yang Kai held Xia Ning Chang’s soft hands and made her lie down, all while refusing to accept any objections.
Although Xia Ning Chang looked helpless, she obeyed him. Even so, her cold hands grabbed onto his and refused to let go. She felt as though he would disappear as soon as she let go of his hands, so her red lips parted to object. However, Yang Kai spoke before she could say anything, “I’ll stay here with you. I won’t go anywhere.”
She nodded at his words and finally closed her eyes. Afterwards, he turned around and glanced at Xue Yue. Smiling at her, he spread his other arm out invitingly. Xue Yue glared at him before sassily walking over and leaning into his embrace.
Liu Yan pouted when she saw this and walked out with an unhappy expression. Nevertheless, she closed the door behind her gently.
First, Yang Kai ran into Su Yan in the Ancestral Domain by accident. Then, he returned to Shadowed Star to calm the war. After that, he went to Monster Emperor Star to help Shan Qing Luo. And now, the conflict in Tong Xuan Realm had been settled.
All those who were close to him were safe and sound. That was the greatest happiness he could ever ask for. Everything else could be dealt with slowly.
Xia Ning Chang had suffered greatly over the years. Not only did she have to maintain the protection over Nine Heavens Holy Land, but she also diverted her attention to take care of Xue Yue and the others whenever they went out on occasion and got into a skirmish with the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field; therefore, she had not had a real break in years.
Now that her worries were gone and Yang Kai was back, she snuggled against him and soon fell into a deep sleep. She no longer needed to use sleep to supplement her bodily needs at her current cultivation, but even so, she fell into a deep slumber like any ordinary mortal. Her expression was calm as she curled up next to Yang Kai and she seemed to be dreaming about something and smiled.
Meanwhile, Xue Yue lay on the other side of Yang Kai. They quietly used their Divine Sense to communicate, telling each other about their lives and the experiences they went through over the years.
The fragrance from her body lingered in his nose, and although he was not consumed by desire, he couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her on her red lips.
Xue Yue reached out and covered his lips with her hand though before he could and whispered, “Don’t even think about touching me until you solve Ning Chang’s problem!”
The situation in Tong Xuan Realm had calmed down and the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field who invaded this place had been eliminated; however, the wounds Xia Ning Chang suffered could not be so easily erased. Even though Yang Kai had used the Immortal Tree to restore her vitality and had destroyed the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array, she would not be healthy again as long as Tong Xuan Realm had not fully recovered.
Yang Kai scratched his head, “That will take several hundreds of years. Can you wait that long?”
Xue Yue snorted, “I’m fine with that. I’m more afraid you won’t be able to wait that long.”
“You’re looking down on me too much!” He spat disdainfully. Many years had passed since he went to Star Boundary, and if he had not gotten intimate with Zhu Qing, he would have remained celibate up until today. He was not some sort of gentleman and would of course still be moved by beauties; however, he refused to go against his principles and cheat on his wives.
She added, “You are not allowed to touch Elder Sister and Luo’er either!”
Yang Kai’s expression immediately sank into despair, “Why must you go that far?”
[There truly is nothing more poisonous than a woman’s heart! What fun is there in life if I have four women by my side but I can’t even touch a single one of them!? Traversing the Martial Dao is about more than just cultivating! If Xue Yue colludes with Su Yan and Shan Qing Luo, she might actually be able to convince them. No, she will definitely convince them!]
Xue Yue arched her body against his arms and said softly, “I’m to blame for what happened to Ning Chang. As long as her problems aren’t solved, I won’t be able to rest at ease. Husband, I’m begging you, please think of a way to help Ning Chang recover as soon as possible.”
Reaching out her hand, he pinched her nose and said firmly, “If you blame yourself again like that, I will devour you right here and right now.”
She made a contemptuous snort in response.
He used his hand to lift her face up by her chin, “Ning Chang won’t blame you, so you should stop blaming yourself too. If she were in your shoes, she would have made the same decision. You also wouldn’t blame her for making that choice either.”
“But…”
“There are no buts.” He smiled and scratched his head again, “Still, you’ve given me quite a difficult challenge.”
Solving Xia Ning Chang’s issue wasn’t going to be easy; however, Yang Kai had planned to do something about it even if Xue Yue had not said anything. Several hundreds of years was too long, so whether it was for him or Xua Ning Chang, he could not afford to wait that long, and neither could she.
“Husband, are you at a loss for what to do too?” Xue Yue looked sad.
“I’m thinking…” He pondered in silence, “En, I’ve thought of something.”
Xue Yue was pleasantly surprised by those words as she looked up at him.
“If I succeed, will I get a reward?” He looked at her with a big grin.
She blushed slightly at those words and lowering her head, she murmured, “Why is your head always thinking about such obscene things? Ning Chang is your wife, so why are you asking me for a reward? How illogical.” She pouted, but still asked, “What do you want as a reward?”
He reached out and touched her cherry lips.
Despite glaring at him, she voluntarily stood up, leaned down, and pressed her lips against his. They kissed for a short while, and their breathing became uneven. Then, she grabbed his large hands that were shamelessly groping her under her clothes and slowly shook her head. Xia Ning Chang was sleeping right next to them, so how could she bring herself to act so shamelessly?
Yang Kai didn’t force the issue. Besides, he knew that she wasn’t in the mood right now. Removing his hand from her clothes, he pulled her into his arms and enjoyed the peaceful moment together.
Once Xia Ning Chang fell asleep, she remained so for five days straight. It wasn’t until five days later that she slowly opened her eyes and saw that Yang Kai was sitting next to her in the same position he had been in before she fell asleep. It looked as if he had not taken a single step away in the past few days. She couldn’t help feeling bad for him and blaming herself for making him uncomfortable.
After resting for five days, her condition had somewhat improved; unfortunately, the problem was not solved. The two auras in her body, one black and one green, were entangled with each other, but the green aura clearly had the upper hand. She only needed to wait for some time and the Black Qi would disappear completely; hence, there was no need to worry about her own body. The only thing that needed to be considered was Tong Xuan Realm.
On the contrary, Yang Kai had already considered many issues during this time and a plan had formed in his head. The reason he had not taken action immediately was that he wanted to wait until Xia Ning Chang woke up. He was afraid that she might be disappointed if she opened her eyes and did not see him there.
Yang Kai stayed with Xia Ning Chang for a while before he asked Xue Yue to take good care of her then got up and walked out.
A group of people was gathered inside the main hall at this moment.
They had eliminated the enemies that invaded their land during the battle a few days ago, and the excitement continued to bubble within them to this day.
When Yang Kai appeared, Meng Wu Ya and Old Demon greeted him immediately, with the former immediately asking, “How is Ning Chang?”
“Don’t worry. Little Senior Sister’s situation has stabilized and she will recover over time.”
Upon hearing those words, Meng Wu Ya heaved a sigh of relief.
Yang Kai glanced about his surroundings, letting his gaze roam across every familiar and unfamiliar face in the room before cupping his fists and speaking solemnly, “Many thanks for all the help you’ve given me over the years.”
Meng Wu Ya laughed and scolded, “You smelly brat! Why are you being so reserved around us?”
Yang Kai sternly replied, “The troubles in Tong Xuan Realm might be resolved, but the situation of the Star Field as a whole is not optimistic. There will be many aspects which you will need to contribute to in the future. Once we eliminate all the enemies across Heng Luo Star Field, I will prepare a huge celebratory feast for all of you.”
As soon as his words rang out, everybody fell into deep contemplation. They had been stuck inside Tong Xuan Realm for many years, so they did not know much about the outside world. Clearly, the situation outside was not much better than their own had been.
“So… For now I ask all of you to cultivate diligently. We must begin preparing for the next battle immediately.” Saying so, he tossed a Space Ring to Meng Wu Ya.
Meng Wu Ya accepted the Space Ring and swept its contents with his Divine Sense, his expression swiftly turning to one of shock. The Space Ring was filled with all kinds of cultivation resources; moreover, he could tell that those items were extremely valuable at first glance, some of them he had not even heard of nor seen before.
He did not check the contents thoroughly, but such a large number of materials was enough for thousands of people to use for several years.
[With these, everybody will surely undergo explosive growth within a short period of time!]
“I will leave these things to you, Treasurer Meng. You will be in charge of distributing them to the others. Next, I will open up a communication channel between this place and the outside world. Once that’s finished, you will be able to reach Water Moon Star, Monster Emperor Star, and Shadowed Star. One month. After one month, please join me in battle again!
…..
Nine Heavens Holy Land had the Space Array that Yang Kai had arranged back then, and working together with Liu Yan, he was able to quickly upgrade it so it could connect to the more distant Stars.
Yang Kai instructed Liu Yan to stay behind after they were finished before he mounted the Array and activated it. A bright light flashed for a moment and his figure vanished. After that, Yang Kai appeared in the palace of Water Moon Star where he saw a young girl sitting cross-legged by the side. There were a lot of Source Crystals piled up beside her and she seemed to be cultivating.
The young girl sensed something and hurriedly opened her eyes. Lifting her head, she exclaimed in surprise, “Senior Yang!”
“Yu Qin. Are you alone?” He smiled at her.
This young girl was Lu San Niang’s daughter, Lu Yu Qin. Although her cultivation was nothing special in the Star Boundary, it was considered rather uncommon and extraordinary in the Star Field considering her young age. Leaving her to guard this Space Array was a great idea as there was really no need to worry about people attacking or intruding.
Lu Yu Qin was clearly much more cheerful than before and her small face blushed slightly as she nodded, “Mother said that this Array is very important to you, Senior Yang, so she asked me to guard this place to prevent anybody from getting close.”
“Where are your parents now?” Yang Kai asked.
Pouting slightly, Lu Yu Qin muttered, “In the city. They’re ignoring me.”
Seeing this, Yang Kai laughed, “They finally reunited after a long time, so it’s inevitable that they want some time together by themselves.”
She snorted, “They are stuck together all day long. I hate it!”
Despite saying that, she did not look like she was holding it against them. All she and Lu San Niang had on Dragon Island was each other; moreover, they were constantly bullied there. Now, they had Li Jiao by their side and he took very good care of both of them. Even Lu Yu Qin was glad about the change so how could she reproach them for their behaviour?
“Alright. Focus on cultivating. I’m going to look for your parents,” Yang Kai said before he used his Divine Sense to check his surroundings and locate Li Jiao and the others.
Li Jiao, Lu San Niang, Ruan Bi Ting, and He Yun Xiang were gathered together inside one of the palaces in the city right now. In addition, there were many unknown faces gathered around them. These people were all Origin Kings whose eyes were filled with admiration and respect as they gazed upon these four, Li Jiao in particular. There were as many as a dozen such individuals.
They seemed to be discussing something. Li Jiao sat at the head of the table, feeling bored and absent-minded. He was a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master, so being left here by Yang Kai to recover Water Moon Star was simply overkill. After separating from Lu San Niang and the others, the task only took less than a month to complete. It was just that Li Jiao had no choice but to manage the place after regaining control since he had no idea how important Water Moon Star was to Yang Kai.
Unfortunately, this place and its issues were completely meaningless to him so he felt it was better if he went sightseeing with Lu San Niang instead.
As for the other cultivators in the Origin King Realm gathered in this palace, they were subordinates he took in during the process of recovering Water Moon Star. They were originally local Masters or subordinates of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce who had been living in hiding from the Netherworld Sect all these years, but all of them had joined the crusade after witnessing the strength of these four strangers.
The door was pushed open suddenly and somebody in the palace stood up and shouted, “Who goes there!?”
They were discussing important issues at the moment, so just who would dare to act so presumptuously and barge into this place without prior notification? Everyone lifted their gazes to look in that direction and the sight of a young man walking into the room entered their vision. He looked familiar at first glance, as if they had seen him somewhere before, but they couldn’t quite recall where.
While many of the Origin Kings were still feeling confused, a gust of wind blew past them and Li Jiao greeted the young man in surprise, “Brother Yang!”
Similarly, Lu San Niang, Ruan Bi Ting, and He Yun Xiang all stood up and bowed too.
After seeing that, the Origin Kings no longer dared to look down on Yang Kai. Over the past month, all of them had witnessed how powerful Li Jiao and the others here were. He Yun Xiang seemed to be a Third-Order Origin King, which meant that while she was strong, it was still within their ability to understand. On the other hand, the strength of the other three, whether Li Jiao, Lu San Niang, or Ruan Bi Ting, was unfathomable. An Origin King Realm Master was nothing more than a child in front of them, one that they could kill on a whim; therefore, somebody who could receive such respectful treatment from these Masters could not be any ordinary person.
Upon a closer look, some people gave an exclamation of surprise and astonishment. They finally realized that this young man was Yang Kai, the same Yang Kai who had visited Water Moon Star back then and met many people during his trip here. Although more than several dozen years had passed, the memory was still vivid in their minds. Xue Yue’s husband; the handsome son-in-law of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce; the Star Master of Shadowed Star. Any of these names were enough to attract their attention. Even so, they were astonished to see that he was acquainted with such powerful people. Moreover, looking at the way these influential Masters were treating him, it seemed as though they… respected and even felt grateful towards him.
All of a sudden, they recalled what Li Jiao casually mentioned before. He said that the reason why the four of them had purged their enemies and were helping the weak was that they were asked to do so by a certain person. From the looks of things, the person in question seemed to be none other than Yang Kai. For a moment, the Origin Kings were overwhelmed by their emotions.
“Brother Yang, we have taken back control of this Cultivation Star as you asked. We also got rid of all the remaining rats.”
Yang Kai smiled, “Many thanks for your hard work. En… I actually came here today to ask for a favour.”
Li Jiao laughed, “Just tell us what you need, Brother Yang. There’s no need to be so polite.”
Yang Kai rubbed his two fingers together and asked, “Lend me some money.”
“Huh?” Li Jiao was stunned.
“Source Crystals. Lend me everything you have. I will pay you back when we get back to the Star Boundary.”
Li Jiao finally ascertained that he had not heard wrongly. Failing to stifle his laughter, he hurriedly took off his Space Ring, fiddled with it slightly, and transferred all the Source Crystals within it to another before handing that second Space Ring to Yang Kai, “I only have these.”
He might be the Palace Master of Fire Dragon Palace, but he couldn’t possibly bring massive amounts of Source Crystals everywhere with him. Fire Dragon Palace needed funds to operate and develop after all. The disciples also needed to spend a lot of Source Crystals for their cultivation. The Sect would not be able to function if he took all the Source Crystals away with him. Besides, Fire Dragon Palace still owed High Heaven Palace a huge sum of money, so more than 90% of the reserves in the palace had been used to repay that debt.
Therefore, Li Jiao had no more than several tens of thousands of High-Rank Source Crystals in his Space Ring. He had slightly more Mid-Rank Source Crystals and Low-Rank Source Crystals, but unfortunately, these did not match with his status as a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master. In short, he had been living on a tight budget for the past two years.
“I have some as well,” Lu San Niang walked over and took out all the Source Crystals she had. Yang Kai was not offended by the amount and accepted them all. Meanwhile, Ruan Bi Ting and He Yun Xiang were helpless in this matter.
Yang Kai had been working hard in the Star Boundary over the years, so the number of Source Crystals he had amassed during this period was simply uncountable. Unfortunately, he left almost all of that wealth back in High Heaven Palace. He had quite a lot of Source Crystals in his possession, but for the next step of his plan, the more Source Crystals he could get, the better. It wouldn’t be enough no matter how many of them he had.
“Brother Li, can I ask you a question? How much do you know about Spirit Arrays?” Yang Kai asked after putting the Source Crystals away
Li Jiao replied, “I’m no expert, but I know a thing or two.”
“Good. Come with me.” Yang Kai reached out, grabbed Li Jiao’s arm, and walked outside.
Li Jiao was speechless. He did not know why Yang Kai was in such a hurry, but he didn’t resist. He simply gave Lu San Niang a look and asked her to wait there; afterwards, Yang Kai and Li Jiao returned to Nine Heavens Holy Land together via the Space Array.
“Come!” Yang Kai flew up into the air while Li Jiao followed closely behind. It didn’t take long for the two of them to reach a height of several thousands of kilometres, at which point Yang Kai pointed downward and said, “Brother Li, take a look.”
Upon hearing those words, Li Jiao looked down and subconsciously frowned. Everywhere he looked, Tong Xuan Realm seemed to be wrapped in a frail aura. Furthermore, the surface of this Cultivation Star had many obvious traces of being poisoned.
“What do you want me to do, Brother Yang?” Li Jiao had a vague idea as to what Yang Kai was planning now.
Yang Kai asked, “Are there any Spirit Arrays that allow this Cultivation Star to quickly recover its World Energy and vitality?”
Li Jiao pondered for a moment, “I know a Spirit Array called the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array. It might be of some help to you, Brother Yang.”
Yang Kai lifted his brow at that and said, “In that case, please help me arrange this Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array, Brother Li.”
Li Jiao explained, “The Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array can be divided into several types. They are the 18 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array, 36 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array, 72 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array, and the highest rank being the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array. Every type requires different kinds of materials to arrange, and the difficulty of arranging it increases with each rank. In exchange, the effects will get better and better. I could easily set up the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array if we were in Star Boundary, but here…”
“I can help.”
Li Jiao laughed, “Brother Yang, as you know, these Lower Star Fields will reject any power that exceeds the limits of its Principles. I need to suppress my cultivation to be able to move about freely here just as you do, so the same limitation applies to Spirit Arrays as well. The very existence of the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array surpasses what this Star’s World Principles can handle, so I’m afraid that arranging such a Spirit Array won’t make much of a difference.”
“What if we have the help of the Star Master?”
“This Star has a Star Master?” Li Jiao asked in surprise. This Cultivation Star was in a dilapidated state and its World Energy was clearly exhausted. Even if there was a Star Master, that person would likely be dying by now. That was why his thoughts had not gone in that direction before. However, Li Jiao abruptly realized something after listening to what Yang Kai said. The reason Yang Kai wanted him to arrange such a Spirit Array to help this Cultivation Star recover its World Energy was not for the sake of the Cultivation Star, but for its Star Master!
Now that he understood the situation, Li Jiao nodded, “If we can get the Star Master’s help, we’ll have some hope in this matter.”
The Star Master was the ruler of this place, so even if the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array was rejected by the Star Field, the Star Master could circumvent the rejection enough to activate the Spirit Array.
“Which type of Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array do you want me to arrange here, Brother Yang?”
“Naturally, I want you to prepare the best.”
Hesitating, Li Jiao cautioned, “The materials required will be quite substantial.”
Even for Fire Dragon Palace, the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array was not something they could arrange at will without a valid reason. Doing so for a Cultivation Star of a Lower Plane was simply not worth it.
Yang Kai resolutely declared, “The cost is of no concern.”
While speaking, he took off the Space Ring on his finger and tossed it to Li Jiao to check.
Li Jiao used his Divine Sense to sweep this Space Ring, and what he found inside immediately made him dizzy. Source Crystals were piled up like mountains in practically impossible to count numbers. Moreover, there were various cultivation resources and rare materials of all sorts of shapes and sizes. Even though he was a Palace Master himself, looking at these items made him envious. In comparison, the Source Crystals he lent to Yang Kai just now were not even a fraction of what was inside this Space Ring.
The initial shock was quickly followed by astonishment as Li Jiao recalled that it wasn’t that long ago that Yang Kai established High Heaven Palace. Besides, High Heaven Palace did not own any businesses or industries to generate regular income or collect materials. Yang Kai couldn’t have earned so many Source Crystals in such a short time, so the only other explanation was he gained all this treasure through fighting and looting others. In other words, this mountain of Source Crystals and every single artifact and material in this Space Ring represented the number of enemies Yang Kai killed and the Sects he destroyed.
A drop of cold sweat dripped down Li Jiao’s forehead as he sincerely thought to himself, [I’m so glad I didn’t cause a falling out with Yang Kai back then. Otherwise, things would not have ended well for Fire Dragon Palace!]
“Are these enough?” Yang Kai asked, “I still have a Source Crystal Lode tucked away if it’s not enough.”
“It’s enough.” Li Jiao nodded repeatedly, [It would be inexcusable if this amount still wasn’t enough…]
“Then, I’ll have to trouble you with this, Brother Li. Please let me know if there’s anything I can help with.”
“Of course. Uh… I also need you to inform the Star Master that I need their cooperation, Brother Yang.”
“Good!”
Next, Li Jiao took out several blank jade slips and using his Divine Sense began engraving them with all the essential information about the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array before he handed them over to Yang Kai.
Afterwards, Yang Kai returned to Nine Heavens Holy Land and informed Xia Ning Chang of the matter. On the other hand, Li Jiao flew around Tong Xuan Realm and carefully inspected the environment to determine the optimal way to arrange the Spirit Array.
The Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array wasn’t considered a profound or complex Spirit Array in the Star Boundary. It was just that there were many different types. With Xia Ning Chang’s insight, it was not difficult for her to comprehend the mystery of this Spirit Array, and with Yang Kai assisting her, she gained a comprehensive understanding of the subject within a few days.
One day, Xia Ning Chang suddenly felt something and smiled, “That person is here.” While speaking, she gently waved her hand.
At the moment, Li Jiao was wandering around outside Nine Heavens Holy Land while thinking about how to get in.
[Maybe I should call Yang Kai and ask him to pick me up?] While he was considering his options, the thick fog in front of him suddenly split apart to reveal a passage into which he immediately walked.
Yang Kai was waiting inside the great hall, and when he saw Li Jiao arriving, covered in dust and tired from travelling, he asked anxiously, “How did your investigation go, Brother Li?”
Li Jiao replied, “It’s going to be time-consuming, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Yang Kai was overjoyed, “Very good!”
“Let me tell you where to arrange the Spirit Array. There is some preparatory work that needs to be done in advance, which I will leave to you, Brother Yang. We can start arranging things once the refining of the base and flags is completed,” Li Jiao said. While speaking, he took out a jade slip and tapped on it.
A sphere projection then appeared from the jade slip with a flash of light. Most of the sphere was covered in blue or yellow. Moreover, the distribution of the two colours were uneven. Yang Kai glanced at the projection and immediately realized that it was a projection of Tong Xuan Realm with yellow representing land and blue representing water.
It seemed that Li Jiao had been working very hard over the past few days. Not only did he circle the entire Tong Xuan Realm, but he also carefully drew such a map. Although he did not dare to say that it was 100% accurate, it was certainly pretty close. Studying it for a moment, Li Jiao pointed to a certain spot, “Brother Yang, please look at this. This place is where we are right now.”
Yang Kai nodded, recognizing that it was the location of Nine Heavens Holy Land on Tong Xuan Realm.
“The World Energy here is the densest across the entire Star. The Principles are the most perfect too. It can be used as the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array Core.” Li Jiao gave a wave of his hand and a red spot immediately appeared where Nine Heavens Holy Land was located on the projection as if he had marked it.
The cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field had wantonly done whatever they wanted to Tong Xuan Realm for several years, so at this point, the only place left undamaged was Nine Heavens Holy Land. With Xia Ning Chang overseeing this place, it was the most suitable for the Array Core to be situated.
Yang Kai nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.
Then, Li Jiao waved his hand again. Eight small black spots immediately appeared on the projection of Tong Xuan Realm. These spots coincided with the positions of the sub-arrays of the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array that Yang Kai had destroyed previously. Li Jiao continued, “The poison is the worst in these eight areas. If I am correct, somebody set up Spirit Arrays in these eight spots before. If you want this Star to recover its World Energy, we must deal with these eight spots with utmost priority.”
“What you say makes sense, Brother Li.”
Lifting his hand again, many red spots appeared on the sphere, one after the other, “I travelled this land for several days and surveyed many places. As a result, I have chosen a total of 108 spots to situate sub-arrays. Aside from the Array Core and the eight black spots, there are still 99 more places to go. I need you to bury an adequate amount of Source Crystals in each of those places; then, once the Spirit Array is activated, those Source Crystals will be transformed into World Energy by the Spirit Array to nourish this Star.”
“Wonderful!” Yang Kai applauded. He had been studying the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array with Xia Ning Chang over the past few days and had gotten a basic understanding of how it worked and how to arrange it. After listening to Li Jiao’s explanation, Yang Kai was confident that this plan would work.
Xia Ning Chang had to rely on Tong Xuan Realm to recover if she wanted to restore her own vitality as soon as possible. Or, she could undergo the same experience Yang Kai had gone through on Shadowed Star. If she could perform a Star Master’s returning nurture to the Star, she could guide Starlight Strength to Tong Xuan Realm from the Star Field itself. There was no need for the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array anymore if she could do this.
Unfortunately, her cultivation was not sufficient. She could not achieve what Yang Kai had accomplished as returning nurture to the Star was too far out of her grasp. The only reason Yang Kai could achieve it so easily was because his own cultivation had far surpassed the limits of Shadowed Star.
“Brother Yang, if you don’t have any objections to the plan, I will start working on it immediately.”
“Many thanks, Brother Li.”
Li Jiao gently nodded. After a pause, he added, “There is one more thing. I need Liu Yan’s help with this.”
Yang Kai grinned, “Go ahead and use her as you please.”
Li Jiao needed to refine all kinds of things for the Spirit Array, and it just so happened that Liu Yan could help in that aspect. It would also prevent her from being bored all day long.
The two of them immediately divided the materials between them with Yang Kai taking the Source Crystals while handing everything else to Li Jiao. Those were the materials that Li Jiao needed to refine for the Core of the array.
After that, Yang Kai did not linger and immediately went back and found a suitable spot in Nine Heavens Holy Land. Tapping his foot against the ground, he lifted his head with a smile, “Please help me, Little Senior Sister.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the solid ground under his foot suddenly turned into quicksand and he instantly began to slide downwards without the slightest resistance. Even so, he remained motionless and was not the least bit panicked. Rather, he quietly calculated his position in his heart and halted his descent a few moments later. At this point, he was several hundred kilometres below the surface.
Taking out a large number of Source Crystals, he scattered them about so that they would flood to underground depths here. This spot in Nine Heavens Holy Land was going to be the Array Core of the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array, so the need for Source Crystals was extraordinarily high.
Although Yang Kai didn’t keep an accurate count, he scattered an estimate of several million High-Rank Source Crystals in this area before he was satisfied and stopped. Several million High-Rank Source Crystals was considered a huge sum even in the Star Boundary, let alone a Lower Star Field where Saint Crystals were the only currency in circulation. Even Peak-Rank Saint Crystals were incomparable to Low-Rank Source Crystals.
If the World Energy contained within these millions of Source Crystals could be channelled into the Star, it would instantly transform Nine Heavens Holy Land into a place that could rival any Cave Heaven or Paradise of the Star Boundary.
After setting up the Array Core, Yang Kai immediately flew up and headed towards the next area.
A quarter of an hour later, Yang Kai checked the information in the jade slip he was holding and stopped on the spot. This was close to the periphery of a city. Unfortunately, the city that was supposed to be bustling at this time was uninhabited and dilapidated. It was clear that it had been deserted for some time.
Yang Kai called out to Xia Ning Chang again and just like before, the process of burying a large amount of Source Crystals was carried out.
Over the following days, Yang Kai circled around Tong Xuan Realm and completed the preparatory work for arranging the Array according to the instructions written in the jade slip given to him by Li Jiao. His busy figure could be seen everywhere, including in the deserts, below the sea, in the jungles, and out on the plains.
He did not allow Xia Ning Chang to intervene during his travels as although she could instantaneously move him from one point to another in Tong Xuan Realm with just a single thought, it would also consume quite a bit of her strength to do so; therefore, he only asked her to help him a little when burying the Source Crystals.
In this manner, he spent countless Source Crystals along his journey. Yang Kai ended up using more than 90% of the Source Crystals in his possession. It wasn’t that he was wasting his financial resources, but rather that this matter was related to Xia Ning Chang’s future, so he refused to hold back in any way.
By the time he was done setting up all 108 locations, several days had passed. Yang Kai scratched his head and communicated with Xia Ning Chang, who had been watching him the entire time. Then, he plunged himself towards the ground. In response, the ground opened up a passage for him and let him pass through unobstructed.
Soon, Yang Kai arrived at the centre of the Star. This place was where the Source of Tong Xuan Realm came into being. It was also the place where Xia Ning Chang had refined the Star Source back then and could be said to be the heart of Tong Xuan Realm.
Scorching lava flowed around Yang Kai, seeming to burn everything in its path. Arriving here, Yang Kai lifted his hand and pulled out a magnificent Source Crystal Lode from the Small Sealed World before dropping it into the core. The Lode sank into the lava soon after.
This was the only Source Crystal Lode in his possession, and he had obtained it just outside of Maplewood City many years ago. It had always been left inside the Sealed World Bead to be used by his Embodiment for cultivation, so a large portion of it had already been consumed. That said, it was still a huge expenditure for the current Tong Xuan Realm.
It wasn’t hard to imagine that with the help of so many Source Crystals from Yang Kai, Tong Xuan Realm’s dismal situation would immediately become much better once the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array was up and running. Although it would still take some time to recover completely, it would reduce that time from several hundred years many times over. In other words, Xia Ning Chang’s recovery period would be shortened. She could be back to normal within a decade.
That wasn’t all. As long as the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array continued to operate, Tong Xuan Realm’s situation would continuously improve. The World Energy would become denser, richer and, in time, this Cultivation Star would grow to be on par with Shadowed Star and Water Moon Star. It would no longer be like how it was before, where the cultivation limit was the Saint Realm at best. It would be able to produce cultivators in the Saint King Realm, the Origin Returning Realm, and the Origin King Realm, ultimately reaching the peak of the Star Field’s Martial Dao.
The better Tong Xuan Realm became, the more beneficial it would be for Xia Ning Chang.
Yang Kai returned to Nine Heavens Holy Land with a beautiful dream for the future. Meanwhile, Li Jiao and Liu Yan were refining the base of the Spirit Array. Even with Liu Yan’s help, the process was taking a lot out of Li Jiao. He looked haggard and worn out, and if not for the numerous Spirit Pills he was consuming, he would have collapsed a long time ago.
Seeing this, Yang Kai assisted from the side.
Two months passed by in a hurry, and on this particular day, Li Jiao handed the last item to Yang Kai with a slightly dazed expression and dull eyes, “I’ve done what you asked.”
The refining of 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Columns was completed. With that, Li Jiao had completed his task. During the process, he had made several mistakes and wasted quite a bit of material, but Yang Kai was well prepared, so some wastage was no big deal.
Yang Kai stretched out his hand to take the item with a word of thanks. Then, he lifted his hand and transferred Li Jiao to the Small Sealed World so that he could rest inside and recover from his fatigue.
Fiddling with the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Column in his hand that was about a meter tall, Yang Kai raised his eyes to look in the direction of Nine Heavens Holy Land’s Array Core and smiled before asking, “Are you ready?”
A refreshing breeze blew against his face like an invisible hand stroking his cheek. That was Xia Ning Chang’s response to his question.
“Then, let’s begin!” He shifted his body slightly and immediately arrived at the place where he had buried the Source Crystals previously. Taking a deep breath, Yang Kai circulated his Emperor Qi and tossed the Profound Spirit Column into the air in front of him. At the same time, he swiftly formed a series of hand seals.
Following that, several beams of light entered the Spirit Column and disappeared.
As the Profound Spirit Column slowly fell downward, it seemed to become more and more energetic while also expanding in size rapidly.
The Profound Spirit Column had only been a meter tall before, but it turned into a towering pillar that was a few thousand meters high in the blink of an eye. Even if several people tried to wrap their arms around it, they wouldn’t be able to encircle it fully. The complex patterns on the Profound Spirit Column flickered and flashed before it fell straight down into the ground as if held by an invisible large hand.
In response, countless people in Nine Heavens Holy Land looked up with shocked expressions. The Profound Spirit Column was not an artifact, it was simply a Spirit Array base; however, it was emitting an imposing aura at the moment. If an ordinary cultivator from the Star Field were to come into contact with an existence like this, they would be turned to ashes in an instant.
Then, the ground formed a whirlpool, revealing a path that guided the Profound Spirit Column deeper into the ground.
Yang Kai quickly shouted, “Bury the Array Core 2 kilometres deep while leaving a kilometre exposed. Little Senior Sister, please pay attention to the details.”
The Profound Spirit Column silently continued to bury itself deeper into the ground before stopping all of a sudden when it reached a certain level. Afterwards, the ground hardened again to bind the Profound Spirit Column tightly in its embrace. It was now buried exactly 2 kilometres into the ground, not one bit more nor one bit less.
Inspecting the Profound Spirit Column, Yang Kai confirmed that there were no errors in the placement before swiftly heading in another direction with Li Yan following close behind him.
The Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array was formed based on the 108 Profound Spirit Columns. The requirements for the location and the depth of placement for every Profound Spirit Column was very particular and the slightest error would make a huge difference.
Fortunately, Li Jiao was quite familiar with this Spirit Array, although the one he was familiar with was the 72 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array and not the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array. The fundamentals were basically the same despite the difference in numbers; therefore, the information he supplied was pretty much accurate.
Li Jiao had worked together with Liu Yan to refine all these Profound Spirit Columns, so the Array should activate smoothly as long as everything was arranged appropriately.
Over the next few days, Yang Kai revisited all the places he had been to previously and buried one Profound Spirit Column above each buried pile of Source Crystals. It took him a whole seven days to finish burying all 108 Profound Spirit Columns before he ran around with Liu Yan, cross-checking his handiwork. Only when he was satisfied that everything was in order did he return to Nine Heavens Holy Land.
Yang Kai stood in the sky inside Nine Heavens Holy Land, his black hair flying around him and his robes dancing wildly. His expression was solemn as he held a small Array Jade in his hand. That was the Array Jade to control the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array. It was something that he, Li Jiao, and Liu Yan jointly made together with a lot of effort.
Everything was in place, except for the most crucial part of it all. Closing his eyes, Yang Kai concentrated for a moment; then, he lightly touched the Array Jade and slowly poured some Emperor Qi into it so that it flashed with light.
Next, he opened his eyes abruptly and began forming a set of hand seals. Rays of light entered the Array Jade and he shouted, “Initialize!”
The Array Jade shone brightly!
A low humming sound came from deep underground. At the same time, an earthquake shook the entire Nine Heavens Holy Land. The changes startled countless cultivators who were cultivating in meditation, causing them to come out of retreat to investigate the situation. Upon seeing the figure standing in the sky though, they understood that the changes were his doing and not another enemy invasion; thus, they felt relieved.
Inside Nine Heavens Holy Land, the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Column located at the Array Core suddenly underwent an unusual change. The complex patterns on the surface of the pillar flickered and shone. Simultaneously, an invisible pulse spread out. With the Profound Spirit Column as its centre, it spread out tens of thousands of kilometres, covering Tong Xuan Realm.
One by one, the Profound Spirit Columns lit up in succession across the land. Under the influence of their energy fluctuations and invisible energy waves, they resonated with each other and the patterns on their surfaces shone brightly. If one were to look down from the Starry Sky, one could see the 108 lights flashing brightly across the entire Star. Everywhere the waves passed, the lights became extremely dazzling.
The speed of Yang Kai’s hand seals increased, becoming more and more rapid while his expression remained extremely solemn. Although his cultivation was extremely high, he was currently in a state of self-suppression, so he did not dare to be careless or negligent while maintaining this Grand Spirit Array. This matter was related to Xia Ning Chang’s well-being, so he had to take it very seriously.
Soon, sweat was dripping down his face.
A quarter-hour later, the Profound Spirit Column in Nine Heavens Holy Land emitted an invisible wave once again and the previous phenomenon repeated. That column was like a beating heart, pulsing rhythmically. Every time it beat, the other 107 Profound Spirit Columns would produce a subtle resonance with each other. As the number of beasts increased, the resonance would connect from end to end and could no longer be separated from one another. Over time, all 108 Profound Spirit Columns synchronized and covered the entire Tong Xuan Realm as a result.
The invisible wave spread out again and again. Similarly, the 108 Profound Spirit Columns flashed in rhythm. The cycle repeated continuously; however, the frequency of the cycle slowly accelerated as time passed.
One day later, the time between each wave had been halved from the initial quarter-hour. Another day later, the time halved again. In another three days, the Profound Spirit Column at the Array Core pulsed every few breaths. The remaining 107 Profound Spirit Columns were the same. Moreover, if one were to observe it closely, they would discover that the flashing lights of the Profound Spirit Columns no longer lit up sequentially but in sync.
Yang Kai controlled the Array Jade with great focus, maintaining the Array without even knowing how much time was passing. Finally, the frequency of the flashing lights of the Profound Spirit Columns seemed to have reached a certain limit. Following that, an invisible aura spread like a fierce beast from ancient times that had awakened suddenly.
Yang Kai looked tired, but his eyes were shining so brightly that it was scary. The moment he had been waiting for was finally here! He no longer hesitated. Changing his hand seals, he threw the Array Jade high into the air as a ray of light hit it and he shouted, “Activate!”
The Array hummed. At that moment, the 108 lights that had been flashing continuously died out completely. They no longer contained any light in them; however, the extinguished lights were rekindled again in the next moment. There was neither sequence nor individuality to the rekindling of the lights. They had completely become one and 108 vibration waves undulated all at once. Every one of the Profound Spirit Columns shot out 107 rays of light in all directions. These lights cut through the sky and weaved a gigantic net that covered the skies above all of Tong Xuan Realm.
At that moment, all living creatures in Tong Xuan Realm looked up into the sky. The criss-crossing rays of light looked like meteors falling from above, converging to form a shower raining across the entire Star. The sight was shocking to see; however, nobody felt any fear or trepidation. Instead, many had the urge to worship the phenomenon instead.
*Hong hong hong…*
Rumbling sounds rang out continuously as every Profound Spirit Column was closely connected with the other 107 Profound Spirit Columns.
*Kacha…* As if a key had slid into the lock, the 108 Profound Spirit Columns came to life at the same instant and began to release a world-shattering force.
Immediately after that, the sky sparkled, the clouds gathered, and Principle Strength swirled. The world was beginning to reject the Spirit Array that exceeded its tolerance limit.
All of a sudden, a fair and flawless jade-white hand swept through the air. Wherever the jade-white hand passed, the clouds dissipated and the skies calmed. Soon, everything returned to normal.
Without Xia Ning Chang using her Star Master’s power to protect the Spirit Array and interfere with the World Principles, the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array would not have been able to function properly.
Li Jiao was right, those in the Emperor Realm were unable to exist in this world safely with their cultivations unsealed, so how could the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array that came from the Star Boundary be any different?
If it were a slightly weaker Spirit Array, it might not have been a problem; unfortunately, the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array was an Emperor Grade Spirit Array that far exceeded the limits that this world could withstand. Fortunately, Xia Ning Chang’s power had allowed the Array to continue existing within Tong Xuan Realm.
It wasn’t just Nine Heavens Holy Land that was facing constant tremors though; in fact, the entire world shook as the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array took effect.
The net of light covering the entire world gradually disappeared, but the 108 Profound Spirit Columns were now connected together as one. At the same time, the Array began to truly operate. Firstly, the Source Crystals that Yang Kai buried in advance finally came into play. Guided by the Profound Spirit Columns, countless Source Crystals transformed into pure World Energy, which was extracted by the Profound Spirit Columns and circulated into the world.
“What rich World Energy!” A burst of exclamations rang out from Nine Heavens Holy Land.
At this moment, the World Energy that had always been rather special in the Holy Land climbed to new heights. More importantly, it had yet to reach its limits and continued to rise rapidly. Nine Heavens Holy Land was soon covered in a layer of fog, one that took only the blink of an eye to become so thick that one couldn’t see anything in front of them. The fog made a person feel as though they were floating in a sea of World Energy, a very pleasant and joy-inducing sensation.
Nobody had ever experienced such dense World Energy before. Although Nine Heavens Holy Land was the Cultivation Paradise of Tong Xuan Realm and, it was still worse off compared to many other places in the Star Field. The reason being that Tong Xuan Realm’s World Energy had been in decline for thousands of years and was now quite depleted. That was why it couldn’t produce any strong cultivators. Even when Nine Heavens Holy Land was at its peak, it could not compare to any of the ordinary mountains on Shadowed Star or Water Moon Star. The differences between them were like night and day.
However, it was different now. Changes were occurring everywhere on Tong Xuan Realm and all the cultivators who survived the previous war happily cheered and ran around spreading the news.
The sun was shining in the sky, but raindrops still began to fall. The cheering cultivators suddenly seemed to freeze in place when this happened and looked up into the sky stupidly, reached out their hands to catch the raindrops or using their tongues to lick them. When they did, they were shocked to the core.
It was Spirit Rain! It wasn’t just any ordinary rain as every single drop of rain was brimming with World Energy. It was practically the manifestation of pure, condensed World Energy.
When the Spirit Rain first appeared, it was only a light drizzle; however, it soon became a pouring rain that covered the entire Star with not a single spot left out. Green sprouts emerged in the withered wilderness; young grass sprung up from the dry ground; sickly cows mooed and stood up again; the dying elderly abruptly opened their dull eyes as they began shining with life. Their grieving families, who were about to cry in mourning, were dumbstruck by the phenomenon.
When the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array was in operation, it not only increased the World Energy of the Star but also improved the ethereal vitality of Tong Xuan Realm that was difficult to sense.
Yang Kai remained standing in the sky, holding the Array Jade of the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array in his hand as he spread his Divine Sense out like a tide and investigated the situation in every corner of the world. Upon seeing the status, a satisfied look surfaced on his face.
He was only able to solve Tong Xuan Realm’s worries this time around thanks to Li Jiao’s help. Yang Kai neither knew much about Spirit Arrays nor had he heard of the Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array before. If not for Li Jiao’s efforts over the past two months, he would not have been able to arrange this Array. And now, the effects were greater than Yang Kai could have expected. He couldn’t help feeling extremely grateful toward Li Jiao.
[En… Let’s just write off the debt that Fire Dragon Palace owes me. At any rate, Li Jiao and I have gone through more than one life or death experience together and he has also provided his assistance to me… though not always willingly. In any case, it would be too embarrassing to try and collect that debt from him after this. Besides, those debts are nothing to the current High Heaven Palace. Why should I make others tighten their belts just to pay me money I don’t care about?] Secretly making up his mind, Yang Kai glanced out of the corner of his eye and immediately flew off in a certain direction.
“Little Senior Sister, why did you come out?” He appeared next to two women and supported Xia Ning Chang by the arm with one hand. He was extremely anxious, “Why aren’t you lying down? Why did you run out instead? Walk slowly! Slowly! Stop, stop. It’s raining outside. You shouldn’t go past this point.
Xue Yue glanced sideways at him and complained, “If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought that Ning Chang was pregnant.”
Xia Ning Chang’s face reddened upon hearing this.
On the other hand, he touched his chin and considered it seriously, “That’s not a bad idea.”
Xia Ning Chang quickly changed the topic, “I just came out to take a look as I felt much better all of a sudden just now.”
It wasn’t just ‘much better’. Prior to this, she remained extremely weak and pale-faced despite receiving Yang Kai’s help to stabilize her vitality and prevent it from being drained. In contrast, her face now had a rosy glow. It wasn’t just because she was feeling shy after being teased by Xue Yue, it was mainly due to the effects of the Spirit Array.
Even though she was the Star Master and could grasp the situation of the entire Star with just a single thought, seeing with her own eyes was a habit and a more intuitive experience overall.
“This Spirit Array is truly amazing. Junior Brother, please thank Sir Li for me.” Xia Ning Chang was watching the Spirit Rain pouring down outside, and if not for Yang Kai’s presence, she would have rushed out to dance in the rain to express the joy she was feeling inside.
“Of course,” Yang Kai nodded. Although Li Jiao and him were now close enough that there was no need for thanks between them anymore, it was only natural that he agreed to this task since Xia Ning Chang had spoken up about it.
“10 years!” Xia Ning Chang suddenly said.
“What?”
She smiled, “Tong Xuan Realm will fully recover within 10 years.”
The cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field only took a few years to cause such severe poisoning. In contrast, it would take 10 years to recover from the damage even with Yang Kai spending a huge amount of Source Crystals. Destruction was often easier than recovery.
“Are you satisfied with just that?” He glanced at her with a grin.
She blinked, “What else is there to want?”
He replied, “Tong Xuan Realm is inferior to the other Stars. In the first place, its grade is on the lower side. Just restoring it to its original state is no good. Moreover, 10 years… That’s far too long.”
The wheels in Xia Ning Chang’s head spun quickly as she asked, “Husband, are you saying you have a way to make the Star even better?”
“It all depends,” He laughed heartily. He had some plans in his heart, but he did not know if they could succeed; therefore, he did not dare to promise them anything, lest he could not achieve what he promised. That would be extremely embarrassing.
However, Xue Yue seemed to have seen through his intentions and smirked, “If you can make Tong Xuan Realm better, then I will…”
“You will what?” He glanced at her with a scorching gaze.
She blushed slightly but remained steadfast, “I will let you do whatever you want with me.”
His eyes gleamed, “I want us to sleep together!”
“Hmph!” She scoffed at him.
Then, he slipped between Xue Yue and Xia Ning Chang. Hugging both women in his arms, one on each side, he boldly declared, “You can’t make a horse work without feeding it. Let’s all sleep together, come come!”
“Pervert!” Xue Yue glared at him fiercely, her alluring and graceful looks nearly charming his very soul out of his body. Then, she lowered her head shyly and murmured, “You have to convince Ning Chang first.”
Xia Ning Chang’s face blushed beet red, “How did this topic even come up?”
Yang Kai then said with a serious expression, “The convergence of Yin and Yang is the Heavenly Way. En, it’s decided then.”
“Who agreed to that!?” Xia Ning Chang was anxious. She couldn’t even imagine doing something like that; however, Yang Kai quickly lowered his head and took a little taste by pecking her on the lips. In response, she became frozen stiff as if she had been struck by lightning. She had never been so intimate with him in front of others before.
Xue Yue had been watching them with a smile and was caught off-guard when he turned around and stole her red lips too. Similarly, it was just a peck and he did not go too far. It wasn’t that he wasn’t tempted, but that he still remembered what Xue Yue said before. He was not allowed to touch her until Xia Ning Chang was fully recovered. Although he could win them over with persistence at this moment, how could that win against the expectation of having both of them at once in his heart?
[Heh heh… These two innocent women… Did you think that it’s just the two of you? When that time comes, neither Qing Luo nor Su Yan will escape!] Laughing riotously, he flew off.
Behind him, Xue Yue touched her cherry lips for a moment before she stomped her foot and shouted, “Scoundrel!”
Yang Kai stood under the Spirit Rain with his hands on his waist, energetically and passionately declaring, “Everyone, Grand Desolation Star Field has invaded our lands for more than 10 years, massacred our fellow cultivators, snatched our women, and looted the riches from our Star Field! Billions have lost their homes, and billions more have had their lives destroyed! Now is the time for us to fight back!”
The heavy rain was noisy, but it couldn’t drown out his voice so everyone heard him clearly.
“Join me now and we will make them pay! An eye for an eye! Blood for blood!” Yang Kai lifted his fist towards the Starry Sky.
“Blood for blood!” Voices roared to the sky. The grievances accumulated over the past few years had not disappeared with the recovery of Tong Xuan Realm. Instead, the thirst for revenge had only grown stronger with time.
…..
Yang Kai sat on the peak of a barren mountain on a certain Dead Star in the endless Star Field. He propped his cheek on one hand and closed his eyes in deep contemplation. His Divine Sense dived into his Knowledge Sea, navigating through the vast Star Chart there.
This Star Chart depicted the entire Heng Luo Star Field and was something Yang Kai obtained by accident when he first left Tong Xuan Realm in the past. At first, he had not paid much attention to it and simply used it as a navigation tool to not lose his way in the Star Field.
Over time though, he discovered that this Star Chart was different from the Star Charts drawn by ordinary Star Chart Masters. It seemed to be changing constantly, corresponding to every corner of the entire Star Field. It was just that the Star Chart was too large and the Star Field was too vast, so these minor changes would not have been noticeable without careful observation.
Yang Kai later learned that the Star Chart he had accidentally obtained was actually the Source of the entire Star Field. It was precisely because of this Star Chart that he managed to sense a faint connection with Heng Luo Star Field in the Ancestral Domain and eventually return to this place.
Wu Kuang mentioned that, in the past, every time he travelled to a new Star Field, he would search for the Star Field Source and devour it. With that, he could become the Master of that Star Field and would no longer be rejected by its World Principles.
A Star Field Source did not have a fixed form, and compared to the Star Source of a Cultivation Star, the Star Field Source could almost be considered a mythical existence, practically impossible to find.
For Yang Kai to obtain one could be said to be a great stroke of good fortune. Unfortunately, he could not harness the power of the Star Field Source because he had never bothered to refine it. Only by successfully refining this Star Field Source could he truly become the Master of Heng Luo Star Field. At that time, he wouldn’t even need to lift a single finger to purge all the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field as he could do so with just a single thought.
It had been half a year since he left Tong Xuan Realm, and throughout this time Yang Kai had been trying to refine the Star Field Source, but he had yet to make any progress. Even if his cultivation was in the Emperor Realm, the Star Field was too vast and it contained countless Stars within it. To refine the Star Field Source was equivalent to trying to control all of these Stars; it was more difficult than trying to ascend to the Heavens.
[I must be doing something wrong.] Even Wu Kuang had to suppress his cultivation when he arrived in the Lower Star Fields and could only start unscrupulously doing as he pleased after consuming the Star Field Source.
[If Wu Kuang can do this, then there’s no reason why I can’t.] Yang Kai was secretly annoyed with himself for not asking more about this matter at the time. [Even if I go to the Ancestral Domain right now… Putting aside the issue of whether I can manage to locate him, even if I did manage to, that guy might not tell me anything either.]
Yang Kai secretly rejoiced over the fact that he had not boasted about anything in front of Xue Yue and Xia Ning Chang; otherwise, he would be too embarrassed to meet them now. At the time, he only had a vague plan in mind; that was to refine the Star Chart and become the Master of this Star Field. Then, he would be able to control the power of the entire Star Field to provide some extra nurturing to Tong Xuan Realm. Upgrading it to be the same level as Shadowed Star and Water Moon Star would be nothing but child’s play at that time; but now, it would seem that his thoughts had been too naïve.
“Still not working?” A crisp voice rang out next to him, one that was sweet and pleasant to the ear.
Upon hearing her, Yang Kai opened his eyes and pulled Liu Yan into his arms. He continued to prop his cheeks on his hand and sighed, “I have an idea, but I don’t know if it will work.”
Liu Yan raised her head to look up at him. Reaching out her hand, she touched the hard stubble on his chin and gently murmured, “If you have an idea, then go ahead and try it out. There’s no loss in trying, right?”
“I was thinking so too.” He nodded and stood up, “How much longer before they gather here?”
“There are about ten more days until the agreed time.”
“Ten days is enough. Can you keep watch? Tell me immediately if you receive any news. I’m going to give my idea a try.”
“En.” She nodded.
Afterwards, Yang Kai kicked off the ground and rushed straight into the sky like a flying arrow, soon vanishing from sight. Plunging into the Starry Sky, he flew about aimlessly at a speed that was neither fast nor slow. As he flew, Yang Kai pushed his Emperor Qi gently, leaving a trail of his aura behind him. At the same time, he observed his path with the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea and delineated an area that was neither large nor small.
With the Star Chart as a cross-reference, he was not worried about getting his position wrong. And so, he continuously flew around this area as if drawing a circle. All the aura he had left behind was within the circle.
Five days later, he came to the centre of the circle and abruptly stopped before closing his eyes. His Divine Sense dived into his Knowledge Sea as he quietly studied the Star Chart. All of a sudden, his figure stiffened. A look of pleasant surprise soon appeared on his face as he clearly felt a special area within the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea. That area was none other than the place where he had spent the past few days marking with his aura.
[Interesting! Perhaps the method I’ve been trying for the past six months has been wrong all along. If this method works, then it means that refining the Star Field Source and a Star Source are two completely different things.] He had been trying to refine the Star Field Source with the method he used to refine Star Sources before. He had worked directly on the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea, but his efforts had been to no avail. From what he could see right now though, it was apparent he needed to start from the basics before going deeper. [Tackling this from the ground up is the way! But, what method should I use to refine it? There’s no other Secret Art to use aside from the Star Refining Art.]
Upon making his decision, he no longer hesitated. He immediately activated the Star Refining Art and immersed his mind in that special area within the Star Chart. All of a sudden, he felt a strange sensation. It felt as if his thoughts were spreading and expanding, flooding across the places he had passed through during the past five days, and firmly connecting the path made of aura he had left behind. He could now sense the movement of every object in that region without even opening his eyes. Everything was as clear as could be.
The Star Refining Art continued to circulate slowly, branding a certain area within the Star Chart with his aura, as if gradually changing the colour of that region. There were no ripples nor fluctuations that accompanied this process; everything seemed so peaceful and natural.
Without warning, Yang Kai suddenly opened his eyes and laughed loudly. [I can’t believe a sudden whim pointed me in the right direction.]
The ‘colour’ of that particular area in the Star Chart inside his Knowledge Sea seemed slightly different from the other places now. Correspondingly, he could feel that special area within the Starry Sky too.
Yang Kai did not use any kind of power. He simply changed what he was thinking about. Following that, his figure kept flickering throughout the area, leaving behind afterimages as if countless versions of him existed at the same time.
This was a special piece of the Starry Sky, a piece that only belonged to him! He was the Master of everything within this region, just like on Shadowed Star.
His figure stopped abruptly, and an eager light flashed in his eyes. [If I am safe after doing this, then it proves my theory is correct! If so, then all I need to refine the Star Chart is time and I can become the Master of Heng Luo Star Field!]
Taking a deep breath, Yang Kai roared. A strange sound rang out from the depths of his heart as the seal on his cultivation broke open. Immediately after that, his cultivation soared. First-Order Dao Source Realm… Second-Order Dao Source Realm… Third-Order Dao Source Realm… Emperor Realm!
Despite lifting the seal on his cultivation though, he remained safe and sound. The world was not rejecting him nor revealing any hostile intent towards him.
[I did it!]
Abandoned Lair was one of the two most notorious and savage forces in Heng Luo Star Field. It was a dangerous organization filled with wicked evildoers. The only other place as infamous as this was Galaxy Ridge. Almost 90% of the Star Pirates and exiled cultivators in the entire Star Field belonged to these two forces. For that reason, everyone who lived in their headquarters was a criminal with an evil, malicious, brutal, and violent temperament.
The three great forces of the Star Field had been in constant friction with these two forces for thousands of years and had even once joined forces to destroy them outright. However, both Abandoned Lair and Galaxy Ridge had their headquarters located in regions of the Star Field that were easy to defend and difficult to attack. Moreover, they were protected by powerful Natural Spirit Arrays so it was no simple task to eradicate them. The three great forces of the Star Field had suffered enormous losses as a result. Thus, the matter had been left unsettled until now.
Abandoned Lair was not really a lair. Rather, it was an extremely chaotic region of the Star Field surrounded by raging Starry Sky Storms and turbulent Asteroid Seas. If one was not familiar with the method of entry and exit, even a Third-Order Origin King would be at mortal risk if they lost their way in these lands.
In the centre of this chaotic region were many huge asteroids. Each of these asteroids was so large that their sizes were difficult to estimate. Originally, some Star Pirates had settled in this region of the Starry Sky, building their homes on these asteroids. As the generations passed, more and more Star Pirates settled here, eventually leading to the foundation of Abandoned Lair.
Abandoned Lair was not a single unified force but rather a gathering of many different factions of Star Pirates. Among these factions, the Blood Star Pirates were considered the strongest because their Boss, Jiang Xue Song, was a Third-Order Origin King. With his strength, he was considered to be one of the strongest Masters in the Star Field and there were few that could oppose him.
Jiang Xue Song had been cultivating for 1,500 years now and it was rumoured that his origins could be traced back to Sword Union, one of the three great forces in the Star Field. Jiang Xue Song had been a talented genius in Sword Union when he was younger, and Sword Union’s higher-ups supposedly had great expectations of him at the time, so he was carefully nurtured. However, something happened for some reason, and in the end, he murdered his Master, massacred his fellow cultivators, turned traitor against the Sword Union, and escaped to Abandoned Lair. Several hundred years later, the Blood Star Pirates grew to fame.
Jiang Xue Song’s hair was greying, and he looked like he was in his twilight years. His appearance was very unusual for a Third-Order Origin King. Despite his age though, his back remained as straight as a sword. It seemed as though his time in Sword Union when he was younger still influenced his demeanour to a certain extent. As he sat there, his entire being was akin to a sword concealed within its sheath. He was a blade that was as sharp as could be.
On the opposite side of the table Jiang Xue Song sat at was an elderly man sipping on his tea. This old man’s body exuded an extremely uncomfortable Blood Qi. Although these two were similar in age, a closer look would reveal that this old man’s body was surging with a bloody aura and his vitality was far stronger than an ordinary young man’s would be. Moreover, the Blood Qi pulsing from this old man was extremely sinister and strange.
“So, did you manage to learn anything?” The old man put his teacup down and asked softly.
Jiang Xue Song was the Master of Abandoned Lair, so nobody had ever spoken to him on equal terms before, let alone question him in this manner. Although the old man had phrased his words as a question, his tone was that of a superior speaking to his subordinate.
The old man was also a Third-Order Origin King though, so his cultivation was no weaker than Jiang Xue Song’s. Furthermore, the clothes he was wearing indicated his origins. He was from the Netherworld Sect of the Grand Desolation Star Field! This old man was one of the Vice Sect Masters of the Netherworld Sect. Jiang Xue Song was unaware of the old man’s true name and only knew that he called himself ‘Old Hawk’.
The way of a Sword Master requires one to have a resolute Sword Heart. They would rather break than bend, especially when it came to a peerless swordsman like Jiang Xue Song. If anybody else dared to show him such disrespect, he would have slashed out with his sword to let the other party know the cost of offending him. Unfortunately, Jiang Xue Song was not confident he could defeat Old Hawk. Besides, even if he was upset over Old Hawk’s condescending attitude, he did not want to make an enemy out of the Netherworld Sect. Over the past ten years, Jiang Xue Song had witnessed the strength of the Netherworld Sect and if it really came down to a fight, Abandoned Lair would not be able to survive.
Upon hearing the question, Jiang Xue Song quickly replied, “I have not heard anything useful. The people of your Star Field perished so quickly that nothing useful could be gathered at all.”
Old Hawk said, “There must be some sort of clue. It’s practically impossible for there to be no leads whatsoever, right?”
In recent months, those from Grand Desolation Star Field had suffered heavy casualties. More than half of their conquest from their invasion over the past decade or so had been lost. One after another, they had lost contact with the Stars they had sent forces to occupy, including Monster Emperor Star, Shadowed Star, Water Moon Star, Green Mountains Star…
Old Hawk didn’t care about the deaths of cultivators belonging to other great forces from Grand Desolation Star Field, but he had no choice but to care about those from the Netherworld Sect.
What frightened Old Hawk the most though was that he had also lost contact with Tong Xuan Realm. That was where one of his fellow Vice Sect Masters was stationed. That person’s cultivation was comparable to his own and he had been leading four other Third-Order Origin Kings. With such a lineup, who in the Heng Luo Star Field could have fought back against them, much less exterminate them?
[Maybe some sort of accident occurred on their side and caused communications to be cut off.]
Even Old Hawk himself could not convince his brain to believe in this conjecture as he instinctively felt that something was wrong but couldn’t figure out what the problem was. Therefore, he asked Jiang Xue Song to send someone out to inquire about the situation. In the end though, this was the only answer he received. It was extremely displeasing.
“There really are no leads whatsoever. If you don’t believe me, you can send your own men out to investigate, Old Hawk,” Jiang Xue Song replied in a manner that was neither humble nor arrogant.
Unlike Galaxy Ridge, which had chosen to surrender to Grand Desolation Star Field entirely, the path Jiang Xue Song chose was cooperation! He formed an alliance with Grand Desolation Star Field to destroy Sword Union and avenge the deep grudge he held towards them from back then. Simply judging from the results, the cooperation was going pretty well.
Sword Union had been annihilated and some of the Cultivation Stars under its control had fallen into the hands of the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field. As a result, Sword Union had collapsed. Of its leaders, only Sword Union’s Young Union Master had managed to escape and seek refuge on Tong Xuan Realm. Even so, Tong Xuan Realm was similarly caught in a precarious situation at the moment. Sword Union’s Young Union Master would have nowhere else to hide once Netherworld Sect’s plans succeeded. At that time, he would surely be killed.
Unfortunately, Jiang Xue Song was not happy despite completing the revenge he had been seeking for hundreds of years. He had mistakenly underestimated the strength of the Netherworld Sect, and although he was the biggest Boss in Abandoned Lair, Abandoned Lair had practically fallen into Netherworld Sect’s control. Jiang Xue Song had long become a Boss in name only.
[If Netherworld Sect really wanted to get rid of me, I wouldn’t be able to escape from their clutches either. That’s what I get for trying to do something impossible.]
It was just that there was no benefit to dealing with a Sword Master that would rather break than bend; therefore, the Netherworld Sect had been tolerant towards him for so long because removing him would have led to internal friction within Abandoned Lair’s ranks. Nevertheless, cooperation was no longer on the table. Jiang Xue Song had long served his purpose and it was time to cast him away. He would never be a follower; hence, he was obviously the first thing Netherworld Sect had to deal with after the complete fall of Heng Luo Star Field.
Old Hawk smiled lightly, but coupled with the gloomy aura around him, that smile gave off a chilling feeling, “I believe you, Boss Jiang, but the events over the past few months have been too ridiculous. You are a native, so you should know if there is anybody with the means to do something so extraordinary.”
Jiang Xue Song raised his sharp eyebrows and said in surprise, “Old Hawk, are you saying that all those who lost contact with you were struck by a disaster?”
Old Hawk sighed, “I don’t want to think so, but I don’t think I am wrong.”
It would have been different if they only lost contact with one or two places. That could have been explained away as an accident or mishap; however, they had lost contact with too many places recently that something more had to be happening.
Even if Old Hawk did not want to admit it, he was certain that some reclusive Master from Heng Luo Star Field must have come out of seclusion. Moreover, that person was hunting down the cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field and Netherworld Sect.
Jiang Xue Song was slightly taken aback by those words. [If even Old Hawk has said so, then it must be true.]
He pondered for a moment before saying, “Back then, there was an old fart in the Star Field who was universally recognized as the strongest, and his strength truly was unfathomable.”
“Who?”
“Wu Dao!”
Who in Heng Luo Star Field did not know of the name ‘Wu Dao’? Wu Dao had already reached the Third-Order Origin King Realm before Jiang Xue Song was born, and his cultivation had only grown stronger over the years. It would make sense if he was the one behind the attacks.
“But, it can’t be him.” Jiang Xue Song slowly shook his head.
“Why do you say that?” Old Hawk asked.
“Because he left this Star Field several dozen years ago to go to some more mysterious world.”
“The Star Boundary!” Old Hawk’s eyes flashed, revealing a look of yearning that was soon extinguished.
“Star Boundary?” Jiang Xue Song Stared at Old Hawk in amazement. It was the first time he had heard this name and it naturally piqued his curiosity.
“Go on,” Unfortunately, Old Hawk couldn’t be bothered to explain anything to him. Heng Luo Star Field was clueless about the existence of the Star Boundary, but those from Grand Desolation Star Field were not. That was because the Ancestral Founders of Netherworld Sect had travelled to the Star Boundary thousands of years ago and founded a Sect there. Those ancestors had in turn once used a great Divine Ability to send some knowledge and treasures back to the Netherworld Sect.
As a Vice Sect Master of Netherworld Sect, Old Hawk was no stranger to the Star Boundary; after all, the previous Sect Master, Yin Le Sheng, had also gone to the Star Boundary.
The Star Boundary was the world all cultivators yearned for. It was a place with greater World Principles and a higher Martial Dao. If not for the fact that he was getting on in years, Old Hawk would have loved to travel to the Star Boundary as well.
Jiang Xue Song knit his brow and continued, “Since it’s impossible for it to be Wu Dao, then I can’t think of anybody else.” While speaking, he frowned and hesitated for a moment, “It’s impossible that it’s him too.”
“Who?”
“A Junior named Yang Kai.”
“Why did you mention him if he is a Junior?” Old Hawk was irritated.
Jiang Xue Song replied, “I’ve never met Yang Kai personally; however, he is no ordinary Junior. The reason Wu Dao was able to travel to your so-called Star Boundary was all thanks to him. Back then, it was Yang Kai who brought Wu Dao and a few other Masters with him when he left the Star Field. There was a rumour going around the Star Field at the time claiming that he could become the strongest person in the Star Field and replace Wu Dao from the top position in less than a hundred years.”
Jiang Xue Song sighed, “I regret not getting a chance to fight against him.”
“If that’s your wish, I can satisfy it,” a person’s voice suddenly called out from afar. When they heard the first word this voice spoke, it seemed to be several dozen kilometres away, but by the time the sentence was finished, a brave and heroic figure had already appeared in front of them inside the hall they were sitting in.
The dim light in Abandoned Lair shone against his back, creating a long shadow as if to cover the entire hall in his shadow. His face was obscured by the lighting, making it impossible to see clearly. Only a pair of eyes stood out, shining brightly in the dim darkness.
Both Jiang Xue Song and Old Hawk felt their hearts clench in their chests. The person who had come did not release any aura, but he made all the hairs on their body stand on end. His mere presence was that terrifying.
“Who!?” Jiang Xue Song shouted as he jumped to his feet.
The figure strode into the great hall and stood in front of him in just two or three steps, and all of a sudden, Jiang Xue Song felt as though a huge Dragon was bearing down on him. He involuntarily took several steps back and fell back into his chair. At the same time, he heard a cracking sound coming from the Sword Heart he had been cultivating for 1,500 years as a fracture appeared.
[I’m feeling fear?] It wasn’t until this moment that he came back to his senses and realized what had happened to him just moments ago, shocking him greatly.
Having lived a perilous life, Jiang Xue Song had encountered countless powerful enemies before, but even so, he had never retreated in fear before, regardless of who his enemy was. No matter how famous his opponent was, or how powerful their cultivation might be, Jiang Xue Song would still pierce through them with his sword. It would be worth it even if his body was broken to pieces. It was such a determination that had allowed him to hone his flawless Sword Heart; however, just now, he felt paralyzing fear for the first time in his life, and that caused a chip to appear in his Sword Heart.
Yang Kai looked down and practically shoved his face in Jiang Xue Song’s face while grinning widely, “Boss Jiang, how can you be so forgetful? You even mentioned my name just now! Could it be that you forgot about me in just the blink of an eye?”
“You are…” Jiang Xue Song’s eyes bulged in their sockets as an extremely absurd idea came to mind, drawing a determined cry from his lips, “That’s impossible!”
“Anything is possible!” Yang Kai turned around and sat at the table. Then, he turned to look at Old Hawk and asked, “Are you from the Netherworld Sect?”
That casual posture of his did not look like he had just barged into an extremely dangerous place. Rather, Yang Kai made it seem as though he was visiting his neighbour’s house. Even Old Hawk, who had experienced many great storms before, couldn’t help feeling that it was absolutely absurd.
“Let me ask you something!” Yang Kai stared at Old Hawk, “Are you the Sect Master of Netherworld Sect?”
“No!” Old Hawk shook his head.
Yang Kai rubbed his chin and said regretfully, “I guess I came to the wrong place again.”
A Sword Intent surged without warning just then and a dazzling sword wave flashed out simultaneously, illuminating the entire great hall. At that moment, everything in the world seemed to have lost its brilliance and only the shining sword light remained.
Jiang Xue Song had made a bold move without any warning!
As a swordsman, he should never launch a sneak attack on another, and indeed he had never done so against any foe he had fought before in the past. He had always defeated his enemies in head-on clashes; however, Yang Kai’s pressure had made a sliver of fear sprout in his heart and corrupted his Sword Heart. As a result, the anger born from shame had made him disregard everything else other than the impulse to kill.
Before the Sword Qi struck its target though, Old Hawk raised his hand and a blood-coloured banner appeared in his palm. It was one of the two most common artifacts of the Netherworld Sect, the Blood Sea Banner. The Blood Sea Banner in Old Hawk’s hand was clearly better than all the Blood Sea Banners Yang Kai had encountered so far, its aura distinguishing it as a peak Origin King Grade Artifact. If it wasn’t for the fact that the Star Field’s World Principles did not allow for it, this artifact would have become a Dao Source Grade Artifact with just a few more sacrifices and refining.
Old Hawk waved the Blood Sea Banner and subsequently, a turbulent gush of Blood Qi blasted out, transforming into a Blood Sea that engulfed Yang Kai like a tidal wave.
At the same time, an unmatched sword wave slashed at Yang Kai.
Jiang Xue Song couldn’t help feeling disappointed and frustrated at that moment. He did not know how high this young man’s cultivation was, but there was no way that he could survive after taking on a Sword Technique initiated by a Swords Master like himself with only a distance of a single step between them. Not to mention Old Hawk had coordinated with his attack just now.
Although the two of them had been at odds with each other all this while, they worked together for a common cause at this moment, and their coordination was near perfect.
After the sword wave slashed downward, Jiang Xue Song’s expression changed drastically while Old Hawk could feel that something was wrong too. A shiver ran up their spines as they exchanged a glance, clearly seeing the shock in each other’s eyes. After that, they turned into two streams of light and rushed out of the hall without any hesitation, vanishing out of sight in a blink of an eye.
In the midst of the turbulent Blood Sea, a fist blasted out suddenly. The Blood Sea shattered into pieces and the residual sword light dispersed. Then, Yang Kai took a step forward and appeared outside the hall. He did not chase after those two, however, and instead just leaned against one of the pillars of the great hall and coldly watched the situation with mild interest.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xue Song and Old Hawk looked around and froze in place after rushing out of the main hall. Abandoned Lair, which they had regarded as secure and impenetrable, was now surrounded by more than a dozen black Starships. A huge fleet was besieging the entire Abandoned Lair and groups of people were constantly pouring out of these Starships, rushing into the asteroids of all shapes and sizes to hunt down all the wicked cultivators who lived here.
[Since when!?]
Abandoned Lair was extremely easy to defend while incredibly difficult to attack; additionally, it was guarded by Natural Spirit Arrays and terrifying Starry Sky Storms. Only those who were familiar with the patterns of this place could navigate a safe path of entry and exit. Despite how strong the Netherworld Sect was, even Old Hawk would have to pay a high price if he brought his men here to storm Abandoned Lair. The only reason he could enter this place safely was that Jiang Xue Song had taken the initiative to contact him more than 10 years ago; however, this seemingly safe place had been now breached without anybody knowing it. It was a nightmare, to say the least.
The powerful auras that washed over them from all directions clearly told Old Hawk and Jiang Xue Song a cruel fact, today was going to be a disastrous day.
A small figure flew towards them suddenly.
Jiang Xue Song focused on the figure and saw that it was a seven- or eight-year-old girl. Old Hawk seemed to have realized it too and his expression turned cold. Twisting the Blood Sea Banner in his hand, he swiftly rolled up that little girl into it.
In the next moment, Jiang Xue Song’s figure suddenly retreated explosively, quickly distancing himself from Old Hawk.
“What are you doing!?” Old Hawk glared at Jiang Xue Song furiously, “We must work together to get out of here quickly!”
[This guy must be insane. Why is he moving away from me at this point!? Don’t tell me he thinks he can break through this siege with that stupid sword of his!?]
Jiang Xue Song looked at Old Hawk earnestly and shook his head, “We each have our own destinies!”
Although Jiang Xue Song had not noticed anything peculiar about the little girl, the Sword Heart inside his body had sent out strong warning signals when she appeared, as if a voice in his heart was screaming. ‘Get away! Get away! Get as far away as possible!’
“Have you gone mad!?” Old Hawk raged, “In the current situation, we need to join forc… hm?” Halfway through, he suddenly lowered his head and looked at his Blood Sea Banner. A bright red flame had appeared at some point on it and was now swiftly spreading out in all directions, burning madly. The scorching aura made Old Hawk’s blood run cold as he desperately poured his Saint Qi into the banner, trying to extinguish the flame. Unfortunately, the fire remained unaffected regardless of what he did. In fact, his Saint Qi only seemed to make it burn faster.
“Pu…”
Old Hawk spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His artifact had been damaged, and he suffered from the backlash. Then, a small figure stepped out of the Blood Sea Banner. The little girl used her fair finger to lightly poke his head and he immediately collapsed to the ground limply like a balloon that had lost all its air.
Liu Yan picked the old man up with one hand and looked up only to see Jiang Xue Song had already merged with his sword light and turned into a streak that was soaring away with all haste.
[What the Hell!? What the Hell is that little girl!? Not only was she unscathed after being stuffed into the Blood Sea Banner, but she was even capable of escaping! She destroyed the Blood Sea Banner without any effort at all! She heavily injured Old Hawk with a single finger! That strength is beyond anything that I can imagine! I need to run! I need to run as far as possible!]
“Don’t run,” A voice that was as sweet and pure as a silver bell suddenly rang in his ears.
Turning his head to look, Jiang Xue Song saw that the little girl was now keeping pace with him. She looked like she was walking leisurely as she carried Old Hawk, who was half-dead, in one hand.
The corners of Jiang Xue Song’s eyes twitched fiercely as he almost had the urge to burst out cursing. Biting his tongue, he spat out a mouthful of Blood Essence which greatly enhanced the sword light around his body, increasing his speed dramatically.
Seemingly not even flustered by this increase in speed, Liu Yan simply tapped her delicate feet harder, stretched out her little hand, and grabbed Jiang Xue Song’s sword, causing the sword light coming from it to change from a brilliant glow to a dim hue as she snapped in annoyance, “I said… don’t run!”
The sharp and unmatched Origin King Grade Artifact longsword that could split mountains failed to inflict any damage on her whatsoever even though she held it in such a way.
“Wa…”
Jiang Xue Song spewed out a mouthful of blood again, but this time around, it was caused by the shock from his sudden change in momentum.
Turning to stare at the little girl, he almost wondered if he was dreaming.
A moment later, Liu Yan, holding Old Hawk in one hand and Jiang Xue Song in the other, strolled back a short distance, and threw them to the ground outside the great hall. Old Hawk’s aura was practically non-existent while his injuries were anything but light. Although Jiang Xue Song was in better condition, he no longer had any fighting spirit left, his eyes completely dull.
Yang Kai, still leaning against the pillar of the great hall with his arms folded across his chest, smiled slightly at this sight and called out, “Thanks!”
Liu Yan pouted, as if blaming him for making her do something so bothersome, and vented her frustrations by kicking Jiang Xue Song. Meanwhile, Jiang Xue Song did not dare to make a single sound nor speak a single word of protest.
Crouching down a bit, Yang Kai stared at Old Hawk and asked, “Where is the Sect Master of Netherworld Sect now?”
Old Hawk looked up at Yang Kai and answered in a trembling voice, “I don’t know.”
“How can you not know?” Yang Kai frowned in response as he suddenly raged, “Old dog, you better not lie to me! Your cultivation is pretty high so you must be an Elder at the very least. How can you not know where your Sect Master is?”
Old Hawk tearfully replied, “I really don’t know, he might be at Galaxy Ridge!”
“Might?” Yang Kai scowled, his expression turning savage, “Is he there, or is he not?”
Old Hawk trembled, “I… cannot be sure …”
“Useless!” Yang Kai cursed. Grabbing Old Hawk by the clothes, he threw him off into the distance. Old Hawk screamed as he flew out a thousand metres before suddenly exploding into a blood mist.
Grand Desolation Star Field had invaded Heng Luo Star Field, and the main culprit behind this invasion was Netherworld Sect; therefore, the Sect Master of Netherworld Sect was the one who all blame had to be laid upon. It was only natural for Yang Kai to seek out the Sect Master of Netherworld Sect to make that person pay. It was a pity that that person was nowhere to be seen.
It didn’t matter though as this battle was only Heng Luo Star Field’s first counterattack. The Sect Master of Netherworld Sect would appear, sooner or later, as long as he was still within Heng Luo Star Field.
Besides, the attack against Galaxy Ridge should have started by now, with Su Yan leading the battle. Galaxy Ridge wouldn’t be able to make any waves either with her assuming command.
At the same time, the passage between the two Star Fields was being guarded by Li Jiao. Li Jiao and his entire family had been sent by Yang Kai to guard this passage. Those from Grand Desolation Star Field would not be able to receive any reinforcements, much less think of escaping from Heng Luo Star Field.
The reason why Yang Kai had waited ten days to gather allies was that he wanted to wipe out Abandoned Lair in one fell swoop. He did not want to let a single enemy escape from his grasp. Although he and Liu Yan could run rampant in this place, Abandoned Lair was huge and a few rats would surely slip through their fingers without a corresponding force assisting him.
It was different now though. One of the two most powerful people in Abandoned Lair had died while the other was gravely injured. The entire Abandoned Lair was surrounded by Heng Luo Star Field’s forces, so it was simply a pipe dream for those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field and these Star Pirates to even think of escaping from this place.
The sounds of massacre continued endlessly as Yang Kai lowered his head and glanced at Jiang Xue Song, a trace of disgust flashing across his eyes as he declared, “Let’s hear it if you have any useful information for me. If you can satisfy me, I will give you a swift death.”
Half a day later, the commotion gradually subsided. Abandoned Lair was in ruins, and the corpses were piled up like mountains. This sin-filled location, which had existed for thousands of years, was finally swept clean today. Heaven-shaking cheers resounded through the sky as everybody let out the joy within their hearts.
Ever since the invasion of Grand Desolation Star Field, it was the first time in more than 10 years that they achieved such a large-scale victory. Moreover, it was such a one-sided and crushing battle. They only destroyed Abandoned Lair so far, which was still very far from their objective of ruthlessly killing all the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field; however, today’s battle was like a little spark, illuminating the entire Star Field. It was the single spark that could start a great fire.
“I’ll leave the rest to you.” Yang Kai smiled at everyone around him and leisurely flew off. This time around, he didn’t even bring Liu Yan with him.
The Embodiment, Liu Yan, Ruan Bi Ting, and Su Yan were all existences that surpassed the limits of a Star Field, so combined with the many Masters on their side within this Star Field, their lineup was enough to solve all the problems they might face. All they needed was some time.
Hence, there was no need for Yang Kai to hang around. Besides, he had something more important to do.
“Where is he going?” Ruan Bi Ting asked Liu Yan, who looked upset.
“He went to refine the Star Field.”
Everybody was shocked by those words. [The Star Field can be refined?!] They had only heard of people refining a Star Source to become a Star Master. They were unaware that even the Star Field could be refined. What an amazing thing it would be if the refinement process was successful. Would that make him the Master of the entire Star Field?
Nobody dared to imagine what changes Yang Kai would bring to the Star Field. They did not dare to imagine how strong Yang Kai would be at that point either.
…
Yang Kai drifted aimlessly across the vast Starry Sky, going with the flow without any direction in mind. He flew off quickly after leaving Abandoned Lair, releasing a constant stream of his Qi as he travelled and leaving a path of aura behind him.
The previous experiment had proven that the idea in his head was feasible. In that case, he might as well go all out in doing it. It might be a little troublesome and time-consuming, but it still showed results. Who knows? He might even be able to figure out a better solution during the refinement process.
Ten days later, he successfully refined a large piece of Starry Sky around Abandoned Lair. Concurrently, the colour of the position corresponding to this piece of Starry Sky on the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea changed a little. It also seemed to be brighter. This lighter area might not even make up a fraction of the Star Chart as a whole, but it was still a good Start.
Yang Kai immediately aimed for the next piece of Starry Sky after successfully refining this piece of Starry Sky. Day after day, the same process repeated over and over again; however, he was not bored by the monotony of it. Instead, he immersed himself in it. As piece after piece of the Star Field was refined and spot by spot on the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea lit up, Yang Kai began to develop a weak connection with the entire Star Field while he had full control over all the places that he had successfully refined with just a mere thought.
If this connection had existed when he was in the Ancestral Domain before, he was certain he could accurately locate Heng Luo Star Field without referring to the Star Chart.
The Star Field was vast and untouched. It gave birth to untold millions of creatures every day. There were places filled with death and dangers, as well as places filled with life and opportunity. During the refinement process, Yang Kai could sense and experience all of these things and as a result, they brought out a host of different feelings in him.
One month… Two months… Six months… One year… Two years… Yang Kai was like a leaf, drifting about the Star Field. As he refined more and more of the Starry Sky, the illuminated areas in the Star Chart became larger and larger. His refining speed increased too. That wasn’t all; he also figured out a method of refining that was faster than before. Navigating his way around an endless Asteroid Sea, jumping from one asteroid to the next, Yang Kai left his aura on each of them.
He brushed past the Asteroid Sea half a day later and looking behind him, he saw what looked like a large Dragon that wandered around aimlessly in the Star Field. His aura was now deeply ingrained in this Asteroid Sea, so wherever it passed, his aura would be deposited, helping to greatly reduce the time he had to spend covering different regions with his aura.
This was one of the methods Yang Kai had discovered over the course of the past few years. He borrowed the power of the Asteroid Sea to refine the Starry Sky along the path of its travel. It turned out to be pretty effective. Aside from that, he found another method as well, one that was a little more overbearing and straightforward.
Yellow sand swept across the skies of one particular Star. The clouds reflected this yellow light, obscuring the view of the Sun and Moon. The environment on this Star was extremely harsh, and large storms occasionally brewed in this land.
Yang Kai descended from the sky and looked around. He discovered that this Star was not a Dead Star in the true sense. Although the surface of the Star was mostly sand, there were occasional spots of greenery scattered around. Strange birds and beasts lived on this Star but they quickly fled in all directions when they noticed him coming.
This was not a Dead Star as Dead Stars did not contain any vitality whatsoever. It was not an ageing Star either. On the contrary, it was a Star that was growing vigorously and slowly radiating vitality. Although nothing could be seen for the time being, this Star would surely be brimming with life if one were to return tens of thousands of years in the future. Even if it could not compare with Shadowed Star at that time, it wouldn’t be inferior to the current Tong Xuan Realm.
Naturally, Yang Kai had no plans to wait for tens of thousands of years. He immediately leapt into the air before plunging headfirst into the ground, spinning like a top. The ground rumbled in response, and a path leading underground immediately opened up.
A short time later, Yang Kai appeared in a certain place deep underground.
A ball of grey-white energy floated in front of him, pulsing unsteadily. It looked like a candle flower at first glance. It was dim and unclear, but teeming with obscure World Principles. This was the Star Source of this Star. It was not as good as the Star Source of Yang Kai’s Shadowed Star or Xia Ning Chang’s Tong Xuan Realm of course, more like a fetus of Source Strength still in the process of gestation.
The Star Field was so large that it was hard to imagine just how vast it was; therefore, it was not strange to see some of the recovering or growing Stars producing a Source like this. Even so, most cultivators would not choose to refine something like this because it was not beneficial. It might even bring harm to the cultivator if they tried; after all, who knew whether such a Star could truly grow and develop? What if the situation changed one day, causing the Star to weaken and the Source to die? The cultivator who refined this Source would be affected too if that were to happen.
However, Yang Kai was not afraid at all. It could also be said that he dived so deep underground just to obtain this ball of growing Source Strength. If his plan succeeded, there was no possibility of suffering a backlash. If he failed… Well, he wasn’t afraid of a little backlash at his current cultivation realm.
Reaching out, he touched the ball of Source Strength. The Star Source seemed to have a trace of its own consciousness already, so it tried to float away and avoid him, but in the end, it wasn’t a sentient creature so this little bit of reaction was all it could muster up.
Yang Kai smiled and tried to coax it, “Come with me. There will be endless benefits for you!”
Regardless of whether the Star Source could understand the meaning behind his words, Yang Kai grabbed at it and activated the Star Refining Art, only taking a short while to refine it.
Inside Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea, the spot of light on the Star Chart representing this Cultivation Star flickered suddenly and became extremely bright. The effect only lasted for a moment before it returned to normal. Comparatively, it was only a little brighter than before.
Yang Kai then studied the Star Chart and determined where his next goal was before his figure soared upward.
….
Yang Kai stood in the skies above Fire Cloud Star, looking down on its bright lights. The major cities were peaceful, and the people lived in contentment as cultivators came and went freely.
The invasion of Grand Desolation Star Field did not seem to have any particular impact on Fire Cloud Star. It remained unchanged from before, bustling with life everywhere. It wasn’t that the cultivators of Fire Cloud Star were extremely powerful, their overall strength only slightly above average for the Star Field while still a far cry compared to the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce’s Home Star. There was only one reason for it to remain untouched; this Star had a Star Master guarding it!
Although Xia Ning Chang was overseeing it as its Star Master, Tong Xuan Realm was fundamentally weak and could not withstand great disturbances. Even the cleverest woman could not cook a meal without rice, which was why Netherworld Sect could barge right in and set up the Eight Desolation Binding Spirit Array to putrefy the land.
In comparison, Fire Cloud Star was more than just a little bit stronger than Tong Xuan Realm. Thanks to the Star Master here, Netherworld Sect would have to pay a certain price to invade this Star, which was why Fire Cloud Star was spared from the wars that ravaged the Star Field for more than ten years.
Existences like Fire Cloud Star were not that special across the Star Field. There were as many as six other places with similar circumstances. Netherworld Sect and those from Grand Desolation Star Field originally planned to fortify their defences and cut off supplies to the enemy by laying waste to the other Cultivation Stars that were easier to deal with before gathering their strength to deal with the Cultivation Stars that had Star Masters overseeing them.
It was a pity that their plans were thwarted by the Heavens. Yang Kai’s return had eventually led to their downfall.
“May I know who has honoured us with their presence? I, Chi Huo, apologize for not greeting you immediately. Honoured Guest, please come this way.” A majestic voice rang out from the world. In the midst of that grand display, the entire Fire Cloud Star seemed to fall silent as all people looked up. Even more of them fell on their knees in reverent worship and chanted, “Long live Sir Chi Huo!”
The voice thundered in Yang Kai’s ears deafeningly. It was as if the lightning had struck right beside him while a faint trace of rejection also emerged in the World Principles around him. Any ordinary Third-Order Origin King would have suffered some internal injury upon encountering such a situation; however, Yang Kai simply used his little finger to dig at his ear while grinning, glancing in a certain direction with a flashing gaze.
[Is this a show of intimidation?] Smiling, Yang Kai replied casually, “Good.”
His figure transformed into a stream of light and flew in that direction.
Three thousand kilometres away, lava flowed around Blazing Mountain. Craters of various shapes and sizes in the volcano sprayed black smoke into the air like a huge Dragon flying through the skies. The air was scorching to the point where it was nearly unbearable. Anybody with lower cultivation would not be able to come close to this place at all.
Chi Huo’s Blazing Palace was built on one of the largest craters here. The palace was majestic, grand, and as scarlet as flames. At first glance, it looked like the entire palace was made of lava and it was easy to tell that the owner’s personality was equally explosive.
A moment ago, the rustling sounds of silk and bamboo rang out amidst singing and dancing inside Blazing Palace. The Star Master of Fire Cloud Star, Chi Huo, was entertaining many of the Star’s local Masters. Today was the day he took in a new concubine, his wedding day. It was only natural for the people living on Fire Cloud Star to visit and congratulate him. There was nothing more important than the Star Master on Fire Cloud Star after all. Therefore, everyone of even some importance rushed to Blazing Mountain, whether or not they wanted to or could afford to.
As the Star Master of Fire Cloud Star, Chi Huo was naturally a Third-Order Origin King. It could almost be said that he stood at the peak of the Star Field, so it didn’t make much sense to cultivate further. For that reason, he had been indulging in various vices, including wine and beautiful women, for the past 500 years, living a thoroughly enjoyable life.
Although the concubine he was marrying today was only a First-Order Origin Returning Realm, she was an absolute beauty, so despite most cultivators not being big on formalities, Chi Huo had arranged an extravagant event to celebrate the occasion.
Inside the palace, Chi Huo and the bride were both dressed in fiery red as they sat side by side. Guests from all walks of life were celebrating their union. When the guests came forward to offer a toast, they also presented generous gifts to Chi Huo. There was also a lot of flattery going around, which made Chi Huo roar with laughter, his voice echoing thunderously.
Meanwhile, the bride sat motionlessly with a faint smile on her face. She looked dignified and generous. Many women were secretly pointing at her and talking about her. Their words were full of envy and jealousy, claiming that she was marrying above her station and enjoying the benefits that came with a huge promotion in status.
When it was the turn for a Second-Order Origin King Master to come up and offer a toast, Chi Huo lifted his glass before turning his head abruptly to look into the distance. His gaze seemed to pierce through the void, and he revealed a solemn expression.
The palace immediately quietened down as everybody’s gaze was fixed on Chi Huo.
Putting down his glass, he shouted, “May I know who is honouring us with their presence? I, Chi Huo, apologize for not greeting you immediately. Honoured Guest, please come this way.”
Everybody was shocked by his words for they had never seen Chi Huo acting so courteously before. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Star Field’s limits, and he was also the Star Master of Fire Cloud Star. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he held the lives of several billions of cultivators living on this star in his hand. Even another Third-Order Origin King, who would technically be his equal, had to bow before him in this place.
[Who is it that can receive such courteous treatment from Sir Chi Huo? Just what kind of person can have such rights?] In their confusion, the crowd heard an unfamiliar voice sounding in their ears who simply replied, “Good.”
The guests couldn’t help finding it weird. Even though they had yet to meet the speaker, that response was far too presumptuous. [That person doesn’t know his place! He doesn’t even show basic respect in front of the Star Master of Fire Cloud Star!] The lively atmosphere in the palace cooled down all of a sudden, and everybody wore a strange look on their faces.
Yang Kai moved as swiftly as lightning, traversing the three thousand kilometres distance to arrive at Blazing Mountain in an instant, his goal the majestic Blazing Palace.
To Yang Kai’s surprise though, a shout suddenly came from below, “Senior! Please take me along with you!”
Lowering his head to have a look, Yang Kai saw a person standing on a black stone below. There was boiling lava flowing on all sides and it was so hot that it was scalding, a harsh and dangerous environment to be in.
That person was only in the Second-Order Origin Returning Realm cultivator and was clearly quite young, looking around 27 or 28 years old. He was square-faced and dressed in ragged clothes. It would seem that he had experienced a lot of hardships along his journey. His exposed skin revealed many scald marks caused by the lava, and the Saint Qi he was using to protect the surface of his body was dim and bleak, looking like it might disappear at any moment.
The Blazing Mountains, which stretched out for thousands of kilometres in all directions, was the place where Chi Huo lived. It was not a place that could be traversed by ordinary people. Without support and guidance, a Second-Order Origin Returning Realm Master would surely die in these lands. Even so, this young man had not retreated. Despite being in a dishevelled state, those eyes of his were very determined and it seemed as though he would continue his journey towards Blazing Palace even if Yang Kai refused to help him. He wouldn’t complain even if he died here.
“Were you talking to me?” Yang Kai stopped and looked at that young man.
“Senior, please bring me along with you! I, Cui Meng Yuan, will forever be grateful!” The young man gave a deep bow. His appearance was a mess, but it was hard to find fault with his etiquette. He seemed to have been at least educated well.
“Why should I bring you along?” Yang Kai grinned, “What benefit might it bring me?”
Cui Meng Yuan shook his head, “I don’t have anything except this life of mine to offer you.”
Yang Kai curled his lips in response, “Your life is worthless to me.”
Cui Meng Yuan’s eyes darkened at those words. Then, he sighed and did not force the matter. Straightening his back, he prepared to fly away; however, the lava around him turned into something akin to a living monster at that moment and condensed to form fire pythons that lunged at him.
Cui Meng Yuan’s heart sank, knowing that he was destined to die here today; hence, he didn’t even bother to resist and simply took a long, yearning look at Blazing Palace. Contrary to his expectations though, the scorching temperature suddenly disappeared and the pain he imagined did not come. Stunned, he discovered that he had been rescued. The fire python that had been striking at him had turned back into lava and flowed away.
When he lifted his head to look at Yang Kai, he gratefully spoke, “Many thanks, Senior.”
“Forget it. It is fate that you and I met today, so I’ll bring you along at a loss!” Yang Kai grinned and grabbed Cui Meng Yuan by the collar. He then carried the young man in his hand like a chicken. The scenery around them receded in a flash and they arrived at Blazing Mountain in the blink of an eye.
After being tossed to the ground by Yang Kai, it took a while for Cui Meng Yuan to recover from his shock. He was just about to thank Yang Kai again when he saw him striding towards Blazing Palace. Thus, he gritted his teeth and followed closely behind.
The gates of the palace were wide open, displaying the magnificent interior that gave off an extremely luxurious aura. The moment Yang Kai walked into the palace, he felt many pairs of eyes staring fixedly at him. Those gazes were scrutinizing and contained a touch of hostility.
A stocky man with red hair and a beard sat on an elevated platform like an iron tower. He was dressed in red robes and looked like a bundle of flames that could turn the entire world into a sea of fire. He also had a pair of red eyes that shone as brightly as two suns and flickered with an imposing light.
Cui Meng Yuan stepped out from behind Yang Kai and stared towards the bride beside Chi Huo with a complex expression. His lips moved and he whispered something. Although his voice was very soft, it couldn’t escape Yang Kai’s ears. Similarly, the bride’s tender body stiffened in response; however, she quickly lowered her eyes and her expression returned to normal.
Chi Huo and Yang Kai looked at each other. One was aggressive and imposing, while the other was deep and quiet. There seemed to be invisible forces clashing and colliding in the palace, making the atmosphere as tense as could be.
All of a sudden, Chi Huo laughed and stretched out his hand to hold the jade white hand of the bride next to him, “Today is my wedding day. I can’t believe I have such an Honoured Guest gracing my palace. What a happy occasion! Dare I ask for your name, Honoured Guest?”
Although it was a question, he remained sitting above all others in a condescending manner. As for Cui Meng Yuan, Chi Huo didn’t even bother to glance at him, as if the latter was air.
Yang Kai smiled, “Names are nothing more than labels others use to distinguish one from another, not worth mentioning here. I invited myself in because I have a favour to ask of you, Brother Chi.”
Chi Huo lowered his eyes and replied faintly, “We can talk about that another day. Today is my wedding day. Little Brother, if you don’t mind, you should stay and join us for a few drinks.”
Despite directing a question at the young man, he did not receive a corresponding answer; thus, Chi Huo was a little displeased. Feeling that this young man was a little too arrogant, he lost interest in speaking with him further. [How dare he call me ‘Brother Chi’? What arrogance! Does he really think he can speak to me as equals just because I’m being a little generous?]
The only reason he did not kick Yang Kai out was because he could vaguely sense Yang Kai’s strength was astonishing. Besides, today was his wedding and he did not wish to create trouble on such an auspicious day. Otherwise, he would never have held his temper in. Even so, the way he addressed Yang Kai became ‘Little Brother’ at some point, which carried a sense of superiority over Yang Kai.
Chi Huo initially thought that Yang Kai would take his advice, but to his surprise, Yang Kai shook his head, “This matter is of great importance. Although I am not in a hurry, it’s better if I settle this matter as soon as possible. Please forgive me, Brother Chi.”
Chi Huo’s expression immediately darkened at those words. He was not acquainted with Yang Kai, so there were no grievances between them to speak of; however, he was getting irritated with Yang Kai’s arrogant attitude during the brief conversation they had with each other. [I don’t really want to make a move, but if this boy doesn’t know when to call it quits, I don’t mind adding another bloodstain to Blazing Palace.]
Hence, he quickly said, “Is that so? Well then, let’s hear it. We’ll see just how important it is.”
Yang Kai solemnly replied, “It’s related to the peace in the Star Field.”
Chi Huo was startled for a moment, then he roared with laughter. Similarly, the other guest began laughing too, their voices filled with mockery. There was no way they could hold in their laughter if a random cultivator suddenly popped out and claimed that his circumstances were related to the peace of the entire Star Field. To them, it was as though a frog had popped up to tell them that the sky was falling.
The guests today consisted mostly of the older generation and they had long noticed the change in Chi Huo’s attitude. Seeing how Yang Kai was behaving, how could they tolerate his lack of propriety? Hence, an old man with a goatee immediately shook his head and mocked, “Brat, this is Blazing Palace. It’s not a place for you to spew utter nonsense. Go back to wherever you came from. Sir Chi Huo is in a good mood today, so he won’t mind a tasteless joke or two.”
“That’s right. Hurry up and scram from here. Stop delaying my time; it’s my turn to offer a toast.”
“To think Sir Chi Huo was being so polite to him. I can’t believe he is so crazy. How ridiculous.”
“The Star Field has been at peace for such a long time. How dare he try to deceive us!?”
…
Yang Kai was unmoved by the insults and mockery that blew past his ears like a breeze. He simply frowned and looked at Chi Huo, “Brother Chi, did you block all news from the outside? Why?”
These guests didn’t seem to know about what had happened in the Star Field over the past decade. [I can’t believe they said something like ‘The Star Field has been at peace for such a long time.’ Don’t they have any form of communication with the outside world?]
Then, he remembered the barriers he encountered when he first arrived at Fire Cloud Star just now and immediately understood the situation. It wasn’t that they did not communicate with the outside world, it was that the Star Master had blocked all communications. They had no way of getting any news from the outside world at all.
Yang Kai turned to look at the old man with a goatee then and asked, “Old man, do you know of the Grand Desolation Star Field? Or Netherworld Sect?”
The old man with a goatee frowned and asked, “What nonsense are you spewing now?”
“Where did this crazy brat come from? His insane talk is so displeasing! Sir Chi Huo, please allow me to throw him out!” Somebody yelled with righteous indignation. The joyous wedding feast had been ruined by this young man’s arrival and many were naturally unhappy at losing the chance to ingratiate themselves with the Star Master.
“Why did you do that, Brother Chi?” Yang Kai looked at Chi Huo in a puzzled manner. Was he trying to isolate them from the dangers outside? If that’s the case, then these actions were a little too ridiculous. How could Fire Cloud Star survive if Heng Luo Star Field fell?
Chi Huo replied indifferently, “It has nothing to do with you.”
Yang Kai thought for a moment and nodded, “You’re right.”
[It’s not my problem. There’s no reason for me to care.]
Even so, Yang Kai kindly gave some advice, “Brother Chi, there’s no need to do this anymore. For the past two years, Grand Desolation Star Field and Netherworld Sect have been on the decline. My fellow Star Field cultivators have paved a path towards victory and killed countless enemies; however, the war is not over yet. You can lend them a helping hand if you wish, Brother Chi. I believe the war will end faster with Fire Cloud Star’s help.”
Chi Huo grinned, “So, why aren’t you helping them?”
Yang Kai said, “I have more important things to do, which is also the reason I am here today.”
“I’m curious as to just what this ‘important thing’ of yours is.”
Yang Kai solemnly answered, “Brother Chi, I’m here to borrow something!”
“What do you want to borrow?” Chi Huo asked in a low voice while thinking, [This is ridiculous. All the other guests came with gifts, but as if it wasn’t bad enough that he came here empty-handed, he wants to borrow something on top of that!?]
Chi Huo was filled with murderous intent and if Yang Kai dared to say something displeasing, he would surely unleash his wrath on him.
“I want to borrow this Star’s Source!” Yang Kai pointed to the ground under his feet.
The whole palace fell silent, and the scorching air was filled with murderous intent. Many guests looked at each other, wondering if there was something wrong with their ears. Why else would they hear such nonsensical words?
“What did you say?” Chi Huo’s expression turned grim. [What a presumptuous little brat! How dare you want to borrow Fire Cloud Star’s Star Source!? Are Star Sources something that can be lent to others!? When it comes down to it, the reason why I stand above others and why even Third-Order Origin Kings have to bow down before me is because I am a Star Master! What leverage would I have if I lent my Star Source to somebody else!? Besides, I’ve never even heard of a Star Source being lent out before!]
Murderous intent spread out like a tide. If Yang Kai’s attitude earlier had displeased him, then this one sentence had truly triggered his murderous intent. The topic of the Star Source itself could be considered taboo so Chi Huo immediately concluded that this young man was here to intentionally cause trouble on his wedding day. Thus, he decided that Yang Kai would not leave this place alive.
“Brother Chi, please calm yourself.” Yang Kai lifted his hand placatingly, “I came here with sincere intentions so please hear me out until the end.”
Chi Huo was so furious that he laughed instead, “Fine. Go on.” [I want to see how smooth-spoken and eloquent your tongue can be.]
“If you can lend me your Star Source, Brother Chi, you can ensure the peace of this Star Field. It can be considered a heroic act of sorts. Of course, I know that the Star Source is very important to you so I won’t let you do this for nothing. I will definitely provide you with equivalent compensation.”
Chi Hup was taken aback for a moment before he roared with laughter, “Compensation!?”
[I already stand at the peak of the Star Field. What else is there in this world that can impress me? This little brat is bluffing so shamelessly that it’s infuriating. Could it be that my enemies sent him here to entertain me?]
“En, compensation!” Yang Kai repeated solemnly, flipping his palms over and summoning a cloud of radiant and colourful energy into it.
“That’s…” Chi Hup suddenly became interested. He stood up from his chair abruptly and stared at the light incredulously. The rest of the guests also lost themselves for a moment, showing extremely shocked and greedy expressions.
“This is also a Star Source, but it has no corresponding Cultivation Star,” Yang Kai explained, “However, if I use this as compensation, I believe it will not have much impact on your cultivation, Brother Chi. En, once the affairs related to the Star Field are settled, I will also return Fire Cloud Star’s Source to you. In this way, you will have earned another Star Source without even lifting a finger, Brother Chi.”
“Which Star does this Source belong to?” Chi Huo muttered under his breath.
Yang Kai spread his hands wide and shrugged, “As I said, this Source has no corresponding Cultivation Star.”
Yang Kai had many other Sources just like this one. It was something he picked up in the Shattered Star Sea back then. Although he had given some away, he still had many left in his possession.
Chi Huo’s expression fluctuated, not because of Yang Kai’s proposal though. Even if Yang Kai compensated him with a new Source, he would be a Star Master in name only without the corresponding Cultivation Star. How could that compare to the benefits of being the Star Master of Fire Cloud Star?
It was simply the idea of killing and looting Yang Kai that came to Chi Huo’s mind; however, a strong sense of crisis rang out in his heart the moment that thought appeared in his head. It seemed to be warning him that he would face a tragic ending if he so much as lifted a finger against the young man in front of him. That feeling caused the blood surging all over his body to cool down instantly, and his mind cleared.
Returning to his seat, Chi Huo shook his head, “I won’t lend you Fire Cloud Star’s Source. Please leave.”
At the same time, he sneered in his heart. [This little brat doesn’t seem to understand the concept of hiding one’s wealth from others. Even if I suppress my greed and do nothing to him, he will surely be ambushed the moment he leaves Blazing Palace. When that time comes, I will be able to gauge his strength. It won’t be too late to decide to attack him then.]
The light disappeared as Yang Kai put away the Source. Rubbing his forehead, he seemed a little troubled, “Haa… As expected, trying to be reasonable doesn’t work after all.”
He had tried to be gentlemanly and settle things peacefully without resorting to forceful means, but in the end, it still came down to a fight. Turning around, he grabbed Cui Meng Yuan by the collar and shouted, “Boy, what grievances do you have? Spit them all out, I’ll stand up for you today!”
“Huh?” Cui Meng Yuan was taken aback. His eyes had never left the bride from the moment he followed Yang Kai into Blazing Palace. The only time he had looked away for a moment was when Yang Kai took out the Star Source. Nevertheless, his attention was quickly drawn back to the bride again; hence, being questioned by Yang Kai without any warning or context like this left him feeling rather confused.
“What do you mean by ‘Huh?’ I heard what you said earlier. Are you acquainted with the bride?”
Yang Kai was practically spitting in his face, but even so, Cui Meng Yuan nodded stupidly in response to the question. That was the reason why he had charged into Blazing Mountain without fear of death today.
“Were you and the bride deeply in love with one another? Did you promise your lives to each other?”
Cui Meng Yuan nodded again, his eyes filled with humiliation and reluctance.
“Did this old fart bully the weak and abuse his authority? Did he snatch your woman from you regardless of your feelings?”
“Yes!” Cui Meng Yuan shouted, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth so hard that his gums were bleeding.
“Good!” Yang Kai shouted. Tossing Cui Meng Yuan to the side, he turned to look at Chi Huo and leisurely said, “I’ve felt your determination. Today, I will help you get your bride back!”
Cui Meng Yuan was both shocked and delighted. He never imagined that something so dramatic would occur. He had barged into Blazing Palace alone today with the resolution to die for the sake of his revenge. He had not expected somebody to stand up for him.
However, he soon seemed to realize something and spoke up sadly, “Senior, many thanks for your kindness, but…”
“Shut up!”
He immediately closed his mouth and did not dare to say another word.
Meanwhile, Chi Huo stood on the elevated platform and lowered his eyes. His expression was gloomy as he indifferently said, “All disputes begin due to the wrong words being said and the eagerness to show off. Junior, don’t think too highly of yourself just because I was being generous with you.”
[This bastard is simply looking for trouble. It really is as the saying goes, ‘He who comes is surely ill-intentioned’.]
Yang Kai laughed before pointing at Chi Huo and shouting, “Old dog, the Star Field is at war! Foreign enemies are invading us! It’s bad enough that you aren’t helping, but you also sealed Fire Cloud Star from the outside world to keep all others here ignorant as well! How dare you! I came here for the common people and would have turned a blind eye to the matter if you had cooperated with me, but since you refused to cooperate, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
Yang Kai acted as though he was standing on a moral high ground, preparing to take down a villain who killed and looted the innocent, eliciting a round of cursing from the guests.
In contrast, Chi Huo stood with his red hair flying in the wind and his robes flapped around him, “How outrageous!”
Yang Kai declared, “You have no choice but to lend me your Star Source, even if you don’t want to!” While speaking, he lunged towards Chi Huo.
“Impudence!” Chi Huo was furious and with a single thought, his power surged as an invisible force descended from the sky. Everybody had trouble breathing as a result as they felt as though a mountain was pressing down on their chests.
Yang Kai, who was the target of this oppression bore the brunt of this pressure and paused for a moment before he abruptly doubled over slightly, looking like he would be forced to the ground at any moment.
This was the power of a Star Master. Chi Huo could dominate everything on this Star and could kill his enemies soundlessly with a single thought.
Many guests applauded and cheered at the sight.
However, Chi Huo’s expression was extremely solemn. Rather than being displeased, he was thoroughly shocked. Yang Kai’s performance was beyond his expectations. [How is this brat not forced to the ground by the pressure!? He truly isn’t anything ordinary.]
Chi Huo focused and increased the pressure exerted on Yang Kai.
Yang Kai grunted slightly, and the ground beneath his feet cracked. Even so, he smiled coldly, “So what if you have Star Strength? Do you think I don’t?”
A Star flickered in the distant Starry Sky at that moment and emitted a beam of light. That light leapt across billions of kilometres in the blink of an eye and shone down on Yang Kai. It made the area around his body glow and shine so brightly that people couldn’t keep their eyes open anymore.
This place was not Shadowed Star, but although Yang Kai was not in his domain, he was still in the same Star Field. It was only natural that he could guide the power of Shadowed Star to him and use it to resist the World Principles of Fire Cloud Star.
The pressure Yang Kai felt instantaneously lightened; however, the show wasn’t over yet. A portion of the Starry Sky began to light up and gather great power, strangely resonating with Yang Kai, becoming a source of strength.
That stretch of the Starry Sky was the result of what Yang Kai had spent the last two years refining. The power gathered by the vast Starry Sky was not as pure as the Star Strength of Shadowed Star, but it was vastly superior in terms of quantity, enough to cause unimaginable changes.
“Break!” Yang Kai suddenly shouted.
*Kacha…*
As if something had cracked apart, Yang Kai’s figure suddenly stood up tall and straight again.
A look of disbelief flashed across Chi Huo’s eyes as he stood up from his chair. Before he could do anything though, a figure flashed in front of him and a large iron-shackle-like hand grabbed him by the neck. The force coming from that arm was so powerful that he couldn’t muster up the strength to resist.
A layer of invisible force wrapped around Chi Huo’s entire body instantly, and the connection between him and Fire Cloud Star was severed without warning. That wasn’t all; even the Star Source he had refined in his body was suppressed too.
His eyes nearly popping out of their sockets, Chi Huo wondered in terror, [What is this horrifying strength!? Just who is this person!?]
*Ding ding dang dang…*
The sound of wine glasses falling to the ground rang out from the surroundings as all the guests stared at this scene stupidly with their mouths agape in shock, feeling as though they were dreaming. Their eyes were filled with pure astonishment as Star Master Chi Huo was being single-handedly lifted into the air by a boy! Moreover, it looked like Chi Huo didn’t even have time to react or the strength to resist!
The confrontation between those two had lasted for less than a moment. It was so fast that everybody was left reeling and many were still clueless as to what was going on. Nevertheless, the victor had already been decided.
There could only be one explanation for this situation: the strength of one party far surpassed the strength of the other. That was the only way for an instant defeat to occur.
But… Chi Huo was a Star Master and a Third-Order Origin King! What kind of person could surpass him in strength by such a large margin? None of them could wrap their heads around the idea as it was too much to take in at this moment. Regardless, this scene would forever be the most shocking moment in their entire lives.
“Huh!?” Cui Meng Yuan yelled with a dazed look. Things had ended so quickly that he didn’t even have the time to prepare himself.
Similarly, the bride was covering her red lips with her small hands. Her eyes were filled with shock and horror as she looked up at Yang Kai. The figure in front of her seemed as large as a mountain and she couldn’t see his face clearly despite their close proximity. Instead, it felt like he was standing beyond Heavens themselves.
Yang Kai turned his head and grinned at her, “Hurry up and fly away with that boy.”
He waved his hand while he was talking, tossing both her and Cui Meng Yuan thousands of kilometres away from Blazing Mountain, regardless of whether she wanted it or not.
[Oh, well. I’m sure she is willing; after all, she looked worried when that Cui Meng Yuan first appeared here.]
“W-Who… Are you!?” Chi Huo squeezed out those words from between his teeth.
He was a burly man who was one head taller than Yang Kai, but he was currently being held like a helpless little baby chicken by the latter. Anybody who saw this sight would feel a strong sense of visual conflict.
“Will my name have any meaning to you?” Yang Kai sneered, ignoring Chi Huo while silently circulating the Star Refining Art.
Chi Huo had a sudden realization. He had asked this young man for his name before but did not receive an answer. He thought this boy was cocky and reckless, but now it seems that he just couldn’t be bothered to answer.
An unbearable pain suddenly spread throughout Chi Huo’s body. It hurt so much that he shuddered violently; then, his eyes widened as he clearly felt something and screamed in horror, “No!”
“Come!” Yang Kai abruptly raised his hand and pressed against Chi Huo’s dantian. His fingers turned into claws as he grabbed at something without warning and dragged it out. A ball of crimson light was plucked out in an instant.
Tossing Chi Huo aside, Yang Kai lowered his head to study the ball of crimson light in his hand before nodding in satisfaction.
On the other side, Chi Huo got up shakily. He was in bad shape, and his face was ashen. Yang Kai had severely damaged his foundation, and while that damage was not permanent, his Star Source had been forcefully taken away. How could Chi Huo not be affected by that? Lifting his head, he looked in that direction with a sorrowful gaze.
[How was my Star Source taken away from me so easily? That was the Source I risked my life to obtain and spent many years of blood, sweat, and tears to refine. It is by relying on it that I became a Star Master and succeeded in unifying the entire Fire Cloud Star. Without that Source, I am nothing more than an ordinary Third-Order Origin King. No, I might be even worse than that… I’ve suffered internal injuries when my connection to the Source was severed.]
Many of the guests couldn’t help feeling sympathy for Chi Huo when they saw what happened while a horrifying chill wrapped around their bodies. They froze in place, not daring to make any reckless moves.
Somebody as powerful as the Star Master of Fire Cloud Star couldn’t even lift a finger against this young man. Not only was he defeated in an instant, but his Star Source had also been forcibly taken away. How could they dare to make an enemy of Yang Kai after witnessing this? Their gazes were filled with both awe and horror.
In front of everyone’s eyes, Yang Kai opened his mouth, stuffed the ball of crimson light into his mouth, and swallowed it. His skin immediately turned blood-red as if he was being burned by flames. Groaning, he felt a heavy pressure on his dantian and quickly activated the Star Refining Art to suppress and refine the Star Source.
Unfortunately, he soon discovered that things were not looking too optimistic. Shadowed Star’s Source Strength that was inside his body turned out to be incompatible with Fire Cloud Star’s Source. The two seemed to be innately hostile toward each other, and the former formed an unimaginably strong resistance against the latter as a consequence.
This situation was a little surprising as Yang Kai had refined the Sources of several other Stars before coming here. It was just that the Sources of those Stars were very weak, so he had not felt any kind of conflict. It wasn’t until this instance that he experienced a reaction.
The World Principles of each Cultivation Star were distinct. They had their respective differences and could not coexist. Yang Kai quickly figured this out; but even so, he did not panic and continued to circulate the Star Refining Art. For the next part of his plan, he would need to refine more than just a single Star Source. He was going to refine all the Star Sources in the entire Star Field. How was he going to carry out his plan if he couldn’t even get past the minor challenges that he was currently facing?
Dividing his attention in two, Yang Kai comforted the Source Strength of Shadowed Star with one hand while doing the same for Fire Cloud Star’s Source with the other. This led to the surface of his body, his left side and right side, both emitting different rays of light that seemed like they were attacking each other.
The power of the two Stars lashed out arbitrarily, causing Blazing Palace to collapse in an instant. The towering palace was turned into ruins and many of the guests fled in all directions. The guests that came to offer their congratulations to Chi Huo were all powerful people, so they would not die because of a minor accident like this, but that did not diminish their shock when witnessing Yang Kai’s power and methods.
The aftermath of the conflict between the two Star Sources made them uncomfortable even from a distance, so it wasn’t difficult for them to imagine how Yang Kai, who stood at the centre of the conflict, was feeling.
As expected, Yang Kai was not unscathed. He felt as though two children were pummeling each other inside of him, vying for the ownership of his body. Trying to calm and mediate between the two was not very effective. On the contrary, it made his vitality become unstable and his face flushed red as a result. There was no describing how unbearable it was. Aside from those two unruly children, there were a few wailing babies in the background too. Those babies were undoubtedly those Star Sources that he had refined recently. Compared to the Source Strengths of Shadowed Star and Fire Cloud Star, these Star Sources were neither as complete nor as strong. They had been behaving themselves until Fire Cloud Star’s Source agitated them and made them restless too.
[Calm down… calm… down… caalll… Agh! Screw it!]
“Behave yourselves!” Yang Kai roared furiously, emphasizing each syllable strongly as he abruptly pushed the Star Refining Art hard to suppress these Star Sources.
The whole world fell silent all at once. At the same time, his aura gradually stabilized and the conflict between the Source Strengths inside his body subsided.
[These rascals were simply asking to be disciplined!] Even so, he knew that this was just a stopgap measure. They might not pose a problem for the time being, but those conflicts would only get worse and worse as he refined more and more Star Sources in the future. If he could not find a proper solution to the problem, it would eventually turn into a bigger issue down the road. [Haa… I’ll think about it when it happens…]
In the Star Chart inside his Knowledge Sea, the light that symbolized Fire Cloud Star flickered. At the same time, he formed an unbreakable connection with the entire Fire Cloud Star. With a single thought, the entire Fire Cloud Star came under his control. The skies rumbled and the earth trembled. All these phenomena seemed to be informing the world that the Star Master had changed.
The guests that came to attend Chi Huo’s wedding hurried forward at this moment and bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Sir!”
Leaving aside the overwhelming strength that Yang Kai had displayed, just the fact that he was the current Star Master of Fire Cloud Star was enough to make them swallow their pride and lower their heads. In the future, they would have to live under his rule, so how could they dare to conduct themselves carelessly?
“Greetings… Sir!” Chi Huo lowered his head too, looking like he had aged several hundred years in an instant, an extremely depressed look on his face.
Unexpectedly, he was good at judging the situation and reading the room. He had previously dared to challenge Yang Kai because he had the confidence of winning. Reality had proven that that was nothing more than an illusion though and now that he was in an inferior position, he had no choice but to lower his head. He didn’t even dare to think about exacting revenge despite the hatred burning in his heart. He was no match for Yang Kai even at his peak, so nothing needed to be said about now when he was severely weakened.
Yang Kai glanced at Chi Huo meaningfully, which made Chi Huo tremble out of fear, afraid that Yang Kai was going to kill him. Fortunately, Yang Kai never had the intention to do that. Sweeping his gaze across the room, he said, “There’s something I need your help with.”
The old man with the goatee that had mocked Yang Kai previously hurriedly said, “Sir, grant us your instructions. This Old Master will do his best to complete them for you.”
“Yes, please tell us, Sir.”
Yang Kai said, “Chi Huo sealed this Star previously, so you don’t know about the recent situation in the Star Field, right?”
The old man with the goatee hesitated, “I’m not sure what you are referring to…”
“More than 10 years ago, enemies from Grand Desolation Star Field invaded our Star Field, seized many of our Cultivation Stars, and killed billions of our fellow cultivators. They are greedy, cruel, and ruthless! Their sins are unforgivable!”
“What?” Everybody was shocked. Although they had heard Yang Kai mentioning this matter previously, nobody had taken it seriously. Hearing it again now though, they had no choice but to take it seriously.
[To think that there is another Star Field out there! Moreover, they invaded us!? Something like that is simply unthinkable!]
“However, the situation isn’t so dire anymore. Our fellow cultivators are fighting back. I want you to go and support them. Wipe out those cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field!”
The old man with the goatee asked, “Where… Should we go to support our fellow brothers and sisters?” They had never even heard of Grand Desolation Star Field before, so it was only natural that they didn’t know where to go.
“Figure it out yourselves!” Yang Kai had been operating alone for the past two years so he did not know where the battle was currently taking place either. However, it wouldn’t be hard for them to find out about the war as long as they had the heart to do so. Fire Cloud Star might have been sealed off by Chi Huo, but that was also the reason that these people’s strength had been preserved more or less perfectly. If they joined the front, they would surely be of great help.
“Of course. Of course.” The old man with the goatee nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself that this young man was subject to shifting moods.
“Stop wasting time. Set off immediately.” Yang Kai waved his hand dismissively and called up a strong burst of wind like he was chasing flies away. Immediately every Origin King present lost their footing and was blown away by the wind.
A moment later, Yang Kai was the only one left in the ruins of Blazing Palace. Then, he found a spot and sat down cross-legged, plunging his consciousness into his Knowledge Sea to study the Star Chart.
A few lights in a certain location flickered. Those were the lights that corresponded to the Cultivation Stars he refined recently, and the brightest one among them was Fire Cloud Star. More importantly, these lights were not chosen at random. If a line was drawn to connect them to each other, the outline of an irregular polygon would appear in the massive Star Chart.
Yang Kai’s Soul Avatar moved slightly. Separated by several thousands of kilometres, he activated the Source Strengths of these Stars and all of a sudden, lights lit up along the edges of the invisible irregular polygon and began to spread outwards. Wherever the light passed in the Starry Sky, those areas were branded by Yang Kai’s aura and gradually refined by him. He could tell that those areas within the Starry Sky were now under his influence and was overjoyed to know that his previous conjecture was not wrong.
Confirming his theory, Yang Kai immediately continued with his efforts.
The entire process only took three days for him to complete the entire refining process, and when he checked the Star Chart again, the irregular polygon formed by the light points on the Star Chart were already in harmony with him. That irregular polygon might not be much in the scale of the entire Star Chart, but the corresponding region of the Starry Sky was still extremely vast. If Yang Kai had used his previous refining methods, it would have taken him at least half a year to accomplish this. Using this method, it only took him a month to complete the refinement process.
He only needed to refine a few Star Sources, then use those Cultivation Stars as his foundation to increase the area under his influence. With that, he could achieve twice the results with only half the effort. It saved him a lot of time and energy.
The Star Field was truly too vast. He had spent two years only to refine an area that did not even make up 1/20th of the entire Star Field. In other words, it would take him at least 40 to 50 years to completely refine the entire Star Field at the previous speed.
[Do you know how long 40 to 50 years is!? How can I spend so much time in this Star Field!?] The efficiency was increased by a lot with his current method. Combined with the many auras that he had left behind in various Asteroid Seas, it would speed up even more.
[10 years. Within 10 years, I will finish refining the entire Star Field and become its Master!]
A pitch-black Starship sailed slowly and silently across the empty Star Field like a huge ghost. A skull logo on the Starship revealed its origins. It was a Starship that belonged to the Netherworld Sect of Grand Desolation Star Field.
The huge Starship wandered the Starry Sky like a homeless child, exuding an extremely depressed aura although it was a non-living thing. It seemed to depict an extremely tragic end in life.
It was currently sailing towards Broken Void Corridor, which only appeared in the last two years. Broken Void Corridor was connected to Grand Desolation Star Field, so if they could reach the Broken Void Corridor, they might get the chance to return to Grand Desolation Star Field.
The lives of Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators had become extremely difficult ever since the day Heng Luo Star Field’s counterattack began five years ago. All of their invading armies had been obliterated, one by one. Consequently, panic spread throughout the hearts of Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators. They didn’t even want to know why Heng Luo Star Field, which should not have had the strength to fight back, could rise up again all of a sudden.
All the powerful Sects that had invaded this Star Field had paid a heavy price as a consequence. Myriad Beast Mountain, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Wild Thunder Divine Sect had been annihilated… Which one among these powerful Sects was not a top existence in Grand Desolation Star Field? And yet, none of them could even lift a finger against Heng Luo Star Field.
Heng Luo Star Field was now a ruthless wild beast that devoured its prey whole.
Some of the surviving members among Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators even suspected that this was a conspiracy set up by Heng Luo Star Field, that they had been feigning weakness for the past 10 years so that they could lure their enemies in completely; that way, they could attract even more cultivators here to kill.
Although the Netherworld Sect had yet to be completely annihilated, it was very close to dying out. This was the only Starship left from Netherworld Sect’s invasion force; moreover, this Starship had suffered greatly from various attacks. The surface was full of dents and bloodstains, with every part of it covered in the scars left behind by the war.
It was hard, but it managed to escape the latest siege and wandered across the Star Field for a very long time before it finally lost its pursuers.
[Home! We have to go home! This Starfield is a place we should never have carelessly invaded!]
Broken Void Corridor was just a few thousand kilometres ahead, so the surviving cultivators of Netherworld Sect inside the Starship could see it with their own eyes through the polished crystal windows. The scent of home seemed to linger in their noses, as if their relatives were beckoning to them after such a long separation. As such, everybody was overjoyed; they were extremely excited at the thought of returning home.
All of a sudden, a white shadow appeared in front of them and blocked the Starship’s path.
The cultivators inside the Starship soon discovered the presence of this white figure. Controlling the Spirit Arrays within the Starship, they enlarged and projected the image of the white figure and the image of a stunning woman with long, smooth-flowing hair dressed in snow-white clothes instantly entered their vision. Her expression was indifferent, but she had a noble and divine poise. Looking at her made one feel inferior and ashamed of their unseemliness for some reason.
A gasp rang out throughout the entire Starship, followed by a heavy silence as everyone held their breaths.
[It’s her!]
Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators did not know her name; however, she was their greatest nightmare. Cultivators in the Third-Order Origin King Realm were as weak as babies in front of her. No one was a match for her the moment that longsword of hers began to dance.
A cold air spread out inside the Starship as everyone felt their limbs stiffen and their bodies shiver. The huge Starship was a sharp contrast to this tiny figure; but even so, the entire Starship seemed to make various creaking sounds, as if whimpering in fear in front of this woman.
“You! Are you really so intent on killing to the last?!” An aged voice rang out furiously from within the Starship.
Su Yan stood inside the void, her beautiful eyes like a pool of water in autumn, staring at the oncoming Starship without any intention of responding to the question.
“Move aside, or this place will become your burial ground!” The aged voice threatened harshly; however, it was clear that this person was simply trying to act strong. Besides, it was impossible for her to move aside. Raising her bare hand, she placed it against the hilt of her sword.
“Since you court death, we’ll grant your wish! Run her over!” That aged voice was undoubtedly irritated. This woman had displayed cultivation and strength vastly surpassing ordinary Masters in recent years. Nevertheless, it didn’t matter how strong an individual was; how could one person possibly compete against a Starship?
The cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field were eager to escape back to their homes and they were reluctant to go through another bout of fighting here. That was why they were threatening her instead. If she refused to appreciate their kindness, then she should just die.
With a loud hum, the Starship sped up abruptly and charged directly towards Su Yan!
As the distance between the two parties quickly shortened, Su Yan continued to stand there quietly without dodging or drawing her sword. She didn’t even show any changes in her expression whatsoever. It was almost as if what was charging straight at her wasn’t a monstrous Starship but a light breeze blowing across her face.
When they were separated by a mere 100 kilometres, a sword light suddenly flashed out and struck the huge Starship. 100 kilometres of space was torn asunder as a result. At the same time, the Starship slammed into the spot where she had been standing previously and left as swiftly as lightning.
“Hahahaha! That’s what you get for being overconfident!” That aged voice laughed wildly and continuously before it stopped abruptly when he discovered that Su Yan, who should have been smashed to pieces, was standing behind the Starship in perfect condition. Her sword had been unsheathed at some point. At this moment, her back was facing the ship as she sheathed her sword, turned into a stream of light, and flew off. Not even once did she glance back at the Starship throughout the entire process.
“Wha…” The owner of the aged voice was confused; however, he soon realized that something was wrong. The speed of the Starship was becoming slower and slower, as if an invisible force was binding it in place. At the same time, an astonishing chill filled the entire Starship from the inside and a strange crackling sound came from all directions.
Turning around, the sight that greeted this old man shocked him. Snowflakes had appeared inside the Starship at some point of time, blooming and spreading to every corner of the hull. One by one, the Spirit Arrays that were in operation iced over. Similarly, the cultivators that had been caught off guard were frozen on the spot as the snowflakes covered their entire bodies.
The old man suddenly felt a coolness spreading across his hands.
Looking down, his pupils contracted as he saw snow flowers had appeared on the back of his hand, and he lost feeling in the parts of his body that were covered by these white snowflakes. One snowflake… Two snowflakes… Three snowflakes…
While that was occurring inside the Starship, the same was happening on the outside too. Dense snowflakes wrapped the Starship in thick layers, like a naughty child had wrapped the Starship in a coat sewn out of snowflakes until it became a white and flawless bundle.
*Kacha…*
The sound of something shattering rang out as the huge Starship shattered into pieces mid-motion and broke into multiple blocks of ice. The cultivators inside the Starship were not spared either, joining these blocks of ice that continued to sail forward into the endless void for all eternity.
…..
Several lights passed by as swiftly as lightning, chasing after each other in the Star Field. The three leading this group had powerful auras with the weakest among them being a First-Order Origin King while the one leading the group was a Third-Order Master. Meanwhile, the aura of the light following behind them was quite subdued. The figure was that of a little girl around seven or eight years old. Moreover, she did not give off any aura at all, as if she had never cultivated before.
Even so, the trio flying in the lead did not even dare to turn back to look at her, seemingly terrified of what they might see. They simply fled for their lives, desperately.
One day… Two days… Three days… The three fleeing Origin Kings were exhausted as, although their cultivations were fairly high, escaping at full speed for such a long time was extremely tiring. If they had not been constantly taking Spirit Pills to supplement their energy consumption, they would have died of exhaustion a long time ago.
[We must have gotten away by now, right?] The three of them thought in unison; thus, they turned back to take a look and immediately felt as though their souls had left their bodies.
That small figure was following not far behind them, her delicate and tender face completely expressionless. Her black eyes were clear and deep, so clear that their fearful expressions were reflected in them. What made them despair even more was that she didn’t seem the least bit out of breath, even after chasing them for such a long time. Her face was not flushed, and her breathing was steady. The indifferent expression on her face had not changed in the slightest since the beginning.
[Monster! That little girl is a monster!]
“Let’s fight!” The person in the lead made a resolute decision, turned around, and struck out at Liu Yan. The remaining two knew that running was useless too; hence, they immediately cooperated and launched an attack. A powerful wave of strength instantaneously swept towards the tiny figure like a torrent.
[Did we get her?] Those three were hopeful; however, their joy immediately turned into deep despair when the situation became clearer.
“How boring…” A childish voice sounded as Liu Yan raised her hand, seemingly tired of this little game she had been playing.
A great sense of crisis enveloped the trio of Origin Kings, turning them stiff and unable to move. Following that, flames ignited around them and the last thing they saw while alive was a flash of red.
…..
Li Jiao and his family were enjoying themselves in the Starry Sky. Although they had been assigned an extremely dull task for the past seven or eight years, neither Li Jiao nor Lu San Niang was bored.
Li Jiao had got a huge asteroid from somewhere and placed it in the Starry Sky, turning it into a simple house where the family of three now lived.
A thousand kilometres behind the asteroid was a deep and chaotic Void Corridor. This was the passage through which Grand Desolation Star Field had first invaded Heng Luo Star Field.
Li Jiao had been stationed here roughly eight years now and he had long since lost count of how many cultivators from Grand Desolation Star Field he had killed during that time. They probably heard that the cultivators of Heng Luo Star Field were easy targets and hurriedly travelled here from their Star Field. Unfortunately, they had been massacred by Li Jiao before they even got to reap any benefits.
Li Jiao didn’t just kill the cultivators arriving from Grand Desolation Star Field though, he also killed those who were trying to escape back to Grand Desolation Star Field.
In recent years, Heng Luo Star Field had fought back against their invaders. They were united in their cause and worked seamlessly together. Furthermore, they had a number of extraordinarily powerful Masters helping them. Therefore, Grand Desolation Star Field’s forces were no match for this counterattack at all. All the Cultivation Stars that had been captured in the past were recovered, one by one. As a result, every one of Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators was running away like dogs with their tails between their legs.
Many of them wanted to escape back to their homeland, but Li Jiao was guarding this place, so who could get past him? He killed every single person who came, like a meat grinder that had been placed in front of the Void Corridor. Regardless of whether the person was trying to enter or exit the Void Corridor, he would turn them into paste without any exceptions.
Since Yang Kai’s return, the turbulent situation in the Star Field had stabilized while the invading enemy had been crushed without mercy. Even if there were an occasional rat that slipped through this purge, they would never be able to cause trouble again.
On this day, Li Jiao had just finished getting rid of a group of cultivators that had arrived and was trying to flee back to Grand Desolation Star Field. He then returned to the asteroid in a dashing manner. Lu San Niang greeted him with a smile.
After living together for so many years, they no longer had any estrangement between them. Li Jiao even regarded Lu Yu Qin as his own daughter, which moved Lu San Niang so much that the thought of staying together with him in this place for the rest of her life bloomed in her. However, she knew that that was an extravagant hope. Li Jiao and Yang Kai had to return to the Star Boundary, and at that time, she would bring her daughter with her as she followed Li Jiao back to Fire Dragon Palace. For that reason, she believed that she had to cherish the good times they had now even more than ever.
“You must be tired.” Lu San Niang spoke gently.
Li Jiao proudly replied, “It was just a group of pitiful weaklings.” Despite having sealed his cultivation, he still had the foundation of a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master, so killing a bunch of ants below the Origin King Realm was simply overkill. He had the feeling that Yang Kai had assigned him to guard this place mainly so that he could have some time and opportunities to get along with Lu San Niang. Reaching out to embrace her soft waist, he gently planted a kiss on her forehead.
Feeling shy, she half-angrily warned, “Yu Qin is here too.”
Before Lu San Niang could finish her sentence, Lu Yu Qin ran out of the stone house with her hands over her eyes. She turned into a stream of light and flew away. Then, her voice floated over to them, “I’m going out for a walk. Staying here is too boring!”
“This little girl!” How could Lu San Niang not understand the hidden meaning behind her daughter’s words?
Li Jiao grinned and whispered, “She’s not here anymore.”
While speaking, he bent down and picked her up in a princess carry and strode into the stone house. Lu San Niang’s heart pounded in excitement, and she nestled against that wide chest, her entire body becoming soft and relaxed.
Li Jiao suddenly paused mid-stride though, and the smile on his face froze. He abruptly lifted his head and glanced in the direction of the Void Corridor located a thousand kilometres away. For a moment just now, a sense of crisis had come over him but he instinctively found this rather hard to believe. With his cultivation, what could give him a sense of danger in this Lower Star Field? To put it bluntly, there was nobody in this Star Field that could be his opponent, except for Yang Kai.
[Uh… Liu Yan should be taken out of the equation too.]
It didn’t look like there were any changes to the Void Corridor, but at the same time, it seemed to have become deeper. All of a sudden, the darkness expanded in Li Jiao’s field of vision and spread to the surroundings at a terrifying speed. Large pieces of the Starry Sky were swallowed by the darkness and vanished without a trace.
The Void Corridor was expanding!
“This is bad!” Li Jiao paled in shock and turned to look in the direction Lu Yu Qin had left. Not far away, the little girl was so frightened that she had frozen in place, staring blankly at the darkness that was expanding towards her.
Li Jiao didn’t have time to consider anything else. Grabbing Lu San Niang in one hand, he hurriedly rushed towards Lu Yu Qin, arriving in front of her in the blink of an eye and grabbing her hand as he shouted, “Run!”
His figure flashed like lightning as he fled this place at full speed. He did not know what had happened here, but this was no longer something he could handle.
He had to inform Yang Kai about this as soon as possible.
All of a sudden, he felt all the hair on his back standing on end as he vaguely felt as though somebody was spying on him. There was a pair of invisible eyes watching his every move and a soft exclamation of surprise rang out in his ears. It was barely audible, almost like a hallucination; however, Li Jiao immediately felt a strong restraining force wrapping around him in the next moment, forcing him to come to a sudden stop.
“Don’t leave my side!” Their lives were on the line, so Li Jiao shouted at Lu San Niang and her daughter while pushing his Emperor Qi to envelop both of them just as the darkness swallowed them up and they vanished entirely!
…..
Day after day passed by, followed by year after year… Yang Kai had navigated his way through the Star Field, forgetting about the passage of time. His mind entirely immersed in the refining process.
The Star Chart inside his Knowledge Sea had been 90% illuminated by now, and there was only a little bit left. Over the years, he had more or less traversed the entire Star Field. Even the most remote and distant places had not been overlooked.
With the Star Chart as a guiding reference, he could not get lost and could also tell where he had been before and where he had not been yet. Everything was laid out in an orderly manner.
Collecting thousands of Star Sources and spreading his aura throughout the entire Star Field was an extremely large-scale project. Even so, he did not find it boring. As he continued to refine, he gradually gained a stronger understanding in his heart.
After everything he experienced since coming back to this Star Field, Yang Kai had been increasingly confident that he could break through to the Second-Order Emperor Realm. But now, he was pretty much certain that he would break through the moment he returned to the Star Boundary.
[It’s not enough! There’s still a little more to go!] The truth was that he was more curious about how Wu Kuang had refined Star Field Sources in the past.
[I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t use such a painstaking method. He might have a method to achieve the same results in a shorter time. Still, he had lived for so long so it’s only normal for him to have many amazing Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques in his arsenal.]
Time continued to pass, so much so that Yang Kai had lost track of how long he had been at it. When the last spot on the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea finally lit up, he heard a loud booming sound resounding in his ears, like an explosion had gone off in his head. This explosion was so loud that he became dizzy and stars swam in front of his eyes. After recovering though, he was filled with joy.
[I did it! How long did it take? 8 years? 9 years? Or, has it been 10 years? I can’t even remember anymore…]
However, things hadn’t ended yet. All he had done over so many years was to divide the entire Star Field into puzzle pieces of different shapes and sizes. Although he had refined these pieces to some extent, it was still a mish-mash of individual parts. He could form a whole picture when he put them all together, but there were still many flaws and gaps in between the pieces. He would never become the Star Field Master as long as these flaws were not removed completely. He was only one last step away from completion. Unfortunately, it was also the most difficult step.
Just by using his thoughts, Yang Kai’s figure flickered through the various pieces of the Star Field and it didn’t take long for him to reach the centre of the entire Star Field. Taking a deep breath, he slowly adjusted his mental state. After some time, he abruptly opened his eyes and spread his arms wide as though he was trying to embrace the Star Field.
His Space Divine Ability and Divine Sense were activated both at once. His Divine Sense navigated through the Void, leaping forward, radiating throughout the entire Star Field.
For an instant, he felt as though his entire being had vanished; it felt as though he had turned into nothing; it felt as though he was spread throughout the entire Star Field. His Spiritual Energy flowed out rapidly like the floodwaters in a river after a torrential rain.
The Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus seemed to notice the change and immediately shone with a seven-coloured light, swiftly making up for the Spiritual Energy that was consumed.
Countless Stars flickered above Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea, as if all of them were flashing. It made the brightness within his Knowledge Sea fluctuate unsteadily.
The magnificent Star Field had undergone a wondrous change at this moment and all living creatures, regardless of where they were located or how high their cultivation was, could feel a mighty will descending on them from the sky. This Will was greater than the will of a Star Master. It was the Will of the World. It was the Will of the Star Field.
When Yang Kai had divided the Star Field into countless puzzle pieces to refine, he had not felt any obstacles; however, when he tried refining and merging the entire Star Field together into one picture, the world began rejecting him. Even the Star Chart that had always remained in his Knowledge Sea without any problems was showing signs of leaving his Knowledge Sea and abandoning him.
He was startled to notice these signs. The first thing in the course of refining the Star Field was to obtain the Star Field Source, so what was he supposed to refine if he let the Star Chart escape?
The lights were flashing wildly in the Star Chart, transforming into a surging mighty force. That force was turning his entire Knowledge Sea upside down, seemingly trying to intimidate him into retreating in the face of danger and force him to release it on his own.
A piercing pain spread out through Yang Kai’s head, but he gritted his teeth and refused to make a single sound. Simultaneously, he sealed off his entire Knowledge Sea.
[No matter what, I will never let you leave!]
His Soul was taking damage and his vision dimmed as if he was about to faint. Fortunately, the Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus had been continuously pouring pure power into him to nourish his Soul, making up for the damage and bringing the situation in his Knowledge Sea to a stalemate. However, this also meant that he could not do anything else.
A sharp look flashed across Yang Kai’s eyes at that moment as he sent his Soul Avatar into his Knowledge Sea, stretched out his hand, and summoned something. A large blade appeared in his hands and pointing that blade at the Star Chart in the sky, he shouted, “If you dare to cause trouble again, believe me when I say I will cut you down!”
That blade was the Soul Splitting Sabre. Moreover, it had been nourished for many years, so if he truly slashed at the Star Chart with this blade, using his Heaven Severing Slash, even the Star Field Source would suffer severe consequences.
Murderous intent spilled from Yang Kai’s figure as he was not joking around; even so, the Star Chart was unmoved by his threats. Its lights continued to flicker, and each time they did it produced an invisible force that interfered with his Knowledge Sea.
It seemed to have spirituality so it could tell that he was bluffing by trying to act strong.
“Since you refuse to do this the easy way, we’ll do it the hard way!” Yang Kai was livid.
[I can even cut down a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master! How dare a mere Star Chart act so presumptuously!?]
However, he truly did not dare to do anything to the Star Chart. How was he going to refine the Star Field without this Star Chart?
Tossing aside the Soul Splitting Sabre, he formed a set of seals with both hands. The Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus inside his Knowledge Sea transformed into a Seven Coloured Treasure Mountain that charged upward without any warning as he shouted, “Settled down!”
The Seven Coloured Treasure Mountain flew high into the sky, higher than the Star Chart. Then, a suppressive force spread out and slowly pressured the Star Chart. In response, the Star Chart’s lights flickered even more vigorously. Nevertheless, it was being suppressed little by little as the Seven Coloured Treasure Mountain descended.
Yang Kai was overjoyed when he saw what he was doing was working. The Star Chart was a Star Field Source, and although it was precious, it was not the only one in the world. Every Star Field would have its own Star Field Source. On the other hand, the Soul Warming Lotus was similar to the Immortal Tree. There was only one, and there could never be another one. Just from this point, both the Soul Warming Lotus and the Immortal Tree were more precious and of a higher order than a Star Field Source.
Reality had proven that the Soul Warming Lotus truly did have the ability to suppress the Star Chart. Under the effects of this suppression, the Star Chart was gradually subdued. The frequency of the flickering lights lessened considerably, and the interference became less frequent.
Yang Kai could finally breathe out a sigh of relief. Following that, he concentrated on controlling the Soul Warming Lotus to utilize its unbelievable powers.
*Honglong…*
The Seven Coloured Treasure Mountain descended and the entire Star Chart was suppressed under it, sinking into Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea. The waters in his Knowledge Sea were his Spiritual Energy; thus, the Star Chart stabilized significantly when it was surrounded by these waters. At the same time, Yang Kai could feel that the connection between him and the Star Chart had grown much stronger than before.
Before Yang Kai had time to rejoice, something happened again. The thousands of Star Sources that were gathered inside his body suddenly rose in revolt. Wave after wave of enormous energy rushed through his body arbitrarily.
Back when he was refining Fire Cloud Star’s Star Source, he learned that having too many Star Sources in his body would cause irreconcilable contradictions. At the time, he had used his powerful cultivation to suppress the Sources by force.
After all these years of wandering and refining, he no longer only had one or two Sources in his body like back then though, now, he had thousands of them!
In the blink of an eye, his body became a battlefield where thousands of children wailed and threw tantrums constantly. If it had been any other ordinary cultivator, they would soon suffer a mental collapse and damage to their physical bodies, even if they were in the Emperor Realm.
Fortunately, Yang Kai’s physical body was very tough. In all the years he spent cultivating, he had always paid attention to Body Tempering; therefore, the toughness of his body was incomparable to average cultivators. On top of that, he was also a Half-Dragon. This commotion was nothing to him. It was just that he could feel wave after wave of stabbing pains coming from his body. He immediately discovered the anomaly on his body the moment his Soul Avatar left his Knowledge Sea.
“Attacking my physical body after my Knowledge Sea? As expected, refining a Star Field Source is not easy!” He had already expected this, so he wasn’t surprised nor panicked. Instead, he was burning with a fighting spirit that made him eager to succeed.
Colourful rays of light burst out from the pores of his body and for an instant, he was bathed in a bright and colourful glow. Moreover, it was more fantastic compared to ordinary glowing lights. The Star Sources were fundamentally different from each other, so their respective colours were different too. That was why this phenomenon was occurring in his body right now. If anyone were to see the condition he was in, they would definitely worry about whether he was going to explode and die immediately.
Various Principle Strengths, which were generally the same but with some subtle variations among them, clashed violently inside Yang Kai’s body. These Principles came from the Star Sources themselves. The quantitative changes quickly turned into qualitative changes, causing him to suffer great pain. It felt as though his body could collapse at any time. Only then did he realize that he had underestimated the power of these naughty children. Not daring to underestimate them any longer, the words burst out of his mouth, “Dragon Transformation!”
A lofty Dragon’s Roar rang out and a phantom Golden Dragon flashed behind him before plunging into his body.
The sounds of bones cracking rang out, so many that they compounded together into an endless loop.
Yang Kai’s brave and heroic figure quickly swelled like a balloon that was being pumped full of air. His hair flew in all directions as two lumps appeared on his forehead before short Dragon Horns pushed out from those lumps. His exposed skin was covered in strong Dragon Scales and his hands turned into sharp Dragon Claws while a sturdy Dragon Tail abruptly appeared behind him.
30 metres… 50 metres… 100 metres… 150 metres… 180 metres… 200 metres!
Yang Kai quickly transformed into a giant half-Dragon half-Human Monster that towered alone above the Starry Sky.
[I can’t believe I turned into a 200 metre long Dragon. What a pleasant surprise!] He recalled that he had only been 180 metres long when he last used the Dragon Transformation Secret Art on Dragon Island.
[I can’t believe I grew another 20 metres over the years.]
Although 20 metres was not a lot, it was the pure embodiment of the Dragon Clan’s bloodline. He had consumed so many Dragon Blood Flowers and Dragon Blood Pills back then that he had failed to absorb all the medicinal efficacies at the time. Hence, most of the medicinal efficacies had been stored in his body. This increase of 20 metres was undoubtedly the imperceptible influence of those stored medicinal efficacies in his body over the years.
Snorting lightly, two plumes of white smoke came out from his nostrils and his cultivation had more or less burst out of him. There was no holding back anymore.
In response, the space around him trembled and collapsed. Such power had already exceeded the limit that this world could withstand, and even without doing anything, Yang Kai had made the world uneasy just by standing there. The space surrounding him was like a lake that was no longer calm. Waves of ripples spread out as they constantly hovered along the fine lines between destruction and restoration. Following that, a great hostility enveloped him. That was none other than the World’s Will.
Flashes of thunder raced across the empty Starry Sky without rhyme or reason. In an instant, an area of a thousand kilometres around Yang Kai turned into a thunderstorm. Thunder rang out and converged together until it became a continuous roar, soon turning into a dense rain of lightning bolts that bombarded him from all directions.
Yang Kai laughed loudly at that moment, as though he had gone absolutely insane. He didn’t even bother to defend against these attacks, allowing the lightning to strike his body as he focused all his attention on suppressing the rioting Star Sources in his body.
*Hong long long…*
The lights in the Starry Sky flickered and blinked as the waves of lightning and thunder that rained down on Yang Kai soon caused his Dragon Scales to crack and his flesh to singe.
The World’s rejection was unbearable, and even if Yang Kai had great power, he still couldn’t turn a blind eye to it; however, he possessed extremely powerful restorative powers and, combined with his Half-Dragon Form, he would heal quickly even if he took some damage.
Thunder and lightning continued to rain down on him for an hour while his body stood taller and straighter as time passed. The thousands of Star Sources above his 200-metre-long Half-Dragon Form were still in constant conflict, causing light to shine out of his pores as the different Principle Strengths entangled and clashed with each other.
All of a sudden, the force behind the thunder and lightning reduced considerably. The thunder arcs flashing around him lessened too.
Yang Kai’s eyes flashed with light, and he snorted coldly. If he had not had the Star Field Source in his possession nor the results of all his hard work over the past 10 years, he would never have dared to release all his strength in this manner. Doing so would only result in him being rejected or eliminated by the world. On the contrary, it was because he had the Star Field Source suppressed under his control and the 10 years of hard work under his belt that his aura had already influenced the entire Star Field. Even if the World’s Will had noticed his actions and began to reject him, he had the strength to resist it.
All the World could do was make him suffer so much that he retreated on his own. Even so, Yang Kai would never retreat. He had worked hard for so many years just to refine the Star Field and now that the goal was right at his fingertips, how could he be willing to let go?
When two parties clashed, one side would surely lose. Yang Kai believed that he would not be the losing party, and the weakening of the thunder and lightning was undoubtedly the best sign. It even made him feel a little dissatisfied because he did not expect it to reveal its weakness so quickly.
“Hm?” Yang Kai suddenly raised his head abruptly and glanced in a certain direction. He could vaguely sense something approaching him, but he found nothing there even after careful inspection. However, trying to pacify the thousands of Sources inside his body, he kept a close watch on his surroundings.
As he suspected, something was approaching him. Moreover, it was travelling at a great speed. It was hurtling through the Void so quickly that it was visible to the naked eye.
All of a sudden, a huge black hole appeared, approximately a thousand kilometres away. It looked like a piece of the Starry Sky had been melted away by something before a gigantic Monster leapt out.
When that gigantic Monster appeared, a strange voice sounded at the same time. It was neither sharp nor majestic. Rather, it was dreamy and sounded like a sorrowful cry, overflowing with despair and nostalgia for life. However, it was definitely not a sound that an animal could make. The appearance of the gigantic Monster was similar to that of a dolphin, one that was several hundred times the size of an ordinary dolphin! The Starry Sky was the ocean it swam in, and the Void was its home!
“A Shocking Void Beast!” Yang Kai’s eyes widened when he recognized what this gigantic Monster was.
[It’s a Shocking Void Beast! This is a rare event!]
He once met a Shocking Void Beast in his early years and had also killed it and obtained its Monster Core. A Shocking Void Beast could be considered a type of ancient Monster Beast. They were naturally proficient in the Dao of Space. Moreover, their proficiency was something innate, carved deep into their bones. Additionally, they were rumoured to be able to navigate freely between various planes without being hindered in any way.
The power of the Void was something people got anxious about just by mentioning it; however, this power was nothing more than nutrition to a Shocking Void Beast. Their favourite place to hide was inside the Void Cracks where they could devour the void turbulence as food for their growth. For that reason, it was rare for them to appear since they spent most of their time swimming through the Void. It was generally difficult to see them in the material world.
“I never expected to meet a Shocking Void Beast at a time like this. No, that’s not right! It’s a Shocking Void Beast King!” Yang Kai compared this Monster Beast to the ones in his memories and quickly discovered that this was not an ordinary Shocking Void Beast. It was a Shocking Void Beast King! That monstrous body was not something an ordinary Shocking Void Beast could have.
The dreamy voice sounded once again, and regardless of whether Yang Kai wanted it or not, it filled his ears and made him dizzy.
Meanwhile, the Shocking Void Beast King flicked its tail lightly, causing space to ripple as it skipped past the thousand kilometres between them to arrive in front of Yang Kai in a flash. It was so fast that he didn’t even have the time to react.
His 200-metre-long Half-Dragon Form looked like an infant next to the gigantic Shocking Void Beast King’s mountainous figure and Yang Kai felt as though a mountain was crushing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
On the contrary, the Shocking Void Beast King seemed not to have noticed him at all. Opening its gaping maw, that huge mouth looked like a Void Corridor that connected to a space of chaos and nothingness.
It was going to swallow him up in the next moment.
A Shocking Void Beast King couldn’t appear in this place without a reason. More than that, it was impossible for a Shocking Void Beast King to fail to notice Yang Kai’s presence. Although it was strong, it was not invincible, and the aura Yang Kai was emitting at the moment was not weak. As long as this Monster had some sense in its head, it would not charge in so recklessly and open its mouth to swallow him up, of all things.
At that moment, Yang Kai felt the intense malice from the world around him. The reason the Shocking Void Beast King appeared in this place and seemed to be targeting him was definitely the doing of the World. The weakening of the thunder and lightning was simply in preparation for a more powerful attack. As the saying went, ‘Nature was unkind; everything was but a pawn in its eyes’. It really was vicious indeed.
Under normal circumstances, Yang Kai wouldn’t have minded having a battle with a Shocking Void Beast King. He might even be able to kill it and obtain its Monster Core, something that would surely be beneficial for cultivating the Dao of Space. It was just that he had more important things to do today, so he had no choice but to let it go for the time being.
Swinging his hand, a large Moon Blade formed out of nowhere, and with his current 200 metres long body, how could the Moon Blade he condensed be small? If it were to slash out, even the Shocking Void Beast King in front of him could not ignore it.
Yang Kai remained motionless despite wielding the Moon Blade in his hand. In the meantime, the Shocking Void Beast King continued to rush forward.
All of a sudden, it came to a stop as though it had sensed something. It was hard to imagine how it managed to control such a humongous body with such finesse, but it went from charging forward to a complete stop in an instant. Then, the two eyes on the top of its head slanted downward and fixed their gaze on where he was standing.
“Hmph!” Yang Kai snorted and the aura of the Moon Blade in his hands became more and more dangerous by the moment.
In response, the Shocking Void Beast King closed its gaping mouth with a snap. It seemed like it had only just noticed his presence, and its eyes gleamed with sentience.
Yang Kai lifted his chin at it, making a gesture that seemed to say, ‘fight if you dare.’ His fighting spirit burned so hot that it almost condensed into something tangible.
Two figures, one large and one small, confronted each other strangely for several moments before the Shocking Void Beast King suddenly leapt and vaulted over his head. The huge body seemed to plunge into an invisible lake and melted into the Void before vanishing out of sight, leaving behind only a large Void Corridor that slowly closed behind it.
Yang Kai breathed a sigh of relief and let his Space Technique disperse into nothingness. Just as the Shocking Void Beast King had found him to be a difficult opponent, he could tell that it was no pushover either.
He was at the critical juncture of refining the Star Field, so why would he deliberately complicate the issue? The retreat of the Shocking Void Beast King was the best result he could hope for. If he truly fought with it, it wasn’t a matter of whether or not he could kill it but that the refining of the Star Field would probably end in a disaster.
“What other moves do you have? Why don’t you throw them all at me!?” Yang Kai laughed maniacally, standing with one hand on his waist and the other hand pointing towards the sky.
The hostility that had shrouded him all this time slowly faded away. Simultaneously, the conflict between the thousands of Star Sources in his body eased up too. He couldn’t help feeling happy over this discovery as it seemed like… After everything just now, the World Will had compromised and approved of his presence.
Things could not have turned out better. As somebody good at reading the situation, Yang Kai no longer did anything that would agitate the World’s Will. He also stopped hesitating and immediately closed his eyes to begin refining the Star Field Source.
Time slowly passed, and his body gradually shrank in size. The light pouring out of his skin was lessening too, a clear sign that he was making good progress on the refining. It wasn’t until the moment when the last ray of light disappeared that Yang Kai finally returned to his original appearance.
Opening his eyes abruptly, despite the trace of fatigue that showed in his expression, Yang Kai was extremely spirited. Besides, the refining process wasn’t completed yet; there was one last step to go.
Spreading his arms wide, he shouted, “It’s time to go home! Go on; go home!”
Thousands of lights suddenly poured out from all parts of his body and turned into balls of Source Strength. They lingered around him, circling a few times before disappearing in a flash.
Yang Kai had been going around the Star Field to refine Star Sources and turn the entire Star Field, dividing it into over a thousand separate pieces to make the refining process a little easier. Asking the Star Sources to leave now was also in preparation for the last step.
Suppression by force was not enough to succeed. Only with genuine recognition from both parties could they truly connect with each other. The thousands of Star Sources scattered in all directions and disappeared in the blink of an eye. With Yang Kai standing in the middle, it looked as though a meteor shower had rained down on the entire Star Field.
Only one Star Source remained behind, constantly dancing around him, giving off a sense of nostalgia and dependence. It was the Star Source of Shadowed Star! It did not leave immediately like the other Sources. Instead, it stayed behind as though it had its own thoughts and ideas.
Smiling, Yang Kai reached out his hand and held it up in his palms. The Star Source squirmed around slightly, constantly moving and shape-shifting.
“Go on!” He gently said.
Only then did Shadowed Star’s Source transform into a beam of light that headed in the direction where Shadowed Star was located.
[Come!] Yang Kai shouted in his heart.
Closing his eyes, he sent his consciousness into his Knowledge Sea. The Seven Coloured Treasure Mountain transformed back into the Soul Warming Lotus and released the suppressive force it had been using to restrain the Star Chart. Then, the Star Chart slowly rose from the depths of the ocean and intertwined with his Soul until they could no longer be separated.
*Hong…*
A loud sound rang out and Yang Kai felt his entire body shaking from the impact. It felt as though something had exploded inside him. Looking around, he saw that the Star Chart was once again hanging in the sky above his Knowledge Sea. He lifted his head to look and saw the sky twinkling with Stars; however, there was a huge difference between how it was now and how it was in the past.
Although the Star Chart had settled down in his Knowledge Sea and was useful to him back then, it had never truly belonged to him. But now, the Star Chart was completely his. Every last part of it, down to the smallest speck of dust, contained his aura.
“So that’s how it is!” The moment Yang Kai completely refined the Star Chart, he immediately understood something. It wasn’t until this moment that he understood why Grand Desolation Star Field managed to invade Heng Luo Star Field. It turned out that the reason was related to him!
When Yang Kai left for the Star Boundary back then, he had taken the Star Chart away with him. In other words, he took away the Source Strength of the Star Field. Without its Source, the Star Field’s World Barrier, which should have been impenetrable, grew weaker as a result. That almost imperceptible flaw was what formed the channel connecting Grand Desolation Star Field and Heng Luo Star Field together and allowed the cultivators from the former to invade.
Yang Kai scratched his head, feeling somewhat guilty. The invasion of Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators had caused the deaths of many and brought disasters down on numerous Cultivation Stars. He could never have imagined that he would be the reason for such a catastrophe. In any case, all he could do at this point was apologize.
Focusing his thoughts, Yang Kai’s excitement soon surged. Upon becoming a Star Field Master, he realized it felt somewhat similar to the feeling when he became a Star Master. Everything was in the palm of his hands with just a single thought. It was just that the range had been expanded by several thousand times.
As his mind continued to reach out into the surroundings, Yang Kai could perceive anything and everything at his target location.
He soon came across Tong Xuan Realm.
Over the past few years, Tong Xuan Realm had recovered considerably with the traces of Grand Desolation Star Field’s corruption having long since vanished completely. With the 108 Absolute Profound Heaven Spirit Array and Xia Ning Chang protecting this place, 10 years was enough time for Tong Xuan Realm to recover its World Energy to its original state. However, that was still not enough.
In the first place, Tong Xuan Realm’s foundation was inherently weaker than other Cultivation Stars and could not produce any strong cultivators. There were two reasons why Yang Kai had been so desperate to become the Star Field Master. Firstly, it was for his own needs. Secondly, it was for Xia Ning Chang and Tong Xuan Realm.
Only by becoming the Star Field Master could Yang Kai use the power of the Star Field to bring benefits to Tong Xuan Realm and make Xia Ning Chang rise in power.
[It’s time to experiment and see if it works.] He stood in place without moving and simply gestured with his hands.
…..
Xia Ning Chang was talking to Xue Yue in Nine Heavens Holy Land on Tong Xuan Realm at this time. Ever since the war ended three years ago, the entire Star Field had returned to normal. There was no longer any need to be worried about being invaded by powerful enemies again. Both the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce and Sword Union were in the process of rebuilding. As for Purple Star… it no longer existed. Moreover, Purple Star’s place in the three great forces had been assumed by High Heaven Sect, which was also the strongest force in the entire Star Field now!
Xia Ning Chang’s aura had recovered and she was no longer as weak as she had been back then. Her skin was fair and healthy; her aura was stable, and she had reached the peak of the Third-Order Origin King Realm.
Similarly, Xue Yue was doing well also. Although she was not a Star Master, she had a Special Constitution and an unlimited supply of resources, so her cultivation progress had never been less than the others.
All of a sudden, Xia Ning Chang lifted her head and looked outside, seeming to sense something.
“What’s wrong?” Xue Yue asked suspiciously.
“It’s…” Xia Ning Chang got up and walked out of the palace in a single step. Then, Xue Yue came to stand next to her as two pairs of eyes stared into the sky before they immediately froze.
Under the blazing sun in the blue sky, they saw streams of lights flashing across the Heavens. Each stream of light contained an unimaginable amount of pure energy and all of them came crashing towards the surface like a meteor shower.
Xue Yue’s face paled. Even though there was a large distance between them and the incoming meteor-like things, she could sense how much damage they could do if they were to land. If even only one of them fell on Tong Xuan Realm, the entire Star would be hit hard. What’s more, there were far more than one that they could see. The sky was densely packed with these lights, simply too many to count.
Xia Ning Chang and Xue Yue were not the only ones to witness it. All the living creatures in Tong Xuan Realm were shocked by what they were seeing at this moment.
Xia Ning Chang’s expression turned solemn and she was just about to summon the Star Source’s Strength to stop some of these incoming meteors when she suddenly noticed one of the large clouds in the sky distort and transform into a distinct human face.
“Ah!” She screamed.
“Husband!” Xue Yue was dumbfounded too.
The face formed by those clouds undoubtedly belonged to Yang Kai. They did not know how far away he was from the two of them, but it seemed as though he could see them and was smiling at them, even winking cheekily.
That moment of hesitation caused Xia Ning Chang to lose the opportunity to intercept those meteors. However, she knew that all of this was his doing the moment she saw his face and lost all intention of intercepting them as a result. She was simply curious as to what he was planning to do as the world-shattering power looming over them was nothing to joke about after all.
When the meteors crashed to the ground, the impact and destruction they imagined did not come. On the contrary, those meteors silently vanished without a single trace and once the light dissipated, the World Energy in the Nine Heavens Holy Land clearly became denser. Additionally… Several other things were quietly changing too.
Xia Ning Chang was the most conscious of these changes.
As the Star Master, she could sense that the World Principles in Tong Xuan Realm were gradually becoming stronger and more perfect. More complete Principles would mean that stronger cultivators could be born here. The whole Star conveyed a pleasant aura, which gave her a sense of joy too.
“Ning Chang, this is…” Xue Yue couldn’t help asking when she saw Xia Ning Chang smiling.
“He succeeded!” Xia Ning Chang replied.
Xue Yue understood immediately, and her beautiful eyes shone with a strange light, “Did he finally succeed?”
Ten years had passed without any news from Yang Kai. They would occasionally hear that somebody had seen him in the Star Field, but they would only catch a glimpse. Nobody went looking for him since they all knew what he was busy with. It was surprising that he managed to succeed in just 10 years though.
The abnormality occurring in Tong Xuan Realm at the moment was the best example of his success though. Only by successfully refining the Star Field and becoming a Star Field Master could Yang Kai have the power to guide such enormous amounts of power to Tong Xuan Realm and carry out such a huge transformation.
It could be said that a transformation like this was not without cost. The improvement of Tong Xuan Realm was done by extracting power from other places. Nevertheless, it was a matter related to Xia Ning Chang, so Yang Kai was not going to be stingy about his methods.
“Hmm? What happened here?” All of a sudden, Yang Kai noticed that something was wrong. A fist-sized ‘black ink stain’ had appeared somewhere on the Star Chart above his Knowledge Sea. This ‘black ink stain’ looked extremely familiar. It reminded him of the scenery he once saw when looking down on Tong Xuan Realm from a high altitude. Now that he was connected to the Star Field Source, he immediately felt a strong malice coming from this ‘black ink stain’.
If he was not mistaken, the location where that ‘black ink stain’ was located should be the place where Grand Desolation Star Field and Heng Luo Star Field were connected.
That was an important location so 10 years ago, Yang Kai had dispatched Li Jiao and his family there to guard the place. Yang Kai thought that his plan was foolproof and it wasn’t until today when he finished refining the Star Chart that he noticed something was wrong.
With a single thought, Yang Kai’s vision seemed to travel across a distance of billions of kilometres and came to the vicinity of the ‘black ink stain’ in an instant. The sight that greeted him shocked him to the core.
An area stretching for tens of million kilometres had turned into a black hole so humongous that it was hard to imagine. Everything that was originally located in this piece of Starry Sky was gone without a trace, including some Dead Stars and many asteroids. That wasn’t the worst of it; the edges of the black hole continued to expand into its surroundings at a steady speed. Everything that stood in the path of that creeping darkness turned into nothingness. From the way things stood, it looked like the darkness was devouring the Star Field.
The sight immediately enraged him! He had refined the Star Field Source and became the Star Field Master just now; in other words, the entire Star Field was his domain. Regardless of what that darkness was, it was encroaching on his territory! How could he tolerate such actions as the Star Field Master!?
[Where is Li Jiao, that bastard!? I sent him here to guard this place back then. Why didn’t he inform me about such a major incident? Even if I’ve been running all over the place for the past few years and have no fixed residence to speak of, I’m sure he could have found a way to locate me if he really wanted to…] Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling a little resentful in his heart and with a slight flicker, it didn’t take him more than a moment to reach the edge of the huge black hole.
Upon a closer look, Yang Kai understood more and more just how horrifying this black hole was. All he could see was darkness and nothing else. It was no less dangerous than a Void Crack for sure though as that darkness slowly crept forward like the tide, expanding into its surroundings and assimilating everything in its way.
Yang Kai could feel that he was losing his territory, bit by bit, so his expression turned grim. Communicating with the Star Chart through his mind, the Star Field Source hummed in response as if it had received some sort of encouragement and began to exude a dazzling light.
The darkness that had been expanding steadily suddenly slowed down considerably. The sight made him raise an eyebrow in response. He had never encountered something like this before; hence, he honestly did not know how to deal with it. He simply wanted to try to prevent the spread of the darkness and had not expected that communicating with the Star Chart would bring about such effects.
Then, Yang Kai immediately understood the situation. Since he was the Star Field Master, his Will was the Will of the Star Field. Every thought and every action of his could make the Star Field resonate with his wishes. With that answer in hand, he no longer hesitated. Communicating with the Star Chart more actively, borrowing the power of the entire Star Field, Yang Kai strove to prevent the darkness from spreading further.
The speed at which the darkness expanded outwards slowed down so much that the changes were visible to the naked eye. In the end, it gradually stopped expanding. Even so, Yang Kai was not satisfied with the situation and shouted, “Get out!”
At the same time, he pushed out explosively with both arms in front of him and an invisible force pressed down from all directions. The boundaries of the darkness instantly shrank back by several thousands of metres and continued shrinking without stopping.
As the darkness receded, everything in its path that it had previously devoured was restored back to normal. Yang Kai watched as a huge asteroid slowly emerged from within the darkness and eventually became fully exposed after a while. The discovery made him extremely happy. He initially thought that everything the darkness swallowed would no longer exist, but that did not seem to be the case. Even though all those places had been devoured, they still existed in perfect condition. It was just that nobody could see them anymore, and the truth could only be revealed by pushing back the darkness.
[What the Hell is this darkness?] Yang Kai wondered as he worked to take back his territory, probing into the emptiness. A short while later, his body stiffened and a shocked expression appeared on his face. He had discovered a World Will in the depths of the darkness! Moreover, it was a World Will that did not belong to Heng Luo Star Field! The World Will was very similar to the one found in Heng Luo Star Field, however. Regardless, it was almost as though this darkness was another world on its own.
[This is incredible! Simply unbelievable! Could it be? That there is another world out there trying to eat away at Heng Luo Star Field? Is it Grand Desolation Star Field? This place is where the two Star Fields are connected after all. It makes sense if Grand Desolation Star Field is the one trying to devour Heng Luo Star Field.]
Yang Kai suddenly felt a little fortunate. If he had not refined the Star Chart and become the Star Field Master, he would have had no way to deal with this situation. The absorption of a world by another world was no longer something that could be solved through cultivation alone. He had to borrow the power of the world he was in to fight back against the absorption. Just then, a sliver of insight came to him. The reason why he managed to refine the Star Chart so easily was probably related to the current situation. Heng Luo Star Field wanted to use his power to fight against this encroachment.
“Spit out whatever you ate that belongs to me!” Yang Kai had just become Heng Luo Star Field’s Master, so he was in high spirits. How could he be afraid of the minor difficulties in front of him?
Directing the power of Heng Luo Star Field, Yang Kai viciously pushed back against the darkness. With no power to resist, the darkness steadily retreated as a result. In the meantime, the Starry Sky that had been swallowed by the darkness gradually returned to normal while the darkness retreated faster and faster with his help. In less than a quarter of an hour, the darkness had receded by more than ten thousand kilometres.
Ten thousand kilometres was nothing compared to the territory it had engulfed, but even so, it was a good start. Yang Kai was certain that the speed at which he regained the lands he lost would increase as time passed, and reality proved that to be the case. The entire Heng Luo Star Field seemed to be aware of his intentions and the Star Field Source cooperated with him unreservedly to give him the power to make it a reality.
A hundred thousand kilometres… Two hundred thousand kilometres… A million kilometres… The darkness had shrunk considerably. At this speed, he would be able to recover everything he lost to the darkness in less than a month.
At that moment, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up without warning as he felt a great sense of crisis enveloping him. Widening his eyes, Yang Kai focused his gaze on the darkness in front of him. It was completely filled with chaos and nothingness. Not only did it not contain any vitality, but it also did not contain any living or dead. Despite that, Yang Kai was certain that the sense of crisis had come from within the darkness.
A ray of light suddenly appeared in his line of vision. It arrived in front of him in the blink of an eye. Lifting his head abruptly, Yang Kai opened his mouth and bit down on the ray of light. The light trembled endlessly as if it was a living thing. Biting down, his sharp fangs turned into indestructible blades.
*Kacha…* The sound of something shattering rang out and the struggling movement in his mouth subsided suddenly.
“Bah!” Yang Kai spat out the thing. Then, he reached out his hand to catch it, his gaze focusing on the item. The item turned out to be an exquisitely shaped flying knife. It had a flawless blade, about a forearm in length. Unfortunately, there was now a row of teeth marks on the blade. It was also covered in a dense spider web of cracks. Yang Kai’s bite had destroyed the flying knife’s spirituality.
“This is…” His eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, “An Emperor Artifact?”
The thing that struck at him from within the darkness turned out to be an Emperor Artifact! Although the spirituality had been destroyed and it was covered in cracks now, Yang Kai was not blind so how could he fail to recognize an Emperor Grade Artifact? Besides, there were still traces of Emperor Qi lingering on the flying knife.
Lifting his head, he stared into the darkness with eyes that burned with raging flames. [Good, good, good! I thought that the absorption between worlds was some kind of natural phenomenon. I can’t believe it turned out to be a man-made disaster instead!]
There was no way an Emperor Artifact had attacked him for no reason, and judging by the lingering Emperor Qi aura left on the blade, that person had clearly tried to kill him from the other world. Moreover, the person who attacked him was definitely in the Emperor Realm.
Launching an attack across a World Barrier was not something that Yang Kai could pull off even now. The wall between worlds was simply too strong. Only a Great Emperor might be able to pull off such a feat. However, Heng Luo Star Field and Grand Desolation Star Field were not completely separated at the moment. The darkness was the place where the two worlds were connected. Thus, it was not difficult for potential enemies to ambush him from across the boundaries of the world. As for the reason… It was undoubtedly due to the fact that he had been hindering Grand Desolation Star Field’s absorption of Heng Luo Star Field.
A bold idea popped up in Yang Kai’s head at that point, and though he was not 100% certain, he was quite confident about it.
“It’s finally getting interesting!” Yang Kai couldn’t help flashing a savage grin as he stared into the darkness as though he could penetrate the barriers between the worlds with his gaze and stare straight at the powerful enemy hiding in the other world!
Ever since he returned to the Star Field, the only enemies Yang Kai encountered had been weaklings. Those enemies could not do anything to him even though he was affected by the rejection of the world. Therefore, the sudden appearance of such a strong enemy immediately roused his long-diminished fighting spirit.
“It’s impolite not to reciprocate the gesture. Take this!” He slapped his hands together and condensed a huge Moon Blade. He did not launch it immediately. Instead, he continued to pour his power into it.
The Moon Blade buzzed and became erratic. It felt as though it might collapse at any time. Even so, it was more stable than ever under Yang Kai’s control.
A long while later, he finally looked up and threw the flying blade with broken spirituality back into the darkness in front of him. Only then did he slash out with the Moon Blade. Both the flying knife and the Moon Blade disappeared into the darkness without a sound.
A great darkness was surging in the endless Starry Sky within Grand Desolation Star Field. The scenery there was similar to the scenery on Yang Kai’s side, and at the edge of the darkness, a middle-aged man with a sallow face frowned as he stared straight ahead.
All of a sudden, a flying knife appeared out of the darkness. He lifted his hand and caught the flying knife in his hand, but before he could study the condition of the flying knife, a pitch-black Moon Blade followed close behind and slashed towards him.
He was not a careless individual, but even so, he did not notice the Moon Blade until it was practically right in front of his eyes. The main reason was that the Moon Blade was extremely stealthy and silent. Moreover, it was very similar to the darkness before him, which made it very hard to detect.
Perceiving the terrifying power of the Moon Blade, the middle-aged man raised his brow and revealed a look of surprise; however, he did not panic. Another flying knife abruptly appeared in his hand, one identical to the one Yang Kai had intercepted before. Raising it high, the flying knife shone brightly and turned into a huge blade before slashing downward without warning.
The Moon Blade shattered suddenly, causing the middle-aged man to frown in response. Then, his heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly backed away. Unfortunately, it was too late. The Moon Blade exploded and the space around him went wild. Consequently, several void cracks appeared. Those cracks were not arranged in a disorderly manner. Rather, they spelled out the words, “Fuck your mother!”
“Space Technique!” The middle-aged man exclaimed in surprise. He looked extremely shocked but didn’t seem bothered by Yang Kai’s insult. The main reason was that the Dao of Space was incredibly esoteric and difficult to cultivate. A person who could utilize a Space Technique to this extent could not be just a random nobody.
“Could it be him!?” The image of a person appeared in the middle-aged man’s mind. If the person on the other side of the Void Corridor matched with the person in his mind, then things would become extremely troublesome. The prestige of the Martial Beast Great Emperor and of Spirit Beast Island could not be ignored. ‘That’ person was the right arm of the Martial Beast Great Emperor, Mo Huang. If it really was him, then things would become very difficult to handle.
[Still… I have never heard of that person being related to a Lower Star Field before… Why would he suddenly appear in Heng Luo Star Field?] He suddenly remembered the family of three who had been dragged into this Star Field three years ago. At first, he had no intention of bothering with them, but now, it would seem that it was time for him to have a talk with them. Perhaps… he could obtain some useful information.
Yang Kai waited intently in front of the darkness, but after a full day and night, he began to feel bored when he did not see any signs of a counterattack. He did not know if his Moon Blade had injured the other party; however, it shouldn’t be possible. The barrier between the two Star Fields might be weak enough for him to send an attack across the World Barrier, but the power behind his attack would be severely worn down in the process. Moreover, the opponent was strong, so how could they be harmed so easily? He simply could not understand why the other party had not made a move.
Yang Kai couldn’t be bothered to think about it though. Since the other party didn’t seem like they were going to make a move, he might as well restore his Star Field with some peace of mind. Hence, the darkness continued to recede, revealing the Starry Sky that had been swallowed previously.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai’s eyes flashed as he grinned, “How bold!”
Stretching out his hand, Yang Kai grabbed at the space in front of him as a figure suddenly leapt out from the endless darkness. However, he frowned and immediately stopped his attack when he saw who it was, instead reaching out and pulling this figure to him.
“Yu Qin?” Yang Kai looked down at the little girl in front of him with a slight frown.
Lu Yu Qin was not injured, but her complexion was extremely pale. She had obviously been deeply frightened by something. The pupils in her eyes were dilated, and she was trembling uncontrollably.
Yang Kai called out her name twice, but she did not react one bit. With no other choice, he circulated his Spiritual Energy to soothe her mind first.
After a while, she finally recovered from her shock. When her eyes gradually focused and she saw his face clearly, she began crying before she could say anything, her tears pouring down her face.
“Why did you appear from the other side? Where are your parents?” A sense of uneasiness bloomed in his heart.
“Senior Yang, please save my father and mother!”
Yang Kai felt his heart sink at those words and he quickly asked, “Are they on the other side?”
“Please! I beg you! Save them!” She grabbed at his arm tightly, crying pitifully.
“Stop crying first, you have to explain the situation to me properly if you want me to act,” he comforted her.
A while later, her emotions finally calmed down enough for her to brokenly recount the events of the past few years.
Three years ago, the Void Corridor connecting Heng Luo Star Field and Grand Desolation Star Field suddenly went out of control. The darkness had swept across the land and devoured their family of three. When they recovered from their shock, they discovered that they had arrived at another Star Field. It was only later that they learned that the Star Field they were in was none other than Grand Desolation Star Field.
Fortunately, Li Jiao and Lu San Niang were existences that had surpassed the limits of the Star Field; hence, they did not encounter any danger. However, they seemed to be sealed in a certain space and couldn’t find their way back.
One day ago, a middle-aged man suddenly came to them and chatted with Li Jiao for a long time. Lu Yu Qin did not know what they discussed at the time. In the end, that middle-aged man had grabbed her, dragged her to the edge of the darkness, and threw her in.
“What was that guy called?” Yang Kai was aware that there was somebody on the other side of the darkness and he felt that this person was behind the encroachment upon his Star Field. And now, his guess had been confirmed by Lu Yu Qin’s story.
She shook her head in response. She had never seen that man before yesterday. All she knew was that her parents were no match for him. They had tried to stop him when he grabbed her, but they couldn’t even touch the hems of his clothes.
“What did he say?” Yang Kai asked. That man clearly wanted her to pass on a message since he returned her to this place.
Lu Yu Qin said, “He asked me to tell you… If you want them to live, then hand over the Star Field Source!”
“Hah?!” Yang Kai’s eyebrow twitched in response, “Is he crazy?”
Although he got along fairly well with Li Jiao, they were not close enough to be used as a bargaining chip for something so valuable. Yang Kai might have stopped to consider it if Su Yan or one his other close relations had been kidnapped instead, but the other party might not keep his word to release the hostages even if he handed over the Star Field Source. Instead, he would no longer have the ability to fight against the other party without the Star Field Source. In the end, Heng Luo Star Field would not be able to escape from being completely devoured.
[Is that person deliberately trying to annoy me by asking Lu Yu Qin to come back and pass this message to me?]
“Senior Yang…” She looked at him pleadingly.
“I’ll send you somewhere safe first. Don’t worry. I will rescue your parents.” He patted her on the shoulder. He divided part of his attention to continue suppressing the darkness before his figure flickered slightly and he headed towards Shadowed Star.
The Star Field was vast, so anybody would need to spend a lot of time travelling across it from one Star to another; however, Yang Kai was now Heng Luo Star Field’s Master, so it was only natural that he enjoyed certain conveniences that nobody else could have. One such advantage was that he could cover a lot of distance with just a thought.
After several leaps, Shadowed Star appeared in the distance. With another leap, they appeared inside High Heaven Sect. A stream of light flew out from a certain Spirit Peak at that moment. It was Su Yan, who had sensed his return. Under her lead, all the Masters in High Heaven Sect swarmed over. It didn’t take long for all the Elders and Masters to gather together.
Ye Xi Yun stepped forward and spoke first, “Sect Master, there is something I need to inform you about.” While speaking, she glanced at Lu Yu Qin, who was leaning in Yang Kai’s embrace, with some measure of surprise. The matter she wanted to report about was related to the disappearance of Li Jiao and his family.
“You don’t need to tell me. I already know about it.” Yang Kai handed the sleeping Lu Yu Qin over to Su Yan, “Please take care of her!”
Their gazes met, and although nothing more was said, they understood each other; thus, Su Yan gently nodded and carried Lu Yu Qin back to her Spirit Peak.
Afterwards, Yang Kai took a seat in the main hall while the rest gathered around him. Sweeping his gaze over them, he spoke, “You have worked hard over the years. I have seen the results of your hard work with my own eyes. Although I did not participate in the endeavour, I am thankful for all your contributions.”
Ye Xi Yun said, “It’s what we should do, but, what do you know about the expanding black hole, Sect Master?”
Yang Kai replied, “I just found out about it not too long ago, but don’t worry, I will deal with this matter myself.”
Upon hearing what he said, she calmed down. What she had been worrying about for the past few years finally disappeared. Although Yang Kai was somebody who rarely showed his face and usually left all the work to her, he was reliable when he became serious.
“Husband, what is that black hole? How is it able to devour the Star Field?” Shan Qing Luo asked puzzledly.
To which he answered, “It’s the power of Grand Desolation Star Field.”
“It’s the doing of Grand Desolation Star Field again!?” A group of people suddenly exclaimed with righteous indignation.
Ever since the war ended three years ago, the entire Star Field had entered a stage of recuperation. They thought that they could finally live in peace for a time but they did not expect Grand Desolation Star Field to reappear and stir up a storm again so soon. Moreover, it was worse this time around as that Star Field actually started to eat away at their Star Field, leaving them at a loss for what to do.
Ye Xi Yun frowned, “Sect Master, how is Grand Desolation Star Field able to devour this Star Field? Could it be that Grand Desolation Star Field is a higher plane than ours?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “That’s not it. There are no major differences between the two Star Fields. The reason something like that happened is that somebody is pulling strings from the shadows.”
“Somebody?”
“Who!?”
“Could it be…”
He nodded and said solemnly, “It’s the Master of Grand Desolation Star Field!”
The person who had exchanged blows with him was no ordinary person. Besides, only one person could direct the refinement and assimilation of another Star Field, and that was the Star Field Master of Grand Desolation Star Field! That person was just like Yang Kai; they were both Star Field Masters!
A gasp rang out among the crowd. Then, they quickly remembered that Yang Kai was also a Star Field Master, so there was no reason for them to be so fearful. It was just that… What would happen if the two Star Field Masters started a fight with each other? How would their battle affect their respective Star Fields? Their battle would not be done in person nor with their strength alone after all, they would be fighting with the power of their respective Star Fields as their support. That was bound to cause great disturbances in both Star Fields.
“Sect Master, who is stronger between the two of you?” Ye Xi Yun raised the question that everyone was most anxious to know.
“He is not my opponent at the moment,” Yang Kai replied calmly. The places swallowed up by the darkness had originally been part of his territory, so Yang Kai still had a certain advantage despite it having been taken over by the other party. In essence, it was not difficult for Yang Kai to drive the foreign enemy out.
“At the moment?” Ye Xi Yun keenly grasped the key points in his words, “What about in the future?”
Yang Kai laughed, “Who can say what the future will bring? We simply do what we can to conform with the Heavenly Way.”
She looked like she still had more to ask, but he raised his hand to stop her before smiling meaningfully, “There’s an insect here.”
While speaking, he suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed at something in front of him. His movements were neither hurried nor unhurried. In response, the space in front of him became chaotic. Plunging his large hand into this warped space, Yang Kai seemed to grab hold of something far away, and when he withdrew his hand, an old man with an all-white beard appeared in the great hall.
The old man looked shocked and bewildered. He had a stooped figure, and his entire body was trembling. He looked rather unsteady on his feet; moreover, the aura around him was not that strong, only in the Origin Returning Realm.
Everybody in the great hall looked at each other in confusion, wondering why Yang Kai had captured this old man. They didn’t even know where Yang Kai had brought this old man from. After becoming the Star Field’s Master, Yang Kai’s strength had become more and more difficult for them to understand.
In the meantime, that old man with the stooped figure glanced about his surroundings and seemed to be frightened. The people around him might not know who he was, but he knew many of their faces, so panic flashed through his eyes for a moment before he quickly feigned ignorance and haltingly asked, “Where… am I?”
Inside the great hall, Yang Kai looked at the old man with a smile. Meanwhile, everybody else looked surprised and puzzled.
The old man asked, “Excuse me, Sirs… Who are you?”
“Stop playing dumb!”
“This old man really doesn’t know what you are talking about, Little Brother.”
Yang Kai looked the old man up and down. Then, he grinned and said, “Look at you; the Corpse Qi around you is so strong. You must be proficient in Corpse Refinement. What position do you hold in the Netherworld Sect?”
“Netherworld Sect!?” The expression of Ye Xi Yun and the others changed drastically at the name. They glared at the old man fiercely as although they could not tell what was so special about him, there could be no mistake since Yang Kai had said so.
All the cultivators in the Star Field held a deep hatred for the name ‘Netherworld Sect’. They thought that the dust had settled after they cleaned up the Star Field three years ago, so they never expected that a rat could have slipped through their fingers. Moreover, that rat was hiding right under their noses.
“Little Brother, I’m afraid you must have made a mistake. I’m not part of the Netherworld…”
“What were you trying to do by coming to Shadowed Star? What are you looking for?”
The old man shook his head, “I don’t understand what you mean.”
Yang Kai raised his hand and enveloped the old man in a thick murderous intent. In response, the old man’s stooped figure straightened immediately and his aura burst out without warning.
Ye Xi Yun and the others were dumbfounded. Only then did they realize that the old man in front of them was no Origin Returning Realm cultivator. He clearly stood at the peak of the Origin King Realm. Moreover, his aura was slightly stronger than all the other Origin King Realm Masters they had met before. It was as though he could break through the shackles of the Origin King Realm at any moment. They did not know what kind of Secret Technique he had used to conceal his cultivation so well, but if not for Yang Kai’s sharp vision, everybody else would not have seen through his disguise.
The attack the old man expected did not come, however, as Yang Kai simply put down the hand he raised. How could the old man not know that he had been played for a fool? No longer trying to conceal anything, he coldly snorted, “You were the ones who forced my hand.”
He had indeed infiltrated Shadowed Star to look for something, but he had no intention of facing High Heaven Sect so quickly. Unfortunately, the Heavens did not act according to his wishes. Now that things had come to this, he could only fight his way out. Saying so, he summoned a large banner to his hand. The banner was unfurled as rich Blood Qi surged, dyeing the whole hall a bright red colour.
Inside the hall, everybody from High Heaven Sect instantly felt as though they had fallen into a turbulent Blood River. The Blood Qi in their surroundings carried a strong corrosive aura that made it hard for them to breathe and rendered their Saint Qi useless.
One after another, they paled in response. They knew about the Blood Sea Banner. After fighting with Netherworld Sect’s cultivators for all these years, every one of them had some experience facing this kind of artifact. Even so, they had never seen such a terrifying Blood Sea Banner before! It seemed that even a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master would be helpless once this Blood Sea Banner was summoned.
“You could have taken the easy way out, but you just had to choose the difficult path. Today, I will turn every one of you into…” The old man bit his tongue mid-way through his sentence, because a small figure was strolling towards him in the middle of the Blood Sea. That small figure raised its head and looked up at him with an innocent expression. Although no aura fluctuations were coming from this small figure, it was strangely unaffected by the Blood Sea Banner. At that moment, that small and petite figure felt like a huge mountain towering over him, making him feel as though he needed to look up at it.
“How is this possible!?” The old man was shocked and horrified. This artifact of his had long since surpassed the limits of what this Star Field could withstand. It was something that had been given to him from ‘that place’, and it was by relying on the power of this Artifact that he still remained calm and confident even after his identity was exposed. That was because it was impossible for anybody in this Star Field to escape from the imprisonment and corrosion of his Blood Sea Banner. Those who fell prey to it would die without a doubt. However, there was now a seven- or eight-year-old little girl who was completely unaffected by the power of his Blood Sea Banner standing in front of him.
The little girl blinked once before lifting her hand and seemingly grabbing at something. The old man took several steps back as though he had been struck by lightning at that moment and his face paled slightly as his horror grew. The connection between him and his Blood Sea Banner… Had been cut off!
When he looked up again, the blood-coloured aura that was covering the hall had disappeared. Meanwhile, the little girl held the Blood Sea Banner in her hands and casually stuffed it into her Space Ring. After that, she turned around and walked back without even sparing him a single glance.
The old man felt as if his throat had gone dry and vigorously tried to swallow. The greatest card he relied on had been taken away from him so easily that even his mental state had suffered a backlash from the incident. He had acted so high and mighty just now, but now he was like a venomous snake with his fangs pulled out. His aura withered, and his arrogance from before was gone.
Compared to the injury he received from having his artifact forcefully taken away from him, he felt more mentally traumatised. The feeling that little girl gave him… She was in no way weaker than ‘that’ person.
[Why is there such a powerful existence in this Star Field!? No wonder everybody from Grand Desolation Star Field had been massacred mercilessly. How can the invasion succeed with somebody like that guarding this place!?]
“Who is the one who helped you upgrade this Artifact?” Yang Kai sat boldly and unrestrained on an elevated platform inside the hall, resting his cheek on his hand as he looked at the old man calmly.
The old man trembled. Throwing himself to the ground, he respectfully said, “Senior, I will tell you everything you want to know, just please have mercy on me.”
Now that the tables had been turned on him, he immediately became much more well-behaved.
“I don’t think you have the right to negotiate with me.”
The old man lowered his head, “I implore you to have mercy on this old man. I have never done anything to harm this Star Field before!”
Yang Kai thought about it seriously and nodded his agreement, “Good. I promise I won’t kill you?”
“Senior, can your words be trusted?”
Yang Kai grinned slightly, “Most of the time, when I speak such words, I’m not being sincere…”
The old man instantly turned deathly pale at those words.
“But…” Yang Kai added in the same breath, “This time around, I will keep my word. I won’t kill you.”
“Many thanks, Senior!” The old man burst into tears of gratitude, “What do you wish to know, Senior?”
“You are the Sect Master of Netherworld Sect, right?” Yang Kai asked.
The old man smiled bitterly, “Senior has good eyes. Although I am incompetent, I am the 345th generation Sect Master of Netherworld Sect.”
“What!?”
“He is the Sect Master of Netherworld Sect!?”
A commotion rose up inside the great hall. Everybody glared at the old man furiously. Netherworld Sect was the culprit behind Grand Desolation Star Field’s invasion. Even though they had killed many people from the Netherworld Sect, including several Vice Sect Masters and Elders, they had never found their true Sect Master. Furthermore, none of the Elders and Vice Sect Masters knew where this Sect Master was. The only information they could glean was that the Sect Master had separated from the rest after arriving in Heng Luo Star Field. Nobody knew where he went or what he was up to.
There had been practically no information on this person, so who could have imagined that he had infiltrated Shadowed Star at some unknown point in time? It wasn’t until today that he was discovered by Yang Kai. That was probably the result of being too clever for his own good. He had thought that the most dangerous place would be the safest place to hide. Unbeknownst to this old man, Yang Kai’s perception of Shadowed Star had become even more acute after becoming the Star Field Master. How could Yang Kai fail to notice an existence with such an obvious aura that practically screamed Netherworld Sect? If he had been hiding on another Star, Yang Kai might not have bothered to go looking for him, and he could have remained hidden for a few more years.
“That artifact of yours… Did that person help you upgrade it?” Yang Kai repeated the question again.
“That person? I don’t know who you are referring to…” The old man looked at Yang Kai suspiciously.
“That guy from Grand Desolation Star Field.”
“Have you met the person before?” The old man was shocked.
Yang Kai shook his head, “I have never met him.” He paused before continuing, “We simply exchanged a few blows in secret.”
The old man was dumbfounded when he heard those words. He first thought that the young man in front of him was bluffing as no matter how high his cultivation is, how could he possibly survive an exchange of blows with that person? Then, the old man suddenly recalled the strange occurrences that he had felt a few days ago and exclaimed in alarm, “Are you the Master of this Star Field!?”
“Yes.”
“No wonder! No wonder!” The old man murmured to himself. [No wonder the Star Field felt so abnormal several days ago. No wonder he can exchange blows with that person. It turned out that he is the Master of this Star Field. Only by becoming a Star Field Master could he be qualified to fight against another Star Field Master after all.]
Yang Kai observed the old man’s words and actions. All of a sudden, his eyebrows twitched and he asked, “You’ve been hiding and acting alone for so many years. Could it be that you were looking for the Star Field Source of Heng Luo Star Field?”
The old man’s expression changed slightly. Seeing that Yang Kai had seen through him, he no longer concealed anything and nodded, “I was simply following orders.”
Yang Kai coldly snorted, “That guy sure has a voracious appetite!”
*Kacha…*
Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed. Strong winds blew and storms stirred in the skies. At the same time, dark and oppressive clouds formed without warning, covering the sky like a thick quilt. Looming overhead, they gave off a stifling feeling. Now that he was this Star Field’s Master, Yang Kai’s very mood, be it happiness, sadness, or anger, could affect the entire Star Field.
Upon seeing this, the old man no longer doubted. He was fully convinced that this young man was the Master of Heng Luo Star Field.
Yang Kai sneered, “He is trying to devour Heng Luo Star Field in one bite.”
Judging by the current situation, it was not accurate to say that the Netherworld Sect was the culprit behind Grand Desolation Star Field’s invasion. It would seem that the Netherworld Sect was just another pawn, and the person behind the scenes was the Master of Grand Desolation Star Field.
Making use of the war between the two Star Fields’ cultivators to create chaos and weaken Heng Luo Star Field was the only way to make the Star Field Source reveal itself. Subsequently, this old man simply needed to locate the Star Field Source and that person on the other side of the darkness would be able to absorb and refine it.
Once that person successfully refined the Heng Luo Star Field’s Source, the two Star Fields would be merged together into one. In that way, that person would become the Master of two Star Fields, and his strength would rise like the tide. His methods were not the most ingenious, but were highly effective.
If Yang Kai had not returned to the Star Field in time, that person would already have succeeded with his plans and Heng Luo Star Field would definitely have ended up as a vassal of Grand Desolation Star Field.
“I do not know what that person’s goal is,” Netherworld Sect’s Sect Master lowered his gaze.
“Is that so?” Yang Kai gave the old man a deep and meaningful smile, making the old man’s heart skip in fear.
“Forget it. Come with me.” After saying that, Yang Kai stood up and grabbed the old man by the collar. He strode forward, and they appeared in the Starry Sky in just a few steps.
“Senior! Please have mercy on me!” The old man yelled, looking quite panicked. The feeling that he could not win through force bloomed in him when he looked at the strange little girl earlier; however, he found that he couldn’t even muster the courage to fight back after meeting Yang Kai.
[This is the power of a Star Field Master!] He did not believe that Yang Kai’s strength was much higher than his own. Thus, the only reason Yang Kai could handle him so easily was because he obtained the recognition of the Star Field Source.
[If only I had the opportunity…]
“Why are you raising such a fuss?” Yang Kai slapped the old man on the back of the head.
The Sect Master of the Netherworld Sect immediately calmed down after being smacked by Yang Kai. The scenery flashed by quickly as they brushed past large Stars that soon were left behind as no more than specks of lights in the distance. In just a short while, the two of them had travelled across billions of kilometres.
Stopping all of a sudden, Yang Kai tossed the old man to the side. The old man immediately caught his balance and looked around. His pupils contracted at the sight, “This is…”
There was a gigantic black hole in front of him, heaving and writhing like the mouth of a giant beast. It seemed to be gnawing at this world, trying to swallow it all up.
“Grand Desolation Star Field is on the other side of that darkness!” Yang Kai pointed at the area where the darkness was the densest.
The old man’s eyes lit up at those words.
“Do you want to go back?”
He nodded repeatedly to that.
“Good. I’ll let you go back. But, you have to help me pass on a message.”
He cautiously asked, “What message?”
“Tell that bastard to wash his neck and wait for my arrival! I’ll be there to claim his head soon enough!”
“Uh…”
“Scram!” Yang Kai lifted the old man by the collar again and threw him into the darkness without any explanation. The old man screamed in horror and tried to resist, but he couldn’t even gather his Saint Qi. In the end, he could only plunge headfirst into the darkness and his figure disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes as he glanced into the darkness and let out a soft whistle.
Three figures stood on the other side of the darkness at this moment. Aside from the sallow-faced man, the other two were people that Yang Kai was familiar with. They were Li Jiao and Lu San Niang!
Both their auras were still intact. They had suffered neither torture nor injury, but they had no intention of escaping either. That was because neither Li Jiao nor Lu San Niang could exert their full strength in this place, while on the contrary, this middle-aged man in front of them could.
Capturing them was a simple task for this man. Neither Li Jiao nor Lu San Niang could put up any resistance against him.
“No matter who you are, you will pay the price for this!” Li Jiao gazed at the middle-aged man with a vicious expression on his face. This man had thrown Lu Yu Qin into the darkness right in front of them and they did not even know whether she was still alive at this point. It was only natural that Li Jiao was furious. He hated himself for being helpless. If he had been in the Star Boundary, he would have fought this man to the death. Even if he wound up not being this man’s opponent, it would still be better than simmering with this rage.
The middle-aged man turned a deaf ear to those words and simply said calmly, “How are you so confident?”
Li Jiao smiled coldly, “Because you don’t know who you provoked.”
The middle-aged man finally turned his head to look at Li Jiao. Studying Li Jiao for a moment, he said, “I’m afraid you don’t have that ability.”
Li Jiao said, “If I had the ability, I would have twisted your head off a long time ago.”
“Are you pinning your hopes on that person named Yang Kai?” The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows at Li Jiao, secretly feeling amused.
He had never even heard of the name ‘Yang Kai’ before. So, how strong could this person be? Even if he was lucky enough to become the Star Field Master, he wouldn’t last long. He only learned of Yang Kai’s existence after talking to Li Jiao for some time. It wasn’t that Li Jiao wanted to sell Yang Kai out. He simply had no choice but to answer the questions since Lu Yu Qin and Lu San Niang were behind him.
“Just you wait. You will come to regret this.” Li Jiao sneered and said no more. It didn’t matter where the person in front of him came from or how high that person’s cultivation was, he believed that Yang Kai could get rid of them as long as they were not a Great Emperor. Yang Kai was a person who even dared to barge into a place like Dragon Island after all, so what else could trouble him in this world?
“I hope he is as capable as you say. Otherwise, this will be too boring!” The middle-aged man smiled slightly. All of a sudden, he sensed something and turned to look into the darkness. Ripples spread across the surface of the darkness. Immediately after that, a figure flew out from the depths of the darkness. Flailing about wildly, a deep look of shock still etched on their face.
The middle-aged man stretched out his hand and caught the figure. Meanwhile, the old man continued to yell without stopping. It took the middle-aged man shouting at him for him to calm down.
“S-Sir!” The old man exclaimed when his vision cleared and he saw who was standing in front of him. His eyes flashed with a sense of euphoria at having escaped the clutches of death. He had thought that he was a goner when Yang Kai threw him into the darkness. Who could have known that Yang Kai had kept his promise and let him live? Moreover, Yang Kai even sent him back to Grand Desolation Star Field!
“Why did you appear here from the other side?” The middle-aged man looked at the old man rather curiously and slowly released him from his grip.
The old man hurriedly replied, “Sir, I had to endure great humiliation in return for my life. That was how I survived and came back here to report to you.”
“Did that person send you back?” The middle-aged man frowned slightly, hitting the nail on the head with his statement.
Netherworld Sect’s Sect Master wore a stern expression. Even so, he could only nod affirmatively, “Yes. He sent me here to pass a message to you.”
“What message?”
“That little brat who doesn’t know his place claimed that he will be coming for you soon, Sir.” The old man considered his words carefully, not daring to repeat the exact words that Yang Kai had used.
“Is that all?” The middle-aged man frowned slightly. He seemed astonished by the message and turned to glance at Li Jiao and Lu San Niang.
[Doesn’t that person care about the lives of these two?]
“That’s all.” Netherworld Sect Master lowered his head.
The middle-aged man mulled over it for a moment. Then, he raised his hand and reached out towards Netherworld Sect Master’s head, an action that startled the old man greatly. He instinctively wanted to resist even though he knew that it was useless to, but in that moment of hesitation, the large hand covered his forehead and he stiffened in response, even his thoughts freezing in place.
“I’ll see for myself,” the middle-aged man said faintly. He then released his Divine Sense and poured it into the old man’s Knowledge Sea, forcefully scanning his memories. This method could easily cause irreversible damage to the old man; however, it was clear that the middle-aged man was not too concerned about that.
The old man’s Knowledge Sea churned violently all of a sudden, and a ray of light burst out from within the waters. That light flickered with an aura that did not belong to him before it transformed into an incredibly sharp attack that lashed out at the middle-aged man’s Divine Sense.
It turned out that Yang Kai had planted a lethal attack in the old man’s Knowledge Sea without the old man noticing, then he simply waited for the middle-aged man to walk right into his trap.
“Hmph!” The middle-aged man coldly snorted. Although he was surprised, he did not panic. His Divine Sense fluctuated and a wave of pure Spiritual Energy surged forward to take on the attack.
A loud crash rang out as the water in the old man’s Knowledge Sea boiled. The two Divine Senses collided together before dissipating, with the middle-aged man slightly surprised to find that the other party’s Spiritual Energy was no weaker than his. But, from what he heard from Li Jiao, this Yang Kai was only a First-Order Emperor! How can he have such a powerful Divine Sense?
When the two Divine Senses collided, neither side could do anything to the other. Unfortunately, Netherworld Sect Master suffered from their little exchange as he was caught off guard. The aftermath of the clash sent ripples back into the Star Field Master’s own Knowledge Sea, shaking his Soul slightly. On the other hand, the old man’s Knowledge Sea collapsed under the impact of this clash and his aura was extinguished. In the end, he was simply collateral damage in their confrontation. Yang Kai had not killed him and even allowed him to return, but Yang Kai’s trap caused him to lose his life instantly.
It was no longer realistic to investigate anything else, but just as the middle-aged man was about to withdraw his consciousness from the collapsed Knowledge Sea, a great sense of crisis descended from the sky.
He forced his eyes open and looked up to see a vortex had appeared within the darkness in front of him and a young man grinned at him from within as he leapt across the World Boundaries and lunged at him.
“Bold!” The middle-aged man’s expression finally changed as he exclaimed to himself. Grand Desolation Star Field was located on this side of the darkness and it was his territory! Anybody who entered this place would be suppressed by his power.
Even when he made plans to devour Heng Luo Star Field, he had to take his time and slowly make progress, one step at a time. He also had to send people over to search for Heng Luo Star Field’s Source on his behalf.
[How can this boy just rush into this place like this!? Isn’t he afraid he won’t leave this place alive!?]
Despite all the thoughts running through his head, the middle-aged man swiftly composed himself and grinned happily. He would have been helpless to do anything if Yang Kai had fought him while remaining hidden in Heng Luo Star Field. Both of them were Star Field Masters with control of their respective Star Fields, which also meant that they held a distinct advantage over the other in their respective territories.
But this place was his territory! A hint of pride flashed in the middle-aged man’s eyes as he looked at the fist slamming towards him, communicating with his own Star Field Source as he threw out a punch of his own.
“Dragon Transformation!” A shout suddenly rang out as Yang Kai’s body suddenly swelled, transforming into his 200-metre-long Half-Dragon Form in the blink of an eye, his fist suddenly becoming the size of a house.
The middle-aged man was startled by this change and before he could react, their fists collided. From an outsider’s perspective, the middle-aged man was not even the size of Yang Kai’s finger and it gave rise to an inexplicable feeling that the middle-aged man had overestimated his abilities, like an ant trying to shake a tree. Even so, the aura of both parties was not inferior to one another, both as tall and imposing as giants.
When their fists connected, Yang Kai’s huge fist visibly dented. The sound of bones breaking subsequently rang out and that sound travelled upwards, from his arms to his shoulders. His arm immediately went as limp as a wet noodle.
With just one punch, his arm had been rendered useless. He had suffered such a serious injury despite his Dragon Transformation which went to show just how powerful the middle-aged man was.
Although Yang Kai suffered great damage though, the other party was no better off.
The middle-aged man originally thought that with the advantage of being in his own territory, being able to fully mobilize the power of his Star Field, he could defeat Yang Kai without breaking a sweat; however, he realized how wrong he was the moment their fists connected.
An explosive and shocking power struck him from the front, and as a result, he was thrown backwards like a meteor and his figure vanished in the blink of an eye.
“What happened!?” The middle-aged man’s eyes widened as large as saucers. He had a look of disbelief on his face, but nevertheless, he soon figured out how Yang Kai had managed to do it. Logically speaking, Yang Kai would not be able to cause any harm to him in his own Star Field, no matter how high Yang Kai’s strength was. That punch was clearly not an ordinary attack. It was an attack that was mixed with the power of the enemy’s Star Field. That was the only explanation for how Yang Kai could produce such great force.
“Brother Yang!” Li Jiao was pleasantly surprised.
“Hurry up and escape!” Yang Kai stretched out his other intact hand towards Li Jiao and Lu San Niang, grabbed them in his palm, and plunged into the darkness behind him without any hesitation whatsoever. A punch like that could only be thrown once. He couldn’t do it again. Fortunately, his attack had caught the other party off guard. If he waited until that person recovered from his shock; forget letting Li Jiao and Lu San Niang escape, he himself would not be able to leave this Star Field alive either.
“You won’t escape!” A furious voice rang out from behind them as space around them seemed to solidify. Yang Kai was halfway through the motion of leaping into the darkness, but his body came to an abrupt stop at that moment. He was stuck in place with the darkness only several metres away from him, escape literally at his fingertips.
Turning his head, Yang Kai saw that the figure of the middle-aged man he had blown away just now was flickering and rushing towards them urgently. Yang Kai had always used his Space Techniques to inhibit his opponents’ movements and never expected he would one day be imprisoned in place by somebody else.
The middle-aged man had not mastered the Dao of Space, but he could mobilize all the Principles and powers of the Star Field as its Master.
[Fighting him in this place is very disadvantageous indeed.]
After suffering a loss once, the middle-aged man’s expression was extremely ugly; however, his eyes were also filled with excitement. It seemed as though he planned to keep Yang Kai here, once and for all. This was truly a godsend opportunity. If he missed this chance, he would never be able to take over Heng Luo Star Field again.
“Go!” Yang Kai threw Li Jiao and Lu San Niang, who were in his clutches, into the darkness, using both brute force and Space Principles at the same time to break through the restraints around him.
*Kacha…* Small cracks appeared in the surrounding space like little fish swimming about, and his imprisoned body finally regained a sliver of freedom. Clenching his intact fist, Yang Kai stealthily grasped something in the palm of his hand while praying in his heart that his guess was correct. Otherwise, a disastrous end would await him.
“I praise you for your righteousness, Your Excellency, but doing this was utter idiocy on your part.” The middle-aged man could not restrain the joy in his heart and quickly rushed over to Yang Kai in just several steps. Although the power behind Yang Kai’s punch just now was not weak, it had not caused any substantial harm to him.
As the Master of this Star Field, he had countless ways to disperse the power of that punch when he stood within his own domain. Therefore, he only suffered some slight discomfort. On the other hand, Yang Kai had lost the use of an arm and was now lashing out with his other one. The middle-aged man lifted his fist in response, preparing to render that arm useless too.
When their fists connected again, the smile on the middle-aged man’s face stiffened suddenly. He was, once again, blown away like a shooting star with a loud ‘whooshing’ sound. His eyes were filled with confusion, and he was completely incapable of understanding what had just happened. There was only one question repeating over and over in his heart.
[How is this possible!?]
Failing to receive the first punch earlier could be explained away by him underestimating his enemy and by the opponent still being able to utilize the power of their Star Field to a certain extent since they had just leapt across the World Barrier.
Be that as it may, it should have been impossible for the second punch to have such an effect! The middle-aged man had confined his opponent in this space and isolated him from Heng Luo Star Field on the other side! This boy couldn’t use the power of his Star Field again! Even so, the middle-aged man could clearly feel the power of a whole world rushing towards him from that punch. It was different from the first punch yet very similar at the same time.
“Hahahaha!” Yang Kai laughed wildly.
When the laughter reached the middle-aged man’s ears, it immediately filled him with rage. It felt as though he, an adult, was fighting with a child and being thrown to the ground, over and over again. It was extremely frustrating and humiliating. That wasn’t to say that Yang Kai was a child. It was just that Yang Kai should be no different from a defenceless child in this Star Field.
A voice that irritated him even more sounded in his head at that moment, “Just you wait! Sooner or later, I’ll beat your face in so badly that even your mother won’t recognize you!”
After leaving those vicious words behind, Yang Kai turned and stepped into the darkness.
By the time the middle-aged man lunged toward Yang Kai again, the latter was gone.
Clenching his fists furiously, he roared bitterly, “Yang Kai!”
There had been no grievances between Yang Kai and him before this, simply some friction over the assimilation of Heng Luo Star Field. However, there had not been a Star Field Master in Heng Luo Star Field when this middle-aged man first made his plans to take it over. What he wanted to devour had simply been an unowned Star Field at the time. In the end, those plans were ruined by Yang Kai. In other words, Yang Kai was the one who destroyed everything.
After being played for a fool over and over again though, the middle-aged man ended up embarrassing himself greatly. Therefore, the flames of rage were burning high in him and he already considered Yang Kai to be an enemy.
[If I ever get the chance, I will definitely kill him!]
Yang Kai appeared in Heng Luo Star Field and reverted back to his human appearance. Meanwhile, Li Jiao and Lu San Niang both stood there and watched the darkness anxiously. They were overjoyed to see Yang Kai emerge and immediately came forward in concern. Then, they saw that both his arms were hanging limply by his sides like strands of noodles, so how could they not realize that he had suffered a great loss?
“Brother Yang…” Li Jiao’s eyes were a little moist. After being captured by that middle-aged man, he had not held any hope that Yang Kai would come and rescue him. That was because he knew that, although he had some standing in Yang Kai’s heart, it was impossible to compare it to a whole Star Field; after all, this Star Field contained Yang Kai’s friends, family, and Sect. How could he sacrifice the entire Star Field for the sake of one newly made friend?
For that reason, Li Jiao had planned for the worst. Who could have known that Yang Kai would take such a huge risk to infiltrate a Star Field controlled by the enemy just to save him, though! Moreover, he succeeded! It was not an exaggeration to say that Li Jiao would never be able to repay such a great kindness even if he gave his life!
Yang Kai looked at Li Jiao in disgust and said, “My arm hurts very much right now. And, the way you look right now is making my head hurt too.”
Li Jiao blushed at those words.
Then, Yang Kai continued, “I only did that as an experiment. It would have been your fate if I failed to rescue you at that time. Of course, I would have avenged your deaths.”
Li Jiao said, “I understand. In any case, I am still very grateful.”
Lu San Niang seemed like she was hesitating to speak, but Yang Kai added, “Yu Qin is safe. She is currently at High Heaven Sect. You guys should go too.”
“What about you?” Li Jiao asked in concern.
Yang Kai said, “I will stay here to monitor the situation. Besides, I have to recuperate from my injuries.” Pausing for a moment, he continued, “By the way, do you know who that person is? At least, his name?”
Li Jiao replied, “That person calls himself ‘Wu Heng’!”
“Another one surnamed ‘Wu’?” Yang Kai frowned, and his expression became a little strange. All those with the surname Wu he met seemed to be scum. Even the greatest villain in history was surnamed Wu.
Li Jiao clearly knew what Yang Kai was thinking about, but shaking his head, he explained, “This person probably has nothing to do with ‘that’ person. They just happen to have the same surname.”
“It would be best if they are completely unrelated to each other.” Yang Kai nodded. If Wu Heng turned out to be related to Wu Kuang, then it would turn into an extremely troublesome matter. Another Heaven Devouring Great Emperor could not be allowed to exist in this world; after all, the original was still alive and kicking.
They talked for a bit more, but Li Jiao did not know much about Wu Heng’s background either, so Yang Kai soon sent the couple back to Shadowed Star.
Sitting cross-legged in the void, Yang Kai circulated his strength to restore his arms, both of which had been shattered. Although his actions had disgraced Wu Heng just now, they were not without cost. Various Principles flowed inside his arms, wantonly destroying his body and veins. The injuries were so severe that if it had been anybody else in this condition, their arms would have been completely crippled as a result.
Fortunately, Yang Kai had a strong physique and vitality, and now that he was back in his territory, he could borrow the power of the Star Field to easily draw out the Principles in his body and dissipate them into the void. Not only did he not suffer much from doing that, but he also added some energy to the Star Field, even though it was an insignificant amount.
A long while later, Yang Kai could finally slightly raise his arms. The potential dangers had been removed and the rest would simply heal slowly. It probably wouldn’t take long before they were completely restored. Then, he took out some healing pills and stuffed them into his mouth to further shorten the recovery period.
The palm of his right hand had been tightly clenched all this while. He had not loosened his grip at all since earlier. It wasn’t until this moment that Yang Kai unclenched his fist and spread out his palm.
A longan sized bead was lying quietly on the palm of his hand. It was the Sealed World Bead!
His first punch managed to blast Wu Heng back because he had been betting on catching Wu Heng off guard. Besides, he had just crossed over from his own Star Field so he could still mobilize some of the Star Field’s power when he stood at the border between both worlds.
However, Yang Kai did not rely on the power of the Star Field for the second punch. It was by borrowing the power of the Sealed World Bead that he managed to succeed!
If a Star Field was said to be its own world, then the Sealed World Bead was also its own world. The only difference was their sizes. Comparing the sizes of the worlds within the Sealed World Bead and the entire Star Field was like comparing a child to a full-grown adult. Even so, one thing was the same; they both contained their own World Force.
As the owner of the Sealed World Bead, it was only natural that Yang Kai could mobilize the power of the Sealed World. He had previously used the World Force within the Sealed World Bead to defend himself against a World Energy Baptism. Consequently, the Small Sealed World within had been heavily damaged, its World Principles suffering gravely.
Yang Kai had later entered the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda of Star Soul Palace and used the Sealed World Bead to absorb a lot of Source Strength from it. It was only then that he finally managed to repair the Sealed World Bead and evolve it into a complete world.
Repeating that old trick was his last resort. Fortunately, the results did not disappoint him. He would not have been able to force Wu Heng back without the Sealed World Bead, regardless of how powerful his second punch was.
“May the Heavens bless you!” Yang Kai held the Sealed World Bead in both hands and chanted those words several times before his expression became resolute. Immersing his Divine Sense into the Sealed World Bead, he probed the condition within and his face immediately twitched in response. His expression fluctuated endlessly, it was only after a long time that a miserable howl resounded through the Starry Sky.
As he expected, the insides of the Small Sealed World were a mess. The world that had been repaired and perfected when he entered the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda had fallen apart again. The World Principles were chaotic, the mountains were upside down, the rivers flowed in reverse, and multiple Void Cracks spread across the Small Sealed World like great scars.
At first glance, the world was in such a dilapidated condition that it looked like it might collapse at any moment.
Yang Kai was heartbroken. Saving Li Jiao this time around had bled him dry. Luckily, he had managed to save those two at the very least. Furthermore, the one silver lining among the rest of the misfortunes was that there was no damage near the medicine garden. After all, the medicine garden was the real core of the Small Sealed World.
One reason for this stroke of fortune was that Yang Kai had deliberately protected that place. The other reason was that the Immortal Tree and Firmament Tree were planted inside the medicine garden.
Be it the Immortal Tree or the Firmament Tree, there was only one of their kind in the world. Their existences in itself were difficult to destroy, so it was only natural that the place where they were located would be practically untouchable too.
Sometime later, Yang Kai withdrew his consciousness from the Sealed World Bead and calmed his rampaging emotions.
Although the Sealed World Bead was severely damaged, it was not destroyed. That meant that there was always a chance to repair it again.
[I will have to see if I can get another chance to enter the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda.]
However, he suddenly recalled what had happened when he left Star Soul Palace back then and instantly dismissed the idea.
[I caused a lot of trouble for Star Soul Palace when I last entered the Five Coloured Treasure Pagoda, so I’m afraid Bright Moon Great Emperor will never let me enter it ever again.]
Putting the Sealed World Bead away, Yang Kai cast his gaze into the darkness before him.
Right now, taking care of what was in front of him came first.
When Heng Luo Star Field had been without a Master, no one could stop Wu Heng, a thief, from rushing in and looting the place as he pleased. Now that Yang Kai had become the Star Field Master though, how could he continue to allow Wu Heng to run wild in his territory?
Just as he was no match for Wu Heng in Grand Desolation Star Field, the same also applied vice versa.
Communicating with the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea, Yang Kai faced the vast darkness, took a deep breath, spread his arms wide open, and pushed forward violently while assuming an aggressive stance. In response, the churning darkness rolled backwards like the ebbing tides of the sea. It retreated nearly a thousand kilometres in an instant. Moreover, it continued to shrink backwards. In the places where the darkness had retreated, the originally Starry Sky reappeared again.
Yang Kai had not been joking when he first said ‘Spit out whatever you ate that belongs to me!’ He fully intended to take action to get back what was originally his.
All of a sudden, the withdrawing darkness slowed down, as if some sort of power was blocking its retreat on the other side.
“How dare you resist!?” Yang Kai raised his brow and grinned savagely. How could he not know this was Wu Heng’s doing? Unable to forget the humiliation from the other day, Wu Heng was determined to make things difficult for Yang Kai.
Yang Kai was forcing the darkness that was devouring Heng Luo Star Field to retreat. On the contrary, Wu Heng was deliberately exerting force on the other side to hinder Yang Kai’s actions. Unfortunately, Wu Heng’s actions were meaningless. Even though the speed had slowed down by a lot, the darkness continued to recede under Yang Kai’s continuous efforts.
Three years ago, the darkness here had begun to devour everything. It took Wu Heng three years to engulf a few millions of kilometres of this Star Field. The speed of absorption was not that fast compared to the length of time it had taken to do so. On the other hand, the speed of recovery was much faster.
The darkness receded, shrinking towards a centre point, little by little. The black hole that had covered a vast area within the Star Field gradually disappeared and the Starry Sky was restored to its original state.
The entire process took about a month in total before all the darkness had been driven away, leaving behind only the original Void Corridor in its place. Back then, Li Jiao had been assigned to guard this Void Corridor and prevent both the reinforcement and escape of Grand Desolation Star Field’s cultivators.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai and Wu Heng had been battling each other from across Worlds over the course of the last month. The end result was as expected. It was Yang Kai’s overwhelming victory.
The gears in Yang Kai’s head began to turn as he stared at the entrance of that pitch-black Void Corridor.
The reason why this Void Corridor had appeared was mainly that he had taken the Source of Heng Luo Star Field away with him when he left for Star Boundary; thus, the World Barrier between the two Star Fields had weakened. It might have been accidental or it might have been Wu Heng’s plot all along, but the weakest point had transformed into an interconnecting Void Corridor between the two Star Fields.
Now that Yang Kai had brought the Source back and successfully refined the Star Chart to become Heng Luo Star Field’s Master, he was fully capable of closing up the Void Corridor. It wouldn’t take much time or effort for Yang Kai to accomplish this with his current strength. It was just that the connection between the two Star Fields would be completely cut off once the Void Corridor was closed.
How could Yang Kai end things so cleanly when he had yet to exact his revenge? Hence, he left the Void Corridor there as it was. Not only did he not repair it, he even began putting together a nefarious plot.
[The best way to deal out revenge is to return an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Since Wu Heng tried to devour Heng Luo Star Field, I will return the favour and take a bite out of Grand Desolation Star Field to show him what it feels like to be robbed! But, I need to think up a good plan before doing that; otherwise, I’ll simply fail like Wu Heng did here.]
The Void Corridor fell silent, but although Yang Kai couldn’t see anything across it, he was certain that Wu Heng was also watching him from the other side. Grinning, he stretched his hand out and began drawing something.
A light flowed out, and in the next moment, a mysterious pattern appeared in front of the corridor. This pattern was none other than the pattern of the Cross-Territory Space Array. With the Void as its base and the power of the Stars as its materials, Yang Kai arranged a giant Space Array with just a few gestures, demonstrating the great power of a Star Field Master.
The Embodiment right now was sitting cross-legged in High Heaven Sect, far away on Shadowed Star, absorbing World Energy to cultivate. All of a sudden, light flashed behind it and an identical array appeared at its back. It turned to look behind it when it felt something; then, it got up and stepped into the array.
In an instant, it passed through a distance of billions of kilometres and appeared in front of Yang Kai. Looking around, it understood everything even though nothing was said. It quietly walked over to Yang Kai and pressed its hand against his head before sending a vast sea of information into the latter’s Knowledge Sea.
To some extent, the Embodiment was an extension of Yang Kai’s body. It was just that it had the body of a Stone Spirit with Yang Kai’s Soul Clone occupying it.
It was capable of communicating with Yang Kai via words to express different opinions and ideas; however, when it was needed, it could also communicate without using words at all. Yang Kai could understand its various thoughts, as well as share his own with it.
The information the Embodiment was currently sending to Yang Kai was none other than the most powerful and most evil Secret Art in the world, the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!
The Heaven Devouring Battle Law was created by Wu Kuang and was a Secret Art that could swallow and refine everything in the world. Back then, Wu Kuang had used this Secret Art to devour countless Star Fields. Several Great Emperors had died in order to kill him in a great battle; however, Wu Kuang had seized another person’s body and consciousness, coming back to life again after tens of thousands of years. If those fallen Great Emperors learned of this, they might roll over in their graves or come back to life out of rage.
Even though the Heaven Devouring Battle Law was powerful, Yang Kai had not cultivated it because he always felt that there were significant drawbacks to this Secret Art. His belief had been strengthened even more after the Embodiment cultivated it. The Secret Art contained several critical flaws. Being able to devour and refine everything in existence might sound amazing, but it would only end in disaster if there was no corresponding way to process what was devoured.
That was because there would inevitably be all kinds of energies, Principles, and Attributes, along with innumerable impurities taken in when swallowing and refining raw materials, resources, and energy. In turn, these impurities were bound to produce some complications. Once these complications accumulated to a certain level, they would cause great harm to a cultivator and even lead to the regression of their cultivation due to cultivation dissonance.
Wu Kuang naturally had a method of resolving those issues, which was why he was capable of using his Heaven Devouring Battle Law so wantonly.
As for Yang Kai though, he did not have the means to do so. However, his Embodiment did. The Stone Spirit Clan had a unique physique wherein they could eat all kinds of stones and minerals that contained all kinds of Principles and energies. Then, they simply refined those ores and discard any kind of impurity from their bodies innately.
Strictly speaking, there was no other race in this world that was more suitable for cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law than the Stone Spirit Clan. That was probably something Wu Kuang had never thought of nor foreseen either.
After obtaining the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, the Embodiment had been cultivating it for many years but it had yet to encounter any problems regarding impurities or mismatched energies during that time. It even managed to devour Shi Huo’s Source. When it came to understanding and comprehending the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, the Embodiment was the only one in this world, aside from Wu Kuang, that held any authority on the subject.
Yang Kai slowly digested the huge amount of information pouring into his mind. He had studied it before, but now, with Embodiment’s notes and key insights as well as things he learnt from Wu Kuang, Yang Kai quickly realized that this Secret Art was far more profound and mysterious than he had originally imagined. If Wu Kuang had not been evil, he would have been a glorified genius.
Half a day later, the Embodiment withdrew its hand and glanced at the black hole not too far away, standing guard next to Yang Kai in case of unexpected accidents.
Time passed by slowly as Yang Kai was completely immersed in comprehending the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. He could not extricate himself from it and the more he learned, the more he was tempted to cultivate this Secret Art.
[This Secret Art is incredibly powerful. Wu Meng Chuan must have been pretty stupid to fail to break through to the Emperor Realm despite cultivating this Secret Art for so many years.]
Fortunately, Yang Kai had been travelling all over the world for many years and had a firm mental disposition from all those experiences, so he managed to curb his greed at this moment.
Exactly one month later, Yang Kai slowly opened his eyes, eyes that shone with clarity. He stood up and stretched, loosening his muscles and joints. His entire body rang out with cracking noises. Shaking his hands, he discovered that they were as good as new. His injuries were fully healed after one month of recovery.
Staring at the Void Corridor, Yang Kai grinned and muttered, “Let the revenge begin!”
He connected to the Star Chart within his Knowledge Sea and activated the power of the Star Field. Rushing towards the Void Corridor, he next circulated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, demonstrating his skills as he started working.
Upon learning about the pros and cons of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, Yang Kai refused to cultivate it himself. At this moment, he was using the entire Star Field as a foundation to activate this powerful Secret Art. It was as though Heng Luo Star Field was the one using the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. In other words, the one cultivating the Secret Art wasn’t Yang Kai but Heng Luo Star Field itself. Regardless of how many different kinds of Principles or energies the Star Field devoured, it could digest and absorb them easily. The Star Field had the natural ability to do so. This powerful technique was something only a Star Field Master could pull off.
On the other side of the Void Corridor, Wu Heng had a grim expression. He had stood guard in this place for a month and was growing increasingly bored. He initially wanted to cultivate by devouring another Star Field, but those plans ended up being destroyed. Moreover, Yang Kai had broken into his home and punched him twice. He instinctively knew that Yang Kai was not to be trifled with. So, he could not just charge into Heng Luo Star Field and attack, lest he be retaliated against and bring trouble down upon himself.
Who could have known that one month would pass by so peacefully? Nothing happened during this period. [It looks like that Yang Kai knows that he can’t do anything to me and has given up.]
The Void Corridor stood there, but Wu Heng kept his distance, as if afraid Yang Kai would launch another sneak attack. How could he embarrass himself in such a manner? In truth, it would be the best outcome for him if things ended as they were right now. Engulfing an entire Star Field was no small matter after all. It was only because he could sense that the other Star Field had no Master that he started having such ideas in the first place. Wu Heng would not have attempted what he did if Heng Luo Star Field had a Master from the beginning.
Wu Heng was willing to overlook this matter and let bygones be bygones. However, Yang Kai was not. He wanted an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
In Yang Kai’s mind, he felt Grand Desolation Star Field’s invasion had caused many families to be separated and Sects to be destroyed. Even Tong Xuan Realm was almost poisoned to death, and Little Senior Sister nearly died as a result. There was no point in cultivating if he couldn’t even vent his anger after such an insult!
An abnormal movement came from the Void Corridor all of a sudden. Wu Heng abruptly lifted his head to look in that direction but his expression soon sank as he gritted his teeth, “Bastard boy! I even gave you a way out of this!”
He felt that he was already making a huge concession in his willingness to overlook Yang Kai’s previous transgressions. Who could have known that Yang Kai would refuse to rest until he got what he wanted?
[I can’t believe he is trying to devour my Star Field instead! I’m going to make sure he learns a painful lesson! Otherwise, that brat will never know his place!]
Darkness poured out of the Void Corridor like a tide. It was as if a thick layer of ink was spreading into the surroundings at a rapid pace. Everything the darkness touched turned into nothingness, leaving a chaotic black hole in its wake.
Wu Heng ignored the darkness and simply kept backing away from it. It wasn’t the right time to launch his counterattack. He could suppress the darkness if he made a move now, but it would definitely lead to an endless tug of war with Yang Kai. Therefore, he calmly waited for his chance to end things in one fell swoop.
So, it would be Yang Kai knowing about it but he is learning from Embodiment and Wu Kuang insights as well.
Wu Heng had no intention of obstructing the darkness since the darkness’ speed of engulfment was not as fast as he had imagined. Instead, he sneered at the sight. Although they were both Star Field Masters, the time they had spent as Star Field Masters was too different. It was only natural for differences in their abilities to appear. It had not been long since Yang Kai became a Star Field Master, so there was no way he could unleash the true power of a Star Field right away. That was also why the speed of devouring was so slow.
Wu Heng slowly retreated, bit by bit. He watched the situation coldly without doing anything as he waited for the moment to launch his counterattack.
Yang Kai stood in Heng Luo Star Field with his eyes closed tightly. His current state was rather strange. His Divine Sense pulsed erratically, as though it permeated the entire Star Field and was gnawing on something with a giant mouth.
A piece of the Starry Sky that clearly did not belong to Heng Luo Star Field had appeared next to the Void Corridor. Not only were there meteors of all sizes drifting about, but slightly varying World Principles could also be felt within this region. More importantly, it was having some minor incompatibilities with Heng Luo Star Field.
Although both Grand Desolation Star Field and Heng Luo Star Field were Star Fields with roughly the same World Principles, they still had their differences. It was similar to the differences between the Principles of Cultivation Stars formed in the same Star Field. These differences were not obvious on the surface, but the more powerful the Cultivation Star, the more apparent the differences became.
The Heaven Devouring Battle Law operated with the Heng Luo Star Field as its base. It had a piece of the Starry Sky as its stomach and was digesting the space it had just devoured.
Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling amazed. Despite using the entire Star Field as his foundation to activate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, everything was still governed by his will. He could clearly perceive all the details of the process as the Star Field slowly digested the space it had devoured.
The World Principles of that piece of Starry Sky that originally belonged to Grand Desolation Star Field quickly collapsed and were gradually assimilated and influenced by the Principles of Heng Luo Star Field. Both sides merged together and slowly became one.
[I can’t believe that there’s no obstruction. Where is Wu Heng?] Logically speaking, the absorption process should not be going so smoothly. Yang Kai was certain that Wu Heng had safeguards in place, but he had yet to notice anything getting in his way. Thus, it was puzzling him greatly.
Strange though it may be, his movements were not the slightest bit hindered. Yang Kai controlled the power of the Star Field, transforming it into a kind of invisible power that engulfed the other Star Field’s Starry Sky. At the same time, he had the Star Field itself operate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to digest whatever was being devoured immediately after.
Yang Kai did not know how long had passed when a strong force of resistance suddenly came from the opposite side and the space he had devoured was quickly snatched back from his grasp.
That wasn’t all though as an extremely terrifying force also swept through the dense darkness and tried to consume his mind in return.
[Is he finally making his move?] Yang Kai had long been waiting for this moment, so he was not flustered. He didn’t even bother to defend against this attack and simply allowed the force to slip through the darkness and rush toward him.
On the other side of the darkness, Wu Heng was laughing coldly. His eyes were full of mockery. [It’s true that a newborn calf isn’t afraid of tigers. I would have let all those incidents pass without a fuss if this Yang Kai had been willing to leave things be. Instead, he turned around and tried to devour my Star Field! How can I swallow this humiliation if I don’t teach him a lesson or two!?]
The wider the darkness spread, the larger the area of engulfment. Accordingly, the more mental capacity Yang Kai had to use to maintain the process.
When Wu Heng was certain that Yang Kai couldn’t withdraw his mind immediately, he boldly made his move and prepared to strike a heavy blow at him using the power of his Star Field.
Just like what happened in Heng Luo Star Field before, the darkness receded from Grand Desolation Star Field like an ebbing tide to reveal the Starry Sky that had been devoured previously. It wouldn’t take long for everything to return back to normal if nothing unexpected occurred.
All of a sudden, Wu Heng’s smile stiffened as he noticed something off. His eyes widened to the size of saucers as the power he had sent through the darkness had encountered an invisible barrier. Forget about taking the opportunity to cause harm to his opponent, he couldn’t even proceed any further than that. Moreover, the place where the barrier was located was within the Starry Sky that belonged to him!
[How can this be!? How can my own Starry Sky put up such strong resistance against me?] Wu Heng felt his heart sinking, and an uneasy feeling grew in his heart. Concurrently, the darkness stopped receding, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not make it retreat any further than this.
When Wu Heng lifted his eyes to look in that direction, his jaw fell open in astonishment and his eyes were filled with disbelief. A black hole sporting a diameter of several hundred kilometres entered his vision. The inside of the black hole was a chaotic piece of nothingness. It looked like the world did not exist yet, and it gave off a terrifying feeling.
The heart of the black hole should have been where the Void Corridor was located, but was the Void Corridor originally this large? It has expanded by more than 100 times at least! [What is going on? Has my Star Field been refined by him?]
That was the only explanation as to why the Void Corridor had expanded into a black hole with a diameter of several hundred kilometres. That was because the Starry Sky where the black hole was located no longer belonged to Grand Desolation Star Field. The loss of this region of Starry Sky was due to it being completely refined, leaving only a black hole filled with nothingness behind.
[How in the world did he do it!?]
Wu Heng even suspected that there was a problem with his eyes. He had spent the last three years devouring a large portion of Heng Luo Star Field’s Starry Sky; however, he had simply swallowed it up and not digested it yet. If he had, Yang Kai would not have been able to snatch it back so easily.
Devouring and refining were two different things, similar to a mortal eating a meal. Eating a bowl of rice was different from digesting a bowl of rice. Something that had been eaten could be thrown up again, but something that had been digested truly belonged to that person.
His three years of hard work had only been ‘eating’. On the other hand, Yang Kai had ‘digested’ a portion of his Starry Sky.
Wu Heng’s original plan also included this step of ‘digestion’. Unfortunately, that part of his plan had to wait until he had completely engulfed Heng Luo Star Field and refined the Source of Heng Luo Star Field before it could begin. That process might take hundreds of years, or maybe even thousands of years. Even so, that time spent was worth it in terms of improving his strength.
‘Digesting’ a Star Field was not something that could be done in a short period of time. Wu Heng had been convinced of that fact prior to this; however, he felt as though his common sense had been greatly impacted after witnessing the scene in front of him.
The entire process had only taken a day, from the time Yang Kai began devouring the Star Field to the time Wu Heng had moved to stop Yang Kai. In short, Yang Kai had managed to ‘digest’ an area covering several hundreds of kilometres wide in just one day!
Wu Heng did not believe that Yang Kai had that sort of ability.
[Don’t tell me… Is it possible that the Heng Luo Star Field is of a higher level compared to the Grand Desolation Star Field? If not, how can such a bizarre thing happen?]
“This is bad!” The moment Wu Heng became distracted, his expression changed drastically and he immediately connected with Grand Desolation Star Field’s Source and suppressed the black hole with all his might.
[I have to get rid of that black hole as soon as possible! Otherwise, the more time passes, I won’t just be losing this small amount of territory. It could very well end up in the millions of kilometres!]
Now, more than ever, he deeply regretted not closing the Void Corridor earlier. He had allowed Yang Kai to fight back; whereas if he had not been stubborn and closed the Void Corridor right away, the connection between the two Star Fields would have been cut off and this tragedy would never have occurred.
In any case, it was useless to regret now so he could only make up for his mistake and pray it wasn’t too late.
The Source Strength of Grand Desolation Star Field flashed a dazzling light inside Wu Heng’s Knowledge Sea. It had clearly been pushed to the limits as a pressing force enveloped the black hole from all directions. Even so, the force couldn’t get any further than the edges of the black hole. The moment it came into contact, even the ubiquitous Source Strength showed signs of being swallowed and digested.
Wu Heng’s complexion became flushed after trying hard for some time while his gaze was fixed intently on the black hole. Rage brewed in his chest, causing his entire being to resemble a volcano that was about to erupt. The aura around him was very dangerous.
“Yang Kai!” He yelled up to the sky, feeling extremely unwilling. Regardless of how unwilling he was to admit the truth, as of this moment, he had completely fallen into a disadvantage in his fight against Yang Kai. The black hole was no longer under his control. The patch of Starry Sky where the black hole was located had fallen into Yang Kai’s hands completely and was now part of the latter’s territory. Thus, Wu Heng was unable to close the Void Corridor no matter how much of the Star Field Source Strength he used. As long as the black hole existed, the connection between the two Star Fields could not be cut off unless Yang Kai took the initiative to retreat!
Yang Kai was obviously not going to retreat. At the moment, he was experiencing a feeling of joy spreading in his heart. He couldn’t wait to swallow up the entire Grand Desolation Star Field. Why would he worry about Wu Heng’s feelings?
The Heaven Devouring Battle Law was certainly worthy of being the most powerful Secret Art ever created. To sum up its essence in a single word, it would be ‘plunder’! It did not matter if the other party was willing or not. It plundered every single useful thing it came across without exception.
Cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law as an individual would have brought about terrifying consequences; however, Yang Kai was using the entire Star Field as a sort of proxy to activate this Secret Art, which instantly gave birth to something majestic that could engulf the entire world. He was extremely certain that devouring and absorbing the entire Grand Desolation Star Field would not be a problem given enough time.
The progress in the beginning could not be considered fast. Nevertheless, Yang Kai became more and more proficient in the application of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law as time passed. In turn, the speed of devouring and absorbing increased significantly.
In less than a month, the black hole in Grand Desolation Star Field that initially started out with a radius of only several hundreds of metres had expanded to several tens of thousands of kilometres.
That pitch-black hole stretched out across the Starry Sky of Grand Desolation Star Field and looked extremely horrifying. Moreover, the black hole was still expanding continuously and showed no signs of stopping whatsoever.
Meanwhile, the speed of expansion was also increasing imperceptibly.
Wu Heng’s expression was so sorrowful that he looked like his parents had just been killed and his wife had been stolen away. Grand Desolation Star Field was damaged, and the most obvious change was a black spot that had appeared in a certain part of the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea.
The black spot wasn’t that large relative to the size of the entire Star Chart; however, it was as though a drop of ink had been dripped onto a beautiful painting. It had destroyed the overall harmony and beauty of the picture. What was even more depressing though was that the ink was slowly spreading out into its surroundings. Sooner or later, the entire painting would be dyed black. When that time came, Grand Desolation Star Field would change its surname to ‘Yang’.
It wasn’t that Wu Heng did not resist. He had been in a constant war against Yang Kai for the past month, but nothing he did was able to stop his opponent from devouring his Star Field.
[How does a fledgling Star Field Master, who just refined the Star Field Source not too long ago, have such power? If I had such power, I would have turned Heng Luo Star Field into my backyard a long time ago!] It wasn’t until this moment that Wu Heng realized how bad his situation was.
If this matter was not handled well, forget about increasing his cultivation, he might lose everything instead.
Yang Kai wasn’t the only one happy about the process of engulfment, the entire Heng Luo Star Field also seemed to be experiencing some sort of joyous feeling. Seeing as the world had a Will of its own as well, it was only natural that it could detect how beneficial Yang Kai’s actions were to it.
As time passed, the speed of engulfment became faster and faster. Even though Wu Heng tried his best to push back, his efforts were useless. All he could do was watch while grieving as his territory slowly slipped out of his grasp.
At a certain moment, an idea suddenly came to Yang Kai. He considered the feasibility of this idea while maintaining the engulfment of Grand Desolation Star Field, and the more he thought about it, the more confident he felt it would work. He even had the urge to praise himself for his ingenuity.
Opening his eyes, he glanced at the Embodiment, who had been standing guard next to him while he was busy with the process of devouring and refining the enemy Star Field. When their eyes met, it immediately understood what crazy idea Yang Kai was thinking about; thus, it nodded lightly and spread its palm out towards him.
Controlling the Star Field Source, Yang Kai forced it out of his Knowledge Sea. The resplendent Star Chart that had shrunken by countless times appeared in the palm of his hand, shining with a dazzling light.
The Embodiment took it from Yang Kai and swallowed it in one bite before sitting down cross-legged in the Starry Sky. A short time later, it opened its eyes and nodded at Yang Kai to indicate that everything was prepared.
As of this moment, it had temporarily replaced Yang Kai as the Master of Heng Luo Star Field. It would have been impossible for anyone else to do this as they would have died from the backlash as soon as they swallowed the Star Chart.
Strictly speaking, the Embodiment’s consciousness was formed from Yang Kai’s Soul Clone, both of which originated from the same source. Their auras overlapped perfectly, and as a result, the Star Field Source did not reject this exchange too strongly. In addition, the process of devouring and refining during this period had also given the Star Field Source a taste of the benefits, which made it more willing to accept the Embodiment as a temporary replacement as its Master.
Besides, the Embodiment had been cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law for many years and his comprehension and skill with this Secret Art was far above Yang Kai’s. It didn’t take a genius to know that the efficiency of letting him take control of the Star Field Source, as well as the process of devouring and refining Grand Desolation Star Field, would be much higher compared to what Yang Kai could do.
Freed from the responsibility of controlling the Star Field Source, Yang Kai turned to look at the darkness and grinned as he muttered, “I’m coming, Wu Heng!”
Although swallowing and refining the opponent’s Star Field had given Yang Kai the revenge he had been looking for, he had not actually caused any harm to Wu Heng. He probably needed to wait until the entire Grand Desolation Star Field was thoroughly refined before he could truly cause the other party some grief.
[I don’t have that much time to play with him, but I promised that I would beat him up so badly that even his mother won’t be able to recognize him, and that’s what I’m going to do! Besides, fighting across the boundaries of two Star Fields like this doesn’t give me a sense of satisfaction even though I’m holding the upper hand in battle. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Let’s visit the lion’s den again!] Only this time was going to be different. The last time Yang Kai crossed the World Boundary, it was to rescue Li Jiao and Lu San Niang and he had retreated immediately after succeeding. But this time, he was going there to turn the entire Grand Desolation Star Field upside down!
Needless to say, part of the reason was that he needed to find a way to repair the Sealed World Bead. As the saying went, ‘there is no such thing as a free lunch’. The Sealed World Bead had been damaged because of Wu Heng, so it was only natural for the latter to compensate for this. Besides, there was no shortage of materials for repairing the Sealed World Bead in Grand Desolation Star Field.
After making up his mind, Yang Kai boldly plunged headfirst into the darkness without hesitation.
The black hole had spread as far as several tens of thousands of kilometres within the Starry Sky of Grand Desolation Star Field, and even a couple of small nearby Dead Stars had been swallowed up without a trace.
Meanwhile, Wu Heng continued to retreat, using all his energy to resist the black hole’s advance, but his efforts could only slow the speed of the engulfment, not stop it.
For an instant just now, the devouring came to an abrupt stop; however, it started up again before Wu Heng could even begin to rejoice and seemed to have gotten much stronger than before. He was unaware that Yang Kai and the Embodiment had switched roles. Moreover, the horrifying power of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law had increased significantly now that the Embodiment was controlling it.
While Wu Heng was reeling in surprise, a figure suddenly flashed out of the enormous black hole. Glancing in that direction, Wu Heng’s vision instantaneously turned red and through gritted teeth he roared, “Bastard, how dare you come here!?”
Who else could that person be if not Yang Kai? Wu Heng couldn’t believe this boy dared to come waltzing back into his domain! Did he not know how to write the word ‘death’?
However, Wu Heng quickly realized something, if Yang Kai was here, then why did the engulfment not stop and instead become faster?
Logically speaking, there was no way a Star Field Master could make the Star Field continue this kind of engulfment process if they were not in their own Star Field; however, it was also true that Yang Kai had crossed the World Boundary and appeared in front of him.
[Could it be that he isn’t the Star Field Master? Have I been mistaken all this time? No! The last time we fought, he definitely used the power of the Star Field. Otherwise, I would not have been blown away by a single punch.]
Wu Heng’s eyes blazed with hatred upon meeting his enemy. There was no time for him to think so deeply as he fiercely roared, “Since you are here, prepare to die!”
He had previously been humiliated by Yang Kai twice, so how could he dare to let his guard down now? Wu Heng immediately attacked with full force, his large hand stretching out towards Yang Kai and suddenly squeezing hard.
Yang Kai felt his entire body becoming imprisoned. Cracking sounds rang out from all the bones in his body and he spit out a mouthful of Golden Blood. It was only to be expected that he would suffer for angering somebody else in their territory; even so, he did not panic and simply grinned at Wu Heng.
That smile was ill-intentioned and full of mockery, causing Wu Heng’s heart to clench up. He had the feeling that Yang Kai was about to carry out some sort of evil plan, and in the next moment, his expression changed drastically.
Wu Heng had switched his focus to dealing with Yang Kai just now, taking his attention and the power of the Star Field away from dealing with the encroachment of the black hole. As a result though, the shift in momentum between the two Star Fields was dramatic. Although Wu Heng had not been a match for the opposing Star Field prior to this, he could, at the very least, curb the speed of the engulfment; however, the rate of devouring immediately went wild the moment he became distracted and expanded by a thousand kilometres in an instant. The previous speed of engulfment was practically as slow as a turtle compared to its current speed.
Wu Heng wasn’t standing too far from the black hole since he had been trying to contain the devouring to the greatest extent possible; thus, the rapid expansion of the endless darkness nearly swallowed him up too. Shocked, he hurriedly backed away and put a few thousand kilometres between him and the darkness all at once.
Wu Heng did not dare to delay and immediately communicated with his Star Field Source to suppress the darkness again.
The speed of engulfment slowed down once more, but Yang Kai took the opportunity to free himself from Wu Heng’s suppression. After that, he simply crossed his arms in front of his chest and stood there with no intention of escaping.
Calmly looking down at Wu Heng with a mischievous expression, he quipped, “Having fun?”
“You court death!” The veins on Wu Hen’s forehead bulged and twitched wildly as his murderous intent overflowed from him in waves.
Yang Kai chuckled and wiped at the blood at the corners of his mouth, “Why don’t you hurry up and kill me then?”
The corner of Wu Heng’s eyes twitched fiercely in response.
Having seen Yang Kai’s power before, he knew that Yang Kai seemed to be carrying the Dragon Clan’s bloodline. He didn’t know what consequences he would face if he killed someone like him. Even putting that aside, Wu Heng didn’t have the confidence to say he could kill Yang Kai in a short period of time.
The force of his attack just now had not been low, but even so, Yang Kai had gotten off with just some slight injuries. It could be seen that his opponent’s defences and abilities were far beyond Wu Heng’s imagination. [But, if I can’t kill him quickly… The opposing Star Field’s devouring speed will surely increase in an explosive burst the moment I stop focusing on it. Not only will that bring danger to my Star Field, but I may also sustain grave injuries.]
The rage and resentment piled up like a mountain weighing down on Wu Heng’s heart. He was barely able to breathe because of it. He had never imagined that he would suffer such a huge loss in his own Star Field! Just where did this bastard come from!? Why had he never heard of his name before? If he is just a rising star, then this strength was simply too unbelievable!
“Looks like you are all talk and no substance.” Yang Kai seemed oblivious to Wu Heng’s murderous intent and continued to add fuel to the fire. It was as though he wouldn’t be satisfied unless he made Wu Heng cough up blood from irritation. His actions were similar to walking a tightrope on a cliff though, so even Wu Heng had to admire him for his courage.
“Too bad for you, but I’m not in a joking mood,” shaking his head slowly, Yang Kai stared at Wu Heng coldly and continued unhurriedly, “Just you wait. I’ll be back for your life later.”
Saying so, he swiped his finger across his neck as though his finger was a knife. After saying that, he turned and left!
“Stop!” Wu Heng shouted as a thought flashed through his head, and the space around Yang Kai turned into a cage, confining the latter inside. However, that moment of distraction caused the expansion of the black hole to accelerate again. It expanded to Wu Heng’s side in the blink of an eye, causing him to panic and struggle to cope with it.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai turned his head and glanced sideways at Wu Heng, “If you have something to say, spit it out!”
Wu Heng’s temper flared at those words. [How dare he be so disrespectful to me!?] Ever since he became the Star Field Master in this place, he felt as though he controlled the world. All the people who had disrespected him had died at his hands. Naturally, he wanted Yang Kai dead too. Although he might be able to pull this off in his own territory, the price he would have to pay was so great that even he could not afford it.
[I’m in a desperate situation!] Those words suddenly popped up in Wu Heng’s mind, so taking a deep breath, he suppressed the anger in his heart and quickly spoke, “As the saying goes, ‘It’s better to have more friends than enemies’. I only tried to devour the Heng Luo Star Field because I could sense that it was a Star Field without a Master. I won’t attempt this anymore now that you have become the Star Field Master. Why not put down arms and make peace instead? If we continue to fight, it will only cause all living beings in both Star Fields to suffer.”
Yang Kai widened his eyes and looked at Wu Heng in astonishment, “Are you begging for mercy?”
Wu Heng replied in a low voice, “I was just proposing a solution to our problem.”
[Beg for mercy!? Is he joking!? The victor isn’t set in stone; we don’t know who will win once I start fighting seriously! I just don’t want to contend with a strong enemy if possible.]
“Oh… It’s just a suggestion then…” Yang Kai looked disappointed. Then, he shook his head exaggeratedly and said, “Then, that’s not a good solution.”
“What’s wrong with it? Making peace is beneficial for both you and me,” Wu Heng questioned patiently.
Yang Kai retorted, “You commanded the people of Grand Desolation Star Field to run amok in my territory. Countless of my people died or suffered grievous injuries because of that. Don’t you think I got the worst end of the deal if I stop now?”
Wu Heng didn’t think so. Even so, he nodded agreeably on the surface and tried to negotiate, “That’s reasonable. If you find it unfair, then I can give you some compensation.”
“What can you compensate me with?”
Wu Heng replied, “You can have the Starry Sky that you have engulfed so far.”
Yang Kai laughed, “That already belongs to me. Can you even snatch it back?”
The Starry Sky that the Heaven Devouring Battle Law digested had long been fused with Heng Luo Star Field, so regardless of how powerful Wu Heng was, he had no means to separate the two from each other.
Thus Wu Heng asked grimly, “Then, what do you want!?”
Yang Kai rubbed his chin for a moment, “Since you are asking so sincerely, I’ll give you a chance.”
Wu Heng hated Yang Kai so badly that his teeth hurt from gritting them so hard. Even so, he could only continue to choke down his anger and reply, “I wish to hear the details.”
Yang Kai spread his arms open, “I want half of this Star Field!” His words were so casual that one might think he was asking for half of a cake.
The veins in Wu Heng’s forehead bulged and he enunciated each word carefully, “In your dreams!”
Leaving aside the fact that his pride and self-esteem would never allow him to accede to such harsh conditions; if he really were to hand over half of the Star Field to Yang Kai, then he would completely lose control over Grand Desolation Star Field. [If that happens, I’ll be vulnerable to his every whim! There’s no way I’ll do something as stupid as to dig my own grave.]
Yang Kai’s gaze dropped and quickly added, “The opportunity is right in front of you. You won’t get another chance if you let it slip away now.”
Wu Heng suppressed the rage in his heart and shook his head, “I can’t do that. Friend, you should make a different proposal.”
Yang Kai shrugged lightly, “In that case, there’s nothing else to discuss.” Then, he turned to leave.
Wu Heng hurriedly said, “I can give you a Cultivation Star as a sign of my sincerity. Please consider it as compensation for your losses.”
[I can’t give him half of the Star Field, but it won’t hurt if it’s just one Cultivation Star. There are many Cultivation Stars in Grand Desolation Star Field, it doesn’t matter if I have one less.]
Yang Kai stopped mid-stride and looked back at Wu Heng, “Really?”
Wu Heng was slightly surprised to hear those words. He nodded affirmatively, “That’s right.”
Yang Kai replied, “Then, I want the Cultivation Star where the Netherworld Sect is located.”
Wu Heng didn’t even stop to consider his answer, “Good!”
Pausing for a moment, he continued, “From today onward, the Netherworld Star belongs to you.”
The Netherworld Sect had basically been wiped out, and even if there were survivors, they were cultivators that were too inferior to be the public face of the Sect. There was nobody who could object to Wu Heng making this decision as Grand Desolation Star Field’s Master. Besides, it wasn’t like Yang Kai could just take away a Star because Wu Heng gave it to him. Wu Heng had simply offered that suggestion offhandedly, never really expecting the other party to actually agree to it.
Yang Kai smiled, “Then, point the way, Brother Wu. I’d like to check out my new territory.”
While speaking, he secretly communicated with the Embodiment so that it slowed down the speed of the engulfment.
It was obvious that Wu Heng had sensed the change too and stared at Yang Kai meaningfully. Although he did not know how Yang Kai did it, it was clear that Yang Kai was able to control Heng Luo Star Field’s Star Source despite being in Grand Desolation Star Field.
[This is just too strange! We are both Star Field Masters, but I don’t have the same ability as he does. If I were to enter Heng Luo Star Field, communicating with Grand Desolation Star Field’s Source would be nearly impossible, forget about trying to control it.]
When the pressure from the black hole decreased abruptly, the idea of taking this opportunity to kill Yang Kai on the spot immediately came to Wu Heng’s mind; however, he only entertained the idea for a moment before pushing it aside. He had a better plan.
“Please rein in some of your strength. Otherwise, I won’t be able to divide my attention enough to send you there,” he said while looking at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai nodded at those words and communicated with Embodiment once more and just like that, the pressure coming from Heng Luo Star Field significantly reduced again.
Yang Kai’s expression suddenly turned vigilant as he asked, “You won’t take this opportunity to attack me, right?”
Wu Heng’s expression was calm, “Your Excellency, there’s nothing I can say if you don’t trust me.”
Yang Kai dramatically waved his hands about in response, “Forget it, it’s nothing. Why don’t you send me there for now?”
“As you wish.” Wu Heng nodded lightly and stretched out his hand and a Void Corridor immediately appeared behind Yang Kai, leading to his destination located in the depths of the Star Field.
Yang Kai swivelled his head and looked into the tunnel for a moment before shaking his head repeatedly, “I have an ominous premonition! A greatly ominous premonition!”
The corners of Wu Heng’s eyes twitched at those words, “Do you still refuse to trust me, Your Excellency!?” Although it was true that Wu Heng did not harbour any good intentions towards Yang Kai, it wasn’t as if he could reveal those thoughts at this time.
Yang Kai solemnly replied, “You’re mistaken about something.”
“What am I mistaken about?” Wu Heng asked with a grim expression.
“The ominous premonition I mentioned is for you, Brother Wu. If you don’t believe me, you can just look behind you.”
There was no need for Wu Heng to look back though as the moment Yang Kai spoke those words, Wu Heng distinctly felt the pressure coming from Heng Luo Star Field increasing all of a sudden. Panicking, he hurriedly used all his strength to resist, but even so, he could not stop the darkness from spreading.
There was an abnormal movement behind him at that time and glancing back, Wu Heng saw that Yang Kai had put one foot into the Void Corridor. Yang Kai paused just like that, looked back, and gave him a warm smile while loudly saying, “Many thanks for your good intentions, Brother Wu. Let’s meet again another day!”
“Bastard!” Wu Heng cursed and a thought flashed across his mind, causing the Void Corridor to immediately collapse. He had tried to murder Yang Kai within the Void Corridor, but he was obviously one step too late. A moment later, his expression changed again as he shouted, “How is that possible!?”
Yang Kai had passed through the Void Corridor and arrived at Netherworld Star, which was located hundreds of millions of kilometres away.
[Why is the pressure coming from Heng Luo Star Field not showing any signs of weakening!?] Wu Heng previously thought that Yang Kai was only able to control Heng Luo Star Field’s Source because he was close enough.
Therefore, he thought of an idea, which was to send Yang Kai further away from Heng Luo Star Field. At that time, he was smirking in his heart. As long as he sent Yang Kai deep into Grand Desolation Star Field, his connection with Heng Luo Star Field’s Source would definitely weaken, possibly even get cut. At that time, Wu Heng would be able to free up a hand to get rid of him!
It wasn’t until this moment that he understood why Yang Kai was so calm and confident, it was because Heng Luo Star Field’s devouring showed no signs of stopping regardless of the distance between Yang Kai and the Star Field. Rather, it seemed to be even stronger than before so now Wu Heng had to concentrate all his attention on defending.
Where would he find the energy to deal with Yang Kai under these circumstances?
[Could it be that he isn’t the Master of Heng Luo Star Field after all?] A wave of uneasiness spread across Wu Heng’s heart. He did not know whether sending Yang Kai to Netherworld Star had been the right decision and he couldn’t help feeling as though he had thrown a torch into his backyard, one that could start a raging fire and burn everything down at any time.
…
Netherworld Star was the peak Cultivation Star in Grand Desolation Star Field. It was the Home Star of the Netherworld Sect after all so it was not inferior compared to the Water Moon Star of Heng Luo Star Field. The World Energy was extremely dense and it also contained many beautiful mountains and rivers, as well as plentiful cultivation paradises. Moreover, the ruler of this Cultivation Star was none other than Netherworld Sect.
Unfortunately, the last Star Field invasion had caused a heavy loss to Netherworld Sect. There were only insignificant members left within the Sect at this moment and the number of Origin Kings left was quite pitiful.
Stepping out of the Void Corridor, Yang Kai stood above Netherworld Star, glanced around, and examined the surroundings carefully.
He was extremely satisfied with what he saw and was in no hurry to put his plan into motion.
He flew around the Netherworld Star several times before slowly landing on top of a certain mountain.
The mountain was incredibly tall and the World Energy aura here was abundant. It was very impressive at first glance with countless birds and beasts living among its stones. There were several secluded homes belonging to cultivators here too, all of which were guarded by defensive Arrays. It was clear that people came here to cultivate in retreat. Yang Kai just did not know if they belonged to the Netherworld Sect or some other force.
Nevertheless, he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to these details. He went straight to the highest peak and stretched out his hand. A longan-sized bead immediately appeared on his upturned palm.
It was the Sealed World Bead!
This was something he obtained back in his time on Shadowed Star. If one were to trace it back to its origins, then it was an artifact that Yang Yan had brought with her from the Star Boundary. According to Yang Yan, it was a complete world that was refined by a friend of hers. Since he was similar to that friend in the sense that they both cultivated the Dao of Space, she had left it in his care.
Over the years, the Sealed World Bead had left many indelible marks on Yang Kai’s growth. It had been a huge help to him many times, and more importantly, they were united in their hearts and minds.
It was one of his most important trump cards.
The plan Yang Kai devised this time was very simple. He was going to use the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to devour a Cultivation Star and repair the broken Small Sealed World. The plan had come to him on a whim. He wasn’t even sure whether his idea could be realized. Nevertheless, with Heng Luo Star Field’s devouring as a precedent, he was certain that the feasibility of this plan was very high.
Heng Luo Star Field could be regarded as a complete world, and since it could act as a medium to execute the Heaven Devouring Battle Law from and engulf another complete world, it was only natural that the Sealed World Bead could do something similar. After all, the Sealed World Bead was also a complete world. Fundamentally speaking, it was not much different from Heng Luo Star Field aside from being vastly smaller.
If one were to describe the Sealed World Bead as a Small World, then Heng Luo Star Field was a Medium World while Star Boundary was a Great World. And, devouring was possible between worlds.
Similarly, the Cultivation Stars in the Star Field were Small Worlds too. Netherworld Star was one such Small World among countless Small Worlds. It was also the target Yang Kai intended to devour using the Sealed World Bead. If his attempt succeeded, then it was highly likely that the Sealed World Bead would be completely repaired. It might even become better than before.
At that time, he would have his Embodiment control Heng Luo Star Field from the outside while he used the Small Sealed World to stir up trouble on the inside. Grand Desolation Star Field would be faced with trouble from both inside and out, and Wu Heng would have to struggle to cope with them. After some time, killing Wu Heng would be nothing.
Yang Kai calmed his mind and considered the feasibility of his plan, and after a long while, his expression became serious. Flicking his wrist, he tossed the Sealed World Bead out. At the same time, he sat down cross-legged and communicated with the Sealed World Bead through his mind. At this moment, he had basically become the Will of the Small Sealed World.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai’s vision changed. It was as though he had become the Sealed World Bead itself. This feeling was not unfamiliar as he experienced the same sensation when communicating with Heng Luo Star Field’s Source. It felt as though his entire being had merged with the world, and he could control it as he pleased.
With the Sealed World Bead as the intermediary, Yang Kai executed the Heaven Devouring Battle Law without delay. He did everything with practised ease since he had had similar experiences just recently, so his actions were neither slow nor sloppy.
The Sealed World Bead that was falling downward was immediately filled with a peculiar aura. It was an aura that could devour everything in the world! Wherever the Sealed World Bead passed, space collapsed and dissolved to reveal a pitch-black Void Crack. It looked like somebody had cut out a long and narrow slice of the cake that was the world.
[It works!] Yang Kai was overjoyed at the sight and immediately understood that his previous conjecture had been correct. It was obvious that the original space where the new Void Crack stood now had been devoured by the Sealed World Bead because he could distinctly sense something extra in the Small Sealed World.
Yang Kai did not know who Yang Yan’s friend was, but that person must have been incredibly powerful to refine a complete world and form the Sealed World Bead. However, what Yang Kai was doing at the moment had surpassed what that person had done.
For a long time, the role of the Sealed World Bead was for him to harbour people, plant all sorts of exotic Spirit Herbs, or hide from his pursuers. The biggest role it played was to drag his enemies into the Small Sealed World, where he could control their life or death. Although Yang Kai had the ability to drag his enemy into the Sealed World Bead and crush them with World Force, he could win most fights with his own abilities alone; therefore, that function seemed a little tasteless.
But starting today, the Sealed World Bead might have an even bigger and more astonishing purpose! Yang Kai couldn’t wait to see the final results!
A jet-black light appeared on the surface of the Sealed World Bead that had become an intermediary for the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. It was as though the entire bead had turned into a black hole. Moreover, the black hole was no longer longan-sized as it had been when it first appeared. Instead, it was expanding rapidly while falling downward. By the time it landed on the ground, it had a diameter of approximately one kilometre. That was the limit Yang Kai could bring out. It could just barely pass as a Devouring Domain created from the Small Sealed World.
Without anybody noticing, a huge part of the ground was swept away, leaving behind an enormous pit. Everything had been devoured by the Small Sealed World, but it wasn’t until the pit was several kilometres deep that Yang Kai suddenly had an idea.
With a single thought, the Sealed World Bead leisurely rose from the pit and hovered above the ground before flying off into the distance while grazing against the ground.
At a glance, it seemed as though a black hole with a diameter of one kilometre was wandering around the Star like a living creature with everything in its path disappearing as it passed.
It only took an instant for a long and narrow valley to form at the bottom of the Spirit Peak. When the black hole encountered the middle of a mountain not far away, it immediately tunnelled through it, opening up a gaping hole through which one could see the scenery on the other side of the mountain.
The peak rumbled and shook. Following that, a dishevelled figure flew out from the belly of the mountain and shouted, “Who goes there!? Show yourselves!”
This person had been cultivating in his cave mansion just now when he was awakened by the commotion from the engulfment. Thinking that he was being attacked by a formidable enemy, he immediately rushed out to check out the situation. His cultivation was not that high, only Second-Order Origin Returning Realm; however, such cultivation was considered fairly outstanding on Netherworld Star nowadays, so he rarely met anybody who could rival his strength, causing him to speak with a lot of confidence.
In the next moment though, he widened his eyes and stared at the black hole wandering across the ground in stupefied amazement. He felt a chill running down his back all the way to his toes at the sight and couldn’t help shuddering.
[What the Hell is that!? How can it have such terrifying strength!?] He watched as the black hole turned everything in its path into nothingness, like space itself was being devoured cleanly.
One by one, other figures flew out from the various surrounding Spirit Peaks. They had all been rudely awoken from their cultivation just like this person and soon noticed the presence of the Sealed World Bead.
Staring at it in dumbfounded amazement, they shared a conversation through their Divine Senses, but nobody could explain the situation. Even though they had been cultivating for some time now and their experiences were not lacking, what was happening in front of them right now was beyond their comprehension.
“There’s someone over there. Does anybody recognize him?” The cultivator who first appeared suddenly noticed Yang Kai’s presence and pointed him out while asking such a question.
Everybody glanced at Yang Kai and shook their heads in response.
“Could he be the one wreaking havoc here!?”
“Who is he? He doesn’t look familiar.”
“Is he one of the Elders of Netherworld Sect?”
“Should we go up to him and ask?”
“Go if you want to. That guy looks dangerous.”
Everybody made excuses and pushed the responsibility around for a bit, so in the end, the cultivator who first appeared took up the task of communicating with Yang Kai. Cautiously flying over, this man cupped his fists from afar to Yang Kai and asked, “Wu Zi Min greets Sir. May I ask how to address you?”
Yang Kai looked up and glanced at Wu Zi Min, “What do you want?”
Wu Zi Min felt apprehensive, but he put up a brave front despite being terrified as he asked, “Sir, may I know if I have offended you in any way?”
Yang Kai put his hands on his cheeks and leisurely replied, “No.”
Wu Zi Min looked troubled, “If I have not offended you in any way, then why are you doing this?”
“To what are you referring?”
Wu Zi Min continued, “The secluded homes of my friends and I are located in this place. What you are doing right now will endanger our cave mansions, Sir, if this continues, the Spirit Mountain itself will collapse.”
Before Wu Zi Min finished speaking, he heard an anguished howl coming from the group of people. One of their secluded homes had been swallowed up. Their expression was extremely bitter when even the mountain on which their cave mansion once was began to collapse.
Yang Kai spat disdainfully, “What does that have to do with me?”
Wu Zi Min pleaded, “Sir, please quickly stop using your Divine Ability.”
Yang Kai shook his head in response, “No can do! I’m not just devouring this mountain; I’m devouring all of Netherworld Star!”
“Huh!?” Wu Zi Min’s jaw fell open in shock as he wore a dumbstruck expression on his face.
“If there’s nothing else, hurry up and leave. I don’t feel like killing anybody at the moment.” Yang Kai waved his hand dismissively as though he was chasing away a fly.
Wu Zi Min’s complexion turned flushed and he hesitated slightly before asking, “Sir, are you not from the Netherworld Sect?”
“You are the one from Netherworld Sect! Your whole family is from the Netherworld Sect! Do I look like I’m from the Netherworld Sect!?”
The man replied, “Sir, don’t you know that this Star is called Netherworld Star? Do you know how powerful the Netherworld Sect is?”
He was hoping to use the Netherworld Sect’s prestige to intimidate Yang Kai so that he would retreat in the face of danger.
Yang Kai burst out laughing, “Netherworld Sect has already been obliterated by me.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Shoo shoo! You’re beginning to bother me!” Yang Kai waved his hand again, but this time around, Wu Zi Min felt a strong blast of wind on his face, one so fierce that lost his footing and was thrown out more than a thousand metres.
*Hong long long…*
Another mountain collapsed as it lost its foundation and support after being devoured by the black hole.
Wu Zi Min shifted his gaze in that direction and felt heartbroken. That mountain was where his secluded home was located. Now that the mountain had collapsed, his secluded home was gone too, causing him to turn back and glare at Yang Kai. Unfortunately, all he could do was glare as he did not dare to raise any complaints.
“What do we do now?” These other cultivators present had never seen anything like this before and lost all ability to make decisions as a result.
Wu Zi Min pondered in silence for a moment before decisively declaring, “He is too strong. We are no match for him. Let’s hurry to the Netherworld Sect to report about this matter.”
As the saying went, ‘Even if the sky collapses, somebody taller would hold it up’. The Netherworld Sect was the highest authority that existed on the Netherworld Star so this was their responsibility.
Everybody felt that Wu Zi Min’s suggestion was reasonable, so they immediately set off with him and headed in the direction of Netherworld Sect.
After chasing away those annoying flies, Yang Kai continued to control the Sealed World Bead’s devouring. Regardless of where the black hole went, it left a path of destruction in its wake. There was no stopping it and less than a day later, the mountain range in this region had been devoured cleanly, leaving behind a large, empty basin. One would have a hard time believing their eyes even if they saw what happened.
Cultivators could move mountains and shape the seas to a certain extent when their cultivation reached a certain level; however, even that required the use of extremely powerful Divine Abilities to just barely pull it off. Who would have the ability to make an entire mountain range vanish silently in a day?
After devouring the Spirit Peaks, Yang Kai could sense that the black hole that the Small Sealed World had transformed into had expanded slightly. In other words, its Devouring Domain had gotten larger. The increase in the size of its Devouring Domain meant that the efficiency of its engulfment had improved also!
One full day of experimenting had allowed Yang Kai to verify his conjectures, and he no longer hesitated in this matter. Shifting slightly, he flew off into the distance. In the meantime, the black hole formed by the Small Sealed World rolled about the ground like a black ball. It ploughed the ground and turned it into deep canyons. The lands of Netherworld Star were not the only things that were missing inside those canyons, the Principles and the World Energy were gone too. A canyon like this could never be restored to normal ever again.
…..
A Starship arrived above the wilderness at some point, one with a striking skull symbol on its hull, indicating it belonged to Netherworld Sect. It was just that this was not a Starship of particularly high quality, only reaching the Origin Grade.
It could be said that Netherworld Sect had all but emptied its nest in order to invade Heng Luo Star Field. From the Sect Master to the disciples, more than 90% of its members had joined the crusade. Only a few had remained on Netherworld Star to guard the Sect.
Wu Zi Min and the others had gone to the Netherworld Sect a few days back and had taken a while to finally meet somebody in charge after going through a lot of trouble and reported what they witnessed. To their chagrin, the person in charge had not taken them seriously at all and didn’t even bother to report it to the higher-ups.
It wasn’t until recently, when more and more people arrived at Netherworld Sect to report the appearance of a terrifying man destroying everything in his path that the Netherworld Sect realized that the situation was both real and critical. The reports claimed that that man controlled a black ball and devoured all that stood before him. The places where he passed, regardless of whether they were wastelands, mountains, deserts, snowfields, cities, or even Sects, would be devoured cleanly by the black ball. Everything ceased to exist in its wake. Thus, the Elder who had stayed behind began to gather people to deal with this invader who was raising such havoc.
The Starship had only flown a few thousand kilometres from the Netherworld Sect before a rumbling sound came from the front. It sounded as though thunder was rolling across the ground.
“What’s going on!?” Inside the Starship, an elderly man asked. This elderly man was none other than the Elder who had remained to guard the Netherworld Sect.
A disciple immediately used an array to display the external images inside the Starship. A terrifying scene immediately entered all of their visions. A young man was speeding towards them from the horizon with an enormous black ball rolling several thousand metres below him. The black ball ran across the ground, leaving an indelible scar in its wake. It was impossible to determine how far that scar spread, but it looked as if an unhealable wound had appeared on the ground.
“It’s him!” Wu Zi Min cried out in horror. It had only been a few days since the incident, so how could he forget this person’s face so quickly? It wasn’t until now that he understood something though. Clearly, when this man claimed that he was ‘going to devour the entire Netherworld Star’, it wasn’t an idle boast. He really meant every word he uttered.
“Is that the black ball that is devouring everything!?” The Elder’s eyes widened at the sight. Although he had received many reports on this matter over the past few days, it was hard for him to imagine that something so strange could exist in the world without seeing it with his own eyes. The information he received was perfectly accurate. That black ball was terrifying indeed. Everything and everywhere that was touched by that darkness was devoured cleanly in an instant.
“This is bad! He is coming towards us!” One of the disciples cried out in horror.
“Hurry up and evade!” The Elder shouted. Although he had yet to exchange blows with Yang Kai and had only caught a glimpse of him from afar, he was certain that he was no match for this young man. Putting aside the differences in their cultivation, just the black ball alone gave the Elder a dreadful feeling. [I’m afraid even I won’t be spared if that black ball touches me. I’ll be devoured by it too!]
“It’s too fast! We won’t avoid it in time!” The disciple was close to tears. While that disciple was speaking, a figure swept past the Starship as swiftly as the wind. That young man didn’t even bother glancing at the Starship, as though it was so insignificant to him that it wasn’t worth his time.
Meanwhile, the black ball rolled underneath the Starship. Before anyone had a chance to rejoice, they heard a rumbling earthquake coming from behind them. It sounded as though something had collapsed.
Looking back, the Elder yelled out sorrowfully, “No!”
This place was only a thousand kilometres away from the Netherworld Sect, so while the Starship might not have been devoured by the black ball, the Netherworld Sect located behind them obviously could not avoid this calamity. Thus, the black ball rolled over the Netherworld Sect, immediately dividing it in two, cutting a huge swath out of it. The so-called Sect Defending Array couldn’t even stop the black ball for a single moment before collapsing.
“Hmm? Was that the Netherworld Sect?” Yang Kai glanced backwards, “Then, I have to take good care of it.”
Afterwards, everybody aboard the Starship witnessed an even more horrifying scene. The black ball suddenly turned around, returned to the Netherworld Sect, and rolled around several more times.
In just a few moments, the entire Netherworld Sect… was gone!
Inside the Sealed World Bead, large chunks of land appeared out of thin air. Meanwhile, the invisible Principles and the World Energy that had been devoured flooded in and melded into the Principles and the World Energy belonging to the Small Sealed World, strengthening and perfecting them slowly.
With the emergence of these new lands, various living creatures, most of whom were Humans with some Monsters that had been swallowed by the black ball suddenly appeared, all of them looking shocked and confused.
All these living creatures had failed to avoid the black ball and were swallowed up as a result. They originally thought that they were doomed, only to find that they were safe and sound when they came back to their senses. They couldn’t help finding the entire incident extremely inconceivable. Thus, they tried to leave this place to investigate the mysteries of this new world and figure out their current situation. However, they discovered that they were imprisoned here by an invisible force, with no way for them to leave.
On the other hand, the entire Netherworld Star was in a complete mess. As more time passed, everyone learned of the devilish existence that controlled an enormous black ball that could devour everything in its path. That person was wreaking havoc all over Netherworld Star and none could defy him. Even the famous Netherworld Sect had been obliterated cleanly.
For that reason, all the cultivators with the ability to escape from the Netherworld Star had quickly set off, one after another. They did not dare to remain on the Star for another moment more. Those that could not escape could only pray to the Heavens for mercy. Unfortunately, what was waiting for them was the frightening devourer.
Two months later, the entire Netherworld Star’s appearance had changed completely. Looking down from the Starry Sky, the Star that had once been regarded as the Home Star of Netherworld Sect, a Star that was once rich in World Energy and beautiful scenery, a Star that had once given birth to countless living creatures, had turned into a dead and silent piece of land. The cities, both large and small, had vanished, while the Sects and Clans had all disappeared; even the many Spirit Mountains were gone… At this moment, the entire Netherworld Star looked like a gigantic asteroid. Moreover, this asteroid was covered in endless stretches of deep ravines. Even the volume of the Star had shrunk considerably compared to before.
If cultivators from the other Cultivation Stars in Grand Desolation Star Field came to check on the situation here, they would not be able to recognize that this was Netherworld Star at all and would definitely think that it was a silent Dead Star instead.
“How troublesome!” Yang Kai hovered over Netherworld Star, scanning the Sealed World Bead with his Divine Sense while muttering to himself.
[I can’t believe how many residents have appeared inside the Sealed World Bead all of a sudden.] It was something he had not anticipated, but it was something that could not be helped either; after all, Netherworld Star was not a Dead Star, it was an extremely attractive and populous Cultivation Star. When he used the Sealed World Bead to devour the Star, the cultivators in the Saint King Realm and above had quickly fled at the first sign that the situation was dangerous. Unfortunately, the cultivators below the Saint King Realm had no way of escaping. Similarly, there were many ordinary mortals living here too. Yang Kai couldn’t expect them all to leave the Netherworld Star and escape into the Star Field. That would be nothing more than courting death.
Therefore, Yang Kai decided to finish what he started and swallowed all these living creatures along with the lands into the Sealed World Bead, but now he was having trouble figuring out how he was going to deal with them.
[Do I bring them to another Cultivation Star and release them there? But, they number in the billions. I devoured more than 80% of the living creatures on Netherworld Star after all. Even if I wanted to release them somewhere, I don’t have the time for that. Besides, what Cultivation Star can take in so many people all at once!?]
After considering it carefully, Yang Kai thought to himself, [Hmm… why should I release them in the first place? I have no intention of killing them so I might as well just let them live inside the Sealed World Bead and fend for themselves.]
In a complete world, a steady stream of vitality could only be produced when all the living things in it competed with each other. Perhaps these living creatures could bring unexpected changes to the Sealed World Bead in the future and make the World Principles of the Small Sealed World more perfect. Yang Kai could clearly sense that the Sealed World Bead did not reject the arrival of these living creatures. Rather, it seemed to be accepting them happily.
Another consideration was that he had founded High Heaven Palace in the Star Boundary. Such a large Sect needed to be injected with a steady stream of fresh blood, and the fresh blood in question was none other than recruiting new disciples. The only question was where could he recruit new disciples from? The Northern Territory might be full of talented people, but who could know the backgrounds of every new recruit?
It was different when it came to the beings in the Sealed World Bead. As the Master of the Sealed World Bead, Yang Kai could control their lives and read their histories with just a thought. He could choose some disciples with good temperaments and excellent aptitudes from everyone in the Sealed World Bead and cultivate them from young. That way, he did not have to worry about the disciples’ loyalty to High Heaven Palace.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was an excellent idea. It felt like he had accidentally stumbled upon a great fortune. When something troublesome turned into a good thing, it was only natural that his mood brightened up in response.
Upon a closer look at the Sealed World Bead, Yang Kai discovered that it had indeed changed a lot. The entire outer layer of Netherworld Star that was devoured had been used to supplement the Sealed World Bead and the damaged areas had been almost completely repaired. Furthermore, the size of the Sealed World Bead had been expanded several times over.
Although the original size of the Sealed World Bead was not small, how could it be compared to Netherworld Star? They might both be independent Small Worlds, but the gap between them was still quite vast. If Netherworld Star was a Small World in the strictest sense, then the world within the Sealed World Bead could only be regarded as a Micro World. But now, the Sealed World Bead had grown tremendously after greedily devouring everything it was fed.
All of a sudden, an idea struck Yang Kai as he had vaguely realized something. The Sealed World Bead was something that had been artificially refined. If others could refine an independent Small Sealed World, what was to say he couldn’t upgrade and modify it?
The gains and perceptions of upgrading, modifying, and constructing a complete world was not something that could be obtained through cultivation in retreat. This would be very beneficial in helping Yang Kai understand World Force; after all, comprehending World Force was the key to becoming a Great Emperor!
At this point, he couldn’t help scratching his head in excitement as he became more and more certain about the ideas in his heart.
After devouring the surface of Netherworld Star, the Devouring Domain of the Sealed World Bead had also expanded by many times. The black ball that had only been approximately one kilometre in diameter originally was now around 10 kilometres in diameter! The expansion of the Devouring Domain meant that the efficiency of engulfment had also increased. It also meant that the speed of Yang Kai’s modification of the Sealed World Bead would become faster too.
The Netherworld Star was completely done for, but just as Yang Kai was preparing to set off to a nearby Star, he suddenly sensed something in his heart and looked back at the huge black ball with a strange expression.
[I can’t believe I am actually feeling a sense of desire coming from it…] His brow twitched and he murmured incredulously, “No way…”
Yang Kai had acquired the Sealed World Bead many years ago, but it had always been just another artifact. Even though the inside was said to be a Sealed World, it was still an inanimate object. However, Yang Kai could clearly perceive something different about it at this moment. Thinking back on the happiness of the Sealed World Bead upon receiving those living creatures, he suddenly realized that he had received an even greater stroke of fortune.
“As you wish!” Yang Kai laughed loudly while directing the enormous black ball towards the remaining half of the Netherworld Star.
[If the Sealed World Bead isn’t disgusted by this bald asteroid-like Star, then what right do I have to dislike it? In any case, it will only take some more time.]
The giant asteroid became a large asteroid soon after, and then a medium asteroid, then a small asteroid…
Yang Kai repeatedly flew round and round the Netherworld Star with the black ball. Every time they finished one circle around the Star, the Netherworld Star would shrink considerably. The entire situation seemed quite strange from the outside. It was as though a giant Divine being was treating Netherworld Star like food and taking bites out of it.
In the end, the entire Netherworld Star disappeared.
When the entire Netherworld Star was gone, the changes that occurred within the Sealed World Bead caught Yang Kai by surprise.
…
At the same time, the expression of Wu Heng, who was still at the edge of Grand Desolation Star Field, battling against the boundless darkness, changed abruptly. He quickly separated a part of his consciousness and immersed his Soul Avatar into his Knowledge Sea to observe the Star Chart.
Just now, he felt as though something had gone missing; however, he couldn’t detect any changes even upon a closer inspection. Just as he was about to withdraw his Soul Avatar from his Knowledge Sea though, his eyes widened in shock as he stared at a certain spot on the Star Chart in disbelief and exclaimed. “That’s impossible!”
He had been the Star Field Master of Grand Desolation Star Field for many years, so he knew the Star Field like the back of his hand. He knew exactly where each Star was located, but at this moment, he was certain that a Star had disappeared from his Star Chart. The name of that Star was none other than Netherworld Star!
Three months ago, he sent Yang Kai to Netherworld Star, originally planning to use this opportunity to kill Yang Kai but was caught in an unexpected dilemma instead. Not only did he fail to kill Yang Kai, but he was also being held up here by Yang Kai’s strange methods. It left him stuck with no time for anything else.
For the past three months, Wu Heng had been fighting against the darkness that was trying to devour his Star Field, so he could not spare a single thought to investigate Yang Kai’s movements.
Besides, it had been obvious that Yang Kai was going to Netherworld Star for no other reason than to vent his rage and massacre the people of Netherworld Sect. What else could he do aside from that?
For Wu Heng, those actions would not have harmed him much. It wasn’t worth being upset over. Netherworld Sect was already in its twilight years anyway. Even if Yang Kai did nothing, it would not be able to survive for much longer. In any case, the exchange of power and the cycle of life and death were the very foundation of all life. Wu Heng’s priority at the moment was to prevent the opposing Star Field from devouring his own Star Field.
Wu Heng could never have imagined that Yang Kai would give him such a huge shock in just three months! He did not know what methods Yang Kai had used to make the entire Netherworld Star disappear; nevertheless, it was gone. The entire Star had vanished without a trace!
[How in the world did he do that!? How is that possible!? How can he steal a Cultivation Star just like that!?] Wu Heng wouldn’t have believed it himself if he had said it out loud. This was not something that could be casually placed inside a Space Ring! That was an actual Star! And if Yang Kai didn’t steal it, then where did the Netherworld Star go?
Wu Heng was the Star Field Master; he controlled the Star Field Source, so as long as he wanted to, he could take notice of anything that was happening in any corner of Grand Desolation Star Field. The disappearance of the Netherworld Star was by no means an illusion.
Wu Heng’s mood could not get any worse. When he diverted his attention away just now, the power he used to resist the darkness was inevitably reduced by quite a bit. It made the opposing Star Field’s speed of engulfment speed up again. Panicking, Wu Heng quickly put aside any distracting thoughts and did not dare to lose focus again. Even so, the uneasy feeling in his heart was growing stronger. It was practically turning into a tangible substance that filled his core. He knew that he was in deep trouble. Moreover, he was suffering massive losses constantly. [I could have never imagined that I would cause my own downfall over a mere Lower Star Field!]
“What in the world is this!?” Yang Kai floated in the Starry Sky, rubbing his chin as he studied the sight in front of him in astonishment. The huge black ball transformed from the Sealed World Bead was floating in front of him, but the surface of the black ball had split to form a mouth! It was an extremely large mouth, and an extremely terrifying one at that.
The mouth split open, stretching out 100 kilometres. It was like an enormous Void Crack, but that wasn’t all; its mouth was filled with sharp fangs. Whenever its mouth opened and closed, there was a crunching sound as though it was chewing on everything that existed in this world. Even Yang Kai found it rather creepy to look at.
When the Sealed World Bead finished swallowing up the entire Netherworld Star, the black ball had undergone a violent squirming transformation and changed into this form.
Yang Kai nearly found the change unacceptable. Why did his Sealed World Bead become like this? No, strictly speaking, the Sealed World Bead hadn’t changed much. It was still just a longan-sized bead. What changed was the Devouring Domain of the Sealed World Bead. What kind of monster had he created by allowing it to use the entire Netherworld Star as nourishment?
As Yang Kai had surmised, the current Devouring Domain of the Sealed World Bead looked just like a monster at first glance. It was round and bouncy; it had an enormous jet-black body with no facial features; it only had a large mouth filled with dense fangs. It was extremely odd and ferocious.
“The World’s Will?” Yang Kai frowned while muttering to himself. The message coming from the Sealed World Bead was becoming clearer and clearer. He could feel a sense of desire and hunger coming from it. [Could this be the Small Sealed World’s Will? Or, should I say that it’s now an Artifact Spirit?]
The Sealed World Bead was nothing but an Emperor Artifact. It was an Emperor Artifact without consciousness, yet at this very moment, it looked as if it was alive.
This Black Ball Monster, which was so large that even Yang Kai would feel insignificant after using his Dragon Transformation, was probably the Artifact Spirit of the Sealed World Bead. Its consciousness was not very obvious yet since it was only in its budding state. It simply instinctively wanted to devour more. Hence, that large mouth and fangs were the manifestation of the Artifact Spirit’s instinct.
“Hah!” Yang Kai laughed, suddenly recalling the black puppy with the Abyssal Returner bloodline that he had left behind in High Heaven Palace. [Why does everything related to me seem to have the ability to devour? First, the black puppy. Then, the Sealed World Bead. Let’s not forget my Embodiment too. I wonder if it’s due to providence or fate.]
Nevertheless, the Embodiment and the Sealed World Bead’s devouring was a little different from the black puppy’s devouring. The former two relied on the Heaven Devouring Battle Law while the black puppy relied on its Innate Divine Ability. In the end, it was all for the sake of strengthening themselves.
A sudden thought flashed through Yang Kai’s head. [Did Wu Kuang meet an Abyssal Returner back then? Is that why he created the Heaven Devouring Battle Law based on the characteristics of an Abyssal Returner? If that’s the case, their similarity to each other makes sense.]
*Kacha ca…* The sound of teeth clattering against each other rang out continuously as if urging Yang Kai to hurry up.
“Alright! Alright! I’ll bring you to the next place!” Yang Kai started to look around for his next target. It was not a bad thing for the Sealed World Bead to grow its own Will, even if it was vague. Any complete world would have a Will of its own. Such a World Will was invisible and intangible, but it affected all the lives that lived on it. If the Small Sealed World could obtain such an opportunity, then it would be extremely beneficial for its future growth.
[It’s just… Where should we go? The Star Field is so vast and if we don’t get the direction right, we might end up wasting a lot of time travelling. Ah! I got it!] Yang Kai lifted his head and looked in a certain direction. Shifting his body slightly, he stood on top of the black ball and sat down cross-legged. Waving his large hand, he ordered, “Let’s go!”
The black ball seemed to understand his command and there was no need for him to actively control it; it moved in that direction on its own. Moreover, it moved rather quickly, its teeth crunching against each other while flying, making a disturbing sound the entire journey.
Choosing this direction was not without reason. It was simply the direction in which many of Netherworld Star’s cultivators had fled when they were escaping. Yang Kai might not know the distribution of the Cultivation Stars in Grand Desolation Star Field, but there was no way these natives did not know. If they had been heading in this direction, then it could only mean that there were other Cultivation Stars this way too.
One man and one black ball floated through the Starry Sky, heading towards an unknown destination. This scene was indescribably strange. The black ball that could engulf a Star did not seem to have any effect on Yang Kai. Rather, it even transformed into a carrier of sorts that he could ride freely.
Reaching out under him, Yang Kai patted his new ‘mount’ he had newly obtained. It was very soft to the touch, almost like touching a cloud, a sensation that did not match its hideous appearance at all. If it stopped clattering its teeth all the time and kept its mouth shut, it might look rather adorable. It was just that it was just born and its instinct to devour was causing it to constantly make biting movements; therefore, he couldn’t be bothered to stop it either.
“I should think of a name for you. I can’t just keep calling you ‘black ball’.” Yang Kai rubbed his chin and murmured under his breath. The black ball was similar to the original Liu Yan, a mere manifestation of her Artifact Refining Furnace until he gave her a name.
“I know!” His eyes brightened and he snapped his fingers in delight, “I’ll call you Gun-Gun from now on!”
It had rolled across the entire Netherworld Star and swallowed it in the process. The name ‘Gun-Gun’ just seemed fitting.
*Kacha ca…* The teeth clattered against each other, making a crisp clickety-clack sound.
“You think it’s a good name too, don’t you? Let’s go with that then.” Yang Kai smiled, feeling like he was a genius at giving names. Then, he clapped his hands together and looked slightly distressed, “I can’t favour one over the other. Let’s name the Abyssal Returner ‘Xiao Hei’.”
As soon as he decided, he labelled the savage Abyssal Returner which terrorized the Demon Realm, nearly bringing it to destruction, with an inescapable new name. Who knows what the Demon Kings and the Demon Saints would feel when they learned about this?
“Go forth, Gun-Gun!” Yang Kai pointed forward, his heart dancing with joy like a child who had gotten a new toy.
*Kachaca!*
“Devour, Gun-Gun!”
*Kachaca!*
Along the way, they ran into several enormous asteroids. Gun-Gun rolled past them and opened its mouth, swallowing those asteroids into its belly and storing them in the Small Sealed World.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai could clearly sense that Gun-Gun was not very fond of the taste of those asteroids. If Netherworld Star from before was a delicious dish, then these asteroids would be similar to stale bread, extremely hard to swallow and lacking all flavour.
They encountered more asteroids on several other occasions while wandering the Starry Sky; however, Gun-Gun was no longer interested in eating them. Even Dead Stars could hardly arouse its interest. On the other hand, it would change directions once in a while without seeking guidance from Yang Kai. It was as though it had a keen sense of smell and could detect the direction these delicious aromas were coming from.
Yang Kai did not stop it, and one month later, he confirmed his conjecture. A Star that was not much smaller than the Netherworld Star appeared in the distance. Even without landing on it, he could tell that it was an extraordinary Cultivation Star.
[Gun-Gun really does know where Cultivation Stars are located!]
…..
On High Seas Star, all living creatures lifted their heads to stare up into the sky, reacting as though they were facing a terrible enemy.
A few days ago, a small black spot appeared in the sky. It was located between High Seas Star and the Sun Star. In the beginning, not many people cared about it; however, the black spot grew bigger and bigger as the days passed, and now, it blocked out the sun entirely, plunging High Seas Star into utter darkness as if an eclipse was occurring. All living creatures present were feeling uneasy as an inexplicable sense of crisis bloomed in their hearts.
Even the seas were violent and choppy with stormy waves breaking across the surface. More than 80% of High Seas Star was covered in water. Various islands of all shapes and sizes were scattered across the surface like chess pieces on a board, creating a space where the living creatures of High Seas Star could settle. This was a world dominated by the Sea Clan. Humans and other Monster Beasts had very little space to live on this Star.
Looking up at the darkness blocking the Sun, many of the Sea Clan couldn’t help but think of the rumours circulating in the past month regarding the black ball. It was said that everywhere the black ball passed, everything would be devoured and all living creatures would cease to exist!
The origin of this rumour was from some Humans who had fled here. According to these people, they had come from the Netherworld Star where a terrifying devil had arrived and used a giant black ball to devour both the Heavens and Earth, literally swallowing up the entire Netherworld Star.
The Sea Clan had always proclaimed themselves as nobler than other races and they despised those of the Human Race and the Monster Race. Moreover, they felt that those who were born on land were extremely dirty and despicable, especially the refugees who had fled to this Star.
None of the Sea Clan had taken those rumours seriously, but the rumours still spread very quickly. In less than one month, most of the Sea Clan of High Seas Star had at least heard about this wild story. It wasn’t until this moment when they looked up at the black ball that the recent rumours couldn’t help coming to the forefront of their minds. They couldn’t help feeling uneasy as a result.
[Is there really darkness in this world that can devour both the Heavens and Earth?]
The world rumbled and a figure flew out from a large island and headed towards the darkness. When the members of the Sea Clan saw this person, their uneasy moods suddenly stabilized.
“It’s Senior Ao Wei!”
“That’s right! We have Senior Ao Wei! Why should we be afraid of that black ball?”
“If it dares to come here, Senior Ao Wei will surely show it who’s boss!”
“They are walking right to their deaths. Do they think High Seas Star is on the same level as the Netherworld Star!?”
The members of the Sea Clan shouted in excitement. The chants of the name ‘Ao Wei’ turned into a wave, creating an aura that almost overshadowed the world.
Ao Wei was the strongest Master on High Seas Star. He was regarded by all of the Sea Clan as its greatest hero, one who protected this world. It seemed as though he only needed to make a move and the black ball heading towards High Seas Star would be wiped out immediately. The belief of hundreds of millions of living creatures seemed to transform into a tangible substance, blessing Ao Wei and allowing him to adhere to the World’s Will. At this moment, he could be said to be an invincible existence.
It was a pity that no one noticed that Ao Wei’s expression was extremely solemn. Even if the fortune of the Heavens and Earth, as well as the collective will of hundreds of millions of living creatures, converged on him, he still couldn’t help shivering. The thought of turning around and running away was surging in him; however, he was the Star Master of this Star. Even if everybody else could escape, where could he run?
He lifted his head and stared up at the black ball with feelings of despair and fear. These emotions did not originate from him, they came straight from the Will of High Seas Star. It was an emotion that the Star Source was sending him and that made him extremely uneasy. It felt as though a mouse had met a cat or a rabbit had encountered a falcon. The Star had met its natural enemy.
Ao Wei stood in place and could barely muster up the courage to fly upward. He could only wait for the black ball to arrive as he racked his brains to figure out how to resolve the crisis before him.
“What in the world is that!?”
When the darkness descended from the sky, Ao Wei’s expression changed drastically. The enormous black ball had a diameter stretching out for a hundred kilometres at least. It also had a gaping mouth filled with sharp fangs that split right across the middle of its face. The click-clacking noise coming from its mouth gave him goosebumps and chills when it entered his ears.
Even as a Star Master, Ao Wei did not have the courage to face such a monster directly. Moreover, the overwhelming pressure coming from the sky made his chest feel tight and caused him to have trouble breathing.
“Who dares block my path!? Do you court death!?” A voice rang out suddenly, startling Ao Wei. Only then did he notice that a person was standing on top of the black ball. That person seemed to be a rather young man who was currently quietly standing atop the Black Ball Monstrosity and looking down on him from above, like he was looking at an ant.
Gulping lightly, Ao Wei cupped his fists and shouted, “Ao Wei, Star Master of High Seas Star, greets Senior.”
“Oh?” Yang Kai raised his brow slightly, “You are the Star Master of this Star?”
“Yes!”
“Very good. I am going to devour High Seas Star. Please cooperate with me. I will provide you with great benefits after I’m done!” If the Star Master could cooperate with him, the devouring would surely be much easier.
Ao Wei’s face twitched as he nearly suspected whether he had heard wrongly. This person came here with ill intentions and declared that he was going to devour High Seas Star the moment he opened his mouth. What’s more, he wanted Ao Wei to cooperate with him!
Ao Wei suddenly felt a little angry; however, he did not dare to lose his temper. He suppressed his rage and asked, “What has High Seas Star done to offend Senior?”
Yang Kai replied impatiently, “It’s not about whether you’ve offended me or not. I simply happened to come across this Star.”
[Simply came across…] Ao Wei never expected that the reason for this terrible catastrophe would turn out to be nothing more than the result of a coincidence. A shudder ran down his spine as he spoke loudly, “The Heavens cherish all life. High Seas Star hosts trillions of lives. What will happen to those who live here if you devour this Star? People of our generation are competitive and we constantly strive to reach the peak of the Martial Dao. Our lives are constantly at stake, but what does that have to do with the innocents? You will surely be punished by karma if you destroy High Seas Star. That will be highly disadvantageous to your future endeavours. Please reconsider!” He sincerely tried to dissuade Yang Kai.
Yang Kai put one hand on his thigh, leaned forward, and grinned, “What do you want to say?”
There wasn’t even the slightest fluctuation of aura from this young man when he spoke, but even so, Ao Wei’s expression couldn’t help changing slightly. It felt as though a great ancient beast was baring its fangs at him, preparing to swallow him whole. Fortunately, he was the Star Master of High Seas Star and received blessings from it. Otherwise, he would have turned tail and ran away already.
Cupping his fist again, Ao Wei shouted once more, “Please reconsider!”
Yang Kai touched his chin, thought about it seriously, and nodded, “I’ve given it some thought.”
“Does that mean you…” Ao Wei looked at Yang Kai earnestly.
“My will is resolute. Now, hurry up and move aside!” Yang Kai really could not have gone through with it if billions of sentient lives would be lost because he devoured a Cultivation Star; after all, the Heavens truly were fair in all matters. Even if his cultivation was extraordinary, he could not regard the weak as ants to be slaughtered at will.
The devouring process of the Sealed World Bead would certainly destroy the Star, but it would not harm any of the living creatures here. It simply allowed them to live in another place. Moreover, Yang Kai had the confidence that he could make the Small Sealed World better than any Cultivation Star in time. In other words, his current approach was not only harmless to the living creatures here, but would also bring about infinite benefits to them in the long-term. Hence, he felt no burden at all.
In response, Ao Wei’s expression darkened slightly. Even so, he refused to give in. As a Star Master, he had no room to retreat. Bracing himself, he began releasing the aura of a peak Origin King Realm Master. Scales appeared on his face simultaneously as the characteristics of a Monster Beast appeared on him. From the looks of things, he was not part of the Human Race. Even though he knew that he was no match for Yang Kai and that things would end tragically the moment he acted, he continued to obstruct this wicked destroyer’s path.
Gathering his courage, Ao Wei shouted firmly, “Senior, if you insist on doing this, then you must kill me first!”
His voice was not loud, but it spread throughout the Cultivation Star under the influence of its Will. All the living creatures on High Seas Star suddenly felt touched. They felt extremely lucky to have such a responsible Star Master. It was invisible to the eye, but his aura increased again. That single sentence had given him a huge boost in power, but it still didn’t give him the slightest sense of security.
“Oh? A Flood Dragon descendant?” Yang Kai asked as he looked at the scales on Ao Wei’s face and the traces of monsterfication on Ao Wei’s body, sensing a familiar aura from him.
“Indeed!” Ao Wei nodded. There was no need to conceal anything, it wasn’t a secret after all.
Yang Kai nodded and said, “I know of other Flood Dragons, and they’re indeed not bad, but… You are too weak.”
Even though Ao Wei had always presented himself in a courteous and humble manner while lowering his posture as much as possible, he couldn’t help feeling unconvinced when he heard those words. He stood at the peak of the Origin King Realm and was the Star Master of High Seas Star. There were only a few people in the entire Grand Desolation Star Field who could challenge him! How could his cultivation still be considered ‘too weak’?
Rage burst forth in Ao Wei’s heart, dampening his fear as he gritted his teeth and declared, “Is that so? Then, I will have to see how powerful Senior is!”
Yang Kai smiled slightly, “You might not believe me, but that guy can probably take a few of my attacks. You, on the other hand…”
Ao Wei roared furiously, “Let’s see how many attacks it takes you to defeat me!” While speaking, he lunged toward Yang Kai. Although there was a slight hint of a Dragon Roar in his voice, it was not very pure. Flood Dragons inherited the Dragon Clan’s blood, but the difference in purity varied greatly. How could they be compared to True Dragons? Even so, Ao Wei was relatively powerful after receiving a boost from High Seas Star.
In that instant, the world paled and storms surged. The full-powered attack of a Star Master was truly extraordinary.
On the contrary, Yang Kai didn’t seem inclined to defend against the attack nor did he look like he was going to attack. He simply watched expressionlessly as Ao Wei lunged at him.
[He is just too arrogant! He completely looks down on me! I need to teach him a lesson!]
Yang Kai’s attitude had utterly enraged Ao Wei and he no longer held anything back, channelling even greater strength than he had ever before in his life.
An invisible force suddenly swept out from Yang Kai at that moment and it made Ao Wei abruptly stiffen, his eyes widening to the size of saucers in the next instant. He looked extremely shocked, and for a moment, he thought he saw an enormous Dragon hovering around Yang Kai’s body, its massive head staring down at him. Instantly, his Saint Qi stopped circulating and he was unable to summon the slightest strength.
Following that, the Dragon Head pounced at him. Opening its mouth wide, it swallowed him whole. Ao Wei screamed as his robes became soaked in cold sweat. At his cultivation, he was rarely frightened by anything. Even when Yang Kai arrived with Gun-Gun, he was still capable of confronting them directly, even mustering the will to fight back. However, he didn’t even dare to stare back when facing this giant Dragon. This was the effect of bloodline suppression!
By the time Ao Wei came back to his senses, the giant Dragon that was in front of him had vanished. There was only a hateful young man smiling at him, making him wonder if it was all just an illusion; however, it was all too realistic to simply be his imagination.
Before Ao Wei could understand what had happened though, Yang Kai raised his hand and ordered, “Send him in.”
In response, Gun-Gun opened its mouth wide and swallowed Ao Wei in one bite.
[My destined end has come!] That thought flashed across Ao Wei’s mind. Closing his eyes, he stuck out his neck and prepared for death, but to his surprise, there was no pain despite waiting for some time, and when he opened his eyes, an astonishing sight appeared before him.
He had appeared in a different world. This world looked rather messy, like millions of tonnes of soil and stones piled up haphazardly all over the place, and looking around, this scene stretched out as far as his eyes could see.
Ao Wei quickly used his Divine Sense to scan his surroundings and was surprised all over again. The World Energy in this place was extremely dense, several grades better than High Seas Star, but the World Principles seemed to be a little broken, which made the power in his body a little sluggish.
[What in the world is this damned place!? Wasn’t I swallowed up by that jet-black giant beast? How did I appear here!?] A shining object nearby attracted Ao Wei’s attention, one stuck under a boulder. Walking over, Ao Wei lifted the rock up and a plaque entered his vision.
“Netherworld Sect!” His eyes narrowed and he could hardly believe his eyes. [Isn’t this… Isn’t this Netherworld Sect’s signboard!?] Although he was the Star Master of High Seas Star, he had been to Netherworld Star in his early years and even entered the Netherworld Sect once. This signboard was the one erected above Netherworld Sect’s Main Gate. He was certain that he had not mistaken it for something else. Besides, the sense of vicissitude around this plaque was not fake. [This is definitely the signboard belonging to Netherworld Sect’s Main Gate, but… what is it doing here?]
Recalling the rumours circulating around on High Seas Star recently, a very bold conjecture emerged in Ao Wei’s heart.
All of a sudden, he heard some sounds. Flying up, he looked into the distance and saw a group of people heading his way. Thus, he immediately flew to them and exchanged some words with them. After that, he looked even more shocked than before. [These people… They are the residents of Netherworld Star!]
…
“Senior Ao Wei… Was defeated!”
“Senior Ao Wei was swallowed in one bite!”
“The end is coming! The end is here!”
On High Seas Star, countless eyes watched as Ao Wei was swallowed by the giant black beast, unable to resist in the slightest. The visual impact left everyone cold with fear, feeling as though they were standing in the middle of a blizzard. They had never imagined that a Star Master like Senior Ao Wei could be killed so easily. They had been hoping that Ao Wei could save them from the calamity before them. Unfortunately, that hope now transformed into a deep despair.
When Yang Kai led Gun-Gun on towards High Seas Star again, no one dared to stop him. Gun-Gun opened its mouth wide and devoured island after island. Even the boundaryless seawater was swallowed into its belly.
The sounds of weeping and cursing rang out as everybody desperately attempted to escape.
Yang Kai turned a deaf ear to those cries, though, as he sat cross-legged on Gun-Gun’s back as it chewed its way through the entire High Seas Star.
[This bunch of ignorant people. You don’t even appreciate the fact that I am bringing you into a paradise. I guess the ones who escaped are simply unlucky!]
A sudden thought crossed Yang Kai’s heart at that moment. [What is the difference between my current actions and the actions of the Heaven Devouring Great Emperor, Wu Kuang?]
Wu Kuang had wreaked havoc across many Star Fields and destroyed countless Cultivation Stars. In the end, the anger and resentment against him built up among the people, and the other Great Emperors were forced to band together to kill him.
[No. Wu Kuang is Wu Kuang, and I am me. What we are doing is very different! All the living creatures on the Stars Wu Kuang destroyed died during the process. But, I am sending them to another world, a better world, it’s not like I’m doing any real harm to them! Rather, they will probably thank me for my actions in the future; after all, order is established from chaos, and only through destruction can the world be reborn.]
At the border of Grand Desolation Star Field, Wu Heng looked livid. He had been confronting this devouring darkness for half a year now, and despite giving it his all, he could only slow the speed of the encroachment. He could not stop it from spreading at all. Over the past six months, he had lost more than a few tens of millions of kilometres of his Star Field! Such a large piece of territory was already larger than what he had engulfed in Heng Luo Star Field in the previous three years!
[Just who is the person on the other side!? How are they doing it!?]
Wu Heng had once driven Grand Desolation Star Field to devour Heng Luo Star Field, so he knew just how difficult this was. It was patient and precise work that required much time and effort. It definitely wasn’t something that could be accomplished overnight. Additionally, Heng Luo Star Field did not have a Star Field Master back then, so his engulfment of that Star Field could be said to be practically unimpeded.
[How is the opposing party’s devouring speed still so fast when I am actively trying to resist? How is this even possible?]
If that were the only issue, Wu Heng might not have been this anxious. Unfortunately, something else was also worrying him. Over the past six months, he had consecutively lost three Cultivation Stars from Grand Desolation Star Field. It began with Netherworld Star, followed by High Seas Star, then Flying Crab Star. One after another, they had disappeared from the Star Chart as though they never existed before!
[Those are three Cultivation Stars, not three cabbages! Just what method did that bastard Yang Kai use to steal them!?] There were quite a few Cultivation Stars in Grand Desolation Star Field, so it did not hurt Wu Heng’s foundation to lose three of them. The key point was that this was just the beginning. He had lost three Cultivation Stars in just half a year… How many more would he lose in a year? Or, 10 years? Or, 100 years? If there were no more Cultivation Stars left in the entire Star Field, then what was the point of this Star Field’s existence? When that time came, he would be a Star Field Master in name only.
What made Wu Heng feel slightly relieved was that Yang Kai didn’t seem to be making any movements since stealing Flying Crab Star.
[I wonder what he is doing?] As a Star Field Master, it was a simple matter for Wu Heng to spy on Yang Kai inside his own territory. Unfortunately, he did not dare to do so. The moment he became distracted, even if only a little bit, the speed of the opposing Star Field’s devouring would sharply increase.
[I can’t keep going on like this. I won’t have a good ending if this goes on any longer. Do I really have to resort to that?] Wu Heng’s expression changed constantly. Anger, shame, reluctance… All sorts of emotions showed on his face as he never imagined that he would be backed into a corner to such a degree in this Lower Star Field. Moreover, within his own territory!
…
Gun-Gun was suspended in mid-air above a Dead Star. Its enormous jet-black body was constantly shrinking and expanding in a cycle, over and over again. Meanwhile, Yang Kai stood to the side and watched it closely. He did not know what had happened to lead to this situation, he only had the vague sense that… It was satiated!
Throughout their journey, Gun-Gun had devoured a total of three Cultivation Stars. After completely engulfing Flying Crab Star, it finally closed its mouth and stopped making those click-clacking noises. It also stopped moving at the exact spot where Flying Crab Star used to be and the changes occurred.
Upon seeing that, Yang Kai tried to communicate with the Small Sealed World only to discover that his Soul Avatar could not enter it. Thus, there was nothing he could do but wait and see how things played out. If his guess was correct, then Gun-Gun was simply in a state of digestion.
Those were three Cultivation Stars after all, not something so easy to devour. Having been engulfed into the Small Sealed World, they needed to be further digested, or else those slightly different World Principles would be enough to cause the space within the Sealed World Bead to collapse. If that happened, all living creatures absorbed from the three Cultivation Stars would perish too.
After this digestion finished though, the entire Small Sealed World would probably take on a completely new look; therefore, Yang Kai simply waited quietly and expectantly.
He wanted to check on his Embodiment’s situation, but they were too far apart now. Yang Kai was too deep inside Grand Desolation Star Field and couldn’t establish a connection with it. However, Wu Heng was probably having a hard time, otherwise, everything he had done recently would not have gone so smoothly. If Wu Heng could spare even a little time to deal with him, he would surely have made life far more difficult for Yang Kai.
Thinking so, Yang Kai chuckled. [People who provoke me have always had bad ends. Even Wu Kuang suffered a loss at my hands; much less a mere ‘Wu Heng’.]
The days passed by, little by little. There was no cycle of day and night in the Starry Sky, so Yang Kai wasn’t sure just how long had passed. However, every wriggle Gun-Gun made seemed to cause something in it to change.
Yang Kai could clearly sense that Gun-Gun’s Will was becoming much clearer. There could only be one explanation for that, the digestion process was going smoothly. It had managed to assimilate the World Principles of the three Cultivation Stars it devoured and merged them together until they were no longer distinguishable from one another.
After more time had passed, its Will became clearer yet again. Although it was not to the extent where it could communicate with Yang Kai clearly, it was capable of at least instinctual communication. The most obvious change, however, was in its appearance. Gun-Gun was originally an enormous black ball that later grew a large mouth after devouring Netherworld Star. Now though, it had a tail growing on the opposite side of its mouth. The tail slowly grew longer and longer. At first glance, it now looked like a giant tadpole, quite a comical sight.
Finally, Gun-Gun ended its transformation after an intense wriggling session one day. Its mouth opened once again, making crunching sounds with its teeth as it conveyed the urgency of its hunger. Upon digesting the three Cultivation Stars, it was ready to begin devouring again. Additionally, its body had become much larger than before. It had a diameter of 100 kilometres when it first descended on High Seas Star, but now it was nearly 200 kilometres in diameter!
Yang Kai had no intention of stopping it and simply allowed it to act as it pleased. Hence, Gun-Gun immediately turned and headed in a certain direction. Even though Yang Kai saw nothing but pitch-black darkness in that direction, he was certain a Cultivation Star was located up ahead. It seemed Gun-Gun had a keen sense for locating Cultivation Stars and could smell the deliciousness of them from very far away.
In the meantime, Yang Kai stepped into the Sealed World Bead. It was his first time entering the Small Sealed World since its transformation, and he was completely stupefied the moment he arrived. It was no longer the Small Sealed World that he was familiar with. The size of the entire world had increased by several times over. It actually took some time for his Divine Sense to reach the boundary of the world when he extended it outward.
The original Small Sealed World could only be regarded as a Micro World if a Cultivation Star like Netherworld Star was considered a Small World. Even the World Principles were something that had been patched together by Yang Kai from various sources. If he compared the Small Sealed World to a piece of clothing, then the original Small Sealed World had been covered in patches. The World Principles might have been complete, but they were not smoothly joined together. In contrast, the current world was in complete harmony. There was no dissonance whatsoever, and the World Principles were in perfect condition. It was much better than how the original World Principles had been.
At this point, it could be regarded as a real Small World. A world like this was already higher grade than the average Cultivation Star. The land in the world had changed a lot. Be it jungles, wastelands, seas, deserts, or valleys… It had everything. These places were suitable for all sorts of beings and races to live happily and peacefully.
The countless auras of living creatures were spread all across the world, and buildings of various styles rose from the ground. All the sentient and wild beings of the three Cultivation Stars had been absorbed into this place, and the first thing they did after realizing that there was no immediate danger to their lives was to rebuild their Sects and homes. Not knowing where they were nor whether danger was looming over them contributed to the lack of conflict at the moment. They restrained themselves and did their best not to get into fights with the others despite running into those of different races occasionally.
Yang Kai carefully observed this world for a while before he found the original Small Sealed World’s land. The original space was located in the most central position of this new world. Furthermore, there was an invisible barrier isolating it from the new land, which prevented anybody from trespassing into this space.
Yang Kai couldn’t help breathing out a sigh of relief when he saw this barrier as he had been very worried that somebody might break into the medicine garden and destroy his Spirit Herbs. The current situation was for the best, and it was clearly thanks to Gun-Gun.
[Since I’m already here, I might as well say hello. I should, at the very least, let the people of this new world know who the Master of this place is!]
With a flash of his thoughts, a giant figure suddenly appeared in the sky. All the living creatures in the world only needed to look up to see this phantom giant. His majestic gaze that stared into the void felt as though he was looking at every single one of them. Hence, all were shocked upon seeing that gigantic figure in the sky. They could not help being filled with a sense of worship when they looked up at that figure, while many even fell to their knees and shivered in fear.
“It’s him!” Ao Wei stood on a newly-formed island and looked at the face in the sky, his expression changing greatly. The memory of being defeated in a single move by this young man was still fresh in his mind. How could he not know that that person was many times stronger than him? It was ridiculous how he had tried to fight against that person just because he had been a Star Master before.
Many people recognized Yang Kai; after all, they had seen him from a distance when he was riding on Gun-Gun while devouring their Stars, so seeing him again at this moment, their feelings of awe deepened even more.
“I am the Master of this world, but you need not worry, I hold no malice towards you. I only wish that you live your lives peacefully in this place and lead a good life. If there are talented cultivators, I may even guide you to a higher world and allow you to experience a grander Martial Dao.” Yang Kai pointed at his eyes and grinned, “I will be watching you, so do your best. Whether you become a Dragon and roam the vast oceans, or remain a carp and stagnate in this little pond, will all be determined by your hard work.”
The entire world was completely silent as everybody was so shocked that they couldn’t utter a single word. A long while later, they finally noticed that the giant figure in the sky had vanished without a trace. Nevertheless, those simple words had set off turbulent waves in everyone’s mind, especially those in the Origin King Realm.
[A higher world!? A grander Martial Dao!?] It was like hanging a carrot in front of a donkey; it made them covet and desire that opportunity. Most cultivators in Grand Desolation Star Field that were in the Origin King Realm knew about the existence of the Star Boundary; after all, there was a pathway between Grand Desolation Star Field and the Star Boundary. It was public knowledge that the previous Sect Master of Netherworld Sect, Yin Le Sheng, had journeyed to the Star Boundary together with a few other Masters from their Star Field several dozen years ago. It was just that nobody knew what had become of them after that.
It was undeniable that entering the Star Boundary using the same method they did was dangerous and the slightest carelessness could cost them their lives. For that reason, the cultivators of Grand Desolation Star Field did not dare to use the same route unless they had great confidence in their strength, even though the path had always existed. But now, there was another opportunity before them. It seemed that the Master of this world could guide them to the Star Boundary as long as they could obtain his approval!
These dazzling Stars seem to have always existed, but they collapsed and vanished from existence, one after another. It was as though an invisible hand had erased them from the vast Starry Sky.
Wu Heng couldn’t stand it anymore, gritting his teeth, he roared, “Yang Kai!”
He had completely fallen into a disadvantage in his fight against Yang Kai. Not only had he lost a large part of his Star Field, but he also lost as many as five Cultivation Stars from Grand Desolation Star Field.
[I will lose everything if this silent battle continues in this manner.] A deep hatred and regret overflowed from his heart. [If I had washed my hands clean of Heng Luo Star Field the moment I sensed that it had gained a Star Master, I might not have brought such troublesome matters down upon myself.]
Back then, he wanted to take advantage of Yang Kai, who had just become a Star Field Master. He had completely looked down on Yang Kai and even went so far as to demand he hand Heng Luo Star Field to him. At that moment, their enmity was set in stone.
[There is no point in regretting the past now. In any case, my first priority is to get rid of Yang Kai as soon as possible. Even if I lose a large part of my territory by focusing on him, I cannot allow him to do whatever he wants in my territory anymore!] The moment that thought appeared in Wu Heng’s head, he no longer hesitated and immediately directed some of his attention to investigate Yang Kai’s situation.
In the extremely distant Starry Sky, he soon found a trace of Yang Kai’s whereabouts, and after getting a clear view of the situation there, Wu Heng couldn’t help being dumbstruck and out of sorts, “What is that!?”
Most of the sixth Cultivation Star had disappeared, and there was a gigantic black tadpole-like Monster going back and forth on this broken Cultivation Star, taking bite after bite out of it as if it were eating a delicious cake. The Cultivation Star was missing another huge chunk in the blink of an eye.
Even Wu Heng, who was very knowledgeable and experienced, could not tell what that black monster was; however, he instinctively felt apprehensive when he looked at it.
Yang Kai, who was sitting cross-legged on the back of Gun-Gun, seemed to sense something and looked up at the Starry Sky with a grin.
In the next moment, Wu Heng appeared in front of Yang Kai. As the Star Field’s Master, crossing a distance of hundreds of millions of kilometres in an instant was nothing to him. Lifting his large hand, he clenched his hand and roared, “Die!”
The power of the Star Field was activated instantaneously, turning into invisible shackles that tightened around Gun-Gun’s huge body without warning. As a result, its huge body shrunk continuously. The changes were so obvious that they were visible to the naked eye. In response, Gun-Gun opened its mouth wide and clacked its teeth together loudly, as if it were struggling against something.
Similarly, Yang Kai felt pressure bearing down on him like a mountain. His entire body was stiff and unable to move, as if Wu Heng was crushing all his bones.
[Running wild in another person’s territory really isn’t a good idea, but… I’m afraid it’s too late for Wu Heng to make a move now. If he had decisively taken action at the very beginning when Gun-Gun was still weak, he might have had a chance. But now… Does he seriously think I’m such a pushover?] The corners of Yang Kai’s mouth lifted into a wicked grin.
On the other hand, Wu Heng’s expression changed abruptly as he could feel the shackles he had placed on his enemy being broken, little by little, as the black monster chewed on them, its large mouth opening and closing in the process. No; they weren’t being broken, they were disappearing, just like the Cultivation Star that was being devoured in front of him, the power of the Star Field he had mobilized was being devoured too.
With a clatter, a great storm was set off in Wu Heng’s heart, and in the next moment, Gun-Gun’s body that had been compressed returned to normal all of a sudden, and its movements became free again.
“How is that possible?” Wu Heng looked lost for a moment. He had steeled himself to deal with Yang Kai with the determination of making a great sacrifice in order to succeed. That was because every moment he wasted here meant that Heng Luo Star Field’s devouring went unchecked. The loss he suffered from that terrifying devouring speed was simply something he could not afford.
Hence, he originally made up his mind to kill Yang Kai without any delays before going back to continue his confrontation with Heng Luo Star Field. Who would have thought that his plan could not be realized? The black monster was far more difficult to deal with than Wu Heng imagined, even capable of devouring the power of the Star Field!
During those few moments when Wu Heng was being absent-minded, Gun-Gun had rushed straight up at him. That seemingly fat and bloated body was unimaginable agility at this moment, and by the time Wu Heng came to his senses, a large mouth filled with sharp fangs was already right in front of him.
*Ka…*
The large mouth closed, and a large chunk of the Star Field disappeared. Wu Heng appeared in another location in a cold sweat a moment later. If he had not been the Star Field Master, who could freely shuttle this space, he would not have survived that situation.
Yang Kai stood on top of Gun-Gun’s back with one hand on his waist, doubling over with laughter, “This is your domain isn’t it? Why are you running? Weren’t you itching for a fight!? Get on with the killing! Come, you bastard!”
“Shut up, you damn brat!” Wu Heng’s heart was filled with rage. Despite feeling as if he was a volcano that was about to erupt at any moment, he forced himself to calm down and not pay attention to Yang Kai’s taunts. Still, what Yang Kai said wasn’t wrong, this was his territory, his home. Yang Kai was the thief who snuck in to rob him, but when Wu Heng showed up to deal with him, not only did Yang Kai show not the slightest remorse, he put on an aggressive and provocative stance. Nobody could tolerate such rampant behaviour.
Having gotten his thoughts under control, Wu Heng stretched out his hand and clenched his fist. Thousands of streams of light gathered and condensed into a spear in his hand. That was not an Emperor Artifact, but a condensation of the power of the Stars in this Star Field. It was not an exaggeration to say that it was the power of the world, World Force, contained in this spear.
Of course, this was not the full power of the entire Grand Desolation Star Field as, although Wu Heng was the Star Field Master here, mobilizing the power of the entire Star Field was no easy feat. It would be no easier for Yang Kai to do so.
Be that as it may, the power contained in this spear was nothing to sneeze at. At the very least, the power from the surrounding ten million kilometres of the Star Field had been gathered to form this spear, a feat only a Star Field Master could achieve with ease.
When the spear was formed, lightning flashed and thunder boomed. The spear transformed into a venomous snake that leapt out ferociously and without warning. The Heaven-destroying and Earth-shattering power was condensed into an attack that struck at Gun-Gun in an instant.
Yang Kai’s figure stiffened all of a sudden, and all the hairs on his body stood up. If this incredibly powerful attack was a venomous snake, then he was a frog that came face to face with his natural enemy. Even though he had mentally prepared himself for something like this, it was still tricky to overcome it on the spot.
“Gun-Gun!” Raising his foot, Yang Kai stomped Gun-Gun’s back, and in response, Gun-Gun opened its large mouth and bit towards that terrifying blow.
Wu Heng had been sneering as he quietly watched that black monster’s actions; however, that smirk on his face soon vanished. The scene where his enemy was killed did not appear, and instead, he watched as the black monster rolled around and squirmed violently for a time, a large crack appearing on its back, but then, nothing else happened. Moreover, the crack was healing at an extremely fast speed.
Wu Heng’s eyes widened as large as saucers, and he almost doubted what he just witnessed. He had condensed the power from the surrounding ten million kilometres of the Star Field into that one attack! How was it defused so easily!? What the Hell was this black monster!? How could it have such power!?
Unbeknownst to him, when Gun-Gun swallowed that incredibly powerful attack, a stream of light swept across the sky of the Small Sealed World and nearly penetrated it. The Heaven-destroying and Earth-shattering aura contained in that light made all the living creatures in the Small Sealed World look up into the sky and released a terrifying aura that compelled them to kneel down and worship that power appearing before them.
As the light flashed by, it left a deep scar in the sky of the Small Sealed World, like the Heavens themselves had been slashed open, and that scar remained for quite a time.
The power of one world could only be countered by the power of another world. Wu Heng had condensed the power of more than ten million kilometres of the Starry Sky in that one attack, which was incredibly terrifying, but the Small Sealed World was now a complete world of its own. The World Principles and the World Energy within the Small Sealed World were no worse than those of the Star Field’s, possibly even higher in terms of quality. The only difference was that the Small Sealed World was much smaller than the Star Field.
Naturally, Wu Heng couldn’t use that attack to destroy the Small Sealed World. The power of the Small Sealed World was enough for it to swallow and digest his attacks. Judging by the results of his attack, the attack not only failed to cause any damage but also seemed to have a nourishing effect instead.
Yang Kai used his little finger to dig at his ears as he mocked loudly, “So weak. Were you trying to tickle me?”
“Shut up!” Wu Heng immediately became angry out of shame.
How could Yang Kai possibly act as Wu Heng wished? Rather, his mockery and yelling became even more venomous, “We are both Star Field Masters, so I feel deeply ashamed just looking at you! If anybody dared to act so presumptuously in my house, I would have beaten them black and blue until even their mother couldn’t recognise them!”
“Impudence!”
Yang Kai just sneered, “I am impudent! Go on and hit me… If you can!”
Despite knowing that Yang Kai was deliberately being provocative, Wu Heng couldn’t help himself. His emotions sharply fluctuated and his eyes turned scarlet with rage. Yang Kai’s words might have been insolent, but there was one thing Yang Kai had gotten right. It was truly extremely humiliating that he could not even get rid of a single thief that had snuck into his home.
Hence, Wu Heng said nothing more. Spreading his hands wide, lights began to appear above both palms. He gathered the power of the Stars, transformed it into a lightning attack, and blasted it at Gun-Gun. He might not know what that pitch-black giant beast was, but he instinctively felt that it was not as powerful as it seemed on the surface. Even if it was capable of swallowing his attacks, there should be a limit. The healing wound on its back is the best proof. It wasn’t that he couldn’t harm it, it was just that the damage wasn’t great enough! If his initial attack wasn’t enough to kill it, Wu Heng just needed to launch a stronger attack. As long as he persisted, he would eventually decimate it completely!
Once again, Gun-Gun swallowed the power of the Stars that came at it. Two wounds subsequently opened up on its back. Unexpectedly though, Gun-Gun became extremely excited all of a sudden and even took the initiative to lunge at Wu Heng without any directions from Yang Kai, as if it wanted to swallow Wu Heng up too.
There was no way Wu Heng would just freeze in place like a sitting duck. Relying on the convenient abilities of a Star Field Master, his figure flickered around as he avoided Gun-Gun’s attacks. At the same time, he continuously gathered the power of the Stars in his hands, transformed it into attacks, and blasted them at Gun-Gun.
In an instant, the situation within the Small Sealed World changed drastically. Streams of light flashed across the sky like a meteor shower. Concurrently, lightning flashed and thunder boomed inside the Small Sealed World. It was as though the apocalypse was coming and the world was about to collapse.
No matter how high or low their cultivation, all living creatures shivered and fell to their knees while begging for mercy from the Heavens. They did not know what they had done to offend the Master of this world; however, they believed that the Master must have become enraged for such changes to have occurred.
The waves above the sea were choppy; the land in the wastelands split open; countless newly built buildings collapsed. It only took an instant for the peaceful world to be filled with anxiety and the fear of death. The longer the phenomenon occurred, the more they understood the meaning behind the words ‘Heaven’s grace was as vast as the sea, but Heaven’s fury was like Hell itself’.
Yang Kai could not perceive any of this at the moment, and even if he could, there was nothing he could do to stop it from happening. Wu Heng was a Star Field Master and could exert the World Force of Grand Desolation Star Field when in it. Yang Kai had no chance of winning if he fought Wu Heng here. The only one who could put up a fight against Wu Heng was but Gun-Gun. Fortunately, Gun-Gun was living up to his expectations. No matter how much power Wu Heng gathered from the Star Field, it devoured them all.
Two figures, one big and one small, chased after each other across the Star Field, making for an extremely lively scene.
[No! Things can’t go on like this!] Wu Heng was very anxious. For every moment he was being held up here, a large portion of Grand Desolation Star Field was being devoured. The shrinkage of the Star Field would directly affect the amount of power he could mobilize. [I will be defeated if things go on like this. How can I lose!?] Just the sliver of possibility that he might lose left him feeling incredulous. He had never even imagined that such an outcome was possible before he came to find Yang Kai; however, he was currently riding a tiger.
Similarly, Yang Kai was feeling that something was wrong. He took the time to investigate Gun-Gun’s situation and finally discovered the changes in the Small Sealed World.
Just like how Gun-Gun needed time to rest and digest after swallowing three Cultivation Stars before, Wu Heng’s attacks that were formed from the condensation of the power of the Stars were not that easy to devour. Those attacks placed more pressure on Gun-Gun than swallowing those Cultivation Stars had. The Small Sealed World would be unable to bear the pressure if things were to continue for much longer, and once that happened, the situation would become dangerous. Gun-Gun needed to rest for a while to digest the power of the Stars that it had devoured.
Both parties were hostile towards each other, but despite each having their own concerns, they both made the same choice to head towards the edge of the Grand Desolation Star Field at this moment. Wu Heng was rushing back to curb Heng Luo Star Field’s expansion while also trying to drive Yang Kai away. On the other hand, Yang Kai was rushing to take Gun-Gun to a safe place to recuperate.
The speed of both parties was extremely fast. Needless to say, as the Star Field’s Master, Wu Heng could cross a distance of hundreds of millions of kilometres in a single blink. Conversely, Gun-Gun crossed an extremely terrifying distance with every move it made despite its bloated and fat body. When coupled with Wu Heng’s intentional or unintentional assistance, it had the effect of instantaneous movement.
In less than an hour, the endless darkness came into sight. Both parties soon arrived at the place where the two Star Fields were connected. Yang Kai reached out with his mind and immediately created a connection with his Embodiment. More importantly, he felt the power of Heng Luo Star Field filling him. Although he was still in the Grand Desolation Star Field, this place was where the two Star Fields intersected, so it was obvious that he was no longer as suppressed by Wu Heng’s power as before.
Feeling all this, Yang Kai couldn’t help bursting into laughter, “There was a path to the Heavens, but you insisted on barging into Hell! Wu Heng, I really have to thank you!” When the words left his mouth, he rode Gun-Gun and brushed past Wu Heng to rush back to Heng Luo Star Field.
Despite finally sending this powerful enemy away, Wu Heng was not the slightest bit happy. On the contrary, his heart sank. He couldn’t help feeling as though he had made a grave mistake for some reason.
In the next moment, a terrifying force pushing against Wu Heng suddenly came from the boundless darkness. It gave him the feeling that he would have a hard time warding it off. However, Yang Kai’s smiling face appeared in the darkness next, imprinting itself clearly in Wu Heng’s eyes.
“You really are the Star Field’s Master!” Wu Heng exclaimed in shock. A deep wave of regret washed over him. [If I had known, I would never have sent him back!]
He thought Yang Kai wasn’t Heng Luo Star Field’s Master; therefore, he decided to kick him out of the Star Field since he couldn’t possibly just leave him alone, allowing him to mess around in his Star Field behind his back. That way, he could purely concentrate on dealing with the pressure from Heng Luo Star Field without any worries. But now, it looked like he made a huge mistake!
Nevertheless, there was something he couldn’t understand no matter how much he racked his brains over it. If Yang Kai was the Star Field Master, then who was controlling the devouring of Grand Desolation Star Field when Yang Kai had barged in and rampaged about? Could it be that Heng Luo Star Field had two Masters? But, that was impossible! There was only one Star Field Source, so how could it be refined by two different people?
An extremely bold conjecture suddenly came to mind as Wu Heng’s expression became furious.
Gritting his teeth, he growled, “A Soul Clone!”
That was the only explanation for all of his doubts. Yang Kai must have a Soul Clone that he had perfect command over. That was how he managed to infiltrate Grand Desolation Star Field while maintaining the devouring of the Star Field!
Techniques to create Soul Clones were not a secret nor difficult to cultivate. Many Masters had cultivated such Secret Techniques, but normal Soul Clones could not do much. They could, at the most, be used to spy on dangerous situations in place of the original. Hence, it was regarded as a rather useless Secret Technique. Furthermore, cultivating this Secret Technique was very time-consuming and also required a lot of precious resources.
Under normal circumstances, not many would put a lot of effort into cultivating a Secret Technique to create a Soul Clone; after all, this Secret Technique could not be used in a fight where lives were at stake. However, it would seem as though Yang Kai’s Soul Clone was ridiculously powerful. Otherwise, it would not have been able to control the power of the entire Heng Luo Star Field.
The darkness was like a tide that flowed outward in waves, engulfing large portions of the Starry Sky each time. Meanwhile, Wu Heng retreated continuously in complete and utter defeat!
He had found it difficult to hold off the darkness when the Embodiment was controlling the Star Field’s devouring and could only do his best to restrain its onslaught. Now that Yang Kai had returned to the Star Field though, it was only natural that the devouring force was boosted. Coupled with the fact that Grand Desolation Star Field had lost a large part of its Starry Sky recently while Heng Luo Star Field’s territory had expanded as a result, Wu Heng was even less of an opponent for Yang Kai.
[I can’t stop it! I definitely can’t stop it!] Wu Heng’s face was ashen. He had never imagined that temporarily devouring a small piece of a Star Field without a Master would cause such a catastrophe! Yang Kai had just become a Star Field Master recently, so how was he capable of exerting such a powerful force!? Both of them were Star Field Masters so technically, the more experienced Wu Heng should have the upper hand in this battle; unfortunately, reality turned out to be the complete opposite.
With a shift of his body, Wu Heng retreated by another million kilometres.
In the darkness, Yang Kai watched him quietly and mocked, “You want to run? Let’s see where you can escape once I finish devouring all of Grand Desolation Star Field!”
Yang Kai was feeling exhilarated. It was no wonder Wu Heng had the idea of devouring Heng Luo Star Field to become its master. Devouring other Star Fields turned out to be such a pleasurable experience. Moreover, Yang Kai could sense the changes in Heng Luo Star Field as he devoured Grand Desolation Star Field. He made up his mind to devour the entire Grand Desolation Star Field and combine the two Star Fields into one.
[I will soon become the Star Field Master of two Star Fields!]
On the other hand, Wu Heng was strangely calm in the face of Yang Kai’s taunting. He looked like he was resigned to his fate, but his eyes still shone with a glimmer of determination in them.
All of a sudden, Wu Heng took out a jade tablet from his Space Ring. The jade tablet was covered in twinkling lights, as if countless Stars were imprinted inside it. Furthermore, it was giving off a profound and mysterious aura.
Yang Kai could not help frowning when he saw this. They might have been very far apart, but even he could tell that the jade tablet was not an artifact.
[Why is he taking that out at this point in time? I wonder what that jade tablet is? It doesn’t look like an ordinary item.]
Meanwhile, Wu Heng’s expression turned solemn as he formed a set of hand seals and then pointed at the jade tablet in his hand. Then, he lifted it above his head and shouted, “I request the Star Envoy to descend!”
Bits of fluorescent light emerged from the jade tablet without warning. It looked like millions of fireflies were flying out of the jade tablet. These bits of light converged into a dazzling beam that shot straight into the sky. When that beam of light reached the far ends of the sky above his head, a bright white light spread out and converged into a circle spanning several kilometres. That circle was filled with complicated patterns that rotated irregularly, making one dizzy looking at it.
Yang Kai was stunned as those patterns seemed familiar for some reason. Upon taking a closer look, he became dumbfounded. [Isn’t that the Spirit Array pattern I use whenever I arrange a Cross-Territory Space Array? Just what is that jade tablet? How can it construct such a complicated array in an instant!?]
The power of space fluctuated wildly, and a sudden trace of anxiety surged in Yang Kai’s heart. Combining what Wu Heng shouted just now and what he was seeing in front of him, Yang Kai could keenly sense that someone would soon emerge from this array. Sure enough; in the dazzling light, a foot suddenly stepped out of the large circular array. It was as though a banished immortal was falling from the sky as the figure slowly revealed itself.
Yang Kai stared wide-eyed and watched the scene unfolding before him.
To his surprise, the figure turned out to be a handsome man with a feather crest and a feather fan. This man was so handsome that it made Yang Kai feel sick. Moreover, he had a distinctive sword hanging from his waist. It gave him the air of a chivalrous swordmaster. His eyes were closed as he stepped out of the large circular array.
Wu Heng stood there with a solemn expression, looking up at the figure.
Suddenly, the figure opened his eyes. It felt as though his gaze was piercing enough to see through everything in this world.
Wu Heng lowered his head hurriedly as though looking at that person would be deemed disrespectful.
Conversely, Yang Kai felt as though all the hair on his body was standing on end. A strange and inexplicable pressure began weighing on his heart. He wasn’t too sure how powerful Wu Heng was, but Yang Kai figured he was a Third-Order Emperor.
Although Yang Kai had met many Third-Order Emperor Realm Masters before, they never gave him much trouble.
However, this feather-crowned man that fell from the sky made Yang Kai feel some difficulty breathing, and that was when the other party wasn’t even targeting him purposefully.
[There’s only one kind of person that can give me this feeling! This person is not in the Emperor Realm! This person must be a Great Emperor! Which Great Emperor is he!?] All the names and faces of the Great Emperors flashed across Yang Kai’s mind, but none of them matched this person. What he found even stranger was that Wu Heng could summon this person.
What was that farce about requesting a Star Envoy to descend? The title of ‘Star Envoy’ existed in Star Soul Palace too, and Xiao Yu Yang happened to be a ‘Golden Star Envoy’ of Star Soul Palace. However, that was not a position in Star Soul Palace; after all, Xiao Yu Yang’s position in Star Soul Palace was as an Elder.
The so-called ‘Star Envoy’ was a title based on the Southern Territory. Star Envoys of Star Soul Palace was mainly responsible for the communication and reconciliation of the conflicts between the major Sects in the Southern Territory. Additionally, Star Envoys held other positions in Star Soul Palace. The two were independent and did not conflict with each other.
This Star Envoy clearly did not belong to Star Soul Palace.
[The feather-crowned man seems to be in the same realm as the Bright Moon Great Emperor. No, he is still weaker than the Bright Moon Great Emperor.] Unfortunately, Yang Kai had limited experience and could not tell how much weaker this person was compared to the Bright Moon Great Emperor.
“Sir!” Wu Heng cupped his fists in greeting.
The feather-crowned man looked down at Wu Heng and asked lightly, “Wu Heng?”
“It is this Wu.”
“How dare you!” The feather-crowned man shouted, his voice striking Wu Heng like a bolt of lightning, causing him to shake from the impact and turn somewhat pale.
“Sir, please forgive me!” Wu Heng lowered his head even more, “I am facing a great emergency and had no choice but to summon you here.”
The feather-crowned man mocked, “You are the Master of this Star Field! What is there that you cannot handle!?”
Wu Heng raised his hand, “Sir, please look over there.”
The feather-crowned man looked in the direction Wu Heng was pointing and saw a limitless darkness stretching out for millions of kilometres, as well as the image of Yang Kai’s appearance in the darkness.
Narrowing his eyes, the feather-crowned man immediately understood the truth of the matter.
When their gazes met, Yang Kai felt his heart clench and he nearly failed to maintain his projection, secretly feeling shocked. This person was definitely a Great Emperor, otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt so much pressure just from a single glance. Even the advancement of the devouring had been somewhat stalled and the speed had slowed down considerably.
Wu Heng sorrowfully explained, “Sir, this person has some grievances with me and is deluded enough that he wants to devour the entire Grand Desolation Star Field without regard for the lives of all the living creatures in this plane! I am no match for him, so I had to seek assistance from Sir!”
The feather-crowned man did not respond, but his gaze on Yang Kai became sharper. It felt as though his eyes could penetrate the barrier between the two Star Fields and look into Yang Kai’s heart. That look suddenly gave Yang Kai an uneasy and uncomfortable feeling so he subconsciously urged the power of the Star Field to push the devouring darkness forward and block him from those prying eyes.
“Impudence!” The feather-crowned man gave a soft shout when he saw this. He seemed to be blaming Yang Kai for not knowing the immensity of Heaven and Earth and for trying to conceal secrets from him. While speaking, he drew the longsword at his waist and lightly slashed in front of himself. It was a silent and extremely plain sword strike, but it rolled up the power of the entire Grand Desolation Star Field to erect an invisible barrier in front of the boundless darkness.
Yang Kai felt as though he had hit his head against a thick wall, which immediately caused a wave of dizziness to wash over him. No matter what else he did, he could not make the darkness advance at all anymore, causing him to feel incredibly shocked.
[Who is this person!? How is he able to do something like that so easily?]
Yang Kai instinctively felt that this power did not belong to the feather-crowned man. If this person was a Great Emperor, he would have been rejected by the Heavenly Way here, let alone be allowed to so arrogantly utilize the power of Grand Desolation Star Field.
The Master of Grand Desolation Star Field was Wu Heng, but this person could easily achieve what Wu Heng couldn’t. Judging by the situation, not only was he not rejected by the Heavenly Way of this Lower Star Field, he was also more skilled at mobilizing the power of the Star Field. In fact, he was more like the Star Field’s Master than Wu Heng was.
[This is bad! Where did this person pop out from!? He seems to have a terrible impression of me and is being hostile towards me. How can I resolve this issue peacefully?] Yang Kai did not know the relationship between this man and Wu Heng; however, the fact that Wu Heng could summon him so easily indicated that there was some kind of connection between them.
When the feather-crowned man stopped Heng Luo Star Field from devouring Grand Desolation Star Field further, an imperceptible expression of joy appeared on Wu Heng’s face. [It was the right decision to call him here after all, even at the risk of being criticized. Only he can prevent my Star Field from being devoured. But, it’s not enough…]
Choosing his words carefully, Wu Heng cautiously continued, “Sir, this Little Brat is wild, ignorant, rebellious, and uncouth. He not only devoured a vast amount of Starry Sky, but also destroyed many Cultivation Stars in the Grand Desolation Star Field. He caused many living creatures to lose their lives. Please punish him severely, Sir…”
The feather-crowned man glanced at Wu Heng coldly with an emotionless gaze, and Wu Heng’s expression stiffened abruptly in response. Despite preparing many more things to say in advance, Wu Heng could not speak another word after receiving that look. He had wanted to borrow the feather-crowned man’s authority to force Yang Kai to return the Starry Sky that had been devoured, only to understand at this very moment that borrowing a tiger’s strength was not that easy. Since Wu Heng had summoned this man here, the latter would stop Yang Kai from devouring any more of the Grand Desolation Star Field out of obligation; however, he would not stand up for Wu Heng for no reason.
If Wu Heng continued speaking any further, he might be punished as well; after all, he had failed to defend his territory as the Star Field Master of Grand Desolation Star Field. Furthermore, his fight with Yang Kai had resulted in the loss of a large area of his territory, something like that could only be blamed on his incompetence.
“Withdraw!” The feather-crowned man shouted softly, looking at the darkness in the distance. Although his tone was flat, his words were absolute.
Yang Kai’s mind went blank for a moment as though he had been affected by something. The urge to turn around and flee budded in him, while at the same time, the darkness that could not advance became turbulent due to the instability of his emotions.
At that moment, a coolness spread out in Yang Kai’s Knowledge Sea and shocked him back to his senses. The turbulent darkness also stabilized again. Naturally, this was the work of the Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus that took effect at the critical moment.
Yang Kai even suddenly felt that this person was stronger than all the Great Emperors he had met before.
[A Master like that shouldn’t be some obscure figure, so why doesn’t he match with any of the Great Emperors I know of?] All of a sudden, Yang Kai remembered something he had heard once, ‘There were more than 10 Great Emperors in the world!’
Suddenly understanding, Yang Kai calmed himself and shouted loudly, “May I ask for this Sir’s honoured name?”
No matter who this person was, he was not somebody Yang Kai could contend with right now, not even with the power of Heng Luo Star Field. It might be the best outcome for him if this incident was settled here. In any case, he had already devoured quite a large portion of Grand Desolation Star Field. Although he couldn’t engulf the entire Grand Desolation Star Field, the anger in his heart had long been soothed.
Therefore, Yang Kai was mentally prepared to quit while he was ahead. He only asked out of curiosity as he wanted to know the name of such a Master. After all, there might be a chance for them to meet again in the future and it was not a bad idea to form a good relationship now.
“Are you asking me?” The feather-crowned man stared at Yang Kai coldly with a gaze that was completely devoid of anything, as if nothing in this world could enter his eyes.
“That’s right.” Yang Kai frowned, “Please enlighten me, Sir.”
“You are unworthy,” the feather-crowned man responded indifferently. There was no trace of politeness as he raised his hand and snapped, “Scram now! I will not forgive you if you dare to act like this again!”
An amazing power suddenly swept towards Yang Kai from the front. The power was obviously invisible to the naked eye, but it was as if a giant wave rushed toward him at that moment. He would be crushed to death by those waves if he did not retreat immediately.
If Wu Heng had such power, Yang Kai would have lost in the battle a long time ago. There was no way Yang Kai would have been able to do as he pleased in Grand Desolation Star Field for so long.
Needless to say, the wisest course of action at this time was to retreat while he had the opportunity. That power might be ferocious, but it would not harm him as long as he retreated into Heng Luo Star Field. Unfortunately, the feather-crowned man’s arrogant attitude and scornful tone of voice had angered Yang Kai greatly.
Upon examining his conduct, Yang Kai felt that his tone had been fairly respectful and his attitude had been decent enough. He had already made the decision to end things peacefully, but how could he have known that the humility he showed would make the other party become so scornful and arrogant!
A wave of pride and stubbornness burst forth in Yang Kai’s heart, and communicating with Heng Luo Star Field through his mind, he mobilized the power of the Star Field and the boundless darkness condensed into a solid layer of defence.
*Hong…*
A loud explosion rang out as ripples appeared across the layer of darkness and swiftly spread out to the surroundings.
“Hm?” The feather-crowned man raised his brow, revealing an astonished expression. Although he had only waved his hand casually, his strength and status were so much higher than Yang Kai’s that this scene should have been impossible. That wave of power had contained the condensed power of the entire Grand Desolation Star Field, so he thought that it would be enough to repel Yang Kai. Who could have known that it would arouse Yang Kai’s courage to resist instead?
Wu Heng was surprised at first, but his surprise soon turned to glee. He was shocked to see that Yang Kai had the courage to challenge this person.
[Could it be that he really has no idea who this person is? He will surely learn a painful lesson now!]
In the meantime, the darkness vibrated and churned. The huge projection that Yang Kai was maintaining flickered unsteadily, as if it might fall apart at any moment, but eventually it stabilized.
With a grim and imposing tone, Yang Kai coldly asked, “How am I unworthy?”
Upon hearing those words, Wu Heng nearly laughed out loud.
[He truly is a little brat that doesn’t know his place! I can’t believe he actually dared to challenge him! If I had known this would have happened earlier, I wouldn’t have tried to fan the flames just now. All I needed to do was wait quietly for the situation to develop on its own, and that person would get rid of this pest for me!]
Wu Heng could already imagine himself governing two Star Fields and basking in the glory of being the Masters of two Star Fields.
“This aura…” The feather-crowned man frowned suddenly, his gaze searching the boundless darkness as he asked, “What Secret Art are you cultivating?”
Yang Kai felt his heart skipping a beat, [Not good!]
Although he was using the entire Star Field to activate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law without cultivating it himself, this was the Secret Art created by Wu Kuang after all. It was still known as the most powerful and evil Secret Art ever to be created. Nothing good would come of it if this Secret Art were to fall into the wrong hands. Regardless of whether Yang Kai had used this Secret Art to do evil, just possessing the Heaven Devouring Battle Law could be considered a great sin.
[I can’t believe that this feather-crowned man managed to perceive a trace of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law just from examining the darkness. He truly does have sharp eyes!]
Even so, Yang Kai did not respond to the question and changed the topic instead, demanding in a forceful tone, “How am I unworthy?”
The darkness seemed to become more and more violent and unrestrained in response to the ups and downs of Yang Kai’s mood, like it was trying to break through its shackles and continue to devour Grand Desolation Star Field.
“Interesting,” the feather-crowned man nodded lightly before he flicked his longsword without warning and thrust it straight out. At the same time, his entire being transformed into a stream of light as both sword and man merged into one. Crossing a distance of millions of kilometres in a flash, his sword thrust seemed to leap across space to pierce the darkness.
Yang Kai’s image swayed. Unable to maintain the giant projection any longer, it suddenly collapsed. He had been communicating with Heng Luo Star Field with his mind, essentially merging with the boundless darkness that devoured the Starry Sky; therefore, when the feather-crowned man’s sword pierced the darkness, it was equivalent to piercing him in the flesh.
As a result, his Soul Avatar flickered and his consciousness returned to his body. All he could feel was a splitting headache that threatened to make his head explode. Additionally, golden stars were swimming in front of his eyes as his vision blurred.
The Sword Qi slashed through his Knowledge Sea’s defences and rampaged wildly, causing the waves of flames inside chaotically. Swiftly though, the Seven Coloured Soul Warming Lotus began to rotate and a seven-coloured light covered Yang Kai’s entire Knowledge Sea, repairing his damaged Soul.
Yang Kai felt much better after that sense of coolness washed over him. Lifting his gaze to look, a chill ran down the back of his neck. At some point in time, the feather-crowned man had approached until he stood not far away from Yang Kai. However, he didn’t even spare a single glance at Yang Kai as his burning gaze was fixed on Gun-Gun, who was right next to Yang Kai.
The feather-crowned man had been incredibly cold and emotionless ever since he appeared. Similarly, his eyes were empty and indifferent. It was as though he looked down on everybody and everything. It wasn’t until this moment when Gun-Gun appeared that he looked interested in something.
Yang Kai could clearly discern a possessive desire in those eyes.
Gun-Gun was the manifestation of the Will of the Small Sealed World. It could also be regarded as the Artifact Spirit of the Sealed World Bead. After devouring five or six Cultivation Stars, its body had grown to a truly massive size. It also grew a mouthful of fangs and a long tail. It had the appearance of a fat tadpole.
Its birth had been a lucky coincidence. It was something Yang Kai had never anticipated. While he was spending his day swimming through Grand Desolation Star Field like a fish in water, he had considered the question of whether Gun-Gun’s existence or the change in the Small Sealed World would be incompatible with the existence of Heng Luo Star Field for him.
He was the Star Field Master of Heng Luo Star Field, as well as the Master of the Small Sealed World. All things considered; he was the Master of two worlds. Unfortunately, one could end up too greedy and bite off more than one could chew. This was especially true for cultivators. Having more worlds might not necessarily be a good thing. If Yang Kai wanted to gain insight into World Force, his best bet would be to do so with the assistance of Heng Luo Star Field; after all, the Small Sealed World could not compare to a whole Star Field in certain aspects.
Yang Kai originally thought that the ownership of the two worlds would be redundant to him and that sooner or later, one of them would become useless to him; however, looking at the feather-crowned man’s gaze at this moment, he immediately understood that he was wrong. Heng Luo Star Field was not incompatible with the Small Sealed World. In the same vein, the Small Sealed World was not inferior to a complete Star Field either. It could even be said that the value of the Small Sealed World was far greater than a Star Field in some aspects that he was unaware about. Otherwise, why would this feather-crowned man show such a look?
Yang Kai moved to stand in front of the feather-crowned man and forced the man to look at him. The feather-crowned man seemed slightly annoyed, but the annoyance in his eyes disappeared quickly and he asked, “Is this Small World yours?”
Yang Kai knew that he was not asking about Heng Luo Star Field, but the Small Sealed World. It was not strange for somebody with such sharp eyes to see through Gun-Gun’s essence. It would have been stranger if he had failed to do so.
“What difference does it make to you whether it belongs to me or not?”
“If it doesn’t belong to you, I will be taking it away with me. Even if it does belong to you, I will still be taking it away with me.”
“Then, why did you even bother asking?” Yang Kai lowered his eyebrows.
The feather-crowned man shook his head, “It’s only right for me to ask. Although I am stronger than you, I don’t seize things by force!”
“What’s this? Are you going to propose an exchange?”
“That’s right.” He nodded, “This Small World will be very useful to me. Name your price, I will pay whatever you desire.”
Yang Kai shook his head in response, “I apologize, but it is also very useful to me.”
He might not understand why the other party was so enthusiastic about Gun-Gun for the time being, but there was no way he could exchange it for some paltry benefits. It might play a huge role in his future, but even if it turns out to be useless, Yang Kai still refused to exchange it for anything else with this man.
“Leaving it in your hands is a waste.”
“How is it a waste?” Yang Kai’s expression darkened. There should be a limit to how much one can look down on another. He didn’t deny that this man’s strength was superb, far stronger than his own, but there was also an enormous gap in the number of years they had spent cultivating.
Yang Kai still had some qualms about stirring up trouble though, otherwise, he would have retorted with the words ‘Don’t bully the young for being poor’ as a way to snub the feather-crowned man. Nevertheless, he realized that he wasn’t that young anymore either, having long outgrown his juvenile years, so he decided against speaking up.
“Boy, you should be a little more self-aware,” the feather-crowned man scolded impatiently. His expression seemed to say ‘You should feel honoured that I am interested in something of yours.’
“You will not suffer any losses in making an exchange with me. I can even arrange for you to obtain the neighbouring Star Field. You can devour and refine it as much as you want. I can even give you its Star Field Source.”
With a few simple words, he determined the fate of Grand Desolation Star Field, making Yang Kai wonder how Wu Heng would have reacted if he heard those words?
Yang Kai shook his head again, “I refuse!”
The feather-crowned man said, “I promise to help you break through to the Third-Order Emperor Realm within 10 years.”
Yang Kai glared at the feather-crowned man, “What’s this? Are you trying to bribe and extort me since you can’t seize it by force?”
Even if this person turned out to be a Great Emperor, it wasn’t as if Yang Kai had never met a Grand Emperor before. He even fought side-by-side with one of the Great Emperors, so how could he be intimidated by this person’s aura?
[Provoke me, and I’ll show you my 200-metre Half-Dragon Form! You’ll learn what a sea of Dragon Pressure feels like!]
“Boy, if you refuse to take the easy way out, then I’ll have you take the hard way!” The feather-crowned man’s expression sank. It was clear that he was utterly furious. He felt that he had been extremely sincere. Even for him, giving away a Star Field on top of a promise to break through to the Third-Order Emperor Realm within 10 years would require him to pay a huge price. He was only asking for a Small World in exchange, but to his surprise, the other party refused to agree to the conditions.
Yang Kai grinned, “I refuse both the easy way out and the hard way out.” While he was speaking, the power of the vast Starry Sky pressed down and covered the feather-crowned man like a hood.
[I need to strike first!] Although Yang Kai had not known this feather-crowned man for long, he could tell that this person was not a patient man, and since he was determined not to exchange the Small Sealed World with him, a confrontation was inevitable. Compared to passively being beaten up, Yang Kai figured taking the initiative to make a pre-emptive strike was the better option. Who knows, he might actually stand a chance if he acted decisively enough.
In an instant, the space where the feather-crowned man stood turned into a solid cage. Space Principles fluctuated violently, and countless Void Cracks appeared around him like fish swimming around in his surroundings.
Yang Kai might only be a First-Order Emperor, but he was also the Master of Heng Luo Star Field. Even if the opponent was a Great Emperor, it would not be easy for him to take on the power of an entire Star Field.
Looking up though, Yang Kai felt his heart sink. He was dumbfounded by the sight and nearly doubted his eyes. Although the feather-crowned man’s defence seemed to be full of flaws, his surroundings remained untouched and the power of the Star Field Yang Kai had mobilized against him could not touch him at all, only hover around him.
The feather-crowned man was wearing a treasured garment that was glowing with starlight, which blocked out all of Yang Kai’s powers and at this moment seemed slightly surprised. He had clearly not expected Yang Kai to be so reckless as to attack him; hence, he was so furious that he laughed instead while shouting, “You court death!”
If Yang Kai had not made a move, he would only have snatched the Small Sealed World by force. A Star Field Master was not somebody that could be killed on a whim, and his duty did not allow him to do so. Besides, it would be troublesome if his enemies used this incident against him in the future; however, since Yang Kai was the one who took the initiative to provoke him, it wouldn’t matter if he killed Yang Kai off just like that. Nobody could criticize him for it either.
Then, the feather-crowned man pulled out the sword at his waist and slashed forward with it while shouting, “Sever!”
An intangible but extremely mysterious power burst forth that did not cause any harm to Yang Kai, but still made his entire body shudder.
A moment later, Yang Kai exclaimed in shock, “How is this possible!?”
Those words had always been used by his enemies and it wasn’t until this moment that Yang Kai understood the feelings of the many opponents he had faced when they spoke those words. It was unbelievable, beyond imagination, and completely incomprehensible! When the sword of the feather-crowned man fell, it had cut off the connection between him and Heng Luo Star Field!
Yang Kai had spent a lot of time and energy refining the Star Chart, which was the Source of Heng Luo Star Field, to become the Master of this Star Field. The connection formed by this refining process went deep into his Soul and should be impossible to sever unless somebody managed to kill him. Yet, the feather-crowned man made the impossible into the possible with only a light wave of his sword.
The surging power of the Star Field was no longer being driven, and it spread out all at once. Yang Kai tried his best to communicate with the Star Chart, but he couldn’t make it react at all. It felt as though there was a shackle locking up the entire Star Field Source, making his advantage as a Star Field Master disappear.
“How dare you attack me!?” The feather-crowned man lashed out with his sword. He did not take the opportunity to kill Yang Kai though and instead looked down at him disdainfully and declared, “I am the Star Envoy of the Star Court in charge of countless Star Fields. How dare you attack me!?”
“The Star Court!?” Yang Kai’s expression changed. [That really is a mysterious and long-lost name.]
He knew about the existence of the Star Court. It was said that the surviving Great Emperors created it after the Great Emperor War. It was made to prevent someone like Wu Kuang from reappearing again. Its purpose was to seal and suppress the passage to the Lower Star Fields, and protect and monitor the inhabitants of those Star Fields. It would not take the initiative to intervene in the affairs of the Star Field, leaving them to their own devices and allowing them to fend for themselves. If another Wu Kuang appeared though, the Star Court would definitely take action.
The Star Court was so mysterious that not many people in the entire Star Boundary knew about its existence. When Yang Kai was trying to return to Heng Luo Star Field back then, he went around collecting a lot of information. At the time, somebody had told him that he could go to any Star Field he wanted through the Star Court. Unfortunately, that person did not tell him where to find the Star Court.
The only reason he was able to return to Heng Luo Star Field was thanks to Wu Kuang. Had Wu Kuang not used the power of the Dragon Palace to forcefully break through the World Barriers and form a Cross-World Void Corridor, Yang Kai would have needed to go to the Star Court to find a way to return.
The Masters of the Star Court were as numerous as clouds; moreover, it was overseen by a Great Emperor at all times. Rumour had it that the Iron Blood Great Emperor was currently in charge of the Star Court.
[No wonder… No wonder this feather-crowned man managed to cut my connection with Heng Luo Star Field and render my greatest strength useless with a single swing of his sword.] It was only natural for the other party to have this ability since he was a Star Envoy from the Star Court, an organization that supervised thousands of Star Fields.
The treasure garments the feather-crowned man was wearing and the sword at his waist were probably refined specially with Lower Star Fields in mind, to protect him from or reduce the rejection of World Principles when he visited these Star Fields.
Yang Kai had the vague feeling now that this person was not comparable to the Ten Great Emperors but rather that it was a combination of circumstances created by the environment they were in combined with the feather-crowned man’s status.
“Oh? You don’t know about the existence of the Star Court?” The feather-crowned man looked at Yang Kai carefully and nodded, “So that’s how it is. It hasn’t been long since you became a Star Field Master. No wonder you are so reckless.”
Generally speaking, anybody who became a Star Field Master of any Star Field was required to register with the Star Court. That was the case for Wu Heng, and the same held true for the other Star Field Masters.
Every Star Field Master was a Master from the Star Boundary. They couldn’t become a Star Field Master without reaching the Third-Order Emperor Realm. All of them had to go through the Star Court to obtain the qualification to refine a Star Field. Once the refinement process was successful, they had to report to the Star Court as soon as possible to register their name with the Star Court. This registry was both a constraint and a responsibility.
In other words, a Star Field Master was subjected to the administration and constraints set by the Star Court. They couldn’t do whatever they wanted in their Star Fields. Otherwise, a Star Field Master would be fully capable of destroying the entire Star Field if they wanted to.
In a way, the feather-crowned man could be regarded as the immediate superior of Star Field Masters like Yang Kai. If this were not the case, Wu Heng, who was a Third-Order Emperor, would never be so humble and eager to curry favour with this person.
Unfortunately, Yang Kai was completely clueless about this. He had jumped right into this without knowing anything and bypassed the Star Court to refine Heng Luo Star Field on his own. It was only to be expected that he was not in awe when he heard that someone was a Stay Envoy from the Star Court.
The feather-crowned man raised his sword above his head. His figure was as majestic as a mountain at this moment. It wasn’t that he had grown bigger; it was simply that his aura had increased sharply, shooting up to the Heavens as he shouted, “Boy, on account that cultivating must not have been easy for you, I will spare your life if you offer up that Small World to me.”
Yang Kai shouted resolutely, “In your dreams!”
“You court death!” A cold light flashed across the feather-crowned man’s eyes. His longsword slashed downward, the sword light flaring brightly. The power was unimaginable, and for a moment, only the noble bearing of this sword existed in this world.
It wasn’t a profound sword technique, just a simple slash, nevertheless, it seemed to block off all of Yang Kai’s paths of retreat and created the sense that there was no way to avoid it.
*Shua…*
Light flashed by as the longsword stopped in mid-motion. Yang Kai had raised his arms and caught the blade of the sword between his palms just above his head, sending several strands of hair flying and turning into dust from the residual Sword Qi.
“Hm?” The feather-crowned man was slightly surprised. There was no way he could have predicted that Yang Kai would be able to stop his sword like this; after all, that attack was something even Wu Heng could do nothing against. This boy’s aura doesn’t even compare to Wu Heng’s though, so how was it possible for him to be completely unscathed?
Even if he thought like that, the feather-crowned man didn’t seem bothered by this unexpected surprise. He simply put more strength into his attack and pressed the longsword down even harder.
Yang Kai instantly felt as though a large mountain was pressing down on his head; moreover, the weight continued to increase without stopping. It gave off the impression that it wouldn’t be satisfied until he was crushed flat.
Lifting his gaze, Yang Kai saw that the feather-crowned man was looking at him mockingly, as if admiring the struggles of an ant.
Rage flared up in Yang Kai’s heart, fuelling his impulse to defy the feather-crowned man. At that moment, his left eye turned into a majestic golden vertical slit. Furthermore, a sabre burst out from that eye and pierced through the air, stabbing toward the feather-crowned man.
“A Soul-type Emperor Artifact!?” The feather-crowned man’s eyes lit up at the sight. He was not affected by the Demon Eye of Annihilation and instantly figured out the essence of the Soul Splitting Saber.
Emperor Artifacts were nothing special to him, but Soul-type Emperor Artifacts were incredibly rare. Although the Soul Splitting Saber was extraordinary, it wasn’t enough to make him greedy for it though. What he really wanted was the Small Sealed World. That was the item that would greatly benefit his cultivation. Even so, he was curious as to why such a young man would possess something so impressive. An ordinary Emperor Realm Master would never have such a heritage.
Releasing his Divine Sense, the feather-crowned man silently deployed a layer of defence around his Knowledge Sea.
*Hong…*
The next instant, a tremor rang out from the depths of his Soul. The defences he had hurriedly laid out had failed to make any difference and a pure blast of Spiritual Energy from the sabre carved out a long ravine into his Knowledge Sea, as if trying to split his Soul in half, sending the waves crashing and churning violently.
The feather-crowned man groaned as a stabbing pain radiated from his head. Just the Soul Splitting Saber alone would most likely not have been able to cause any harm to him; after all, it was difficult for him to be injured given the difference in his cultivation and Yang Kai’s. However, Yang Kai had used his Heaven Severing Slash in conjunction with his Soul Splitting Saber, so the power behind that attack was not as simple as two different attacks stacking on top of each other.
It had been many years since the last time Yang Kai used the Soul Splitting Saber, and over those years, he had constantly been nourishing the Soul Splitting Saber with his Spiritual Energy. As a result, it had accumulated an extremely terrifying amount of power. Combined with the Secret Technique taught to him by Tian Yan, his attack had been successful.
“Boy…” The feather-crowned man’s face instantly became ugly, his shame transforming into rage. He had never expected to suffer damage from Yang Kai. It was as though he had carelessly been bitten by an ant that he could have squashed with a finger.
*Hong…* A huge fist suddenly filled the feather-crowned man’s vision though and an overwhelming force smashed into him head-on, blowing him away like a meteor, causing him to disappear in the blink of an eye.
Yang Kai straightened up from the punch he threw. At some point, his body had turned into a 200-metre long Half-Dragon Form. He had Dragon Horns on his head and a Dragon Tail at his back while his exposed skin was also covered in Dragon Scales. It was an imposing and majestic sight to behold as he shouted, “Old dog! Are you done calling me a ‘boy’ yet!?”
Before Yang Kai finished his sentence though, a cold light flashed as the feather-crowned man and his sword came flying at him from a few tens of thousands of kilometres away. He appeared in front of Yang Kai in a flash, and his sword stabbed at Yang Kai’s head.
In response, Yang Kai reached out with his Dragon Claw and grabbed at the longsword.
A loud clanging sound of metal against metal rang out, sparks flew, and Dragon Scales cracked. Gripping the long sword tightly, Yang Kai seemed unconcerned with the damage the sharp edge of the blade was causing him, even allowing the unparalleled Sword Qi to rush into his body and go on a rampage, destroying his body. All the while, Yang Kai single-handedly prepared a Secret Technique with his other Dragon Claw as a strange Principle Strength began surging around his figure.
“This is…” The feather-crowned man lowered his gaze as he felt time stopping for a moment before flowing again, causing his five senses to experience a sense of vertigo, “Time Principles!”
“Time Flows on Infinitely!” Yang Kai struck at the feather-crowned man with his palm, his expression completely solemn.
“Time Flies Seal!” The feather-crowned man’s complexion changed slightly for the first time as he even blurted out the name of this Divine Ability. It was obvious that he recognized this move as the signature Divine Ability of the Flowing Time Great Emperor! A trace of hesitation flitted across his eyes, but quickly turned into a look of determination as he swiftly pulled back and put some distance between them.
Unfortunately, it was too late. Yang Kai’s palm smashed out and the feather-crowned man was enveloped in the power of the Time Flies Seal.
Conversely, Yang Kai frowned. Lifting his gaze, he saw the feather-crowned man’s body flickering several dozen metres away, appearing to resist the corrosion of the Time Principles and a moment later, completely dispel his Divine Ability.
A few dozen metres away, the feather-crowned man took a serious look at Yang Kai for the first time. [A Half-Dragon Form… Plus, he has also cultivated the Time Flies Seal… Just where did this boy come from?]
Although the power of the Time Flies Seal that Yang Kai had exhibited was much weaker than that of the Flowing Time Great Emperor, it still involved the extremely mysterious Time Principles and the feather-crowned man knew he would have gotten injured if he had not pulled back at that moment. It wasn’t that he couldn’t withstand such a minor injury, but it would have taken a lot of effort to free himself from the erosion of the Time Principles once affected by them. There was no reason to expose himself to danger on purpose, so he stepped back instead of engaging in a frontal confrontation.
“Boy, what is your name?” The feather-crowned man stared at Yang Kai with a cautious look.
The Time Flies Seal by itself was nothing noteworthy; after all, the Flowing Time Great Emperor had fallen long ago. Even if Yang Kai had inherited the Flowing Time Great Emperor’s Divine Ability by chance, it only meant that he had incredible luck so there was nothing to be wary about or jealous of.
However, the 200-metre long Half-Dragon Form Yang Kai had assumed gave the feather-crowned man an unsettling feeling that he could not overlook. It was only a Half-Dragon Form, but it felt as if he was facing a True Dragon! He had never heard of anyone who managed to cultivate their Half-Dragon Form to such an extent.
“Are you asking for my name?” Yang Kai grinned at the feather-crowned man, his left hand still gripping the other party’s longsword firmly, fresh blood dripping down his arm. When the feather-crowned man backed away just now, he had wanted to bring the longsword away with him. Nevertheless, how could he succeed against Yang Kai’s brute force? He had no choice but to leave his sword behind.
The moment the feather-crowned man heard those words, a bad feeling rose up in him as he hurriedly said, “It’s fine, I don’t want to…”
“You’re not worthy!” Yang Kai laughed loudly with the arrogant appearance of finally achieving his revenge.
The feather-crowned man’s expression darkened. How could he not know that Yang Kai had repeated the words he originally said back to him?
His face turning grim, he formed a seal and shouted, “Come! My sword!”
Although his longsword was in Yang Kai’s hands, it was still his Artifact, and was connected to his Soul. Yang Kai could not actually take it away from him and it would only take a single thought for him to retrieve it. That was why he had backed away without any hesitation just now.
Following that command, the longsword in Yang Kai’s grasp began to pulse and vibrate. It was clearly trying to break free of his control.
Sword Qi flashed wildly, rushing into Yang Kai’s arms, trying to destroy his flesh and meridians.
*Peng peng peng…*
One bloody hole after another exploded along Yang Kai’s arm as Sword Qi rampaged out along with his blood. Gritting his teeth, however, Yang Kai tightened his grip and refused to let go, his face twisting in pain, making him look particularly menacing.
The feather-crowned man watched this scene and sneered, “You are but an ant trying to shake a tree. Don’t overestimate yourself, boy.”
“Cows are flying in the sky!” Yang Kai raised his head to look at the feather-crowned man, his eyes flashing.
The feather-crowned man was startled and thought that Yang Kai had used some strange trick again, quickly raising his head and glancing up. However, there was nothing there.
Yang Kai smiled seeing this and mocked, “They were killed by your stink!”
The feather-crowned man froze for a moment hearing this outrageous line, but when he came back to his senses, his face twitched visibly and he formed a new seal with his hands and shouted louder, “Come!”
In that instant, the Sword Qi between Yang Kai’s fingers went wild and released a huge amount of light. It felt as though what he held wasn’t a sword but a Star that was about to explode. Even his Dragon Transformation could not withstand those sharp bursts of Sword Qi and pieces of his flesh were sliced off, revealing the bone underneath.
“I’ll never give it back to you!” Yang Kai shouted madly.
Glancing around him, his eyes lit up all of a sudden. Shifting slightly, he appeared in front of Gun-Gun in a flash then he heaved with all his might and threw the longsword directly into Gun-Gun’s mouth.
Gun-Gun swallowed it with a gulp and after that, it closed its mouth as its huge body suddenly began to expand and contract violently.
“You…” The feather-crowned man was both shocked and furious. He did not expect to be robbed of his Artifact in a battle like this. A deep wave of shame washed over him and he couldn’t wait to crush Yang Kai into dust immediately to vent the hatred in his heart.
“Hahaha!” Yang Kai cackled before glancing down at his left hand. His arm was a bloody mess, and he didn’t even have the strength to lift it up anymore. As for his palm, it was now just bone. Even so, there was not a trace of pain on his face, only a kind of joyful madness.
Losing an arm in exchange for his opponent’s sword was not a loss!
“You! Court! Death!” The feather-crowned man enunciated each word clearly. He stopped paying attention to his long sword as after being swallowed by Gun-Gun, there was no way to get it back immediately no matter how powerful he was. It was as if his sword had been exiled to another world; thus, the connection between him and it became extremely weak.
Be that as it may be, the feather-crowned man’s strength did not come from his sword. Even if his Artifact was taken away, he still had a hundred ways to kill the young man in front of him.
Yang Kai stretched out his little finger, dug at his ears, and casually said, “I’ve heard those words so many times that my ears are about to fall off. Go ahead and kill me if you can!”
“As you wish!” The feather-crowned man’s furious expression abruptly became calm again. He took several strides forward and appeared in front of Yang Kai as silently as a ghost where he clenched his fist with his thumb pointing forward and imprinted his thumbprint against Yang Kai’s Dragon Head.
The speed of his attack was not fast. On the contrary, it was extremely slow. It was so slow that it could almost be described as the speed of a tortoise crawling. In a fight between Masters, victory or defeat could be decided in the blink of an eye; however, he seemed to be doing the exact opposite. His attitude was so nonchalant that it was as if he was about to crush a bug.
Yang Kai reacted solemnly though as he watched the other party shove his thumb against his forehead, the illusion of being crushed growing within him. His entire body stiffened, and he couldn’t move a single muscle. Moreover, he could see space collapsing as that fist gradually approached him.
[If that attack lands on my head, it will definitely explode!]
Opening his mouth abruptly, Yang Kai let loose a Dragon Roar that could shake the Stars. A violent force erupted from his mouth, making the feather-crowned man’s clothes and hair whip about wildly. It seemed as though a large Dragon was flying through the feather-crowned man’s Knowledge Sea, causing it to roil and daze him.
“Dragon Breath!” The feather-crowned man’s brow twitched as the situation was becoming more and more unbelievable.
Although the Dragon Clan were few in numbers and rarely appeared in public, he had fought with a member of the Dragon Clan several years back; therefore, he knew a little bit about how Dragons fought, and one of the most characteristic attacks was their Dragon Breath. This was not a Secret Technique but rather an Innate Divine Ability. Dragon Breath had extraordinary power and was in no way inferior to the most powerful Secret Techniques. Moreover, it was extremely convenient and easy to use since it was an innate ability. This was the advantage of being born as a Divine Spirit, something other beings simply could never match up to.
The moment Yang Kai opened his mouth, the feather-crowned man immediately felt the power of a Dragon Breath forming. Moreover, this Dragon Breath was extremely pure, almost as if it were the Dragon Breath of an actual Dragon Clan member. The Dragon he had fought a long time ago had just reached a mature state and had an Eighth-Order Dragon Vein, but the Dragon Breath he shot seemed to be weaker than that of the young man standing in front of him right now.
[What is going on!? Even if this boy cultivated some sort of Secret Technique that allowed him to transform into a Half-Dragon, he shouldn’t be able to shoot out such a pure Dragon Breath!] There were all sorts of Secret Techniques related to the Dragon Clan in the Star Boundary, but there were no Secret Techniques that could achieve this.
The raised thumb stopped an arm’s length in front of Yang Kai’s forehead and couldn’t press forward anymore.
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened seeing this and grinned, “I see. It’s not like you aren’t affected by the suppression at all!”
He finally understood something. This man might be a Star Envoy or something from the Star Court and might be in charge of hundreds of Star Fields, but he was still unable to act as he pleased after descending to a Lower Star Field. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he had lost his sword, but regardless of the reason, it was obvious that this feather-crowned man was unable to exert his full strength at the moment!
Yang Kai’s confidence increased greatly knowing this. The connection between him and Heng Luo Star Field might have been severed and he could not utilise the various perks of being a Star Field Master, but even so, he had one major advantage over his opponents in this Star Field and that was he was not under any form of suppression! The Star Field’s World Principles no longer rejected his existence; therefore, he could wield all his strength freely provided he did not care about causing damage to the Star Field.
[I’ll be fighting a suppressed enemy at my strongest! There’s nothing to be afraid of even if this old dog is a Great Emperor.]
“Let’s see you act all arrogant in front of me now!” Saying so, something appeared in Yang Kai’s right hand. It was a small bell that rapidly began to spin and enlarge. Soon, it was several tens of metres tall.
Grabbing the bell as if holding a brick in his hand, Yang Kai pounded it towards the feather-crowned man’s head.
The feather-crowned man looked stunned as he could feel an indescribable force of suppression enveloping him, giving him the impression that escaping was impossible.
At this point, it was already too late to back off. Just as Yang Kai had hypothesized, the restraints and constraints binding him had increased after losing his sword so he was unable to unleash his full strength in this Star Field. Otherwise, he would not have performed so poorly.
Steeling himself, the feather-crowned man gathered all of his strength and forced his thumb to press down towards Yang Kai’s forehead again.
Initially, he had hoped that Yang Kai would back down in the face of danger; that way, they could avoid the ending where both sides perished together, but contrary to his expectations, Yang Kai showed no intention of stopping whatsoever. The large bell slammed into his head with a loud clanging sound that reverberated in his ears, causing a wave of dizziness to wash over him, sending him flying once more. The Artifact Armour he was wearing flashed wildly, and if not for its protection, the consequences of this attack would have been dire.
Similarly, Yang Kai’s Dragon Head was also knocked backwards so hard that he nearly broke his neck. Folded at an odd angle, Yang Kai’s towering body was thrown out and froze up in an awkward position.
*Shua…*
The feather-crowned man returned after getting blown away, his expression filled with a lingering sense of dread as his complexion had gone pale. Although the Artifact Armour he was wearing had helped to offset most of the damage, that pure brute strength was not something that could be defended against. Most of his internal organs were still churning from that blow, and he could taste blood in the back of his throat. Glancing at the 200-metre long Half-Dragon body, his expression was extremely complicated.
If anybody had told him that there was someone who could injure him in a Lower Star Field, he would have never believed them no matter what. However, somebody had truly managed to do just that.
His gaze went to the large bell Yang Kai was holding in his hand still. There were plants, birds, fish, beasts, mountains, and rivers depicted on the bell in extremely lifelike carvings. Moreover, it was exuding an extremely ancient and desolate aura as if it had travelled through time and space from the primordial era.
“The Mountains and Rivers Bell!” He narrowed his eyes at the sight before a look of ecstasy flashed across his face.
This was an extremely famous Ancient Exotic Artifact, one that allowed Yuan Ding to rise to the position of Great Emperor. As such, it was understandably of immense value. Unfortunately, the Mountains and Rivers Bell disappeared with the death of the Yuan Ding Great Emperor after the end of the Great Emperor War.
The feather-crowned man had heard that somebody had obtained the Mountains and Rivers Bell in the Shattered Star Sea a few years ago, but he did not know the specific details. It wasn’t until he witnessed it with his own eyes that he realized that this young man was the lucky person who obtained the Mountains and Rivers Bell back then.
[No wonder the force of that blow was so powerful that even I couldn’t defend against it. After all, it was delivered with the Mountains and Rivers Bell!]
The Mountains and Rivers Bell was no ordinary Emperor Rank Artifact as even a Great Emperor would benefit greatly from obtaining it. In other words, what harmed him wasn’t Yang Kai, but the power of the Mountains and Rivers Bell.
When the bell tolled, it subdued mountains and rivers alike. All Emperor Aura would stagnate before it.
[I made the right decision to come here! Not only can I obtain a Small World, but the Mountains and Rivers Bell will also fall into my hands! With these, I will surely join the ranks of the ten Great Emperors in the future!]
If the Small Sealed World was something he coveted, then the Mountains and Rivers Bell was something that he was determined to obtain no matter what. This Ancient Exotic Artifact was much more valuable than this Small World, even though the Small World was no inferior item either.
With those thoughts in mind, his lips became a little dry. Reaching out, he grabbed at the Mountains and Rivers Bell.
A strange feeling flooded his body the moment he came into contact with the bell. It gave him a sense of elevation and made him even more aware of how extraordinary the Mountains and Rivers Bell was. Consequently, he became even more determined to possess it.
For some reason though, the Mountains and Rivers Bell did not move when he pulled at it.
*Kachaca…*
The sound of bones being dislocated rang out at that moment, startling the feather-crowned man, and when he looked up, he saw that Yang Kai’s head, which should have been snapped off his neck, getting back into position again. There was a bloody hole on Yang Kai’s forehead that was trickling with Golden Blood, staining his cheeks.
“You…” The feather-crowned man was astonished. [He took my Divine Ability head-on! How is he unharmed!?]
“Old dog, I’m not dead yet!” Yang Kai put some strength into his arm all of a sudden and snatched the Mountains and Rivers Bell back before the feather-crowned man could notice.
Then, the feather-crowned man watched as Yang Kai turned the bell around and brought it down on his head while shouting, “Suppression!”
Immediately following that, the plants, birds, fish, beasts, mountains, and rivers depicted on the bell looked like they had come alive and a force that was far more terrifying than before came crashing down on him.
The feather-crowned man looked like he didn’t have enough time to react and was covered by the Mountains and Rivers Bell; however, Yang Kai did not rejoice. On the contrary, he turned a slightly surprised look over at the feather-crowned man, who had appeared a few hundred metres away at some point in time and was currently staring at him with a frown.
[Was it an afterimage?]
“Suppression!” Tossing the Mountains and Rivers Bell into the air, Yang Kai cast a Secret Technique with one hand to control it. The mouth of the bell was like the gaping maw of a wild beast as it tried to swallow the feather-crowned man whole.
The feather-crowned man moved about erratically, advancing at times and retreating at others. He moved back and forth without any fixed pattern, but even so, he continuously managed to avoid being suppressed by the Mountains and Rivers Bell at the last moment.
He no longer had the careless and contemptuous expression on his face from before as it seemed as though he had re-evaluated Yang Kai’s strength. After suffering at the hands of this boy on multiple occasions, he had to admit that this boy had the strength to make him fight seriously.
A voice incessantly floated into Yang Kai’s ears, “Treasures make an innocent man guilty. Boy, you should understand this principle too. Putting aside the Small World in your possession, just by holding onto the Mountains and Rivers Bell is enough to attract all sorts of people and trouble to you. Why don’t you obediently hand it over to me instead? Do so and I promise you will never want for anything again in the future.”
“Fuck you!” Yang Kai responded happily.
The feather-crowned man continued, “It seems you choose death.”
Yang Kai laughed riotously, “Although you have nothing worthy of my attention, that life of yours looks pretty good. Why don’t you obediently hand it over to me instead? I promise to give you a quick death!”
“A sharp tongue and foolish bravado,” The feather-crowned man slowly shook his head as if feeling regret that Yang Kai was not living up to his expectations. His entire body paused for a moment then as he stared at Yang Kai coldly.
Feeling his entire body going cold all of a sudden, Yang Kai quickly pushed the Mountains and Rivers Bell without any hesitation. The Mountains and Rivers Bell shone with waves of light, sealing off the space in their surroundings and suppressing everything within. Following that, his vision blurred for a moment and he lost sight of the feather-crowned man.
Meanwhile, a green and opaque giant palm came crashing down. It was accompanied by a Heaven-destroying and Earth-shattering force that rushed at him. Even a Star would be crushed to pieces by that palm strike, much less his 200-metre-long Half-Dragon Body.
[Is this his full strength!?] Yang Kai was shocked as he realized that even suppressed, a Great Emperor was still a Great Emperor! This man’s cultivation was probably not inferior to any of the Great Emperors he had met before. The carelessness from before was just that he had not gotten serious yet.
[Can I defend against such an attack!?] This question appeared in Yang Kai’s heart for a moment before it melted away like snow under the sun and was replaced by determination.
[I must defend against it! I will die if I don’t!]
A resounding Dragon Roar came from Yang Kai’s mouth, one that was mixed with a mysterious and obscure language that sounded like a chant from ancient times, agitating all the Stars in the Starry Sky.
The space around them shattered. At the same time, several Dead Stars nearby exploded and turned into rubble flying in all directions. The rage of a Star Field Master could affect the entire Star Field.
A Dragon Roar rang out, resounding throughout the Heavens. In the midst of the disorientation, a burst of golden light was released and a Golden Dragon appeared out of nowhere. Its Dragon’s Eyes were imposing as they looked down on the world. All living creatures were nothing but ants in its eyes. Shaking its head and flicking its tail, the Golden Dragon rushed towards the green giant palm.
“Dragon Language!?” The feather-crowned man’s expression changed drastically. He was extremely amazed and shocked. He had heard that obscure and complicated language once before. It was undoubtedly the Dragon Language. Besides, that Great Dragon shining with a golden light was definitely one of the Dragon Clan’s Secret Techniques.
[What is going on!?]
“What’s the relationship between you and the Dragon Clan?” He burst out. The green giant palm paused for a moment in mid-air.
Even if Yang Kai was a Star Field Master, he had the right to kill him since Yang Kai had provoked him. At most, he would receive some light punishment upon his return to the Star Court; however, he had to proceed carefully if this young man in front of him turned out to be related to the Dragon Clan.
The Dragon Clan was extremely arrogant, and such arrogance meant that they were extremely protective of their own. In other words, it meant that they would never forget a grudge. Offending a member of the Dragon Clan was equivalent to offending all of Dragon Island. Even he did not have the confidence to face the fury of Dragon Island. As far as he knew, whether it was the Dragon Language or the Dragon Clan’s Secret Technique, those were things that only Pureblood Dragons had the right to learn and could learn. It was basically impossible for those with the Half-Dragon bloodlines to comprehend the intricacies within the obscure Dragon Language.
[Could it be possible… That this boy did not cultivate some sort of Secret Technique that allowed him to transform into a Half-Dragon? Could he actually be a member of the Dragon Clan!?] The moment he heard Yang Kai’s Dragon Language Secret Technique, he immediately became fearful and subconsciously reduced the power of his Divine Ability by a considerable amount.
Yang Kai was overjoyed at the sight and immediately understood the reason behind this change, secretly thinking to himself, [The words ‘Dragon Clan’ sure make for powerful protection! They can even scare a man like this. Their reputation sure precedes them.]
There was no way he was going to explain himself to the feather-crowned man of course as any negligence would result in death in a life-or-death battle, much less in a situation where he was weaker than his opponent in the first place.
In the midst of the Dragon Roar, the Golden Great Dragon slammed into the green giant palm. Two waves of energy clashed against each other, and be it the green giant palm or the Golden Dragon, they were both stuck in a strange stalemate. Both green and golden lights intertwined around each other, and an invisible wave of energy spread into the surroundings with a loud explosion.
Yang Kai breathed a sigh of relief.
[That was dangerous! Fortunately, that old dog held back slightly just now, otherwise, I would be no match for him at all.]
“Boy, answer my question!” The feather-crowned man shouted authoritatively.
Yang Kai glared at the feather-crowned man so hard that his eyes were about to pop, urgently summoning all the Dragon Aura within his body as he roared, “What’s so great about the Dragon Clan!? I’m the man who is going to become the Dragon Emperor!”
The feather-crowned man was taken aback by the words that left Yang Kai’s mouth. [Dragon Emperor!? That’s the highest title a Dragon can ever achieve!]
Although Dragon Island currently had two Masters on par with Great Elders overseeing their clan, even Great Elder Zhu Yan was not qualified to claim the title of Dragon Emperor.
[Shameless boasting!] The feather-crowned man suddenly felt amused as he secretly mocked himself in his heart. [I was being overly cautious. Even if this boy was lucky enough to come across the opportunity to learn the Dragon Clan’s Secret Technique, it doesn’t mean that he is related to the Dragon Clan. How could someone like him be from the Dragon Clan?]
Even so, the situation did not feel that simple.
*Kachaca…*
The sound of bones cracking entered the feather-crowned man’s ears, and looking in the direction of the sound, his eyes narrowed abruptly.
Yang Kai, who was originally 200 metres long, suddenly became substantially taller, his figure rising to a full 250 metres long in the blink of an eye. Not only did he become taller, but the Dragon Clan features on the surface of his body also became more distinct than before. The Dragon Horns on his head had gotten longer, the Dragon Scales covering his body became fuller, his facial features squirmed and completely transformed into a gigantic Dragon Head, and his Golden Dragon Eyes were filled with an arrogant aloofness that looked at all the living creatures in the world as though they were beneath him.
Under the tremendous pressure he faced, Yang Kai’s Dragon Transformation Secret Art advanced again. Moreover, it was a huge leap forward. The Dragon Blood in his body seemed to flow even more joyfully than before and he could vaguely feel that even his vision and mentality had undergone a subtle change, birthing a compulsive sense of superiority in his mind.
The Dragon Clan claimed to be the strongest among all the living creatures and the head of all Divine Spirits. Although it was a self-proclaimed title, there was no living creature in the world that could object to it. That was because nobody in the world had the right to refute those claims. Any member of the Dragon Clan was inherently prideful and treated everything and everyone with contempt.
Looking into that pair of majestic Dragon Eyes, the feather-crowned man involuntarily felt his heart rate increasing as ripples of uncertainty washed over him.
After Yang Kai’s Dragon Transformation Secret Art made a breakthrough, the power of the Dragon Clan’s Secret Technique seemed to soar as well, and the original stalemate between golden and green light immediately tilted in his favour.
The feather-crowned man gritted his teeth and increased his strength in response, taking quite a lot of effort to offset Yang Kai’s sudden counterattack.
“Divine Dragon Tail Sweep!” Yang Kai shouted, and though his body did not move, the Dragon Tail behind him whipped out and struck in the direction of that feather-crowned man.
As if in a trance, the feather-crowned man felt a terrifying force sweep towards him, and by the time he reacted and tried to dodge, the Dragon Tail had already slammed into his body.
He was completely caught off guard by the Dragon Tail that came sweeping towards him seemingly ignoring the barriers of space. Furthermore, it was so swift and powerful that he had no chance to block it.
His entire being felt as though he had been hit by a Star and he couldn’t help grunting as the sound of bones breaking came from his body. Fortunately, he had prepared some defences in advance, so he was not sent flying this time around. Nevertheless, that attack had undoubtedly and completely angered him.
Gritting his teeth, he roared, “Do you really think I don’t dare to kill you!?”
After being humiliated so many times, the feather-crowned man didn’t even care anymore if this boy was a member of the Dragon Clan. This was a Lower Star Field, so even if he killed Yang Kai here, the Dragon Clan might not be able to prove anything. He might have some scruples over angering the Dragon Clan, but that did not mean he would silently endure such humiliation over and over again.
Power erupted from the feather-crowned man’s body while, at the same time, the green giant palm that had been struggling against the Golden Great Dragon all this while pressed down violently again.
Another Dragon Roar rang out, but even so, the Golden Dragon was overwhelmed and soon collapsed, allowing the giant palm to crash down on Yang Kai’s head, sealing space on all sides and preventing him from escaping.
At that critical moment of life or death, the frenzied look on Yang Kai’s face disappeared, and instead, he appeared incredibly calm.
When their gazes met, the feather-crowned man felt his heart clenching as a sense of unease gripped him, it felt as though something terrifying would occur if his palm strike were to land on its target. It was accompanied by a sense of crisis in his heart. Still, he had already committed himself to the battle, so how could he back down now? Gritting his teeth, he hardened his resolve.
[Die!]
All of a sudden, a slender jade white hand appeared out of thin air and gently blocked the feather-crowned man’s palm strike from reaching Yang Kai.
“Enough!” A cold voice rang out, one that was clear and pleasant to the ears, like a babbling spring. The voice was soft, but it contained a dignity and authority that could not be questioned.
Then, a graceful figure slowly emerged to stand beside the feather-crowned man.
Yang Kai’s eyes widened as he stared at the person who had appeared out of nowhere with a blank look. That person was dressed in gold and had a red-gold Phoenix Coronet on her head; a pair of Phoenix Wings were spread out behind her like she was about to take flight; her black hair was tied into a neat bun behind her head; a red plum blossom mark stood out between her eyebrows; her starry eyes were bright and beautiful; her nose was exquisite; her skin was delicate, flawless, and as white as snow; and her figure was enchanting. The gold outfit that would seem gaudy and vulgar on most gave off an inexhaustible grace and nobility when worn on her instead.
“Yang…” Yang Kai began to utter; however, he didn’t dare to identify her and simply froze in place as a result. Meanwhile, the green giant palm, which was about to land on his head, dissipated, the remaining power fizzling out and fading into nothingness.
The feather-crowned man turned his head to look at this newcomer and frowned when he saw her face clearly. Although he had met her many times before, he was still amazed by her every single time. In the path toward the peak of the Martial Dao, the number of females decreased with increasing cultivation. The most obvious example of this was Flower Shadow Great Emperor, who was the only woman among the Ten Great Emperors while the rest were men. It wasn’t that women had a lower aptitude for cultivation compared to men, it was just that women were more susceptible to distractions, especially when it came to romance.
Many young women became enamoured with young men and became troubled because of love, causing their cultivation to stagnate. Ultimately, it led to the end result where women were fewer among those with higher cultivation. On the other hand, the woman in front of him was one of those few people who could rival him, an existence close to the Ten Great Emperors, qualified to stand on an equal footing with him.
The feather-crowned man had high cultivation and status, so he could afford to look down on Yang Kai and even go so far as to secretly kill off a suspected member of the Dragon Clan, but even so, he had no choice but to face this woman seriously.
“What are you doing here?” He asked.
The woman smiled back lightly and asked, “What’s wrong? Why can’t I be here?”
He pondered for a moment and nodded, “That’s true. This Star Field is under your jurisdiction after all.”
She said, “That’s right. A Star Field Master appeared in my Star Field, so it’s only right that I come over to take a look. Otherwise, he might have died at your hands.”
He snorted, “He is the one with a death wish.”
Yang Kai immediately felt displeased upon hearing those words. He immediately retracted his gaze from the woman and lifted his chin at the feather-crowned man in a smug posture, “If you’re not happy with the results, we can have a rematch. Let’s settle who is stronger between us!”
The feather-crowned man’s expression sank before he sneered, “You should rejoice for escaping with your life. If you dare make another sound…”
“What are you going to do?”
The feather-crowned man flicked his sleeves and snorted, “Forget it. I won’t stoop to your level.”
Now that this woman was here, he couldn’t act against this young man anymore. The only reason he decided to kill this young man was that nobody would know about it; however, there were witnesses now. His intention to get rid of Yang Kai once and for all had to be shelved as a result. What’s more, this woman would not stand idly by if he attacked Yang Kai. This Star Field was under her management after all. In short, things were going to have to end here today.
“Return my Star Severing Sword to me. Then, we’ll consider today’s matter settled!” The feather-crowned man crossed his arms behind his back aloofly and glared at Yang Kai coldly.
[So it’s called the Star Severing Sword,] Yang Kai’s brow twitched but he looked to the side as if he had not heard the feather-crowned man.
The veins in the feather-crowned man’s forehead bulged as he shouted, “Boy, I’m talking to you! Have you gone deaf!?”
“What did you say? I can’t hear you!” Yang Kai tilted his Dragon Head to the side and put one hand on his ear while shouting loudly.
[What a joke! This guy is the one who appeared out of nowhere to stand up for Wu Heng for some reason and even picked a fight with me! Now, he wants me to return his Star Severing Sword!? He can go and screw himself!] The feather-crowned man wasn’t the only one who was upset, Yang Kai was upset too. [My rescue sure arrived at an untimely moment. It’s a little too early!]
If the feather-crowned man knew what Yang Kai was thinking at this moment, he would surely mock him for being overconfident again.
[In any case, that Star Severing Sword is my trophy. I can’t return it to him. En, I might consider it if he gets down on his knees and begged me though.]
“Peace reigns throughout the land, but foolish people create trouble for themselves. Did you really think I can’t get my Star Severing Sword back myself?” The feather-crowned man looked at Yang Kai coldly before glancing at Gun-Gun that was hovering nearby.
Gun-Gun had not been able to contribute in this fight, but that wasn’t because Yang Kai was deliberately hiding Gun-Gun’s abilities. It was just that the Star Severing Sword was rampaging in the Small Sealed World after being swallowed by Gun-Gun. Gun-Gun needed to mobilize the power of the entire Small Sealed World just to keep it under control, but there were still signs that it was not fully suppressed. The slightest bit of carelessness could cause great damage to the Small Sealed World.
Yang Kai was about to speak when the woman said, “Leave this to me.”
The feather-crowned man glanced at her and nodded gently, “Good!” He could not contradict her words now that she had spoken up.
Then, the woman turned around and studied Yang Kai.
Yang Kai thought he saw her winking at him when their eyes met, but it felt like an illusion. A pleasant voice then sounded in his mind, “You need to return the Star Severing Sword.”
Yang Kai frowned, “Can’t I keep it?”
That sword was extremely peculiar. It could sever the connection between him and Heng Luo Star Field. Besides, the only reason he could confront the feather-crowned man was thanks to the injury the latter sustained when the Star Severing Sword was swallowed by Gun-Gun. Yang Kai had the feeling that if he had not done that, he would have lost a long time ago.
“You can’t keep it. The Star Severing Sword doesn’t belong to him, it belongs to the Star Court. I have one too. They are assigned to all Star Envoys. If you forcefully hold on to it, you will make the entire Star Court your enemy.”
“It’s something that belongs to the Star Court!?” Surprised, Yang Kai excitedly asked, “So it’ll be a disaster for him if I refuse to return it, right?”
She was visibly stunned as she clearly did not expect him to come up with such ideas. Generally speaking, most people would immediately think of returning the Star Severing Sword once they learn that it belonged to the Star Court; the weak could not contend with the strong after all. Contrarily, Yang Kai’s thinking was focused on another outcome entirely.
Failing to stifle her laughter, she commented, “That’s right. He will be severely punished and his identity as a Star Envoy might even be revoked.” Then, she turned the conversation around, “But, you won’t feel any better.”
“Alright, alright!” Yang Kai agreed reluctantly.
As a Star Envoy, losing the sword issued by the Star Court was a serious dereliction of duty, but in the same vein, Yang Kai stealing a Star Severing Sword would also be an open display of contempt towards the Star Court.
“Do you trust me? If you do, leave this to me. I won’t let you suffer a loss.”
“Of course I trust you.” [How can I not trust you? As long as you really are her.]
“Good. I’m going to negotiate with him for a bit.”
“Butcher him mercilessly!” He encouraged.
With a smile, she turned to the feather-crowned man and communicated with him. Their Divine Senses surged during the exchange and Yang Kai did not know what they were talking about, but the feather-crowned man’s expression changed constantly. It was solemn at times and angry at others. Furthermore, he shook his head constantly. It was clear that the woman had given him conditions that were unacceptable to him, which pleased Yang Kai to no end.
The battle started out as a fight between two Star Field Masters, and in the end, it even involved two Star Envoys.
[Does that mean I have a backer too?] Yang Kai glanced at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, his thoughts swirling in his head. [It makes sense when I think about it. She came to this Star Field before in the past, so it’s only natural for her to govern it as a Star Envoy.]
Yang Kai quietly dispelled his Dragon Transformation Secret Technique and returned to his original size. Finally able to relax, a wave of exhaustion immediately washed over him, and the pain in his left hand was utterly unbearable.
The battle today might not have gone on for long, but it had been extremely dangerous. Despite being a Star Field Master, Yang Kai couldn’t enjoy the advantages of fighting in his own territory at all. He had relied on his own strength throughout the entire battle. Fortunately, his Dragon Transformation Secret Art had undergone a breakthrough, so it was not totally without gain.
Urging his strength to heal the injury on his left arm, Yang Kai quietly waited for the results, and after a while, the woman smiled at Yang Kai and held out her hand, “Hand it over.”
Yang Kai naturally understood what she was referring to and quickly communicated with the Small Sealed World, causing Gun-Gun to open its large mouth. Following that, a flash of sword light instantly shot out of its mouth as swiftly as lightning and a terrifying Sword Qi slashed toward him. Nevertheless, the look of derision on his face did not change.
The Star Severing Sword abruptly turned away from him at the last moment and circled around him once before landing in the hands of the feather-crowned man.
On the other hand, the feather-crowned man looked livid. He returned his sword into its sheath then cupped his fists at the woman, “I’ll be going ahead.” Turning around, he stepped into the darkness behind him and disappeared in the blink of an eye. From start to finish, he did not learn Yang Kai’s name. Similarly, Yang Kai did not know his name either; even so, they had formed an enmity with each other by pure coincidence.
After the feather-crowned man left, the woman turned around and looked at Yang Kai with a smile.
Yang Kai grinned back at her. Striding forward, he rushed over to her and looked her up and down, as if to get to know her all over again.
Then, the woman stopped smiling, her pretty face filling with rage as she shouted, “How dare you cultivate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!? Tell me; how do you want to die? I’ll grant you the mercy of a swift death!”
Stunned, Yang Kai suddenly felt as though the woman in front of him had become extremely unfamiliar and he couldn’t help wondering if she really was the person he knew.
“Enough!” Deciding to throw caution to the wind, Yang Kai opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace without giving her a chance to refuse.
Her long eyelashes fluttered as she blinked several times, her bright eyes filled with astonishment. Not having expected such a situation to occur, she allowed him to hug her before she realized what was happening.
Fortunately, he was not hugging her out of lust. This wasn’t a display of intimacy between a man and a woman, it was simply a hug between old friends to commemorate their reunion after such a long separation.
A slender jade-white hand swiftly lifted and pressed against his chest, pushing him away. That hand was delicate yet conveyed in a powerful force. Separated by an arm’s length now, he smiled carelessly and complained, “Yang Yan, do you know how hard it has been to find you?”
Yang Yan tilted her head and asked, “Yang Yan? Who is that? I don’t know who that is!”
Yang Kai nodded repeatedly, “I almost couldn’t recognize you either.”
Back then, she had an extremely introverted personality and wore a black robe all the time, even covering her head with a veil and shawl, seemingly afraid that people might see her true appearance. After meeting her again several dozen years later, who could have imagined that she would have such a graceful and luxurious side to her? That noble temperament of hers almost made Yang Kai believe that he had mistaken her for another person.
All of a sudden, he couldn’t help but recall the scene when she plunged into his arms in fright, causing him to involuntarily glance down below her neck.
“What nonsense are you thinking about?” She reached out and knocked her knuckles against his head as if she could perceive his thoughts. It made a soft thud, and he rubbed that sore bump on his forehead while complaining, “Why did you hit me? Be careful, or I might get mad at you.”
She glared at him, “Go ahead and try.”
Smiling cheekily, he said, “I-I was just saying. Don’t take it so seriously. En… Oh, right! Are you a Star Envoy of the Star Court too? Does that mean that you returned to the Star Court after we separated back then?”
“That’s right.”
“No wonder,” He nodded. [No wonder she handed Lin Yun’er to the Iron Blood Great Emperor. She is a Star Envoy of the Star Court, and the Iron Blood Great Emperor is the current Great Emperor overseeing the Star Court. It’s easy for them to communicate with each other since they are working together, but it looks like the Iron Blood Great Emperor isn’t very serious about his duties and doesn’t remain at the Star Court much. Otherwise, Lin Yun’er would not have been out of contact with Yang Yan for so many years.]
Yang Kai suddenly clenched his fists and asked, “If you were in the Star Boundary, why didn’t you come and look for me!?”
She wondered, “Are you my son? Why would I look for you?”
He staggered backwards at those words and looked at her sadly, “How ruthless and cold. Sure enough; there’s nothing more poisonous than a woman’s heart!”
Brushing her hair back behind her ear, she lifted her eyes to stare at him, “What kind of relationship do we have between us?”
Yang Kai waved his hands dismissively, “Alright, let’s not mention the past. The past is in the past. Let’s talk about the present instead. That bastard just now mentioned that a Star Envoy is in charge of numerous Star Fields, does that mean that, as a Star Field Master, I have to accept your authority?”
[It’s nice to have somebody supporting me, but I don’t like being controlled. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I’ll have much choice in the matter.]
Yang Yan patted his chest in response, “Good. From now on, I am your immediate superior. Little brat, you seem quite promising, so you better be dutiful towards me in the future, and I will support you well in return.”
Yang Kai widened his eyes and reached out to squeeze her neck with all his strength to throttle her back and forth, “What happened to the Yang Yan I know! Hurry up and return that Yang Yan to me!”
[The Yang Yan of the past was the best! Why is she like a totally different person now!?]
In that moment of chaos, she glared at him furiously, “Take your dirty paws off of me!”
He immediately released his hold on her and rubbed his chin nonchalantly like nothing had just happened, “Forget it, forget it. This isn’t that bad either. If any fool comes again to bother me, I’ll just use your name as a shield.”
Although he was subjected to their control and restraint, at least he wouldn’t be bullied by another Star Envoy again like what happened previously. His expression changed as he asked, “Can I get a Star Severing Sword too?”
Yang Yan brushed her neck and tidied her hair before speaking with great contempt, “In your dreams. It’s a sword assigned only to Star Envoys. A trivial Star Field Master like you… Don’t even dream about touching it. You should look at yourself in the mirror first! Hahahahaha!”
The corners of Yang Kai’s mouth twitched and he strongly regretted not strangling her to death just now. At the very least, he could have kept his favourable impression of her as a beautiful memory in his heart. Sighing, he asked, “So, what benefits do I get if I accept the authority of the Star Court?”
She spread both hands out in a slight shrug with her palms facing upward, “Nothing.”
“I refuse!” He resolutely declared.
“Sorry, you can’t refuse. Star Field Masters who are not bound and governed by the Star Court are generally deprived of their qualifications.”
Clenching his fists, he protested, “You’re just a bunch of bullies! You don’t even give me any benefits, so why should I obey you?”
She glanced sideways at him, “Do you think you are visiting a brothel or something? Bullies? Good, it’s not like there’s no way to get out of being restrained.”
“How do I do that?” His eyes brightened at those words.
“Just become a Great Emperor yourself.”
He cursed under his breath.
“What did you say?” Yang Yan glared at Yang Kai.
“Nothing.” Yang Kai sniffed and heroically said, “Forget it. I will accept that authority or whatever for the sake of this Star Field. As the saying goes, ‘I am but a small sacrifice for the greater good’. Heh. I am such a magnanimous person.”
You guys already know since the previous chapter… Well, I changed my decision after Yang Kai thought, ‘if you really are her’.
The biggest part of the reason that Yang Kai resigned to his fate so quickly was that his immediate superior was none other than Yang Yan. If it had been the feather-crowned man from earlier instead, he would not have been so easy-going.
Yang Yan gazed at him strangely, “What in the world do you want to do in this Star Field? Why are you so against the Star Court’s authority?”
“What can I do with it?”
She laughed, “You really don’t need to act like this. It might be labelled as control, but nobody actually cares about it. You are the Star Field’s Master. You can do whatever you want here. Of course, the only thing you cannot do is… Destroy Star Fields!” At the end, her voice suddenly became low and her beautiful eyes looked at the boundless darkness with a solemn look.
Yang Kai hurriedly changed the subject, “I understand. By the way, how did you show up at such a timely moment? Could it be that you were monitoring the Star Field all this time?”
“Not really. It was a coincidence.” She might be in charge of Heng Luo Star Field, but she couldn’t pay attention to it at all times. Not to mention, monitoring Heng Luo Star Field while she was in the Star Court required immense effort. How could she spare so much time and effort to do so? It was just that the feather-crowned man had received a summon and came down to Grand Desolation Star Field. Noticing that, Yang Yan inadvertently looked at the situation in Heng Luo Star Field and discovered Yang Kai’s presence. In the end, she had no choice but to come down and shelter him.
Even so… She had the feeling that Yang Kai had a hidden trump card and would not have died from that attack even if she did nothing just now. He might even have the power to fight back.
[I can’t believe he grew this much in just a few dozen years!]
Back then, she deliberately left him to his own devices rather than taking him with her. She did not want to bring him along because she felt he would gain more experience this way; after all, the power one worked hard to gain was the only strength that they could claim as their own. Anything bestowed upon them would never be anything more than something borrowed.
Yang Yan had long known that Yang Kai was no ordinary cultivator; nevertheless, she did not expect him to achieve so much in such a short time. It seemed she had underestimated him!
“Regardless of whether it was a coincidence or not, I have to thank you for your help,” Yang Kai casually touched the seal on his dantian. That seal had nearly been released just now, and if Yang Yan had not arrived, he would have broken it and underwent demonification along with his Half-Dragon Form. That would have given the feather-crowned man a huge surprise.
“By the way, you haven’t told me yet. What conditions did you reach with that guy? He took back his Star Severing Sword, so don’t tell me he doesn’t need to pay a price at all! He’s getting off way too lightly…”
“What do you mean by ‘that guy’? His name…”
“Stop!” Yang Kai raised his hand, “I have no interest in knowing his name.”
Yang Yan smiled lightly and quipped, “How petty to still hold onto that grudge.”
She had watched the battle between Yang Kai and the feather-crowned man from beginning to the end, so it was only natural that she knew about their verbal spat.
Yang Kai sternly added, “One day, he will take the initiative to tell me his name before he dies.”
“That will depend on whether you have the ability.” Yang Yan didn’t try to dissuade him as it was not a bad thing for him to be so resentful. At the very least, it would make him try harder after tasting shame and spur him forward. Hatred and women had always been the two strongest driving forces for men to become stronger in their cultivation.
Yang Yan instead waved her hand and pointed at the boundless darkness, “The portion of the Star Field you engulfed will belong to you from now on.”
Yang Kai looked at her expectantly, but she said nothing else even after waiting for a long time; thus, he speechlessly asked, “Is that all?”
She replied unkindly, “What else do you want?”
Yang Kai gritted his teeth and shouted, “I’m sure of it now! You are not Yang Yan! Tell me; who are you!?”
[She used to go around spending Crystal Stones like water! How is she so stingy now!? I was hoping to devour the entire Grand Desolation Star Field! What the Hell is this!? Besides, that piece of Starry Sky I engulfed belongs to me already, it cannot be separated! Even if I refuse to return it, that feather-crowned man can’t do a single thing to me. This benefit… Is no benefit at all!]
“Do you think you suffered a loss?” Yang Yan smiled coldly.
Yang Kai’s heart was practically bleeding from the pain, “How is this not a loss?”
“Wake up. If he reported this matter to the Star Court, I can guarantee that it won’t take more than three days before you get captured by Iron Blood and chopped into pieces!”
“That’s an exaggeration.” Yang Kai felt extremely guilty for some reason, “Senior Iron Blood is one of the ten Great Emperors. Why would he personally deal with me?”
“If you were just an ordinary Star Field Master, Iron Blood wouldn’t be able to care less about you, but are you an ordinary Star Field Master!? What Secret Art have you cultivated!?”
Yang Kai muttered, “The one you taught me, the Star Refining Art!”
“I’m not blind!” Yang Yan pointed at her eyes, then pointed at the darkness in front of her, “This familiar feeling; did you think I wouldn’t notice!? Aren’t you amazing, little brat? After just a few years of separation, you actually dared inherit Heaven Devourer’s legacy? You even cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!”
“What Heaven Devouring Battle Law? I’ve never heard of it before.”
“You still dare lie to me!?”
“Alright! Alright! It is the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!” Seeing as she had already seen through it, Yang Kai readily admitted the truth.
Hearing this, Yang Yan’s expression changed sharply, “So it really is the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!?”
Yang Kai gawked at her in surprise before he growled through gritted teeth, “Why you little! You tricked me!”
On the other hand, Yang Yan was trembling all over. Her expression was incredibly furious, her jade-white hands clenched into fists. Her aura flashed with murderous intent for an instant, which made all the hair on Yang Kai’s back stand. He had never exchanged blows with Yang Yan before, but he had the feeling that she was stronger than the feather-crowned man earlier. Even if he used his Demon Half-Dragon Form, he might still be no match for her.
The killing intent dissipated just as quickly as it came, though, and Yang Yan lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her face. Her expression was unreadable as she bitterly asked, “How are you acquainted with Heaven Devourer?”
She was different from the feather-crowned man. All the feather-crowned man could perceive was that something was off about the darkness; however, he simply thought that whatever Secret Art it was, was extremely mysterious. It wasn’t something somebody like Yang Kai should be able to master or even come into contact with. Meanwhile, Yang Yan had participated in the Great Emperor War back then and personally witnessed the strength of Heaven Devouring Great Emperor, so she knew the horrors of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law well.
Yuan Ding, Martial Flame, Azure Sea, Cyan Lotus… All four of these Great Emperors were extremely famous, geniuses that had left their names in the annals of the Star Boundary to be remembered forever, but all of them had perished at the hands of Wu Kuang back then.
Yang Yan had not dared to confirm that the Secret Art used here was the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. Holding on to the mentality that she would rather deceive Yang Kai than to let it slide, she tested him and received an unexpected answer that filled her with despair instead.
Wu Kuang was an eternal sinner and the root of his sin could be traced back to the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. Anyone who cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law could not be tolerated in the world.
“If Iron Blood learned about this, he would surely rip your corpse into ten thousand pieces,” she said solemnly.
This was no exaggeration. Iron Blood was a man with a straightforward personality. He liked to fight and was incapable of turning a blind eye to injustice. Moreover, Azure Sea Great Emperor who died at Wu Kuang’s hand during the war between the Great Emperors was his best friend; therefore, Iron Blood would never let things slide if he were to learn that there were people out there with Wu Kuang’s inheritance. It would be useless even if Yang Yan and Lin Yun’er were to beg for mercy on Yang Kai’s behalf.
The agreement that Yang Yan reached with the feather-crowned man was that Yang Kai would return the Star Severing Sword while the devoured Starry Sky would belong to Yang Kai. That was an easy condition for him to accept. Besides, she did not need to demand he keep his silence as he had already regarded today’s incident as a huge shame. As such, he would never mention this incident in front of others.
Nobody would notice the changes in Heng Luo Star Field; moreover, Grand Desolation Star Field was under the feather-crowned man’s jurisdiction while Heng Luo Star Field was under Yang Yan’s jurisdiction. Things would be fine as long as both Star Envoys did not report this incident to their higher-ups. That was why she claimed that Yang Kai did not suffer any losses. Just concealing matters here alone was enough to put the feather-crowned man at great risk.
Yang Yan’s voice was sorrowful. She was sad that Yang Kai had not turned out the way she anticipated.
Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling as though he had done something wrong and pursed his lips to explain, “It’s not that big a deal, right?”
He was aware that the Heaven Devouring Battle Law was not something that could be shown in public. Hence, he had been very cautious over the years. It was just that he believed that there were no evil Secret Arts in the world. The evil ones were cultivators. The characteristics of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law might be a little overbearing, but regardless, a Secret Art was just that, a Secret Art.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai had not expected Yang Yan to show such a huge reaction to it. The thought warmed his heart. Even if Yang Yan had changed a lot, she still cared for him. Only a person who cared would feel sad. If she didn’t care for him, she would have captured him immediately and handed him over to the Star Court to clear her name.
“What do you know!?” Yang Yan sighed as she thought, [It’s no wonder his cultivation improved so quickly within just a few dozen years. How can his cultivation not progress quickly if he is cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!? That is a Secret Art that can enhance cultivation and strength the most, after all.]
Looking up abruptly, she suddenly came to his side, grabbed him by the arm, and stared at him with burning eyes.
“What are you doing?” Yang Kai was startled by her sudden actions as he could feel a fierce determination in her gaze.
She said, “You have good aptitude and an unwavering will, so it’s not a big deal even if you start over from scratch. Rest assured; this time, I will take you back to the Star Court with me and personally guide you in your cultivation. I promise that you will regain your strength within a hundred years.”
“What do you mean?” Yang Kai suddenly had a bad feeling.
To which Yang Yan resolutely declared, “I have to waste your cultivation!”
Furious, Yang Kai raised his fist at her, “Try it if you dare!”
[How many life-and-death situations did I go through just to obtain my current strength? How can she destroy my cultivation just because she says so!?]
“You have no choice but to agree!” Yang Yan insisted with a look of self-blame, “I am also at fault for this. I left you to your own devices thinking it would be for your own good, but I never imagined that you would walk down the wrong path.”
“You are the one who walked down the wrong path! Your entire family walked down the wrong path! Hurry up and release me! Otherwise, I’ll hit you! Don’t think that I won’t hit you just because you are a woman!”
“Go on! Hit me then!” She tilted her head sideways and pushed up against him on her own.
His fist came smashing down on her head, and a powerful force blew in her face, but even so, she neither avoided nor defended against it.
When the fist stopped just above her head, she smiled triumphantly.
“Insane woman!” Yang Kai cursed through gritted teeth.
Yang Yan solemnly replied, “Don’t be scared. It will be over in a flash. Just bear with it for a bit.”
“Calm down!” Yang Kai grabbed her other hand and clutched it firmly, “Just calm down first!”
“You’re the one who needs to calm down!”
“Fine. I’ll calm down too! I’m so furious right now, and it’s all because of you!” He looked speechless as he declared, “Listen. Let me finish talking first. If you still want to cripple my cultivation after that, I won’t resist anymore.”
“Really?”
“Yes!” Yang Kai nodded firmly.
“Good, go on then!”
Yang Kai took the time to sort out his thoughts for a bit before speaking, “You’re right about the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. I possess it, but I never cultivated it myself.”
Immediately, Yang Kai began recounting the entire story. Starting from the moment he entered the Star Boundary, to his arrival at Blue Feather Sect, to meeting Wu Meng Chuan, to being ‘gifted’ the Heaven Devouring Battle Law for helping the latter escape from his imprisonment. Afterward, Yang Kai went to the Shattered Star Sea, killed Wu Meng Chuan, and perfected the Secret Art for his Embodiment.
He told Yang Yan everything without concealing anything from her.
Yang Yan listened quietly. Sometimes, her eyebrows furrowed together. Sometimes, her brow relaxed. Only when she finished listening to the entire story did she turn to look at the Embodiment, which had been summoned by him, with a thoughtful look on her face.
The Embodiment had been standing nearby all this time. Yang Kai originally planned to release the seal on his dantian, undergo the Demon Transformation, then summon the Embodiment to fight the feather-crowned man together, but Yang Yan had appeared at the very last moment to stop the fight, so the Embodiment lost his role as a trump card.
“So, are you saying that your Soul Clone is the one that cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law?”
“That’s right.” Yang Kai looked at her with some caution, “You’re not going to destroy his cultivation, are you?”
Then again, the Embodiment did not have a physical body nor any meridians to speak of. There was nothing she could do to him even if she wanted to, unless she smashed him to pieces.
“Using a Stone Puppet to cultivate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law…” She circled around Embodiment several times with a curious and amazed expression on her face. It was as though a new and novel toy had appeared in front of her, “How did you come up with that idea?”
“It was just a lucky coincidence.” Yang Kai laughed, “Back when Wu Meng Chuan taught me the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, I could not understand his motives, but I instinctively felt he had some hidden agenda. However, the Secret Art was so profound and powerful that I was reluctant to discard it outright, so I tried letting my Embodiment cultivate it. Who could have known that I’d stumble upon such great fortune?”
Yang Yan nodded, “It might not be a coincidence, but an opportunity. Members of the Stone Spirit Clan are born with a body of stone, so the way their emotions or desires manifest are vastly different from those of flesh and blood. Moreover, their Innate Divine Ability allows them to easily refine and reject all kinds of impurities. Letting him cultivate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law may have been the best choice possible.”
She knew about Stone Spirits, as well as the drawbacks of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law; thus, she had a vague feeling that the Heaven Devouring Battle Law was practically tailor-made for Stone Spirits. It wasn’t a cultivation technique that was suitable for anyone with a fleshly body.
Wu Kuang might not have been born a cold and ruthless killer, but by cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, his mentality had distorted over time. It made him look at all living creatures like they were ants, or worse, food. For that reason, he was capable of destroying countless Star Fields for the sake of his own power.
On the other hand, there was no need to worry about a Stone Spirit in that regard. Its Innate Divine Ability allowed it to refine and reject all impurities it absorbed, so it would not be affected by them at all.
“No wonder all those who cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law back then encountered uncrossable bottlenecks. It turns out that they had to devour another person who cultivated the same evil cultivation technique as the key for them to break through those shackles.” Yang Yan’s beautiful eyes flickered as many things suddenly made sense all at once to her.
Yang Kai was surprised, “Were there many who cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law?”
“It happened many years ago.”
The ‘many years’ she was referring to wasn’t just several hundreds of years or thousands of years. It was something that happened over ten thousand years ago! Wu Kuang was the creator of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, but such a Secret Art was highly coveted. Who knows what happened back then for the cultivation method of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to become so widespread that people with malicious intentions obtained it? There were even Emperor Realm Masters who destroyed their cultivation just to start over again with this Secret Art.
Unfortunately, those who cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law found themselves stuck in the Third-Order Dao Source Realm with no hope of advancing to the Emperor Realm for the rest of their lives. It wasn’t that they had made any mistakes while cultivating or that the Secret Art they had obtained was flawed. It was simply the special nature of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. Even Wu Meng Chuan, who was Wu Kuang’s descendant, had been stuck in the Third-Order Dao Source Realm for many years, let alone others.
It was simple enough to break through that bottleneck. They only needed to devour another person who had cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to the Third-Order Dao Source Realm, assimilating everything that belonged to that person. It was like raising the strongest and most venomous insect by stuffing many of them into a jar and letting them kill each other until only one survived. The last one standing was the only one with the hope of achieving glory.
There were two reasons why Wu Meng Chuan had taught Yang Kai the Heaven Devouring Battle Law back then. First, it was used as a condition to entice Yang Kai to rescue him from Blue Feather Sect’s Bone Prison. Secondly, it was to cultivate a target that he could devour in the future. Unfortunately for Wu Meng Chuan, Yang Kai was a cultivator from a Lower Star Field who was completely clueless about the reputation of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. That was how Yang Kai managed to resist the temptation of learning the Secret Art.
Most natives of the Star Boundary would have jumped at the opportunity to cultivate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, which would in turn result in a tragic ending.
After Wu Kuang, nobody else managed to advance into the Emperor Realm even though they cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. It caused many to wrongly believe that the Secret Art was flawed or that Wu Kuang had not passed down the true Heaven Devouring Battle Law, that the true cultivation method was lost with him in the Shattered Star Sea.
As time went by, the Heaven Devouring Battle Law gradually disappeared from memory and nobody tried to cultivate it anymore.
All of a sudden, Yang Yan recalled something else. [If the Heaven Devouring Battle Law has such sinister conditions, then who did Wu Kuang devour back then for him to advance further in the cultivation of his Secret Art? There must have been another existence that also cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. Perhaps… There was an unknown story behind it all, but too much time had passed for it to be traced back…]
She then lifted her head to look at Gun-Gun again and hesitated, “Is this… The Artifact Spirit of the Sealed World Bead?” She was familiar with the Sealed World Bead as it was hers originally, an artifact she had brought to the Star Field from the Star Boundary back then. When Yang Kai acquired it later, she left it in his possession; however, she never expected it to change so much in the short time they had been separated. Not only did it give birth to an Artifact Spirit, but it also evolved to have a nature that relished in devouring.
“Yes!” Yang Kai laughed, feeling proud. The Sealed World Bead had been in his hands for many years and helped him out of trouble numerous times. In addition, it provided him with many insights into the Dao of Space. For that reason, he valued it greatly. Now that it had given birth to an Artifact Spirit, it felt as though he had gained a son.
Suddenly thinking of something, Yang Kai scratched his head awkwardly and asked, “Are you going to take it back?”
“What would you do if I really tried to take it back?” Yang Yan glanced sideways at him.
He waved dismissively at her, “Fine, fine, take it.”
[It was originally hers anyway.]
Yang Yan was stunned as she had not expected him to agree so readily.
“But, there’s something you need to promise me. You can’t destroy its spirituality. I might have used it as a proxy to display the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, which resulted in it gaining sentience, but it has done nothing wrong. If you can agree to that, then I don’t mind returning the Sealed World Bead to you.”
After barging into Grand Desolation Star Field and devouring as many Cultivation Stars as he could, the space of the Small Sealed World had expanded many times over.
At the same time, Yang Kai gained a deeper understanding of the Dao of Space.
Yang Kai had the feeling that he could now refine a world and condense it into another Sealed World Bead now; therefore, it wasn’t something he couldn’t part with if Yang Yan really wanted to take it back. In the worst case, he could just make his own and transfer the Immortal Tree, Firmament Tree, and his other treasures out of the Small Sealed World and into his new creation.
Everything else didn’t matter.
Yang Yan simply laughed, “I was just asking. You don’t need to take it seriously.”
This was an independent Sealed World, so if one was not proficient in the Dao of Space, it was pretty much useless. Taking it back would only result in the Sealed World Bead collecting dust in some corner. Otherwise, she would not have left a treasure like this to Yang Kai.
Still, she solemnly declared, “Use it with caution!”
“I understand.”
“Also, don’t devour the other Star Field anymore. If this matter escalates to the top, it will only cause trouble for everyone,” she said while pointing at the boundless darkness.
“Good.”
“One more thing, don’t ever reveal the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to the world when you return to the Star Boundary one day. Otherwise, you will be bringing trouble down on yourself.” She warned him with a stern expression. She was willing to believe in Yang Kai and his Embodiment, but that did not mean that others would. If the Iron Blood Great Emperor knew that there were people in this world cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, he would be the first to attack. The rage of a Great Emperor was not something Yang Kai could withstand at his current realm.
“I know.” He nodded, secretly sighing in relief. [I’ve finally managed to get through this hurdle.]
Hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“What was the cultivation of that guy just now?”
She didn’t answer his question, choosing to reply with one of her own instead, “What do you think?”
“Great Emperor!” Yang Kai answered quickly. That was not some illusion or figment of his imagination. The feeling he got from the feather-crowned man was similar to when he was facing a Great Emperor.
The reason that man ended up with his pride wounded was that his strength had been suppressed here and because he had been looking down on Yang Kai.
If Yang Kai had met that man in the Star Boundary, he had the feeling that he would not have any power to fight back whatsoever.
Yang Yan smiled and shook her head.
“What?” Yang Kai looked shocked, “He’s not a Great Emperor? Don’t tell me he’s just a Third-Order Emperor? No, that can’t be, a Third-Order Emperor would not have such strength.”
“He is not a Third-Order Emperor either.”
Yang Kai was utterly dumbfounded, “Don’t tell me there’s another Realm between the Third-Order Emperor Realm and the Great Emperor Realm!”
“There’s no such thing. It’s just that that person… Is both a Great Emperor and not a Great Emperor at the same time!”
Yang Kai was confused by her words, “What do you mean?”
“How should I put it…” She pondered for a moment.
If any other First-Order Emperor had asked her this question, she would not have answered as sometimes, knowing too much without the strength to back it up could become a kind of obstacle in one’s cultivation journey. However, Yang Kai was no ordinary First-Order Emperor. With the power he had shown just now, he was more than qualified to know about this.
“Think of the world as a giant bottle, one filled with sand and the stones which represent cultivators. The capacity of the world as a bottle is limited.”
A corresponding image appeared in Yang Kai’s mind and he soon nodded slightly to indicate for her to continue.
“All the living creatures exist inside the bottle, each one insignificant on its own, but as a whole, they can fill the entire world. Furthermore, the larger the size of the clump of sand or stone, the stronger the power that person wields. In other words, the Great Emperors are the biggest stones inside the bottle!”
“And there is only space for ten such stones?” Yang Kai revealed a look of inquiry.
Yang Yan smiled in response, “Correct. The bottle might be large, but it can only accommodate ten stones. It can’t hold a single stone more than that. That’s why there have only ever been ten Great Emperors at once since ancient times. Regardless of how much time passes, this number will never change. However, that isn’t to say that there are only ten stones inside the bottle. Other powerful existences have surpassed the Emperor Realm but cannot receive the recognition of the World. These people are Great Emperors, but at the same time, they are not Great Emperors. From a cultivation standpoint, they are in the Realm of the Great Emperors, but due to the limitations of the bottle, they cannot become true Great Emperors.”
“Like that guy?”
She nodded.
“Like you?”
She smiled at those words but did not reply.
Yang Kai felt as though he received a sudden enlightenment. The long-standing question he had was finally answered. [No wonder there have only been ten Great Emperors throughout the ages. It turns out that there are limitations caused by the world’s capacity.]
It was just like how Tong Xuan Realm could only produce cultivators in the Saint Realm and the Star Field could only give birth to cultivators in the Origin King Realm. It was the limit of the world; it was beyond the control of mortals.
Similarly, the Star Boundary was limited to only accommodate ten Great Emperors at a time! Although many people were not inferior to the Great Emperors in terms of cultivation, they could not become true Great Emperors as long as the world did not recognize them. It was so for the feather-crowned man, Yang Yan, and all the others in the same situation. The same went for the Divine Spirits as well.
Yang Kai had always found it strange. The Divine Spirits were obviously stronger than those in the Emperor Realm and yet they could not compare to the strength of the Great Emperors. That question was finally explained today. The ten Great Emperors were existences recognized by the Star Boundary itself. They themselves were part of the Principles that govern the world. Even in the same cultivation realm, an ordinary Divine Spirit was no match for them if it came down to a fight.
“Are there many others like you?”
“You can say that there are many, but you can also say that there are not many.” Yang Yan smiled, “Most of them won’t reveal themselves, so there’s no need to worry about them.”
Existences like her were rare. Even so, as time passed, many people eventually reached this stage only to go unrecognized by the world and reach an impasse in their cultivation. Since their life spans were extremely long due to their cultivation, their numbers slowly grew over the millennia.
Yang Kai suddenly thought about something and frowned, “If it’s as you say… An eleventh Great Emperor can’t appear due to the limitations of the world. Then, what am I to do in the future?”
She looked astonished, “You sure are thinking far ahead into the future.”
He solemnly replied, “It’s only a matter of time.”
He was so certain that Yang Yan was stunned by his conviction. She smiled at him, “You can only wait until one of the Great Emperors passes and fight for that empty position.”
To which Yang Kai shook his head in response, “Who knows how long I’ll have to wait until one of them passes away.”
The lifespan of a Great Emperor was extremely long. If nothing unexpected were to happen, they could live tens of thousands of years… maybe even more… It might be an exaggeration to say that they would live until the end of the world, but the practical reality was not too far off from that statement.
“There is one other way.” Seeing that he was being very serious, Yang Yan couldn’t help entertaining him.
“What way?” His eyes lighting up at those words.
She reached out her hand and closed her fist, “Destroy one of the stones inside the bottle and the position will open up naturally.”
Yang Kai was taken aback for a moment before nodding in agreement, “That’s a good idea. I guess I’ll have to find a Great Emperor and kill them in the future.”
She looked at him with a weird expression, “Are you serious?”
He laughed out loud, “Of course I’m joking, don’t get so worked up. The Great Emperors are recognized by the world, how could they be so easy to kill? I’m not that reckless.”
The succession of the ten Great Emperors would not take so long if it really were that easy. Still, it was undeniably one of the methods to choose from. Who would hesitate if it really reached the point where there was a fight for the Grand Dao? Were the Great Emperors impossible to kill? Four Great Emperors, excluding Wu Kuang, had fallen in the Great Emperor War. To some extent, the four Great Emperors who later broke through to reach that position had Wu Kuang to thank for giving them the opportunity. If Wu Kuang had not killed those four, they would still be waiting for a chance to become a Great Emperor today.
Seeing the unreadable expression on Yang Kai’s face, Yang Yan wasn’t sure whether he was seriously entertaining the idea, but she did not try to dissuade him, instead just hoping he would understand the difficulties of the task in the future.
Rubbing her temples, she continued, “Good. I’ve said everything I wanted to say. I should get going now.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Yang Kai grabbed her hand.
She glanced at him in disgust, “If you have something to say, then speak! Get your dirty mitts off me!”
He said, “Why don’t you visit High Heaven Sect? Great Elder Ye misses you very much.”
Ye Xi Yun and Yang Yan went way back together. If that were not the case, the former would not have come out of seclusion back then to help High Heaven Sect. She might not have much respect for Yang Kai as the Sect Master, but Ye Xi Yun practically worshipped Yang Yan.
“No need. You are this Star Field’s Master now. We will have many chances to meet again in the future.”
“Speaking of which, I remember something now. I’m going to bring the entire High Heaven Sect to the Star Boundary. Is that okay?”
“You’re moving the entire Sect?” Yang Yan was slightly surprised at his words.
“Is it not okay?”
She frowned, “Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Not really. It’s only about a few tens of thousands of them.”
“Only!?” Yang Yan looked at him in annoyance, “In each Star Field, only the cultivators who reach the peak have the right to open the Starlight Corridor and enter the Star Boundary. For each Star Field, no more than five cultivators enter the Star Boundary every hundred years on average, yet you want to bring more than 10,000 people to Star Boundary all at once!? Don’t you think it’s too much!? Don’t you think it’s unfair to the other Star Fields!?”
“It’s not too much, and it’s not unfair!”
“Stop speaking nonsense with such a straight face!”
“It’s their own fault for not having a good superior.”
“As a Star Envoy. It is my duty to protect the balance of the Star Fields! I cannot condone your dishonest behaviour!”
“Why can’t you close an eye to this on account of our friendship? We created High Heaven Sect together. As the saying goes, ‘When one man ascends to the Heavens, his entire family goes with him’. I am now the Master of this Star Field, and you are its Star Envoy. I am asking for the good of Heng Luo Star Field!” Yang Kai argued back angrily.
In his plan, he not only wanted to relocate High Heaven Sect as a whole, but he also wanted to gather up all those with talent in Heng Luo Star Field to support him.
“Hahaha, that’s your problem.”
Yang Kai was hoping to argue his stance a little more; however, he suddenly raised his brow and followed Yang Yan’s gaze to the side. Since just now, she had been staring at Gun-Gun the whole time they were speaking.
[Isn’t she acting a little weird?]
Then, he grinned and said, “Me returning to the Star Boundary alone isn’t a problem, right?”
“Of course that’s okay.” She slowly withdrew her gaze and lowered her voice, “Little brat, you better show some restraint. If Iron Blood notices you, you will be done for.”
“I know! I know!” Similarly, Yang Kai responded softly, a mischievous glint flashing across his eyes.
“Alright, then that settles it. I’m going back now. I still need to register you. Otherwise, your title as a Star Field Master will be considered illegal. You can only hold your position secure if the Star Court approves of it.” She lowered her head to look down at his hand on her arm and sneered, “Hey, you better get your head screwed on properly. In the future, I’ll be your superior. You can’t show such disrespect for me!”
He hurriedly released her arm and awkwardly straightened out the wrinkles before stepping back and cupping his fists, “Safe travels, Madam!”
Yang Yan showed a triumphant expression that seemed to indicate that he was a promising young man worth educating, then something flashed in her hands and a sharp sword suddenly appeared. From its appearance, it looked like the same one the feather-crowned man had. Obviously, the Star Severing Sword was part of the standard equipment handed to Star Envoys. With a flash of sword light, Yang Yan shattered space and transformed into a spot of light that gradually disappeared from his vision.
Yang Kai shouted after her, “By the way, I created High Heaven Palace in the Northern Territory! Come visit us whenever you have the time!”
The light disappeared, and he had no idea whether she had heard what he said. Looking in the direction she left, he suddenly felt a sense of loss. It took a long while before he slapped his thigh and muttered with regret, “I forgot to ask her where the Star Court was located…”
Still, that was only a minor issue. Just as she mentioned, there would be many chances for them to meet in the future.
Thinking back on his life, he came from nothing but was now a Star Field Master. He also successfully established a stable foundation in the Star Boundary. He only spent around a hundred years to achieve these feats, so what would it be like in another hundred years?
Be that as it may, the position of Great Emperor needed to be contested. If it really came down to a fight, then he would not hesitate to break one of the stones in the bottle.
[But… Who should I choose?]
Yang Kai was suddenly faced with an extremely difficult dilemma. The scenario at this moment was as though an ant was trying to figure out a way to kill an elephant. If Yang Yan saw him like this, she would have mocked him mercilessly.
Yang Kai rubbed his head roughly to clear his thoughts before communicating with the Star Field Source and immersing himself into it. A majestic image of his figure appeared inside the boundless darkness next and glancing out, he shouted, “Hey, you pitiful dog, Wu Heng! I will let you off today, but if you dare to encroach on Heng Luo Star Field again, don’t blame me for showing no mercy to you!”
In the Starry Sky of Grand Desolation Star Field, Wu Heng glared at the churning darkness with great ferocity, his eyes filled with hatred and anxiety. His complexion paled all of a sudden and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
This time around, he really lost his rice after trying to steal a chicken. He had originally wanted to devour Heng Luo Star Field to help improve his cultivation, but who could have known that things would backfire on him instead? He failed to gain anything, while on the contrary, the opposing party devoured millions of kilometres of his Starry Sky and destroyed several of his Cultivation Stars instead.
The loss of his Starry Sky and his Cultivation Stars for no apparent reason had resulted in damage to the Source Strength of Grand Desolation Star Field and it now seemed to be punishing him. The Source that he had refined was showing signs of rebelling already, so how could he withstand being agitated by Yang Kai now?
Wu Heng was tempted to rush to the opposite side to fight to the death with Yang Kai; however, he became despondent again the moment he recalled the instructions the Star Envoy had issued before leaving.
[Even Sir Star Envoy could not help me, so what can I do on my own? How am I supposed to exact my revenge?]
Wu Heng was currently a Third-Order Emperor, so only the Great Emperor Realm remained. He was an ambitious one though, so how could he possibly accept his defeat and downfall at this point? Still, ten years was not too long for a gentleman’s revenge, so he would just have to take his time with this matter.
He did not dare to respond to Yang Kai’s provocations and there was no way for him to respond either. After a long time, the churning darkness stabilized, re-forming a kind of barrier between the two Star Fields. At the same time, it felt like a scar was left in his mind.
As of this moment, Yang Kai had already ridden on Gun-Gun and returned to Shadowed Star. The problems in the Star Field were more or less resolved, but it had taken more than 10 years of effort. Before coming here, he never imagined that it would take such a long time. Even so, everything was worth it. The Star Field was peaceful again; furthermore, he became its Master and Yang Yan became his immediate superior. Having somebody to take care of him whenever something occurs made him feel rather happy.
A short while later, he arrived at Shadowed Star and left Gun-Gun in the Starry Sky for it to digest its ‘food’. Meanwhile, he went back to High Heaven Sect by himself.
Inside a pavilion at the top of the Main Peak of High Heaven Sect, Su Yan, Xia Ning Chang, Shan Qing Luo, and Xue Yue had gathered together. They were chatting about something and their alluring laughter rang out continuously.
Yang Kai appeared suddenly and coughed lightly. Rubbing his palms together as he warmly said, “Ladies, I’m back. Many thanks for waiting for such a long time.”
The chattering laughter disappeared instantly, and several pairs of beautiful eyes swept towards Yang Kai.
Xia Ning Chang got up excitedly, “Junior Brother!”
“Hmph!” Shan Qing Luo snorted, grabbed Xia Ning Chang’s arm and made her sit back down. Xia Ning Chang looked at him apologetically and stuck her tongue out with an expression of helplessness.
Similarly, Su Yan and Xue Yue retracted their gazes and continued talking to each other in low voices. One was expressionless while the other had a smile that was not a smile on their face.
Aside from Xia Ning Chang, the other three women were acting as if he was invisible to them.
Yang Kai’s eyes widened in surprise. [What’s going on?]
Meanwhile, Liu Yan was sitting next to Su Yan. He glanced at her and silently mouthed several words at her. She lifted her small hand and made a swiping gesture around her neck. She even stuck her tongue out and rolled her eyes backwards, imitating the look of a dead person.
He laughed and immediately understood the situation. These women were probably blaming him for disappearing for so many years without sending them any news. They were working together to punish him. Still, he was not afraid.
[Oh, well. They are women after all. I just have to coax them. If that doesn’t work, we’ll see each other in bed.]
Just as he was about to speak, he saw a small figure crawling out from under the stone table, running over to stand in front of him, putting her hands on her waist, and looking up at him. He studied the little figure in surprise. The little figure turned out to be a four or five-year-old girl. She was born strong and healthy, looking innocent and cute with her hair tied into twin pigtails. Moreover, she was dressed quite well. She wore a gold locket around her neck and several silver bracelets around her wrists. They sparkled in the light and seemed to be rather powerful artifacts.
Their gazes met, and he was astounded beyond words as he wondered, [Whose child is this?]
The little girl pointed at him and spoke in a child-like voice, “Who are you!? Why have I never seen you before!?”
He immediately felt his spirits lifting. Crouching down, he asked, “What kind of person do you think I am?”
She tilted her head to the side and studied him carefully. After a moment, she shook her head, “You don’t look like a good person. Take my fist!”
Her tender little hand clenched into a ball and she sent out a punch towards his face. However, Yang Kai just gently used a single finger to block her attack. The little girl was shocked. Despite using all her strength, she couldn’t even budge this evil man’s finger. She became so worked up that her face flushed from her efforts as she kept up a babble of noises.
When Yang Kai relaxed his hand suddenly, the little girl became unsteady on her feet and fell towards him. Catching her, he stretched out his hand and pinched her cheeks. Her small face instantly changed shape, stretching out to the sides.
His actions clearly enraged her, and she punched and kicked at him repeatedly.
He lifted his head to ask, “Whose child is this? Why is she here?”
Shan Qing Luo turned around and crossed her knee over her leg. The flesh of her inner thighs was faintly visible, making it seem irresistible. She looked at Yang Kai with a smile, “Whose child can she be? She’s right here. Isn’t it obvious that she’s part of our family?”
Yang Kai exclaimed in shock, “Our family!?”
He quickly turned the little girl in his arms around, looked at her carefully, and widened his eyes in astonishment, “Hey, she actually looks a little like me!” He had not paid much attention before, but with Shan Qing Luo’s comment, he noticed that the little girl’s eyes were similar to his own.
“We had a child!?” He held the little girl and lifted her high into the air while laughing.
In the midst of his laughter though, he suddenly couldn’t bring himself to laugh anymore. His brow twitching, he looked at the little girl and asked, “How old are you?”
The little girl ignored his question and waved a clenched fist at him, “Put me down right now or I’ll get rough with you!” Her voice was incredibly childlike, but her attitude was extremely big. Of course, although she was flailing about wildly, she could not even touch a single hair on his head.
Yang Kai turned his head to look at the others and asked seriously, “How old is she?”
[Could it be that she is not just four or five years old but more than ten years old? She can’t be that young if she is a child from our family.]
Shan Qing Luo quietly replied, “She just turned five.”
“Five… years old!?” Yang Kai gnashed his teeth violently, the veins in his forehead bulging and twitching. He was away for ten years, so how could he have a five-year-old child?
Babies were made between a man and woman, they don’t just pop out of a rock!
All of a sudden, he noticed Shan Qing Luo’s expression. Her delighted expression looked like she was watching a good show. Even Xue Yue’s shoulders were trembling slightly, like she was holding in her laughter. On the other hand, Su Yan had her back to him so he couldn’t read her expression while Xia Ning Chang looked troubled. Hence, he instantly understood the situation and smiled, “Whose child is she?”
Shan Qing Luo changed her sitting posture, uncrossing and crossing her legs the other way round, a smile hanging at the corners of her lips, “Will you believe me if I say she’s mine?”
He shook his head in response, “No, I won’t.”
It would seem that asking them anything else would be fruitless. These women had clearly agreed to make him the butt of the joke. They even found a little girl from somewhere to aid their plan.
[It seems like Little Senior Sister was about to tell me, but she didn’t dare to provoke the others, so she decided to keep quiet in the end. There’s no need to say anything though, this is definitely the work of Shan Qing Luo, that devilish woman! She is the only one that dares to act so wantonly!]
“Did you think I won’t find out just because you won’t tell me?” He scoffed. Putting his four fingers together, he tapped with his thumb for a moment before muttering, “Let me see… Aha! I have it! Are you my little sister?”
He was originally the Star Master of Shadowed Star, and although he gave up that status to refine the entire Star Field instead, it was still a piece of cake for him to silently gather some intelligence. It only took a moment for all sorts of information from High Heaven Sect to flow into his mind, and he came to a surprising conclusion, this little girl was his biological sister!
[I actually have a younger sister!?]
He suddenly recalled that his mother might have mentioned something like that the last time he came back to visit them; however, he never expected to see that it had worked out so quickly.
[Father sure is strong and healthy for his age!] Yang Kai felt impressed. Upon learning the little girl’s identity, he became more cordial towards her. He vaguely felt a subtle yet unbreakable connection between himself and the child in front of him. That was the connection known as blood relationship.
[No wonder I felt as though her eyes were similar to mine. It’s not strange since we are siblings.]
He gently placed the girl down, but to his surprise, she actually kicked at him and angrily declared, “I am your Great Aunt!”
“You’re so small, but your temper sure is big!” Yang Kai laughed.
Even though he did not move, that little girl’s kick hit nothing but air. Furious, she prepared to kick him again only to see him curling one finger and lightly flicking at her forehead.
With a soft thud, the little girl staggered backwards. She covered her forehead with her hands and looked at Yang Kai in shock, as if she never expected that he would dare to hit her.
Everyone in High Heaven Sect treated her preciously and complied with all her wishes ever since the day she was born. Ordinary children would not have received such treatment, but she was different. She was the daughter of Yang Ying Feng and Dong Su Zhu, the younger sister of Yang Kai. Even the Sect Masters of all the top Sects on Shadowed Star had to address her as the ‘Second Young Lady’. Moreover, her Sisters-In-Law doted over her. They gave her everything she ever wanted, seemingly willing to pick the Stars and the Moon for her.
Therefore, the little girl could almost be considered a queen in High Heaven Sect. Forget about being hit, she had never even suffered a single harsh word. As such, she was stunned by the fact that she was hit today.
“I am your Big Brother!” Yang Kai looked at her with a smile, “Don’t get the hierarchy between us wrong.”
The little girl blinked her eyes and her mouth twitched. She seemed about to burst into tears.
“You are not allowed to cry!” He flexed his middle finger again, acting like he was going to flick her forehead again.
The corners of her mouth were completely downturned. Even so, she held in her tears and did not cry. She simply turned her head to look at her Sisters-In-Law, as if asking for reinforcements. Unfortunately for her, Su Yan remained motionless, Xue Yue pretended not to see, and Shan Qing Luo was watching the events unfolding with great interest. Only Xia Ning Chang still had the same troubled expression on her face.
The Second Young Lady of the Yang Family might be a little pampered and spoiled, but she was not a bad-natured or wicked child. Xia Ning Chang had spent the most time with her and had the deepest understanding of her.
One time, when the little girl had been playing in the back mountains, it suddenly began to rain heavily; however, instead of running back home, she braved the storm and seemed to be busy working on something under a tree. Xia Ning Chang watched curiously and discovered that there was an ant’s nest under the tree and the little girl was building a shelter for them out of leaves. She was only three years old at the time.
After seeing that, Xia Ning Chang pampered and doted on the little girl even more than ever. It was rare for a child to have such a kind nature, so Xia Ning Chang wanted to show her all the favour and love in the world.
“You know how to judge the difference in strength,” Yang Kai smiled slightly, raised his hand and rubbed her head a few times, “This is the first thing Big Brother will teach you, forbearance. A person will break easily if they are too rigid or stubborn, do you understand?”
The little girl nodded blankly, but obviously did not quite understand what he meant.
He laughed and said, “Look at you. You still won’t admit that you’ve lost. Let’s do this then. If I can guess your name, you will call me ‘Big Brother’. Okay?”
The little girl angrily said, “Deal!”
She felt a little smug inside.
[It’s the first time we’ve ever met each other. How can he know my name?]
It was too bad that she didn’t wonder how he knew that she was his sister even though it was their first time meeting.
Putting his fingers together again, he smiled, “Yang Xue?”
“H-How did you know!?” Yang Xue widened her eyes, thinking that Yang Kai was incredibly amazing. Her clear eyes were filled with admiration.
“Just tell me whether I’m right or not,” Yang Kai said.
She let her hands hang by her sides and dejectedly admitted, “You’re right!”
He prompted, “So, what should you do?”
Pouting, she turned her head away and reluctantly muttered, “Big Brother…”
He smiled, “This is the second lesson Big Brother will teach you. A person is only as good as their word, you must never break your promises!”
“En,” she looked thoughtful.
“Alright, that’s it for today. Go back and tell our parents that I will visit them in a few days,” While speaking, he shot a look at Liu Yan.
Liu Yan stood up from where she sat next to Su Yan, walked to Yang Xue, and stretched out a small hand. Yang Xue voluntarily took the hand stretched out to her, then Liu Yan pushed her strength slightly and the two little figures immediately flew down the peak. During that time, Yang Xue looked back at Yang Kai a few times.
“They sure look like sisters.” Yang Kai watched them leave with a smile. His heart felt warm.
Yang Xue was only five years old, while Liu Yan appeared to be a girl of seven or eight years, so it was only natural that they would look like sisters when standing next to each other.
Turning around, he lowered his gaze and grinned widely, “Who was it that just said she gave birth to Xue’er?”
“I’ll be leaving first!” Su Yan got up and tried to leave.
“Thinking about it, I have something to do too,” Xue Yue looked flustered.
Xia Ning Chang blushed furiously and stammered, “My pills…”
Only Shan Qing Luo remained motionless, staring at Yang Kai provocatively.
“Are you trying to leave now? It’s too late! Stop right there!” Yang Kai laughed mockingly before using his words to mobilize the world’s power. The surrounding space became a prison, and the four women immediately froze in place. Only their eyes could move.
He calmly walked over to Shan Qing Luo with his hands behind his back and held her smooth chin with one hand. Leaning close to her, he whispered, “You were the one who said those words just now, right?”
“Bah!” Shan Qing Luo scoffed lightly in disdain, “So what if I did?”
He nodded, “Good. It looks like you really want to have a baby after all. As your husband, I will do as you wish.”
“Hmph! That’s only if you have the ability to do so!” She snorted.
“You will know soon as to whether or not I have that ability.” After saying that, he walked over to Xue Yue, stretched out his finger, and stroked her face lightly, trailing it all the way down her neck, causing her to blush furiously in response, her tender body trembling.
“Do you still remember the promise from back then?”
She looked away, refusing to meet his gaze. Gritting her teeth, she asked, “What promise!?”
To which Yang Kai laughed, “You said it yourself. If I can help Ning Chang fully recover, you will…”
“Don’t say it! Don’t you dare say it!” She panicked. At the time, she had been so worried about Xia Ning Chang that she did not hesitate to agree to anything. It was only afterwards that she came back to her senses and realized how inappropriate it was. Although she was well-versed in these matters now, she had never acted so outrageously before. She felt frightened whenever she thought about the promise she made, let alone facing it in person. Fortunately, there had been no news from him for the past ten years. Who could have known that it would be the first thing he brought up the moment he returned?
“What promise?” Xia Ning Chang asked curiously as it sounded like this matter was related to her.
He replied, “Xue Yue said that as long as I could restore you back to full health, she would let me be with you all at once…” He stretched out his hands and made a few obscene gestures.
“What!?” Xia Ning Chang was shocked, and her face turned bright red, stuttering out loud, “H-How can that be…”
Shan Qing Luo glanced sideways at Xue Yue and said in astonishment, “That’s surprising. I couldn’t tell that you have such an open-minded side to you, Little Sister Yue. But, it’s a good idea!” She looked eager to try. In fact, she seemed even more interested than Yang Kai was.
“You think it’s a good idea too, don’t you?” Yang Kai turned and looked at her.
“Of course!” The look in Shan Qing Luo’s eyes was velvety, almost as if she could already imagine the scene.
*Pa…*
He snapped his fingers, and Shan Qing Luo immediately regained her freedom. Standing up, she walked over to Xue Yue, bent down, and blew in Xue Yue’s ears, “I might think it’s a good idea, but I don’t like the idea of being sold off in secret. Little Sister Yue, how do you think I should punish you later?”
After Shan Qing Luo softly blew her ears, Xue Yue was feeling extremely ticklish. Closing her eyes, she said dejectedly, “Qing Luo, how can you help a tyrant oppress the innocent?”
Shan Qing Luo chuckled, “You were the one who made that promise, so why can’t I accept it?”
“I didn’t agree to this!” A frosty voice rang out and it instantly made the surrounding temperature plummet.
Shan Qing Luo straightened back up and glanced over at Yang Kai upon hearing that, “Husband, Big Sister says she disagrees.”
Yang Kai laughed, “You don’t have a say today. Luo’er, bring Xue Yue over!” While speaking, he wrapped one arm around Xia Ning Chang and wrapped the other arm around Su Yan. After that, he headed toward the bedroom.
Meanwhile, Shan Qing Luo stretched out her hand, placed it on Xue Yue’s shoulder, and flew into the sky, following closely behind Yang Kai.
Soon, three tender bodies lay on top of a large bed, with Yang Kai and Shan Qing Luo standing side by side, smiling slyly as if they were weasels that had stolen a chicken.
Xia Ning Chang closed her eyes tightly, her long eyelashes trembling as if she had resigned to her fate. Xue Yue turned her head away, biting her cherry lips softly in anxiety. Only Su Yan glared at Yang Kai coldly, a frigid aura radiating from her entire body, “Release me immediately. Otherwise, don’t blame me for ruining your fun.”
“Luo’er, take care of her!” Yang Kai pointed at Su Yan.
“I guarantee your satisfaction!” Shan Qing Luo laughed lightly as she walked over to Su Yan and looked into the latter’s eyes. Then, her beautiful eyes instantly transformed into a well of spring water, exuding an alluring charm. She had the Bloodline and Source of the Heavenly Moon Demon Spider, so she was inherently proficient in the art of seduction. If Su Yan had access to her full strength, she could have shrugged off such a technique, but unfortunately for her, her cultivation was currently being suppressed by Yang Kai. Even moving a single finger was extremely difficult, so how could she defend against such an attack?
Su Yan met Shan Qing Luo’s gaze and felt herself sinking into a whirlpool. Her icy-cold body gradually began to heat up, and a pleasant sensation washed over her. After a short while, the ice began to melt…
Amorous sounds could soon be heard from a myriad of voices…
…..
A few days later, Yang Kai brought Su Yan and others to visit his parents. It was only to be expected that he couldn’t escape from being reprimanded by Dong Su Zhu. Fortunately, she had little Xue’er accompanying her so his mother wasn’t as lonely as before.
Since the previous incident, Yang Xue seemed to be a little in awe of her Big Brother and kept glancing timidly at him. Later, Yang Kai took her around the magnificent and beautiful Starry Sky on a sightseeing tour, causing his position in her heart to rise by leaps and bounds. It soon surpassed Xia Ning Chang and the others to a place right behind their parents.
While Yang Kai was spending a few days with his parents and enjoying this family time, the preparations for the relocation of the entire High Heaven Sect were also in full swing under his orders. All the major Sects on Shadowed Star gathered together to find out more information about the matter when they heard the news, and upon receiving a confirmation from Ye Xi Yun, they became ecstatic and overjoyed. All of them expressed that they wished to join in on the ride.
As per Yang Kai’s instructions, Ye Xi Yun neither agreed nor disagreed with their requests. She simply asked them to go back, select their best disciples, and gather at High Heaven Sect again. There were already quite a lot of people in High Heaven Sect itself, so if Yang Kai planned to bring those from the other Sects along as well, the number would certainly exceed a hundred thousand.
Even if High Heaven Palace had a good heritage, it could not afford to feed so many people all at once; thus, Yang Kai had no choice but to be selective.
And this situation wasn’t unique to Shadowed Star; all the Cultivation Stars across the entire Star Field received this grand news. Yang Kai, the Star Field Master, was planning to leave the Star Field and head to a higher world, but before he left, he was going to bring a group of excellent cultivators with him.
These cultivators would be chosen through several different types of rigorous selection methods, and each Cultivation Star only had at most a thousand spots. The cultivations of these candidates did not matter, only their aptitude would be considered. No matter how high one’s cultivation was here, it could not exceed the Star Field’s limit of the Origin King Realm, which was nothing in Star Boundary. Hence, what Yang Kai wanted was talent. He wanted those with excellent aptitude who would one day become the pillars of support for High Heaven Palace. It had nothing to do with their current cultivation. As long as they had the aptitude, they could be nurtured in High Heaven Palace.
Following that news, the entire Star Field trembled.
If Grand Desolation Star Field’s invasion brought disaster to Heng Luo Star Field, then this was a huge blessing. Being able to reach the sky in a single bound was something to be celebrated. Any cultivator with the slightest bit of ambition would not want to miss this chance; therefore, all the Cultivation Stars in the entire Star Field became lively within a short time.
During this period, Yang Kai took the opportunity to bring Su Yan to a world of ice and snow. When he first entered the Star Boundary, he had gained huge benefits by virtue of being a Star Master. Now that he was going to bring Su Yan and the others back to the Star Boundary, it was only natural that he wanted them to become Star Masters before they left.
Xia Ning Chang was the Star Master of Tong Xuan Realm, so she didn’t need to go to the trouble of doing so. On the other hand, Su Yan, Shan Qing Luo, and Xue Yue had never refined a Star Source before.
Although Yang Kai still had some remaining Star Sources in his possession, they all originated from the Shattered Star Sea and their corresponding Stars had long been destroyed, so there was no room for further growth. In that case, it would be better to refine the Star Source of a Cultivation Star in Heng Luo Star Field.
As the Star Field Master, Yang Kai could understand the situation in the Star Field just by referring to the Star Chart in his Knowledge Sea. For that reason, he could easily choose the most suitable objects of refining for his three women.
Shan Qing Luo was accompanied by Lu San Niang, while Xue Yue was accompanied by Liu Yan. Both were heading towards good destinations. Between their cultivation and the Star Refining Art, there was no danger to them whatsoever. Conversely, he needed to watch over Su Yan in person.
Although Su Yan was already in the Dao Source Realm, the Star he had chosen for her was a little unusual.
The entire Star was pure white, and when viewed from the Starry Sky, it looked like a huge ball of ice, magnificent.
Ice Soul Star.
This Cultivation Star was an extremely famous existence in the Star Field, one Yang Kai had already heard of before he left the Star Field the first time but had never had the chance to see for himself.
Ice Soul Star was extremely inhospitable, making it uninhabitable for both Humans and Monster Beasts, a completely untouched pure land; however, its unique World Principles actually gave birth to a group of extremely strange beings known as the Ice Spirits!
The Ice Spirit Clan was extremely scarce in number, and could not be found anywhere else in the Star Field. They could only live on Ice Soul Star. Needless to say, they were not afraid of the cold. The freezing aura was the cradle of their growth, so the colder the environment, the happier they were.
It was said that the Ice Spirit Clan was extremely hospitable at the beginning. If wandering travellers were to arrive on Ice Soul Star by accident, these travellers would be received warmly. Unfortunately, the Ice Spirits gradually became more and more xenophobic as time went by. That was because the guests they received would often turn around and cause them harm instead.
The men of the Ice Spirit Clan were extraordinarily handsome, while the women were as beautiful as blooming ice flowers. Coupled with their special bodies and unique physiques, they were naturally coveted by others.
What’s more, since Ice Spirits were born from such a unique environment, those who cultivated Ice Attribute Secret Arts saw them as incredible resources to rapidly gain strength. Simply capturing any random Ice Spirit for dual cultivation would allow a cultivator to accumulate strength rapidly. Furthermore, there were no hidden dangers in this undertaking.
For that reason, many who cultivated Ice Attribute Secret Arts held malicious intentions toward the Ice Spirits. Even if they did not cultivate Ice Attribute Secret Arts, they could still sell the Ice Spirits at exorbitant prices if they could capture one. It was just that capturing a live Ice Spirit was extremely difficult. It was rumoured that the Ice Spirits would die of heartbreak if they experienced sadness. Even though there had been Ice Spirits who were caught, sold, or even defiled, they would not survive the night away from home. Only a few Masters had powerful enough Divine Abilities to keep the captured Ice Spirits alive, change their inherent nature, and make them obey.
The existence of a single Ice Spirit was of great value, so what more could be said about the entire Ice Soul Star? It was practically a treasure trove.
Ice Soul Star was extremely cold, and the unique environment created numerous special products. Many incredibly precious Ice Attribute spirit flowers and spirit grasses grew on this Star. There were even many species of Spirit Herbs long thought extinct that grew on this Star.
Even if not for the Ice Spirits, who could easily die of a broken heart, the world covered in treasures was enough to entice many cultivators to brave its dangers.
Ice Soul Star was deserving of its fame. When Yang Kai and Su Yan arrived, they saw that the world of ice and snow was enveloped in a layer of silver. It was an extremely enchanting sight. The plants, the land, the mountains, and the rivers seemed to be carved from ice. They were crystal clear and incredibly gorgeous. The mountains were covered in Ice Attribute spirit flowers and exotic grasses. These Ice Attribute spirit herbs were exceedingly rare in the outside world but could be found everywhere here.
However, these items no longer held much use for both Yang Kai and Su Yan even though they were highly valued in the Star Field. They were simply amazed for a moment but had no intention of collecting these herbs.
It was extremely cold here, so most people could not stay for a long time. Fortunately, Yang Kai’s body was tough and his cultivation was superb, so he was naturally not afraid of a little bit of cold. Similarly, Su Yan did not find the cold uncomfortable. Rather, she felt a sense of joy comparable to the feeling of returning home. When she came to this Star, she could feel the power in her body flowing more smoothly. This freezing cold environment did not suppress her strength and instead bolstered it.
She cultivated an Ice Attribute Secret Art and possessed the Ice Phoenix Source inheritance; therefore, an environment like this was perfect for her. This was like her natural habitat. If she had cultivated in this environment for an extended period of time, then the speed of her cultivation would be beyond the reach of anyone.
Yang Kai summoned his Embodiment to clear the way for them while he led Su Yan all the way down, diving deep into the Star to search for Ice Soul Star’s Source.
The Stone Spirit Clan was good at Earth Escape Techniques as they had the innate ability to swim through rock and soil with ease.
A quarter-hour later, the darkness in front of them brightened suddenly. They had arrived at an underground cave. The surrounding environment was getting colder and colder, which amazed Yang Kai greatly. Although he was not affected by this place, he had a feeling that even a Third-Order Origin King would not last long here unless they cultivated an Ice Attribute Secret Art.
Ice Soul Star was like a dead zone in the Star Field. Unless one exceeded the limit of the Origin King Realm, they could not come here to take a closer look; however, the highest one could reach in the Star Field was the Third-Order Origin King Realm.
Ice-blue flames flickered inside the cave, delivering an extremely cold aura. Just a glance at these flames seemed to make one’s Soul freeze. It was obviously a kind of Spirit Flame; moreover, it was a freezing type of flame, which made one realize just how unpredictable nature and the work of the Heavens was. There was a relatively conspicuous ball of light at the centre of the cave that was twisting, wriggling, and changing constantly, seemingly containing spirituality.
“Is this the Star Source?” Su Yan asked, turning her head to look at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai looked at it for a while before he grinned, “It’s a fake.”
“A fake?” She was taken aback by those words.
“En, a fake!” He repeated with certainty. Yang Kai had come into contact with thousands of Star Sources; plus, he was now the Star Field’s Master, so it was only natural that he could see through the deception in front of them at a glance. That was a condensation of the ice-cold flames. It was not the Ice Soul Star’s Source but a trap.
*Pa…*
With a snap of his fingers, the cave was filled with light and one by one, lifelike ice sculptures suddenly came into view. These ice sculptures maintained a seated cross-legged posture, scattered around every corner of the cave.
As the light was very dim inside the cave and there was no flow of aura whatsoever, all Su Yan’s attention had been attracted by the ‘Source’, so she failed to notice these things before.
“These are…” She frowned.
“Probably the people who came here in hopes of refining Ice Soul Star’s Source.”
Su Yan looked around carefully and discovered that there were more than just a few dozen or so ice sculptures in the surrounding area. There were hundreds of them! If it was just as Yang Kai had claimed, then all these people had died here trying to refine the Ice Soul Star’s Source. How strong were the people with the qualifications to enter this place and attempt to refine the Source? They were definitely all Third-Order Origin Kings!
They had died very peacefully, with not the slightest sign of pain on their faces. It was as if they had ended their lives while in a deep sleep; in other words, they were completely unaware that death was coming for them when they died!
Never had the Source of any other Cultivation Star been so dangerous before. Ice Soul Star was probably unique in that regard; there was no other Cultivation Star like it in the entire Star Field. To think that it caused so many Third-Order Origin Kings to die without even knowing.
Looking at the clothes they were wearing, Su Yan immediately noticed that their robes exhibited the flow of time. The people who died here were not from the same era. These Third-Order Origin Kings came from vastly different ages, separated by thousands of years, maybe even tens of thousands of years.
She felt a chill running through her body. Although she was now in the Second-Order Dao Source Realm, the consequences would have been dire if she had come alone and attempted to refine the so-called ‘Source’.
“The Source is not here!” Yang Kai shook his head.
“Where is it?” Su Yan asked.
He looked around and fixed his gaze on a certain spot. Then, he smiled, “It’s there!”
At that moment, he clearly felt someone spying on them. It was very well concealed, but there was no way it could hide from his perception. Tracing it back to its roots, Yang Kai immediately locked onto its position.
Under normal circumstances, a Star Source was close to but not a real living being. Despite it being a manifestation of the World’s Will, it was incapable of thinking or moving on its own, but Ice Soul Star’s Source seemed different. It seemed to have true spirituality!
[Interesting. How interesting!] Yang Kai suddenly recalled the Source Strength of Tong Xuan Realm that he once saw back then. When Tong Xuan Realm’s World Energy was exhausted and the world was on the verge of collapse, the Star Source had been unwilling to quietly wait for its death; thus, it transformed into a grey mass that travelled all over the world. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, it encountered Xia Ning Chang, and in the end, it was refined by her and revived from its withered state.
The Star Source of Ice Soul Star was similar to that of Tong Xuan Realm’s.
Tong Xuan Realm had been about to collapse, and aware of the crisis, the Star Source had taken the initiative to seek opportunities for its survival; however, this was not the case for Ice Soul Star.
[Can a Star Source actually give birth to sentience?] Yang Kai was filled with a strong sense of curiosity and had a feeling that Su Yan’s trip was going to be very beneficial.
Following the path created by his Embodiment, he hugged Su Yan and carried her upward to soon arrive on the surface of the Star again.
Unlike the calm from before, the entire Ice Soul Star was currently engulfed in a blizzard, with cold winds and frigid ice cutting through everything like knives. A thick layer of clouds gathered in the sky; lightning flashed and thunder boomed as though the Star was roaring in a fit of rage.
Seeing this, Yang Kai broke into a huge grin, lifted his hands to the sky, and waved his arm as he roared, “Disperse!”
The thunder was extinguished, the lightning stopped, and the blizzard ceased. Subsequently, a bright and clear sky appeared, with not a cloud in sight for ten thousand kilometres.
He might not be the Master of Ice Soul Star, but his status as a Star Field Master was higher than that of a mere Star Master. With a few gestures, he could manipulate even the World Principles here, so controlling the weather of a Star was child’s play to him.
The Star Source hiding in the dark seemed to realize that something was wrong and no longer confronted Yang Kai in an overbearing manner. Instead, an ice bridge that seemed to connect Heaven and the Earth suddenly appeared amidst the ice and snow. It began from where Yang Kai and Su Yan were standing and connected to an unknown destination far off into the distance. The ice bridge was beautifully carved, pure and flawless. Moreover, its sudden appearance nearly shocked Su Yan out of her skin.
Yang Kai laughed heartily, “It seems to be rather hospitable. Let’s go.”
Of course, if not for Yang Kai’s extraordinary display of power, he would never have enjoyed such courtesy. Taking Su Yan’s hand, he stepped onto the ice bridge. There was no need to expend any strength, but even so, they headed towards the end of the ice bridge at a very fast pace.
…..
Atop a certain snow-covered mountain, a cold voice sounded, “There are guests. Prepare to greet them.”
The snow-covered mountain trembled and numerous figures emerged from the ice caves, one after another. These people looked no different from ordinary Humans at first glance; however, one would realize that they were not Humans upon closer look. Each of these figures looked like they were carved from jade, pure and flawless. The men were handsome while the women were gorgeous. They were all dressed in white, and their sharp ears resembled that of beasts. Surprisingly, their sharp ears did not destroy their overall beauty but added a noble temperament to them instead. They were the Spirits of the ice and snow. They were the Ice Spirit Clan that remained unsullied by the outside world.
There were as many as tens of thousands of Ice Spirits on the snow-covered mountain. If others knew of this, they would surely go mad with greed. Just a single Ice Spirit could sell for exorbitant prices in the Star Field, so what more need be said about tens of thousands? Their existence in itself was a huge and unparalleled wealth.
Many Ice Spirits seemed shocked. They looked at each other, seemingly unable to believe what they had just heard. The owner of that cold voice just now was the supreme existence within the Ice Spirit Clan, the foundation of the Ice Spirit Clan’s birth, their Ice Deity.
The Ice Spirits were xenophobic. They had no friends of the other races. Therefore, they were astonished, to say the least, to hear the Ice Deity saying that they had a visitor.
They wondered. [Since when has the Ice Spirit Clan needed to welcome guests?] Even so, it was the command of the Ice Deity, so even if they held doubts in their hearts, they still quickly hurried to make preparations.
Ice Spirits were extremely pure, not just physically, but mentally too. With a kind of innocence born of that purity, they did not dare to disrespect the Ice Deity’s words.
Soon after, an ice bridge stretched from a distant place and connected to the side of the snow-covered mountain.
A man and a woman travelled side by side on the ice bridge and quickly arrived at the end of the ice bridge.
After landing on the ground, Yang Kai immediately looked around in surprise. It was his first time seeing the fabled Ice Spirits, and with the perception of his Divine Sense, he saw that the bodies of these Ice Spirits seemed to be made from ice crystals. Their entire being exuded freezing cold aura, one that was quite strong and penetrating. Moreover, cultivation seemed to be meaningless to them. Classifications such as the Origin King Realm or the Origin Returning Realm could not sum up their strength, nevertheless, he could tell that many among the Ice Spirits were not inferior to Origin Kings.
[What a powerful force!] Yang Kai secretly felt shocked. It was difficult to believe that there was such a group of powerful Masters in the Star Field.
[If Netherworld Sect attacked Ice Soul Star when it invaded the Star Field, it would have been wiped out. There would have been no need for me to take action.]
Fortunately, the Ice Spirit Clan rarely appeared in the outside world, only being active on Ice Soul Star. Otherwise, they were fully capable of ruling over the entire Star Field.
A handsome male Ice Spirit stepped forward and asked curiously, “Are you the guests of the Ice Deity?”
Yang Kai smiled and said, “If nobody else came, then we probably are.”
[The Ice Deity… I wonder if that is a self-proclaimed title or one given by the Ice Spirit Clan to show their respect for it. In any case, it is quite an appropriate title; after all, it is the very Source of this Star, making it akin to a God on this Cultivation Star.]
The male Ice Spirit carefully looked Yang Kai up and down for a while. Then, he slowly shook his head, “You are not!”
He then pointed to Su Yan, “But, she is!”
“We came here together.” Yang Kai smiled, “You saw that too. It was the Ice Deity who brought us here.”
The male Ice Spirit stubbornly shook his head, “You are dirty. She is pure, so she must be the guest.”
The corner of Yang Kai’s eyes twitched at those words, “You brat, the last man who dared to speak to me in such a manner has grass growing on his grave by now.”
[I am the Star Field Master. Everything in this Star Field is under my control. How dare this guy point at me and claim that I am dirty!?]
The male Ice Spirit frowned and looked at Yang Kai with a look of disgust. He could not understand why the Ice Deity brought such a person here. Yang Kai’s very existence was enough to tarnish the purity of this place.
Su Yan patted Yang Kai’s hand. Then, she looked at the male Ice Spirit and said, “Please bring me to the Ice Deity.”
She knew that the Ice Deity was the key to whether or not she could refine Ice Soul Star’s Source, so she did not plan to continue wasting time.
The male Ice Spirit nodded but did not lead the way. Instead, he reached out his hand to remove an ice pouch from his waist and handed it to Su Yan, “Drink this!”
The ice pouch was shaped like a bottle, and she could not tell what it contained. All she could hear when she shook it was the sound of liquid sloshing around.
Taking it from him, she asked, “Can I meet the Ice Deity after drinking this?”
“You will be regarded as a guest if you drink this!”
It would seem that meeting the Ice Deity wasn’t so simple. There were some trials Su Yan needed to pass beforehand.
“Good.” She opened the seal on the ice pouch while she was speaking and a sweet scent immediately filled the air.
Yang Kai was taken aback by the scent as he initially thought that the ice pouch was filled with some kind of wine, but it would seem that it was something different. It was probably a local product of the Ice Spirit Clan. He might not know what it was, but one thing was certain, the contents of the ice pouch were not something ordinary people could withstand.
Meanwhile, Su Yan lifted the ice pouch to her mouth and gulped down the liquid inside in a rare heroic manner.
At first, the Ice Spirits crowding around seemed to be waiting to see a good show; however, their expressions gradually changed over time. In particular, the male Ice Spirit, who handed her the ice pouch, slowly widened his eyes as though he was very shocked and exclaimed in distress, “Stop! That’s enough!”
Su Yan put down the ice pouch, lifted her hand to gently wipe the corners of her lips with her sleeve, then asked, “Does this mean I pass?”
He took the ice pouch back from her, shook it slightly, and turned away with a painful expression, “Please come this way!”
Su Yan glanced at Yang Kai and gave him a wink to indicate that he should remain calm. After that, she leisurely walked upward along the winding road. She walked no more than a thousand metres when a female Ice Spirit jumped out and blocked her way. The female Ice Spirit was holding a plate sculpted from ice. There were several snow-white things similar to silkworm chrysalis on the plate. She tilted her head with a smile, looking directly at Su Yan, “Would you like to try this?”
Su Yan used two fingers to pick up one of the delicacies from the plate and placed it inside her mouth. A burst of cold exploded when she did and it was accompanied by a sour taste that was very difficult to describe. A short while later, Su Yan finished off the entire plate and walked on, leaving the female Ice Spirit staring at the empty tray blankly.
Halfway up the mountain, Yang Kai stood waiting in place. He might be the Star Field’s Master, but the purpose of this trip was for Su Yan to refine Ice Soul Star’s Source. That was something that she had to achieve by relying on her own abilities; only by doing so could she obtain the Star Source’s acknowledgement and assistance for her future growth. It went without saying that Yang Kai was fully capable of forcing Ice Soul Star’s Source to submit to him with his current strength, but doing so would make this endeavour pointless.
It shouldn’t be too much of a problem since this was just a test. Besides, the Ice Deity, which was Ice Soul Star’s Source, probably never imagined that the so-called tests would not be a problem for Su Yan since she had already reached the Second-Order Dao Source Realm.
Feeling bored, Yang Kai fixed his gaze on that male Ice Spirit’s ice pouch and said, “Let me try too.”
The male Ice Spirit immediately shook his head so hard that it rattled, “No!”
He was still feeling the pain after Su Yan drank so much just now.
“How stingy!” Yang Kai pouted in response.
The male Ice Spirit simply declared, “You will die if you drink it.”
Yang Kai sneered, “It’s not that easy to kill me off. Hurry up and give me a taste.”
“You really will die,” the male Ice Spirit replied seriously, “You might not be a guest of the Ice Deity, but I cannot endanger you since you came here with the guest from before.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Give it to me.” Yang Kai stretched out his hand, snatched the ice pouch, tipped his head back, and drank from it in big gulps. A sweet taste immediately filled his mouth, followed by an extremely cold aura. It nearly made his entire mouth go numb and his entire brain froze over for a moment.
Needless to say, Yang Kai was shocked as he wondered how these Ice Spirits brewed this drink.
He could taste more than a hundred types of spirit fruits in the drink; moreover, each of these fruits were of the Ice Attribute. If a Third-Order Origin King were to drink this fruit wine, they would surely suffer. It could even cost them their lives if they drank too much of it.
[No wonder this Ice Spirit told me that I would die from this. Drinking it may have endangered my life if not for my cultivation that goes beyond the limits of the Star Field.]
The reason Su Yan was unaffected despite drinking so much of this fruit wine was undoubtedly thanks to her Ice Crystal Jade Body.
On the other hand, the male Ice Spirit was shocked by Yang Kai’s recklessness. Yang Kai might not be the Ice Deity’s guest, but he was still the companion of that guest, so things would not end well if he died here.
The male Ice Spirit felt extremely anxious, but in the midst of his panic, he suddenly noticed Yang Kai’s body shuddering slightly.
A moment later, Yang Kai laughed as the frost covering his face disappeared and he shouted, “Refreshing!”
He tipped his head back further and poured the fruit wine down his throat again, drinking even faster than Su Yan had just now. All the Ice Spirits surrounding him were dumbfounded by the sight and instantly felt a sense of admiration towards him.
The ice pouch might not be big, but the space inside it was not so small. It contained several dozen litres of the fruit wine, at the very least. Even so, Yang Kai drank it all in one go. It wasn’t until not a single drop was left that he stopped.
Letting out a loud belch, Yang Kai savoured the lingering sweetness on his tongue. He also felt a slight sense of drunkenness.
[How strange. This fruit wine doesn’t have any alcohol in it, so how is it making me drunk?]
Waving his hand at the Ice Spirits, he said, “Bring out all the delicious things you have.”
Meanwhile, the male Ice Spirit looked at Yang Kai like he was a monster. He shook the empty ice pouch slightly and seemed lost for a long while before he beckoned to the others with his hand.
A short while later, an ice table was placed on the platform and Yang Kai boldly sat at it like a King. The table was filled with various specialties of Ice Soul Star, including more of the fruit wine he had drunk before. There was also food that he had never seen. Every plate was exquisite, pure, and clean. Although none of the dishes contained meat, the tableful of delicacies was still very tempting and appetizing.
A group of Ice Spirits gathered around him, watching him in a daze as he ate and drank his fill without hesitation. Several female Ice Spirits kept pouring him wine as though they were trying to knock him out on the spot.
Yang Kai refused nothing, finishing everything he was served without the slightest hesitation. Watching this display opened the eyes of the Ice Spirits, who had never seen much of the world before, to what the meaning of the word ‘bold’ was. As time passed, more and more Ice Spirits gathered around and the fruit and wine on the table were constantly refilled, plate after plate, cup after cup. It was to the point where Yang Kai was slightly drunk and his speech was no longer comprehensible.
Even so, he fought on.
Three whole days later, Su Yan’s figure suddenly appeared in front of Yang Kai.
Yang Kai squinted at her for a moment before circulating his Emperor Qi slightly, instantly sobering up as he asked, “How did it go?”
*Zheng…*
A cold light flashed by as she pulled her sword out of its sheath, “It’s done.”
“Profound Frost?” Yang Kai raised his brow at her. She brought Profound Frost with her when she left Ice Heart Valley on Scarlet Wave Star decades ago. It was a sword left behind by Ice Heart Valley’s Ancestral Founder, Bing Yun, and all these years, Su Yan had kept it as her sword.
However, right now, it was just a sword that could no longer keep up with her cultivation after she had entered the Dao Source Realm.
Yang Kai had considered asking Hou Yu to refine a sword for Su Yan when they returned to High Heaven Palace, but it now seemed to be an unnecessary worry. Profound Frost had undergone tremendous transformation. The entire sword was as thin as a cicada’s wings, and even when Su Yan was not pouring her Source Qi into it, it exuded a cold aura and showed faint signs of becoming a Dao Source Grade Artifact.
Additionally, there were two words carved into the hilt, ‘Ice Soul!
He wondered, “Did you refine it into an Artifact Spirit?”
She shook her head in response, “It chose this itself.”
Inside the ice palace, Su Yan and Ice Soul Star’s Source’s manifestation had fought for three days straight. It wasn’t a fight with their lives on the line, but rather a competition over their mastery of Ice Principles. When Su Yan received its approval, it voluntarily entered Profound Frost and transformed into an Artifact Spirit.
This Artifact Spirit was unique in the sense that it was the Star Source of the entire Ice Soul Star.
No one had ever used a Star Source as an Artifact Spirit before, so for that reason, even Yang Kai could not say whether Su Yan’s move was good or bad. Nevertheless, one thing was certain. Su Yan had become the Master of Ice Soul Star. She and Ice Soul Star were closely linked and could no longer be separated from each other.
“What happened to them?” Su Yan asked curiously. When she arrived just now, she was greeted by the sight of a group of Ice Spirits with sad expressions. They looked as though somebody had sliced several kilograms of flesh off their backs.
“Uh…” Yang Kai hiccupped, “They are feeling petty because I ate some of their food.”
She glanced at the ice table and immediately understood the situation. She smiled in amusement, “You ate at least several thousand years’ worth of accumulated treasure.”
“Did I? Haha. Then, it looks like they were very gracious hosts, weren’t they?” He patted his stomach. Although he was in his Human form right now, Yang Kai had a 250-metre-long Half-Dragon Form, so forget about several thousand years’ worth, he could even finish off a hundred thousand years’ worth of accumulated food.
“Ice Deity!” The surrounding Ice Spirits suddenly focused their attention on the sword that was previously Profound Frost but was now the Ice Soul Sword. The expressions on their faces were rather complicated.
All of a sudden, a brilliant light flashed as a pure and peerless woman appeared from the Ice Soul Sword, causing Yang Kai’s eyes to widen to the size of saucers. Although he had long known that Ice Soul Star’s Source had gained sentience, he had never expected it to actually have a Human form. The Source’s current state was similar to that of Liu Yan’s, though their attributes were the complete opposites.
Liu Yan was a Fire Attribute Spirit, while the Ice Soul was Ice Attribute.
[I wonder if they will fight when they meet?]
“Ice Deity!” Many Ice Spirits knelt to the ground and shouted loudly, but the peerless woman simply swept her beautiful eyes over them and spoke in a cold voice that resounded throughout the world, “I will be leaving this place.”
The expressions of many Ice Spirits became more sorrowful and unwilling upon hearing those words.
After making her announcement, she turned to Yang Kai and requested, “Please give them your protection before we leave this place.”
“A simple matter.” Yang Kai nodded.
Even if she had not mentioned it, he would have done so anyway. This Cultivation Star was linked to Su Yan, so Yang Kai could not be careless about this matter. He immediately communicated with the Star Field Source and guided its power to conceal all traces of Ice Soul Star’s existence.
Amidst the towering ancient trees that rose up into the sky, lightning and thunder flashed down from above. Something strange was occurring and the space shattered as if someone had torn it open. A dangerous aura leaked out of that gap into the Void, giving off a feeling like the end of the world was coming.
A Monster Commander with two horns on his head hid under a tree tremblingly as he looked up at the strange sight.
*Hong…*
Thunder roared deafeningly and the Monster Commander was so scared that he fell back onto the ground, his complexion deathly pale.
Then, the storm cleared up all of a sudden. The sky became clear and blue again in a flash. There was not a single cloud in sight for tens of thousands of kilometres.
The Monster Commander glanced in the direction the storm had first appeared again and was surprised to see that a Human figure had appeared in the sky at some point in time.
This place was the Monster Race’s territory and few Humans dared to wander this deep because those that did, died. Besides, he was certain that there was nobody there just now, so he was curious as to how this person appeared out of nowhere. Stranger still, upon a closer look, he had the vague feeling that this person looked familiar, like he had seen him somewhere before.
Before the Monster Commander could sort out his thoughts, the newcomer’s expression suddenly changed. That person closed his eyes and spread his arms wide. Following that, the World Energy churned and gathered towards him.
*Hong…*
An invisible force suddenly exploded without warning, transforming into a pressure wave that was visible to the naked eye. The impact swept out for hundreds of kilometres in an instant, shaking the trees so hard that they were nearly uprooted from the ground.
The Monster Commander’s eyes widened in shock as it was easy to tell from the aura of this person that they were not to be trifled.
Thus, the Monster Commander quickly concealed his aura and hid his presence while quietly retreating.
He was only a Monster Commander, which was equivalent to a Human Dao Source Realm cultivator; on the other hand, the Human that appeared out of nowhere was clearly an Emperor Realm Master. Moreover, it would seem as though they had just undergone a breakthrough.
The Monster Commander did not know if this person was a Second-Order or a Third-Order Emperor, but in any case, this was not an opponent he could face.
[This matter has to be reported to Sir as soon as possible! Sir can decide on what to do next.]
There was just one thing that the Monster Commander couldn’t understand no matter how he thought about it. [Why would this person come to this place for his breakthrough? Does he have a death wish? Although a Human Emperor Realm Master is not weak, there are many powerful Masters here who are much stronger than him. Any one of them can easily take his life at any time.]
In the sky, Yang Kai felt extremely refreshed. Feeling his long-sealed power, which gave him the ability to move mountains and split seas with ease, flooding into his body, he couldn’t hold back the excitement in his heart and let out a long celebratory shout.
Returning to the Star Field for more than ten years had been extremely suffocating. At the start, he had to seal his cultivation meticulously in order to avoid rejection from the Heavenly Way. Although he later became the Star Field Master, he still didn’t dare to throw his power around carelessly for fear of causing damage to the Star Field. It wasn’t until now that these shackles were finally removed that he tasted freedom again.
Furthermore, it was just as he expected. The experiences he accumulated in the First-Order Emperor Realm were incredibly rich; hence, it was a matter of course for him to break through to the Second-Order Emperor Realm as soon as he returned to Star Boundary. Increasing his cultivation by a Minor Realm had given his power a sharp boost, which made him feel as though he could do anything at this moment.
As the movement around him gradually calmed, Yang Kai swept his Divine Sense around to survey his surroundings. Although he was certain that he had returned to Star Boundary, he first had to figure out where he was!
After returning from Ice Soul Star with Su Yan, he stayed on Shadowed Star for another half a year until everything was prepared. Then, he moved everybody into the Small Sealed World, tore space, and returned to the Star Boundary.
The process had been fairly simple and it was not difficult for him to locate a channel that connected to the Star Boundary with his ability as a Star Field Master. He even left the channel intact to allow anyone from Heng Luo Star Field who was strong enough to travel to the Star Boundary. This approach was tantamount to reconnecting Heng Luo Star Field with Star Boundary. In the future, peak level Masters from Heng Luo Star Field would no longer need to worry about wasting their life away despite having a strong enough cultivation to break through to the next realm.
Yang Kai sensed an ancient and somewhat desolate aura from the towering trees around him. These trees were enormous, wide enough that a dozen people could not wrap themselves around their trunks. These trees looked vaguely familiar as well, and the surrounding environment also exuded an air of wildness.
Yang Kai couldn’t help lifting a brow as he muttered, “Can it be that much of a coincidence? Am I once again here?”
He had no way of pinpointing his destination when departing from Heng Luo Star Field to the Star Boundary. The Starlight Corridor, which he used great means to reopen, could only connect to a rough location.
A kilometre away, Yang Kai sensed a Monster Commander that was sneaking away.
Yang Kai’s figure flickered and blocked that Monster Commander’s path. In response, the Monster Commander with two horns on his head stopped mid-stride with a startled look as he stared at Yang Kai vigilantly.
“Is this the Ancient Wild Lands?” Yang Kai asked, looking at the Monster Commander.
The Monster Commander could not figure out Yang Kai’s origin nor purpose. He only knew that he was no match for this person, so he was more cooperative, “Yes!”
[How strange, why doesn’t this guy know that this is the Ancient Wild Lands even though he is already here? Humans sure have worryingly low intelligence.]
“That’s great!” Yang Kai grinned, “Which Divine Venerable’s subordinate are you?”
The Monster Commander was stunned once more, “Do you know the Divine Venerables, Sir?”
“Stop wasting my time. Am I asking the questions, or are you?” Yang Kai glared at the Monster Commander.
The Monster Commander paled instantly. He had not seen when or how Yang Kai moved to appear in front of him. In other words, if this Human wanted to take his life, it would be as easy as picking up a bug and crushing it. Standing in front of the gates of death, the Monster Commander felt a chill running down his spine, so he became even more docile than before, “I am a subordinate of Monster King Ying Fei under the West Divine Venerable.”
“Oh! So this is Ying Fei’s place!” Yang Kai couldn’t help smiling.
The Monster Commander found this situation even stranger, “Are you acquainted with Sir Monster King?”
For a moment just now, this Human’s expression became significantly more amiable; moreover, he addressed the Monster King directly by the name. It could only mean that they were acquainted with each other.
“Ying Fei is working as my subordinate, so you tell me; am I acquainted with him?”
“Huh?” The Monster Commander was taken aback by those words. His first reaction was to think that this person was bluffing. Monster King Ying Fei is one of the eight Monster Kings under the West Divine Venerable, Cang Gou. How can a Human be fortunate enough to know him much less dare to shamelessly boast about Sir Monster King being his subordinates!
All of a sudden, though, the Monster King seemed to recall something and his eyes bulged wide as he stuttered and pointed, “Y-You…”
He finally understood why the Human in front of him seemed so familiar. More than 10 years ago, a group of Humans had once barged into the Ancient Wild Lands and were caught up in the strange phenomenon surrounding the Blood Gate.
The North Divine Venerable, Shi Huo, lost his life after a great battle with them, and from then on, the Four Great Divine Venerables became the Three Great Divine Venerables. It was rumoured that a descendent of Heaven’s Order had entered the Blood Gate at that time and furthermore, there was a Human male that had a close relationship with that descendent. Even the Three Great Divine Venerables had to be polite to him because of this and they had even allowed that man to bring three Monster Kings away with him when he departed from the Ancient Wild Lands. Monster King Ying Fei was one of those three.
The Monster Commander had watched the battle from a distance, and although he did not see what happened very clearly, he vaguely remembered Yang Kai’s physical characteristics. Now, with Yang Kai’s reminder, that dusty memory at a corner of his mind surfaced again.
[What was that Human called… Oh, right…] The two-horned Monster Commander cupped his fists excitedly and greeted Yang Kai, “Senior Yang!”
“You recognize me?” Yang Kai asked with great interest. There were countless Monster Commanders in the Ancient Wild Lands, but he never expected to meet one that could recognize him. When did he become so famous in the Ancient Wild Lands?
“Yes. I was fortunate enough to get a glimpse of Senior Yang’s noble bearing in the past.” The two-horned Monster Commander was incredibly excited, and his expression became more and more ingratiating.
[How can I not know you!?]
‘Enter the Blood Gate, undergo rebirth by stimulating one’s ancestral bloodline, and transform into a Divine Spirit!’ This was the rumour that had been passed down through the generations and circulated in the Ancient Wild Lands since ancient times. Every member of the Monster Race was familiar with that saying.
Now that the Blood Gate was closed and the descendent of Heavens Order, who was in charge of managing thousands of Divine Spirit Sources, was gone, a new rumour sprang up in the Ancient Wild Lands that a Human called Yang Kai was the key if one wanted to revive the glory of their ancestors and become a Divine Spirit.
If not for that, how could the three Monster Kings, Xi Lei, Ying Fei, and Xie Wu Wei, willingly let themselves be ordered around by a mere Human!? They even left the Ancient Wild Lands, where they lived for thousands of years, to follow him back to work as his subordinate. Was that not in hopes of vying for the most advantageous position next to Yang Kai so that they could benefit from him in the future?
Among the 32 Monster Kings of the Ancient Wild Lands, only these three were lucky enough to receive such a blessing. Thus, the remaining 29 Monster Kings were extremely envious of them. If it were not for the strict suppression of the three Divine Venerables, the remaining 29 Kings might have all left the Ancient Wild Lands to follow Yang Kai too.
The two-horned Monster Commander did not expect an opportunity even the 29 Monster Kings could not obtain would suddenly fall into his lap. Standing in front of him was not an ordinary Human, it was a shortcut to becoming a Divine Spirit, becoming the strongest!
The impassioned, almost ravenous expression on the Monster Commander’s face disgusted Yang Kai greatly, causing him to back off slightly and say, “Since you can recognize me, then this will be simple. I have something I want you to do for me. Do you have time?”
“Of course! Of course!’ The two-horned Monster Commander replied eagerly. [Are you kidding me!? I managed to run into the God of Fortune! Of course, I have to grab hold of the opportunity! I will squeeze out some time for him even if it’s impossible!]
“What do you need, Senior?”
The corners of Yang Kai’s brow twitched and he couldn’t help feeling that this Monster Commander was looking at him a little strangely. Thus, he didn’t want to waste time talking any longer and simply instructed, “Go tell Luan Feng that Yang Kai is back, and ask her to prepare herself for when I collect the debt she owes me.”
“A debt? What debt?” The two-horned Monster Commander looked confused.
“Why are you asking so many questions? Hurry up and go.” Yang Kai lifted his foot and kicked the two-horned Monster Commander.
“Yes, yes, yes,” the two-horned Monster Commander turned around to leave. He only took several steps though before realizing something.
[No! If I leave now, won’t I lose the chance to approach this Human!?]
He hurriedly turned back to look, but there was nobody behind him. Yang Kai had left this place a long time ago. Feeling frustrated, the Monster Commander slapped himself on the thigh and cursed himself for being a fool. Even so, he did not dare to go against Yang Kai’s orders after openly agreeing to them. He could only hope that he would have another opportunity to meet with Yang Kai again and perform some distinguished service. Thus, he set off toward Luan Feng’s palace.
On the other hand, Yang Kai’s figure flickered as he flew up above the towering treetops, heading in a certain direction by relying on his memories.
An hour later, he landed softly. The air was fragrant and all the living creatures here were bursting with life. Although this place was still within the Ancient Wild Lands, there were none of the killings or hidden dangers that were pervasive throughout the rest of this land. Instead, it was a peaceful sanctuary that had a completely different atmosphere from the other places.
Birds were resting on the treetops and beasts were peacefully grazing on the ground. Sights that were rare in any other place within the Ancient Wild Lands were common here. It was as though there was an invisible force protecting this land stretching out for tens of thousands of kilometres from being ravaged.
The wind blew lightly and the trees rustled and swayed in response, as if whispers were being passed around among them. All of a sudden, tiny figures the size of a palm flew out from behind the trees, each one of them exquisitely beautiful and exuding a pure Wood Attribute aura from their bodies.
They were Wood Spirits!